The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-02-04
THE PIONEERS FAMILY.

was boy only eight years old when
my father moved into the hill country of
Western Minnesota. He was known to
all the pioneers about as "Big Dave, "
and to the Indians as the ''Iron Man. "
He was six feet tall, weighed 210 pounds,
and, at forty years of age, was perhaps
the strongest man in the United States,
aud certainly one of the most fearless of
men. Mother was above the average in
height, and weight, and, if she lacked
fathers strength, was not behind him in
nerve and courage. She could shoot a
rife, skin deer, set bear trap, or pad
die a canoe, and, as a family, we were
able to take care of ourselves.
We had been settled about six months
when father set trap for bear which
had been prowling around. l went out
with him next day to visit the spot, and
we found the bear had been caught, but
that the Indians had killed him, and
taken both the carcass aud the trap. All
along the border at that time there was
peace, but the red man was Jealous and
sulky, and whenever he could harrass or
damage settler he was pretty apt to do
so. Many of them had visited our cabin,
but none of them knew anything about
father except that he was big man.
There was an Indian village four miles
away, and the fellows who got the bear
showed their contempt for father by
dragging the body over the snow and
leaving plain trail for him to follow.
Father was justly indignant, and we at
once took up the trail for the village.
had light shotgun, while he had rifle,
hatchet and hunting knife. We followed
the trail right into the village, and there
found the meat being cut up, while the
pelt and trap were near by.
"Where is the thief who stole my
bear9" shouted father, as we came to a
halt within four feet of the crowd around
the meat.
No one answered.
81 say he is thiefl" continued father,
" and if you will point him out to me,
Twill pull his ears Let that meat alone
1t belongs to mel"
A dozen of the bucks began to grow
and murmur, and father handed me his
rife, threw down his knife and hatchet
and cried out:
"There was more than one theft
saw by the tracks in the snow that there
were'four. Are they squaws or men
If they are men let them lay aside theil
knives and come out here. / will take
the four at oncel"
This declaration was hailed with q
shout, and in less than a minute the foul
who had stolen the bear came TO the
front. They were all stout and supple
young men, and every Indian in the vii.
lage gathered around to see the fun. Il
was fully expected that he would get q
good drubbing, and the four advanced
with mischief in their eyes.
''You just keep out of the way and
don't get frightened, said father to me,
and just then the four rushed in on him
from four sides.
For an instant he was hidden from sight
and there was great hurTahing, but the
next thing we saw was the body of an In.
dian sailing in the air, and a second roll.
ing over and over backward, and ther
father gave the crowd an exhibition q
his strength. He grasped an Indian in
each hand and played with them as easily
as you can handle broomsticks. HC
circled them about, bumped them to
gether, and finally gave sthem a fling
which rolled both of them into the ice
cold waters of the creek.
''Have you six men hereG" demanded
my father, as he turned to the chief. 81
SO, let them come forward and seek t.
put me down. If they can accomplish i
will go home and say no more"
There was a general autter Of excite,
ment, and as the chief named six of hi
best men each stepped forward with
whoop. Father was smiling and con
fident as he spat on his hands, and h,
told me that l need have no fears. AT
given signal the six Indians made rush
They got hold of arms and legs and body
but with a mighty wrench father shooI
them off and then took the aggressive
There was neither striking nor kicking
in the struggle, but the way he did twis
those redskins about made the Grove
dizzy. In two minutes he was victor
aud the chief came forward and shool
his hand, and then and there gave hin
the titlesof "The Man of Iron" Eve
'ha Indians held him in th
Ind any one O