Year: 1860




From the Holmes County Farmer


The Death of Seneca - Thrillinl


Tncedent i'm the Early Settlemiu


of Holmes County.


The country which composes in part the cour
ties of Holmes and Coshocton, that throug
which the Kibuck runs, in early days was th
fine hunting ground, and favorite haunt o. tn
"Red Men OF the Forest" This immediat
neighborhood was on their trail from the Eas
to the West. Men are yet living in this vicinl
ty who endured the trials and hardships Incl
dent to frontier life; and they relate man
thrilling stories of dreadfu ful and bloody adven
lures and hair breadth escapes from. the savag
| Indians.


Prominent among the Indian chiefs who liy
ed in the first quarter OF the present century i
the name OF Seneca, who was chief Of a.tr,be Q
tribe OF Indians known by that name. His
tory gives prominent place to him and hi
tribe, but the particulars Of his death find NJ
place upon the record. That he lived ever,
one knows; that he died, has been established
in every mind by the immutable decrees of ma
ture; but how, when or where he died is no
known to probably more than dozen persons
now living.


Jacob Almond, now resident Of Coshoctor
county, who was soldier in the war Of 1912
and fought t'braveiy for his country. lived in the
year 1916, in log cabin about one mile NORTH
ofM M ;11orcb,,,oh 10 olc l,, NJ,
James Henderson. Seneca was frequentel
Of this neighborhood. Mr. Almond owned
two guns. During the summer Of 1916, Seneca
borrowed gun from Almond TO take with him
to Seneca county, o., which he agreed to re.
turn in two weeks. Three weeks passed away
and the gun was not returned. Mr.. Almond
more valuable then than it would be now, and
he sent word to Seneca to bring it home. The
'chief brought the gun to Almonds cabin, but
he appeared to be in very bad humor. He
remained about the cabin an hour or two and
started off hunting. He shortly returned and
told Almond that he had bear near Mile
Pond, which he wanted him to come and help
kill. Mile Pond is swamp or pond short
distance south Of Millersburgh, and was so ma
med from the fact oft being a mile in length.
1t is, however, quite narrow, and at the time o.
which we write it was densely surrounded with
trees and underbrush. Almond feared that il
was him instead OF the bear that Seneca wan
ted to kill. He communicated these fears to
his wife who advised him not to CO. He at
first refused to go but after deliberatins over
the matter he concluded that he would be safer
there where he could watch Seneca, and have
ken elsewhere by surprise. He gave Seneca one
gun and kept the most trusty one himself and
started. When they arrived at the Fond SEN
eca told him to take one side of the pond and he
would take the other. which be did! He, how-
sver, kept his eye on Seneca instead of looking
for a bear. 1t was not long before he saw the
Chief hide behind tree and aim at him. He
carelessly got tree between the range Of Sen.
ccos gun and himself leaving enough Of his
clothing exposed to be shot at without injuring
him. Senecas gun burnt priming, and while
he was behind the tree fixing it for a second
tr ial Almond took deliberate aim and when
Seneca exposed his head he fred and killed him.
Mr. Almond, although bold, brave man, was
very much frightened at what he had done
Not so much at the act Of killing Seneca to save
his own life, but be feared that the Chief had
other Indians in ambush to aid him in case he
needed their assistance. He ran some five miles
down the creek; and becoming satisfied that he
was not pursued he came carefully back on the
ridge. He crept up near enough to where Sen
eca lay to see that he had not been disturbed,
and discovering this his fears were overcome
He stripped some elm bark and with it tied a
large stone to Seneca's body. and carrying him
into the pond as far as he could wade be let
him sink, and this was the last OF the renown-
ed Seneca.


For forty years Mr., Almond kept this tragic
affair profound secret. He then had learned
enough of law to know that he could not be
punished for it, and revealed the matter to our
county Recorder, from whom we learn these
particulars. This scrap of history is no stain
upon the character of Mr.. A. If it were we
would not publish it, for we hold in too high
regard the gallant men who made the "wlder-
ness to blossom like the rose," to mar their old
age with one unkind word, and we cherish toe
much love for the brave veterans of the war o.
1872, who bear the scars Of our second war O.
independence, and who are sinking under the
weight years, to bring one pang to theirpat-
riotic brcsts. .....