USA > Kentucky > Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II > Part 4
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WASHINGTON, in Mason co., 33 miles s. w. of Maysville ; settled by Simon Kenton in 1784; laid out as a town in 1786, by Rev. Win. Wood and Arthur Fox, sen.
WHIPPOORWILL creek, Logan co. ; settlement in 1784, by the Mauldings.
WHITAKER'S Station, in Bullitt co. ; settled by Capt. Aquilla Whitaker, the hero of the fight at the foot of the Falls of the Ohio, on March 1, 1781.
WHITE OAK SPRING (or Hart's) Station. [See Hart's Station. ]
WHITLEY's Station, in Lincoln co., 2 miles s. w. of Crab Orchard. " In 1779, they found Col. Wm. Whitley's Station at Dick's river, on the Ky. trace from Cumberland Gap." On the spot still stands a two-story brick house-claimed to be the first brick house built in Kentucky, the windows are set over six feet above the floor, to prevent the Indians seeing or shoot- ing into the room.
WILDERNESS, the great traveled road from Virginia to Kentucky, through Cumberland Gap, Hazel Patch, Crab Orchard, and Stanford, to Danville and Central Kentucky.
WILSON'S Station, in Mercer co., on a branch of Salt river, 2 miles N. w. of Harrodsburg.
WILSON'S Station (another), in Lincoln co., at the fork Clark's run ; 1785.
WORTHINGTON'S Station or Fort, in Lincoln co., 4 miles s. E. of Danville ; settled in 1779, by Capt. Edward Worthington, one of the "Long Hunters;" (sometimes improperly called Waddington's).
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APPENDIX TO THE DICTIONARY
OF THE
STATIONS AND EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN KENTUCKY
The following additional Stations and Settlements in early Kentucky were gathere during my later researches and inquiries among court records and depositions, an private papers. R. H. C.
ADAMS' (Geo.) Station, in Garrard co.
ARNOLD'S (John) Station, on Little Benson creek, 7 miles above Frankfort . 1783.
ARRINGTON's Station, in southern Kentucky; 1788.
BALLARD's (Bland) Station, in Shelby co. ; usually called Tyler's.
BELL's Station, in Madison co. (see p. 521).
BLOCKHOUSE ON BIG SANDY river, near or above Louisa, Lawrence co.
GEORGE BOONE's Station, 23 miles N. w. of Richmond (see p. 521).
BURNT Station, on or near Simpson's creek, in Nelson eo.
BUSH's (Wm. ) Station or Settlement, in Clark co., near Boonesborough.
CAMPBELL'S Station, on the Dry Ridge, in now Grant co., 3 miles N. o Williamstown, and 33 miles from the mouth of Licking; settled some tim: before 1792.
CARTWRIGHT's Station; settled in 1779.
CLARK's Station, on Clark's run, a branch of Dick's river; settled by Ger Clark before Nov., 1779.
, COLLINS' Station, on Rockcastle river.
COOPER's Station, on Cooper's run, in Bourbon co., 2 miles from Kiser's.
ELIJAH CRAIG'S Station, 5 miles from Versailles; 1783.
-- CREWS' (David) Station, in Madison co. (see p. 521) ; 1781.
Curris' Station, in Mason co. (see p. 555).
DAVIESS' (James) Station, about 5 miles w. of Whitley's.
DOVER Station, in Garrard co., on waters of Dick's river.
DOWNING's Station, E. of and near Dick's river, not far from Danville.
ELLIS' Station, at Ellisville, Nicholas co.
ENGLISH's Station, on s. bank of Dick's river, in Lincoln co., 3 miles E. o Crab Orchard.
ESTILL'S NEW Station, 5 miles s. E. of Richmond (see p. 521).
FIELDS' (W m.) Station, 1} miles w. of Danville.
FISHER'S (Stephen) Garrison, not far from Danville.
FLORER'S Station, on the " middle trace" from Maysville to Lexington 1792.
FORKS OF ELKHORN Settlement, in Scott co.
Fox's (Arthur) Station ; same as Washington.
GIVENS' (Samuel) Station, 1} miles s. w. of Danville, on a branch of Clark' run ; settled before Feb., 1780; afterwards called John Reed's Station.
GOAR's Station, in Franklin co., on N. side of Elkhorn creek.
GREAT CROSSINGS Station, in Scott co., about 2 miles w. of Georgetown same as Col. Johnson's.
HARBESON'S Station, probably in E. part of Washington county, on roa from Harrodsburg to Bardstown.
HOLDER'S (Jolin) Station, on Ky. river, 2 miles below Boonesborough.
HooD's Station, in Clark co. ; before 1792.
IRISH Station, between Danville and mouth of Dick's river.
JOHNSON'S (Col. Robert) Station, at the Great Buffalo Crossings on Nort Elkhorn, in Scott co .; settled in winter of 1783-84.
KENTON'S (Simon) Station ; several blockhouses built by Simon Kentor who brought to them from Pennsylvania his father's family, and remaine with them until July, 1784.
KENNEDY's Station, in Garrard co., between Paint Lick creek and Dick' river.
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24
APPENDIX TO THE DICTIONARY OF STATIONS.
LEITCH's Station, about 6 miles above the mouth of Licking, on the E. bank, in now Campbell county ; settled in 1790 by Maj. David Leitch (after whom Litchfield, Grayson co., was named).
LIBERTY Fort, on Salt river in Mercer county, aths mile below McAfee's Station.
LITTELL's Station, now the site of Williamstown, Grant co .; settled before 1792.
THE LITTLE FORT; same as Twetty's (see p. 520); 1775.
LINDSAY's Station, in Scott co , near Lecompt's run.
LOCUST THICKET Fort, in Madison co. ; before 1780.
MARBLE CREEK Station, 7 miles from Boonesborough.
MASTERSON'S (James) Station, 5 miles N. w. of Lexington. The first Meth- odist E. church building in Kv. was erected here-a plain log structure- in 1790, or earlier; and in 1871 was still standing.
MAY'S LICK Settlement, at Mayslick, Mason co. (see pp. 555, 563).
McCONNELL's Station, settled by Wm. McConnell in 1783 or earlier, at the royal spring near (now in) Lexington, was not so fortified as to be regarded as a regular station, and was soon merged in Lexington.
MCCORMICK's Station, on top of first ridge N. or N. w. of Knob Lick fork of Hanging Fork of Dick's river.
McGUIRE's Station, same as McGEE's (see p. 21); so called, sometimes, because James McGuire was prominent there in 1780.
MCKINLEY's Block House, on the old buffalo trace s. of Washington, Mason co., where David Hunter lived in 1873; built by Jas. Mckinley in 1785.
MCMILLIN's Fort, in Bourbon or Harrison co .; 1779.
MEAUX's Station, probably in Boyle or Mercer co .; 1789.
MEEK's Station, on the waters of Drennon's Lick, 20 miles from the Ohio river at the mouth of 18 Mile creek.
OWEN's (Bracket) Station, near Shelbyville (see p. 710); 1782.
OWINGS' Station, on road from Lexington to Paris.
PAINT LICE Station, in Garrard co., near Madison co. line.
POND Station, in McLean co., 4 miles s. w. of Calhoon ; 1790.
REED's (John) Station, near Danville ; same as Givens'.
"ROGERS' Station (another), towards Strode's station, in Clark co.
SALT RIVER GARRISON ; before 1780.
SCRIVNER's Station, in Madison co.
SHALLOW-FORD Station, in Madison co. (see p. 521).
SMITH's Station, on road from Danville to mouth of Dick's river. STEVENSON's Station, on Paint Lick creek, probably in Garrard co.
SUMMIT Station, in Nicholas co., 12 miles from Lower Blue Licks. TANNER'S (John) Station, 6 miles N. w. of Richmond (see p. 521). TANNER'S Station, at Lower Blue Licks; Nov., 1784.
TWETTY's Fort, the first fort in Ky., 5 miles s. of Richmond (see p. 520); 1775.
VANCE's Station, on Green river, 15 miles from its mouth ; before April, 1780.
VANCOUVER'S (Charles) Fort, in forks of Big Sandy river; settled in 1789, but abandoned in 1790.
VANMETER's (Jacob) Fort, in Hardin co .; before 1790.
VIENNA Station, in McLean co., at the falls of Green river; now Calhoon. WARNER'S Station, on Otter creek, in Madison Co.
WARREN'S (Thos.) Station, in Madison co. (see p. 521).
WELLS' Station, in w. part of Mason co.
WELLS' (Samuel) Station, 33 miles N. w. of Shelbyville.
WHALEY's Station, in Mason co. (see p. 555).
WILLIAMS' (David) Station, 5 miles N. E. from Harrodsburg.
WOODS' (John) Station, in Madison co. (see p. 521).
,
THE COUNTIES, OF KENTUCKY.
WHEN separated from Virginia and admitted into the Union, in 1792, Ken- tucky had 9 counties. This number was increased to 43 in 1800, to 54 in 1810, to 68 in 1820, to 83 in 1830, to 90 in 1840, to 100 in 1850, to .10 in 1860, and to 116 in 1870-none having been established between 1870 and January 1, 1874. Thus the increase was 34 in the first decade of the State's existence, 11 in the second, 14 in the third, and 15, 7, 10, 10, and 6, in- the other five decades respectively.
Taking the assessors' reports as an approximate basis, it appears that 3 counties (Powell, Robertson, and Gallatin) have each an area less than 100 square miles; 10 others, between 100 and 150 square miles ; 20 others, less than 200 square miles; 19 others, less than 250; 25 others, less than 300 square miles ; 8 others, less than 350 square miles ; 6 others, less than 400; 13 others, less than 450; 3 others (Carter, Hopkins, and Warren), less than 500; 5 others (Breckinridge, Graves, Hardin, Logan, and Ohio), less than 550; Christian and Pulaski have each about 560 square miles; while Pike has over 600, and Harlan nearly 650 square miles.
The total area of Kentucky is 37,680 square miles; and the average area of the 116 counties, 325 square miles-which exceeds the size of 77 (or two- thirds) of the counties. The population or average number of persons to each square mile was, in 1850, 26.07; in 1860, 30.94; and in 1870, 35.33.
The present state of Kentucky was, prior to December 31st, 1776, a portion of the county of Fincastle, in the state of Virginia. By act of the legislature of Virginia, from and after that day, Fincastle was divided into three coun- ties-of which one was called Kentucky, and embraced "all that part thereof which lies to the south and westward of a line beginning on the Ohio river, at the mouth of Great Sandy creek, and running up the same and the main or north-easterly branch thereof to the Great Laurel ridge, or Cumberland mountain; thence south-westerly along the said mountain to the line of North Carolina."
In May, 1780, Kentucky county was divided into three counties-Jefferson, Fayette, and Lincoln. Jefferson embraced "that part of the south side of Kentucky river which lies west and north of a line beginning at the mouth of Benson's big creek, and running up the same and its main fork to the head ; thence south to the nearest waters of Hammond's creek, and down the same to its junction with the Town fork of Salt river; thence south to Green river, and down the same to its junction with the Ohio." Fayette embraced "that part which lies north of the line beginning at the mouth of the Kentucky river, and up the same to its middle fork to the head; and thence south-east to Washington * line." Lincoln county embraced the residue of Kentucky county.
In October, 1784, an act of the Virginia Assembly divided Jefferson county by Salt river, and gave the name of Nelson to the southern portion.
Another act, which took effect May 1, 1785, divided Fayette, calling the northi- ern portion Bourbon. August Ist, of the same year, another act subdivided Lincoln, and formed out of parts of it the new counties of Mercer and Madison. On the Ist of May, 1788, Mason county was formed out of part of Bourbon, and Woodford out of part of Fayette-thereby making four counties out of the original Fayette, two out of Jefferson, and three out of Lincoln. These nine counties comprised the commonwealth of Kentucky when she formally entered the sisterhood of states, on June 1, 1792. Washington county was the first-born of the new state.
. I. e., the present boundary line between Kentucky and Tennessee. In the colonial assembly of North Carolina, in 1776, the theu territory (now state) of Tennessee was represented by deputies as the District of Washington.
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1
26
COUNTIES OF KENTUCKY.
Acts for the erection of new counties were passed in the order, at the dates, and out of other counties, as below : 1 Old Counties out of Old Counties out of New Counties. . New Counties. which formed. YEAR.
1. Jefferson ... Kentucky 1780 66. Trigg Christian & Caldwell.1820
2. Fayette
3. Lincoln 66
4. ₪ Ison Jefferson 1784
5. Bo ırbon Fayette 1785 70. Pike .
6. Me cer Lincoln
7. Ma ison
8. Ma:on. Bourbon 1788
9. Woodford Fayette 66
10. Was ington Nelson 1792
11. Scott
Woodford 66
Jefferson 66
13. Logan. Lincoln
14. Clark Fayette and Bourbon.
15. Hardin Nelson. 66
16. Greene Lincoln and Nelson ..
17. Harrison Bourbon and Scott .... 1793
18. Franklin .. Woodford, Mercer & Shelby 1794
19. Campbell .. Harrison, Scott, Mason "
20. Bullitt.
Jefferson and Nelson. 1796
21. Christian ... Logan
22. Montgomery Clark
23. Bracken
Mason and Campbell
21. Warren. Logan
25. Garrard Mercer, Lincoln, and Madison.
26. Fleming Mason. 1798
27. Pulaski Lincoln and Greene .
23. Pendleton .. Bracken & Campbell. ¥
29. Livingston. Christian
30. Boone ..
Campbell
31. Henry Shelby 66 94. Boyle Mercer and Lincoln ..
32. Cumberland. Greene
33. Gallatin .. .... Franklin and Shelby.
34. Muhlenburg Logan and Christian.
35. Ohio. Hardin.
36. Jessamine ... Fayette 66
37. Barren. .....
Warren and Greene ...
38. Henderson .. Christian.
39. Breckinridge. Hardin .. 1799
40. Floyd Fleming, Montgomery and Mason.
41. Knox Lincoln
42. Nicholas Bourbon & Mason ....
43. Wayne Pulaski, Cumberl'nd. 1800 1801
44. Adair Greene
45. Greenup Mason. 1803
46. Casey Lincoln 1806
47. Clay Madi'n, Knox, Floyd
48. Lewis Mason
49. flopkins Henderson.
50. Estill Madison and Clark ... 1808
51. Caldwell Livingston 1809
52. Rockcastle .. Lincoln, Pulaski, Madi- son, and Knox ... 1810
53. Butler Logan and Ohio
54. Gray.on Hardin and Ohio
55. Union Henderson IS11
56. Bath Montgomery.
Warren and Barren.
.1815
57. Allen
58. Daviess Ohio .. Knox 1818
59. Whitley
63. Simpson Logan, Warren, Allen " 64. Todd Logan and Christian. "
65. Monroe Barren, Cumberland. 1820
which formed. YEAR.
67. Grant. Pendleton . 66 68. Perry Clay and Floyd .
69. Lawrence
. Greenup and Floyd ... 1821 Floyd
71. Hickman Caldwell, Livingston
72. Calloway ...
Ilickman 1822
73. Morgan
Floyd and Bath.
: 74. Oldham Jeff'n, Shelby, Henry.1823 Hickman 75. Graves 66
-76. Meade Hardin, Breekinridge "
77. Spencer Nel'n, Shelby, Bullitt.1824
78. MeCracken .. Hiekman ..
79. Edmondson. War'n, Hart, Gray'n. 1825 80. Laurel Rockcastle, Clay, Knox and Whitley ......... 1825
81. Russell Adair, Wayne, and Cumberland
82. Anderson. Franklin, Mercer, &
Washington 1827
83. Hancock
Breck., Daviess, Ohio. 1829
S4. Marion
Washington
.. 1834
85. Clinton
Wayne, Cumberland.1835
86. Trimble
Gallatin, Henry, Old-
ham .. .1836
87. Carroll Gallatin. 1838
88. Carter .
Greenup, Lawrence ...
89. Breathitt
Clay, Perry, Estill ... 1839
90. Kenton
Campbell
1840
91. Crittenden
.. Livingston.
1842
92. Marshall .
Calloway.
93. Ballard
Hickman, McCraeken "
98. Larue
Hardin
66
99. Fulton
Hickman
1845
100. Taylor
Greene
1848
101. Powell.
Montgomery, Clark,
Estill.
1852
102. Lyon ..
Caldwell.
1854
103. McLean Daviess, Muhlenburg, and Ohio
104. Rowan
Fleming & Morgan ... 1856
105. Jackson Estill, Owsley, Clay, Laurel Rockcastle, Madison1858
106: Metcalfe
Barren, Greene, Adair,
Cumber'd, Monroe. 1860
107. Boyd. Greenup, Carter, Law- rence
108. Magoffin
Morgan, Johnson &
Floyd
109. Webster Hopkins, Henderson, Union.
110. Wolfe
Morgan,
Breathitt,
Owsley, Powell ....
111. Robertson.
Nicholas,
Harrison,
Bracken, Mason ... 1867
112. Josh Bell.
Ilarlan and Kaox ....
113. Menifee .. Bath. Morgan, Powell, Montgom'y, Wolfe.1869
60. Harlan, Floyd and Knox 1819 114. Elliott. Morgan, Carter, Law- rence ..
61. Hart Hardin and Greene ...
62. Owen
Scott, Franklin, Gallatin, "
115. Lee
Owsley, Estill, Wolfe,
and Breathitt. ..... 1870
116. Martin Pike, Johnson, Floyd, and Lawrence ......
96. Owsley
Clay, Estill, Br'thitt.1843
97. Johnson
Floyd, Lawrence, Mor-
gan 66
95. Letcher
Perry and Harlan ...
66
66
12. Shelby
27
FACE OF THE COUNTRY, ETC.
.
SITUATION, BOUNDARIES, AND EXTENT.
The State of Kentucky is situated between 36 degrees 30 minutes, and 39 de- grees 10 minutes, north latitude ; and between 81 degrees 50 minutes, and 89 degrees 26 minutes, west longitude-and includes all that portion of territory which lies south and westward of a line, beginning on the Ohio river, at the mouth of the Great Sandy river, and running up the same, and the main and north-easterly branch thereof, to the great Laurel ridge or Cumberland mountains ; thence south-west along said mountains, to a line of North Carolina. It is boun- ded north by Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio ; east by Virginia ; south by Tennessee ; and west by the Mississippi river and State of Missouri. It is three hundred miles in length from east to west, and one hundred and fifty miles in mean breadth; and contains 42,600 square miles, or about twenty-seven millions of acres.
FACE OF THE COUNTRY, ETC.
The face of the country is quite diversified, presenting every variety of surface as well as quality of soil. The region around Lexington, including the entire counties of Bourbon, Fayette. Woodford, and portions of Franklin, Jessamine, Clarke, Montgomery, Bath, Nicholas, Harrison, and Scott, comprises the largest body of fine land in Kentucky-the surface being agreeably undulating, and the soil black and friable, producing the sugar-tree, blue and black ash, black and honey locust, elm, hickory, black walnut, mulberry, buckeye, pawpaw, &c. Por .. tions of the uplands of Boone, Grant, Mason, and Fleming, in the north, and Mercer, Madison. Boyle, Lincoln; Garrard, Shelby, Washington, Laurel, Green, Nelson, &c., in the middle district, together with a number of counties south of Green river, comprise remarkably rich, and doubtless as productive bodies of land as that which has been most appropriately termed the garden of Kentucky, but more circumscribed in their extent.
Capt. Imlay. an officer of the Revolutionary army, and an early witness of the settlement of Kentucky, caused to be published in 1793, in New York, " a topo- graphical description of the western territory of North America," comprised in a series of letters to a friend in England. In these letters, the following glowing description is given of the country, as it was presented to his view in the spring season of the year :
" Everything here assumes a dignity and splendor I have never seen in any other part of the world. You ascend a considerable distance from the shore of the Ohio, and when you would suppose you had arrived at the summit of a mountain, you find yourself upon an extensive level. Here an eternal verdure reigns. and the brilliant sun of latitude 39º. piercing through the azure heavens, produces in this prolific soil an early maturity which is truly astonishing.
" Flowers full and perfect, as if they had been cultivated by the hand of a florist, with all their captivating odors, and with all the variegated charms which color and nature can pro- duce here, in the lap of elegance and beauty. decorate the smiling groves. Soft zephyrs gently breathe on sweets, and the inhaled air gives a voluptuous glow of health and vigor, that seems to ravish the intoxicated senses. The sweet songsters of the forest appear to feel the influence of the genial clime, and in more soft and modulated tones warble their tender notes in unison with love and nature. Every thing here gives delight; and, in that wild effulgence which beams around us, we feel a glow of gratitude for the elevation which our all bountiful Creator has bestowed upon us.
" You must forgive what I know you will call a rhapsody, but what I really experienced after traveling across the Allegheny inountain in March, when it was covered with snow, and after finding the country about Pittsburgh bare, and not recovered from the ravares of the winter. There was scarcely a blade of grass to be seen ; every thing looked dreary, and bore those marks of melancholy which the rude hand of frost produces. I embarked im- mediately for Kentucky, and in less than five days landed at Limestone, where I found na ture robed in all her charms."
28
STATISTICS OF KENTUCKY.
In Filson's "Discovery, Settlement and present state of Kentucky," published as a supplement to " Imlay's Description," and written in 1784, the following no less glowing description of the country is given :
"The country is in some parts nearly level; in others not so much so; in others again hilly, but moderately-and in such places there is most water. The levels are not like a carpet, but interspersed with small risings and declivities, which form a beautiful prospect. The soil is of a loose, deep, black mould without sand, in the first rate lands about two or three feet deep, and exceedingly luxuriant in all its productions. The country in general may be considered as well timbered, producing large trees of many kinds, and to be ex- ceeded by no country in variety. Those which are peculiar to Kentucky are the sugar tree, which grows in all parts, and furnishes every family with great plenty of excellent sugar. The honey-locust is curiously surrounded with large thorny spikes, bearing broad and long pods in the form of peas, has a sweet taste, and makes excellent beer. The coffee tree greatly resembles the black-oak, grows large, and also bears a pod, in which is enclosed coffee. The pawpaw tree does not grow to a great size, is a soft wood, bears a fine fruit, much like a cucumber in shape and size, and tastes sweet." Of the "fine cane, on which the cattle feed and grow fat," he says: "This plant in general grows from three to twelve . feet high, of a hard substance, with joints at eight or ten inches distance along the stalk, from which proceed leaves resembling those of the willow. There are many canebrakes so thick and tall, that it is difficult to pass through them. Where no cane grows, there is an abundance of wild rye, clover and buffalo grass, covering vast tracts of country, and afford- ing excellent food for cattle. The fields are covered with an abundance of wild herbage not common to other countries. Here are seen the finest crown-imperial in the world, the cardinal flower, so much extolled for its scarlet color, and all the year, excepting the winter months, the plains and valleys are adorned with a variety of flowers of the most admirable beauty. Here is also found the tulip-bearing laurel tree, or magnolia, which is very fra- grant and continues to blossom and seed for several months together. The reader by casting his eye upon the map, and viewing round the heads of Licking from the Ohio, and round the heads of Kentucky, Dick's river, and down Green river to the Ohio, may view in that great compass of above one hundred miles square, the most extraordinary country on which the sun has ever shone."
This is a glowing description of Kentucky AS SHE WAS, robed in primeval beauty. The hand of man has been laid upon the forest, and the wild grandeur of nature succeeded by the arts of a civilized people. Kentucky AS SHE IS, presents at- tractions which are found in but few, if any other regions of the world. Situ- ated in the very centre of the American confederated states, beyond the reach of foreign intrusion-she is rich in a genial climate, rich in a prolific soil. rich in her agricultural products, rich in her beautiful farms and grazing lands, rich in the . magnificent scenery and abundant ores of her mountains ; and, above all and be- yond all, rich in a population at once industrious, enterprising, hospitable, intel- ligent and patriotic.
PRINCIPAL RIVERS.
The principal rivers of Kentucky, are the Ohio, Mississippi, Tennessee, Cum- berland. Kentucky, Green, Licking, Big and Little Sandy, Salt and the Rolling Fork of Salt river. The Ohio flows along the whole northern boundary of the State for six hundred and fifty-three miles, following its windings. The Mis- sissippi washes the Kentucky shore from the mouth of the Ohio, to a point be- low New Madrid, for the distance of one hundred miles. Big and Little Sandy rivers lie in the eastern extremity of the State, the former being its eastern boun- dary. Cumberland and 'l'ennessee intersect the western extremity ; the former rises in the eastern part of the State, and passes into the State of Tennessee, after which it returns and flows through Kentucky into the Ohio river. The Kentucky, Licking, Salt and Rolling Fork of Salt rivers, flow through the inte- rior of the State. The principal creeks arc generally mentioned under the head of the counties in which they rise, or through which they flow.
EARLY MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.
The following sketch of early life is drawn from various sources; but we are principally indebted to " Doddridge's Notes."
The household offices were performed by the women; the men cultivated the soil, hunted the game and brought in the meat, built the houses, garrisoned the
29
STATISTICS OF KENTUCKY.
forts, and freely exposed themselves to danger and privations in defence of the settlements.
Most of the articles in common use were of domestic manufacture. There might have been incidentally a few things brought to the country for sale in a private way, but there was no store for general supply. Utensils of metal, ex- cept offensive weapons, were extremely rare, and almost entirely unknown. The table furniture usually consisted of wooden vessels, either turned or coopered. Iron forks, tin cups, &c., &c., were articles of rare and delicate luxury. The food was of the most wholesome and nutritive kind. The richest meat, the finest butter, and best meal that ever delighted man's palate, were here eaten with a relish which health and labor only know. The hospitality of the people was profuse and proverbial.
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