Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 104

Author: Collins, Lewis, 1797-1870. cn; Collins, Richard H., 1824-1889. cn
Publication date: 1874
Publisher: Covington, Ky., Collins & Co.
Number of Pages: 1654

USA > Kentucky > Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II > Part 104

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

the bones of some of the dead, and the scars made on the trees by the bul- lets, and other vestiges, remained visible for several years, to identify and define the theater of this memorable battle. A circle with a diameter of 200 yards would have enclosed it; the two branches of the creek are not more than 200 yards apart."

' But as if this were not enough, much of the next three days' history in detail is preserved in the depositions. From the neighboring stations 57 men (many of whose names are known) were gathered, who, " piloted " by John Harper, came, on the third day after, and found " seven dead on the battle ground," " on the very spot where each was killed," and " buried them by covering them with logs and chunks." In 1803, nearly 21 years after the battle, several pointed out where Estill was found dead, and the county sur- veyor measured it-" S. 71º W., 29 poles, to the mouth of the branch."

Be it remembered to the honor of the Wyandottes, that they did not muti- late, not even so far as scalp, the dead whites. They carefully removed all their own dead and wounded-whither, was never known. Their numbers were too few even if the spirit of vengeance were not already satiated-to venture back to a spot that the whites would surely revisit to bury their dead. It was a present scene of blood and death to them, and of terror and consternation in the future, which all the memory of " Estill's defeat"- and of their bloodier victory at the Blue Licks, five months later-could not wipe out, or check, or atone for. It filled them with fearful forebod- ings that their favorite hunting grounds-dearer to them than the graves of their fathers-and, to not a few, dearer than life itself-were fast pass- ing away from them forever. True !- to them, alas, too true !

The last incursion by the Indians to the interior of the State, was made on Easter Monday, being the 1st day of. April, 1793, on which occasion they took Morgan's station, on Slate creek, about seven miles east of Mount-Sterling, and carried away nineteen prisoners, all of whom were women and children. The men, not anticipating danger, were engaged in the neighborhood preparing to raise their crops. One old man and one woman were killed near the station, and pursuit having been made by the whites, the savages killed several of the prison- ers, and the remainder were taken to the north-west and sold. After the treaty of Greenville, in 1795, they were all restored to their families and friends.

General RICHARD MONTGOMERY, in memory of whom this county received its name, was a major general in the American revolutionary army, and a native of Ireland-born in 1737. He embraced the profession of arms at an early period, and was with Wolfe at the capture of Quebec, in 1759. On his return to England, he resigned his commission and removed to America, purchased an estate in New York, and married a daughter of Judge Livingston. On the commencement of the revolutionary struggle, his feelings in favor of the colonies being well known, he was entrusted with the command of the continental forces in the northern de- partment, in conjunction with General Schuyler. The indisposition of the latter devolved the chief command upon Montgomery, who, after various successes, (the reduction of fort Chamblee, the capture of St. John's, and of Montreal), proceeded to the siege of Quebec. Having formed a junction with Colonel Ar- nold, a combined attack was made on the place on the 1st of December, 1775; but for the want of artillery of sufficient calibre, although the attack was well planned, the assailants were defeated. General Montgomery and his two aids were killed by the only gun fired from the battery of the enemy. He was buried in Quebec, without the honors due his rank, but his remains, by order of Con- gress, were removed to New York in 1816, and placed in front of St. Paul's church, where a monument was erected to his memory. He had received an ex- cellent education, and was gifted with fine abilities. His military talents espe- cially were of a high order, and the sorrow for his loss was heightened by the esteem which his amiable character had gained him. At the period of his death he was only thirty-eight years of age.

638

MORGAN COUNTY.

MORGAN county was formed in 1822-the 73d in order of formation-out of the counties of Floyd and Bath, and named in honor of Gen. Daniel Morgan. In 1846 its territory, although part of Johnson county was taken from it in 1843, was fully six times as large as that of some other counties in the state; but parts of each of five counties have since been taken from it- Rowan in 1856, Magoffin and Wolfe in 1860, and Menifee and Elliott in 1869. In 1871, fifteen counties were assessed upon more acres of land ; but it is probable that an actual survey would show Morgan, in number of square miles, the seventh largest county in the state. It is in the central eastern portion of the state, and bounded N. by Rowan and Elliott counties, E. by El- liott, Lawrence, and Magoffin, s. by Magoffin, Breathitt, and Wolfe, and w. by Wolfe and Menifee. Licking river runs en- tirely through it, almost in a s. E. and N. w. direction ; its lead- ing creeks are Caney, White Oak, Elk fork, Grassy, Black Water, and Rockhouse. The face of the country is hilly, interspersed with fertile valleys. The soil is based on freestone, with red clay foundation. Iron ore, the finest of cannel coal, other bitu- minous coal, alum, and copperas, with mineral and oil springs, abound. Corn, cattle, and hogs are the leading productions.

Towns .- West Liberty, the county seat, is on the Licking river, 107 miles from Frankfort, 51 from Mountsterling, about 60 s. E. of Maysville, 32 s. w. of Grayson, and 38} s. of w. of Louisa; population in 1870, 142; established in 1825, incorporated Jan. 29, 1836. Bangor, 10 miles, and Black Water, 14 miles, from West Liberty. Knowlesburg was incorporated March, 1871.

STATISTICS OF MORGAN COUNTY.

When formed .See page 26 | Corn, wheat, hay, tobacco .. pages 266, 268 Horses, mules, cattle, hogs .p. 268

Population, from 1830 to 1870 ... p. 258

whites and colored. ... p. 260 Taxable property, 1846 and 1870 .... p. 270

towns .p. 262 Land-No. of acres, and value ....... p. 270

white males over 21 ... ... p. 266 Latitude and longitude ... .. p. 257

children bet. 6 and 20 ..... p. 266 - Distinguished citizens .. .see Index.

MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE FROM MORGAN COUNTY.

Senate .- Mason Williams, 1839-43 ; Wm. Wallace Brown, 1851-55 ; Alex. L. David- son, 1859-63; John E. Cooper, 1871-75.

House of Representatives .- Thos. F. Hazlerigg, 1827; John S. Oakley, 1831 ; Jas. P. Kendall, 1834; . Wm. Henry, 1839; Eli Lykins, 1841, '42; Jos. Carter, 1844 ; Mason Williams, 1847 ;' David N. Cottle, 1848; Caleb Cash, 1849; Stephen 'M. Farrish, 1853-55; Newton P. Reid, 1857-59 ; George M. Hampton, 1861-63 ; John W. Ken- dall, 1867-71 ; Wm. Mynhier, 1871-73. From Morgan and Breathitt counties-Thos. J. Frazier, 1843; Jas. Elliott, 1846. [See Lawrence co.]

Of Cannel Coal, Morgan county embraces probably the largest bodies in Kentucky ; much of it very readily mined, but all inaccessible to market. There appear to be two horizons of cannel coal in the county, varying from 200 to 300 feet apart. The lower bed, in one of the most remarkable deposits in the world, is well exposed on the waters of Caney creek, especially on the Stone Coal fork of Caney. It is of a fine cuboidal fracture, generally from 32 to 36 inches thick. The upper cannel vein, where observed, is 14 inches thick, underlaid by 8 to 10 inches of clay and shale parting, and 15 to IS

------

639

MUHLENBURG COUNTY

inches of bituminous and shop coal at bottom-in all, 39 to 40 inches. The minute chemical analyses, by Prof. Peter, of cannel coal from 10 different beds in this county, showed the average percentage of sulphur only 0.88.

" The main cannel coal of Caney and Elk fork is full of remains of Stigmaria, impressed completely in the substance of the coal itself, in an excellent state of preservation-another evidence that this kind of vegetation contributed largely to the formation of cannel coal. . . . . Above the forks of the Stone Coal branch of main Caney, the stream runs for a long distance over bare ledges of cannel coal, which measure there from 30 to 36 inchies." The original undergrowth on this creek was cane, hence the name of the creek.

The state geological survey developed satisfactory indications that Salt- Water might be obtained by boring in the vicinity of West Liberty, in the valley of the Licking.

The Iron ore (limonite) from Morgan county, subjected to analysis, devel- oped only 22.10 per cent. of iron ; " too poor to be profitably smelted of itself, but might pay to mix with richer ores to furnish silicious material for the flux, and the formation of cinder, in the high furnace."

General DANIEL MORGAN, from whom this county received its name, was a distinguished officer of the war of the Revolution; born in New Jersey in 1736. His first employment was that of a wagoner. In this capacity he was with the army at Braddock's defeat. On the return of the army he received a commission as ensign in the English service. From this until 1774 noth- ing distinct is known of General Morgan. In this year he commanded a company in Dunmore's expedition against the Indians. He commanded a detachment consisting of three rifle companies under Arnold at Quebec, and led the forlorn hope in the assault. Here he was taken prisoner. On his exchange he received the appointment of colonel in the continental army. He was at the head of his riflemen in the victorious battle of Saratoga. For his gallantry in this action, the legislature of Virginia passed a resolution presenting him with a horse, pistols, and a sword.

MUHLENBURG COUNTY.

MUHLENBURG county-the 34th in order of formation-was established in 1798, out of parts of Logan and Christian, and named in honor of General Peter Muhlenberg. Its original ter- ritory is still intact, except the small northern portion taken in 1854 to help form McLean county. It is situated in the south- western middle portion of the state, and is bounded N. and N. E. by McLean and Ohio counties, from which it is separated by Green river ; E. by Butler county, Big Muddy river being the dividing line ; s. E. by Logan; s. by Todd and Christian ; and w. by Hopkins county, the dividing line being Pond river. The surface of the county is generally rolling, part of it broken ; the northern portion is good farming land, and all the county is fine grass land, and well timbered. The principal products are to- bacco, corn, hay, and wool. Cattle and hogs are sold in large numbers to drovers. But the great wealth of the county is coal and iron.

Towns .- Greenville, the county seat, on the Elizabethtown and Paducah railroad, 135 miles from Louisville, 120 from Frankfort, and 35 from Hopkinsville, contains, besides the usual public buildings, 5 churches (Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian (Southern),

640

MUHLENBURG COUNTY.

Cumberland Presbyterian, and African), and 6 ministers, 12 lawyers, 4 physicians, 3 academies, 13 stores, 13 mechanics' shops, 3 hotels, 1 mill, 4 tobacco factories, 1 tannery ; population in 1870, 557, and in 1873 estimated at 1,000; established in 1812, and named after Gen. Nathanael Greene (see sketch of him under Green co.) South Carrollton, on w. bank of Green river, and on the Owensboro and Russellville railroad, 10 miles from Green- ville; has 8 stores, 3 churches, 4 physicians, 2 mills, 3 tobacco factories, 3 taverns, 7 mechanics' shops ; population in 1870, 240, and increasing steadily ; incorporated in 1846. Skilesville, on s. bank of Green river, at lock and dam No. 3, 16 miles E. of Greenville, has 2 stores and a mill ; population about 100 ; named after Jas. R. Skiles, who introduced the first steamboat upon Green river, and spent a fortune in promoting the navigation of the river. Stroud City, at the crossing of the O. & R. and E. & P. railroads, 35 miles from Owensboro, is growing fast. Bremen, 14 miles from Greenville, has 2 stores and 2 tobacco factories ; popu- lation about 75 ; incorporated in 1869. Paradise, on Green river, 10 miles above (s. E. of) South Carrollton, in N. E. part of county ; population about 300 ; has 4 stores and 2 tobacco factories ; in- corporated in 1856. Airdrie, on Green river, 17 miles from Greenville ; population about 200, largely engaged in mining coal; incorporated in 1858.

STATISTICS OF MUHLENBURG COUNTY.

When formed. See page 26 | Hay, corn, wheat, tobacco ... pages 266, 268 Population, from 1800 to 1870 ... p. 258 Horses, mules, cattle, and hogs ...... p. 268

whites and colored .. .p. 260 Taxable property, in 1846 and 1870.p. 270

towns ..: .P. 262 Land-No. of acres, and value ....... p. 270

white males over 21. .. p. 266 Latitude and longitude .. .p. 257

children bet. 6 and 20. ... p. 266 Distinguished citizens .. see Index.

MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE FROM MUHLENBURG COUNTY.

Senate .- Wm, Worthington, 1814-26; Wm. C. McNary, 1846-50 ; Wiley S. Hay, 1853-57 ; Finis M. Allison, 1867-71. From Muhlenburg, Butler, and Ohio counties- Robert S. Russell, 1850.

House of Representatives .- Henry Rodes, 1800 ; W'm. Bradford, 1801, '03, '10, '11 ; Christopher Tompkins, 1805; John Morgan, 1806; John C. Russell, 1809 ; Alney McLean, 1812, '13; Win. Bell, 1814, '15; Moses Wickliffe, 1816, '17, '18, '19; Edmund Watkins, 1820, '24, '25; Edward Rumsey, 1822; Micajah Wells, 1826 ; John F. Coff- man, 1827, '33; David Short, 1828, '29, '32; Wm. C. MeNary, 1830, '31, '35, '36, '51-53; John S. Eaves, 1834 ; John M. Johnson. 1837; Jas. Taggart, 1838, '39 ; B. E. Pittman, 1840 ; Edward R. Weir, 1841, '42, '63-65 ; Russell McCreery, 1843, '44 ; Wiley S. Hay, 1845, 46 ; Wm. T. Short, 1847 ; John Vickers, 1848 ; George W. Short, 1849; John G. Gooch, 1850 ; David Dillman, 1853-55; Jos. Ricketts, 1855-57, '61-63 ; Chas. Eaves, 1857-59; Benj. J. Shaver, 1859-61 ; M. Jeff. Roark, 1865-67; Mortimer D. Hay, 1867-69; Dr. John B. Hays, 1869-71 ; Jas. C. Moorman, 1871-73; D. H. Ba- ker, 1873-75.

Coal .- At MeNary's coal bank, on the E. side of Pond river, in the w. line of Muhlenburg county, is the singular phenomenon of two thick beds or veing of coal within 3} feet of each other-the upper of 4} and the lower of 63 feet. The latter has a thin clay parting about the middle. They crop out at an elevation of 70 feet above high water in the river. Three miles s. E. of this, the Marcus coal occurs, 6 or 7 feet thick, a few feet above the bed of a branch. Three miles N. w. of Greenville, three beds of coal, 8 feet in all, ocenr in 110 feet of a section. A " general section " of Muhlenburg county (Ky. Geol. Survey, iv, 399) shows some 26 feet of coal, in 9 different seams, within 440 feet-the seams varying from 10 inches to 52 feet in thickness, except one thin seam ; of these 5 seams are of workable thickness, 3 feet or over.

641

MUHLENBURG COUNTY.

The completion of the railroads through this county is fast opening the way for large exports'of coal to the Ohio river, Owensboro and Louisville. At Stroud City, the first bed of coal, 53 feet thick, is reached at 14 feet from the surface, and the second bed, of superior quality, at only 20 feet. Many thou- sands of millions of bushels of coal can be taken from beneath the surface in Muhlenburg county, without injuring the surface in its farming value.

Black Band Iron Ore, a stratum 10 inches thick, ferruginous chocolate- colored, peculiar in its nature, color, composition, and paleontology, is found at Airdrie and elsewhere. It has been discovered, in one place at a depth of 25 feet, as thick as 19 inches, and yielding 36.8 per cent. of metallic iron.

Iron ore from the Jenkins ore bank, 23 to 3 feet in thickness, yielded 43.56 per cent. of metallic iron; and that from the Hoskins ore bank, on. Muddy river, 47.159 per cent. of iron.

Antiquities .- On a rock bank of Pond creek, four miles from Greenville, tracks of mules and horses are plainly to be seen in the solid sandstone. Some have been removed, and taken, it is said, to the St. Louis museum. On Muddy river is a sandstone rock with flat surface, 30 or 40 feet square, on which are carved hieroglyphics as yet undeciphered ; the full form of an Indian, surrounded by different animals; the sun, moon, stars, and other symbolic signs.

Mounds .- One mile N. of Greenville, near the old Caney station-which was the first settlement in the county-are several mounds. From the largest, about 75 feet in diameter, have been dug portions of human skeletons. Trces of considerable size are now growing on the mounds.

. A Sink, of the general appearance of similar sinks elsewhere in Kentucky, but comparatively bottomless, is in the barrens 6 miles E. of Munfordsville. It is funnel-shaped, tapering from about 70 feet diameter at top, to 10 feet, at the depth of 30 feet. Its depth has not been explored, but stones cast into it are not heard to strike bottom.

A Cave in the s. part of the county, 10 miles from Greenville, is worth at- tention. In Oct., 1872, an exploration for half a mile " reported " the dis- covery of two petrified figures, man and woman, dressed in the old Roman costume, and each holding in the arms a child-the man one of 10 years, and the woman a babe of 1 to 2 years. It was first discovered in the winter of 1852-3, by a person who tracked raccoons into it. In Aug., 1853, G. P. McLean, of Mississippi, and others explored it for about 2 miles-to a pit beyond which they could not pass over for want of a ladder. Eight or ten branches led off in different directions, some of them apparently larger than - the direct avenue. A petrified monkey, as perfect in shape as if alive, was found in the cave, a few weeks previous.

Gen. Baron Steuben, the distinguished Prussian general of our Revolutionary war, located his Virginia military warrants, granted him for services in the war, in what is now Muhlenburg county. It was all lost (some 4,000 or more acres) to his estate, under the occupying claimant limitation law.

In the War of 1812, the late Judge Alney McLean (see sketch under Me- Lean county) commanded a company at the battle of New Orleans, Jan. 8, 1815. His lieutenant, E. M. Brank (still living, 1871), while the battle was raging hottest, mounted the breastworks to repel the British. The late L. N. Akers was taken prisoner at the battle of the River Raisin, and compelled to run the gauntlet; he drew a pension on account of wounds received.

During the War of the Rebellion, Greenville was for some time an outpost of both armies, or rather neutral ground between them. It was taken by Gen. Buckner in Feb., 1862, and some time after by John Morgan, and was once or twice partially sacked by guerrillas. Muhlenburg county sent 836 men to the Federal army.

EDWARD RUMSEY was a prominent man of Muhlenburg county and of s. w. Kentucky, for more than forty-five years; represented the county in the state legislature, in 1822, and the district in congress, 1837-39; was an eloquent speaker, and a man of decided ability. Only his remarkable modesty and timidity prevented his taking a more leading part in the politics of the state and nation.

II ... 41

642

MUHLENBURG COUNTY.

CHARLES F. WING was a captain at the battle of the Thames, and saw Te- cumseh after he was slain. He was clerk of the Muhlenburg courts from the organization of the county in 1798 to 1856-58 years ; a longer period than any other man ever held a clerkship in Kentucky.

DON CARLOS BUELL, major general of volunteers, U. S. army, was born in Ohio, 1818; graduated at West Point academy, 1841; was appointed 2d lieu- tenant in 3d infantry, regular service ; promoted 1st lieutenant, June, 1846; brevetted captain for gallantry at the battle of Monterey, Sept. 23, 1846. His regiment subsequently served under Gen. Scott on the southern line of operations in Mexico, where Buell distinguished himself at Churubusco and Contreras, and was brevetted major ; in the latter battle he was severely wounded. He became assistant adjutant general with the rank of captain, Jan., 1848; relinquished his rank in the line, March, 1851, and was employed in the duties of his office until 1861, when he assisted in organizing the army at Washington. He was appointed brigadier general, and assigned to a di- vision in the army of the Potomac, which soon became noted for its thorough discipline. In Nov., 1861, he superseded Gen. Sherman, then in command of the army of the Cumberland-which he reorganized as that of the Ohio, with head-quarters at Louisville, Ky.

Gen. Buell assumed the command of this army (if army it could be called) at a critical period in Kentucky. Sherman had notified the government at Washington that 200,000 men were necessary for the campaign in the south- west. His opinion was hooted at; he was considered a mad man, and this was the direct cause of his removal. Subsequent events justified his opinion and confirmed his sagacity. The people of Kentucky were divided, but at that period the sentiment for the South was intense and the preponderance was against the North. The army had to be organized. There were few re- liable troops, most of the regiments were new, and many of them incomplete. Above all this, it was the policy of the Federal government, then, to conciliate the people of Kentucky-not alone to prevent an outbreak, but to win them to the Union cause. This seemed at least to be the object of Mr. Lincoln's administration. Its bad faith became apparent afterwards. Gen. Buell was, therefore, expected to enact the part of the soldier and the statesman. He did both well. His moderate course, his kindness and courtesy towards the non-combatants who were necessarily sufferers by the armed occupation of the state, won the respect of the Southern sympathizers and commanded the admiration of the best friends of the Union cause. During the winter of 1861-2, he organized his troops for the advance movement, which was to drive the Confederates from the state. He submitted his plan for this pur- pose to Gen. McClellan, then at the head of the army. It secured his ap- proval ; and the result was the fall of Forts Henry and Donelson, the retreat of the Confederates from Bowling Green, and their subsequent evacuation of Nashville and ultimate withdrawal south of Tennessee river.

The limits of this sketch will not admit a detailed account of the operations of Gen. Buell's army. But it is a part of the history of the war, that when Grant was utterly beaten at Shiloh by Albert Sidney Johnston, and thousands of his troops cowered under the bank of the Tennessee river, and the capture of the whole army was imminent, Buell saved it-by a rapid march and checking the victorious Confederates with Nelson's division. Directing the operations the following day, he forced the Confederates to retreat. Not even Dessaix's exploit at Marengo-which turned defeat into vietory, and made Napoleon the arbiter of Europe-was more brilliant than that of Buell, whose decisive action and soldierly qualities achieved a triumph which but for him had been a terrible disaster. His parallel march with Bragg into Kentucky, the defeat and ignoble flight of that general from the state, are too well remembered by all. But during this entire period of time the polit- ical enemies of Buell were at work. He conducted the war for the purpose of restoring the Union. . They repudiated that policy, and demanded generals who would be the supple instruments of their will. Their machinations at Washington finally resulted in the displacement of Gen. Buell from the command, which already twice before he had asked to be relieved of.

---

643

NELSON COUNTY.

They next instituted a court of inquiry into his military operations; and after six months' trial of a court which was hostile to him, the proceed- ings were sent to the president. Over nine years have gone by, and they have never yet been promulgated. The reason is well understood-the findings of the court were complimentary and not prejudicial to Gen. Buell. Before 1866, Gen. Buell resigned his commission in the army; and not long after became a citizen of Kentucky, and engaged extensively in the iron business in Muhlenburg county.

In 1862, when the late Walter G. Overton (who died at Louisville, July 9, 1872) emerged from prison, after months of confinement, he applied to Gen. Buell to revoke the order, issued from Washington city, Sept., 1861, for the suppression of the Louisville Daily Courier (of which Mr. O. had been one of the editors and also interested in the proprietorship). "Sir," said Gen. Buell, " it is not my purpose, nor is it my right, to interfere with the freedom of the press. You can print your paper." This sentiment was alike honorable to and characteristic of the soldier and the man.

Gen. PETER MUHLENBERG was a native of Pennsyl ania. At the breaking out of the Revolution, he was a young man, and pastor of a Lutheran church at Woodstock. In 1776, he received the commission of colonel, and was re- quested to raise his regiment among the Germans of the valley. Having in his pulpit inculcated the principles of liberty, he found no difficulty in en- listing a regiment. He entered the pulpit with his sword and cockade, preached his farewell sermon, and the next day marched at the head of his regiment to join the army. His regiment was the 8th Virginia, or, as it was commonly called, the German regiment. This corps behaved with honor throughout the war; was at Brandywine, Monmouth, and Germantown, and in the southern campaigns. In 1777, Mr. Muhlenberg was promoted to the rank of brigadier general. After the war, he returned to Pennsylvania-was for many years treasurer of that state, and served three terms in congress. In person, he was tall and well-proportioned, and, in his address, remarkably courteous. He was a fine disciplinarian, an excellent officer, and esteemed and beloved by both officers and soldiers.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 104

Author: Collins, Lewis, 1797-1870. cn; Collins, Richard H., 1824-1889. cn Publication date: 1874 Publisher: Covington, Ky., Collins & Co. Number of Pages: 1654

Author: Collins, Lewis, 1797-1870. cn; Collins, Richard H., 1824-1889. cn
Publication date: 1874
Publisher: Covington, Ky., Collins & Co.
Number of Pages: 1654