Simon Kenton, an American pioneer, born in Fauquier co., Va., April 3, 1755, died in Logan co., 0., April 29, 1836. At the age of 16 he had an affray with a young man arising out of a love affair; and believing he had killed his adversary, he fled beyond the Alleghanies and became a companion of Boone and the other early pioneers of Kentucky. For a time he acted as a spy of Gov. Dunmore, and subsequently participated in the warfare waged against the British and the Indians west of the Alleghanies, showing remarkable courage, sagacity, and endurance. In 1782, learning that his rival was living, he returned to his native place, and soon after removed with his father's family to Kentucky. He was frequently engaged in Indian warfare, until the expedition under Wayne in 1793-'4 restored tranquillity to the western frontier. As the country began to fill up with settlers, his lands, to which, in consequence of his ignorance of or indifference to legal forms, he had never secured perfect titles, were taken from him, and by repeated lawsuits he was reduced to penury.

He nevertheless took up arms in the war of 1812, and fought with the Kentucky troops at the battle of the Thames. In 1824 he appeared in Frankfort in tattered garments to petition the legislature of Kentucky to release the claim of the state upon some mountain land owned by him. His appearance at first excited ridicule, but upon being recognized he was treated with much distinction; his lands were released, and a pension of $240 was procured for him from congress. He died near the spot where, 58 years previous, he had narrowly escaped death at the hands of the Indians.