USA > Kentucky > Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II > Part 112
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In 1820, Mr. Robertson initiated-instead of the old system of disposing of the public lands on a credit, at a minimum of two dollars per acre-the present systemu requiring payment without credit, and reducing the minimum price to one dollar and twenty-five cents per aere, and the quantity that might be purchased to eighty acres ; whereby any poor man who could com- mand one hundred dollars might obtain a home. He advocated its adoption, although in opposition to most of the Western members led by Mr. Clay ; the bill passed by a large majority. This measure has contributed more to the advancement and prosperity of the West than any ever adopted. Mr. Robert- son's speech advocating its passage is published in his "Scrap Book."
In 1816, George Madison was elected governor and Gabriel Slaughter lieutenant governor of Kentucky for four years. Gov. Madison died a few weeks after the election, and before he was inaugurated, and the lieutenant governor was inaugurated as governor. At the next session of the legisla- ture, Dec., 1816, a resolution passed the house of representatives for a new election of governor. This led to a popular excitement which, for more than a year, agitated the state alnost to revolution. Mr. Robertson, in the summer of 1817, published, over the signature of " A Kentuckian," an argument against . the " new election," in pamphlet form, which exercised a powerful influence in allaying excitement and settling the question against the new election.
He took an active part in the celebrated " relief " and "anti-relief," " Old Court " and " New Court," controversy in Kentucky. He was elected to the legislature from Garrard county in 1822, and for several successive years, uutil that fearful contest was finally settied in 1826-7. Hle was elected speaker of the house in 1823, but at the session of 1824 was beaten for speaker by Robert J. Ward, of Scott county. It was at this session that the act was passed to repeal the act organizing the court of appeals and to re-organize a court of appeals; it was hence known as the "re-organizing act." It was unconstitutional and revolutionary. Alter its passage, the anti-relief party was near disbanding. Mr. Robertson wrote, and by adroit management had entered upon the journal of the house, the protest against that act-which had the effect of uniting the " anti-relief" into an " Old Court" party. It was circulated far and wide, electrified the people, and became the text of the party. Through the influence of the principles enunciated and arguments
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ROBERTSON COUNTY.
promulgated in that document, the Constitution was in the end triumphantly vindicated and maintained. Mr. Robertson was re-elected speaker in 1825, '26, and '27. He was the author of the "Manifesto" of the majority in 1826-27, and delivered many public addresses during that contest; his letters and writings were powerfully effective, but the letters over the signature of " Plebeian " and published in the "Spirit of'76," were peculiarly efficient, and may yet be read with pleasure and instruction as masterly specimens of political essays.
Previous to the nomination, in 1828, of Gen. Thomas Metcalfe for governor, the nomination was tendered to Mr. Robertson by a committee of the con- vention, but declined. Gov. Metcalfe appointed him secretary of state, the duties of which office he discharged for a short time. Judge Boyle having resigned his seat upon the appellate bench, and accepted the appointment of judge of the U. S. district court; Judges Owsley and Mills, after the termination of the contest in favor of the Old Court, resigned. George M. Bibb had been previously appointed chief justice. Judges Owsley and Mills were re-nominated by Gov. Metcalfe, but rejected by the senate. Mr. Robert- son was nominated, Dec. 24, 1828, and his nomination confirmed. He ac- cepted, with the understanding that he might resign at the end of the year ; at which time he was appointed chief justice. In 1843, he resigned this high trust, and returned to the bar and to a lucrative practice. In August, 1864, his name was placed upon the poll books as a candidate for judge of the appellate court of the 2d district. This was done only two or three days before the election, by friends who were alarmed at the open interference of the military, in threatening or ordering the arrest of candidates who were styled disloyal. In many parts of the district it was not known; yet he was elected by a large majority. An office tendered under such extraordinary circumstances could not be declined; and although then in his 75th year, he accepted it, discharging its onerous duties with diligence and ability until Feb. 2, 1871, when he was stricken down, while actually presiding as chief justice, with paralysis-the result of too continuously overtasking, through a life of great labor, his splendid constitution. Although disabled from active duty, the bar indulged the hope of his ultimate restoration, and was unwilling for him to resign, especially during the summer vacation. . But at the convening of the court in September, Judge Robertson, after, as chief justice of Kentucky, administering the oath of office to Governor Preston H. Leslie, immediately resigned-an act entirely voluntary on his part and then wholly unexpected. His short address at the time, caused many in the large assembly attending the inauguration to shed tears.
Judge Robertson is still living, at his home in Lexington, now (Aug., 1873), in his 84th year. Although prostrated by disease, and physically disabled, his mind is entirely unimpaired and his mental faculties wholly unobscured. He never sought office, but declined many that were tendered him. After his retirement from congress, Gen. Adair tendered him the offices, first of at- torney general of Kentucky, and then of judge of the Fayette circuit ; and as an inducement to his acceptance of the latter, the authorities tendered him a law professorship in Transylvania University. President Monroe offered him the appointment of governor of Arkansas territory. In July, 1824, Hon. Richard Clough Anderson, Jr., then minister to Bogota, having expressed a desire to return home if Mr. Robertson would take his place, the mission to Colombia was tendered him, but declined, and Mr. Anderson determined to remain. In 1828, President Adams tendered him the mission to Peru, which was also declined. He four times declined seats in the Federal cabinet, of different grades, and twice a seat on the bench of the U. S. supreme court.
In 1848, and again, 1851-53, he represented his adopted county, Fayette, in the lower branch of the Kentucky legislature.
In his long public life he was industrious, diligent, and constant, perform- ing as much labor as any man who ever heid office in the state. His law lectures and political essays, some of which have been published in his "Serap Book," Lexington, 1855, and his legal opinions as contained in the Kentucky Reports speak for themselves-evincing at once depth of thought, laborious research, accurate discrimination, and sound philosophy.
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690
ROCKCASTLE COUNTY.
ROCKCASTLE COUNTY
ROCKCASTLE county, the 52d established in the state, was formed in 1810, out of parts of Lincoln, Pulaski, Madison, and Knox counties, and named after Rockcastle river, which forms its s. E. border. It is situated in the s. E. middle section ; is bounded N. by Madison and Garrard counties, E. by Jackson, S. E. by Laurel, s. and s. w. by Pulaski, and w. by Lincoln. The N. E. and s. E. parts of the county are broken and hilly, but interspersed with numerous streams (Brush, Roundstone, Rentfro's, Skaggs', and Copper creeks, and Dick's and Rockcastle rivers), along which are some fine, rich bottom lands. In the w. part of the county, the surface is level or gently undulating, and the soil quite productive. The timber consists of white, chestnut, black and spotted oak, of hickory, poplar, lynn, walnut, dogwood, and sycamore; in some locations there are fine orchards of sugar trees-from which is made a large quantity of maple sugar. The staple products are corn, oats, hay, wheat, rye, and live stock. Since the opening of the railroad to Louisville, lumber and coal are shipped in large quantities.
Towns .- Mount Vernon, the county seat, situated on the state road from Crab Orchard to Cumberland Gap, is 13 miles from the former, 78 from the Gap, 293 from London, 27 from Somer- set, 40 from Danville, and 129 from Louisville by the Knoxville branch of the Louisville and Nashville railroad; it has a court house, clerks' offices, jail, 11 lawyers, 3 doctors, 1 church (Re- formed or Christian), 1 wool carding factory and grist mill, 1 tan- yard, 6 dry goods stores, 1 drug store, 2 hotels, and 6 mechanics' shops ; population in 1870, 252; incorporated Feb. 3, 1818. The other stations on the railroad are-Brodhead, 7 miles, and Mount Guthrie, 23 miles N. W. of Mt. Vernon, and Pleasant Valley, 2, Pine Hill, 53, and Livingston, 10} miles s. E. of it. At Pine Hill a thriving town of some 600 inhabitants has grown up since 1870 (now 1873), under the influence of 4 steam saw imills and 2 large coal mines. Livingston, on Rockcastle river, at the foot of Wild Cat mountain, 140 miles from Louisville, has been since 1870 the temporary terminus of the railroad, and is growing rapidly. Several coal mines are doing a fine business, in shipping coal of superior quality.
STATISTICS OF ROCKCASTLE COUNTY.
When formed. See page 26
Tobacco, corn, wheat, hay ... pages 266, 269
Population, from 1820 to 1870 .p. 258
-
Horses, mules, cattle, hogs. ... p. 268
whites and colored. .p. 260
Taxable property, 1846 and 1870 ... p. 270
towns .. p. 262 Land-No. of acres, and value ...... p. 270 Latitude and longitude. .. p. 257
children bet. 6 and 20. .. p. 266 - Distinguished citizens .. .see Index.
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE FROM ROCKCASTLE COUNTY.
Senate .- Wm. Smith, 1834-38 ; John A. Moore, 1841 ; Jas. S. Henderson, 1845, '48; Milton J. Cook, 1863-67. [See Knox, Laurel, and Lincoln counties.]
white males over 21 .. p. 266
House of Representatives .- Wm. Carson, 1816, '26 ; Wm. Smith, 1817, '18, '19, '20,
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ROCKCASTLE COUNTY.
'21, '22, '27, '28. '29 ; Uriah Gresham, 1824, '39 : John H. Slaughter, 1825; Chas. Collyer, 1830. '33, '40 : Elisha Smith, 1831, '32, '42, '43, '45: John A. Moore, 1834; Henry S. Langford, 1836. '37 : Wm. H. Kirtley, 1841 ; Wm. B. Moore, 1847 ; Jona- than S. Langford, 1849 ; Milton J. Cook, 1855-57, '59-61 : Jonathan Newcum, 1857-59 ; E. B. Batcheller, 1861-63 ; Wm. A. Brooks, 1863-65 : John K. MeClary, 1867-69; R. D. Cook, 1871-73. [See Laurel and Lincoln counties.] From Lincoln and Rockcastle counties-John Withers, 1812; Jas. Dysart, 1814. From Rockcastle, R. P. Gresham, 1873-5.
Rockcastle River .- " Nearly the whole of the base of the hills on Rockcastle river, in the vicinity of the 'Narrows' (near the mouth), is composed for up -. wards of 200 feet of soft shaly materials-on which reposes 150 feet of mass- ive sandstone and conglomerate, forming, opposite Dr. C. C. Graham's saw mill, the conspicuous escarpment known as the 'Bee Cliff,' whose summit is 355 feet above the river or about 1,100 feet above tide-water, without reckon- ing the slope above, which is 25 or 50 feet more. In consequence of the crumbling away of the shaly beds supporting this enormous weight of sand- stone and conglomerate, the cliff's are rapidly undermined-while immense masses become disjointed, and are precipitated down the abrupt slope into the bed of the river. The stream has thus become so blocked np with rocks- varying from a few tons to the size of a large house-that in many places even a canoe can not pass;" indeed, the obstruction is so perfect that the largest size fish from Cumberland river can not ascend the Rockcastle river. " This is the character of the latter stream for many miles, both above and below its Narrows, and imparts to the scenery the bold and romantic charac- ter for which it is celebrated. The wild and retired state of the country, together with the saline exudations and licks that appear at several localities, cause this country to be a great resort for every kind of game, and the river is full of excellent fish. Hence it is a favorite hunting and fishing ground, visited frequently by persons from a distance." Rockcastle river is about 75 miles long, and about 200 to 250 feet wide.
Saltpeter Caves .- Among the Rockcastle hills are numerous saltpeter caves, at which large quantities of saltpeter were manufactured during the war of 1812. One of these, called the " Big Cave " or the "Great Saltpeter Cave," 4 miles N. of Pine Hill station on the railroad, and 8 miles N. E. of Mount Vernon, extends entirely through a spur of the mountain or " Big Hill," over half a mile. It was discovered by John Baker, who, in company with his wife, commenced exploring it with a torchlight. At the distance of about 300 yards, their light went out, and they were forced to crawl about, in per- fect darkness, for 40 hours, before they found the place at which they entered. The arch is from 10 to 20 feet high. Large rooms branch off several hundred yards long, and the end of one has not been reached. Some of the rooms cover an area of several acres. The saltpeter manufactured here, before and during the war of 1812, gave employment to 60 or 70 laborers. There is a fine, bold running stream of water in the cave, and works were constructed inside, for the manufacture of saltpeter by torchlight. Carts and wagons passed through, from one side of the mountain to the other, without difficulty. The way is so level and straight, that oxen were soon taught to pass through in perfect darkness, without a driver. Visitors through it tind a succession of grand and startling views. Dr. Graham calls it a twin to the Mammoth Cave in Edmondson county, only less extensive. He writes to the author that in some of these caves he has traveled for three miles, without finding an end. The formations being limestone, there is but little crumbling or giving way.
One of the First Settlers was Stephen Langford at Mt. Vernon.
Millstones .- On Roundstone creek, 6 miles above its mouth, a quarry was formerly extensively worked for millstones.
The upper portion of the knobstone in this county is in thin olive-colored layers, of a fine compact grain, well suited for building stone.
Several excellent Chalybeate Springs occur on Rockcastle river.
Coal .- Several beds of coal, from 29 to 39 inches in thickness, were opened at different points before the completion of the railroad to Rockcastle river. But the opening of the latter is now rapidly developing a large trade in coal, which already looms up as the great interest of this region. The coal is un.
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ROWAN COUNTY.
usually free from sulphur, less than 1 per cent. In the month of June, 1873, a vein or bed of Block Coal-several hundred acres in extent, and in quality at least equal to the Briar Hill (Pa.) and Brazil (Indiana) block coal-was discovered near Pine Hill. It will doubtless give an additional impetus to the manufacture of iron in Kentucky.
Daniel Boone's old trace and Skaggs' trace-the former leading to Boones- borough on the north border of Madison county, and the latter to Crab Orchard in Lincoln connty-pass through Rockcastle county, and are still plainly visible in places. On the latter trace, two parties of early emigrants were defeated-McClure's family and company, near the head of the east fork of Skaggs' creek, and Capt. Baughman and company on Negro creek.
The Battle of Camp Wild Cat, or Rockcastle Hills, was fought not far from Livingston. (See brief description in Collins' Annals, vol. i, page 96.)
ROWAN COUNTY.
ROWAN county was established in 1856, out of parts of Flem- ing and Morgan, and named in honor of Judge John Rowan ; it was the 104th in order of formation. It is in the N. E. mountain portion of the state, and bounded N. by Lewis, E. by Carter and Elliott, s. by Morgan, and w. by Bath and Fleming counties. The Licking river forms most of its s. and s. w. boundary line, and Triplett creek, which runs almost centrally through the county, affords some fine locations for water power ; in time of high water, there is downward navigation in both streams. The surface is hilly, but with some beautiful valleys .; the soil mostly thin and rather clayey, well adapted to the grasses, and produc- ing fine oats and tolerable corn, wheat, and rye ; potatoes, sweet and Irish, grow to great perfection ; horses, mules, cattle, hogs, and sheep are reared for market. Fine timber abounds.
Towns .- Morehead, the county seat, so named in honor of Gov. James T. Morehead, is 20 miles from Owingsville, 25 from Flemingsburg, and 26 s. w. of Grayson ; it contains, besides the court house and public buildings, 5 lawyers, 1 doctor, 2 churches (Met' odist E. South and Reformed or Christian), 2 stores, 1 steam flouring and saw mill, 1 shingle machine, 1 cooper and 1 blacksmith shop; laid out in 1856, but not incorporated until Jan. 26, 1869 ; population about 200. Cross Roads, 8 miles from Morehead, has a saw mill, tavern, blacksmith shop, and 3 stores ; population about 300. Pine Springs, 9 miles N. E. of Morehead, on the East fork of Triplett, has 2 churches (Reformed or Chris- tian and Methodist E.), 1 doctor, a store, shingle machine, and blacksmith shop; population about 75. Gill's Mills are 7, and Cassidy's Mills 15 miles from Morehead.
STATISTICS OF ROWAN COUNTY.
When formed See page 26
Population, in 1860 and 1870. .p. 258
whites and colored. .p. 260
towns .p. 262
white males over 21. .. p. 266
children bet. 6 and 20 yrs. p. 266
Tobacco, hay, corn, wheat .pp. 266, 268
Horses, mules, cattle, hogs. .p. 268
Taxable property in 1870. p. 270
Land-No. of acres, and value of .... p. 270 Latitude and longitude. .p. 257
Distinguished citizens see Index.
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693
ROWAN COUNTY.
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE FROM ROWAN COUNTY.
Senate .- None resident.
House of Representatives .- Harrison G. Burns, 1859-61.
Coal .- The outerop of the coal field extends along the eastern edge and southern corner of Rowan county, covering only a very small portion of its surface. On Miner's fork coal has been mined 12 inches thick.
Nodular Iron Ore is found in the red clay above the limestone, on the head waters of Triplett; and in the s. E. corner of the county are two thin seams of iron ore and coal.
Judge JOHN ROWAN was an able jurist and statesman, and one of the most distinguished men in the western country. He was a native of Pennsylvania. His father, William Rowan, at the close of the Revolutionary War came to Kentucky, in the hope of repairing the ravages made in his private fortune. Kentucky was then a wilderness, the choice hunting ground of many hostile tribes of savages-the field of hazardous adventure, the scene of savage out- rage, the theatre of ceaseless war, an arena drenched in blood and reeking with slaughter. In March, 1783, the father of John Rowan settled in Louis- ville, then an insignificant village. In the spring of 1784, when John was 11 years old, his father, with five other families, made a settlement at the Long Falls of Green river, then about one hundred miles from any white settlement. This region was resorted to by a band of the Shawnee tribe of Indians, as a hunting ground, and Mr. Rowan and his neighbors had many encounters with their savage foes. Young Rowan was soon distinguished for his bravery and for his remarkable energy and sprightliness.
At the age of seventeen, he entered a classical school kept at Bardstown, by a Dr. Priestly. In this school were educated many of those men who have since figured conspicuously in the history of Kentucky, and on the broader theatre of national politics. Here John Rowan was remarkable among his fellows for the facility with which he mastered the most difficult branches. He obtained an ac- curate and critical knowledge of the classical tongues.
Guided by the advice of his friends he went, upon leaving this school, tu Lex- ington, and commenced the study of the law. In 1795, he was admitted to the bar, and soon attained a high rank in his profession. Kentucky, even at that day, held many men eminent for talent, learning and eloquence ; yet he was con- sidered among the foremost. As an advocate, in criminal cases, he had few equals in the state.
'The Virginia act of 1779, constituting the basis of the celebrated land laws of Kentucky, though originally drawn and reported to the legislature by George Mason, one of Virginia's most able statesmen, was so amended before its passage. as to destroy all system in the procuring of patents, and the consequence was much litigation in Kentucky, arising out of conflicting land claims. Many of our most eminent lawyers acquired great wealth by buying up contested claims, and from ontingent fees. In these things, Mr. Rowan never indulged, conceiving . them to be inimical to the high moral tone which should be preserved by the pro- fession, and tempting to oppression of the occupants of lands.
At an early age, he was called into public life, and was a member of the con- vention that formed the present constitution of Kentucky, in 1799. He was ap- pointed secretary of state in 1804, and in 1806 was elected to Congress from a district in which he did not reside. He took his seat in 1807, and served dur- ing the 11th Congress.
He was frequently a member of the State legislature, and in 1819, was ap- pointed a judge of the court of appeals. While on the bench, he delivered a learned and forcible opinion on the power of Congress to charter the bank of the United States in 1816. Not relishing the close confinement of the bench, in 1821 he resigned his seat. In 1823, he was appointed by the legislature, in con- junction with Henry Clay, a commissioner to defend what were called the occu- pying claimant laws of the State, before the supreme court of the United States. The uncertainty of land titles under the Virginia laws before alluded to, had led to the enactment of laws by the Kentucky legislature, more favorable to the oc cupant than the common law of England. These statutes were attacked before
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RUSSELL COUNTY
the supreme court, upon the ground that they violated the compact between Vir- ginia and Kentucky. The petition of the commissioners was drawn by Judge Rowan, and is deemed the ablest vindication of those laws ever published.
In 1824, he was elected to the senate of the United States, in which body he served for six years. On the 10th of April. 1826, he delivered a speech of great ability, on a bill further to amend the judiciary system of the United States. In 1828, he made a learned and powerful speech on the subject of imprisonment for debt, under process issued from the courts of the United States. It had been abolished in Kentucky in 1821, and yet he had seen it practiced by process from the federa' courts in this State, in defiance of public sentiment. 1
The last public office Mr. Rowan filled was that of commissioner to adjust the claims of citizens of the United States against Mexico, under the convention of Washington of the 11th of April, 1839. In this office he labored with great as- siduity ; and when, upon an adjournment of the commission, he made a visit to his family in Kentucky, and from a temporary indisposition, was unable to return to Washington at the time appointed for the reassembling of the commissioners, he resigned his appointment. Upon the organization of the Kentucky Historical Society in 1838, he was elected president of that institution, and held the office until the period of his death. He died, after a short illness, at his residence in Louisville, on the 13th of July, 1843, in the seventieth year of his age.
RUSSELL COUNTY.
RUSSELL county, the 81st formed in Kentucky, was established in 1825, out of parts of Adair, Wayne, and Cumberland, and named after Col. Wm. Russell. It is a small county, situated in the south middle section of the state, and lies on both sides of Cumberland river ; is bounded N. and N. E. by Casey, E. by Pulaski, s. E. by Wayne, s. by Clinton, and w. and N. w. by Cumberland and Adair counties. The beautiful level bottom lands on the Cumberland are very fertile ; but the surface of the county generally is hilly and broken, and the soil not well adapted for profitable agriculture. Good streams of water abound, and the water power of the county is remarkably fine ; one cotton and two woollen factories were established before 1847, and many other factories might be advantageously established.
The Towns are all small .- Jamestown, the county seat, is 23 miles s. E. of Columbia, 18 N. w. of Monticello, 43 s. E. of Leb- anon, and about 96 s. of Frankfort ; population in 1870, 138; incorporated Dec. 23, 1827. Creelsboro, on the Cumberland river, 10 miles from Jamestown, was incorporated Jan. 29, 1836. Lairsville and Rowena, incorporated March 1, 1847, and Feb. 10, 1845, are on opposite banks of the Cumberland river. Millers- ville, 8 miles from Jamestown, was incorporated Feb. 19, 1840. Montpelier is in the N. w. part. Buena Vista was incorporated . Feb. 28, 1848.
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