Southwest Virginia and Shenandoah Valley. An inquiry into the causes of the rapid growth and wonderful development of Southwest Virginia and Shenandoah Valley, etc

Front matter

IttMNMttMi s^v_*j_fer<ari5R£__*'3|t •.':•-.« -c^^Af^Stsi^--^ &>Krtl S5-*SS^*_25__.5fi£f £_■'•» •*•*■_■/ r_ MNHHP t-Sfi^tS^**?8"**^**^^ MMNlt «34**&i_-*^**3S v^__P5.f^V ir iJ^^^-^s^^?^^^^?^^ - V^- -y.-jw .v&s .«* «^<!^S_sH^<?_a_c_ix 255j2vr * *.%. v* __?£•_» , ? - -r* -."•V AW*^J.f'"v '■'£. AT"^-'-i^_t^^^^.-&V*^1i_rV JIV y^^\£. •*"*«__•*> $HHKHHPHl ■ ::4$$&:ax * i; *& 5 •^j^*<S^-*^2^^^1s^^^*Ky^«a_i^^ ittMHHHHMi Southwest Virginia AND Shenandoah Valley AN INQUIRY INTO THE CAUSES OF THE RAPID GROWTH AND WONDERFUL DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA , AND SHENANDOAH VALLEY, WITH A HISTORY OF THE NORFOLK AND WESTERN AND SHENANDOAH VAL- LEY RAILROADS ; AND SKETCHES OF THE PRIN- CIPAL CITIES AND TOWNS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE PROGRESS OF THESE SECTIONS. BY THOMAS BRUCE, Author of "Cupid and Duty," "Historical Sketch of Roanoke," "Sketch of Radford," "That Bruisin' Lad o' Greystone Lodge." COPYRIGHT SECURED. RICHMOND : J. L. Hill Publishing Company. 1891. Page CONTENTS.

Preface

.

Introduction

. Chapter I — Original Settlers 1 Country west of the Blue Ridge, and the first settlers of Southwest Virginia — Their troubles with the Indians— Frontier warfare — Gradual formation of the counties until 1861 — Primitive life of the early settlers : their laws, morals, etc. Chapter II — Territory of Southwest Virginia 23 The great valley — Southwest Virginia a part of it — Territorial limits of Southwest Virginia — Its geological formation — Its scenery, climate, agricultural and mineral resources — Its advantages as a manufacturing centre. Chapter III — Slavery 44 Slavery : Its effect upon the country, upon the people owning slaves, and upon the slaves themselves — Abolition of slavery one ofthe causes of the progress of Southwest Virginia. Chapter IV — New River Railroad 53 The New River branch of the Norfolk and Western Railroad Company — Part played by the New River railroad in the development of Southwest Virginia — Its inception and beginning — Its original charter — General G. C. Wharton — Dr. John B. Radford — First or ganization — Meeting at Eggleston's Springs — Resolutions of incor porators — Richard B. Roane, Thomas Graham, J. D. Sergeant, and Walter Wood — Governor Gilbert C. Walker — Options and coal lands, and the manner in which the road was captured from the original incorporators — Country which was opened up by this railroad — Pocahontas and the Flat Top coal regions.

INDEX Page Chapter V — Norfolk and Western Railroad . . 76 The Norfolk and Western Railroad Company: Its inception and beginning— The Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad Company— The Southside railroad — The Virginia and Tennessee railroad — The Virginia and Kentucky railroad— The New River branch— Creation ofthe extension mortgage— The Cripple Creek extension— The Nor folk Terminal Company — The Bluestone extensions — The Clinch Valley extension — The Elk Horn extension to Ironton, Ohio — The Scioto Valley railroad — The Southeastern extension into North Carolina — The Shenandoah Valley division — Increase in mileage of the Norfolk and Western railroad for the past ten years — Increase in passenger and freight traffic — Increase of its rolling stock — Its financial advance. Chapter VI — Norfolk and Western Railroad — Continued ... 99 Norfolk and Western Railroad Company (continued) — Policy of the company — Its equipment, service, and regulations — Its adjuncts (the Roanoke Machine Works, the Virginia Company, and real estate operations of the latter) — Speculations of the Norfolk and Western Railroad Company through the Virginia Company — Statutory regulations regarding railroads holding real estate — Commissioner of Railways of the State of Virginia the proper governing authority in these cases — General remarks on this company as a railroad corpo ration.

Chapter VII — Joint-Stock Land Companies 110 The joint-stock land improvement companies— Their origin, formation, and mode of government — Their effect upon Southwest Vir ginia — These companies the means of manufactures and enterprises being brought in — The general results of their efforts — Speculation in connection with them — Its effects — Various opinions concerning the same — Lieutenant-Governor Tyler, James S. Simmons, L. L. Powell, L. S. Calfee, A. M. Bowman, E. S. Stuart, J. Lawrence Rad ford. Chapter VIII— Lynchburg 120 Lynchburg — Gateway to the Valley of Southwest Virginia — Some thing of its earlier history — Gradual growth of the town from ante bellum days until the present — Its commercial and manufacturing interests — Its capital — Its business progress — Its climate — Its religious privileges, educational facilities, and social status — General remarks concerning Lynchburg.

Chapter IX — Roanoke 132 Roanoke — Derivation of the name — Big Lick — Its inception — Origi nal owners ofthe soil — Its inhabitants — Its sudden progress — Change of name to Roanoke in 1882 — Roanoke's rapid growth — The causes of it — The Roanoke Machine Works — Incorporation of the place as a city in 1884 — Its manufacturing industries, commercial enterprises, and joint-stock land companies — The peculiar patriotic spirit of its inhabitants — Their pluck and energy in a material way — The laboring population — Strikes — Present number of people — Capital and financial condition of the city — Its churches, schools, and journals — Some general remarks about the city — Its probable future. INDEX. V Pace Chapter X — Salem 149 Salem — Its name — Surrounding country, scenery, and climate — A summer resort — The seat of learning, refinement, and culture—Man ners and character of the people — The land companies— D. B. Strouse, A. M. Bowman, J. W. F. Allemong, J. T. Crabtree, Dr. Dreher, George Allen, William M. Nelson — Industries and manufac tories — Mineral resources and F. J. Chapman— Wonderful growth — Number of inhabitants — Financial status — Religious, educational, and social features of the place — Something concerning its future.

Chapter XI— Radford , 160 Radford — Situation of the town — Formerly known as Central — Original owners of the soil — Inception of the place — Its gradual growth until construction of the New River Railroad — Incorpora tion of the place as Central in 1887 — Purchase of the Wharton and Radford farms by the Radford Land and Improvement Company — West Radford — Development of the same— Its enterprises and in dustries — The Radford Development Company— Growth of East Radford — Spirit between East and West Radford — Resources of the town — Its financial status — Its population, schools, churches, and hotels — The Radford "Enterprise" — Future of the town as an iron centre. Chapter XII— Pulaski City 171 West of New river — Stock-grazing section — New river plateau — Pu laski County — New river-Cripple creek mineral region — Cripple Creek extension of the Norfolk and Western Railroad Company — Martin's Tank — Beginning of its development — Growth of the place, and change of name to Pulaski City — Bertha Zinc Works — George T.Mills — L. S. Calfee— The furnaces and other industries and enter prises — Population, churches, schools, and social state of the town — Pulaski City as an iron centre— Probable future of the place.

Chapter XIII— Wythe > 179 Wythe County — Max Meadows— Wytheville— Crockett and Rural Retreat— Washington county — Glade Springs— Saltville— Future of the cities and towns of Southwest Virginia. Page

Part II. Introduction

.

Chapter I — Shenandoah Valley 195 Territory traversed by the Shenandoah Valley railroad — Early settlers of this country— Indian warfare— Peace — The growth of the country— The Civil war— This country part of the battle-field during the war— Climate, scenery, agricultural and mineral resources — Manufacture and cost of making iron— These natural advantages original cause of the development of the country. Chapter II— Shenandoah Valley Railroad 208 Shenandoah Valley railroad— Organized in 1867— Dates of con struction of the various parts of the road— Completion to Waynes boro Junction — Tripartite agreement between the Shenandoah Val ley railroad, the Norfolk and Western railroad, and the East Ten nessee, Virginia and Georgia, which constituted the Virginia, Ten nessee and Georgia Air Line — Issue of new mortgage by the Shen andoah Valley Railroad Company — Interest of the Norfolk and Western in this company — Receiver appointed — Purchase of the road by the Norfolk and Western Railroad Company — Some general remarks as to the effect of this purchase upon Shenandoah Valley.

Chapter III— Luray 215 Effect of the wonderful Caverns of Luray upon Shenandoah Valley — Luray — Derivation of its name— Its gradual growth — Discovery of the caverns by B. P. Stebbins, Andrew J. Campbell, and W. B. Campbell — Purchase of Cave Hill by these parties — Litigation over the same — Decision of the supreme court against the purchasers — Sale of the property to a Northern syndicate — Description of the caverns — Advent of Shenandoah Valley railroad — The Defoard tannery — Rapid growth of Luray — The Valley Land and Improvement Company — Manufactories and industries of the town — Population, schools, and churches — Luray Inn — General remarks upon the place. Chapter IV— Shenandoah — Grottoes 224 Shenandoah — Formerly Milnes — Centre of a mineral region — Some of its advantages — The railroad shops — An iron-manufacturing point — The furnaces — Its advantages as a divisional point — The Shenan doah Land and Improvement Company — Capitalists connected with it — Something as to the future of the place— The Grottoes of the Shenandoah — Weyer's Cave — Fountain's Cave — Madison's Cave — The place now called Shendun — The Grottoes Company — Jed.

Hotchkiss — Improvements made there— Its suture as a business cen tre and summer resort. INDEX VII Page Chapter V — Berryville 234 Clarke county — Date of formation — Its resources — Population and class of people — Berryville, the county-seat (formerly known as Battletown) — Growth of the place since the advent of the Shenandoah Valley railroad— The inhabitants of the place— Churches, schools, and social status — Many facilities and advantages of the town — For mation of the Berryville Land and Improvement Company— Some general remarks upon the town. Chapter VI — Front Royal 239 Warren county — Formed in 1836 — -Character of its agricultural re- Sources and mineral deposits — Front Royal, the county-seat — The twin cities, Front Royal and Riverton — Something of their past his tory — Growth of these places after the construction of the Shenan doah Valley railroad — Present number and character of the inhabi tants of the twin cities — The Front Royal and Riverton Improvement Company — H. H. Downing — Manufacturing and commercial inter ests ofthe towns — The development companies — Churches, schools, and social state — One of the coming cities of Shenandoah Valley.

Chapter VII — Waynesboro 246 Augusta county — Once a part of Orange county — Cut off in 1738 — This county once included all the country between the Blue Ridge mountains and Mississippi river — Its settlement and rapid growth — ■ Population of same — Agricultural and mineral resources — Waynes boro — When laid off and origin of its name — Its original owners and celebrated tavern— Growth of the place, and the Civil war — Advent of the Shenandoah Valley, railroad — Development of Waynesboro commenced by Ba=ic City in 1889 — The Waynesboro Company — The Waynesboro and Basic City Land Company — Improvements — Man ufacturing and commercial interests of the place— Churches, schools, and people of Waynesboro — This town obliged to become a part of Basic City. Chapter VIII— Basic City 253 Basic City — Location— On May 9th the junction of the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad and the Shenandoah Valley — Rapid growth— The cause — Centre of the basic steel section in the South — The Basic City Mining and Manufacturing Company — Policy of the company — Sam.

Furrow — J. M. Quarles — Manufacturing and commercial inter ests of the place — Basic City and Waynesboro — Some general re marks upon the towns in Shenandoah Valley as to their present status and future progress. DEDICATION. NOT on account of its merit, but the sincere gratitude and affection of the author, is this work inscribed and dedicated to one, who, though a moving power behind the throne, is none the less entitled to the credit of having swayed the potent influence that led to the conception of the undertaking in the beginning, as, by her love, fidelity, and encouragement, she assisted materially in the execution of it. THE AUTHOR.

PREFACE.

. WHATEVER is wonderful in animate or inanimate nature excites our admiration, and conceives within us an intense desire to inquire into it — to seek out as far as possible the causes which have produced the start ling effects. The rapid development of Southwest Virginia and Shenandoah Valley is almost phenomenal. The beholder, North, South, East, and West, is cast ing his glance towards these favored sections of the New South in her new era, and astonishment at its rapid strides rests upon his face. In fact, so wonderful is the progression of these sections that the chronicler of dates and events occurring within their borders can scarcely keep apace with them. Everything connected with them is fraught with unusual interest, and the older inhabitants of these communities cannot gauge the rapid pulse, nor comprehend at all the throbbing beats of the arteries of this material progres sion which is transforming a country ruined by a civil war twenty years ago into a land literally "flowing with milk and honey."

The author here desires to express his earnest thanks to the people of these sections who, by attention, courtesy, and kindness, contributed so materially to the lightening of his labors and his search after knowledge in the way of material and data. He is fully aware of the arduous undertaking now before him, and enters upon the same' with many misgivings as to his ability to perform it well, trusting more to the indulgence of the kind reader rather than to any power of his in the execution of so great a task. As this is purely an historical work, and the author desiring it to rest solely upon its intrinsic merit, it is stripped of all accessories in the way of sketches, views, and cuts, which constitute more or less a charm about a book that has a great deal to do with forming the opinion of a large portion of the public in regard to writings ofthe present day. THE AUTHOR.

INTRODUCTION.

. SOUTHWEST Virginia and Shenandoah Valley comprise the fairest dominion of any section of country lying within the limits of the South ern States. The wonderful development of these two sections which has marked the progress of events in the past ten years in the Southern States will be treated in this work rather in accordance with the landmark of time than that of ter ritory. The great Southwest, neither more beautiful nor richer in agricultural and mineral resources than Shenandoah Valley, will be taken first, because, in point of time, it was the first to adorn the robe of material progress and growth. It will be readily seen that this work is rather an inquiry into the astonish ing growth of these sections, than any past, succinct history of them ; and, after each as a whole has been treated, historical sketches of the new towns which have grown as if by magic along the lines ofthe Norfolk and Western railroad, with those on the Shenandoah Valley, will be given in their proper places.

It is not difficult to assign the causes for the rapid development of these sections. First, the location of the countries themselves, with their scenery, salubrious climate, agricultural and mineral resources bestowed upon them in a prodigal manner by the God of nature. Second, the abolition of slavery. Third, the conception, formation, and construction of the New River railroad into the rich coal fields of Southwest Virginia, and Mercer and McDowell counties, West Virginia. Fourth, the developing policy of the Norfolk and Western Railroad Company, in conjunction with the construction of the Shenandoah Valley railroad to Roanoke, intersecting the former. Fifth, the formation of the joint-stock land companies, and their untiring energy and enterprise in locating, encouraging, and constructing vast industrial enterprises, which invariably take their part in a country's material progress.

The inquiry into and history of these causes shall be impartially written, and full credit given to each and every one ; while all objectionable features, if there be any, will be fairly discussed. For reasons already assigned, we will take Southwest Virginia as the first part of our work, and then sketches of the cities and towns most instrumental in aiding in the rapid development and growth of this section.

Chapter I

Country west of the Blue Ridge, and the first settlers of Southwest Virginia — Their trouble with the Indians — Frontier warfare — Gradual formation of the various counties until 1861 — Primitive life of the early settlers : their laws, morals, etc. THE Blue Ridge mountains, as a landmark, have played an important part in Virginia's history. Long before the fertile valleys and mineral hills west of these mountains were discovered, or the gaze of the white man rested upon New river, the eastern portion of the State had some 80,000 people, and Shenandoah Valley three or four hundred souls. The forefathers of the latter came into this valley by way of Harper's Ferry from Pennsylvania, of whom we shall have more to say in the second part of this work. The threading of the labyrinth of Rosamond's bower could scarcely have been more difficult than the tracing of the foot steps of these earlier settlers, in any chronological order, who first came into that country now known as Southwest Virginia.

The want of all records, which the early settlers failed to preserve, reduces the chronicler of events to groping in the dark, and learning from uncertain sounds the paths trod by our forefathers. Several reasons may be assigned for this unfortunate state of affairs. The primitive, struggling life of those earlier pioneers was not conducive to the recordation of events, and the constant destruction of their settlements by the Indians was often a clean sweep, where the inhabitants could not even escape with their lives, to say nothing of records, if any were preserved. Tradition, therefore, plays an important part in this earlier history, for out of chaos it is difficult to extract facts with any degree of certainty, or bring chrono logically down events which have only the palest light to disclose the landmarks as we descend the corridors of time.

In the year 1734 the county of Orange was formed. It then embraced not only its present area east of the Blue Ridge, but all the undefined claims of the Colony of Virginia west of the Blue Ridge mountains to the Pacific ocean. The western por tion of this territory at that time was the home of the Indian and wild beasts, who in a great measure preyed upon each other. In the year 1738 Orange county was diminished in territory by the formation of Augusta and Frederick counties, which comprised all the territorial limits west of the Blue Ridge mountains. With the exception of the small area of country in the lower part of Shenandoah county, called Frederick, Augusta comprised all the territory west of the Blue Ridge. In 1763, by the treaty with France, its western boundaries were limited by the Mississippi river, and it contained all that section of country west of the Blue Ridge, and the States of West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wiscoiisin.

The first white persons who1 ever trod the wilds of western Virginia were not Governor Spotswood and his knights of the " Golden Horseshoe," as many would have us believe. Although he was knighted and immortalized for having dis covered what he then described as "God's country," yet others before him had penetrated those wilds, of which he only took a cursory view. A careful examination, by aid of the best light we have upon the subject, clearly indicates that Colonel Wood was in Southwest Virginia sixty-two years be fore Governor Spotswood. In 1654, Colonel Abraham Wood, being of au adventurous and roving disposition, obtained permission ofthe Governor of Virginia to explore the country west and open a trade with the Indians. He was a resident of Appomattox, dwelling some where near the present sight of the city of Petersburg.

There is neither a record ofthe number he took with him on this ex pedition, nor as to the particular route chosen by him; but from the fact that " Wood's Gap" lies in the Blue Ridge between Smith's branch of Dan river and the Little river branch of New river, in Floyd county, we may reasonably suppose that he first struck the river now known as New river not far from the Blue Ridge, near the line of Virginia and North Carolina. There can be but little doubt as to this gap being named after him, and if so, this must have been his tread through what was then a howling wilderness. Following Little river he must have first discovered New river at the mouth of the former, and finding a stream undiscovered before, doubtless called it then and there "New River," which name it bears to this day. As to the result of Colonel Wood's trip, or the fate of his party of humble hunters whom he carried with him, but little if anything is known.

That it was not a successful one, so far as any treaty with the Indians went, we are satisfied, because they were extremely unfriendly to the next expedition which went out, the guides refusing to conduct Captain Henry Batte's followers into a certain section of the Southwest, inasmuch as the Indians there were unfriendly to the whites. As Colonel Wood's crowd of traders, with himself, were the only whites who had crossed the Blue Ridge, then it was to this very party the Indian guide was referring. So we naturally conclude that Colonel Wood's efforts to establish anything like friendly relations were fruitless. In 1666, Sir William Berkeley dispatched a Captain Batte, with fourteen Virginians and fourteen Indians, to make an ex ploration—all of whom started from Appomattox. What route they pursued is not exactly known ; but, as we have stated, when they reached a certain point they refused to go farther, under advice from their Indian guides.

In his account of this expedition mention is made by Captain Henry Batte of a river flowing westward, which he pursued downward until he came to some salt springs. Mr. John P. Hale, in his work, " Trans- Alleghany Pioneers," supposes this to have been in the Ka nawha Valley, and the salt made at Campbell's Creek Salt Spring. Nothing authentic has been obtained to support this except extrinsic facts which Mr. Hale has so sensibly based his supposition upon. At all events, it is known that Henry Batte and his followers returned to the eastern portion ofthe colony, for he made a report to Governor Berkeley of such a flattering nature that the latter announced his determination of investi gating the country himself, which would have been of infinite service to the future descendants of these people, all of whom have groped in darkness concerning the early history of this country.

Governor Spotswood and his knights of the " Golden Horse shoe" penetrated this section, or at least the valley, at a point known as Swift Run Gap, in 1716. In 1732, Joist Hite, John Lewis, Bowman, Green, Chrisman, McKay, Stephens, Duff, and others came in by way of Harper's Ferry ; and in 1734 Mor gan, Allen, Moore, Shephard, Harper, and others settled in that portion of the valley known as Shenandoah. From 1735 to 1738, Beverley, Christian, Patton, Preston, Burden, and others settled west of the Blue Ridge. This Patton was the Colonel Patton who in 1736 obtained a grant of 120,000 acres of land west ofthe Blue Ridge, in the Valley of Virginia. He and his son-in-law, Colonel John Buchanan, located these lands on James river, in what is known as Botetourt now, and the villages, Buchanan and Pattonsburg, which sprang up on the opposite sides of the river, were respectively named after them.

A great many of their descendants now reside throughout this section of Southwest Virginia. About 1744 one Thomas Ingles and his son William, then a young man, made an exploration west ofthe Blue Ridge and while on this trip became acquainted with George Draper and his family, who were residing at Pattonsburg, Virginia on James river. Some time afterwards, George Draper went on a hunting expedition, and as he never returned, his family thought that he was killed by the Indians. The after lives, history, and fate of the Drapers and Ingleses were so intimate ly mingled and blended that anything touching them is of interest. The next expedition of which we have any chronological evidence was that of Dr. Thomas Walker, Colonel James Patton, Colonel Buchanan, and others, in the year 1748, when they travelled into Kentucky through Southwest Virginia.

It was during this trip that a pass was discovered by Colonel Walker, who named it Cumberland Gap, in honor ofthe Duke of Cumberland. The creek which flows into New river near Major Cecil's, in Giles county, beyond Pembroke station, on the New River railroad, was discovered duriug this expedition, and to this .day bears the name of "Walkers creek." The parallel ranges of mountains near by were also called in honor of Colonel Walker. This party travelled across the Flat Top mountain, which has since become celebrated for the quantity and quality of its semi-bituminous coal. The object of this expedition was to gain some insight into the country with reference to obtaining a grant; for on their return "The Loyal Land Company" was organized, based on a grant of 800,000 acres north of the line ofthe Carolinas and west ofthe moun tains, and the company was incorporated June, 1749.

Heretofore these explorers went west of the Blue Ridge merely for the purpose of discover}1*, and then returned east. None of them crossed into the trackless wilderness for a per manent residence, until some of the most daring and adventur ous ones determined at last to make a settlement in this beautiful but wild country. In 1748, after the return of the Patton party, Thomas Ingles and his three sons, Mrs. Draper and her son and daughter, Adam Harman, Henry Lenard, and James Burke moved west ward, with the determination to cast their fortunes farther west and make a permanent settlement. They chose one of the loveliest spots imaginable for their home — that beautiful and level plateau of fertile land on which the site of Blacksburg, in Montgomery county, is now located. This point was called west of the Alleghanies, but it was west of the divide, or floor of the valley raised, just as Massanutton mountain divides Shenandoah Valley in two parts.

Here these pioneers settled and erected their crude residences of rough hewn logs, naming the place "Draper's Meadows." Things went prosperously along with them, and by their enconiums upon the fertility of the country, splendid scenery and balmy climate, other settlers were induced to come, among whom may be mentioned William Harbison, George Hoopaugh, James Cull, and the Lybrooks, who settled on Sinking creek, a short distance below the New River White Sulphur Springs. All the settlers were steadily at work engaged in clearing their lands and making themselves as prosperous and happy as the state of their circumstances would admit. They were on the friendli est terms with the Indians who occasionally passed and repass ed the settlement, without any hostile signs whatever. In fact, except for one or two small depredations made against Harman and Hoopaugh, there was perfect unanimity between the two races.

But this pleasant state of affairs was not to continue. On July 8, 1755, the day before the English army was so igno miniously defeated under General Braddock, the red-skins made a raid upon this peaceful settlement, killing and wound ing or capturing every living soul. Colonel Patton, Casper Bar ries, Mrs. George Draper, and a child of John Draper were killed, while Mrs. John Draper and Mrs. Cull were severely wounded. Mrs. William Ingles (nee Mary Draper), Mrs. John Draper, and Henry Lenard were captured prisoners. James Burke would doubtless have shared the fate of these people, but in 1754 he removed to that portion ofthe country now known as Tazewell, and made a settlement in the fertile valley, hemmed in by mountains, known as "Burke's Garden," and justly celebrated as one of the loveliest and most charming places in Southwest Virsriuia.

In connection with this raid there is recorded an incident concerning Mrs. William Ingles which is sad and touching to the last degree. This lady, one of the whites captured in the Draper's Meadows raid, was the daughter of George Draper, and married William Ingles, the son of Thomas Ingles. She, with her children and another lady, were conveyed by the Indians down New river, thence by the Kanawha on into Ohio to the camp ofthe Indians. During this trip Mrs. Ingles, by her useful knowledge, adroit acts, and pleasant address, won the esteem and respect of the Indians, who hoped also to obtain a handsome ransom for herself and children. During this journey into Ohio Mrs. Ingles gave birth to another child, and yet continued her march with the rest, exhibiting a nerve and fortitude rarely seen in a woman.

Being of an observant nature, she watched the streams closely as she was marching out, and so placed them in her mind as to remember them dis tinctly. Her final destination, Big Bone Lick, was at last reach ed, and her sons having been previously taken from her, she reached this place in company with only one white woman and her infant babe at her breast. Here at this place she again made herself very useful in making salt, and shirts for the Indians out of the checked cloth purchased from the French traders. While residing here, some seven hundred miles from Draper's Meadows settlement, by the circuitous route which they had to come by the rivers, she meditated and planned an escape. She communicated her plans to the other woman, who, although opposed at first on account of the dangers they would have to encounter, finally consented.