USA > Kentucky > Historical sketches of Kentucky : embracing its history, antiquities, and natural curiosities, geographical, statistical, and geological descriptions with anecdotes of pioneer life, and more than one hundred biographical sketches of distinguished pioneers, soldiers, statesmen, jurists, lawyers, divines, etc. > Part 44
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FLEMING COUNTY.
FLEMING county was formed in 1798, and named in honor of Colonel Jony FLEMING. It is situated in the north-east part of the State, on Licking river-bounded on the north by Mason and Lewis ; east by Carter ; south by Bath, and west by Nicholas. The face of the country is variegated, and the soil as diversified as that of any county in Kentucky. The western portion of the county, in the centre of which is situated the county seat, is roll- ing or undulating, abounding in limestone and very productive for grasses, hemp and corn, and a part well adapted for wheat. The eastern and north-eastern portion of the county, embracing an extensive territory, is generally mountainous, interspersed with large creeks and fertile bottoms, adapted to corn, wheat, clover and tobacco-abounding in mineral-waters-among which the Fox Springs and Phillips Springs are improved as watering places; watered by main Licking, Fleming, Fox and Triplett creeks. Its principal exports consist of cattle, hogs and hemp.
Taxable property in 1846, 83,422,370; number of acres of land in the county 280.681 ; average value of lands per acre, $6,96; number of white males over twenty-one years of age, 2,325 ; number of children between five and sixteen years old, 2,810. Population in 1830, 13,493-in 1840, 13,268.
The towns of Fleming, are Flemingsburg, Poplar Plains, Mount Carmel, Elizaville, Hillsborough and Sherburn. FLEMINGSBURG is the county-seat and principal town, situated on the Maysville and Mount Sterling turnpike road, seventeen miles from the for- mer place, and seventy-nine miles from Frankfort. It contains a large and handsome brick court house, with a fine cupola. beil and clock ; five churches, (Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist. Re- formed or Christian, and Seceder). One Academy, one collegiate institution, six physicians, twelve lawyers, six stores, three hotels, one printing office, ( Fleming Flag.) market house and jail, a branch of the Louisville bank, one hat store, one drug store. twenty mechanics' shops, and one large steam flouring mill. Es- tablished in the year 1812. Population 800. Derived its name from the Fleming family.
Elizaville is five miles from Flemingsburg, and contains three stores, one tavern, three physicians, oue tar nery, one manufactory of saleratus, pearlash, de, one school and tive mechanics shops. Hillsborough contains two stores, one tavern, post office and black- smith shop. Population forty. Mount Carmel is seven miles
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INDIAN TROUBLES.
north of Flemingsburgh, and contains two stores, one tavern, one Methodist church, one school house, two doctors, two tanneries, one wool factory, five mechanical trades. Population 120. It- corporated in 1825. Poplar Plains is situated five miles south- east of Flemingsburg-incorporated in 1831, contains two stores, one tavern, post office, tannery, woolen factory and oil mill, two doctors and six mechanics' shops. Population, 100. Sherburn is a small village and mills on Licking river, containing a store, post office, tailor's shop, blacksmith shop and tavern. Population about 40.
The Geological statistics of Fleming county are not in general of a rich or varied character. It rests principally upon the upper strata of the blue limestone series. belonging, with its accompaniments, to the transition formation : thongh in the eastern part, it is in some places overlaid with a very silicious limestone. prob- ably the equivalent of the cliff limestone; and in the " knobs" rises into the black slate, capped with old red sandstone. Except where the rocks and clays occupy the surface. (which is but a small portion.) the soil is very productive. much of it being good hemp land ; but no important metals are to be found. There are several small deposites of iron ore, not valuable or extensive to work, as far as examined. One of these, however, lying near the Licking river, is a remarkable and rare deposite. The oxide of iron. incorporated with sand. is formed into regular tubes, from the size of a pistol barrel to several inches in diameter, the cylinder being from a half to one and a half inches thick. It is impossible to estimate the length of these fulgurites, as the fragments have been fractured at both ends by the ploughshare.
There is likewise a large deposite of clay near Poplar Plains, suitable for prt- ter's ware. The other minerals are small quantities of sulphurate of iron, calea- rions spar, barytes and petroleum or " mineral tar." The disintegrating limestone presents about seventy-five species of fossils, some of them in great abundance and perfection. the hill sides of the undulating surface exposing them to obser- vation. The soil has but a small proportion of sand in its composition, clay and lime predominating.
GEORGE STOCKTON, who, in his infancy, had been taken prisoner, together with a sister, by the Indians in Virginia, and carried to New York, there remained until he became so much attached to the Indian manner of living, that the desire to see his friends and family could scarcely overcome his reluctance to part with those whom association had made dear.
After he had grown up, he accompanied his tribe on a trading expedition to Pennsylvania, and there determined to visit his friends in Virginia. A fondness for forest life had so entertwined itself with his very nature, that he could ill sup- port the dull uniformity of society. and he soon set out for Kentucky, to enjoy the glorious solitude and freedom of the woods. He settled at Stocktou's station, in sight of Flemingsburg, in 1787.
Robert Stockton and Beacham Rhodes set out from Stockton's station in the winter of 1789. for the purpose of hunting on the waters of Fox's creek and its tributaries, then the favorite resorts of the buffalo. deer, bear. &r. Regarding the Season of the year, it was not considered any adventure fraught with great dan- ger, as the Indians rarely visited Kentucky except in the seasons when the mer- saries of life were more easily obtained. The hunters pitched their camp upon the bank of Fox's creek, and enjoyed several days of successful hunting and ex- citing sport. On the night of the 13th February, after a day of unusual even- ment and fatigue, the hunters, replenishing their fire, rolled themselves up in their blankets. and stretching themselves (with their two fine dogs) upon the ground, after the manner of the hunters of that day, without other " une ons and appliances." were soon soundly asleep. About the middle of the night, they were aroused by the simultaneous discharge of two guns. Stockton spring to his feet only to fill lifeless to the earth. Rhodes, though severely wounded in the hip by two balls from the same gun, succeeded (whilst the dogs made fiercely at the Indians) in crawling beyond the light of the fire. Stationing hinself behind
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FLEMING COUNTY.
a tree, he calmly awaited the re-appearance of the Indians, resolved to sell his life at the cost of one of theirs. The Indians, doubtless, suspecting his purpose, were wise enough to mount the horses of the hunters. and made for the Kentucky river, where one of them was afterwards killed. The Indians not appearing, Rhodes determined. if possible, to conceal himself before day should dawn. With this hope. he crawled into the creek. and that his trail might not be discov- ered, kept in the water until about a half a mile from camp he came to a large pile of brush and logs which the creek had drifted. In this he remained secre- ted (in momentary expectation of hearing the Indians) all day. At night he set out on a painful journey towards home. and on the seventh day after his wound, reached Fleming creek, having crawled a distance of fourteen miles. The creek was considerably swollen, and in his wounded and exhausted state. presented an insuperable barrier to his further progress. Fortunately, however, he was found by another hunter, who aided him in reaching his home. The friends of Stock- ton, instantly collecting, started for the camp, where they found
" His faithful dog, in life his firmest friend, The first to welcome, foremost to defend, Whose honest heart was still his master's own, Who labor'd, fought, lived and breathed for him alone,"-
guarding his body, though so weak from starvation, as to be unable to walk. A circle of torn earth all around the body of Stockton, marked the rage and disap- pointment of wolves and panthers, and told how watchful and firm had been the protection of the dog. Stockton was buried where he fell, and his grave. marked with a large slab, is yet to be seen in going from Flemingsburg to Carter court- house, one mile beyond Phillips' springs. The friends of Stockton carried home the dog, and after several weeks, the other dog, which had followed the horses, also returned.
ZADOCK WILLIAMS, whilst working in a tobacco field, in sight of Stockton's station, was shot by an Indian in the year 1790. There were no men in the fort at the time ; and the old settlers, to this day. speak with wonder at the efforts of an old negro woman upon a horn, with which she alarmed the residents of a fort five or six miles distant. The Indians, probably terrified at such prodigious blasts, made off.
The three forts or stations in the county, (Stockton's, Cassiday's and Flem- ing's,) had in their service two brothers, named Stuart, whose duty it was (dressed after the Indian fashion) to keep a look out, and give timely notice of the pres- ence of hostile Indians. It was understood by all the settlers, that no one was to fire a gun within hearing of either fort. unless at an Indian. In returning at Cassiday's station in the evening, one of the brothers was overcome by the temp- tation to shoot a large owl. Michael .Cassiday and John Clifford, who were at the fort, supposing the gun to be fired by an Indian, seized their rifles and issued forth into the woods to reconnaitre. They soon observed the two brothers approaching, but owing to the dusk of the evening and their Indian dress. did not recognize them. Old man Cassiday, who was proverbial for his resolution and bravery, pushed on until within gun shot, fired, and one of the brothers fell to the ground. Clifford, in the mean time, was exerting all his ingennity in! stratagem to get a shot at the other brother, until he finally made himself hear! The three then went to the wounded man, and found him with but just energy life to tell Cas-iday his death was the result of his own fully in firing his you within hearing of the fort. forgave him, and expired. The surviving brotts. afterwards declared, that he was once or twice upon the point of shooting City- ford. to save his own life.
Michael Cassiday, the individual mentioned in the foregoing narrative. Was a native of Ireland, whence he emigrated to the United States in his youth. At the breaking out of the revolutionary war, he enlisted and served for several years in the ranks of the army. After leaving the army, he came to Kentucky. and attached himself to Strode's station, in what is now Clark county, and for thence removed to this couniv, and settled at Cassiday's station. He was ir- markably small in statore, little if at all exceeding five feet, and there are many amusing stories told of his contests with Indians, who looked upon him ay a boy.
299
JOHN FLEMING.
Upon one occasion, while encamped in the woods with two other friends, (Bennett and Spor), three Indians attacked their camp, and killed Bennett and Spor at the first fire. Cassiday sprung to his feet, but was soon overpowered and made prisoner. The Indians, supposing him to be a boy, and proposing to relieve the tedium of the night, selected the smallest of their number to carve him up with a large butcher knife, for their diversion. Cassiday, whose fiery spirit little predisposed him to suffer an unresisting martyrdom, grappled his antago- nist, and flung him several times with great violence to the earth, greatly to the amusement of the other Indians, who laughed immoderately at their companion's defeat by one seemingly so disproportioned in strength. The two Indians, tind- ing that it was growing a serious matter, came to the rescue of their companion, and with several strokes of their war clubs, felled Cassiday to the ground. For- tunately, Cassiday fell with his hand upon the knife which his competitor had let fall, and rising, brandished it with such fierceness that the Indians gave back, when he, stepping to one side, darted rapidly into the woods. The dark- ness of the night enabled him to elude his pursuers until he came to a deep pool of water, overhung by a large sycamore. Under the roots of this tree, up to his neck in the water, he remained concealed until the Indians, Hashing their torches around him in every direction, gave up in despair. He carried to his grave the marks of the Indian clubs, to testify with what good will they were given. Colonel Thomas Jones, who was at the burial of the two men, (Bennett and Spor). yet lives near Flemingsburg.
Upon another occasion, whilst hunting on Cassiday's creek, in what is now Nicholas county, he very unexpectedly found himself in close proximity to a powerful Indian, in a place quite free from timber. Hach observed the other at the same time. and both leveled their guns. But Cassiday, to his consternation, found that his pocket handkerchief was tied round the lock of his gun, so as to prevent its being cocked, and he feared to untie it, lest the Indian perceiving it, should fire. They remained pointing their guns at each other in this manner for some time. The Indian not firing, Cassiday suspected that something was the matter with his gun also, and began to take off his handkerchief, when the I- dian tled to a tree. Cassiday followed in full speed, and taking a cirenit so as to bring the Indian in view, fired and wounded him in the shoulder. Drawing his knife, he made towards the wounded Indian, in whose gun he now perceived the ramrod. When Cassiday approached. the Indian (lying on the ground) extended his hand, crying " brother!"" Cassiday told him he was " ad-d mulatto hypo- crite, and he shouldn't claim kin with him. Saint Patrick ! but he would pum- mel him well." After a desperate conflict with the Indian, who, though deprived of the use of his right arm, proved no contemptible foe. and whose nakedness afforded no tangible hohl, Cassiday succeeded in dispatching him.
Cassiday was in upwards of thirty Indian fights, and such and so many was his ' hair breadth 'scapes,' that he was commonly said to have a charmed life. He served in the legislature repeatedly, lived respected and died regretted, at his s'ation, in the year 1829.
Colonel JouN FLEMING, after whom Fleming county was called, was born in Virginia ; and in company with Major George Stockton, emigrated to Kentucky th the year 1797, descending the Ohio river in a canoe, and settled at Stroud's -It- tion. He afterwards removed to Fleming county, and settled Fleming's station in the year 1790, where he remained till his death in the year 1791. The wit- nesses of his life, like the fabled leaves of the Sybil's prophecy, have been s. scattered by the hand of death, that it is impossible to collect the history of any save the following incidents :
Some twenty Indians having stolen horses, and made prisoners of two children hear Strode's station, in Clark county, in the year 1791, were pursued by about It- teen whites, and overtaken on a creek. siner called Battle run, in Fleming county. A sharp contest ensued, in which the loss was about equal on either side; but the whites, being outnumbered, were forced to give way.
Col. Jan Fleming, the settler of Fleming's station, was severely wounded in the engagement, and in the retreat, being hotly pursued by an Indian, directed one of the men who was trying past hutu, to point his gun at the Indian ano com- pel him to tree, until he could reload his gun. The man replied that his gun was not loaded. Fleming quickly remarked, "the Indian don't know that;" where-
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FLEMING COUNTY.
upon the man did as directed, with the effect that Fleming foresaw. Whilst the Indian was intent upon the manœuvres of the man, Fleming succeeded in loading his gun. The pursuit becoming alarming, the man fled. The Indian, supposing Fleming to be too badly wounded to be dangerous, made confidently towards him with uplifted tomahawk. Fleming, supporting his gun upon a log, waited until the Indian came very near, when, firing, he fell headlong almost against the log behind which Fleming was lying.
Fleming's mare, which had broken loose during the fight, came galloping by, recognized the voice of her master, went to him, received him on her back. and carried him gallantly off the field. He reached the large pond near Sharpsburg, where, exhausted from the loss of blood, and burning with thirst, he, with a fel- low fugitive, encamped. Such was his fever from his wound, that, to allay his insatiate thirst. he kept his friend constantly engaged throughout the night in bringing water. Next morning, he was sufficiently recovered to resume his way, and arrived safely at the station.
In the family of Major George Stockton was a slave named Ben. Ben was a " regular" negro, devoted to his master-hated an Indian with an enmity passing Randolph's aversion to sheep-loved to moralize over a dead one-got into a tow- ering rage, and swore " magnificently " when a horse was missing-handled his rifle well, though somewhat foppishly-and hopped and danced and showed his teeth with infinite satisfaction, at the prospect of a chase of the " yaller varminis." His master had every confidence in his resolution and prudence, and in fact Ben was a great favorite with all the hunters, adding much to their stock of fun on dull expeditions.
A party of Indians having stolen horses from some of the upper stations, were pursued by a party of whites, who called at Stockton's station for reinforcements. Ben, among others, gladly volunteered. The Indians were overtaken at Kirk's springs, in Lewis county. The whites dismounting, secured their horses, and advanced to the attack. Only eight or ten Indians could be seen, and they re- treated rapidly over the mountain. The whites followed, but in descending the mountain, discovered, from an attempt to out-flank them, that the retreating In- dians were but a part of the enemy remaining behind to decoy them into an am- buscade, prepared at the base of the mountain. Various indications plainly showed that the Indians were greatly superior in number, and the whites were ordered to retreat. Ben was told of the order by a man near him, but was so in- tently engaged, that he did not hear. The man, in a louder tone, warned him of his danger. Ben turned upon him a reproving look, with indescribable grimaces and ludicrous gesticulations, admonishing silence, and springing forward, set off at a furious rate down the mountain. The man, unwilling to leave him. started after, and reached his side in time to see him level his rifle at a huge Indian down the mountain. tiptoe on a log, peering with outstretched neck into the thick woods. Ben's rifle cracked, and the Indian, bounding high in air, fell heavily to the earth. A fierce yell answered this art of daring, and " the Indians, (said Ben) skipped from tree to tree thick as grass-hoppers." Ben, chuckling with huge self-satisfaction, bawled out, " take dat to 'member Ben-de 'black white man ;" and set off in earnest after his retreating party.
The following interesting incident of a well known and highly esteemed citizou of Fleming (which occurred affer St. Clair's defeat in November, 1791), is rela- ted in M'Clung's Sketches of Western Adventure :
The late WILLIAM KENNAN, of Fleming county, at that time a young man ot eighteen, was attached to the corps of rangers who accompanied the regular force. He had long been remarkable for strength and activity. In the course of the march from fort Washington, he had repeated opportunities of testing bis astonishing powers in that respect, and was universally admitted to be the swift- est runner of the light corps. On the evening preceding the action, his cor:> had been advanced, as already observed, a few hundred vards in front of the first line of infantry. in order to give seasonable notice of the enemy's approach. J .- as day was dawning, he observed about thirty Indians within one hundred yards of the guard fire. advancing cautiously towards the spot where he stood, together with about twenty rangers, the rest being considerably in the rear.
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WILLIAM KENNAN.
Supposing it to be a mere scouting party, as usual, and not superior in number to the rangers, he sprang forward a few paces in order to shelter himself in a spot of peculiarly rank grass, and firing with a quick aim upon the foremost In- dian, he instantly fell flat upon his face, and proceeded with all possible rapidity to reload his gun. not doubting for a moment, but that the rangers would main- tain their position, and support him. The Indians, however, rushed forward in such overwhelming masses. that the rangers were compelled to fly with precipita- tion, leaving young Kennan in total ignorance of his danger. Fortunately. the captain of his company had observed him when he threw himself in the grass, and suddenly shouted aloud, " Run Kennan ! or you are a dead man !" He in- stantly sprang to his feet, and beheld Indians within ten feet of him, while his company was already more than one hundred yards in front.
Not a moment was to be lost. He darted off with every muscle strained to its utmost, and was pursned by a dozen of the enemy with loud yells. He at first pressed straight forward to the usual fording place in the creek, which ran be- tween the rangers and the main army, but several Indians who had passed him before he arose from the grass, threw themselves in the way, and completely cut him off from the rest. By the most powerful exertions, he had thrown the whole body of pursuers behind him, with the exception of one young chief. (probably Messhawa), who displayed a swiftness and perseverance equal to his own. In the circuit which Kennan was obliged to take. the race continued for more than four hundred yards. The distance between them was about eighteen feet, which Kennan could not increase nor his adversary diminish. Each, for the time, put his whole soul into the race.
Kennan, as far as he was able. kept his eye upon the motions of his pursner, lest he should throw the tomahawk, which he held aloft in a menacing attitude, and at length, finding that no other Indian was immediately at hand, he deter- mined to try the mettle of his pursuer in a different manner, and felt for his ton- ahawk in order to turn at bay. It had escaped from its sheath, however, while he lay in the grass, and his hair had almost lifted the cap from his head, when he saw himself totally disarmed. As he had slackened his pace for a moment the Indian was almost in reach of him, when he recommenced the race, but the idea of being without arms, lent wings to his flight, and for the first time, he saw himself gaining ground. He had watched the motions of his pursuer too closely, however, to pay proper attention to the nature of the ground before him, and he suddenly found himself in front of a large tree which had been blown down, and upon which brush and other impediments lay to the height of eight or nine teet.
The Indian (who heretofore had not uttered the slightest sound) now gave a short quick yell, as if sure of his victim. Kennan had not a moment to deliber- ate. He must clear the impediment at a leap or perish. Putting his whole soul into the etfort, he bounded into the air with a power which astonished himself, and clearing limbs, brush, and every thing else, alighted in perfect safety upon the other side. A loud yell of astonishinent burst from the band of pursuers, not one of whom had the hardihood to attempt the same feat. Kennan, as may be readily imagined, had no leisure to enjoy his triumph, but dashing into the bed of the creek (upon the banks of which his feat had been perfornied) where the high banks would shield him from the fire of the enemy, he ran up the stream until a convenient place offered for crossing. and rejoined the rangers in the rear of the encampment. panting from the fatigue of exertions which have seldom been surpassed. No breathing time was allowed him. however. The attack in- stantly commenced, and as we have already observed, was maintained for three hours, with unabated fury.
When the retreat commenced. Kennan was attached to Major Clarke's bat- talion, and had the dangerous service of protecting the rear. This corps quickly lost its commander, and was completely disorganized. Kennan was among the hindmost when the Right commenced, but exerting those same powers which had saved him in the morning, he quickly gained the front, passing several horsemen in the flight. Here he beheld a private in his own company, an intunate ac- quantance, lying upon the ground, with his thigh broken, and to tones of the most piercing distress, implored each horseman who hurried by to take him up behind him. As soon as he beheld Kennan coming up on foot, he stretched out his arms and called loud upon him to save him. Notwithstanding the imminent
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