In this article he shared the account of his parents (Martin
and Mary Stough Hester) settling in unbroken territory in Ashland County, Ohio
and their peaceful encounters with Indians. Here is an excerpt…
About the close of the
War of 1812, my father and family with several others, moved to Orange Township in Richland, now Ashland County. He
entered a quarter section of government land on the extreme frontier and
putting up a rough settler’s cabin, moved in.
A short time
afterwards it became necessary for him to return to Columbiana County for some
cattle. During the trip which lasted 10 or 12 days, my mother with 3 small
children, the youngest but a few months old, were left alone. The nearest
neighbors were on the east and south, about one and a half to two miles
distant. On the north and west, was a trackless wilderness for more than 20
miles, infected with wild beasts and Indians. The day after he left, upwards of
40 Indians of both sexes, came along on horseback took a deliberate survey of
the premises and encamped about a half mile beyond.
Every day the squaws
would come with baskets to my mother to exchange for meal. She shared with them
what she could spare, which was but little. Just about dusk every day 6 or 8 of
the Indian men would come to the house from hunting and setting their rifles
down outside, would go in and stand around the fire, dressed in full costume
with a tomahawk and scalping knives in their belts. My mother would get as many
turnips as there were Indians and give them. It is not surprising that the
little children clung to their mother from fear, as the tall red savages with
their scalping knives pared the turnips and ate them. After getting warm they
would go on to their camp. After staying thus 6 or 9 days they went away in the
manner they came, having committed no depredations…..
My great-great-great grandparents-
Martin Hester (September 6, 1787 - January 31, 1870) and
Mary (Stough) Hester (February 15, 1789 - June 15, 1863):
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