Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 45

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 45

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284

FULTON COUNTY.

above him, and dropped down stream close to the snag, from which he tumbled into the boat as she floated by.

" The scenes which occurred for several days, during the repeated shocks, were horrible. The most destructive ones took place in the beginning, al- though they were repeated for many weeks, becoming lighter and lighter, until they died away in slight vibrations, like the jarring of steam in an immense boiler. The sulphurated gases that were discharged during the shocks tainted the air with their noxious effluvia, and so strongly impregnated the water of the river, to the distance of one hundred and fifty miles below, that it could hardly be used for any purpose for a number of days. The bottoms of several fine lakes in the vicinity were clevated so as to become dry land, and have since been planted with corn !"*

New Madrid, Missouri-which, in 1805, contained between 300 and 400 inhabitants-was almost depopulated, the people fleeing from the scene. 'The reason why so few were destroyed, was owing to the materials of their dwell- 'ings being of wood, and not of brick and stone. The bluff bank upon which it stood, fifteen or twenty feet above the summer floods, sunk so low that the next rise covered it to the depth of five feet.

Near St. Louis, Mo., the "great shake "-as the old settlers still call it- was so severe that domestic fowls fell from the trees as if dead ; crockery and china ware fell from the shelves and was broken, and many families left their cabins, from fear of being crushed beneath their ruins.

At Cape Girardeau, Mo., the walls of several stone and brick buildings were cracked from the ground to the top, and wide fissures left.

At Louisville, [see description on page 000.]

In Fulton county, Ky., on the opposite bank of the Mississippi river from New Madrid, a great and singular lake which previously had no existence was formed-Reel-Foot lake, now seventeen miles long and from three-quarters of a mile to two and a half miles wide. Some call it fifty miles long, but they probably include Obion lake, which conneets with it. After the lapse of sixty years, it is still over twenty feet deep in places. It was formed by sand blown out of a chasm opened by the earthquake, and deposited near the mouth of Reel-Foot creek-causing a sudden damming of its waters, which spread over the adjacent low grounds, forming the lake, and deadening all the timber growing along the banks of the creek. The course of the lake can be traced, where its waters can not be seen, by the tops of the dead timber. It is a great resort for all kinds of water fowl, lizards, cotton-mouth and other snakes, and musquitoes, and full of excellent fish.

"Earth-cracks" can be distinctly traced in the bluffs on the Kentucky side of the Mississippi, for a quarter to a half mile, twenty to seventy feet wide- bounded on either side by parallel banks one to five feet above the sunk ground, the trees still growing firmly rooted in the soil. These earth-cracks are still more conspicuous on the Missouri side, near New Madrid, and in Obion county, Tennessee. In the latter, are still visible depressions one hundred feet deep, and varying from a few feet to a hundred feet wide- which are said to have been more than double this depth when originally formed.+

Aboriginal Village .- In the bluffs, not far from Reel-Foot lake, are found various ancient stone implements, earthen ware utensils, and carved images, associated with human bones-affording evidence that this country has once been the site of some considerable aboriginal village.

Hurricanes .- The region of Rcel-Foot lake is subject to frequent severe hurricanes, which prostrate the largest trees in their course. There is strong reason to believe that many of them originate here, usually taking a north-east course. One of these, which can not be traced further south, took place March 20, 1834, between 9 and 10 A. M .- passing by Feliciana on the edge of Graves county, and, within four miles, destroying six or seven houses, and carrying clothing a distance, some say, of twenty miles.#

The First Naval Engagement in the west, during the civil war, took place just above the town of fickman.

*American Pioneer, i, 129. t Kentucky Geological Survey, i, 119. # Same, p. 118.

285

FULTON COUNTY.

The Exports of Hickman, in 1845, when the population was about 350, were estimated at 3,000 hogsheads tobacco, 2,000 bales cotton, 200,000 bushels corn, 50,000 bushels wheat, 30,000 dozen chickens and turkies, besides a great number of horses, mules, cattle, sheep, and hogs.

Mounds .- There are a few mounds in Fulton county, all near the Missis- sippi river. They present the appearance of " look-outs," or may be altars on which the natives of " the long ago" worshipped. They are not works of the modern Indians. A peculiar earthen vessel has been found in some of them.

Fulton county received its name in honor of ROBERT FULTON, the celebrated engineer. He was born in Little Britain, in the State of Pennsylvania, in 1765. In his infancy he was put to school in Lancaster, where he acquired the rudiments of a common English education. Here his peculiar genius manifested itself at a very early age. All his hours of recreation were passed in the shops of mechan- ics, or in the employment of his pencil. At the age of seventeen years, he went to Philadelphia, and entered under a portrait and landscape painter, where he remained until he was twenty-one. In his twenty-second year, he went to Eng- land, where he was received with great kindness by his celebrated countryman, Benjamin West, who was so pleased with his promising genius and his amiable qualities, that he took him into his house, where he continued an inmate for sev- eral years, devoting his time to painting. At this period he formed many valna- ble acquaintances, among others with the Duke of Bridgewater, so famous for his canals, and Lord Stanhope, a nobleman celebrated for his love of science, and particularly for his attachment to the mechanic arts. Even at that early period, he had conceived the idea of propelling vessels by steam, and he speaks in some of his manuscripts of its practicability. In May, 1794, he obtained from the British government a patent for a double inclined plane, to be used for transpor- tation ; and in the same year he submitted to the British society for the promo- tion of arts and commerce, an improvement of his invention on mills for sawing marble, for which he received the thanks of the society, and an honorary medal. In 1797 he went to Paris, where he lived seven years in the family of Joel Bar- low, during which time he studied the higher mathematics, physics, chemistry. and perspective. While there, he projected the first panorama that was exhibited in Paris. He returned to America in 1806. At what time Fulton's attention was first directed to the subject of steam navigation is not known; but in 1793 he had matured a plan in which he had great confidence. While in Paris, he, in conjunction with others, built a small boat on the Seine, which was perfectly suc- cessful. On his arrival at New York in 1806, he and Robert Livingston en- gaged in building a boat of what was then deemed very considerable dimensions. This boat began to navigate the Hudson in 1807; its progress through the water was at the rate of five miles an hour. In 1811 and 1812, two steam boats were built under Fulton's directions, as ferry boats for crossing the Hudson river, and soon after one on the East river, of the same description. We have not space for the details of Fulton's connection with the project of the grand Erie canal ; of his plans and experiments relative to submarine warfare-of the construction of the steam frigate which bore his name-of the modifications of his submarine boat; of his vexatious and ruinous lawsuits and controversies with those who interfered with his patent rights and exclusive grants. He died February 24th, 1815. In person he was about six feet high, slender, but well proportioned, with large dark eyes, and a projecting brow. His manners were easy and unaffected. His temper was mild, and his disposition lively. He was fond of society. He expressed himself with energy, fluency, and correctness, and as he owed more to experience and reflection than to books, his sentiments were often interesting from their originality. In all his domestic and social relations, he was zealous. kind, generous, liberal, and affectionate. He knew of no use for money but as it was subservient to charity, hospitality, and the sciences. But the most conspicuous trait in his character was his calm constancy in his industry, and that indefatiga- ble patience and perseverance, which always enabled him to overcome difficulties.

286

GALLATIN COUNTY.

GALLATIN county, the 33d erected in the state, was taken from Franklin and Shelby in 1798, and named in honor of Albert Gallatin. Some of its territory was taken in 1819 in forming Owen county, another portion in 1836 in forming Trim- ble, and in 1838 the entire western portion was cut off and called Carroll county. It is situated in the northern part of the state, and is bounded N. by the Ohio river, s. by Eagle creek, which separates it from Owen county, E. by Boone and Grant counties, and w. by Carroll. The surface of the country is generally hilly, but well timbered with poplar, walnut, ash, beech, sugar-tree, oak and hickory. The soil is generally productive, especially the river and creek bottoms; stock-raising receives most attention, because of the luxuriant growth of grass and clover. The facili- ties of reaching the markets of Cincinnati and Louisville, by the Ohio river on one border, and the Short Line railroad through the other, is fast developing gardening and the culture of small fruits.

Towns .- Warsaw, the county seat-established in 1831, and first known by the name of Fredericksburg-is situated on the Ohio river on a beautiful bottom 4 miles long and a mile wide ; is distant from Frankfort 57 miles, from Cincinnati by the river 57 miles, and from Louisville 75 miles ; contains, besides a court house and 9 lawyers, 4 physicians, 1 male and female academy, 1 public school house, 4 churches (Methodist, Baptist, Reformed or Christian, and Roman Catholic), 14 stores, 10 mechanics' shops, 1 distillery and grist mill, 3 tobacco warehouses, 2 tav- erns, 1 newspaper (the Warsaw News) ; population by the census of 1870, 715. Napoleon, 7 miles E. of Warsaw and 13 miles N. E. of the railroad, contains two churches (Baptist and Reformed), school house, saw and grist mill, tavern, 3 mechanics' shops, 3 stores, 2 physicians, and 1 lawyer ; population 102. Glencoe, on the railroad, 9 miles s. E. of Warsaw, contains church (Baptist), academy, physician, grist mill, 2 taverns, 5 stores, 2 mechanics' shops, and a tobacco warehouse ; population about 125. Sparta, 8 miles s. of Warsaw, at the crossing of the railroad by the Warsaw and Owenton turnpike, contains 2 taverns, a store, to- bacco warehouse, mechanic shop, and 2 doctors ; population 60. Liberty, 10 miles from Warsaw, at the crossing of the railroad by the Ghent turnpike, contains 3 stores, a tavern, mechanic shop, physician, and lawyer ; population 100.

STATISTICS OF GALLATIN COUNTY.

When formed See page 26 | Tobacco, hay, corn, wheat .. pages 266, 268 Population, from 1800 to 1870 .. p. 258 Horses, mnules, cattle, and hog ....... p. 268

whites and colored. 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 Iudex.

MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE FROM GALLATIN COUNTY, SINCE 1815.

Senate .- Henry Davidge, 1919-19; David Gibson, 1826-30; Robert S. Dougherty,

287

GALLATIN COUNTY.

1830-34 ; (from the district of Gallatin, Boone, and Carroll, Samuel Howard, 1855-59 ;) John J. Landram, 1863-67 ; D. H. Lindsay, 1873-77.

House of Representatives .-- David Owen, 1815 ; Samuel Todd, 1816; Wm. O. Butler, 1817, '18 ; Win. Sanders, 1819 ; Nathaniel P. Porter, 1820 ; Jos. Taylor, 1822; David Gibson, 1824, '25 ; Thos. S. Butler, 1826 ; Robert S. Dougherty, 1827, '29. '35, '36 ; Thos. P. Metcalfe, 1828; Jere. Strother. 1830 : Samuel Sanders, 1831 : Samuel S. English, 1832, '33, '39 : Osborn Turpin, 1834; Jefferson Peak, 1837; Edmund W. Hawkins, 1840; John Field, 1842, '47 ; Philip P. Hanna, 1843 ; Henry J. Abbett, 1845 ; John J. Landram, 1851-53; Peter Dorman, 1853-55 ; Jas. A. Duncan, 1855-57 ; Jas. H. McDaniel, 1857-59 ; Dr. A. B. Chambers, 1859-63 ; Aaron Gregg, 1863-65 ; M. J. Williams, 1865-67 : Elijah Hogan, 1869-71 ; (and from the district of Gallatin and Carroll, Edmund A. Whitaker, 1844 ; Abraham Scruggs, 1849; Geo. D. Campbell, 1850.) Addison Gibson, 1873-75.

The Original Boundary of Gallatin county was as follows : "Beginning six miles above the mouth of Corn creek, thence up the Ohio river to the mouth of Big Bone creek, thence south with the Campbell county line, sixteen miles, thence to the Kentucky river at Rock Spring, near Clay Lick, thence down the river within two and a half miles of the mouth of Eagle creek, thence a direct line till it strikes the road from Shelbyville to the inouth of Kentucky river two miles north of Henry Dougherty's, thence a direct line to the begin- ning."

The First County Court was held at the house of Richard Masterson in Port William (now Carrollton. ) on the 14th of May, 1799, at which time Hugh Gatewood, Jno. Grimes, M. Hawkins, G. Lee, Wm. Thomas, and Benj. Craig presented their commissions as magistrates. The first business transacted was the election of Percival Butler as clerk.

The First Deed recorded was made March 2, 1799, by Martin Hawkins and wife to Jno. Fister, conveying lot No. 29 in Port William. The consideration was £5 ($163).

The First Wedding in the county was the marriage by Rev. Henry Ogborn, on July 18, 1799, of Nicholas Lantz and Mary Pickett.

ALBERT GALLATIN Was born at Geneva, in Switzerland, on the 29th of January, 1761. In his infancy he was left an orphan ; but under the kind protection of a female relative of his mother, received a thorough education, and graduated at the University of Geneva, in 1779. His family were wealthy and highly respectable. Without the knowledge or consent of his family, Albert when only nineteen, with a young comrade, left home to seek glory and fortune, and freedom of thought, in the infant republic of America. He was recommended by a friend to the patronage of Dr. Franklin, then in Paris. He arrived in Boston in July 1780, and soon after proceeded to Maine, where he purchased land, and resided there until the close . of 1781. While here he served as a volunteer under Colonel John Allen, and made advances from his private purse for the support of the garrison. In the spring of 1782, he was appointed instructor in the French language at Harvard University, where he remained about a year. Going to Virginia in 1733 to attend to the claims of a European house for advances to that State, he fell in with Pat- rick Henry, who treated him with marked kindness and respect, and under whose advice he sought his fortune in the new and wild country then just opening on the Ohio. In December 1785 he purchased a large tract of land in Fayette county, Pennsylvania. where he made his residence. His talents for public life soon became extensively known, and in 1789, he was elected to a seat in the conven- tion to amend the constitution of Pennsylvania. In 1793, he was elected to the United States' senate ; but lost his seat on the ground that he had not been nine years a legally naturalized citizen of the United States. He soon after married a daughter of Commodore Nicholson. In 1794 he was elected to congress. While in congress, where he continued three terms, he was distinguished as a Jeader of the democratic party. In 1801 Mr. Jefferson appointed him secretary of the treasury, which post he filled with pre-eminent ability for several years. In 1813 he was made one of the commissioners to negotiate the treaty of Ghent ; and was afterwards associated with Messrs. Clay and Adams at London. in nego- tiating the commercial treaty with Great Britain. He continued in Europe as ambassador at Paris until 1823, when he returned to America. In 1826, he was appointed a minister to England.

288

GARRARD COUNTY.

GARRARD county, the 25th in order of formation, was formed in 1796, out of parts of Madison, Lincoln, and Mercer, and named in honor of the then governor of the state, James Garrard. It is situated in the middle section of the state, on the E. side of Dick's river ; and is bounded N. by Jessamine county, from which it is separated by the Kentucky river, E. by Madison, s. by Lincoln, and w. by Boyle and Mercer. The face of the country is hilly or gently undulating, but all productive for grains or grasses. The staple products are corn, wheat, rye, and oats; the principal exports-horses, mules, cattle, hogs, and sheep.

Towns .- Lancaster, the county seat, is situated 23 miles from . Dick's river, at the head of Sugar creek, a branch of the Ken- tucky river, and on the Richmond branch railroad, 1123 miles from Louisville, 26 from Richmond, and 9 from Stanford ; has a good court house, four churches (Methodist, Baptist, Presby- terian, and Reformed or Christian), and is a place of considerable business ; population in 1870, 741, but in Dec., 1873, about 900 ; established in 1798. The other villages, all small, are- Bryantsville and Fitchport, 9 and 12 miles w. of N. from Lancas- ter ; Tetersville, 6 miles E. of N. ; Hyattsville, a R. R. station 4 miles N. E. ; Lowell, on the Richmond pike, and Paint Lick, 9 and 10 miles from Lancaster.

STATISTICS OF GARRARD 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

16 whites and colored.

----

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. 1. 257

children bet. 6 and 20. p. 266

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

MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE FROM GARRARD COUNTY.

Senate .- Jas. Thompson, 1804-06 ; Wm. M. Bledsoe, 1866-09; Thos. Buford, 1809- 12; John Faulkner, 1812-16, '16-20, '20-24, '24-28, '28-32; Wm. Owsley, 1832-34; Samuel Lusk, 1834-36; Geo. Denny, 1859-63.

House of Representatives .- Thos. Kennedy, 1799, 1800, '01, '02, '05, '07, '18, '24; John Boyle, 1800 ; Henry Pawling, 1801, '03 ; Stephen Perkins, 1802 : Jas. Thomp- son, 1803 ; Abner Baker, 1805 ; Thos. Buford, 1806, '07; Samuel McKee, 1806, '18, '20; Wm. Ow>ley, 1809, '11, '31 ; John Yantis, 1809, '10, '12, '13, '14, '15, '16, '19, '21, '25, 26, '27, 28, '30; John Faulkner, 1810, '11, '34; Samuel Johnson, 1812; Robert P. Letcher, 1813, '14, '15. '17, '36, '37, '38 ; Jas. Spilman, 1816, '17, '19, '20; Benj. Mason, 1821, '22; Geo. Robertson, 1822, '23, '24, '25, '26 ; Robert McConnell, 1827; Simeon II. Anderson, 1828, '29, '32, '36, '37, '38 ; Tyree Harris, 1829, '30 ; Jesse Yantis, 1831, '39; Alex. Sneed, 1833 ; Geo. B. Mason, 1835. '40 ; Abner G. Daniel, 1839 ; Geo. R. McKee, 1841, '42, '51-53, '69-71; Jennings Price, 1843; Ga- briel J. Salter, 1844, '46 ; Win. B. Mason, 1845, '49; Horace Smith, 1847 ; Lafayette Dunlap, 1848; John B. Arnold, 1850 ; Geo. W. Dunlap, 1853-55; Joshua Dunn, 1855- 57; Wm. Woods, 1857-59; Joshua Burdett, 1859-61; Alex. Lusk, 1861-63; John K. Faulkner, 1863-65 ; Daniel Murphy, 1865-67, resigned 1866, and succeeded by Wm. J. Lusk, 1866, '67-69; Wm. Sellers, 1871 -- 73, '73-75.

The " White Lick" is an area of ground, embracing about ten acres, on Paint Lick creek, about 12 miles E. of Lancaster. The ground is deeply in- dented with ravines, and marks resembling the track of wagon wheels, newly made, are now plainly visible and have been visible since the settlement of

289

GARRARD COUNTY.

the country in 1785. After a heavy rain, the water which flows into the creek from this area gives the stream a white appearance, resembling milk, for several miles.

Shot Iron Ore is found in the soil one mile E. of Dick's river.

Lead Ore is found in veins in the Kentucky river marble rock.

The Dip of the rocks is generally away from Dick's river. The gorges in which that river and the Kentucky flow are probably not due to denudation ; but the streams flow in the lines of original fractures.

The Kentucky River Railroad Suspension Bridge, still unfinished, was de- signed with a single span of 1,250 feet, at an elevation of nearly 400 feet above the bed of the river.

The following romantic incident is related by Judge Robertson, in his anniver- sary address, at Camp Madison, in Franklin county, on the 4th of July, 1843 :

" On the long roll of that day's reported slain [ the fatal battle of the Blue Licks, ] were the names of a few who had, in fact, been captured, and, after surviving the ordeal of the gauntlet, had been permitted to live as captives. Among these was an excellent husband and father who, with eleven other captives, had been taken by a tribe and painted black as the signal of torture and death to all. The night after the battle, these twelve prisoners were stripped and placed in a line on a log-he to whom we have specially alluded being at one extremity of the devoted row. The cruel captors, then beginning at the other end, slaughtered eleven, one by one ; but when they came to the only survivor, though they raised him up, also, and drew their bloody knives to strike under each uplifted arm, they paused, and after a long pow-wow, spared his life-why, he never knew. For about a year none of his friends, excepting his faithful wife, doubted his death. She, hoping against reason, still insisted that he lived and would yet return to her. Wooed by another, she, from time to time, postponed the nup- tials, declaring that she could not divest herself of the belief that her husband survived. Her expostulating friends finally succeeding in their efforts to stifle lier affectionate instinct, she reluctantly yielded, and the nuptial day was fixed. But, just before it dawned, the crack of a rifle was heard near her lonely cabin- at the familiar sound, she leaped out, like a liberated fawn, ejaculating as she sprang-" that's John's gun !" It was John's gun, sure enough ; and, in an instant, she was, once more, in her lost husband's arms. But, nine years after- wards, that same husband fell in " St. Clair's defeat,"-and the same disappointed, but persevering lover, renewed his suit-and, at last, the widow became his wife. The scene of these romantic incidents was within gun-shot of my natal homestead ;* and with that noble wife and matron I was myself well acquainted."

JAMES GARRARD (in honor of whom this county received its name) was born on the 14th of Jan., 1749, in the county of Stafford, in the (then) colony of Virginia. At a very early period in the revolutionary struggle, he engaged in the public service, and in the capacity of a militia officer, shared in the dangers and honors of that memorable war. While in service, he was called by the voice of his fel- low citizens to a seat in the Virginia legislature, where he contributed, by his zeal and prudence, as much, or perhaps more than any other individual, to the passage of the famous act securing universal religious liberty.

He was an early emigrant to Kentucky, and was exposed to all the perils and dangers incident to the settlement and occupation of the country. He was re- peatedly called by the voice of his fellow citizens to represent their interests in the legislature of the state : and finally, by two successive elections, was elected to the chief magistracy of the commonwealth, a trust which, for eight years, lie discharged with wisdom, prudence and vigor.

As a man, Governor Garrard had few equals ; and in the various scenes and dif- ferent stations of life, he acted with firmness, prudence and decision. At an early age, he embraced and professed the religion of Christ, giving it, through life, the preference over all sublunary things. In the private circle he was a man of great practical usefulness. and discharged with fidelity and tenderness the social and relative duties of husband, parent, neighbor and master. He died on the 19th of January, 1822, at his residence, Mount Lebanon, in Bourbon county, in the seventy-fourth year of his age.

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290

GRANT COUNTY

GRANT COUNTY.

GRANT county, erected in 1820 out of the western part of Pendleton county, was the 67th formed in the state. In shape it is a parallelogram, nearly a square-223 miles from north to south, and 20 miles from east to west. It is situated in the northern part of the state, and bounded N. by Boone and Kenton counties, E. by Pendleton, s. E. by Harrison, s. by Scott and Owen, and w. by Owen and Gallatin counties. The streams are- Eagle creek, which flows northward through the western part of the county, and finally empties into the Kentucky river, and its tributaries, Clark's, Arnold's, and Ten Mile creeks; and-on the eastern side of the county, Crooked, Fork Lick, and Grassy creeks, tributaries of the Licking river. The face of the country is undulating, seldom hilly ; the soil north of Williamstown, along the Dry Ridge and the arms of the ridge, is very rich ; south of that place it is thin, but in the western part moderately good. Wheat, corn, oats, and hogs are the largest productions.

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Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 45

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