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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. 31.)

January 26 1863

Mr. Draper -

sir, I received your letter baring date January 12(?) questions of which I cant answer but few. My father was born in Maryland but what part I dont know - he has kept no register - being a man of no learning. I now will give the place where he was taken prisoner - at the crossing of Licking river where the rode crosses leding from Maysville to Lexington fayett county. When the Indians caught father, they stript his shirt off and an Indian put it on - when Kenton attacked the Indians at the Ohio river: this Indian was kild that had the shirt on - it was sent home to mother with 16 bullet holes in it. You wish to know where father struck the Ohio - it was at the mouth of the Sciota river - the young mans name that come to father, I never heard - he took father across to the bote and gave him something to eat, and then put him on the Kentucky shore - he then struck across the country home. I forgt to mention the place where father livd in pensilvania. it was near Brownsville - then cald Red Stone Fort. My father had three brothers - John, Robert and James. John and Robert lived in Mason county, Kentucky. James never came to the West - he was a spy after the Indians - that is about all I now of him - father had one scrape after he got home from captivity. The Indians crost the Ohio river and stole some horses - father with others followed them into Ohio, and crept upon them in the night secured the horses - and then fired upon the Indians in their camp then ran, finding the Indians too strong. That was his last scrape. After that he was elected a mility captain - then a major - and a colonel he lived and died two and a half miles north-west from Washington, Mason county. I now give all I can remember - being very old and infirm - now 75 years of age I now will close. Iremain your ??

John Downing

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