The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-08-27
@isrellanp.
Elder Baschelder,s Address.

The following 10 the address of Elder w EsIEf
BATCHELpER, at the Old Settlers Picnic in
Judge Cations Park at Ottaws, on the 18th inst
He calls it "A short Historical Sketch of the
Early Settlers of Township 35 n, of Range y
Fest of Sd P. NJ, now known as the Town OF
Freedom, La Sale county, Illinois: :"
A near as can be ascertained, the first settlers
in said town were VIM. Davis with his wife ana
four sons and two daughters. They settled on
section two in said town in the spring OF lool'
built house, broke some prairie, and punt
dam, in whole or in part, across Indian Creek,
and began to build a saw mill.
On tie Goth of May 1882. Mr.: Davis and his
wife and four sons and two daughters were KILL
ed in their own house by hostile indians
in the Black Hawk war. Mr.. Davis was ma.
tive of Ohio. He was man of some energy and
enterprise and had laid good foundation for
wealth with the comforts OF life when the des.
troyer came
Mrs Davis was the daughter of Mr.. Hays, the
first settler in Peru. man long and honorably
known in this county.
Mr.. Pettigrew, with his wife and two children,
were stopping with Mr.. Davis at the time of the
Indian massacre, and were all killed. Of Mr..
Pettgrew nothing is known.
Mr.. Robert Norris and Henry George were
both killed.
Mr.. VIM Hall. with his family, were also
stopping with Mr.. Davis. Mr.. Hall, his wife
and one daughter about eleven years old were
killed on the day above mentioned. Temper.
auce their oldest daughter was married some
time previous to Mr. Peter Cartwright, nephew
a DR.. Cartwright. Her husband sometime after
wards died and she married Mr.. Darneal, and
is still living near Sandwich, Kendall Co., Ill.
Three of Mr.. Halls sons, viz John W., aged
about %, Edward, about 49, and Greenbury,
aged about II, made their escape by running to
Ottawa.
Mrs Halls second daughter-Silvia, aged
about sixteen, and Rachel about fourteen, were
taken prisoners by the hostile Indians, after
fifteen, as above stated, had been brutally cut to
pieces
The girls, after witnessing the death of both
their parents and dear sister, were hurried away
to the place of the Indian encampment, there to
spend "a sleepless night and compelled to witness
an Indian pow WOW, while they recognized
the scalps of their own dear parents For seven
long days and nights they were compelled to
witness and suffer- none but those who have
been in like circumstances can form any idea.
Mr. Gravet, the agent of the Winnebago tribe
of Indians, having ascertalned that the girls
were prisoners, authorized their purchase at any
price, and after full negotiations, sixty Indian
ponies were paid for their redemption. They
were shortly after taken to Galena, and from
thence to ST. Louis and then sent to their friends
sence of about two months, to their friends in
Bureau county, Illinois
Mr. j. II. Henderson and his wife came to this
town early in the spring of 1882, and Mr.. Hem
derson was IN the field about half mile south
west from Mr. Davis at the time Of the
massacre, and fled with the Hall and Davis boys,
Mr.. Allen Howard and his son, and Mr.. Single.
ton Henderson, who were all in the field, to OF.
tawa Mrs. Henderson was Ottawa at the
time.
Ga the DIST a company from Ottawa came
and made hasty burial of the dead, and on the
22d returned and gave more decent burial.
1t is seriously regretted that to this day, after
nearly forty years, no monument or stone is
placed to tell where they were buried.
Mr. Henderson, with his wife, after the mas.
sacre returned to Sangamon Co., near Spring.
field, and IN April 1885 returned to this town,
known in those days IS Indian Creek. Mr..
Henderson occupied prominent place in this
town until the time of his DEATH June II, 1S4S.
Mr.. Henderson possessed great energy of charac.
ter, and was noted especially for his hatred to
slavery. He made it religiously the business of
his life to promote the anti-slavery cause.
Mrs. Henderson is still living on the farm her
husband occupied in his life, surrounded by some
of her children and grand children, and much
respected and beloved.
Mr.. VIM. Munson, from Putnam Co., ILL.,, came
to this place March 18th, 1888, with his wife
Rachel, daughter of Mr.. VIM. Hall, who was
killed, as above stated, on the Goth of May 1882
Mr.. Munson settled on the farm owned by Mr.
Hall. and has enjoyed great prosperity, and has
raised family of four daughters and three sons
The daughters all we'll settled in life, and sur
rounded by its comforts and luxuries.
Mrs. Munson, of whom much might be said in
her praise as q wife, mother and christian
passed from her retired and peaceful home on
earth to her home in heaven on the LIST o.
May 1870.
David Martin and his wife and one son came
to this town time in 1888, and bought the
place which had been owned by Mr.. Davis.
Mrs Martin returned to Ohio some time in
the fall of 1875, and after some time deceased
Mr.. Martin married the widow of Mr.. VIM Sea
bring and moved to Wisconsin and Joined the
Fourierites, and after spending most Of his prop
erty moved to Springfield, Sangamon Co., and
himself and wife are both dead.
Mr.. Jonathan Root and family came to THU
place in the spring of 1884, and raised famil,
OF eight children. Himself and wife and TIVE
daughters have long since died, and one son wa
killed IN the late war. The rest are scattered fa
away, one son only remaining in this place
Mr.. Samuel King and wife were here in thu
spring of 1884. OF the place of their nativity
nothing is known. Mrs. King died in the hous
built by Mr.. Henderson, and it is believed her
was the first natural death in the town. Tn
place of her burial is unknown.
Mr.. Ben amin Seabring, with his wife, all,
Mr. Thomas and VIM. Seabnng came to thi
town in 1884, and settled on section three.
Mr.. BEN amin Seabrng moved TO Wisconsin
about 1900 Benz amin long since died. vi hi
wife nothing is known. Thomas Seabring NOV
ed to California in 1852, Is still living in wealt