USA > Kentucky > Trigg County > Counties of Christian and Trigg, Kentucky : historical and biographical > Part 44
USA > Kentucky > Christian County > Counties of Christian and Trigg, Kentucky : historical and biographical > Part 44
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61
Freemasonry .- The history of Masonry is more or less familiar to all the civilized world, and, as the order claims, to many of the semi-civilized, and even good Masons are to be found among barbarous peoples. Among its claimed chief merits and glories are its great age-the oldest organ- ization in the world-antedating all sects, religions, and even all organ- ized social life since the coming of Adam and Eve. Again, it is some- times given as the history of its foundation that, as its name indicates, it was founded and organized among the workmen for mutual protection, at the building of that historical structure-Solomon's temple. But like everything else it has adapted itself to the inevitable that follows the workings and growth of the human mind, and now they have attached to the order well regulated benefit associations, and distribute much real and beneficial charity and aid to fellow members and the widows and orphans of deceased brethren. The cardinal ideas of Masonry have perhaps always been a high morality founded on the Bible, and a law of mutual protection of a brother toward a brother.
A lodge was chartered in Cadiz on the first day of September, 1841, under the name of Cadiz Lodge, No. 121. The first officers were Will- iam C. Grafton, W. M., Matthew Mays, S. W., and Joel Wilson, J. W. The society held meetings at different houses until 1850, at which time a large and commodious hall was built in connection with the Christian Church, the Masons occupying the upper story. The society at one time was the strongest in the county, but of recent years, owing to the establishment of other lodges in the neighboring villages, its member- ship has-considerably diminished, until now there are only about thirty- eight names on the roll. The present officers are: A. F. Rash, W. M .; P. H. Allen, S. W .; John C. Curling, J. W .; R. W. Major, Treas .; J. F. Gentry, Sec .; J. D. Shaw, S. D .; Armstead Moody, J. D .; John W. Russell, Steward and Tyler.
105
CADIZ PRECINCT.
Cadiz Lodge, No. 1,635, K. of H., was organized on the 19th of August, 1880, with the following charter members, to wit: John G. Jefferson, J. E. Edwards, John W. Pursley, W. T. Smoot, Thomas L. Bacon, Thomas T. Watson, C. H. Hawkins, John D. Shaw, H. B. Wil- kinson, G. Willis Lindsay, F. G. Terry, W. C. White, M. S. Thomp- son and R. A. Burnett. The present membership is fifty-six. The present officers (1884) are: G. W. Lindsay, P. D .; John G. Jefferson, D .; W. L. Hillman, V. D .; W. T. Smoot, Assist. D .; M. S. Thomp- son, Sec .; F. G. Terry, Financial Reporter; H. B. Wilkinson, Treas .; T. T. Watson, Chaplain ; Perry Thomas, Jr. Guide; John D. Shaw, Sr. Guide, and J. W. Russell, Guardians.
Ophelia Council, No. 11, Chosen Friends, was established on the 11th day of October, 1882, with thirty-eight charter members, a num- ber in excess of the present membership, which is only thirty-five. The officers of the society at the present time are J. C. Dabney, P. C. C .; T. F. McBride, Chief Counselor ; John Theobald, Vice-Counselor; John G. Jefferson, Secretary ; H. B. Wilkinson, Treasurer ; J. W. Crenshaw, Medical Examiner ; E. S. Sumner, Prelate ; Robert Crenshaw, Marshal ; W. H. Timmons, Warden ; L. Freeman, Guard.
Good Templars was an older society than the Knights or Chosen Friends, and so far as we can learn deserves the first place in history, but in seeking after the facts of its organization we ascertained that it ceased to exist a few years since. It was organized on the 23d of July, 1876, with twenty-eight charter members, and terminated its existence in 1879.
The Hamiltonians .- We go to school from the cradle to the grave, and this is one of the inexorable laws of our being. These schools or fountains of education are nearly infinite in variety, and have little in common save the imperfections that pervade all. A careful investigation of the influences of the mind go far to demonstrate the fact that real edu- cation comes with our joys, our pleasures and the social intercourse of congenial spirits, that is the highest mark of our civilization. The mind must be developed as in the perfect physical nature. It is not hard dull work that molds the child into beauty and strength, perfection and grace, but on the contrary, too much of this dwarfs and stunts the young into ungainliness of person and feature. But it is the happy heart, the rip- pling laugh, joined with agreeable mental culture, by which strong, active, graceful and well poised intellects are created. We mean that intense mental activity that comes of keen jest, of mental play work, of that so- cial and intellectual life that is made up of the associations of congenial companions where "youth and pleasure meet " at the weekly assemblings of the Hamillomans, a society of the intelligent and literary young men of Cadiz, organized on the 8th of March, 1884. As best stated by one
106
HISTORY OF TRIGG COUNTY.
of its members, the objects of the association are literary and social en- joyment, the promotion of a spirit of good fellowship among the members, the acquirement of the art of public debate, the attainment of a higher mental culture and a steady growth toward enlarged usefulness. The of- ficers of the society are as follows : Webb Watkins, President ; Joseph P. Gill, Vice-President ; Paul A. Curling, Secretary. The following gentlemen comprise the membership, viz .: Paul A. Curling, Muscoe Bur- nett, Joseph P. Gill, Edwin F. Dabney, C. D. Mckinney, Webb Wat- kins, J. W. Sawyer, James E. Burnett, J. E. Kelly, A. S. Dabney and Henry Malone.
In conclusion of our brief sketch of Cadiz, we will add that it fulfills the scriptural text; it is a "city set on a hill, and cannot be hid." It does stand on a hill, and is one of the handsomest and neatest little cities we have ever become acquainted with. And its people are as courteous as the city is handsome. Among them we have some friends we are proud to reckon as such, and when they read this it will remind them that we shall not soon forget them.
107
CANTON AND LINTON PRECINCTS.
CHAPTER VII.
CANTON AND LINTON PRECINCTS-TOPOGRAPHY OF CANTON-ITS AGRICUL- TURAL RESOURCES-EARLY SETTLEMENT -ABRAHAM BOYD-SETTLE- MENT ON DONALDSON CREEK-THE WILSON FAMILY-OTHER PIONEERS -MILLS AND DISTILLERIES-BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES-RE- LIGIOUS, ETC .- TOWN OF CANTON-ITS BIRTH AS A TOWN-GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT-THE METHODISTS AND BAPTISTS-SECRET SOCIE- TIES-PHYSICAL FEATURES OF LINTON PRECINCT-ITS EARLY OCCUPA- TION BY WHITE PEOPLE-SKETCH OF ITS SETTLERS -- MASONIC-CHURCH HISTORY, ETC., ETC.
C ANTON PRECINCT lies a little southwest of the geographical center of the county, and is bounded on the north by Little River, on the east by Cadiz Precinct, the south by Linton Precinct, the west by Cumberland River. The face of the country is very uneven and broken, especially along the rivers, where are high hills and rocky, precipitous bluffs. Back from the river the country is not so abrupt, although the entire precinct possesses but a small area of level land. Among the hills and contiguous to the smaller water-courses are tracts of comparatively even land, possessing a deep allu- vial soil, the fertility of which has been but slightly diminished by seventy years' almost constant tillage. The broken portions of the precinct are not so well adapted to agriculture, many of the hills being characterized by a thin gravelly soil, which a few years' cultivation renders sterile. Conse- quently much of the rolling land has never been cleared, and large areas are covered with a forest growth and present the same appearance they did when seen by the first settlers at the beginning of the present century. The timber embraces the varieties usually found growing in this part of the State, maple, oak, beech, hickory and ash predominating. Lime- stone abounds in all parts of the precinct, and an abundance of· excellent sandstone is found in various localities. The water-courses are Donaldson Creek, Craig's Branch, Beech Fork and Muddy Creek, all of which are. running streams throughout the greater part of the year. They traverse the country in almost all directions, and empty into Cumberland and Little Rivers.
The chief products of the precinct are tobacco, corn, wheat, oats and the usual varieties of vegetables found in this range of climate. Wheat is not found so well adapted to the soil as to form a staple crop in recent years, and while it is still sown to a considerable extent, it is not the crop upon which the farmers place the most dependence. Corn and tobacco
108
HISTORY OF TRIGG COUNTY.
are the principal crops upon which they rely for revenue, and much of this is sold for exportation. But few attempts have been made as yet to enrich the soil with commercial fertilizers, although some of the farmers are growing clover successfully and turning it under with good effect upon the soil.
Settlement by White Men .- The settlement of Canton Precinct dates back prior to the dawning of the present century, though at what year the first pioneers made their appearance is a matter of mere conjecture. Traces of rude log-cabins were found in many places along the Cumber- land River when the first permanent settlers came, and the belief is cur- rent that families of trappers and adventurers made this a rendezvous many years before any effort was made to open up and improve the coun- try. " As early as 1799, a party of emigrants called a halt on the river at a point where now is situated the town of Canton, who were destined to leave a record in the public archives of this Commonwealth that has been and will continue to be read from the beginning to the ending of the present century. We allude to the family of Abraham Boyd. He was a native of North Carolina, but had been a resident of Tennessee in the neighborhood of Nashville, a number of years, and removed thence to the point above stated. The trip must have been made in flat-boats, for there were no roads, and an old settler remarked that he assisted them in cut- ting a road through the cane from the river bank to the top of the hill for their wagons, and it took several days to complete it. He erected his first dwelling on the ground where the present church stands. His father-in- law, Adam Linn, accompanied him, and made a settlement three miles out from the river on the Luster place. He was a native of Scotland, and a blood relation of the poet Burns. Abraham Boyd was a man of remarkably fine intellect, and for that day a man of considerable culture. He represented the people a number of times in the Legislature when this was a por tion of Christian County and afterward when Trigg was formed into a distinct division. He has been represented as the superior of his afterward distinguished son, Hon. Linn Boyd, upon the stump, was a man of very thorough business training, and the presiding Justice of the County Court in the organization and formation of the county."
About the same time of Boyd's arrival, or perhaps a little earlier, a small settlement was made on Donaldson Creek. Among the first to set- tle in this locality were John and Shadrach Futrell, Josiah Lindsay and his brothers James L., Caleb and Carleton. Basil Holland settled near the Perry Thomas farm as early as 1800, and died forty-five years ago. James Dixon and his sons Hiram and James, Jr., made improvements in the Holland neighborhood about the year 1802 or 1803.
The Wilson family, consisting of the father, John Wilson, and his sons
109
CANTON AND LINTON PRECINCTS.
John, Ben, James, natives of South Carolina, secured homes on Craig's Branch, an affluent of Donaldson Creek, as early as 1803, and John Craig, after whom the stream was named, came a little earlier and settled on the place now used as a poor-farm. In 1804 and 1805 came Joel Cohoun and settled where William Turner lives ; Josiah Outland and Enos Out- land, who improved a part of the Lindsay land; Charles Boren, Sr., and Charles Boren, Jr., who settled where Blunt Turner lives. About the same time came William Ross and settled on the Whitmill Holland farm. Drury Bridges came as early as 1804 and located near Beech Fork on the place now owned by his grandson, C. T. Bridges. One daughter of this stanch old pioneer, Mrs. Perry Thomas, is still living in the precinct. Mr. Bridges died in 1840. Lawrence Killabrew settled on land adjoining the Bridges farm about the year 1804. He was one of the earliest preachers in the county, and a man of character and influence in the com- munity where he resided.
Prominent among the settlers on Donaldson Creek was James Thomas, who moved to the State from North Carolina in 1806, and located where his grandson Peyton Thomas now lives. The following sketch of this noted pioneer is from Mckinney's historical articles: "He was born in North Carolina in 1761, when that country was a province of Great Brit- ain, and long before the inhabitants had conceived the thought of throw- ing off the yoke of the British Empire. Living through the storm of the Revolution, he inherited that patriotic devotion to his country so peculiar in those days, and gave as a reason for not moving West earlier than he did, that he recognized the same obligations to the State of North Caro- lina until he was forty-five years of age that he did to his parents until he was twenty-one. Taking leave of the country, then, soon after his second maturity, he turned his face to the great West, and after a long and tedious journey arrived on Donaldson Creek, in what was then Christian County, the latter part of November, 1806. Not possessed of the restless disposition of most men, when they have once torn away from the place of their birth, he felt perfectly satisfied in his new home, and resolved at once to spend the residue of his life there. He never broke the resolution, but died in 1832 where he first settled. Old Uncle James Thomas was a man of more than ordinary ability. He was a man of good morals, and a consistent member of the Baptist Church." In company with Mr. Thomas came his sons, Cullen, Perry and Starkie, all of whom were prominently identified with the early growth and development of the county. Cullen Thomas lived and died on the place settled by his father. Perry Thomas, the second son, is still living, having reached the rare old age of eighty-eight years, in full possession of all his mental and physical powers. He has been a very active business man, and has been
110
HISTORY OF TRIGG COUNTY.
called at various times to fill offices of public trust. He was the Assessor of the county for twenty-one consecutive years, and the date of his induc- tion into official life extends away back to the time when two-thirds of the present old men in the county were merely in their swaddling clothes. He is a man of more than ordinary culture, even for the present day, and takes an active part in all measures calculated to benefit the public. Starkie Thomas, the third son, became a very successful business man, and his descendants are among the well-to-do and respectable citizens of the county. James and Stanley Thomas were born after the family came to the State, and were equally prominent with the three described.
Other early settlers of the precinct were Alexander George, Edwin Noel, Richard Bell, Joshua Underwood, James Kinchen and Jordan Las- seter. Later came Allan Showler, Joshua Showler, William Barnes, James Barnes, Allen Barnes, Robert Hardin, Luke Thomas and Ezekiel Thomas, all of whom had homes in the precinct prior to 1812. Since that period the influx of population has been steady and constant, and many of the old landmarks have forever disappeared.
Early Industries .- The first mill in the precinct was erected about the year 1803 or 1804, and stood on Donaldson Creek, about two miles above its mouth. It was a small log building, contained one buhr operated by a "tub " wheel, and made a coarse article of meal. It was in operation about thirty years, and seems to have been well patronized during the greater part of that period. The last owner was Henry Hans- barger. Another early mill was built by Cullen Thomas, and operated by horse-power. It was what is termed a "tramp-mill," and did a fair business during the time it was in operation.
Abraham Boyd erected a horse-mill at the landing shortly after his arrival, and operated it about twenty years. He constructed a cotton gin about the same time also, with which he did a thriving business during the early days of the county. The second water-mill in the precinct was put in operation by Cullen Thomas about the year 1840. This was a combination mill, manufactured both lumber and meal, but did a limited business, owing to the scarcity of water in the creek.
In the year 1811 James Thomas and Shadrach Futrell erected a dis- tillery on the land of Allen Showler, which they operated with fair suc- cess for a period of six or seven years. This was one of the first distil- leries in the county, and early achieved the reputation of turning out the very finest quality of whisky. Cullen Thomas constructed a small dis- tillery on his place in 1815, and ran it until 1835. Later, Hiram Dixon engaged in the distillery business on Craig's Branch, but owing to a want of patronage was obliged to close out in a short time. The distillery of Mize & Cliner was erected near Canton about the year 1864. They did
111
CANTON AND LINTON PRECINCTS.
a fair business until 1867, at which time the enterprise was aban- doned.
A tannery was started on the Sumner place near Donaldson Creek in 1851 by - McReynolds, of Christian County, who ran it until 1854, when George C. Graham became possessor. He operated it until 1868 or 1870, when it passed into other hands, and finally went down.
A steam-mill was erected by William Williams near Canton about the year 1859. It was afterward purchased by Peyton Thomas, and moved to his place on Donaldson Creek, where it was in operation about three years. It was afterward purchased by a Mr. Gordon, and moved to the west side of the Cumberland. Mr. Thomas operated a small tannery also, and was well patronized until the yard was overflowed and destroyed by the creek. The first blacksmith in the precinct was Basil Holland. Shadrach Futrell was an early mechanic also.
Among the first summoned away by death in the precinct were Dicey Showler, sister of James Thomas in 1806, and Mrs. James Dixon, in the winter of the same year. Other early deaths were Temperance Thomas, Shadrach Futrell and wife, Sarah Futrell, and members of the different families previously referred to.
Early Marriages .- Among the early marriages in the precinct are remembered the following: Winborne Futrell and Charity Colston, 1809; Stephen Boren and - Colston, the same year ; John Allen and Sallie, daughter of John Craig, as early as 1808; William Barnes and Sarah Lawrence, in 1809; Denson Deese and Rachel Holland, 1808 or 1809; Ezekiel Thomas and Temperance Thomas, in 1812. Other early marriages were a Mr. Ford to Nellie Craig; David Cohoun and Rebecca Futrell ; Cullen Thomas and Elizabeth Futrell. Among the earliest births were Stanley Thomas, son of James and Mary Thomas, in 1807, and Mary Thomas, in 1809.
The pioneers of Trigg County were a church-going people, and the gospel was introduced in a very early day. The first preachers in this precinct belonged to the Baptist Church, and for several years religious services were held from house to house. Among these pioneer mission- aries are remembered Elders Dudley Williams, Lawrence Killabrew, Thomas Ross, James Dixon and Reuben Ross.
The Donaldson Creek Baptist Church was constituted in 1814 by Revs. Thomas Ross, Dudley Williams and Thomas McLean. At the time of its organization it was an arm of the Dry Creek Church in Can- ton Precinct, and numbered twenty-four members. The first house of worship was a little log building erected on one acre of land donated by Basil Holland, and was used as a meeting-place for about twenty years. At the end of that period another log structure, more commodious than
112
HISTORY OF TRIGG COUNTY.
the first, was built. It stood until 1854, at which time the present frame edifice was erected.
The first regular pastor was Rev. Thomas McLean ; John Mallory and Alfred Lindsay preached for the congregation in an early day. Later came Revs. A. P. Hodges, William Skinner, - Trimble, L. McLean and R. Allen. The present incumbent is Rev. Mr. Tidwell. At one time the organization was very strong, but owing to the division between the progressive and conservative wings in an early day the members were greatly diminished. The present membership is about seventy.
Early educational facilities were meager, and the children of the pio- neers had few advantages in that direction. A few months in the log- cabin schoolhouse, with its puncheon or dirt floor, and big fire place, was the extent of learning they received, and the advantages the precinct af- forded. For forty years or more after the first settlement education was at a low ebb. Like stagnant water in the creek bottom swamps, it was difficult to tell whether the current flowed backward or forward. The schoolhouses, school books, teachers and the manner of instruction were of the most primitive character.
A man by name of James Gray was one of the first teachers, not only in this precinct but in the county. Wilson Wallis, Christopher Pritch- ard and David Barton were early teachers also. The first public school was taught in the Donaldson Creek Church building by a Mr. Gray, not the one mentioned above.
An early schoolhouse stood near Peyton Thomas' residence, and an- other not far from the town of Canton. The precinct is fairly supplied with schools at the present time, and the advantages of an education are within the easy reach of all.
Town of Canton .- The first settlement on the present site of Can- ton was made, as before stated, by Abraham Boyd, about the close of the last century. For several years the place was known as Boyd's Land- ing, and early acquired considerable prominence as a shipping point. Up to the completion of the railroad to Hopkinsville more freight was received and more tobacco shipped here than at any other point on the Cumber- land River, with the exception of Clarksville, from Burksville to the mouth. The first road that was opened from the place was before the vil- lage was laid out, and is still known as Old Boyd's Landing road, leading to Hopkinsville by Thompson's tan-yard, Kent's Bridge and Cherry Hill. The second road was between the rivers to the old Pentecost Ferry. They were both opened by order of the County Court of Christian Coun- ty, and the order establishing the ferry across the Cumberland at the landing, and the old Pentecost Ferry across the Tennessee required the consent of the Indians who inhabited the western bank of the latter stream
113
CANTON AND LINTON PRECINCTS.
before the privilege was granted or the ferry established. The favorable location early attracted settlers to the vicinity, and as early as the year 1809 or 1810, a small store was started by one James Warren. How long he remained and with how much success he met in his business venture are facts not now known, as all traces of him and his store have long since been forgotten.
In the year 1823 the village was regularly laid out and the plat placed upon record. The order for the town reads as follows : "On motion of Abraham Boyd for the establishment of a town at Boyd's Landing, on Cumberland River, he having produced satisfactory proof to the county of his holding a good and undisputed title to the said land, as also of his having given such notice of this application as required by law. It is therefore ordered that said town be, and the same is hereby established, to be known and called by the name of Canton, which shall be contained within the following metes and bounds, to wit : Beginning at a sycamore on the bank of Cumberland River, and thence running south 75 degrees, east 120 poles to an elm ; thence south 23} degrees west, 150 poles to a stake in the field; thence north 75 degrees west, 121 poles to a black walnut on the bank of said river at the mouth of Lick Creek; thence down aforesaid river north 35 degrees, east 82 poles to the landing ; thence north 12 degrees, east 70 poles to the beginning, containing 105 acres. It is further ordered that Ferdinand Wadlington, James Daniel, Lips- comb Norvell, Jesse Wells, Charles Caldwell, Reuben Lynn and William Deason be appointed trustees of said town."
Several business men came to the town shortly after it was laid out, and its importance as a trading point continued to grow until the com- pletion of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad to Hopkinsville. This road seriously interfered with the river trade, and since its construction the town has been gradually losing its original vitality, although it is still the distributing point for Cadiz and a number of other places. Among the early merchants were Jesse Wells, William Wells and James Cox. William Durette came later and acquired a competent fortune. James T. Gore & Co. engaged in merchandising in an early day, and conducted a very successful business until the breaking out of the war. Another merchant deserving of special mention was William Soery, who went to the town a poor boy, and by diligent attention to business acquired a hand- some fortune. The firm of Richardson & Ford were successful mer- chants, as were also E. C. Spiceland and John D. Tyler. Philip Anderson sold goods for several years, and afterward moved to Cerulean Springs. The Fuqua Brothers were prominent business men of the place, and W. J. Fuqua, the present merchant, has perhaps amassed a greater fortune than any we have spoken of. A number of warehouses have been built
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.