USA > Kentucky > Trigg County > Counties of Christian and Trigg, Kentucky : historical and biographical > Part 32
USA > Kentucky > Christian County > Counties of Christian and Trigg, Kentucky : historical and biographical > Part 32
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Wilson Precinct .- Simultaneous with the settlement of the others, emigrants from the Carolinas and elsewhere moved into the Wilson Pre- cinct. Among the first were the Murphys, Pitzers, Johnsons, etc. The latter came with Samuel Johnson, the father, from South Carolina in 1800 or thereabouts, and settled on the Blue Lick Fork of Pond River.
Francis Pennington and several brothers came from one of the Caro- linas to the county in 1800. Later on he moved to the place now owned by Mrs. Pennington, on the West Fork of Pond River, where he passed the remainder of his life. All the other brothers left the county at an early day. Nathaniel Grace, a man by the name of Murphy, Collier Butler, Willis Murdock, Henry Myers, and another family by the name of Wells, came about the same time as the Murphys, Pitzers, etc. Squire Benjamin Lacy, it is thought, came even earlier. His sons were named David, Luke and Ben. Jordan Bass came from South Carolina about the beginning of the century also, but passed on further up into the Stewart Precinct. He was an "Old Baptist," or Hard-shell, and it is related of him that he would violate the proprieties by taking a little too much "tea" occasionally. This sorely afflicted some of his brethren, who though rather fond of the article themselves were too conscientious or too circumspect to indulge to excess in public. On one occasion Bass got flagrantly drunk, and a consultation of his brethren was called. It was decided that brother Solomon should go and expostulate with him in the name of the church, and then report back at the next meeting. Sol- omon went, and was received by his erring brother with so profuse a hos- pitality that he himself had to be helped on his "nag" when he started to return. At the next meeting he reported favorably on the case, and assured his brethren the offender was duly penitent and would never
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again repeat the offense. But unfortunately for the assurance the offense was repeated again, and very soon; and this time a brother James was sent to expostulate. Again Bass was delighted to see his brother co- worker, and again set about to practice the same wiles on him. Mrs. Bass comprehending the situation hurried up her dinner in order, if pos- sible, to prevent the catastrophe, but Bass ordered her to desist, which, like a dutiful spouse, she reluctantly did. The result was, that e'er the usual dinner-hour arrived, Bass had so plied him with the blandishments of his " five years old" that he had to be helped to bed rather than the table. Bass afterward joined the Free-Will Baptists, and did better; but at the time refused to make any promises, saying he might break his promise, and then that would make him a liar as well-he hated drunk- ards, but he hated liars most. He had two sons-Sion and "Doctor" Joe, and several daughters. Aside from his weakness, he is said to have been a very good man.
Stewart Precinct .- Lod Dulin came to Stewart from South Carolina in 1806, and settled near the mouth of Hall's Creek on the place now owned by his grandson-Frank Dulin. He was a good farmer and an excellent citizen, and left a worthy family of five sons-Rice, E. G., Daniel M. and Lott W.' In his younger days he had been a bricklayer by trade. Stephen B. Stewart from the same State came somewhat ear- lier, perhaps in the nineties, and located at the " Red House," on the road from White Plains to Madisonville. He built a horse-mill on his place, and did the grinding for his neighbors in a circuit of many miles. He had only one son, S. D. B. Stewart, though there were several daughters.
Among the old Revolutionary soldiers who came at a very early day, are found the names of John Knight, of South Carolina, 1790; Dilmus Johnson, also of South Carolina, and present, slightly wounded, at the surrender of Cornwallis; and William Gray, of Spartansburg, S. C., who was in a number of engagements and all through the war, and who settled on the West Fork of Pond River three miles east of Crofton, where he afterward lived and died. Capt. Jonathan Clark, who deserves especial mention, is noticed in a previous chapter as a central figure in the early organization of the county. He was from the Pendle- ton District in South Carolina, and settled on the same stream as Gray, on the place now owned by John Lewis. He was both a magistrate and surveyor, owned a water-mill, and was altogether an enterprising and use- ful citizen.
Moses Lacey, Maryland; Robert Lewis, North Carolina, great bear- hunter ; Samuel Devina, John Hyde, Dudley Redd, - Atkinson, perhaps John and Daniel Hale, the Campbells and McLeans all came early, and settled within this precinct. These all came about the dawn of the nine-
MOUNT VERNON, WILSON, FRUIT HILL AND STEWART PRECINCTS. 305
teenth or the close of the eighteenth century, and planted the seed of the present population of northeast Christian, and are therefore grouped together in this chapter. Most of them were of the Universalist or Old Baptist way of thinking, while only a small sprinkling of the other denominations was to be found interspersed here and there among them.
The Universalists still hold services in the old Macedonia Church, near W. B. Clark's, four miles east of Crofton. It is a frame, 30x60 feet, with a Masonic Lodge above, and built about 1860. It was a union church, and for some time jointly occupied by the Universalists and Mis- sionary Baptists. Some of the original members of the former body were O. A. West and wife, G. N. Johnson, G. H. Myers and wife, James M. Clark, E. R. Gray and wife and William Brown and his wife. Some of the ministers who have from time to time served them : Dr. R. Medley, Joab Clark, Dr. J. E. McCord, and his son Dr. William McCord. Owing to some disagreement among them about 1872-73 the Baptists built a log church of their own called New Macedonia, on the Scott's Mill road near John A. Lewis, where they now worship. The building is about 20x25 feet, and comfortably seated. The original membership consisted of some seven or eight members, of whom were George Myers and wife, Mrs Nancy Carr, John A. Lewis and wife and Needham Nixon and wife. The pastors who have been conspicuous for their piety and worth are, Revs. Spurlin, Mitclunn, Shandy Holland and E. Vaughn.
Vaughn's Chapel of the Methodist Episcopal Church South was organized about 1870 in the Mount Vernon Precinct. It has some 150 members. Among the early members were Hiram Steele and wife, J. D. Steele and wife, Samuel McClellan and wife, George W. Shaw and wife, Samuel P. Elgin, Robert Berry and wife, John Berry and wife, John W. Campbell and family and others. Vaughn's Chapel was a combina- tion of several smaller churches, which were absorbed in its formation. The church edifice was built in 1871, and cost some $2,000. The pas- tors have been : since 1871, J. W. Emerson ; 1872-73, William Alexan- der ; 1874, Thomas Bottomley ; 1875, D. Spurrier ; 1876, J. F. Redford ; 1877-78, William T. Moore; 1879-80, James A. Lewis; 1881, T. C. Peters ; 1882, J. W. Emerson ; 1883, B. F. Orr.
Fairview Methodist Church was organized about 1852. It was for- merly known as Providence Church, and was an old log-house situated one mile west of Fairview Village, and had been in existence for many years. The present church edifice is a frame, and was built in 1852. It is old and much dilapidated, and efforts are now being made with good hopes of success to build a new house. The one in use cost about $1,400 when it was built. Rev. B. F. Orr is the present pastor.
Among the important Baptist churches may be mentioned the Pleas-
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY.
ant Hill church on the Hopkinsville and Greenville road near Will- iam Wicks. It is a frame, about 40x60 feet, with a seating capacity of between 200 and 300, and was built about 1840. Among the early members were : Col. James Robinson (an Elder) and wife, Wyatt Mea- cham and wife, Mrs. E. A. Cash, Winchester Meacham, John West, George Myers, Robert Barnes, Mrs. Amy Weathers and Mrs. John West. Pastors : Revs. Robert Anderson, Robert Williams, W. Meacham, Calvin Meacham, N. Lacy, James Spurlin and James Barrow.
The Rock Bridge, another Baptist church, was built about 1849-50. It is a log structure, and about 30x25 feet in dimensions. Nothing has been gathered as to its past or present membership, and only that the Revs. Spurlin and Meacham were for a time its pastors.
The Old Baptists, who had churches at Barren Spring, Rock Spring, Petersburg and elsewhere have fallen somewhat into decay, and are fast dying out or being absorbed into other denominations. With the excep- tion of occasional services at Macedonia, they seldom have preaching any- where.
The schools of this portion of the county compare favorably with those of other sections. Schools of the pioneer type were taught here very early. In later years schools supported by the public money have largely improved the educational facilities of this region. There is, however, room for still further improvement.
The Natural or Rock Bridge which is spoken of elsewhere is in the wedge shaped strip, running up between the West Fork or McFarland's Creek and Pond River, and about six or eight miles from the confluence of those streams.
There are some coal deposits in the northeast part of the county- mostly in Stewart Precinct, but they have not been developed to an extent to render them valuable. Plenty of energy and enterprise with a liberal investment of capital will make Stewart one of the richest precincts in the county .- Tydings.
A MODERN COUNTRY SCHOOLHOUSE.
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BAINBRIDGE, HAMBY AND SCATES' MILL PRECINCTS.
CHAPTER XV.
BAINBRIDGE, HAMBY AND SCATES' MILL PRECINCTS-DESCRIPTION AND TOPOGRAPHY-COAL-EARLY SETTLEMENT-THE PIONEERS OF BAIN- BRIDGE-SOME INCIDENTS, ETC .- FIRST-COMERS TO HAMBY AND SCATES' MILL-THE "BUTT-CUT" OF DEMOCRACY-HOW CLARK KILLED THE BEAR-CHURCHES-CONSOLATION UNIVERSALIST CHURCH-OTHER DE- NOMINATIONS-SCHOOLS-PIONEER LIFE-THE VILLAGE OF CROFTON- ITS GROWTH, ETC., ETC.
T HE history of these three precincts, Bainbridge, Hamby and Scates' Mill, forming the northwest portion of Christian County, are almost identical in their social, religious and political organization, and are there- fore taken together. Starting with the boundary lines of the Union Schoolhouse Precinct on the south, and the Hopkinsville Precinct on the east, the topographical, geographical and agricultural features of this part of the county are also very similar, if not identical with that already de- scribed in the northeast portion in the chapter devoted to the precincts of Mount Vernon, Fruit Hill, Wilson and Stewart. In a word, almost the entire northern half of the county is broken and hilly, and gradually in- creases in ruggedness till the coal fields along the Hopkins and Muhlen- burg County lines are reached. In this part of the county, however, the coal strata are much more inviting and promising than those lying farther to the east in Stewart and Wilson, and are destined one day to become an important factor in the commercial and manufacturing interests of the county. Several mines have already been opened up, and are now being worked in a small way, supplying coal to Hopkinsville and other minor points, but it remains to the encouraging proximity of a railroad or a stem pushed out directly into these fields, to fully develop the almost inex- haustible resources of this northwestern quarter of Christian. A road extending out through Hamby to these rich deposits in Scates' Mill is but a question of time, and when fully opened up, these mines of " black diamonds " will be a source of great revenue to the county.
As has been said elsewhere, the advantages of timber, water and game attracted the pioneers to the northern parts of the county, and conse- quently the first considerable settlements were made here rather than in the timberless or "barren " sections to the south. And also as in the northeastern portions the "first comers " were principally from the Caro- linas and Georgia, and a few from Virginia, Maryland and elsewhere.
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY.
They located here and there along water courses, built their shanties and cabins in most unexpected places adjacent to springs, and sometimes perched upon the tops of the most inaccessible hills.
The first comers to Bainbridge settled principally along the Sinking Fork of Little River, Horse Creek and other tributaries to that stream. Among them were the Torian brothers-Peter and George, and Charles McCarty, who came with them from Halifax County, Va., about 1800 or before. Like most Virginians, they were good tobacco raisers, and hav- ing a number of slaves when the markets opened up for that commodity, they became among the largest growers of the "weed " in the county. They were good citizens, and for that day comfortably well off. About the only one who had preceded them to the neighborhood was Ned Palmer, who came it is thought from the same county in Virginia, but at a much earlier date. He was a man already somewhat advanced in years before he came, and had settled on the Sinking Fork near the road lead- ing from Hopkinsville to Princeton. He had a large family of girls, one of whom married Abner Boyd. Later on when the country around had settled up somewhat Palmer built both a mill and a small distillery on his place. The old homestead is still owned by some of his descendants.
Not far from Palmer's on the Princeton road, and one mile south of the Sinking Fork bridge, Malcolm McNeil settled at an early day. He was a man of much wealth, perhaps the richest man in Christian County at that day, having a large estate of land and negroes both here and in Mississippi. He is said to have been not only rich in this world's goods, but, what is exceedingly rare in the rich at all times and everywhere, rich in charity toward all men, and in incorruptible treasures laid up "where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal." As a Christian he was exemplary in all his habits, and a gentleman who was often at his house says it was his invar- iable custom, night and morning, to assemble about him his family, both white and black, and lead them in family prayer. He was married four times, and the same gentleman gives as a remarkable coincidence in con- nection with his marriages the fact that the first Mrs. McNeil was a Branch, the second a Rivers, the third a Sea, and the fourth a Body. It is to be regretted that the last Mrs. McNeil was not an Ocean instead of a Body, for then the climax would have been reached, and one might have indulged oneself in the pleasant fancy that his felicity beginning with a branch, soon deepened to a river, then widened to a sea, and finally both deepened and broadened into a mighty ocean. The only hypothesis his friends can offer for his not having married an Ocean the last time, is that having enjoyed the most diffuse forms of marital felicity in his prime, in his old age he preferred to have it more in the concrete. And no doubt
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BAINBRIDGE, HAMBY AND SCATES' MILL PRECINCTS.
the latter Mrs. McNeil was a concretion of all the virtues of all the oth- ers. Mr. McNeil afterward moved to the Lafayette Precinct where, for many years, he lived esteemed by all who knew him, and finally died at a ripe old age. He was a member of the Methodist Church, a Whig, and for that day, a man of more than ordinary culture and refinement.
Joseph Bozarth and William Wood, two old "Ironside " Baptists, settled near each other at a very early day, the former about two miles northwest of the present site of Belleview, and near Horse Creek; the latter about two miles further on to the north of Bozarth's. They were both quite early, Bozarth from Barren County, Ky., and Wood probably from one of the Carolinas. The former for many years made a regular business of hauling salt from the saline works to the infant settlements of Christian County. Further over toward the present Caldwell line on the Princeton road there long stood (and perhaps still stands) an old stone house built by Jacob Colley, who came to the county with his brother William among the very first, and died at a very early day. Will- iam owned the adjoining farm, and besides being a good hunter was noted as a good hatter also. His hats were scarcely any, if at all, inferior to the celebrated Gant hats, and were noted everywhere among the early pioneers for their finish and durability.
Among other early settlers were Clement Wood, near "Savage Hol- low," - Hicks, the ancestor of Hamlin, John K. and William, who settled on the Muddy Fork north of the Princeton road, and - Cal- mese, who for many years kept a house of "entertainment" about one mile east of Oakland. Calmese is said to have been beside a pleasant host a man of unbounded loquacity, and anecdotes were told of his hav- ing on various occasions talked his guests to death. These were long the standing jokes of the neighborhood, and grew out of the fact that a stranger had died suddenly at his house. "Mine host" had talked him to death, of course.
Later on (1814) William, John and Henry Lander, brothers, came from Clark County, Ky., the two former settling in the Bainbridge, and the latter in the Union Schoolhouse Precinct. They were originally from Virginia, and men of considerable property. William at one time bought 2,600 acres of land in one body. Solomon Cates was his nearest and his only neighbor for miles around. William B. Lander, a grandson, possesses an heirloom in the shape of a gridiron received from his grand- mother Lander, which is memorable from the fact that George Washing- ington once ate cakes cooked upon it for him by her mother. Besides these there were others scattered here and there, some of whom came ear- lier and some later, but these are sufficient to give the type of the first adventurers into this part of the county.
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY.
Hamby Precinct .- Further up the country in the precincts of Ham- by and Scates' Mill, the Pooles, Razors, Chrismans, Ricketts, Hopsons, Coons, Armstrongs, Williamses, Boyds, Hambys, Keyeses and others in the precinct of Hamby, and McKnights, Parkers, Collinses, Thompsons, Alexanders, Adamses, Browns, Longs, Ladds, Clarks and McCords in the precinct of Scates' Mill, settled at a very early day, many of them being largely identified with the early political organization of the county. The Clarks were among the earliest officers, and figure largely upon the official records of the county. They are frequently mentioned elsewhere.
Most of our readers will remember the familiar figure of Philip Ham- by, the " butt-cut-of Democracy" still living, who settled just north of the Buttermilk road about nine miles from Hopkinsville. Besides being a Magistrate of the county, for many years he led a " forlorn hope " against the serried ranks of Whigs and Know-Nothings. In spite of early discouragements and disappointments he has lived to see the principles of his party phoenix-like rise from the ashes of war and defeat and spread their ægis over the whole land. In his younger days he was quite fleshy and being low of stature fitly represented the "butt- cut " of his party. It is related of him that on one occasion he had the misfortune to be thrown from his horse, and in the fall received very severe injuries. Some time afterward on his way to court, the same animal shied with him violently at the same point in the road, and on recovering his seat in the saddle, he is said to have remarked good humoredly : "Well ! you old brute, you ! your memory is certainly to be admired, but I'm sorry I can- not commend your judgement as well."
The Rev. Dr. J. E. McCord will also be remembered by many who read these pages. He was a man of fine native abilities, and on several occasions set himself for the defense of his peculiar views as a Universal- ist. The most memorable of his debates was with the Rev. T. C. Frogge, a Methodist preacher, in which he is said to have displayed much astute- ness and force as a debater. On one occasion. he pronounced a memora- ble oration over the remains of a Fort Donelson hero, and by way of prelude recited the following original " poem : "-
" RESPECTED AUDITORY :
We are called to-day to mourn the loss, Occasioned by the death of J. H. Doss.
At Fort Donelson when the battle waxed hot, He fired ten rounds and then he got shot. The brave boy when he went away Promised to return another day ; But that he is dead is now no joke,
For he was killed by the rebels under Leonidas Polk. That his soul is now safe and sound with his Lord
Is the prayer of the Rev. Dr. J. E. McCord."
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The oration that followed is said to have been the most eloquent of its kind ever delivered to a Christian County audience, and is remem- bered by those who heard it as one of the grandest efforts of his life.
Josiah Anderson, son of James Anderson of North Carolina, an old Revolutionary hero, was born at an old fort near Nashville, Tenn., as his parents were en route to Logan County, Ky. Josiah was early apprenticed to a cabinet-maker at Russellville, and while there made the coffin in which was buried the unfortunate Dickinson, killed by Gen. Jackson in a duel. Having removed to Hopkinsville in 1808, on the breaking out of the war of 1812 he joined Capt. Allsbury's company, and under the command of that gallant officer followed the fortunes of Gen. Hopkins in his Northwestern campaign. On his return having married Miss Agnes Fountain he settled in Hamby Precinct, and reared a large family of sons and daughters. He subsequently removed to his farm, three miles south of Hopkinsville, where he died full of years and honor in his ninety-first year.
The following incident is related of Lemuel Clark, an early pioneer of Scates' Mill, by one of his descendants. When about eleven years of age, he one morning wrapped himself in his father's overcoat, and steal- ing " Old Bess " the trusty rifle slipped out before day on an impromptu turkey-hunt. Passing through a small clump of oak saplings not far from the house, he suddenly came upon a dark object lying before him in his path. Seeing it move, but not being able in the gray of the morning to make out just exactly what it was, he raised his gun and fired. The ball cut the bark from a sapling just above the line of the dark object, which, rising to its feet, discovered to the youthful hunter the presence of a full grown bear. In his hurry to reload, young Clark broke his ramrod and had to step aside to get a hazel-twig, which he had scarcely cut and trimmed before he saw the bear making toward him. Sending the ball home, and hastily throwing the gun up to his shoulder, Clark fired, and then turned and ran off as fast as his legs could carry him. Telling his father of the circumstance, after daylight they returned to- gether to the scene of the rencounter, and finding blood upon the ground, soon tracked his bearship to a distant copse where he lay drawing his last breath. The last shot though fired at random had entered a vital part and cut short his pursuit of the embryo hunter. Clark lived to be grown, and afterward became one of the most noted hunters of his day.
Jacob Morris, also of Scates' Mill, is said to have been a man of sterling integrity. It is told of him that he once became involved as security for a friend, and not having the money by him with which to cancel the debt he at once took leave of his family and started for the saline works on Saline Creek, in Illinois. Here at two bits a day he toiled diligently
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for many long weary months till the necessary amount had been accumu- lated, and then returned home to discharge the debt. His buckskin breeches are said to have become so stiffened by repeated absorptions of salt water that he could scarcely stoop or sit down in them.
But enough of the early pioneers to this northwest portion of the county. They were a sturdy race of adventurous men and women, and the difficulties they encountered might well have appalled the stoutest and bravest hearts. The regions round about were an unbroken wilder- ness, peopled by savage beasts and lurking foes, and day and night made hideous and dismal by the hoots of wide-eyed owls or the blood-curdling shrieks of prowling panthers. Amid all this they lived and toiled on day after day, scanty of food and clothing and all the conveniences and com- forts of domestic life. In their seclusion they had no opportunity for the cultivation of any of the arts and elegancies of refined life ; schools, churches and social gatherings of any kind were for a long time but the faint echo of a past civilization back in the older States. A gentleman's diary, from which we are permitted to quote, will give some faint, conception of those primitive times and customs. He says: I well recollect the first time I ever saw a tea cup and saucer, and tasted coffee. My mother died when I was six years old, and my father then sent me to school at Balti- more, Md. On reaching the town of Russellville on my way, I found everything new and strange. The tavern at which I stopped was a brick house, and to make the change still more complete, it was plastered on the inside, both as to the walls and ceilings. On going into the dining room, I was struck with astonishment at the appearance of the house. I had no idea there was a house in the world not built of logs or poles ; but here I looked around the house and could see no logs, and above I could see no joists. Whether such a thing had been made so by the hands of man or grown so of itself I could not conjecture. I had not the courage to in- quire anything about it. I watched attentively to see what the "big folks" would do with their little cups and spoons. I imitated them, and found the taste of the coffee nauseous beyond anything I had ever tasted in my life. I continued to drink as the rest of the company did, with tears streaming from my eyes; but when and where it was all to end I was at a loss to know, as the little cups were filled immediately upon being emptied. This circumstance distressed me exceedingly, and I durst not for the life of me say I had enough. Looking attentively at the grand persons about me and watching their maneuvers, I at last saw one of the guests turn his cup bottom upward and put his little spoon across it. I observed after this his cup was not filled again. I followed his example, and to my great satisfaction the result as to my cup was the same." The hunting shirt was universally worn. This was a loose frock, reach-
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