Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-03-23
Tile I'll Fated Draper Settle
meSt.
The First White Marriage Celebrated
I'm ThntScciion OF virginta-Altack
ofthe Shawnee Indians Upon the
the Little Community In 1855.

WAS the nrSt white settlement west OF
the Allegheny. This settlement was
formed in l14S-about $50 years ago.
The members of this little company CT
pioneers were but few-about ten In
all, as follows, Thomas Ingles, (his
WIG being dead) and his three sons,
William, Matthew and John: Mrs. Ora
per, whose husband had probably been
Killed by the Indians. as he went away
one day to the west and never return
ed. and her two children, John and
Mary; and three other persons, Adam
Harmon Henry Leonard, and James
burke shortly, there were a few &C
quisitions 10 this little settlement.
Their houses were of round logs and
crudely built. For the first two or
three years there were only two or
three cabins. scattered here and there
IN the forest madow. II is nightfall
IN Draper's meadows camp, Il dim fire.
hght Tails out of the cabin doors. They
are at supper eating their crude meal.
aye, the man of our advanced civiliza-
ton, as he stands at a distance and
beholds the simplicity of this pioneer
life. the happy laughter. and the hearty
meal. half wishes TO be substituted TO
that good old day of honest demeanor
and genuine friendship.
In that little society group, besides
young John DraHer, there were three
young men - Matthew William and
John. Aye. there was in that little
band another with supple limbs. and
blushinG cheeks, who was destined to
become the heroine of many n romantic
story. This was Miss Mary Draper.
MISS MsrY had no sister. so she spent
most of her time with her brother John.
IN his outdoor vocation yJrTJf sports
They played together. worked together.
rode together, and with him she Jump
ed the fences or bitches. and as read
lily as he. 1t is even said OF her that
nearly as high as her head; could stand
on the ground, beside her horse. and
jump into her saddle unaided; could
stand on the, floor and jump over
chair back. and PERFORM other feats of
agility that would startle a modern Pu-
laski girl out of her boots. There was
one in that settlement whose eyes fol-
lowed Mary wherever she went and her
ever successful performance of her va
rious feats of agility and suppleness
only served to fan the flame that was
beginning 10 warm the heart of young
William Ingles
Even the name of Mary was as honey
on his lips and as she would pass him.
at times, looking at him shyly out OF
the corners Of her eyes, he was half
tempted to startle society" by holding
her In his arms. He loved Mary and
she herself had fallen n victim to the
same skilfull archery. She was eigh-
teen. he was twenty-one, he proposed:
and she accepted, and forthwith they
married. This was the first white mar
riage celebrated in Southwest Virginia.
i occurred in 1850. Virginia Cupid was
delighted and clapped his hands for
JOY. some four years later Miss Ber-
tie Robertson appeared in the neigh
borhood. John Draper led her to the
altar and became n happy soul.
Ihese two happy couples dl canned ms
lovers dream of the bright. rosy future
~ A lA, To-. y
ply couch at night. In their minds they
cleared away forests and laid out vast
plantations; they built magnificent
mansions, and lived in luxury and ease.
They We're happy In each others love.
and they saw not--could not see-the
stern reality of life. Poor simple crea-
ture We are. Too soon the happy cur
rent of love was interrupted by unex-
pected and violent hands
CAPTURED BY INDIANS.
On Sunday, the Sth day OF July. 1855,
there was no suspicion of harm or
danger. but all was peace. party OF
Shawnees from beyond the Ohio. fell
upon the Diapers Meadows settlement.
and killed. wounded or captured every
soul there present. as follows Colonel
James Patton, Mrs. George Draper Cas-
par Barrier and Il child OF John Draper.
killed: Mrs. John Draper and James
Gull. wounded: Mrs William Ingies
a.
prisoners. Mrs. John Draper. being out
OF doors Il short distance from the
house. first discovered the enemy ap-
preaching. under circumstances indi-
eating n hostile intent. She ran into
the house to give the alarm and get
her infant. Taking her child in hen
arms. she ran out on the oppisite side
OF the house and tried to make her
escape. They discovered her. however,
ana fired on her as she ran, breaking
hcr right arm and causing the child to
fall. She hastily picked 1t up again.
with her left hand, and continued her
flight She was soon overtaken. how
ever. and made prisoner, and the child
Drained against the end of one of the
house logs. The other Indians mean
while devoting their attention to other
members OF the families and camp.
with the result i'm killed, wounded and
captured as above stated
After piundering the premises. TAX
ing all the guns, ammunition, horses.
and other valuables: the Indians nut
the women and children on the horses.
fired the buildings and went away on
their long journey to their wigwams
back into the wilderness. During this
horrible massacre, William Ingles was
in the grain field. some distance from
the house. He observed the smoke and
flames of the burning buildings, and at
once started towards the scene of the
tragedy. hoping 10 give aid to his fam
ily, but soon. discovering a large force
or we'll armed Indians, he turned to
seek his own safety in flight. He was
seen. however. and pursued by two fleet
warriors. each with tomahawk in hand
William soon got out of the fields and
ran down the slope of the hill through
the woods and brush, the enemy mean
while gaining on him slowly. In jump
ing over fallen tree that lay in his
path he fell. and being concealed by
the log and brush. the Indians did not
know he had fallen. and passed by him.