Abraham "Abram" Ruddell

The Virginia Genealogist, Vol 27, No. 4.

Local Notices From the Virginia Gazette, Richmond, 1783. pg 296-297

Because of the fact that Abram was six years younger than Stephen when they were adopted into the Indian tribe, the influence of the Indian association was much more in evidence in him than in his brother. Wayland says that he never became "civilized", but was always in manner an uncouth Indian. Wayland further states that Abram was a spy and interpreter for Gen. Harrison in the War of 1812.

Judge Asa C. Jeffrey of Batesville, Arkansas, a life long friend and acquaintance of the Arkansas Ruddells wrote -1 short account of the family which was published in the Melbourne (Arkansas) Clipper in 1877. He had the following to say of Abraham:

"Old Abe Ruddell was captured by the Indians in the settling of Kentucky while a small boy and was not changed or given up till nearly grown. He talked very brokenly and always had a decided Indian appearance. He shunned people except his intimate acquaintances. On one occasion he went to witness a ball and when some compliments were paid to a young lady's dainty foot and ankle while dancing, old Abe said, "Yes, looks jes like pins stuck in a pumpkin seed."

Old Abe may not have been a connoisseur of dainty ankles and he may have been in manner and mien an "uncouth" Indian, as contended by Wayland, but he was a "grand old man" according to Trent Noland and he blazed the trail of civilization in the State of Arkansas. He was among the very earliest settlers in that territory and played no small part in wresting it from its wildernes state."

The Virginia Genealogist, Vol 27, No. 4.

Local Notices From the Virginia Gazette, Richmond, 1783. pg 296-297

MY RECORD INDICATE ABRAM RUDDELL BORN 1774 WASHINGTON CO., VA MARRIED MARY CULP 8-21-1797 IN BOURBON CO., KY DIED INDEPENDENCE CO., ARK. THE HAD THE FOLLOWING CHILDREN: ABRAHAM , DANIEL, AMERICAN ANN MARRIED ANDREW CALDWELL, SALLY MARRIED ?? CRISWELL, ELIZABETH MARRIED ?? SHANNON , AND ESTHER MARRIED JAMES A. HARRIS.

The Virginia Genealogist, Vol 27, No. 4.

I DID NOT START TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT I GOT CARRIED AWAY. THIS INFO MAY BE SOMETHING YOU ALREADY HAD, BUT I INCLUDED IT. I WILL HELP ANYONE WITH MORE INFO IF I HAVE IT.

Subject: Obituary of Abraham Ruddell

Date: Fri, 26 May 2000 12:29:08 EDT

From: Jsellars3@aol.com

To: RUDDLESFORT-L@rootsweb.com

This originally appeared in the Batesville News, March 4, 1841.

Pioneers and Makers of Arkansas. Little Rock, AR: Clearfield Press, 1908, p. 339-342.

REMARKABLE LIFE OF ABRAHAM RUDDELL.

Abraham Ruddell, of Independence County, had a career which the pen of J. Fennimore Cooper might have depicted as it deserved, but which my pen in the space allotted cannot adequately express. He was born as far west as white people at that time had found permanent homes. Far down on the Holstein in Virginia in a log house on August 3, 1774, he first saw the light of day. He never knew much about this home nor his parents, for on June 22, 1780, the Indians fell upon the little settlement and with savage ferocity tomahawked its residents, carrying off as a prisoner the little curley-headed Abraham Ruddell. They carried him over into Kentucky and the same something that prompted his savage captors to spare his life, whatever that may have been, prompted the great Tecumseh to not only further spare him, but to take him into his family as an adopted son. Strange fortune was this! Strange mutation of the little child's life. He grew up under Tecumseh's eye and was trained by that renowned warrior in all the arts of Indian life and Indian warfare. He learned the language of the tribe, played the Indian boyhood games, and took part in all the Indian wars. He was an adept in the use of a tomahawk, though his white blood restrained him from its more barbarous uses. He was skilled with the bow and could contest favorably with all his dusky comrades. In the use of the rifle he had no superior and Tecumseh awarded him many happy encomiums. When the tribe fought other Indian tribes Ruddell fought at Tecumseh's side and fought well. He had no particle of cowardice in his system and was far more venturesome than even his savage friends. He was trained, however, to know that he was white, and Tecumseh always held out to him the fact that at some time he would go back to the whites to live the white man's life. So gentle was Tecumseh to him that he grew to love him and throughout his life had a warm vein of affection for the great warrior. When Tecumseh died there was one white man, at least, that sincerely mourned his death. Logan, the Mingo, stood alone in his absolute lack of mournful friends; Tecumseh was mourned by his tribe and by Abraham Ruddell. For Tecumseh's brother, the prophet, Ruddell had a supreme contempt, and it was only his love for Tecumseh that kept him from openly showing his dislike.

LIVED SIXTEEN YEARS WITH INDIANS.

After sixteen years of captivity under the provisions of Mad Anthony Wayne's treaty, he returned to the whites. His parting with Tecumseh was grievous, and each shook the hand of the other in proud good faith as they separated. Ruddell went back to his own people, a stranger in their midst. In Kentucky he started a new life, the white man's life with an added Indian education. His counsels were sought by the border woodsmen, and his Indian craft was used to circumvent thecraft of the Indians. In 1811 he became a soldier of the United States and with the backwoodsmen of Virginia and Kentucky, with unerring rifles and forest tactics, marched with the brave and gallant Winchester into Canada. He was in the ever memorable fight of the Raisin and with others felt all the mortification of defeat. All day long his eye swept the field of savage faces hunting for the familiar face of Tecumseh. At the risk of his life he would have tried to shake Tecumseh's hand again. He had bullets for the Indians, but none for Tecumseh. But he saw not his friend, nor did he see that other, the Prophet, for whom he had saved a special bullet, and whom he would gladly have shot. Ruddell always attributed the prevalence of the Indian atrocities to the evil eye of the Prophet.

MOVED TO ARKANSAS.

In battle after battle the defeat was retrieved and the war cry "Remember the Raisin," became the rallying cry of all future combats. Ruddell served through the war and went back to his forest home to ever afterwards live a peaceful life. In 1816 the Western fever attacked his neighborhood and with one accord they pulled up stakes and began a journey into the greater and newer West. Crossing the Mississippi below St. Genevieve they took the old St. Louis and Washita road and turned South. One by one they found their Canaan and blazed their claims. Ruddell found his in the fairest part of what is now Independence County, in that township which will forever carry his name. Grand old Abraham Ruddell! Was there ever a man more respected in the county?