This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Bailey, Brown, Cook, Digby, Jennings, Mills, Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/Hi.2ADI/1782 Message Board Post: Rachel Bailey Brown was the sister of Catherine Bailey Cook Digby, mother of William Digby, founder of Lafayette. She was the daughter of Groombright Bailey and Mary Moore. Rachel and Catherine were sisters of my ancestor, Mary "Polly" Bailey, who married Elijah Mills in 1789 at Hamilton Co., OH. All were a part of the group of original settlers of Hamilton Co., OH, in 1788. Elijah and Mary Mills lived in Butler County, OH, but other members of the Bailey family came to Indiana in 1818. Catherine Digby, Rachel and her husband Robert Brown, are all buried at Greenbush Cemetery in Lafayette. Read an account of their settlement in Ohio which is found in the Draper Manuscripts: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ohhamilt/draper3.html Adina Dyer ================================================================== The Lafayette Daily Journal, November 26, 1850. DIED--On the evening of the 18th of November, MRS. RACHEL BROWN in the seventy-second year of her age passed away. The deceased was among the very earliest settlers of the Wabash country, being among the first passengers that landed between the two Miamis, having for their object the permanent settling of this country. The landing was made, as appears from a record I find in the old Family Bible on the 18th day of November 1787, a short distance below the mouth of the little Miami, on the north bank of the Ohio, at a point afterwards called Columbus [my note: should be Columbia]. There were several families in the company and amongst the rest a Baptist minister by the name of GOFORTH. On stopping they came upon the bank and through their minister offered up to their Heavenly Father their praise and thanksgiving for his kind care over them during their perilous journey and implored his protection and blessing on this hazardous adventure. After the religious duties were performed, according to the old lady's story, her father GEORGE GROOMBRIGHT BAILEY, being the oldest man in the company, took an axe and cut down the first sapling supposed to be between the Miamis with reference to permanent settlement. They then proceeded to clear some ground and erect block houses for their protection against the treacherous savages by whom they were surrounded. However, in a few days they were all taken prisoners. But finally being well accustomed to the usage of the Indians in those days of trial, they succeeded in making a treaty with them for one year, during which time they were permitted to live peaceably, though after the time expired they were much annoyed an! d troubled, having several of their men killed and considerable property stolen. Among those killed was a brother THOMAS BAILEY, a brother-in-law ABEL COOK, and DAVID JENNINGS, grandfather to the present DR. JENNINGS of Lafayette. Her oldest brother, Capt. JAMES FRANCIS BAILEY, was killed in St. Clair's defeat, and her other brothers made many narrow escapes, being amongst the foremost in the Indian wars carried on under HARMER, ST. CLAIR, and WAYNE. She was married to her late husband in April 1796 and I believe soon after the whole family removed up to the Great Miami and settled where Middletown now stands. Here they continued to reside until about 1817 when some of the brothers began to look to the west and made up their minds to emigrate to the Wabash country. The old father and mother still living and not tired of the backwoods life, although opposed by some of their children yet remaining behind, determined to go along. Accordingly they prepared boats and in them descended the Miami and the Ohio and hence up the Wabash. Unfortunately, however, the old man died on the way and was buried on the banks of the Wabash, somewhere, I believe, near Vincennes. The remainder of the party proceeded up the river and settled somewhere near Fort Harrison. MRS. BROWN removed with her husband to Lafayette in 1831, where she continued to live until her death, so there passed amongst us probably the last of that little band, that over sixty-three years ago were the first to break the stillness of that awful solitude that has reigned for ages over the unbroken wilderness of the North Western Territory. She lived in times that were truly desirable to live in. What has not been accomplished in those sixty-three years. Then the emigrant after building his own conveyance, launched it upon the river and waited patiently for the currents to carry him to his place of destination. Then the dispatches were carried by daring men who slung their knapsacks of provisions on their backs, and with rifle in hand made their way on foot through a howling wilderness. How different did she see it before she died? Instead of the vast wilderness that cast an awful gloom over the cabins of the settlers, she was everywhere greeted by cultivated fi! elds and comfortable dwellings. Instead of the scanty fare procured by the hunter from the woods, every family seemed bountifully supplied with food and many of the luxuries of life. Instead of the perogue upon tthe river, she now traveled in the fast running and splendid steamboats that fill our rivers. Instead of the express depending on the speed of tired and weary foot passenger, today it is sent with lightening speed. She was permitted to live through these many years ever since that lonely band dare to strike the first blow between the two Miamis. It struck me that little narrative would be acceptable to members of her family and friends of the deceased and such is respectfully tendered by J.G.S. Lafayette, Indiana, November 25, 1850