History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley, Part 53

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 728

USA > Ohio > Jefferson County > History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley > Part 53
USA > Ohio > Belmont County > History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley > Part 53

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Mr. Edgington paid a high tribute to Indian virtue in his description of this warrior. According to his account he was the "noblest, best man-the man of the best principle he ever knew-white, black or red." Sometimes the other Indians would impose upon the captive. His master would pat him on the back to encourage him to fight, and would applaud his manly resistance. Sometimes when they would double on him, his captor would interfere with knife and hatchet, and cut and slash right and left. He would share with him his blanket, and robe, giving Edgington the largest share, and divide with him his last morsel of meat.

"Edgington was finally released and returned home after a two years' captivity, but always held in grateful remembrance his kindhearted Indian master."

SUBSEQUENT HISTORY OF THE POES.

Andrew Poe was straight and tall, being six feet and two inches tall, with large bones, covered with well developed sinews and muscles, and though he weighed over two hundered pounds, he carried no superfluous flesh. Broad shoulders, slightly rounded, and a deep, full chest, were surmounted by a large and well balanced head-the whole physique indicating great strength and extraordinary power of endurance. His large hazel eye, slightly acquiline nose, and thin compressed lips, indexed the firmness and strength for which he was dis- tinguished.

He sold his possessions on Harmon's creek and purchased a tract of land lying near Hookstown, Beaver county, Pa., to which he removed in 1790. The cabin in which he lived, hav- ing been burned by the Indians during his absence from home; he built, in 1795, a large, two-story, hewed log house. The upper story was left without windows, and was intended as a kind of fort, in case of an attack by the Indians, and as a gen- eral store-house for provisions, grain, gears, saddles and other things likely to be carried off by the Indians.

This house is still standing, and is occupied by one of his de- scendants. It is in a good state of preservation, only two of the logs on the west end showing any signs of decay. The port holes pierced in either end, though filled up with brick, are plainly visible. Some of the heavy pins put in the walls upon which to hang harness, and also two brackets, made of the forks of dogwood limbs upon which he hung his trusty rifle, still re- main as he left them. The oaken floor was made of boards sawed from the log by a whip saw, and is fastened down with wrought iron nails. It is sound and solid, and looks as though it might last until another centennial. No one can look upon this old building, that has stood while nearly four generations have passed away, and not regard it with feelings of interest. It is one of the few remaining links connecting the present with the heroic generation of the past century.

Andrew Poe was a member of the Presbyterian church at Mill Creek, Beaver county, Pa., during all or the greater part of the pastorate of the Rev. George Scott, which lasted for over forty years.

RESIDENCE OF JAMES KELLY, SPRINGFIELD TWP. JEFFERSON Cº 0.

JOSEPH C. MC CLEARY.

Mrs. BENJ.

LEE. O

Mr.

LEE. Q

BENJ.

FARM RESIDENCE OF BENJ. LEE, JEFFERSON COUNTY, OHIO.

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES, OHIO.

After a short illness, he died in peace, in 1831, at his resi- dence above described, and his remains lie buried in the ceme- tery connected with Mill creek church.

Adam Poe was not so tall as his brother, but physically, was equally well-formed, but differed more widely from him in his social temperament.

After removing from Harmon's creek, he settled at the mouth of Little Beaver, on the west side of the Ohio river,

While residing here a circumstance occurred never before pub- lished, illustrative of his strength and courage. Four Indians had gone over to Georgetown and got drunk, and, having re- turned, slept off the effects of their intoxication on the river bank. When they had sobered up, they demanded of Mr. Poe their guns. He told them he knew nothing about them. At this they got angry and commenced coming into the yard with the intention of attacking him. But as fast as they entered he caught them and threw them over the fence. He repeated this two or three times, then going into his cabin, he told his wife to take the children and flee into the cornfield, that he would stay and defend the house. He seized his gun and pointed it at the approaching savages, who seeing their danger fled to the woods and gave him no further trouble.

It was also while he lived at this place that the Wyandots de- termined to assassinate him in revenge for their loss in this affair, and detailed one of their most fearless warriors to accom- plish the deed. On the arrival of the Indian, Poe received him with friendship, and showered him with the kindest attention. Poe's cabin contained but one room, as they were built in those days, and but two beds, one for himself and wife, and a smaller one for the children. In the evening, the Indian intimated a desire to remain all night, if Poe and his wife did not object, when they assured him he was perfectly welcome, and made up a pallet on the floor before a huge log fire. Ronyeness, which was the Indian's name, lay awake until he was satisfied that the family were asleep.

After struggling with various emotions for an hour, he arose and cautiously approached the bed in which Poe and his wife were sleeping. Catching a glimpse of the faces of his intended victims, from the rays of the moon shining through a window near the bed and falling upon them, as he raised his tomahawk to deal the fatal blow, he was so impressed with the perfidy of the act, and so overcome by the recollection of the kindness that had been shown him that his heart relented and he returned to his resting place and slept till morning.

This Indian was a relative of the large Indian that Poe had killed, and traveled over a hundred miles to avenge his death by killing Poe, but spared his life through kindness. He had often attended the Christian Indian's meeting at their town on the Sandusky, and there, probably, had received the germ of their religion. After wandering with the missionary, Zeisberger, for several years, he came to Goshen in 1798, a convert, and there died.

From Little Beaver, Adam Poe moved to a place six miles west of New Lisbon, and from thence to Wayne county, Ohio. After residing here a few years, the infirmities of age led him to seek a home with his eldest son, Andrew, father of the late Adam Poe of the M. E. Church. He died, at Massilon, Ohio, in 1840, in the 96th year of his age. When dying, he closed his own eyes with his fingers, and then quietly passed away.

CAPTAIN SAMUEL BRADY.

Of the many brave spirits who started into existence at the first drum-tap of the revolution, but few have become better known, or more respected in the west, than the gallant Brady, captain of the spies.

At a very early age, this devoted partizan gave indications of future usefulness ; exhibiting in all his movements a spirit and a purpose to do and dare, which marked him as a man of no ordinary character, and proved him fit for almost any emer- gency.

Brady was emphatically the Marion of the west. Like the Chevalier Bayard, he " was without fear and without reproach." A bolder or braver man never drew a sword or fired a rifle ; and these marked elements of his nature rendered him the terror of the Indian warrior, whether on the scout or in the wigwam, for he felt himself alike insecure from the noiseless vengeance of the "leader of the spies." No man stood higher in the estecm of the hardy settlers, and no name could inspire more of confidence and of safety, than that of Samuel Brady. During the whole of the fierce, protracted, and sanguine war which ravaged the frontier settlements of Virginia, Pennsylvania and

eastern border of Ohio, from 1785 to 1794, no man could so quiet the trembling and fear-stricken settlers as Captain Brady. His presence, backed by the band of devoted followers who always stepped in his footprints, was felt as security everywhere. The fond mother, who in after years related to her children the many thrilling incidents of frontier life which she witnessed and passed through, never failed, as she thanked her Heavenly Father for having protected her little innocents from the scalp- ing-knife and tomahawk, to express her heartfelt gratitude to him who had been the instrumentality of saving her all from savage barbarity.

Samuel Brady was born at Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, in 1756. His father, John Brady, was made a captain in the Colonial army, for his services in the old French and Indian wars. The family, at an early day, moved to the Susquehanna. On the breaking out of the Revolution, Samuel joined a volun- teer company, and marched to Boston. The patriotic fervor of the youth, prompted the commander to offer young Brady a commission ; but his father objected, thinking he was too young, saying, "First let him learn the duties of a soldier, and then he will better know how to act as an officer."

In 1776, Samuel Brady was appointed a first Lieutenant. He continued with the army, and was in all the principal engage- ments until after the battle of Monmouth, when he was promo- ted to a captaincy, and ordered to the west under Colonel Brod- head. On their march, he had leave to visit his friends in North- umberland county. His father, in 1776, had accepted a cap- taincy in the 12th Pennsylvania regiment, been badly wounded at the battle of Brandywine, and was then at home. Whilst there, he heard of his brother's death, who had been murdered by the Indians on the 9th of August, 1778. He remained at home until 1779, and then rejoined his regiment at Pittsburgh. During the same year, his father was murdered by the Indians; and then it was our hero swore vengeance against the whole race. Terribly, too, did he keep that vow.

In 1779, the Indians became very troublesome in the settle- ments above Pittsburgh. Washington, as we have elsewhere noticed, knew very well the only guaranty of safety was to strike the enemy at home. With this view, he directed Colonel Brodhead to send some suitable person to their towns, who could ascertain their strength, resources, &c.

Colonel Brodhead's keen military eye saw in Brady the very man for the service, and, giving him the necessary instruc- tions, the gallant soldier started on his perilous mission, accom- panicd by John Williamson and one of the Wetzel's. These men were so completely disguised as Indians, that it would al- most have defied the skill and courage of a genuine chief, to detect the deception. After a hurried march, they reached the Indian town at Upper. Sandusky, shortly after dark. Brady posted his men, then entered the town, and after a thorough reconnoitre rejoined his companions, and commenced a rapid retreat. His keen eye had caught a lurking suspicion in some of those whom he met, and it was deemed important to get beyond their reach as rapidly as possible. With scarcely a mo- ment's intermission, the three traveled all night, and stopping a few minutes in the morning, discovered the Indians were in pursuit. Increasing their movements, and adopting the pre- caution of traveling upon logs and avoiding direct routes, the trio were soon beyond immediate danger. Theremainder of that day, all of that night, and part of the third day, passed without any cause of apprehension. Fatigued and hungry, (their sole diet since leaving home having been parched corn and jerked veni- son,) the party concluded to take a rest. Williamson stood guard while the others slept. Brady, at all times a great snorer, on this occasion gave vent to sounds, that, in the language of Williamson, "were enough to alarm all the Indians between here and Sandusky." Thinking a change of position might stop the nasal artillery, Williamson turned Brady, and then resumed his seat by the fire. Scarcely had he seated himself, when he detected the stealthy tread of a savage. Looking at- tentively in the direction of the sound, he saw an Indian cau- tiously approach, and waiting until he came nearly up, the guard took steady aim and fired. One convulsive spring, a heavy fall, and a deep groan, were all that could be seen or heard. His companions sprang to their feet and moved rapidly off, to avoid an attack ; but this was the only Indiau, and the three traveled on without further attempt at molestation

"The map furnished by General Brodhead was found to be defective. The distance was represented to be much less than it really was. The provisions and ammunition of the men were exhausted by the time they had reached the Big Beaver, on their return. Brady shot an otter, but could not eat it. The last load was in his rifle. They arrived at an old encampment,

19-B. & J. COS.

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and found plenty of strawberries, which they stopped to ap- pease their hunger with. Having discovered a deer-track, Brady followed it, telling the men he would perhaps get a shot at it. He had gone but a few rods when he saw the deer stand- ing broadside to him. He raised his rifle and attempted to fire, but it flashed in the pan. He sat down, pieked the touch-hole, and then started on. After going a short distance the path made a bend, and he saw before him a large Indian on horse- back, with child before and its mother behind, and a number of warriors marching in the rear. His first impulse was to shoot the Indian on horseback, but as he raised the rifle he observed the child's head to roll with the motion of the horse. It was fast asleep and tied to the Indian. He stepped behind the root of a tree and waited until he could shoot the Indian, without danger to the child or its mother.

"When he considered the chance certain, he fired, and the Indian, child, and mother, all fell from the horse. Brady called to his men, with a voice that made the forest ring, to surround the Indians, and give them a general fire. He sprung to the fallen Indian's powder horn, but could not pull it off. Being dressed like an Indian, the woman thought he was one, and said ' Why did you shoot your brother?' He caught up the child, saying, 'Jenny Stoop, I am Captain Brady; follow me, and I will secure you and your child.' He caught her hand in his, carrying the child under the other arm, and dashed into the brush. Many guns were fired at him, but no ball touched, and the Indians, dreading an ambuscade, were glad to make off. The next day he arrived at Fort McIntosh, with the wo- man and her child. His men had got there before him. They had heard his war-whoop, and knew they were Indians he had encountered, but having no ammunition, had taken to their heels and run off.

" The incursions of the Indians had become so frequent and their outrages so alarming, that it was thought advisable to retaliate upon them the injuries of war, and earry into the country occupied by them, the same system with which they had visited the settlements. For this purpose an adequate force was provided, under the immediate command of General Brod- head. An advance guard of scouts, among whom was Jonathan Zane, was under the command of Captain Brady.

"The troops proceeded up the Allegheny river, and had arrived near the mouth of Redbank creek, now known by the name of Brady's bend, without encountering an enemy. Brady and his Rangers were some distance in front of the main body, as their duty required, when they suddenly discovered a war party of Indians approaching them. Relying on the main body to force the Indians to retreat, when they would return by the same route they had advanced on, Brady permitted them to proceed without hindrance, and hastened to seize a narrow pass, higher up the river; where the rocks, nearly perpendicular, ap- proached the river, and a few determined men might success- fully combat superior numbers."

In a short time the Indians encountered the main body under Brodhead and were driven back. In full and swift retreat they pressed on to gain the pass between the rocks and the river, but it was occupied by Brady and his rangers, who failed not to pour into their flying columns a most destructive fire. Many were killed on the bank, and many more in the stream. Corn- planter, afterwards the distinguished chief of the Senecas, but then a young man, saved himself by swimming. The cele- brated war-chief of this tribe, Bald Eagle, was of the number slain on this occasion.

"The army moved onward, and after destroying all the In- dians' corn, and ravaging the Kenjua flats, returned to Pitts- burgh.

Beaver valley was the scene of many of Capt. Brady's stir- ring adventures. We have recently visited some of the inter- esting localities celebrated as Brady's theatre of action, and heard from many of the older citizens their accounts of his thrilling exploits. They speak in unbounded terms of admira- tion of his daring and success; his many hairbreadth escapes by "field and flood;" and always coneluded by declaring that he was a greater man than Daniel Boone or Lewis Wetzel, either of whom, in the eyes of the old pioneers, were the very embodiment of dare-devilism.

The following, illustrating one of Brady's adventures in the region referred to, we give from a published source. In one of his trapping and hunting excursions, he was surprised and taken prisoner by a party of Indians who had closely watched his movements.

To have shot or tomahawked him would have been but a small gratification to that of satiating their revenge by burn- ing him at a slow fire, in presence of all the Indians of their

village. He was therefore taken alive to their encampment, on the west bank of the Beaver river, about a mile and a half from its mouth. After the usual exultations and rejoicings at the capture of a noted enemy, and causing him to run the gauntlet, a fire was prepared, near which Brady was placed, after being stripped and his arms unbound. Previous to tying him to the stake, a large circle was formed around of Indian men, women and children, dancing and yelling, and uttering all manner of threats and abuses that their small knowledge of the English language could afford. The prisoner looked on these preparations for death and on his savage foe with a firm countenance and a steady eye, meeting all their threats with truly savage fortitude. In the midst of their dancing and re- joicing, a squaw of one of their chiefs eame near him with a child in her arms. Quick as thought, and with intuitive pres- cience, he snatched it from her and threw it into the midst of the flames. Horror-stricken at the sudden outrage, the Indians simultaneously rushed to rescue the infant from the fire. In the midst of this confusion Brady darted from the circle, over- turning all that came in his way, and rushed into the adjacent thicket, with the Indians yelling at his heels. He ascended the steep side of a hill amidst a shower of bullets, and, darting down the opposite declivity, secreted himself in the deep ra- vines and laurel thickets that abound for several miles to the west. His knowledge of the country and wonderful activity enabled him to elude his enemies, and reach the settlements in safety.

The following incident is from one of Brady's old soldiers :

"On one of their scouting expeditions into the Indian coun- try, the spies, consisting at that time of six men, encamped for the night at a place called 'Big Shell Camp.' Toward morn- ing one of the guard heard the report of a gun, and, immedi- ately communicating the fact to his commander, a change of position was ordered. Leading his men to an elevated point, the Indian camp was discovered almost beneath them. Cau- tiously advancing in the direction of the camp, six Indians were discovered standing around the fire, while several others lay upon the ground apparently asleep. Brady ordered his men to wrap themselves in their blankets, and lie down while he kept watch. Two hours thus passed without anything ma- terially occurring. As day began to appear Brady aroused his men and posted them side by side, himself at the end of the line. When all were in readiness the commander was to touch with his elbow the man who stood next to him, and the com- munication was to pass successively to the farthest end. The orders then were, the moment the last man was touched, he should fire, which was to be the signal for a general discharge. With the first faint ray of light rose six Indians and stood around the fire. With breathless expectation the whites waited for the remainder to rise, but, failing, and apprehending a dis- covery, the captain moved his elbow. and the next instant the wild wood rang with the shrill report of the rifles of the spies. Five of the six Indians fell dead, but the sixth, screened by a tree, escaped. The camp being large, it was deemed unsafe to attack it further, and a retreat was immediately ordered."

Soon after the above occurrence, in returning from a similar expedition, and when about two miles from the mouth of Yel- low creek, at a place admirably adapted for an ambuscade, a solitary Indian stepped forward and fired upon the advancing company. Instantly, on firing, he retreated toward a deep ravine, into which the savage hoped to lead his pursuers. But Brady detected the trick, and in a voice of thunder ordered his men to tree. No sooner had this been done than the concealed foe rushed forth in great numbers, and opened upon the whites a perfect storm of leaden hail. The brave spies returned the fire with spirit and effect; but as they were likely to be over- powered by superior numbers, a retreat was ordered to the top of the hill, and thence continued until out of danger.

The whites lost one man in this engagement and two wounded. The Indian loss is supposed to have been about twenty in killed and wounded.

The injuries inflicted on the Indians by the troops under Gen. Brodhead quieted the country for some time. He kept his spies out, however, for the purpose of watching their motions and guarding against sudden attacks on the settlements. One of these parties, under the command of Capt. Brady, had the French creek country assigned as their field of duty.

The captain had reached the waters of Slippery Rock, a branch of Beaver, without seeing any signs of Indians; here, however, he came on an Indian trail in the evening, which he followed till dark without overtaking them. The next morn- ing he renewed the pursuit, and overtook them while they were engaged at their morning meal.

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES, OHIO.

Unfortunately for him, another party of Indians were in his rear ; they had fallen upon his trail, and pursued him doubt- less with as much ardor as characterized his pursuit, and at the moment he fired upon the Indians in his front, he was, in turn, fired upon by those in his rear. He was now between two fires, and vastly outnumbered. Two of his nien fell, his tomahawk was shot from his side, and the battle yell was given by the party in his rear, and loudly returned and repeated by those in his front.

There was no time for hesitation, no safety in delay, no chance for successful defense in their present position ; the brave cap- tain and his rangers had to flee before their enemies, who pressed on their flying footsteps with no lagging speed.

Brady ran towards the creek. He was known by many, if not all of them, and many and deep were the scores to be settled between him and them. They knew the country well ; he did not ; and from his running towards the creek, they were cer- tain of taking him prisoner. The creek was, for a long distance above and below the point he was approaching, washed in its ehannel to a great depth. In a certain expectation of catching him there, the private soldiers of his party were disregarded, and throwing down their guns, and drawing their tomahawks, all pressed forward to seize their victim.

Quick of eye, fearless of heart, and determined never to be a captive to the Indians, Brady comprehended their object and his only chance of escape, the moment he saw the creek; and by one mighty effort of courage and activity, defeated the one, and effected the other. He sprang across the abyss of waters. and stood, rifle in hand, on the opposite bank, in safety. As quick as lightning his rifle was primed, for it was his invari- able custom to prime first; the next minute the powder horn was at the gun's muzzle, when, as he was in this act, a large In- dian, who had been foremost in the pursuit, came to the opposite bank, and with the manliness of a generous foe, who scorns to undervalue the qualities of an enemy, said, in a loud voice and tolerable English, " Blady make good jump."

It may indeed be doubted whether the compliment was uttered in derison, for the moment he said so he took to his heels, and, as if fearful of the return it might merit, ran as crooked as a worm fence-sometimes leaping high, at others suddenly squatting down, he appeared no ways certain that Brady would not answer from the mouth of his rifle, but the rifle was not yet loaded.

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History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley, Part 53

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 728

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 728