The Death of Andrew Rush.

Among those of us who are immersed in Darke County history, the story of the death of Andrew Rush is very familiar.  It is a fixture of all the county histories (W. H. Beers, 1880; Lewis Publishing Co., 1900; Frazer Ellis Wilson, 1914.  It also warrants a brief mention in George Wood Wolfe’s 1890, “A Pictorial Outline History of Darke County.”), and tells the story essentially the same way with the variance of an occasional detail added or omitted, but none of the histories credit the source; it is all simply presented as accepted fact.  

In Beers’ 1880 “History of Darke County,” the recounting was titled “PERSONAL REMINISCENCES,” but never attributed those reminiscences to a specific person.  In fact, what they knew (and what we know) of Rush’s death seems largely creditable to the account of one man…  

John S. Hiller (1797-1875), the son of John Hiller (1765-1828) and Catherine Rush (1770-1842), was a little over 14 years old when Andrew Rush was murdered in late April 1812, and was a first-hand eyewitness to the fallout as settlers retreated to Fort Green Ville and then east, out of concern over further retribution by the natives.  For your edification, we’ll walk through the incident according to Hiller, on the days the events are said to have occurred.

From the “Greenville Journal,” Apr. 13, 1870, “PERSONAL REMINISCENCES,” by John S. Hiller:

“As I am among the oldest citizens of Darke county now living, and thinking that some circumstances connected with the early settlement of the county might be interesting to some of your numerous readers, I propose to give them some of my recollections, if you will allow me a place in your columns.

My father, in company with Andrew and Peter Rush, emigrated from Pickaway county, Ohio, in the fall of 1811, and settled on the west branch of Greenville creek in Darke county, Ohio.  Father erected his cabin about half a mile from where I now write; Andrew Rush settled on the bank of the creek about eighty rods east, and Peter Rush one-half mile further up the creek, on the farm on which Samuel Bechtolt now lives.”

John S. Hiller was writing from his home, which after consulting real estate records, appears to have been in the same place as shown on the portion of the 1857 Darke County plat map shown below, in the southwest portion of Section 30 [1].

Sam Bechtolt’s farm was not actually his until 1871, but deed records from the Darke County Court House suggest he likely rented from John Fox until that time, ultimately buying from him a 10 acre plot in the northeast quarter of Section 29, near where today’s West Branch Greenville Creek tributary meets the main Greenville Creek [2].

Deeds for Andrew and Peter Rush’s plots were not yet found among the deed indexes at the Darke County Court House (and are more likely among older records held at the Greenville Government Center), but you can estimate for yourself their approximate placements along the creek between the two identified points above, based on Hiller’s description.

“At the last mentioned place was where the trace leading from the Prophet’s Town, called the White river trace, crossed the creek.  Here all went to work clearing up the forest preparatory for a crop of corn.  During the winter Indians were encamped all through the woods, spending much of their time in hunting.  It will be remembered that  the battle of Tippecanoe had been fought that fall (1811).  Among the Indians that were hunting in the woods was one who called himself Simon Gerty; said he had been in the battle; was lame; said he was wounded in the thigh.  All these circumstances did not alarm the people.  All were engaged in their daily avocations; some clearing; some making sugar; until about the first of April, 1812, when there began to be some talk about danger of Indians.  In the meantime there had been a man killed at Fort Recovery, who was trading with the Indians, but it was thought he had been assassinated by his partner, so it created very little excitement.  Finally, about the first of April, Andrew and Peter Rush rode out to Fort Recovery [3].  On their return they reported all quiet.”

Fort Green Ville is indicated as Greenville, of course [4].

“They passed many Indian camps and the Indians were all friendly.  This seemed to quiet the apprehensions of the people till toward the latter end of the month.  About that time, I think on the 28th of April, Andrew Rush left home to go to mill, a little mill that stood on Greenville creek, a few rods above where the Beamsville road leading from Greenville now crosses it [5].  On his return he stopped at Mr. Daniel Potter’s who was then living in one end of a double cabin, Mr. Isaac Vail occupying the other, that stood between where Moses Potter’s house now stands and the creek.” [6]

In another resource, the mill Andrew Rush left for, and is said located “a few rods above  is referred where the Beamsville road leading from Greenville now crosses [Greenville Creek],” is referred to as “Terry’s Mill.”  I couldn’t find a deed for anyone near said site with the name “Terry” as given or surname, so more than likely the land on which it was built was owned by someone else, just as “Spiece’s Mill” was on John C. Potter’s plot.

“Mr. Potter and Mr. Vail who had become somewhat uneasy for the safety of their families, had gone down to the Miami for help to remove their families, back to where they came from.  Mrs. Potter asked Mr. Rush if he was not afraid of the Indians.  He said no, at the same time putting his hand on his head and remarking that he had had his wife that morning, cut his hair so short that they could not get his scalp off.  It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when he left the house for his own home.  He had not proceeded over half a mile [7], where he was met by an Indian or a party of Indians and shot off of his horse, tomahawked and scalped.”

Almost certainly what gives this story its staying power beyond the sheer grisliness of affairs is the irony of Andrew Rush’s last recalled words; that he claimed his wife had cut his hair so short he couldn’t be scalped, little knowing how quickly thereafter he’d be proven wrong.  I suppose that’s why this one has always stuck with me anyway.  Tomorrow, we’ll pick up with the next portion of John S. Hiller’s recollections covering the following day, April 29th.

EDITOR'S NOTE:  Still getting accustomed to this format; can't reproduce images to scale I want, I'll try to resolve that in the future, but for the time being, this will have to stand as it is.