At a very early day in Perry County horse thieves were the plague of the settlement. There was an organized band in the vicinity of Rome, which was connected with others elsewhere, and all formed a system that was difficult either to discover or break. Finally a squad of incensed settlers visited a man living three or four miles above Rome, called him to the door and shot him dead, having become satisfied that he was prominently connected with the thieves. This act, together with threats to continue such course, broke up the gang in this vicinity. 
Wild animals became scarce soon near Rome, though by going north into the hills all the varieties could be found, including bears. Samuel Connor in releasing his dog from a bear's embrace received a severe wound from the animal on the knee. Several of the early settlers killed bears, and nearly or quite all killed deer. It is said that Dale Connor killed the last bear about 1844. He was out hunting squirrels and saw its track and followed it until dark, continuing the chase early the next morning with dogs. He finally came up with the animal, his dogs treed it, and he shot it. The Connors were prominent people. Terrence Connor, Sr., had served in the Revolution. His sons were Dade, Terrence, Jr., John, Samuel and William. Samuel was captain in the war of 1812, and operated an early corn-cracker and distillery near Rome.
About four miles west of Branchville, James Lawrence located in 1818. At the time of first settlement bears, panthers, wolves, Veer, wild turkeys, catamounts, etc., were very numerous ; bears were getting scarce, but were occasionally found. Ebenezer Richardson, while hunting stock one day, heard his hogs squealing in the woods, and hurrying there found that they had been attacked by two bears. He instantly shot one of them, and after following the other a short distance, also shot it. This was in the month of June, and the weather was very warm, and the bears were very fat. The bears were hauled to the house with horses, and yielded ten gallons of oil. James Falkenborough, an early settler of this part of the county, was an experienced and skilful hunter. At a later date he was the leading deer hunter of this section. On one occasion he had a thrilling experience with wolves. While out in the woods, in the dead of winter, nine wolves began following him so closely as to threaten his safety, though they did not absolutely attack him. He shot several of them, one at a time, and as fast as they were killed they were devoured by the others. He thus held them in check until he reached home. He also killed several bears, though the details cannot be given. While hunting deer one day he saw a large panther in a big tree, whereupon he shot and killed the dangerous animal.
The Hortons were the famous hunters of Union Township. As late as 1835, they would kill forty or fifty deer during one winter.
In Clark Township occurred the famous killing of a bear by the Archibalds. At an early day John Archibald and wife treed a bear near their house, and the former proceeded to cut the tree down. This he did, and as it fell he became entangled in the branches, and was pinioned fast to the ground with a broken leg. The bear made off rapidly through the woods followed by Mrs. Archibald armed with a rifle, and by the dogs. The animal was soon treed again by the dogs, and was shot dead by Mrs. Archibald when she arrived panting on the scene. She then for the first time missed her husband, and hurried back to learn what had detained him. Upon arriving at the tree she learned what had befallen him, and with the ax and with hand spikes released him and helped him home, where the bone was set and wound dressed. She then had the dead bear brought to the house. Mr. Archibald never fully recovered the use of his leg. 
1826, John Cassidy was paid $8 for the scalps of eight young wolves.