Today in Wheeling History: November 6--Lewis Wetzel, a legendary frontiersman and Indian fighter from the Wheeling Creek area, ambushed and killed Seneca chief Tegunteh during peace negotiations at Fort Harmar (1788).
Lewis Wetzel was born in August 1763, possibly in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, or along the South Branch of the Potomac River. His family moved to the Wheeling Creek area in what is now the northern panhandle of West Virginia by 1770. Wetzel grew up in a frontier environment, where he developed a deep-seated hatred for Native Americans after he and his brother Jacob were captured by Wyandots in 1778. The brothers managed to escape and return to Wheeling, which fueled Wetzel's resolve to fight against Native American tribes.
Wetzel became renowned for his exceptional skills as a scout and Indian fighter. He was known for his ability to reload a rifle while running, a rare feat that made him a formidable opponent. His exploits included defending Fort Henry during attacks and participating in various skirmishes and battles throughout the Upper Ohio Valley. Wetzel's most notorious act was the ambush, shooting, and scalping of Seneca chief Tegunteh on November 6, 1788, during the negotiation of the Treaty of Fort Harmar, for which he was twice arrested but never punished, managing to escape custody multiple times.
After the Indian Wars, Wetzel lived as a hunter and trapper, eventually settling in Mississippi. He died in 1808 in Natchez, Mississippi, and his remains were later reinterred in McCreary Cemetery near Wheeling in 1942. Wetzel's legacy as a fearless frontiersman and Indian fighter remains a significant part of Wheeling's history.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://shorturl.at/4PGoY) (https://shorturl.at/1eFdj); Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/s9X9p), West Virginia Encyclopedia (https://shorturl.at/Kjv6m), City of Wheeling (https://tinyurl.com/4rrx6bmm)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; The Clio, Find a Grave
Lewis Wetzel was born in August 1763, possibly in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, or along the South Branch of the Potomac River. His family moved to the Wheeling Creek area in what is now the northern panhandle of West Virginia by 1770. Wetzel grew up in a frontier environment, where he developed a deep-seated hatred for Native Americans after he and his brother Jacob were captured by Wyandots in 1778. The brothers managed to escape and return to Wheeling, which fueled Wetzel's resolve to fight against Native American tribes.
Wetzel became renowned for his exceptional skills as a scout and Indian fighter. He was known for his ability to reload a rifle while running, a rare feat that made him a formidable opponent. His exploits included defending Fort Henry during attacks and participating in various skirmishes and battles throughout the Upper Ohio Valley. Wetzel's most notorious act was the ambush, shooting, and scalping of Seneca chief Tegunteh on November 6, 1788, during the negotiation of the Treaty of Fort Harmar, for which he was twice arrested but never punished, managing to escape custody multiple times.
After the Indian Wars, Wetzel lived as a hunter and trapper, eventually settling in Mississippi. He died in 1808 in Natchez, Mississippi, and his remains were later reinterred in McCreary Cemetery near Wheeling in 1942. Wetzel's legacy as a fearless frontiersman and Indian fighter remains a significant part of Wheeling's history.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://shorturl.at/4PGoY) (https://shorturl.at/1eFdj); Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/s9X9p), West Virginia Encyclopedia (https://shorturl.at/Kjv6m), City of Wheeling (https://tinyurl.com/4rrx6bmm)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; The Clio, Find a Grave
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