OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS

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CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO
History & Genealogy

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History of
Champaign and Logan Counties
by Joshua Antrim
Published at Bellefontaine, Ohio
by Press Printing Co.
1872

SIMON KENTON

Page 9

     SIMON KENTON, whose name will appear frequently in these pages, was an early settler in Urbana.  I quote from Judge Burnet's letters as found in Howe's History.  In his letters he says that when the troops were stationed at Urbana, a mutinous plan was formed by part of them to attack and destroy a settlement of friendly Indians, who had removed with their families within the settlement under assurance of protection.  Kenton remonstrated against the measure as being not only mutinous but treacherous and cowardly.  He contrasted his knowledge and experience of the Indian character with their ignorance of it.  He vindicated them against the charge of treachery which was alleged against them as a justification of the act which they were about to perpetrate, and reminded them of the infamy they would incur by destroying a defenseless band of men, women and children, who had placed themselves in their power relying on a solemn promise of protection.  He appealed to their humanity, their honor and their duty as soldiers.  Having exhausted all the means of persuasion in his power, and finding them resolved to execute their purpose, he took a rifle and declared with great firmness that he would accompany them to the Indian encampment and shoot down the first man that dared to molest them; that if they entered their camp they should do it by passing over his corpse.  Knowing that the old veteran would redeem his pledge they abandoned their purpose and the poor Indians were saved.  Though he was brave as Caesar and reckless of danger when it was his duty to expose his person,   yet he was mild, even tempered and had a heart that could bleed at the distress of others.
     General Kenton lived many years in Logan county, on what was called the old Sandusky road, about four miles north of Zanesfield on his farm, where he died April 29th 1836, aged 81 years and 26 days.  His remains were removed to Urbana by a deputation of citizens from that place I think in 1865, and buried in the cemetery about three-quarters of a mile east of the city in a lot of

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ground appropriated by the city for that purpose containing about seventy-five or one hundred feet in a circular form with a view of erecting a monument at some future day.  The only thing that now marks his grave is the same plain stone slab that stood at the head of his grave in Logan county, with this inscription:  "In memory of Gen. Simon Kenton who was born April 3d, 1755, in Culpepper County, Va., and died April 29th, 1836, aged 81 years and 26 days."
     His fellow citizens of the west will long remember him as the skillful pioneer of early times, the brave soldier and honest man.

 

 

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