The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1859-12-08


Fom the Cleveland Herald.
THRILLING ROMANCE OF REAL
LIFE.
Unparalleled History Of Buckeye Boy.
Fall particulars of the Loss of .NaHhew
Bromon al the age Of Seren Iears-Hs
captiDitg among The Adians Of The Far
North West for Thirty four Yeors-Hs
hopcling three thousand Miles in Scared
Vfhis Relot;ves-1He;r Search otlt, him,
and his Discovery and CDmplete Henti,
.fcotion.
Our readers will all remember the SO.
ries Of articles and notices which we have
from time to time published in relation ,e
the fact that man, claiming to have been
stolen MANY years ago by Indians from
Northern Ohio, was here in search of his
parents. and that some persons were dill.
gently tracing him up under the supposi
tion that he was their lost relative. We
have already announced the successful is.
sue Of the search. and now arc in posi-.
lion to give full account of this affair,
which has no parallel in our experience,
or in that Of most living men.
The facts relating the loss Of the child
given us by the family themselves. and
by the grey headed men who assisted in
the long and painful search then ins.itut
ed; those explanatory Of his fortunes a-
mong the Indians were given by the hero
himself,and we have good reason for i'm.
plicit 'rnst in history; the events connect.
ed with his recent discovery are partly
our own personal knowledge. and the
rest are from the statements Of eye.wit-
nesses.
THE LOST CHILD.
In the year 1925 Mr.. Elijah Brayton.
one Of the pioneers Of the Northwestern
part Of Ohio, lived on his farm in Wyan.
dot county. near the present location Of
Carey. Mr.. Brayton, then 80 years Of
age had six children, three boys and three
girls.
At that time the country was hut
sparsely settled. and the pioneers had not
succeeded in entirely driving out the Red
Men. who clung tenaciously 10 the villa
ges and burying grounds which were all
that remained to them Of the broad State
Of Ohio, once their own. The Indians Of
that neighborhood consisted mostly OF
Senecas and Wyandots, with few Paw
Pows and Pottawottomies. An Indian
trail led from Upper Sandusky. where the
Senecas ha: village, past Wyandot
town. a settlement Of the Wyandot tribe
Of which a log house vet remains, and
extended to Perrysburgh on the Maumre,
from which place the trail passed up to
the shore opposite Maiden on the Cana
da side Some ofthe Indisns that fingered
around the Northwest of Ohio, had sided
with the British in the war Of 1912, and
a portion Of the tribes annually TO k this
trail to the Northwest, passed over to
Maiden and drew their presents Of blan.
kcts. guns, powder. and such articles S.
On their return it was not unusual for a
party Of Canadian Indians to accompany
them and remain on short visit
These annual expeditions to Canada
usually took place in the Fall Of the
year.
On the goth Of September 1925, VIII
lam the eldest son Of Elijah Brayton, a
lad Of sixteen years and his youngest
brother, Matthew, then seven years and
one month old, started out from the house
to hunt up some stray cattle. They pro.
ceeded together until they came to place
not far from the site Of the house in
which William Brayton now resides.--
Here they were met BY neighbor who
was also hunting up lost cattle. The two
parties agreed to unite in the search and
were about to set out. when Matthew,
the little boy, complained Of being too
much fatigued TO proceed any farther
His brother pointed out the path leading
to the neighbor's house, which was but a
short distance off. telling him to go up to
the house and remain there until they
came back. The little boy, Matthew.
took the direction pointed out, whilst the
others continued their search.
On returning from their cattle hunting
expedition William Brayton was over.
whelmed with CONSERVATION at finding
that his brother had not arrived at the
house Of the neighbor, nor had he been
heard Of. Search was instantly set on
foot. Traces Of his little feet were plain.
" discernible along the path untilit join
ed the track made by the logs which the
neighbor had been drawing out Of tie
woods. 1t was evidentfrom the footprints
that little Matthew had mistaken the path
and followed the log track up into the
woods. The traces were followed up un-
Ill they were hid among the fallen leaves
in the vicinity Of the Indian trail before
spoken Of. Filled with alarm, William
and bis companion retraced their steps
and carried the news to the bereaved
family. Mr.. Brayton was absent to Chill