James Bevan and Weiber Tom

The following extract is from a history written by James Bevan's granddaughter, Alice Bates Herron.

Sometimes he would earn extra money by hauling logs from the hills to build new homes in the village. One time while he was in the hills loading logs in his wagon, he paused in his work to fry some pancakes for his lunch. It was customary in those days to carry some flour, a frying pan, and other provisions with them when in the hills. This time he had his fire made and a pancake cooking when he was startled to hear a noise behind him. Turning quickly to see what caused the noise, he was face to face with Weiber Tom, a very large and fearsome Indian, whom all of the settlers feared. The Indian looked very mean, raised his tomahawk and said, “I kill you.” James Bevan wasn’t a coward, but he feared the Indian because he was unarmed and no match for so large an Indian. He offered a silent prayer to God, and then he reached over to the fire and handed the cooked pancake to the Indian, saying, “You eat.” To his surprise Weiber Tom took the offered cake and said, “Me eat.” James Bevan baked more pancakes for the Indian, until he was well fed. Then, to his surprise, Weiber Tom walked to the wagon that he had been loading with logs and helped him load them. When the load was completed, he climbed on the load with him and rode out of the hills to the home of James Bevan where he met the family. He was given more food, and from that time on, he was a friend of the Bevan family.

It was a common sight to see the Indian at the home. He would ask if Cap Bevan was home; if not, he would wait out in the yard, and when he saw him coming with his team and wagon, he would run to meet him like a child.