Weekly Trinity journal., 1875-07-24
Weaverville, July "a, 1875.
LOSP FOR a LIFETIME.

Some thirty years ago John Quincy
Adams acquired considerable notice in
Congress by strong speech made by him
in favor of bill introduced 10y b. A.
Bidlack OF Pennsylvania, which previd-
ed that one mile square Of the land occu-
pied by the Miami Indians, embracing
the house and improvements OF Frances
Slocum, should be granted to her and
hers forever. The bill became a law,
and she occupied this special reserve un-
til her death in the Spring Of 1917.
The history ct this woman was remark
able. She was the daughter Of a Quaker
who lived in Wyoming Valley during
the Revolution. Several months after
the massacre OF l778, she was caught by
party of marauCing Delaware Indians,
who got off before any effort could be
made to rescue her. She was five years
her father was shot by the Indians while
at work in a field near his house. Know
ing that he was gono to his eternal rest
the widow in time was reconcilod to her
loss, but she could never forget her child,
the last sight Of which was when she was
in the arms Of brawny Indian, strug-
Cling aud calling piteously upon hcrpa-
rent to come to her help,
The sons Of Mrs. Slocum became pros
porous business men, and after the Revo-
luton they used every effort to recover
their sister In 1884 two of them visited
Niagara, whore Il large number Of Indi-
ans were gathered, made diligent inquir-
les and offered liberal rewards for any in
formation Of her; they prosecuted the
search for her for several weeks, and re-
turned home with the impression that
she was dead.
The mother could not be persuaded that
such was the case, and four years later
the Slocums spent several months in the
West, offering $4,000 to any one who
would give them authentic information
of the fate of their sister, but their success
was no better than before.
A similar expedition was undertaken
by four OF the brothers, with the same re-
suit, in 1897. As in the Ross case, the
search brought numbers of stolen child
rem to light, but none was the one partic-
uarly wanted.
Mrs. Socum never lost faith in her
daughters existence. She believed she
was somewhere waiting to be clasped in
her arms, and she continued the search
with scarcely any intermi,sion until 1907,
when she died, her children promising
her to use every effort to learn what had
become OF the little one abducted 80
years before. They faithfully carried
out their pledge, and in 1876 made long
and expensive journey to Upper Sandus-
ky, to sec woman who, there was some
reason to hope, was the one for whom
they were searching. Disappointed again,
they finally concluded that Frances was
dead and the search ended.
In the month of January, 1885, Col.
George w. Ewing, a gentleman connect
ed with the public service among the In
dians, and able to speak several Of the
languages, was benighted near an Indian
town, known as the Deaf Mans Village,
on branch Of the Wabash. IIo applied
for lodging and was Hospitality received
at respectable dwelling. lie was fa-
tigued and nnwell, and after eating lay
down on some skins in the corner. The
household consisted Of venerable wo-
man and some children, all Of whom
treated her with the greatest Difference,
and who departed to their own rooms.
As Col. Ewing lay upon his pallet, he
watched the old lady walking about, and
noticed particularly the color Of her skin
and hair. The result Of this scrutiny
convinced him -hs was white woman,