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 60
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85
On the farm of Mr. John Duncan. about five miles from Hodgenville, on the Big South fork of Nolin, there are several mounds. Two of these have been opened, and found to contain human bones, beads of ivory or bone, and a quantity of sea shells. Near the mounds, there appear to be the remains of a town or fortification, and within the area covered by this relic of antiquity, several curi-
398
LAUREL AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES.
4:
WALL
CLIFF
ous articles have been found, among them the image of a bird, cut out of a rock, with several holes drilled through it. On one of the bluffs of the Rolling Fork, where the creek makes a short elbow, is to be seen a stone wall, now three or four feet high. The wall at the elbow extends across the level land, from cliff to cliff, somewhat in the shape of the annexed drawing, and must have constituted, at the time of its construction, an impregnable fortress. The cliff is about two hundred feet high, and so precipitous that an invading army could not possibly scale it, where there was any show of resistance.
LAUREL COUNTY.
LAUREL county was formed in 1825, and derived its name from the river Laurel, which runs partly through the county-and the river is supposed to derive its name from the quantity of laurel growing upon its banks. The face of the country is elevated and generally rolling-the staple products corn and oats.
Value of taxable property in 1846, $333,099; number of acres of land in the county, 184,595; average value of land per acre, $1.10; number of white males over twenty-one years of age, 714; number of children between five and sixteen years old, 1,133. Population in 1840, 3,079.
The towns of the county are London and Hazlepatch. LONDON, the seat of justice, is one hundred and two miles from Frankfort -contains a court-house and jail, post-office, tavern, one physi- cian, two lawyers, a store, and a few mechanics' shops. Hade- patch is a small village, containing a post office and a few houses.
Boone's old trace, which ran through this county, is yet perceivable, passing immediately over the spot where the court-house is built. A quantity of iron ore has been discovered in the county, and some appearances of lead. Swift's old mine is supposed to be in this county. Coal is found in great abundance, and several fine chalybeate springs have been discovered. The water power is un- surpassed. There are the remains of some old Indian towns in the county, among which vessels apparently used for cooking, and other implements, have been found.
LAWRENCE COUNTY.
LAWRENCE county was formed in 1821, and named after Captain JAMES LAWRENCE, of the United States' navy. It is situated in the eastern portion of the State, lying on the waters of Big Sandy river-bounded on the north by Carter, west by Morgan, south by Johnson, and on the east by Big Sandy river, the separating line between Virginia and Kentucky. The surface is hilly and bro- ken, but the soil fertile, producing wheat, corn, oats, rye, and all kinds of vegetables, in abundance. The county is well watered
....
399
JAMES LAWRENCE.
and the timber fine, such as beech, poplar, chesnut, black and white walnut, and oak of various kinds. Steamboats have #x- cended the Big Sandy as far as Piketon, in Pike county. The soil along the whole valley of the Big Sandy is remarkably rich, while the hills abound in coal and iron ore. The county con- tains many natural curiosities, a description of which, it is to be regretted, has not been received.
Value of taxable property in 1846, $391,535 ; number of acres of land in the county, 131,587 ; average value of land per acre, $1.75 ; number of white males over twenty-one years of age, 850; number of children between five and sixteen years old, 1,- 467. Population in 1840, 3,079.
LOUISA, the county seat and only town in Lawrence, is located at the forks of Big Sandy, about one hundred miles from Frank- fort. It contains a court-house, church, post-office, four stores, two doctors, two lawyers, and several mechanics' shops. Estab- lished in 1822.
RICHARD APPERSON, Esq. of Mount Sterling, has in his possession one of the oldest patents probably now in Kentucky. It was issued by the crown of Great Britain in 1772, to John Fry, for 2031 acres of land, embracing the town of Louisa, in this county. Nearly one-third of the land lies on the Virginia side of Big Sandy river. The survey upon which the patent issued was made by General Washington between 1767 and 1770, inclusive, and upon the beginning corner he cut the initials of his name. Nearly every corner was found well marked. It has not heretofore been generally known that George Washington was ever in Kentucky. Another survey was made by him for John Fry, on Little Sandy river, eleven miles from its mouth, and in the present county of Greenup. The town of Louisa, and the whole of the lands included in the patent. are held nudler the title of Fry.
In the year 1789, Charles Vancouver settled in the forks of Big Sandy, and employed ten men to build a fort and cultivate some corn. This settlement lasted but a year, as the Indians in a few weeks after Vancouver tock possession, stole all the horses, and continued to be troublesome.
JAMES LAWRENCE, (in honor of whom this county received its name,) a distin- quished American naval commander, was born in New Jersey in 1781. In 1999, he entered the navy as a midshipman. In 1801 he was promoted, and in 1-03, during the Tripoli war, was sent ont to the Mediterranean as first lieutenant of the schooner Enterprise, $ While there, he performed a conspicuous part in the destruction of the Philadelphia frigate, which had been captured by the Tripoli- tans-and took an active part in the subsequent bombardment of the city of I'ri- poli. In 1806, he returned to the United States as first lieutenant of the John Adams. In 1812, after war was declared between Great Britain and the United States, Lawrence was appointed to the command of the sloop of war, Hornet. In February 1813. of the Brazil coast, the Horner fell in with the fine British Stoop Peacock, which she captured after a farions action of fifteen minutes. The Pet- rock was so much cut up in the short action, that she sunk before all the pris. oners could be removed. For this gallant action, Lawrence received the things of Congress, with the present of a sword ; and his return to the United States was welcomed with the applause due to his conduct. Shortly after his return. he was ordered to Boston, to take command of the frigate Chesapeake, confess- elly one of the worst ships in the navy. He had been but a short time there. when the British frigate Shannon. Captain Brooke, appeared before the Burning sed challenged the Chesapeake to combat. Lawrence did not refuse the cool- leare. although his ship was not in condition for action. On the last of him. 1-13. he sailed out of the harbor and engaged his opponent. After the ships had exchanged several broadsides, and Lawrence had been wounded in the leg, he
400
LETCHER COUNTY.
called his boarders, when he received a musket ball in his body. At the same time the enemy boarded, and after a desperate resistance, succeeded in taking pos- session of the ship. Almost all the officers of the Chesapeake were either killed or wounded. The last exclamation of Lawrence, as they were carrying him below, after the fatal wound, was, " Don't give up the ship." He died on the fourth day after the action, and was buried with naval honors at Halifax.
LETCHER COUNTY.
LETCHER county was formed in 1842, and named after Governor Robert P. Letcher. It is situated in the extreme eastern section of the State, on the head waters of the Kentucky river-bounded north by Floyd; cast by Pike and the Virginia line ; south by Harlan, and west by Perry. The face of the country is hilly and mountainous-the Cumberland and Black mountains bordering the south-east, while the Pine mountain passes through a portion of the county. The principal articles of export are, cattle, horses, hogs, ginseng and wool.
Value of taxable property in 1846, $126,989 ; number of acres of land in the county, 52,507 ; average value of land per acre, $1.71 ; number of white males over twenty-one years of age, 320; number of children between five and sixteen years old, 590.
WHITESBURG, the county seat, is about one hundred and fifty miles from Frankfort-contains a Methodist and a Baptist church. court house and jail, one school, three stores and groceries, one tavern, one lawyer, one doctor, and three or four mechanics' shops, and about fifty inhabitants. Named after Mr. C. White, a member of the legislature.
ROBERT P. LETCHER, in honor of whom this county was named, is a native of Garrard county. In his youth he received a good education, and studied law. He represented his native county frequently in the legislature of Kentucky, and in 1822 was elected to Congress. He continued a member of Congress from 1823 to 1833. He was always a firm and consistent whig, and the last term he served in Congress, he received the vote of the entire whig party for speaker. Returning to Kentucky, he devoted his attention to the practice of his profession, and was subsequently elected to the legislature, of which body he was long a useful and influential member. In 1838 he was chosen speaker of the house of represen- tatives, in which office he was distinguished for the energy, promptitude and ability with which he discharged its various duties. In 1840 he was selected as the whig candidate for governor, and when the election came on, received the largest majority ever obtained by any candidate for that office. Upon retiring from the gubernatorial chair, Governor Letcher resumed the practice of his new fession in Frankfurt, where he now resides. As a popular electioneerer, Governor Letcher has no superior in the State. He has a pleasing manner and fine address, tells an anecdote with inimitable grace and humor, and is a general favorite with the people as a stump orator. In his domestic and social relations, he is kind, hospitable, and generous-a man of stern integrity, and uniformly correct in all his business transactions.
LOCURAMIA SPRINGS. KY
401
LEWIS COUNTY.
LEWIS COUNTY.
Lewis county was formed in 1806, and named after Captain Meriwether Lewis. It is situated in the north-eastern section of the State, lying upon the Ohio river-bounded north by the Ohio: east by Greenup ; south by Fleming, and west by Mason. The surface of the county is generally hilly ; but the western portion .is fertile and productive, while the vallies of the Ohio river, and Kinnoekonnick and Cabin creeks, are very rich. The products are, corn, wheat, rye and oats. The exports, horses, cattle and hogs, principally.
Value of taxable property in 1846, $967,740 ; number of acres of land in the county, 191,789 ; average value of land per acre, $3.70 ; number of white males over twenty-one years of age, 1,229 ; number of children between five and sixteen years old, 1,417. Population in 1840, 6,306.
The towns of Lewis, are Clarksburg, Concord, Vanceburg, Mid- dleburg and Poplar Flat. CLARKSBURG, the county seat, is about ninety miles from Frankfort-contains a good brick court-house and public offices, two lawyers, one physician, one tavern, one blacksmith, tan-yard and shoe-shop. Population about fitty,- called for General George Rogers Clark. Vanceburg is situated on the Ohio river, twenty miles above Maysville, and three miles from Clarksburg: contains three taverns, three stores, two physicians, and five or six mechanical trades. Population 150. Incorpo- rated in 1827. Concord is situated, also, on the Ohio, about 14 miles below Vanceburg-contains four stores, two taverns, two doctors, post office, one school, one free church, and six or cight mechanical trades. Population 125. Middleburg and Poplar Flut are very small places, with post offices.
Near Vanceburg, in this county, is a large quarry of slate stone : and immedi- ately at the water's edge at a common stage of the river, at the same place. is a quarry of white limestone rock, which produces remarkably white lime, and is said to contain from fifty to sixty per cent. of magnesia. Free white or sand stone is found in great abundance on the Ohio, a few miles above Vanceburg, where there is also a large quarry of alum rock. On Salt Lick creek, near Vanre- burg, there is a copperas bed, from which the people of the county supply theur selves with that article; and one mile distant, there is an extensive blue play bank. suitable for stone ware ard fire brick. There are also in the neighborhood. two salt wells, three hundred feet deep, which afford a large quantity of water, from which this part of the state was formerly supplied with salt.
Esculapia or Sulphur Springs .- This celebrated watering place in Lewis county, is situated in a romantic valley, surrounded by tall bills of easy ascent, from which the view is picturesque and enchanting. The improvements have been greatly extended within a few years, and now afford ample accommodations for two hundred visitors. There are two springs, one of white sulphur, the other chalybeate, said to be equal, if not superior, to the waters of a similar kind in Virginia.
'This county was named in honor of Captain MERIWETHER LEWIS, the compan- ion of Clark in the celebrated exploring expedition over the Rocky Mountains. He was born near Charlottesville, in Virginia, in 1774. At twenty years of age, 26
402
LINCOLN COUNTY.
he acted as a volunteer, in the suppression of the whisky insurrection, and after- wards received an appointment in the regular service. In 1801, Mr. Jefferson appointed him his private secretary, which situation he held till 1803, when, with William Clark, he started on his exploring expedition to the Rocky Mountains. Mr. Jefferson, in recommending him for this service, gave him a high character for courage, firmness and perseverance, an intimate knowledge of the Indian character, fidelity, intelligence, and all those peculiar combinations of qualities that eminently fitted him for so arduous an undertaking. They were absent three years, and were highly successful in accomplishing the objects contemplated in their tour. Shortly after his return, in 1806, he was appointed governor of the territory of Louisiana. On his arrival at St. Louis, the seat of administration, he found the country torn by dissension ; but his moderation, impartiality and firmness soon brought matters into a regular train. He was subject to constitutional hypochon- dria, and while under the influence of a severe attack, shot himself on the bor- ders of Tennessee, in 1809, at the age of 36. The account of the expedition, written by him, was published in 1814.
LINCOLN COUNTY.
LINCOLN county was formed in 1780, and was one of the three original counties organized in the district of Kentucky by the legislature of Virginia. It was named in honor of General BEN- JAMIN LINCOLN, a distingushed officer of the revolutionary army. The original territory of Lincoln, which comprised nearly one- third of the State, has been reduced, by the formation of new counties, to comparatively small dimensions ; but it is still a com- pact and well-formed county : Bounded on the north by Boyle and Garrard ; east by Garrard and Rockcastle ; south by Pulaski; and west by Casey. The exports of the county are, horses, mules, cattle, hogs and wool ; while wheat, corn, oats and rye are exten- sively cultivated.
Number of acres of land in Lincoln county, 178,557 ; average value per acre, $0.26; total valuation of taxable property in 1846, 83,490,144; number of white males over twenty-one years of age, 33s; number of children between five and sixteen years old, 1,679. Population in 1830, 11,012-in 1840, 10,187.
The towns of the county are-Stanford, Crab Orchard, Hus- tonville, Waynesburg and Walnut Flat. STANFORD, the county seat, is fifty-one miles from Frank fort-and contains a court-house. one Presbyterian and one Christian church, one academy, seven stores and groceries, three taverns, eight lawyers, four physi- cians and twelve mechanics' shops: population 400. Crab () :- chard has one church, one academy, eight stores and groceries, two taverns, two physicians and eight mechanics' shops : popu- lation 350. Hustonville contains one church, one school, four stores, one tavern, two physicians and six mechanics' shops : pop- ulation, 200. Waynesburg is a small village, with three stores. three mechanics' shops, and one doctor: population 10. Warned. Flat has a republican church, one tavern and five mechanics shops : population 60.
403
BENJAMIN LOGAN.
The Knob Licks, in this county, is a locality of some curiosity. What are called Knobs, are detached hills of a soft clay slate formation, in some instances the slate having been decomposed and abraded to a considerable depth by the ne- tion of the elements, leaving large hollows on the side of the hills. intersected in every direction with ravines, and entirely destitute of vegetation. The greatest height of these knobs is about two hundred feet, and the highest has a base of some one hundred and fifty yards in diameter.
In the year 1775, Col. BENJAMIN LOGAN, a sketch of whose life will be found under the head of " Logan county," arrived at St. Asaph's, about a mile west of the present town of Stanford, and established a fort, called Logan's fort. On the 20th of May, 1777, this fort was invested by a force of a hundred Indians; and, on the morning of that day, as some of the females belonging to it were engaged, outside of the gate, in milking the cows, the men who acted as the guard for the occasion were fired upon by a party of the Indians, who had concealed themselves in a thick canebrake. One man was shot dead, another mortally wounded. and a third so badly, as to be disabled from making his escape; the remainder made good their retreat into the fort, and closed the gate. Harrison, one of the wound- ed men, by a violent exertion, ran a few paces and fell. His struggles and ex- clamations attracted the notice, and awakened the sympathies, of the inmates of the station. The frantic grief of his wife gave additional interest to the scene. The enemy forbore to fire upon him, doubtless from the supposition that some of the garrison would attempt to save him, in which event they were prepared to fire upon them from the canebrake. The case was a trying one; and there was a strong conflict between sympathy and duty. on the part of the garrison. The number of effective men had been reduced from fifteen to twelve, and it was ex- ceedingly hazardous to put the lives of any of this small number in jeopardy : yet the lamentations of his family were so distressing, and the scene altogether so moving, as to call forth a resolute determination to save him, if possible. I .- gan, always alive to the impulses of humanity, and insensible to fear, volunter red his services, and appealed to some of his men to accompany him. But so appai- ling was the danger, that all, at first, refused. At length, John Martin consented. and rushed, with Logan, from the fort; but he had not gone far, before he shrunk from the imminence of the danger, and sprung back within the gite. Logan paused for a moment, then dashed on, alone and undaunted-reached, unhurt, the spot where Harrison lay-threw him on his shoulders, and. audst a tremendous shower of rifle balls, made a safe and triumphant retreat into the fort.
The fort was now vigorously assailed by the Indian force, and as vigorously defended by the garrison. The men were constantly at their posts, whilst the women were actively engaged in moulding bullets. But the weakness of the garrison was not their only grievance. The scarcity of powder and ball. one of the greatest inconveniences to which the settlers were not unfrequently exposed. began now to be seriously felt. There were no indications that the siege would be speedily abandoned ; and a protracted resistance seemed impracticable, with- ont an additional supply of the munitions of war. The settlements on Hoisten could furnish a supply-but how was it to be obtained ? And, even if men could be found rash and desperate enough to undertake the journey. how improbable was it that the trip could be accomplished in time for the relief to be available. Logan stepped forward. in this extremity, determined to take the dangerous office upon himself. Encouraging his men with the prospect of a safe and speedy re- turn, he left the fort under cover of the night. and, attended by two faithful com- panions of his own selection, crept cautiously throngh the Indian lines without discovery. Shunning the ordinary route through Cumberland Gap, he moved, with incredible rapidity. over mountain and valley-arrived at the settlement on the Holston-procured the necessary supply of powder and lead-uma dolly retraced his steps, and was again in the fort in ten days from the time of his de. parture. He returned alone. The necessary delay in the transportation of the stores, induced him to entrust them to the charge of his companions ; and ats presence at St. Asaphe's was all-important to the safety of its inhabitants. His return inspired them with fresh courage ; and, in a few days, the appearance of Col. Bowman's party compelled the Indians to retire.
In the fall of the year 1779, Samuel Daviess, who resided in Bedford county,
--
---
-
404
LINCOLN COUNTY.
Virginia, moved with his family to Kentucky, and lived for a time at Whitley's station, in Lincoln. He subsequently moved to a place called Gilmer's Lick, some six or seven miles distant from said station, where he built a cabin, cleared some land, which he put in corn next season, not apprehending any danger from the Indians, although he was considered a frontier settler. But this imaginary state of security did not last long ; for on a morning in the month of August, in the year 1782, having stepped a few paces from his door, he was suddenly sur- prised by an Indian's appearing between him and the door, with tomahawk up- lifted, almost within striking distance. In this unexpected condition, and being entirely unarmed, his first thought was, that by running around the house, he could enter the door in safety ; but, to his surprise, in attempting to effect this object, as he approached the door he found the house full of Indians. Being closely pursued by the Indian first mentioned, he made his way into the corn field, where he concealed himself, with much difficulty, until the pursuing Indian had returned to the house.
Unable as he was to render any relief to his family, (there being five Indians), he ran with the utmost speed to the station of his brother James Daviess-a dis- tance of five miles. As he approached the station-his undressed condition told the tale of his distress. before he was able to tell it himself. Almost breathless, and with a faltering voice, he could only say, his wife and children were in the hands of the Indians. Scarcely was the communication made, when he obtained a spare gun, and the five men in the station, well armed, followed him to his resi- dence. When they arrived at the house, the Indians, as well as the family. were found to be gone, and no evidence appeared that any of the family had been killed. A search was made to find the direction the Indians had taken ; but ow- ing to the dryness of the ground, and the adroit manner in which they had departed, no discovery could be made. In this state of perplexity, the party, be- ing all good woodsmen, took that direction in pursuit of the Indians, which they thought it most probable they would take. After going a few miles, their atten- tion was arrested by the howling of a dog, which afterwards turned out to be a house-dog that had followed the family, and which the Indians had undertaken to kill, so as to avoid detection, which might happen from his occasionally bark- ing. In attempting to kill the dog, he was only wounded, which produced the howling that was heard. The noise thus heard satisfied them that they were near the Indians, and enabled them to rush forward with the utmost impetuosity. Two of the Indians being in the rear as spies, discovering the approach of the party, ran forward where the other Indians were with the family -- one of them knocked down the oldest boy, about eleven years old, and while in the act of scalping him, was fired at, but without effect. Mrs. Daviess, seeing the agita- tation and alarm of the Indians, saved herself and sucking child by jumping into a sink hole. The Indians did not stand to make fight, but fled in the most pre- cipitate manner. In that way the family was rescued by nine o'clock in the morning, without the loss of a single life, and without any injury but that above mentioned. So soon as the boy had risen on his feet, the first word he spoke was, " curse that Indian, he has got my scalp."
After the family had been rescued, Mrs. Daviess gave the following account of the manner in which the Indians had acted. A few minutes after her husband had opened the door and stepped out of the house, four Indians rushed in, whilst the fifth, as she afterwards found out, was in pursuit of her husband. Herself and children were in bed when the Indians entered the house. One of the Indi- ans immediately made signs. by which she understood him to enquire how far it was to the next house. With an unusual presence of mind, knowing how un- portant it would be to make the distance as far as possible, she raised both hands, first counting the fingers of one hand then of the other-making a distance of eight miles. The Indian then signed to her that she must rise ; she immediately got up. and as soon as she could dress herself, commenced showing the Indians one article of clothing and then another, which pleased them very much : and in that way delayed them at the house nearly two hours. In the mean time, the In- dian who had been in pursuit of her husband returned, with his hands stained with poke berries, which he held up, and with some violent gestures and waving of his tomahawk, attempted to induce the belief, that the stain on his hands was the blood of her husband, and that he had killed him. She was enabled at once
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.