Lewis Wetzel (February 24, 1752 -1808) was a frontiersman and
Indian fighter who roamed the hills of western
Virginia and
Ohio.
Wetzel County, West Virginia, is named for him.
Zane Grey, the great Western novelist, wrote about Wetzel in his books
Spirit of the Border,
Betty Zane, and
The Last Trail. Wetzel is regarded as a hero by many Americans, a lesser-known version of
Daniel Boone. He was accused in 1788 of the murder of peaceful Indians, but he escaped and there was no trial.