Story by: Doug Foreman
BUCYRUS, OH - On Thursday, September 25th, screenwriter and author, Phillip W. Hoffman, came to Crawford County to speak to students and residents, plus had a book signings.
Phillip W. Hoffman just finished his long-awaited biography of Simon Girty, the scourge of the early American frontier. Phillip spent 18 years of meticulous research, and has done the first serious work about Simon Girty since 1890. His new book, "Simon Girty Turncoat Hero - The Most Hated Man on the Early American Frontier", finally presents the factual story of the oft-maligned and often misunderstood "bad boy" of American history.
For those of you who forget your American history are asking yourselves, "Well, who is Simon Girty"?. Simply put, he was one of the most misunderstood icons of the Revolutionary period, here in the what know as the Northwest Territory. Girty was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1741, and was orphaned at a young age. Simon was captured during the French and Indian War, and was adopted by the Seneca Indians. Because of this, Simon became fluent in several of the Indian languages, so he interpreted for the British Indian Department, and participated in Dunmore's War. Simon fought for both sides in the American Revolution, playing a major role during the Indian Wars, plus Simon was pursued by American forces during the War of 1812.
During the American Revolutionary War, Simon defected to the British after learning that the true motivation of many of the founding fathers was, accumulation and speculation in Indian lands, which produced instant infamy.
How Simon fits into our local history is simply this, He witnessed the torture and death of Colonel William Crawford, and rescued Simon Kenton from a similar fate, and participated in the Battle of Sandusky, just outside of Upper Sandusky. Girty was part of the ambush at Blue Licks, which is where Daniel Boone's son, Israel, was killed, and the Indian victories over Harmar and St. Clair. Finally, Simon witnessed the final defeat of the Indians by "Mad" Anthony Wayne at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. As a result of Simon's unique position, Girty's story illuminates all the dynamics of early frontier conflict, from Native American, British, and from American perspectives.
During Simon Girty's lifetime, he became associated with many famous personalities such as: Seneca Sachem Guysuta; Colonel William Crawford; Simon Kenton; Shawnee Chiefs Tecumseh and Blue Jacket; Mingo Chief Logan; Mohawk Chief Joseph Brant; Half King of the Wyandot Indians; Captain Pipe of the Delaware Indians; Miami Chief Little Turtle; John Connolly; Sir William Johnson; John Murray (Lord Dunmore); George Rogers Clark; Detroit Governor Henry Hamilton; General Wayne; Moravian missionaries John Heckewelder and David Zeisburger; and Daniel Boone. Also making appearances in Simon Girty's history is Benjamin Franklin and George Washington.
What Phillip W. Hoffman has done is simply this, he has waded through the many misconceptions and fallacies about Simon Girty's life, and has produced an impartial and very engaging book to read. Lending his powerful narrative skills to Simon Girty's story, Phillip has separated the myth from the legend, and thus in the process, has given us a glimpse into an often neglected piece and period of our American history.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
American History Imprints, Inc.
Phillip W. Hoffman scripted shows for "Combat!" and other dramatic television series in the 1960's. In addition, for nine years he taught screenwriting at the late Jay Silverheels' Indian Actor's Workshop in Los Angles. Hoffman is also an award winning, world renowned cutlery designer whose Lakota knives were accepted into the Permanent Design Collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Phillip lives with his wife, Mary Ann, and two Labrador Retrievers near Pensacola, Florida.
Phillip W. Hoffman's interest in Simon Girty began when he was introduced t the character in Allan Eckert's Wilderness Empire and The Frontiersmen. Appearing numerous times in both books, Girty's nature vacillated between being a ruthless, bloodthirsty renegade, to a loyal, courageous moralist. Following up on his interest in Girty, after a few month of preliminary research in 1988, the biographer was solidly hooked, and the result is the masterful biography described above.
The 6" x 9" hardback book is 360 pages, including epilogue, appendix of Girty descendants, principle characters, notes and sources, bibliography, and index, plus 6 maps. The book retails for $28.95 and is available at local bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, plus American History Imprints website: www.Americanhistoryimprints.com
