USA > Kentucky > Irish pioneers in Kentucky : a series of articles published in the Gaelic American > Part 4
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Burkesville, the county seat of Cumberland County, was named in honor of one of the original proprietors, who migrated there from Virginia.
BRILLIANT SON OF AN IRISH EXILE.
Daviess County is called after Colonel John H. Daviess. who was born in Bedford County. Va., in 1774. His father was an Irishman and his mother Scotch. His biographer says: "The marked peculiarities of each of those races were strongly developed in the character of their son. The hardy self-reliance. the indomitable energy and imperturbable coolness. which have from the earliest time distinguished the Scotch. were his; while the warm heart. free and open hand and ready springing tear of sensibility told in language plainer than words that the blood of Erin flowed fresh in his veins."
When five years old. his parents removed to Kentucky and settled near the present City of Danville, then an almost unbroken wilderness. "He volunteered in the service of the army in 1792. in a corps of men who were organized to protect the transportation of provisions to the forts north of the Ohio River. Here he saw mich service. When he returned home, he took up the study of law, became United States Attorney for the State of Kentucky, and in 1801 went to Washington, the first Western lawyer who had ever appeared in the Supreme Court of the United States." His speech in a celebrated case which he argued there placed him at once in the fore- most rank of his profession. It was he who prosecuted Aaron Burr for treason.
In IS11. he joined the army of General Harrison in his campaigns against the Indians on the Wabash, and was fatally wounded in the cele- brated battle of Tippecanoe on July 11. 1s11.
He is described as a magnificent specimen of Celtic manhood. of a remarkably commanding and impressive personal appearance. "As an orator," says Collins, "he had few equals and no superiors. The Judges of his time declared he was the most impressive speaker they ever heard."
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His death occasioned a great shock in the public mind throughout the State.
Among the early settlers of the County which took his name are mentioned Rileys. MeFarlands and Devereauxs, some of whose descendants were later members of the Kentucky Legislature.
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PIONEERS OF LEXINGTON.
The first known white visitor to what is now Fayette County was John Finley, who came down the Ohio in 1773. In the same year, with some members of the MeAfee party, Finley surveyed land in this county in the neighborhood of Frankfort. William McConnell explored the county in 1774. and in the following year "Patrick Jordan, Garrett Jordan and others met at Drennon's Liek in Henry County, and came to Elkhorn. where John Lee and Hugh Shannon joined them. thence up Elkhorn to the Forks to or near the place where Lexington now stands." These men headed an ex- tensive exploring and surveying expedition all through that section of Kentucky.
Several other Irish names are mentioned in the early history of this county. The Jordans and MeConnells, we are told, were "particularly active in making improvements. clearing out brushwood and laying claims." William Garrett. a surveyor, passed through there in 1775.
Lexington's first schoolmaster was John MeKinney, "a man of refine- ment and learning." who established there in 1780. Among its "first settlers" are mentioned MeGees. Collinses. McCallas, Barrys, Cartys, Lowrys, Pattersons, MeCrackens, Hogans. McBrides. Morrisons. Shannons, Brians. MeConnells and Mastersons. And among "the first lotholders of Lexington when the plan of the town was adopted and the lots disposed of," as quoted by Collins, we find such names as McDermid, McGinty, MeDonald. Kelly. Hayden, McMullins and Morrow.
The first cabin ever built on the site of the future city was occupied in April, 1776, by William McConnell. "The building of MeConnell's fort," to quote from an early description of Lexington, "sounded the death knell of the redinens' doom, although four years elapsed before a settlement could be made. In March. 1779. Colonel Robert Patterson set out from Harrodsburg at the head of 25 men and erected a blockhouse where Lexing- ton now is. On the very spot where the blockhouse stood, a hallowed spot in Lexington's infancy. John Carty erected a fine house. John Morrison was the first person within the walls of the fort."
The John Carty here referred to is mentioned as "one of the most respected citizens of Lexington." He was born in New Jersey in 1764, emigrated to Lexington shortly after the close of the war and fought against the Indians at the battle of Fallen Timber under General Anthony Wayne. His son, John Carty, who was born in Lexington in 1806. is described as "the most successful ( Kentucky ) merchant of his time, a man of remarkable judgment and sagacity, generous and popular."
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Irish Pioneers in Kentucky.
Judges, Legislators and Other Leading Citizens Descended From Some of the Early Irish Settlers of the Blue Grass State.
Bryan's Station, about five miles from Lexington, was established by four brothers named Bryan from North Carolina, who settled there in 1779. Their father's name was Morgan Brian or O'Brian, who is supposed to have been the son of an Irishman, but all his descendants spelled the name "Bryan."
A similar transformation in name took place in the case of the ancestors of William Jennings Bryan of Nebraska, who settled in this country.
The Colonial Records of North Carolina say that, his original ancestor, William Brian, came to America from Ireland and first settled in Isle of Wight County, Va. He married Alice Needham. The date of his coming is not given, but that it was early in the Colonial period is seen from the fact that his son. Needham Bryan, was born on February 23, 1690. About 1722 William Brian, with two of his sons, Needham and John. went to North Carolina and settled in Pasquotank County.
William Jennings Bryan is directly descended from another son of the Irish immigrant. William, who remained in Virginia. Needham Bryan settled at Snowfield. Bertie County, N. C. He married three times and had a family by each wife. The genealogy of the Bryans is, therefore, quite complicated. It is given in full in the North Carolina Genealogical and Historical Register for October, 1900.
The descendants of the Irish pioneer seem to be scattered all over the South. They married into some very prominent Southern families, and the names of the several of them appear on the rosters of the army of the Revolution.
Morgan Brian, whose sons established Bryan's Station in Kentucky, may have been of the same family as the Bryans of Bertie and Pasquotank Counties. What a pity that they should have changed the princely patrouymic of their Irish forefathers!
BRYANS AND HOGANS.
"Bryan's Station was a frontier post." says Collins, "and, consequently, was much harassed by the Indians and was greatly exposed to the hostility
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of the savages. The redmen were constantly lurking in the neighborhood, waylaying the paths. stealing horses and butchering cattle. At length it became necessary to hunt in large parties so as to be able to repel the attacks which were daily becoming more bold and frequent."
"On May 20, 1779, two parties set out. one in command of William Bryan and the other under James Hogan. Bryan was killed. and Hogan's party, after being pursued by a band of Indians, returned to the encamp- ment which, in the meantime, another band of redskins had attacked." Hogan and his men soon put them to flight. On August 14, 1782. Bryan's Station was the scene of another fierce attack by 600 Indians, under the leadership of a notorious white man named Simon Girty. who is said to have been the son of an Irishman. The Indians were repulsed. one of the leaders in the defence having been Captain James McBride. Four days after was fought the famous battle of Blue Liek, in which. says the historians, "McBride was long remembered for his bravery."
Another conspicuous figure in frontier life was John Masterson, "who risked many a danger to ren ler comfort to those he loved within the fort." Others who were prominent in assisting in the defense of Bryan's Station were the MeConnells, "who took part in many thrilling adventures."
A DISTINGUISHED IRISH-AMERICAN.
According to Collins. Colonel James Morrison, "one of the most wealthy and influential citizens of Lexington." was born in Cumberland County, Pa., in 1755. "He was the son of a poor Irish immigrant. and his native strength of mind gradually elevated him above his humble origin. He served six years in the Revolutionary army and distinguished himself in one of Morgan's select corps of riflemen."
After the war he went into business at Pittsburg and became Sheriff of the County. In 1792 he removed to Lexington, where he was succes- sively Land Commissioner, Member of the Legislature, Supervisor of the Revenue, and Quartermaster-General of the army in the war of 1812.
He was a bank president and chairman of the Board of Trustees of Transylvania University. He is described as "a man of commanding ap- pearance. a typical Celt. stern but courteous. of great decision of character, native talent, wide experience and considerable reading. He acquired immense wealth. which he disbursed with elegant hospitality and the promotion of letters, the type of man who made Kentucky famous."
And this leading citizen was "the son of a poor Irish immigrant."
William T. Barry, who was born in Virginia on February 5. 1783. was a citizen of Lexington. to where he removed in early life. There is no reference made to his parents, but that he was descended from one of Vir- ginia's Trish settlers there is no room for doubt.
Collins says of him: "Among the many distinguished men who re- flected honor upon the West. William T. Barry ranks high for great ability and lofty virtues. No man has figured so largely in the well-contested field of Western politics, or over left it with fewer enemies or a larger number of admiring and devoted friends."
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MEMBER OF JACKSON'S CABINET ..
He continued to reside in Lexington, and between 1800 and 1805 was one of the foremost lawyers in Kentucky. He removed to Washington in 1820 to form a part of President Jackson's Cabinet, and in 1835 was ap- pointed Minister to Spain. "During the war of 1812, when Governor Shelby led his countrymen to take vengeance on England and her savage allies for the massacre of the River Raisin and Fort Meigs, Barry had the post of one of his aides. He served as Major of Volunteers all through a severe and glorious campaign, which terminated in the capture of the British army. the death of Tecumseh, and the conquest of a large portion of Upper Canada." There is a monument erected to Barry's honor in the public square of Lexington. 1687293
In grouping the great lawyers of Kentucky, Collins puts in the front rank Barry. Rowan. Haggin and Bledsoe-one Indian and three Irish names, and all four called "Anglo-Saxons" by some of the historians of the Blue Grass State.
Dr. Charles Caldwell, "distinguished as a medical professor and as a vigorous and voluminous writer," was one of the early physicians of Lex- ington. Collins says he was the son of an Irish officer who had emigrated to Caswell County, N. C., where Charles was born in 1772.
"At the age of 14, he was a fine classical scholar and opened and taught in succession two grammar schools until he was 17." He graduated at the leading medical school of Philadelphia, and was U. S. Surgeon in the famous "Whiskey Insurrection" in Western Pennsylvania.
The Captain James MeBride before mentioned, of Revolutionary and Indian war fame, erected a grist mill about 1785 on South Elkhorn Creek, the first in that section. In ITS9 MeBride was killed while surveying on the waters of Licking River, twenty miles from Lexington.
IRISH PROMINENT IN FLEMING COUNTY.
Fleming County was named in honor of Colonel John Fleming. who removed from Virginia to Kentucky in 1787. In 1790, he settled Fleming's Station, where he lived till his death in 1794. He was in several Indian fights. One of his neighbors was William Keenan, who was a prominent man in the county. He fought under General St. Clair and "never entirely recovered from the terrible exertions of St. Clair's campaign of 1791."
In the Senate from Fleming County were Michael Cassidy, from 1800 to 1806: William P. Fleming in IS19, William B. O'Bannion in 1819, and from 1824 to 1827; and later, John S. Cavan.
In the House of Representatives from Fleming County were William Keenan in 1799. John Finley in 1800. William G. Lowry from 1805 to 1813. Michael Cassidy in 1798 and in 1808 and from 1817 to 1822; Wil- liam B. O'Bannion from IS18 to 1822: Edward H. Powers in 1827. JJohn A. Cavan in 1847, and Edward F. Dulin in 1850. all descendants of Irish settlers in that vicinity, with the exception of Cassidy, who was born in Ireland.
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When we bear in mind that some of these men went to the Legislature at a time when the future policy of the yet infant Commonwealth had to be formed, when there was no beaten road, when new questions of finance had to be decided. and the relations of the State to her sisters and to the gen- eral Government had to be determined, they must needs have been possessed of the highest qualities of statesmanship. from which fact we can readily form an idea of the sterling worth of these descendants of the "Exiles from Erin," and of their usefulness to the then infant State of Kentucky."
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Footsteps of the Gael in Kentucky.
Many Irish Pioneers Among Those Who First Penetrated the Wilderness and Built the Forts and Highways-The Kennedys.
William Kennedy headed an exploring party that passed through Lewis County in 1773. James Gilmore and a party passed through there in 1775. In the following year Colonel James Fleming. William MeClary and two others descended the Ohio River and made improvements in this region. Captain Michael Cassidy is also mentioned as interested in lands in this county in 1780, as well as Henry Higgins, Samuel Moore and Andrew, Francis and William McConnell.
Among the Indian fighters who are mentioned in the history of Lincoln County were three young men named Davis, Caffree and Robert Mcclure. Robert's brother. Captain William McClure, who lived at Stanford, was one of General Logan's trusted officers in his Indian campaign.
The first court ever held in Kentucky was for Lincoln County, and was organized at Harrodsburg on January 16, 1781. A commission from the Governor of Virginia was produced which "appointed thirteen gentle- men Justices of the Peace to hold the County Court, and Commissioners of any Court of Over and Terminer for the trial of slaves." Among the thirteen Justices were Benjamin and John Logan, John Cowan. John Kennedy, Hugh McGarry, William Craig. William McBride and William MeAfee.
"Butler's History of Kentucky" says that "John Reed, an Irishman, who emigrated to Virginia about the middle of the eighteenth century, was one of the pioneers of Lincoln County, where he built a fort in 1779." "There are," says Butler, "Many men in the State of distinguished talents, who trace their ancestry to this John Reed." His son, Thomas B. Reed, was United States Senator from Mississippi. Among the first regimental officers appointed to the patriot army from Lincoln County were John Logan, Lieutenant Colonel, in January, 1781, and Hugh MeGarry, Major, in the following July.
One of the representatives from Madison County in the Kentucky Senate in 1792 was Thomas Kennedy, and in the Lower House in later years were Representatives William McClannahan, Joseph Collins and B. C. Moran, descendants of Irish settlers in that locality. Among the first explorers who are known to have set foot in Madison County were .James
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Mooney and Joseph Holden, who passed through there in 1773 with Daniel Boone. Its second known white visitors were some of the MeAfee party in the summer of 1773. ( From MSS, of the General and Natural History of Kentucky, by General R. B. McAfee, 1806. )
THE KENNEDY FAMILY.
The story of the Kennedy family in early Kentucky history is a remarkable one. They are found at Harrodsburg in 1774, when the first permanent white settlement was established in that vicinity. They were the leaders of the "strenuous life" in Central Kentucky, and many incidents are related indicating that they were ever foremost in resisting the attacks of the Indians on the scattered settlements established by the white man. They were with Logan. and Clark and Wayne in the cruel border warfare that raged for many years during and after the Revolutionary period. There was hardly a battle or skirmish fought in Kentucky in which a Kennedy did not take some active part.
According to the published Narrative of Felix Walker, one of the companions of Boone. the first road. or "trace." as it was then called. built through Madison County was laid out by John Kennedy in the year 1775. It was "eut from the Long Island on the Holston River to Boonesbourough, on the Kentucky River." The building of this road, according to Walker's Narrative, "revealed to the explorers the unbounded beauties and richness of Kentucky. so that a new sky and strange earth seemed to be presented to. their view." The news was spread around by travelers, and very soon settlers were attracted from the neighboring colonies, who penetrated through the central portion of Kentucky, bringing their families in cara- vans.
It is incidents like this that illustrate the worth of the hardy Irish settlers and their sons, who, in the early days of the great Southwest, pushed through the wilderness with a determination that soon conquered Nature in its wildest, primeval state. In the building of the roads, the clearing of the forests, the bridging of the streams: in the establishment of the first settlements and the erection of forts and stations for pro- tection of the settlements against the attacks of the prowling savages. men bearing Irish names are mentioned with the other pioneers in almost every historical record of Kentucky.
We have endeavored to trace the nationality of John Kennedy, the first road builder of Central Kentucky, but are unable to find anything on record to indicate the place of his nativity. He was one of four sons of Thomas Kennedy, and it is probable that he was a native of either Kentucky or Virginia.
KIDNAPPED FROM IRELAND.
A Thomas Kennedy, who was the son of James Kennedy-mentioned in one of our previous papers as having been kidnapped from Ireland. when a boy of seven and sold in Maryland for a term of years-and who was a very prominent settler of Bourbon County, may possibly have been the father of the pioneer roadbuilder. Bourbon and Madison are separated
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only by Clark County. John Kennedy built a fort in Bourbon County, at a place now known as Kennedy's Station, situate about midway between the towns of Glenkenny and Doneraile.
Thomas Kennedy's four sons were a noteworthy set of pioneer brothers. One of them, "Dave" Kennedy, was known as a "bully." Collins says he wis "a man of remarkable physical development, whom few would have the hardihood to encounter." He lived at a small place called Milford, in Madison County, where the courthouse was. In 1789, when the court was ordered to be removed to Richmond, a bitter feeling of opposition was manifested by the people. "They gathered together to the number of 300, headed by Thomas Kennedy and his four sons, ""Dave"' Kennedy offered to whip anybody who was in favor of the removal. At last. William Keriey was found, who consented to fight him in the stray pen if nobody interfered." The fight was a memorable one in that section. and. al- though "Dave" Kennedy. the local pride of Milford, exerted all his prowess, he was unable to conquer his adversary from Richmond, and after the contest was declared "a draw" a compromise was arranged about the re- moval of the courthouse, and the bully's brother. Joseph Kennedy, was appointed the first Sheriff of the county.
A CELEBRATED IRISH-AMERICAN JURIST.
One of the neighboring counties to Madison was Boyle, called after Chief Justice John Boyle. and it is curious to observe, in examining the records. that the name of this celebrated Irish-American lawyer is mis- pelled "Bowles" and was mispronounced in that way for many years throughout Kentucky.
John Boyle is noted as having been the first to plant peaches in Madison County. in October. 1775. The first school in Boonesborough was taught by Joseph Doniphan in 1779. when 22 years old. He was the grandfather of Chancellor and Joseph Doniphan, of Angusta. Ky .. and father of General Alexander Doniphan. of St. Louis. He went to Madison County in 1778 from Virginia, and returned in 1780. He was a Justice of the Peace in Stafford County, Virginia, in 1997. and some records now in possession of his de-eendants (in Indianapolis) show that George Washington was several times a litigant before him. suing for small sums. We have not the slightest doubt but that "Doniphan" is a corruption of the Irish name, Donovan.
Colonel William Irvine and his brother. Captain Christopher Irvine, established themselves in Madison County in 1778 or 1779. near where Richmond now is. In 1576. Christopher raised a company and joined an expedition against the Indians under General Logan, and was killed. Col- onel William Irvine fought at the battle of Little Mountain in 1782, where he was severely wounded. He is referred to as "a man of estimable character and high standing." He was Clerk of the County Courts and served in the Virginia Legislature before Kentneky was formed into a State. The Irvines are supposed to have been of Irish descent. General William Irvine, of the Revolution. as is known to our readers, was a native of County Fermanagh.
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THE COUNTY DOWN IMMIGRANTS.
Magoffin County was named in honor of Beriah Magoffin, who became Governor of Kentucky. Ile was born at Harrodsburg in 1815, on a farm inherited from his father, who came from County Down. His mother was a granddaughter of Samuel MeAfee.
William MleElroy, "one of the first settlers of Marion County," was also the son of an immigrant from County Down. He came to Kentucky in ITSS in company with his father and two uncles and their families- fifty-four persons in all. They settled in the neighborhood of Lebanon.
The early records of Mason County indicate the presence of a number of its pioneers who bore Irish names. Several companies of adventurers and explorers visited what is now Mason County in 1773. among them the MeAfee brothers, and the company of Captain Thomas Bullitt's surveyors and assistants, in which were John Fitzpatrick, Joseph Drennon and John Doran. The papers left by the MeAfee brothers show that these companies came down the Ohio in June, 1773, and camped for several days at the place where the City of Maysville now stands. In July following John Finley passed through the eastern part of the county with General .William Thompson's party from Pennsylvania. This course of surveys was quite extensive, and embraced the richest lands in that section.
In 1774 and 1775 several companies of "Improvers" came to Mason County selecting and surveying the rich cane lands-among whom are mentioned the McConnell brothers. MeCellands. Mastersons, several of the Kennedys, James Gilmore and Fitzpatrick and Doran. In June, 1775, we find mention of John Lafferty and Hugh Shannon, who were members of the company which in that month gave the name of Lexington to the spot where that beautiful city now stands. In 1776. Lafferty and Shannon were joined by Bartholomew Fitzgerald, who selected a site and built a mill dam, which even to this day is known as Fitzgerald's Mill.
Numbers of other pioneers are mentioned in the early history of this county, bearing Irish names, such as Patrick Jordan, James Kelly, William Kelly, John Fitzgerald, John McGrew, Thomas White, William McClary, John Fleming, John Lyons, William Graden, and Henry Boyle. These were among the very first improvers and surveyors that passed through the wilderness of this section of Kentucky, and some of whom later re- turned and settled down permanently in the rich lands which they had laid out. There certainly is no dearth of Irish names among the pioneers of Kentucky.
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Irish Settlers in Kentucky.
Amusing Story of Michael Cassidy Outwitting the Indian Warriors-Kean O'Hara, Father of the Famous
Kentucky Poet, Was a United Irishman.
The early emigrants to Kentucky had many difficulties and dangers to surmount before effecting a permanent settlement. They carried their lives in their hands. The Indians gave them no rest night or day. "From the date of their first permanent settlement in 1773," says the historian, "to that of Wayne's decisive victory and the subsequent treaty of Greene- ville in 1795, a period of over 20 years, Kentucky was a continual battle- ground between the whites and the Indians, the latter ceaselessly endeavor- ing to break up the Colonies, and the former struggling to maintain their position."
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