Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1855-11-15
THE CHILD SEER.
STORY OF PIONEER IIFEIx WESTERN NEW YORK.

A
A little story am going to tell is a true
story Of pioneer life in America. 1t is
known to many descendants of the early
settlers among whom it happened, and /
write it In that country.
One of the darkest pages in American
history is that relating 10 the sufferings of
the inhabitants of Tryon County, New
York, during the war of the Revolution,
from the attacks Of the Indians and Roy
alsts, under the Mohawk chief Brant, and
the more savage Captain Walter Butler
Early in the war, Cherry Valley was Sc
lecied as a place of refuge and defence for
the inhabitants of the smaller and more eX
posed settlements. BlOckhouScs were built,
foriiiications were thrown up, and finally
fort was erected under the direction OF
General La Fayette. The inhabitants OF
the surrounding settlements came in, and
lived for several months as in garrison,
submitting to strict military regulations.
Among the families which took tempo
rary refuge in this fort, was that Of Cap
tain Robert Lindsay, formerly British Of
ficer, brave and adventurous, who, only at
the cn;reaty of his WIFI, had left his farm
which stood in a lonely, unprotected situa-
ton, several miles from any settlement
This Captain Lindsay was reserved, mel
ancholy man, about whom the simple and
honest pioneers wondered and speculated
not little His language and manner be-
spoke the man of education and breeding.
His wife, though quiet, heroic woman,
was evidently a lady by nature and asso-
cation.
Captain Lindsay had a native love OF
solitude and adventure-the first requisite
for/ pioneer and for several years no 9th
er reason was known for his seeking the
wilds, and exposing his tender family to
all the perils and privations of a frontier
life. But at length an emigrant coming
from his native place, in the Highlands Of
Scotland, brought the story of his exile,
which was briefly this: Captain Lindsay,
when somewhat dissipated young man,
proud and passionate, had quarrelled with
"A brother officer, an old friend, at IA mess
dinner Both officers had drunk freely
and their difference was aggravated by hot
Drained, halfdrunken partisans. Insulting
words were exchanged, and duel on the
spot was the consequence. Lindsay escap
ed with slight wound, but his SWORD
pierced the heart of his friend. He was
hurried away to "A secure hiding place, bu
not before he had learned that in the frs
matter of dispute he had been in the wrong
Lindsay made all the reparation in his
power. by transferring his paternal estate
for the term of his own lifetime, to thu
homeless widow and young daughter o
her friend. Then, with his wife's small
property, and the price Of his commission
he secretly emigrated to America III,
left his family in New York, while he wen
up the Hudson, purchased small farm
and built a house for their reception. He
was accompanied in this expedition by an
old family servItor, who, with true High
land fidelity, clung to his unfortunate mas
ter with exemplary devotion
Mrs. Lindsay's heart sunk within he
when she found that her new home was 81
far from any settlement-literally in tn
wilderness but she understood her hus
bands misanthropic gloom, almost amount
ing to melancholy madness and did no
murmur. Yet her forest home was yer,
beautiful small valley farm, surrounded
by densely-wooded hills, dark gorges ant
messy dells. The house was rough
primitive-looking structure, containing bu
three small apartments and low chamber
or rather loft But it was comfortably An,
securely built; and, overhung by nobl
trees. and overrun bv wild vines, was M