USA > Kentucky > The story of Kentucky > Part 14
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They cherish in proud remembrance that pioneer ancestor who fought for freedom in the Revolution : and who conquered, not only the savage foes with. out, but that still more dangerous foe within -hi- own heart. " It is so hard to realize the awful
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difficulties which beset the pioneers," said Harry. " It wasn't near so easy to be good then as now, when goodness is the fashion, and wickedness isn't allowed in good society."
" Whenever I think of the pioneers," said Cor- nelia, gazing with a dreamy expression into the far- away tree-tops, " I see plains and grazing herds of buffalo; and the ' salt licks' with the deer and elk licking the flat stones ; and big, big trees, thick and dark and full of fierce animals, and of still fiercer Indians who lurk among the shadows, with gay feathers in their heads, and murder in their hearts, waiting their chance to scalp the white man ploughing in the field."
" Well done, Cor- nelia," exclaimed Harry, laughing. have no doubt that Daniel Boone himself would recognize your sketch, at once."
For a Commonwealth so bountifully endowed by nature, so splendidly equipped for usefulness, we scarcely dare to sug- gest a possible future, so sure are we that her
ELIA
A TYPICAL KENTUCKY GIRL.
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progress must extend far beyond the boundaries of our present imagining. But the civilization we would crave for our country, would include skill only in that which promotes the purity and happi- ness of man, and would exclude everything that tends to hardness and evil.
It is written - the last shall be first. We have seen how the long-neglected mountainous region of Eastern Kentucky, hitherto known only as the home of the vendetta, has suddenly developed into a price- less treasure-house of mineral wealth ; and now the stone which the builders rejected bids fair to be- come " the head of the corner." The time is at hand when the fierce spirits presiding over this rugged region must take a long farewell of their precious solitude ; for Civilization has come - to stay. And her long retinue - the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker; the telegraph, tele- phone, gas and water; the type-writer, the bicycle- - faces that way. But Civilization brings better things than idle, useless brooding. Churches where the gospel is preached, and homes where it is lived. Music, pictures, books - through which the grea: souls of the past speak to the great souls of the future. And for these waiting hills the day of small things is past. Henceforth Kentucky, stand- ing midway between her elder and her younger sisters, calmly assured of not yet having attained
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the full maturity of her powers, looks mainly to this section for the realization of her dreams of future greatness.
In 1999, when the capital of the United States shall, perhaps, have been set down in the heart of the blue-grass country; when the healthful breezes blow- ing over the undulating green pastures shall bear away with them the cares of State which crush the life out of our unhappy and much-criticised states- men; when fair strangers from abroad shall catch somewhat of the peachy bloom of the blue-grass girl- then the foreign plenipotentiaries journeying thither from the Atlantic and the Pacific, seeing the length and breadth of this great country - will certainly be moved to exclaim, with the won- dering queen of old, " The half had not been told me." The States will be more closely knit together. Neither East nor West, North nor South, can boast, "I am greater than thou." And envious monarchies looking on will be constrained to say, " Behold how beautiful it is for brethren to dwell together in unity."
THE STORY OF KENTUCKY.
TOLD IN CHRONOLOGICAL EPITOME.
THE known history of Kentucky is comparatively new ; not until 1750 can the State be fairly said to have come into historical occupation and posses- sion. But long before that date the beautiful stretch of hill and vale that now make up the Commonwealth of Kentucky had a peculiar and stirring story, the real details of which are but dimly known to us.
THE ERA OF BEGINNINGS.
Prehistoric man made the "blue-grass region " his early home. Thou- sands of years ago he lived his grovelling life as a cave-dweller in Kentuck- ian rock-shelters. Indeed the discoveries made among the caves of Ken- tucky point to an even higher order of intelligence among the Kentucky cave men than is found in other sections. They were agriculturists and vegetarians. They had a certain art in dress and manufacture and easily developed into the later rude civilization of the Mound-builders. The cus- tomary earth-works and effigy mounds that mark the presence of these latter people in other States have been discovered in Kentucky, though not to the extent that tells of settlement and occupation north of the Ohio. In time, however, these gave place to the rival tribes of Indians who for gen- erations disputed for the possession of the rich hunting-grounds of Kentucky and by the continuous conflicts between the northern and southern tribes gave to the beautiful section the ghastly title of "the dark and bloody ground."
THE ERA OF DISCOVERY.
At just what date the first white visitors came it is not easy to say, but it is fair to presume that the early Spaniards of De Soto's shattered army stood at some time upon Kentucky soil. With that date therefore. we may safely begin Kentucky's chronological story :
1543. The remnants of De Soto's troops in descending the Mississippi discovered Illinois and Kentucky.
1584. Sir Walter Raleigh took possession of Virginia for the English Crown. The Charter included Kentucky.
1607. First permanent settlement of the English in Virginia.
1645. Col. Wood explored Kentucky to the Mississippi.
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ERA OF DISCOVERY.
1669. Twenty-three Spaniards in search of silver passed through Ken tucky. They went as far north as New York.
1670. Capt. Bolt of Virginia visited Kentucky.
1673. Marquette, sailing down the Mississippi, reached the mouth of th. Ohio and spent several days there - July 5. Began the trip back - July :
1680. Hennepin sailed as far south as the Arkansas River.
1682. La Salle and Tonti with a party of Frenchmen sailed to the mou .. of the Mississippi. They stopped for some time at the mouth of the Olia: and claimed both sides of the river for France, naming it Louisiana.
1684. The " Five Nations " sold to the British a tract of land which. included a part of Kentucky.
1730. John Salling of Virginia, while hunting in Kentucky was taken prisoner by the Illinois. Ransomed after six years.
1739. M. Longueil sailed down the Ohio and discovered Big Bone Lick French troops sailed down the Ohio to fight the Chickasaws.
1742. John Howard crossed from Virginia and descended the Ohio.
1744. The English purchase of the "Six Nations " " Western Land, of indefinite extent.
1745. The Shawnees of Kentucky retreated northward to avoid the. southern enemies.
1746. French settlement sent Soo,000 pounds of flour down the Mis sissippi to relieve New Orleans.
1747. Dr. Walker crossed the Alleghanies and discovered Cumberlin + Gap, the Kentucky, Shawnee and Big Sandy Rivers.
1750. Christopher Gist sent by the Ohio Company to explore the banks of the Ohio - September II.
1751. Christopher Gist reached the Shawnee Town - January 2: Two of Gist's men made speeches in a Shawnee council. - January 32 He returned along the valley of the Kentucky River to the Kanawha.
1754. James McBride passed down the Ohio in a canoe. Left } - initials on a tree.
1756. Mrs. Mary Inglis was the first white woman in Kentucky.
1758. Dr. Walker made his second visit.
1765. Col. George Crogan sailing down the Ohio stopped at Shawn. Town and then passed on.
1766. Capt. Harry Gordon (engineer) sent from Fort Pitt down ti.c Ohio. Five men explored a position of the Kentucky country.
1767. John Findlay traded with the Indians in Kentucky. Others is down the Ohio and up the Cumberland.
1768. Treaty of Fort Stanwix by which the Indians granted addition. territory to the English - November 5.
1769. Four Virginia men went down the Ohio, down the Mississipp : New Orleans and home by sea. Daniel Boone and others made a hunto. trip into Kentucky from North Carolina - June 7.
1770. A party of hunters from Virginia remained so long in Kentuck. as to be called the Long Hunters.
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ERA OF COLONIZATION.
1770-72. George Washington surveyed 2084 acres of Kentucky land for John Fry near Louisiana, and more on the Little Sandy.
1773. An exploring party remained two days near Maysville. They traversed various other sections. Capt. Bullitt of this party laid out the town of Louisville - July 8. Simon Kenton and others made the first trip by land from Northern Kentucky to Western Virginia. Kenton returned in the fall and spent the winter in hunting and trapping.
THE ERA OF COLONIZATION.
1774. Capt. Harrod and party laid out Harrodstown (now Harrods- burg) and built some cabins - June. Daniel Boone and Michael Stoner set out to guide a party of surveyors from the Ohio Falls. They made the journey of eight hundred miles in sixty-two days - June 6. Harrodsburg abandoned because of the Indians - July.
1775. A party of thirty with Daniel Boone as guide explored Kentucky. This party dispersed by the Indians - March 25. First fort begun at Boonesborough. Block-houses also built at Harrodsburg and Boiling Spring - April 1. By the end of April the military force at Boonesborough num- bered sixty men. Land office opened by Henderson & Co. Sinon Kenton and Thomas Williams raised corn at Kenton's Station - May. Representa- tives met at Boonesborough, agreed upon a government and passed nine laws. This was the first legislative body west of the Alleghanies - May 23. Daniel Boone and some others brought their families to Kentucky - September. Boone's wife and daughter were the first white women on the banks of the Kentucky River. Fort McLellan was built at Georgetown - October.
1776. Leestown built one mile below Frankfort; also Sandusky's Station. Two agents sent to the Virginia Assembly to seek protection for the set- tlements - June 2. The Misses Callaway taken by the Indians near Boonesborough - July 7. They were rescued - July 8. Virginia estab- lished Kentucky County - December 6. Col. John Todd and party at- tacked and defeated by the Indians near Blue Lick - December 25. Fort Mclellan attacked by Indians - December 29.
1777. Blackfish and forty-seven Indians besieged Harrodsburg - March 7. Boonesborough was attacked. Burgesses sent from Kentucky County to the Virginia Legislature - April 15. Logan's Station attacked - May 20. Two hundred Indians made a second attack on Boonesborough - July 4. First court sat at Harrodsburg - September.
1778. Boone was taken prisoner near Blue Licks - February 7. The Indians brought Boone to the Blue Licks where twenty-seven of his men surrendered - February 15. Indians attacked a boat on Salt River - May 25. Four hundred and fifty Indians prepared an attack on Boonesborough. Boone escaped and reached Boonesborough in ten days. having had but one meal in that time - June to. Major George Rogers Clark with 15 ; men began a march of one hundred and twenty miles through the wilderness to
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Kaskaskia - June 24. Clark surprised and captured Kaskaskia - July 4. Vincennes submitted to the Americans. Boone and nineteen men went on an Indian expedition to Paint Creek town - August 1. Duchesne with eleven Frenchmen and Blackfish with four hundred Indians besieged Boone -. borough for thirteen days - September 7. Permanent foundations of Louisville laid. The territory gained by Clark became Illinois County -- October. Gov. Hamilton captured Vincennes for the British - December.
1779. Col. Clark with one hundred and seventy men retook Vincennes with eighty-one prisoners, fifty thousand dollars' worth of military stores. Col. John Bowman killed Blackfish and Red Hawk, burnt Old Chillicothe and captured 163 horses. Compelled to retreat with a loss of eight or nine men - May. The Virginia Legislature presented Col. Clark with a sword and his regiment with a grant of land - September. Two hundred Indians attacked Col. Rogers and seventy men near the mouth of the Licking River. All but twenty slaughtered - October.
1780. The " hard winter." Game and cattle frozen. Corn $50 to $175 per bushel (Continental money) - January. Virginia granted land in Ken- tucky for educational uses - May. Col. Byrd (British) with six hundred Ca- nadians and Indians took Ruddle's and Martin's stations - June 22. Chil. licothe, Piqua and Loraine. Indian villages, surprised and destroyed by Col. Clark - July. Kentucky Co. subdivided into three counties - November 1
1781. Fort Jefferson besieged for five days by the Chickasaws and Choc. taws. They were driven away with terrible carnage. Great immigration of girls to Kentucky - January 22.
1782. Capt. Estill defeated near Little Mountain after a brave fight -- March 22. Capt. Holder defeated near the Upper Blue Licks - August 12. Bryan's Station infested for two days by British and six hundred In- dians. They were repulsed - August 15. The British overtaken by a pursuing party of 182 Kentuckians. The Kentuckians driven back with great loss - August 19. Col. Lochry's party on the way to join Gen. Clark were all killed or taken prisoners - August 25. Gen. Clark with 1,050 men destroyed numerous Indian towns. This ended serious Indian invasions - November.
1783. A district court opened at Harrodsburg. Distilleries built south of the Kentucky River - March.
1784. An informal meeting called at Danville to deliberate on the st ttr of district - February. Nelson County was formed out of Jeffers in. First Convention was held at Danville. Separation from Virginia was di, cussed - December 27.
1785. "The year of the Great Waters." The Mississippi rose thirty feet above highest known water-maik. A second convention addressed Virginu and Kentucky in favor of separation - May 23. The third convention adopted two new addresses to the same effect. Bourbon, Mercer, and Madison Counties formed. A treaty was made with the Indians at Fort McIntosh - August S. The Indians stole sixty horses from a station neal Limestone -- October 26.
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ERA OF STATEHOOD.
1786. Gen. Clark negotiated an important treaty with the Shawnees and the Delawares. Virginia passed the first act favoring the separation of Kentucky - January. Gen. Rogers made a third expedition against the Indians. Nothing was effected. Col. Logan entered the Indian country and destroyed eight large towns - September. The second act of Virginia postponed the separation of Kentucky till January 1, 1789 - October.
1787. Meeting at Danville in regard to the navigation of the Mississippi. Gen. Wilkinson obtained a monopoly of the trade with New Orleans -- May. The Kentucke Gazette established by John Bradford at Lexing- ton. The first paper in Kentucky, and the first west of the Alleghanies. - August 11. The fifth convention at Danville, decided unanimously for separation on Virginia's terms - September 17.
1788. Mason and Woodford Counties formed. Almanacs, the first in the West, were printed at Lexington. The Virginia convention voted to adopt the United States Constitution. The Kentucky delegation opposed it - June 3. Congress took up the subject of the admission of Kentucky into the Union. Attempts made by the Spanish to induce Kentucky to be- come an independent State - July 3. Sixth convention at Danville. Took no important action - July 28. The seventh convention was held at Dan- ville - November 4. Troops sent to Fort Columbia to protect the settlers. The third act of Virginia favoring separation - Deceniber 27.
1789. Eighth convention resolved against the conditions imposed by Vir- ginia's third act - July 20. The fourth act of separation was passed acced- ing to Kentucky's wishes. The first brick house was built in Louisville - December IS.
1790. A boat containing twelve persons taken by Indians near Limestone -- January. Indian massacres of small parties of whites frequent - March. Gen. Harmar with one hundred regular troops and Gen. Scott with two hundred and thirty volunteers made a fruitless expedition against the Indians - April IS. The ninth convention accepted the terms of Virginia - July 26. The Kentuckians petitioned Congress to be allowed to fight Indians in their own way - December.
THE ERA OF STATEHOOD.
1791. Congress agreed to admit Kentucky as a State - February. Gen- eral Charles Scott and eight hundred mounted Kentucky volunteers burned several Indian towns and took many prisoners. - May 23. Another ex- pedition under Gen. Wilkinson did great damage to the Indians - August I. Gen. St. Clair's expedition against the Indians terminated in a massacre of the white men. There were many Kentuckians in the army. - No- vember 4. The tenth convention was elected to form a constitution - December.
1792. The convention met at Danville and prepared a constitution - April 3. Gen. Shelby was elected the first governor - May. Col. Hardin and Maj. Truman murdered on a peace mission to the Indians - May 22.
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ERA OF STATEHOOD.
Kentucky became a State of the Union - June I. The first Legislature me : at Lexington - June 4. The governor's first message delivered orally. Frankfort fixed on as the seat of government - June 6. The first paper mill in the West established - August. The Treaty of Fort Knox. The Senate refused to ratify it - September. Maj. Adair forced to retreat by Little Turtle - November 6.
1793. Numerous Indian depredations - the last in Kentucky - April Gen. Wayne called for Kentucky volunteers. Got none, because the men had no confidence in the regulars - September. A draft was made - Sep- tember 28. Gen. Scott joined Wayne with one thousand men - October 24. Kentucky Legislature met in Frankfort for the first time. Democratic societies founded at Georgetown, Paris, and Lexington. Gen. Clark ac- cepted a military commission from France - November [. The first line- of Ohio Packet Boats put on the river - November 16. Gen. St. Clair issued a proclamation warning citizens not to join in the New Orleans ev- pedition. A line of Ohio packet boats established touching at Maysville - December 7.
1794. Violent resolutions were passed at a Lexington meeting - May 24. Remonstrance of Kentucky citizens to President and Congress bx- cause of conduct of England and Spain - June. Unsuccessful attack on Fort Recovery by Indians- July. Gen. Scott joined Gen. Wayne with sixteen hundred Kentucky volunteers - July 26. In one hour Gen. Wayne defeated two thousand Indians and seventy Canadians at Fallen Timbers. Lexington launched the first successful steamboat in the W'est - August 20.
1795. James H. Stewart began the publication of the Kentucky Herald. the second newspaper in the State -- February. Three large lots of land were bought for emigrants from Wales - March 5. Treaty with the North. western Indians established peace till 1812 - August 3. The United States treaty with Spain settled the question of Mississippi navigation. \ !. act was passed obliging every white male over sixteen to kill a certain nu' !!. ber of squirrels and crows each year. Daniel Boone removed west of the Mississippi. Kentucky Academy was established under Presbyterian a : spice:s - October 27.
1796. The Lexington library was established with four hundred volumiz.
1797. The office of Falls Pilot, at Louisville, established. The Kentuck Mirror was established at Washington by Hunter and Beaumont, the thir t newspaper in the State. 5446 out of 9814 votes favored a new conventi n to revise the Constitution - May. Thomas Power sent by Corondelet ' separate Kentucky from the Union - July 12. Capital punishment abd ished except for murder in the first degree. Henry Clay came to Kentuck . - November.
1798. The Legislature endowed several academies and seminaries -. February to. Second vote in favor of a Convention of Revision - M.a. Frankfort Palladium established : fourth newspaper - Angust 9. The ta mous Kentucky resolutions were opposed in the House by only one mal,
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and passed the Senate unanimously. The Legislature passed an act calling a convention - November 16. Transylvania University established - De- cember 22. The Guardian of Freedom published at Frankfort by John Bradford and Son.
1799. Convention met to revise the Constitution at Frankfort - July 22. Convention reported the new Constitution - August 17. The High- wayman, Big Harpe, killed. Little Harpe escaped from the State. An attempt to amend the Resolutions of 1798 failed - November. Louisville declared a port of entry.
1800. The second Constitution of Kentucky went into effect - June I. A great religious revival began in the vicinity of the Green River - July.
1801. The " Farmers' Library " established, the first paper printed in Louisville - January 7. Camp meeting at Cane Ridge attended by twenty thousand people, three thousand computed to have "fallen and experienced remarkable bodily exercises " - August 6-13. The general court and dis- trict courts abolished. Circuit courts established - November.
1802. The Kentucky Insurance Company chartered with banking powers - Dec. 16. The right of deposit at New Orleans withdrawn by Spain. The Presbyterian Synod of Kentucky formed. Hemp first manu- factured for exportation.
1803. First piano was brought into Kentucky - April. The "New Light " schism from the Presbyterian church. A shower believed by many to be blood fell near the Turtle Creek meeting-house - September 10.
1804. Six Baptist ministers declared for the abolition of slavery. The Baptist Associations reproved them. The "emancipators " withdrew and organized the " Baptist Licking-Locust Association, Friends of Humanity."
1805. Aaron Burr made his first visit to Kentucky. The Trappists came to Kentucky.
1806. Eclipse of the sun. Aaron Burr made a second visit. Rev. John Iyle established the first female academy in the West - June 16. Burr indicted at Frankfort, but dismissed by the Grand Jury - December 2. Judge Sebastian convicted of receiving a Spanish pension while on the Su- preme Bench -December 6. Act to buy the first fire engine for Frankfort -- December 26. Aaron Burr's acquittal of the charge of treason celebrated by a brilliant ball.
1809. Henry Clay received a slight wound in a duel with Humphrey Marshall, another member of the Legislature - January 19. A retaliatory act forbidding Ohio attorneys to practice in Kentuck" courts. Schism of the " Particular Baptists" - February 19.
18to. Legislature declared inexpedient the amendment to the U. S. Constitution proposed by Pennsylvania - Jannary 16. Legislature resolved in favor of refusing to recognize the British minister, Mr. Jackson - Janu- ary 22. Bounty of one dollar on wolves under six months old and one dollar and a half for those over six months - January 26. Cumberland Presbyterian church established - February 4.
1811. Mammoth Cave discovered. Lottery authorized to raise ten thou-
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sand dollars to improve the navigation of the Kentucky River - January 10. The Legislature established several academies. A great earthquake in Kentucky. Lands granted to encourage iron and salt works - January 31. Lottery authorized to raise five thousand dollars for the road between Mays- ville and Washington. The " New Orleans " sailed from Pittsburg to New Orleans - October 4. Distinguished Kentuckians fell in the battle of Tip- pecanoe - November 7.
1812. The sisterhood of Loretto established in Marion County. Several library associations incorporated. Lottery authorized to raise four thousand dollars for an unsectarian house of public worship in Frankfort. All State and judicial officers and attorneys required to take an oath against duelling. The State divided into ten Congressional districts - February S. Congress requested to grant ten thousand acres of land in upper Louisiana to Daniel Boone. Gen. Wm. H. Harrison made Major-General of Kentucky militia by Gov. Scott - June. Two thousand volunteers under Gen. Hopkins on an expedition into the Indian country abandoned their general and returned home - October. Battle of Mississiniway. - December 8. Numerous steamboats put on the Ohio and Mississippi during this year. The Evan- gelical Record and Western Review established at Lexington in IS12 by Thomas T. Skillman. The first religious paper west of the Alleghanies.
1813. Kentuckians under Gen. Winchester reached the Maumee - January 10. British were defeated at Frenchtown - January IS. Massacre of the Americans at the River Raisin - January 22. Additional pay offered to volunteers in the Northwestern army - January 29. Gen. Clay reached Fort Megis with three thousand Kentuckians. Part of his force cut their way into the fort. Eight hundred Kentuckians under Col. Dudley killed or taken prisoners - May 5. Failure of second siege of Fort Meigs - July. Fort Stephenson besieged - July 31. Governor Shelby with four thousand Kentuckians reinforced Gen. Harrison and assisted at the brilliant victory of the Thames - October 5. The returning Kentucky troops interred the bones of their comrades massacred at the battle of Raisin - October 15. They were discharged at Maysville -- November 4. State House at Frankfort burned - November 25. The Legislature set apart rooms for the confinement of British prisoners - December 8.
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