USA > Kentucky > Trigg County > Counties of Christian and Trigg, Kentucky : historical and biographical > Part 49
USA > Kentucky > Christian County > Counties of Christian and Trigg, Kentucky : historical and biographical > Part 49
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HISTORY OF TRIGG COUNTY.
pursuit from other quarters. For a time their depredations were carried on with impunity, and while they scrupled at the commission of no form of crime, they were especially annoying in their principal business of horse-stealing. Their plan of operations was to run in large numbers of horses and keep them concealed among the hills and ravines until fears of pursuit were ended, when they would take the animals to Nashville and other points, where they were disposed of at good prices. The early set- tlers did not submit to this state of affairs without some efforts to bring those persons to justice, but singly the pioneers proved poor trappers of this game. The robbers were known to be desperate characters, adepts in the use of weapons, and it often happened that when a party got close upon the thieves " discretion seemed the better part of valor," and the chase was given up. Civil authority seemed hopelessly incapable of remedying the evil, and accordingly the citizens took the matter into their own hands and organized a band of regulators, the effect of whose work was prompt and salutary. The honest residents cordially aided the com- pany, which in a few months rid the country of the gang which infested it. McFadden and his accomplices succeeded in successfully evading the vigilants, and the reputation of the Jailor of Christian County at that time suffered by reason of a suspicion that he facilitated their escape.
The settlement of the country increased but slowly for a number of years, and those who came in belonged chiefly to the poorer classes. Improvements were few and of the most primitive kind. Small horse- mills or corn-crackers were put up in various settlements, but these did but little better work than the mortars with which almost every house was supplied. They did the work quicker, and such a mill was often kept running night and day, while the patrons coming from distances of sever- al miles would wait patiently a day or two to get their grists. One of the two earliest of these primitive mills was erected by Nathan Futrell, and stood near Laura Furnace. It was used by the neighborhood for several years and did a good business for a mill of its capacity.
Churches .- There are several religious organizations in the district, the oldest of which is Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Laura Furnace Precinct, which dates its history from the year 1842. It was organized by Revs. T. L. Baker, Jesse Cox and -- Barnes, with helps from the Mount Pleasant and Crooked Creek Churches in Tennessee. The first meeting was held at the dwelling of David Calhoun, and after the society acquired a permanency, religious services were conducted at different res- idences in the neighborhood.
In 1844 a log house of worship was erected on land donated by David Calhoun. It has been remodeled since and a second story built for the use of the Patrons of Husbandry, a lodge of which met in the hall
LAURA FURNACE, GOLDEN POND AND FERGUSON SPRINGS PRECINCTS. 159
for a couple of years. Since its organization the church has been min- istered to by the following pastors, to wit : T. L. Baker, William Skinner R. R. Allen, S. R. McLane, W. E. McCaulley, D. S. Hanberry and A. J. Bird. The present incumbent is Rev. J. M. Ross, who reports an active membership of seventy-eight persons.
Cumberland River Baptist Church in Ferguson Springs Precinct was organized, in 1843, by T. L. Baker and Rev. Mr. Daniel, assisted by others whose names could not be learned. Meetings were held at the dwellings of different members until 1847, in which year a log house of worship was built on the land of Harrison McGregor. This building was used until 1868, when a new and more comfortable frame edifice was erected at a place known as Willow Springs. The following pastors have had charge of the congregation at different times : Revs. T. L. Baker, Jesse Cox, -- Hanberry, G. A. Patterson, Thomas Montgomery, E. L. McLane, William McCaulley and J. M. Ross. There are sixty communicants at the present time and the church is reported in good condition.
Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Golden Pond Precinct was estab- lished in the year 1854, by Reys. T. L. Baker and George Patterson. The constitutional membership consisted of about thirty persons, and services were held for two years at a schoolhouse on Crooked Creek near the residences of Joel Coulsen and E. Grace. A temple of worship was erected in 1856 or 1857 on B. F. Luten's land, and cost the sum of $800. Among the pastors of the church are remembered the following : T. L. Baker, George Patterson, Thomas Montgomery, S. Y. Trimble, S. R. McLane, D. S. Hanberry, F. M. Holland and J. M. Ross, the last named being in charge at the present time. The records show an active mem- bership of seventy persons.
Long Creek Old School Baptist Church is in Voting Precinct No. 2, and dates its origin back to an early period of the country's settlement. At one time it was a very active organization, but its strength has dimin- ished considerably of recent years owing to deaths and removals.
The Walnut Grove Union Church in the southeastern part of Laura Furnace Precinct was built several years ago, and is used at the present time by the Methodists and Baptists, both of which denominations have small organizations. The house was erected under the auspices of the Christian Union Church, a society of which was kept up for some time, by Rev. J. M. Cress.
A society of the Methodist Church was organized at Redd's tan-yard, near the Tennessee River in Laura Furnace Precinct several years ago. Meetings were held in a hall, and for some time the society bid fair to be-
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come an aggressive organization, but owing to some cause unknown, serv- ices are rarely held at the present time.
Another Methodist society known as the Indian Springs Church, in Golden Pond Precinct, was established a number of years ago, but like the one mentioned above its strength is gradually decreasing.
Turkey Creek Baptist Church, five miles from Laura Furnace, was established by Revs. E. L. McLane, G. A. Patterson and J. Outland. A building was erected one year later at a cost of $1,000. The society is making substantial progress, and the records show an active membership of fifty persons at the present time. The preachers have been Revs. Mc- Lane, Knight, Tidwell and Allen. At the present time the church is without a pastor.
Pleasant Hope Baptist Church in the northwestern part of Ferguson Springs Precinct was organized in the year 1880, with a membership of eight, which has since increased to sixteen. F. M. Holland is pastor at the present time and W. N. Ingram, Clerk.
Ferguson Springs Church, which is also a Baptist organization, was established about the year 1879, by Revs. W. L. Rowland and F. M. Holland, with an original membership of about eight persons. The society has increased but slowly since its organization, and numbers only thirteen communicants at the present time.
Near Laura Furnace is a Catholic Church organized by a few German families under the supervision of Rev. Father Hasley in 1882. A log- house was built the same year, and the society is now maintained by about eight families, all of whom emigrated from Germany between the years 1880 and 1883.
Village of Golden Pond, which gave name to the second voting pre- cinct, is situated a few miles west of the Cumberland, and is the only vil- lage between the rivers. It is a small hamlet of a couple dozen houses and serves as a trading point for a large scope of country. The first store in the place was kept by Frank Ingram, who handled a general assort- ment of merchandise, and for several years did a fair business. There are two stores at the present time kept by Bogard and Haydon respectively.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
B12
CADIZ TOWN AND PRECINCT.
DR. THOMAS L. BACON was born January 19, 1832, in Halifax County, Va .; he is the eldest child of Charles A. and Susan (Rowlette) Bacon ; the former was born February 15, 1807, in Charlotte County, Va., now a resident of Roaring Springs ; the latter was born in Halifax County, Va .; she died in 1841. In 1832 the parents removed to Mont- gomery County, Tenn., remained there one year, then came to Christian County, where they remained till 1846 ; they then removed to Trigg County where his father now resides. At about the age of twenty-two he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. John C. Metcalf, of Christian County, and later attended the medical department of the Louisville University ; there he graduated in 1855 ; he then commenced the prac- tice of medicine in North Christian ; remained there but a short time, and removed to Princeton, where he practiced about one year. In the fall of 1856 he removed to Henderson County ; there practiced his profession till 1860; he then went to Philadelphia and received a course of lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in March, 1861 ; he then returned to Roaring Springs; there continued in the prac- tice of his profession till 1874, when he removed to Cadiz, where he has since resided. Dr. Bacon was married in 1857 to Miss Martha E. Bacon, who was born in Muhlenburg County, Va .; she died in January, 1860, aged thirty ; his second marriage was November 1, 1865, to Miss Eliza- beth E. Edwards ; she was born in Christian County. This union has been blessed with five children, two of whom are now living-one son and one daughter.
JAMES BATTOE was born January 30, 1826, in St. Clair County, Ill. He is the fourth of a family of seven children, born to John and Annis (Hodges) Battoe. The father was a native of Kentucky ; he died in 1832, aged forty. The mother was born in Trigg County ; she died in 1846, aged forty. Our subject remained with his mother till about the age of ten years, he then worked out by the month and year till 1848,
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when he came to Trigg County ; here he worked on rented farms. In 1869 he bought his present farm of 214 acres, where he has since lived and has cleared about fifty acres ; his buildings which he has placed on this farm cost about $500. Mr. Battoe was married in 1869 to Eliza Lawrence, a native of Trigg County ; two daughters have blessed this union. Mr. and Mrs. Battoe are life-long and devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
THOMAS BOYD was born January 28, 1826, in Halifax County, Va. He is the youngest of a family of four children born to Thomas and Elizabeth (Stamps) Boyd, also natives of Virginia. His father died when the subject was quite young, and in 1838 the mother emigrated with the family to Trigg County where she died in 1877, at the hale old age of eighty-six. The subject of this sketch was raised on his mother's farm, where he remained until the age of twenty-six, and then purchased a farm of 127 acres and commenced life for himself. Through his own exer- tions he has since increased his farm to 500 acres, where he now resides, and also owns 250 acres elsewhere in the county and 180 in Caldwell County. The home place is considered to be one of the best in the county, and he now devotes his main attention to the raising of live stock. He now has from fifty to seventy-five head of short-horn cattle, forty to fifty hogs and about 150 head of sheep on his place. At present his son Charles manages the farm, which lies eight miles northeast of Cadiz. On January 10, 1881, he was appointed to fill the vacancy of Sheriff, and in the following August was elected to fill the office. He had prior to this time collected the taxes of 1879. In August, 1882, he was re-elected, and has since filled the office. Mr. Boyd was married on Octo- ber 1, 1850, to Miss Martha, daughter of Maj. George Daniel. Mrs. Boyd is a native of Trigg County, and is the mother of ten children, six of whom-five sons and a daughter-are living.
JOHN H. CALDWELL was born August 22, 1842, in Trigg Coun- ty, and is a son of John H. and Martha W. (Barkasdale) Caldwell ; the former was born June 6, 1817, in Halifax County, Va .; he died Decem- ber 27, 1848; they were married May 16, 1838, and emigrated to Trigg County in 1841; the latter was born June 11, 1821, also in Halifax County, Va. . She died July 18, 1846. The subject of this sketch is the eldest of a family of three. After the death of their parents, they were
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CADIZ PRECINCT.
reared by their guardian, Capt. C. W. Roach. John's early education was received at Cadiz, Q. M. Tyler and James Rumsey being his teach- ers, after which he attended the Bethel College three years. After five months' study at the Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tenn., he returned to the Bethel College, Russellville, there graduated in the class of 1861 ; he then entered the Confederate Army, Company A, Ninth Kentucky Infantry, commanded by Col. Thomas H. Hunt, of Louisville, and served to the end of the war ; he participated in the battle of Shiloh, was under fire at Vicksburg, battles of Baton Rouge, Murfreesboro, Jackson and all the battles from Dalton to Atlanta, and Jonesboro ; after the battle near Statesboro, S. C., on capitulated terms of sur- render, they were paroled at Washington, Ga., May 6, 1865, and were the last troops that fired a gun east of the Chattahoochee, where they surrendered ; he then returned to Trigg County, where he has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits, except two years as teacher of the Wallonia Institute. He was married December 16, 1868, to Cornelia F. Boyd. She was born June 21, 1848, in Trigg County ; she died September 6, 1881, leaving a family of four children-two sons and two daughters. His brother Thomas B. was killed at the battle of Pittsburg Landing, April 6, 1862 ; his brother Dr. J. W. Caldwell served during the late war in Company A, Woodward's Cavalry, after which he attended the University of Virginia, and graduated at the Balti- more Medical College in 1866. He then engaged in the practice of his profession in Belleview, Christian County ; after practicing several years he went to Louisville for the purpose of having an operation performed, from which he died November 4, 1873.
JOHN W. CHAPPELL, merchant, Cadiz, was born March 19, 1824, in Christian County, Ky .; he is a son of Dickie and Susan (McCarty) Chappell, who were natives of Halifax County, Va .; they came to Chris- tian County at an early day ; he first engaged in teaching school, and later followed agricultural pursuits. They lived on one farm forty-three years. October 1, 1853, they removed to Washington County, Texas. There his mother died August 10, 1855. His father died in July, 1870. The subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm, where he remained till January 1, 1844. He then came to Cadiz and was clerk for Hiram Thompson in the dry goods business. November, 1848, he
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opened a general store; with the exception of being interrupted three years during the war, has continued this business since, and with the exception of Mr. Street is now the oldest merchant in Trigg County. He first opened a store in the old Baker Hotel, with a stock of about $4,000, and since this time has done a business of upwards of $35,000 a year; he continued business at the Baker Hotel eighteen years ; he then removed to Mrs. Terry's storehouse, where he remained five years. In 1873 he removed to his present store, situated on the west side of the court house. Mr. Chappell was Postmaster from 1858 to 1861; he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and Chosen Friends. He was married May 21, 1845, to Sarah, daughter of the late Dr. Thomas B. Jefferson. She was born in Sumner County, Tenn. This union has been blessed with seven children, three sons and four daughters. His son, John J., is a partner in this business.
JOHN J. CHAPPELL is one of the most promising of the rising young men of the county ; he was born in Cadiz December 16, 1855, and is a son of John W. and Sarah (Jefferson) Chappell ; his education was received in the schools of his native town ; his first instructor was Prof. F. F. Jones ; among his other teachers were J. J. Nall, Prof. Hancock, Prof. Pomeroy and Prof. H. B. Wayland. In 1873 he was a student at the College of Arts and Sciences at Lexington, Ky., and graduated from this institution of learning in the class of 1875; he then returned to Cadiz and entered his father's store as a clerk in 1876. He served in that capacity until January, 1884, when he became a partner in the firm under the title of J. W. Chappell & Son. This firm is at present one of the leading houses of the place. Mr. Chappell was married in Hopkins- ville, Christian County, March 6, 1884, to Miss Ida, daughter of James O. Cooper, proprietor of the Phoenix Hotel at that point.
JUDGE ROBERT CRENSHAW was born in Trigg County, Roar- ing Springs Precinct, June 4, 1847; he is the fourth of a family of six sons born to Robertson and Mary (Walden) Crenshaw. The father was born in Halifax County, Va., in September, 1816, and was a son of Cor- nelius and Nancy (Kent) Crenshaw ; he came here in 1819 with his par- ents (see sketch of Thomas Crenshaw), grew to manhood, and married here in 1839; he resided here until his death, which occurred February 12, 1853; he was a member of the Christian Church and of the Masonic
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CADIZ PRECINCT.
fraternity ; the mother was born in Halifax County, Va., in 1819, and died in this county December 31, 1851. Our subject was reared by his uncle, Thomas Crenshaw ; he was educated by Prof. Wyatt and Prof. G. P. Street; at the age of twenty he took up the study of law under the preceptorship of Judge Thomas C. Dabney ; he was licensed to practice in 1868; soon afterward he was elected County Attorney for four years, and during this time also held the office of School Commissioner; while serving in the latter office he made the tour of the country, delivering addresses in the interest of education ; he was a candidate in 1878 and also in 1882 for County Judge, but was defeated both times by Judge Dyer by a small majority. At these elections Judge Crenshaw received more votes than had ever been polled for any other defeated candidate prior to that time. In the summer of 1883 he was a candidate for the third time, and at the primary election he defeated Judge Kelley, Squire W. G. Blaine and Prof. H. B. Wayland. At the following general elec- tion in August he was elected over S. I. Spiceland, who was the nominee on the Republican ticket. This position he is still satisfactorily and cred- itably filling. Judge Crenshaw was married, in 1877, to Miss Minnie, daughter of Judge Thomas C. Dabney. Three children-two sons and a daughter-have blessed this union. He is a member of the Christian Church, and of the Odd Fellows and Chosen Friends.
JUDGE THOMAS C. DABNEY was born in Louisa County, Va., on September 20, 1823. He is the second son of Albert G. Dabney and Ann Eliza Catlett, his wife, formerly of Louisa County, Va., who came to Christian County in the fall of 1830, with a family of four sons. Albert S. Dabney (now deceased), was the third son and held the offices of County and Circuit Clerk of Trigg County for a number of years, and afterward was cashier of a bank in Hickman, Ky., where he contracted a disease from which he died in Cadiz, leaving three sons and one daughter. The brothers, E. W. and C. J., removed to Austin County, Tex., in 1853, where E. W. Dabney now resides, and C. J. Dabney died in June, 1882, both having large families. The subject of this sketch was educated by Elder George P. Street. After receiving a good education, at the age of eighteen he took up the study of the law and came to Cadiz, and lived with the family of the late J. E. Thompson, who was at that time County and Circuit Clerk. Our subject became the Deputy in both offices, and
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while discharging these duties continued the study of law, under the direction of Hon. C. D. Bradley, now deceased. He procured license to practice in the fall of 1844, and located in Cadiz, where he has since fol- lowed the profession. Though at all times decided in his political convictions he has never sought any political offices ; he was several times elected and served as County Attorney of Trigg County. Upon the adoption of the new Constitution in 1852, he was elected the first County Judge in Trigg County, under the new Constitution. In July, 1857, he was elected Cir- cuit Judge in the Second Circuit Court, Judicial District in Kentucky, which at that time, extended across the State, and included the counties of Trigg, Christian, Todd, Muhlenburg, Hopkins, Henderson and Caldwell. Judge Dabney's term expired in August, 1862, and he declined to be a candidate for re-election and retired to the practice of his profession, to which he has since devoted his entire attention. On March 7, 1848, Judge Dabney was married, in the city of Hopkinsville, to Miss Susannah, only child of the late James D. Rumsey. Mrs. Dabney was born and reared in Hopkinsville, Ky. Her father was a lawyer by profession, a teacher by occupation, a man of much learning and marked ability and descended from a family noted for their rare talent. He was near kins- man and named after his uncle James Rumsey, who is the first to have discovered and applied steam power to navigation, and experi- mented in propelling a small steamboat on the Potomac in 1784; he died in London, England, of apoplexy, while lecturing on the application of steam-power to navigation before the Royal Society. This union has been blessed with nine children, one of whom (Thomas C., Jr.), died at the Kentucky University (at Lexington), on April 13,1873. Eight children- four sons and four daughters-are now living. Judge James R., the eldest son, is a lawyer by profession and is now County Judge of Hender- son County, Ky. Lieut. Albert J., the second son, is now a Lieutenant in the United States Navy, where he has been for the past seventeen years. E. F., the third son, is a graduate of the Louisville Law School, and is now a partner with his father in the practice of law. Dr. Archie S., the fourth, has lately graduated at the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, and has since opened dental rooms at Cadiz. Of the daughters, Minnie is now the wife of Judge Robert Crenshaw, now County Judge of Trigg County ; Cornelia, the eldest daughter, was recently made a widow
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CADIZ PRECINCT.
by the death of her husband, John R. Averitt, who was a young lawyer of promising attainments, and was filling the office of County Attorney at the time of his death ; Misses Annie and Carrie, the two youngest daughters, are still living at home with their parents.
JOHN C. DABNEY was born January 14, 1852, in Cadiz. He is the second of five children born to Albert S. and Pamelia .(Middelton) Dabney. His father was born in Louisa County, Va., and emigrated to Trigg County when about fourteen years of age; he was a highly.cul- tivated Christian gentleman, a member of the Christian Church and one of the purest and best men that ever lived ; he was exceedingly popular, and filled with marked ability and credit, for about sixteen years, the office of County Clerk ; he died in Cadiz in 1860, in his thirty-sixth year. His mother was the eldest daughter of the late John Middelton of Shelby County, Ky. She was a lady of superior intelligence and culture, and also possessed rare business qualifications. She is said, by those best acquainted with her, to have been the brightest scholar of her classes. She obtained a profound knowledge of the classics, and as a Latin scholar had but few equals and no superior. She was a faithful and devoted mother, an earnest and conscientious Christian, a member of the church of her husband and brought up her children-three sons and a daughter- " in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." She had the consolation of knowing and seeing her children profess Christ before she was called to her sweet reward ; this estimable lady died in December, 1875. Our subject received his primary education while working on the farm and helping to support his widowed mother and family, and studied night and day at home under the instruction and tutelage of his mother, and later attended the schools in Cadiz, where he won prizes for his studious habits, scholarship and gentlemanly deportment. In 1869 he left Cadiz and went to the Kentucky University at Lexington. There we find him a lad about seventeen years of age, hard at work ; studious, industrious, faithful and punctual in all his school duties, and as a reward for his thorough, faithful work, he was promoted to a Captaincy in the Second Session and had charge of the Military Department, and also received the appointment to West Point from the university as having the highest and best standing in his classes, but he declined to accept this high honor, and continued at the university as a student for two years longer, holding
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