Now, this is a story that took place right here in Preble County…. way back in 1806. As it happens, the setting for this tale is just a few miles from my home.
It involves a few families of that time. Let us start with the Enochs. James Enoch came here, to see where his brother (Isaac) had settled. In time….. Old Jim brought his son, William, with him, and left him in charge of the farm…. to fatten the hogs and such. Well one day, the son, William, fell ill. His sickness was described as terrible fits.
The only other person there at home, was “Old Mrs. Enoch”… the elderly Aunt of William. She called to the neighbors for help. Now…. hold on to your hats here.
Because….. into the picture comes one of my favorite Gasper Township settlers. His name, was Silas Dooley. Silas “Rocking” Dooley.
Now Old Mrs. Enoch told Silas that the boy had fallen ill. He lay gravely sick with convulsions, and there was no doctor in the area.
Silas was a stand-up, go-to, kind of guy. So he ran 3 and 1/2 miles to the farm of “Big Jim Crawford”. Let me add here…. that this was in the cold and snow of winter. Silas was barefoot and scantily clad. But he made that run, by golly, he did.
But. Back to Big Jim Crawford…. the neighbor. He was known as a bit of a “Medicine Man” in these here parts. He used seeds…. and herbs, and weeds, and flowers, and such … to cure people like magic. You see, he had Indian connections.
But all this snow-running was to no avail. When they arrived back at the Enoch’s…. the boy was dead.
However…. Silas had made friends with Big Jim. And many of the Indian families Big Jim was acquainted with. And wouldn’t you know….. Silas let them camp on his land. Yes, he made hearty friends with those Indians. Silas was a Freethinker.
While most people in the area feared the Indians… old Silas… well… he was a stand-up, go-to, kind of guy. Silas was one of the Indian Pals. They helped one another, trading vegetables, and meats, and furs, and such. A long friendship ensued. Silas was a fair-minded, and kind man. A Pioneer of Accepting Diversity.
Now… this isn’t 50 Shades of Gray, or The Hunger Games…. but it is a good story. Imagine the wonderful gems of history which are around every corner in this county. You might be surprised if … if you just take the time… to look.
And… of course… next comes one of the many shameless plugs you will be subjected to this week.
What better place to find history, than at the Preble County Historical Society. And what better time to do it… than this weekend during the Fall Gathering Festival at the PCHS Farm. I’m just saying.
Yeah Baby. Silas would go. Barefoot.
“In our work and in our living, we must recognize that difference is a reason for celebration and growth, rather than a reason for destruction” – Audre Lorde
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