Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 97

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 97

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The Low Price of the Lands in McCracken county-the legislature at first fixing the price at 25 cents per acre, then reducing it to 123 cents-retarded its early settlement, and gave it a bad or doubtful reputation as to their quality. Speculators bought up large quantities, and kept them out of mar- ket for years.

Lawyers .- J. B. Husbands, the pioneer lawyer of McCracken county, is still (1873) practicing at that bar. Gen. A. P. Thompson, another able lawyer of that bar, while bravely leading his command in a charge on the fort at Paducah, on March 25, 1864, was killed within 100 yards of the fort by a cannon-ball. (See brief account of the battle, in Collins' Annals, page 132, vol. i.)

For other incidents and political history of MeCracken county, see this title, in the Index.

595

MCCRACKEN COUNTY.

There are many Mounds in the vicinity of Paducah, ordinarily called Indian mounds, but evidently the work of pre-historic inhabitants.

Geology .- In the absence of solid beds of freestone and limestone for con- structions, in the quarternary formation, a substitute is found in the so-called " Cement Rock."- This has been formed or is forming, by the infiltration of chalybeate waters through the gravel which underlies the fine loams and marls of this region-cementing it into a ferruginous conglomerate which can be used for underpinning, walling up wells, and similar purposes. Near the mouth of Clark's river, it occurs in considerable quantity, and can be observed in process of formation. Near Ballard's Ford are immense masses of the same kind of rock. It has also been observed at Robb's mill, Kenton's farın, on Perkins' creek, 53 miles from Paducah.

At Robb's mill, are solid ledges of hard ferruginous and quartzose sand- stone in the high ground s. E. of Mr. Robb's house, which probably belong to the age of the millstone grit series. Masses of the same material exist also along the waters of Clark's river and of Mayfield creek.

Silver and Lead .- About 1846, considerable time and money were expended in searching for silver ore, with but very partial success; lead ore was found, but not in paying loads.

The Chalybeate Spring, in the bank of Massac creek, on the property of Mr. Robb, contains, besides chloride of alkali (probably chloride of sodium), some chloride of magnesium, and less bicarbonate of lime and magnesia than is usually found in ordinary spring-water. The water has a fine medicinal effect.

Birch Trees, in luxuriant growth, larger and more numerous than elsewhere in the district, are immediately around this spring.

A White Silicious Clay was passed through at 40 feet, overlaid by yellow sand, just before reaching the water-when boring for water at Mr. Robb's.

Old Fort Massac, Illinois, is on the bank of the Ohio river, opposite Mc- Cracken county. The late Gov. John Reynolds, in his Life and Times, page 28, says that Fort Massacre (usually known and styled Fort Massac) was established by the French about 1711. It was also a Missionary station. Until 1756, when it was greatly enlarged and strengthened, it was only a small fortress. In 1855, its outside walls were 135 feet square, and at each angle strong bastions were erected. The walls were palisades, with earth between the wood. Three or four acres of walks-in exact angles, and beautifully graveled with the pebbles from the river-were made on the north of the fort, on which the soldiers paraded. A large well was sunk within the fortress, and the whole appeared to have been strong and sub- stantial in its day. It was here that the Christian (Roman Catholic) mis- sionaries instructed the Southern Indians in the Gospel precepts; and it was here, also, that the French soldiers made a resolute stand against the enemy. In 1800, it was the only white settlement between the mouth of the Wabash and the Mississippi; a few families resided near the fort and were dependent on it, and two companies of the U. S. army were stationed there.

Soon after its establishment, probably before 1720, a military road was opened by the French, when they had dominion over the country, from Mas- sacre to Kaskaskia. The numbers of the miles were cut in cyphers, on trees, with an iron, and painted red ; and were still plainly visible in 1800. The road made a great curve to the north-to avoid the swamps and rough country on the sources of Cash river, and also to attain the prairie country, as soon as possible. Another road extended from Fort Massac to Cape Girar- deau, in the then Spanish country.

For biographical sketch of Linn Boyd, see under Boyd county.

Gen. LLOYD TILGHMAN was born on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, about 1817 ; graduated at West Point, 1836; and was appointed brevet 2d lieuten- ant in the Ist dragoons; resigned his commission Sept. 30, 1836, and devoted himself to civil engineering until the threatened breaking out of the Mexican war, when he became volunteer aid-de-camp to Col. Twiggs in the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, where he won distinction, as also in other

596

McLEAN COUNTY.

connections in the war, in both artillery and cavalry ; commanded the de- tachment which escorted Santa-Anna and his family from the city of Mexico to Vera Cruz; after that war, resumed his profession of civil engineer --- serving as such upon the Panama railroad in 1849, and upon the Baltimore and Ohio, Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania Central, East Tennessee and Virginia, and in Kentucky upon the New Orleans and Ohio, railroads; in 1854, left Kentucky, and was connected with various railroad projects in Arkansas and l'exas until 1861; returned to Paducah, and was in command of the " State Guards" in western Kentucky ; July, 1861, at the head of a large body of recruits, left Kentucky for the Confederate service; established a camp at Clarksville, Tenn., organized the 3d Ky. regiment, and was elected colonel; soon after, was promoted brigadier general, and entrusted with de- fense of Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, head-quarters at Fort Donelson; Feb. 6, 1862, was captured at Fort Henry, after a gallant defense (see Collins' Annals, page 99, vol. i)-surrendering to Admiral Foote of U. S. navy, having first demonstrated the vulnerability of the famous iron-clad gun-boats, by blowing up and destroying one of the most formidable of that class ; after a year's imprisonment at Fort Warren, Boston, was exchanged; ordered to the Yazoo river, where he defeated every attempt upon that side to turn the defenses of Vicksburg; in May, 1863, Grant's forces having changed their base of operations from above to below Vicksburg, marching towards that place from the south and rear, Tilghman's command was directed against them, and in the first encounter, at the battle of Champion's Hill, near the Big Black river, Tilghman was killed, May 16, 1863. He was an excellent officer, brave and faithful, daring and skillful, and had he lived through the war would have made a high mark for ability.

Capt. VIRGIL MCCRACKEN, in honor of whom this county was named, was a native of Woodford co., Ky. His father, Cyrus MeCracken, one of the first adventurers to that region, in conjunction with Hancock Lee, raised cabins one mile below Frankfort, on the east side of the Kentucky river, and named the place Leestown; and lost his life, Nov. 4, 1782, in Gen. George Rogers Clark's expedition against the Piqua towns, to avenge the terrible battle of the Blue Licks (see account, under sketch of Simon Kenton, page 449, ante). Capt. McCracken was an intelligent, patriotic, and fearless young man. In 1812, he raised a company of riflemen, for the regiment of the brilliant Col. John Allen; and fell at the head of his company, in the battle of the river Raisin, Jan. 22, 1813, while bravely maintaining the honor of his native state on that fatal field.

McLEAN COUNTY.

McLEAN county, the 103d in order of formation, was estab- lished in 1854, out of parts of Daviess, Muhlenburg, and Ohio counties, and named in honor of Judge Alney McLean. It is situated in the western part of the state, on the waters of Green river, which forms half its eastern boundary, intersects the county centrally, and, with Pond river, forms its western boundary line. It is bounded N. by Daviess, E. by Ohio, s. by Muhlenburg, and w. by Hopkins and Webster counties. Its other streams are : Buck, Cypress, Big, Long Falls, Brushy Fork, Abe's, Yel- low, and Delaware creeks. The surface of the country is, a large portion, undulating, the balance level ; a part is known as the Green river flats. It is about the 14th largest tobacco-raising county in the state, while the cereals and live stock are raised extensively and profitably.

597

McLEAN COUNTY.

Towns .- Calhoon is the county seat, incorporated Jan. 7, 1852, and named in honor of Judge John Calhoon, for many years a circuit judge, and for four years, 1835-39, a representative in congress ; population in 1860, 511, and in 1870 estimated at 950, but not given in the U. S. census ; it has, besides the usual county buildings, 11 lawyers, 4 physicians, 2 churches, 3 dry goods and 2 drug stores, 3 hotels, 2 mechanics' shops, a steam saw mill, and a flouring mill ; is situated on the N. bank of Green river, 68 miles from its mouth, and 279 miles from Louisville, by the river. Rumsey, on the s. bank of Green river, opposite Calhoon, is the oldest town in the county ; incorporated Feb. 18, 1839 ; popu- lation in 1860, 373, and in 1870, only 216; it has 2 taverns, a store, grocery, machine shop, flour mill, a wool carding, spin- ning, and weaving factory, a lawyer, and a doctor. Livermore, the second town in the county, is on Green river, just where the Owensboro and Nashville railroad crosses that stream, 8 miles above Calhoon; incorporated March 1, 1850 ; population in 1870, 316. Sacramento, 10 miles w. of s. of Calhoon ; population in 1870, 195 ; incorporated March 1, 1860. The other villages, and post offices, are-Wrightsburgh, on Green river, 52 miles above its mouth, and by land 12 miles N. w. of Calhoon ; Beech Grove, Daviessville, Bremen, Worthington, and Belleview-the two latter railroad stations.

STATISTICS OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

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

Population, in 1860 and 1870 .. p. 258 Horses, mules, cattle, hogs .page 268

whites and colored. .. p. 260 Taxable property, in 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 MCLEAN COUNTY.

Senate .- Dr. Albert D. Cosby, 1857-61, '65-69 ; John W. Johnson, 1869-73.

House of Representatives .- Henry Griffith, 1861-63; Isaac Calboon, 1863-67 ; David C. Turner, 1867-69 ; R. E. Humphrey, 1869-71 ; John Rowan, 1871-73; Wm. M. Ste- vens, 1873-75.

In McLean county, are 22 dry goods stores, 17 mechanics' shops, 19 phy- sicians, 11 lawyers, and 22 churches (8 Methodist, 7 Baptist, 4 Cumberland Presbyterian, 2 Reformed or Christian, and 1 Roman Catholic).

Green River, which runs alongside or through MeLean county for over 40 miles, is navigable for steamboats nearly all the year. Lock and Dam No. 2 is at the foot of the Vienna falls, the lock on the Rumsey side.

Springs .- Two miles N. of Calhoon, are the MeLean county oil wells, and a spring known as the T'ar springs.

The First Fort or Station was built, where Calhoon now stands, in 1788, by Solomon Rhoads, and called Vienna. In 1790, James Inman built Pond station, a few miles s. E. of Calhoon.

A Party of Trappers from the fort at Vienna, in 1790, while at the mouth of Green river, was attacked by Indians-who killed -. MeElmurray, and wounded Win. Faith, a lad of 17, who made his escape and returned to the fort. About the same time, the Indians killed Thos. Downs near the fort.

In the War of the Rebellion, Cien. Thus. L. Crittenden's division of Federal soldiers was located at Calhoon, in the fall of 1861 and winter succeeding. On Dec. 27, 1861, a skirmish occurred at Sacramento in this county, between detachments of Col. Jas. S. Jackson's Federal regiment and Col. Napoleon B. Forrest's Confederate regiment, then stationed at Hopkinsville, Christian

598

MEADE COUNTY.

co. ; the latter was victorious, loss not known ; Federal loss 8 killed, 9 wounded, 16 prisoners. (See Collins' Annals, page 98, vol i.)

The Geological Survey of MeLean county, in 1856 (see vol. i, pp. 148-9, of state survey) says that, in the N. E. part of the county, at Mr. Samuel's, on Deer creek, 6 miles above its mouth, these coals occur in a distance of 80 feet-the upper 23 feet, and the lower, a thick coal struck at the bottom of the boring, reported 5 feet or more; the intermediate coal is thin, only 1 } feet, and lies about 8 feet above the main coal. Towards the mouth of Cypress creek, dark shales and ironstones-including a bed of coal 23 feet thick- basset in the banks of that stream. On the right bank of Green river, at the Livermore landing, 15 feet of black shale appear, overlaid by 10 feet of light grey shale, with clay ironstone; under the black shale, there is said to be an 18-inch coal under the bed of the river. These shales, ironstones, and coal are supposed to be of the same date as those seen near low water of the Ohio river, at Coal Haven, and also near the head of French Island.

The " Thoroughfare," lying between Green river and Cypress creek, is heavily timbered with gum, white oak, etc .; it would make fine meadows and yield fine crops of corn. An extensive gravel bank, low and narrow, circumscribes the flats of Cypress. The sandstone, at Daviess' ridge, 15 to 20 feet thick, affords an excellent freestone for building and lies convenient for quarrying. In the hollow below Judge Eaves' house, is a sulphur spring -- whose water is valuable for the cure of diseases of the skin, and several chronic affections. .

Judge ALNEY McLEAN, in honor of whom McLean county was named, was a native of Burke co., North Carolina; emigrated to Kentucky, and began the practice of law at Greenville, Muhlenburg county, about 1805; had but little to do with politics before 1808; was a representative from that county in the legislature, 1812, '13; a captain in the war of 1812; a representative in congress for four years, 1815-17 and 1819-21; one of the electors for president in 1825, casting his vote and that of the state for Henry Clay ; again in 1833 an elector for the state at large, when the vote of the state was cast a second time for the same distinguished citizen ; appointed a circuit judge, and for many years adorned the bench. One of the oldest and ablest of Ken- tucky ex-judges, in a letter to the author, speaks of Judge McLean as "a model gentleman of the 'old school,' of great courtesy and kindness to the junior members of the bar," an honored citizen and a just judge.

MEADE COUNTY.

MEADE county, the 76th in order of formation, was established in 1823, out of parts of Hardin and Breckinridge counties, and named in honor of Capt. James Meade. It is situated in the N. w. middle part of the state ; is bounded N. and N. w. for 58 miles, by a great bend of the Ohio river, E. by Hardin, s. by Hardin and Breckinridge, and w. by Breckinridge county. The other streams are-Otter, Doe, Wolf, and Spring creeks. About two- thirds of the county is " barrens ;" the balance, off of the level river bottoms, rolling. The soil-based upon clay, with a lime- stone foundation-is generally rich and fertile. Tobacco and corn are the two leading crops; the other cereals, and live stock, are largely raised.

Towns and Villages, all small, abound. Brandenburg, the county seat, is on the Ohio river, 40 miles below Louisville, and 16 miles below the mouth of Salt river ; incorporated in 1825,

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: 599

MEADE COUNTY.

and named after Col. Solomon Brandenburg, the proprietor ; population in 1870, 427-a falling off since 1860 of 191. Big Spring is situated at the extreme southern border of the county ; derives its name from a large spring which bursts from the earth near its center, flows off for 200 or 300 yards in a stream large enough to turn a mill, then sinks beneath the surface and alto- gether disappears ; enjoys the rare felicity of embracing within its small territory the corners of three counties, Hardin, Breekin- ridge, and Meade. Concordia, on the Ohio, 41 miles below Brandenburg, incorporated March 9, 1869. Grahamton, at the falls of Otter creek, 5 miles from the Ohio. Garnettstille, on the same creek, 3 miles from the Ohio. Rock Haven, on the Ohio, 5 miles from Brandenburg. Besides these, are Garrett, Little York, Payneville, Stapleton, Boonesport, Meadeville, and Richard- son's Landing.

STATISTICS OF MEADE COUNTY.

When formed See page 26 Corn, wheat, hay, tobacco .. pages 266, 268 Population, from 1830 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 21 266 Latitude and longitude .. .. p. 257

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

MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE FROM MEADE COUNTY.

Senate .- John C. Walker, 1851-53; Sylvester Harris, 1853-57. [See Hardin co.]

House of Representatives .- George Calhoon, 1829, '36, '37 ; Daniel S. Richardson, 1834; Henry G. Davis, 1835; Thos. J. Gough, 1838 ; Jesse D. Perciful, 1839, '40, Robert D. N. Morgan, 1841, '42; Orla C. Richardson; 1843; Benj. W. Shacklett, 1844; Wm. Alexander, 1845, '46, '53-55; Sylvester Harris, 1847; Jas. Stewart, 1848; Philip B. Shepherd, 1849 ; Jesse S. Taylor, 1850 ; David Griggs, 1851-53 ; Erasmus O. Brown, 1855-59 ; W. C. Richardson, 1859-61; Thos. W. Owings, 1861-65 ; Jos. B. Woolfolk, 1865-67 ; Samuel M. Wrather, 1867-71; Wm. A. Allen, 1871-75. [See Hardin co.]

Ohiopiomingo was the name of a paper town established in 1795, by an enterprising Englishman, on the Ohio river, near where Rock Haven now is. The plan of the town, which was on a magnificent scale, contained over 1,000 houses, 43 streets, " a circus and several capital squares," to be embellished with various handsome structures ; a college for the education of the youth of "the tenantry," and also " for such children of the Indians as they may choose to send thither for instruction in the principles of philanthropy, moral rectitude, and social order, together with such branches of science as may tend to render them useful members of society." The town was named "in compliment to Piomingo, one of the Indian chiefs, a man greatly beloved and respected not only by the Indian tribes but also by the whites ;" and "a pe- destrian statue of him-babited as an Indian warrior, in the attitude of deliver- ing an oration in favor of Liberty"-was to be erected, of " Coade's artificial stone," in the circus or some principal part of the town, at an expense of $750. A gentleman aged 90, with his children and grandchildren, was to lead the colony of industrious husbandmen from England to this spot. Of " prime land " around, 100,000 acres were secured for this enterprise .*

There are several Caves in Meade county, mostly unexplored. Before 1846, in some of them human bones of an extraordinary size were discovered ; a skull bone, sufficiently large to encase the head of a living man of ordinary size, was found in a cave on the lands of Capt. Nathan D. Anderson, near Brandenburg. In 1871, in a newly discovered cave near Peckinpaugh's Landing, 4 miles above Leavenworth, Indiana, was found-in a large damp chamber, 70 feet below the entrance-a great heap of apparently loose earth,

* W. Winterbotham's View (4 vols.) of the United States, vol. iii, o. 147-8.

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MEADE COUNTY.

but only covering a pile of human bones-the smaller of which were easily crumbled, but the skulls and thigh bones were firm. How came they there, in such numbers, and of what Indian or pre-historic race, can never be known.

ENOCH BOONE, son of Squire Boone (and nephew of Daniel Boone), was born " in a canebrake," at Boonesborough, Madison co., Ky., Nov. 16, 1777. .He was among the earlier white children native of Kentucky (probably there were not more than eight born at a prior date), and many of his friends still cherish the pleasant but mistaken thought that he was the first. [See page 000.] Inured to the dangers and hardships of a frontier life, he was a soldier before he was 17, in Wayne's campaign against the Indians, 1794; in IS08, and for 8 years, he lived in Grassy Valley, Harrison co., Indiana (then Indiana territory), and held a captain's commission from Gen. Wm. H. Harrison, then its gover- nor; afterwards removed to Meade co., Ky. He was married in Shelby co., Ky., Feb. 8, 1798, to Lucy Galman, with whom he lived happily for 62 years. Hle died on his wedding anniversary, Feb. 8, 1862, at the residence of his son-in-law, Judge Collins Fitch, on the Ohio river, near Garnettsville, Meade co., Ky., aged 84 years.

There are several " Knobs" and " Groves" in Meade county, which are places of considerable notoriety, viz :- The Indian Hill, on Otter creek ; Jennie's Knob ; Bee Knob : Buck Grove; Jackey's Grove; Hill Grove; Indian Grove, and Hoghack Grove. These places lie very nearly in a range a few miles back or south of the Ohio, and stretch from the mouth of Salt river to the mouth of Sink- ing creek, a distance of forty miles by land and about eighty miles by the river. These knobs and groves being well known to many individuals before the settle- ment of the county, especially to the spies, they became points of observation. with the view of detecting the approach of Indians, and giving the alarm to the settlements in Hardin county .* The spies sent out from these settlements, were directed to traverse the country lying between Salt river and Sinking creek, these " knobs " and " groves " serving as places of observation, and giving direction to their course ; and thereby they were enabled to discover the trails of the Indi- ans as soon as they crossed the Ohio river, on their route to attack the settlements. In this way, the Indians were generally discovered and routed, and the settle- inents protected from their incursions.

The Indians that harassed these settlements were in the habit, uniformly, of crossing the Ohio river between the points before named. On one occasion, they were discovered after they had got some miles into the country, and pursued back to the river at the point where Brandenburg is now situated. They had secreted their bark canoes at the mouth of a small creek, and when the pursuing whites reached the river, the Indians were just landing on the opposite shore. One Indian was seen standing erect in a skiff, having on a red coat, when some one of the party exclaimed, " down with the red coat." Joe Logston, a noted Indian fighter at that time, instantly elevated his rifle, and fired at the red Indian. He fell forward into the river, causing quite a splashing of the water around him, and as he was not seen to rise again, the inference was irresistible that Joe's bul- let had proved fatal. t

This county received its name in honor of Captain JAMES MEADE, a native of Woodford county, Kentucky. Captain Meade, when quite a youth, volunteered his services under the lamented Colonel Joseph H. Daveiss, in the Wabash expe- dition, and fought side by side with that gallant officer in the battle of Tippeca- noe. For his bravery on this occasion, combined with his intelligence and mili- tary qualifications, he was promoted to the rank of captain in the regular service. In 1813, at the battle of the river Raisin, where so many of the gallant young men of Kentucky found a bloody grave, the company of Captain Meade com- posed a part of the regular force. He occupied a very exposed position, and fell at the head of his company, while gallantly leading them on, early in the action.

* These settlements comprised several stations and many highly respectable families-among them. the Hynes, the Helins, the Rawlings, the Millers, the Ventrees, the Vanmatres, the Harts, the Fairleighs, the Larues. the Hodgens, &c .. &c .. and extended into what is now Larue county.

t This individual was no doubt Big Joe Logston. See an account of his rencounter with two Indians under the head of Greene county.

601

MENIFEE COUNTY.

The Geological Survey, in 1856, developed in Meade county the following varieties of stone : Limestone-red, oolitic (of which white lime is made), white with dendritic streaks, light grey, dark grey, buff magnesian, subcrystalline, Euomphalus brown, upper Archimedes, Pentremital, Productal, Terebratula, Aulopora, and Cyathophyllum ; sandstone-white, grey, yellow, red, brown speckled with red, and calcareous; ash-colored shale. Rock, possessing the structure of lithographie limestone, was observed about half way down the descent to Otter creek, on the road from "Good Spring " to Garnettsville. Beds of valuable marl were also discovered.

MENIFEE COUNTY.

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Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 97

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