Submitted by Lynn Greene
Miller's Creek, June 13, 1885
L. C. Draper
Dear Sir:
My tradition is from my parents. Albert Easter is my nephew- grandson of my father (Jesse Benton). He lived with my father, says he has heard him tell
of Boone killing the Indian in the Red Lick. In the closing days of my father's life, the early settlement of the county was his principal
topic of conversation, and young Easter's mind was impregnated with his narratives.
No man had a better recollection, or could relate it better than my father.
For truth, honesty, and philanthropy, he had no superiors. Thomas H. Benton of Mo. was his cousin; they were much the same
in stature and disposition. About the leap over the slate cliff at the mouth of Cow Creek--some saying
it was Miller, some Fowler, and one Boone. Clay Hernden only said it was Boone so far as I know. You said he wrote you so. Captain Joseph Blackwell
says the jumper was named Lackey. My father said it was Fowler; it was I who made the mistake from misrecollection, I said it was Miller. My sister,
Ailcy Easter, corrected me- saying Father said it was Fowler-and this is now my recollection also. Blackwell's narrative seems to have some bottom to
it- it is connected with other incidents that I have heard my father speak of. You will have to guess which of these statements is correct. There is
one thing sure..it was not Boone. Boone Tree, 1780. I this day came by the mouth of Miller's Creek- one the
east bank, and west side of the county road, I examined a beech tree, and found on it "D. B. 1780"- all tolerably plain, the date is very plain and
appears to be as old as it represents. Some four or five hundred yards from there is the corner or edge of L. H. Bowman's pasture, has been an old fort.
Some say it was a buffalo lick. My recollection is that the cutting on the tree at the mouth of Sturgeon Creek and this one on the bank of Miller's
Creek, was done by the same hand resembling each other. G. (?) B. Kelley tell me that the tree at the mouth of Ross's Creek stood on
the ridge between the creek and the river, and near the mouth of the creek; He don't recollect of examining it; but understood Boone's name was cut on
it.
Yours truly,
E. P. Benton
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