WILLIAM BOGGS,

     Eldest son of Maj. William Boggs, aged 18 years, of Westmoreland county, Virginia, was taken prisoner by the Indians, about the year 1770, and remained a prisoner with them two years.  He spent a considerable part of that time at the Mac-a-cheek towns, on Mad river, near the present town of West Liberty.  He was sick much of the time he was a prisoner, and at times reduced so low that he was scarcely able to walk.  A young squaw was very kind to him, and probably saved his life on several occasions.  At one time the Indians had a drunken frolic, when he was so weak he could not walk.  This Indian woman carried him in  her arms, probably in the night time, and hid him in the tall grass, on Mac-a-cheek, covered him over with the grass and set up the grass on her tail so that that the Indians could not find him, fearing the drunken Indians would kill him.  He laid in that place two days, and had nothing to eat except once, this young woman carried him some pole-cat brains, which was the best she had to give.  After he was released, and returned home, he described that country so well along Mad river, from the head of that stream down south of West Liberty, that persons afterward came from his neighborhood, and had no difficulty in finding the exact localities he had described, especially about the present site of  West Liberty, and along Mack-a-cheek, about the Piatt estate.  He described a mound, which is, no doubt, the mound situated in John Enoch's field, where the Indians had a track to run their horses, and the judges would sit on this mound and view the races, but he gave no account of seeing any prisoner run the gauntlet, and he never had to run the gauntlet as my informant is aware of.  At the end of two years he was exchanged at Detroit, and returned to his native home.   He subsequently removed to Indiana, where he died, many years since, at an advanced age.  William Boggs was a relation to Hiram, Nelson and Alfred Johnson of Champaign county.

WILLIAM JOHNSON

Removed from Pennsylvania in the year 1804, and settled on

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King's Creek, near where Judge E. L. Morgan now lives.  Two years afterward he removed to Mingo Valley, where he died in the year 1818,  at an advanced age.

JACOB JOHNSON

Settled on the farm now owned by his son, Alfred Johnson in Mingo Valley, in the spring of 1805.  He lived on the King's Creek one or two years previous.  The first time he ever viewed this farm he was in company with James Denny, the original proprietor, and the noted original proprietor of much military land.  They were looking over the land, and came to a field that the Indians had cleared and cultivated, and found twelve or thirteen squaws in the field hoeing corn on a very warm day.  The squaws were attired to suit the weather.  This field is very near the village of Mingo.  Jacob Johnson died in the year 1844, and was regarded as a very worthy man.  He was father of the well-known Johnson Brothers - Hiram, Nelson and Alfred.

WILLIAM H. BALDWIN

Was a native of Guilford county, North Carolina.  He emigrated to Ohio, in 1811, and settled in Champaign county, where he lived until his decease in 1863, aged seventy-five years.  He was one of the excellent men of the earth.

HENRY COWGILL

Was a native of Columbiana county, Ohio, He lived in Champaign county from 1817 until his decease in 1870, aged 67 years.  He was steady, quiet, industrious, benevolent and economical.  He lived a religious life, and was looked upon by all as a good man.

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THOMAS COWGILL, Senior,

Was a native of Virginia, and emigrated to the Northwestern Territory, and settled in what is now Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1800.  In 1817 he removed to Champaign county, where he lived eight miles Northeast of Urbana, until his decease in 1846.  He was industrious, liberal and kind, and was regarded as a good and useful man.

ARCHIBALD STEWART

Was a native of Pennsylvania.  Emigrated to Ohio in 1805, and lived in Champaign county until his decease, about the year 1860.  He was Commissioner of the county twelve years, and filled many offices of trust.  He was a kind and benevolent man, and for his many good qualities, will long be remembered by his neighbors and fellow-citizens.

SIMEON MORECRAFT

Lived in Champaign county at an early day, and is still living on his fine farm at Cable.  He is nature's nobleman; may his shadow never grow less.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
By F. M. THOMAS

Colonel John Thomas

One of the earliest settlers of Champaign county, was a native of Charles county, Maryland, where he had his birth, June 7, 1779.  When about eighteen years of age, he left his home and emigrated to the wilderness of Ohio, stopping first in Ross county, near Chillicothe.  After a few years he went into Pickaway county, where he married Ann Morris.  About the year 1809, he removed to Champaign county, settling on the north fork of Kingscreek in Salem township.  At that period, but few white people were in this county.  The pioneers were far apart, and in a poor condition for defense against the inroads of the savages, by whom they were frequently threatened during the war.  For their better defense, they erected blockhouses, one of which stood on Col. Thomas's farm  Here the families were collected when the alarm of hostile Indians spread dismay and terror among the settlers, whilst the men with their rifles marched to the frontier to search for an drive back the savages.  Col. Thomas  accompanied these expeditions and belonged to the same company with Captain Arthur Thomas and son, who were murdered by the Indians near Solomons town, Logan county.  The subject of this sketch was peculiarly fitted for the pioneer life, having a strong and vigorous constitution, and always enjoying good health.  He was endowed with a large measure of patience and fortitude, that enabled him to successfully battle with the perils and discouragements incident to

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backwoods life.  He was quiet and unassuming in his manners; possessed a warm, social nature, and was noted for his propriety of conduct, and his kindness and benevolence to the poor and destitute.
     When there were no churches in the county, Col. Thomas invited the clergy to hold service at his house, and the pioneer missionary of the gospel always met a cordial welcome at his door.  He was held in the highest esteem by his fellow-citizens, and was honored by them with many positions of trust and usefulness;  being chosen as Captain, Major and Colonel in the militia service, and serving as Justice of the Peace for thirty-three years, receiving his first commission from Gov. Othniel Looker, in 1814.  Some years after his settlement here, sickness carried off his wife and several of his family.  He subsequently married Mary Blair, widowed daughter of Jacob Johnson of Mingo Village, also a pioneer.  His widow still survives him, living with her two sons on the farm where her husband originally settled.  Some time previous to his decease, Col. Thomas united with the M. P. Church in his neighborhood, and continued an exemplary follower of the Savior until his death, which occurred Jan. 20, 1851, in the 72d year of his age.

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