Simon Kenton – Frontiersman and Soldier
The narrative of early American expansion is etched with the names of daring individuals who ventured into the untamed wilderness, forging a path for settlement and civilization. Among these figures, Simon Kenton stands as a towering presence, a legendary frontiersman and soldier whose life was a testament to resilience, courage, and the spirit of adventure. His story unfolds across the landscapes of West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio, a region that bore witness to his remarkable exploits.
Born on April 3, 1755, in Fauquier County, Virginia, Simon Kenton’s heritage was a blend of Irish and Scots-Welsh ancestry. His father, Mark Kenton, Sr., had immigrated from Ireland, while his mother, Mary Miller Kenton, traced her lineage to the Scots-Welsh. Growing up on the family farm, young Simon’s education was limited, and he remained illiterate throughout his life, mastering only the ability to sign his name. The rugged demands of farm life instilled in him a strong physique and a deep connection to the land, qualities that would serve him well in the years to come.
The trajectory of Simon Kenton’s life took an unexpected turn in 1771 when, at the age of sixteen, he became embroiled in a jealous dispute over a woman. Believing he had killed a man in the ensuing altercation, Kenton made the fateful decision to flee into the vast, uncharted wilderness that lay to the west. This act of self-preservation marked the beginning of his transformation from a simple farm boy into a legendary figure of the frontier. To conceal his identity, he adopted the alias "Simon Butler," a name under which he would navigate the perilous landscapes of West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio for several years.
The wilderness became Kenton’s teacher, and he proved to be a remarkably adept student. He learned to hunt, trap, and navigate the dense forests and treacherous rivers, honing his skills for survival in a world teeming with both natural beauty and lurking danger. His imposing stature and exceptional strength were invaluable assets, but it was his unwavering stamina and determination that truly set him apart. The frontier tested him relentlessly, exposing him to hardships that would have broken a lesser man.
One such ordeal occurred during the late winter of 1773 when Simon Kenton and two companions found themselves under attack while camped near present-day Charleston, West Virginia. As they huddled around a campfire, attempting to dry their soaked clothing, they were ambushed. One of Kenton’s companions was killed, while Simon and the other man narrowly escaped, forced to flee into the unforgiving wilderness without food, clothing, or weapons. For a week, they wandered along the Great Kanawha River, battling hunger and exposure, until they finally stumbled upon a group of mountain men near the Ohio River. After recovering from this harrowing experience, Kenton spent his time hunting along the Ohio River, seeking the legendary Canelands.
In 1774, Kenton’s skills and knowledge of the wilderness were put to use as he served as a scout for the European settlers during Lord Dunmore’s War, a conflict that pitted the colonists against the Shawnee Indians in West Virginia and Kentucky. His intimate understanding of the terrain and his ability to track and interpret signs made him an invaluable asset to the settlers.
By 1775, Simon Kenton had established himself in Boonesborough, Kentucky, a burgeoning settlement that served as a vital outpost in the westward expansion. He continued to work as a scout, venturing into the surrounding wilderness to gather intelligence and provide early warning of potential threats from the Native American tribes who fiercely defended their ancestral lands. These encounters were frequent and often deadly, requiring Kenton to rely on his wits, his strength, and his intimate knowledge of the terrain to survive.
In April 1777, during a fierce Indian attack on Fort Boonesborough, an event occurred that would forever cement Kenton’s reputation as a true hero. Daniel Boone, the legendary frontiersman and founder of Boonesborough, was struck in the leg by a bullet and found himself at the mercy of a Shawnee warrior wielding a tomahawk. Without hesitation, Simon Kenton charged into the fray, shooting the scalper and clubbing another attacker before scooping up the wounded Boone and carrying him to safety amidst a hail of arrows and musket fire. Boone, upon reaching safety, expressed his gratitude, declaring, "Well, Simon, you have behaved like a man today; indeed, you are a fine fellow."
The American Revolution saw Simon Kenton actively participating in several military engagements against the British and their Native American allies. In 1778, he joined George Rogers Clark on a daring expedition into the Illinois Country, a strategic campaign aimed at capturing British outposts and disrupting Indian settlements. Upon returning home, he accompanied Daniel Boone in an attack on the Shawnee settlement of Chillicothe, near Oldtown, Ohio, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to the cause of American independence.
However, it was in September 1778 that Simon Kenton faced his most daunting challenge. While on a spying mission near Chillicothe (near Xenia, Ohio), he was captured by Shawnee Indians. He was subjected to the infamous "gauntlet," a brutal ritual in which prisoners were forced to run a quarter-mile between two lines of Indians armed with sticks and clubs. Many prisoners died during this ordeal, but Kenton, fueled by his indomitable spirit, survived the gauntlet not once, but nine times. Despite suffering severe wounds and enduring other forms of ritual torture, he refused to break. His endurance and resilience impressed even his captors.
His life was spared by his longtime friend, Simon Girty, who convinced the Shawnee to adopt Kenton as one of their own. The Shawnee respected Kenton for his endurance, and they named him Cut-ta-ho-tha (the condemned man).
Finally, in June 1779, Kenton was sent to Fort Detroit as part of a prisoner exchange with the British. He was soon freed and returned to service under George Rogers Clark, continuing his fight for American independence.
In 1782, Kenton received news that brought closure to a long-held burden. He learned that the man he had believed he killed in Virginia years earlier had survived the altercation. With this knowledge, he shed the alias "Simon Butler" and reclaimed his original surname, embracing his true identity once more.
After the war, Kenton turned his attention to the vast lands of Ohio. He began exploring the Mad River Valley as early as 1788, laying claim to tracts of land that would later become his home. His fascination with the area stemmed from his time as a prisoner of the Shawnee a decade earlier, when he vowed to return if he ever gained his freedom. The fertile soil and abundant resources of the Mad River Valley held the promise of a new beginning. The Mad River Valley became an important part of Simon Kenton’s life.
During the following years, Kenton settled near Maysville, Kentucky, where he married Martha Dowden and purchased large tracts of land. The couple had four children together.
In 1793-94, Kenton fought in the Northwest Indian War with "Mad" Anthony Wayne and at the Battle of Fallen Timbers.
After Kenton’s wife died in a house fire, the widower married Elizabeth Jarboe in 1798 and moved to Ohio. He had six children with her. They lived near present-day Springfield.
In April 1799, Kenton and his associate, Colonel William Ward, led a group of families from Mason County, Kentucky, to an area between present-day Springfield and Urbana, Ohio, establishing a new settlement and further solidifying his legacy as a pioneer.
In 1810, Kenton moved to Urbana, Ohio, where he achieved the rank of brigadier general of the state militia. He served in the War of 1812 as a scout and leader of a militia group in the Battle of the Thames in 1813. This was the battle in which the famous Indian chief Tecumseh was killed. Kenton was chosen to identify Tecumseh’s body, but, recognizing both Tecumseh and another fallen warrior named Roundhead and seeing soldiers gleefully eager to carve up Tecumseh’s body into souvenirs, he identified Roundhead as the chief.
Kenton moved to the Zanesfield, Ohio, area around 1820. During the last years of his life, Kenton lived in poverty because of land ownership disputes and mismanagement of his money. He survived on a government pension of $20 a month. In 1836, Kenton died in Logan County and was initially buried at New Jerusalem. In 1865, his remains were moved to Urbana. The state of Ohio constructed a monument to mark his grave in 1884.
Simon Kenton’s life was a tapestry woven with threads of courage, resilience, and a deep connection to the land. He was a frontiersman, a soldier, and a pioneer who played a significant role in shaping the early history of the American West. His legacy continues to inspire generations, reminding us of the enduring power of the human spirit in the face of adversity.