Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-08-30

TIE LAST or TIE PIONEERS Nv;
met the venerable Israel Donaldson OF
the street last Wednesday. He ha.
been on a visit of some days to hi.
friends in this vicinity, and though
within few years of ninety, retains hi,
faculties remarkably well-walks sbou
at pleasure, converses with animation
and reads without glasses. 1t is now
near sixty-four years since he emigrated
from New Jersey, where he was born,
February ed, 1867. to Ohio, a school
master and adventurer in an almost un-
broken wilderness. After teaching q
small school during the summer of l79 1,
in what is now Maysville, Kentucky, he
became acquainted with Gen. Massie,
and took up his residence at his fort, in
the then county of Hamilton, North
western Territory. Shortly after this,
being in company with Massie, Gen.
Lytle and another. on surveying expe-
dition, they were surprised and attack
ed by Indians, and being unsrmed, of
course had to run. All escaped but
Donaldson, who was behind, tripped his
his foot on root, fell, and before he
could recover, was captured and hur-
ried to the North. He suffered all the
horrors incident to this species of saw
age life, and finally, one night, whilst
lying tied between two Indians, each
of whom was on one end of the rope,
he managed to release himself without
awakening them, and escaped to small
prairie near by and concealed himself
in the grass. as it was Just day-break
when he found himself free. The In
dians almost Immediately discovered
their loss, and with loud yells, commen-
ced the pursuit on the back track Dom
also1 remained concealed in the grass
until they all got out of sight, and then
struck iL different direction, towards
the Ohio river. He spent several mis-
cradle days and nights in the woods,
but finally, Just as hope had almost
abandoned him, he heard the sweet mu-
sic of a chopping axe, which he soon
discovered to be that of settler at Fort
Washington, now Cincinnati. He was
carried to the huts and kindly minister
ed to, until he recovered his wasted
strength, and found his wounds and
bruises healed, when he returned to his
former residence, greatly to the surprise
and Joy of his friends. Mr.. Donaldson
is the last survivor of the Convention Of
1902, which framed the good old Con-
stitution, so replete with common sense,
honesty and pure republicanism, COM
pared with the miserable thing which
the demagogues have forced upon the
people in its stead. and is emphatically |
the last of the Pioneers these stern,
true, noble men, who laid the founda-
ton of our prosperity-who sowed amid
danger and privation, such as the stout /.
est heart now shudders to hear of, the
seeds of all that the present general
nation ungratefully enjoy. They took
office, not for themselves, but to serve
the public for the good Of others, and
honestly and faithfully did they dis
charge their trust; but in these degen-
crate days men seek Office in order TO
serve themselves and grow rich at the
public expense. This honored ole pa
triot now stands alone, as it were in the /
world, the sole survivor of all his COM
peers, and we trust his closing hours
may be calm and peaceful as bis earthly
career has been honorable and useful
american Citizen. f'l-