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(Draper, Lyman Copeland. Draper manuscript collection. Chicago: filmed by the University of Chicago Library, [197?], series BB vol. 4, Simon & Kenton papers, 1755-1836, p. 30-31.)

Col. Timothy Downing - Capt. James Downing 1791

December 27th 1862 [Felicity, Clermont Co. O.]

Mr. Draper, I received a note from you having date November 22 you wish information of Simon Kenton and Timothy Downing. As for Kenton I can give you but very little account. I will give you the account of father first - he was born in the State of Maryland, in the year of 1755 - was married in 1777 - he then in a few years emigrated to the back woods in Pennsylvania - there followed hunting and trapping; while there, he went out under Crawford to the Sandusky plains and was in the defeat: He then was a captain - he with six others kept the Indians back till the army was through the prairies. In 1789, he emigrated to Mason County Ky - in spring of 1791, on his way from Lexington to Fayett county to Washington he was taken prisoner by 16 Indians near the Lower Blue Licks on Licking River: the Indians sepparated before crosing the Ohio river - three took father and the other thirteen crost in a different place: They traveled Two days threw Ohio - the last day was a dark wet day - the young man got lost and didn't come in that night - This left an old man and boy in camp after they were done eating the old Indian told father to hand him the camp kettle of water - he stept to the kettle and picked it up in one hand and a squaw ax in the other - while the Indian was drinking father struck him in the back of the head with the edge of the ax - as he jerked the ax from his head, the boy caught the ax - he gave a hard pull, and let go the ax - the boy fell - father jumped into the woods and ran to the horses and unhobbled them jumped on one and started, and wandered two days till struck the Ohio river there a young man ran to shore with a canoe, and took him in and swam his horse accross to the boat andgave him something to eat - from there he wandered through the woods home. In a few years father bo't a piece of land in Mason county and settled on it, andlived there till the day of his death, which was in December 1816. He was a lowheavy set man, 5 feet 8 inches high his common weight 180. - I now will give whatI know of Kenton. he heard of the Indians being in Kentucky - he took his men and hunted the river found the canoes and way laid them and kild the most the Indians. When father got home Kenton raised his men - took father - crossed the river, and found the Indian that father killed - all this hapend before my remembrance. If you will direct to Chares (Charles?) Downing at Hainsvill Clark County Missouri - not (north?) Kansas City you will get an answer - excuse my writing -

John Downing

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