USA > Indiana > Jackson County > Early History Of Jackson County Hardships And Privations Endured And Encountered With The Indiana > Part 2
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Father and Son Found Massacred-Three Dead Indians
It was near sunset, and they were anxious to reconnoitre the cabin and its inmates. To accomplish which they agreed to approach from the side opposite from where the Indians had probably gone. They advanced cautiously, keeping them- selves concealed as much as possible by standing trees They
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had traveled but a short distance when they came across the knit cap of a small boy and judging from his tracks he had been running. In a few steps more, in a small ravine, they came upon his lifeless body, pierced with a rifle ball, and freshly scalped.
The next thing was to make a bold dash for the house, which was about fifty steps more in advance, and the door on the opposite side from them. To cover the distance occupied but a moment, and they were at the door. There at the door lay three Indians and a white man, (the white man scalped). Quick as a flash came from opposite directions reports of three or four rifles, and one of their number fell mortally wounded. A fierce yell of the savages revealed their hiding place, and with drawn tomahawks four braves came rushing upon the two brave scouts. Sturgeon and his comrades emp- tied their rifles, and two Indians bounded in the air and their race was done.
Lone Cabin in Wilderness
The killing of the Indians was a sufficient warning to the. remainder of the squad. True, they made some little show of attack, and again secreted themselves behind trees to re-load. This gave Sturgeon and his friend a moment's opportunity to enter the house, bearing to a place of comparative safety their wounded companion. Thus secured they felt able to de- fend themselves, with the aid of the heroic and brave woman against any and all odds the Indians could bring against them. The firing had been heard by the remainder of the company who were but a short distance behind, and they came in great haste to the relief of their comrades. The In- dians at once took in the situation, and began a hasty retreat. A few shots were fired after them without effect, which at once convinced them that safety was alone to be had in flight, and they used exertion and stratagem so well understood by them as not only to escape unharmed, but to draw after them in ambush some of their pursuers, whom they hoped to kill and scalp, The shades of night were fast coming on, making the chances of pursuit extremely hazardous, and the chance of capture doubtful; yet a few brave men dashed heroically after them, determined to bring to punishment the murderers of the settler and perhaps their comrade also. The Indians being hotly pursued, made for the river bank, and began to scatter
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to obtain some advantage of their pursuers; but the soldiers pressed them to the stream, and in spite of the darkness a few shots were exchanged, and one Indian was seen to sink beneath the waves and not appear again and one was wounded on the opposite bank and assisted away by his com- panions. The loss to the Rangers was the serious wounding of one horse, which had to be killed the following day. The company returned to the settler's cabin and camped for the night. It was at once evident that the wound of their com- rade left at the cabin was mortal. He was shot through the chest, just under the arms, from right to left, puncturing the lungs and perhaps severing some large artery, for Mr. Stur- geon said that he never saw anything bleed equal to him. Every exertion was used to give relief, but long ere morning death drove away the darkness of the night. His last battle was fought. The weary and exhausted frame yielded to the decree of fate. The spirit was born from that lonely cabin in the wilderness on the wings of love and mercy to habitations of rest.
Attack Upon Settler, Wife and Son
The Indians had come upon and surprised the settler and his little boy in the clearing, killing the little fellow but a few yards from where he was first surprised. The father received a severe wound, which so disabled him that he was overtaken by several Indians when just at his own door, through which he had not sufficient time to enter. There brought to bay, his faithful wife came to his rescue with gun and ax, and though his life was sacrificed, the conquest was a dear one to the Indians, for at the discharge of his rifle one fell and a blow from the ax of the wife brought down a second. Then a hand to hand struggle ensued, in which he perished, yet not alone, for two more savages shared the fate of war. Amid the din and confusion the wife and mother regained the house. The next morning, the sun opened the day and the birds caroled sweetly in the deep forest shade, ere the little squad of Rangers resumed their journey. They had an office to perform of charity to a fallen barbarous and bloody foe, and one of duty and affection to a comrade and countryman. There in that lonley cabin in the wilderness, in repose of death slept the scalped father and son, and by their side slept in death also the brave, the gallant soldier, who had
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imperiled and sacrificed his life to avenge the blood of his countrymen. Those three, side by side, were but a faint sha- dow of the bloody ravages and carnival of death delighted in by the savages. The disconsolate mother and bereaved wife, clasping to her bosom an only child of some two years of age, with disheveled hair, bloodshot eyes and bleeding heart, sat weeping over the dead. Her's indeed was a lot of sorrow in the bosom of the great wilderness, several miles from a single habitation, with no relatives or friends near to comfort and defend her, and surrounded by a bloodthirsty race of savages, whose hearts only rejoiced at the wail of the widow and the scream of the orphan.
In the midst of a band of savages, who had in cold blood but just murdered the father and son, it was no wonder she wept. It was decided to bury the soldier the pioneer and his son in one grave in the clearing, and gather up and pack the effects of the widow and convey her to a place of safety. The morning hour was spent in hollowing deep and wide a new-made grave and making the other necessary preparations to deposit in the silent earth the dead. About the noon of day, with reversed arms, muffled drum and saddened hearts they brought out the dead, and with uncovered heads con- signed them coffinless to the earth. The captain spoke to the heart-broken widow such words of cheer as his lips could give utterance to; but of what avail were words of comfort to her. Her heart was in that grave with murdered husband and child and like one of old she refused to be comforted because they were not. Some pious comrade offered a simple but fervent prayer to the Father of Light_ Then they looked into the face of the dead, and consigned them to the mother earth.
They closed up the grave, piled a log-heap on it, set it on fire to remove every mark of the grave, and then started on their march. At the close of the next day they left the widow in a place of safety." After two or three days' march they arrived at Vincennes, which was then the seat of Terri- torial Government and the headquarters of General Harrison.
Ordered to Report at Vallonia
After resting a few days at Vincennes, the Rangers were ordered to report at Vallonia, in Jackson county, Indiana. The Indians were troublesome and general terror to the few
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settlers of the county, stealing horses and carrying off pro- perty of every character and threatening the lives of the citi- zens. They were ordered to Vallonia by a more northern route than that traveled in going to Vincennes, that they might give some aid, if necessary, to a few settlers on that line of travel, and also act as a warning to the bands of Indi- ans who were committing depredations upon them. The journey was long, irksome and perilous. There were no tra- veled roads, but an unbroken wilderness, with streams swollen from the spring rains often overflowing their banks to such an extent as to render fording extremely dangerous,and often causing delays for a day or two. No Indians were met with, or their trail discovered for several days, and the march be- came monotonous, for those early settlers were so accustomed to danger that a few days of quiet wore upon them, and they began to. wish for some exercise more exciting-some encoun- ter with the foe, for instance. They were anxious and willing at any moment to measure strength and skill with the most adroit savages, and for this purpose they would separate themselves in bands of three or four, and take for a day dif- ferent lines of march, or scour the country at right angles for miles, meeting at night at the common camp, and if one squad failed to report they were waited for and looked after the next day until found.
Victims of Tomahawk and Scalping Knife
On one of these diverging excursions, Sturgeon and party came across the remains of two cabins which had just been burned. They had been built close together in the short bend of a beautiful creek, with high and rocky banks, as a protec- tion against the savages. But it was of no avail. They had fallen victims to the tomahawk and scalping knife, and naught remained to tell that it had so recently been the abode of human life save the still smoking ruins of the consumed cabins and the burnt and charred forms of the murdered in- mates. In all seven had fed the funeral pile to satisfy the Indian's thirst for blood Neither age nor sex was exempt from his butcheries. The gray-headed man, the aged matron, the blooming maid, and the tender infant, shared with the athletic warrior the inevitable fate. The murderous band had gone in a western direction and from their tracks it appeared as if there were ten or a dozen. Sturgeon and his comrades
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noticed that the trail they were on was bleared, indicating that a settler or small settlement was ahead, and they deter- mined, if possible, to overtake and punish the savages before nightfall. They had not traveled far, when the sharp crack of two or three rifles broke the stillness of the solitude, and told too plainly that the foe was near. Without fear of harm, because they feared no danger, they pushed on a short dis- tance, and came in sight of a strong log building, built after the manner of the forts of those days. As they came at full speed in full view, the Indians, about a dozen in number, made a precipitate flight for the forest, leaving in front of the fort one killed and one wounded.
One Killed and One Wounded
There were only two families and an old trapper occupying the place, together with a lad of some fourteen years, who had escaped from one of the two cabins burned in the morn- ing. Mr. Sturgeon said that when they went to view the dead and wounded Indians, accompanied by the flaxen-haired boy, whose parents and friends had been so recently murdered and burned and witnessed the little fellow's agony as he beheld those savages and the bold and defiant look of the wounded one in the hands of his captors, he felt like arming the little fellow with gun and knife and directing him to dispatch the Indian. But that sympathy for a fallen foe, (no odds how bar- barous,) that natural impulse of humanity so characteristic of civilization, prevailed, and they lifted his dark form from the ground where it had fallen and bore him inside the fort, where he received such attention as could be given. But his wound was fatal, and in a few hours he expired, without a moan. without a sigh; with no expression of sorrow upon his countenance for butcheries committed upon the human race He entered the presence of the Great Spirit crimsoned with the blood of innocent babes and hoary-headed men.
They spent the night at the little fort, and returned to the place of rendezvous in the morning, where they met their comrades and related their adventures. Capt. Biggers did not deem it advisable to abandon the little garrison to its fate so soon, for he knew full well that the Indians would more than likely return and massacre the inmates. He therefore deter- mined to remain a few days as a protection to the inhabi- tants. But the Indians were no doubt apprised of their step
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and left, for diligent search was made for them without avail. After a few days' stay, they again resumed their march, ac- companied by the little boy named, who remained with the Captain through the entire war, and after traveling a few days with no incidents worth relating, they appeared at Ketchem's fort, near Brownstown in Jackson county, Ind., and found the little settlements near Brownstown, Rockford and Vallonia, in a state of fear and excitement, menaced on every hand by a hostile foe.
Forts at Brownstown and Vallonia
At the time the Rangers made their appearance at the line of forts connecting the settlements of that which is now Brownstown and Vallonia, the Indians had become so trouble- some as to compel the settlers to leave their homes and grow- ing crops, and seek safety in the forts. And, indeed, the Indi- ans held those places, as it were, in siege. They were num- erous and warlike, often approaching within rifle range of the forts and driving off and killing stock. Hogs were killed in- discriminately, and horses stolen to such an extent as to com- pel settlers to prepare quarters for them either inside the forts, or in the immediate vicinity, for their safety. It was no wonder that those cooped-up, affrighted and half-famished settlers hailed with rejoicing the advent of the squad of Ran- gers, and felt that with the new acquisition to their numbers they would be enabled not only to successfully defend them- selves and property from the depredations of their dusky foe, but could play the role of the offensive and rid the neighbor- hood of their presence. They were men and women in those forts in whose hands the rifle and hunting knife were no use- less burden. They were men who, from their infancy up had been inured to the toils, hardships and dangers of a pioneer life-whose homes had been in the forest far in advance of civilization, in the very presence of the enemy and under the fire of his gun, until they had become familiar with danger and the companion of toil.
The Early Settlers
There were the Ketcham's, the Berry's the Stanton's and others, whose families are not now represented in the neigh- borhood. The older members of those families have long
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and left, for diligent search was made for them without avail. After a few days' stay, they again resumed their march, ac- companied by the little boy named, who remained with the Captain through the entire war, and after traveling a few days with no incidents worth relating, they appeared at Ketchem's fort, near Brownstown in Jackson county, Ind., and found the little settlements near Brownstown, Rockford and Vallonia, in a state of fear and excitement, menaced on every hand by a hostile foe.
Forts at Brownstown and Vallonia
At the time the Rangers made their appearance at the line of forts connecting the settlements of that which is now Brownstown and Vallonia, the Indians had become so trouble- some as to compel the settlers to leave their homes and grow- ing crops, and seek safety in the forts. And, indeed, the Indi- ans held those places, as it were, in siege. They were num- erous and warlike, often approaching within rifle range of the forts and driving off and killing stock. Hogs were killed in- discriminately, and horses stolen to such an extent as to com- pel settlers to prepare quarters for them either inside the forts, or in the immediate vicinity, for their safety. It was no wonder that those cooped-up, affrighted and half-famished settlers hailed with rejoicing the advent of the squad of Ran- gers, and felt that with the new acquisition to their numbers they would be enabled not only to successfully defend them- selves and property from the depredations of their dusky foe, but could play the role of the offensive and rid the neighbor- hood of their presence. They were men and women in those forts in whose hands the rifle and hunting knife were no use- less burden. They were men who, from their infancy up had been inured to the toils, hardships and dangers of a pioneer life-whose homes had been in the forest far in advance of civilization, in the very presence of the enemy and under the fire of his gun, until they had become familiar with danger and the companion of toil.
The Early Settlers
There were the Ketcham's, the Berry's the Stanton's and others, whose families are not now represented in the neigh- borhood. The older members of those families have long
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since been numbered with the dead, and their representatives have removed to other parts. There was also James Hutch- inson, father-in-law of David Sturgeon, who, with his family, removed from Bullitt county, Kentucky, in the fall of 1809, `and settled on the farm now owned by Christian Doerr, two `miles southwest of Brownstown. On his farm stood one of the old forts (Hutchinson's). A few of the descendants still linger in the neighborhood. There was Jesse Durham, father of Harrison Durham, now living at Vallonia. He had just moved from Kentucky, and was living on the farm now own- ed by Col. Samuel T. Wells in 1811. His son Ewing, who was sheriff of Jackson county in 1840-41 during which time James Sumner was hung for the murder of his wife, was born in the fort at Vallonia, and was said to be the firstborn male child in Jackson county.
I stood at the grave of Jesse Durham, not long since in the burying ground at Vallonia, and saw that he died in 1850, at the age of 62 years. But few of his family remain to enjoy the fruits of his early labors. The Reaper's sickle has been gathering them in, and they have gone to join the father and mother beyond the cold river. There were two of the Beems -old Ranger Mike and his brother, Dick. I remember Ran- ger Mike well as he was when I was quite a young man. He was then well stricken in years, but not infirm. Time had wrought few wrinkles on his brow and to me he was the embodiment of manly strength and beauty-tall, strong and sinewy. He was just the kind of man which my youth's fancy imagined the pioneer should be. Long since he slept in his grave on Highten's hill. Quite a number of his sons and one daughter still live in the full enjoyment of that Government which the father in his youth helped so much to defend and maintain. There was also Abraham Miller, the father of Frederick, Isaac, Thomas, and Perry, (so well known here in an early day, now all deceased.) and Andrew Jackson, now of Vallonia. In early life I heard it said of Abraham Miller that he was "the honest man"-ever up-right in all his dealings with men and harmless and inoffensive. Who a- mong the old settlers of Brownstown does not remember the old man, when, bowed with the weight of more than seventy- five years, mounted on his old gray horse, he paid his weekly visits to Brownstown to dispose of his marketing. But no one I presume ever saw Abraham Miller in a grogshop. He had
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a daughter, Cinderella, now Mrs. Snyder, who was born in the fort at Vallonia in 1811. He died at the advanced age of 82 years, and rests among his friends in the cemetery at Brownstown. There, with some others the names of whom perhaps were never given the writer, were the band of patri- ots, who far in advance of civilization, came out and began a settlement in the deep forest, tenanted by wild beasts and wild and savage men.
I need not add that at the time of which I am writing- 1811-there were perhaps not seventy-five acres of cleared land in Jackson county-not a mill not a church-not a school house-not a road nor public way of travel-not a pound of salt only as the pioneers carried it from some salt works in Kentucky on horseback-and not a peck of meal only as was beaten or ground on hand mills. Not a news- paper entered the territory, strange as it may seem to us. Surrounded as we are by all the comforts, accomplishments and conveniences of this advanced age of civilization, we fail to realize and appreciate the sacrifices those men made for us.
But excuse this digression. I did not intend to write his- tory.
The Attack in the Pumpkin Patch-Killing of Buskirk
For a short time after the arrival of the Rangers at the forts named near Brownstown and Vallonia the Indians with- drew from the immediate vicinity of the same, and relieved for a time the fears and anxieties of the people. Some of them began to make preparations for returning home to pre- pare for winter. They dreaded the idea of being cooped up in the forts during the long winter with their families and stock, and they hailed with delight the apparent withdrawal of the savages. But the rejoicing was of short duration. An in- cident occurred in the latter part of October which convinced the settlers that their safety was in the forts-that the with- drawal of the Indians was only temporary, and had been used as a ruse to allay the fears of the whites, so that they might obtain advantage of and murder them. A party of two per- sons went out from Hutchinson's fort a short distance with a four-horse team to a corn and pumpkin patch to get a load of pumpkins. When in the field loading, they were surprised
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and fired on by the Indians, and one man, a Mr. Buskirk, was killed and scalped.
The other party, whose name I do not remember of hearing, escaped and gained the fort, though hotly pursued and often shot at by the Indians. The inmates of the fort, upon hearing the fate of Buskirk, and knowing the Indians were bent on stealing the horses, without a moment's delay armed them- selves and started in pursuit of them. The Indians in the meantime attempted to get away with the horses, but were foiled in this by the prompt arrival of the citizens and soldiers, and were compelled to seek safety in flight. They were pursued in a western direction until they crossed the river some two miles distant. Night was now approaching, and a cold rain had set in, and the party deemed it advisable to abandon the pursuit for the present and return to the fort for the night.
Robert Sturgeon and a Man Named Zinck Next Victims
In the meantime a detail had carried Buskirk to the fort, which at the time was defended only by the woman and one man, Hobert Sturgeon, uncle of David Sturgeon. Sturgeon, upon beholding the lifeless form and mangled scalp of Bus- kirk, stroked the bloody head and exclaimed, "Oh, God, will this be my fate!" Little did he realize how near he stood to the dark chamber of death, at the hand of the same foe. The next day Buskirk was buried near Brownstown, in a burying ground which had been established near Ketcham's fort. After the burial, the party all left for Hutchinson's fort ex- cept Robert Sturgeon. He tarried for a time at Ketcham's fort and was drinking. Late in the evening he started to the Vallonia fort, to which he was attached. When at the foot of the hill now known as the Fislar hill, at the Half Mile branch at Vallonia, he was waylaid and shot by the Indians, who, perhaps, fearing that others were just behind, left him with- out scalping. The firing of the guns and arrival of Stur- geon's horse at the fort, alarmed the inmates, and convinced them that Sturgeon was killed.
It was near sunset. Jesse Durham, Captain of the citizens' force, called for volunteers to go and bring Sturgeon in, and seven brave men immediately came forward, determined to bring his body to the fort, or perish in the attempt. The wo-
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men of the fort refused to let Durham go, desiring him to re- main and assist them in the defense of the fort, in the event the Indians should make an attack. But the other seven went among whom were two of the Beems, Adam Miller, Thomas Ewing, father of Samuel and Columbus, Joseph Brighton and two others whose names were not given, and brought him to the fort. That night the Indians stole several horses, among the rest David Sturgeon's, and made off with them in the direction of Indianapolis. All was excitement and confusion. Two of their comrades, one a citizen and the other a Ranger, in as many days, had fallen victims to the rifle and scalping knife, and on the same evening that Stur- geon was killed another party of two or three citizens were fired on in a corn patch near Vallonia though they escaped unharmed and made the fort. Men and women alike armed themselves for a combat which they deemed inevitable, and through the long hours of the night, with beating hearts, they waited the approach of the enemy.
The next morning a detail of Rangers, under Captain Big- ger, started in pursuit of the Indians, determined to punish them and recover the stolen property. When near the Haw Patch, perhaps in Bartholomew county, they overtook and had a skirmish with them, in which two Indians were killed and one white man, by the name of Zinck, mortally wounded. Four men were detailed to convey Zinck to Hutchinson's fort. After a weary march of some four or five days, as he was be- ing borne upon stretchers by faithful friends, he died on Fis- lar's hill not far from the place where Sturgeon was killed. At nightfall they placed his lifeless form before his weeping friends in the fort. The next day they buried him beside his two comrades, Sturgeon and Buskirk. To this day their graves are unmarked and no man knoweth the exact spot of their sepulchre. Perhaps the plowshare has been guided among their bones. But He who numbers the hairs of our head and marks the sparrow's fall, in His good time will gather up those crushed and mouldering skeletons, (now neg- lected by their countrymen,) and clothe them with immor- tality and eternal life. After a few days' pursuit of the In- dians, they scattered, and, the rainy season having set in, the remainder of the company returned to prepare for the approaching winter and guard the settlers while they could gather in their little crops.
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