USA > Kentucky > Henderson County > History of Henderson County, Kentucky > Part 36
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On the twenty-fourth day of September, 1864, a company of ne- gro soldiers, returning from a recruiting (or negro stealing) expedition to Corydon, passed through Geneva, and while there discovered that one of the men was afflicted with the small pox. They determined to leave him, and did leave him, only to meet the savage vengeance of a party of rebels close on their heels. This unfortunate soldier was captured and taken to a woods near by and there hung and left dead. The sequel to this hanging will be found in the brutal murder of young Wathen, of Union County, published in the history of the county.
Among the oldest inhabitants of this precinct are Captain E. D. McBride, J. T. Sandefur, Walter A. Towles, John Farmer and W. A. Sisson.
HEBARDSVILLE PRECINCT.
This precinct was formed on the twentieth day of December, 1851, with voting place at Hebardsville. It borders on Green River, and consequently the greater portion of the precinct is hilly. Very many of the finest tobacco and corn farms to be found in the county are located in this precinct. In addition to this, fruit can be more suc- cessfully grown on the hills adjacent to Green River than elsewhere
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in the county. There is an abundance of the finest timber known to this country. The tenth United States census gives this precinct a population of 2,280.
The early history, as written of other precincts, apply to this. Early settlers had the same embarrassments and difficulties to con- tend with, although the first road established in the county ran through this precinct. Mr. Craven Boswell, was one of the earliest settlers, and at one time owned pretty much all the land adjoining and adjacent to the town of Hebardsville. A great portion of this land he donated to others in order to induce immigration and build up the country. The town of Hebardsville was named for Mr. Charles Hebard, who in very early times opened and carried on a blacksmith shop at that point. One of the first grist and saw mills known in the county was built in this precinct and operated by George McCormick. This mill was an undershot concern, located on Lick Creek, and built in 1808 or 1809. The lumber used in building the old Johnson House, in the town of Henderson, was sawed at this mill in 1809. In 1830 Mr. McCormick sold the mill to Philip Vanbussum, who operated it a few years and sold to Richard Hazelwood. In 1848 or 1849 Mr. Boswell, after having disposed of a quantity of his lands, died, leaving six children, only two of whom are now living, William, and Mrs. Catharine McFarland.
Hebardsville is the leading village or town in the precinct, and as a commercial point offers many inducements. It is surrounded by a magnificent tobacco and corn territory and a thrifty, well to do pop- ulation of planters. Hebardsville has a number of merchants and business men, all of whom are accumulating slowly but surely. C. W. Johnson, R. S. Hart, Boswell Bros., George Willingham, George Reed, John Abb Johnston, Saunders Biggs, Joe Robertson, Oliver and Jack Malone, are among the number of merchants ; George Neg- ley operates a coal bank one and a half miles from Hebardsville and supplies the entire country surrounding with coal of the best quality. There are three churches at and near Hebardsville, the Cumberland Presbyterian, Baptist (Bethel) and Methodist. The Cumberland and Baptist are among the oldest known to the county. James Carroll operates a saw mill and turns out the best lumber for building pur- poses. There is one district school presided over by a competent teacher. Bluff City, a few miles below on Green River, is also in this precinct. It has a post office, saw mill and store. It is prettily located and ought to become a fine shipping point. Among the early settlers of Hebardsville were Craven Boswell, Charles Hebard,
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Turner Denton, Benjamin L. Hicks, Samuel Pirtle, Caleb Hall, Ed- ward D. Bennett, Robert McFarland and John B. Davis. Among the oldest inhabitants now living are Benjamin L. Hicks, Rev. Abrain Hatchett, William Boswell, Arthur Hicks, Richard Roach, Wash. But- ler, James Willingham, Stark Haynes, and others. Hebardsville, and the precinct bearing its name, is peopled by a law-abiding, intelligent class of citizens. The society in and around the town, in a social sense, is fully up with the times, well educated, intelligent and hos- pitable. At Mason's Landing, on Green River, Thomas Hust has a stemmery, where annually he purchases and handles the great bulk of the tobacco grown in that portion of the precinct. It was in this precinct, and near Hebardsville, that Colonels Adam Johnson and Bob Martin, during the war, 1863 or 1864, captured Dr. Kimbly, of Owensboro, while en route behind a dashing team to Henderson. Miss Shelby, now Mrs. John Folden, was in the buggy with the doctor at the time. Colonel Martin relieved the doctor of the reins and saw her safely to her uncle, John McCormick, while Colonel Johnson took charge of the prisoner. About the same place and time old man Solomon Oberdorfer, so well known throughout this county, was arrested, together with a drove of mules which he was taking to Evans- ville for Government purposes. He was taken to Slaughtersville and there released and given his mules. The guerrillas made frequent raids into Hebardsville and were a source of great annoyance to the resident business interest. There was an incident in the life of Thomas McFarland, who lived in this precinct, three miles from Heb- ardsville, in the direction of Henderson, unsurpassed by any of the recollections of that bloody period.
In July, 1862, he and his old maid sister, who had lived together since the birth of the younger, and were yet fighting life's battles as brother and sister, side by side, on the old homestead, were awakened in the dead hour of the night by a call at the gate, only a few feet from the house. It was a beautiful night, the moon was shining in all of its glory, its shimmering, silvery rays making gloriously bright the whole face of the earth. Closely and snugly slept the subject of this sketch in one room of the log building, while his sister slept in the other, just across the hall. Twelve well armed and determined men had now surrounded the house, watching every approach and awaiting the command of their leader. McFarland lay unconscious of his terrible surroundings, while his sister, who had awakened at the first call, and was arising to know what was wanted, little thought of the
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frightful ordeal through which she was soon to pass, and thus it is with man. He passes more frequently than he ever dreams of through startling dangers. He treads upon the brink of eternity, and wan- ders close by his opening tomb, and yet he is none the wiser and none the more thoughtful. In his most pleasant moments, and when he least imagines, death is often grinning close at hand, and sorrow treading hard upon his heels. Thus it was with Thomas Mc Farland, while at every avenue of approach or escape stood a remorseless sol- dier only awaiting developments to give the signal of death. Another call from the gate and he arose, approached the little window and asked what was wanted.
" We are home guards from across the river in Daviess County, and want our suppers and horses fed," was the significant and unmis- takable reply.
It was now after midnight, a curious time to want supper. His sister, hearing the reply and apprehending that all was not safe for her brother, approached his room and asked of him what should be done.
" Take them something to eat," was his quick reply, for he had never been known to turn a hungry man from his door. He partook of his sister's uneasiness, and placing himself at the door leading from his room to the hall or passage way through the building, deter- mined to defend his life and home at any cost. His sister secured a ham and some bread and quietly unbolted the front door, when three or more horrid men, armed to the teeth, pushing her aside, exclaimed :
" Clear the way, that is not what we want; it's your brother Tom, and him we intend to kill in spite of hell."
The poor sister, frightened beyond understanding, sunk to the floor in piteous screams for mercy, but there was no mercy there. At this moment Mr. McFarland barred the door to his room and stood with the weight of his body against it. Several attempts were made to force it in, but without effect. The leader then called to six men to burst in the door, but in this they yet failed. Seeing this, the leader yelled a loud " Clear the way, I'll get him," and with this announce- ment fired sixteen buckshot through the door. Fortunately, as he said " Clear the way," Mr. McFarland anticipated his meaning, and he too cleared the way by stepping back to the wall of the house, the sixteen buckshot passing directly under his arm and in uncomfortable proximity to his body. With the firing the leader, so certain was he that he had killed his man, called at a loud voice, "Damn him, I've got him." At that the outer guards left their posts and rushed to the
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hall. Mr. McFarland, taking time by the forelock, and realizing that now was his only chance, leaped from a back entrance, master of the situation, and trimmed for "out -winging" even the air piercing mes- senger of death sent after him. He was unincumbered, no boots or shoes, coats or pants, retarded his progress, his garment was light and frail, of a pure white and fine texture, its tail fluttered in the breeze as though it were propelled by an arrow, and in this make-up he made three jumps from the door to an eight rail fence, over which he skipped as though it were one rail, and without halting. He was not troubled with a shortness of breath, but, as he progressed, seemed to accumulate wind and power of endurance. He in a moment more reached the woods, and there secreted himself to await the exit of his midnight visitors. Shortly after his successful escape, his would-be murderers broke in the door to his room and fired promiscuously into his bed and a trundle bed standing close by, but the bird had flown. The wads from the pistols set the bed clothing on fire, and but for the intercessions of his sister the house and contents would have been burned to the ground. At her request, some of the men threw the bed clothing out of the window, where it was permitted to burn un- molested. They then robbed the premises, getting some thirty-five dollars in money and all the good clothes he had."They then took what little money his old sister had and vacated the house, sadly dis- appointed at their failure to capture and kill the object of their visit. Two negro men were then pressed into their service, and with them, two men of the command went to the pasture and trok therefrom two very fine young horses, one of which belonged to the sister. The command then left, going in the direction of Hollow Port, and pass- ing but a few yards away from where Mr. McFarland was concealed in the brush. He had witnessed the taking of the horses, and the two negro men had witnessed his exit, which they compared to the flitting by of some spiritual apparition. After it was well believed that the midnight murderers had gone for good, the negro men ap- proached the woods and at a signal called their master to them. He came tremblingly, yet satisfying himself that all was well for him. Once there he delivered his orders, one of which was to bring him some suitable garments and the news from the seat of war. This was soon done, and all evidence of his safety being fully assured he began to take an invoice of himself to see if he was all together, and, strange as it may appear, his feet were not scratched, nor was a hem of his garment torn, and, stranger still, an old chronic crick which had set in his neck, and had been pronounced incurable by his phy-
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sicians, had disappeared, and the once perfectly stiff member was now as supple as a limber jack.
For this, of course, he was thankful, and as a solace for all that had passed thanked Providence for the cure, even though such terrible means had been used to produce the result. Having dressed himself in all that was left him, he made silent tracks, not to his home, but through the lonely woods in the direction of town. He pursued his journey with both eyes piercing in every direction and both ears sen- sitive to every rustle of the leaves. He came into the public road at John McCormick's just at daylight and followed it from there into the city.
From that time to November, 1865, three years therafter, Mr. McFarland slept away from his house. The attack was made upon his home a few days before General Adam Johnson captured New- burgh, and when that distinguished commander was pursued through Henderson County by Captain Union Bethel with thirty-eight mounted men from Newburgh and Col. Gavin with a regiment of in- fantry, Mr. McFarland accompanied the expedition with the hope of capturing some of the disturbers of his peace and happiness, and re- gain if possible his lost property. When John Patterson, one of Johnson's most daring soldiers, was shot through both eyes in the end of the lane of the old Samuels place, this side of Slaughtersville, McFarland was riding in the rear at the time and was the only man in the whole command who volunteered to get Patterson to some house where he could be carefully and comfortably provided for. He took him to the house of Mr. Samuels and there left him. At the time of Patterson's wounding he thought Bethel's men were rebels from the manner in which they were dressed, and laboring under this mistake, he with others, dashed into the road between the advance guard and the command, and at a loud voice gave the command "right and left face about." Seeing this Captain Bethel, Dr. McGill and Private Root dashed at him, but McGill's horse being the fleetest footed gave him the advantage and it was him who fired the shot that shut out the world to Patterson forever. Patterson's comrades escaped
On the first night out Bethel's command captured Willis Fields at his house on the old Knoblick Road near Robard's Station, and recaptured many of the guns, blankets, etc., taken by Johnson's command at the Newburgh surrender. Mr. McFarland was pres- ent just after the killing of Lieutenant Braydon, an account of which will be found under the head of Robards Station Precinct. He re- turned to Henderson with the remains of the dead lieutenant and
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was never again out with a scouting party. He has ever believed that he knew the men who were at his house on that terrible eleventh of July, 1862, and as the intelligence of each one's death reached him he was rejoiced of course.
It is said, with one or two exceptions, perhaps, the whole gang has been swept from the face of the earth, each one meeting a horrible death. After the war Mr. McFarland returned to his farm and labored hard to repair the loss incurred by lost time until last January, when he, as before stated, removed into the city. Unex- pectedly to him he succeeded during the war and just after its close in securing his long lost horses.
ROBARD'S STATION PRECINCT.
This precinct as now known was originally a part of District No. 1, with voting place in the town of Henderson. A few year there- after it became a part of District No. 2, with voting place at Gallo- way's, now in the Hebardsville Precinct. In 1851, after the adop- tion of the present constitution, a part of Robard's Station Precinct, as now known, voted at Randall Osburn's, and a part at Achilles Nor- ment's, then at Tillotson's, then at Charles Leig's. In 1875 the pres- ent district was formed.
At the formation of this precinct the voting place was established at George Rudy's old school house near McMullin's chapel. A short time thereafter it was changed to the Station. The eastern part of this precinct is rather hilly and rocky, the western level and very pro- ductive. Even the hilliest part of the district produces finely. The Green River hills produce the finest tobacco brought to this market. The district, as a general thing, is peopled by a thrifty, intelligent class of farmers, who are keeping step with this progressive age by building substantial plank fences in place of the old rail, and otherwise improving and enhancing the real and producing value of their realty. The improvement since the completion of the railroad has been very marked.
FIRST CHURCH AND SCHOOL.
George Rudy's school house, near McMullin's chapel, is the oldest in the district and is yet standing. This building has been used not only for school purposes but for church purposes also. Wash- ington Sale was the first teacher, and was followed by David Cowan, Frank Davis and Joseph C. Norman, between the years 1840 and '48. McMullins Chapel was the first house built exclusively for religious worship, known to have been built in the district since its formation.
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This house was built by the Methodist denomination, and was dedi- cated and consecrated in 1853 by Rev. William Edmunds. At Cherry Hill the regular Baptists have a church to which Rev. Spaurlin, of Caldwell County, makes regular visitations.
COAL MINES.
Within the last few years three surface mines have been opened, and a very fine article of coal taken therefrom. These mines are located one, two and three miles from the L. & N. R. R., and are owned respectively by A. J. Denton, L. M. Cheaney and Enoch Eak- kins.
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FRUIT NURSERY.
Near the station is where Parsons & Sandefur operated their large nursery, growing large stocks of fruit trees of all kinds indige- nous to this climate. They also grew all of the grape varieties.
THE WAR.
This precinct was kept at fever heat during a good portion of the war. Many of its citizens volunteered under Colonel Adam Johnson, and, during the time the recruiting service was executing its mission, many little skirmishes were had in and near its borders. Likewise, a number joined the Federal forces, and they were anxious that their homes should remain unmolested ; in other words, that the Confeder- ates keep out of their territory.
In the summer of 1862, Colonels Johnson and Martin, on their return from the Newburg raid to headquarters at Slaughtersville, Ky., were pursued by Captain Union Bethel and thirty-eight mounted New- burgers, supported by Colonel Gavin's regiment of infantry. Near the old Samuel's place, above Robard's Station, Captain Megill, of Bethel's command. shot John Patterson, of Sebree City, through both eyes. Patterson was one of Colonel Johnson's most daring soldiers and his shooting, of course, greatly enraged the Confederates. They then determined to punish the enemy in every way possible, and to this end ambushed them at every turn in the road Colonel Gavin's commissary supplies running low, he dispatched Lieutenant Braydon and a few men with wagons to Henderson for the purpose of getting fresh supplies. Gavin accompanied Lieutenant Braydon, wearing an ordinary linen duster, while the Lieutenant was dressed in full mili- tary suit. The two were riding along the lane just back of Robard's Station, and not over a mile away, and about one or two hundred yards in advance of the wagon train, when just opposite Parsons & Sandefur's nursery, a party of Confederates lying in ambush took de-
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liberate aim and fired. At the crack of their guns Lieutenant Bray- don and his horse both fell mortally wounded and died in a few min- utes. It would seem that each shot was aimed at Braydon (owing to his shining dress), for Colonel Gavin was but slightly wounded in the arm. At this fire Gavin dashed into the woods and scampered away as fast as his horse could carry him. The Confederates, in the mean- time, retreated in the opposite direction. Gavin soon found that his horse was giving away under him, and but a moment after discovered that the animal was badly wounded. Dismounting and leaving him in the woods, he footed it alone in this dangerous country until he came in sight of a house, which he cautiously approached to ask the way to Henderson. This was Mr. Franklin Lester's and that gentle- man, or some one of the household, kindly gave the Colonel the de- sired information. Colonel Gavin suffered terribly from his wound, yet hurried along through the woods and succeeded in reaching Hen- derson next morning. Braydon was fired at by fourteen men, and upon examination of his body it was found to be literally shot to pieces with buckshot.
Renz Fisher, a Captain in Colonel Johnson's command, and an officer of great personal daring, was raised in this precinct. His father lived a few miles from the Station on the Knoblick road, and during the summer of 1864, when the City of Henderson was invested by Federal soldiers, under command of Colonel John W. Foster, he ventured into the precinct and pitched camp a mile or more away from his father's house in the direction of Green River. News of this was brought to Foster, and by a returned Confederate soldier. Without divulging to his informant any of his plans, or making any promises, Foster very quietly ordered Lieutenant Carey, with double the number of men Fisher was represented to have had under him, to move out cautiously during the night, so as to be near the place of rendezvous by daylight the next morning. Lieutenant Carey had met Fisher before, and at one time received a bullet hole from his gun while in ambush along the roadside. Carey and his command ar- rived in sight of old man Fisher's house about one hour before day- light, and dismounted. He left a sufficient number of men to take care of the horses, and with the others proceeded on to a point in the woods opposite Fisher's house, where they secreted themselves, hoping to capture Renz Fisher and one or two of his men, whom be believed to be asleep in the house.
Just before or about sunrise, he heard the cracking of weeds and bushes and the rustling of leaves proceeding from a ravine or ditch
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in an old field lying directly to his right. Carey was ambushed near the corner of this old field and just across the Knoblick Road di- rectly in front of the Fisher homestead. It was but a few moments more when he discovered the form of a man cautiously moving up the ditch in the direction of the house. Every movement of his body and the keen, nervous, suspecting glances of his eyes, showed that he was guilty. He manifested an uneasiness, a cautiousness, which at once satisfied Lieutenant Carey that the man was a rebel soldier and just from the camp. He would move forward a few steps, then halt on tip-toe and take a careful survey of all that sur- rounded him ; his approach to the road was intensely nervous and cau- tious, yet he moved on, little thinking that the keen eye of one whom he had ambushed only a few weeks before was watching his every move- ment now, and that an unerring carbine cocked and primed, was pointed directly at him. He reached the fence only a short distance away from · Carey, he climbed it and was in a moment more standing in the cen- ter of the road, stretching his body, first surveying with rapid look in the direction of Henderson and then toward the Station. The long flowing curly locks which hung down his back glistened in the bright sunlight and all was now well with him. He turned his breast towards the very tree behind which his enemy lay secreted, and giving his head a gentle shake of self-satisfaction, started to move on in the di- rection of the house. An imaginary sound again attracted his atten- tion to the woods, and again halted, exposed to the full view of the enemy. During all of this exciting time Carey watched him with the eye of a hawk, endeavoring, if possible, to satisfy himself beyond peradventure that it was Renz Fisher. His carbine was pointed at him and a perfect bead drawn on his breast. As the doomed man straightened himself on tip-toe and gave one more shake of his head to disentangle his uncombed locks, Carey recognized him for certain and pulled trigger. Instantaneously at the report of the carbine the cautious rebel sprang into the air and fell full length upon the ground pierced through. This report brought out the inmates of the house, and soon old man Fisher was standing over the body of his dead boy in company with his slayer and other soldiers. The old man was called to identify the body, and protested he knew him not. Carey knew better, and drawing his carbine demanded that he tell or suffer the penalty of his duplicity. Then he took hold of the dead body, and with a shriek of pent-up anguish screamed aloud, " Oh, it is my boy, my darling boy !"
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The old man was then required to pilot the command to the rebel camp, which he did. On arriving there it was found that the last soldier had scampered away at the firing of the gun which had · killed their captain, leaving a few horses, guns and other camp equip- age. The body of the son was then given to the father and the com- mand returned to the city where Carey was greatly licnized. He at- tended the Presbyterian Church that day and worshipped as uncon- cernedly as though he had not ambushed and killed a human in the public highway, four or five hours previous to that time.
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