CHAPTER X.

BLACK'S CABIN - FIRST SETTLERS - BLACK AND HOOD VISIT REDSTONE TO 
OBTAIN PRCFVISIONS - ARE LOST ON THEIR RETURN - DISCOVERED BY CURTIS 
- CURTIS PROPOSES TO RETURN TO BERKELEY COUNTY, AND UNDERTAKES TO DO 
SO - IS MET BY VANMETRE AND TURNS BACK - SHORT CREEK COUNTY SETTLED 
BY MARYLANDERS, VIRGINIANS AND NORTH CAROLINIANS - PROMINENT EARLY 
SETTLERS - ABSALOM RIDGELEY -CONFUSION OF NAMES OF FORTS - THE BIGGS 
FAMILY - IMPROVEMENTS MADE BY SOME OF THE EARLY SETTLERS - THE 
LONGEVITY OF SOME OF THE EARLY SETTLERS - THE EARLY SETTLERS FOND OF 
FUN - AN INDIVIDUAL WHO LIVED AT BEECH BOTTOM - NO MURDERS BY INDIANS 
IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE COUNTY - SOME FRIGHTS, HOWEVER - 
INSTANCES. 


BLACK'S CABIN, which originally stood on the site on which was 
subsequently erected the court house in West Liberty, was so called 
from having been erected by an individual of that name who came to 
that section sometime between the years 1770 and 1772. He was from 
Berkeley county, Virginia, and was an apprentice to Abraham Vanmetre, 
of the same county and state, and was by him sent to the west to 
select and locate land, and to take the necessary measures for 
establishing a "claim." The superior character of the country around 
West Liberty attracted his attention, and he resolved to look no 
further. He at once proceeded to erect a cabin on the land he 
proposed to "take up." Notching the trees to indicate the boundaries 
of one's claim (such claims being limited to 400 acres) and cutting 
the initials of claimant's name in the bark of a tree, sometimes 
several trees, constituted what was called in early times "a tomahawk 
right." Such a claim among the pioneers was sacredly recognized and 
respected, and woe to him who dared to infringe upon these rights. In 
those early times custom established precedents which were clothed 
with all the sanctity of law.
 
In a short time after the advent of Black, one Morgan, of Berkeley 
county, sent out James Curtis for the same purpose for which Black 
had been sent out. The tract located by this last named person is 
still known as the Morgan farm and is the same on which his 
descendents have continued to reside ever since. 

Black and Curtis, together with one Hood, who had come out about the 
time that Curtis had, or immediately afterward, usually kept close 
company both for the sake of mutual protection and companionship, as 
neighbors were few and Indians many. On one occasion when provisions 
had grown scarce and it was necessary to obtain a fresh supply, it 
was arranged among the three that two of their number, Black and 
Hood, should go to Redstone for this purpose, while Curtis was to 
remain behind and exercise a general surveillance over the respective 
possessions of the parties. They made their necessary preparations 
for departure, and on leaving told Curtis that should they fail to 
return by a time named, he might conclude that they had been waylaid 
and had fallen victims to the fury of the savages, or carried away as 
captives by them, and for him to take such precautionary measures for 
his own safety as might be deemed by him to be proper.
 
After the lapse of a long and weary period of waiting the time having 
elapsed which they had fixed for their return, Curtis becoming 
apprehensive for his own safety, decided to abandon his trust and go 
to Redstone and ascertain if possible the fate of his companions and 
friends. There, too, he would be more secure should Indians be 
roaming in the adjacent country. Carefully fastening the door and 
openings of his cabin, he wrote with a charred stick upon the face of 
his cabin door, the announcement that he had departed for Redstone, 
so that in event of the unexpected return of his friends they would 
be advised as to his whereabouts, and their alarm at his absence be 
explained.

He therefore set out on his solitary tramp through the wilderness, 
and succeeded in nearly reaching the Monongahela river, when to his 
great surprise, he unexpectedly met the young men. The surprise was 
mutual, and was followed by an explanation of their long delay in 
returning to their cabins. It appears that having obtained the 
provisions they had gone in search of, on their return journey they 
indulged in the pursuit of game. In the eagerness and excitement of 
the chase they had lost the trail and had become involved in the 
inextricable mazes of the forest and had wandered about for several 
days unable to recover it, or to determine the course which they 
ought to take for that purpose. Curtis assured them that they were 
already in the right way, and with high spirits and joyful hearts 
they retraced their steps in company, glad at the prospect of once 
again reaching their cabins. Not long after this occurrence Curtis 
became dissatisfied and was anxious to return to Berkeley county. 
Having made his decision to do so, he was not long engaged in making 
the necessary arrangements for his departure. Gathering together his 
few household articles and utensils, he strapped them upon the back 
of his cow, and commenced his slow, toilsome and lonely journey. 

After experiencing many trials and encountering a number of 
difficulties, he had almost succeeded in accomplishing half the 
distance in his journey when he met his master, Mr. Vanmetre, coming 
out with an abundant supply of provisions, ammunition and various 
useful commodities. He was compelled to face about, and in company 
they returned to the place he had deserted.
 
That portion of the country known as the "Short Creek Country," 
attracted the early attention of those who were seeking locations in 
the west, because of the fertility of its soil, the abundance and 
variety of its timber, and the quantity and quality of its game. It 
was principally settled by Virginians, Marylanders and North 
Carolinians who brought with them the manners and customs of the 
sections from whence they emigrated.  During the period of the 
revolution the name of West Liberty was substituted for that of 
"Black's Cabin," and it was so called from its then extreme western 
location, and from that love of liberty which patriotism had 
implanted in the breasts of these hardy pioneers. The very name 
itself being music to their ears. 

Prominent among the early settlers of this region we find the names 
of Benjamin Biggs, George McColloch, James Caldwell, John Boggs, 
Joseph Tomlinson, Moses Chapline, John McColloch, John Wilson, 
Solomon Hedges, John Williamson, David Shepherd, Archibald Woods, 
Zachariah Sprigg, James McMechen, Alexander Mitchell, Absalom 
Ridgeley and Daniel Harris. When Absalom Ridgeley came from Baltimore 
to West Liberty, he brought with him a packhorse laden with a small 
stock of such goods as were adapted to the wants of the settlers. 
Upon his arrival he opened his package of merchandise and displayed 
it for sale on a stump near the court house which served him as a 
place of business. At that early day there were no stores of a public 
character in which trade was carried on as the wants of the people 
were few and simple, and almost everything they needed was the 
product of their own industry. The advent of Ridgeley with his stock 
of goods was a new experience to which the settlers had theretofore 
been strangers, and in a short time he had disposed of all his 
available goods. The venture proved to be so successful that it was 
repeated by him again and again, until in the course of time it 
became an established and regular business with him.
 
The fort stood upon an elevated site above Black's Cabin, and was 
erected as nearly as can be ascertained about the year 1777, and was 
called indifferently the "Court House Fort." and "Vanmetre's Fort." 
In later times this gave rise to some confusion; as many located the 
last named fort at West Liberty, whereas Fort Vanmetre was located, 
about four miles below West Liberty, on the waters of Short creek, on 
what has since and is now known as the Ridgeley farm. This last named 
fort was erected on land originally owned by a son of Abraham 
Vanmetre. In illustration of the uncertainty with which one has to 
contend, when in search of authentic information, we may here state 
that it was only after several months of diligent investigation that 
we were able correctly, to locate Fort Vanmetre and to account for 
the similarity of names by which the two forts were designated - so 
soon are the important points and places of local history forgotten 
by those who ought to be familiar with them. But it is a fact that 
the descendants of those men who made the early history of this 
section, know less concerning it than those who are strangers to it, 
but who have interested themselves in efforts to preserve it. One 
would suppose that personal interests in their ancestors, combined 
with local pride, would have prompted them to have made themselves 
acquainted with the history of the past and the lives and deeds of 
their forefathers. But this is not the case.
 
One of the most notable and efficient families living at West 
Liberty, in these early times was the Biggs family, in which were six 
sons, all of whom were distinguished for their brave and adventurous 
spirit and daring. They were named respectively, William B. Biggs 
Benjamin Biggs, Joseph Biggs, John Biggs, Thomas Biggs and Zaccheus. 
All of them were more or less known as Indian fighters, and bold and 
successful scouts. Benjamin, commonly went by the designation of Gen. 
Biggs. He had been a captain in the Revolutionary war, where he had 
won distinction by his courage and devotion to the cause of 
independence and was promoted at the age of twenty-three to the 
command of a company. After the close of the revolution he became an 
Indian fighter. He was in his seventy-first year at the time of his 
death, which occurred at West Liberty on the 2nd day of December, 
1823, and was buried in the old cemetery in that village. His 
tombstone bears the following inscription: 
"Hee was firm and decided as Patriot, 
Fearless and faithful as a friend to the public, 
He loved his country, and served it as a captain daring her
struggle for independence, and adhered to her cause
in the darkest hour of her struggle against oppression."
 
Joseph, called Capt. Biggs was in command of Kirkwood's cabin, 
situated on the Ohio side of the river, opposite to Wheeling, and 
held it successfully at the time the Indians made their attack upon 
it. 

William Biggs had settled in Illinois about the year 1787 or 1788, 
and one day was taken prisoner by a party of Kickapoo Indians. He 
never wore a military title. After his capture he was adopted into 
the tribe, and was treated with great kindness and consideration, and 
remained with them for the period of three years, when he was 
ransomed along with other prisoners, at Detroit. At the time of his 
capture he was on horseback, and was journeying toward the French 
settlement of Kaskaskia. As he was confidently pursuing his way the 
silence was suddenly broken by the sound of a rifle shot which was 
sped by the rifle of a concealed foe, which struck his horse. Three 
other shots, followed in quick succession, all of which took effect 
on his horse, which resulted in its death. At the moment of the 
attack upon him he was leaning forward, and as his horse fell he was 
thrown with great force over his head, and for a moment was dazed by 
his contact with the ground, but only for a moment. On arising he 
lifted his overcoat which he had slung across his saddle, and putting 
it on, and over this hastily placed his powder horn. Starting to run 
and finding his progress greatly impeded by the weight of his great 
coat, and made futile and unsuccessful attempts to remove it, which 
he was prevented from accomplishing by the belt of his powder horn. 
Seeing that the Indians, who were in pursuit, were rapidly gaining 
upon him and that all hopes of escape were hopeless, he determined 
not to be killed while running, and at once and suddenly stopped, 
prepared to meet the worst. His life was spared, and he was carried 
away a prisoner. After his return from captivity he wrote an 
interesting pamphlet in which he gave an account of his experiences, 
but we think there is no copy of it now extant. One of these 
experiences has been related to us by an individual who at one time 
had a copy of the pamphlet in which it was recorded. 

A young squaw became smitten with him and paid him marked attentions, 
so much so as to attract the notice of the Indians. His captors 
proposed to him to take her to wife, but having one already, he 
declined the proffer. When he was about to be removed from one 
village to another, the dusky maiden put in her appearance and did 
not want him to be removed. His captors started with him at a rapid 
lope, followed by the squaw, who was provoked by the laughing and 
whooping of the Indians at her as she followed, which she continued 
to do until they had reached their destination. That evening he found 
her at the door of his cabin and the Indians around making fun of her 
and taunting her with her want of success. Although the Indians urged 
him to take her as his wife, he persistently refused. She remained 
for several days and nights in the hope of overcoming his scruples 
and obtaining his consent to the marriage. It is said that he 
described her as a beautiful girl about eighteen years of age, with 
finely chiselled features, a full and rotund figure and almost white.
 
John Biggs was one of the scouts and guides which accompanied 
Crawford in his unfortunate campaign against the Indians and fell a 
victim to savage fury at the time of that defeat. 

About the year 1832 is the last knowledge we have of any of the Biggs 
visiting Ohio county. Captain Joe Biggs, at the time a resident of 
Monroe county, in the state of Ohio, during the last named year 
returned to West Liberty temporarily on a visit to his relatives and 
friends, and stopped at the house of Allen Biggs, who at the time 
kept an inn in the village, but who on the occasion of his visit was 
absent from home on business. He had left in charge of his business 
during his absence a young man whom Mrs. Biggs took aside and 
instructed to give to the visitant the best liquor there was in the 
bar, and whenever he called for it, which instructions the young man 
faithfully followed. After indulging in three drinks the captain 
walked on to the porch in front of the house, and shrugging his 
shoulders (a habit common to him and in which he unconsciously 
indulged on all occasions), turning to the young man who had 
accompanied him to the porch, he pointed in the direction of Wheeling 
and remarked: "I have been in seventeen fights and engagements with 
Indians, at different times between here and Wheeling." He gave no 
description of their character nor entered into any details 
concerning them. He then inquired whether an old friend of his was 
still living and the directions to his house, he set off to find him. 
With him he spent several hours in recalling past events and talking 
over former incidents and reviving old memories. This was his last 
visit to Ohio county. He died in the year 1833 or 1834. Thomas Biggs, 
another brother, was killed on the Tuscarawas by the Indians while 
engaged on a scout.
 
Zaccheus Biggs was a surveyor in the employment of the government, 
and lived and died in Steubenville, Ohio. He surveyed the first 
quarter section of land surveyed in the state of Ohio. This survey 
was made near Steubenville, in Jefferson county. Before leaving Ohio 
county he entered one of the finest pieces of land in the county, 
which had hitherto escaped the keen search of his neighbors, and 
which in the end proved to be quite a valuable "find." He was the 
brother-in-law of Rev. Obadiah Jennings, a distinguished Presbyterian 
minister of his day.
 
It may be a matter of interest to many to recall the names of a few 
of those who at an early day made improvements and opened farms in 
the vicinity of West Liberty. The names of Curtis, Morgan, John 
Wilson, the McCollochs, Harris, Vanmetre and Hearst are a few, 
prominent among those who first settled in the country adjacent to 
West Liberty, and made improvements. These persons settled here in 
point of time nearly or about the same period. James Curtis improved 
the farm known as the Hugh Mitchell farm subsequently, and which is 
now owned by William North, as well as the farm about two miles and a 
half east of West Liberty, on which last he lived for a number of 
years, and on which he died. He raised a family of ten children, 
namely: Salathiel, Susan, Fannie, Nancy, Rachel, Sally, Elizabeth, 
Alice, James and John. The first named, Salathiel, was one among the 
early lawyers who practiced in the courts of western Virginia, and 
was a man of fine intellect and ranked high in his profession. He 
died at the age of eighty-six, honored and respected by all who knew 
him. 

Abraham Vanmetre was the first person to improve the present site on 
which West Liberty stands; Ruth, one of his daughters, married Reuben 
Foreman, and Hannah, another, married Providence Mounts. The town of 
West Liberty was laid out by these last two named persons, Reuben 
Foreman and Providence Mounts, and this was the first town organized 
in the Ohio valley. It was organized November 29, 1787. 

About the year 1772, Samuel McColloch, who was killed in the summer 
of 1782, while on a scout, by the Indians, and John Wilson, each took 
up a tract of land lying on Short creek. Mr. Wilson emigrated to this 
section from the state of New Jersey; his first visit being made 
about the year 1771, after which he returned to his home east of the 
mountains and brought with him on his return his bride - Rebecca. 
Before returning east he had erected a cabin home for the reception 
of his companion, a refined and gentle woman unused to the rough life 
of the backwoods. On arriving in sight of it he pointed it out to 
her, at the same time remarking: "There Becky, is your future home." 
For a moment she felt a pang of keen disappointment as the memory of 
her home in the jerseys was pictured upon her mind, but she made no 
reply, nor manifested any regret, but resignedly acquiesced in the 
lot which had been assigned her. Her wifely devotion and heroic 
fortitude in the hour of peril and danger has embalmed her memory and 
kept it fresh and green through all the generations of her offspring. 
About this time Mr. Wilson planted a pear tree on his farm which grew 
and flourished, and for more than a century has continued to bear 
fruit. It still stood some four or five years ago, and its lower 
branches were still thrifty and productive.
 
The tracts of land located by Maj. Sam. McColloch and John Wilson as 
well as the tracts taken up by Abraham and John McColloch, are still 
owned and occupied by the descendants of these respective families, 
and they are among the finest, most fertile and productive farms in 
the county. 

James Baird improved where Bethany college now stands, and William 
Baird where Col. Alex Campbell now lives. Both of the Bairds 
subsequently removed to Ohio. 

Gen. Benjamin Biggs improved the farm situated on the hill to the 
south of West Liberty, now belonging to the heirs of Josiah Atkinson; 
and his brother John Biggs, improved the farm West of Liberty, known 
as the Robert Bonar farm, the same where James Smith and Mrs. Julia 
Curtis resided. Shortly after opening this tract John Biggs was 
killed by the Indians at the time of Crawford's defeat, when it came 
into possession of his brother Benjamin.
 
Robert Curvy improved where the late John Wayt lived, now owned by 
Theodore Wolf; and Benjamin Pyatt the farm where James Wayt lived. 
Joseph Ogle improved where Alexander McCoy lately lived one mile 
southeast of the town of West Liberty on the road to West Alexander. 
The farm owned by the late James McMurray was improved by Robert 
Agars, who was slain by the Indians on lands now owned by Mrs. Howard 
in the year 1791. He is the last man who fell a victim to savage 
cruelty in Ohio county. The farm owned by the Yates' heirs was 
improved by Matthew Houston, who was also killed by the Indians. His 
brother, Robert Houston, improved the farm belonging to John Faris. 
It may not be uninteresting in passing to call attention to the 
longevity of some of those early settlers whose names and memories 
alone remain, and even these are fast being obliterated by the flight 
of time and the indifference of the generations which have followed 
them. 

R. Mazingo died at the age of ninety-nine years and six months, and 
his wife at the age of eighty-seven years. J. Atkinson died at the 
age of eighty-two years, Mrs. Wiedman at the age of eighty-nine 
years, Mrs. Lewis at the age of eighty-three, Mrs. Armstrong at the 
age of eighty-five years, Mrs. Taylor at the age of eighty-two years, 
Mrs. Standiford at the age of eighty-nine, Thomas Martin at the age 
of eighty, William Martin at the age of seventy-nine, Mrs. Steele at 
the age of eighty, John Curtis at the age of ninety-three, Mrs. Bonar 
at the age of eighty-two, George Bonar at the age of eighty-three, 
Susan Beek at the age of eighty-three, Susan Edgington at the age of 
eighty-one, Mrs. Smith at the age of seventy-nine, Mrs. Mitchell at 
the age of seventy-nine, and Jane, a colored woman, at the age of 
eighty-six. These are a few among many more which might be selected, 
but these are enough to establish the character of the country for 
healthfulness. In the old graveyard of this ancient town there are 
fifty-one graves chosen at random, the occupants of which each lived 
until over eighty years of age. Thirty-seven of these persons at the 
time of their death were between eighty and ninety years of age. 
Thirteen of them were between ninety and one hundred years of age, 
and one was one hundred years of age. Were Old Mortality to visit 
this old cemetery he would find here ample scope for the exercise of 
his peculiar talent. The early settlers were a fun-loving set of 
jolly fellows, fond of jokes, drinking, bouts and horse racing. This 
latter was a mania. On court days it seemed that the whole county 
would gather at West Liberty and frequently the crowd would amount to 
1,500 and even as many as 2,000 souls. Court day was looked upon by 
the large majority of the settlers as a gala day. Here trials of 
speed between fast horses would be had and bets of larger or smaller 
sums would be offered on favorite animals. So prevalent was the habit 
of betting on these occasions that men would even bet the clothing on 
their backs when they had no money to gratify their propensity. It 
seems almost incredible that some of the stories we have heard of the 
prevalence of this vice could be true, but being so well vouched for 
we must accept them. But we have neither time nor space to enter into 
details now.
 
In early days an individual had settled at "Beech Bottom," about 
twelve miles above Wheeling, on the river. As a proof that he must 
have settled there quite early, it is sufficient to state that he had 
an orchard bearing fruit at the time of the organization of Ohio 
county. It is said that when he came out from the east he brought 
with him a quantity of apple seeds which he planted and from which he 
raised a nursery. When large enough he transplanted them, and in a 
few years he had a large and flourishing orchard from which he 
obtained a sufficient quantity of apples for all ordinary use, the 
making of cider included. He had no wagon to transport them into 
market, and consequently had to use the mode of conveyance then in 
vogue in the country - a sled. In those days, and for many subsequent 
year's, even as late as 1820, people made use of sleds with but few 
exceptions as wagons were a novelty not then much in use in the 
western section of the country. After 1820, or about that period, 
prosperity began gradually to increase, until at length he was looked 
upon as a poor farmer who owned no wagon. 

This individual to whom we refer wa in the habit of taking his apples 
to West Liberty at the meeting of the court, on a sled upon which was 
set a body or box to receive the apples. Upon arriving at the county 
seat he would select a prominent position and display his fruit in 
the most tempting manner upon a board laid across the top of the box, 
which he sold for a penny an apple or a shilling a dozen. If a 
purchaser paid him with a twelve and a half cent piece, or what was 
in later days called a "bit," an old denomination which many years 
since has passed into disuse, and has now quite disappeared, to make 
even change he would cut an apple in halves giving one half to the 
purchaser and retaining the other half for a similar emergency.

From his nursery of fruit trees thousands were taken to Pennsylvania 
and eastern Ohio, and from this source sprung many of the orchards 
which were planted in those states. 

He was quite a venerable person in appearance, was soft of speech, 
very shrewd and withal quite covetous. In the days of which we write 
he was considered as being quite well off in this world's goods. He 
always kept on hand an ample supply of bacon and cured meat in his 
store-house. Hence when his neighbors ran short in this respect, 
which they often did, he did a very lucrative business in supplying 
their wants. It is related of him, that on one occasion when 
provisions, and especially bacon had grown, scarce in his 
neighborhood, he was called upon to supply the deficiency. At the 
time he was suffering from a lingering and severe attack of sickness 
from which it was doubtful whether he would recover. His shrewdness, 
however, did not desert him, but he was keenly alive to driving a 
good bargain with such as came to purchase from him. At times he 
would grow much better and then have a relapse into dangerous 
symptoms. His condition from time to time determined the standard by 
which he graduated his scale of prices. On the days when he was worse 
he would charitably reduce the tariff of his prices, but when better 
he would covetously increase it. One day during his sickness it is 
stated that his wife entered the room and inquired of him, "Pap, what 
is the price of bacon to day?" Hesitating a moment - he replied - 
"Fifteen cents a pound live or die."
 
A remarkable fact in reference to the early settlement of the eastern 
part of this county is, that no murder or depredation of any kind was 
ever committed there by the Indians. A man by the name of Hawthorn 
was shot from his horse where Triadelphia now stands, and one John 
Grist was taken prisoner by them at another time at no great distance 
from the same place. Then we hear of no more mischief done by them 
until we cross the Pennsylvania line, near West Alexander, where a 
Mrs. Ross was murdered by them. They never did any mischief south of 
these two points, nor north of them, although the Indians were known 
to pass often through these settlements. There is a reminiscence in 
the Hosack family that on one occasion when Mr. Hosack was absent 
from home over night, and his wife and children slept in their cabin 
unprotected save by a dog, and apprehensive of no danger, in the 
morning they found Indian tracks in the snow around their cabin, but 
nothing was disturbed. These settlements were composed almost 
exclusively of Presbyterians of the Scotch-Irish stock, who came 
there to procure homes for themselves and their children, and the 
majority of the families still have representatives in the 
neighborhood. With a high sense of justice which has ever been a 
characteristic of their race, they refused to aid or countenance any 
aggressive acts against the Indians. There were no scouts or warriors 
among them, and none of the lawless class, but they acted strictly on 
the defensive. From the light which has since been thrown on the 
character of Simon Girty, it would appear highly probable that they 
were indebted to a considerable extent to this strange erratic 
character for their singularly good fortune, notwithstanding they 
always posed him to be their worst enemy. Girty was well acquainted 
with the character of the settlements. If it was an accident, it was 
a very singular one, that hostile Indians continued to pass on their 
raids through a settlement for twenty years without ever striking it 
a single blow, whilst they committed murders all around it. It is a 
further confirmation of the theory, that if the Indian had been dealt 
with justly it would have saved the writing of many a bloody page of 
border-history.
 
There was just one exception so far as known by the writer and that 
we have already adverted to, in the case of John Neiswanger, who was 
one of the earliest pioneers and a daring scout. He forted under a 
rock in a sort of a cave, one mile and a half above Triadelphia and a 
quarter of a mile north of the pike. He was killed by the Indians at 
the mouth of Little Grave creek, where he had put in with his canoe 
for the night when on a hunting expedition in the year 1783. 

Still there were some scares in the neighborhood occasioned by the 
presence of Indians. A Mrs. Lockwood, who at one time lived just 
above the "forks," formed by the junction of "Little Wheeling" and 
"Middle Wheeling," was startled one morning by the cry of "Indians! 
Indians!" by a fleeing neighbor as he passed by her cabin. All the 
men at the time were absent from home and the neighbors had all fled 
to Shepherd's fort. A few days before this she had been confined, but 
as soon as the alarm was given she left her bed and dragging herself 
along she picked up an old musket, loaded it, and placed the muzzle 
between the chinks of the logs in front of the cabin and resolutely 
awaited the coming of the savages, determined to have the "first 
shot" should they appear. But after waiting patiently for a season 
and seeing nothing of the Indians she became so weak from her 
exertions she was unable longer to stand guard and with difficulty 
reached her bed again, where she remained undisturbed and suffered no 
serious effect from her fright. A young man about this same time who 
had been to mill some distance up "Middle Wheeling" was on his return 
shot at by some Indians on a hill just above him. Disengaging his 
burden from the horse he was riding, he put him to his mettle and at 
full speed made for Shepherd's fort, shouting as he rode, "Indians! 
Indians!," so as to give the alarm to the neighborhood. Mrs. Lee, the 
mother of my informant, was preparing breakfast at the time for 
herself and little ones, and was engaged in baking flannel cakes. 
Upon hearing the alarm, she promptly discontinued her culinary 
operations and snatching up her two children, placing one under each 
arm, she ran with them to the fort, which she reached in safety.