Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 21

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 21

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General Clark was never married. He was long in infirm health, and severely afflicted with a rheumatic affection, which terminated in paralysis, and deprived him of the use of one limb. After suffering under this disease for several years, it finally caused his death in February, 1818. He died and was buried at Locust Grove, near Louisville.

WM. FLANAGAN, also a native and resident of Clark county, graduated at West Point military academy, in 1827, standing first in the class with Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, Gen. Joe Johnston, and other men who won such brilliant reputations in later years. He died in early life, but left an en- viable reputation for brilliancy, wit, and repartee. Social, generous, frank, and open-hearted, he was a cavalier of the olden time. He was for years the surveyor and school commissioner of Clark county, a useful and remark- able man.

CLAY COUNTY.

CLAY county, the 47th formed in the state, was carved out of Madison, Knox, and Floyd counties, and named in honor of Gen. Green Clay, in 1806. Since then, parts of its territory have been taken in forming each of the counties of Perry in 1820, Laurel in 1825, Breathitt in 1839, Owsley in 1843, and Jackson in 1858. It lies on the South fork of Kentucky river, whose tributaries spread through the county-Goose creek, Red Bird fork, Collins' fork, Sexton's, Little Goose, Otter, Bullskin, Big, and Jack's creeks; the Middle fork of Kentucky river is the E. boundary line. The county is bounded N. by Owsley and Breath- itt, E. by Breathitt and Perry, s. by Harlan and Knox, and w. by Jackson and Laurel. The face of the country is generally hilly and mountainous ; the principal products, corn, wheat, and grass-the latter growing spontaneously on the mountains and in the valleys. Coal, iron ore, and fine timber abound. Salt is the leading article of export.

Manchester, the seat of justice, and only town in the county, about 80 miles from Frankfort, is situated near Goose creek ; and, besides the public buildings, contains a seminary, Methodist and Reformed churches, 2 taverns, 2 stores, 2 groceries, 8 mechanics' shops, 2 lawyers, and 2 physicians; population about 100; it was named after the great manufacturing town of England.

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STATISTICS OF CLAY COUNTY.

When formed See page 26 Tobacco, hay, corn, wheat. .pp. 266, 263

Population, from 1810 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 CLAY COUNTY, SINCE 1850.

Senate .- Alex. White, 1847-50 ; Theophilus T. Garrard, 1857-61; David Y. Lyttle, 1867-71.

House of Representatives .- Jas. T. Woodward, 1850-51; Dan. B. Stivers, 1851-53; Daniel Garrard, 1855-57 ; Alex. T. White, 1861-63 ; Wm. McDaniel, 1865-67.

Salt, of the best quality, has been made much more extensively in Clay county, since 1800, than elsewhere in the state. In 1846, 15 furnaces pro- duced 200,000 bushels per annum. So great is the supply and so fine the quality of the salt water that, with improved facilities, the manufacture could be increased to any extent.

The Burning Spring, about 9 miles N. w. of Manchester, on the East fork of Sexton's creek, has sent forth gas with unabated energy since its first dis- covery in 1798. On the West fork of the same creek, the gas sieves through four acres of ground; and without being ignited, presents a grand scene of glowing light. The debris from the surrounding hills has covered up the fissures in the earth leading to the source of this constant flow of gas. It is not known what produces this gas, but it exists in inexhaustible volume, and will burn at different points miles apart, with a soft, steady, curling, tena- cious flame, (which can only be extinguished with persevering efforts); and not with the brash, flickering, irregular light of the gas from the salt deposits.

Names .- Collins' fork took its name from the first settler; Red Bird fork and Jack's creek, from two friendly Indians bearing those names, to whom was granted the privilege of hunting there; they were both murdered for the furs they had accumulated, and their bodies thrown into the water.

The First Settler, or first white man known to have entered within the present boundaries of Clay county, was James Collins, in 1798. He built his cabin upon the headwaters of Collins' fork; and in 1800, at a salt spring which he had discovered when following a buffalo trail, some months pre- viously, made the first salt ever made in the county.

Burying Ground .- But the Indians had manufactured salt here before James Collins-as evidenced by a large Indian (or aborigines) burying ground near the salt spring, by a flight of stone steps from the spring to the high or table-land, together with a huge heap of earthen and muscle-shell pots and a great mass of charcoal at the same place.

James White, sen., of Abingdon, Va, was the quartermaster of Gen. Cox, of Tennessee-whose duty was the protection of the white settlers on this frontier. When White was at Lexington purchasing supplies for the army, he heard of the salt spring and hastened to buy the land that embraced it- a purchase which has proved a source of great wealth to his family.

Centenarians .- Nothing proves the exceeding healthifulness of Clay county more pointedly than the great age to which many of the citizens attain. Sol- omon Buchart lived to be 125 years old, John Gilbert 115, and as late as June 22, 1872, David Robinson died, aged 102.

Indian Outrages .- The last recorded Indian depredations and murders in the interior of the state we copy from the Kentucky Herald, of March 28, 1795 : " By r. gentleman just from the salt works we are informed that the Indians stole a number of horses from that place last week, and that they also killed a man on Goose creek."

General GREEN CLAY, in honor of whom this county was named, was born in Powhattan county, Virginia, on the 14th August, 1757. He was the son of Charles Clay, and descended from John Clay, a British grenadier, who came to

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Virginia during Bacon's rebellion, and declined returning when the king's troops were sent back. Whether this ancestor was from England or Wales, is not cer- tainly known, but from the thin skin and ruddy complexion of his descendants,. the presumption is that Wales was his birth place. Green Clay came to Ken- tucky when but a youth. His education was exceedingly limited. To read, write, and cypher, a slight knowledge of the principles of grammar, together with the rudiments of surveying, constituted his entire stock of scholastic learning. With some men, richly endowed by nature, these are advantages sufficient to in- sure distinction, or to command a fortune, both of which the subject of this notice effected. The first few years after his arrival in Kentucky, were spent in exam- ining the country, and aiding to expel the savages. He then entered the office of James Thompson, a commissioned surveyor, where he more thoroughly studied the principles and acquired the art of surveying. In executing the work assigned him by his principal, who soon made him a deputy, he became minutely acquainted with the lands in the upper portion of the (then) county of Kentucky. The power (at that time unrestrained), to enter and survey lands, wherever ignorance of a prior location, or a wish to lay a warrant might incline, rendered the titles to land exceedingly doubtful and insecure. Many entries were made on the same land by different individuals, producing expensive litigation, and often occasion- ing the ruin of one of the parties. Entering and surveying lands at an early day was attended with great danger. The country one vast wilderness, with the ex- ception of a few forts which at rare intervals dotted its surface, was infested by innumerable hordes of savage warriors, wiley and full of stratagem, breathing vengeance against the invaders-rendered the location of lands a perilous employ - ment. Surveying parties consisted generally of not more than four-the sur- veyor, two chain carriers and a marker-hence more reliance was placed in cau- tion and vigilance than in defence by arms.

Clay soon established a character for judgment, industry and enterprise, which drew to him a heavy business. His memory of localities was remarka- ble, and enabled him to revisit any spot he had ever seen, without difficulty. His position in the office-his access to books-his retentive memory-his topogra- phical knowledge-enabled him to know when lands were unappropriated. Hence his services were much sought. by all who wished to locate lands in the re- gion of country where he resided. Whilst the great body of land in Kentucky was being appropriated, it was the custom for the holders of warrants to give one half to some competent individual to enter and survey the quantity called for by the warrant. Much of this business was thrown into Clay's hands ; and he thus acquired large quantities of land. He also applied all his slender re- sources to increase this estate. An anecdote is related which evinces the high estimation in which he held this species of estate, and the sagacity and foresight of the young surveyor. Having gone to Virginia, soon after the surrender of Cornwallis, at a time when the continental paper money was so depreciated that five hundred dollars were asked for a bowl of rum-toddy, he sold his riding horse to a French officer for twenty-seven thousand dollars of the depreciated currency, and invested it in lands. The lands thus purchased, are at this day worth half a million of dollars.

After the land in the middle and upper parts of the State had been generally entered and appropriated, Clay went below, and on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers entered and surveyed large tracts of land for some gentlemen of Virginia. These surveys were made at a time when the Indians were in the exclusive occupancy of those regions, and so perilous was the business that his chain carriers and marker deserted him, without notice, before his work was entirely completed. Some of his field notes had become defaced, and after being thus abandoned by his com- panions, he was detained some weeks, revisiting the corners and other objects to renew and finish his notes. His danger in this lone undertaking was great; but notwithstanding all difficulties, so accurately did he accomplish his work, that subsequent surveyors have readily traced the lines, and found the corner trees and other objects called for. During this period he traveled mostly in the night, and slept during the day in thick cane brakes, hollow logs, and the tops of trees. Notwithstanding his heavy engagements in the land business, he devoted several years of his life to politics. Before the erection of Kentucky into a State. he was elected a delegate to the general assembly of Virginia. He was a member

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of the convention which formed the second constitution of Kentucky. After the admission of Kentucky into the union, he represented Madison county many years in each branch of the legislature. He took a prominent and leading part in all the important legislative measures of his day. The records of the country bear abundant evidence of his great industry, strict attention, capacious intellect, and uniform patriotism. He was particularly observant of the local and personal interests of his immediate constituents, without permitting them to interfere with his general duties as a law maker and statesman. When the last war between Great Britain and the United States was declared, he was a major general in the militia of Kentucky. Determined to lend his service to his country, in this, her second struggle for independence, he adjusted his private affairs pre- paratory to an absence from home. After the defeat of General Winchester, and the wanton butchery of our troops, who had surrendered under promise of safety and good treatment, the first call for volunteers was responded to from Kentucky, who had been a principal sufferer in that bloody catastrophe, by a general rush to the scene of hostilities. It was necessary to succor fort Meigs, and reinforce General Harrison, to enable him to retake Detroit and invade Can -- ada. For this emergency Kentucky furnished three thousand troops, and placed them under the command of General Green Clay, with the rank of brigadier general. General Clay made all haste to the scene of action, and arrived at fort Meigs on the 4th of May, 1813, cutting his way through the enemy's lines into the fort. It does not consist with the character of this work to narrate the incidents attending this celebrated siege. They belong to the public history of the country, where they may be found related at large. Suffice it to say, that General Clay inspired General Harrison with such confidence in his eminent mil- itary abilities, that when that great warrior left fort Meigs, he placed that post under the command of General Clay. In the autumn of 1813, the garrison was besieged by a force of fifteen hundred British and Canadians, and five thousand Indians under Tecumseh ; but fearing to attempt its capture by storm, and failing in all their stratagems to draw the garrison from their entrenchments, the enemy soon raised the siege. After this, nothing of special interest occurred until the troops of the garrison were called out to join the army prepared for the invasion of Canada. 'T'he term of service of the Kentuckians expiring about this time, they were discharged ; but General Clay accompanied the army as far as Detroit, when he returned to his residence in Madison county. He devoted the remaining years of his life to agricultural pursuits, and the regulation of his estate.

General Clay was more robust than elegant in person-five feet eleven inches in height-strong and active-of remarkable constitution-rarely sick, and capa- ble of great toil-submitting to privations without a murmur. No country ever contained, according to its population, a greater number of distinguished men than Kentucky. At an early day, and among the most distinguished, General Clay was a man of mark. He was a devoted husband-a kind and affectionate father-a pleasant neighbor-and a good master. He died at his residence on the 31st of October, 1826, in the seventy-second year of his age.

The most enterprising, prominent and influential citizens of Clay county have been several members of the White family; the late Col. Daniel Gar- rard; his son, the late James H. Garrard (member of the Constitutional con- vention in 1849, and treasurer of the state for six years); another son, Gen. Theophilus T. Garrard, who defeated the Confederates at Wild Cat: and Col. David Y. Lyttle, the state senator from 1867 to 1871, to whose distinguished devotion to the great cause of public education the trustees, teachers and scholars of the Louisville public schools paid such an elegant and thrilling tribute.

CLINTON COUNTY.

CLINTON county was erected in 1835, out of parts of Wayne and Cumberland counties-the 85th in the order of formation- and named in honor of Gov. DeWitt Clinton, of New York. It

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CLINTON COUNTY.

lies entirely south of the Cumberland river, on the Tennessee state line, which forms its southern boundary, and is bounded N. by Russell, E. by Wayne, and w. by Cumberland. The surface generally is hilly, much of it adapted to grazing ; but the valleys are rich, producing fine crops of corn and wheat.

Towns .- Albany, the county seat, about 126 miles from Frank- fort, was incorporated in 1838; contains a new court house, a clerk's office, jail, 4 dry goods and grocery stores, drug store, confectionery, 2 taverns, 5 mechanics' shops, 2 tanneries, water mill, steam flouring, saw and woolen mill, 2 churches, school, 5 lawyers, 3 physicians ; population in 1870, 163. Intoxicating liquors have not been sold here by license for six years past, being prohibited by the local authorities ; result-Albany is a remark- ably peaceable and quiet town. During the war of the Rebellion, the court house and many other buildings were burnt. Cumber- land City, near the coal mines in Short mountain, is a thriving town-with a store, tavern, tanyard, saddlery, boot and shoe shop, church and school; population, including miners, about 225; goods and groceries are brought here, up the Cumberland, and then by the Coal railroad 9 miles to this place. Seventy-Six, at the falls on Indian creek [see below], is a very small place, with a grist and saw-mill. Besides the above, there are in the county 4 country stores and 2 physicians.

STATISTICS OF CLINTON COUNTY.

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

. Population, from 1840 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

white males over 21 .. .p. 266

children bet. 6 and 20. ... p. 266

Distinguished citizens, .see Index.

MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE FROM CLINTON COUNTY, SINCE 1850.

Senate .- None resident.

House of Representatives .- Francis H. Winfrey, 1851-53 ; Samuel Long, 1855-57 ; Thos. C. Winfrey, 1857-59; Otho Miller, 1861-63; A. G. Waggener, 1864-65 ; D. R. Carr, 1865-67 ; C. P. Gray, 1871-73 ; Wm. G. Hunter, 1873-75. [ See page 000.

A Coal Railroad, 9 miles long, running from the Cumberland river to the mines at Short mountain, was built several years ago by Col. Wm. A. Hos- kins, of Danville, and the Poplar Mountain Coal Company. The coal is dumped into barges in the Cumberland river, and then towed by steamboat to Nashville.

There is a Salt Well, on Willis creek, 2 miles from the Cumberland, with abundance of water, where good salt has been manufactured.

Clinton county has produced its quota of distinguished men. Gov. THos. E. BRAMLETTE [see sketch under Jefferson co.] was born and resided here until he was inaugurated governor. Gov. PRESTON H. LESLIE [see sketch under Barren co. ] is a native of this county. JAMES SEMPLE, charge d'affaires to New Grenada, 1837-41, and U. S. senator from Illinois, 1843-47; and also ROBERT SEMPLE, president of the California Constitutional convention, lived in this county for many years. WM. WOOD represented Cumberland county (when Clinton was part of it) in the state legislature for twenty-three years !

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CLINTON COUNTY.

A spur of the Cumberland mountain, called Poplar mountain, penetrates this county, and terminates about two miles west of its centre. In its windings, this mountain makes a beautiful curve, and the valley on the eastern side and within the curve, called Stockton's valley, is fertile limestone land. The elevation of Poplar mountain above the valley is from one thousand to fifteen hundred feet. Coal in abundance, and of the best quality, is found in the mountain, in strata of about four feet. On the top of this mountain, about four miles from Albany, there are three chalybeate springs, which have been visited more or less for thir- ty-five years. These waters, combined with the purity of the atmosphere, have proved of immense benefit to invalids who have resorted there for their health. From these mountain springs, a most extensive and magnificent view of the sur- rounding country is presented. On a clear morning the fog seems to rise on the water courses in the distance, and stand just above the trees, when the eye can trace the beautiful Cumberland river in its windings for at least one hundred miles, and may distinctly mark the junction of its tributaries, in a direct line, for thirty miles. The springs are about ten or twelve miles from the Cumberland, and it is believed that, in the hands of an enterprising proprietor, they would soon become a place of great resort. The elevation of the mountain, and the consequent purity of the atmosphere-the beauty and magnificence of the scenery and prospect daily presented to the eye of the visitor, combined with the medici- nal virtues of the water, a good host, and intelligent and refined association, would make these springs a most desirable point for a summer excursion.

On Indian creek, about three miles from the mountain springs, there is a per- pendicular fall of ninety feet. Above the great falls, for the distance of about two hundred yards, the fall of the stream is gradual, and several fine mills have been erected on it. There are three large springs in the county : one on the south, and two at Albany, which send forth volumes of water sufficiently large to turn a grist mill or other machinery. Wolf river runs through a part of the county, and the Cumberland touches it on the north-west. The face of the coun- try is undulating in some portions of the county ; in others, hilly and broken. Besides coal, iron ore abounds, and plaster of Paris, it is reported, has been re- cently discovered in the hills.

DE WITT CLINTON, whose name this county bears, was a native of New York, and one of the most distinguished men in the United States. He was born at Little Britain, in Orange county, on the 2d of March, 1769. He was educated at Columbia college, and studied law with the Hon. Samuel Jones He early imbibed a predilection for political life, and the first office he held was inat of private secretary to his uncle George Clinton, then governor of New York. In 1797, Mr. Clinton was elected a member of the New York legislature, where he espoused the political sentiments of the republican or democratic party. Two years after, he was elected to the State senate. In 1801, he received the appoint- ment of United States' senator, to fill a vacancy, where he served for two sessions. After that period, he was chosen mayor of New York, and remained in this po- sition, with an intermission of but two years, until 1815. In 1817, he was elected, almost unanimously, governor of his native State-the two great parties having combined for the purpose of raising him to that dignity. He was re- elected in 1820, but declined a candidacy in 1822. In 1824, he was again nomi- nated and elected to the office of governor, and in 1826 was re-elected by a large majority. He died suddenly, while sitting in his library, on' the 11th of Febru- ary, 1828, before completing his last term of office. Mr. Clinton was the pro- jector and the active and untiring friend of the canal system of New York, which has been instrumental in adding so largely to the wealth and population of that great State. He was a man of very superior literary attainments-exten- sively versed in the physical sciences, and a fine classical and belles-lettres scholar. He was a member of most of the literary and scientific institutions of the United States, and an honorary member of many of the learned societies of Great Britain and the continent of Europe. His moral character was excellent, and his personal appearance commanding, being tall and finely proportioned.

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CRITTENDEN COUNTY

CRITTENDEN COUNTY.

CRITTENDEN county, the 91st in order of formation, was erected out of the eastern part of Livingston county, in 1842, and named in honor of John J. Crittenden. It is watered by Crooked, Camp, Hurricane, Livingston and Pinery creeks, and is almost surrounded by rivers-the Ohio forming its entire north- ern, the Tradewater its entire eastern, and the Cumberland nearly half of its western boundary; on the E. are Union and Webster counties, on the s. Caldwell and Lyon, and on the w. Living- ston. The surface is generally broken, high and rolling; well timbered, and with a generous soil-adapted to all the cereals, and remarkable for its tobacco and fruits ; it is the finest fruit region in the state; apples, peaches, and grapes grow to perfection.

Towns .- Marion, the county seat, named after Gen. Marion of the Revolution, and incorporated in 1844, has a population of about 300, and is situated near the center of the county ; contains 5 dry goods, 2 drug, and 2 grocery stores, 2 hotels, 5 mechanic shops, a tobacco warehouse, church, male and female academy, 8 lawyers and 3 doctors. Dycusburg, named after Wm. E. Dycus, its founder, and incorporated in 1847, is on the Cumberland river, 15 miles s. w. of Marion ; does a large tobacco business, and has 4 stores, 4 coffee-houses, a drug store, and a church ; population about 250. Weston, on the Ohio, river, 12 miles from Marion, incorporated 1868, is an important shipping point ; has 2 stores, 2 hotels, a tobacco stemmery, blacksmith shop, and 100 popula- tion. Ford's Ferry, on the Ohio river, 3 miles below Weston, has 4 stores, 2 hotels, and about 75 inhabitants. Clementsburg, on the Ohio, half a mile above Ford's Ferry, is only a shipping point. Bell's Mines, on Tradewater river, 18 miles nearly N. E. from Marion. Shady Grove, in the extreme eastern part of the county, 15 miles from Marion, has 2 churches, 3 stores, and 2 hotels.

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Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 21

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