USA > Kentucky > Daviess County > History of Daviess County, Kentucky, together with sketches of its cities, villages, and townships, educational religious, civil military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, biographies of representative citizens, and an outline history of Kentucky > Part 67
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floors, and that without blankets. When General Scott advanced on the city of Mexico, Captain Taylor and the rest of the pris- oners were sent into the mountains, where they remained till the close of the war. They were sent to Tampico, and then to New Orleans, La., and while on the way they had a storm which lasted nine days. They landed in New Orleans, having lost one sailor. From New Orleans they came up the Mississippi to Louisville, Ky., where his father met him, and he and his father returned home. He married Martha J. Speer, Feb. 13, 1850. She was born in Oldham County, Ky., July 12, 1824, and was a dangli- ter of Jolin and Mary (Grove) Speer, natives of North Carolina. January, 1853, they came to Daviess County and settled on a farm in Masonville, within a 100 yards of where he now lives. At the ontbreaking of the late war he and Dr. Noel raised Company H, First Kentucky Cavalry, Confederate Volunteers. Dr. Noel was elected Captain, and Captain Taylor was elected First Lieutenant. Captain Noel was killed at the capture of a railroad bridge in West Tennessee in the fall of 1861. Captain Taylor was then elected Captain of the company. His company was then sent with General Forrest, and they went into the Federal lines, and was at the capture of Murfreesboro, and various other battles. When Bragg's army came over into Kentucky, Captain Taylor's company was in the advance guard, and was at the fight at Perry- ville, and covered the retreat of Bragg's army as it went out of Kentucky. Captain Taylor's company was then placed under command of General Wheeler, and made various raids in Middle Tennessee, and on the trail of Sherman to the sea, and returned in advance of him to the surrender of the army at the close of the war. Captain Taylor was offered the office of Colonel of his regi- ment, but refused, choosing rather to be with his company. He was wounded five times, and had one horse killed under him. At the close of the war he returned home to his farm in Masonville Precinct, where he has since been engaged in farming. He and wife are members of the Christian church. They have had four children-John T., who married Almeta Dodson; Joseph S., mar- ried Fannie Kirk, who died, and he then married Mary A. Kirk; Henry Y., married Alice Pursell, and Mary C., wife of James F. Camp. Captain Taylor owns a fine farm of 254 acres, 150 under cultivation. He was elected Democratic representative to the Ken- tucky Legislature in 1875, and held that office two years. He is also a member of Branham Lodge, A. F. & A. M., near Beth . Digitized by Microsoft®
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abara. He and Dr. C. T. Noel had the first threshing machine in Daviess County. It was what was called a " ground hog."
James W. Ware was born in Shelby County, Ky., Oct. 25, 1822. His father was James Ware Sr., born in Culpeper Connty, Va. He came with his parents to Mercer County, Ky., when a child. The fam- ily afterward moved to Shelby County, Ky., where James married Joanna Garner, a native of Virginia. In October, 1833, the family came to Daviess County, Ky., and the father purchased 1,060 acres of land in one tract in Masonville Precinct. He died in 1868; his wife in 1870. James W. was the third son and seventh child of ten children. He was but eleven years of age when he came with his parents to Daviess County. Sept. 1, 1852, he married Margaret A. Lanham, a native of Masonville Precinct, born April 5, 1834, and a daughter of Jolin W. and Lutitia (Jackson) Lanhamn, old set- tlers of Daviess County. After his marriage Mr. Ware settled on a part of the old homestead farm in Masonville Precinct, where he still resides. He and wife have had nine children, three sons and five daughters-Martha A., born May 21, 1853, married Henry Duncan; John J .. born May 24, 1856, married Mrs. Cordelia Jackson, daugh- ter of George C. Jackson; Mary F., born July 12, 1858, married Richard Jackson; Laura A., born Sept. 25, 1859; Ida F., born May 25, 1861; Sophronia E., born Jan. 17, 1863, married Dave Paggans; Snsan O., born Oct. 27, 1864; William T., born April 30, 1866; Frank H., born May 15, 1870. Mr. Ware owns a farm ot 200 acres, seventy acres under cultivation. In politics he is a Democrat. He is of English descent.
George A. R. Wilhite was born in Nelson County, near Bards- town, Ky., Jan. 24, 1825. His father, Prestley Wilhite, was born in Culpeper County, Va., in 1790. He married Mrs. Elizabeth Farmer, widow of John Farmer, and daughter of Thomas Roberts. Mr. and Mrs. Wilhite had a family of four children, two living-G. A. R., and Nathaniel M., who resides in McLean County. George A. R. was but nine years old when his mother died. His father then married Malvina Hamilton; they had five children. Dec. 5, 1848. G. A. R. Wilhite married Mrs. Catherine Lashbrook. She was born in Nelson County, Ky., and was a danghter of Thomas and Martha (Yewell) Furman. After Mr. and Mrs. Wilhite's marriage they settled on his present farm. They had six children, all dead. Mrs. Wilhite had eight children by her first husband, Norris Lash- brook, four living-Martha, Cordelia, William M., and J. B. Lashbrook. Mrs. Wilhite died Oct. 25, 1878. She was a mem-
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ber of the Baptist church at Macedonia. Mr. Wilhite then married Miss Susie Jones, Dec. 19, 1880. She was born in Masonville Precinct, Daviess County, and was a daughter of Reuben and Eth. elinda (Martin) Jones. Mr. and Mrs. Wilhite are members of the Bethabara church. Mr. Wilhite owns a fine farm of 186 acres, 125 acres under cultivation. In politics he is a Democrat. He is of English and German descent. His grandfather, Tobias Wil- hite, was in the war of the Revolution; was in the battle of Bran- dywine, and remained in the war until its close.
Ralleigh T. Williams was born in Upper Town Precinct, April 18, 1847. His parents are James H. H. and Sarah J. (Bryant) Williams. They had a family of nine children, eight living. Ral- leigh was the eldest son and second child. He lived at home with his parents until his marriage to Elizabeth A. Stone, Dec. 21, 1875. She was born in Upper Town Precinct and was a daughter of Sampson and Cinderella (Mckay) Stone, old settlers of Daviess County. After his marriage Mr. Williams settled on his present farm in Masonville Precinct. He and wife have two children- Irene, born Aug. 16, 1876, and Robert C., born March 22, 1880. Mr. Williams has a fine farin of 105 acres, eighty under cultivation. He and wife are both members of the church, he of the Methodist Episcopal and she of the Christian.
Joseph N. Wollmon was born near La Grange, Oldham Co., Ky., Dec. 8, 1846. His parents were Thomas and Nancy (Long) Woll- mon, natives of Kentucky. They had a family of eleven children. Joseph N. was the sixth son and seventh child. He remained on the old homestead in Oldham County, Ky., until sixteen, when he worked for different parties until twenty-three. He then came to Daviess County and worked on a farm in Masonville Precinct until his marriage to America G. Lashbrook, Feb. 15, 1870. She was born in Masonville Precinct, Daviess County, Feb. 11, 1854, and was a daughter of Achilles and Martha A. (Johnson) Lash- brook, old settlers of Daviess County. In 1874 he bought his present farm. Mr. and Mrs. Wollmon are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have had a family of six chil- dren-Daisy L., born May 21, 1871, died May 24, 1871; Ora B., born July 11, 1872; Sarah K. was born Dec. 30, 1874, died Jan. 5, 1877; Ann A., born March 3, 1876; Minnie L., born March 26, 1879; Thomas W., born Ang. 18, 1881. Mr. Wollmon owns a fine farm of sixty-two acres and raises tobacco, wheat, hay, corn and stock. In politics he is a Democrat. He, with sixteen others from Oldham
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
County, Ky., started in November, 1864, with Captain Jentry, for the South as volunteer cavalrymen. They did not get out of the State; had many skirmishes and hardships. They were scat- tered and all captured except two or three. While they were stop- ping at a country house for breakfast one morning, in Shelby County, Ky., they did not leave any pickets out, and all at once they were surrounded by Captain Bridgewater's company of United States cavalry; two escaped in the bushes and the other, Mr. Wollmon, hid in the chimney of the fire-place. After the soldiers were gone, one of the young men of the house came and told him that the soldiers were gone, so he came down and went to a friend by the name of Foree, in Shelby County. While on the road was compelled to sleep in a shock of corn one night, and came near freezing. The next day he reached the home of Mr. Foree and re- mained in this neighborhood some six weeks, until he had a chance to come home, and on the way froze his feet so badly he was unfit for service and laid up for six months. He had a brother captured, who was sentenced to be shot, but the sentence was re- voked. He is now living in Oldham County.
Adam R. Yeiser was born near Yelvington, Daviess County, Ky., Oct. 30, 1840. His parents were Adam and Susan (Walker) Yeiser, natives of Danville, Boyle Co., Ky., and Daviess County. They had a family of ten children. Adam R. was the youngest son. When four years old he moved with his parents to Adair County, Ky., and lived until sixteen, when his parents returned to Daviess County. Adam remained here until 1861, when he enlisted in Company A, First Kentucky Confederate Cavalry, Sept. 30, 1861, and remained in the service until the close of the war; was in the battle of Perryville, Ky., Bentonville, N. C., and in all the engagements with Morgan on his raid across the Ohio River, and all the engagements of Bragg's advance and retreat in Kentucky; also with Forrest in the summer and fall of 1862 in his raids in Middle Tennessee, and spent one month in "Camp Chase " prison, Ohio, and nineteen months in Camnp Douglas prison, at Chicago, Ill. In April, 1863, he was captured in Ohio County, Ky., and placed in the prison at Hudsontown, Ky. After twenty-four hours he made his escape. At the close of the war he returned home to Daviess County, Ky., and soon after went on a hunting expedition on the Mississippi River for one winter; then began getting out shingles; then removed to Pleasant Ridge, Daviess Co., Ky., and engaged in the dry-
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goods business some twelve months, when he purchased a saw- mill, and followed this business until September, 1882, when he settled on his present farm, where he owns 272 acres, 180 under cultivation. Mr. Yeiser married Martha McCormick, May 9, 1867. She was born on the old McCormick farm, near North Panther bridge, in Maysville Township, and is a daughter of Francis and Nancy (Walker) McCormick. Mrs. Yeiser is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Yeiser of the Baptist. They have had seven children, four living-Cora, born April 14, 1868; Ledru, born Feb. 16, 1870; Clara, born Nov. 2, 1872; Susan, born Nov. 4, 1878. Mr. Yeiser in politics is a Democrat.
Benjamin F. Yewell was born in Daviess County, Ky., Aug. 3, 1843. In 1869 he moved to McLean County and. lived till the winter of 1875-'76, when he returned to Daviess. County. He owns 350 acres of fine land in Masonville Precinct. He has held the office of Constable of Masonville and been School Trustee several terms. He was married in May, 1865, to Martha P. Daw- son, a native of Daviess County, born in November, 1847. They have six children-Emma K., Dora A., Lullie B., Joseph A., Horace O. and Mary E. Mr. Yewell is a member of the Baptist church. He belongs to John J. Daveiss Lodge, No. 387, A. F. & A. M. His father, Albert G. Yewell, was born in Olden County, Ky., and died in Ohio County in 1882. His mother, Mary M. (Coomes) Yewell, is also a native of Kentucky, and still lives in Ohio County. She has four children-William P., Minerva A., B. F. and Susanna P.
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CHAPTER XXIII.
MURRAY PRECINCT.
Murray Precinct is bounded as follows: Beginning at the mouth of Rhodes Creek, No. 2, thence up same to McLean County line, thence with same eastwardly to Ohio County line, thence with Ohio County line to Panther Creek, thence down same to the be- ginning.
The precinct was named after Mr. Murray, who established and kept a store in this neighborhood for a number of years.
Along the creeks the land is generally low; the upland is un- dalating and moderately hilly. The higher hills are underlaid with coal, which is about fifty-two to fifty-four feet below high- water mark. The quality of the land is various, but as a whole it will average about No. 2. In this precinct are several good quar- ries of sandstone.
The ponds used to contain small fish and reptiles, and the scenery around them was wild and picturesque. One of them was made by beavers constructing a dam at the ontlet. Crane Pond is now filled up and obliterated.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The settlements made in Murray Precinct were among the earliest in. the county. Captain Ben Fields settled here in 1793. He came from Culpeper County, Va., and came to Kentucky as sur- veyor for the State of Virginia. He finally settled fifteen miles sonth of Owensboro, where he built the first house between Owens- boro and Hartford. He died in 1843. William Tanner came in 1798, and settled in the edge of McLean County. Adam Shoe- maker came abont 1795. Fields gave him 100 acres of land to come and live neighbor to him. He lived there till 1815, then settled on Green River, at Huston's Ferry, McLean County. Mark Howard came from North Carolina and settled here in 1803. He had fourteen children and his descendants are numerous here. His land was purchased of Harry Ennis in 1800, and was surveyed by Captain Field; 1,100 acres were originally purchased, but only 400 could be obtained. Nelson Mason came in 1815 with William
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Newton, who died in 1820. His wife, Elizabeth, was sister to Ben Field. Mr. Newton's son William married Mr. Field's daughter, and they had cleven children; all are dead except Mary, who lives about four miles above Owensboro.
Joshua Griffith, John H. McFarland, Samuel and James John- son, Baxter Davis, Robert Tarlton, Andrew Barnett, Warner Ash- ley and Mr. Clifford were early settlers. Most of the early settlers came from North Carolina. Numerous families of Johnsons came from that State. William May came in 1830, and settled on a farm one mile south of Panther Creek.
The first magistrates in the precinct were William &Layton and William H. Davis, who were elected and served under the new Constitution of 1850. Previous to this they were appointed by the Governor.
The first religious services were held in what was called " Tan- ner's meeting-house" in 1820. Thomas Downs was the first preacher.
The first whisky and peach brandy made in this county was made by Walter McFarland, father of the honored octogenarian, John H. McFarland.
CHURCHES.
Green Brier Baptist Church .-- This church was constituted Oct. 29, 1820, at Tanner's meeting-house, now Buck Creek, with twenty-five members who had withdrawn for this purpose. Among the constitutional members were Mark Howard, James W. How. ard, William W. Howard, James Johnson, Alexander Stewart, Littleton Howard, John G. Howard, Rachel, wife of Mark How- ard, and Susan, wife of William Howard. Mark Howard was the first Clerk, and was also one of the Deacons. Thomas Downs was the first Pastor and took charge of the church for twenty-seven years. The first regular meeting was at the house of James John- son. Services were held from house to house for several years. Even after a meeting-honse was built the members kept up the meetings in private families. Many of their most worthy and. useful members were brought in at these family gatherings. El- ders Thomas Downs and Benjamin Talbott composed the council of ministers when the church was constituted. This church ever had a goodly number of colored members until the time of the late war. After they were freed they took letters and went into a eparate organization.
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Thomas Downs was a very noted preacher. He used to walk a great deal to his labors, often with his shoes in his hands, putting them on his feet after arriving at his destination. He frequently walked to Rock Springs church, seven miles above Owensboro. He had charge of four clinrches-Green Brier, Rock Springs Bethel church, in Henderson County, and Pleasant Grove, on the Henderson road, six miles below Owensboro. He preached at each church onee a month.
The next Pastor was James Bennett, who served several years, and he was succeeded by William Owen, who served only one year. James Dawson was tlien called, and preached a year and a half, and was succeeded by James S. Coleman, who preached fourteen and a half years, then resigned to assume the editorship of a weekly paper issued by the Baptist Association. The next Pastor was John M. Peay, who preached eleven and a half years. John Bennett was next called who preached his first sermon Sept. 3, 1882, this being his first call to the ministry.
A number of successful revival meetings have been held. The first was in 1835, during Mr. Downs's pastorate. James Coleman held two or three revivals, and on one occasion baptized eighty- two persons.
The first house of worship was a log house twenty-four feet square. This soon became too small and was torn down, and a brick house was put up, 30 x 40 feet. This was used until 1858, when the con- gregation became so large that they were obliged to build a still larger house-their present house of worship. James Coleman preached the dedicatory sermon, he being pastor at that time.
Since the church was constituted there have been five preachers ordained here: William Owen and James Maitland, both on the same day; then Bryant Cundiff and William Stephens on the same day, and Daniel E. Yeiser.
The present officers are: Hammond Hansford, Benjamin McCor- mick, Samuel D. Howard and Jackson Mahon, Deacons; Nathan McDonald, Clerk. Present membership, 351.
Since this society was organized there have been a part of fonr churches taken from it to add to others which grew into existence from time to time.
The first Pastor for the colored church was Mac Taylor, who preached about a year. He was very illiterate and could scarcely read. His mistress would read from the Bible and he would com- mit to memory, and annonnce his text from memory, then preach
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a thundering sermon, being well able to hold the attention of his hearers. After his death a white man named Thomas Brooks was called, who preached a little over a year. After awhile the church was discontinued.
Methodist Episcopal Church .- The first religious services of this denomination in this community were held in the house of Samnel Lashbrook about 1825. Meetings were held here, different preachers officiating, until after Mr. Lashbrook's death in 1831. At this time there was a division in the church.
Among the early preachers were Stephen Ogden, Mr. Julian, Nathaniel Lee, Robert Gardner and A. H. Redford. In 1844-'5 the division in the church was effected, and soon afterward the first church was built upon the site of the present church, and was called Lashbrook.Chapel. This was a frame building, about the size of the present structure. The first preacher in this house was N. F. Tower. The present building was erected in 1876, and is called the McKendree Chapel. Size of building, 24 x 36 feet. Pres- ent Pastor, E. A. Davis.
Oak Grove Baptist Church was constituted in 1854 by James Dawson, John G. Howard and William J. Owen. The intro- ductory sermon was preached by James Dawson. Among the first members of the congregation were L. Owen, E. A. M. Owen, J. J May, Mr. Field, John Howard, John Hedges, Wesley Hedges, Thomas Howard, Francis Mahon, James May, Parthenia O'Flynn, Lewis Sublett, Albina Sublett, Richard L. May, Lydia Bohem and Sarah Bohem. The first officers were: Lattenny Owen, Modera- tor: Thomas Howard, Clerk. Lewis Sublett and Lattenny Owen were Deacons. The first pastor was William J. Owen. The present officers are: W. P. Bennett, Pastor and Moderator; J. M. Holmes, Clerk; Lattenny Owen, R. M. Lewis, W. O. Martin and J. M. Holmes, Deacons. Present membership, seventy-three. A Sunday-school was organized in 1874 and is held during the sum- mer months. The first Superintendent was R. M. Lewie, who has continued in that capacity ever since, with the exception of 1879- '80, when Rev. A. G. Davis officiated. B. Jewell is Clerk. En- rollment varies from forty to seventy-five.
MILLS AND FACTORIES.
Marble & Pettit's Stave Factory and Lumber Mills .- These works are located at the Panther Creek bridge, on the Owensboro & Nashville Railroad, about five miles south of Owensboro. The
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stave factory was erected'in 1875 by Messrs. Pettit and Munday, and the lumber and planing-mill in 1880-'1, by Marble & Pettit. J. A. Munday retired in 1877, and Levi W. Marble afterward en- tered into partnership with Mr. Pettit. In the stave department are employed twenty-five to tifty hands, with a twenty-eight horse- power engine, and in the planing-mill twenty-five to a hundred hands, being the largest mill of the kind in this section of the coun- try. The engine is thirty-six horse-power.
The company manufacture sawed staves, one to two million of which they ship by barge and river to Pittsburg, Pa., annually, for the oil market. Dressed lumber they supply to the home trade and also ship to Louisville, Ky., Jeffersonville, Ind., and other points, and large quantities even to Rock Island, Ill.
Wilhite & Leet's Flouring and Grist Mill was built in 1880 for a grist mill, by John H. Wilhite, and operated by him for two and a half years; size of building, 19 x 50 feet. Aug. 7, 1882, he formed a partnership with Aaron Leet, and they put up an addition 24 x 50- feet, three stories high. New machinery was put in at a cost of $ 1,500; cost of building, abont $800; commenced running and grinding corn Nov. 22, 1882. They grind 250 bushels per day. Engine, forty-horse power, made by Guthrie, Long & Bransford, of Owensboro. The firm will rnn a flouring mill as soon as con- venient. The mill is under the direct supervision of Mr. Wilhite.
SCHOOLS.
There are ten schools in the precinct, seven white and three col -. ored schools, numbered according to the district they are in.
DANIEL OWEN,
probably the oldest man now living in Daviess County, was born Jan. 7, 1790, in Granville County, N. C. Feb. 25, 1813, he married Mary Allen, who was born Aug. 31, 1793, and died July 15. 1858. He emigrated to this county in his youth. In 1818 he and his wife moved to Breckinridge County, but in 1837 they returned to Da- viess County, where he has ever since resided, in Murray Precinct. They have had fourteen children, two of whom died when very yonng. Seven were sons and seven daughters. Mr. Owen is a remarkable man for vigor of life, and for the fact that he has never had a lawsuit. One of his remarkable experiences in early days was his carrying seven wild turkeys which he had killed while out hunting, for a distance of four miles, on foot !
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LEWIS STATION.
In 1872 a voting place was established at Lewis Station, for voters within the following boundaries: Beginning on Panther Creek, at the mouth of Two-Mile Creek; thence with said creek to William Hansford's; thence a straight line toward McLean County line, near Thomas Lee Tanner's, in the edge of McLean County; thence with McLean County line to the Vanover Precinct line, and with said precinct line to Panther Creek, and up said Panther Creek to the beginning.
Lewis Station was organized when the railroad was built. It was named after Robert M. Lewis, who was living there at the time, and gave an acre of ground for the station. The first house was built by Uriah Mckay, and was used for a dwelling-house. James Thornton built the next house and occupied it as a grocery. He afterward built a dwelling-house, and lived there about two years; then sold to Joseph Birkhead, wbo carried on business for several years. It was finally bought by J. W. Lloyd, who now -carries on business and owns a dwelling-house built by Thornton.
In the spring of 1882 Mr. Allen began business in the house now occupied by Queen & Martin as a drug-store. In the fall he moved to his present building, and is carrying on a general store.
The first wagon-maker was James Fairfax, who remained one season. Jeptha Williams is the present wagon-maker.
The first blacksmith was John McLary, who had a shop in con mection with James Fairfax. The present blacksmiths are J. T. Carico and William Wilhite.
The first regular shoemaker was Thomas May, who recently set- tled here.
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