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History of Wetzel County, West Virginia
by John C. McEldowney, Jr., 1901

Page 43
MASSACRE OF THE HANDSUCKER FAMILY.

In the latter part of June, 1790, a party of Indians invaded a
settlement on Dunkards creek, in Monongalia county, early in the
morning. Mr. Clegg and Mr. Handsucker and his two sons were engaged
at work near a house, when a band of Indians, concealed in bushes,
shot at them and wounded Handsucker severely, and he was soon
overtaken. Clegg and Hand sucker's two sons began to run toward the
house and Clegg entered it and defended it for a while. But confident
that he would soon be driven out by fire he surrendered on condition
that they would spare his life and that of his little daughter with
him. The boys passed the house, but were overtaken by some of the
savages, who were concealed in the direction they ran, and who had
just taken Mrs. Handsucker and her infant captive. They then burnt
the house, caught all the horses they needed, and made off with the
prisoners, "leaving one of their company as usual to watch after
their retreat. When Mrs. Clegg heard the firing of a gun in the corn
field, she was some distance from the house, and on hearing the shot
immediately went toward the creek and concealed herself among the
bushes and stayed until everything became quiet. She then crept out,
and perceiving the Indian, began to run; he having seen her at the
same time, took after her, but had to give up in despair. He shot at
her, knowing that he would never catch her, but did not hit her, and
she kept on running until she got safely off. Mr. Handsucker and his
wife and child were killed on what is now known as Handsucker Knob,
Wetzel county, at the forks of Dunkard and Fish creeks. Mr. Clegg,
after remaining a captive among the Indians for some time, was
released, on which he ransomed his two daughters.

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