Hancock County, Ohio - Chapter 15: Some Other Things of Interest, 1881

UNDER the old judicial system of the State, Administrators of the estates of deceased persons were appointed by the xAssociate Judges of the County, and upon the decease of an individual seized of an estate, it was necessary to call a special session of the court, in order to appoint an Administrator. This was certainly very inconvenient, and at this day would be very expensive.

The first record we find of such a session of court in this county, was one held on the 19thday of March, 1829, at Findley, by Judges Huff, McKinnis and Wilson. At that time, William Taylor was appointed Administrator of the estate of John Patterson, deceased. His sureties were Job Chamberlain, sr.^ and John Boyd. The whole amount of money coming into the hands of the xAdministrator from the sale of both real and personal property, was $869.50, quite an estate for that early day, and Mr. Patterson was regarded as one of the wealthy men of the county.

In looking over the items of the settlement, we find the administrator has a credit of two dollars, for two days services as administrator. This was certainly a novel way of getting pay for such services, to say nothing of the very moderate charge made. The attorneys, for procuring sale of land, and advsing in the settlement of the estate, were allowed five dollars. No doubt the heirs and the

The first will recorded, was prohated in March, 1830, and in this day of brevity in such matters, it may be of interest to mention the introduction to this will as it appears on record, which we will do, omitting the name of the testator.

" In the name of God, Amen. I ***** ^f Hancock County, State ef Ohio, being sick and weak in body, but of sound mind, memory and understanding, (praised be God for it,) and considering the certainty of death, and the uncertainty of the time thereof, and to the end I may be better prepared to leave this world whenever it may please God to call me home, do therefore make and declare this my last will and testament in manner following, (that is to say) first and principally I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God, my Creator, praying for free pardon, and remission of all my sins, and to enjoy everlasting happiness in the Heavenly Kingdom through Jesus Christ my Savior. My body I commit to the earth, at the discretion of my executor hereafter named."

Then follows the several items of the will all as properly, and at the same time as specifically expressed, as is the foregoing. Indeed, in looking over the records of wills of that day, we are impressed with the certainty of the language of every bequest. No ambiguity, no looseness of expression on which a law suit might hinge, no possible chance for litigation and fat fees. No wasting of the estate in determinig the intentions of the party, but all is plain and to the point.

county, having made so many incursions here - by almost every man, woman and child in the settlements. He was a christian Indian, brave, generous and kind, and was not only honored by his tribe, but was respected by the pale faces for his honesty and bravery. This noble red man was most foully, murdered near Napoleon, in Henry County. The event created a most profound sensation, and for some time there seemed to be danger of an outbreak amongst the Indians, to avenge this most fiendish killing of Sum-un-duwat, and his daughter and her husband, for they were all three murdered at the same time and by the same men. Without a moment's warning they were slain by those who were receiving their hospitality.

On my visit to the Eberleys, in Wood County, of which I have before spoken, Mr. Eberly, a pioneer of the county, related to me the circumstances of the murder. Mr. Eberly's statement was substantially as follows :

"Sum-un-du-wat, daughter and her husband were murdered near Napoleon, in Henry County, by John Anderson and James Lyons, who lived near Portage, in Wood County. Anderson lived with me at the time. Sum-un-du-wat and party had been in our neighborhood for some days, and Anderson had tried to buy or trade for a favorite dog of the Indians, but without success. He made the declaration that he would have the dog before another week passed. He and Lyons followed the party to near Napoleon, where by the direction of one John Ellsworth, who resided about six miles west of Portage, they committed the bloody murder. They got all the money of which Sum-un-du-wat was possessed, which Snake-bone and other Chiefs, declared was about six hundred dollars; also, seven ponies, a lot of furs and dogs. They returned to the house of Lyons, a little west of Portage, where they concealed the ponies and all of the dogs, except the fa.vorite one, which Anderson appropriated as his own, and although the dog was seen in his company, no one suspected that he had obtained it other than by fair means.

" In the excitement after the murder, one of the ponies escaped fi-om the boys, and wandered to the camp of Snakebone and his party. On being followed it returned to the place where the murdered Indians lay. The alarm was given, and Snake-bone and his party followed the trail to Portage, where they found and arrested Anderson and Lyons.

"The former was at church in the village. The Indians surrounded the building and captured him as he came out. The prisoners were conducted to Napoleon, where a preliminary examination was had, and the parties were commited to jail, but afterwards made their escape, and were never punished. At the trial, Anderson turned States evidence, and related the story of the murder. He stated that they stayed with the party three days before they met with a favorable opportunity to commit the hellish deed. When the Indians arrested Lyons, they found all the dogs belonging to them, under the floor of Lyon's house. The boys said that Ellsworth induced them to commit the murder, and after it was done, advised them to let him have the money until the excitement should pass over, and then they would divide. But the old scoundrel took the money and fled the country.

" Sum-un-du-wat was about sixty years of age. Snakebone, in his endeavors to find the murders, wat three days and nights on the trail, and such were his exertions, that he broke dow-n from their effects, and died shortly after."

It was thus that another crime was committed towards a people, who were as often a friend as an enemy. It was but another exhibition of that devilish disposition, possessed by some, to cruelly treat the weak and unprotected, to shield themselves behind a general feeling of hostility towards a people, and commit acts of persecution and murder even, on individuals, who are entitled to, and deserve the greatest consideration at their hands. No one could truthfully point to a single act of cruelty or hostility by Sum-un-du-wat towards any white man, on the contrary, he had been the friend of the whites, and had rendered them many valuable services.