William Elston COLLINGS

                   In 1809, William Elston Collings came from Kenturcky across the OhioRiver at Louisville into Indiana bringing his family, the families of hismarried sons and daughters, and a few other families to make asettlement.  Moving northward from Jeffersonville, he crossed the easternspur of the Silver Knobs into the fertile valley of Pigeon Roost Creek,located in the (then) northern part of Clark's Grant.

This site was called Pigeon Roost due to the type of wild pigeons which,in countless numbers, gathered in this region to feed upon the heavebeech mast, nest, and rear their young in the great trees of theprimitive forest.  These birds were called passenger pigeons due to theirmigratory flights from one part of the region to another.

Upon arrival, the settlement was begun in the spring of 1809.  Onequarter of a mile southest of the present monument was constructed thetwo room cabin of William E. Collings, the leader of the settlement, aman nearing 60 years old, but in rugged health and an expert rifleman.He was an experienced soldier having served in the Revolutionary Army andbeing a Virginian bore the name of "Longknife" which name was used forhim by both the settlers and the Indians.  His two youngest childrenlived with him, Lydia and John, 15 and 13 years old respectively, at thetime of the Indian attack. Henry Collings' house was located 100 yardseast of this, while Richard Collings' house was located aboutthree-quarters of mile east.  West of William's house, about one-halfmile, was the home of John Morris.  Two miles west was home of JohnBiggs, while farther southwest, three miles from the Collings' home, waslocated the cabin of Dr. John Richey; Biggs and Richey having marrieddaughters of William E. Collings. Two other homes near the settlemet werethose of James Beal and Ben Yount. To the north of Pigeon Roost and alongthe creek were the homes of the brothers, Jeremiah and Elias Payne, IsaacCoffman, and Daniel Johnson who were relatives of William Collings.

No Indian tribes were located near Pigeon Roost and the troubledconditions of the frontier had caused no Indian trouble among thesesettlers. The few groups of Indians who visited the settlement tradedwith the settlers, held shooting matches with them, and appeared veryfriendly. William Collings, though often beating them in matches, wonrespect and favor of the Indians by giving them lessons in markmanship.

For protection in case of hostilities, three blockhouses had beenconstructed in the Pigeon Roost area but not at Pigeon Roost. One waslocated near Vienna, six miles north of Pigeon Roost; one on SilverCreek, eight miles southeast; and one at the home of Sebulon Collings,son of William, five miles south.