Who was Simon Kenton?
Simon Kenton (April 3, 1755 - April 29, 1836) was a famous frontiersman and friend of the renowned Daniel Boone and the infamous Simon Girty. A Virginian, Kenton was born in the Bull Run Mountains of Prince William County. At the age of 16, Kenton was involved in a duel over the attentions of a lovely young lady. He killed his rival and fled his Tidewater home, a fugitive from justice. Kenton was briefly employed here at the Warm Springs Mill, working for miller Jacob Butler. Kenton went by the name "Simon Butler" until 1782, when he discovered that his supposed victim was in fact alive. He returned to Virginia, readopting his original name. Kenton served as a scout against the Shawnee in 1774. In 1777, he saved the life of his friend and fellow frontiersman, Daniel Boone. The following year, Simon Girty rescued Kenton after his capture by the Shawnee. He served in the War of 1812 as both a scout and as leader of a militia group. Kenton died in New Jerusalem, Ohio (in Logan County) and was first buried there. His body was later moved to Urbana, Ohio.