Simon Kenton

As printed in 1881

SIMON KENTON.

Inasmuch as portions of this county were the scenes of many of the events in the life of this sturdy pioneer, it is proper to devote some space to such brief sketches as can be procured relative to him. He was born in Fauquier County, Virginia, on the 15th of May, 1755. Of his early years nothing is known, save that his parents were poor and that he was never taught to read and write. At the age of sixteen, he, with many others of about his age, were suitors for the hand and heart of a young lady of that neighborhood. Kenton and a young farmer named Leitchman were the most favored, until finally Leitehman found an opportunity to challenge Kenton to a trial of their mutual prowess in an old-fashioned fight, in which Kenton was defeated This and the loss of the lady's hand he silently endured for a time, but resolved to wipe out the foul blot upon his hopes and pride as soon as he should attain sufficient strength—- in other words, “whip him when he got big." In due time, the boy came to be a man, and he determined to delay the hour of retribution no longer. So, having sought out his old enemy, the former rivals clinched in combat once again. Now, Leitchman’s hair was long, and as they rolled and struggled, Kenton managed to bring his adversary's head near enough to a &mall tree to enable him to make a quick turn of Leitchman’s scalp-lock around the tree. This enabled Kenton to return with interest the debt he owed his enemy, and so effectually did he do it that Leitchman soon ceased to move. Kenton supposed he had killed him, and instantly fled, and directed his steps Westward. From this time forward for a period of years, he knew no home but the forest or camp. As hunter, scout, spy or guide, he participated in most of the events which transpired upon the then broad field of our Western frontier. During his captivity among the Indians, he was eight times exposed to the gantlet, three times tied to the state, and as often thought himself upon the eve of a terrible death. He was a companion of George Rogers Clark, Daniel Boone, and other noted frontiersmen; also of the celebrated renegade, Simon Girty before Girty joined the Indians. From Howe’s “ Historical Collections of Ohio,” the following is quoted: ‘About the year 1802, he settled in Urbana, where he remained some years and was elected a Brigadier General of militia. In the war of 1812, he joined the army of Gen. Harrison, and was at the battle of the Moravian towns, where he-displayed his usual intrepidity. About the year 1820, he moved to the head of Mad River. A few years later, he was granted a pension of $20 a month, which secured his declining years from want.” In Dr. Ludlow's * Early Recollections of Springfield” is the following article:

“In the year 1802, Simon Kenton lived within the present limits of our Moorfield Township, in Clark County, and made some improvements on the land now owned by the family of the late May. Hunt as a residence, and designated as the Kenton farm. At the time of Kenton's residence there, and at a place about a mile up the run, was the residence of Philip Jarbo, who was a brother-in-law of Kenton, and the two were steadfast companions and friends. Both came into the Territory and to the Mad River country in the year 1790. The run above mentioned crosses the Urbana road near the present farmhouse of Edward Cassily, and was named by Kenton as Jarbo's Run. Kenton’s cabin stood a little to the west of the Hunt mansion, and near to Jarbo's Run; the old apple-trees yet standing in irregular order about the Hunt mansion were planted by Simon Kenton. He also planted a each orchard, which bore fruit before he left the place. But Kenton’s moving disposition led-him to quit the place in 1806, when he moved to the rapids of Buck Creek, now known as the village of Lagonda. Here he built a grist-mill, and undertook to connect a carding-machine with it, but the enterprise almost failed. The mill was a poor affair, while the bolting-machine was propelled by hand-power. Mr. Caleb Tuttle, who is still living (1871), in Springfield Township, says he often went to this mill when a boy, and well remembers its appearance and location, and many a time he has labored at the bolting-machine to complete his father’s grist. While Caleb thus labored, his heart grew light at the presence of a fair ‘young damsel whose father worked in the mill.’ In after years, she became the wife of Mr. Tuttle. There is also another person living in Springfield who often went to this mill when Kenton was the proprietor. The mill was located just on the narrow george of the creek where the turnpike bridge now crosses the stream. Kenton left Lagonda and his mill in the early part of the year 1812, to join the army of his country in the war with Great Britain. He was made a Brigadier General of militia, and joined the army under Gen. Harrison."

As Urbana was then the county seat of Champaign County, which extended over nearly the whole of what is now Clark County, and his first location was only a few miles south of Urbana, it is easy to account for the statement in Howe's Collections that “he settled in Urbana in 1802.”

In an appendix to a small pamphlet (1852) by R. C. Woodard, entitled “Sketches of Springfield," we find the following: “My first visit to Springfield and the Mad River country was in October, 1832. I took lodging with Col. Werden, then keeper of the National, for the night. "When I entered the two-horse hack in the morning, I found seated therein a very elderly and dignified gentleman, who at the first glance commanded my respect. By his side sat a lady. much younger in appearance than himself. We three formed the load. The lady and myself soon fell into a running conversation, and I found her to be a very agreeable and companionable traveler. Among other facts, she told me that Springfield was so named at her suggestion, on account of the many delightful and valuable springs within and around the plat located for the ` town. While we chafted, the old gentleman sat in silence, and, as his grave appearance was not of a character to invite conversation, with a young and bashful man, I had to be content, for the while, with looking at him, and wondering who he was! At length, however, when we came into the neighborhood of May. William Hunt's, I ventured to ask him if he were ‘going far north. He said, ‘No.” The lady then said they were going to their home near Zanesville, in Logan County. This question happened to break the ice a little, and the gentleman became somewhat talkative—in a slow way. He told me he had been to Newport, Ky.. to attend a meeting of pioneers appointed fifty years before, but that the cholera had thwarted the meeting. He pointed out along the verge of the road, nearly opposite the Half-Way House, the path along which the Indians had once escorted him, a prisoner, on the way to Zanesfield, to make him run the gantlet. and gave me sunday snatehes of detail as to his early

As printed in The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.