OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - The Ohio Hunter [Chapter 17] ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenwebarchives.org ************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Sara Grimes McBeth saramcb@socket.net June 22, 2005 ************************************************************************** SELL OUT. 181 CHAPTER XVII. REMOVAL FROM HANCOCK TO HENRY CO. OHIO SETTLE AGAIN IN THE WOODS--PURCHASE LAND ON TRUST --BUILD A HOUSE--SUCCESS IN HUNT- ING FINAL CAPTURE OF ANOTHER OLD RESI- DENTER. IN the year 1850, I sold my home in Hancock County, and moved to Henry County. I then settled again in the woods, and built me a nice, hewed log house; the first one that had ever been built in the township. With the money I sold for in Hancock, I purchased another farm and built my house, and then bought a quarter section on trust, expecting to pay for it in one hundred dollar payments, the money to be made by hunting. In this I was very successful, and met my engagements promptly. The first year, I could hunt but little, as it required all my time and best efforts to bring my farm into a condition to sustain my family. There was house and barn to be built, rails to be split, and fences made, land to be cleared, and corn planted. But I had at this time three boys capable of being of great service to me, and they were as willing as they were capable. My eldest son George was now nearly a full grown man, and of stout, athletic frame. He, with tile assistance of his two younger brothers, 182 THE OHIO HUNTER David and Squire, were fully competent, after the first preliminaries of taking up a new farm were accomplished, to carry on the farming and clearing alone, and I was soon at liberty to turn my attention to hunting. My old bear dog, Madge, that had long been a faithful friend, was lost, and my favorite coon dog, Bill, was now dead, and I must begin on new ground, and with new dogs. The first year I did not endeavor to hunt huge game; but confined myself to coon and other small animals, shooting occasionally a deer for meat, both for myself while in camp, and my family at home. During the winter, I caught one hundred and thirty-two coon, eighty- nine opossum, twenty-two mink, and quite a number of deer. For the coon skins I received one dollar and twenty-five cents a piece, for the mink, seventy-five cents, and for the opossum, eight cents, making the proceeds of my hunt during the winter, $188.62. The next fall, I commenced again with the coon, but when cold weather came on, I abandoned this for the more fascinating chase of the bear. I had, however, caught seventy-five coon, which brought me ninety-three dollars and seventy cents. My dogs were rather awkward in the bear chase at first, and of course my success in that kind of sport; was not as good for a while, as it had been on former and more favorable occasions. But at last, having acquitted themselves quite honorably DRIVE A BEAR UP A SYCAMORE 183 in a chase, they succeeded in driving a bear up a large sycamore tree, and into a hole in the top, with which the bear was, no doubt, well acquainted. My two oldest boys were with me, and this was rare sport for them. We cut down the tree, and out jumped the bear. The dogs caught her. I ran very close with my gun, and tried to shoot, but the sights of my gun would not set, and this means of destruction failed. My son George tried to shoot, but not being accustomed to so exciting sport, could not make his gun work, either. My other son, David, was unarmed, standing by the stump of the tree. The bear, knocking the dogs right and left, got away from them and came up to the boy. He was badly frightened, and mounted the stump. I was soon by his side. When the bear saw me approaching, she laid back her ears and started on a rapid race, carrying both dogs along with her. Soon, however, she freed herself from the dogs, and continued her chase for about eight miles. We pursued as rapidly as we could, and at length met the dogs returning. They evidently were coming to let us know they had treed the bear. They ran before us, frequently looking back to see that we were coming, until they came to the place where they left their antagonist. It was a large elm tree, and there were the marks where she had gone up, also where she came down. I started the dogs again in pursuit, and soon heard the fight com- 184 THE OHIO HUNTER mence. I followed rapidly, leaving the boys far in the rear. When I came up, they had the bear treed, and I waited for the boys to come before I undertook to bring her down. The tree was a very tall the, and my eyes were still weak from the effects of inflammation. I told my son George to shoot; but as he preferred trusting to my skill, I drew up my gun and fired, telling him to be ready to shoot immediately if I failed. We both missed: and the bear came down unharmed among our dogs, and no gun loaded. The dogs took hold of her, but I soon saw they needed help. I went with uplifted ax to their assistance, and planted it firmly in her brain. The dogs fought valiantly; and I was convinced of their abilities as bear dogs. we dragged the bear home by means of bark, quite satisfied with our sport for one day.