Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 80

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 80

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MADISON COUNTY.

MADISON was a county of Virginia, one of nine established by the general assembly of that state out of Kentucky county, afterwards called Kentucky district, before the separation of Ken-

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MADISON COUNTY.

tucky, and her admission into the Union, June 1, 1792 ; it was formed (the 7th in order) in 1785, out of part of Lincoln co., and named in honor of James Madison, afterward president of the United States. It is situated in the eastern middle portion of the state, on the waters of Kentucky river, which is its boundary line on the N., N. E., and N. w. ; and is bounded N. by Fayette and Clark, E. by Estill, s. by Jackson and Rockcastle, and w. by Garrard and Jessamine. It is much the largest of the bluegrass . counties, with a diversified surface-the western quite broken and hilly, the central generally undulating; the eastern lies well, but the soil is not so rich and productive as the other portions. The great business of the county has gradually settled into stock-rais- ing, the production of tobacco and hemp which were once leading crops having almost entirely ceased. In 1870, Madison was the 2d largest cattle producing county, the 5th in hogs, and the 4th in corn. The principal streams of the county are Drowning, Muddy, Otter, Tate, and Silver creeks, all named by Daniel Boone, and flowing into Kentucky river.

Towns .- Richmond is the county seat-first settled by John Miller in 1785, but not incorporated until 1809, although Milford, the original county seat, was " established " in 1789; it is 50 miles from Frankfort, and 26 s. E. of Lexington ; is the terminus of the Richmond branch of the Louisville and Nashville railroad, by which it is distant from Louisville 138 miles, and 31 miles from the main s. E. line or Knoxville branch of that railroad. It is a handsome town, with a thriving, wealthy, and intelligent population of 1,629 in 1870, and steadily increasing. Besides one of the handsomest court houses in the state, it contains 6 churches (Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Reformed or Chris- tian, Roman Catholic, and African), a female academy, 12 lawyers, 6 doctors, 2 hotels, 3 National banks, a newspaper (the Kentucky Register), and quite a number of business houses. Kirksville, 10 miles s. w. of Richmond ; population about 200. Kingston, 7 miles s. ; population 200. Waco, 83 miles E., and Elliston, ad- joining ; population of both, 300. Rogersville, Speedwell, Union, Doylesville, Foxtown, and Stringtown, are small places. Berca, 15 miles s. of Richmond, population about 200, is the seat of a flour- ishing academy or college, attended by children of both sexes, white and black. Boonesborough, which was established by the legis- lature of Virginia in 1779 as a town, and so lately as 1810 had 68 inhabitants, has almost disappeared as a village.

STATISTICS OF MADISON COUNTY.

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

Population, from 1790 to 1870 .p. 258

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

whites and colored. .p. 260 Taxable property, in 1846 and IS70 ... 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. 260

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

MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE FROM MADISON COUNTY, SINCE 1815.

Senate .- Thos. Kennedy, 1792; Humphrey Jones, 1814-22; Thos. C. Howard, 1822-26; Archibald Woods, 1826-29 ; Robert Miller, 1829, '34-38 ; Jas. Dejarnett,

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MADISON COUNTY.

1830-34 ; Chas. J. Walker, 1838-42; Wm. Chenault, 1842-46 ; John Speed Smith, 1846-50 ; Reuben Munday, 1851-55 ; David Irvine, 1855-59: E. W. Turner, 1873-77.

House of Representatives .- Wm. Williams, W. Kerley, 1815 ; Samuel South, 1815, '16, '17 ; David C. Irvine, 1816 ; Archibald Woods, 1816, '17, '20, '24; John Tribble, 1817; Jos. Barnett, Josiah Phelps, 1818; Thos. C. Howard, 1818, '19, '20, '21 : Wm. Rodes, 1819 ; John Speed Smith, 1819, '27, '30, '39, '41, '45; Jas. Stone, 1820, '21; Jas. Dejarnett, 1821, '22; Wm. McClanahan, 1822 ; Wm. Chenault, 1822, '40; Daniel Breck, 1824, '25, '26, '27, '34; Squire Turner, 1824, '25, '26, '30, '31, '39; David Bruton, 1825 ; Robert Harris, 1826, '28 ; Jos. Turner, 1827 ; Wm. H. Caperton, 1828 ; Abner G. Daniel, 1828, '29, '31; Humphrey Jones, 1829; Clifton Rodes, 1829, '30 ; Wm. R. Letcher, 1831 ; John White, Jos. Collins, 1832 ; Edmund L. Shackleford, Andrew Crews, 1833 ; Chas. J. Walker, 1834; Caldwell Campbell, 1835; Cassius M. Clay, 1835, '37 ; Thos. J. Gentry, 1836 ; John S. Busby, 1836, '37 ; Wm. T. Fox, Thos. Royston, 1838 ; Jefferson Williams, 1840 ; Reuben Munday, 1841 ; Samuel M. Fox, Nicholas Hocker, 1842 ; Abner Oldham, 1843; Thos. J. Gentry, 1843, died Feb. 5, 1844, succeeded by Thompson Burnam ; Robert R. Harris, Richard Runyon, 1844 ; > Salem Wallace, 1845 ; David Irvine, David Martin, 1846; Madison Boulware, 1847; Cyrus Turner, 1847, '48 ; Waller Chenault, 1848; Leland D. Maupin, Palestine P. Ballard, 1849 ; Wm. Harris, Wm. T. Terrill, 1850; Barnett C. Moran, 1851-53 ; Curtis F. Burnam, 1851-53, '59-63 ; Jas. Richardson, Henry T. Allison, 1853-55; Wm. M. Miller, Coleman Covington, 1855-57; Curtis Field, jr., Claiborne W. White, 1857-59 ; Wm. S. Neale, 1859-61, '63-65; George W. Ballew, 1865-67, seat declared vacant be- cause of military interference, Dec., 1865, succeeded by A. J. Mershon, 1865-67 ; Andrew T. Chenault, 1867-69 ; Jas. B. McCreary, 1869-75 (who was speaker, 1871-75.)

Centenarians .- James Byrum died in Madison county, in 1871, aged 107 years, having been born in Hillsboro, North Carolina, in 1764; came to Ky. about 1793; was never sick in his life. Enos Hendren, another citizen of Madison, and native of North Carolina, who frequently was at work in his garden during the last year of his life, died Aug. 12, 1872, aged 108 years. The latter had been a member of the Baptist church for 90 years, and the former for nearly 80 years. Daniel Purcell died March, 1873, aged 105.

Springs .- White sulphur springs are numerous in Madison county ; one of superior quality, 14 miles E. of Richmond, was resorted to by invalids prior to the late civil war. There is a black sulphur spring, highly impregnated with salt, at or near Boonesborongh ; this was a great resort of buffalo, deer, and other animals, when Kentucky was first explored.

Of Mounds, several are found in Madison county ; one was partially ex- plored, over thirty years ago, but no relies discovered. A large fire must have been burned near the base, before the mound was reared, as the coals were so well preserved as to show clearly . the wood from which they were burned.

Shot Iron Ore, or iron gravel, is mixed with the soil, about half way between Richmond and Elliston, and around the latter place.

The Black Limestone Shale, underlying the black slate, was broken up and used to metal or macadamize several miles of the Richmond and Irvine turn- pike-that part between the Kentucky river and Muddy creek. It made a good dry solid road.

There are some Bituminous Coal-fields about 15 miles E. of Richmond, which have been but little worked ; also, in the southern part of the county, in the Big Hills, where Rock Lick and Roundstone creeks take their rise.

Hydraulic Stone, of superior quality, is abundant in the bluffs of the Ken- tucky river, near the mouth of Red river.

A Petrified Indian was exhumed, when digging out a spring on the farm of H. P. Young, on Tate's creek, in Madison county. in 1872.

The Earliest White Visitor to the country east of what is now Madison county was John Findlay (generally written Finley); who, in 1767, on an expedition with the double purpose of hunting and of trading with the Indians, came along a route called the warriors' road or path (it is delineated on the map in Filson's Kentucky, published in 1784 at Wilmington, Delaware) " lead- ing from the Cuinberland ford, along the broken country lying on the eastern branch of the Kentucky river, and so across the Licking river, toward the mouth of the Scioto." This route was much frequented by the Indian tribes, in passing northward or southward through Kentucky, whether for purposes of hunting or war. No permanent village of the modern Indians was ever

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MADISON COUNTY.

known in Kentucky-indeed none at all, except that on the high ground of the Kentucky bank of the Ohio river, immediately opposite the mouth of the Scioto river, to which some French traders and Shawnee Indians fled for ref- uge from a remarkable flood which overflowed all their town on the Ohio side. As late as 1773, while the principal town was on the Ohio side, this temporary settlement continued; but before 1778 it had entirely disappeared, by the act of the Indians themselves.

Two years later, Findlay conducted Daniel Boone, John Stewart, Joseph Holden, James Mooney (or Monay), and Wm. Cool, in 38 days from their homes on the Yadkin river, in North Carolina, to a spot "on Red river, the northernmost branch of Kentucky river, where John Findlay had formerly been trading with the Indians, and where, on June 7, 1769, from the top of an eminence they saw with pleasure the beautiful level of Kentucky."* This was probably 20 miles directly east of Madison county, in what is now Estill county ; and the party continued "hunting with great success, until Dec. 22, 1769," when as Boone and Stewart rambled on the banks of the Kentucky river (probably within the present county of Madison), a company of Indians rushed out of a thick canebrake and made them prisoners. They made their escape, after seven days captivity and confinement, and returned to their camp on Red river-which they found plundered, and their comrades "dispersed or gone home." Findlay made his way back to the settlements (see under Josh Bell county), probably taking Holden, Mooney, and Cool with him. Shortly after, Stewart was killed by the Indians; but not until Squire Boone and another adventurer had found their way from North Carolina to his brother's camp in the cane land. The tragic death of Stewart frightened the unknown new comer, and he " returned home by himself." The brothers were thus left alone in the howling wilderness. On the 1st of May, 1770, Squire Boone "returned home for a new recruit of horses and ammunition, leaving Daniel alone-without bread, salt, or sugar, or even a horse or dog. He passed a few days uncomfortably; the idea of a beloved wife and family, and their anxiety on his account, would have disposed him to melancholy, if he had further indulged the thought."; While thus alone, in May, 1770, he wan- dered to the hills that skirted the Ohio river, and for the first time looked down upon the majestic stream that formed the great northern and western boundary of the mighty state he was then exploring. On the 27th of July, Squire Boone returned, with horses and ammunition; and the brothers, "monarchs of all they surveyed," hunted through and explored the country until March, 1771, when they made their way back to their North Carolina homes.

Daniel Boone, then-if not the first white visitor, as he became in 1775 the first permanent settler-was one of the six explorers who first trod the soil of Madison county. Of the eight earliest visitors, he and his brother Squire alone became pioneer settlers. [To these, may possibly be added Christopher Gist (see p. 16, vol. i,-as first of all. His route is too obseure, to be certain. ]

The Second Visitors to Madison county were part of the MeAfec company; who, during Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 2d and 3d, 1773, passed up the Ken- tucky river, on the south side, within two miles of the river, and crossed the Cumberland mountain into Powell's valley, Va .- returning from their surveys at Frankfort, and in Anderson and Mercer counties. They were James, George, and Robert McAfee, and Samuel Adams. t

March to May, 1775 .- For an account of Capt. Wm. Twetty's company, the attack on them by Indians, their arrival and that of Col. Richard Henderson's company at Boonesborough, the opening of the land office, and meeting of the people of Transylvania, see Annals of Kentucky, page 18, Vol. I. The following is additional, and more full :

By the Treaty of Fort Stanwix, in the province of New York, Nov. 5, 1768,|| the Six Nations of Indians (Mohawks, Tuscaroras, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayu- gas, and Senecas), with certain " dependent tribes " (Shawanese, Delawares, Mingoes, and others) dwelling north of the Ohio river-who also claimed

* Boone's Autobiography, in Filson's Kentucky. + Same.

MS. General and Natural History of Kentucky, by Gen. Robert B. McAfee, 1806.

I See history and full text of the Treaty, Butler's Ky., 2d. ed., 1836, pp. 472-488.

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MADISON COUNTY.

and exercised an interest in and ownership over the hunting grounds now included in the state of Kentucky-ceded to the King of Great Britain the lands lying back of the British settlements, and east and south of the Ohio river, as far west as the Cherokee or Hogohege [i. e. Tennessee] river.

The Treaty of Hard Labor, in South Carolina, with the Cherokee Indians, made Oct. 14, 1768, just prior to that of Fort Stanwix, had surrendered to them whatever territory west of the Kanawha river was claimed to have been acquired of the northern tribes.

The Treaty of Lochaber, in South Carolina, Oct. 18, 1770, with the same Indians, made more definite the treaty of Hard Labor; and for the second time determined that the territory south of the Ohio and west of the Kanawha belonged to the Cherokee Indians, and was still their hunting grounds.

Thus stood matters at the time of the tremendous and decisive battle of the " Point," or Point Pleasant, at the mouth of the Kanawha river, Virginia, Oct. 10, 1774. Lord Dunmore, colonial governor of Virginia, by proclamation, Jan., 1775, stated that " the Shawnees, to remove all ground of future quarrel, have agreed not to liunt on this side of the Ohio," etc.

Patrick Henry * (the great Virginia orator, afterwards governor of that state), early in 1774, entered into an arrangement with Hon. Wm. Byrd, John Page, Esq., and Col. Wmn. Christian, all of Virginia, for the purpose of purchasing from the Cherokees " some of their land on the waters of their own river in Virginia." They accordingly sent an agent, Mr. Kennedy, and found them disposed to treat upon the subject. A change of public affairs, of an imminent character, made the great orator abandon the project-for which in his deposition he gives his reasons as follows :

" Not long after this, and before any treaty was resolved on, the troubles with Great Britain seenied to threaten serious consequences; and this depo- nent became a member of the first Virginia convention, and a member of the first continental congress, upon which he determined with himself to disclaim all concern and connection with Indian purchases, for the reasons following: that is to say, he was informed, shortly after his arrival in congress, of many purchases of Indian lands, shares in most or all of which were offered to this deponent, and constantly refused by him, because of the enormity of the ex- tent to which the bounds of those purchases were carried; that disputes had arisen on the subject of these purchases; and that this deponent, being a member of congress and convention, conceived it improper for him to be con- cerned as a party in any of these partnerships, on which it was probable he might decide as a judge. He was farthier fixed in his determination not to be concerned in any Indian purchases whatever, on the prospect of the pres- ent war, by which the sovereignty and right of disposal of the soil of America would probably be claimed by the American states."

The Transylvania Company's is the only one of the purchases thus alluded to which bears upon the history of Kentucky. In the fall of 1774, nine gen- tlemen from Granville and adjoining counties, in North Carolina-Col. or Judge Richard Henderson (see biographical sketch under Henderson county), John Luttrell, Nathaniel Hart, Thomas Hart, David Hart, Win. Johnston, Jolin Williams, James Hogg, and Leonard Hendley Bullock-made prelimi- nary arrangements, at the Sycamore shoals on the Watauga river, with the Overhill Cherokee Indians for a treaty, which was consummated on March 17, 1775, at the residence of Col. Chas. Robertson (which was probably in a fort), on the Watauga river, a tributary of the Holston river, in what is now northeastern Tennessee. The treaty lasted about twenty days; f and was executed by Oconistoto, chief warrior and first representative of the Cherokee nation of Indians, Attacullacullah (or the Little .Carpenter), and Savanooko or Coronoh, prominent chiefs. For £10,000 lawful money of Great Britain, they deeded, by a remarkable document, all the territory lying between the Cumberland river and the " Kentucky, Chenoca, or what by the English is

* See Patrick Henry's Deposition, June 4, 1777.

t Narrative of Hon. Felix Walker, who was present as one of Capt. Twetty's com- pany, on his way to Kentucky ; he was afterwards a member of congress from North Carolina.

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called Louisa* river ;" up the latter and its most northwardly branch, thence to the top ridge of Powell's mountain, thence to the head spring of the most southwardly branch of the Cumberland river, thence down said river to its mouth, and up the Ohio river to the mouth of the Kentucky-a magnificent territory of not less than 17,000,000 acres.

The First Road or Trace, always known as Boone's trace, was cut, from the Long island on Holston river, not far from the place of treaty, to Boones- borough, on the Kentucky river, at this time-the proprietors of Transylvania having bargained with Daniel Boone to go before and open this road. Capt. Twetty's company of 8, joined that of Col. Boone (which included Squire Boone, Col. Richard Callaway, John Kennedy, and 18 others), making 30 in all, at Long island, and, March 10, 1775, started-marking the track.with hatehets until they reached Rockcastle river. Thence, for 20 miles, they had to cut their way through a country entirely covered with dead brush. The next 30 miles were " through thick cane and reed ; and as the cane ceased, they began to discover the pleasing and rapturous appearance of the plains of Kentucky. A new sky and strange earth seemed to be presented to their view ! So rich a soil they had never seen before-covered with clover in full bloom. The woods were abounding with wild game-turkeys so numerous that it might be said they appeared but one flock, universally scattered in the woods. It appeared that nature, in the profusion of her bounty, had spread a feast for all that lived, both for the animal and rational world. A sight so delightful to their view and so grateful to their feelings, almost inclined thiem in transport to kiss the soil of Kentucky-in imitation of Columbus, as he hailed and saluted the sand on his first setting foot on the shores of America."f

The Disasters of this first attempt to open a road to Louisa or Cantuckey- as the Journal of Col. Richard Henderson designated the new territory, over which he and others were about to establish the government of the colony of Transylvania-were discouraging to the last extent. The Indians were "upon the war path," guarding the very threshold of their loved hunting ground-apparently realizing that the companies who were coming in for an ' armed occupation" of their beautiful land would never voluntarily relinquish 80 capital a prize.

The First Contest between the whites and Indians, on Kentucky soil, oc- curred on Saturday morning, March 25th, 1775, in what is now Madison co., about 15 miles south of the Kentucky river. Unconscious of the near approach of danger, the men under Col. Boone lay in their camp asleep, un- guarded, and without any sentinels to warn of approaching danger. The attack was sudden, about half an hour before day ; the first notice, by a volley of rifles discharged at the sleepers around the camp fires. The contest was soon over. The Indians were not in force sufficient to overpower the whites, and having dispersed part of them, did not follow up their advantage-wisely concluding that although the suddenness of the attack had given a decided advantage, the attacked party would immediately rally, as they did, and be too formidable for them. Capt. Win. Twetty was shot in both knees, and died on Tuesday, March 28th-the first death of a class of leading or prom- inent men, of whom so many fell victims to the Indian hate during the first eight years of the settling of Kentucky, culminating in the battle of the Blue Licks, Aug. 18, 1782, when the leaders were mowed down by the score. The Indians selected the leaders as the first object of an attack, realizing that nothing so contributed to the fright that precedes defeat as the loss of the directing head-their own universal experience, which they applied with un- varying wisdom. Besides the fatal wounds to Capt. Twetty, his body servant, a black man, was killed, and Felix Walker dangerously wounded. Some of the party did not recover from the panic; but following the trace they had just helped to make, continued their flight to the settlements in Virginia. Walker could not be removed without danger of instant death, and several remained with him at the same place for 12 days-when, carrying him in a litter between two horses, they proceeded to the Kentucky river, at the mouth of Otter creek ; and selecting " a plain on the south side, wherein was a lick

* So named by Dr. Thomas Walker, on his first visit in 1747.

t Mon. Felix Walker's Narrative. # See account of Twetty's fort, page 520.

II ... 32

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MADISON COUNTY.

with two sulphur springs strongly impregnated, they made a station and called it Boonesborough."

On the 27th of March, only a few miles distant from the first attack, and near the Louisa (Kentucky) river, the same body of Indians fired on a camp of six men, killing Thomas McDowell and Jeremiah McPheeters; the other four, one a son of Samuel Tate, made their escape.

As the First Official Report (if that expression be not dignifying overmuch so plain a letter) of any thing like a fight with weapons upon Kentucky soil, and as the earliest in date which has been preserved of the few letters written in a life nine-tenths of a century long, the following from Daniel Boone, j accompanied with a fac simile of his signature, will be read with interest. On the outside, it was addressed to " Col. Richard Henderson-these with care." With the exception of the words sculped and flusterate, the bad spell- ing has been corrected. [For a fac simile copy of an entire letter from Col. Boone, written in 1809, when 78 years old, see under Boone county, ante. He was just 44, when the following was written :]

" APRIL THE FIRST, 1775.

" DEAR COLONEL :

" After my compliments to you, I shall acquaint you of our misfortune. On March the 25 a party of Indians fired on my company about half an hour before day, and killed Mr. Twetty and his negro, and wounded Mr. Walker very deeply, but I hope he will recover. On March the 28 as we were hunting for provisions we found Samuel Tate's son, who gave us an account that the Indians fired on their camp on the 27 day. My brother and I went down and found two men killed and sculped, Thomas McDowell and Jere- miah McPheeters. I have sent a man down to all the lower companies in order to gather them all to the mouth of Otter Creek.

"My advice to you, sir, is to come or send as soon as possible. Your company is desired greatly, for the people are very uneasy, but are willing to stay and venture their lives with you, and now is the time to flusterate the intentions of the Indians, and keep the country, whilst we are in it. If we give way to them now, it will ever be the case. This day we start from the battle ground, for the mouth of Otter Creek, where we shall immediately erect a fort, which will be done before you can come or send-then we can send ten men to meet you, if you send for them.

"I am, sir, your most obedient,

Daniel Boone

"N. B .- We stood on the ground and guarded our baggage till day, and lost nothing. We have about fifteen miles to Cantuck [Kentucky river] at Otter Creek."

From the " Journal of an Expedition to Cantuckey in 1775," by Col. Richard Henderson, of North Carolina (see biographical sketch under Henderson county), the following extracts are made :

1775, Monday, March 20. Having finished my treaty with the Indians at Watauga [in s. E. Tennessee], set out for Louisa [Kentucky ].

Thursday, 30th. Arrived at Capt. Martin's, in Powell's Valley.

Friday, 31st. Employed in making a house to secure our wagons, as we could not possibly clear the way any farther.

Saturday, Ist April. Employed in making ready for packing [i. e., loading horses with the baggage ].

Sunday, 2d. Mr. Hart came up. [This was Capt Nathaniel Hart, one of the proprietors of Transylvania, who had made the treaty at Watauga,

Felix Walker's Narrative.

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Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 80

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