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

!
Saturday. sixteen years ago, April 29th,
thiesi Of the Western Pioneers. Buried
on small grassy knoll near the head wa.
ters Of Mad River. about FIVE miles N. E.
OF Belfontaine, in Logan county, the only
memorial over his grave, is small slab.
the inscription on which. so far as relates
to place and date Of birth, is at variance
with the statement of his biographers.
His biographers say ,het he was born in
Fauquier county. Va, on the 18th May.
1855. The following are the words on his
tombstone:
"In memory of Simon Kenton who was
born April Sd, 1855, in Culpepper county,
Va. and died April 29.h, 1886, aged 81
years and 96 days. His fellow citizens OF
the West will long remember him as the
skillful pioneer Of early times. the brave
soldier and the honest man.
The parentage Of Kenton was humble.
His father was an Irishman; his mother OF
Scotch descent; and his education entirely
neglected. Believing any incidents of his
life would. at this time, be interesting, we
have selected the following extracts:
At the early age Of sixteen he became
entangled in the snares of a young CO.
quet,e, and soon had severe combat with
a rival FAMED Leitchman, or as some ac-
counts state, Veach. Supposing that he
had killed him, he fled to the Alleghenies
and the wilderness Of the unexplored West.
and became one of the boldest pioneers oi
the "dark and bloody grounds" and one
of the bravest that ever encountered the
wiles of the Indians.
His first visit to Kentucky was as early
as l775. but for few years he camped
hunted and trapped on the banks Of the
Great Kanawha and Big Sandy Rivers
In May. 1875. with companion named
Williams, this pioneer OF Northern Ken
lucky. made discovery Of the rich cane
lands back of Maysville, now the most
beautiful and fertile in the State, built his
cabin near the site Of the present town oI
Washington. Mason county. cleared an
acre OF ground. planted corn he had re-
ceived from French trader, IN exchange
for pelts. and in due season, ate the frs,
roasting ear that grew in that State. by the
care of a white man, on the North side o
the Kentucky river.
i The hunting grounds OF Kentucky were
soon disputed territory. Kenton and his
friend did not occupy it unmolested. The
red man became furious at the intrusion
Of the Long Knives into the cane brakes
and around the clicks" of their cherished
"Kain-tuck- The incursions upon the
infant settlements. by the exasperated foe
were frequent and bloody. and every sta
ton and blockhouse were holly besieged
Kenton saved the life of Boone, and, as q
| spy and Indian fighter, bore gallant ani
con spicuous part in all the enterprises, Of
fensive and defensive. that took place up te
the peace OF Greenville.
During these exploits his life was one o
r eveniful incident. On being. on one oc
casion. taken prisoner by the Indians, hs
I was eight times exposed to the gauntlet
a three times tied to the stake to be burnt
, and often thought himself on the eve OF !,
( terrible death, but al last escaped.
q Kenton was with Gen. George Roger
Clarke, in the first invasion Of the Indians
liz Ohio. by the Kentuckians. in any fore
in 1880, and shared in the dangers AM
J. success that attended the attack on the In
e dian towns of Chillico,he, on the Littl
e Miami river, and Pickaway, or Piqua. tn
a birth place OF Tecumseh, on the Ma
r River. now New Boston, five miles west @
i; Springfield.
r. In the fall of 1899. Gen. Clarke, to re
d venge the disaster of the Blue Licks, le
}. another army. 500 strong, from Kentucky
!. against the Indian towns on this side OF tn
d Ohio, which spread destruction far an
d wide, and no formidable party Of Indian
!. afterwards invaded Kentucky; Kento
e commanded a company on this occasion
}, and was again the pilot for the army. as hi
knowledge Of the country was unsurpass
/: ed, and his skill in woodcraft unequaled.
r, On the 4th Of November. 1882. as III
d expedition, on its return to Kentucky, wei
n descending the hill. where now stands th
'e beautiful and prosperous city ofCincinnat
n the pioneers, composing it. entered into tn
romantic engagement that fifty years there
n after the survivors 'sshould meet and tai
e over the affairs of the campaign" and III
le dangers and hardships Of the beautiful hi
opposite the mouth Of the Licking river.
it This suggestion was made by Capt. Nj
ID Cracken, Of the Kentucky Light Hors
e. who died (from the modification of
ID wound received while fighting beside Kel
ly ton in the attack on Piqua town) on II
'e present site OF this city, where the par
'g encamped, and buried alongside of Il
H. blockhouse on the banks of the Lickr
r. river, about where the Newport Barracl
ne now are.
= To carry out the request Of the dyir
nc soldier, Col. Floyd, from the Falls OF Il
:. Ohlos brought forward a resolution whi'
~ was adopted. and the semi-centenni
~ meeting was determined upon. This W
- >. six years before any settlement was ma,
:, at this point. s8
ar 4 ** All around was the unbr
- ken wilderness, but as they bore the dyil
McCraken down the hill above Cincinna
n. the future stood revealed to his fss, closil
;fe Leyes-the cities and yillies peopled wi
se tens of thousands. crowning the vale
mi and the hilltops. the noise Of aboundil
wa ltcommerce-in the streets and on the ri
ers-building rising upon building-p
ed ace and temple and all the panorama
NV fifty years passed in review before him,
ON The desire TO link ones name with all II