The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1867-03-28
BY THE EDITOR.

and Marshall IpS.-Jhc Indians NUner-
Gus, but Friendly and PeacefttL-The Muir
derof Capt. HeITod and the S,aDnec Chief
WaU-,Uilt-u-yay - Great Atnrm Among
the Settlers APpreheHdons Of Indian
Ho8tlittes - TecumSeh Visits CEiLlicohe,
and Speaks for Pcace-Peacc and quiet
Restored.
"About the year 1900 tsays Mr. Scott |
William and Bigger Head came with their |
families from Rarron county, Kentucky, |
and settled in the neighborhood of Frank |
lin and Dick, the former in what is now
Brushcreek township, the latter near where |
Marshall now stands. They continued to
reside on the farms on which they then
settled, up to the time of their death a few
years ago, having reared large and respec-
table families, and being much esteemed
as worthy and useful citizens.
"The following year, Joseph, John and
Benjamin West moved with their families
from Pittsylvunia county, Va, and settled
1 miles west of Sinking Spring. These
Vests were cousins of the great historical
painter, Benjamin West, who, though born
in Pennsylvania, was educated and spent
his life in England.
"The first sermon preached in the pres
ent township of Marshall, was by Rev.
David Young in June, 1902, at the house
of Bigger Head. Mr. Young was Of the
Methodist denomination, and traveller
through the county.
"The Indians continued to visit the
Brushcreek and Sunfish hills for many
years after the first white settlements, and
after they had all moved off to their own
lands set apart for them in the northwest
part of the State, they would return for a
fall hunt on their old grounds among the
hills"
The late Major Anthony Franklin, of
Marshall tp. remembered of an old In
dian, named "IIing Solomon" who en-
camped on the banks of the branch which
empties into Rocky Fork, near where Oak
land meeting house now stands, about 4
miles east Of Hillsboro. The Major said,
that che and his companions hunted at
will over the surrounding country-were
entirely peaceable and agreeable with the
few white settlers in their range. They
struck up quite little trade with the
whites, exchanging their bears meat and
venison for salt" The Indians continued
to be quite numerous in this part Of the
country, as late as 1903.
During the summer of 1908 "a great alarm
spread throughout the settlements in
b Southern Ohio, caused by rumors that the
Indians were about to commence hostili
ties against the whites. The alarm COM
menced at Chillicothe, and originated from
the fact that one of the early settlers of that
town, Capt Herrod, was found tomahawk-
ed and scaIped, in the vicinity of his clear
ing, few miles west of that place, early
in the spring of the year. 1t was at first
supposed that he had been killed by In
dians, and as he was a man who was gen
+, orally known and beloved, great indigna.
ton was naturally felt against his suppos
ed murderers. The belief soon spread
among the settlers, that the murder o
I Capt Herrod was to be followed by com
: bined attack oft Indians upon the set
2 Elements at the first favorable opportunity
! and immediate preparations were mad
K for defence,
J The excitement was brought to a crisi
, in the Marshall neighborhood by the ar
l rival of a messenger from Chillicothe, witt
. the alarming news that an attack on tina
place was hourly expected. The settler
in the vicinity of Bigger Head, repaired t.
his house, and having laid in a supply o
provisions, fortified it as best they could
o and made every preparation for a sieg
. and defence. "There were in this temper
4 ary fort, Csays Mr., scott five men, tw
l. women and four children-namely, Big
q ger, Thomas and William Head, Anthon
d Franklin and Thomas Dick Mrs, Tho'
+ Dick and Mrs. Bigger Head being tn
?. women. They had four effective guns an
two kegs of powder. With these slende
e means of defence, they, with the courag
e that ever and always distinguished tn
.s frontiers-mon, resolved to defend the
/, castle to the last. They only rename
e thus forted about two days, word bein
received that the alarm was false"
In addition to the murder of Capital
,, Herrod, above referred to, there was anotl
=, err cause for the apprehensions which e.
:. listed in regard to the Indians. This W.
Z the unprovoked and wanton murder of Il
y noted Shawnee chief, "Waw-will-a-way,
/. by white hunter named David Wolf
It who lived on. the North Fork of Pain
IS near "Old Town." now Frankfort, Ro
!, county. Waw-will-a-way had been faitl
Ie full hunter for Gen. Massie in his surve.
20 ing tours, and was an unwavering frier
of the whites. He is described by NJ
Scott, as ga sober, brave, intelligen
q worthy fellow, well known to most of q
- settlers Of the country, and beloved by O
=. for his frank, manly and generous
y meauor. He had wife and two son
of who were also much respected by the
white neighbors, where they resided, ne
the mouth of Hardip's Creek in the pre-
or county of Highland"
IS Soon after the murder of Capt, Hero
Id and when suspicious we're rife against t
Indians as the murderers, WsW-Nill-a-wI