Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 6

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 6

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

At the west side of the narrow pass, and immediately at its termination, there is a hill similar to the one on the east. Here is to be seen a -small mound forty feet in circumference and four feet high. Upon excavating one side of this mound, a stone coffin was dug up, two and a half feet long, one foot wide and one foot deep, with a stone covering-the top of the coffin projecting one inch beyond the sides. Upon opening the coffin, the arm and thigh bones of an infant were found. This coffin being removed, others of larger dimensions were discovered, but not removed. Many very large human bones have been exhumed from the mounds in this county-some of the thigh bones measuring from eight to ten inches longer than the race of men now inhabiting the country.

1550955

This county received its name from Col. JOHN ALLEN, who fell in the disas- trous battle of the river Raisin. He was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, the 30th of December, 1772. His father, James Allen, emigrated to Kentucky in the fall of the year 1780, and settled at Dougherty's station, on Clark's run, about one and a half miles below the present town of Danville. Here he formed an acquaintance with Joseph Daveiss, the father of Col. Joseph Hamilton Da- weiss. Becoming impatient of the close confinement of the station, these fearless and ardent men removed farther down the creek, and erecting a small station, lived there for three years. At the expiration of this period, Mr. Daveiss pur- chased a tract of land three or four miles west of Danville, and removed to it.

In 1784, the father of John Allen removed to Nelson county, and settled on Simpson's creek, seven and a half miles from Bardstown. In 1786, the subject of this notice attended a school in Bardstown, kept by a Mr. Shackleford, where he acquired a slight knowledge of the classics. This school was succeeded by one under the charge of Dr. James Priestly, with whom young Allen finished his education. . At this school, Joseph H. Daveiss, John Rowan, Felix Grundy, Archibald Cameron, John Pope, and John Allen, all distinguished in after life, formed one class.

In the year 1791, John Allen commenced the study of the law in the office of Col. Archibald Stewart, of Stanton, Va. He pursued his legal studies with great assiduity for about four years, and in 1795, he returned to Kentucky and settled in Shelbyville, where he continued to practice law till 1812. As a lawyer, he ranked with the first men of his profession.

On the breaking out of the war in 1812, he raised a regiment of riflemen, foi the campaign under Harrison in the north-west. Part of this regiment was in the battle of Brownstown, on the 18th of January, 1813. In the fatal battle of the river Raisin, Col. Allen's regiment formed the left wing of the American force. The termination of this affair is too well known to require recapitulation here; and among the many noble and chivalrous Kentuckians who there found a bloody grave, there was none whose loss was. more sensibly felt or deeply de- plored than Col. Allen. Inflexibly just, benevolent in all his feelings, and of undaunted courage, he was a fine specimen of the Kentucky gentleman of that day, and his name will not soon pass away from the memory of his countrymen.

ANDERSON COUNTY.

ANDERSON county, the 82d in order of formation, was organ- ized in 1827, out of parts of Franklin, Mercer, and Washington ; and named after one of the most brilliant young men of Kentucky, Richard Clough Anderson, Jr., then recently deceased. It is situated in the middle portion of the state, and is bounded on the north by Franklin county, east by the Kentucky river, which separates it from Woodford, south by Mercer and Wash- ington, and west by Spencer county. It is well watered by Salt river (which has many fine mills and good water power); by its tributaries, Crooked, Fox, Stoney, and Hammond creeks; and by Kentucky river and its tributaries, Bailey's run, Little Ben- son, and Gilbert's creek. The surface is generally rolling, some portions level, rich, and very productive; the hills grow fine tobacco and grasses. Cattle and hogs, wheat, corn, and whiskey, are the leading articles of production and export. In the county . are thirteen distilleries, which have manufactured in a year 4,000 barrels of old-fashioned, sour-mash, hand-made, copper-distilled whisky, of very fine quality.

Lawrenceburg, population 400, is the county seat, 14 miles from Frankfort and 20 from Harrodsburg, on the turnpike road uniting them ; has a substantial court-house, built at a cost of $18,000, in 1861-the old one, with many of the county records, having been burned in 1860; it has a banking-house, a steam flouring mill, and 4 churches, Reformed or Christian, Methodist, Baptist, and a colored or African church established by the Freedmen's Bureau in its palmy days. Rough-and- Ready is 4 miles from Lawrenceburg, on turnpike to Frankfort, popula- tion 160; Camdenville, on Salt river, 8 miles w. of Lawrence- burg, population 75 ; Johnsonville, near the Washington county line, population 75; Van Buren, 18 miles w. of Lawrenceburg, on Salt river, population 30; and Ripyville, 33 miles s. of Law- renceburg, population 30. See General Index, title Anderson co.

STATISTICS OF ANDERSON COUNTY.

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

Population, from 1830 to 1870. .p. 258 Horses, mules, cattle, hogs ... ... page 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 FROM ANDERSON COUNTY, SINCE 1851.

Senate .- Win. H. MeBrayer, 1859-63. [See page 000.]

House of Representatives .- Jos. H. D. McKee, 1859-61 ; Vincent Ash, 1861-63, but expelled Aug. 19, 1862, for "joining Morgan's rebel band," and succeeded by John Draffin, 1862-63, and 1865-67 ; Johin L. McGinnis, 1863-65 ; J. Hall Yowell, 1867-69 ; Dr. Landon Carter, 1869-71; Wm. F. Bond, 1871-73; Wm. Neal, 1873-75.

Lawrenceburg was established in 1820, and called after Capt. James Lawrence, U. S. Navy, whose last words on board the Chesapeake were " Don't give up the ship." It was first settled by an old Dutchman named Coffinan. When his good wife first heard of his death (he was killed by the Indians). she exclaimed in the bitterness of her affliction, " I always told my old man that these savage Ingens would kill him, and I'd rather lost my best cow at the pail than my old man."

RICHARD CLOUGH ANDERSON, JUN.

RICHARD CLOUGH ANDERSON, JR., (in honor of whom the county of Anderson was named,) was born at Louisville, in the then district of Kentucky, on the 4th day of August, 1788. His father was Richard C. Anderson, Sr., who served with great gallantry, as an officer, throughout the revolutionary war, at the con- clusion of which he was a lieutenant colonel. His mother was Elizabeth Clark, a sister of the celebrated General George Rogers Clark.

Mr. Anderson was sent at an early age to Virginia for his education; and after being graduated at William and Mary college, studied law under Judge Tucker. Upon his return to Kentucky he commenced the practice of his profes- sion; and, possessing all the qualities, intellectual, moral and social, necessary to insure success, soon took a high stand at the bar, as an able counsellor, and as an eloquent advocate. His popular talents would not permit him long to devote himself to private pursuits. The solicitations of friends and a natural ambition, drew him, in a very short time, into the service of the public. He commenced his career, as a politician, in the popular branch of the State legis- lature, in which he served several years, with distinguished credit to himself, and with the marked approbation of his constituents. He was accordingly elected to congress, in 1817, by a handsome majority over his opponent-the old incumbent. In congress he continued four years. during which time he partiei- pated in the splendid debates of that most interesting period, with an ability and Success, which reflected no slight honor on his character as an orator and a statesman. His reported speeches, during this period, are admirable for their terseness, beauty of arrangement, closeness of argument, and unambitious ele- gance of diction ; but they now lack the charm of that distinet and melodious elo- cution-that graceful and manly and persuasive manner-which gave interest and attractiveness to their delivery. In 1822, declining a re-election to congress, under the belief that his services were more needed in the councils of his own State, than in those of the nation, he again entered the State legislature, and was chosen speaker of the house of representatives. The duties of this office he discharged, in that most excited period of our State history, with a courtesy, propriety, discretion and ability, that caused him to be regarded, by many of that day, as the perfect model of a presiding officer. This was the origin of the angry controversy existing between the old and new court parties, to the former of which Mr. Anderson belonged. In January, 1823, Mr. Anderson was appointed, by President Monroe, the first minister plenipotentiary to the Republic of Colombia. Upon his arrival at Bogota-the capital-with his family, he was received with every demonstration of honor and respect. He resided there but a very short time, before he came to be regarded, by the authorities of the republic, rather as a friend and counsellor than as a stranger. His intercourse with the principal officers of state, was of the most agreeable and confidential character. In 1824 he negotiated the treaty between the two republics, which was ratified among the last acts of President Monroe's administration. In 1825 he lost his wife-an admirable and estimable lady, to whom he was most ten- derly attached. This loss induced him to return home for a short time, in order to place his children-two daughters and a son-with his friends in Kentucky. In October of that year, he revisited Bogota, accompanied by his brother, now Captain Robert Anderson of the U. S. Army, and remained until July, 1826, when he was instructed by President Adamns to repair to Porto Bello, to join Mr. Sergeant, who had been appointed together with himself. an envoy extraor- dinary and minister plenipotentiary to the congress to be assembled at Panama. On his way to Carthagena, his intended place of embarkation, he fell sick at Turbaco, a small village some twelve miles distant from that city, where, on the 24th day of July, his disease terminated in death. He was succeeded in his mission to Colombia, by the late ex-president of the United States, General William H. Harrison.

Thus prematurely ended a brilliant career of usefulness and honor, and of still higher promise. The writer of this slight sketch heard one of the most distin- guished men of our country declare, that Mr. Anderson's death alone in all pro- bability, prevented his reaching the highest office in the Union. A brief but discriminating notice by the editor, in the National Intelligencer, of August 29th, 1826, renders the following just tribute to his worth and memory. "The United States in general, and his native State of Kentucky in particular, have sustained

ANDERSON COUNTY.

a great loss in the death of this distinguished gentleman. On his former visit to Colombia he lost his excellent wife-which bereavement he did not long survive. " Mr. Anderson was one of the most amiable of men, and most discreet of politi- cians. A career of a few years in congress disclosed his valuable qualities. He possessed in an eminent degree, a clear discriminating mind, combined with the most conciliatory and persuasive address, the effect of which has often been seen on the floor of the house of representatives, and afterwards on that of the popu- lar branch of the legislature of Kentucky, in the midst of the greatest conten- tions, like oil stilling the agitated waves of the ocean. In this point of his char- acter, it is sufficient praise to say, he nearly resembled the late lamented WILLIAM LOWNDES. In brief, without offence be it said, the country could not boast a better man than Richard C. Anderson."

Mr. Anderson was so actively engaged in professional and political pursuits, that he had but little leisure for literature. He was fondly addicted, however, to reading, and devoted most of his spare time to books-principally of biography and history. His writings are few, but those few are characterised by strong sense, sober reasoning and sagacious insight. He was the author of the article in the North American Review, for October, 1826, on the constitution of Colom- bia-an article well worthy of perusal for its general excellence, as well as for the statesman-like suggestions it contains, relative to our own constitution. He was also engaged on a larger work, upon the political institutions and history of Colombia, the completion of which was unfortunately frustrated by his untimely death. Besides these, a fragmentary journal, of the last few years of his life still exists, possessing great interest, from the judicious observations upon books, and the shrewd remarks upon men and events, with which it is interspersed.

In making an estimate of the character of Mr. Anderson, in his public and private relations, it may be truly said of him, that while in private life he was without a vice, in his public career he was equally without a reproach.

BALLARD COUNTY.

BALLARD county, the 93d in order of formation, was organized in 1842, out of parts of McCracken and Hickman counties, and named in honor of Capt. Bland Ballard. It is situated in the extreme western part of the state, opposite Cairo, Illinois ; con- tains 393 square miles ; and is bounded on the north by the Ohio river, west by the Mississippi river, south by Hickman county, and east by Graves and McCracken counties. Mayfield creek runs westerly entirely through the county, dividing it into north and south Ballard-north Ballard being a beautiful high, level, and comparatively open country, producing more than the average in the state, of corn, wheat, rye, oats, potatoes, sorghum, and the finest tobacco in the world (which has sold in several instances, as high as $410 per hundred pounds) ; south Ballard is more broken, more heavily timbered, and has more depth of soil. The soil of the river-bottoms, a mixture of black loam and sand, is very productive. But little is exported besides tobacco and staves. The county (in 1872), is still new, fully one-third yet unsettled and held under military entries, in tracts of from 1,000 to 10,000 acres. There is not a macadamized road in the county, and only one gravel road-from Blandville to Cairo.

Towns .- Blandville, so called after the Christian name of Capt.

BALLARD COUNTY.

Bland Ballard, is the county seat, in the center of the county, 11 miles from Columbus, on the Mississippi, and 10 miles from Cairo, at the mouth of the Ohio ; population in 1870, 385. Mil- burn (named after Wm. Milburn), in the s. w., 17 miles from Columbus and 12 from Mayfield ; population in 1870, 314. Lovelaceville, 8 miles N. of E. of Blandville ; population about 200. Barlow City, population about 100, Hinkleville and Ogden's Landing are in the northern part of the county.

For historical incidents, see General Index, title Ballard co.

STATISTICS OF BALLARD COUNTY.

.When formed See page 26 | Corn, wheat, hay, tobacco .. pages 266, 268

Population, from 1850 to 1870 .p. 258 Horses, mules, cattle, hogs .. p. 268

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

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

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

children bet. 6 and 20 .. .p. 266 | Distinguished citizens ... ... see Index.

MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, SINCE 1859.

Senate .- Samuel H. Jenkins, 1859 -- 63 ; Oscar Turner, 1867-71.

House of Representatives .- Wm. M. Coffee, 1861-63, but resigned Dec. 6, 1861, and was succeeded by Wm. Mercer, 1862-63; Thos. P. Hays, 1863-65 ; Thos. H. Corbett, 1865-75.

In the first settlement of it, and for many years after, the northern part of the county was an elevated prairie, open, covered with tall grass, five or six feet high, and without timber except along the creeks. Under the timber grew a species of wild rye, with long beards. very troublesome to the eyes of cattle. Wild bees and honey were so plentiful, that a man could climb many of the trees and drink metheglin out of the first knot-hole he reached. Now, the grass and wild rye are gone, and the whole country, except where culti- vated, grown up in timber.

Natural Curiosities .- On the Mississippi river hills, a mile out from Punt- ney's Bend, is an old Indian fort, from which have been dug many Indian bones, and pieces of crucibles and charcoal. In the same township (5) and range (4 W.), on Gray's branch, is a remarkable mound, an oblong square, about 30 feet wide, 60 or 70 feet long, and 15 or 20 feet high ; its sides are nearly perpendicular. On the Ohio river bottom, opposite Mound City, Illinois, is one of the most extensive mounds in the west, 5 or 6 feet high, and spread over about 15 acres ; remarkable for having upon one end of it a mound, oval in shape, about 40 feet high, containing half an acre, and with trees on it 2 feet in diameter; while from the center of the big mound field, rises a third mound, about 12 feet high. Many Indian relics have been found near these mounds.

First Settlers .- John Humphrey in 1817, Solomon Redferrin and Robert Crafton in 1818, settled on Humphrey's creek, 3 to 5 miles from its mouth at the Ohio river ; Daniel Doolin in 1818, near Barlow city; John Weaver in 1818, Jas. Talbot in 1819, and John Marshall in 1822, on Shawnee creek, 9 or 10 miles N. of Blandville ; Wm Rush in 1819, on the Ohio river opposite Cairo; Wm. Holman and Sam. Wilson in, 1820, 8 miles s. E. of Blandville ; and Andrew Lovelace, the same year, at Lovelaceville. The first school in the county was taught on Mr. Redferrin's farm, by Wm. Hazard, of Va., in 1823.

Fort Jefferson .- Under intimations from Gov. Patrick Henry, dated Jan. 2, 1778, that " it was in contemplation to establish a post near the mouth of the Ohio, with cannon to fortify it," coupled with express instructions from Thos. Jefferson, next governor of Virginia-dated June 28, 1778, and repeated in January and April, 1780-Gen. Geo. Rogers Clark, with about 200 soldiers, left Louisville early in the summer of 1780, and proceeding down the river to a point on the Mississippi called the Iron Banks, five miles below the mouth of the Ohio, then in the state of Virginia, there erected a fort with several blockhouses, which he called Fort Jefferson. One object was to fortify the

BALLARD COUNTY.

claim of the United States to the Mississippi river as its western boundary, south of the Ohio. Gov. Jefferson had engaged a scientific corps, with Dr Thomas Walker at its head, to ascertain. by celestial observations, the bound ary line between Virginia and North Carolina, or the point on the Missis sippi river intersected by the latitude of 36° 30', the southern limit of Vir- ginia. Gen. Clark was instructed " to select a strong position near that point, and establish there a fort and garrison ; thence to extend his conquests north- ward to the Lakes, ereeting forts at different points, which might serve as monuments of actual possession, besides affording protection to that portion of the country." The result of Clark's bold operations, thus authorized, was the addition to the chartered limits of Virginia, and so recognized by the treaty of peace with Great Britain in 1783, of that immense region-after- wards called the " North Western Territory," and ceded by Virginia to the United States-which now comprises the four great states of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

The Chickasaw Indians were, in 1780, the undisputed owners of the ter- ritory on the west of the Tennessee river -including the ground at the mouth of Mayfield creek, where Fort Jefferson was built. By some un- explained oversight or neglect of positive instructions, or inability to comply with them, this site had not been purchased of the Indians, nor their con- sent obtained to the erection of the fort-thus aronsing their most bitter resentment. After awhile they began marauding and then murdering indi- viduals of the isolated families who had settled around the fort-thus driving them into the fort, and butchering many, including the whole family of Mr. Music, except himself. In their skirmishes, they captured a white man whom they compelled, at the risk of his life, to reveal the true condition of the gar- rison and families-already reduced, by sickness and absences, to about thirty men, of whom two-thirds were sick with fever and ague. These were commanded by Capt. George, according to Mann Butler, and others-and ac- cording to Gov. John Reynolds, by Capt. James Piggot; the Indians, who now came a thousand or twelve hundred strong to the work of bloody exter- mination, were led by Colbert, a Scotchman, who had gained great control over them. The siege lasted five or six days, the inmates of the fort being reduced to terrible extremities by famine, sickness, scarcity of water, watch- ing, and fighting. Their principal food was pumpkins, with the blossoms yet on them. They had sent for succor, but the distance was great. They re- fused a demand for a surrender within an hour, although notified that a strong force had been sent to intercept the sn all assistance expected. A desperate night assault was made, but as they crowded on, Captain Geo. Owen, com- mander of a blockhouse, raked them with great slanghter, with a swivel loaded with rifle and musket balls. Other efforts to storm the fort, and to set fire to it, were bravely resisted. At last Gen. Clark arrived from Kaskaskia, with provisions and reinforcements, and the baffled savages sullenly withdrew, still threatening vengeance. The fort was abandoned shortly after, from the difficulty of supplying it because so remote.

During the late civil war, a long six-pounder iron cannon, buried beneath the fort, was partially exposed by the caving in of the Mississippi river. Jos. Dupoyster, who owns the site of the fort, dug it out, but was robbed of it by Federal soldiers then stationed at Cairo.

Among the soldiers of Gen. Clark, at Fort Jefferson, were Win. Biggs, Jas. Curry, Levi Teel, David Pagon, John Vallis, Pickett, Seybold, Groots, Hildebrand, Dodge, Camp, Lunceford, Anderson, Doyle, Montgomery, Hughes, and many others. After its abandonment, some of these went to Illinois, grew up with the country, and became prominent citizens ; others came to Louisville. Gen. Clark promised lands and protection to all who would emigrate to the Iron Banks, and settle around the fort, with their families-thus securing a kind of armed occupation of the country.

Capt. BLAND W. BALLARD, for whom this county was named, was born near Fredericksburg, Va., Oet. 16, 1761, and died in Shelby co., Ky., Sept. 5, 1853-aged 92 years. His remains are interred in the State Cemetery at Frankfort. [An elegant portrait, from a sketch taken in life, and finished

BALLARD COUNTY.

in Aug., 1873, was presented by the artist, Col. Reuben H. Buckley, to the Public Library at Louisville.]

He came to Kentucky, in 1779, when 18 years old; joined the militia ; served in Col. Bowman's expedition, May, 1779; in Gen. Clark's expedition against the Piqua towns, July, 1780, where he was dangerously wounded in the hip, and suffered from it until his death; in Gen. Clark's expedition, Nov., 1782, against the same towns; in 1786, was a spy for Gen. Clark, in the Wabash expedition, rendered abortive by mutiny of the soldiers; in 1791, was a guide under Gens. Scott and Wilkinson ; and, Aug. 20, 1794, was with Gen. Wayne at the battle of the " Fallen Timbers."

When not engaged in regular campaign, he served as hunter and spy for Gen- eral Clark, who was stationed at Louisville, and in this service he continued for two years and a half. During this time he had several rencounters with the In- dians. One of these occurred just below Louisville. He had been sent in his character of spy to explore the Ohio from the mouth of Salt river to the falls, and from thence up to what is now the town of Westport. On his way down the river, when six or eight miles below the falls, he heard, early one morning, a noise on the Indiana shore. He immediately concealed himself in the bushes, and when the fog had scattered sufficiently to permit him to see, he discov- ered a canoe filled with three Indians, approaching the Kentucky shore. When they had approached within range, he fired and killed one. The others jumped overboard, and endeavored to get their canoe into deep water, but before they succeeded, he killed a second, and finally the third. Upon reporting his morning's work to General Clark, a detachment was sent down, who found the three dead Indians and buried them. For this service General Clark gave him a linen shirt, and some other small presents. This shirt, however, was the only one he had for several years, except those made of leather; of this shirt the pioneer hero was doubtless justly proud. .

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 6

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