August 20, 1947

This is given by Louis Wyeth:

"After the resignation of Mr. Potter as executor of the will of old John Gunter (the founder of Guntersville) Alexander Riddle, then sherriff of Jackson County, was appointer administrator. He sold the improvements left by the elder Gunter at public outcry for I think some $1500 to a company represented by Walleb P. McFarlane, Cornelius Allen, William H. Wiggs and Geo W. Allen."

"Some short time after the sale in May 1837, as I was going to Sunday School in Claysville, where I then resided, I met James McFarlane who was also a teacher. I told him it was time for us to be at Sunday school. He replied that he had to go over the river that day, that he expected there was going to be a great fight and he ought to be there."

"I knew him well and loved him very much. Everyone did. I never doubted a moment but that in his gentle, loving Christian heart, his motive was to endeavor to act as peace maker. But he must 'go over the river'.

"Strange utterance; sad prophecy. He did go over the river, that river that separated the present from the eternal and before the sun had gone down his lifeless body was carried back to Claysville."

"Mr. Steele had no doubt heard of the purpose to take possession of the place and had prepared for the struggle. In a smoke house room behind the dwelling he had placed two or three double barrel guns well loaded and in it was his brother Graves Steele."

"When the company from Claysville and of course an attendant crowd arrived at the gate, a conference was proposed to see if the thief could not be arranged without a fight and some two or three on each side went off to one side of the yard to talk the matter over."

"They could not agree. Col. Steele went to the lumber room and most of the others to the house. In the meanwhile, the crowd had nearly filled the passage anxious to see what was done."

"Just then Col Steele came out of the lumber room and commenced firing on the crowd. James McFarlane was almost instantly killed. Eli R. Feemster was mortally wounded and died about five days later. Several others were wounded, George Allen very severely, others slightly. The fight ended."