.We of the present day can’t appreciate the hardships and adventures to say nothing of the dangers that our ancestors and the early pioneers who settled this country went through.
Great Grandfather Winter left home one morning to go to a neighbors home on business. This procedure was always the way of the early settlers. His home was surrounded by a field of corn which almost reached to the house on all sides.
He took his flint rifle with him, leaving his wife and children alone. His wife, reading a much worn Bible, heard a noise and went to look out the window. She saw Indians with tomahawks in their hands. One of them, seeing her in the window, threw his weapon at her, and struck her in the forehead, killing her, and then the children. After they hung all their scalps on their belts, they set fire to the home.
Jake Winter, the oldest boy, escaped and hid in the corn, but was captured later. He was ten years old. An old Indian, named Aganook, took Jake with him. They traveled through the forest all day until they came to an opening--and their wigwams. They fed him and Aganook kept him for the night. In the morning the Indians gathered in a group and discussed what they were going to do about him. They made him understand he was to run, and then shot him in the knees with an arrow. When they rushed toward him, an old squaw threw her body over him and begged for his life. She wanted him for her own. The chief granted her request.
So began a new life for Jake. He was taught the ways of the Indians. One day, two years later, they came into camp from a raid, bringing a boy about his own age named James Everlle. They became attached to each other, but were watched closely and could see no way of gaining their freedom. The sixth year had passed since Jake had been taken. While chasing a rabbit by the river, the boys discovered a wagon and footprints, but the Indians were close behind them, so they turned back, determined to take the first opportunity to escape.
It was the custom to give each one a certain amount of corn every night and morning, so they began to save corn in an old sock. When it was nearly full, they started out very early one morning. They traveled all that day and night, and in the morning they crawled into a large hollow log and went to sleep. They were awakened by the Indians sitting on the log. They were in pursuit of the runaway boys. After the Indians had gone, they continued on their journey. They came to an opening, and a large river. On the opposite side was a British fort. After they left the shadow of the woods they were spied by an Indian, and with a loud cry, he sent an arrow after them. The men at the fort, upon hearing the Indians, came to their rescue. The Indians fled at the sight of them.
The British soldiers kept them at the fort, some of the soldiers went back with the boys to the place they were captured, but no trace of their people could be found. Jake Winter, according to his story, was Dave Winter’s Grandfather, and Dave Winter was my father.
In 1861 my father came across the plains to California, and later moved to Elco, Nevada. He lived there until 1881, when he came north to Wood River Idaho. About 1898 my father returned to California due to poor health. He died and was buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery at Santa Rosa.
--Believed to have been written by a daughter of David Keller Winter
Go To My Winter Line
