Pvt. Martin Van Buren Wetzel, Jr.

MARTIN WETZEL, the oldest of the Wetzel brothers, was one of the most efficient scouts in the Upper Ohio Valley and spent much time during the long and bloody Indian war in that capacity and rendered much service by so doing.

Once he was surprised and captured by one of the roving bands of Indians that were such a menace to the settlers, and taken to their town in the northern part of what is now the state of Ohio.

His genial disposition soon made him a favorite with his captors. Both old and young soon learned to like him as he would engage in all the frolic and fun with the Indians and take part in all their amusements. He danced with the young Indians and made himself so agreeable that he became to them an Indian by adapting himself to the surroundings. They soon learned to regard him as an Indian and appeared to have great confidence in him.

He was permitted to hunt around in the forest near the town and was so successful a hunter as to win their admiration. A successful hunter is highly honored by Indians and he soon proved himself worthy of this high honor.

While he was daily becoming more favorably regarded by his captors he was not losing any of his desire for his old haunts among the hills of Virginia. After spending almost a year with them and proving himself a hunter of the highest type for a young man it was his good fortune to be permitted to accompany three braves on a fall hunt on the headwaters of the Sandusky River. He had, by this time, so gained their confidence that he was without restraint.

When they arrived where they intended to hunt, a place was selected for a camp and Martin went to work to arrange it that they might have a pleasant camp for a resting place at night. When the hunt began Martin was always first to return to the camp in the evening and arrange for the night. He would gather wood, build a fire and prepare supper and do all the work, which was very pleasing to his companions, as Indian hunters are not noted for industry aside from the pursuit of game.

Soon he began to plan for escape. He was now away from all Indians except the three hunters and the only trouble was to get away from them.

After everything was settled down to everyday hunting, he made up his mind that he would make his escape from them. One morning he concluded to set to work with his scheme to get away from them. The hunters scattered about in different directions to cover as much ground as possible and this gave Martin an opportunity to carry out his scheme. He followed one Indian till late in the day when he shot him and hid his body in a hole made by a tree being torn out by the roots by a storm. He covered the body carefully with leaves and brush and in due time was at the camp and as usual had everything in order when the two hunters arrived. He asked about the other Indian and appeared very anxious about his safety and was assured by the other two that he would turn up all right in time. He might have gone farther than he intended and concluded to remain in the woods all night rather than walk so far after dark, or he might have wounded a deer and pursued it till too late to return, and as he was a good hunter he would return in due time. The Indians appeared to think it a matter of no importance, so he said no more about it.

After supper they lay down, but Martin did not sleep that night. He had started and there was no way out but to go ahead and kill the other two and make his escape. He first thought of falling on them with his tomahawk and end the matter but concluded to take a more cautious course if it took a little longer. He decided upon a plan for the next day and put it into effect as contemplated.

The next morning he arose and prepared breakfast and was as pleasant as usual and soon the three were ready for their day's hunt. Martin resolved to complete the work undertaken and make his escape. He followed one of the Indians with the intention of killing him before returning to the camp. All day long he followed as a dog follows the trail of a deer and late in the afternoon he managed to meet him and engage him in conversation and getting his attention turned to something that caused him to turn his head, when with one stroke of his tomahawk he laid the Indian dead on the ground. He hid his body in a hole after scalping him and returned to the camp and awaited the return of the remaining Indian. Every preparation was made for the usual evening in the camp. The fire was built and wood gathered as usual so that nothing appeared out of the ordinary everyday life in the camp. He started supper and was doing his usual work when the last Indian arrived with a heavy load of game on his back.

Martin, in his usual pleasant manner, approached the Indian to assist him in unloading his load and as he stooped down to give Martin a better opportunity to get hold of the load, he struck the hunter with his tomahawk and laid the last Indian dead on the ground. This completed the work so far as disposing of the three hunters was concerned. He was in no danger of pursuit. He selected what he wanted from the camp and with a good supply of provision, he started for Wheeling, where he arrived safely in due time.

http://www.lindapages.com/marshall/powell-7.htm

(Sources: Lewis Wetzel, The Life and Times of a Frontier Hero, by C. B. Allman, 1939; History of Marshall County, by Scott Powell, 1925.)

GEDCOM Source

@R-1244206470@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

GEDCOM Source

Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=85766440&pid...

GEDCOM Note

http://www.ohiocountylibrary.org/wheeling-history/martin-wetzel/4342

Martin was a prominent person in Wheeling history.