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 57
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In October, 1513, the decisive crisis in the operations of the north-western army arrived-the battle of the Thames, which led to a termination of hostilities in that quarter, was fought and won. The distinguished services of Colonel Johnson, and his brave regiment, in that sanguinary engagement, have scarcely a parallel in the heroic annals of our country. The British and Indians, the former under the command of General Proctor, and the latter under that of Tecumseh, the cele- brated Indian warrior. had taken an advantageous position, the British in line between the river Thames and a narrow swamp, and the Indians in ambush on their right, and west of the swamp, ready to fall upon the rear of Colonel John- son. should he force a retreat of the British. Colonel Johnson, under the orders of the commander in chief, divided his regiment into two battalions, one under the command of his gallant brother James, and the other to be led by himself. Col. Johnson with his battalion passed the swamp and attached the Indians, at the same moment that his brother James fell upon and routed the British regulars.
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RICHARD M. JOHNSON.
The contest for a while between Colonel Johnson's battalion and the Indians, was obstinate and bloody, the slaughter great, but success complete. The gallant Colonel was in the very midst and thickest of the fight, inspiring by his presence and courage the utmost confidence of his brave followers, and though perforated with balls, his bridle arm shattered, and bleeding profusely, he continued to fight until he encountered and slew an Indian chief who formed the rallying point of the savages. This chief was supposed to be the famous Tecumseh himself, upon whose fall the Indians raised a yell and retreated. The heroic Colonel, covered with wounds, twenty-five balls having been shot into him, his clothes, and his horse, was borne from the battle ground, faint from exertion and loss of blood, and almost lifeless. Never was victory so complete or its achievement so glorious. Fifteen hundred Indians were engaged against the battallion of Col. Johnson, and eight hundred British regulars against that of his brother. Both forces were completely routed, and an effectual end put to the war upon the north- ern frontier, distinguished as it had been by so many murderous cruelties upon the part of the savage allies of the British.
The war in that quarter being now ended, in a short time the army took up its march homeward ; but Colonel Johnson being unable to continue with his regi- ment, was carried to Detroit, from whence after a short confinement he departed for home. After a distressing journey, during which he endured the most painful suffering. he reached his home in Kentucky early in November. In February 1814, still unable to walk, he reached Washington city, and resumed his seat in Congress. Every where upon the route, and at the metropolis, he was met with the most enthusiastic and cordial greetings of a grateful people. Even his polit- ical opponents, deeply sensible of his sincerity, his patriotism and his valor, cor- dially united in doing honor to the man who had at so much sacrifice, rendered such glorious service to the country. Congress by joint resolution, made appro- priate acknowledgment of his gallant deeds, and directed him to be presented with a suitable testimonial of his services.
He continued to serve his constituents in Congress until the year 1819, when he voluntarily retired, carrying with him the esteem of the whole nation. But his native state, of which he was justly the idol, would not suffer him to remain in retirement. The people of Scott county immediately returned him to the state legislature, and that body elected him to the United States' senate. An honor so exalted, from a source so honored, he could not resist; and accordingly in De- cember 1819 he took his seat in the United States' senate, and after serving his term was unanimously re-elected, a circumstance which serves to show how well he preserved the confidence of the people of his native state, and how deeply he was enshrined in their affections.
His career as a legislator, was scarcely less brilliant and useful, than that in which he distinguished himself as a warrior. His speeches and reports, are men- uments of his wisdom and liberality as a statesman. The whole nation will bear evidence to his zeal and industry in support of all measures calculated to promote the end of free government-the happiness of the people. No man labored more indefatigably. in behalf of private claimants. than did Colonel Johnson ; and so serupulously faithful was he in the discharge of his duty towards att who applied for his services, that he never failed while in congress to attend to a singir appli- cation that was made to him. The old soldiers of the revolution. the invand- of the last war. and thousands of other persons. all over the Union, who had ciams to urge upon the government, had no truer or surer friend in Congress than Gol. Johnson, as many of them now enjoying the bounty of the government through his instrumentality, can bear most grateful testimony.
In less he was made Vice President of the United States, and presided over the senate with great dignity for the term of four years, at the expiration of which, he retired to his farm in Scott county, Kentneky, where he has with the exception of a single term in the legislature, remained in private life ever since, devoting himself with praiseworthy assiduity to the reparation of his private fortune, some- what unpaired by a too liberal hospitality and constant attention for so long a period to public affairs.
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KENTON COUNTY.
KENTON COUNTY.
KENTON county was formed in 1840, by a division of Campbell county, and named in honor of the distinguished pioneer, Gen- eral SIvoy KENTON. It is situated in the northern part of the State, and lies on the Ohio and Licking rivers : Bounded on the north by the Ohio river; east by Licking river and Campbell county ; south by Pendleton ; and west by Boone. Covington is the principal town, and Independence the seat of justice, the for- mer about eighty and the latter seventy-four miles from Frank- fort. The bottom lands of Kenton county are rich and very pro- ductive. The up-lands are undulating or hilly, but grow fine wheat, corn and tobacco, which are the principal products of the county. The county is dotted with fine gardens, which the mar- kets of Cincinnati and Covington render very profitable to the owners. The lands along the Lexington road, and between it and Dry creek, are of a very superior quality-and many of the farmers have engaged in the dairy business, more or less exten- sively.
Number of acres of land in Kenton county, 92,402 ; average value of lands per acre in 1846, $14.95; number of white males over twenty-one years of age, 2.429 ; number of children between five and sixteen years old, 2,050. Total valuation of taxable prop- erty in 1816, $2,852,155.
The city of COVINGTON is situated on the Ohio river, opposite . the city of Cincinnati, and immediately below the mouth of Licking river, separated from Newport by that river. It is built upon a beautiful plain, several miles in extent, and the streets have been so planned as to present the appearance of a contin- vation of those of Cincinnati. The public buildings are,-a large city hall, two Methodist, one Presbyterian, one Baptist, one Reformed or Christian, one Episcopal, and two Catholic churches -- two female academies, one common and two classical schools, and the Western Baptist Theological college. There are two printing offices in the city, which publish weekly papers-the " Licking Valley Register" and the "Covington Intelligencer." Cov- ington also contains sixteen lawyers, ten physicians, twenty dry goods stores, fifty produce and grocery stores, thirty-five tobacco manufactories, one rolling mill, employing one hundred hands and manufacturing two thousand tons of iron annually, one large cotton manufactory, one silk factory, one hemp factory with eigh- teen looms and one hundred and twenty hands, one steam flour- ing mill, one printing ink manufactory, three coverlet manufac- tories, one saw mill, three rope walks, and a large number of other manufacturing establishments and mechanics' shops. The population of Covington, amounting now to upwards of six thonsand, is increasing with great rapidity.
The Western Baptist Theological College is a richly endowed institution, and is now in a flourishing condition. The Rev. Dr. PATTISON is the president.
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ORR'S FEMALE ACADEMY. COVINGTON, KY.
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ARTIST MIOLOGICAL SEMINAR RY COVINGTOY KY
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KENTON COUNTY.
The Female Seminary of the Rev. Mr. ORR, has steadily grown in public favor, and is now one of the best literary institutions of the kind in the State. It is located near the Licking river, in a retired and pleasant situation-the building spacious and well arranged, and the grounds very tastefully ornamented.
Covington is destined to be the second city of Kentucky in population and wealth. Although separated from Cincinnati by the Ohio river, the facilities of communication by steam ferry boats are such as to induce many business men in that place to make Covington their residence. This disposition will increase as Cincinnati grows, and the difficulty of obtaining private resi- dences near the centre of trade becomes greater.
Independence, the county seat, is situated ten miles from Cov- ington -- contains the county buildings, one church, a post-office, and several dwellings, stores and shops.
There is a well on the farm of Ellison Williams, which was formerly called the Hygean well, and was once kept as a watering place, but not much resorted to. Mr. Williams was a pioneer of Kentucky and a companion of Boone. He is a sprightly old man, and relates many interesting anecdotes of pioneer life. When the remains of Boone were brought to Kentucky, and re-interred in the public cemetery at Frankfort, this venerable pioneer was one of the pall-bearers.
The Lettonian Springs, a weak sulphur, is situated four miles from Covington. on the Bank Lick road. The springs are well kept, and being a pleasant ride from Covington, they have become a place of considerable resort in the watering season.
Dry Creek, in this county, is remarkable for the fact, that. after a heavy rain, , it is so flush and high, that it cannot be forded, but in a few hours it runs dry, or so nearly so, that hogs will be seen where it was deepest, turning up the rocks in search of craw-fish.
Captain CRUISE encamped with his company (belonging to Wayne's army) on the creek bearing his name, in 1784. He strayed from camp. and was found dead. the next day, in the creek, bearing marks of savage violence. He was buried br his company on this creek, which rises in Boone, and running across Kenton, empties into Licking, about twenty miles above its mouth. The old residents disagree about the spot " where they buried Cruise." The testimony, as to his grave, is so contradictory. that gentlemen land-jobbers have several times gone there in order to find it, but without success. Their patents called for Cruise's grave as a beginning. The old settlers. it is thought, may have had some design in making it uncertain "where they buried Cruise."
Kenton county takes its name from one of the most celebrated pioneers of the west. General SIMON KENTON was born of obscure parents, in Fauquier county, Virginia, May 15th, 1755. His father was an Irishman; his mother of Scotch descent. The poverty of his parents caused his education to be neglected, most unfortunately for his future prosperity. His life, until he was sixteen years of age, appears to have run smoothly enough, distinguished by no uncommon events from that of the neighboring boys. About that age, however, a calamity beteli him, which, apart from its irreparable nature, in the opinion of all young gentle- men of sixteen, gave a direction to his whole future life. He lost his sweetheart; not by death, or anything of that kind-for that could have been endured-but by means of a more favored rival. The successful lover's name was William Veach. Kenton. in utter despair and recklessness, having gone uninvited to the wedding. and thrust hinself between the happy pair (whom he found seved cosity on a bed ), was pounced upon by Veach and his brothers, who gave him. in the lan- guage of such affairs, " what he wanted." They, however, had mistaken his wants, for, meeting with William Veach a short time afterwards, in a retired
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place, he informed him that he was not satisfied. A severe fight ensued, which, after varied success, terminated in the complete discomfiture of Veach. In the course of the contest, Kenton succeeded in entangling his antagonist's long hair in a bush, which put him entirely in his power. The desperate young man beat his rival with a severity altogether foreign to his subsequent amiable character. His violence appeared to be tatal ; the unhappy man, bleeding at mouth and nose, attempted to rise, and fell back insensible. Kenton was alarmed ; he raised him up, spoke kindly to him, and receiving no answer. believed him dead! fle dropped his lifeless body and fled to the woods. Now, indeed, he thought him- self ruined beyond redemption. He had lost the girl he loved, and had killed his former friend and companion, and therefore the society of civilized man must be not only repulsive, but dangerous. The Alleghanies, and the wilderness of the unexplored west offered him a secure asylum, and he plunged at once into the woods. Traveling by night, and lying concealed by day, after many sufferings he arrived at Ise's ford. on Cheat river. some time in April 1971. Here he changed his name to ". Simon Butler." Thus, at the age of sixteen, this man, who, in the hands of the Almighty, was so instrumental in redeeming the great west from the savage, and opening the way for the stream of civilization which has since poured over its fertile plains, desolate in heart, and burdened with crime, was thrown upon his own resources, to struggle with the dangers and privations of the wilderness.
After some months' stay on Cheat river, Kenton, having earned a good rifle by his labor, joined a party, with whom he proceeded to Fort Pitt. Here, while hunting in the employ of the small garrison at that place, he made the acquaint- ance and formed a friendship with Simon Girty, afterwards so infamous as a rene- gado. In the fall of 1771, he fell in with George Yeager and John Strader. Yeager it was who first mentioned to Kenton the "cane land," called by the Indians, Kain-tuck-ee, and fired his imagination with his descriptions of its soil and scenery, and the numbers and extent of the game.
In company with Yeager and Strader, Kenton proceeded down the Ohio river as far as the mouth of the Kentucky river, looking for the cane, which, according to Yeager, covered the country. It is a remarkable fact, that cane nowhere grew on the banks of the Ohio, above the month of the Kentucky river. although the interior was covered with it. The party, not finding land answering the descrip- tion of Yeager, returned up the Ohio to the mouth of Big Kenawha: examining the creeks and rivers on the southern shore without snecess. Abandoning the search, in the winters of 1771-2, they built a camp on a branch of the great Ke- nawha, and hunted and trapped with considerable success. Here they lived a free and unrestrained life, and a very happy one, engaged in the pursuits of the hunter, until the spring of 1773. The troubles with the mother country beginning to thicken about this time, the Indians were excited against the colonists. One evening in March, while the three hurters were quietly reposing in their rade camp, they were fired upon by the Indians. Yeager was killed, and Kenton and Strader fled to the woods. Night setting in, they effected their escape, though barefooted and naked. having on nothing but their shirts, and without food ; they suffered dreadfully, during the six days they wandered. famished, and torn by the briars through the wilderness. On the sixth day they often laid down to die. 30 completely were they exhausted. Their feet had become so sore that they were unable to performn but six miles during the day. At last they reached the Ohio, where they found a party of hunters, who fed and clothed then. With this a rty Kenton returned up to the mouth of Little Kanawha. Here he employed himself with Dr. Briscoe, until he had bought a rifle, and other necessaries. In the sitt- mer, he joined a party going ilown the Ohio in search of Captain Bullitt. The party, not finding Bullitt, and alarmed by the Indians. abandoned their can was at the Three Islands, and under the guidance of Kenton proceeded by land through Kentucky to Virginia. .
Kenton spent the winters of 1773-4, on the Big Sandy, with a hunting-party. and in the spring, when the war broke out with the Indians, he retreated into Fort l'itt, with the other settlers. When ford Dunmore raised an army to punish the Indians, Kenton volunteered. and was actively employed as a spy. both under the expedition of Dunmore and that of Colonel Lewis. In the fall, he was discharged from the army, and returned, with Thomas Williams, to his old hunting-ground,
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KENTON COUNTY.
on Big Sandy river, where they passed the winter. In the spring of 1775, having disposed of their peltries to a French trader, whom they met on the Ohio, for such necessaries as their mode of life required, they descended the Ohio in search, once more, of the " cane land." Although Yeager was now dead, the impressions left upon the mind of Kenton, by his glowing descriptions of Kain-tuck-ee, which Yeager had visited with the Indians, when a boy and a prisoner, were still fresh and strong ; and he determined to make another effort to find the country. For this purpose, he and Williams were now descending the Ohio. Accident at last favored them. While gliding along down " la belle riviere" (as the French had christened it), night overtook the young adventurers, and they were compelled to land. They put in with their canoe, at the mouth of Cabin creek, situated in the present county of Masen, and about six miles above Maysville. Next morning, while hunting some miles back in the country, the ardently-sought " cane" burst upon Kenton's view. covering land richer than any he had ever seen before. Overjoyed at this piece of good fortune, he returned, in haste, to communicate the joyful intelligence to Williams. Sinking their canoe, the pioneers, par excel- lenee, of north Kentucky, struck into their new domain. In the month of May, 1 :: 5, within a mile of the present town of Washington, in Mason county, having built their camp, and finished a small clearing, they planted about an acre of land, with the remains of the corn bought from the French trader. The spot chosen by them, for their agricultural attempt, was one of the most beautiful and fertile in the State of Kentucky. . Here, in due season, they ate the first roasting ears, that ever grew by the care of a white man, on the north side of the Kentucky
Before this they had discovered the upper and lower Blue Licks, and the im- melse herds of buffalo, elk, &c., that frequented those places, covering the hills and valleys of the Licking. The land was a hunters' paradise, and our adven- turers were completely happy in their new and undisputed home. They soon had cause, however, to apprehend that others would contend with them for the mastership of the soil. Happening one day at the lower Blue Licks, they dis- covered two white men. Approaching them with due caution, they found them friendly, and learned that they had wandered without guns and food thus far into the country, their canoe having been upset in a squall on the Ohio. Fitzpat- rick and Hendricks (so these strangers were named) were invited by Kenton to join his station near Washington. Hendricks acceded to the proposal, but Fitz- patrick insisted upon returning to Virginia. Accordingly Kenton and Williams (having left Hendricks at the Licks) accompanied Fitzpatrick to the Ohio, gave linie a gun, and took leave of him on the other side from where Maysville now stands. Returning quickly as possible, they were surprised and not a little alarined to find the camp where they had left Hendricks abandoned and in dis- order. Looking around they observed a smoke in a low ravine, and at once com- prehended the whole affair. They were satisfied that a party of Indians had cap- tured their friend. and they at once fled to the woods. Next morning cautiously approaching the still smoking fire, they discovered that the savages had departed, and with feelings that may be easily imagined, they found, what they did not doubt were the skull and bones of the unfortunate Hendricks. He had been burned to death, while they were so cowardly flying. Filled with shame and re- morse that they had so basely abandoned him to his fate without an effort to res- cue him, they went back to their eamp near Washington. They had the good fortune themselves to escape the notice of the Indians who prowled through the country. In the fall. Kenton, leaving Williams at the camp, took a ramble through his rich domain. Every where he saw abundance of game, and the richest and most beautiful land. At the lower Blue Licks he met with Michael Stoner. who had come to Kentucky with Boone the year before. He now learned that him- solf and Williams were not the only whites inhabiting the cane land. Taking Stoner to his camp, and gathering up his property, he and Williams accompanied bim to the settlements already formed in the interior. Kenton passed the winter of '75-6at Hinekston's station, in the present county of Bourbon, about forty miles from his corn patch. In 1726. the Indians ouraged at the eneroachments inade upon their hunting grounds, and nrged on by the British, made frequent iveur- sions into Kentucky, and became so troublesome that the weaker stations were abandoned. The settlers at Hinckston's station took shelter in McClelland's fort,
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situated where Georgetown now stands, Kenton accompanying them. Major George Rogers Clark having prevailed upon the Virginia legislature to afFord the pioneers some assistance, arrived in company with a lawyer named Jones, at the Three Islands, late in the winter, with a considerable quantity of powder and lead. They concealed it on the lower island and proceeded to McClelland's sta- tion, in order to obtain a party to bring it off to the settlements. McClelland's station being too weak to furnish a sufficient escort, Clark, piloted by Kenton. set out for Harrodsburg. Unfortunately, during their absence, Jones prevailed on ten men to accompany him to the place where the ammunition was concealed. 'They set out, and on Christmas day, 1776, they were encountered by the Indian chief Pluggey and defeated. Jones and William Grayson were killed, and two of the party taken prisoners. The remainder escaped into the station. where Clark and Kenton soon arrived with some men from Harrodsburghi, who immediately returned on the news of this disaster. On the morning of January Ist. 1777, Pluggey and his warriors appeared before the fort. MeClelland and his men sallied out and were repulsed by the Indians. MeClelland himself and two of his men being slain and four wounded. The Indians immediately withdrew, and in a few days the ammunition was safely brought away from its concealment. McClelland's was immediately afterwards abandoned, and the settlers in great gloom, and amidst the lamentations of the women and children, departed for Harrod's station. Here Kenton also took up his abode. In the spring, Major Clark, who now had command of the settlements, sent Kenton, John Haggin, and four others to Hinckston's to break out some flax and hemp. Haggin was in front, and observed a party of Indians encamped around Hinckston's. He rode back and informed the party of the fart. Kenton, who was as prudent as he was brave, counseled a retreat. Haggin swore that nobody but a coward would run without one fire. Kenton immediately dismounted from his horse, and all the party followed his example but a young Dutchman, who appeared to have more sense than any of his companions. In the meantime the Indians, always wide awake, had seen Haggin, and following him, now opened a fire on the whites, who quickly took to their heels. Haggin valiantly leading the van, and abandoned their horses to the Indians, all but the sensible Dutchman, who having kept his seat, cantered off much at his ease. Kenton directed his party to retreat into Harrodsburgh. while he put the garrison at Boone's station on their guard. Arriving before the fort, he determined not to attempt to enter it before dark, knowing the custom of the wily savage to ambush the stations, and thus shoot whoever might attempt to enter or depart. Accident befriends many a man, but the due exercise of one's five wits, is a much more safe reliance. When he did enter the fort, he found the men carrying in the bodies of two of their friends, who had been killed two or three hours before. on the very same path by which he entered. His caution had saved his life. The red man was now furious at the occupation of his beloved Kain-tuck-ee by the long knife. The incursions into the country by the exasperated foe were frequent and bloody, and every station was hotly besieged, Boonesborough sustaining three. To watch the Indians and give timely notice of their approach, six spies were appointed, for the payment of whom Major Clark pledged the faith of Virginia. Boone appointed Kenton and Thos. Brooks ; Harrod, Samuel Moore, and Bates Collier; and Logan, John Conrad and John Martin. These spies performed good service. It was the cus- tom for two each week, by turns. to range up and down the Ohio, and about the deserted stations, looking for Indian signs, &c. By this means, the settlers had timely notice during the year of the approach of the enemy, but once. O. 24a occasion, Kenton and two others, early one morning, having loaded their guns for a nunt. were standing in the gate of Boonesborongh, when two men in the fields were fired on by the Indians. They immediately fled, not being hurt. The Indims pursued then, and a warrior overtook and tomahawked one of the men within seventy yards of the fort, and proceeded leisurely to scalp him. Kenton shot the daring savage dead and immediately with his hunting companions gave chase to the others. Boone, hearing the noise, with ten men hastened out to the assist- ance of his spies. Kenton turned and observed an Indian taking aim at the party of Bonne-quick as thought he brought his rifle to his shoulder, pulled the trig- ger first, and the red man bit the dust. Boone, having advanced some distance, Gew discovered that his small party, consisting of fourteen men, was cut off
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