LICKING COUNTY OHIO
*************************************************************


"Historical Collections of Ohio, Vol 2" by Henry Howe. (pub 1888)

Licking County
Page 65-66

     It was first settled, shortly after Wayne's treaty of 1795 by John Ratliff 
and Ellis Hughes, in some old Indian corn-fields, about five miles below Newark, 
on the Licking. These men were from Western Virginia.  They lived mainly by 
hunting, raising, however, a little corn, the cultivation of which was left, in 
a great measure, to their wives.
     Hughes had been bred in the hot-bed of Indian warfare.  The Indians having, 
at an early day, murdered a young woman to whom he was attached, and 
subsequently his father, the return of peace did not mitigate his hatred of the 
race.  One night, in April, 1800 two Indians stole the horses of Hughes and 
Ratliff from a little enclosure near their cabins.  Missing them in the morning, 
they started off, well armed, in pursuit, accompanied by a man named Bland.  
They followed their trail in a northern direction all day, and at night camped 
in the woods.  At the gray of the morning they came upon the Indians, who were 
asleep and unconscious of danger.  Concealing themselves behind the trees, they 
waited until the Indians had awakened, and were commencing preparations for 
their journey.  They drew up their rifles to shoot, and just at that one of the 
Indians discovered them, and instinctively clapping his hand on his breast, as 
if to ward off the fatal ball exclaimed in tones of affright, "me bad Indian! - 
me no do so more!" The appeal was in vain, the smoke curled from the glistening 
barrels, the report rang in the morning air, and the poor Indians fell dead.  
They returned to their cabins with the horses and "plunder" taken from the 
Indians, and swore mutual secrecy for this violation of law.
     One evening, some time after, Hughes was quietly sitting in his cabin, when 
he was startled by the entrance of two powerful and well-armed savages.  
Concealing his emotions, he gave them a welcome and offered them seats.  His 
wife, a muscular, squaw-like looking female, stepped aside and privately sent 
for Ratliff, whose cabin was near. Presently, Ratliff, who had made a detour, 
entered with his rifle, from an opposite direction, as if he had been out 
hunting.  He found Hughes talking with the Indians about the murder.  Hughes has 
his tomahawk and scalping-knife, as was his custom, in a belt around his person, 
but his rifle hung from the cabin wall, which he deemed it imprudent to attempt 
to obtain.  There all the long night sat the parties, mutually fearing each 
other, and neither summoning sufficient courage to stir.  When morning dawned, 
the Indians left, shaking hands and bidding farewell, but, in their retreat, 
were very cautious not to be shot in ambush by the hardy borderers.
     Hughes died near Utica, in this county, in March, 1845, at an advanced age, 
in the hope of a happy future.  His early life had been one of much adventure; 
he was, it is supposed, the last survivor of the bloody battle of Point 
Pleasant.  He was buried with military honors and other demonstrations of 
respect.