Joe Root

Joseph Root (1860 – 29 October 1912) was a well-known hermit who lived in what is now Presque Isle State Park in Pennsylvania. Born in Erie, Pennsylvania, Root lived on Presque Isle without any modern conveniences. He has sometimes been nicknamed "the King of the Peninsula" or "the King of Presque Isle". Life Presque Isle State Park Root moved away from his childhood home to Presque Isle while still in his adolescent years. He was one of the first permanent inhabitants to the peninsula (Presque Isle wasn't declared an official state park until 1921) There was also a lighthouse keeper who resided at the park during the late 19th century and he often had his tomatoes swiped by Root. Root hunted and fished to support himself in the harsh environment he would become fond of raw fish in particular. There was a rumor that a dead cow once washed up on the shore of Presque Isle and Root fed off of it for an entire week. Root also ate local wild plants such as wild cattails, duck potatoes, spatterdocks, rice, blueberries, dewberries, and wild strawberries.