James (Logan) Renick

Notes:

James (Logan) Renick, who changed his name to Logan for his benefactor, Gen. Benjamin Logan, who took him to Kentucky and taught him to read and write. He carved his initials, J.L., on many trees in Ohio after his return there. He lost his life in a fight with a party of British Indians on the banks of the Maumee in November 1812. Claude Feamster tells me (B.F.H.) that a relative of his met Logan Renick in Canada in Nov. 1812, and that Logan sent messages to his relatives in Greenbrier. Dr. Draper says that before his death he had maintained familiar relations with the Renick of the Sciota Valley, who were relatives of his, tho not descended from any ot the captives. Excerpt of a letter dated at Camp Delaware, O. Nov. 9, 1812, from Maj. Jas. William Mathews to Dr. John Mathews, Atty-at-law, Greenbrier County, Va. (now W. Va.): 'I this morning got acquainted with Capt. Logan Renick. He is a very genteel man and speaks the English very well. I am told he is very rich. He lives in the Shawnee Nation, and is very much respected by the white people of this State. It is said he is a man of honor and may be depended upon. He asked very friendly for his relations in Greenbrier. He is very polite. He is very fond of horses and cattle. It is said he carries on a large farm. He desires to be remembered to his uncles in the county.' "



CAPTAIN LOGAN, SHAWNEE

Logan Township, located near Wapakoneta, takes name from Captain Logan. Captain Logan, born Spenica Lawbe, in 1774, to the Indian Chief Moluntha and Grenadier Squaw (his wife) was taken captive by General Benjamin Logan during his attacks, in 1786, on the Macochee Towns in Logan County. General Logan became attached to the boy and took him into his home; raising and educating him, and giving him the name, Logan, to which the title of captain was later added.

The attack at Macochee also included General Simon Kenton, and Colonel Daniel Boone.

Logan became a famous scout with General Harrison in the promotion of the American cause. His Indian home village was at current day Wapakoneta. With a towering height, for the day, of six feet tall and 250 pounds, he became a true friend to the whites. His close companions were the Indians, Captain Johnny and Bright Horn. After the fall of Fort Detroit to the British, Fort Wayne was in danger, and it was Logan and his friends, who traveled to the fort to bring the women and children to safety. Later, Colonel John Johnston at Upper Piqua secured Logan’s help in returning the body of his brother Stephen from the besieged fort for burial in the cemetery at the Johnston Indian Agency.

During the War of 1812, he was asked, in November, 1812, to lead a small party of scouts to reconnoiter the Maumee River rapids in their battle with the British. In a confrontation with a superior British force they were obliged to retreat to the American lines. Stung by accusations of infidelity and sympathy toward the enemy by a junior officer, he, and his friends, Captain Johnny and Bright Horn, set out on November 22, 1812, for the same area. Around noon, they were resting along the river when they were captured by seven Indians, including the infamous Pottawatomie Indian Chief Winnemac and one with a British commission. Logan, in an attempt to stall for time convinced Winnemac that they were tired of the American cause and were in the process of deserting. Winnemac was suspicious and the three men were disarmed.

As they followed the trail back to the English lines, they plotted their escape, and, at the same time convinced Winnemac of their sincerity in deserting, causing him to return their weapons to them. With bullets in their mouths, for quick loading, the three attacked their captors, killing two and seriously wounding another. The remaining four suffered wounds and retreated, but not before firing a bullet into Captain Logan. Captain Johnny lashed the mortally wounded Logan, and injured Bright Horn to the enemy’s horses and directed them back to the American lines; arriving around midnight. Captain Johnny scalped Winnemac and headed back on foot, entering the camp at daybreak.

The entire camp was saddened at the news of Logan’s injuries, and the foolish accusation that caused him to return to an area, known to be dangerous, in defense of his honor.

Captain Logan, before dying two to three days later, asked that his children be given into the care of Major Hardin to be raised and educated in Kentucky. Although every effort was made to honor this request, the mother of the children took custody of them, and, as reported by Sutton, "The children accompanied their mother to the west and became as wild as any of the race." Captain Logan’s body was returned to his home village of Wapaghkonetta, at Wapakoneta, for burial.

The text of the following appeared in an article by Mary McClintock in the "Wapakoneta Daily News," February 15, 1966. - Leonard U. Hill, historian, discovered in 1966, "While browsing through the earliest deed book in the Shelby County, Ohio, courthouse some Indian names were observed." A synopsis of the record reads, "This indenture, entered into on February 23,1822, between James Logan and Cageshe the daughter, children Aque - sh - ka the sons, and of the late Shawanoese Chief Captain Logan or Sopamamelake of Wapaghkonetta in the county of Allen, State of Ohio of one part and Marcus Haylin, and E.B. Cavelier of Champaign County, and State aforesaid of the other part. Witnesseth that the said James Logan, Aqueshka and Cageshe children of Captain Logan and for the consideration of Eight hundred dollars to them in hand, two thirds to Marcus Haylin and one to E.B. Cavelier, all that tract of land lying and being in the county of Allen, containing 6740 acres, situated on the East side of the Grand Glaize River (Auglaize River)...a fractional section of section 35 and section 36. This land was granted to aforementioned children of Captain Logan by the eighth article of the Treaty made 29th September 1817 at the foot of the Rapids of the Miami of the Lake (Maumee River)."

Notes:

ANNALS OF AUGUSTA COUNTY page 165

Mrs. Dennis was detained by the Indians at Chillicothe towns till 1763, when she made her escape, as will be related. Mrs. Renix remained with the Indians till 1767.

The late Dr. Draper of Wisconsin, in unpublished notes to Withers' Border Warfare, gives some further account of the Renix, or Renick, family. Upon authority of the "Preston Register," he states that the date of the captivity was July 25, 1757. He obtained his information from various descendants of Robert Renick, who was killed, as we have seen. The son Robert, was about eighteen months old, and was carried by his mother the greater part of the way to Chillicothe. His crying, however, irritated the Indians, and they dashed out his brains against a tree. On arriving at the Indian towns on the Scotia, the prisoners were divided amongst their captors and scattered. Joshua, who was about five years old, * was taken to Piqua, reared in the family of Tecumseh's parents, and after the birth of Tecumseh was the companion of that celebrated Indian and his brother, the Prophet.

Soon after reaching the Indian towns, Mrs. Renick gave birth to a male infant and called his name Robert, after his murdered father and little brother; and in 1867, William Renick of Greenbriar, then seventy-five years of age, son of the child born in captivity, related the family traditions to Dr. Draper.

* Joshua was baptized by the Rev. Mr. Craig in 1746, and was therefore at least eleven years old in 1757.

Robert married Elizabeth Archer about 1741 in Virginia, USA. Elizabeth was born about 1722 in of Greenbriar County, WV. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

George married Margaret. Margaret was born about 1682 in Germany; died in 1747 in Paxtang, Dauphin County, PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]