A History of Jonathan Alder: His Captivity and Life with the Indians is one of the most extensive first person accounts to survive from Ohio's pioneer and early settlement eras. Nine year-old Alder was captured and taken to Ohio by Indians in 1782. Adopted by a Mingo warrior and his Shawnee wife; Alder lived as an Indian until 1805. After he left the Indians; Alder became one of the first European settlers to live in central Ohio. Alder composed his memoirs in the 1840s. His account chronicles his life for fifty years; from the time of his capture to 1832. The narrative; therfore; provides a unique perspective on fronteir Ohio and its transformation from wilderness to statehood and the continuing evolution in the relationship between Ohio's Indians and whites from the Revolutionary War-era to a time when many of the state's Native peoples had been removed. Alder's recollection provides an exceptional look at early Ohio. His portrait of his captors is revealing; complex; and sympathetic. The latter part of his narrative in which he describes his experiences in central Ohio is an extraordinary rich account of early pioneer life. Further; Alder was fortunate in that he encountered many of the persons and took part in many of the events that have become touchstones in Ohio's pioneer history; including Simon Kenton; Simon Girty; and Col. William Crawford. He participated in the Battles of Fort Recovery and Fallen Timbers; and his recollection of these actions are among the few extant accounts that describe these events from a Native American perspective.
#2915651 in Books 1999-08-10PDF # 1 #File Name: 1880179075170 pages
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