USA > Kentucky > Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II > Part 115
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131
General Scott was a man of strong natural powers, but somewhat illiterate, and rough in his manners. He was very eccentric, and many amusing anecdotes are related of him. The following anecdote we believe is literally authentic :
While Scott, as governor of Kentucky, was reposing on his military renown, a puny fellow took it into his head to distinguish his own prowess, and as a mark for its exhibition, pretending some offense, singled out General Scott, to whom he sent a challenge to a duel. The old veteran very properly returned no answer to the summons. Meantime the braggart had been ostentatiously speculating on the occurrence in advance, not anticipating the turn it took. Being committed by the knowledge of the public, he was in a desperate predicament. After wait- ing in vain for an acceptance, and not even receiving an answer, he went person. ally to demand an explanation.
" General Scott, you received a challenge from me ?" "
" Your challenge was delivered, sir."
" But I have received neither an acknowledgment nor an acceptance of it."
" I presume not sir, as I have sent neither."
" But of course you intend to accept ?"
" Of course I do not."
" What! Not accept my challenge ? Is it possible that you, General Scott, brought up in the army, decline a combat ?"
"I do with you, sir," coolly answered the hero.
"Then I have no means of satisfaction left, but to post you a coward."
" Post me a coward ? Ha, ha, ha ! Post and be - --; but if you do, you
will only post yourself a -
liar, and every body else will say so."
And that was the end of it.
General Scott was a faithful and constant friend, but a bitter and implacable enemy. He died about the year 1820, at a very advanced age.
707
SHELBY COUNTY.
Capt. DANIEL GANO, second son of Rev. John Gano, a Baptist preacher of considerable celebrity in New York city at the commencement of the Revo- lution, was born in North Carolina in 1758, and died at his residence in Scott county, April 18, 1849, aged 90; at 17, then in the senior year at Brown University, Rhode Island, he volunteered as ensign of artillery ; was in skir- mishes at New York and White Plains; a lieutenant in 1776, with Mont- gomery in the memorable winter march to Quebec, and was near him when he fell; as a captain of artillery, and on Gen. Clinton's staff, distinguished himself in a number of engagements during the Revolutionary war; came to Kentucky with Gen. James Wilkinson, as a captain in the regular army, and was among the first settlers of Frankfort-which city, in connection with Gen. Wilkinson, Daniel Weisiger, and others, he laid off in 1787; in 1809 removed to Scott county. He was of the order of Cincinnati, his diploma being signed by Gen. George Washington. Capt. Gano was the venerable head of a large family, and a remarkable man in his personal and mental vigor, of clear, strong, cultivated mind, a tried patriot, and an elegant Christian gentleman.
Gov. GEORGE W. JOHNSON-son of Wm. Johnson, and grandson of Col. Robert Johnson (one of the early settlers and defenders of Bryan's station, and the ancestor of a large and distinguished family in Kentucky and other states in the South and West)-was born near Georgetown, Ky., May 27, 1811, and died April 9, 1862, aged nearly 51 years. He was a graduate of 'Transylvania University ; studied law, and practiced at the Georgetown bar ; abandoned the law for agricultural pursuits-farming in Kentucky and cotton- planting in Arkansas ; represented Scott county in the Kentucky legislature for three years, 1838, '39, and '40; was twice a candidate on the Democratic ticket for presidential elector, but defeated. In 1861 he labored earnestly to place Kentucky by the side of the Southern states in the civil war ; and went, in September of that year, in company with Gen. John C. Breckinridge and others, to the South. He set on foot the organization of a provisional govern- ment for Kentucky, which was effected by the convention at Russellville, Logan county, Nov. 18-21, 1861. A constitution was adopted, Mr. Johnson elected provisional governor, and, Dec. 10th, Kentucky admitted as a member of the Confederacy. He was mortally wounded at the battle of Shiloh, April 7, 1862. (See pages 97, 98, 101, of Collins' Annals, vol i.)
For sketch of Col. RICHARD M. JOHNSON, see under Johnson county.
SHELBY COUNTY.
SHELBY county-the 12th in the state in order of formation, and the 3d after Kentucky was admitted into the Union-was formed in 1792, out of part of Jefferson county, and named in honor of the then governor, Isaac Shelby. From Shelby county were taken the whole of Henry county, in 1798, and portions of Franklin in 1794, Gallatin in 1798, Oldham in 1823, and Spencer in 1824. It is drained by the waters of Kentucky and Salt rivers ; and bounded N. by Oldham and Henry counties, E. by Franklin and Anderson, s. by Spencer, and w. by Jefferson ; its area is about 565 square miles. The streams of the county are- Clear, Beech, Brashear's, Bullskin, Fox run, Plum, Gist, Long run, and Floyd's Fork creeks, flowing into Salt river, and Benson and Six Mile creeks into Kentucky river. The general surface is gently undulating, and the lands finely timbered and in a high state of cultivation. The soil is based upon limestone, with red
708
SHELBY COUNTY.
clay foundation, and is black, friable, and remarkably fertile. The grasses succeed well ; hemp, corn, and wheat, form the staple products ; horses, mules, cattle, hogs, bagging and bale rope, the principal articles of export.
----------
Towns .- Shelbyville, the county seat, is on the waters of Clear creek, 30 miles from Louisville and 21 from Frankfort by turn- pike ; has a fine brick court house, 11 churches (2 Presbyterian, northern and southern, Methodist E., Methodist E. South, Baptist, Reformed or Christian, Episcopal, Roman Catholic, and 3 for colored people), a college, 2 male and 3 female schools (with an average attendance of 1,000), 16 lawyers, 9 physicians, 2 news- papers, 2 banks, 4 hotels, 38 stores, 30 mechanics' shops, and 9 manufacturing establishments ; population in 1870, 2,180, and growing steadily ; it is at present (1873) the terminus of the Shelby branch of the Louisville, Cincinnati, and Lexington rail- road, which is soon to be extended to Frankfort, shortening by 14 miles the distance by railroad from the capital to Louisville. Christiansburg, 10 miles E. of Shelbyville, contains 2 churches (Baptist and Methodist), 2 physicians, 2 taverns, 4 stores and groceries, steam saw-mill, woolen factory, and 4 mechanics' shops ; incorporated Jan. 7, 1824. Simpsonville, 8 miles w. of Shelbyville on the turnpike to Louisville, has 4 churches (Baptist, Methodist, Reformed or Christian, and Presbyterian), 3 physicians, 3 merchants, 4 mechanics' shops, a steam saw-mill, and a fine school ; incor- porated Jan. 14, 1832, but laid out in 1816, and named after the- gallant Capt. John Simpson, of Shelbyville, who was killed at the battle of the River Raisin, Jan. 22, 1813 ; population in 1870, 239. Hardinsville, at the E. corner of the county, at the junction of the Louisville, Frankfort, and Harrodsburg turnpikes, 15 miles from Shelbyville and 9 from Frankfort ; contains 2 churches, 2 stores, a tavern, and several mechanics' shops ; population in 1870, 88 ; incorporated Dec. 18, 1850. Clay, formerly called Clay Village, 6 miles E. of Shelbyville on the road to Frankfort, has 3 churches (Universalist, Methodist, and Baptist), 2 physicians, several stores, mechanics' shops, and factories ; laid off in 1830, but incorporated Feb. 18, 1839, and named after Henry Clay, the great statesman of Kentucky ; population in 1870, 88. Har- risonville, a small village in s. E. corner of the county, 16 miles from Shelbyville ; laid off about 1825, and called Connersville, after the proprietor, but incorporated Feb. 26, 1847, and name changed in honor of the late president, Gen. Wm. H. Harrison. Bagdad, Jacksonville, and Consolation (the latter incorporated Feb. 22, 1860), are small places.
STATISTICS OF SHELBY COUNTY ..
When formed. ... See page 26
Population, from 1800 to 1870 -p. 258
16 whites and colored. .p. 260
towns.
.p. 262
white males over 21 .. .. p. 266
children bet. 6 and 20 .. .p. 266
Tobacco, corn, wheat, hay ... pages 256, 268
Horses, mules, cattle, hogs. ... p. 268
Taxable property, 1846 and 1870 ... p. 270 Land-No. of acres, and value ...... p. 270 Latitude and longitude ... ........ p. 257
Distinguished citizens ... e Index.
709
SHELBY COUNTY
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE FROM SHELBY COUNTY.
Senate .- David Standiford, 1796-1800 ; Jos. Winlock, 1800-10 ; John Allen, 1810-14 ; Jas. Simrall, 1814-18; Jas. Ford, 1818-22; Samuel W. White, 1822-30 ; Win. G. Boyd, 1830-38 ; Geo. W. Johnston, 1838-42 ; Walter C. Drake, 1842-46 ; Wm. C. Bullock, 1850, '53-57 ; Martin D. MeHenry, 1851-53; Walter C. Whitaker, 1557-61. House of Representatives .- Wm. Shannon, 1793 ; Benj. Logan, 1795 ; John Knight, T. J. Gwyer, 1796 ; W. Ballard, Jos. Winlock, 1799 ; John Allen, 1800; Bland W. Ballard, 1800, '03, '05 ; Simon Adams, 1801; Alex. Reed, 1801, '02; John Pope, T802; Jas. Wardlaw, 1803 ; M. Flournoy, 1805 ; Alex. Reid, 1806 ; John Simpson, 1806, '09, '10, '11 ; Maj. G. W. Ballard, 1808 ; Abraham Owen, Thos. Johnson, 1808, '09, '10 ; Jas. Moore, 1811 ; Jas. Young, 1811, '12; Samuel Tinsley, 1812; Thos. Johnson, 1812, '13; Maj. Samuel W. White, 1813, '14, '19, '35 ; Jas. Ballard. 1813, '14; George B. Knight, 1814, '15, '17, '18; Jas. Ford, 1815, '16, '24, '25, '26, '27, '28, '34, '35, '40, '44 ; John Logan, 1815, '16, '17, '18, '25; Benj. Eggleston, 1816 ; Benj. F. Dupuy, 1817 : Benj. Logan, 1818 ; Jos. W. Knight, Samuel Oglesby, 1819; Wm. G. Boyd, 1820 : George Piercy, 1820, '21 ; Cuthbert Bullitt, 1820, resigned Nov. 15th, succeeded by Wm. Logan, 1821 ; John Wells, Henry Smith, 1822; George Woolfolk, 1822, 28; Thos. P. Wilson, 1824, '26, '31; Henry Crittenden, 1824, '28, '31; Alex. Reid, 1825, '26, '27 ; David W. Wilson, 1827 ; Samuel Shannon, 1829, '36 ; Percival Butler, 1829, '30, '32; Geo. W. Johnston, 1829, '32, '50; Andrew White, 1830, '33; Jas. C. Sprigg, 1830, '34, '37, '38, '39, '40, '51-53 ; Jas. M. Bullock, 1831, '36; Isham T. Underwood, 1833; Nicholas Smith, 1837; Wm. C. Bullock, 1838; John A. Logan, 1839 ; Wm. Welch, Walter C. Drake, 1841 ; Robert Doak, Wm. S. Helm, 1842; Lloyd Tevis, Fleming L. Garnett, 1843 ; Martin D. McHenry, 1844, '46; Shannon Reid, Jas. G. Balee, 1845 ; Wm. L. Jones, 1846, '48 ; John Brower, Hartwell A. Bailey, 1847; Josiah H. Magruder, 1848 ; Tandy M. Allen, Gideon Mitchell, 1849 ; Thos. Todd, 1850; Jas. L. Caldwell, 1851-53, 757-59; Marion C. Taylor, Thos. Jones, 1853-55; Archibald C. Brown, Joshua Tevis, 1855-57 ; Stephen T. Drane, 1857-59 ; Henry Bohannon, 1859-65; Fielding Neil, 1859-61 ; Jos. W. Davis, 1865-67 ; Culvin Sanders, 1867-69 ; John F. Wight, 1869-71 ; Jos. P. Foree, 1871-73; Thos. W. Hen- ton, 1873 -- 75.
Shelby College, at Shelbyville, was organized in 1836, and transferred to the Episcopal church in 1841. The college edifice is a handsome brick building, 142 feet by 70, with a president's house on the grounds-which include 18 acres. The three female seminaries-Science Hill, Kentucky Female College, and Shelbyville Female College-are very popular institutions and handsomely sustained. The first named was founded in 1829 by Mrs. Julia A. l'evis, who has been for more than 44 years its honored and vener- ated principal. Few localities are so healthy as Shelbyville, and none more favored with schools of a high character. The population is intelligent, re- fined, and remarkably moral.
Shelby, in wealth and productions, is one of the leading counties of the state. In 1870, in taxable property it was the 6th ($8,569,998) ; in average value of land ($28.20 per acre) the 10th ; in corn produced (1,108,605 bushels) the Ist; in hogs (22,089) the Ist; in wheat (175,996 bushels) the 3d; in cattle (11,804) the 5th.
Trustees to lay off a town at Shelby court house, were appointed by an act of the general assembly of Kentucky, in 1792; and on Jan. 15, 1793, the trustees met, and laid off 51 acres of land, "around and adjacent to the place whereon the public buildings are to be erected, into suitable lots and streets." The " gentlemen trustees," as they styled themselves in the record, among their first acts, passed the following resolution, indicating, very clearly, the plain- ness and simplicity of the style of building of our ancestors : "Ordered, that every purchaser or purchasers of lots in the town of Shelbyville, shall build thereon a hued log house, with a brick or stone chimney, not less than one story and a half high, otherwise the lot or lots shall be forfeited for the use of the town." These trustees were David Standiford, Joseph Winlock, and Abraham Owen.
An Ancient Fortification is situated 6 miles E. of Shelbyville, on an emi- nence rising some 200 feet above the surrounding country, with a view for miles around. In form it is circular, with a double line of earth-work 4 to 8 feet high, and enclosing about 3 acres well overgrown with large trees. A supply of water flows from the interior. A few graves and Indian relies are found near by.
Stations .- l'he first station established within the bounds of what is now Shelby county was in the summer or fall of 1779, and what Squire Boone, in
710
SHELBY COUNTY.
a deposition, taken Oct. 30, 1797, referred to as " his station at the Painted Stone." Besides his own family, the following men, with the families of some of them, were dwellers there : In 1779, Evan Hinton and Peter Paul ; and in June, 1780, if not earlier-Alex. Bryan, John Buckles, Richard Cates, Chas. Doleman, John and Jos. Eastwood, Jere. Harris, John Hinton, Abraham Holt, Morgan Hughes, John McFadden, John Nichols, John Stapleton, Robert Tyler, Sen., Abraham Vanmeter, James Wright, Adam, Jacob and Peter Wickersham, and Geo. Yunt.
Squire Boone's station, situated near where Shelbyville now is, on Clear creek, a branch of Brashear's creek, was for nearly two years the only station between Harrodsburg and the small stations around it, and the important station at the Falls, and the cordon of small stations stretching out Beargrass creek. It was broken up, temporarily, by an Indian raid in Sept., 1781. The inhabitants became alarmed at the appearance of Indians in the neigh- borhood, and determined to remove to the stronger settlements on Beargrass. In effecting this removal, the party-necessarily encumbered with women, children, and household goods-was attacked by a large body of Indians near Long Run, defeated and dispersed with considerable loss. Col. John Floyd, on hearing of the terrible disaster, immediately collected a party of 37 men, and pursued the Indians. He advanced with his usual caution, dividing his men into two parties-one commanded by himself, the other by Capt. Holden. In spite of his prudence, they fell into an ambuscade of some 200 Indians- whose fire killed or mortally wounded 16 of the whites, the latter holding their ground until overpowered and attacked with tomahawks, when they re- treated without much further loss ; 9 or 10 Indians were killed. While Col. Floyd was retreating on foot, nearly exhausted and closely pursued by In- dians, Capt. Samuel Wells, who had retained his horse, dismounted and gave it to Floyd, and ran by his side to support him. The magnanimity of the action was enhanced by the previous hostility between these officers, which was now cancelled for ever; " they lived henceforth, and died, friends." Over 100 persons, men, women, and children, were killed or taken captives during this raid.
The station thus abandoned was not re-occupied until about Christmas, 1781. About 1783-for some reason not certainly known, at this late day, but probably because Squire Boone was unwilling, during his absence at Richmond as a member of the Virginia legislature, to leave his family in so exposed a location, and hence took them to a place of greater safety-his station was transferred to Col. Lynch, and thereafter known as Lynch's station. Capt. Robert Tyler, Sen., and his friend and relative, Bland Bal- lard, Sen., built a station on Tick creek 4 miles E. of where Shelbyville is; it was usually known as Tyler's station. Owen's station (not far from Shelby- ville, upon land occupied in 1873 by Rev. J. W. Goodman), was built early in 1782 by Bracket Owen, father of the gallant Col. Abraham Owen, who tell at the battle of Tippecanoe in 1811 (see sketch of him, under Owen county ). Whitaker's station, on the w. side of Clear creek (on land owned in 1873 by A. P. Caruthers), was built about the same time by Col. Aquilla Whitaker, hero of the engagement near the Falls, briefly detailed under Jefferson county. Capt. Samuel Wells' station was 33 miles N. w. of Shelbyville, at what has been long known as the Shackleford place. These stations were the nuclei of an enterprising and daring population, which increased rapidly in numbers.
[For additional particulars of the dangers attending the settlement of Shelby county, see, under Ballard county, the sketch of Capt. Bland W. Bal- Jard-usually written Bland Ballard, or else Bland Ballard, Jr., to distinguish him from his father, Bland Ballard, Sen., for awhile the brave commissary of Gen. Geo. Rogers Clark's troops at the Falls. ]
SQUIRE BOONE, a younger brother of the great pioneer Daniel Boone, was born not far from Reading, in Berks co., Pa., about 1737, and was lett an orphan when about 8 years old ; soon after was taken to near Winchester, Va., and thence w Holeman's Ford on the South Yadkin river, North Caro- lina, in what was then Rowan county, but is now Wilkes county, and about
711
SHELBY COUNTY.
8 miles from Wilkesboro, the county seat of the latter. His youngest sister, Hannah, was still living in 1872, in the adjoining county, Caldwell, at the ripe age of 85.
Late in the fall of 1769, Squire Boone and another adventurer (name un- known) left the Yadkin in search of his brother Daniel, who with five others had gone to the wilds of Kentucky on the 1st of May preceding. They stumbled upon Daniel's camp-the locality of which is unknown, but was probably on Station Camp creek in now Estill county-shortly after his and John Stewart's seven days' captivity among the Indians; during which time their companions-John Findlay, Joseph Holden, James Monay, and Wm. Cool-had abandoned the camp and gone home. The joy of that meeting can not be described. Soon after, John Stewart was killed by Indians, and Squire's companion went home by himself-leaving the brothers alone in the wilderness. They " prepared a little cottage to defend them from the winter storms." On May 1, 1770, Squire " returned home to the settlement by him- self-for a new recruit of horses and ammunition, leaving Daniel by himself, without bread, salt, or sugar, without company of his fellow-creatures, or even a horse or dog."* On July 27, 1770, Squire met him, "according to appointment, at the old camp."f They soon abandoned this camp, for fear of Indians, and " proceeded to Cumberland river, reconnoitering that part of the country until March, 1771, and giving names to the different waters." About April, 1771, they returned to North Carolina, to make preparations for removing to Kentucky.
On Sept. 25, 1773, with their families, they started for their new home ; and in Powell's valley were joined by 5 families and 40 men. On Oct. 10th, when still a few miles east of Cumberland Gap, the rear of their company was attacked by Indians; who killed 6 men-among them James Boone, Daniel's eldest son, aged 18-and wounded 1 man. They retreated 40 miles, to the settlement on Clinch river ; and did not again venture with their families until March, 1775. They reached Boonesborough on March 31st or April 1st, of that year, and immediately began to erect the fort; and there made their home for several years. On the 25th of May ensuing, Squire Boone had his first legislative experience-taking his seat as one of the dele- gates from Boonesborough in the Transylvania Convention at that place. (See full report of it, under Madison county.)
It appears from his and other depositions, taken in 1795, 1797, 1804, 1806, and 1808, and from other sources, that Squire Boone continued generally a resident of Boonesborough until early in 1779, when he removed to Clear creek in Shelby county, and erected near where Shelbyville now stands a station known as Squire Boone's station, or the " Painted Stone." Here he made his home until 1806, except when compelled to abandon it for a short time in consequence of the exterminating Indian raids on Long Run in 1781, and to move to the station at the Falls (Louisville). He had been shot in his left shoulder at the siege of Boonesborough, was shot in his breast and in one arm in defence of his station, and again shot while removing the people to Louisville, as just stated.
While thus disabled and suffering from wounds, he was elected a represent- ative to the Virginia legislature ; and in his own person bore to that body an appeal more eloquent and touching than his mouth could utter; for assist- ance to the brave defenders of the frontier. To the day of his death he cher- ished a proud remembrance of the handsome reception and generous attentions of his brother legislators and the people of Richmond. His plain hunter's garb, backwoods manners, and unhealed wounds seemed to be the key to their hearts and sense of justice; his appeal was not urged in vain.
In his old days he was deprived of every vestige of his property, mainly through the land sharks who hunted up a better title to his land-while he rested in fancied security, believing that what he had redeemed from the wilderness and shed his blood to defend from the savages, was assuredly his
# Daniel Boone's autobiography, dictated to John Filson, in 1784.
t See under Madison county, the engraving of the stone on which is carved " 1770, Squire Buone."
712
SHELBY COUNTY.
own. In a deposition at his own house in Shelby county, May 18, 1804, he said "he was principled against going into the town of Shelbyville upon any business whatsoever "-the cause of which deep-seated feeling the author has not learned. It may have been because of what seemed to him the per- secution of the courts. Shortly after, he was in prison bounds in Louisville for debts which he could not pay. Kind friends obtained his release. In 1806-with his sons Isaiah, Enoch, Moses, and Jonathan, and the five sons of his nephew Samuel Boone-he, like his great precedent and elder brother, left Kentucky with a sad heart; and forming a new settlement (called " Boone settlement"), in the then Territory of Indiana, in what is now Har- rison county, about 25 miles N. w. of Louisville, erected a small mill, and laid the foundation of a flourishing and populons township, called also " Boone township," which is now the happy home of many worthy Kentuckians and their descendants. One of them John Boone, a native of Shelby co., Ky., was a prominent member of the convention which formed the constitution of Indiana, and afterwards of the state legislature.
Squire Boone died there, in 1815, and at his special request was buried in a cave near the summit of a lofty eminence that commanded a beautiful and extended view. He was a man of strong and earnest feelings and con- victions, simple-hearted, patriotic, and religious.
Col. CHARLES S. TODD, a soldier and diplomatist, son of Judge Thos. Todd, of the U. S. supreme court, was born near Danville, Ky., Jan. 22, 1791, and died at Baton Rouge, La., May 14, 1871, aged over 80 years. He was edu- cated in the best schools of Kentucky ; graduated at William and Mary college, Va., 1809; studied law with his father, and attended the law lectures at Litchfield, Conn., under the celebrated Judges Gould and Reeves, 1810; practiced law at Lexington, 1811-12; volunteered, June, 1812, and was made acting quartermaster of the advance of the northwestern army ; was on Gen. Wm. H. Harrison's staff, as division judge advocate of the Kentucky troops, Dec., 1812; bearer of instructions to Gen. Winchester, previous to the disas- trous affair of the river Raisin ; upon the recommendation of Gen. Harrison, was appointed captain in the 17th U. S. infantry, and soon after appointed aid to that commander-whose official report highly commended his impor- tant services in the campaign and particularly in the battle of the Thames; he subsequently acted as deputy inspector general of the 8th military district, then as adjutant general, and in March, 1815, was promoted inspector general, with rank of brevet colonel of cavalry. Gen. Harrison, in a letter subsequent to the war, to a member of President Madison's cabinet, expressed the opinion that " Col. Todd was equal in bravery and superior in intelligence to any officer of his rank in the army."
Upon the disbandment of the army in 1815, Col. Todd resumed the practice of law at Frankfort, and in 1816 married the youngest daughter of Gov. Shelby; was secretary of state under Gov. Madison, 1816; representative in the legislature from Franklin county, 1817 and 1818; charge d'affaires to Colombia, in South America, 1818-23; on his return, settled in Shelby county, as a farmer; was a commissioner to the Presbyterian General Assembly in Philadelphia, 1837 and1839, when the separation was effected, he sustaining the Old School; was vice president of the Ky. state agricultural society for several years, and delivered the annual address, 1839; in connection with Ben. Drake, prepared sketches of Gen. Harrison, 1840, and became editor of the Cincinnati Republican, a Whig newspaper ; accompanied Gen. Harrison to Washington, Feb., 1841, having been selected by him as U. S. minister to Vienna, but this appointment was prevented by the death of the president; in the summer of 1841, President Tyler appointed him to the mission of St. Petersburg, which he held until displaced by President Polk in the fall of 1845. At St. Petersburg, and during his visits to the interior of Russia, and to the king of Sweden ( Bernadotte, the only marshal of the great Napoleon who retained his crown), he was treated with most marked consideration.
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.