Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 119

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 119

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STATISTICS OF TRIGG COUNTY.

When formed .See page 26 | Corn, wheat, hay, tobacco .. pages 266, 268

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

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 TRIGG COUNTY.

Senate .-- Isaac Burnett, 1836-43 ; Geo. W. Barbour, 1848-50 ; Ira Ellis, 1851-55 ; T. W. Hammond, 1863-67. [See Todd and Marshall counties.]

House of Representatives .- Chas. Caldwell, 1824; George Street, 1825, '26; Abraham Boyd, 1827, '28; George Venable, 1829 ; Lipscomb Norvell, 1830; Lynn Boyd, 1831; Jas. E. Thompson, 1832; Isaac Burnett, 1833, '34, '51-53; Sinco A. G. Noel, 1835 ; Lisenby Nance, 1836, '40 ; Geo. W. Barbour, 1837 ; Thos. B. Redd, 1838, '39; Allen T. Noe, 1841, '42, '43, '48 : Chas. Humphreys, 1844, '53-55; John C. Whitlock, 1845 ; Wm. Soer, 1846, '47; Stanly Thomas, 1849; Daniel Landes, 1850; Gordon B. Grasty, 1855-57; John I. Roach, 1857-59 ; Young A. Linn, 1859-61; John W. Gaines, 1861-63, resigned Jan. 20th, 1862, succeeded by John Humphries, Jan., 1863; Samuel Larkins, 1863-65 ; Fenton Sims, 1865-69 ; George W. Quick, 1869-71; M. E. Mc- Kenzie, 1871-73. From Trigg and Christian-Jas. Ruffin, Jas. C. Cravens, 1820 ; Thos. Barnet, 1822. From Trigg-Matt. Mckinney, 1873-75.

The Cerulean Spring, in the N. corner of the county, on the waters of Little river, is popular as a watering place. The temperature of the water of the spring was 56º F., while that of the air was 80°. The water issues at the rate of 1 to 13 gallons per minute. The spring is strongly impregnated with both sulphate and chloride of magnesia, with soda, bicarbonate of lime, and free sulphuretted hydrogen.

Another Mineral Spring is in Little river, near the residence of S. S. Lind- sey-said to be of stronger qualities than the water from the Cerulean spring.

The Water Power of Trigg county is well distributed, abundant, and reli- able-a number of mills being established upon Muddy Fork, Sinking Fork, and Donaldson creek. Little river has been declared, by legislative enact- ment, a navigable stream up to Cadiz, 17 miles ; and a regular survey in 1857 ascertained that the erection of two locks and dams would make permanent Black-water navigation to that point.

Hydraulic Limestone is found 4 miles above the mouth of Little river. Lead Ore has been discovered, but not in workable lodes.

Iron Ore of fine quality abounds, along the T'ennessee, Cumberland, and lower part of Little rivers. Three blast furnaces, and several others for the manufacture of pig metal, were in operation before the war. Analyses by the state geological survey showed the percentage of metallic iron in the pot ore from Empire and Center furnaces to be 60.605 and 47.230, respectively ; and the brown ore from the same, 48.009 and 51.511; while in the pot and brown ores from the Fulton furnace, it was 53.973 and 51.599. Other ores showed 39.28 and 55.60 per cent. of iron. The limestone in their neighbor- hoods, used as a flux, contained 52.210, 53.276, and 38.764 percentage of pure lime.

Timber is still abundant, except near the furnaces, where it has been to some extent exhausted.

The First White Visitors to Trigg county-except occasional canoe trips, up or down the Cumberland and Tennessee, of French and American adventur- ers or explorers-were Dr. Thomas Walker and Daniel Smith, the Virginia

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` commissioners appointed to establish the boundary line between the western portions of Virginia and North Carolina (now Kentucky and Tennessee), and their surveying party. On the 23d of March, 1780, having run the line en- tirely across Trigg county westward, and across Tennessee river, they closed their survey, according to directions from Richmond. They made a tolerably good map of Cumberland river-the first ever made. One of them went down the river with the baggage, while the other proceeded through the woods with the survey. Their report speaks of the Cumberland as " a fine river, navigable at least 700 miles from its mouth."

Col. STEPHEN TRIGG, after whom this county was named, was a native of - Virginia-who first came to the district of Kentucky in the fall of 1779, as a member of the court of land commissioners ; and after that body had con- cluded its labors, in the spring of 1780, determined to make the new country his permanent home. In that year he settled a station-called Trige's sta- tion, or Viney Grove (and sometimes called Haggin's station after Trigg's death, because John Haggin lived there)-4 miles N. E. of Harrodsburgh, on Cane run, 4 miles from its mouth at Dick's river. He soon became noted for his activity against the Indians; and fell, Aug. 19, 1782, in the fatal and bloody battle of the Blue Licks, while bravely leading his men to the charge. He was greatly beloved and very popular ; and if he had lived, would have taken rank among the most distinguished men of his time.

TRIMBLE COUNTY.

TRIMBLE county, the 86th formed in the state, was estab- lished in 1836, out of parts of Gallatin, Henry, and Oldham counties, and named in honor of Judge Robert Trimble. It is situated in the northern part of the state, immediately on the Ohio river; is bounded w. and N. by the Ohio river for 21 miles, N. E. by Carroll, and S. E. and s. by Henry and Oldham coun- ties ; and contains about 145 square miles, being one of the smallest counties (there are but six smaller). Little Kentucky river flows northward entirely across or through the E. part of the county, and empties into the Ohio, in Carroll county, one mile below the mouth of the Kentucky river ; among the other streams are Spring, Corn, Barebone, Middle, and Patton creeks. The val- leys on the Ohio river are unsurpassed in fertility ; and the up- lands, though hilly and broken, are quite productive. The principal productions and exports are tobacco, blackberries, corn, wheat, oats, hogs, and cattle. -

Towns .- The county seat, Bedford, near the center of the county, about 50 miles from Frankfort, and 14 miles from the Ohio river at Milton ; besides the usual public buildings, has 3 churches (Methodist, Baptist, and Reformed or Christian), 3 hotels, 4 lawyers, 4 physicians, 3 stores, 4 mechanics' shops, a wool carding factory, and a steam grist mill ; population in 1870, 200-a falling off of one-fifth since 1860; incorporated Feb. 6, 1816. Milton, on the Ohio river, opposite Madison, Indiana, 46 miles above Louisville and 96 below Cincinnati, is one of the oldest towns in the state, having been established by law of Vir- ginia in 1789, three years before Kentucky became a state; it has 2 stores ; population in 1870, 223, a falling off since 1860

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TRIMBLE COUNTY.

of 36. Kingston, on the Ohio river, had 59 inhabitants in 1870, and 3 stores. Palmyra, 6 miles from Bedford and 8 from Mil- ton, is a small village ; its post office name is Winona.

STATISTICS OF TRIMBLE COUNTY.

When formed See page 26 | Tobacco, hay, corn, wheat ...... pp. 266, 268

Population, from 1840 to 1870 .. p. 258 Horses, mules, cattle, hogs p. 26S

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

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

children bet. 6 and 20 yrs. p. 266

Distinguished citizens ...... .see Index.

MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE FROM TRIMBLE COUNTY.

Senate .- Evan M. Garriott, 1865-69. [See Henry co.]

House of Representatives .- Daniel B. Johnson, 1841, '42, '43, '45, '53-55 ; Robert B. Gray. 1844; Samuel S. English, 1846 ; John B. Floyd, 1847; Benj. H. Logan, 1848 ; Benj. P. McConnell, 1849 ; Ambrose H. Talbott, 1850, '57-59 ; Evan M. Gar- riott, 1861-65 ; George W. Lemon, 1865-67, resigned 1866, succeeded by Richard Bell ; J. R. Sanders, 1871-73. From Trimble and Carroll counties-Benj. Gullion, 1855-57. From Trimble-John Preston, 1873-75.

The Conchitic Marble, from a quarry on Corn creek, near or at the Ohio river, in Trimble county, is of a drab-gray color, and contains many fragments of shells, and very small portions of coral cemented by pure minute crystals of calcareous spar. It receives a very good polish, and has indications of great durability. Part of it is quite variegated in color-with pink, pinkish brown, or flesh colored spots or patches. The corresponding vein in Indiana - was worked to some extent in 1853, and then pronounced by an able geolo- . gist " the best and most beautiful material for constructions and ornamental purposes that had come within his notice from any western locality."

Battle of the Fire-Brands .- The following is from the autobiography of Rev. Jacob Young, a Methodist minister :

: "The costume of the Kentuckians was a hunting shirt, buckskin pantaloons, a leathern belt around their middle, a scabbard, and a big knife fastened to their belt; some of them wore hats and some caps. Their feet were covered with moccasins, made of dressed deer-skins. They did not think themselves dressed without their powder-horn and shot-pouch, or the gun and tomahawk. They were ready, then, for all alarms. They knew but little. They could clear ground, raise corn, and kill turkeys, deer, bears, and buffalo; and, when it became necessary, they understood the art of fighting the Indians as well as any men in the United States.

" Shortly after we had taken up our residence, I was called upon to assist -in opening a road from the place where Newcastle now stands, to the mouth of Kentucky river. That country, then, was an unbroken forest; there was nothing but an Indian . trail passing the wilderness. I met the company early in the morning, with my axe, three days' provisions, and my knapsack. Here I found a captain, with about 100 men, all prepared to labor; about as jovial a company as I ever saw, all good-natured and civil. This was about the last of November, 1797. The day was cold and clear. The country through which the company passed was delightful; it was not a flat country, but, what the Kentuckians called, rolling ground-was quite well stored with lofty timber, and the undergrowth was very pretty. The beanti- ful canebrakes gave it a peenliar charm. What rendered it most interesting was the great abundance of wild turkeys, deer, bears, and other wild animals. The company worked hard all day, in quiet, and every man obeyed the captain's orders punctually.

" About sundown, the captain, after a short address, told us the night was going to be very cold, and we must make very large fires. We felled the hickory trees in great abundance; made great log-heaps, mixing the dry wood with the green hickory; and, laying down a kind of sleepers under the pile, elevated the heap and caused it to burn rapidly. Every man had a water-vessel in his knapsack ; we searched for and found a stream of water. By this time, the fires were showing to great advantage; so we warmed our cold victuals, ate our suppers, and spent the evening in hearing the hunter's

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TRIMBLE COUNTY.

stories relative to the bloody scenes of the Indian war. We then heard some pretty fine singing, considering the circumstances.

"Thus far, well; but a change began to take place. They became very rude, and raised the war-whoop. Their shrill shrieks made me tremble. They chose two captains, divided the men into two companies, and com- menced fighting with the fire-brands-the log-heaps having burned down. The only law for their government was, that no man should throw a brand without fire on it-so that they might know how to dodge. They fought, for two or three hours, in perfect good nature; till brands became scarce, and they began to violate the law. Some were severely wounded, blood began to flow freely, and they were in a fair way of commencing a fight in earnest. At this moment, the loud voice of the captain rang out above the din, order- ing every man to retire to rest. They dropped their weapons of warfare, rekindled the fires, and laid down to sleep. We finished our road according to directions, and returned home in health and peace."

The Hon. ROBERT TRIMBLE, in honor of whom this county received its name, was born in Berkeley county, Virginia, and when three years old, his father emi- grated to Kentucky. His parents were not affluent, but occupied a respectable position in the agricultural population of the country. He received but the im- perfect rudiments of an education,-such only as could be had in a new settle- ment, so distant from the seats of learning in the older States. He, however, im- proved himself, by teaching for a few years, and reading carefully the scanty li- braries afforded by his neighborhood. After so imperfect a probation, he com- menced the study of the law, under George Nicholas. That eminent man dying before he had completed his studies, he continued them under James Brown; and, in 1803, was licensed by the court of appeals to practice his profession. He com- menced his career in Paris, and in the same year was elected a member of the legislature from the county of Bourbon. But the stormy life of a politician not being congenial to his disposition or taste, he ever afterwards refused to be a can- didate for political office-even to be nominated, on two occasions, for the United States' senate, when his assent only was necessary to secure his election. He devoted himself exclusively to his profession, and rapidly rose to the first class of jurists. In 1808, he was commissioned second judge of the court of appeals. He retained this place but a short time, but long enough to greatly distinguish himself in it by his rectitude, learning and ability. He was appointed chief jus- tice of Kentucky in 1810, but, in consequence of his limited circumstances, de- clined the first judicial station in the commonwealth. After retiring from the bench, he resumed, with great assiduity, the practice of his profession ; and, in 1813, was appointed a district attorney for the State. He continued at the bar, with eminent and profitable success, until 1816, when he was appointed by Presi- dent Madison judge of the Kentucky district. He filled this office until 1826, when he was promoted by John Quincy Adams to the supreme court of the Uni- ted States. He died the 25th day of August, 1828, in the fifty-second year of his age, and in the full vigor of his powers.

It is not often that the august tribunal to which he belonged, has sustained a greater loss. His mind was characterized by deliberation, clearness, expansion and force. As a forensic debater, he combined flowing eloquence and powerful argumentation. He studied law upon principle, and comprehended it as a science. Such was his ripe though early proficiency, that, in the year 1818, the sole pro- fessorship of law for Transylvania University was tendered to him by the board of trustees, and his acceptance earnestly urged upon him by Mr. Clay. A neces- sary change of residence induced him to decline a place so honorable and respon- sible.

As a judge of the highest State court, he had no superior in diligence, learn- ing, ability and uprightness ; and on being transferred to the supreme tribunal of the nation, both Chief Justice Marshall and Judge Story pronounced him to be not only a lawyer of the first order, but also one of the most improvable men they had ever known. Had Providence spared his life to ordinary old age, he would have fully vindicated his title to rank with those great jurists. But his private virtues, and his simple, noble nature, shed a lustre upon his name above all that which was derived from great intellect, ripe attainments, and high station.

735

UNION COUNTY.

UNION county, the 55th formed in the state, was taken entirely from the w. part of Henderson county, in 1811, and thus described : Beginning at the upper point of the Eighteen-mile island (formerly called Elk island, and in 1840 known to boatmen as Slim island), on the Ohio river ; thence a straight line to Highland creek, one mile above Higgins' mill (measured along the meanders of the creek) ; thence up the said creek to the White-lick fork thereof; thence a direct and straight line, by "Harpe's Head,"# to the line of Hopkins county ; thence, with that line, to Tradewater river ; thence down the same to the Ohio river, and up the Ohio to the beginning. The origin of the name is in doubt ; but the generally received opinion is that it was so named because of the hearty unanimity with which the people assented to the proposed division of the old county. Thus, it is bounded N., N. w., and w. by the Ohio river, for 41 miles ; N. E. by Henderson county ; s. E. by Webster; and s. w. by Crittenden county ; and embraces about 316 square miles of ter- ritory. Shawneetown, Illinois, and the mouths of the Wabash and Saline rivers, are all opposite this county. The face of the country is level, undulating, and in some parts hilly. The soil is good. Corn and tobacco are the staple products, but all other crops usual in the state are cultivated, and horses, mules, cattle, sheep, and hogs exported.

Towns .- Morganfield, the seat of justice, is 7 miles w. of s. of the Ohio river at Uniontown ; has a new court house which cost $60,000; its population, by the U. S. census, was 219 in 1830, 460 in 1860, and only 300 in 1870; it was laid off in 1812, and named after Gen. Morgan of the Revolutionary army ; incorpo- rated Feb. 22, 1860. Uniontown, on the Ohio river, 234 miles below Louisville and 135 above Cairo, is a place of considerable business ; population 1,046 in 1860, and 896 in 1870; derived its name from the union of two small villages ; incorporated Feb. 12, 1840. Caseyville, on the Ohio river, 1} miles above the mouth of Tradewater (the extreme s. w. corner of the county), 262 miles below Louisville and 60 above Paducah ; incorporated Dec., 1837 ; population 623 in 1860, and 520 in 1870. Raleigh, on the Ohio river, 11 miles below Uniontown and 17 above Caseyville ; incorporated March 22, 1851. Clayville was incor- porated Feb. 25, 1860 ; Francisburg, Jan. 17, 1839 ; Locust Port, Feb. 22, 1839.

STATISTICS OY UNION COUNTY.

When formed. See page 26 | Tobacco, hay, corn, wheat ... pages 266, 268

Population, from 1820 to 1870 .p. 258

Horses, mules, cattle, hogs ... page 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

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

children bet. 6 and 20 yrs. p. 266

Distinguished citizens. see Index.

* See under Hopkins county, for the origin of this name and locality.

736

WARREN COUNTY.

MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE FROM UNION COUNTY.

Senate .- Jas. Townsend, 1828-30 ; Samuel Casey, 1830-32 ; Hiram McElroy, 1841-45 ; Wm. Spalding, 1849 ; Samuel Daveiss Delany, 1850 ; Ben. P. Cissell, 1859-63, resigned 1862, succeeded by Willis W. Gardner, 1862-67 ; Ignatius A. Spalding, 1867-71.

House of Representatives .- Jas. Townsend, 1820 ; Hugh MeElroy, 1821, '22; Wm. Spalding, 1824, '25, '26, '27; John S. Lewright, 1829, '34; Jos. R. Delany, 1832 ; W'm. Grundy, 1833 ; Hiram McElroy, 1835, '36, '37, '38, '50, '55-57, '59-61 ; John Imboden, 1839, '40, '44; Gibson B. Taylor, 1841; Abner Davis, 1842; Chas. C. P. Gilchrist, 1843 : Willis G. Hughes, 1845, '47, '48 ; Ignatius A. Spalding, 1846 ; Jeffer- son Brown, 1849; Thos. R. Giveus, 1851-53 ; Thos. Conway, 1853-55 ; Benj. M. Winston, 1857-59 ; Robert A. Spalding, 1861-63 ; Jas. T. Pierson, 1863-65 ; Jas. W. Finnie, 1865-67 ; Peter Abell, 1867-69; George W. Riddle, 1869-71, '73-75 ; John W. Dyer, 1871-73. [See Henderson county.]

Springs and Curiosities .- The county of Union abounds in mineral springs. One of these-a fine white sulphur spring-five miles from Morganfield, has been a popular and fashionable watering placc. The other springs which possess any notoriety, contain chalybeate water of finc quality. A few miles from Uniontown, on Highland creek, there is a tar or American oil spring, from which tar or oil constantly flows, in considerable quantities.

About eight miles from Morganfield, there is a large, flat rock, with a number of deeply indented and perfectly distinct impressions of the naked feet of human beings, of all sizes, together with very plain footprints of the dog. About three miles from Caseyville, there is a rock, called the "Anvil Rock," which closely resembles a blacksmith's anvil. It is about fifty feet high, twenty feet in width, and two feet thick, with a projection or spur like the horn of an anvil. This rock stands upon level bottom land, entirely iso- lated ; and by what process it was placed there, in an erect position, must forever remain a mystery. There is also a hill, in the center of an extended river bottom or plain, which is about three-fourths of a mile long, half a mile wide, and from eighty to one hundred feet in height. There is, likewise, a cave in the county, which is believed to be of great extent, but heretofore very partially explored. In this cave a number of human bones have been found.

- Gen. ORMSBY MACKNIGHT MITCHELL, a distinguished American astronomer, was born in Union co., Ky., Aug. 28, 1810, and died of yellow fever at Beaufort, South Carolina, Oct. 30, 1862, aged 52. He received his early education in Lebanon, Ohio; was appointed to a cadetship at West Point in 1825; graduated in 1529, fifteenth in a class of 46-among whom were those distinguished Confederate chieftains, Robert E. Lee and Joseph E. Johnston. He filled the position of professor of mathematics in that institution for two years; subsequently studied law and practiced in Cincinnati until 1834; when he was elected professor of mathematics, philosophy, and astronomy in the Cincinnati College. In 1845, he succeeded in the establishment of an observ- atory in Cincinnati, raising the requisite amount of money therefor by his own exertions. In 1859, he was chosen director of the Albany (N. Y.) ob- servatory, and also retained his connection with that in Cincinnati. He was a popular lecturer on astronomy, and his contributions to science, oral and written, were valuable. Among his published works are " Planetary and Stellar Worlds," " Popular Astronomy," and a treatise on algebra. Ile was commissioned a brigadier general in the Union army, Aug., 1861, and after- wards promoted to major general. He was commander of the "Department of the South " at the time of his death.

WARREN COUNTY.

WARREN county, the 24th formed in the state, was established in 1796 out of part of Logan, and named in honor of Gen. Jos. Warren, the hero of Bunker Hill. It embraces about 560 square

WARREN COUNTY COURT HOUSE, BOWLING GREEN, KY., Erected 1870.

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WARREN COUNTY.

miles ; and is bounded N. by Butler and Edmonson counties, E. by Barren, s. by Allen and Simpson, and w. by Logan and Butler. Big Barren river, which heads near the Cumberland river, runs through this county ; its tributaries in the county are Bay's fork, Drake's and Jennings' ereeks, and Gaspar river. There are several mineral springs in the county, one of which, 3 miles from Bowlinggreen, in the character of its water is much like the Lower Blue Liek, in Nicholas county. The face of the country is gently undulating ; the soil fertile and productive, based mostly on red clay and limestone foundation. The prinei- pal articles of export are tobaeco, wheat, eorn, and pork.

Towns .- Bowlinggreen, the county seat, is at the head of steam- boat slackwater navigation on the Big Barren river, 189 miles by that and Green river from the Ohio river ; also, on the Louis- ville and Nashville railroad, 114 miles from the former and 71 from the latter eity, and is the point of junction of the Memphis and Louisville branch railroad, 263 miles from Memphis, 64 from Clarksville, Tenn., and 39 from Russellville, Ky. ; it is 145 miles s. w. of Frankfort. It has, next to that at Louisville, the most elegant court house in Kentucky, built in 1868-9, at a cost of $125,000, 2 banks, 2 newspapers (Democrat and Pantagraph), 10 churches, several seminaries of a high grade, 25 lawyers, a large number of business houses and manufactories-ineluding in the latter one of the finest factories of woolen goods in the state, and the extensive railroad machine shops. No small eity in the Union has so handsome a public park and fountain, nor such superior water works (the reservoir at a height of 235 feet, ren- dering fire-engines unnecessary) ; it has also exeellent gas works ; population in 1870, 4,574, and in 1873, about 6,000; first incor- porated Feb. 12, 1810. The other railroad stations are : Bristow, Smith's Grove, Oakland, Rich Pond, Woodburn, Memphis Junction, and Rockfield, at several of which are thriving villages. Other post offices or villages are : Claypool, Ell: Spring, Green Hill, Hadley, Honaker's Ferry. Martinsville is on Barren river, 13 miles s. E. of Bowlinggreen. Woodburn was incorporated Feb. . 5, 1866, Rich Pond Feb. 7, 1871, and Smith's Grove March 21, 1871.

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Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 119

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