Historical collections of Ohio in three volumes ; an encyclopedia of the state : with notes of a tour over it in 1886 contrasting the Ohio of 1846 with 1886-90, Vol. III, Part 40

Author: Howe, Henry, 1816-1893
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Columbus, Ohio : Henry Howe & Son
Number of Pages: 1200


USA > Ohio > Historical collections of Ohio in three volumes ; an encyclopedia of the state : with notes of a tour over it in 1886 contrasting the Ohio of 1846 with 1886-90, Vol. III > Part 40


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89


Bear-Anu, e. Raccoon-Ha, in, te, roh. Fox-Th.na, in, ton, to.


Beaver-Soo, taie. Mink-So, hoh, main, dia. Turkey-Daigh. ton, tah.


Squirrel-Ogh, ta, eh. Otter-'T'a. wen, deh. Dog-Yun. ye, nah.


Cow-Kin, ton, squa, ront. Horse-Ugh, shut, te, or man carrier.


Goose-Yah, hounk.


Duck-Yu, in, geh.


Man-Air. ga. hon.


Woman-Utch, ke.


Girl-Ya, weet, sen, tho.


Boy-Oma, int, sent, e, hah.


Child-Che.ah, ha.


Old man-Ha, o, tong.


Old woman-Ut, sindag, sa. My wife-Aznt, tun, oh,oh. Corn-Nay, hah. Beans-Yah, re, sah.


Potatoes-Da, ween, dah.


Melons, or pumpkins-O, nugh, sa. Grass-E,ru, ta. Weed-Ha, en, tan.


Trees-Ye, aron, ta. Wood-O,tagh, ta. House-Ye, anogh.sha.


Gun-Who, ra. min, ta.


Powder-Tegh, sta. Lead-Ye, at,ara. Flints-Ta, wegh, ske, ra. Knife-We, ne, ash, ra. Axe-Otto. ya,ye. Blanket-Deengh, tat, sca.


282


SHELBY COUNTY.


Kettle-Ya,yan, e, tith.


Rum-We, at, se, wie.


River-Ye, an, da, wa. Bread-Da, ta, rah.


ITe is a thief-Run, neh, squa, hoon.


Good man-Room, wae, ta, wagh, stee.


Shirt-Ca, tu, reesh.


Legginos-Ya, ree.


Bell-Te.ques, ti, egh, tas, ta.


Saddle-Qnagh,she, ta. Bridle-Cong, shu, ree.


Fire-Sees, ta.


Flour-Ta.ish, rah.


Hog-Quis, quesh.


Big house-Ye, a, nogh, shu, wan, a.


Corn field-Ya. yan, quagh, ke.


Musk rat-Se, he, ash, i, ya, hah.


Cat-Dush, rat.


Wild cat-Skaink, qua, hagh.


Mole-Ca, in, dia, he, nugh, qua.


Snake-To, en, gen, seek.


Frog-Sun, day, wa, shu, ka.


Americans-Sa.ray, u, migh, or big knives.


Englishman-Qu, han, stro, no.


Frenchman-Tu, hugh, car, o, no.


My brother-Ha, en, ye, ha.


My sister-A, en, ya, ha.


Father-Ha, yes, ta.


Mother-Ane, heh.


Sick-Shat, wu, ra.


Well-Su, we, regh, he.


Cold-Ture, a.


Warm-Ote, re, a, ute.


Snow-De, neh, ta.


Ice-Deesh, ra.


Water-Sa, un, dus, tee, the, the origin of San- dusky, the bay, river and county of that name.


Friend-Ne, at, a, rugh.


Enemy-Ne, mat, re, zue.


War-Tre, zne.


Peace-Sean, o, nie.


Are you married-Scan, dai, ye.


I am not married yet-Augh, sogh, a, sante,- te, sandai,ge.


Come here-Owa, he.


Go away-Sa, cati, arin, ga.


You trouble me-Ska, in, gen, tagh, qua.


I am afraid-I,agh, ka, ron, se.


I love yon-Yn. now, moi, e.


I hate you-Yung, squa, his.


I go to war-A. yagh, kee.


I love peace-Eno, moigh, an, dogh.sken, onie.


I love all men-Away, tee, ken, onie.


I have conquered my enemy-O, negh, e, ke, - wishe. noo.


I don't like white men-Icar, tri, zue, egh, har, - taken,ome, enu, mah. .


Indians-I, om, when.


Negro-Ahon, e,sce.


Apples-Sow, se, wat. Fruit-Ya, heeghk.


Sugar-Se, ke, ta. Honey-the same.


Bees-Un, dagh, quont.


Salt-Anu, magh, ke, he, one, or the white people's sugar.


Moccasin-Aragh. shee.


How do you do-Tu, ough, qua, no, u.


I amy sorry-I. ye, et, sa, tigh.


I am hungry-Yat, o, regh, shas, ta.


You will be filled-E.sagh, ta, hah.


I am dying-E, hye, ha, honz.


God forgive me-Ho, ma, yen, de, zuti, et, te, - rang.


Auglaize river-Qns, quas, run, dee, or the falling timber on the river.


Blanchard's fork of the Auglaize-Quegh, - tu, wa, or claws in the water.


Sandusky-Sa, un, dos, tee, or water within water-pools.


Muskingum-Da, righ, quay, a town or place of residence.


Cuyahoga-Ya, sha, hia, or the place at the wing.


Miami of the lake-Cagh, a, ren, du,te, or standing rock. At the head of the rapids of this river there is in the middle of the stream a large elevated rock, which, at a distance, very much resembles a house. The place was named by the French Roche de Boef, and hence the Standing rock river. The sea of salt water-Yung, ta, rez, ue. The lakes-Yung, ta, rah.


Detroit -- Yon, do, tia, or great town.


Defiance, now the county seat of Defiance county, at the junction of the Auglaize and Miami of the lake-Tu, enda, wie, or the junction of two rivers. After defeat- ing the Indians in 1794, Gen. Wayne, on his return, built Fort Defiance, thereby proclaiming defiance to the enemy.


Chillicothe town-Tat, a.ra, ra. or leaning bank. Chillicothe is Shawanoese, and is the name of one of their tribes.


Cincinnati-Tn, ent, a. hah, e.wagh, ta, a land- ing place, where the road leaves the river. Ohio river-O, he, zuh, ye, an, da, wa, or some- thing great.


Mississippi-Yan, da, we,zuc, or the great river.


NAMES OF RIVERS BY THE SHAWANOESE-SPOKEN SIIA, WA, NO.


Ohio, i. e. Eagle river.


Ken, a. wa-meaning having whirlpools, or swallowing up. Some have it that an evil spirit lived in the water, which drew substances to the bottom of the river.


Sci, o, to was named by the Wyandotts, who formerly resided upon it. A large town was at Columbus, having their cornfields on the bottom grounds opposite that city. The Wy- andotts pronounce the word Sci, on, to, signification unknown.


Great Miamie-Shi, me, a, mee, sepe, or Big Miamie.


Little Miamie-Che, ke, me, a, mec, sepe, or Little Miamie.


Mus. king, um is a Delaware word, and means a town on the river side. The Shawanoese call it Wa, ka, ta, mo, sepe, which has the same signification.


Prisoner-Yan, dah, squa.


Dollar-Sogh, ques, tut.


Fish-Ye, ent,so. Plnms-At.su, meglist.


M


283


SHELBY COUNTY.


Hock, hock, ing is Delaware, and means a bottle. The Shawanoese have it Wea, tha, kagh, qua, sepe-Bottle river.


Auglaize river-Cow, the, na, ke.sepe, or falling timber river.


Saint Mary's river-Ca, ko, the, ke, sepe, or kettle river-cako, the, ke, a kettle.


Miamie of the lake-Ot, ta, wa, sepe, or Ottawa river. The Ottawas had several towns on is river as late as 1811, and down to within 10 years. They occupied the country about the lake shore, Maumee bay and the rapids above Perrysburgh.


Blanchard's fork of the Auglaize-Sha, po, qua, te, sepe, or Tailor's river. Sandusky riverc-alled by the Shawanoese Po, ta, ke, sepe, a rapid river.


Detroit strait, or river-Ke, ca, ne,ge, the narrow passage, or strait.


Kentucky is a Shawanoese word, and signifies at the head of a river.


Licking river, which enters the Ohio opposite the city of Cincinnati-the Shawanoese have it, Ne, pe, pim, me, sepe, from Ne, pe, pim, me, salt, and sepe, river, i. e. salt river.


Mad river-by the Shawanoese, Athe, ne, sepe, athe, ne, a flat or smooth stone, and sepe, river, i. e. a flat or smooth stone river.


A GERMAN CATHOLIC COMMUNITY.


The village of BERLIN, P. O. Loramies, has about 500 inhabitants. It is in the township of MeLean, fourteen miles northwest of Sidney. It was laid out on December 2d, 1837, by Jonathan Counts for William Prillman, proprietor, on the line of the Miami Canal. It has in the St. Michael's Church, consecrated in 1881, one of the most beautiful of churches. It is in the Italian Gothic style and is richly decorated with paintings, statuary, frescoed walls, altars, etc. His- torically the site is interesting, being on the line of Loramies Creek, or the " West branch of the Big Miami " of ancient maps. The site of old fort Loramie is within a mile of it. Several relies have been discovered in this locality, and among them a silver cross evidently belonging to the French chevaliers of that early and warlike period. This relic is preserved by the priest at Berlin, Rev. Wm. Bigot.


Sutton's County History gives the following description of the community which is valuable, as it illustrates the characteristics of the Catholic Germans, whose industry and thrift has so largely helped to develop the wilderness of Northwestern Ohio. After stating that the people of the village and township are almost ex- elusively Germans or direct descendants of this nationality, the work says :


A marked characteristic of the people is the industry observable on every hand. This German element came here into the woods, and by hard incessant toil cleared away the primeval forest, wringing farms from the wilderness and building a town on the ruins of a forest. In common with the people of the township the inhabitants are almost uniformly Catholics in religion and Democrat in politics. There were peculiarities which brought about these results, among which we mention as one factor the authority of Rev. Mr. Bigot. After settlement here the Ger- mans strove to prevent the settlement of Americans in their midst, and by different methods very nearly succeeded. Still a few straggling Americans settled on lands within the township, but each soon found it desir- able to leave, and so was bought out as early as he would sell, and was generally succeeded by a German. This at least was the plan of the German settlers themselves, and keeping the plan in view, they have preserved the


characteristics of nationality, religion and polities up to the present.


Throughout the town and township the German characteristics are preserved to such an extent that a stranger would question his senses as to the possibility of a community, no larger than this, maintaining the integrity of all German habits, customs and manners. They have cleared excellent farms, erected substantial buildings, and in their own way and according to their own ideas, pursue the enjoyments of life. Perhaps their church comes first, and the building is almost fit for the abode of personal gods. Next come social customs, and fronting these is lager beer, without which it appears life would be a burden, and liberty a misnomer. Following this comes polities, in which field some one man will be found to hold an electoral dictatorship, and on election day Democratic ballots will be found thick " thick as autumnal leaves in Vallombrosa." There are, in short, characteristics here which the next generation will not entirely outgrow nor outrun.


The Rector at Berlin, Rev. Wm. Bigot, above alluded to, like many of the Catholic priests who have come to Ohio to look after the moral and spiritual wel- fare of their Ohio people, has had a previous training in the cause of suffering


1


اسد ؟


1


284


SHELBY COUNTY.


humanity. In the Franco-Prussian war he was given the pastorate over 12,000 captured and wounded French soldiers who were within the enemies' lines. Hle thus passed eleven months of arduous labor, enduring many privations and reliev- ing suffering. For his services the French Government conferred upon him the " Cross of Chivalry of the Legion of Honor and the Cross of Merit." His portrait in the County History appears as that of a young man rendered strik- ingly refined and sweet from the indwelling of a pure and benevolent spirit.


THE LORAMIE PORTAGE AND RESERVOIR.


The topography of this part of the county is interesting from the fact that it is the highest land between Lake Erie and the Ohio, and here within a few miles of each other the head streams of the Miami and the Maumee take their rise. For untold centuries it was the main route of travel between the two, the savage dwellers going in their canoes all the way excepting a few miles by portage. This portage in very high water was reduced to only six miles. Wayne's army made Fort Piqua, just below the mouth of the Loramie Creek, their place of deposit for stores. Their portage from these to Fort Loramie was fourteen miles, thenee to St. Mary's twelve miles. Loaded boats sometimes aseended to Loramie, the loading frequently taken out and hauled to St. Mary's. The boats also moved aeross on wheels, were again loaded and launched for Fort Wayne, Defiance and the Lake ! The Loramie Reservoir is on the line of the Loramie Creek. It is seven miles long, two and a-half wide in the lower part, and contains 1,800 aeres, and abounds in fish and fowl.


ANNA is 7 miles north of Sidney on the D. & M. R. R. It was laid out in 1858 by J. W. Carey, and named from his daughter, Mrs. Anna Thirkield. Newspapers : Times, Independent, A. S. Long, editor and publisher. Churches : 1 Methodist Episcopal, 1 Lutheran. Population, 1880, 266. School eensus, 1888, 162. Capital invested in manufacturing establishments, $23,000. Value of annual produet, $33,000 .- Ohio Labor Statistics, 1888.


LOCKINGTON is 6 miles southwest of Sidney on the Miami and Erie Canal. It has churches, 1 Methodist Episcopal and 1 United Baptist. Population, 1880, 219. School census, 1888, 80.


PORT JEFFERSON is 5 miles northeast of Sidney on the Great Miami River. Population, 1880, 421. School census, 1888, 168.


HARDIN is 5 miles west of Sidney on the C. C. C. & I. R. R. School census, 1886, 54.


MONTRA is 12 miles northeast of Sidney. School census, 1888, 117.


7


١


285


STARK COUNTY.


STARK.


STARK COUNTY was established February 13, 1808, and organized in January, 1809. It was named from Gen. John Stark, an officer of the revolu- tion, who was born in Londonderry, New Hampshire, in 1728, and died in 1822. The surface is generally rolling ; the central and northeast portions are slightly undulating. The soil is a sandy loam ; in some parts of the north and east a clay soil predominates. It is a rich agricultural county, one of the great wheat pro- ducing counties. It embraces within itself the requisite facilities for making it the seat of various manufactures-mineral coal, iron ore, flocks of the choicest sheep, and great water power. Limestone abounds, and inexhaustible beds of lime marl exist. It was settled mainly by Pennsylvania Germans, and from Germany and France.


Area about 580 square miles. In 1887 the acres cultivated were 202,996; in pasture, 48,540; woodland, 41,991; lying waste, 6,080; produced in wheat, 986,962 bushels; rye, 2,195 ; buckwheat, 610 ; oats, 944,367 ; barley, 6,434 ; corn, 1,020,356 ; broom-corn, 60 pounds brush ; meadow hay, 42,107 tons ; elover hay, 25,649 ; flax seed, 12 bushels ; potatoes, 171,921 ; tobacco, 100 pounds; butter, 1,155,775 ; cheese, 1,097,000 ; sorghum, 940 gallons; maple syrup, 16,881; honey, 12,766 pounds ; eggs, 762,909 dozen ; grapes, 52,208 pounds; wine, 637 gallons ; sweet potatoes, 578 bushels ; apples, 118,588. [In 1876 it produced in apples 881,832 bushels, probably never equalled by any other county in the State.] Peaches, 24,799 ; pears, 3,697 ; wool, 194,716 pounds ; milch cows owned, 12,676. Ohio Mining Statistics, 1888 : Coal, 793,227 tons, employing 1,747 miners and 216 outside employees ; iron ore, 11,455 tons ; fire clay, 14,730; limestone, 2,043 tons burned for lime.


School census, 1888, 25,376 ; teacliers, 443. Miles of railroad track, 239.


TOWNSHIPS AND CENSUS.


1840.


1880.


TOWNSHIPS AND CENSUS.


1840.


1880.


Bethlehem,


1,019


2,304


Paris,


2,474


2,639


Canton,


3,298


14,873


Perry,


2,210


9,219


Jackson,


1,546


2,079


Pike,


1,409


1,514


Lake,


2,162


2,177


Plain,


1,838


2,540


Lawrence,


2,045


4,351


Sandy,


1,265


1,265


Lexington,


1,640


6,287


Sugar Creek,


1,862


2,285


Marlboro,


1,670


1,942


Tusearawas,


1,942


2,957


Nimishillen,


1,927


3,114


Washington,


1,389


2,187


Osnaburg,


2,333


2,298


Population of Stark in 1820 was 12,406 ; 1830, 26,552; 1840, 34,617; 1860, 42,978 ; 1880, 64,031 ; of whom 47,161 were born in Ohio ; 5,885 Pennsylvania ; 586 New York ; 306 Indiana ; 302 Virginia; 36 Kentucky ; 4,100 German Empire ; 1,451 England and Wales ; 917 France; 623 Ireland ; 294 Sootland ; 129 British America, and 23 Norway and Sweden. Census, 1890, 84,170.


The first Moravian missionary in Ohio, Mr. Frederick Post, settled in 1761 in what is now Bethlehem township, on the north side of the Muskingum, at the junction of its two forks, the Sandy and Tuscarawas. The locality called Tuscararatown is on the south side of the river, just above Fort Laurens, and immediately contiguous to Bolivar. Just there was the Indian ford, on the line of the great Indian trail running west. The site of Post'sdwelling, or missionary station, was long indicated by a pile of stones, which had probably formed the back wall of the chimney. The site of the garden differs from the woods around it in the total want of heavy timber. The ruins of a trader's house, on the opposite side of the river, have been mistaken for those of the missionary station.


.


٥


Y


N


286


STARK COUNTY.


The dwelling built by Post must have been the first house erected in Ohio by whites, excepting such as may have been built by traders or French Jesuits. The Indian and Moravian village of Schoenbrun was not commenced until 1772, eleven years later.


Loskiel's History of the Missions says, in allusion to this mission-" On the Ohio river, where, since the last war, some Indians lived who had been baptized by the brethren, no- thing could be done up this time. . However, brother Frederick Post lived, though of his own choice, about 100 English miles west of Pittsburgh, at Tnseararatown, with a view to commence a mission among those Indians. The brethren wished him the blessings of the Almighty to his undertaking ; and when he asked for an assistant to help him in his outward concerns, and who might, during the same time, learn the language of the Delaware Indians, they (the brethren) made it known to the congregation of Bethlehem, whereupon the brother John Heckewelder concluded of his own choice to assist him."


"We know of Post that he was an active and zealous missionary, but had married an In- dian squaw, contrary to the wishes and advice of the directory, who had the oversight of the Moravian missions, and by that aet had forfeited so much of his standing that he would not be acknowledged as one of our missionaries in any other manner than under the direction and guidance of another missionary. Whenever he went farther, and acted on his own accord, he was not opposed, had the good will of the society, of which he continued a mem- ber, and its directory, and even their assistance, so far as to make known his wants to the congregation, who threw no obstacle in the way if any person felt inclined of his own choice to assist him ; but he was not then acknowledged as their missionary, nor entitled to any farther or peenniary assistance." This will explain the above passage in Loskiel.


" In Heckewelder's Memoirs, written by himself, and printed in Germany, there is a short allusion to the same subject. He says, in substance, that he had in his early youth frequent opportunities of seeing Indians, and that gradually he became desirons of becoming useful to them ; that already in his 19th year, his desire was in some measure gratified, as he was called upon by Government to accompany the brother Frederick Post to the western Indians on the Ohio. He then mentions some of the fatigues and dangers of the journey, and that he returned in the latter half of the year 1762. In Heckewelder's Narrative of the Indian missions of the United Brethren, he gives a more detailed account of this mission. He says, in effect, that Frederick Post, who had the preceding year [1761] visited the Indians on the Muskingum, thought he would be able to introduce Christianity among them ; that the writer of the narrative, by and with the consent of the directors of the society, went with him principally to teach the Indian children to read and write. They set out early in March, and came to where Post had the preceding year built a house on the bank of the river Muskingum, at the distance of about a mile from the Indian village, which lay to the south across the river. When they commeneed elearing, the Indians ordered them to stop and appear before their council the next day, where Post appeared, and was charged with deceit, inasmuch as he had informed the Indians his intentions were to teach them the word of God, and now he took possession of their lands, etc. Post answered that he wanted no more land than sufficient to live from it, as he intended to be no burden to them, ete. ; whereupon they concluded that he should have 50 steps in every direction, which was stepped off by the chief next day. He farther says, that an Indian treaty being to be held at Lancaster in the latter part of summer, Post was requested by the governor of Pennsylvania to bring some of the western Delawares to it, which he did, leaving Heckewelder, who returned the same fall, in October, from fear of a war, etc. Post probably never returned to this station."


In Zeisberger's Memoirs there is no allusion to this mission, though he and Post were frequently associates at an earlier date, and in 1745 were imprisoned together in New York as spies. The foregoing is abridged from papers in the Barr MSS., comprising a letter from Mr. Thomas Goodman, in which was eopied one from Judge Bliekensderfer, of Dover, who had earefully investigated the subject. No mission it seems was established, only an attempt to found one was made. - Old Edition.


A RUNNING FIGHT.


The following account of the only fight between the whites and Indians known to have occurred within the present limits of Stark county has been furnished us by Dr. Lew Slusser, of Canton.


Before the settlement of whites in this part of Ohio, the general government authorized the formation of scouting parties, known as " scouts " or " spies," whose duty it was to reconnoiter the country beyond the Ohio.


These scouting parties were made up of men accustomed to the privations and ex- posure incident to border life. Many of them


had encountered Indians before, and knew something by experience, of their habits and mode of warfare. They received from the



1


287


STARK COUNTY.


Government monthly pay and ammunition, furnishing their own arms. It was their duty on the discovery of any sign of Indians, to re- turn immediately and give the alarm, that the frontier settlers might adopt measures for their own protection.


There was a company of five, all of whom afterward became citizens of Stark county- James Downing. Sr., John Cuppy, Isaac Mil- ler, George Foulk and Thomas Dillon. Dil- lon and Foulk had both been captured by the Indians when young, lived with them many years and knew their habits and customs. Downing was captain of the company.


The party left their place of rendezvous for a scont, in April, 1793. They crossed the Ohio river at the mouth of Yellow Creek, followed up the north branch to near its source, then directed their course west to the head waters of Sandy. After reconnoitering for miles around without discovering any sign of Indians, they came to the conclusion, there were none about. Up to this time, they had not discharged a gun, from fear of being dis- covered. The rations with which they had supplied themselves on starting, were nearly exhausted, and they concluded it would be safe to kill some game. Downing shot a deer and another of the party a turkey. This was on the morning of the fourth day out, be- tween Little Sandy and Indian Run. As they had not yet taken breakfast, they con- cluded to prepare the meal.


A party of Indians numbering eighteen or twenty of the Ottaway and Wyandot tribes, heard the firing and detected the locality of the sconts. They divided their force into two parties, with the purpose of approaching them from a different course, one of which was from a direction the scouts would be most likely to take in an effort to escape.


While Cuppy was engaged examining his gun he happened to look up, and saw at a dis- tance an Indian moving about peering through the underbrush. He immediately sprang to his feet and gave the alarm. As soon as the Indian saw he was discovered, he turned and ran, and as he did so, Cappy fired at him, but without effect. Miller and Foulk snatched up their guns and gave chase. The ground was sparsely timbered. Miller was in the advance, when Foulk called to him to halt, as he knew just as soon as the Indian reached a more heavily timbered piece of ground he would stop behind a tree and shoot Miller as he approached. Therenpoy Miller turned about and he and Foulk started for the place they had left. Meanwhile the other party of Indians, numbering six or eight, made their appearance in another direction. They were bold and demonstrative.


Downing said to Cuppy and Dillon : "Let us stand together and defend ourselves to the last." "No," replied Dillon, "each one for himself"-and suiting his action to the senti- ment, started on a run. Downing and Cuppy kept together and moved cantionsly along the higher ground or upper bench towards the forks of Sandy. As the Indians pressed upon them too closely, they would turn, raise


their guns as though they intended to shoot. Then the Indians would jump around, throw up their hands, and run upon the hands and knees. evidently for the purpose of diverting the aim of the whites.


By degrees they became bolder and ad- vanced closer, when Downing, taking advan- tage of a good opportunity, shot the nearest, which had the effect of keeping the others at a greater distance. Soon after, Downing and Cuppy caught up with Dillon, who appeared much exhausted as though about to fall. Dillon begged "for God's sake" that they would help him, and as Downing turned and saw his face, he discovered that he was chok- ing with his necktie. Dillon in his haste to loosen it and assist his breathing, pulled the wrong end and made it tighter. Downing cut. the neckerchief with his belt knife, thereby releasing him, when Dillon immedi- ately took a fresh start and was soon out of sight. Downing and Cuppy were both past middle age and somewhat fleshy. They had both run until nearly exhausted, and knew they could not hold out much longer. Downing said to Cuppy, "I can't go any farther-I'll stand and fight under this thorn bush if I die," and stand he did. At the same time Cuppy got behind a tree, and both awaited the approach of the savages, deter- mined to make the best resistance they were able.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.