Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1917-02-22
A MYSTERIOUS
DISAPPEARANCE
A Pioneer Story
By WALTER WILCOX
A Pioneer Story
By WALTER WILCOX

One hundred years ago young cou-
pie left Virginia, crossed the Allegheny
mountains and settled In Henderson
county, KY. 1t was wild country in
those days, but very beautiful, nature
seeming to tempt the pioneer with its
virgin scenery, its immense trees. its
profusion Of wild flowers. And such
temptation was necessary The settler
never knew at what moment the yell
of the savage would break the still
ness of the wilderness or when he and
his family might be cut down by a
tomahawk without even whisper of
warming These were the inducements
and the drawbacks to settlers in the
new country, though there is fascina-
ton in danger that drew the fearless
John Aborn and his wife Mary jour
neyed to their new home down the
Ohio river on the only means of in
land navigation known at that time, a
1atboat, and on reaching their destina-
ton went ashore, entered quarter
section of land. built a log cabin and
proceeded to make a living by the cul.
ivation of the soil and hunting. Chill
dren were born to them AS more
room was needed their cabin was eX-
tended, and within a few years the
location assumed the semblance of civ
ilization.
Aborn brought with him to Ken
lucky few slaves and bought others
from time to time, for we must re-
member that in those days the only
hands a farmer could obtain were his
own negroes. The community lived
on game, of which there was album
dance. near at hand: the grain they
raised and nuts and berries, which
grew plentifully on tree and bush.
Each family was unit bound togeth-
er by the strongest ties.
But after time the game was not
so plentiful about the settlements on
the river bank and the hunters were
obliged to go farther inland to provide
meat for their families Then it was
that the Aborns' troubles commenced.
IN the wilderness still inhabited by
the deer and the wild turkey We're
many dangers. Besides the Indian,
there was the wolf, and there were
desperadoes, who whenever a new
country is settled, on account of the
absence of government find it fine
field for their lawless operations. New
ertheless every autumn John Aborn
was obliged to go into the unsettled
regions in order to bring back sup
ply of meat for the winter consump-
ton. Sometimes he would go with a
party of his neighbors, sometimes with
single friend and sometimes alone.
One October morning he set out on
his annual hunting tour in company
with whom he was most intimate
When Aborn embraced his wife and
children before departing they clung
to him with unusual reluctance to let
him go. Whether this was due to 8
presentiment that evil might happen
to him or that he must now go farther
and remain longer than ever before
the fact remains that he and his fam
lily were loath to part. Finally, tearing
himself away from them, lie sprans
into the wilderness with his friend.
When it came time for the husband
and fathers return his wife and chill
dren watched for him eagerly III,
had usually been away two weeks, bu
on this trip he pulposed to be gOn,
three. This was because with the set
Ting of the country he was obliged t,
go farther from home He had Sc
out on Monday and had promised t,
l,a hn. Cat, ,c,.,,
the third Monday following All tina
day his wife and children watched TO
him, but he did not come. The mex
and the next day they felt sure would
bring him. but he disappointed them
The Wife and mother began to b
troubled, but concealed her anxiety a
well as she was able from her chill
dren. When another week had passet
and neither 1Aborn nor his companion
returned Mrs. Aborn felt sure tina
both had met with misfortune Th,
most reasonable supposition was tina
they had been killed by Indians.
month passed, and still neithe
Aborn nor his companion returned
Then the other hunters of that regiol
organized Il band to go and look 70
the missing men. A week later the.
returned, reporting that they had com
upon the body of Alexander. Swift
pierced with arrows and scalped
They had found no trace whatever O
Aborn. 1t seemed probable that tn
two men had been attacked by Indians
that Swift had been killed and Aborl
captured, in which event he must hav
met worse fate than his companion
The rains had washed out the trail o
the redskins as well as that of thei
captive.
The party before their return debat
ed what report to make to Mrs. Aborl
as to the probable fate Of her HUSBAND
and agreed that it would be best t
tell her that her husband had doubles
been killed by the Indians, not men
fioning that he had been first tortured
O..