Mary Ann Shill Edgeworth visits the Indians

They had to build their houses close together in those days because of the Indians.

Indians used to camp all around the river banks in the fall of each year. The squaws and papooses would come over to the house two or three times a day for food. I remember in numerous occasions my mother gave them the last biscuit flour she had in the house. She told us children to go into the garden and eat a raw turnip or carrot. We had to be good to the Indians so they would not set fire to our homes.


My sisters, Jane and Martha, and I would visit the Indians and watch them make gloves and moccasins. One old Indian squaw gave me a strand of beads, but I was afraid to wear them because I thought the Indians would steal me.