Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1860-03-08
The Death of Seneca---Thrilling Incl
dent in the Early Settlement of Holmes
County.

The Death of Seneca---Thrilling Incl
. dent i'll the Early Settlement of Holmes
County.
The country which now composes in part the
counties of of Holmes and Coshocton that through
which the Killbuck runs, in early days was fine
hunting ground, and iavorite haunt of the "Rcd
Men of the Forest" This immediate neghbor
hood was on their trail from the East to the West
Men yet living in this vicinity who endured
the tria Is and hardships incident to frontier life;
and they relate many thrilling stories of bloody
adventures, and hairbrcadth escapes from the saw
age Indians.
Prominent among the Indian chiefs who lived
in the first gu artcr Of the present century is the
name of SENE CA, who chief of a tribe of Ind-
ems known by that name. History gives prom-
nent place to him and his tribe, but the particulars
of his death find no pace upon the record That
he lived, every one knows; that he died, has been
established in every mind by the immutablc DEGREES
OF nature; but how, when or where he died is not
known to probably more than dozen persons now
living.
JACOB AMMoND, now a resident of Coshocton
County, who soldier in the war of 1912, and
fought bravely for his country, lived, in the year
1916, in log cabin about one mile North of Mil
lersburg, on lands now owned Mr.. JAMES HENDER-
SON. SENECA was a frequenter of this ncghbor.
hood. Mr.. AMMoNp owned two guns. During
the summer of Isl 6, SENECA borrowed gun from
ALMOND to take with him to Seneca County. O..
which he agreed to return in two weeks. Three
weeks passed away and the gun was not returned.
Mr.. AMMoND became uneasy about his gun, which
was much more valuable then than it would be
now, and he sent word to SENECA to bring it home
The Chief brought the gun to AMMosDs cabin,
but he appeared to be in very bad humor. He
remained about the cabin for an hour or two and
started off hunting He shortly returned and told
Almond that he had bear near Mile Pond,
which he wanted him to come and help kill
Mile Fond is a swamp or pond short distance !
south of this place, which was so named from the
fact oft being a mile in length. 1t is, however, |
quite narrow; and at the time of which we write
it was densely surrounded with trees and under
brush. AMMoND feard that it was him instead of
bear that SENECA wanted to kill He communi
Gated these fears TO his wife who advised him not
to go He at first refused to 60 but after deb-
Grating over the matter he concluded that he would
be safer there where he could watch SENECA. and
have an equal chance with him, than he would
II taken elsewhere by surprise. He gave SENECA
one gun and kept the most trusty one himself, and
started. When they arrived at the pond SENECA
told him to take one side of the pond and he would
take the other, which he did. He, however, kept
his eye on SENECA instead of looking for a bear
1t was not long until he the Chief hide behind
a tree and aim at him. He carelessy got tree
between rangeo SEyEcA's gun and himself, leave ,,
ing enough his clothing exposed to be shot at ,
without injuring him. SEsEcA's gun burnt prim-
ing and while he was behind the tree fixing it for
second trial Almond took deliberate aim and
when SENECA exposed his head he fired and killed {
him. Mr.. AMMoND, although bold brave man,
was very much frightened at what he had done.
Not so much at the act Of killing SENECA to save {
his own lie, but he feared that the Chief had
other Indians in ambush TO aid him in case he
needed their assistance. He ran some five miles
down the creek, and becoming satisfied that he
was not pursued he came carefully back on the
ridge. lie crept up near enough to where SENECA
lay to see that he had not been disturbed, and dis
ped some elm bark and with it tied large stone
to SENEcA's body and carrying him into the pond
as far as he could wade he let him sink, and this
was the last of the renowned SENECA
For forty years Mr.. AMNosD kept this tragic ar-
fair profound secret lie then had learned
enough OF law to know that he could not be pun
ished for it, and revealed the matter to our county
Recorder, from whom we learn these particulars
This scrap of history no stain upon the character
of Mr. A. If was We would not publish it,for we
hold in too high regard the gallant men who made
the "wilderness to blossom as the rose," to mar
their old age with one unkind word, and we cher
ish too much love for the brave vetrans of the war
OF 1879, who bear the scars of our second war of
independence, and who are sinking under the ]
weight OF years ~ bring one pang to their patriotic
breasts, I