Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 38

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 38

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Col. Floyd returned to Kentucky in April, 1775, had a camp on Dick's river, with 31 men from Virginia, and was engaged in surveying, during the year, all through central Kentucky. On May 23-26, of that year, he was one of the delegates from the town of St. Asaph (Stanlord) to the assembly at

* The author has gathered the facts in this sketch from the records of the land office of Kentucky, from depositions of contemporaries of Col. Floyd, from recent letters of his granddaughter, Mrs. Lettice P. Lewis, of Va., and from other manuscript and printed sources gathered with much labor. R.H.C.

t April 24, 1794, at Point Pleasant, Va.

FLOYD COUNTY.' 239

Boonesborough-which organized the government of Transylvania, and made some laws for the infant colony (see under Madison county). He united his fortunes with Henderson & Co., so far as to become their principal surveyor. In July, 1776, he accompanied Daniel Boone in the pursuit and rescue of his daughter, Jemima, and of Elizabeth and Fanny Callaway, whom the savages had captured-of which thrilling occurrence his account* does equal credit to his soldiership and pen. In the ensuing month, he was surveying at the mouth of the Kentucky river.

Col. Floyd, during the ensuing six years, nearly five of which he spent in Kentucky, was among the foremost in all that was planned and executed for the protection of the settlers and the development of the country. He was with Gen. George Rogers Clark in several of his military expeditions, and like that great commander, became known to and much feared by the Indians. He was offered, by the British commander at Detroit, a considerable sumn of money and the promise of the title of duke, if he would join the British. in- terests and induce the Indians to make war upon the white settlements in Kentucky. But like his great friend, Clark, who was also thus tempted, he indignantly spurned the insulting offer. In 1779, he settled a station quite near the Falls ; but soon after abandoned it and built a station on Bear- grass, about 10 miles distant, which was called by his name, and became well known.

In 1781, hearing of the disaster to the settlers at Squire Boone's station (near Shelbyville) while removing for safety to the stronger settlements on Beargrass, Col. Floyd collected 25 men, and with noble promptitude hurried to relieve the whites and chastise the Indians. He fell into an ambusende- in spite of the precaution of dividing his force, and marching with great care-and was defeated by a body of 200 Indians, losing half his men, al- though but 9 or 10 Indians were killed. While himself retreating. on foot, closely pursued by Indians, and much exhausted, Capt. Samuel Wells (who had retained his horse) dismounted and gave it to Floyd, and ran by his side to support him. This magnanimity was greatly enhanced because of previ- ous personal hostility between those officers-which was thus cancelled forever; " they lived and died friends."

On April 12, 1783, Col. Floyd and his brother Charles, not suspecting any ambush or danger from the Indians-for there had recently been serious trouble with them, and they were supposed to have retreated to a safe dis- tance-were riding together, some miles from Floyd's station, when they were fired upon, and the former mortally wounded. He was dressed in his wedding coat, of scarlet cloth, and was thus a prominent mark. His brother, abandoning his own horse, which was wounded, sprang up behind his saddle, and putting his arms around the colonel, took the reins and rode off with the wounded man to his home, where he died in a few hours. Col. Floyd had a remarkable horse that he usually rode, which had the singular instinct of knowing when Indians were near, and always gave to his rider the sign of their presence. He remarked to his brother, "Charles, if I had been riding Pompey, to-day, this would not have happened."

Col. Floyd was a man over six feet high, very military in his bearing, of beautiful personal appearance, exceedingly agreeable, and had a cahn, re- tained, and impressive manner that gave him great influence. Inintelligence, education, and enterprise he was one of the foremost men in Kentucky. No portrait of him is in existence. In the fall of 1776, he went back to Vir- ginia, fitted out a privateer, cruised extensively and destroyed much British shipping, but was made prisoner, with his partner (Col. Radford, of Bedford co., Va.), taken to Dartmouth, in England, and confined for nearly a year; was assisted to escape by the jailor's wife, who had a rebel brother in America, and favored the cause; was sent across the British channel to France, in a little vessel owned by a relative of the jailor's wife; thence went to Paris, and was furnished by Dr. Benjamin Franklin with means to return to Virginia.

* Letter to Col. Wm. Preston, July 21, 1776.

240

FRANKLIN COUNTY.

FRANKLIN county, the 18th in order of formation, was estab- lished in 1794, out of parts of Woodford, Mercer, and Shelby counties, and. named in honor of the distinguished patriot and statesman, Benjamin Franklin. Portions of it were taken to form the counties of Gallatin in 1798, Owen in 1819, and Ander- son in 1827. It embraces nearly 200 square miles, lies on both sides of the Kentucky river, and is bounded N. by Henry and Owen counties, E. by Scott, s. E. by Woodford, s. by Anderson, and w. by Shelby. The face of the country is diversified ; a small portion, next to Scott and Woodford counties, gently un- dulating ; another part, intersected by the small streams which flow into the Kentucky river, rolling and hilly ; while tall cliffs, in many places quite precipitous, rear their heads along the meandering course of that river through the county-making the stream difficult of access for crossing except at few points. The other streams are North, South and Main Elkhorn, Big and Little Benson, and Flat creeks-all which afford good sites for grist and saw mills, and small factories. The Lock and Dam on the Kentucky river, one mile below Frankfort, affords water-power of great extent and durability, but has been but little used. The soil is a clay loam, mixed with small particles of bog iron ore, and underlaid by thinly stratified limestone. The crops raised for export are corn, wheat, rye, barley, hemp, and tobacco. Much attention is paid to the raising of fine blooded stock, and to horses, mules, sheep, cattle, and hogs for market.

Towns .- Frankfort, the capital of the state of Kentucky since the year after its admission into the Union, and the seat of justice of Franklin county, is situated on both sides of the Kentucky river, 66 miles above its mouth, and on the railroad from Louis- ville to Lexington, 65 E. of Louisville, and 29 N. of w. of Lex- ington ; it stands on a small elevated plain, almost surrounded by high hills and river . bluff's ; contains-besides the capital, state office buildings, governor's mansion, and penitentiary-a brick court house and clerks' offices, 7 churches (Presbyterian, Methodist, Reformed or Christian, Baptist, Episcopal, Roman Catholic, and African), 3 banks, 2 steam printing establishments (both of which have done the state printing, one has published the Yeoman since its establishment in 1840, and the other published the Commonwealth during its newspaper life, from April 9, 1833, to April 5, 1872, 39 years), 3 hotels, 20 lawyers, 12 physicians, 2 high schools, and other schools, several of the most extensive and finest flouring mills and saw mills in the state, a number of other manufactories and mechanic shops, and stores of all kinds. Several important manufactories were erected in 1871-74, and an organization effected and capital subscribed to increase the number and variety of such establishments. It is fast growing in manufacturing importance.

241

FRANKLIN COUNTY.

STATISTICS OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

When formed See page 26 | Hay, corn, wheat, tobacco ... pages 266, 268

.. p. 258 Horses, mules, cattle, and hogs ..... p. 268

Population, from 1800 to 1870 whites and colored .. ... p. 260 Taxable property, in 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 .sec Index ..

MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE FROM FRANKLIN COUNTY. .

Senate .- Bennett Pemberton, 1800-03, '03-07; John Allen, 1807-10 : Isham Talbot, 1812-14; Richard Taylor, 1814-18; John J. Marshall, 1820-24 : Jeptha Dudley, 1824-28 ; Benj. B. Johnson, 1841-44 ; John W. Russell, 1846-50 ; Thos. N. Lindsey, 1851-53 ; Philip Swigert, 1865-69 ; Wm. H. Sneed, 1872-73; Scott Brown, 1873-77.

House of Representatives .- Bennett Pemberton, 1796, '97, '98 ; Anthony Crockett, 1796, '99; Thos. Montague, 1797 ; Wm. Murray, 1798 ; John Smith, 1799, 1801 ; Otho Beatty, 1800; Baker Ewing, 1802; John Allen, 1803, '04, '05, '06 ; Humphrey Mar- shall, 1808 (elected by 11 majority over John M. Scott), 1809; Geo. Adams, 1810 (elected by 76 majority over Humphrey Marshall), 1811, '14; Martin D. Hardin, 1812, '18, '19 ; John Arnold, 1813; John J. Marshall, 1815, '16, '33; Philip White, 1816 ; Geo. M. Bibb, 1817 ; Chas. S. Todd, 1817, '18 ; Jas. MeBrayer, Win. Hunter, 1824; Lewis Sanders, Jr., 1825, '26, '27, '28 ; John J. Crittenden, 1825, '29, '30, '31, '32; David White, 1826; Jas. Downing, 1827 ; Jamison Samuel, 1834; John Harvie, 1835; Dandridge S. Crockett, 1836 ; Jas. T. Morehead, 1837; Chas. S. Morehead, 1838, '39, '40, '41, 42, '44, '53-55 ; Jas. Milan, 1843; Jas. Harlan, 1845; Wm. D. Reed, 1846 ; Landon A. Thomas, 1847 ; John A. Holton, 1848; Jas. Monroe, 1849; Lysander Hord, 1850 ; Andrew Monroe, 1851-53; John M. Hewitt, 1855-57 ; Thos. N. Lindsey, 1857-59; John Rodman, 1859-61 ; R. C. Anderson, 1861-63; H. M. Bedford, 1863-65; Jas. Harlan, Jr., 1865-67 ; Samuel I. M. Major, 1867-69; Daniel M. Bowen, 1869-71; Harry I. Todd, 1871-73; Dr. Benj. F. Duvall, 1873-75. From Franklin and Owen counties-Wm. Gerard, 1819, '20, '22; John H. Todd, 1820; Edward George, 1822.

Mineral Waters .- Several small streams of chalybeate water show them- selves about Frankfort. Scanlan's spring, at the Kentucky Military Insti- tute, was long a place of summer resort for invalids ; valuable medical salts have been made from the water. Faught's old sulphur spring, on Benson creek, not far from the railroad, was formerly much resorted to. A small but permanent stream of black sulphur water rises from a bottom on Flat creek. Magnesian water, and a reservoir of inflammable gas, were reached by deep boring at Steadman's Mills, on Main Elkhorn ; the water is used in the manufacture of fine printing paper, and the gas was used for a while for illu- minating purposes. All the wells in the valley at Frankfort have a mineral flavor.

Minerals .- Small veins of lead, imbedded in limestone, have been found in the bed of Flat creek ; also, on the banks of North Elkhorn, near Dr. Duvall's farm, where a considerable quantity of fine lead ore was obtained in opera- tions before 1857, but not in quantities to justify working.

Superior potter's clay, and a tolerably good fire clay, are found in the val- ley at Frankfort.

A stratified grey limestone, frost and fire proof, and fine for building pur- poses, is found on the railroad, 5 miles E. of Frankfort.

The Kentucky river marble is a beautiful building material. The capital of the state was built of polished marble, taken from the bed of the river, beneath the limestone formation. It is "a peculiar, smooth-textured, duve- colored limestone, with disseminated specks and veins of white calcarious spar;" and by some is termed a bird's-eye limestone. The principal beds are 20 feet above low water in the river, where the marble is from 8 to 12 inches thick ; and 34 feet higher, where it ranges from 8 to 18 inches. At Clay's ferry, in Fayette county, this marble appears nearly 100 feet higher in the bluffs; among the finest building and monumental stones in heu- tucky are tound at Grimes' quarry, a few miles from this ferry, as high as 5 feet in thickness.

Earliest Indian Fight .- In the year 1780, Wm. Bryan (one of the founders of Bryan's station), Nicholas Tomlin, Ellison E. Williams, Stephen Frank, and others, were on their way from Bryau's station and the fort at Lexington, to Mann's Salt Licks, in now Jefferson county, for the purpose of procuring

II ... 16

242

FRANKLIN COUNTY.

salt; and while encamping on the bank of the Kentucky river, where the town of Frankfort now stands, were attacked by a company of Indians. Frank was instantly killed, Tomlin and Bryan both wounded; the rest of the company escaped unhurt.

From this circumstance-the killing of Frank-it is said the place was called Frankfort.

In 1793, a party of hunters was pursued by the Indians to within five miles of Frankfort. It was reported at Lexington-but was regarded as a spiteful joke or taunt, because of the recent removal of the seat of government from there to Frankfort-that the Indians actually penetrated into Frankfort.

Leestown, one mile below Frankfort, was the first spot settled by whites, and as early as 1775 was a kind of stopping-place or resting-place for the explorers and improvers from the Pitt or Monongahela country, who came in canoes down the Ohio and up the Kentucky, to "look out the land." In March, 1789, Rev. Jedidiah Morse, D. D.,. the great American geographer, described it as " west of Lexington on the eastern bank of Kentucky river. It is regularly laid out and is flourishing. The banks of Kentucky river are remarkably high, in some places 300 and 400 feet, composed generally of stupendous perpendicular rock. The consequence is there are few crossing places ; the best is at Leestown, which is a circumstance that must contribute much to its increase." And yet it never increased much, and the very loca- tion is known only to a few. Dr. Morse does not even name Frankfort, al- though it had been " established " by the Virginia legislature in 1786.

Daniel Boone as a Road Contractor .- The first road or trace in Kentucky- that from Cumberland Gap to Boonesborough-was marked out or opened in March, 1775, by Col. Daniel Boone, under a contract with Col. Richard Hen- derson & Co. For almost a century it has been known as Boone's trace, and many miles of it are still traveled and distinct.

In Dec., 1795, the legislature passed an act providing for the enlargement to the width of thirty feet, and the leveling and improving of the great thoroughfare from Crab Orchard to Cumberland Gap, much of which is part of the original Boone's trace. Upon proposals being advertised for, the old pioneer-realizing the peculiar fitness of things which had marked his early life in Kentucky-addressed to Gov. Isaac Shelby the following characteristic letter, which was found a few years ago among the papers of that military governor. The copy below is accurate-even to the spelling, capitalization, and punctuation of the original; there being no object in securing the mean- ing and facts, as in the case of his letter (under Nicholas county) describing the battle of the Blue Licks. The handwriting is rather graceful, showing some ease and freedom in handling the pen; although it is evident that Boone more effectively made his mark with his rifle than as a speller : Sir

feburey the 11th 1796

after my Best Respts to your Excelancy and famyly I wish to inform you that I have sum intention of undertaking this New Rode that is to be Cut through the Wilderness and I think My Self intiteled to the ofer of the Bis- ness as I first Marked out that Rode in March 1775 and Never Re'd anything for my trubel and Sepose I am No Statesman I am a Woodsman and think My Self as Capable of Marking and Cutting that Rode as any other man Sir if you think with Me I would thank you to wright mee a Line By the post the first oportuneaty and he Will Lodge it at Mr John Miler son hinkston fork as I wish to know Where and When it is to be Laat [let] So that I may atend at the time

I am Deer Sir your very omble sarvent

Daniel Boone

To his Excelancy governor Shelby.

243

FRANKLIN COUNTY.

There is no reason to believe that the noble pioneer was successful in securing the contract; indeed, an amended act of the next legislature makes it almost certain that he did not-most probably because he did not press his proposal.

This letter is another indication of Boone's restlessness and unwillingness to be cramped by the necessities and requirements of civilized life. On April 24, 1794," he was at Point Pleasant, now West Virginia ; Feb. 11, 1796,7 a few miles from Paris, Bourbon co., Ky. ; on Sunday morning, April 9, 1797,± in a canoe floating down the Ohio river, just opposite the mouth of the Great Miami, and bound for Missouri; and on March 17, 1810,|| a hunter on the banks of the Missouri river, near the mouth of the Charette. The advancing wave of formal civilization found him steadily retreating before it. He loved the largest liberty, and found it only in the wilderness.

The First Water Works in Kentucky were established at Frankfort, in 1804. Richard Throckmorton laid wooden pipes from the Cedar Cove spring into the town of Frankfort, and also into the penitentiary, supplying both by the natural flow of the water.

Frankfort, in 1810, is described by Zadok Cramer, in his "Navigator," published at Pittsburgh, 1811, as containing about 140 houses, three printing offices; one book store, a circulating library, and book bindery ; 18 mercantile stores ; a state bank, established in the fall of 1807. The state legislature meets here annually, and sits during the winter months. The town is improv- ing fast in building, manufactures, etc.

"There have been a number of vessels of burden built here, and freighted with the produce of the county to New Orleans, West India islands, etc. A few miles above Frankfort, on the Kentucky river, are two considerable vineyards, which are likely to prove successful in the manufacture of good wine.

" Frankfort is seated in a flat or plain, under a considerable hill to the v. E., while the Kentucky river runs round it to the s. w., in the form of a half moon. Part of the plain to the N. w. of the town is subject to inundation, and consequently not built on. It used to be a stagnant pond, but Gen. Wil- kinson, when stationed at Frankfort about the year 1795-6, dug ditches through it and drained it of its noxious effluvia ; the same practice has been continued by the inhabitants, and the health of the citizens preserved. The river at Frankfort has an appearance of having left its old bed, which may have run through a pleasant valley or glen (now a fine meadow) between the hill back of Frankfort and that whose point comes to the river just below the town, and obliquely opposite the hill on the s. w. side of the river, where the fracture by some great convulsion of nature may have taken place.

" The Kentucky river at Frankfort is narrow, with bold banks of limestone rock, admirably calculated for building, running in horizontal veins of from six to twelve inches thick ; it has been known to rise 50 feet perpendicular in 24 hours. The bridge now erecting at Frankfort will add facility to the commerce of the town; it is building on the plan of Judge Finley's chain bridge ; will cost about $25,000, is 3343 feet span, having one pier in the middle of the river 65 feet in height; whole length about 700 feet, and IS broad. The two chains for this bridge were made at Pittsburgh, and weigh about twelve tous, of inch and a half square bar. There was much difficulty in getting a foundation for the western abutment, arising from a kind of quick sand and water rushing at bottom upon workmen as fast as they could discharge tuem at top with pumps and buckets worked night and day. " A steamboat-that is, a large boat to be propelled by the power of steam -- was on the stocks a little above town. She is intended for the trade of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. The buildings of Frankfort are principally of brick, and of a han isome style. The state house is a large three-story stone building, and stanus in the middle of a large yard, and like too many publick things, appears much neglected for want of repairs and cleanliness. The new bank is a handsome brick building and stands in range with the new bridge and the state house.

His own deposition. t His letter above.

¿ Francis Bally's Tour in N. America in 1796-97, p. 233.

John Bradbury's Travels in the Interior of America in 1809, '10, '11, p. 16.

244

FRANKLIN COUNTY.

" A mile below Frankfort there is a saw and grist mill in the river, which in low water does a good deal of business ; but it is not uneommon to see it completely covered by the floods of the river, to withstand which it has no roof, is open on all sides, and is heavily loaded down on the corners and in the middle of the frame at top with piles of stones. The mill is owned by a Mr. Hawkins. Boats pass it through a shute, by lifting a few boards at its head, which when replaced, form a dam for the mill. With some difficulty the Kentucky river can be navigated from Frankfort, with light flat-bottomed boats, to the Ohio, in the lowest stages of the water, but for about eight months in the year the navigation is very good. Two miles below Frankfort there is a bank of fine white sand thrown up by the river, said to be well ealeu- lated for the. manufacture of glass. Mr. Greenup, formerly governor, has it in contemplation, it is said, to establish a glass house at or near this place ; and the establishment of a brew house is talked of by the citizens of the town."

Probably the First Female Sabbath-School in Kentucky was established in Mareh, 1819, in Frankfort, with from 30 to 39 scholars. During the year ending Sept. 30, 1822, those who distinguished themselves by their assiduity were A. M. B. Crittenden, who memorized 2,851 Bible verses in twelve months; Cornelia Crittenden (six years of age), 2,177 ; Margaretta B. Sproule, 2,022; Emily South, 1,908; Cordelia Price, 1,514; Maria R. Miles, 2,010; Elizabeth S. Todd, 1,373; Ann Price, 1,202; Ann Miles, 1,039; Catharine Baltzell, 1,028; Jane Castleman, 742; Gabriella Lewis, 565; Maria Lewis, 544; Agnes Todd, 471; M. A. Watson, 404; Margaret Smith, 558; Arabella Scott, in six months, 893; Elizabeth Scott, in five months, 719; Nancy Me- Kee, in four months, 601; Louisa Jones, in three months, 630; Mary Lafon, in one month, 364. The number of verses memorized by all the scholars, collectively, is 36,640. One class, during two years and a half attendance, read the Bible onee entirely through, and some books of it several times over -memorized from 5,000 to 7,000 verses each-were perfeet in Brown's and the Assembly's Shorter Catechisms-had each searched out, transcribed and memorized nearly 600 verses of Scripture proofs in support of the doetrines which they had been taught, and had drawn and studied maps of such parts of the world as are connected with Scripture history.

THE STATE HOUSES OF KENTUCKY.

The First State House was temporary. The first session of the first general assembly of Kentucky-the district having been, on June 1, 1792, admitted into the Union as a state-was begun in Lexington on Monday, the 4th of June, succeeding ; and the second session on Monday, the 5th of November, of the same year .* These meetings were held in "a two-story log building, that stood nearly in the center of the east side of Main street, between Mill street and Broadway."f No deseription of this building, its dimensions or internal arrangement, has been preserved. It was not built for the purposes of a state house, and when the second session of the first general assembly was closed, on Dec. 22, 1792, it reverted to its original use. No rent appears to have been paid for it; but on June 29, 1792, $15 was appropriated " to the person who eleans the state house," " 12 shillings [$2] to Joel Collins, for a ballot-box for the senate," and "21s. 6d [$3.58}] to the person who raised the pole and flag;" and on Dec. 22, 1792, £4 [$13}] to Thomas Whitney, for making a writing table and press for the use of the clerk of the house of re- presentatives, and £2 Ts. [$7.83}] to the sergeant-at-arms for repairs made to the state house. On the day last named the general assembly adjourned, " to hold its next sessions in the house of Andrew Holmes, at Frankfort, on the Kentucky river;" and Lexington ceased to be the seat of goverment of the new state. The office of the first state treasurer, John Logan, of Lincoln county-who was required to execute bond with security in the sum of £100,000 [$333,333}] " to faithfully account for and pay over a revenue which proved so limited or came in so slowly that he was required, by act of Dec. 17, 1792, to borrow more money, not exceeding £2,000 [80,666;] in-

Acts, 1792.

t Ranck's History of Lexington, p. 173.

ANDREW HOLMES' (MAJ. JAMES LOVE'S) HOUSE, FRANKFORT, KY. 1793 to 1870. (Occupied in 1793, as the Second (Temporary) State House.)

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Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 38

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