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Courtesy of Robert W Scott.

George Ash: Reminiscences

Several versions of the story of George Ash, the young boy captured by the Shawnees, were published in the 1800s. This account, which ran on the front pages of the Vevay Reveille on March 24 and 31, 1874, was taken from the Madison Progress. It is by far the least sanitized version of Ash’s life in which he recounted luring settlers’ boats to the Indian shore where they were murdered by the Shawnees and their possessions taken. This is the grimmest account in its description of the murder of a younger brother and sister when the Indians entered the Ash cabin, and of the later killing of another little sister on the March, and his killing an Indian during the running of the gauntlet.

It contracts another account which said that when George returned to his family in Kentucky in the 1790s, his stepmother wanted nothing to do with him, but his father welcomed him. In this version, George said his stepmother was inclined to receive him, but his father, John Ash, rejected him, because George was part of a party that had killed George’s brother Henry, in a raid the prior summer. At first forgetting about the raid, George denied involvement, but then remembered the raid although he wasn’t there when Henry was killed.

This story provides details of a battle between Creek and Shawnee Indians in the area that became Milton Township, an incident I have not seen described elsewhere. It also places Ash in a number of specific locations in modern Jefferson County years before its settlement.

Here are the Ash children and their fates as known: John Jr., wounded in a fight with the Indians and died of his wounds shortly thereafter. A 1783 newspaper article listed Sylvester, George, Henry, Abraham, and Isaac Ash as captives in Canada. If so, then Henry, who escaped capture when George was taken, had returned to Kentucky as he was killed in an Indian raid years later. A very young girl and a two-year old brother were captured along with George’s mother (or stepmother), the year after George was kidnapped. This unnamed girl, boy and the mother were killed on the march through northern Kentucky. John Ash Sr. named a son Reuben in his will which was written on Oct. 4, 1799. There were two children by his second wife, Arabella, son John and a daughter Elizabeth. If these accounts are correct in listing the number of children, then John Ash Sr. had 12 children by his first wife, six killed in the raids in 1780 and 1781 and one son Henry, killed later, along with four sons who grew up with the Indians.

The dates 1751 and 1753 in the newspaper are obvious errors. Since the account said the family visited Louisville, which was founded in 1780, the dates should be 1781 and 1783, although Ash was probably captured about 1781. A version printed in the Cincinnati Chronicle in 1830 said the capture was in March 1780. Another clear error is the statement that the brother John, whom he met when he returned to Kentucky, was the same John who had hidden from the Indians under the bed years earlier. The first John was an older son was died of wounds received on a trip to Louisville. This could have been the younger John, Arabella’s son. The 1830 account that was published in the Indianapolis Journal says Henry was the one he met who filled him in on the intervening years. Reuben, who would have witnessed George’s capture.

Front Page Vevay Reveille March 14, 1874

Of Switzerland County, Indiana.
The White Indian Among the $Shawnees
(From the Madison Progress)

About the year 1751 [sic] a family consisting of father, mother and six children, four boys and two girls, the elder being about 12 and the youngest 2 years old, left old Virginia and after a long and tiresome journey, on pack horses and on foot, arrived at a small settlement in Kentucky, about 10 miles south of Port William now Carrollton, and some 69 miles West of the Kentucky river.— Here they built a cabin and commenced clearing the surrounding forest. At this time wild bands, of Indians were roving through the territory of Indiana, and occasionally raids were made lain the “dark and bloody ground’ of Kentucky, and many of the settlers were murdered, while a few were carried off and afterwards burned at the stake or became Indiana by adoption.

The Ash family was no exception to the rule.

During the summer of 1753 [sic] the father and mother visited Louisville; Ky., the nearest point at the time, leaving the children at home, not suspecting danger of any kind, several families having settled north of them. But alas as it too often happens that we are in the midst of danger when we little think at it— A party of Shawnees had crossed the Ohio river, and having passed a number of settlers whom they supposed to be armed suddenly appeared before the Ash residence. Little George, the subject of this sketch, then six years old, was playing in the yard, while his brothers and sister were in the house, saw them across the field gave the alarm, then ran behind the house end secreted himself under a brush pile.— Henry, the eldest, climbed up the inside of the chimney, there being no fire in it, while John concealed himself under the trundle bed. A little boy and the two girls knowing not what to do. remained in the room crying, when the Indians entered it. The boy and the younger girl were immediately tomahawked and scalped, while the elder girl was taken captive. Looking hurriedly around the room and seeing no others, the Indians left and quickly disappeared in the woods.

Waiting an hour and hearing no noise. George came out of his biding place and was running for the house, when two Indians sprang up from hiding places near by, and seized him, and rapidly bore him away. They were joined by the Indians, who were holding his little sister and trying to pacify her to keep her from crying. George also saw two scalps which he recognized as those of his little brother and sister, whom the Indians had killed in the house, while he was under the brush pile. A short consultation was held among the Indiana and the whole party, nine in number, and the two children, George and his sister, turned their faces north and traveled toward the Ohio river.

At times the children would fail to keep up, when they would be placed on the Indians’ shoulders and for hours at a time, were borne along by the savages. George managed to bide his trouble, but his sister cried continually.— The Indians tried every means in their power to keep her quiet but of no avail. (in the third day they determined to murder her as the only safe means of preventing their being overtaken by the whites, who were supposed to be in hot pursuit, and detected by her noise.— George was taken a few steps off and, turned back to his sister, when an Indian sunk his tomahawk full into her brain and immediately after her scalp was torn off. George was then shown her, who says that he shed no tears as ho thought her better dead than with the Indians. This pleased the Indians very much and various ways were resorted to, to make him understand that he was to be an Indian and kindly treated, and that in due time they would waken great man of him, that they would change Ins white blood into INJIN blood. Resuming their match more rapidly than before, they soon reached the mouth of the Kentucky river. Here, they halted and talked as before, when two of them waded into the water and reaching down into it unfastened two canoes which sprang to the surface as quickly as though made of cork.— Cleared of water, in a moment the whole party were gliding across the Ohio river to the Indiana shore. The canoes were sunk and fastened down to heavy stones, and the party were soon gliding north through an unbroken forest of heavy timber. This course was continued for 30 miles, as nearly as George could ascertain, when the party turned west of north, and shortly after due west, gradually bearing southward, they struck the Ohio river some miles west of where Madison now stands. Here a very large canoe was raised from the water, and some time was occupied in hunting for another one, but it was not found and the Indians became furiously mad over their failure to find it, having been stolen or washed away. The one, however, was sufficient to convey the whole party at one crossing, and soon all were landed on the Kentucky shore. Here they spent some time in hunting, fishing and target shooting; a pastime that Indians are very fond of.

They were exceedingly anxious to capture a keel boat, which they expected down the river, but as none came, after 2 weeks watching, they recrossed the river and began their march to the Shawnee village, somewhere north in Indiana.

At the Shawnee village Ash remained several years. He was first learned [sic, in the original] to speak their language, then the use of the bow, after that to make trap triggers and to trap for fur bearing animals. During the time he was being trained in trapping, hunting and fishing, the warriors were often absent on the war path. Before starting they never failed to engage in a war dance. Sometimes they came home with a great many scalps and sometimes none; the party often being minus several of its members. When successful and ladened with scalps, they would at once, on their arrival at the village, have a war dance; their countenances wearing a pleasant look at first, but gradually they would work themselves into a terrible rage, Fearful curses against the white man would be freely indulged in and finally, they would curse their maker, themselves and the whole world.

Ash was not permitted to go with them-when on the war path, as his white blood was not yet washed from his veins, and they had no faith in the White MAN. He was, however, permitted to accompany hunting parties, and assisting in killing beat, deer and turkeys. The turkeys were mostly caught in pens made of poles, sometimes ten to fifteen were caught at a time. At the age of eighteen Ash stood six feet and two inches in his moccasins, and would have turned the beam at 183 pounds.

It was now determined to make an INJIN out of him, after which he would be entitled to go on the war path. His hair was red which was an objection that was difficult for some of the Indians to become reconciled to, as all Indians dislike red hair, and many of them, especially an old Indian, with whom he had been at variance determined to kill him while running the gauntlet as it was termed.

It was a moonlight night, near the middle of June, and excessively warm, when the whole village turned out to convert Ash into an Injin. The squaws, however, took no part, but simply remained as spectators, while the warriors were formed into two rows, at the end of which was planted a post called the post of safety. At the other end of the rows of warriors, in like manner, were the boys, so that from the starting point to the post exceeded a quarter of a mile. The warriors were armed with switches, clubs and hoe handles, while a few had tomahawk, hunting knives and war clubs. The boys generally had thorn switches. Ash was stripped, and at a given word started on his race between the lines. The boys were rather inclined to favor him and he made the first half with but few scratches, but the remainder of the distance was not easily made. One Indian struck him full in the back with a large thorn bush, which remained sticking fast, and was borne along for some distance retarding his speed.

Having rid himself of it he again bounded forward and was nearing the post of safety, when an old warrior with whom he that been at variance, stepped squarely into the path along which Ash must run; and confronted him with a large war club. Now, here was a dilemma. Should Ash be knocked down, he would be beaten to death, there being no possible chance for him to regain his feet, if once down. Ash took in the whole situation at a glance, and rapidly and advancing he struck his antagonist behind the left ear, stoving his skull, and unjointing his neck, as he fell lifeless to the ground. All lines were now broken up and a general rush was made upon Ash, he however, by dodging and knocking, reached the post of safety.

Here he was surrounded by friends, although the dead Indian’s friends made several attempts to dislocate him from the post, he clung to it, and for a time it looked as though a general fight among the Indians would ensue. Finally, the hostile party withdrew, and Ash was left with his friends. After running the gauntlet, he was taken to a creek near by, where he underwent a general scrubbing and ducking which came near drowning him. They then washed him with water in which were many kinds of herbs. These were supposed to give one a thirst for war. They then pulled out his hair, with the exception of a scalp lock; pierced his nose with a bone prepared for that purpose, cut the outside rim of his ears so as to allow the rim to fall down, being fast at either end. This was submitted to without a murmur, as his red brothers, as he was now entitled to the distinguished honor of calling them, would be offended if he grimaced or murmured. His toilet was now fixed on him, but his ears and nose rings were deferred until another time.

This became necessary to defer as scarce an inch of his person was free from bruises, scratches, or cuts, made while running the gauntlet. On the next morning he was again taken in charge and rings placed in his ears, nose, etc. after which he was painted many colors with clays of different kinds. They then danced around him and conceived that he must be highly pleased. The friends of the dead warrior now demanded that he should marry the squaw of the dead Indian; but as she was old and the mother of five children, two of them, in reality but papooses, Ash declined the honor, which caused another disturbance, but Ash was now a brother in good standing, and the warriors were bound to protect him.

An old warrior and squaw, whose children had been captured and murdered by the Creek Indians, with whom the Shawnees were constantly at war, now came forward and claimed Ash and proposed to adopt him as their son. To this Ash readily contented, and as he persistently refused to marry the widowed squaw, the proposition was conceded to and Ash became the son of the old warrior by adoption and was ever thereafter recognized as a Shawnee warrior.

The many cuts and bruises Ash had received while running the gauntlet, were scarcely well, before a war party of 100 Shawnees were prepared to march to the Ohio river for the purpose of capturing flat boats that were expected down the river during the summer and fall season. Ash, dressed in the apparel of a white man, accompanied them. The party struck the Ohio near where New Bethlehem now stands, but the location not being favorable, they moved up the river and built a temporary craft in the low grounds, north of where the city of Madison now stands. Here they remained some time keeping sharp lookout for boats a but as none came, the camp was broken up, and the party moved up the river and pitched their camp at the foot of a hill, a short distance below the mouth of the Kentucky river. Here they remained for several months watching for passing boats. About the middle of September a small flat boat was discovered far up the river. The camp was at once aroused, and soon the Indians were snugly stored away in the high weeds and underbrush that grew profusely along that stream.

Ash was sent up the river several hundred yards, and when the boat had floated within hailing distance, implored the men on deck to come to the shore and take him on board. He represented that he had been captured by the Shawnees, from whom he had just escaped and that they were, he had no doubt, in hot pursuit, and if recaptured would be murdered or burnt at the stake, as soon as they returned to their village. At first no attention was paid to him and the boat was allowed to continue its course down the river. Ash, however, ran after it crying at the top of his voice for help. His appeals were so distressing that the boatmen were deceived, and the boat was headed for the fatal shore, where sixty Indians lay in ambush to receive it. Scarcely had it touched the bank when the men on board were shot down, and soon after scalped and thrown into the river. The Indians now commenced searching the boat. Everything useful to them was carried on shore, then the boat was fired, pushed out from shore and slowly floated down the river. The captured property was then removed to the camp, some half mile distant, and divided among the party. Ash received several suits of men’s clothing. The blankets and other goods were equally divided, Ash getting an equal share with the others. The party having been successful, now gave themselves up to gambling, shooting, etc.

No further watch was kept at the river and every thing was at loose ends, when an Indian came running into camp, and hurriedly announced a large band of Creek Indians rapidly advancing upon their camp. Now, if there was anything on earth that a Shawnee disliked, wore than a white man, it was a Creek Indian. Orders were at once given to march up the river, a short distance, and form a line, from the foot of the hill to the river bank, and there await an attack. This was carefully done, as the Shawnees had learned on many a warmly contested battlefield that the Creeks meant business, when on the war path. Ash was assigned a position between the forks of a fallen tree, while several Indians were concealed in the brush immediately in the rear of him. Here he lay quiet for some half an hour, and as no sound was heard in any direction, he ventured his head above the log in front of him, and was trying to ascertain where the Shawnees had concealed themselves, or where they had gone, when a large amount of bark was torn from the log, but a inches to the left of him. His head quickly went down behind the log and his gun was brought into position for service.

Slowly bringing his eyes above the log, he sent a bullet in the direction from whence be supposed the one had come, although no living thing, not even a wave in the tall weeds were seen in that direction; however the flash of his gun brought a dozen balls which passed harmlessly over his head. The firing now became general along the whole line. Ash continued to load and fire, though he afterwards said that he did not see a Creek lndian during the fight which lasted some three hours.— About the middle of the afternoon, the fire from the Creek Indians ceased and immediately after a detachment of Shawnees was ordered to march rapidly along the foot of the hills the left flank, and cut off the retreat of the Creeks in that direction, while the main body of Shawnees bore down on the front by moving directly up the bottom. This was done by running from tree to tree and firing upon all the Creeks that were driven from their hiding places.

I CONCLUDED.)
This running fight was continued for two or three miles, when the Shawnees gave up the chase and returned to their camp. The loss was severe on both sides, ten dead Shawnee, were brought into camp, and thirty-two wounded, six or whom afterward died. Twenty Creek scalps were secured, but the wounded were carried off. The evening and night was spent in caring for the wounded, but the following day was mostly taken up burying the dead and cursing the Creek Indians. Ash thought this a little rough, and resolved that he would upon the first opportunity, leave the Indians and return to Kentucky. This resolution, however, was not indefinitely carried into effect.— Several weeks were now spent in nursing the wounded, after which the Indians returned to their village. Soon after their return to the village, cold weather set in, which put a stop to further warlike demonstrations for the winter, hunting and trapping, how ever, was carried on to some extent.—

During the latter part of the winter, a Shawnee hunter had been waylaid and shot by a number of Creek Indians.— This the Shawnees at once determined avenge. It was however, late in May before they, to the number of 150 warriors, began their march to the Creek village. Ash was not allowed accompany them, as he failed to prove himself a skillful warrior, during battle with the Creeks, the summer previous; he was allowed, however, to accompany a small band of warriors to Ohio river, for the purpose of preying upon passing boats. On arriving at the river, scouts were at once sent out to ascertain if any hostile Indians were in the neighborhood. These returned the next day and announced camp of 50 Creeks about 10 miles up river: A consultation was now held and it was decided unsafe to remain on the Indiana side of the river, the neighborhood of so large a body of hostile Indians. Rafts were therefore prepared, and the following day party crossed over to the dark and bloody hunting ground. [Editor’s note: Kentucky]

Here they encamped for a few days, but finding signs of other Indians in neighborhood, a council was held and it was determined to visit the settlement, in the interior of Kentucky, and pick up, if possible, hunters and trappers who usually venture some miles from the settlements. Camp was therefore broken up, and the party moved south by west, skirting the settlement at Louisville, they continued their course until within a few miles of Nelson county, and near the settlement where Ash had been captured seventeen years before. Here they remained a few days, but their scouts soon ascertained that whites were apprised of their presence in tile neighborhood, and were prepared to attack them, they, therefore, silently stole sway and continued their journey southward. On the second day after leaving the settlement they came upon abroad trail of Indians and followed it during the day, keeping scouts well in advance of the party.— The scouts returned in the evening, and reported them to be Southern Indians, from Tennessee, on the war path; that they had a number of prisoners and several scalps with them. Not wishing furnish them more scalps, the party “about faced” and followed the back trail at “double quick” until too dark follow it further that night. On the following morning they resumed their march, keeping a sharp look out for straggling parties. About 10 o’clock, their scouts, who were kept well in advance, returned and announced a large party of whites rapidly advancing along trail with the design of overtaking Tennessee Indians. The party at once scattered and crawled noiselessly away into the high grass which grew profusely in this part of Kentucky, and like young quails, lay concealed, until whites some fifty in number had passed. At a signal given by their leader they at once sprang up, and in a moment were in the beaten path which they followed some miles farther, hoping to pick up stragglers who had failed to keep up with the party.

None, however, found, and the party turned north and began their march to the Ohio: which they reached on the fifth day. Here they again pitched their tents with a view of watching for boats that might pass down the river. For ten days none came and the Indians were becoming discontented, when a scout that had been far up the river, came into camp and announced a fleet of four boats floating down the river. The Indians were soon placed in the bushes at several available places, while Ash was ordered up the river to meet them. Shortly after the fleet came in sight, and was hailed by Ash, who represented himself as having been shipwrecked in a storm and forced onshore a few in days previous. He further said that most of his goods had been secured and were at the camp below, the smoke of which now visible. The boats paid but little attention to him, although he followed them down the river a mile, and finally began crying and begging for them to save him and three others, whom he said were in the woods hunting. At this announcement some half dozen shots were fired at him from the foremost boat, all of which fell short. The second boat now opened upon him, which caused him to take shelter in the brush. The Indians now opened fire on the boats but the distance was too great, and their balls fell harmlessly to the water. The firing was kept up for some miles down the river, but as the boats kept well out from shore, no one was hurt The following day the Indians recrossed the river, and returned to their village. The campaign against the Creeks had also failed.

Defeated on the battlefield, about 100 out of 150 men had returned to the village, and the curses that were uttered were both loud and deep. It was now deckled to march the whole Shawnee force against the Creeks. Some time was spent in preparing for this campaign and taking care of the wounded of the former one, still more delayed them, so that it was the middle of summer beer the band, 300 strong, left the village. Ash was with them, as he had during his march of 200 miles through Kentucky displayed much skill in following cold trails as the Indians called them and on shooting game, on which the party subsisted.— Their course lay south by west over the same country the late war party had traveled, and was made very disagreeable by dead bodies, half eaten and torn to pieces by wild beasts. On the 5th day they reached the battlefield, the men lay where they had fallen. Their scalps were torn off and their bodies torn by beasts and birds that none were recognized by their friends. Many of the Indians now refused to go further as they had seen signs. And omens of evils. Their prophets were now summoned and ordered to consult the gods and learn their pleasure. They did so and the following morning announced that the gods were terribly angry with the Shawnees and would deliver them into the hands of the Creeks unless they at once returned to their ‘village. There was no use issuing orders to that effect, as the camp was at once broken up and the 300 proud Shawnee warrior began one of the most tumultuous retreats known in history.

Fortunately, the Creeks had left the country, and there were none to pursue the fugitives, who, on the 5th day had all arrived at the village. The Creek war was abandoned, and the fall devoted to hunting and trapping, which pleased Ash vastly more than fighting. The following spring a number of war parties were sent out in different directions.

Ash determined to make this his last campaign, and as he had never been a favorite with the (God save the word) fair sex, among the Indians, he had no Miss Aubernbuxtree to mourn his absence. The party to which he was attached, moved south by east until it struck the head waters of Indian Kentucky creek, and following down that, (since famous stream,) to the Ohio encamped in the low grounds, east of the creek. Here they remained during the summer, and it is said some four boats were decoyed ashore, their crews murdered, scalped, and their bodies thrown into the river. These boats were afterwards brought into the mouth of the creak, and concealed from view, from the river, by placing them well into share behind the point above where Uncle Dick Bundren now resides. [Editor’s note: this puts the hiding point on the creek just above Brooksburg]

Late in the fall the Indians began to prepare to return to the village, but Ash determined not to accompany them, but to return to Kentucky. This announcement was received by the Indians with astonishment, as they could not understand why an Indian, and as such they looked upon Ash, could think of leaving the wilds of the forest to return to and be tied down, as the whites are, by the laws of civilization. They would prefer being tomahawked and scalped, to living such a life. A few of them insisted that if Ash was resolved to go, that he quietly cross the river, and that they would report him as a deserter, when they reached the village.

This, however, Ash refused to do, as he said he was only going to see his parents, and would return in the spring, although he had no intention of ever visiting their country again. Finally, was decided that he should go, with the understanding that he would meet them at the river, in the spring. Ash now packed his clothes into a sack, found in one of the captured boats, and on a pleasant morning, late in November, in one of the captured boats, and on a shook hands with the Indians, and was soon seated in a dugout, that had belonged one of the captured boats, and was by two Indians rowed to the Kentucky shore. The following night he slept at the mouth of the Kentucky river, having loitered all day as if loth [sic, loath] to resume his journey homeward. On the following morning, however, he began his journey southward along the same dear paths that he had traveled when a prisoner fifteen years before.

Eighteen years had made many challenges in the settlement, which now covered several miles of territory’, and as Ash knew not what part of it his father resided In, he halted end remained several days in the woods nearby, hesitating whether to return to the Indians or risk being arrested as a spy and hung by a mob. He finally came to the conclusion that hanging would he but little worse than life among the Indians. With this resolve he left his gun and blanket in the woods, and taking the main road lending to the settlement, followed it past several farm houses, when he halted in front of a log house that stood near the road, called to the man at the door, and enquired of the Ash family. He now learned that his father’s family resided some five miles further up the road. Continuing his journey, he soon reached the house and hurriedly, made himself known as the long lost son. His mother was inclined to receive him but his father declared that his conduct had been such that he could not be received into civilized society, and moreover charged that he was one of the party that had murdered his elder brother, Henry, last summer. (Henry will be remembered as the elder brother who concealed himself in the chimney at the: time George was captured.)

George denied ever having visited the settlement since the time of his captivity, not thinking of his raid into Kentucky the summer previous, at the time the Tennessee Indians were there, but the party had been closely watched by white scouts; and John, (the boy that saved himself by hiding under the trundle bed), had seen and recognized him. Shortly after, John came in from his work, and at once recognized George. The reception, however was rather cool. John then proceeded to give a history of the death of Henry and of the escape of the Indians with three prisoner and five scalps, and asserted that George was with a party of Indians that left the neighborhood, shortly after the’ main force, and that fell into the same trail and followed it.

This statement bothered George very much, as he now remembered the circumstance, although he knew nothing of the Indians who had murdered his brother. John and George now walked out into the field, and John gave a history of their lives in the wilderness. Of six children, but two remained. the others having been murdered by the Indians, while one of the others, George, was so deformed that . he could never expect to be received into civilized society, and closed the discourse by advising him
return to the wilderness and never again visit the settlements, No wonder that John was disgusted with the looks of George, for his nose had been cut and heavy weights fastened to it until nearly covered his mouth, while his ears were resting on his shoulders. His face had never felt the edge of a razor, nor had his head been covered with hat, with the exception of the few times that he was employed ill decoying boats ashore, for eighteen years.

Ash now learned that the excursions of the Indians to the Ohio rIver and the part he had taken in decoying boats ashore, and the murdering of the crews were well known in the settlements, and were in some cases greatly exaggerated. ’‘ He remained, however, in the neighborhood during the following winter, though his father showed hint co countenance, and never, after the day of his arrival, spoke to’ him. During the winter he formed the acquaintance of a respectable young lady, and although her father had, time and again, forbidden her to speak to him, in the spring they ran away and were married. Ash now determined to leave Kentucky, and with his bride, crossed over into Indiana and built a log hut, or perhaps, more properly speaking, pile of logs, on the river bank. nearly opposite where Carrollton now stands, Shortly after pence was made by the Indians, after which the whites and Indians often met at Ash’s residence, and many nights were spent in dancing and telling stories of hunting, trapping, &c. About this time the Shawnee chiefs made a grant of all the land from the mouth of Indian Kentucky creek to that of Indian creek, a distance of seven miles and one mile deep from the river, to Ash, but as the grant was not mentioned in the treaty made with the whites some years after, when the Shawnees sold all their possessions in Indiana to the whites, President Jefferson instructed the Commissioners not to allow Ash’s claim. He was allowed, however, to squat on 160 acres, and afterwards to purchase it at $1 per acre. Col. Ash was born in the shanty spoken of, although George Ash built the brick opposite Carrollton in which he lived for many years, and ii which he died. For many years after the Indians had left Indiana, a number of his Indian friends continued to visit him annually. As Ash’s age crept up on him, he became childish, or perhaps, more properly speaking, demented. At the sound of a steamboat he would us into his room and call his grandchildren into the house and lock the doors, and would inquire of his son, the Col, if they were coming to kill him. Never having been social in his younger day, he became very ill in his older days, and especially so to strangers, who always failed to get a kind word or civil answer from him. As long as he was able to cross the river he would often visit Carrollton, although he had no associates there.

During, the latter days of his life several persons persuaded him to allow them to write a full and complete history of his life, offering large sums for the privilege of doing so, which he declined in rough, sarcastic language. He had no associates, outside of his own family, in fact, he was the friend of no man, and he firmly believed, which was probably true, that no man was his friend. He had accumulated some property and felt independent, although he some times, especially in his latter days, would fancy that the government designed robbing him of it, as it had done the grant of land given him by the Indians. Thus he lived, and thus on the 21st day of October, 1851, he handed in his check—gave up the ghost and his body was consigned to its mother earth.