USA > Kentucky > Trigg County > Counties of Christian and Trigg, Kentucky : historical and biographical > Part 33
USA > Kentucky > Christian County > Counties of Christian and Trigg, Kentucky : historical and biographical > Part 33
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ing half way down the thighs, with large sleeves, open before, and so wide as to lap over when belted. It generally had a cape, and was made of cloth or buck-skin. The bosom of this shirt served as a wallet, to hold bread, jerked venison, tow for wiping out the rifle, or any other necessary article for the warrior or hunter. The belt, which was tied behind, an- swered several purposes besides that of holding the dress together. Moc- casins for the feet, and generally a coon-skin cap for the head, made up the fashionable outfit of the backwoods hunter and brave. Linsey-woolsey petticoats, with an overdress of the same material, were the dress of the women of those days. On Sundays and other extra occasions, a cotton handkerchief across the breast, and a pair of home-made shoes on the feet made up the tout ensemble of the average belle of the backwoods. Weddings were, par excellence, the grand occasions of those days. As there were no distinctions in rank, everybody in the whole neighborhood for a radius of many miles assembled at the bride's cabin on the day of the expected nuptials. After dinner the dancing commenced and was kept up with little intermission till the following day. After supper, about 10 or 11 o'clock, a deputation of young ladies would steal off the blushing bride, ascend the ladder to the loft, and passing softly over the loft-floor, made of rough puncheons or clap-boards pinned down with wooden pins, put her to bed. A little later a deputation of young men would steal off the groom, and similarly put him to bed, and then return to the dance below. The next day the "infair " as it was called, went on at the house of the groom, much as it had at the house of the bride's parents, and some- times this feasting and merry-making was kept up for days together.
For some time, as we have said, this was a country without churches or schools, but as the tide of immigration continued to flow in, and the settlements began to be more thickly populated, occasional schoolhouses were built which answered both as seats of learning and temples of wor- ship. In these for many years the simple yeomen and their families gathered about the " ambassadors for Christ," and listened to their homely preachings. Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Universalists and all other denominations worshiped together, and were alike glad to welcome to the neighborhood the " itinerants " of each church.
It is impossible now to give the religious composition of these early settlements or say who was first to organize into separate and distinct organizations. The records of most have been lost and we can only give the bare fact that such and such churches now exist.
The West Union Baptist Church, located near Belle View, Christian Co., Ky., was constituted in November, 1819. Seventeen persons were in the constitution, seven males and ten females. The officiating presby- tery consisted of Elders John Mallory, Dudley Williams and David Hag-
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY.
gard. David Haggard was an ordained preacher and was one of the con- stituent members, and for ten years next succeeding the constitution of the church was its principal pulpit supply, though never recognized as its pastor. Elder Haggard was a good man, but possessed very little abilty as a preacher and very few were added to the church under his ministry. In January, 1831, Elder Dudley Williams, a man of respectable ability, was chosen pastor, which position he held for eight years. Under his pastorate the church was built up and strengthened by a number of very valuable accessions ; among them may be mentioned : James Jones, Dr. I. M. Wooldridge and C. W. Roach. This trio were made deacons, and using the office of deacons well they became very useful men in the church. Dr. I. M. Wooldridge was a successful practicing physician, a noble specimen of the Christian gentleman, liberal of his ample means, the poor man's friend, a generous contributor to the cause of missions, the friend of education and the safe adviser of his pastor. After a life of usefulness he died in 1872, loved and lamented by a large circle of friends. Deacon C. W. Roach was his devoted friend and fellow-laborer, his peer in faith and good works, for many years the clerk of the Little River Association, a man of liberal views and broad influence ; he died in 1875. Deacon James Jones died in 1840 in the midst of his usefulness.
Elder Williams was succeeded by Elder John S. Wilson, an earnest, able minister of the New Testament, who after serving the church one year, was called to Louisville, where he settled and subsequently died.
During the year 1840 the church had no pastor ; the pulpit was filled by Elders Kelly, Rondeau and others. In January, 1841, Elder John W. Kelly was elected pastor and commenced his labors in a meeting of two weeks' continuance, resulting in a large number of very valuable accessions ; men who gave much strength to the church, which had now become an efficient body. Elder Kelly, after a pastorate of only six months with large suc- cess, died on the 14th of June, 1841. One incident connected with his ministry with this church will suffice to show what type of man he was. He had been under the necessity, as he thought, of reproving a couple of rough, wicked men for misbehaving in church. After he returned home they sent him word that if he returned to fill his next appointment they would take him out of the pulpit and cowhide him. On Saturday morn- ing in due time Elder Kelly walked into the house of worship with his saddle bags on his arm ; he entered the pulpit, and placing his Bible and a pistol on the pulpit before him, he calmly remarked, " My friends, I have come here not to offend nor molest any man but to preach the gospel of Christ, and with the help of God I expect to accomplish what I came to do." His would-be assailants though present made no demonstration whatever. After the death of Elder Kelly, Elder Robert T. Anderson
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was elected pastor, which position he held for a term of thirteen years. Elder Anderson had enjoyed good educational advantages and had quite a reputation as a preacher, and was very successful as a pastor; he was much beloved, and his death which occurred in 1854 was deeply deplored by a large circle of friends. He had been the efficient clerk of the Bethel Association for a number of years.
Elder A. W. Meacham was the successor of Elder Anderson. He commenced his labors as pastor January, 1854. At that time it was the custom of the church to hold an annual election for pastor ; for seven suc- cessive years Elder Meacham was elected without any opposition. Dur- ing these seven years 160 persons were added to the church, which was at that time large and prosperous. In 1861 Elder Meacham was again elected by a very large majority, a small faction opposing. This call he promptly declined upon the ground that the church was not united. From January, 1861, to June, 1862, the church had no pastor, a majority pre- ferring Elder Meacham, a faction opposing. In June, 1862, the oppos- ing faction having been reduced to one single member, Elder Meacham was again called and accepted, and served the church as pastor for four successive years, during which time eighty-two members were added to the church. During the fall of 1866 a faction, one of whom was selling whisky, became disaffected toward the pastor, upon which he promptly resigned upon the ground that he would not be the pastor of a church that permitted its members to deal in intoxicating drinks as a beverage. For several years the church was not prosperous though it enjoyed the labors of able and good men : Elder T. G. Keen, D. D., one year, two additions ; Elder R. W. Morehead, one year and six months, no additions ; Elder R. A. Massey, two years, one accession ; Elder S. F. Forgy, one year, and Elder R. W. Buckly, six months, no additions to the church. Elder Buckly resigned, and Elder A. W. Meacham was recalled. The church though not very large (having given letters to members to form three other churches) is united and prosperous, occupying a commodious house of worship, well furnished, situated in a beautiful grove of forest trees.
The first house of worship occupied by this church was a rude log structure situated nine miles west of Hopkinsville, on the south side of the old Eddyville road. The second was a substantial brick, 42x56 feet, located in Belle View, two miles west of their former building. Their pres- ent house is wood, 44x56, well finished and neatly furnished. It stands in a grove one-half mile south of Belle View. It has but sixty-five mem- bers. Its officers are as follows : A. W. Meacham, Pastor ; Ben Bacon, Church Clerk ; James White, G. W. Lander, R. H. Wilson, H. H. Bryant, E. A. Stowe, Deacons.
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY.
Consolation. Universalist Church .- The following sketch was written for this work by E. Renshaw :
About seventy-five years ago there came into this neighborhood a trav- eling preacher by the name of William Lowe, whose home was then in Simpson County, Ky. This preacher happened to call at the house of James E. Clark, who was then residing in the vicinity where Consolation Church was afterward established, and in conversation the preacher soon discovered the fact that the religious views of Mr. Clark were exactly in unison with his own. The neighbors were soon notified that a new preacher would preach the following evening at Mr. Clark's house, and it is said that a large congregation, for that day and time, assembled, and the doctrine promulgated by the new preacher was generally accepted and be- lieved by the hearers. The preacher was requested to leave another ap- pointment, which he readily agreed to. This appointment I am informed embraced the third Sunday in May, 1819, when a church organization was regularly established. The first person who joined was James C. Clark, the next was Hannah, his wife ; then Anna Clark, wife of Lemuel Clark, also John Keys and Ursula, his wife ; Samuel Underwood and Tabitha, his wife; Thomas Fruit and wife, William Henderson, T. B. Pool, Jonathan Clark, David T. Jones and others. As the early records of the church have been lost, I only write from memory and the best in- formation I can get. The preacher agreed to visit the church the third Sunday in every third month, which promise he faithfully kept for more than fifteen years, and under his ministration the church continued to grow and prosper. The old man finally wore out, sickened and died. To say that Father Lowe was a good man is not saying enough ; he was a righteous man and a Christian in every sense of the word. "Blessed are they that die in the Lord, for their good works do follow them," and here I must mention one little incident in his life : Once when he was down here preaching he was riding a horse that did not exactly suit him, and old brother Thomas Fruit told him that he would swap with him, and let him have a horse that would suit him better. The trade was consummated by Fruit giving Lowe $10 to boot, and when he (Lowe) came back he went to Fruit and said : "Brother Fruit, I am not satisfied with my horse swap with you." Fruit asked what was the matter. Lowe said : " I have got a horse that suits me better than the one did that I let you have, and now this $10 bill is not mine, and you must take it back." Whereupon Fruit remonstrated and told him it was fair trading. Lowe said : " Take it; my conscience will condemn me if I keep it."
Then it was that Joab Clark, being deeply imbued with the doctrine of God's imparted grace, took upon himself the cross and became a preacher of the doctrine of universal salvation. The people in the neigh-
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borhood of all sects and denominations turned out in mass and built a log meeting-house, 24x28 feet. This was about forty-nine or fifty years ago, and after some little parley about a name it was agreed to call it Consola- tion. It is situated about thirteen miles northwest from Hopkinsville, immediately on the Buttermilk road. At this house Joab Clark continued to preach for about forty-eight years, and never would accept one cent for his services.
During this long period we were frequently visited and had the ser- vices of the following preachers : L. T. Brasher, W. G. Bobbitt, T. B. Pool, William Curry, Stellyard Scott, D. M. Wooldridge, Thomas Abbott, J. E. McCord, Dr. Medley, W. E. McCord, L. F. Andrews, G. W. Bur- russ, L. M. Pope, and Marcus Scott. The church, however, is now in rather a forlorn condition. Since the death of the Rev. Joab Clark we have had no regular preaching. Consequently a great many of the mem- bers have become cold, careless or lukewarm ; some have died, others have moved off, speculation and the hope of worldly gain has seized others.
Among the Methodist Churches in this part of the county may be mentioned the Cave Spring Church, Mount Carmel and Pleasant Green. About the most flourishing Baptist Church to be found is that known as the Sinking Fork Baptist Church on the Princeton road about six miles from Hopkinsville. The building is of brick, about 40x50 feet, and is of good finish both inside and out. It has a present membership of about 160. There are other churches of this denomination and of the old Baptist as well, but we have not been able to gather anything of their history.
The Reformers or Christians had a church at Harmony Grove organ- ized 1873 by Elders Robert Dulin and V. M. Metcalf, with about fifty members, but about three years afterward it was burned down. Since that time they have been worshiping at Hardy's Schoolhouse or in private houses. Their new house which is being erected on the site of the old is now nearly completed, and when finished will give them a comfortable as well as commodious house in which to worship. Their present member- ship is about the same as when organized. Among those who have preached for them are Elders Davis, Hester and White. At present they have no pastor.
The most considerable and important town in the three precincts is Crofton, in Scates' Mill, on the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. It is of modern date, having been founded in 1871 by Mr. J. E. Croft, but already numbers some 300 or 350 inhabitants. As a business and educational point it is of much importance to that part of the county. It has twelve stores, comprising dry goods, grocery and drug stores, one large flouring-
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY.
mill, the Crofton Merchant and Custom Mill, and two or more blacksmith shops.
Its educational institutions are said to be excellent of their kind, and are three in number. The Male and Female Academy, taught by Prof. Ingraham and Mrs. Kate Yeargin, is the principal of these, and numbers an average attendance of some thirty or forty pupils. The building is a large, two-story frame, 30x60 feet, and is furnished throughout with pat- ent folding desks.
Miss Leah Boxley's private school has an average attendance of between twenty and twenty-five pupils. The public school taught by Mrs. Hancock has some eighteen or twenty pupils. Besides some fifty res- idences there is one church, Methodist Episcopal Church South, three tobacco warehouses, handling something near one million pounds per year, one pork-packing establishment, a postoffice, express office and a tel- egraph office. The town is well supplied with physicians, there being four to look after the health of the community.
There are a few other unimportant villages, cross-road stores, etc., scattered throughout this portion of the county, but they are not deemed of sufficient importance to require extended mention .- Tydings.
PART II.
HISTORY OF TRIGG COUNTY.
HISTORY OF TRIGG COUNTY
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY-TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY-IRON ORE-THE IRON IN- DUSTRY-FURNACES ERECTED IN TRIGG COUNTY-RICHNESS OF THE MIN- ERAL DEPOSITS-STREAMS AND THEIR VALUE AS WATER HIGHWAYS- SOILS AND PRODUCTIONS -TOBACCO AND OTHER CROPS-FARMING HIGHLY REPUTABLE-MOUNDS-THE PRE-HISTORIC PEOPLE-SETTLE- MENT OF THE WHITES -WHO THEY WERE AND WHERE THEY CAME FROM-THE SETTLEMENT AT CERULEAN SPRINGS-BETWEEN THE RIVERS SETTLED-ON DYER'S CREEK-OTHER SETTLEMENTS IN THE COUNTY- HOW THE PEOPLE LIVED IN THE PIONEER DAYS-THEIR FAMILY SUP- PLIES-MILLS, MEAL AND FLOUR-GAME AND HUNTING-FISHING, ETC.
A FEW decades ago and this country was the home of the red man and his kindred, these great forests his hunting-grounds where he chased the buffalo and deer. From a wilderness infested with savages and wild beasts the country has been reclaimed and transformed into unsurpassed loveliness. The history which attaches to every section of it increases in yearly interest, and must continue to do so with the passing years. Every county has its traditions and memories; every spot, how- ever small, is more or less historical. Trigg County, to which these chap- ters are devoted, bears no mean part in the history or the importance of the State, as she bears no inconsiderable part in the history of our com- mon country.
Topography .- Trigg County lies on the Tennessee line in the south- western part of the State, and is bounded on the north by Lyon and Cald- well Counties ; on the east by Christian County; on the south by the State of Tennessee ; and on the west by Calloway and Marshall Counties, from which it is separated by the Tennessee River, the dividing line between " Jackson's Purchase " and the older settled portion of Kentucky. It is drained and watered by the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, the latter of which flows north almost through the center of the county, and the tributaries of these streams. The surface is diversified between rough and broken hills and beautiful and undulating valleys of productive lands.
6
HISTORY OF TRIGG COUNTY.
The original timber was several kinds of oak, hickory, walnut, maple, ash, elm, sycamore, poplar, etc., and hazel, willow, cedar and other shrubs. Quite a portion of the county was what was called "barrens."
The geological structure of Trigg County is so similar to that of Christian County that it is needless to go into a detailed description of it, as it is fully described in the first part of this volume. A few words upon the subject in this chapter will suffice. The eastern part of the county averages from level to rolling or undulating, while that portion lying between the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers is broken and hilly, and abounds in lime and conglomerate sandstone, the latter predominat- ing. High, steep banks border the Tennessee River, with ledges of rocks in great plenty. The finest of limestone may be found in almost all parts of the county, but most prominent outcrops are in Wallonia and Cerulean Springs Precincts. The blue limestone makes a fine building stone, and is much used as such. There is also a very good sandstone in the neigh- borhood of Cerulean Springs which is utilized for foundations and for chimneys, also for grindstones. Between. the rivers (the Tennesse and Cumberland) a fine quality of iron ore is found.
Iron Ore .- As early as 1841 iron ore was the source of an important industry, and several large iron furnaces were put in operation. In the year above mentioned T. T. Watson of Tennessee purchased a large tract of land in what is now Ferguson Springs Precinct, and erected the Em- pire Furnace. He operated it very successfully for about a year, when Daniel Hillman, also of Tennessee, bought a half interest in the business, and immediately the firm erected the Fulton Furnace just over the line in Lyon County. At. Watson's death, which occurred some two years later, Hillman became sole owner. He soon after built the Center Furnace three miles west of the Cumberland River, which he operated on a more extensive scale than the others. This enterprise represented a capital of several thousand dollars, and gave employment to about one hundred men. The Empire Furnace was of a limited capacity, and was abandoned in 1861-62, and its business transferred to the Center, which is still in ope- ration.
In the year 1845 Messrs. Stacker & Ewing of Tennessee built the Stacker Furnace on the east bank of the Cumberland River, where the village of Linton now stands. This proved a very successful venture, and a handsome fortune to the proprietors was the result. Thinking to further increase their business they sold the furnace in a few years, and commenced the erection of a very large one in Tennessee, but before its completion they became financially embarrassed and were compelled to give up the project. Stacker Furnace was operated by different parties until 1856, when it was abandoned, owing to the ore in its vicinity becom-
7
HISTORY OF TRIGG COUNTY.
ing exhausted. The last proprietors were Lewis Erum & Co., who abandoned it as above.
Laura Furnace was built in 1855 some two miles west of Cumberland River by Gentry, Gunn & Co., of Tennessee, who invested in it a capital of about $40,000. They gave employment to 120 or 130 men, and carried on a very successful business for three years. The furnace was then purchased by George P. Wilcox, who operated it until 1860-61. The civil war seriously interfered with the iron interests of this region, and for several years Laura Furnace remained idle, to the great loss of the proprietors, who were thus financially ruined. It has been operated only at intervals since 1865. Pringle & Co., of Pittsburgh, had charge of it in 1871, and Whitlock, McNichols & Co. leased it for a short time a year or two later, but did not make the business lucrative. The property is now owned by C. Beninger, of Pittsburgh, but is not in operation.
Trigg Furnace was erected by Daniel Hillman in 1871, and stands east of the Cumberland River in the Rock Castle District. This is the largest furnace ever built in the county, and at the time of its completion represented a capital of $60,000. It was constructed upon an improved plan, employed the hot blast, and required the labor of about 150 men to operate it properly. It produced a superior quality of iron, and was in operation about seven years. At the end of that time it was discon- tinued on account of the enormous expense required to operate it and the scarcity of ore on the proprietor's lands.
The mineral deposits, principally iron ore with limited deposits of lead, are very rich in the county, and only require plenty of capital to properly develop them. Railroads are much needed in order to develop the country and render its hidden treasures more valuable. With plenty of railroad facilities, and competition in the transportation of fuel to the works and the products of the works to market, this would soon become the richest portion of Trigg County. The day is not far distant when these rich deposits will be brought to light.
Streams .- The most important stream aside from the Tennessee Riv- er, which forms the western boundary of the county, is the Cumberland River. It is a fine stream, and as an avenue of transportation and travel is of the greatest benefit to the country. In the early period of the country's history it was the sole mode of transportation almost for the early settlers, as there were no roads but trails through the forests and barrens. Boating was carried on extensively until the era of railroads rendered water transportation too slow a method. Those who have only known the country under the railroad systems can form but little idea of the river business of early times. Flat-boats and even steamboats were
8
HISTORY OF TRIGG COUNTY.
loaded with the produce of the country, and passed out into the Ohio River, thence into the Mississippi, and down to New Orleans-then the great market of the country. In this respect the Cumberland River ,was far more important to Trigg County than the Tennessee, in that it flowed almost through the center of the county.
Little River is the most important tributary of the Cumberland in this section. It flows in a general north westerly direction, and empties into the Cumberland near Canton. It is the crookedest stream perhaps in the world, and flows to every point of the compass sometimes within the distance of a mile. At one time it was considered a navigable stream, and small boats came up as far as Cadiz. Efforts have been made to ob- tain an appropriation from the National Government for its improvement, but the fact of its location south of Mason and Dixon's line has so far defeated the laudable undertaking. Its principal tributaries are Muddy Fork, Casey's Creek, Dyer's Creek and Sinking Fork. The latter receives its name from the fact that it sinks into the earth at a certain point, re- appearing a mile or two distant. Along these streams as everywhere in the cavernous limestone region are numberless caves, some of which have been explored to a considerable distance. They are more fully described, however, in the precinct histories.
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