The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-05-12

Henderson was a noble man. himself
and wife, two sons and two daughters,
now sleep in this valley.
He had made arrangements with his
brother to move him out and we started
the 18th day of October, 1881, from
Blue Rock township, Muskingum coun-
ty, Ohio.
We had four horses and an old wagon,
which broke down before We went ten
miles. We then got another wagon and
loaded our goods into that and got along
well until We came to Upper Sandusky.
1t had been raining for several days and
the roads began to get bad, and kept
on from bad to worse. Our team became
demoralized, and somewhere between
where Carey now stands and the old
Judge Brown farm, the bottom fell out
of the road and down we went, We
then unloaded part of the goods and
tried again, but it would not come.
Mr.. Henderson then started to Capt.
Browns for help. Isaw a man husking
corn in field near by, and took bag
and went to get some ccrn to feed the
horses. The mans name was Ogg-not
the King of Bashan, but possibly Sec
ond cousin. Soon after l got back Mr..
Henderson returned with q yoke of
large cattle, and a nephew of Mr..
Browns, who hitched on and soon pull
ed US out. That night we lodged at
Judge Smiths.
The next morning we hired young Mr..
Smith. with yoke of cattle. and start
ed. We took new road-I think ours
was the first team that passed over it
l suppose it came very near where Van
lue now stands. That night we got to
Peter Georges. He lived at a place
called the Old Ashery, now occupied by
man named Hall 1t had rained all
day and we were in poor plight for COM
fort, but Mr.. George took us in and did
the best he could for us. He had just
been married, and was living in a little
log cabin about IA feet square. l have
met him frequently, but his wife have
never seen since.
That night the rain stopped, but the
river was SO high in the morning we
could not cross. We hired a canoe from
a Mr.. Gibson, and hired Mr.. George and
another man to bring US down. There
were four men, one woman, and one
child, and when we all got into the little
dug out she had as much as she could
carry. We aoated down slowly. All
had to sit still. Thought things looked
gloomy. We passed q few cabins; /
saw something about them did not
understand; that was q small pole
stuck between the logs or 10 feet high,
another fastened to the end, and some-
thing like big stump standing under.
They told me that was to pound corn to
make bread. did not like the looks of
that, but l thought it was fulfilling that
passage of Scripture that says, "thou
shalt eat thy bread by the sweat of thy
face"
Iasked Mr.. George whether stranger
would be likely to get lost in the woods.
He said ifhe got into the swales he would.
That was a new word for me; did not
know what it meant. Well, we fioated
down and landed above the old brush
dam on the 28th day of October, In the
year 1881.
We then got two pirogues. Some of
our young folks would like to know what
that is, 1t is a boat made by cutting
out the trunk of a large tree. l don't
know whether the name is French,
Greek, or Indian, but one thing do
know, they are all done away with now;
they went down the river and never
came back. We have another kind of
rogue without the pc, we can't get rid of
SO easy. They 60 down the river but
are sure to return before wanted. 1t is
said they are quite plenty about town,
and can be seen after night in dark
alleys.
1t was getting along in the afternoon
before we got started. Mr.. George said
if we could get above what was called
Bright's swale before dark We would be
safe. Boating was new business to
me. Mr. George and Mr.. Hewitt took
one, and Mr.. Henderson and myself took
the other. We got above the swale just
as night set in, and tied up our boats,
and started through the woods for Major
Bright's. 1t became very dark before
we got there. The next morning we got
back eaily and soon met our team. We
lashed our pirouges together and loaded
our goocs in and came down all safe.
We moved into a little log cabin near
where the jail now..stands. Itcontained
one room. My bedstead stood In one
corner, and had but one post, three
corners being fastened In the wall, and
the cord was Linn bark peeled of the
poles.
Findlay was not much of a place then.
/ think there was twelve families living
here. will try to name them, begin
ing at the river: Wilson Vance, Allen
Wiseley, Squire Carlin, Parlee Carlin,
William Taylor, Thomas F. Johnson,
Barnabas Dewitt. Bass Rawson, L. Q.
Rawson, George Flenner, John Bashore,
and William Henderson. They would |
average four to the family, which would |
make 4S, all told.
The weather set in cold and remained |
so all winter, We had a good deal of
snow. Some time, think, in the month
of February, there was Q mRp game into
the shop calling his nauhe HaddoX, who
said he had boy lost some time before,
and wished US to turn out and help to
hunt him. SO next morning five men
started from this place, namely: Joseph
G. Shannon, Frederick Henderson,
James Taylor, Sanford Dulin and my
self. we were to meet at Charles Nc
Kinnis, six miles down the river, but
when we got there they were all gone.
We took their trail and followed them In
q northwest direction, and overlook
them soon, and went ON to q short dis
tancs west of where McComb now
Il
There was small tribe of Indians en-
camped close by, whose chiefs name was
Big Sun; that being interpreted, meant
that he was born at 10 o'clock, noon,
when the sun was up big. |
The next morning We formed line
east and west, facing north, aad soon
found him in a hollow log. frozen as
hard as piece Of marble.
l will try and give the names Of the
men that went from below here: Ben
iamin Cummins, Moses Predmore, James
Cayton, Wenman. Wade, e,-McGoe Rob-
srt McKinnis, Charles McKinnis, Philip
McKinnis, James McKinnis, John Nc.
Kinnis, william Downing, John Dukes,
Richard Dukes, Lewis Dukes, Thomas
Groves, Mordeeai Haddox, Enoch Had
iox, William C0elo.
A large majority Of the men that COM
orised that hunt have passed away.
The McKinnis family learn are all
lead but James, WHO moved to Iowa
many years ago, and ] am told Is still
living.
When came to this county, Robert
the father of that family, was
,ne of the Associate Judges. His eldeSt
Ion, Charles, was County Commissioner.
IN many respects they were noble fam
ly; a little rough, and if a man insulted
hem, they would whip him one hour
md feed him the next, If hungry.
A short time after the occurrence OF
he circumstance l have been trying to
elate, there was another similar In many
espeets. ] can't tell the year, but l
hink in 1884.