The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-03-28
THE DEATH OF sENECA-THRILLING
INCIDENT IN THE EARLY SETTLE
MENT OF HOLMES COUNTY.

The country which now composes in part the
counties of Holmes and Coshocton, that through
which the Kilbuck r.f6s, ,ins early days was a
fine hurting ground and afavorite hunt of the
cred Men oe the Forest" This immediate
neighborhood was on their trail from the East
to the West. Men are yet living in this vi
cnity who endured the trials and hardships in
cident to frontier life; and they relate many
thrilling stories of bloody adventures, and hair
breadth escapes from the savage Indians.
Prominent among the Indian chiefs who
lived in the first quarter of the present century
is the name of Seneca, who was chief of a
tribe of Indians known by that name. Histo
ry gives a prominent place to him and his
tribe, but the particulars of his death find no
place upon the record. That he lived. every
one knows that he died, has been established
in every mind by the immutable DEGREES of ma
ture but how, when or where he died is not
known to probably more than dozen persons
now living.
Jacob Almond now resident of Coshoc-
ton County, who soldier in the war of 1872,
and fought bravely for his country, lived, in
the year 1916, in log cabin about one mile
North of Millersburg, ON lands now owned by
Mr.. James Henderson. Seneca was fire.
quenter to this neighborhood. Mr.. Almond
owned two guns During the summer of 1916,
Seneca narrowed 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.. Almond 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 Almonds cabin, but he appeared to be in
very bad humor He remained about the
cabin for an hour or two and started off hunt
ing. He shortly returned and told Almond
that he had bear near Miles Pond. which he
wanted h; m to come and help kill. Mile Pond
is swamp or rond short distance south of
this place, which was so named from the fact
of its being mile in length. 1t is. however,
quite narrow ; and at the time of which we
write it was densely surrounded with trees and
underbrush. Ammnnd feared that it was him
instead of bear that Seneca wanted to XIII
He communicated these fears TO his wife who
advised him not to 90 He at first refused to
60 but after delberating over the matter he
concluded that he wonld be safer there where
he could watch Seneca. and have an equal
chance with hi:r. than he would if taken else
where by surprise. He gave Seneca one gun
and kept the most trusty one himself, and
started When they arrived at the pond Sc
noca told him to take one side of the pond
and he would take the other, which he did
of looking for hear. It was not long until
he saw the Chief hile behind tree and aim
at him. Tie earelessly got tree between
range of Sepeca's gun and himself, leaving
enough of his clothing exposed to be shot at
without iniurino him. SPnecas gun burnt
nriu ing and while he was behind the tree fix
ing it for a second trial Almond took deliber
ate aim and VIXEN Seneca exposed his head he
fired and killed him. Mr.. Almond. although
a bold. brave man, was very much frightened
at what he had done. Not much at the act
Of killing Seneca to save his own life, but he
feared that The Chief had other Indians in am
bush to aid him in case he needed their assist
ancc He ran some five miles down tie creek,
and becoming satisfied that he was not pursued
he came carefully back on the ridge. He crept
np near enough to where Seneca Law to see that
he had not beer disturbed. and discovering
this his fears were overcome. He stripped
some elm bark and with it tied a large stone to
Seneca's hody. 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.. Almond kept this ira
gic affair "a profound secret He then had
learned enough Of law to know that he could
not he punished for it. and revealed the matter
these particulars. This scran of history is no
stain unon the character of Mr.. A. If it was
We would not publish it, for we hold in too
high regard the gallant men who made the
'wlderness to blossom as the rose" to mar
their old age with one unkind word. and we
cherish too much love for tie brave veterans of
the war of 1912. who bear the scars of. Sc
rond war Of independence, and who are sink
ing under the weight of years to bring one
rang to their patriotic breasts-Hotnses Go.
Farmer.