Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1942-10-01
/ AM STILL WONDERING?
(By Silas Thorla)

The smoke from the battle Of
Fallen Timbers had now cleared
away and the settlers who had
found their way here and had been
couped up in forts and huts inside
Of stockades for four long years be-
gan to breathe easier and feel more
hopeful. Gene al Anthony Wayne
(known as Mad Anthony had
fought deci,iv. l.. tile and the
news of the victory was spreading
as fast as men could walk or oxen
could travel in that day. This was
hundred and forty-eight years ago
the 10th of last August.
The news went back to the CO.
loniaI states, together with exag
gerated stories as to what this new
country afforded, then known as
the vast Northwest Territory. Fam
lilies in the east had been making
their way over the Alleghenies by
following the old Braddock road
(and very poor road at that
reaching some tributary of the Ohio
river where they would build raft
with some rude shelter on it and
then float down the Ohio (then fill
ed with snags and treacherous
shoaD to some place Of their choice
and carve out a home in the will
derness.
After Ohio had been admitted to
the Union as state (1803) there
came a great increase in the tide
of imm,g ration. Settlements were
sprinsing Up here and there, but
mostly along rivers and their trib-
utaries. These were trying times
for the courageous pioneers who
had severed home ties and treked
hundreds of miles to start a new
home in the wilds of the wilder
ness. A sky view of new settle
ment would show miles of thick
forest with few irregular chopped
out spots, filled with stumps with
rube cabin in each open space and
miles away from the next settle
ment. This is our picture of the
Dye Settlement when the state of
Ohio was only two or three years
old.
Whatever isolation and privation
and loneliness and homesickness, as
we presume. these first settlers had
to endure, doubtless there were
events and happenings of a recrea-
tional nature that would break the
monotony, dispel the gloom and re-
vive their spirits and help to spread
cheer, comfort and contentment
over the little colony.
But what about their high hopes
and aspirations when a band of In
dians would suddenly and unexpect-
edly made their appearance in the
settlement? We cannot, at this dis
tant day, imagine their fear and
CONSERVATION. This is what Eek
iel Dye and his family experienced
soon after starting their settlement
on Meigs creek, and was known as
the Dye Settlement for nearly half
century. or until the establishing
of postoffice and assuming the
senseless name of "Renrock."
Indians! Oh, horror! Doubtless
the minds OF little handfuls of men
and women would be filled with
fear and forebodings and pass a
sleepless night. The father, who
knew al about Valley Forge and
fought in the Battle Of Monmouth,
knew the treachery and atrocities
that had been perpetrated by the In
dians-but what bring them here?
What can be their motive? Why
intrude upon our little domain?
But, see: they are passing. Appar-
emily not concerned, or interested
in the affairs of the pale-face set
tlement. What a relief! Maybe
they will never show their bare legs
and breech-clouts again. Not so!
On the third day they return.
ladened with, whatiean it be? Lead!