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In the same year of 1773, James Douglass, another surveyor, following the Ohio in the rear of Captain Bullett, landed also at the falls of the river; and thence explored the country, with the McAfees-made some surveys-and returned to Williamsburgh, whence he came.

On his way to the falls, he landed at the mouth of a creek, since called Landing creek; a few miles above the mouth of the Big-bone lick creek; and went over land a mile and a half, to see the lick, and the large bones, of which fame had said so much, the learned risked so many conjectures, and every body knew so little. If the sight of these objects gratified the curiosity of Douglass, and his party, their numbers, and size, filled them with wonder, and perplexed their contempla. tions. The lick itself excited much interest.

Douglass, determined to remain some time at this place, which gave abundant sign of the present resort of various animals-and there being no materials more convenient, the rib bones of a being once animated, were used as tent poles, on which blankets were stretched, for a shelter from the sun, and rain. Many teeth were found from eight to nine, and some ten feet in length; one in particular, was fastened in a perpendicular direction in the clay and mud, with the elevated end six feet above the surface of the ground; an effort was made in vain, by six men, to extract it from its mortise. The lick, extended to about ten acres of land, bare of timber, and of grass, or herbage; much trodden, eaten, and depressed below the original surface; with here, and there a knob remaining, to shew its former elevation. Thereby indefinitely indicating a time when, this resort of numerous animals, had not taken place.

Through the midst of this lick, ran the creek, and on either side of which, a never failing stream of salt water; whose fountains were in the open field. To this, from all parts of the neighbouring country, were converging roads, made by the wild animals, which resorted the place for the salt, which both the earth, and water, contained.

The whole of which, being new to him, were-in the lan guage of a hunter who accompanied Douglass-"most wonder ful to see."

Next year Douglass, revisited Kentucky; where he remained for the greater part of the summer, principally on the waters of Elkhorn, Hickman, and Jessamine creeks; being northern branches of the Kentucky river, where he executed many surveys on military bounty lands-as the records attest. It was his intention to have settled in the country; but life failed and with it, all his purposes.

After Douglass, and pursued by a fate more malignant, was Handcock Taylor; a surveyor also, and a man of more enterprise; he too landed at the falls, of Ohio--and after making a number of surveys, by virtue of military warrants, was killed by the Indians: who made a sudden onset, before he was apprised of danger. Thus fell an intelligent and worthy man. One of his attendants, by the name of Hamptonstall, had the precaution to secure and bring off, his book of field notes, which was rendered effectual, by an act of the legislature.

John Floyd, as a deputy surveyor of Fincastle county, pursuing the usual route, landed at the falls, in this year-and following the Ohio, made many surveys on its fertile banks. He is one of those, whom Daniel Boone was sent to recall, as. before mentioned,

In 1775, Floyd returned to Kentucky; and upon Elkhorn, completed the object of his deputation. He was a man of information, and enterprise, to whom Kentuckians are much indebted, for services. His person was tall, and rather spare, his figure genteel, his complexion dark, his hair black, his eyes of the same colour, animated, and penetrating: with a pacific disposition; and the manners of a well bred gentleman. He continued to visit, and revisit, Kentucky, with a view to his ultimate settlement; which he effected in a station on his own land upon Bear Grass creek, about ten or twelve miles. from the falls of the Ohio, after the first permanent establishment at that place. And where he will be found, in the sequel, discharging the duties, both civil, and military, of a good citi

zen, and a brave and vigilant officer, until his death; which was occasioned by the hands of the Indians; again to be noticed, in its proper place.

At this place, we purpose paying that attention to Simon Kenton, which our own feelings, his merits, and the usefulness of history, unite in claiming at our hands.

Forever grateful to the heart of sensibility, be the memory of that man, who, owing to nature his existence only, has by a series of labour, and exertion, made one public service, but a step to another, equally, or still more, important than the preceding: who, born in indigence, and nurtured in ignorance, found himself a man in the wide world, without a ray of science to guide him; or even the rudiments, by which it was to be acquired; and who, resting upon himself alone, has by perseverance in an honest course of public service, won rank, and fortune, and fame. Such a man is Simon Kenton; whose biography it will be our agreeable business, to unfold.

In the county of Fauquier, and colony of Virginia, on the nineteenth of April, 1753, was Simon Kenton born, of poor, but respectable parents.

At the age of nineteen years, his total ignorance of letters, had not impaired his growth, nor checked the flow of his spirits; he was straight, tall, robust, and athletic. The indeci cision of his sweetheart, and the jealousy of a rival, drew him into a combat, which after the exchange of many hard blows, discomfitted his adversary-who however obstinately refused to be friends.

Kenton, now thinking himself a man, determined to seek his fortune in another part of the world; with this view, and to elude the enquiries of his friends, he migrated to the north-west, and changed his family name, to that of Butler. After some months' residence, west of the Blue ridge, he understood that his friends had heard of him; and he removed to the neighbourhood of fort Pitt; where he continued until 1773. Hearing that Doctor WooD, purposed descending the Ohio, in quest of a new country, and rich land, Butler joined him, and soon after went down the river to the mouth of Cabin creek; making

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various improvements on the bottoms, as they progressed. From the mouth of Cabin creek, they returned to fort Pitt, by the way of Greenbrier.

By this time, Simon Butler, was distinguished as a woodsman, and appointed a spy. An office of much importance, on an Indian frontier.

In 1774, Lord Dunmore made his campaign against the Indians, and was joined by Butler, whom he appointed one of his spies and rangers. He was afterwards selected, by his lordship, to carry despatches to Colonel Lewis, at the mouth of the Great Kenhawa; where the battle of the Point was fought, a few days after he left the place.

He attended Dunmore on his expedition; was at the treaty with the Indians; and again returned to fort Pitt.

In February, 1775, accompanied by two other men, Butler descended the Ohio, and landed about the place where Augusta now stands: thence he proceeded into the country, in search of rich land; and being pleased with the appearances of the soil, water, &c. he selected, and improved, a place near the present town of Washington. He had now found the

country for which he had been searching; and here he deter mined to fix his residence. After raising a cabin, he, with his companions, hunted out to the Blue licks; supposing, as peace had recently been made, that no danger ought to be apprehended from the Indians.

This pacific idea, however agreeable, was far from being well founded. And Butler, after returning to his camp, from a hunt, found one of his comrades, murdered, and thrown into the fire. Thence he proceeded southwardly into the interior of the country; touching at McCleland's camp, and assisting him to build his fort. He visited Harrodsburgh, Logan's camp, and Boonesborough.

Thus he became acquainted with the first settlers in the country; to whom he was every where serviceable; and with whom, he every where partook of danger, for the residue of that, and the whole of the next year.

He generally acted as a spy, and was in sundry skirmishes, besides several sieges, at Boonesborough.

His subsequent transactions will find their places in the general narrative of historical events.

Thus indulging but introductory sketches, where even more was due. And to which will be added only that of

William Whitley.-This pioneer, to the settlers, in the wilds of Kentucky, was born the fourteenth of August, 1749, in that part of Virginia, then called Augusta; and which afterwards. furnished territory for Rockbridge county. His father's name was Solomon-his mother's, Elizabeth: she was of the family of Barnett, before she married Mr. Whitley.

Unknown to early fame, the son grew to manhood, in the laborious occupation of his native soil; in which his corporeal powers were fully developed, with but little mental cultiva tion. He possessed however, the spirit of enterprise, and the desire of independence-among the best gifts of nature.

In the month of January, 1775, having married Easter Fuller, and commenced housekeeping in a small way, with health, and labour, to season his bread-he said to his wife, he heard a fine report of Kentucky; and he thought they could get their living there, with less hard work. "Then, Billy, if I was you, I'd and see,"-was her reply. In two days, he was on the way, with axe, and plough, gun, and kettle. And she is the woman, who afterwards, collected his warriors, to pursue the Indians. He set out with his brother-in-law, George Clark, only -in the wilderness, they met with seven others, who joined them, and travelled to Kentucky.

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This was before Daniel Boone, had marked the road. As the scenes, which he witnessed, are similar to those witnessed by others, they will not be repeated.

Suffice it to say, that he made choice of a place in the southeastern section of the rich lands of Kentucky, where he became an early settler, and a most active, vigilant, and courageous defender of the country. And that mingling his transactions with the general narrative, for which they will frequently furnish subjects, his fame will descend to posterity embalmed, with ample testimonials of his services, and his merits.

VOL. I.

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