Troy Times - Gives a story how they escaped the Indians

November 27, 1862

McCLUNG, MRS. NANCY - Mrs. Nancy McClung, whose maiden name was Henderson, was born in Pennsylvania in Nov. of the year 1782. Her Father's family moved when she was quite young to Kentucky, near Georgetown, where in 1808 she was married to Mr. David McClung, who removed to Miami Co., Ohio, about the year 1810. Some 20 years ago her husband, at that time a ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church, died, and Mother McClung has spent the rest of her long life in this community. Only four children, all sons, now survive, and they were by the kind Providence of God permitted to attend her in her last illness, speak words of affection to the good old mother who had been to them so faithful and true, and to whom was permitted the sad office of closing her eyes as she fell asleep in Jesus in the afternoon of Nov. 7, 1862. It is no small event in the history of a community to follow to her long home, a mother in Israel four score years old. One, who for more than one-half century has lived in the same neighborhood and in the same house, where all her children were born, and where in the early settlement of this country she had to endure all the hardships of frontier life. Among the stirring incidents of those pioneer days, the following fact furnished by her son will be specially interesting to the old residents: "In the summer of 1818, from some indications that had been observed there were supposed to be Indians lurking along Stillwater for the purpose of ascertaining the condition of our neighborhood and thereby laying plans to make a descent upon the frontier settlers and mercilessly kill men, woman and children. That alarm had brought about the necessity of sending most of the men out upon a scouting expedition to try and find out whether such was the case or not. The men being on the lookout for Indians, all felt secure and were quietly attending to the ordinary business of life; a feeling of security that was doomed to be turned into alarm, for the Indians came into the settlement and killed Jarad Dillbone and his wife, which caused universal consternations.--Well do I remember the night that the alarm was given. After we had gone to bed, Aaron Tullis rapt at the door and without waiting for an answer, said, "Nancy get up and fly for your life for the Indians have killed Jarad Dillbone and his wife, and are coming on killing everybody before them; get to town the best way you can, I must give the alarm to the rest." and without any explanation started. Left alone with three little children one only six weeks old and Nancy Telford, one of the neighbor girls, with a dense forest between us and town it looked as though it would be of little use for us to try to escape, but after hastily dressing ourselves we started for Lowella, a neighbor who lived just below us on the ridge, but when we got there they had gone, and there was nothing left for us to do but to strike a straight course through the woods for Troy. With some of the children in our arms and the rest holding on to our clothes, (Cloyd a boy of seven years old bringing up the rear with the gun upon his shoulder) we started into the woods, but had gone but a short distance when we found ourselves bewildered and tangled in the brush so that we were almost in despair of ever reaching town, but still went on and on until we lost all hopes of getting out of the woods till daylight. Tired and worn out with the clothes almost torn off us, we sat down upon a log and wrapt ourselves in a cloak to think over our prospects until morning. By this time it was midnight. We had sat there but a short time when we were startled by some one hallooing. Finally they came so close that we could hear them talk, then we supposed that they would certainly find, kill and scalp us and leave us in the woods. Thus conditioned every breath we drew and every leaf that moved but added to our fear, but the old saying that the darkest hour is just before day was truly the case with us, for when every thing around looked as though it would be the last of us, James Brown called out Nancy at the top of his voice, which you may believe was answered in quick time by saying, here we are. That was a joyous meeting.--They then took the children and started for town and were soon there. Our headquarters were at Major Hart's house, a house that is still standing and is now occupied by Charles Culbertson Esq. When we came to the house it was full of people, and full of glad hearts, for men, women and children shed tears for joy to think that all were together, so that danger could be shared in common with us all. Some of the neighbors were unable to get to Troy that night. Betty Telford and her three children lay at the foot of a large oak tree all night. Tom Rodgers, of Indian notoriety, had some children under his care that he started to Troy with, but came to the conclusion that they were safer in the woods, so he remained there all night. He said that the redskins came so close to where they were laying that they could hear them talk. Peter Sewell's wife, who was lying at the point of death, (and did die in a words missing). "Let me stay where I am for my life is almost spent, go take care of the rest, go and may God protect you." There were eighty children moved that night and it was said that among the whole number there was not one who cried. The next day all of the neighbors in our neighborhood went to Judge Barbee's house to remain until the danger would be passed. We were met by the Judge at the door, upon whose countenance rested a cheerful smile that did much to drive the gloom that rested upon us away. He bade us come in and share all the comforts of life that they were in possession of in common with themselves. There were several things which she possessed in an eminent degree and which through Divine providence carried her safely through all those terribly trying scenes.

1. A remarkable physical constitution. Very few women of her day, and probably none of this, were blessed with such vital forces of the body, such a power of endurance, such ability to be up under hardships that would have crushed any ordinary woman.

2. Her indomitable pluck. She was an honest, straightforward, heroic woman, that knew no fear, never consuming any time in vain regrets at her hard lot, but went right along and did what had to be done without saying much about it.

3. Her large share of good common sense.--She was always accustomed to take quite a practical view of things and her suggestions were much of that type. Possessing a mind naturally strong and thoroughly informed in regard to nearly all passing events, and having a large share of prudence and wisdom, every one felt they could safely rely on her solid judgment.

4. Her unfaltering trust in God. She was eminently a Christian woman. She became a hopeful subject of the great revivial which swept Kentucky in the year 1800, or as her son supposes from some statements sho made to him, a few years previous to that time.--Hence for over three score years she has been a humble follower of Christ. In an old record of the "beginning and progress of the Presbyterian Church of Troy," there is a statement by the Rev. John Thompson of the organization of the Church, Sep. 13, 1813. Of the 15 persons who were then associated in that enterprise, the names of David McClung and Nancy McClung, his wife, appear. Had our mother remained with us until the 13th of Sept. next, she would have lived to see the Presbyterian Church of Troy, 50 years old. During her 50 years connection with the Church she has ever maintained a uniform deportment; was clear in her conviction of Bible truth, steadfast in her adherence to the Christian faith, uncompromising as to what she considered duty and remarkably consistent in her family, social and church life. While her old neighbors and the remnant of the early pioneers have occasion to lament the removal of another of the old settlers, and while the country has lost another true, patriotic heart, among whose last earnest prayers was one for complete success on the part of one government to crushing out this wicked rebellion, the Church of Christ in Troy is called to bury one of its oldest, if not the very oldest, and most valued members. It was at the close of the darkest hour of the first great struggle for American Independence, after defeats, and famine and treachery had accomplished their discipline in the army and lost at the first ray of light; began to break in that Mrs. McClung was born; and she died when her country which she loved so ardently was under a cloud still more gloomy. How earnestly she desired that the cloud might pass away and the sun light break in over the distracted land before her departure! Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like hers!