Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 5

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 5

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The dress of the settlers was of primitive simplicity. The hunting shirt was worn universally. Many of these garments are still in use in the back settle- ments, and their appearance is familiar to almost every reader in the west. This backwoods costume was peculiarly adapted to the pursuits and habits of the peo- ple, and has been connected with so many thrilling passages of war and wild adventure, that the Kentucky hunting shirt is famous throughout the world. The hunting shirt was usually made of linsey, sometimes of coarse linen, and a few of dressed deer skins. The bosom of this dress was sewed as a wallet, to hold a piece of bread, cakes, jerk, tow for wiping the barrel of the rifle, and any other necessary for the hunter or warrior. The belt, which was always tied behind, answered several purposes besides that of holding the dress together. In cold weather, the mittens, and sometimes the bullet bag occupied the front part of it. To the right side was suspended the tomahawk, and to the left the scalping knife in its leathern sheath. The shirt and jacket were of the common fashion. A pair of drawers, or breeches and leggins were the dress of the thighs and legs, and a pair of moccasins answered for the feet much better than shoes. These were made of dressed deer skin. They were generally made of a single piece, with a gathering seam along the top of the foot, and another from the bottom of the heel, without gathers, as high as the ankle joint. Flaps were left on each side to reach some distance up the leg. Hats were made of the native fur; the buf- falo wool was frequently employed in the composition of cloth, as was also the bark of the wild nettle.

The forts in which the inhabitants took refuge from the fury of the savages, consisted of cabins, block houses, and stockades. A range of the former com- monly formed at least one side of the fort. Divisions or partitions of logs sepa- rated the cabins from each other. The walls on the outside were ten or twelve feet high, the slope of the roof being invariably inward. A few of these cabins had puncheon floors, but the greater part were earthen.

The block houses were built at the angles of the fort. They projected about two feet beyond the outer walls of the cabins and stockades. Their upper stories were about eighteen inches every way larger in dimensions than the under one, leaving an opening at the commencement of the second story to prevent the enemy from making a lodgment under their walls. A large folding gate made of thick slabs closed the fort on the side nearest the spring. The stockades, cabins, . and blockhouse walls were furnished with ports at proper heights and distances. The entire extent of the outer wall was made bullet proof. The whole of this work was made without the aid of a single nail or spike of iron, which articles were not to be had.

The inhabitants generally married young. There was no distinction of rank, and very little of fortune. The first impression of love generally resulted in marriage, and a family establishment cost but a little labor and nothing else.

A Kentucky wedding in early times was a very picturesque affair, and was an event which excited the general attention of the whole community in which it occurred. The following description of the proceedings had on these interesting occasions, is taken almost verbatim from the account of one who had been pres ent at many of these joyful assemblies :

In the morning of the wedding day, the groom and his attendants assembled at the house of his father. for the purpose of proceeding to the mansion of his bride, which it was desirable to reach by noon, the usual time of celebrating the nuptials, which ceremony must at all events take place before dinner. Let the

EARLY MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

reader imagine an assemblage of people, without a store, tailor, or mantua maker within an hundred miles ; an assemblage of horses, without a blacksmith or sad- dler within a like distance. The gentlemen dressed in shoe packs, moccasins, leather breeches, leggins, linsey hunting shirts, and all home made. The ladies in linsey petticoats and linsey or linen bedgowns, coarse shoes, stockings, hand- kerchiefs, and buckskin gloves. If there were any buckles, rings, buttons, or ruffles, they were relics of old times. The horses were caparisoned with old sad- dles, old bridles or halters, and pack saddles, with a bag or blanket thrown over them ; a rope or string as often constituted the girth as a piece of leather.

The march, in double file, was often interrupted by the narrowness or obstruc- tions of the horse path, for roads there were none; and these difficulties were often increased by the jocularity, and sometimes by the malice of neighbors, by felling trees and tying grape vines across the way. Sometimes an ambuscade was formed by the way side, and an unexpected discharge of several guns took place, so as to cover the wedding company with smoke. Let the reader imagine the scene which followed this discharge : the sudden spring of the horses, the shrieks of the girls, and the chivalric bustle of their partners to save them from falling. Sometimes, in spite of all that could be done to prevent it, some were thrown to the ground. If a wrist, elbow, or ancle happened to be sprained, it was tied with a handkerchief, and little more was thought or said about it.

Another ceremony took place before the party reached the house of the bride, after whisky was introduced, which was at an early period. When the party had arrived within a mile of the house, two young men would single out to run for the bottle. The worse the path the better, as obstacles afforded an opportunity for the greater display of intrepidity and horsemanship. The start was announced by an Indian yell; logs, brush, muddy hollows, hills, and glens were speedily passed by the rival ponies. The bottle was always filled for the occasion, and the first who reached the door was presented with the prize, with which he re- turned in triumph to the company. The contents of the bottle were distributed among the company.

The ceremony of the marriage preceded the dinner, which was a substantial backwoods feast of beef, pork, fowls, and sometimes venison and bear meat roas- ted and boiled, with plenty of potatoes, cabbage, and other vegetables. After din- ner the dancing commenced, and generally lasted till next morning. The figures of the dances were three and four handed reels, or square sets and jigs.

About nine or ten o'clock, a deputation of young ladies stole off the bride and put her to bed. This done, a deputation of young men in like manner stole off the groom and placed him snugly by the side of his bride. The dance still con- tinued, and if seats happened to be scarce, every young man when not engaged in the dance, was obliged to offer his lap as a seat for one of the girls, and the offer was sure to be accepted. In the midst of this hilarity, the bride and groom were not forgotten. Pretty late in the night, some one would remind the com- pany that the new couple must stand in need of some refreshments ; ' black betty,' which was the name of the bottle, was called for and sent up stairs, but often ' black betty' did not go alone. Sometimes as much bread, beef, pork and cab- bage was sent along with her, as would afford a good meal for half a dozen hun- gry men. The young couple were compelled to eat and drink more or less of whatever was offered them.

The marriage being over, the next thing in order was to " settle " the young couple. A spot was selected on a piece of land of one of the parents for their nabitation. A day was appointed shortly after their marriage, for commencing the work of building the cabin. The fatigue party consisted of choppers, whose business it was to fell the trees and cut them off at the proper length. A man with a team for hauling them to the place, and arranging them properly assorted at the sides and ends of the building, a carpenter if such he might be called, whose business it was to search the woods for a proper tree for making clapboards for the roof. The tree for this purpose must be straight grained and from three to four feet in diameter. The boards were split four feet long with a large froe, and as wide as the timber would allow. They were used without planing or shaving. Another division were employed in getting puncheons for the floor of the cabin ; this was done by splitting trees about eighteen inches in diameter, and hewing the face of them with a broadaxe. They were half the length of

ADAIR COUNTY.

the floor they were intended to make. The materials being prepared, the neigh- bors collected for the raising. The roof and sometimes the floor were finished on the same day the house was raised. A third day was commonly spent by the carpenters in leveling off the floor and making a clapboard door and table. This last was made of a split slab and supported by four round legs set in auger holes. Some three legged stools were made in the same manner. Pins stuck in the logs at the back of the house supported clapboards which served as shelves for the table furniture. A single fork placed with its lower end in a hole in the floor and the upper end fastened to a joist, served for a bedstead, by placing a pole in the fork with one end through a crack in the logs of the wall. This front pole was crossed by a shorter one within the fork, with its outer end through another crack. From the front pole through a crack between the logs of the end of the house, the boards were placed which formed the bottom of the bed. A few pegs around the wall for a display of the coats of the women and the hunting shirts of the men, and two small forks or bucks' horns to a joist for the rifle and shot pouch, completed the carpenter's work.

The cabin being finished, the ceremony of house warming took place before the young people were permitted to move into it. This was a dance of a whole night's continuance, made up of the relations of the bride and groom and their neighbors. On the day following the young people took possession of their new mansion.

At house raisings, log rollings, and harvest parties, every one was expected to do his duty faithfully. A person who did not perform his share of labor on these occasions, was designated by the epithet of " Lawrence," or some other title still more opprobrious ; and when it came to his turn to require the like aid from his neighbors, the idler soon felt his punishment in their refusal to attend to his calls.

Although there was no legal compulsion to the performance of military duty, yet every man of full age and size was expected to do his full share of public service. If he did not, " He was hated out as a coward." Thefts were severely punished.

With all their rudeness, these people were hospitable, and freely divided their rough fare with a neighbor or stranger, and would have been offended at the offer of pay. In their settlements and forts they lived, they worked, they fought and feasted or suffered together in cordial harmony. They were warm and constant in their friendships; but bitter and revengeful in their resentments.

ADAIR COUNTY.

ADAIR county, the 44th in order of formation, was erected in 1801, out of Green county ; is situated in the south middle part of the state; is bounded on the north by Green and Taylor counties, east by Casey and Russell, south by Cumberland, and west by Metcalfe and Green counties. The face of the country is hilly ; soil second rate, based principally on slate and lime- stone. It is watered by Green river and its tributaries, Russell's, White-oak, Case's, Glenn's, Pettus, Sulphur, Harrod's, Crocus, Butler's, and Big creeks, and the east fork of Little Barren river. Its principal productions are corn, wheat, and tobacco, hogs, horses and cattle.

Its towns are : Columbia, the county-seat, population 600, with brick court house built in 1801, and six churches ; Neatsville, 14 miles N. w. from Columbia, population 50 ; Milltown, 7 miles s. w., population 100; and Glensfork, 8 miles s. E., population 90.

For historical incidents, see pages 118, 191, and 208, Vol. I.

GENERAL JOHN ADAIR.

STATISTICS OF ADAIR COUNTY.

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

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

Population, from 1810 to 1870 whites and colored. .. p. 260 Taxable property, in 1846 and 1870 ... p. 270

towns .. .p. 262 Land-No. of acres, and value of .... p. 270 Latitude and longitude ... p. 257

white males over 21. .. p. 266

children bet. 6 and 20 yrs. p. 266

Distinguished citizens see Index

MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE SINCE 1859.

Senate .- Thomas T. Alexander, 1859-63; but resigned in 1862, and succeeded by Asa Bryant, 1862-63 ; Thos. T. Alexander, 1863-65, Benj. S. Coffey, 1865-67 ; but resigned in 1866, and succeeded by I. C. Winfrey, 1866-71.

House of Representatives .- Nat. Gaither, Jr., 1859-61 ; F. D. Rigney, 1861-63 ; Jas. T. Bramlette, 1863-65; Jas. R. Hindman, 1865-71; Jas. Garnett, 1871-73; H. C. Baker, 1873-75.

[See page 770.]

Inscriptions .- Upon a beach tree on the land of Washington Smith, 6 miles w. of Columbia, are carved beasts of the forest couchant, a tomahawk, &c .; also the names of D. Boone, 1773, and McGary, 1773.

General JOHN ADAIR, in honor of whom this county received its name, was oorn in South Carolina, in the year 1757. His character was formed in the trying cimes and amidst the thrilling incidents of the Revolution. At an early age, he entered the army as a volunteer, was made prisoner by the British, and as usual, treated with savage cruelty, having been thrown into prison and subjected to every species of insult and hardship that the ingenuity of his captors could devise.

In 1786 he emigrated to Kentucky, and settled in Mercer county. In the border war which raged with so much fury on the north-western frontier, General (then Major,) Adair was an active and efficient officer, and frequently engaged with the Indians. One incident of this nature merits a relation. On the sixth of Novem- her 1792, Major Adair, at the head of a detachment of mounted volunteers, from Kentucky, while encamped in the immediate vicinity of Fort St. Clair, twenty- six miles south of Greenville, near where Eaton, the county seat of Preble county, Ohio, now stands, was suddenly and violently attacked by a large party of In- dians, who rushed on the encampment with great fury. A bloody conflict ensued, during which Major Adair ordered Lieutenant Madison, with a small party to gain the right flank of the enemy, if possible, and at the same time gave an order for Lieutenant Hall to attack their left, but learning that that officer had been slain, the Major with about twenty-five of his men made the attack in person, with a view of sustaining Lieutenant Madison.

The pressure of this movement caused the enemy to retire. They were driven about six hundred yards, through and beyond the American camp, where they made a stand, and again fought desperately. At this juncture about sixty of the Indians made an effort to turn the right flank of the whites. Major Adair fore- seeing the consequences of this manœuvre, found it necessary to order a retreat. 'That movement was effected with regularity, and as was expected, the Indians pursued them to their camp, where a halt was made, and another severe battle was fought, in which the Indians suffered severely, and were driven from the ground. In this affair six of the whites were killed, five wounded, and four miss- ing. Among the wounded were Lieutenant (afterwards Governor) George Mad- ison, and Colonel Richard Taylor, the father of the president Major General Zachary Taylor, the hero of Palo Alto, Monterey. Buena Vista, &c.

The Indians on this occasion, were commanded by the celebrated Little Turtle. Some years afterwards, in 1805-6, when General Adair was Register of the land office in Frankfort, Captain William Wells, Indian agent, passed through that place, on his way to Washington city, attended by some Indians, among whom was the chief, Little Turtle. General Adair called on his old antagonist, and in the course of the conversation, the incident above related, being alluded to, Gen. Adair attributed his defeat to his having been taken by surprise. The little Turtle immediately remarked with great pleasantness, "a good general is never taken by surprise."

In 1807, Major Adair's popularity underwent a temporary obscuration from his supposed connection with the treasonable enterprise of Burr. His conduct and opinions became the subject of much speculation, and the public got to regard

ALLEN COUNTY.

him with an eye of some suspicion. But it is now generally believed that Gen. eral Adair's course in that affair was predicated upon an opinion that Colonel Burr's plans were approved by the government, which at that time contemplated a war with Spain. General Adair's opinions and associations at that day, pla- ced him with the federal party, among whom he stood deservedly high.

In the campaign of 1813 he accompanied Governor Shelby into Canada, as an aid, and was present in that capacity at the battle of the Thames. His conduct during this campaign was such as to draw from his superior officers an expres- sion of their approbation, and his name was honorably mentioned in the report to the war department. Governor Shelby afterwards conferred upon hun the appointment of adjutant general of the Kentucky troops, with the brevet rank of brigadier general, in which character he commanded the Kentuckians in the glorious battle of New Orleans. The acrimonious controversy between him and General Jackson, growing out of the imputations cast by the latter on the con- duct of the Kentucky troops on that eventful day, is fresh in the recollection of all.

In 1820, he was elected governor of Kentucky, in opposition to Judge Logan, Governor Desha, and Colonel Butler. He was often a member of the State legislature, and on several occasions was speaker of that body. In 1825 he was elected to the senate of the United States, from Kentucky, for the term of one year. In 1831 he was elected to congress, and served in the house of represen- tatives from 1831 to 1833, inclusive.

General Adair, in all the situations, military and civil, to which he was eleva- ted by his countrymen, discharged his duties in such a manner as to command the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens. He was a brave soldier, an active, vigilant and efficient officer-a politician of sound principles and enlarged views, and an ardent patriot. Among the early pioneers of Kentucky, he deser- vedly occupies a prominent place and a high rank. He died on the 19th of May, 1840, at the advanced age of 83 years.

ALLEN COUNTY.

ALLEN county, the 57th in order of formation, was carved out of Warren and Barren counties, Jan. 11, 1815, and named in honor of Col. John Allen. It is situated in the extreme south- ern part of the state, and is bounded on the north by Warren and Barren counties, east by Barren and Monroe, south by the state of Tennessee, and west by Simpson and Warren counties. The land is rather hilly; soil in many parts fertile ; timber in great abundance ; cotton is grown successfully. Big Barren river forms the northern, and more than half of the eastern boundary line; the other streams are Big Trammel, Little Trammel, Puncheon Camp, Long, Walnut, Big Difficult, Little Difficult, East, West, and Sulphur forks of Bay's Fork, Middle and Sul- phur forks of Drake's creek, John's, Rough, and Snake creeks -- all tributaries of Big Barren river.

There are seven towns : Scottville, the county-seat, laid out in 1816 and named after Gen. Chas. Scott, the fourth governor of Ky., has the court house and 2 churches; population 217; Gaines- ville, 8 miles N. of Scottville; Port Oliver, 11 miles N .; Motley, 7 miles N. w .; Allen Springs, 10 miles N. w., the resort of in- valids for its excellent sulphur water ; Butlersville, 10 miles w .; Mt. Aerial, 12 miles s. w .; and New Roe, 15 miles s. w. of Scott- II ... 3

ALLEN COUNTY.

ville, population 145. The salt works at Port Oliver, which, in 1846, manufactured 300 bushels of salt per week, are now worked on a very small scale; the salt water is abundant.

For historical incidents, see pages 121, 211, Vol. I.

STATISTICS OF ALLEN COUNTY.

When formed See page 26 | Tobacco, hemp,hay,corn, wheat, pp. 266,268

Population, from 1820 to 1870 .p. 258 Horses, mules, cattle, hogs .. .p. 268

whites and colored. .p. 260 Taxable property, in 1846 and 1870 ... p. 270

towns ... .p. 262 Land-No. of acres, and value of .... p. 270

white males over 21 .. ... p. 266 Latitude and longitude. .. p. 257

children bet. 6 and 20 yrs. p. 266

Distinguished citizens. .. see Index.

MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, SINCE 1859.

Senate .- Wm. T. Anthony, 1859-63, but expelled, Feb. 15, 1862, because "actively engaged in the rebellion against the government," and succeeded by Geo. Wright, 1862-63 ; Barton W. Stone, 1865-67, and resigned ; John J. Gatewood, 1871-75.

House of Representatives .- J. Wilson Foster, 1859-61; Jos. W. Heeter, 1861-63; John J. Gatewood, 1863-67 ; Barton W. Stone, 1867-69; Wm. J. McElroy, 1869-73 ; Thos. J. Morehead, 1873-75. [ See page 000.]

Allen county was first settled in 1797, at several points E. and N. of Scottville, by Jos. Ficklin, Toliver Craig, Henry Collins, Daniel Monroe, Abram Wood, and others. The first church organized was by the United Baptists, Jan. 31, 1801, 4 miles N. E. of Scottville. The first justices of the peace, and who organized the county court on April 10, 1815, at a point 4 miles w. of the present county seat, were Walter Thomas, Edward Martin, David Harris, Wm. R. Jackson, John Ragland, Hugh Brown, and Elias Pitchford; the first sheriff, Thomas Cook; the first clerk, of both county and circuit courts, David Walker.

There is no bank, and has never been a newspaper published in the county. On the Big Trammel and on the West Fork of Bay's Fork creeks, valuable oil wells have been bored, one of them yielding 200 barrels per day.

Inscriptions .- On the Sulphur fork of Bay's fork of Big Barren river, 7 miles N. w. of Scottville, at or near the Sulphur Lick, the following words were found cut in the bark of a beech tree : "James McCall dined here, on his way to Natchez, June 10th, 1770." On Long creek, half a mile from where it empties into Barren river, about 8 miles E. of Scottville, on the lands of Col. S. E. Carpenter, near where his mill stands, the following is inscribed on a large beech tree: "Ichabod Clark, mill site, 1779." On the opposite side of the tree, this inscription is found : "Too sick to get over," date and name not mentioned. At two points near the Big Barren river- one-half a mile below the mouth of Walnut creek, and the other near the mouth of Big Difficult creek-is cut, in the bark of large beech trees, che name of Daniel Boone, once with the date of 1777 (some think it 1797, but the old hunter had removed to Missouri several years before this). There is no doubt that Daniel Boone passed through Allen county, following down the river at least as far as McFadden's Station, 4 miles E. of where Bowling- green now is, in Warren county. The name of Joe Boone, without date but very old, is cut on a beech tree in the N. w. part of the county, near Clay- pool's mill.

Caves .- There are a number of caves in the county, but few of which have been explored to any extent. In one of the caves, in 1844, two shells were found resembling a conchshell. One of the shells is about 18 inches long, has been sawed or cut lengthwise in the middle, having a small hole bored in the little end, so as to be hung up by a string; the other or bowl end, answering a good purpose for a water vessel.

Antiquities .- In the west end of the county, 13 miles w. from Scottville, and 17 from Bowlinggreen, is one of the most remarkable of the remains of those ancient fortifications, belonging to a people unknown, of whom our country exhibits so many traces. At this place, the Middle Fork of Drake's creek makes a horse-shoe bend-running one mile, and then with a gradual

ALLEN COUNTY.

bend, returning to within thirty feet of the channel where the bend may be said to commence. The partition which divides the channels of the creek at this point is of solid limestone, thirty feet thick at the base, two hundred yards in length, forty feet high, and six feet wide at the top. The top is almost perfectly level, and covered with small cedar trees. The area included within the bend of the creek, is to the east of this narrow pass, and contains about two hundred acres of land, rising from the creek in a gradual ascent of one hundred feet, where it forms a bold promontory. The top of this is leveled and forms a square area containing about three acres, inclosed with walls and a ditch. The outer ditch is still perceptible, and the walls are now about three feet high around the whole circuit of the fort. In the rear of this are to be seen many small mounds.

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Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 5

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