SAYERS, John - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Covington April 6 - John SAYERS who has been a resident of Fountain County since 1852 passed away Monday evening at the home of his daughter, Mrs. John Bunnel, E. Liberty Street. He was in his 87th year and had been a sufferer from paralysis for the past two years which finally caused his death. Mr. Sayers was a native of NY and was among the thousands of easterners who were in the rush for gold following the discovery of the precious metal at Sutter's Mill He left his native hearth, Orange Co NY and in company with a party of 30 others started across the plains. He has often told the story of how the party got as far as Pike's Peak with other than natural hardships of the journey. Here they slept almost under the shadow of that famed mountain with no Indians in sight at dusk but when they awoke in the morning there seemed he has said to have been thousands of the redskins swarming about. The big chiefs told the emigrant to go ahead if they wished but it would be at the risk of their lives for the Indians proposed to prevent them. They had the privilege to return without molestation. The white men decided that the east was good enough for them and they turned back. Mr. Sayers lived for a time in Iowa and then came on to Covington and has lived here continuously. He is the last of 10 children. The other remaining member died 2 years ago at the age of 87 His wife died about a year ago Three children, Mrs. John Bunnel, Thomas and Caleb Sayers of this city survive. Mr. Sayers followed the occupation of house moving and was a man of unusual strength. Many stories are told of his muscular feats when he was a young man and in prime of life. The funeral was held at the Bunnell Home at 2 Wednesday afternoon Elder Bell, Pastor of the 5th St Christian church officiating. Interment at Mt. Hope Cemetery.