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 52
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He left a wife, who was Miss Aun Gist, (a member of one of the most respect- able families of the county.) and two sons. His wife died a short time after he did, and but one of his sons is now living. This is Heury Clay Hart, who now resides in Paris, Bourbon county, and who was a midshipman in the navy and coannanded a sun in the attack made by the frigate Potomac on the fort at Qualla Button in the island of Sumatra, with great credit. The Lexington hight infantry, Commanded by Captain Hart at the Raisin, exists to this day ; and uis dag lately waved on the battle field at Buena Vista as the regimental flag of the kentucky cavalry.
346
HENDERSON COUNTY.
HENDERSON COUNTY.
HENDERSON county was formed in 1798, and named in honor of Colonel RICHARD HENDERSON. It is situated in the south-west part of the State, on the Ohio river, Greene river forming a portion of its eastern border, and then passing through the upper part, in a north-west direction, empties its waters into the Ohio,-bounded north by the Ohio river ; east by Daveiss; south by Hopkins, and west by Union. This county is watered by the Ohio and Greene rivers, and inhabited by an industrious and enterprising people. The soil is generally very productive-adapted to the cultivation of corn and tobacco, which are the chief articles of production- between 75 and 100,000 bushels of the former, and about 7,000,- 000 pounds of the latter being annually exported.
About sixty thousand acres of land in this county is of the allu- vial kind, and remarkable for its fertility. It includes seventy miles of the "bottoms" on the Ohio, and forty miles on Green river. The grasses succeed extremely well in many places; and horses, cattle and hogs are raised in great numbers. There are some indications of iron ore, and extensive beds of coal, of good quality, are found in the county. It contains, also, immense quantities of timber, of the best and most desirable kinds.
Valuation of taxable property in Henderson, in 1846, 83,161,- 640 ; number of acres of land lying in the county, 273,159 ; average value per acre, $1.79 ; number of white males over twenty-one years of age, 1,569 ; number of children between five and seven- teen years old, 1.961. Population in 1840, 9,518.
HENDERSON, the county seat of Henderson county, is situated on the Ohio river, twelve miles below the town of Evansville, and about one hundred and seventy miles from Frankfort. It is a thriving town, having a population of about fifteen hundred ; and from its position. is an important shipping point for the produce of the Greene river country. One or two packet boats ply regu- larly between this town and Louisville. The court-house is a handsome structure ; and the Baptists, Presbyterians, Cumberland Presbyterians, Methodists and Episcopalians, have each respect- able and commodious houses of worship. There are four schools, two male, and two female ; eight stores, three wholesale gro- ceries, one drug store, four taverns, eight lawyers, eight doctors, five large tobacco factories, employing from fifty to sixty hands each, with about fifty mechanics' shops, in the various branches. Incorporated in 1512.
Cairo is a small village, containing one store, one doctor, one school, a tobacco stemmery, and four mechanics' shops. Hillards- ville contains a free church, one school, two stores, one doctor, six mechanics' shops. and about 30 inhabitants. Steamport is a small village on Greene river, containing two stores, one tavern, one doctor, one tobacco factory, three mechanics' shops, and about 30 inhabitants.
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RICHARD HENDERSON.
General SAMUEL HOPKINS, (see Hopkins county) who commanded one of t !; 0 divisions of the army in the last war with England, was a citizen of Henderson Audubon, the ornithologist, resided here for several years. The Rev. J ... ", McGready, an eminent Presbyterian minister, who greatly distinguished himself in what is called in the Greene river country, "the great revival of eighteen hun- dred," closed his earthly career in this connty : and Major Barbour, who feil while gallantly fighting for his country, in the late battle of Monterey, was raised and educated here.
Colonel RICHARD HENDERSON, from whom Henderson county received its name, was a native of North Carolina. The date of his birth is not known. His parents were poor, and young Henderson grew to maturity before he had learned to read or write. These rudiments of education he had to acquire by his own un- aided exertions.
While yet a young man, he was appointed a constable ; and subsequently pro- moted to the office of under sheriff. Having devoted his leisure time to the pe- rusal of such law books as he could procure. he obtained a license to practice law in the inferior or county courts, and in due time was admitted to the bar of the superior court. Here he soon became distinguished for his skill as an advo- cate, for the uniform success which attended his efforts, and his general and accurate knowledge of the principles and details of his profession. He soon established a high reputation as a lawyer, was promoteil to the bench, and received the appointment of associate chief judge of the province of North Carolina, with a salary adequate to the dignity of the office.
A man of great ambition and somewhat ostentatious, he soon became involved in speculations which embarrassed him in his pecuniary relations, and cramped his resources. Bold, ardent and adventurous, he resolved to repair the ravages made in his private fortune, by engaging in the most extensive scheme of specu- lation ever recorded in the history of this country. Having formed a comprar for that purpose, he succeeded in negotiating with the head chiefs of the (I.r .- kee nation a treaty, (known as the treaty of Wataga, ) by which all that tract it' country lying between the Cumberland river, the mountains of the same name, and the Kentucky river, and situated south of the Ohio, was transferred, for a reasonable consideration, to the company. By this treaty Henderson and his as- sociates became the proprietors of all that country which now comprises more than one half of the state of Kentucky. This was in 1775. They immediately proceeded to establish a proprietory government, of which Henderson beest : the President, and which had its seat at Boonesborough. The new country roccivi 1 the name of Transylvania. The first legislature assembled at Bonnesborough, and held its sittings under the shade of a large elin tree, near the walls of the fort. It was composed of Squire Boone, Daniel Boone, William Coke. Sam-1 Henderson. Richard Moore, Richard Calloway. Thomas Slaughter, John Lythe, Valentine Harmond, James Douglass, James Harrod, Nathan Hammond. I-use Hite, Azariah Davis, John Todd, Alexander S. Dandridge, John Floyd. 01 .! Samuel Wood. These members formed themselves into a legislative b.A. by electing Thomas Slaughter, chairman, and Matthew Jewett. clerk. Til t- montane legislature, the earliest popular body that assembled on this sid. . ( the Apalachian mountains, was addressed by Colonel Henderson, on behalf . finn- self' and his associates, in a speech of sufficient dignity and of xeeller. A compact was entered into between the proprietors and the colonists. it is a free, manly, liberal government was established over the territory. important parts of this Kentucky Magna Charta, were, Ist. That tir . delegates should be annual. ed. Perfect freedom of opinion in matters gion. 3.1. That Judges should be appointed by the proprietors, but i for mal-conduct to the people ; and that the convention have the sale power 1
raising and appropriating all moneys, and electing their treasurer. of substantial freedom and manly, rational government, was a tennis mangel under the bands and seals of the three proprietors acting for the comjitht. and Thomas Slaughter acting for the colonists.
The purchase of Henderson from the Cherokees was afterward, som l'et by act of the Virginia legislatine, as being contrary to the charterel rigters of fee State. But, as some compensation for the services rendered in opening the af ..
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HENRY COUNTY.
derness, and preparing the way for civilization, the legislature granted to the pro- prietors a tract of land twelve miles square. on the Ohio, below the mouth of Greene river.
After the failure of his attempt to establish an independent government west of the mountains, little or nothing is known of the subsequent life of Henderson. We are even ignorant of the time of his death. He was a man of a high order of talents, and entitled to a distinguished place among the early pioneers.
HENRY COUNTY.
HENRY county was formed in 1798, and called after the cele- brated PATRICK HENRY. It is situated in the north middle portion of the State, and lies on the Kentucky river. Bounded on the north by Carroll, east by Owen, separated by the Kentucky, south by Shelby, and west by Oldham. The surface of the county is generally undulating-in some portions quite hilly. South of the Little Kentucky creek, which empties into the Kentucky river, the lands (generally termed the sugar lands) are remarkably rich and fertile, producing as fine hemp as any lands in the State. In the oak lands, tine tobacco is grown, and the beech lands yield large quantities of corn. The staples are, wheat, corn, hemp, and tobacco.
Valuation of taxable property in Henry county in 1846, $4,135,673 ; number of acres of land in the county, 174,680 ; aver- age value of land per acre, $12.45 ; number of white males over twenty-one years of age, 1,827; number of children between five and sixteen years old, 2,110 ; population in 1840, 10,015.
The towns of the county are, New Castle, Franklinton, Hen- dersonville, Lockport, Pleasuresville, and Port Royal. NEW CAS- TLE, the seat of justice, is situated near Drennon's creek. about twenty-six rgiles from Frankfort: contains an excellent court house and other public buildings, four churches (Baptist, Metho- dist, Presbyterian, and Reformed), six taverns, nine dry goods stores and groceries, one drug store, one shoe and boot store. four doctors, four lawyers, a seminary and female academy, one tan- nery, one oil mill, twenty mechanics' shops, and seven hundred inhabitants.
Franklinton is a small village, eight miles cast of New Castle -contains one store and grocery. one free church, one tavern. and four mechanics. Hadderecueille lies six miles west of New Castle. and contains one tavern, two stores, one church, and two me- chanics. Lockport is situated on the Kentucky river, at look and dam number two-contains two stores. two taverns, one doetor, three tobacco warehouses-and is the principal landing for Henry county. Plusuresrille lies six miles from New Castle, and contains one church, two taverns, four stores, two doctors, and six mechanics shops. Port Royal is ten miles north-east from New Castle, and one mile from the Kentucky river-contains two
$ 19
PATRICK HENRY
stores, one tavern, one doctor, one tan yard, and four mechanics' shops.
DRENNON'S LICK. a medicinal spring of black and salt sulphur, is a place of considerable resort during the watering season. The accommodations are good. This lick was esteemed a valu- able hunting ground of the Indians before the settlement of Ken- tucky-the deer and other game resorting to it in great num- bers.
PATRICK HENRY, from whom this county derives its name, was one of the great lights of the revolution, and an extended sketch of his life belongs more properly to the history of the American republic. He was born in Hanover county, Vir- ginia, on the 29th of May, 1736, and his early years gave no promise of the dis- tinction which he acquired in subsequent life. His education was limited, em- bracing the common English branches, with a smattering of Latin, and a pretty good knowledge of mathematics, for which he manifested some degree of fond- ness. He was married at the early age of eighteen, and engaged successively, but most unsuccessfully, in the mercantile. agricultural. and again in the mer- cantile business. When his family had been so reduced in circumstances, as to be in want of even the necessaries of life, he turned his attention to the law, and after six weeks' study. obtained license to practice. It was then, and not till then, that his star arose and took position among the bright galaxy of the day. His genius first displayed itself in the contest between the clergy and the people of Virginia, in an effort of popular eloquence, to which Mr. Wirt has given im- mortality. His second brilliant display was before a committee of the house of burgesses, on a contested election case-and here the successive bursts of elo- quence in defence of the right of suffrage, from a man so very plain and hum- ble in his appearance, struck the committee with astonishment. In 1765, he was elected a member of the house of burgesses, and prepared and was instrumental in passing through that body, a series of resolutions against the stamp act, and the scheme of taxing America by the British parliament. It was in the midst of the debate which arose on these resolutions, that Mr. Henry exclaimed : " Cæsar had his Brutus, Charles the First his Cromwell, and George the Third "-"+ 'T'rea- son ! " cried the speaker-" Treason ! treason ! " echoed from every part of the house. Henry faltered not for an instant ; but taking a loftier attitude, and fix- ing on the speaker an eye of fire, he finished his sentence with the firmest empha- sis-" may profit by their example. If this be treason, make the most of it." From this period, Mr. Henry became the idol of the people of Virginia, and his influence was felt throughout the continent, as one of the great champions of civil liberty.
He continued a member of the house of burgesses till the commencement of the revolution-was one of the standing committee of correspondence, and a member of the Virginia delegation in the first general Congress which met in Philadelphia in September. 1774. He acted a short time in a military capacity, but felt that his influence in civil life was more important to his country. Re- signing his military command, he was chosen first governor of the common- wealth of Virginia, and successively elected to that office while eligible. In 1786. he resigned the office of governor. He subsequently declined the appoint- ment of the legislature as a member of the convention which framed the consti- tution of the United States ; but was a member of the Virginia convention Wtor: assembled to ratify that instrument, and, as is generally known, arraved all lits great powers of eloquence against its ratification. He became afterwards, how - ever, a firm friend of the constitution, and of the federal system of government established by that instrument. In 1791, he retired from public life-in 1794 from the bar, and on the 6th of June, 1797, he closed his brilliant and eventful career on earth, leaving a large family in affluent circumstances.
Patrick Henry was a natural orator of the highest order. combining imagina- tion, aenteness, dexterity and ingenuity, with the most forcible action and extra- ordinary powers of utterance. As a statesman, he was bold and sagacious, and his name is brilliantly and lastingly connected with those great events which re- sulted in the emancipation of his country.
350
HICKMAN AND HOPKINS COUNTIES.
HICKMAN COUNTY.
ILICKMAN county was formed in 1821, and named in honor of Captain PASCHAL HICKMAN. It is situated in the extreme south- west part of the state, and lies on the Mississippi river: Bounded on the north by Ballard ; east by Graves ; south by Fulton ; and west by the Mississippi river. The territory embraces about 220 square miles-the face of the country is generally level or gently undulating-The Iron Banks and Chalk bluff's, washed by the Mississippi, being the only elevations which can properly be called hills in the county, and their altitude does not exceed 100 to 150 feet, with a gradual ascent. The soil is a black mould, very rich, but based upon sand. Corn and tobacco are grown in abundance, the latter of superior quality. The timber is heavy and of good quality, and the county finely watered by many mill streams, together with the Bayou de Chien.
Valuation of taxable property in 1846, $627,820 ; number of acres of land in the county, 150,124; average value of land per acre, $2.78 ; number of white males over twenty-one years of age, 660 ; number of children between five and sixteen years old, 986. Population in 1840, including Fulton, since stricken off, 8,968.
The towns of the county are Clinton and Moscow. CLINTON. the seat of justice, was established in 1831. and is about three hundred miles from Frankfort. It contains four stores, two tay- erns, six lawyers, three doctors, one large school, one tannery, eight mechanics' shops, and 275 inhabitants. Moscow is a small village, six miles from Clinton-contains two stores, two doc- tors, one tobacco stemmery, one lawyer, four or five mechanics' shops, and a population of 100.
This county was named in memory of Captain PASCHAL HICKMAN, a native of Virginia. When very young, he emigrated to Kentucky with his father, the Rev. William Hickman, and settled in Franklin county. He served in most of the campaigns against the Indians, in which he was distinguished for his activity, efficiency and bravery. In Iste, he was commissioned a captain. raised a volun- teer company, and joined Colonel John Allen, who commanded the first regiment of Kentucky ritlemen. He was in the memorable battle of the river Raisin, where he was severely wounded, and like many kindred Kentucky spirits, was inhumanly butchered in cold blood, by the savage allies of his Britannic majesty.
HOPKINS COUNTY.
HOPKINS county was formed in 1806, and called for General SAMUEL HOPKINS. It is situated in the western part of the State. lying on the waters of Greene river-bounded on the north by Henderson ; east by Pond river, which separates it from Muh- lenburg ; south by Christian ; and west by Caldwell. The lar- gest portion of land in the county is good, producing, in great '
351
SAMUEL HOPKINS.
abundance, tobacco, corn and oats-though tobacco is the princi- pal export. The hills abound in inexhaustible coal mines. and some iron ore has been discovered. Greene river, which formas the northern boundary of the county, is always navigable for steam- boats -- and Pond river is navigable for flat boats to within eleven or twelve miles of Madisonville, rendered so by locks and dams on Greene river. Value of taxable property in 1846, $1,633,280 ; number of acres of land in the county, 303,302 ; average value of land per acre, $2.30; number of white males over twenty-one years of age, 1,719 ; number of children between five and six- teen years old, 2,548. Population in 1840, 9,171.
The towns of the county are, Madisonville, Ashbysburg and Providence. MADISONVILLE, the seat of justice, is about two hun- dred miles from Frankfort : contains a handsome brick court- house and other public buildings, two churches, (Christian and Methodist, the latter worshipped in, also, by the Cumberland Presbyterians), one academy, one female school for small girls, three common schools, five stores, four taverns, six lawyers, twelve doctors, (including three of the botanical order), in and near the town, with a large number of mechanics-population 450. Incorporated in 1812, and named for James Madison. Ashbysburg is a small village on Greene river, containing one store, post office, and about fifty inhabitants-named for General Stephen Ashby. Providence contains two stores, one tavern, post office, and 100 inhabitants.
About four or five miles from Madisonville, on a high and rocky hill, are the remains of what is supposed to be a fortification. The wall is of stone, and con- tains an area of ten acres. No one living can tell when or by whom it was built.
General SAMUEL HOPKINS (whose name this county bears) was a native of Albermarle county, Virginia. He was an officer of the revolutionary army, and bore a conspicuous part in that great struggle for freedom. Few officers of his rank performed more active duty, rendered more essential services, or enjoyed in a higher degree the respect and confidence of the commander-in-chief. He fought in the battles of Princeton, Trenton, Monmouth, Brandywine, and Ger- mantown-in the last of which he commanded a battalion of light infantry, and received a severe wound. after the almost entire loss of those under his command in killed and wounded. He was lieutenant colonel of the tenth Virginia regi- ment at the siege of Charleston, and commanded that regiment after Colonel Par- ker was killed. to the close of the war. The following anecdote is told of bim : At the surrender of Charleston, on the 20th of May. 1750, he was made a pri-o- ner of war. After a short detention on an island, he and his brother otheers. his companions in misfortune, were conducted in a British vessel round the coast 10 Virginia. During the voyage, which was a protracted one, the prisoners sutt red inany privations, and much harsh treatment. being often insulted by the Crowdin. Hopkins became indignant at the cruelty and insolence of the captain of the sea- sel, and determined. at all hazards, to resent the harsh treatment t , which himself and brother officers had been subjected. Or receiving his day's allowance, which consisted of a monldy biscuit, he deliberately crumbled it up into a wad, and then. presenting it to the captain, demanded of him whether he thought that was sufficient to keep soul and boy together. The petty ty rant was taken by surprise, and had no reply. " Sir," continued Hopkins, " the fortune of war has frequently placed British soldiers in my power, and they have never had caner to completa of my unkindness or want of hospitality. That which I have extended to ourers, I have a right to demand for my compamons and myself in similar circumstances. And now, sir, (he continued with great emphasis), unless we are hereafter
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HOPKINS COUNTY.
treated as gentlemen and officers, I will raise a mutiny and take your ship." This determined resolution had the desired effect. His companions and himself, during the remainder of the voyage, were treated with kindness and respect.
In 1797, General Hopkins removed to Kentucky and settled on Greene river. He served several sessions in the legislature of Kentucky, and was a member of Congress for the term commencing in 1813, and ending in 1815. In October, 1812, he led a corps of two thousand mounted volunteers against the Kickapoo villages upon the Illinois ; but being misled by the guides, after wandering in the prai- ries for some days to no purpose, the party returned to the capital of Indiana, not- withstanding the wishes.and commands of their general officers. Chagrined at the result of this attempt. in the succeeding November. General Hopkins led a band of infantry up the Wabash, and succeeded in destroying several deserted Indian villages, but lost several men in an ambuscade. His wily enemy declin- ing a combat, and the cold proving severe, he was forced again to retire to Vin- cennes, where his troops were disbanded.
After the close of this campaign, General Hopkins served one term in Con- gress, and then retired to private life on his farm near the Red banks.
About twenty miles from the town of Henderson. at a point just within the line of Hopkins county, where the roads from Henderson, Morganfield and Hopkins- ville intersect, there is a wild and lonely spot called " Harpe's Head." The place derived its name from a tragical circumstance, which occurred there in the early part of the present century. The bloody legend connected with it, has been made the foundation of a thrilling border romance, by Judge Hall, of Cincinnati, one of the most pleasing writers of the west. The narrative which follows, however. may be relied on for its striet Historical truth and accuracy, the facts having been derived from one who was contemporary with the event, and personally cognizant of most of the circumstances. The individual to whom we allude is the ven- erable James Davidson, of Frankfurt, the present treasurer of Kentucky. Colonel Davidson was a distinguished soldier in the last war with Great Britain, and has filled the office of treasurer for many years. His high character for veracity is a pledge for the truth of any statement he may make.
In the fall of the year 1-01 or 1-02, a company consisting of two men and three women arrived in Lincoln county. and encamped about a mile from the present town of Stanford. The appearance of the individuals composing this party was wild and rude in the extreme. The one who seemed to be the leader of the band, was above the ordinary stature of men. His frame was bony and muscular, his breast broad, his limbs gigantic. His clothing was uncouth and shabby. his exterior weatherbeaten and dirty, indicating continual exposure to the elements and designating him as one who dwelt far from the habitations of men, and min- gled not in the courtesies of civilized life. His countenance was bold and fero- cious, and exceedingly repulsive, from its strongly marked expression of villainy. His face, which was larger than ordinary. exhibited the lines of ungovernable passion. and the complexion announced that the ordinary feelings of the human breast were in him extinguished. Instead of the healthy hme which indicates the social emotions. there was a livid unnatural redness, resembling that of a dried and lifeless skin. His eye was fearless and steady, but it was also artful and audacious, glaring upon the beholder with an unpleasant fixedness and brilliancy, like that of a ravenous animal gloating en its prey. He wore no covering on his head, and the natural protection of thick coarse hair, of a fiery redness. uncombed and matted. give evidence of long exposure to the redest visitations of the sun- beam and the tempest. He was armed with a riffe, and a broad leathern heit. drawn closely around his waist. supported kate and tomahawk. He seemed, in short, an outhow. destitute of all the nobler sympathies of human nature, and pre- pared at all points for assault or defence. The other man was smaller in size than him who led the party, but similarly armed, having the same suspicious exterior, and a countenance equally fierce and sinister. The females were coarse, sunburnt. and wretchedly attired.
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