Union County, Ohio Biographies Project - Jonathan Alder in Jerome Township

JONATHAN ALDER

    In a previous chapter of this volume are given the outlines of the life of Jonathan Alder, whose history is closely linked with each of the two races of pioneer times.  When he was captured by the Indians, he believed his life was spared because his hair was dark, and because he smiled at the savage who had raised his tomahawk to kill him.  He saw his little bright haired brother slain and believed all the family except himself had been killed.  He lived within the bounds of Jerome Township at the time he abandoned his Indian life and returned to his home.  With other Indian braves, he dwelt on the west banks of Big Darby just above Plain City.  His cabin stood on the high bank above the grist mill, and only a few rods from the present residence of George Atkins.  When he came to this place is unknown, but he was living there with his squaw wife when the first settlers arrived.  Until 1795, when the Indian treaty restored peace, he was engaged with his Indian comrades in various depredations and hostile excursions and it was probably very soon after this that he settled on Darby.  As the pioneers arrived, he mingled with them and relearned the English language, which he had almost forgotten.  His squaw cultivated a little patch of corn in the bottoms and Jonathan dealt to some extent, in stock.  The land he occupied belonged to the tract Daniel Taylor had purchased, and, when the latter arrived about 1803, Jonathan kindly surrendered to him the cabin he had built and occupied, and with his squaw built and removed to a bark hut close by.  His association with white men created a strong desire to follow their habits and abandon his Indian life.  His squaw still clung to Indian ways and their diverging tastes became more and more marked.  Jonathan no longer went with his Indian brethren on their "big hunts."  From a settler, he received the information that his mother was still living, and he resolved to return to her.  Richard Taylor made him a suit of clothes which he donned in place of his Indian garments.  He told his squaw his intention and they divided their effects.  The wild life he had led had not wholly obliterated the instincts to accumulate, for he had saved a few or hundred silver dollars, and had besides a number of ponies.  The former he gave his wife after some parleying and also equally divided the latter with her.  He bade her adieu; she went northward to her own people and he turned his face toward Virginia, the State of his birth and boyhood.  This was in 1805, and his departure terminated his connection with Jerome Township.  He found his relatives in Virginia, there married Mary Blont and returned with her to Ohio, settling in Madison County.  By this marriage he had twelve children.  He lived, died and was buried in Madison County.  His tombstone bears this inscription: "Jonathan Alder, born September 17, 1773.  Taken by the Indians 1781.  Returned to his mother in 1805.  Died January 30, 1849, aged about 76 years."

    His squaw wife had separated from him unwillingly, for in spite of his proclivities for the fashions of the pale face, she was deeply attached to him.  It is said she had threatened to kill his wife should he ever marry again, and that he feared her on this account.  For some time after his return, he would not permit his wife to remain alone in their cabin.  When he went to the fields to work, she must accompany him.  On their return one day from a trading expedition to a neighboring town, they found the tin ware bent and cut, the iron ware broken in pieces by an ax. and Mrs. Alder's dresses slashed and cut in shreds.  Though the squaw was not seen, the mischief was attributed to her hands.  Mr. Alder's long life with the red men had bred in him Indian traits and manners, which clung to him through life.  Though he possessed good business talent, he disliked hard work, and confined his farm labors principally to stuck-raising.  He was dark hued and bore some resemblance to the Indian race.  He was a large, tall man and could move about almost noiselessly.  While living in Jerome Township, he was the friend of the white men, and whenever occasion offered acted as peacemaker between them and the Indians Mr. Alder related the following hunting incident, which occurred while camping on Darby, in Jerome Township: "One day about noon I saw a large bear in the top of a big, white oak tree, picking off and eating acorns.  I sat down on the ground about 100 yards off to watch its motions.  I did not wish to kill it, as bears were not yet fat, and fur was not yet good, or rather not of full growth.  I sat there amusing myself with its motions for some time.  It was really funny to see it get about in the very top branches, while the whole tree shook with its enormous weight at every motion.  All at once it ceased to gather in the branches and slid down and commenced picking the acorns that had fallen to the ground.  In a few moments, without the least warning, it started in the direction I was, as rapidly as it could pace.  I had my gun resting in my lap and saw it would run right over me.  I had no time to get up and get out of its way, so I raised my gun and fired as soon as possible, when it was within a few yards of me.  I shot it through the brain and it fell right across my lap.  I was badly seared, for I did not know that I had killed it.  I kicked and struggled to get from beneath it, but it was so heavy that it took some time before I could get out.  I had shot it so dead that it never kicked, but laid like a log upon me, all of which, had not been so frightened, I might have observed.  When I finally got out, I was so much exhausted from the fright and effort I could hardly stand."