HISTORY OF THE CROW FAMILY
From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"
Vol. I, pages 689-690.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.
HISTORY OF THE CROW FAMILY
Jacob Crow, Sr., left Germany when a young man for America. As he left without money as well as leaving his mother and two sisters who were all the family, behind, he was sold after landing, a sufficient time to pay his passage. After his time was out he married Miss Susan Seacress, and lived on and owned a farm near the mouth of Dunkard creek, Greene county, Penn., where most of their children were born. Between 1765 and 1770, he bought or traded for the farm on south branch of Wheeling creek, now known as the old Crow farm, or Crow's mills. They raised eleven children, five sons and six daughters, named, Frederick, Martin, Peter, John, Michael, Susan, Elizabeth, Tena, Catherine, Esther and Mary. They moved to their new and wilderness home when Michael was but a few weeks old. The first night they were there the family became alarmed at what they supposed to be Indians, and all rushed out in the dark, becoming separated. The mother had the babe, and fearing to call, and also that the child might cry, she walked nearly all night, not knowing where, but was pleased, when daylight came, to find herself in sight of home. When Michael was seven years old there was an alarm circulated that Indians were around, and all fled to the block house at Lindley's, Washington county, Penn. Two men living alone on what is now known as the Harsh farm, not getting word soon enough, were killed. After all were at the fort, a number of men started to see about the men they supposed to be killed. John Crow was one of the number, and for some reason brought Michael with them to the Farley farm, now owned by Thomas Steele. There they left him, John promising to come back that night. Fearing to stay at the house, he crossed the creek and stayed under a cliff of rocks. At evening he came to the house and got something to eat. Fearing both Indians and wolves, he raised a "puncheon" in the floor and arranged so that if Indians came he could crawl down and out under the house. If wolves came, he could go in the house and shut the hole. He was left there till the evening of the third day, when the men came back. The men at Harsh place were found dead and buried. The head of one was gone, and was afterward found by some of Jacob Crow's sons while hauling wood. After the block house was built at the Crow farm, word was given that the Indians were about. When they gathered at the fort there in the evening, it turned out that Whartons, who lived where Majorsville now is, had not been apprised of the danger, and no one seemed willing to go. Michael, then perhaps fifteen years old, said he would go. After the warning had been given he was returning across the hill, following a footpath through the woods, something attracted his attention. The moon was just rising, he stooped for a better view, and saw Indians crouched in the path. He turned quickly aside and jumped behind a tree. A large dog come after him and he ran to another tree, at the same time striking at the dog to keep him off. He then took a more circuitous route and got home in safety. The following morning two boys went to catch horses which were running in the woods when the Indians came on, captured and took them prisoners. They were taken nearly to Moundsville and tied to a tree, while the Indians went somewhere. While left thus alone, they succeeded in making their escape. While the settlers were tending their crops at that time they kept part of the men out as spies to watch for the redskins.
(Linda Fluharty)
The saddest event in the history of this family was when four of their daughters were captured, and three of them brutally murdered by the savages. Sabbath morning, May 1, 1791, Susie, Betsey, Tena and Catherine, started to visit a sick woman who lived somewhere up Wheeling creek (south branch). A horse had gotten away and went to Braddock's, on Crabapple, a branch of Wheeling Creek. Michael took a bridle and crossed the hills for him. After getting the horse, he was returning, and found his sisters at a fording about a mile from home and about three miles from the forks of the creek. Seeing Katie, who was but a child, alone, he tried to persuade her to get on the horse and go with mim. This she was unwilling to do, and as the horse was excited and wanted to go, he let him have the rein and he galloped off at full speed. Soon as he was out of sight, the Indians, who were hid behind a rock, came out and captured all of them. There were two Indians and a man whose name was Spicer, whom the Indians captured and raised. They took the girls to a flat place on the hill side, and two of them staid to watch them and the others followed the brother. Tena said he was gone long enough to have followed him nearly home. When he returned, and the work of butchery begun, one held Tena and Katie by the hands. When one of the Indians struck Betsey, who was a girl of more than ordinary strength and activity, she came near getting loose, and in the excitement Tena got loose and ran. One Indian grabbed his gun, and ran till he overtook her, when he punched her in the back hard enough to knock her down and ran back. She looked and saw that he had left her, then sprang up again, ran and got away. While guarding the girls, Spicer, who talked English, asked them questions. When Tena got home and told the sad news the family got ready hastily and fled to the block house at Lindley's, having no thought but that the other three were all dead. A squad of men came the next day and found Susie and Katie dead, but Betsey, who was not with them, after being insensible the remainder of the day of the murder and till the next morning, had regained consciousness and crawled to the creek to get water. She lived till the third day after they found her. Susie and Katie were buried in one grave, and Betsey, when she died, was laid by their side, making the first buried on the farm. While Tena was at home, then a young woman, Spicer and one of the Indians who helped to kill her sisters, came to the house and asked for milk. Tena at once recognized them and told her mother so. The Indians seemed to see they were not welcome and left at once. Tena went to the field and told her brother Michael who had some men helping him. One of the men said to Michael, let us follow them. Michael said well, and if you will kill the white man, I will kill the Indian. They went to the house, got some dinner, took their guns and started. The Indians were riding large horses and made it quite easy to follow them. They followed them to the head of Wheeling creek, crossed over on to Dunkard waters and nearly to the mouth of that stream. When it got too dark to see the trail, they camped for the night and came back the next day.
