USA > Kentucky > Trigg County > Counties of Christian and Trigg, Kentucky : historical and biographical > Part 46
USA > Kentucky > Christian County > Counties of Christian and Trigg, Kentucky : historical and biographical > Part 46
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
Schools .- The early schools of Kentucky were supported by subscrip- tion, and were few and far between. Many of the first settlers were men of limited culture, and did not seem to appreciate the advantages of edu- cation, and as a consequence many years elapsed before schools became general throughout the country. A man by name of Maxwell is thought to have been the first pedagogue in what is now Cerulean Precinct, as it is known that he taught a little school in the winter of 1803-4. Another early teacher was William Bradley, who wielded the birch in the old log church the same year of its erection, 1806. Other schools were taught in private dwellings from time to time, and it was not until a compara- tively recent period that houses were erected especially for school pur- poses. Among the earliest teachers are remembered J. Pool, R. Jones, and a man by name of Knight ; the last-named came from Massachusetts,
125
CERULEAN SPRINGS AND WALLONIA PRECINCTS.
and seems to have been a man of splendid acquirements and an excellent instructor.
Religious .- The pioneer church of Trigg County was the Baptist, and among the earliest Preachers were Elders Dorris and S. Brown, who preached from house to house as early as the years 1795 and 1800. The first society was the Muddy Fork Baptist Church, which dates its organi- zation from the year 1806, at which time it was constituted as an arm of an older organization known as the Eddy Grove Church, in Caldwell County. Among the earliest members were Samuel Goodwin, Jesse Goodwin, Benjamin Ladd, John Goode and wife, Samuel Goodwin, Jr., Robert Rogers and wife, B. Sizemore and wife, Anderson Sizemore, Ben- jamin Vincent and William Snelling. The first house of worship was a small log structure erected in 1806. It stood until 1836, at which time it was torn away and replaced by a substantial frame house, which is still in use. The pastors and regular supplies of the church since its organiza- tion have been the following : Elders Fielding Wolfe, Reuben Rowland, Peyton Nance (who was pastor for over twenty years), John Gammon, and Hezekiah Smith, the present incumbent. It is a point in the Little River Association, and numbers about sixty-five or seventy members at the present time.
Cerulean Missionary Baptist Church was organized about the year 1858, with a membership of forty persons, a number which has since in- creased to 160. A beautiful temple of worship was erected soon after the organization on land donated by Col. Philip Anderson, one of the most influential and active members of the society. This house was a frame structure, 40x60 feet, and cost the sum of $3,400. It was burned in the year 1867, and soon thereafter the present edifice was built at a cost of $1,000.
The following pastors have ministered to the church in the order named : William Gregston, W. Meacham and James Spurlin, the last named being Preacher in charge at the present time.
Village of Cerulean Springs .- This neat little hamlet is situated in the western part of the precinct on Muddy Fork and occupies one of the most romantic and beautiful spots in Trigg County. Indeed, it would be difficult to find within the bounds of the entire state a location embracing as many pleasing features and enjoying such a healthful climate. The chief attraction is a spring of never-failing water of a milky white ap- pearance and strongly impregnated with mineral properties. The follow- ing sketch was written by Maj. Mckinney in his reminiscences of the county : "The waters of these springs have attracted the attention of the humble and the scientific from their earliest discovery. The first set- tlers of the county had a high appreciation of them, because, when almost
126
HISTORY OF TRIGG COUNTY.
overcome by thirst and heat they could drink to satiety without oppres- sion. Well-beaten tracks, coming from all directions, led to these springs long before there were any distinguishable pathways to any other point in the county, and invalids for their curative properties sought relief from these waters before the beginning of the present century.
" A careful analysis of the water has been made by a number of distin- guished chemists. It is highly spoken of by all as a most delightful water, not only as a beverage, but also for its fine medicinal properties. The temperature is fifty-six degrees Fahrenheit, while that of the air is eighty degrees. It issues at the rate of one gallon or one and a half gal- lons per minute. The spring is strongly impregnated with both sulphate and chloride of magnesia with soda, bicarbonate of lime and free sul- phuretted hydrogen. Up to 1812 the water was much more strongly impregnated with iron than it is to-day, and the magnesia that gives it the white milky appearance was never observed until after the 'shakes' of February, 1812."
" Among the first owners of the old spring tract was Richard Stow, who transferred it to Kinchan Killabrew, and he to Joseph Caldwell. Killabrew erected some rude log-cabins on the premises for the comfort of invalid visitors about 1819, which were added to as necessity required after- ward, until the property, finally falling into the hands of Henry Crow, began about the years 1834-1835 to attain some little celebrity under the more euphonious and pretentious appellation of a watering place. In 1835 Mr. Crow disposed of the property to Col. Philip H. Anderson, who commenced at once a more tasteful and elaborate system of improve- ment, only, however, to be checked again in a very short time by discov- ering a vital defect in his title. This having been at last perfected, the ownership of the property in 1880 passed into the possession of the present owners, Messrs. White and Harper. These gentlemen are both possessed of ample means. They are liberal and enterprising, and are determined to spare no expense in making it one of the most pleasant and attractive places of summer resort in the West." A large, commo- dious hotel capable of receiving several hundred guests has been erected, with a number of outer buildings for servants, washing, cooking, etc., which add very much to the comfort and appearance of the place.
The village numbers about 100 inhabitants, and its future outlook is encouraging from the fact that a railroad will soon be completed through the county, thus affording easy communication with the principal cities of the State. The business of the village is represented at the present time by three general stores and one blacksmith shop. Drs. A. B. Cul- lom and B. F. Felix practice the healing art in the town and adjacent country.
127
CERULEAN SPRINGS AND WALLONIA PRECINCTS.
Wallonia Precinct .- Wallonia is voting precinct No. 6, and was named in honor of Maj. Braxton Wall, one of the early settlers and prominent citizens of Trigg County. The topographical features of this division of the county are agreeably varied. The surface is undulating or gently rolling and affords ample facilities for drainage without any waste lands, while from the tops of any of the slight knolls or ridges, the eye is delighted with miles of corn, wheat and tobacco fields diversified with rich pastures and beautiful woodland. The soil is mostly a yellow- ish and reddish. clay, the decomposition of carboniferous lime rock im- parted by rivers anciently flowing at this level. It is rich in tree food and was originally clothed in dense forests of oak, hickory, maple and other varieties. Immense quantities of blue limestone are found in vari- ous parts of the precinct, and clear, cold springs are numerous. Beauti- ful cedar groves have of late years sprung up on the rocky knolls, and their brilliant green against the somber trunks of deciduous groves lends a pleasing variety to the scene. Muddy Fork and Dry Creek are the principal water-courses. Bingham's Branch and several small rivulets traverse the country in various directions, but the majority of them con- tain running water only a part of the year.
The Pioneers .- It would be difficult to determine who was the first white man to settle in this part of the country as there is but little definite information accessible of that early period. It is known that William Barton, Hezekiah Watkins and his father-in-law, Robert Wade, Daniel Cameron, William Hagerty, Maj. Braxton Wall, S. Dunning and Hardi- man Dunning were living within the present boundaries of the precinct as early as 1820. Barton settled on Muddy Fork about one mile below Wallonia Village. Watkins settled where his son now lives, and Cameron located east of the Wade and Watkins settlements.
Maj. Wall was perhaps the most prominent man in the neighborhood. He was a native of Virginia, but in an early day emigrated to Tennessee, from which State he moved to this county. He started the first store in Wallonia, and was also the pioneer mill builder in the precinct. He died prior to 1844. A man by name of Hansbarger was one of the earliest comers, and settled near the village. Benjamin Faulkner settled where D. D. Wall now lives; David Jennings and William McDaniel, on por- tions of what now comprises the present plantation of Thomas Boyd. Levi Dunning, a relative of Hardiman Dunning, settled west of the creek in an early day on the farm still in possession of members of his family. Among others who came when the country was young and who partici- pated in the trials and hardships of pioneer life were Custis Gray, a man by name of Kennedy and his son Josiah, Irwin and John Brandon and John Wall, brother of Braxton Wall ; Thomas and D. D. Wall, sons of
128
HISTORY OF TRIGG COUNTY.
John Wall, came with their father to the new country, and for fifty-six years have been leading citizens of the precinct. Other names could be added to those enumerated, but the space of this chapter forbids a further mention.
Mills and Distilleries .- The first mill in the precinct was built by Maj. Wall in the year 1825 or 1826, and stood on Muddy Fork .a short distance below Wallonia Village. This was a combination mill-made lumber and ground grain-and did a thriving business during the time it was in operation. A few years after its erection the mill was moved further down the stream under the following circumstances : "Before erecting his mill Mr. Wall made an effort to buy the privilege of building a dam across the mouth of the Lee Dunning Spring, as Bingham & Kevil did before building their mill, but Mr. Kennedy, who owned the property, persistently refused. The result was that upon the completion of the dam at the Wall Mill the whole body of water except at flood time found an outlet through Kennedy's Creek, affording a much better mill seat on the creek than the one Maj. Wall had selected. So old man Ken- nedy immediately went to work and built him a handsome little water-mill on the creek. Old man Wall kept dark until Kennedy got his mill com- pleted and started off in fine style, when all of a sudden he tore away his dam and moved his mill a mile lower down the river. This left Kennedy's Mill high and dry, and the only alternative left was for him to convert it into a horse-mill." The present mill was erected by Messrs. Bingham & Kevil in 1873, and stands on the site of the old Wall Mill. The build- ing is a large two-story frame, and the proprietors are doing an extensive custom and merchant business. ,
The first distillery in the precinct was put in operation by Maj. Wall about the year 1824 or 1825, and stood on what is known as Bingham's Spring Branch. Mr. Wall did a fine local business, and had the reputation of making a fine article of the " O be joyful ! "" The Dunnings operated a small distillery as early as 1823, but seem to have done but a very lim- ited business.
Wallonia Village .- The history of this little city dates from about the year 1837, at which time Maj. Wall erected a commodious storehouse on the lot where the Wallace building now stands, and himself and Will- iam Gray, of Princeton, formed a copartnership under the title of Wall & Gray, and in the spring opened up a heavy stock of miscellaneous mer- chandise. They continued in business until the fall of 1838, when not meeting with the success they anticipated, they disposed of the remnant of the stock to Abner R. Terry and Samuel Mckinney. The latter firm, with means to prosecute an extensive business for that day, opened up a large stock, and ere long their business swelled in proportion far beyond
129
CERULEAN SPRINGS AND WALLONIA PRECINCTS.
their original expectations or hopes. Their sales during the years 1841 and 1842 aggregated $27,000 per year. A postoffice was established and Mr. Mckinney appointed Postmaster. The mail route was from Prince- ton by way of Wallonia through Cadiz and on to Clarksville. William Wallace was the contractor and mail carrier. Mckinney & Terry sold out to Josiah S. Gardner and Lewis McCain, who did a successful busi- ness for a number of years. About this time John A. McCain com- menced a small grocery business, and in a few years with O. T. Gardner and J. R. Hays bought out the firm of Gardner & McCain. . Mr. McCain remained in active business for a number of years. Among the different merchants of the place were S. W. Gray, Jones & Harper, G. W. Dunning, W. J. Wilson, Mr. Wolfe, D. W. Kennedy and William S. Coy. The present business men of the village are Dyer & Hayden, the Bran- don Brothers, Hopson and W. H. Pomeroy. The medical profession has been represented by the following disciples of Esculapius : Drs. Wall, Allison, Foster, Pool, Standrod and Lindsay.
Wallonia Christian Church .- The first meetings by the church known as Christians or Disciples were held in the village schoolhouse in 1849 by Elder John Ferguson, who preached at intervals thereafter for sev- eral years. In 1852 a permanent organization was effected with the fol- lowing members, to wit: J. B. Wall, Harriet C. Wall, A. C. Mart, Eva- line H. Mart, Elizabeth J. Swatswell, William S. Coy, Virginia S. Coy, Elizabeth Wall, D. D. Wall, Mary E. Wall, E. N. Amoss and Ann Amoss. The first officers of the church were J. B. Wall and E. N. Amoss, Bishops ; A. C. Mart and D. D. Wall, Deacons ; William S. Coy, Clerk. The organization was brought about by the labors of Elder Enoch Brown, of Christian County, who preached for the congregation two years. There was no regular preaching there until 1865, the church in the meantime meeting for social service each Lord's day, and depending upon such transient ministers as happened to be passing by. In 1865 steps were taken to build a house of worship. Prior to that time public worship was held in the schoolhouse and private dwellings. In connec- tion with the Masonic Lodge a house was erected at a cost of $1,741. During the year 1865 Elder R. Dulin preached for the congregation once a month. The next pastor was Elder Giddens, who remained but a few months. He was succeeded by Elder B. Metcalf, who preached till 1875. J. W. Higbee came next and remained one year. Other preach- ers who visited the church at different times were Elders Street, Fergu- son, Hancock, Mobley, Howard, Marshall, Anderson, Keith, Albert Mills, James Mills, Long, Hatchett, Gass, Walthall, Lindsay, Lucas, Dimmit, Hardin, Trimble, Johnson and Marshall. Present officers : E.
B9
130
HISTORY OF TRIGG COUNTY.
N. Amoss, Elder ; Samuel Hopson and Thomas Amoss, Deacons. The society is in good condition, and numbers about seventy members.
Mount Zion Methodist Episcopal Church .- The history of this or- ganization dates back to the year 1832, at which time a small class was established at the residence of Robert Hawkins, about two miles from the village of Wallonia. Among the original members of the society were Robert Hawkins and family, Peter Wade and family, Jesse Adams and family, Erwin Brandon and family, Isaac Husk and wife, Lewis Husk and family and Jackson Huston. Meetings were held for four years at the dwellings of Robert Hawkins and Jesse Adams, and at the end of that time a house of worship was erected on a lot donated to the church by Erwin Brandon. This building was a log structure, and stood where the present edifice stands. It was in use until 1848, at which time a new frame building was erected, the same that is still standing. The building is 40x36 feet in size, and with improvements added since its erection rep- resents a capital of about $1,000.
The society was first attached to the Little River Circuit, and later became a prominent point on the Circuit of Wallonia. It belongs to the Cadiz Circuit at present.
The following preachers have ministered to the church, to wit: Lew- ell Campbell, Elijah Sutton, Robert Turner, James Bristow, Abraham Long, Abraham Quick, Dr. William Randolph, Thomas Randolph, P. T. Harderson, Richard Love, T. Peters, James Bigum, P. E. Edwards and J. C. McDaniel, the last named being pastor in charge at the present time.
Present officers are : James Richardson, Robert Wade, David Hancock, T. C. Brandon and J. R. Watkins, Trustees ; James Richardson, Robert Wade, Jabez Bingham and C. R. Watkins, Stewards; Jesse Cameron and J. R. Watkins, Class Leaders. The organization is in flourishing con- dition at the present time, and numbers about 110 communicants. A good Sunday-school is maintained under the efficient superintendency of H. T. Watkins, assisted by W. H. Rector.
There is a Masonic lodge in the village, also a society of the Chosen Friends, both of which are in a healthy condition. We, however, failed to obtain particulars of them.
A MODERN COUNTRY SCHOOLHOUSE.
133
CALEDONIA AND MONTGOMERY PRECINCTS.
CHAPTER IX.
CALEDONIA AND MONTGOMERY PRECINCTS-PHYSICAL FEATURES-BOUND- ARIES, ETC .- EARLY SETTLERS-MILLS-EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS -CALEDONIA VILLAGE-DESCRIPTION AND TOPOGRAPHY OF MONTGOM- ERY PRECINCT-ITS AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES-THE FIRST PIONEERS -EARLY INDUSTRIES AND IMPROVEMENTS-MONTGOMERY VILLAGE- CHURCHES, SOCIETIES, ETC.
C. ALEDONIA PRECINCT lies in the eastern part of the county, and is bounded as follows: Montgomery and Cadiz Precincts on the north and west, Cadiz and Roaring Springs on the south, and Chris- tian County on the east. The principal water-course is Little River, which flows along the southern boundary. It receives a number of small tributaries which traverse the precinct in various directions, chief of which is Sinking Fork. Along the river the land is broken, but beyond the bluffs north and northeast is a fine undulating region unsurpassed in the county for its agricultural excellence, and is occupied by a class of thrifty and enterprising farmers. Corn, wheat and tobacco are chiefly produced, although the soil is well adapted to all the cereals and fruits indigenous to the climate of southern Kentucky. Many farmers, too, devote some attention to stock-raising, a business that is becoming of more importance every year. The original timber was chiefly black and white oak, hick- ory, poplar, gum, dogwood, sassafras, with elm and sycamore along the water-courses. Limestone abounds in immense quantities, and clear, cold springs are to be seen in many places throughout the precinct.
The settlement of Caledonia dates back almost to the beginning of the present century, and from the most reliable information accessible, Thomas Wadlington, Jr., appears to have been the first permanent settler. Mr. Wadlington came to Trigg County in company with his father, Thomas Wadlington, Sr., as early as 1792, and lived with the latter on his farm at what is known as Kent's Bridge in Cadiz Precinct, until 1803, at which time he fell heir to a tract of land in this precinct, where his son William Wadlington now lives. He moved to this land the same year, and at once began to improve it, and as early as 1804 he had a goodly number of acres cleared and in cultivation. He was an energetic man, thrifty and impulsive, and loved the wild free exercises of pioneer life as he loved his own being. He killed the last bear and prized the first hogshead of tobacco in Trigg County, and at the time of his death had
134
HISTORY OF TRIGG COUNTY.
probably lived here longer than any other man since the country was first settled. His death occurred in the year 1868. He had five sons, three of whom survived him ; Ferdinand, William and Thomas are still living, the first being a resident of Cadiz Precinct while the other two are citi- zens of Caledonia.
Jesse Wall settled where William Humphries lives about the year 1804 or 1805. Absalom Humphries came about the same time and was followed shortly afterward by his brother, Capt. Thomas Humphries, both of whom were prominently identified with the early history of the county. They were members of a very prominent Virginia family, and achieved some distinction in the war of the Revolution, Thomas having risen to the position of Captain in the army of Washington. Absalom settled on Sinking Fork, and died on the place first owned by his father- in-law, Jesse Wall, the same farm now owned by William Humphries. Thomas settled on Little River in 1810, on what is known as the Carloss place. He was a Methodist preacher of some note and preached in vari- ous places throughout the county during the early years of its history. Another early pioneer deserving of special mention was William Arm- strong, also a Revolutionary soldier, whose arrival in the precinct is fixed at the year 1808. He located on Sinking Fork and made his first im- provements on the place now in possession of Burnett Wilford. David Macky settled where Thomas Wadlington lives, about the year 1810; he sold the place to John Roberts in an early day, and emigrated further West.
Other settlers came in from time to time, among whom are remembered Thomas Armstrong, son of William Armstrong, Joel and Alexander Wil- son and James Coleman. "The neighborhood of Caledonia Village was not settled at so early a date as some other sections of the precinct, and consequently the traces of the more prominent families residing there do not lead us so far back into the twilight of the present century. "Judge Jouett, the name more frequently of late years erroneously written Jewett, settled the place and built the residence now owned by John A. Tuggle. Our information relating to this very worthy old citizen is not so satisfac- tory as we could have otherwise wished, but if it can be at all relied upon, he was at one time a prominent officer in the United States Army with the rank of Major, and was commander of the post of Chicago, Ill., when that magnificent city of the West could not boast of a population superior to Caledonia. He was a native of Virginia, a gentleman of learning and varied accomplishments, a Chesterfield in manners and a paragon of in- tegrity and kindness ; he died about the year 1830." Maj. Dabney, father of Judge J. C. Dabney, and A. S. Dabney were for a number of years residents of this neighborhood. Other prominent early families in
135
CALEDONIA AND MONTGOMERY PRECINCTS.
the same locality were the Wilfords, Campbells, Ogles, Cravens, Joneses, Hardys, Sallies, Waterfields, Woodses, Faulkners, Bennetts and Carlosses, several of whom lived across the river in the edge of Roaring Springs Precinct.
The first industry of any note in the precinct was a distillery put in operation by William Armstrong about the year 1825. He did a good business until his death, at which time the building was allowed to fall into decay. About the year 1826, Jesse Ogle built a small water-mill near the mouth of Potts Creek on Little River. It was in operation until about the year 1836, at which time the greater part of the building was washed away by a freshet. About the year 1855 or 1856 S. P. Sharp built a flouring-mill on Sinking Fork not far from Caledonia Village. It passed through various hands and underwent many improvements and is at present known as the Peal Mill. A very extensive distillery was start- ed in the same neighborhood some time prior to 1860, by Messrs. Wilford and Lindon, who did a flourishing business for a period of three or four years. At the end of that time they discontinued the business and moved to Cadiz.
The first school in the precinct was taught by W. A. Wadlington in a little cabin on the farm where William Wadlington lives.
The earliest preachers who visited this section of the county were Dudley Williams, of the Baptist Church ; John Barnett, a Presbyterian ; Jesse Cox and a man by name of Spraggins, both Baptists.
The first house erected for public worship stood on the farm of Thomas Wadlington. Mr. Wadlington built the house himself and opened the door to all denominations. The building was a log structure and has been torn away forty-five years.
The Cherry Hill Methodist Episcopal Church was organized near the village of Caledonia, some time during the fifties.
A neat house of worship was erected and services were regularly held until about the year 1859, at which time the society disbanded. The building was sold to the Baptists, who organized the Locust Grove Church about one year later. This society is an offshoot of the old Antioch Bap- tist Church in Roaring Springs Precinct, and its organization was brought about chiefly through the efforts of Rev. Mr. Morehead. The original membership numbered something like twenty or thirty persons. The present membership is about sixty. Rev. Morehead was the first pastor. After him came Rev. Mr. Meacham, who preached for several years and was succeeded by Rev. C. H. Gregston. After Gregston's pastorate ex- pired Meacham was again called, and is pastor in charge at the present time. The present officers are Lewis Averitt, Clerk ; Mark Jones and John A. Tuggle, Deacons.
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.