Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 118

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 118

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William Harrison, after placing his wife and a young woman of the family, under the floor of the cabin, made his escape under cover of the darkness. He remained secreted in the neighborhood until he was satisfied the Indians had retired, when he returned to the cabin and liberated his wife and her companion from their painful situation.

Thomas Randolph occupied one of the small cabins, with his wife and two children, one an infant. The Indians succeeded in breaking into his house, and although they outnumbered him four or five to one, he stood by his wife and chil- dren with heroic firmness. He had succeeded in killing several Indians, when his wife, and the infant in her arms, were both murdered by his side. He instantly placed his remaining child in the loft, then mounting himself, made his escape through the roof. As he alighted on the ground from the roof of the cabin, he was assailed by two of the savages whom he had just forced out of the house. With his knife he inflicted a severe wound upon one, and gave the other a stunning blow with the empty gun, when they both retreated. Freed from his foes, he snatched up his child, plunged into the surrounding forest, and was soon beyond the reach of danger.

Several women and children were cruelly put to death after they were made prisoners, on the route to the Indian towns. On the second day of her captivity, Mrs. Bland, one of the prisoners, made her escape in the bushes. Totally unac- quainted with the surrounding country, and destitute of a guide, for eighteen successive days she rambled through the woods, without seeing a human face, without clothes, and subsisting upon sour grapes and green walnuts, until she became a walking skeleton. On the eighteenth day she was accidentally discov- ered and taken to Linn's station, where, from kind attention and careful nursing, her health and strength were soon restored.

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The situation of Mrs. Polk, another prisoner, with four children, was almos: as pitiable as that of Mrs. Bland. She was far advanced in a state of pregnancy and compelled to walk until she became almost incapable of motion. She was then threatened with death, and the tomahawk brandished over her head by one Indian, when another, who saw it, begged her life-took her under his care- mounted her on a horse with two of the children, and conducted her safely to Detroit. Here she was purchased by a British trader, well treated, and enabled to write to her husband, who, though a resident of the station, was absent at the time of her capture. On the receipt of her letter, the husband immediately repaired to Detroit, obtained his wife and five children, and returned with them safely to Kentucky. After the peace of the succeeding year, the remainder of the prisoners were also liberated and returned home.

This county was named in honor of Captain SPEAR SPENCER, a young man of ardent patriotism and undaunted courage, who fell at the head of his company in the battle of Tippecanoe. He commanded a fine rifle company in that severe engagement, and occupied a most exposed position. In the midst of the action, he was wounded on the head, but continued at his post, and exhorted his men to fight on. Shortly after, he received a second ball, which passed through both thighs, and he fell-but still resolute and unyielding, he refused to be carried from the field, and urged his men to stand to their duty. By the assistance of one of his men he was raised to a sitting posture, when he received a third ball through his body, which instantly killed him. Both of his lieutenants, Messrs. McMahan and Berry, were also killed. Captain Spencer was a warm friend and bosom companion of the gifted and gallant Daveiss, who perished with him in that battle.

TAYLOR COUNTY.

' TAYLOR county, the 100th in the order of formation, was erected in 1848, out of the N. E. half of Green county, and named in honor of the then most popular soldier in the Union, Gen. Zachary Taylor. It is situated in the west middle portion of the state ; is bounded N. by Larue and Marion counties, E. by Casey, s. E. and s. by Adair, and s. w. and w. by Green ; and has an area of about 218 square miles. It is well timbered ; and finely watered by Green river (which forms part of its southern boundary), and by Robinson's, Wilson, Stoner, Blockhouse, Black Lick, Long Branch, Meadow, Big and Little Brush, and South, Middle, and North Pitman creeks. The surface is generally un- dulating, in some places broken and hilly. Muldrow's Hills and the Knobs are in the eastern portion. The staple products are tobacco, corn, wheat, and oats; the tobacco raised along Brush creek is of a very fine fiber ; fruits of all kinds are grown in abundance. The soil of a portion of the county is quite thin. About 150 families of thrifty Pennsylvania farmers settled in the county in 1869-70, and are making their mark by substantial improvements in farming.

The Cumberland and Ohio railroad is now (1873) being graded through the county, from Lebanon to Greensburg, via Campbells- ville-the county having subscribed $250,000 to it.

Towns .- Campbellsville, the county seat, is situated several miles s. w. of the center, on Buckhorn creek, and on the turnpike from Lebanon to Columbia, about 20 miles from each place, and

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12 from Greensburg, also by turnpike ; a new brick court house and clerks' offices, costing about $17,000, were completed in 1867-in place of those burnt by order of the Confederate Gen. H. B. Lyon (after removing the records)-because the Federal army was using them as a depot for military stores ; it contains 3 churches (Baptist, Methodist E. South-which latter is also used by the southern Presbyterians-and one for colored people), 2 schools, 7 lawyers, 4 physicians, 10 stores of all kinds, 9 me- chanics' shops, and a steam flouring and wool carding mill ; popu- lation in 1870, 512, and growing slowly ; named after Adam Campbell, the first settler in the neighborhood, and incorporated Jan. 3, 1817. Saloma, on the old road from Lexington to Nashville, a few miles w. of N. of Campbellsville; incorporated Jan. 8, 1838 ; population in 1870, 73. Mannsville (or Buena Vista) in the N. E. part of the county ; population about 80 ; in- corporated Feb. 28, 1860. Tampico, s. of Green river, and Pit- . mansville, in the N. W. part of the county, are very small places.

STATISTICS OF TAYLOR COUNTY.

When formed. See page 26 -

Tobacco, hay, corn, wheat ... .. pp. 266, 268 Population, from 1850 to 1870. .p. 258 Horses, mules, cattle, 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 of .... p. 270 Latitude and longitude. .... p. 257

white males over 21 .. p. 266

children bet. 6 and 20 yrs. p. 266

Distinguished citizens. .. see Index.

MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE FROM TAYLOR COUNTY.

Senate .- Jos. H. Chandler, 1865-69.

House of Representatives .- Elias L. Barbee, 1848, '57-59 ; Ignatius Abell, 1849; Benj. L. Owens, 1850 ; Win. C. Webster, 1851-53; Alvin Haselwood, 1853-55 ; John B. Anderson, 1855 -- 57; A. F. Gowdy, 1859-61; Jos. H. Chandler, 1861-65; W. E. Parrott, 1865-67 ; Wm. Howell, 1867-69 ; Thos. M. Johnson, 1871-73.

Some Iron Ore occurs on the waters of Brush creek, near the line between Green and Taylor counties.

A Sulphur Well at Campbellsville-with three veins, one each of sulphur, fresh and salt water-was quite popular, more than fifty years ago. The water has fine curative properties, and was resorted to by health-seekers for many miles around. It was somewhat famous, in pioneer times, as a deer lick.

During the Civil War, Camps Hobson and Andy Johnson were both estab- lished in Taylor county. In Dec., 1864, guerrillas attacked some Federal soldiers stationed at Campbellsville ; and at another time made a charge on the town, killing 2 Federal soldiers before resistance was effectual. On July 4, 1863, near the Green river bridge on the Lebanon and Columbia turnpike, in the southern corner of Taylor county, occurred one of the bravest assaults but bloodiest repulses of the war-the Confederate forces being driven off, with terrible slaughter, in only half an hour. (For details see Collins' An- nals, page 125, vol. i.)

The First Settlers of Taylor county were almost entirely from Virginia and North Carolina.

Rev. David Rice (familiarly known as Father Rice) lived for some years in Green county, and preached frequently in that part now included in Taylor county. In 1802, Rev. Jacob Young, a pioneer Methodist preacher, thus records his first meeting with him :

"At this time, I made the acquaintance of Rev. David Rice, who was one of the most venerable-looking men I ever saw. Ile had been a regular Presbyterian clergyman for upward of fifty years. He belonged to an ob- scure and poor family in the interior of Virginia, but was remarkable for

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good qualities from his youth. He was very fond of divine services ; and there being no preaching near his father's, he used to rise early on Sabbath morning, put a piece of clam-bread in the bosom of his hunting-shirt, and travel thirteen miles on foot to hear President Davison preach. After hear- ing two sermons he would return home, and be ready for hard labor on Mon- day morning. The minister, noticing a little ragged boy sitting near the door so regular in his attendance, detained him. On examination, finding him a pious boy with fine talents, he took him under his supervision, and gave him a first-rate education for those days. He graduated at Princeton College, New Jersey. After finishing his theological course he emigrated to Ken- tucky, where he spent a long and useful life. He succeeded in almost every thing he undertook. He shone like a star in the West; and when he had attained to an exceeding old age, he died, lamented by all the pious."

For biographical sketch of President ZACHARY TAYLOR, after whom this county was named, see under Jefferson county.

TODD COUNTY.

TODD county, named in honor of Col. John Todd, and estab- lished in 1819 out of parts of Logan and Christian, was the 64th of the counties of Kentucky in order of formation. It is situated in the southern part of the state, on the Tennessee line; is one of the most easterly of the s. w. counties ; is bounded N. by Muhlenburg, E. by Logan, s. by the state line of Tennessee (or by the county of Montgomery in that state), and w. by Christian. The county is finely watered by Elk, West and East forks of Pond river, Whippoorwill, and Big, Little, and . West Clifty creeks-tributaries of Red river in the south, and of Muddy and Pond rivers in the north. But for a small portion in the N. W. end of the county, the territory would form an oblong square ; it comprises about 330 square miles. The s. and a portion of the N. part of the county is level or gently undulating-the soil based upon limestone, and very productive ; the remainder is roll- ing and hilly-the soil of inferior quality, but producing fine grass. The principal products are corn, wheat, oats, and tobacco; and exports-horses, mules, cattle, sheep, and hogs.

Towns .- Elkton, the county seat, is a beautiful town, on Elk creek near the center of the county, 165 miles s. w. of Louisville, 51 s. w. of Bowlinggreen, 15 w. of Russellville, and about 180 s. w. of Frankfort; population about 1,000; incorporated Dec. 9, 1820. Allenville, on the Memphis and Louisville railroad, 8 miles s. E. of Elkton and 43 s. w. of Bowlinggreen ; population in 1870, 310 ; incorporated Jan. 30, 1867, many years after its settlement. Haydensville, on the same railroad, 43 miles from Allenville. Guthrie, on the same railroad, and at the junction of the Edgefield (or Nashville) and Kentucky railroad, and the Evansville, Henderson, and Nashville railroad, is an important railroad crossing at the state line, in the extreme s. E. corner of Todd county, 1633 miles from Louisville and 50 from Bowling- green. Trenton, on the Evansville, Henderson, and Nashville railroad, 9 miles s. w. of Elkton ; population in 1870, 221; in-

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TODD COUNTY.

corporated Feb. 29, 1836. The other small villages and post offices in the county are distant from Elkton as follows : Kirk- mansville 18 miles, Clifty 12, Daysville 5, and Pilot Knob 8. Sharon Grove is 10 miles from Russellville.

STATISTICS OF TODD COUNTY.

When formed See page 26

- Tobacco, corn, wheat, hay ... pages 266, 268

Population, from 1820 to 1870 .p. 258 Horses, mules, cattle, hogs. ... p. 268

whites and colored .. ... p. 260 Taxable property, 1816 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 TODD COUNTY.

Senate .- Samuel B. Jessup, 1835-43 ; Francis M. Bristow, 1846; .enry G. Bibb, 1851-55 ; Robert E. Glenn, 1859-63 ; Wmn. W. Frazer, 1871-75. From Todd, Christian, and Trigg-Geo. L. Locker, 1826 ; Francis Summers, 1827-31.

House of Representatives .- John S. Anderson, 1820, '21 ; Anthony F. Read, 1822 ; Richard B. New, 1824, '25, '26, '30, '33 ; Thos. M. Ewing, 1827, '2S ; John C. Harlan, 1829; Francis M. Bristow, 1831, '34 ; Squire H. Boone, 1832 ; Wm. M. Lansdale, 1835 : Thos. A. Anderson, 1836; Finis E. McLean, 1837; Benj. H. Reeves, 1838, '39, '40; Hazel Petree, 1841 ; Burwell C. Ritter, 1842 ; Robert E. Glenn, 1843, '44, '45, '46 ; Jas. A. McReynolds, 1847 : Henry G. Bibb, 1848; John T. Bunch, 1849 ; Samuel B. Je sup, 1850 ; Elijah G. Sebree, 1851-53, '57-59; Wm. Hoffman, 1853-55 ; Jas. A. Rns $1, 1855-57 : Gobrias Terry, 1859-61; W. E. Kennedy, 1861-63 ; J. H. Lowry, 1863-65 ; Urban E. Kennedy, 1865-67 ; Higgason G. Boone, 1867-69; Wm. W. Frazer, 1869-71; W. L. Reeves, 1871-73 ; S. E. G. Cole, 1873-75.

Of Natural Curiosities, the greatest in the county is the "Pilot Rock," on the dividing line between Todd and Christian counties (see description under the latter county).

The Fall Cliffs on Big Clifty creek, rising in some places to the height of 300 feet, afford some scenery as grand and magnificent as any in the state.

The First White Man on Southwestern Kentucky Soil .- The Shenandoah valley in Virginia was first permanently settled by whites in 1732, at a point near the present town of Winchester, west of the Blue Ridge. The spirit of adventure and the concurrent eagerness to occupy the " Upper Country" or rich lands in the upper part of that valley, led to new settlements, each farther out in that unexplored region. Two men of singularly restless dis- positions, and as resolute as restless, John Salling and Thomas Morlen, determined to know more of the country about which speculating curiosity was so busy, but of which the actual knowledge was so limited. Proceeding boldly up the valley from Winchester southward, and crossing the waters of the James river near the Natural Bridge in the present county of Rockbridge without encountering any Indians, they pushed on cheerily to the Roanoke in a southwesterly course until they fell into an ambush of Cherokee Indians. Salling was taken prisoner, but his more active companion Morlen escaped, and bore back to friends tidings at once of good and ill.

The Indians carried Salling into what is now East Tennessee and adopted him, carrying him with them on their hunting excursions. On one of these into the rich cane lands of Kentucky-the beautiful hunting grounds of all the western and southern tribes-they encountered a war party of Illinois Indians, who made Salling their prisoner and bore him off in triumph to Kas- kaskia. Some Spaniards on the lower Mississippi first purchased him, but tiring of their bargain returned him to his captors and to Kaskaskia. When going with them thence on a trading expedition to Canada, the governor of that province ransomed him, and sent him homeward to Manhattan (New York). After six years' absence, he found his way back to the Shenandoah valley, spreading far and near the most glowing and exaggerated accounts of the beautiful country where the fortunes of Indian war gave him to a new set of captors. As the guide of other adventurous spirits, he found his way to some choice land on the upper waters of the James river, built him a cabin, and then disappeared from history-leaving no other result of his cap- tive tour as the first white man on southwestern Kentucky soil.

729

JOHN TODD.

Col. JOHN TODD, for whom this county was named, was the eldest of three bro- thers, and a native of Pennsylvania. He was educated in Virginia, at his uncle's --- the Rev. John Todd,-and, at maturity, entered upon the study of the law, and finally obtained a license to practice. He left his uncle's residence, and settled in the town of Fincastle, in Virginia, where he practiced law for several years ; but Daniel Boone and others having discovered Kentucky, Col. Todd, lured with the descriptions given himn of the fertility of the country, about the year 1775, came first to Kentucky, where he found Col. Henderson and others at Boonsbo- rough. He joined Henderson's party, obtained a pre-emption right, and located sundry tracts of land in the now county of Madison, in Col. Henderson's land office. He afterwards returned to Virginia ; and, in the year 1786, again set out from Virginia with his friend, John May, and one or two others, for Kentucky. They proceeded some distance together on the journey, when, for some cause, Mr. May left his servant with Col. Todd, to proceed on to Kentucky, and return- ed to Richmond, Virginia. Col. Todd proceeded on to the place where Lexing- ton now stands, and, in its immediate vicinity, improved two places,-the one in his own name, and the other in that of his friend, John May,-for both of which he obtained certificates for settlement and pre-emption, of fourteen hundred acres. These pre-emptions adjoin, and lie in the immediate vicinity of the now city of Lexington. It appears from depositions, taken since his death, that he accompa- nied Col. Clark, since Gen. Clark, in his expedition against Kaskaskia and Vin- cennes, and was at the capture of those places. After the surrender of those places, it is supposed that he returned to Kentucky ; of this there is no record or living evidence ; but it appears from a letter written by Gen. Clark, that Col. Todd was appointed to succeed him in the command at Kaskaskia. Under an act of the Virginia legislature, passed in 1777, by which that part of Virginia conquered by Clark, and all other of her territory north-west of the Ohio river, was erected into the county of Illinois, of which John Todd was appointed colo- nel commandant and county lieutenant, with all the civil powers of governor. He was further authorised, by enlistment or volunteers, to raise a regiment for the defence of the frontier. His commission and many papers, all show that he immediately entered upon the duties of his office, and was seldom absent from ' his government, up to the time of his death. The regiment was only raised for one year, but was continued in service until about 1779, when the State of Vir- ginia raised four additional regiments-two for the eastern, and two for the west- ern part of Virginia. It is supposed that Col. Joseph Crockett was promoted to the command of one of these regiments, and Col. Todd was appointed to the other. No commission has been found, appointing him a colonel in the regular service ; but depositions on file in Richmond, and old papers, show that he was acting as a regular colonel, from about the time the regiments were expected to be raised.

In the spring of 1780, Col. Todd was sent a delegate to the legislature of Vir- ginia, from the county of Kentucky. While attending on the legislature, he mar- ried Miss Hawkins, and returned again to Kentucky, and settled his wife in the fort at Lexington ; but again visited the county of Illinois, and was engaged con- tinually in the administration of its government, and in other military affairs, so that he was seldom with his family, until the summer of 1782, when, in the month of August, the Indians besieged Bryan's station in great force. The disas- trous battle of the Blue Licks followed in a few days ( Aug. 19, 1782). Among the noble brave who fell, fighting to the last, was Col. John Todd-in the midst of his usefulness and in the prime of life. His wife survived him, and an only child, a daughter, about 12 months old. This daughter was still living in 1847 (as the wife of Robert Wickliffe, Sen. ), and was then the oldest female native of Lexington; indeed, many claimed that she was the first female born in the place-which is rather improbable, as a number of families were resident in the station there for more than two years before her birth. Col. Todd's body servant was, in 1847, still living in the family of Mr. Wickliffe -- a colored man named George, then over SO years old, who retained perfectly his health, hearing, and intelligence. He often spoke, with great accuracy, of the trying scenes through which he had passed, with his master and others ; he had assisted to build the forts at Harrodsburg, Wilson's station, and Lexington, and several times, when parties he was with

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were attacked by savages, narrowly escaped with his life ; he was tendered his liberty by the daughter, upon her arriving at age, and repeatedly after, but wisely preferred to remain with the child of his old master and friend.

Col. Todd was a man of fine personal appearance and talents, and an ac- complished gentleman ; was universally beloved, and died without a stain upon his character, and it is believed without even one enemy upon earth. From the year 1778, he might be considered as residing in Illinois (himself), until he married, in 1780. Settling his family in Lexington, when he married, he was enabled to stay but little with them. It is believed, that besides aid- ing in the councils held by Clark, and accompanying him in one or more of his expeditions, he passed the dangerous regions from Lexington to Kaskaskia twice (and often four times) in every year.

An anecdote, illustrative of the benevolence of his heart, was told by his widow, after his death, to his child : That, during the winter succeeding their marriage, the provisions of the fort at Lexington became exhausted to such an extent, that, on her husband's return home with George one night, almost famished with hunger, she had been able to save for him a small piece of bread, about two inches square, and about a gill of milk, which she presented to him; on which he asked, if there was nothing for George ? She answered, not a mouthful. He called George, and handed him the bread and the milk, without taking any of it himself.

TRIGG COUNTY.

TRIGG county was established in 1820, out of parts of Chris- tian and Caldwell, and named in honor of Col. Stephen Trigg ; it was the 66th formed in the state. It is situated on the state line, in the s. w. part of the state; is nearly triangular in form; has about 410 square miles ; and is bounded N. w. and N. by Lyon and Caldwell counties, E. by Christian, s. by the state line of Tennessee (which separates it from Stewart co., Tenn.), and w. by Caldwell and Marshall, the Tennessee river being the division line. The Cumberland river flows through the s. w. part of the county, in a direction N. 30° W., 8} miles distant from the Ten- nessee river, whose general direction along the border is the same. The surface, between the rivers and for about 7 miles E. of the Cumberland, is generally broken, but not mountainous ; off the river and creek bottoms, which are rich and productive, the country becomes hilly and undulating ; the E. half of the county is called barrens, is usually level or undulating, and highly culti- vated. The soil is based on limestone, with red clay foundation. Little river flows through the county in a N. W. course, and empties into the Cumberland at the N. w. corner of the county. Tobacco, corn, wheat, and oats are the staple products ; exports- hogs, cattle, mules, and horses.

Towns .- The county seat is Cadiz, on Little river, about 230 miles s. w. of Frankfort, 19 s. w. of Hopkinsville, and 23 miles nearly s. of Princeton ; incorporated Dec. 6, 1822, but settled somewhat earlier ; population in 1870, 680-a falling off of 26 since 1860. Canton, on the Cumberland river, 9 miles from Cadiz, was incorporated Nov. 18, 1831; and is a shipping point of importance ; population in 1870, 320. Roaring Spring, 14 miles from Cadiz, had a population in 1870 of 120; incorporated

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TRIGG COUNTY.

April 1, 1861. Rockcastle derived its name from a large cave, somewhat resembling a castle, in the vicinity; population in 1870, 80; is 9 miles from Cadiz. The other small villages and post offices are-Wallonia, named after Mr. Wall, who owned the land on which it was laid off, Cerulean Springs, Empire Iron Works, Golden Pond, Linton (incorporated April 4, 1861), Mont- gomery, and Lindsay's Mill.

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Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 118

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