Ohio History Journal

Reviews, Notes and Comments            563

serted that it was his nephew, Richard M. Johnson, who later be-

came vice president of the United States.

It seems that no record exists, emanating from Richard M.

Johnson, in which he personally either asserts or denies the

credit, but there does exist a positive statement from Cave John-

son that he did not kill Tecumseh. In the Draper Mss. under

File No. 9J168, Cave Johnson makes this statement:

"Strange as it may seem, I never fired a gun at an Indian,

nor ever saw an Indian as an enemy to be shot at."

Cave Johnson was born in Virginia in 1760, emigrated to

Kentucky in 1779, and was living in 1848. His brother, Robert

Johnson, also emigrated to Kentucky in 1779 and in 1782 was a

captain under George Rogers Clark in his expedition from Ken-

tucky up the Great Miami Valley, when Upper Piqua was cap-

tured and destroyed. Cave Johnson was a subaltern under Cap-

tain Robert. In the 1786 Logan expedition Cave Johnson was

captain of a company under Colonel Robert Patterson, a record

existing of his company pay roll. In Cave Johnson's correspond-

ence with Dr. Draper, covering fourteen pages, he makes no

reference to service in the War of 1812.

 

 

 

CHARLES WILLING BYRD

Charles Willing Byrd was born at Westover, Charles

City County, Virginia, July 26, 1770. He died in High-

land County, Ohio, August 11, 1828. He was Secretary

and Acting Governor of the Northwest Territory fol-

lowing the removal of General Arthur St. Clair; mem-

ber of the Convention which framed the first constitu-

tion for Ohio in 1802, and United States Judge for the

district of Ohio from March 3, 1803 until the day of his

death. He was a brother-in-law of Nathaniel Massie;

the two married sisters. He bought Buckeye Station

from Massie, June 8, 1807, and held it until August 15,

1817. Mrs. Byrd died February 12, 1815, and was

buried at Buckeye Station. Judge Byrd moved to West

Union, Ohio, and married Hannah Miles March 8, 1818.

• 1
 

564     Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications Of his first marriage, four children were born and two of the second marriage. He had faith in the curative qualities of the waters of Sinking Springs and pur- chased the land including these. In the graveyard at Sinking Springs are buried the following members of the Byrd family: Samuel Byrd died April 4, 1869 at the age of 45 year, 10 months and 18 days. He was a son of C. W. and Hannah Byrd. Frances Byrd, the wife of Samuel Byrd, died May 30, 1851, age 26 years, 1 month and 7 days. Charles Willing Byrd, son of Samuel Byrd, died May 19, 1849, age 1 year, 1 month and 13 days. Here Judge Charles Willing Byrd was buried. The legend on the tombstone reads: Charles Willing Byrd, died August 25, 1828, age 58 years, 1 month, and 8 days.

• 2