The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-05-24
'Misffllaaeons..
Al Boy Stolen by Indians.

WesLn gives the following touching passage in
the life of an early emigrant to Michigan by the
name of Filley, whose misfortunes excited sym
pathy and interest in all who heard his story,
The circumstances resemble those of the capture
of Frances Siocum at Wyoming, familiar to rea-
ders of our border history, and are worth rela-
ting as illustrative of the dangers to which pio-
neer residents were exposed.
Ami Elley was a native of Windsor, Connec-
ticut, and in 1881 married daughter of Col.
William Marvin, of Granville, in Massachusetts,.
Three or four years, after, he removed with his
family to the locality afterwards occupied by the
town Of Jackson, in Michigan. It was then a
wilderness. He settled here, and by industry
aud good management soon found himself in
possession of a productive farm, while by the
rapid incoming of emigrants, the place grew into
a populous and heurishing village. Numerous
stfibes Of Indians we're in the vicinity, and whole
wandering families often visited the home of the
white people, vet an amicable understanding al
ways prevailed between them, and nothing had
occurred to disturb these friendly relations.
=, In August of the year 1887, Filleys little son,
a, child Eve years Of age was taken by Mary
Mount, the hired girl, irto a swamp a mile or SO
distant, to gather whortleberries. The father at
that time was in the field harvesting; the swamp
was not far from the residence Of the girls faith
er, and one account states that Mary was joined
by her sister The boy, it seems, became tired
or sleepy. and wanted to 90 home; and about
four o clock Mary took him to the road and told
him to run on to Mounts house, which was III
sight, and wait for her. When she had picked
her supply of. berries, she went to her fathers,
but learned that little William had not been
there Surprising that the child had gone home,
she proceeded to Mr. Filley's, but found that he
had not returned. The alarmed parents instant
" set out to search for hin, and were assisted
by the neighbors, for the news soon spread
through the village and its vicinity; watchfres
were kept up all night, and though in the midst
of harvest, all labor was suspended, in the ankle
ty every one felt for the recovery>of the child.
For more than week the search was kept up,
day and night, and every rod Of ground, every
nook and thicket, were thoroughly examined for
more than thirty miles around. Everypond and
stream was dragged, and, and as an encourage
ment to continue the search, FileY offered a re-
ward for the recovery even of the body of his
child, in the papers printed in different parts OF
the couDtry. 81
Some had suspicious of foul play, and care
full search was made, not only in the swamp, but
onMount's premises; even the floor of bis cellar
was taken up; but nothing was found to justify
proceedings against the girl. One circumstance
pointed conjecture in another direction. Two
mile. from tho swamp, ON an Indian trail, a pa
per with a picture was found, which it was re-
ulembeted the little fellow had as a plaything
when last SEEM, !, When asked if he had ever any
difficulty with the Indians, which might have
caused feelings of animosity towards him, Filley
called to mind that he had once struck one OF
them, ,sho had been in the habit Of coming with
his companions and helping himself at his house
to what he liked. Filley had demonstrated
against this intrusion and robbery several times {;
and when he enforced his reproof with blows,
the sayages departed with threats of vengeance.
The little boy had always been fond Of them,
and it might be that they had retuated by steal
ing him. Another causse of resentment is said
to have been Filley's having ploughed up an old
Indian burial ground
Inquiries were made among the different tribes
and families in the vicinity, aud large offers OF
reward rendered to the chiefs and leading men,
but no satisfactory result followed. Mr.. Filley
left his home and traversed the wilds of .Michi-
gan, Wisconsin and Iowa. in the hope of gaining
some intelligence, but all his efforts were vain,
and he returned to the heartbroken mother with
the sad certainty that their little William was
lost!
For several years the stricken family endured
this worse affliction than the bereavement of
death; for had they buried their Child, time
would have sofened grief, and the certainty that
his pure spirit had taken its departure to world
Of happiness, would have been deep consola-
ton. But the awful uncertainty that hung over
his fate, and the reflection that he might have
fallen into cruel hands, or be brought up amidst
scenes of violence and bloodshed, caused an abb
ding sorrow. AS time rolled on, ho>e was ex-
tipguished, but the lost one was not forgotten,
and every hour of peace was darkened by the
narrowing thoughts and fears associated with
their calamity. The mother became the prey
Of lingering disease, and at length sunk into
the grave.
Some time after Mrs. Filley's death, letters
were received from Filley's former residence in
Connecticut in which mention was made of a
how taken from some wandering Indians IN AL
b nv. supposed to be the same who had been
stolen in Michigan. The authorities Of the city,
hearing that white child was with the savages,
caused the arrest of those who claimed him, and
endeayored to compel them to confess whence
he had been brought. The Indians, however,
obstnately refused tomake any disclosure, th' ugh
alternately coaxed and threatened, and were f.
nallv dismissed, the boy being placed in the Or
phan Asylum. In 1914, Mr.. Cowles, Of Tol.
.nd Massachusetts,. happening to be in Albany,