The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1877-05-16
FRAGMENTS or the EARLY HISTORY
OF OHIO COUNTY.
CHAPTER V.
BY n. D TAILOR.

Whether the Indians. from stratagetic
motives thought best TO attack the larger
and more populous settlements Of the up
Ter counties. and thus destroy the nucleus
OF white emigration, thereby restoring the
country TO its original owners, and reliev-
ing their own territory on the north side
Of the Ohio river from repeated invasion,
by which their own towns and ccrnheids
were destroyed; or found their raids into
upper Kentucky more productive OF spoils
aud plumber, it is certain that they made
but feeble attempts TO rid that portion OF
which Ohio county was composed, Of its
white settlers. They seemed to have
abandoned the idea Of holding the terri
tory as their own, and only visited it oc-
casionally. for the pupcse OF hunting aud
horse stealing, always killing or taking
prisoners such white strsgglers a. camein
their way. Tradition relates but n single
instance Of an attack upon any fort or
station. The Iownof Vienna was at one
time regularly beseised by large party
of warriors who resortcd to all their willy
arts Cor several days to subdue the
place Things began to grow serious.
aud two daring men made their way
through the Indian lines at night and
reached Hartford in safety. A very short
time elapsed until every man cspable OF
bearing arms, who could be spared. was
on the march to relieve Vienna, but be-
fore they reached the place the Indians
had raised the seige, and fed. The
nanes Of the two gallant young men who
thus risked the horrors of Indian torture,
to carry the news to Hartford should be
haaded dOSn TO posterity. But unfOrtu-
nately tradition gives but one name; that
was Stephen Rowan, the father of DIR. A.
Rowan aud VIM. C Rowan, OF Ohio,
and John Rowan. OF Mclean county.
Stephen Rowan will also appear in an
other incident As Mr. Collins in his his
tory Of Kentucky. under the head Of
Ohio county, gives some very thrilling in
cidents in relation to Indian depredations,
aHd the book is no doubt in reach Of most
OF the readers of the MERILD, they will
be omitted here. There are others, how
ever, worthy of note. and in the
first place there are ZONE in relation to
the killing of Anderson's children, that
were omitted in the narrative. Several
women and children had left the fort 20
attend preaching ~ Hartford. The In>
dams had no dS~bt seen their tracks, aud
waylaid them on their return; the road
crossed deep ravine less than fourth
of a mile from the fort The Indians had
concealed tleH,selres in this raviue cover
ed With cane. aud rushed upon the party
"A they passed. killing Anderson two
children. by dsshlng out their brains
against the root of tree, tomahaw4<ing
and scalping Mrs. Anderson, who, how
ever, survived and lived some years after
wards. and bearing of Mics Barnett,
quite a small but very handsome girl
The appearance Of john Miller, Casually
called tick-eyed John.l who happened
TO be near the place, armed as usual, no
doubt saved TIE lives OF others Of the
party Harrison Taylor. Jr.. had just
arrived at the iort.> and was sitting with
has gun across his lap. when the screams
Of the women aud children were heard.
Springing to his feet he ran to the gate,
and saw "a Indian running at his almost
speed through small field that adjoined
the fort. He gave chase and was gaining
on the Indian, but as they were ap.
preaching the fence, on the outside Of
which was thick underground. he cav at
a elsHce, that his oaly ckance was TO fire
before the Indian crossed the fence With
a loud uk! the Indian disappeared. A
few drops of blood was alIthat was found
afterwards.
The citizens of Hartford had field
cleared on the farm since owned by Mr.
Isaac Morton. near toEn, where they had
a crop OF flax; q party Of woman and
children guarded by armed men, went
out one day to pull fax. Among them
was q foolish woman, hut feW 1cEE-fs