The Story of Anthony's Creek

 

Anthony's Creek is a stream in West Virginia named after Anthony, "The White Man's Friend"

. The creek is located in the Greenbrier District of Greenbrier County and is approximately 20 miles from Lewisburg and about twenty miles from Frankford. The creek flows through a valley in a southwesterly direction between the Allegheny Mountains

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The creek was named after a white man known by the Indigenous people as Anthony

. Anthony was known for his positive relationships with certain Indigenous tribes, and Samuel Humphreys' grandfather considered him the only white friend of their tribe

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The creek is known for a cave called "Anthony's Cave," or "DePauw Cave"

. Anthony used the cave to escape pursuing Indigenous people on at least one occasion. The cave is small – a person could crawl through it – and is located about six or seven miles up the creek. There are several other caves along Anthony's Creek

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The area around Anthony's Creek was settled by Europeans in the late 18th and early 19th centuries

. Among these early settlers, a few had land grants on Anthony's Creek:

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Robert Armstrong

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Samuel Campbell

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Thomas Campbell

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uel Carrol

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Felix Gilbert

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William Hopkins

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Archibald Hopkins

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Samuel Humphreys

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Shedrick Harriman

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Samuel Iron

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James Lockhart

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James Richards

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John Ward

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James Ward

Anthony's Creek is also mentioned in accounts of an 1820s journey taken by Mr. Campbell, his wife, and their sons from Howard County, Missouri, to Pendleton County, Virginia

. As the family traveled through what would later become Pocahontas County, they passed Anthony's Creek and stopped to visit with friends and family who lived there.

Our conversation history reveals an anecdote about Anthony's relationship with his close friend Samuel Humphreys. They worked together to warn white settlers about an Indigenous attack, and Humphreys' family hid in Anthony's Cave for two weeks

. They built a fire at the mouth of the cave and kept watch for the attackers. During the siege, Anthony saw an opportunity to escape. He jumped from his hiding place into the creek and escaped down the creek bed. His pursuers did not follow

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The sources and our conversation history provide limited information about the history of Anthony's Creek. There may be additional information available in local historical societies or libraries.

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Anthony's Retreat: A Life in the Cave

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Anthony, a white man who lived in the region that is now West Virginia in the late 18th century, was known for his friendships with some Indigenous tribes, earning him the moniker "The White Man's Friend".

His close friend Samuel Humphreys' grandfather even considered Anthony to be the only white friend of their tribe.

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Despite these friendships, the threat of violence from other Indigenous people led Anthony to seek refuge in a cave, now known as "Anthony's Cave" or "DePauw Cave", located on the creek named after him, Anthony's Creek.

This cave is approximately six or seven miles upstream.

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The sources recount a specific event that led Anthony to the cave.

When Indigenous people were planning to attack white settlers, Humphreys learned of the plan and warned Anthony. Together they warned others in their community. The sources describe how Humphreys' family, including his grandfather, hid with Anthony in the cave for about two weeks. They built a fire at the mouth of the cave and began a siege, watching for the attackers.

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During the siege, Anthony spotted an opportunity for escape.

He jumped from his hiding place into the creek and ran downstream. Because the creek was shallow at that point in the summer, Anthony was able to escape through the water. His pursuers did not follow.

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The cave was small, with a narrow entrance.

Someone entering would need to crawl on their hands and knees until they reached a larger chamber. This small size likely made the cave easy to defend and conceal, making it an ideal refuge for Anthony.

The sources do not explicitly state that Anthony lived in the cave permanently, only that he used it as a retreat during times of danger. However, given the ongoing threat of Indigenous attacks and the close association between Anthony and the cave, it's possible that he spent extended periods living there.

 

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Anthony: A Contentious Figure

 

The sources offer limited information about Anthony himself, focusing primarily on his interactions with Indigenous peoples and his use of a cave as a refuge. However, the sources and our conversation history provide some clues as to why he might have been considered a contentious figure.

 

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"The White Man's Friend": The sources repeatedly refer to Anthony as "The White Man's Friend", highlighting his positive relationships with certain Indigenous tribes.

 

    His friendship with Samuel Humphreys, whose grandfather considered Anthony the    only  white person friendly to his tribe, further supports this idea.

This close relationship with Indigenous people could have been perceived as controversial or even treacherous by other white settlers, particularly during times of conflict or tension between the two groups.

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Potential for Misunderstanding: The sources do not provide details about the nature of Anthony's relationships with Indigenous tribes. It's possible that his actions or motivations were misinterpreted or misrepresented by others, leading to accusations of betrayal or collusion. The lack of information about his death and the absence of any mention of family beyond his friendship with Humphreys further contribute to the ambiguity surrounding his life and could fuel speculation and conflicting narratives.

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Contentious Times: The historical context in which Anthony lived was marked by significant conflict and displacement of Indigenous peoples as European settlers expanded westward.

In such a volatile environment, any individual who crossed cultural boundaries or challenged prevailing attitudes towards Indigenous people could easily become a target of suspicion and controversy.

In conclusion, while the sources do not explicitly label Anthony as a contentious figure, the information they provide, combined with the historical context, suggests that his close relationships with Indigenous people could have made him a subject of controversy among white settlers. However, without additional information about his life, actions, and the specific events that shaped his reputation, it's impossible to fully understand the complexities of his life and the reasons why he might have been perceived as a contentious figure.

 

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Anthony's Decision to Leave: Protecting Himself and Others

The sources do not explicitly state why Anthony left the town he lived in. However, they strongly suggest that his departure was motivated by a need to protect himself and his community from the threat of violence by Indigenous people.

• Anthony received a warning from his friend, Samuel Humphreys, that Indigenous people were planning to attack white settlers. The sources recount how Humphreys' grandfather considered Anthony the only white person who was a friend to their tribe. This suggests that other Indigenous tribes in the area may have been hostile towards white settlers.

• Fearing for their safety, Anthony and the Humphreys family took refuge in a cave known as Anthony's Cave or DePauw Cave. The cave, located about six or seven miles up Anthony’s Creek, was small, requiring people to crawl on their hands and knees to enter. The sources and our conversation history note that they stayed in the cave for about two weeks.

• During their time in the cave, Anthony and Humphreys built a fire at the entrance and kept watch for the Indigenous attackers. Anthony observed the attackers from his hiding place and waited for the right moment to escape. He jumped into the shallow creek and escaped downstream while the attackers were distracted.

• The sources do not mention Anthony returning to the town after his escape. It is possible that he left the area permanently to avoid further conflict with Indigenous people. This is supported by the fact that the sources offer no details about his death.

The circumstances surrounding Anthony’s departure, including the warning from Humphreys, the retreat to the cave, and his dramatic escape, all point to a situation of imminent danger and a need for immediate action to ensure his survival and the safety of those around him. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that Anthony left the town to escape potential violence from Indigenous people and to protect his community from the same threat.