29 Facts About Jonathan Alder

Jonathan Alder was an American pioneer, and the first white settler in Madison County, Ohio.

Jonathan Alder lived with the Native Americans for many years before returning to the white community.

Jonathan Alder settled near present-day Plain City, Ohio, where he became a farmer.

Jonathan Alder was reunited with his birth family, which moved to Ohio with him, and had a short career as a military officer during the War of 1812.

The family moved in 1775 to Wythe County, Virginia, where Jonathan Alder's father died about a year later.

Jonathan Alder's life was spared due to his appearance; his captors thought his black hair would allow him to pass as an Indian.

Jonathan Alder was forced to run the gauntlet, as a rite of passage, and after he exhibited bravery during the trial, he was adopted and cared for by Whinecheoh.

The first few years that Jonathan Alder lived with the Indians he was very ill, a condition Jonathan Alder attributed to the Indians' diet.

The other children in the village were friendly towards Jonathan Alder, and worked together to teach him their language, customs, and traditions.

In time, Jonathan Alder fully adopted the Mingo way of life; he lived, hunted, and fought as an Indian.

Jonathan Alder was praised in the village for his hunting skills.

Jonathan Alder grew attached to his new life and when, in 1783, a trader from Kentucky offered to exchange him for a Shawnee prisoner, Alder refused.

Jonathan Alder was living in the Indian village of Mack-a-chack when it was destroyed by Benjamin Logan during his raid into Ohio Country in 1786, and he accompanied the Indians on raids into Kentucky to steal horses from white settlers.

Jonathan Alder was asked for advice on the 1795 Treaty of Greenville on land reservations, and urged by the Indians to attend its signing.

Jonathan Alder, not realizing the treaty's importance, chose not to attend.

Jonathan Alder married Barshaw, and settled in Pleasant Valley, in the area of Jerome Township, about 5 miles north of present-day Plain City, Ohio.

Jonathan Alder built a cabin, took up the lifestyle of a farmer, and raised hogs, cows and horses.

Jonathan Alder sold milk and butter he made to the Indians, and pork and horses to the whites.

Jonathan Alder began adopting the white community's habits, and learned English from the other white settlers.

Jonathan Alder gave birth to two of Alder's children, but both died in infancy.

Jonathan Alder gave Barshaw most of the couple's property, including the cabin, all of the cows, seven horses, and about $200 in silver.

Paul then wrote Jonathan Alder to inform him that the family was still alive.

Jonathan Alder left for Paul's house, with Moore, in November 1805.

Jonathan Alder stayed with his family in Virginia for over a year, and while visiting his family, he met and fell in love with Mary Ann Blont, a woman from Virginia.

Jonathan Alder built another log cabin along the Big Darby Creek in 1806, and he and Mary had 12 children between 1808 and 1830.

Jonathan Alder built and garrisoned the blockhouse for a few weeks, but when a false alarm was sounded regarding Indians attacking the settlements, the men returned to their homes.

Jonathan Alder continued to visit the other former captives with whom he had become friends.

Jonathan Alder had become a well-known figure in the region, and is still remembered today with a school district, high school, and junior high school named after him.

The cabin Jonathan Alder built in 1806 is located at the Madison County Historical Society Museum in London.