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OLD TIMES - INCIDENTS OF PIONEER LIFE
AS RELATED TO ME LONG AGO
Ironton Register,
Thursday, October 24, 1895
by John G. Wilson

For the Register.
Many years ago when Ohio was neutral ground, claimed by the rival
parties, the English, French and the Indians, a man by the name of
Lynd lived over the river about a mile below Burlington. At
that time there was no settlement in Ohio closer than Marietta,
above, and Cincinnati below. This man, Lynd, got into his canoe
early one morning, and paddled across the river to hunt deer as
the woods in Ohio at that time were full of them. He landed just
were Burlington now stands, which at that time was an
unbroken forest. He soon sighted and killed a fine doe and after
waiting in concealment some half an hour, for fear the report of
his rifle might bring down upon him some roving Indians, he leaned
his trusty rifle against a tree and proceeded to skin and cut up
his game, keeping a watchful eye on his surroundings. Whilst
busily engaged with his game, he heard the report of a gun and the
whiz of the bullet as it passed closely by his head and buried
itself in the tree against which he had leaned his gun. Looking
quickly around he discovered five Indians running toward him
tomahawk in hand.
The day was a dark drizzly one and a fog was gathering on the
river but had not risen very high as yet. Grasping his gun, he ran
with all his might to his canoe which he had pulled upon the
shore. He pushed the canoe into the water, giving it a shove which
sent it a full 20 feet from the shore, falling flat into it. It
was well he did so, for another report was heard and the ball went
through the side of the canoe just over his head. The fog which
had been slowly gathering, now enveloped him, so that he was
invisible to those who were after him. He heard their cries and
understanding somewhat of their language, heard them talking about
another canoe, which they had hidden somewhere in the willows
which lined the shore. He hurriedly arose, grasped his paddle, and
made his way swiftly to the other side landing just below the
mouth of Twelvepole creek on a low, sandy flat almost an island
and which was covered with pawpaw bushes and grape vines
interspersed with giant sycamore trees. As he landed he heard the
strokes of the paddles and the yells of his pursuers, and his
heart sank within him. However, he loaded his rifle and ran for
the center of the land on which he was, and fortunately he came
across a fallen tree under which he hid himself. It was not long
before he heard the Indians approaching, following his trail, but
just before he reached the tree, he had to pass through a large
pond of water, which completely hid his footprints and as the fog
was still dense, the Indians were at fault and scattered to see if
they could not find it again. Twice they crossed the tree under
which he lay concealed and once, three of them sat down on the
tree within a few feet of him, and he heard them talking, that it
would not do to stay too long as the white man must have
companions and they would come in search of him. So they gave up
the search and taking both canoes crossed the river, took his deer
and went their way. This man Lynd was the ancestor of the Lynd
families who live back of Burlington, and I think he
afterwards moved over into this township and became one of its
earliest settlers.
G.
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