The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-06-28

ties with the Indians, he saw the country
around his early settlement, in Mason
county. filled up with gallant set OF men.
Kenton, as Major, joined the army Of
Gen. Wayne. and was conspicuous among
the hardy hunters of his army.
After the peace of Greenville, emigra-
ton poured in, and the lands Of Kenton,
rose rapidly in price and Importance
Kenton was considered 10 be as wealthy
as any one in the State, and deserved TO
be so, for he had purchased it by many a
bloody conflict and many incredible hard.
Iships.. But behold the gratitude of his
, countryman!
| The crafty ofsprings of peace. who slep,
in the lap of Eastern ease and security.
{ while this hardy pioneer was enduring the
hardships of the wilderness, and Drawing
the gauntlet, and stake and tomahawk ol
1.-THE Indian,to redeem the soil Of the West,
creep in when the fight. the toll, and dan
f ger were past. and by dishonorable trick,
MISUNDERSTANDING and cunning proce-
dure. wrest the possessions bought at such
a terrible price. from the gallant, unletter-
ed. simple hearted man, unversed in the
rascality OF civilization. He lost his lands,
acre after acre, the superior skill Of the
speculator prevailing over the simplicity
and ignorance of the hunter. What a
burning, deep disgrace TO the West, that
the hero who had suffered so much. fought
so well. to win tine soil Of his glorious
fi"cane land" from the savage, should
when the contest was ended be compelled
, to leave it,othose who never struck a blow
in its defence! Together with Boone and
numerous other brave old frontier men,
who bore ''the heat and burden ofthe day."
. Kenton, like an old shoe. was kicked aside
when he was no longer of any use, or had
become too antiquated for the fashion O
the times. Kentucky treated her earlies
and staunchest defenders scarcely so wei
as they treated their dogs. After running
down the game, she denied them the very
+ offa.
The fate OF Gen. Simon Kenton was still
more hard than that of the other simple
. hearted Fathers of the West. His body
/ was taken for debt upon the covenants il
deeds to lands, which he had in effect Civ
+ en- away, and for tcelue months he ,oa
imprisoned, upon the very spot where he
bull; his first cabin in '75; where he plant
eG the frs, corn ever planted North OF tht
Kentucky river by any white man. where HI
ranged the pathless forest in freedom an,
safety; where he subsequently erected tn,
/ foremost station.house, and batiled the In
dians in an hundred encounters, and near
ly alone endured the hardships OF the viii
derness. In 1909, beggared by lawsuit
and losses, he moved to Ohio and setilet
= in Urbana.
i Thus, after thirty years of the prime Q
!. his life spent faithfully in the cause Of Ken
y lucky and the West, all that remained 4
him wss the recollection OF his services
e and cabin in the wilderness Of Ohio
These bitter words and severe reflection
q are by Lewis Gordon, the author histor,
OF Kentucky. ageN Assl-6s-
In 1906 Kenton was elected Briga
a dier General, which office he. in April 9
the same year, resigned. In 1910, he be
$ joined the Kentucky troops under Go,
q Shelby, in the war Of 1918, and his las
d battle was that of the Thames. In obscu
!. rity and poverty. he lived in his humbl
. cabin in the woods. at the head of Ma
2 River. in sight Of Wspatomica, where h
d had been tied to the stake as an India
If prisoner, until harrassed by judgmen,
and executions from Kentucky. in 824
= then seventy years of age. he undertook
d Journey to Frankfort, in tattered garment.
y. and on sorry horse, to endeayor to &.
,e the Legislature, then in session, to releas
d the CLAIM of the State on some mountain
,s Gus lands owned by him. but which ha
N been forfeited for taxes. To the honor
n. Kentucky. his lands were released to hin
ia and afterwards, by the exertion OF Judg
$. Burnet. OF Cincinnati. and Gen. Vanc,
OF Urbana, then in Congress, a pensio
70 OF $24O a year was secured TO kenton f
70 70 life.
20 20 Judge Burnet says of Kenton that
;; was without doubt one of the bravest an
" most interesting of the Western pioneer
- he was excelled by none ,and equaled on
II, by his precursor, Daniel Boone. He WI
10 ,a striking example of cool. delibera
IL bravery, united with tender. sympathsiI
- heart. He belonged to that class Of hero
men whose courage in battle never fail
G. and who in the walks of private life are a
e' ways mild, amiable, and unassuming-
q qualities which are the usual attendants
NJ consumate bravery.
|
~ ed with him while attending the Gener
ne Court of the Northwest Territory. Mariett
n,g in the fall of 1896. shortly afterward
rs while passing from Limestone. now May
vile, to Lexington, called on Ken,on al b
ng home in Washington, where he culiivat,
he a thousand acres of land equal in fertili
ch to any in the world. and thus speaks of /
iai hospitality: "Amore generous. kind hea
as ed man. did not iEhabit the earth, his do
de was always open. neither stranger
friend ever found it shut and the lat
ro- string pulled in. Travellers of every gra
ng were received with kindness, treated wi
iii, hospitality, and pressed TO stay
ng The Kentucky biographer of Kenton,
ith closing the painful recital of wrongs hea
Tvs ed upon the Hunter Of Kentucky, and I
ng defender of her soil, said several yes
iv- ago:
al. at is now, perhaps. too late TO rep
fthe Injustice done to these old heroes Off
- West, yet one act remains to Kentucf
his demanded alike bv gratitude and j,