Simon Kenton

Simon Kenton (April 3, 1755 – April 29, 1836) was a famous United States frontiersman and soldier in West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio. He was a friend of  Daniel Boone, Simon Girty, Spencer Records, Thomas S. Hinde, Dr. Thomas Hinde, and Isaac Shelby . He served the United States in the Revolution, the Northwest Indian War  and the War of 1812. Surviving the gauntlet and ritual torture, in 1778 he was adopted into the Shawnee people. He married twice and had a total of ten children.
Simon Kenton was born at the headwaters of Mill Run in the Bull Run Mountains on April 3, 1755, in what is now Fauqier County, Virginia to Mark Kenton, Sr. (an immigrant from Ireland) and Mary Miller Kenton (whose family was Scots-Welsh in ancestry). (His birthplace was then part of Prince William County prior to formation of Fauquier in 1759). In 1771, at the age of 16, thinking he had killed a man in a jealous rage (the fight began over the love of a girl), Kenton fled into the wilderness of West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio, where for years he went by the name "Simon Butler." After learning that his victim had lived, Kenton took back his original surname.
In 1808 Simon Kenton, concerned about his sinful soul, attended a Methodist-Episcopal camp meeting. Privately, he confessed to the preacher that he had killed many men in his 53 years. He feared that God could not accept such a sinful one as he was. When Rev. Bennett Maxey explained that God's mercy was poured out for sinners in Christ's death and resurrection, Simon claimed God's forgiveness for himself. When the Lord saved him, Simon jumped up and ran shouting to tell the wonderful news to his wife, relatives and friends.

Simon Kenton was the "Welcome Committee" for many travelers down the Ohio River.  He helped them get settled, provided food and instructions for survival.  

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