Noble County, Indiana – Indian Captives.

Noble County, Indiana’s earliest white settlers came to stay in the 1820s and 1830s.  Folks like Bristol, Tibbot, Knight and Bourie are often credited as the first “white men” in the area.  Yet, there appears to have been less than willing white inhabitants decades earlier.

Prior to 1882, a stone was discovered in Sparta Township that spoke of perhaps Noble County’s earliest white visitor.  The stone was inscribed:

“I WAS TAKEN PRIS

NER BEY THE IND

IANS IN 1776

ANDREW

CLINTON”

But wait.  During roughly the same time period another stone was plowed up on the farm of Alvin Randall, also in Sparta Township, just north of what is now aptly named Indian Village.  This stone read:

“Taken prisoner by the Indians in 1760.

I am here alone.

By the DELAWARE Tribe and taken

West to the Big Waters.

_______________________________

But here is A White man.  He was ta-

ken five years before me.  His name is

Allen, and that is mine.  He was treated

hard.

E. Allen,             J. Allen”

I don’t know where these two stones are today, but I love to see them.  Has anyone heard of their current locale?  Also, are these types of relics common?  Are there others in museums?  Anyone have any ideas on the identities of Andrew Clinton, E. Allen or J. Allen?

One Response to “Noble County, Indiana – Indian Captives”

1. jmdeur says:

   July 27, 2015 at 10:13 pm

   Doubt you’re still looking for this info, but the second stone is on display in the Noble County museum – saw it there last Saturday.

   Reply