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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. 32.)

Filicity Clearemont county O Febuary 20th 1863

Mr. Draper sir, I received your kind note bearing date Febuary 4th in which you ask several qustions. I can answer a part of them; the Indians that took father prisner was of the Shawnee nation the old or young indians names I never new you wish to now wheather father ever heard of the yong indian he did he saw two of the same company that took him prisner some years after peace they tod (told) him that the yong indian had got to be a grat (great) man you wish me to describe the place whare father kild the indian it was on the watters of mad river a branch of the big miammi river which emtys in the Ohio below Cinnatti you wish to no whare Kenton attacked the indians it was a place now cold stepstone on the Kentuck shore you wish to no whare the indian camp was when fathers with them it was on the bank of east fork of the little miami river which emtys in the Ohio above Cincenatti you wish to no if uncle James was with father in Craforde's (Crawford's) Campain no their was none of his brothers with him there was one of mothers brothers with him and was kild in the battle uncle John and Robert was in no indians scrapes. my father was the youngest of the fore brothers John, Robert, James and Timothy. those men that you mention I know nothing of except Beck their is of the Becks a living near bethel in this county wheather they are the decendants of John Beck's or not I cant say you wish to know if uncle John or Robert children are living that you can get any information from there is none I am the oldist of the name living except one sister that lives near Lebanon in waren county in this stae (state) you wish to no mothers name before marige it was Ann Ellis it was her youngis brother that was kild in Crafords defeat I now have now give you all that I can recolict if you shold come in these pars (parts) give me a call I live three miles nothwest from filicity nothing more remaining

your dear frend

John Downing

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