In a twinkling I was by his side, and there saw thatwhich caused the cold chill of fear to run down my back.—Page 40.Frontis. On the Kentucky Frontier.

ON THE

KENTUCKY FRONTIER.

A STORY OF THE FIGHTING PIONEERS
OF THE WEST.

By JAMES OTIS

With Six Page Illustrations by J. Watson Davis

NEW YORK:
A. L. BURT, PUBLISHER.

Copyright, 1900, by A. L. Burt.

ON THE KENTUCKY FRONTIER.
By James Otis.

PREFACE.

"Poor Simon Kenton experienced the bitter effects of wrong, ingratitude,and neglect. On account of some legal matters concerning his lands inKentucky, he was imprisoned for twelve months upon the very spot wherehe built his cabin in 1775. In 1802, beggared by lawsuits and losses, hebecame landless. Yet he never murmured at the ingratitude which pressedhim down, and in 1813 the veteran joined the Kentucky troops underShelby, and was in the battle of the Thames. In 1824, then seventy yearsold, he journeyed to Frankfort, in tattered garments and upon amiserable horse, to ask the legislature of Kentucky to release theclaims of the State upon some of his mountain lands. He was stared at bythe boys, and shunned by the citizens, for none knew him. At lengthGeneral Thomas Fletcher recognized him, gave him a new suit of clothes,and entertained him kindly. When it was known that Simon Kenton was intown, scores flocked to see the old hero. He was taken to the Capitoland seated in the Speaker's chair. His lands were released, andafterward Congress gave him a pension of two hundred and forty dollars ayear. He died, at the age of eighty-one years, in 1836, at his residenceat the head of Mad River, Logan County, Ohio, in sight of the placewhere, fifty-eight years before, the Indians were about to put him todeath."

(Lossing's "Field-Book of the Revolution.")

CONTENTS.