USA > Ohio > Allen County > A standard history of Allen county, Ohio : an authentic narrative of the past, with particular attention to the modern era in the commercial, industrial, educational, civic and social development > Part 8
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The adventures of the three Girty renegades have furnished the material for many a volume of traditional and thrilling fiction. Whether plausible or not, readers have been inclined to accept at their face value the most absurd statements regarding their reputed activities. The Indian name of Simon Girty was Katepakomen. For a number of years after his return from captivity, Simon remained loyal to the American cause and attained considerable influence. He took part in Dunmore's war in 1774, with the Virginia forces, acting as guide and interpreter. It was during this campaign he became a warm friend and bosom com- panion of Simon Kenton, also one of the scouts. During these years he also made the acquaintance of Col. William Crawford, to whom he was indebted for favors. He repaid these afterward by refusing the mercy shot begged for by that officer when in his deepest suffering.
Simon Girty was commissioned a second lieutenant of the militia at Pittsburg for his services on behalf of Virginia. "On the 22nd of Feb- ruary, 1775, came Simon Girty in open court and took and subscribed the oath * * * to be faithful and bear true allegiance to his Majesty King George the Third." He is included in a special list of loyal subjects by Lord Dunmore in a report to his government. In 1775 he accompanied James Wood, a commissioner to the Indians, on a long trip through the Ohio wilderness, as guide and interpreter, at a salary of 5 shillings a day. The trip took them to the Wyandots, the Shawnees, and other Ohio tribes, and he performed his duties faithfully. His sympathies at this time were strongly with the colonies. But his loyalty to the colonial cause ended shortly after his return from this journey. Wood's com- mand was disbanded shortly after his return and Girty lost his commis- sion as lieutenant. He was employed in one other expedition dispatched to the Six Nations, but was dismissed "for ill behavior," after three months' service. Just what the unsatisfactory conduct was is not now known, for the records do not reveal it.
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It is said that jealousy over the fact that he was not named as a captain, which commission he expected as a reward for his services, was the real reason for his desertion of the American cause in 1778. He was made a second lieutenant in a company, but did not go to the front with the organization. He remained in Pittsburg on detached duty. On one occasion he was arrested for disloyalty, but was acquitted of the charge. He was again sent to the Senecas with a message. George Girty was likewise considered loyal and joined a company of patriots, being commissioned as a second lieutenant. He took part in at least one expedi- tion against the British. At this time there was a British representative and Indian trader by the name of Alexander McKee whose actions had become so suspicious that he was under constant surveillance. It was believed by the colonial authorities that he was preparing to join the British in the western country. Their suspicions were correct. It was on the night of March 28, 1778, that Simon Girty, in company with Matthew Elliot, Alexander McKee, Robert Surphlit, a man named Higgin, and the two negro servants of McKee, departed from Pittsburg for the Indian country on their way to Detroit. It is needless to say that great con- sternation followed the departure of so many well-known characters. No other three men, such as McKee, Girty, and Elliot, could have been found so well fitted to work for and among the aborigines.
The little band of traitors stopped for a brief time with the Moravian Indians by the Tuscarawas, and from there proceeded to the headquarters of the Delawares, near the present site of Coshocton. Their intrigue with this tribe nearly changed its peaceful policy into one of open hos- tility against the Americans. General Washington had been killed, they said, and the patriot army cut to pieces. They represented that a great disaster had befallen the American forces, so that the struggle was sure to end in a victory for Great Britain and that the few thousand troops vet remaining were intending to kill every Indian they should meet, whether friendly or hostile. Leaving the Delawares, Girty and two com- panions went westward to the villages of the Shawnees. That the Indians were not entirely fooled by Girty is shown by a message which the principal chief of the Delawares sent to the Shawnees. "Grand- children !" so ran the message, "ye Shawnese! Some days ago, a flock of birds, that had come on from the east, lit at Goshhochking (Cosh- octon), imposing a song of their upon us, which song had nigh proved our ruin! Should these birds, which, on leaving us, took their flight toward Scioto endeavor to impose a song on you likewise, do not listen to them, for they lie!" It was here that they met James Girty, who was easily persuaded to desert his country. He went to Detroit a few weeks later, and was employed as interpreter to remain with the Shaw- nees. A proclamation was afterwards, and in the same year issued by Pennsylvania publicly proclaiming Alexander McKee, formerly Indian trader, Simon Girty, Indian interpreter, James Girty, laborer, and Matthew Elliot, Indian trader, as aiding and abetting the common enemy and summoning them back for trial. It was not until the follow- ing year that George Girty joined his brothers, thus completing the trio of renegade brothers. He was immediately engaged by the British Indian department as an interpreter and dispatched' to the Shawnees, where he acted as disbursing agent in dealing out supplies to that tribe.
Simon Girty and Alexander McKee reached Detroit by the middle of June. It is needless to say that both were welcomed by "Hair Buyer" Hamilton, the commandant of the post. McKee was made captain and interpreter of the Indian department .. Girty was also employed at a salary of about $2.00 per day as interpreter, and sent back to Sandusky
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to encourage the savages there in their warfare upon the Americans. He formally took up his residence with the Wyandots in 1781, and his influence soon began to be felt among all the Indian tribes all over this region. With his perfect knowledge of the Wyandot, Delaware, and other Indian tongues, he was indeed an invaluable aid to the British. He became almost as cruel and heartless as the most hardened savage. He joined the Wyandots, the Shawnees and the Senecas in their murder- ous forays against the border settlements, and was always recognized as a leader. He exercised great influence over the Half King, the head chief of the Wyandots. His name became a household word of terror all over what is now the State of Ohio, for with it was associated every- thing that was cruel and inhuman. The only redeeming trait seems to have been a scrupulous honesty. In the payment of his debts he is said to have been punctilious and to have fulfilled his obligations to the last cent.
According to the records that come down to us Girty participated in many noted instances of border warfare, some of them extending down into the bloody battle-ground of Kentucky. In fact, his first maraud was into that country. Ruddle's Station was surrounded after Girty had been admitted and made seductive promises that the captives would be pro- tected from the Indians. After the surrender they were either treacher- ously killed or made prisoners of the Indians. At Bryan's Station he sought to intimidate the garrison by telling them who he was and elabor- ating upon what would happen if they did not surrender. He had almost succeeded so we are told when one young man, named Aaron Reynolds, seeing the effect of this harangue, and believing this story, as it was, to be false, of his own accord answered him in the tone of rough banter so popular with backwoodsmen: "You need not be so particular to tell us your name; we know your name and you too. I've had a vil- lianous untrustworthy cur-dog this long while, named Simon Girty, in compliment to you ; he's so like you-just as ugly and just as wicked. As to the cannon, let them come on; the country's roused, and the scalps of your red cut-throats, and your own, too, will be drying on your cabins in twenty-four hours." This spirited reply produced good results. Girty in turn was disheartened and soon withdrew.
The building of Fort Laurens in Ohio awakened Hamilton to the courage and audacity of the Americans. It was in January, 1779, that Girty was dispatched at the head of a small party of Indians to recon- noiter and take some scalps. After securing some scalps and important papers, he returned to Detroit only to find Hamilton had himself been captured. He had also succeeded in securing the loyalty of some more bands of Indians. He became the directing genius in the famous siege of Fort Laurens, on the Tuscarawas River. Implacable in his hatred and tireless in his movements, he was recognized as one of the chief agents of the British. To judge from the varied information we have of him, he seems to have been anything but a loafer, but was constantly engaged in some form of activity. Although classed on British records only as an interpreter, he seems frequently to have acted as a sub-agent in his dealings with the aborigines. Of Girty's cruelty on this occasion, Col. John Johnson, the Indian agent frequently mentioned, said: "He (Simon Girty) was notorious for his cruelty to the whites, who fell into the hands of the Indians. His cruelty to the unfortunate Col. Craw- ford is well known to myself, and although I did not witness the tragedy, I can vouch for the facts of the case, having had them from eye-wit- nesses. When that brave and unfortunate commander was suffering at the stake by a slow fire in order to lengthen his misery to the longest
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possible time, he besought Girty to have him shot to end his torments, when the monster mocked him by firing powder without ball at him." He had evidently received this information from the Wyandots. George Girty was just as cruel as his more noted brother. In company with forty warriors he took Slover, one of Crawford's party, and tied him after stripping him and painting him black. He then cursed him, telling Slover he would now get what he had deserved. He seemed to take a delight in knowing that death was to be his doom. A sudden storm came up, however, after the Indians had tied the prisoner to the stake, and Slover escaped.
When the Moravian Indians were captured by the Wyandots and brought to Sandusky, Simon Girty seemed to take delight in treating the Christian Indians and the white missionaries with cruelty. Just before he started on an expedition with a war party, Girty commissioned a Frenchman by the name of Francis Levallie, from Lower Sandusky, to conduct the missionaries to Detroit, and drive them all the way by land as though they were cattle. The Frenchman, however, was more humane and treated them kindly. He sent word to Detroit for boats to be sent to Sandusky to carry the missionaries to Detroit. Before the boats arrived, however, Girty returned and according to Heckwelder, "behaved like a madman, on hearing that we were here, and that our conductor had disobeyed his orders, and had sent a letter to the commandant of Detroit respecting us. He flew at the Frenchman, who was in the room adjoining ours, most furiously, striking at him, and threatening to split his head in two for disobeying the orders he had given him. He swore the most horrid oaths respecting us, and continued in that way until after midnight. His oaths were all to the purport that he never would leave the house until he split our heads in two with his tomahawk, and made our brains stick to the walls of the room in which we were! Never before did any of us hear the like oaths, or know any one to rave like him. He appeared like an host of evil spirits. He would sometimes come up to the bolted door between us and him, threatening to chop it in pieces to get at us. How we should escape the clutches of this white beast in human form no one could foresee. Yet at the proper time relief was at hand; for, in the morning, at break of day, and while he was still sleep- ing, two large flat-bottomed boats arrived from Detroit, for the purpose of taking us to that place. This was joyful news !"
It was in the book of fate that Simon Kenton and Simon Girty should meet once more under far different circumstances than when both were in the American service. This was due to the unfortunate capture of Kenton by his implacable enemies. Kenton had been captured by the Shawnees, and was sentenced to be burned at the stake. Girty had just returned from an expedition into Kentucky and came to see the prisoner, who was sitting upon the ground silent and dejected with his face painted black, which was the custom among the Indians when captives were doomed to the stake. Hence it was that he did not recognize Kenton until the latter spoke to him.
"What is your name?" Girty asked.
"Simon Butler," answered Kenton for that was the name he then bore.
Never did the enunciation of a name produce more electrical effect. As soon as he heard his friend's name Girty became greatly agitated. Springing up from his seat he threw himself into Kenton's arms, call- ing him his dear and esteemed friend. "You are condemned to die," said he, "but I will do all I can-use every means in my power to save your life." It was due to his efforts that a council was convened, at
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which Girty made a long and eloquent speech to the Indians in their language. He entreated them to have consideration for his feelings in this one instance. He reminded them that three years of faithful serv- ice had proved his devotion to the cause of the Indians. "Did I not," said he, "bring seven scalps home from the last expedition? Did I not also submit seven white prisoners that same evening to your discretion? Did I express a wish that a single one should be saved? This is my first and shall be my last request. From what expedition did I ever shrink? What white man has even seen my back? Whose tomahawk has been bloodier than mine?" This council decided against him by an over- whelming majority but a later one at Upper Sandusky, through the skillful manipulation of Girty, consented to place Kenton under his care and protection. Girty took him to his own wigwam and clothed him anew. For several weeks his kindness was uniform and inde- fatigable. As a result he was taken to Sandusky and thence to Detroit, from whence he made his escape in safety to Kentucky. Kenton ever afterwards spoke of Girty in grateful remembrance. Girty told Ken- ton that he had acted too hasty in deserting his country, and was sorry for the part he had taken. It is the only expression of regret that is recorded of the renegade.
For a number of years now, very little is mentioned concerning the life of this noted desperado. He remained among the Indians, how- ever. His last expedition against the Americans had been in 1783, when he led a band of red men to Nine Mile River, within five miles of Pitts- burg. Here it was he first learned that hostilities had ended, but he did not place credence in the rumor. He remained as an interpreter in the British Indian Department on half pay, practically a pensioner. His headquarters were at first at Detroit. This leisure gave him time to think of something else besides fighting, and he resolved to marry. The object of his affections was Catherine Malott, then a prisoner among the Indians, and much younger than himself. They were married in August, 1784, in Canada, near the mouth of the Detroit River, and here they took up their abode in the neighborhood of the present town of Amhertsburg. His wife is said to have been a very comely maiden, and she probably married the renegade to escape from her position as prisoner among the Indians. At the time of her marriage she was not more than half the age of her husband. His daughter, Ann, was born in 1786, a son, Thomas, another daughter, Sarah, and a second son, Prideaux, the last one being born in 1797.
After Great Britain had acknowledged the independence of the Col- onies, Simon Girty was one of the leading agents in keeping the savages loyal to the British. For the succeeding decade he stands out as a very prominent figure throughout not only Northwestern Ohio, but practically the entire Northwestern territory. There is probably not a county in this section of our state where there is not some record of his activities. His harangues had potent influence with the savages. He no longer lived with the red men, but constantly visited them as British emis- sary. He played his part well. Of this we have the testimony of Gen- eral Harmar himself. When Girty attended an Indian council at the foot of the Maumee Rapids, in 1788, he was received into the conference by the Indians as one of them. He was the mouthpiece of McKee who had established a store there.
The last time that James Girty joined in an expedition against his countrymen, so far as is known, was in 1782. The point where the portage at the head of the St. Marys began was an ideal place for the establishment of a trading post. It was then a small Indian village, but
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HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
is now occupied by the city of St. Marys. Girty had married a Shawnee woman, known as Betsey by the whites. He established himself there in 1783 as a trader, and it soon became known as Girty's Town. For a number of years he enjoyed a practical monopoly of the Indian trade. He shipped his peltry down the St. Marys to the Maumee. At every report of the approach of the Americans, James became alarmed, and on several occasions had his goods packed for immediate flight. Upon the approach of General Harmar, he moved to the confluence of the Maumee and Auglaize. Here he occupied a log cabin.
An incident is related of Oliver M. Spencer, who took dinner at Girty's home after being released from Indian captivity. While regal- ing himself Girty came in and saw the boy for the first time. The latter said to him: "So, my young Yankee, you're about to start for home?" The boy answered: "Yes, sir; I hope so." Taking his knife, he said (while sharpening it on a whetstone) : "I see your ears are whole yet ; but I'm greatly mistaken if you leave here without the Indian earmark, that we may know you when we catch you again." Spencer did not wait to prove whether Girty was in jest or in downright earnest, but leaving his meal half finished, he instantly sprang from the table, leaped out of the door, and in a few seconds took refuge in the house of a trader named Ironside.
When Wayne approached in 1794, James Girty packed up his goods and fled to Canada, but came back once more to again trade with the Indians along the Maumee. Trade was not so profitable as before, and he returned to Canada. His last trading place in Ohio was at Girty's Point, near Girty's Island. Like his brother Simon, he was also too old and infirm to participate in the War of 1812. He died on the 15th of April, 1817. He was thrifty and had accumulated considerable property. His wife died first, and two children survived him, James and Ann. He was temperate in his habits, but fully as cruel as his brothers. He would boast, so it is said, that no woman or child escaped his toma- hawk, if he got within reach of the victim.
George Girty, after the battle of Blue Licks, in 1782, returned to the upper waters of the Mad River. It is known that he continued to reside with the Delawares, but gave himself so completely up to savage life that he practically lost his identity. He is heard of occasionally in Indian forays. He married a Delaware squaw, and had several chil- dren. During his latter years he was an habitual drunkard and died during a spree at the cabin of James, near Fort Wayne, but his family remained with the tribe.
When war broke out between the United States and the Indians in 1790, Simon Girty again fought with the Indians against the Ameri- cans. The last battle in which he was known to have been actually engaged was at the defeat of St. Clair, in Mercer County, where he fought most courageously. Here he captured a white woman. A Wyandot squaw demanded the prisoner, on the ground that custom gave all female prisoners to the squaws accompanying the braves. Over Girty's objection this was done, and he was furious. He was present at the grand council held in October, 1792, at the Auglaize. (Defiance.) McKee, Elliot, and other whites were also there, but Simon Girty was the only white man admitted to the deliberations. Well had he earned the confidence reposed in him. It was no doubt a proud moment in his life, and one upon which he afterwards reflected with pleasure. At Fallen Timbers Girty, Elliot and McKee were all present, but they kept at a respectable distance near the river and did not take a part in the fighting. All three made good their. escape. After this he and
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McKee assisted in furnishing food to the Indians, whose crops had been destroyed by General Wayne. This event practically ended his wild career in the Ohio country. On only one other occasion, a few months later, did he appear as a British emissary among the Ohio Indians. Nevertheless his influence remained strong for a long time. He con- tinued to visit Detroit occasionally. He happened to be there when the American troops approached, but fled precipitately to the opposite bank. He could not wait for the boat, but plunged his horse into the river and swam to the opposite shore. He never again crossed to the fort, except during the War of 1812, when the British troops again occupied it. For sixteen years he did not step foot on American soil.
In his later years Girty seems to have made an effort to command a degree of respect as a decent citizen. The British government granted him some land in the township of Malden, Essex County, Canada. He was abhorred by all his neighbors, however, for the depravity of his untamed and undisciplined nature was too apparent. After the birth of the last son, Simon and his wife separated because of his cruelty toward her when drunk. In the War of 1812 he was incapable of active service, because his sight had almost left him. He is said, however, to have rallied a band of Wyandots to the standard of Tecumseh. When the British army returned he followed it, leaving his family at home. When General Harrison invaded Canada, Girty fled beyond his reach, but his wife remained at the home and was unharmed. In 1816, after peace was concluded, he returned to his farm, where he died on the 18th of February, in the year 1818. He actually gave up liquor for a few months prior to his dissolution. He is said to have been very peni- tent, as the end drew nigh. He was buried on his farm. A squad of Brit- ish soldiers attended the funeral, and fired a parting salute over his grave. His youngest son was on one occasion a candidate for parlia- ment, but was defeated. He became a man of considerable influence, and finally moved to Ohio, where he died. All of his children lived and married. Thomas died before his father, but left three children. The widow of Simon survived him for many years, and did not die until 1852. All of her children enjoyed unsullied reputations.
One of the most interesting narratives of Indian captivity that has been handed down to us is one by Oliver M. Spencer. He was taken captive not far from Cincinnati, but most of his captivity was spent in the Maumee region in Ohio. While at Defiance, the old Indian priestess, Coo-coo-Cheeh, with whom he lived, took him to a neighboring Shaw- nee village called Snaketown, on the site of Napoleon. There he saw the celebrated chief, Blue Jacket, and Simon Girty, of whom he speaks as follows: "One of the visitors of Blue Jacket (the Snake) was a plain, grave chief of sage appearance; the other, Simon Girty, whether it was from prejudice, associating with his look the fact that he was a renegade, the murderer of his own countrymen, racking his diabolic invention to inflict new and more excruciating tortures, or not ; his dark, shaggy hair, his low forehead, his brows contracted, and meeting above his short flat nose; his gray sunken eyes, averting the ingenuous gaze ; his lips thin and compressed, and the dark and sinister expression of his countenance, to me, seemed the very picture of a villain. He wore the Indian costume, but without any ornament; and his silk handker- chief while it supplied the place of a hat, hid an unsightly wound in his forehead. On each side of his belt was stuck a silver-mounted pistol, and at his left hung a short broad dirk, serving occasionally the uses of a knife. He made of me many inquiries; some about my family, and the particulars of my captivity; but more of the strength of the different garrisons; the number of American troops at Fort Washing-
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ton, and whether the President intended to send another army against the Indians. He spoke of the wrongs he had received at the hands of his countrymen, and with fiendish exultation of the revenge he had taken. He boasted of his exploits, of the number of his victories, and of his personal prowess; then raising his handkerchief and exhibiting the deep wound in his forehead (which I was afterwards told was inflicted by the tomahawk of the celebrated Indian chief, Brandt, in a drunken frolic) said it was a sabre cut, which he received in battle at St. Clair's defeat ; adding with an oath, that he had 'sent the d-d Yankee officer' that gave it 'to h-1'. He ended by telling me that I would never see home; but if I should turn out to be a good hunter and a brave warrior, I might one day be a chief. His presence and conver- sation having rendered my situation painful, I was not a little relieved when, a few hours after ending our visit, we returned to our quiet lodge on the bank of the Maumee."
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