Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 37

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 37

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233

JOHN FLEMING.

Upon one occasion, while encamped in the woods with two other friends, (Bennett and Spor), three Indians attacked their camp, and killed Bennett and Spor at the first fire. Cassidy sprung to his feet, but was soon overpowered and made prisoner. The Indians, supposing him to be a boy, and proposing to relieve the tedium of the night, selected the smallest of their number to carve him up with a large butcher knife, for their diversion. Cassidy, whose fiery spirit little predisposed him to suffer an unresisting martyrdom, grappled his antago- nist, and flung him several times with great violence to the earth, greatly to the amusement of the other Indians. who laughed immoderately at their companion's defeat by one seemingly so disproportioned in strength. The two Indians, tind- ing that it was growing a serious matter, came to the rescue of their companion, and with several strokes of their war clubs, felled Cassidy to the ground. For. tunately, Cassidy fell with his hand upon the knife which his competitor had let fall, and rising, brandished it with such fierceness that the Indians gave back, when he, stepping to one side, darted rapidly into the woods. The dark- ness of the night enabled him to elude his pursuers until he came to a deep pool of water, overhung by a large sycamore. Under the roots of this tree, up to his neck in the water, he remained concealed until the Indians, flashing their torches around him in every direction, gave up in despair. He carried to his grave the marks of the Indian clubs, to testify with what good will they were given. Colonel Thomas Jones, who was at the burial of the two men, (Bennett and Spor), yet lives near Flemingsburg.

Upon another occasion, whilst hunting on Cassidy's creek, in what is now Nicholas county, he very unexpectedly found himself in close proximity to a powerful Indian, in a place quite free from timber. Each observed the other at the same time, and both leveled their guns. But Cassidy, to his consternation, found that his pocket handkerchief was tied round the lock of his gun, so as to prevent its being cocked, and he feared to untie it, lest the Indian perceiving it, should fire. They remained pointing their guns at each other in this manner for some time. The Indian not firing, Cassidy suspected that something was the matter with his gun also, and began to take off his handkerchief, when the In- dian fled to a tree. Cassidy followed in full speed, and taking a circuit so as to bring the Indian in view, fired and wounded him in the shoulder. Drawing his knife, he made towards the wounded Indian, in whose gun he now perceived the ramrod. When Cassidy approached, the Indian (lying on the ground) extended his hand, crying " brother !"' Cassidy told him he was " ad-d mulatto hypo- crite, and he shouldn't cluim kin with him. Saint Patrick ! but he would pum- mel him well." After a desperate conflict with the Indian, who, though deprived of the use of his right arm, proved no contemptible foe, and whose nakedness afforded no tangible hold, Cassidy succeeded in dispatching him.

Cassidy was in upwards of thirty Indian fights, and such and so many was his ' hair breadth 'scapes,' that he was commonly said to have a charmed life. He served in the legislature repeatedly, lived respected and died regretted, at his station, in the year 1829.

- Colonel JOHN FLEMING, after whom Fleming county was called, was born in Virginia ; and in company with Major George Stockton, emigrated to Kentucky in the year 1787, descending the Ohio river in a canoe, and settled at Stroud's sta- tion. He afterwards removed to Fleming county, and settled Fleming's station in the year 1790, where he remained till his death in the year 1794. The wit- nesses of his life, like the fabled leaves of the Sybil's prophecy, have been so scattered by the hand of death, that it is impossible to collect the history of any save the following incidents :

Some twenty Indians having stolen horses, and made prisoners of two children near Strode's station, in Clark county, in the year 1791, were pursued by about fif- teen whites, and overtaken on a creek, since called Battle run, in Fleming county. A sharp contest ensued, in which the loss was about equal on either side; but the whites, being outnumbered, were forced to give way.

Col. John Fleming. the settler of Fleming's station, was severely wounded in the engagement, and in the retreat. being hotly pursued by an Indian, directed one of the men who was flying past him, to point his gun at the Indian and com- pel him to tree. until he could reload his gun. The man replied that his gun was not loaded. Fleming quickly remarked, "the Indian don't know that;" where-

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upon the man did as directed, with the effect that Fleming foresaw. Whilst the Indian was intent upon the manœuvres of the man, Fleming succeeded in loading his gun. The pursuit becoming alarming, the man fled. The Indian, supposing Fleming to be too badly wounded to be dangerous, made confidently towards him with uplifted tomahawk. Fleming, supporting his gun upon a log, waited until the Indian came very near, when, firing, he fell headlong almost against the log behind which Fleming was lying.

Fleming's mare, which had broken loose during the fight, came galloping by, recognized the voice of her master, went to him, received him on her back, and carried him gallantly off the field. He reached the large pond near Sharpsburg, where, exhausted from the loss of blood, and burning with thirst, he, with a fel- low fugitive, encamped. Such was his fever from his wound, that, to allay his insatiate thirst, he kept his friend constantly engaged throughout the night in bringing water. Next morning, he was sufficiently recovered to resume his way, and arrived safely at the station.

In the family of Major George Stockton was a slave named Ben. Ben was a " regular" negro, devoted to his master-hated an Indian with an enmity passing Randolph's aversion to sheep-loved to moralize over a dead one-got into a tow- ering rage, and swore " magnificently " when a horse was missing-handled his rifle well, though somewhat foppishly-and hopped and danced and showed his teeth with infinite satisfaction, at the prospect of a chase of the " yaller varmints." His master had every confidence in his resolution and prudence, and in fact Ben was a great favorite with all the hunters, adding much to their stock of fun on dull expeditions.

A party of Indians having stolen horses from some of the upper stations, were pursued by a party of whites, who called at Stockton's station for reinforcements. Ben, among others, gladly volunteered. The Indians were overtaken at Kirk's springs, in Lewis county. The whites dismounting, secured their horses, and advanced to the attack. Only eight or ten Indians could be seen, and they re- treated rapidly over the mountain. The whites followed, but in descending the mountain, discovered, from an attempt to out-flank them, that the retreating In- dians were but a part of the enemy remaining behind to decoy them into an am- buscade, prepared at the base of the mountain. Various indications plainly showed that the Indians were greatly superior in number, and the whites were ordered to retreat. Ben was told of the order by a inan near him, but was so in- tently engaged, that he did not hear. The man, in a louder tone, warned him of his danger. Ben turned upon him a reproving look, with indescribable grimaces and ludicrous gesticulations, admonishing silence, and springing forward, set off at a furious rate down the mountain. The inan, unwilling to leave him, started after, and reached his side in time to see him level his rifle at a huge Indian down the mountain, tiptoe on a log, peering with outstretched neck into the thick woods. Ben's rifle cracked, and the Indian, bounding high in air, fell heavily to the earth. . A fierce yell answered this act of daring, and " the Indians, (said Ben) skipped from tree to tree thick as grass-hoppers." Ben, chuckling with huge self-satisfaction, bawled out, " take dat to 'member Ben-de 'black white man; " and set off in earnest after his retreating party.

The following interesting incident of a well known and highly esteemed citizen of Fleming (which occurred after St. Clair's defeat in November, 1791), is rela- ted in M'Clung's Sketches of Western Adventure :

The late WILLIAM KENNAN, of Fleming county, at that time a young man of eighteen, was attached to the corps of rangers who accompanied the regular force. He had long been remarkable for strength and activity. In the course of the march from fort Washington, he had repeated opportunities of testing his astonishing powers in that respect, and was universally admitted to be the swift- est runner of the light corps. On the evening preceding the action, his corps had been advanced, as already observed, a few hundred yard's in front of the first line of infantry, in order to give seasonable notice of the enemy's approach. Just as day was dawning, he observed about thirty Indians within one hundred yards of the guard fire, advancing cautiously towards the spot where he stood, together with about twenty rangers, the rest being considerably in the rear.

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WILLIAM KENNAN.

Supposing it to be a mere scouting party, as usual, and not superior in number to the rangers, he sprang forward a few paces in order to shelter himself in a spot of peculiarly rank grass, and firing with a quick aim upon the foremost In- dian, he instantly fell flat upon his face, and proceeded with all possible rapidity to reload his gun, not doubting for a moment, but that the rangers would main- tain their position, and support him. The Indians, however, rushed forward in such overwhelming masses, that the rangers were compelled to fly with precipita- tion, leaving young Kennan in total ignorance of his danger. Fortunately, the captain of his company had observed him when he threw himself in the grass, and suddenly shouted aloud, " Run Kennan ! or you are a dead man !" He in- stantly sprang to his feet, and beheld Indians within ten feet of him, while his company was already more than one hundred yards in front.

Not a moment was to be lost. He darted off with every muscle strained to its utmost, and was pursued by a dozen of the enemy with loud yells. He at first pressed straight forward to the usual fording place in the creek, which ran be- tween the rangers and the main army, but several Indians who had passed him before he arose from the grass, threw themselves in the way, and completely cut him off from the rest. By the most powerful exertions, he had thrown the whole body of pursuers behind him, with the exception of one young chief, (probably Messhawa), who displayed a swiftness and perseverance equal to his own. In the circuit which Kennan was obliged to take, the race continued for more than four hundred yards. The distance between them was about eighteen feet, which Kennan could not increase nor his adversary diminish. Each, for the time, put his whole soul into the race.

Kennan, as far as he was able, kept his eye upon the motions of his pursuer, lest he should throw the tomahawk, which he held aloft in a menacing attitude, and at length, finding that no other Indian was immediately at hand, he deter- mined to try the mettle of his pursuer in a different manner, and felt for his toni- ahawk in order to turn at bay. It had escaped from its sheath, however, while he lay in the grass, and his hair had almost lifted the cap from his head, when he saw himself totally disarmed. As he had slackened his pace for a moment the Indian was almost in reach of him, when he recommenced the race, but the idea of being without arms, lent wings to his flight, and for the first time, he saw himself gaining ground. He had watched the motions of his pursuer too closely, however, to pay proper attention to the nature of the ground before him, and he suddenly found himself in front of a large tree which had been blown down. and upon which brush and other impediments lay to the height of eight or nine feet.

The Indian (who heretofore had not uttered the slightest sound) now gave a short quick yell, as if sure of his victim. Kennan had not a moment to deliber- ate. He must clear the impediment at a leap or perish. Putting his whole soul into the effort, he bounded into the air with a power which astonished himself, and clearing limbs, brush, and every thing else, alighted in perfect safety upon the other side. A loud yell of astonishment burst from the band of pursuers, not one of whom had the hardihood to attempt the same feat. Kennan, as may be readily imagined, had no leisure to enjoy his triumph, but dashing into the bed of the creek (upon the banks of which his feat had been performed) where the high banks would shield him from the fire of the enemy, he ran up the stream until a convenient place offered for crossing, and rejoined the rangers in the rear of the encampment, panting from the fatigue of exertions which have seldom been surpassed. No breathing time was allowed him, however. The attack in- stantly commenced, and as we have already observed, was maintained for three hours, with unabated fury.

When the retreat commenced, Kennan was attached to Major Clarke's bat- talion, and had the dangerous service of protecting the rear. This corps quickly lost its commander, and was completely disorganized. Kennan was among the hindmost when the flight commenced, but exerting those same powers which had saved him in the morning, he quickly gained the front, passing several horsemen in the flight. Here he beheld a private in his own company, an intimate ac- quaintance, lying upon the ground, with his thigh broken, and in tones of the most piercing distress, implored each horseman who hurried by to take him up behind him. As soon as he beheld Kennan coming up on foot, he stretched out his arms and called loud upon him to save him. Notwithstanding the imminent

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peril of the moment, his friend could not reject so passionate an appeal, but seizing him in his arms, he placed him upon his back, and ran in that manner for several hundred yards. Horseman after horseman passed them, all of whom refused to relieve him of his burden.

At length the enemy was gaining upon him so fast, that Kennan saw their death certain, unless he relinquished his burden. He accordingly told his friend, that he had used every possible exertion to save his life, but in vain; that he must relax his hold around his neck or they would both perish. The unhappy wretch, heedless of every remonstrance, still clung convulsively to his back, and impeded his exertions until the foremost of the enemy (armed with tomahawks alone,) were within twenty yards of them. Kennan then drew his knife from its sheath and cut the fingers of his companion, thus compelling him to relinquish his hold. The unhappy man rolled upon the ground in utter helplessness, and Kennan beheld him tomahawked before he had gone thirty yards. Relieved from his burden, he darted forward with an activity which once more brought him to the van.

The late governor Madison, of Kentucky, who afterwards commanded the corps which defended themselves so honorably at Raisin, a man who united the most amiable temper to the most unconquerable courage, was at that time a sub- altern in St. Clair's army, and being a man of infirm constitution, was totally exhausted by the exertions of the morning, and was now sitting down calmly upon a log, awaiting the approach of his enemies. Kennan hastily accosted him, and enquired the cause of his delay. Madison, pointing to a wound which had bled profusely, replied that he was unable to walk further, and had no horse. Kennan instantly ran back to a spot where he had seen an exhausted horse graz- ing, caught him without difficulty, and having assisted Madison to mount, walked by his side until they were out of danger. Fortunately the pursuit soon ceased, as the plunder of the camp presented irresistible attractions to the enemy. The friendship thus formed between these two young men, endured without interrup- tion through life. Mr. Kennan never entirely recovered from the iminense exer- tions which he was compelled to make during this unfortunate expedition. He settled in Fleming county, and continued for many years a leading member of the Baptist church. He died in 1827.

FLOYD COUNTY.

FLOYD, the 40th of the counties of Kentucky in order of for- mation, was erected in 1799 out of parts of Fleming, Montgom- ery, and Mason counties, and named in honor of Col. John Floyd. Its territory was so extensive that from it has since been formed- the whole of Pike county in 1821, and parts of Clay in 1806, Harlan in 1819, Perry in 1820, Lawrence in 1821, Morgan in" 1822, Breathitt in 1839, Letcher in 1842, Johnson in 1843, Rowan in 1856, Boyd, Magoffin, and Wolfe in 1860, Elliott in 1869, and Lee in 1870-fifteen counties in all. It is situated in the E. portion of the state, only one county (Pike) intervening between it and the extreme eastern point on the Virginia state line ; is bounded x. by Johnson, N. E. by Martin, E. by Pike, s. by Letcher, and w. by Magoffin county ; and embraces about 400 square miles of territory. The surface is mountainous, in some places reach- ing an elevation of 500 feet ; it abounds in rich and inexhausti- ble strata of coal. The principal crop is corn, but wheat, oats, and flax are cultivated ; the mountains afford excellent range for sheep, hogs, and cattle.

Towns .- Prestonsburg (so called in honor of Col. John Preston,

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FLOYD COUNTY.

of Virginia, who owned the land) is the county seat ; it is situ- ated on Big Sandy river, about 71 miles from its mouth, 31 miles s. of Louisa, Lawrence county, and 47 miles E. of s. of Grayson, Carter county ; incorporated Jan. 2, 1818 ; population in 1870, ' 179. Lanesville is 12 miles s. E., and Martinsdale about an equal distance s. of Prestonsburg ; both very small places.

STATISTICS OF FLOYD COUNTY.

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

Population, from 1800 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 FLOYD COUNTY.

Senate .- Benj. South, 1814-19; Alex. Lackey, 1819-23; Henry B. Mayo, 1823-27; David K. Harris, 1827-34; Henry C. Harris, 1843-47; John P. Martin, 1855-59; Alex. L. Martin, 1871-75. From Floyd and Pike counties-Samuel May, 1834-39. From Floyd and Montgomery counties-Richard Manifee, 1814.

House of Representatives .- Henry Stratton, 1815; Alex. Lackey, 1816, '17, '18, '25, '26, '30, '31, '40; Henry B. Mayo, 1819; David K. Harris, 1820; Richard R. Lee, 1820, May '22; Jas. Stratton, 1821 ; Henry C. Harris, 1834, '35,'38; Thos. Cecil, 1839; John P. Martin, 1841, '43; Jas. H. Lane, 1845; John M. Elliott, 1847, '61-63, ex- pelled Dec. 21, 1861, for being connected with, or giving aid and comfort to the Con- federate army ; succeeded by Thos. S. Brown, 1862-63; John M. Burns, 1857-59; Alex. L. Martin, 1867-69; Jos. M. Davidson, 1869-71, '71-73.

[From Clay and Floyd counties-John Hibbard, 1809; John Bates, 1811. From Floyd and Pike counties-Robert Walker, Peter Amyx, 1822; Jacob Mayo, 1824; Thos. W. Graham, Jacob Heaberlin, 1827; Samuel May, 1832, '33; G. Lackey, 1836. From Floyd, Pike, and Johnson counties-Bernard H. Garrett, 1850.]

Coal .- Five or six different beds of coal overlie each other, in the hills around Prestonsburg. The main bed-which averages about 4 feet, with a clay parting, 10 inches from the top of the coal, which thickens up stream, towards the south, to 8 inches, and thins down stream to half an inch-is situated 70 to 80 feet above the bed of Big Sandy river ; one 60, and one 150 feet higher ; one 40 or 50 feet lower, one at low water, and one below the bed of the river. A bed of coal, supposed to be a distinct bed, crops out just opposite Prestonsburg, .98 feet above the river, which is of a compact, close texture, approaching cannel coal, and is different from the main coal in appearance, fracture, composition, and roof. The coal bed of Col. Martin, two miles above Prestonsburg, on the East branch of Big Sandy, 60 feet above the river, has 3 feet 10 inches to 4 feet of remarkably pure coal; is but little changed in form in burning, and has but little bitumen-a material which acts injuriously in a coal used for smelting iron. The main bed of coal is one of the best in Kentucky for manufacturing purposes.

The Burning Spring, 17 miles from Prestonsburg, emits constantly a thick sulphurous vapor, and instantly ignites on the application of fire.

The First White Visitors upon the territory of what is now Floyd county were probably one or more of the parties who came to eastern Kentucky, at different dates before the Revolutionary war, in search of " Swift's silver mine," and worked it (see that title in the Index).

In Dec., 1775 (as appears from depositions copied in the court records in 1796 of Mason county, when that county extended over the entire Sandy river region and northeastern Kentucky), Wm. Thornton, James Fowler, and Wmn. Pitman left Clinch river, in s. w. Virginia, on a bear-hunting expedi- tion, and came out through Little Paint Gap, thence on to the head of Shel- by creek, and down it some distance, then took an old Indian track along under the dividing ridge on the waters of Sandy ; then left the trace and camped on a creek called (by Fowler) Beaver creek, now in Floyd county. Fowler discovered a salt lick, which he called Fowler's Lick, about 60 miles from Little Paint Gap. They did not cross the main fork of Sandy at all.

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FLOYD COUNTY.

In March, 1796, Wm. Thornton came again to this lick for salt, in company with Philip Roberts.

Col. JOHN FLOYD, in honor of whom this county was named, was one of the great men of early Kentucky. His grandfather was one of two brothers who emigrated from Wales to Accomac co., Va., and from whom sprang all the Floyds of Virginia, Kentucky, and Georgia. His father, Wm. Floyd, and his mother, Abadiah Davis, of Amherst co., Va. (the mother of the latter was of Indian descent, by the marriage of an English fur-trader with an Indian squaw, the daughter of Powhatan's brother -- who is spoken of in . Beverly's History of Virginia as a remarkable man, and his name preserved) emigrated to Jefferson co., Ky., at an early day ; and were living as late as 1800. They were then both, although over 90 years old, erect and hand- some-the wife with fine, calin, bright eyes and white teeth, with all the coun- tenance, high bearing, courage, and composure which characterized noble forest ancestry.

John Floyd-one of five brothers, three of whom and two brothers-in-law were killed by Indians (a remarkable illustration of the danger of those times and of pioneer life)-was born in Virginia about 1750. He was considerably educated for those days, and traveled a good deal. At 18 years of age he married a lady only 14, Miss Burwell, of Chesterfield county, who died within a year; and ten years after, he married Miss Jane Buckhannon (or Buch- anan), granddaughter of Col. Jas. Patton, the pioneer settler of the valley of Virginia, killed by Indians at Smithfield about 1738. His children who sur- vived him were-Mourning (afterwards Mrs. Gen. Chas. Stuart, of Ga.), George R. C. (a colonel in the war of 1812, died in 1821), and John (born near Louisville, April 24, 1783, removed to Virginia when 21 years old, served many years in the legislature of that state, in congress for 12 years, 1817-29, and as governor for 5 years, 1829-34, and died at the Sweet Springs, Aug. 16, 1837, aged 54).

On May 2, 1774, Jolin Floyd-as assistant or deputy surveyor under Col. Wm. Preston, surveyor of Fincastle co., Va., which then included all of Ken- tucky-made his first survey on the Ohio river, which he was then descend- ing,* in now Lewis county, Ky., opposite the mouth of the Scioto river, for the great patriot-orator of Virginia und the Revolution, Patrick Henry -- 200 acres, binding 1} miles on the Ohio; and other surveys as follows : 4 miles below the above, on the same day ; May 7th, just below where Dover now is, in Mason county ; May 11th, in Kenton county, about 9 miles below Coving- ton ; May 12th, at and including Big Bone Lick, in Boone county ; May 16th, in Carroll county, 3 miles above the mouth of the Kentucky river ; May 24th, about Il miles below the mouth of that river, in Trimble county; May 27th, in Jefferson county, 19 miles above the Falls of the Ohio; June 2d, 5 miles below the Falls ; June 6th, at the mouth of Beargrass creek ; thence in the Elkhorn country, in the present counties of Seott, Fayette, and Wood- ford. Two other celebrated surveyors, Hancock Taylor and Jas. Douglass- deputies, like himself, of Col. Wm. Preston, and remarkable men-were either in his party, or had separate parties a few days behind. They were recalled July, 1774, by an order from Gov. Dunmore, of Va., who sent out Daniel Boone as a special messenger, accompanied by Michael Stoner-on account of threatened Indian hostilities. Indeed, Boone deposest that he found them already alarmed, and posted about the danger. Hanevek Taylor was wounded by the Indians, and died soon after, when on his way back to Virginia (see under Madison and Woodford counties, and in Index).

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Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 37

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