USA > Kentucky > The Commercial history of the Southern States covering the post-bellum period Kentucky > Part 14
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Metcalfe County was formed in 1860, the greater part of it being cut from the eastern portion of Barren County, the counties of Monroe, Cumberland, Hart, and Green furnishing small additions to same. It is situated near the center of the southern border of the State. It was named in honor of Thomas Metcalfe, the tenth governor of the State.
It is drained by the Little Barren River, which flows along its entire eastern bound- ary, and the principal tributary of same, the South Fork, which flows through the central part of the county. In fertility the soil of the county may be classed in a general way as on an average with the best in this section of the State.
There has been no gas or oil developed in this county, but it is considered as being within the limits of the vast oil field which has been worked with such success in ad- joining counties. The county is well tim- bered, oak and beech preponderating; there are ash, hickory, and other hard woods, and also some poplar.
Diversified farming is not engaged in. The principal products of the farms are corn, wheat, oats, and tobacco. There are no navigable streams in the county and no turnpike roads. There are no railroads in the county.
The average price of farm lands is $6 per acre. The farms of the county are cultivated mostly by native white labor, the average price paid such laborers being $8 per month, with board.
The educational facilities of the county are such as are supplied by the common school system and the Edmonton Male and Female Academy. The public schools are well attended and conducted, and are in good condition. The taxation for county purposes is 10 cents on the $100. Poll tax, SI.25.
Edmonton, the county seat of Metcalfe County, is situated near the center of the county on the south fork of Little Barren River. It is a small town, has a nice public square and good court house; a church. public school house, a private school house, several general stores, two drug stores, and a splendid hotel : also one first-class roller mill and one bank.
MONROE COUNTY
POPULATION (CENSUS 1900), 13,053. COUNTY SEAT, TOMPKINSVILLE.
Situated in the Third Congressional, Second Appellate, Twenty-ninth Judicial, Nineteenth Senatorial, and Thirty-fifth Legislative Districts.
Monroe is the eighty-fifth in the alpha- betical order of counties, and is bounded its entire length on the south by Tennes- see. The county was organized in IS20 from parts of Cumberland and Barren.
The Cumberland River runs through the eastern part of the county, and its tribu- taries are few, notably, Meshack, Little and Big Sulphur, Big and Little McFar. land. Barren River and its tributaries drain more than three fourths of the county, the entire northern, central, and western part.
Creeks, brooks, rivulets, and never-
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failing springs are numerous. No county in the State has a more equally distrib- uted supply of water than this. The soil, bv reason of its clav bottom. is suscep- tible of the highest degree of improve- ment. Fields that have been barren and abandoned for many years have been re- cently refenced, and are producing abun- dant crops by the judicious use of ferti- lizer. About 40 per cent of the acreage of the county is in its primeval state and covered with luxuriant forest trees-such as oak, poplar, hickory, chestnut, beech, ash, etc.
Farming is mainly confined to the cul- ture of cereals, but in recent years farmers are devoting some attention to fruit grow- ing. The climate is well suited to the growth and development of all staple fruits, viz., apples, pears, peaches, cher- ries, grapes, and plums, while the forest usually abounds with wild fruits. All kinds of small fruits grow in abundance in the fields without cultivation. The Cumber- land is the only navigable stream in the county. Farm laborers get from $7 to $ 12 per month, according to age and experi- ence.
Tompkinsville, the county seat, was named for Vice-President Tompkins. It is located near the center of the county. It is practically a new town, as it was al- most entirely destroyed by fire some ten years ago. It has three churches. and there are four large dry goods stores, three drug stores, two fine roller mills, shops, and four newspapers. The busi- ness houses are mostly of brick, and many fine and costly residences add to the beauty of this splendid inland town. The Monroe County Deposit Bank is a well- established banking-house and is doing a thriving business. The public buildings- court house and county jail-are handsome structures constructed on modern plans.
The Tompkinsville Normal School, a chartered institution, is located here. Other colleges are located in the county. " The Didactic High School " at Gama- liel. The Monroe Normal School is located at Flippin. The public schools are exceed- ingly prosperous, far above the average, and are in the hands of an able corps of teachers, many of whom hold State certifi- cates, and quite a large percentage hold first-class county certificates.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
POPULATION (CENSUS 1900), 12, 834.
Situated in the Tenth Congressional, Seventh Appellate, Twenty-first Judicial, Twenty-eighth Senatorial. and Ninetieth Legislative Districts.
Montgomery County was formed in the year 1796 out of Clark, and was the twenty- second in the history of the State. It was named in honor of General Richard Mont- gomery. At the date of its formation it comprised a very large territory, but at various dates since then portions of it have been repeatedly taken to form other counties, no less than eighteen counties having been either wholly or partly made from the original county.
COUNTY SEAT, MT. STERLING.
The land for the greater part is gently rolling and well adapted for agricultural pursuits. In the southeastern portion of the county it is more broken and hilly.
While there are no large streams of water, there are many creeks and small streamns which furnish an abundant supply during the driest of seasons.
The county is all bluegrass except the extreme southern and southeastern parts. Being naturally rich, and having a clay backing of six to ten feet before striking rock, the soil is peculiarly adapted to rais- ing good crops, even during an extended drouth.
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The principal crops are corn, tobacco, wheat, oats, rye, and various grasses. Quite an item of profit is being made in gathering bluegrass seed.
Like most other bluegrass counties trav- ersed by railroads, most of the tiniber has been cut down, though in the southern and southeastern portions of the county there are still standing many fine bodies of timber. This timber is chiefly oak, aslı, walnut, sugar maple, poplar, and chestnut.
The Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad runs through the county and furnishes direct means of transportation to the seacoast. A branch of this road extends from Mt. Sterling to Rothwell, in Menifee County.
There are one hundred miles of turn- pikes, all free of toll, and about one hun- dred miles of good country roads.
In addition to a good commnon school system, there is at Mt. Sterling a large public graded high school, which is main- tained by local taxation in addition to the State per capita.
There are also several private high schools and academies, all well patronized.
The labor employed on the farm is simi- lar to that in other bluegrass counties, and prices received therefor run from $ 12 to $15 per month.
Mt. Sterling, the county seat, is a thriv- ing and energetic city of 5,000 inhabitants, situated on the Chesapeake & Ohio Rail- road, and is thirty-three miles east of Lexington. It is known as the " Gate City" from the fact that it is the general distributing point for the mountain coun- ties beyond. It has four large wholesale groceries, two roller flouring mills, a woolen factory, ice and electric light plants, ma- chine shops, three banks, many large and thriving retail stores, fine church buildings, macadam street and brick and stone side- walks, splendid system of water-works, magnificent new court house, a handsome new city hall. Besides having a local telephone exchange, it is connected withi the rest of the State by long-distance tele- phone. Mt. Sterling is one of the best cattle markets in the State.
MORGAN COUNTY
POPULATION (CENSUS 1900), 12,792. COUNTY SEAT, WEST LIBERTY.
Situated in the Tenth Congressional, Seventh Appellate, Twentieth Judicial, Thirty-fourth Senatorial and Ninety-first Legislative Districts.
Morgan County is in middle eastern Kentucky, and was organized as a county in 1822 out of territory taken from Floyd and Bath counties.
The Licking runs through the central portion of the county in a southeastern direction, while its numerous tributaries drain the county from each side of that river. The soil of the county along the bottoms of the Licking and other streams is very strong and fertile, and abundant crops are raised. This is, however, a
distinctively mineral and timber county. The largest deposits of cannel coal in the world are found in this county. Bitumin. ous coal and iron are also found in inex- haustible quantities, as is also the finest building stone. The timber resources of this county are unexcelled, and notwith- standing the large number of logs which have been rafted out of the county fully fifty per cent of the virgin forests yet remain. Oak, hickory, ash, pine, beech, walnut, and poplar are the leading species of trees. Large tracts of valuable timbered land can be purchased at very reasonable prices per acre.
The Licking River is the only stream in
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the county navigable, and that only for small steamers. There are no turnpikes in the county.
The inhabitants of Morgan are steady, industrious, law-abiding. peaceful. and hos- pitable. Intemperance and crime are al- most wholly unknown now to the county. There has not been a licensed saloon in the county for eighteen years. There is
a good church and school house in every district in the county.
West Liberty is the county seat of Morgan County, and is situated near the center of the county on the Licking River. It is a nice, quiet little village, with enter- prising merchants, good church and school house, and population of nearly five hundred.
MUHLENBERG COUNTY
POPULATION (CENSU'S 1900), 20,741. COUNTY SEAT, GREENVILLE.
Situated in the Third Congressional, Second Appellate. Seventh Judicial, Seventh Senatorial,
and Eighteenth Legislative Districts.
Muhlenberg County is situated in mid- dle western Kentucky and was formed out of parts of Logan and Christian in 1798. Green, Big Muddy, and Pond rivers, with their numerous tributaries, afford ample drainage and a fine supply of water.
The surface of the county is rather roll- ing, though much of it is broken and even hilly; the character of the soil, speaking in a general way, is a sandy loam, and quite productive; especially in the northern por- tion of the county is good farming land. This county is, however, more noted for great wealth of minerals. Coal and iron of the best quality abound in the county in the largest and richest veins and diepos- its, both of which have been largely de- veloped.
The best and finest timber also abounds throughout this county. Oak, poplar, walnut, beech, ash, and pine are all plentiful, and the supply is sufficient to last many years. Diversified farming is not engaged in to any extent, but the same could be profitably followed if mar. kets were easier of access, for this is a
splendid county in which to raise melons and vegetables, the soil seeming to be especially adapted to same, and fruits of all kinds known to our latitude do well.
Green River, on the eastern boundary, is navigable for steamers, and being con- trolled by the Federal government is free for navigation. Other streams within the county and on its boundary are only navi- gable for flatboats and rafts.
There are about fifty-four miles of com- pleted railroad in the county. The Louis- ville & Nashville runs through the eastern part and the Illinois Central Railroad runs near the central portion of the county.
The staples of the farm are corn, wheat, oats, hay, and tobacco, tobacco being the principal product.
The educational facilities of this county are good. The common schools of the county are all well attended, are under good inanagement, supplied with competent teachers, and the districts have good, comfortable school houses.
Greenville is the county seat of Muhlen- berg County, and is located near the cen- ter of the county on the Illinois Central Railroad; it is a flourishing town, with enterprising merchants, good hotels and schools. with commodious church build- ings and live congregations.
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NELSON COUNTY
POPULATION (CENSUS 1900), 16,587. COUNTY SEAT, BARDSTOWN.
Situated in the Fourth Congressional, Third Appellate, Tenth Judicial, Four- teentli Senatorial, and Thirty-ninth Legis- lative Districts.
Col. Isaac Fox, with others, in the spring of 1775, were the first settlers of what is now Nelson County, and located their fort on Cox's Creek, which was called " Cox's Station." A permanent settle- ment was made in 1778 by Capt. Samuel Pottinger, on Pottinger's Creek, where a fort was built, and on Simpson's Creek Thomas Polk and his companions settled and built a fort also. The present site of Bardstown was settled in 1776 and named " Salem." and in 1782 was surveyed and regularly laid off and name changed to Bairdstown in honor of David Baird. Jolin Fitch, inventor of the steamboat, moved to Bardstown in 1778, died in 1798, and was buried in the Town Grave Yard." In October, 1784, Patrick Henry, Governor of Virginia, approved the act to establish the county of Nelson, the fourth county of the territory.
The northeastern part of the county is rolling bluegrass land, very fertile and highly productive. The land in and around Bardstown is a plateau, through which the water courses have cut deep
valleys. The western and southern parts of the county are crossed by a range of knobs, on each side of which flow the Beech and Rolling forks, bordered by broad alluvial bottoms. The knobs are all fine timbered lands, much of which is virgin forest. There are 46,000 acres of woodland in the county. The Rolling Fork is the southern and southwestern boundary of the county, while the Beech Fork, for a distance of fifteen miles, is the eastern boundary, wlience it turns, flows west through the central part of the county to join the Rolling Fork. Both streamns are capable of being made navi- gable by a system of locks and dams. The county has about 225 miles of turn- pike roads.
Hydraulic limestone in a bed twelve to eighteen inches thick comes in under the lowest bench of magnesian limestone in a hill southwest of Whitrow Creek, and also on Buffalo Creek. Iron ore rich enough for profitable smelting is found in the knobs between the Rolling and Beech forks, the kidney ore from near Nelson Furnace showing 35.64 per cent of iron.
Farm labor may be had from $12 to $15 per month. The county has 110 bonded indebtedness.
NICHOLAS COUNTY
POPULATION (CENSUS 1900), 11, 952. COUNTY SEAT, CARLISLE.
Situated in the Ninth Congressional, Sixth Appellate, Eighteenth Judicial, Thir- tietli Senatorial, and Eighteenth Legis- lative Districts.
Nicholas County lies on the border of what is famed as the bluegrass section of Kentucky. Its lands produce the finest white Burley tobacco raised; its corn,
wheat, and other products are yielded in abundance, and its stock interests are large and lucrative.
Licking River runs through the north- ern portion of the county, and the various sinaller streams furnish abundance of stock water.
The churchies and schools are abundant
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and prosperous. The public roads are all macadamized, and are free. The timber has about all been cut away.
Carlisle, the county seat, is one of the most attractive towns in the State. The court house is one of the most beautiful and complete. A dozen thriving villages dot the county.
Historically, Nicholas County is well known. Lying within her borders are the two famous " Blue Lick Springs, " known to early history as the two " salt springs of the Licking." It was at the lower lick that Daniel Boone and his fellow salt- makers were captured by Indians and carried to Detroit as prisoners, where the French commandant offered one hundred
pounds sterling for him. It was also at the lower Blue Lick that the disastrous battle of August 19, 1782, was fought, and this spot is now being made famous again by the exhuining of manimoth bones and indisputable evidences that civilized man existed even before the extinguish- ment of the giant beasts of the forest. Underneath the fossil bones and tusks of immense animals have been lately discovered a well-laid and much worn stone pavement, pieces of an iron vessel, and charcoal.
The Louisville & Nashville Railroad runs through the center of the county, and furnishes abundant transportation for freight and passengers.
OHIO COUNTY
POPULATION (CENSUS 1900), 27, 287. COUNTY SEAT, HARTFORD.
Situated in the Fourth Congressional, Second Appellate, Sixth Judicial, Seventli Senatorial, and Twenty-sixth Legislative Districts.
This county is one of the largest in territory and bids fair to soon become one of the largest in population and wealth in the State. On the south and west it is bounded by Green River. Running through the center of the county is Rough River, a navigable stream which drains a large and fertile region.
There are numerous smaller streams and creeks, the valleys of which, like that of the rivers, are very rich and productive of all our staple products. The adjacent hills or uplands are not so enduring in fertility.
Tobacco, wheat, oats, clover, red top, timothy and orchard grass grow well. Hogs, horses, mules, and sheep are raised in large numbers, of the best and most improved breeds.
The county is exceptionally fortunate in its supply of the cheapest and best of transportation for heavy freights by
water. The county has in addition to her water facilities 54.92 miles of railroad within her borders, the Illinois Central owning and operating through the entire county between Green and Rough rivers. The same company also operates a branch road from Horse Branch, traversing a fine coal field by Olaton, Fordsville, and Deanefield, Ohio County, to Owensboro, Daviess County. The Irvington branch of the Louisville, Henderson & St. Louis extends front Irvington, on the main line, for a distance of nine miles in Olio County to Fordsville.
The supply of timber, once so abundant, is rapidly disappearing, and yet after the many years of its waste there was never so much "logging " for local and Evansville markets as at present. Suffi- cient oak, poplar, ash. gum. hickory, and chestnut timber remain for all purposes. Coal exists in superior quality and unlimited quantity, especially between the Illinois Central and Green River. Iron ore is also found in the same locality, and on Rough River, near Hartford.
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The county is well supplied with free schools, and in no part of it need any family be too far removed to patronize a good school. Haruoid, Beaver Dam, and Fordsville each have a graded school.
Hartford, on Rough River, is the county seat, in a rich farming and timber region.
It has a population of 1,200, two banks, tile, stave, and tobacco factories, and good two-story brick business houses. Beaver Dam, on Illinois Central, is an important shipping point for Ohio and Butler coun- ties, has a fine bank and does a good business.
OLDHAM COUNTY
POPULATION (CENSUS 1900), 70,78. COUNTY SEAT, LAGRANGE.
Situated in the Seventh Congressional, Third Appellate, Twelfth Judicial, Twenty-first Senatorial, and Fifty-second Legislative Districts.
Oldham was created in the year 1723 from portions of Henry, Shelby, and Jefferson counties, and was named after Colonel Wm. Oldham, a gallant officer in the Revolutionary War, who came to Ken- tucky in 1779 from Beverly County, Vir- ginia, and settled near the Falls of the Ohio. Oldham County lies in the north middle part of the State, and is bordered on the north by about twenty miles of the Ohio River.
The soil is fairly good and the whole county is well adapted to farming and stock raising. The land produces wheat,
corn, tobacco, oats, and various grasses in abundance. The county is very healthy, being of a high altitude, well watered by springs and two large creeks, Floyd's Fork and Harrod's Creek, which flow through the entire county, from east to west.
The L., C. & L. branch of the L. & N. railroad traverses the county from west to east for twenty miles.
Lagrange, the county seat, has a population of about 1. 100. with streets well macadamized, shade trees in abun- dance, no tax license for several years; has two banks and seven churches.
Other towns in the county are Ballards- ville, Floydsburg, Pewee Valley, Goshen. Brownsboro, and Westport on the Ohio River.
OWEN COUNTY
POPULATION (CENSUS 1900), 17,553. COUNTY SEAT, OWENTON.
Situated in the Seventh Congressional, Fifth Appellate, Fifteenth Judicial, Twenty-third Senatorial, and Sixteenth Legislative Districts.
Was the sixty-seventh county organized, and was formed in IS19 out of parts of Franklin, Scott, and Gallatin. It was named in honor of Colonel Abraham Owen, a distinguished citizen and soldier. The general character of the soil of Owen is limestone upon a clay foundation. It
produces a superior quality of Burley tobacco, corn, all kinds of small grain, grasses, and fruits. The county is also well adapted to stock raising, being admirably watered and growing all the best grasses, bluegrass among the rest. Owenton, the county seat, a prosperous and growing country town, is pleasantly situated in the center of the county. Besides Owenton, there are some eight or ten small towns and villages scattered
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over the county, most of which are in a prosperous condition. The Kentucky River bounds the county on the south. and the Short-line Branch of the Louis- ville & Nashville Railroad runs on or near the line of the county for some twenty- odd miles on the northwest, and the Cincinnati branch of the Louisville & Nashville railroad runs along the northern border.
Quite a number of mineral springs are found in Owen County, the waters of which are of approved valuable medicinal properties. Owen has a very interesting history in connection with war and politics.
The "Jump-off " on Eagle Creek : "Point-of-Rocks" on Cedar Creek, with its "Deep Hole," or .. Bottomless Pool." and ". Pond Branch." with its .. Island Moun- tain," are all interesting objects of note in this connty. The Kentucky River, which is the only navigable stream in
Owen, furnishes the county about thirty- five miles (as the river runs ) of navigation for good-sized steamers and towboats. Locks Nos. 2 and 3 are located on the line between Owen and Henry counties, and Lock No. I is a few miles below the western line. Eagle Creek, a large tribu- tary of the Kentucky, forms the entire northern border of tlie county, and with Cedar, Big Twin, Big Indian. Severn, and other creeks, furnish ample water power for propelling machinery. There are all kinds of timber in Owen, but it is growing scarce. Most of the timbers now left, valuable for sawing into lumber. are poplar, beech, and oak varieties. The principal agricultural products of the county are tobacco, corn, wheat, rye, oats, and grasses. Owen is one of the largest Bnrley tobacco producing counties in the State, much of it being of the highest grade.
OWSLEY COUNTY
POPULATION (CENSUS 1900), 6,874.
Situated in the Eleventh Congressional, Fifth Appellate. Twenty-seventh Judicial, Thirty-fourth Senatorial, and Seventy- first Legislative Districts.
Owsley County is one of the middle eastern Kentucky counties, and was formed in 1843 and named after Governor William Owsley.
It is well watered and drained: the South Fork of the Kentucky River flows through the center of the county from south to north.
The soil of the county is good, very rich and productive, and yields bounti- ful crops of corn, wheat, oats, and hay, and some tobacco. The county is well underlaid with coal of the best quality, the finest veins of surface coal of bothi bituminous and cannel are found here, and forty feet below the surface of the earth are veins of the finest coal, nearly ten feet thick. The soil is also underlaid with the best quality of gray and blue lime- stone, suitable for building purposes.
COUNTY SEAT, BOONEVILLE.
Iron also abounds in this county; in fact. the wealth of the county is its mineral and magnificent timber supply. Probably two thirds of the surface of the county is yet covered with forests of the very finest timber. All the varieties of timber found in Eastern Kentucky are found here -- oak, hickory, sugar-tree. beech. yellow pine, yellow poplar, ash. black and white walnut, maple, and chestnut.
The common schools of the county have been greatly improved in the past few years and are now in a flourishing condi- tion. Good school houses are in every district, and they are well supplied with all the modern appliances for teaching.
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