Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1859-12-23
VOL. XIII.
THRTLLxNG NARRATIVE.
Unparalleled History of Buckeye
Bow.
From the Cleveland Herald, Nov 2e.I

Our readers viii all remember the series O
articles and notices which we have from tim,
to time published in relation to the fact that
man, claiming to have been stolen many year
ago by the Indians from Northern Ohio, wa
here in search of his parents. and that som'
persons were diligently tracing him up undel
the supposition that be was their lost relative
We have already announced the successful is
sue of the search, and are now in position tt
give full account of this affair, which has NJ
parallel in our experience, or in that of mos
living men.
The facts relating to the loss of the chilt
were given by the family themselves, and b,
the grey headed men who assisted in the long
and faithful search then instituted; those ex
planatory of his fortunes among the Indian
were given by the hero himself; and we havt
good reason for implicit faith in the truth O
his story the events connected with his recent
discovery are partly our own personal knowl
edge, and the rest from the statements of eye
witnesses.
THE LOST CHILD.
In the year 1925, Mr. Elijah Brayton, ont
of the pioneers Of the Northwestern part O
Ohio, lived on his farm in Wyandot county
near the present location of Carey. Mr.. Bray
ton, then 80 years of age, had six children
three boys and three girls.
At that time the country was but sparsely
settled, and tine pioneers had not succeeded ir
entirely driving out the Red Men, who clung
tenaciously to their villages and buryine
grounds, which were all that remained to then
of the broad State of Ohio, once their own
The Indians of that neighborhoed consisted
mostly of Senecas and Wyandots, with a few
Paw-Paws and Pottawattomies. An Indian
trail led from Upper Sandusky, where the Sen
ecas had village, past Wyandot town, a set
tlement of the Wyan6ot tribe of which a log
house yet remains, and tended to Perrysburg
on the Maumee, from which place the trail
passed up the shore opposite Maiden on the
Canada side Some of the hlians that I'm
gered around the Northwest 0f Dll5o; had 81
ded with the British in the wars0f 1872, and
a portion of the tribes annually took this trail
to the Northwest, passed dS0Eer to Maiden and
drew their presents of blankets, guns, powder
and such articles. On their return it was not
unusual for party Of Canadian Indians to ac
| company them and remain on a short visit
These annual expeditions to Canada usually
took place in the fall of the year.
On the Goth of September, 1925, William
eldest son of Elijah Brayton and his younges
brother Matthew, then seven years and ont
month DID, started out from the house TO hum
up some stray cattle They proceeded togeth
er until they came to place not for from the
site of the house in which William Braytol
now resides. Here they were met by a neigh
Dor who was also hunting up lost cattle. Thc
| two parties agreed to unite in the search ant
were about to set out, when Matthew, the lit
tie boy, complained of being too much fi,tiguce
to proceed any further. His brother pointet
out the path leading to the neighbors house
which was but short distance off, telling hin
to go up to the house and remain there unit
they came back. The little boy, Matthew
took the direction pointed out whilst the 9th
crs continued their search.
On returning from their cattle hunting ex
pedition William Brayton was overwhelmed
with CONSERVATION at finding that his brother
had not arrived at the house of the neighbo
nor had he been heard of. Search was instant
ly set on foot Traces of his little feet wer
plainly discernable along the path until
joined the track made by the logs which th
neighbor had been dragging out of the woods
1t was evident from the footprints that Gttl
Matthew had mistaken the path and followe'
log path up into the woods The trace
were followed up until they were hid anon:
the fallen leaves in the vicinity of tn
Indian trail before spoken of. Filled wit
alarm, William and his companion retrace
their steps and carried the news to the bereay
ed family. Mr.. Brayton was absent to Chilli
cothe, getting millstones. Mrs. Brayton wa
plunged into sea of grief and terror. TIL
neighborhood was raised, and as soon as th
news could reach the settlers of three countie
!. and part of the fourth turned out to mai
| Every foot of ground was diligently searche
but in vain. The Wyandots became interes
ed, and young and old started out in pursuit
the missing child. Hours heightened int
days, days into weeks, but not the fainte
trace could be discovered. An old settle
still alive, acted as store-keeper, and as eat
/, party came in after an unsuccessful hunt,
filled their meal bags and canteens, and Sc
them off again. ...
Meantime the brave mother kept on stead
ly at her household duties, her heart rack
with thouss nd pangs of fear, and her ey
c turning ever to the window in hopes to
: gladdened with the sight of her darling be
But to her sight that boy was never fated
return-on earth at least. Weeks pass
= away-weeks of agonizing hopes and fea
' and then came the settled conviction that
hope was lost 1t was believed that a par
of Pottawattomies, who passed through abe
y that time on the trail for Canada, had TAX
Il him with them. From time to time came
70 70 mors that the boy had been seen in this dir
ton or in that, but speedy examination prov
q all these rumors without foundation. On
s. about four years after his loss man who h
IN been travelling among the Indian tribes of |
~ nois said that he had seen among the Pot
re wattomies in that State white child, VIII
''S age and appearance would correspond with
as as tie Matthew. Mr.. Brayton Immediately VIZ
e' to Gen. Cass, then Indian Commissioner,
= - the answer was prompt-perhaps too prom
'y that the report was certainly incorrt
o'' :" The Indians had no white child with thei
So the years wore on and the incident
." came less fresh in mems memories. Not
nA gotten, however, for the hardy pioneers
on Wyandot, Seneca, Hardin, Hancock and
y" Joining counties, STILL among the histories
l''- their pioneer life, told their children of
mysterious disappearance of little Mattf
Brayton Not forgotten-for the sturdy
jah-though another boy had been added
the family to replace the one so sadly lost,
another girl to replace one lost by deaf
still mattered of his " lost Matthew, and
'oo that had he lived he would have been
'ne smartest of them ALL" Not forgotten,
rts. do.r, = tho beort Of the eldest brother.
o liam, sank the spoken or silently expressed
! 70 proach of the mother, that the loss OF the
run was owing to his carelessness in sending
sn- off alone Not forgotten, ah. no! not fol
mt ten by that fond maternal heart that yea
ace longingly for the missing lamb of the fol
gun The paling cheek, the wasting form, the de