Ruddell’s Station

Draper Manuscripts 18 S 113-115

Ruddell’s or Hinkston’s Station was located about three miles below where Ruddell’s Mills now are and about half a mile in a straight course below the mouth of Townsend, on the north bank of Licking, which here runs nearly east and west course on something of a bluff, but a higher bluff, on same side of the river, above or east of the fort, about 150 yards, covered with thick tinder, in which the Indians took position and commenced firing into the fort, and the whites returning the fire, made it too hot for the Indians.

One Indian managed to get under the puncheon floor, perhaps in the night, and Mrs. McFall poured hot water between the cracks and the Indian rolled out in a lively manner, and jumping up, he ran in a zig-zag manner, when several shots were ineffectively discharged at him. The Indians retired. and went off vowing vengeance. Got cannon and the British to aid them. There was some fighting, but Capt. Ruddell soon surrendered and all blamed him for not maintaining his position longer.

Thinks there were at least 18 or 20 families there, with blockhouses and pickets. The Ruddells, Kyles, McFall, Robert C. McDaniel and others. Christian Spears was there a young man, taken to Detroit, there married a fellow prisoner and after peace he removed to and settled in Ky.

John McFall was a prisoner with the Indians, got away by Clark’s army invading the Indian country. His wife was retained by the Indians some years and finally got back. They settled on Mill Creek in now Harrison County.

Capt. Isaac Ruddell died at Ruddell’s Mills some years before the War of 1812.