Notes for James Purdy MCILVAIN

VanGundy Family Tree


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Notes for James Purdy MCILVAIN

James' Bible contained the following inscription, supposedly writtenat Carlisle, PA, about 1784. Since that was the year James was bornsomeone other than him must have written it:

James McElvain, his hand and pen;
Heel be good, God noes when.
- James Purdy, his book.

Residences and other events in his life:

OH

1804 James and his brother-in-law, Samuel King, were awarded $3 forcarrying chains for surveyors.

5/17/1818 Columbus, Franklin Co, OH. He was one of the earlypioneers of the county.

He joined forces for the War of 1812 with Capt Vance's Co fromColumbus. He was made Ensign of US Inf 10/20/1813, then Bvt 3d Lt 32dUS Inf.

1819 Vincennes, IN. Migrating with several members of the family,sister-in-law, Martha, died enroute.

1820 Vigo Co, IN was his residence at census time.

Vermillion Co, IL. He dropped the family off to stay with daughter,Agnes and Moses Powell, while he and brother, Andrew, went to northernIL and Wiota, WI, lured by lead and zinc mining. Following James'death, Moses took the family back to IN and safer territory.
Gruesome details of James death were told by survivors and witnesses:

One day while they were at Spafford's farm, 6 miles SE of Ft Hamilton,helping to tend his cornfield, the group left their guns at one end ofthe field, working their way toward the other end of the row.Blackhawk Indians waited until they were at the farthest point from
their weapons, then carried out a surprise attack, killing five ofthem.

Bennet Million "miraculously escaped after a chase of fifteen milesand after having swam the Pecatonica five times during the chase. Heat length arrived at Fort Hamilton in full lope - an hour by the sun."

A Million descendant who lived in the area said the field, being in afertile horseshoe bend of the river made it easier for the Indians tocut them off and Spafford was the only member of the party whose riflewas within reach.

Soldiers were dispatched to the scene and reported:

"The first thing that presented itself at the scene of the murder wasthe headless body of the unfortunate Spafford who, it seems fromMillion's statement, was killed at the first fire of the Indians andwas found near where the attack was made. Except where shot and wheredecapitation, there were no mutilations of the body. We found themissing head on the bank of the river, several hundred yards from thebody, with pretty much all the hair taken off. This was of fineglossy appearance, hence the reason for taking it all. The bodies ofMcElwaine and Searles and an Englishman called Johnny Bull were found
upon the opposite bank of the river, most shockingly mangled andmutilated. The body of Spencer, who was supposed to have been killedat the same time, could not be found."

Lt Bracken wrote:

On our arrival there the first object that presented itself was theheadless body of Spafford who had died facing his foes. Cool as hewas brave he at once saw from the number and position of the Indiansthat flight was useless. Seizing his rifle he calmly awaited their
approach and his unerring aim sent one of his foes to eternity beforehim. Then, like the lion at bay, he died, covered with an hundredwounds. While the Indians were thus partially checked by Spafford,the others fled under cover of a ravine, which appears to have beenthe ancient bed of the Pecatonica, to the river. On reaching theshore, McIlwaine and John Bull attempted to escape across it, and wereshot in the water. Their bodies were taken out of the river by us.They had been scalped and horribly mutilated."

And another:

"The company then proceeded to the farm and found the murdered men asdescribed by Lt. Bracken, with the exception of the headless body ofSpafford which had no wounds upon it, as I recollect. The position ofthe body when found indicated that he had been running, as the rest ofhis comrades when he had been shot. I think no one can tell. Millioncrossed the river at the same time and at the same place thatMcIlwaine crossed it."

And yet another:

"Spafford would not run, but stood at bay and was killed in the field.Francis Spencer, who owned a part of the field, escaped through thefield, as did also another of the party. The other men swam the riverand were shot, as it seems, while trying to get up the farther bank.When the body of John Bull was fished out of the stream, his watch had
not yet stopped. Spencer was found some days later under the floor ofan old stable of pig pen nearly crazed with fright."

Family tradition is that James' heart had been cut out and left on alog.
Again from the soldiers' report:

"The other four bodies were brought together and buried in one commongrave, presenting a most appalling spectacle, such as only men ofnerve could have witnessed with any degree of composure. Afterburying these unfortunate friends who had fallen victims through theiranxiety to raise a crop of corn, we continued search for Spencer."

The burial site was by a big tree in an open field by the bend in theriver; the remains were later moved by citizens to the villagecemetery near Wiota. The people of Wayne in 1898 erected a monumentengraved with the following:

On the front -
John Bull
Jas McIlwin
J Searls
John Dull
Spafford
Bennet Million and
Spencer escaped. (No mention of brother, AndrewMcElvain)

On the back -
Erected by the People
of Wayne, 1898 to the Memory
of five pioneers of
This town, who with two
others left Fort Hamilton
Wiota, to hoe corn in Sec. 9
on the Bank of the Pecatonica.
They were massacred by
Blackhawk, Indians
June 14, 1832

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