Monthly Archives: January 2024

Ten Years of Dayton Unknown

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On January 27th, 2014, Dayton Unknown shared our very first post. We have absolutely loved sharing our passion for Dayton with you all for the past ten years. We hope you have learned about Dayton from us, and hopefully developed a passon and appreciation for our wonderful city.
In the past ten years…

Most Popular Story: Hills and Dales Lookout Tower: The REAL Story
Sara’s Favorite Story: A Constable Finally Honored after 151 Years
Bethany’s Favorite Story: Other Daytons Part 1 and Part 2

As always, if you have any story ideas or questions you’d like us to look into, please let us know! There are so many ways to contact us – leave a comment down below, via the Contact Us page, send an email (daytonunknown@hotmail.com), send a message on Facebook or Instagram (@daytonunknown), etc.

Henry Stansel

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Henry Stansel was just 9 years old when the Revolutionary War started, but his family wasn’t too concerned. What was more concerning, were raids by the nearby Native Americans – but the Stansels often shared meals with the neighboring tribes, so they weren’t worried. Except one day in 1778, the Stansel boys discovered a group of Native Americans coming toward them from the woods all around them. The boys immediately tried to return to the settlement, but unfortunately one brother was shot, captured, and subsequently scalped.

Due to being slowed by an injured foot and shoes filled with water, Henry was captured by the Native Americans as they stole the horses from the settlement. Henry’s clothes were stripped from him, and he was forced to run through the trees while trying to keep up with the Native Americans on the stolen horses. When they finally stopped to camp, Henry was bound and tormented by his captors, as they callously showed him the scalp of his brother William. During his captivity, Henry was subjected to torture with the other prisoners, forced to run painful gauntlets and beatings.
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