USA > Ohio > History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 3
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The early records belonging to this depart- ment of county government have been lost, but tradition points to George Hikes as one of the first justices of the peace in the precinct. He held the office for a time, and it is probably needless to remark that during his magistracy the people ever found a true friend in the inter- ests of right and justice. Colonel Doup filled this position also for a number of years under the old constitution, and each of these men be- came sheriff of the county, that office always being filled by the oldest representative of the
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
magisterial court composed of the justices of the several precincts.
When the old constitution was changed and the judges of all the courts were elected by the people, George W. Hikes, the son of George Hikes and father of the present' Squire Edward J. Hikes, was the first justice of the peace of Two Mile Town, and served in that capacity twelve to sixteen years. He died in June, 1849. His father, George Hikes, died in the year 1832.
AN INCIDENT.
The peace of Two Mile Town has had but little cause for complaint outside of a few cases, the people having been usually the friends of law and order; but previous to the war there crept into the precinct a pest that was short- ly abated. One Paschal Craddock settled near where the present George Hikes now resides. His nature was bold and aggressive, but his workings were effected through accom- plices, he himself never participating directly. The greatest fault this man possessed seems to have been that of an inordinate desire to steal and drive off stock of all kinds. The citizens would miss a hog, a sheep, or a steer from their drove or flock and the country would be scoured after the missing animals, but always with no success-and sometimes not only one animal would be gone but he would enter premises after night and frequently take his pick from droves. As usual, every fault finds the man out, nor was this an exception. The thefts were so enormous that they seemed like the operations of band- its, and the neighbors took steps towards sup- pressing the evil. The act of driving sixteen hogs from a neighbor's sty into his own, preparatory to an early killing on the next morning, was the last grand theft sufficient to arouse the vengeance of the precinct. A meeting of the citizens was held and Mr. Craddock and two of his accomplices received timely warning that they must leave the neighborhood within the space of six months. In view of his property they also accompanied this order with an offer to buy him out, the people offering to give him a good price for his land. This money was raised by subscription.
The two accomplices took the hint and left the country, but Craddock, with a stubbornness equal to his meanness, failed to comply, and ere he lived out his six months a little stray ven-
geance overtook him, and Paschal Craddock was no more.
COLORED CITIZENS.
The negroes, in number about the same as previous to the war, are making some advance- ment over their former condition. The emanci- pation act found this a people who took no care of themselves-no thought of the morrow-and were without parallel imprudent and improvi- dent. They had been accustomed during their servitude to have their wants attended to by others; their sick were visited by hands com- petent to administer, and nurses were supplied by their superiors. A due regard was had for clothing that always kept them comfortable and warm. Such was their condition before the war, and after that event their want of a dependence found them almost helpless.
The negroes, as a general thing, had been friends to their masters in this precinct. Masters who regarded them property by right of in- heritance, and speculated but little in negro traffic, and who did for these ignorant people many acts of kindnesses, are remembered even to this day. This people have made some progress, and under leadership of a few ยท who are above the average, are advancing rapidly. They built themselves a comfortable church building in 1870, receiving much help financially from the white citizens. This building cost about four hundred dollars, and is situated on the Newburg road. Their first preacher was a colored man, formerly a slave for Mr. Kellar. He had been taught to read by Mrs. Hikes. He was named after Mr. Kellar (Mrs. Hikes' father), who was a friend to the colored people. Harry King, now ninety years of age, bought by Mr. Hikes, when he was thirty years old, is at present their pastor. He has been. now sixty years in Mr. Hikes' employ. The membership of this church is about one hundred.
The first church in the precinct was built by the Baptist society about the time George Hikes came to the county, Rev. Mr. Walker being one of the first pastors in charge. The question of close communion was one which gave the organization some trouble, and was the real cause of the final overthrow later on. The first building was a stone structure erected about the year 1798-99, on the north bank of Bear Grass, on the Taylors- ville pike. The attendance upon service at this
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
point necessitated the membership coming so far that when the country got older the congre- gation divided up, forming out of this one church three new societies, one of which still retains the name of Bear Grass, and is located at the original site.
Jeffersontown and Newburg are the localities at which are situated the other branches.
A COINCIDENCE.
A remarkable coincidence worthy of record is found in the history of two women of this pre- cinct. Their history in brief is this : Mrs. Heck- embush and Mrs. Bammer, strangers to each other, left Germany, their native country, at the same time, sailed over in the same vessel, each sold her passage way from New Orleans to Louis- ville, both coming to this precinct; both joined the Methodist Episcopal church the same day, and were married the same day. Each had one son, and both died on the same day.
SCHOOLS.
The school system of Kentucky needs some improvement before the State can have as good schools as are found in some of her sister States. There have been good teachers who always, in spite of any legislation, succeeded in working up an educational interest in this direc- tion, and such has been the case here.
The first school of this precinct, of which the oldest representative has any recollection, was taught about the year 1792 by Professor Jones. The building, a rude affair, was built where the Bardstown pike makes a turn near the toll-gate, or where George W. Hikes now lives. The win- dows were generally long and made by leav- ing out one log. A big ten-plate stove that would take wood three feet long, and desks made of slabs laid on pins put in the wall.
School generally began about seven o'clock in the morning and was kept up till late in the even- ing. There was no school law, but each parent paid a subscription tax in proportion to his finan- cial ability. Teachers generally boarded "round," and in this way one good turn was made to serve another.
The books in use then were Webster's spelling book, Pike's arithmetic, Kirkam's grammar, no geographies or readers, but some history, or probably the life of Washington, was used as a substitute for a reader. Afterwards the New and
the Old Testaments were used for advanced scholars.
The original methods for instructing pupils were quite severe, it generally being conceded that what could not be taken in by close applica- tion of the mind should be "strapped on the back." This method of applying knowledge, however, worked in other ways than in the right. An aged citizen, in speaking of the schools, says that the fear that attended the pupils, especially those quite young, was was so great that in consequence many egregious blunders were made that otherwise would not have been. In reading a passage in Webster's spelling book which reads: "The farmers were plowing up the field," he made a blun- der by saying "the farmers were blowing up the field," the mistake inade being due to the con- stant dread at the time that he would receive a blow from his teacher's ferrule did he make a mistake, but like the orator who wished to say "he bursted his boiler," got it "he biled his burster."
After the district schools were established, in 1841 or 1842, more rapid progress was made in the cause of education. Mr. Games Yorston taught at this time, for a period of seven years. His methods of instruction were different, as was also his system of government. The col- ored people have a school in the precinct also.
The land in this precinct grows the best of grass. Advantage has been taken of this fact, and many of the fields turned into pasture lands for cows. There are one-half dozen good dairies in Two Mile Town alone. There are also good orchards, and some attention is paid to the raising of all kinds of fruits, the same as vegetables. The market fur- nished at Louisville is of great advantage to gar- deners. Early in the season produce is shipped North; but as the southern crop is exhausted first, later in the season products can be shipped South. This is particularly true as regards small fruits and vegetables.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
Edward J. Hikes was born April 29, 1817, in Jefferson county, Kentucky, and has ever resided upon the old homestead with the exception of four years in Illinois. His father, George Hikes, came from Pennsylvania in 1790. Mr. Hikes was married in 1838 to Miss Paulina
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
Kellar, of Moultrie county, Illinois, daughter of A. H .. Kellar, of Oldham county, Kentucky. This union has been blessed with ten children, only seven of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Hikes are members of the Christian church, as are also their children. Mr. Hikes is magis- trate at the present time and is highly esteemed by his fellow citizens.
W. W. Goldsmith, M. D., was born in this State July 4, 1823. When nine years of age he went to New York city where he lived till he was twenty-seven, then came to Kentucky and located in Jefferson county. Mr. Goldsmith studied medicine in New York and graduated in 1844. He was married in 1846 to Miss Ellenor Godman, of Baltimore, Maryland, daughter of John D. Godman, of Philadelphia. They have have had five children. Mr. Goldsmith's father, Dr. Alban Goldsmith, taught the first class in medicine in Louisville, and was well known in medical circles. The place where Mr. Gold- smith now lives was once used as a block-house by the old settlers when in danger of the Indians.
William H. Fredrick was born March 16, 1820, in Jefferson county, Kentucky, and ever has been a resident of this State. His father, Samuel Fredrick, was a native of Jefferson county. His grandfather, August Fredrick, came from Germany in an early year, and settled in Jeffersontown precinct and was one of the pio- neers of this part of the State. His mother was a daughter of Abijah Swearinger, who was one of the early settlers on Floyd's fork. Mr. Fredrick was married, September 24, 1843, to Mrs. A. Voel, widow of Samuel A. Voel, of Jefferson county. Her maiden name was Chrisler, being a daughter of Fielding Chrisler, a brother of Jesse Chrisler, of Harrods Creek. Mrs. Fredrick has had a family of eight children, six of whom are living. Mr. Fredrick is a Free Mason. He has represented the county in the Legislature two sessions, and is now Senator from Jefferson county. The district in which he was elected is composed of Jefferson county and the first and second wards of Louisville.
Mathew Meddis, one of the old residents of Jefferson county, was born June 5, 1804, on Floyd's fork, and has ever resided in the county. His father, Godfrey Meddis, came from Mary- land in an early day. He died in New Orleans in 1815. Mr. Meddis, the subject of this sketch,
was married July 28, 1836, to Miss Effa Seaton, of Jefferson county. They have six children all of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Meddis are members of the Christian church; also two of the children.
William O. Armstrong was born February 23, 1845, in Louisville, and resided in the city till 1874, when he moved into the country where we now find him most pleasantly situated on a farm of one hundred acres of good land. His house is located on the highest point of land between Louisville and Bardstown. Mr. Armstrong was married November 10, 1870, to Miss Sally Womack, of Middletown precinct. They have four children : Bessie L., Georgie V., Willie F., and Mary E. Mrs. Armstrong is a member of the Christian church.
Robert Ayars was born May 22, 1804, in Salem county, New Jersey. He remained here till 1822, when he went to Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in some iron works till 1829, when he came to Louisville, and was in business about three years. He then bought a farm upon which we now find him. It contains three hundred and twenty-five acres. He was married June 14, 1832, to Miss Elizabeth Hikes, of Jefferson county. They have had eight children, five of whom are living. Mr. Ayars was formerly a Free Mason, and has served as magistrate nearly thirty years.
Edward B. Ayars was born July 9, 1843, in Jefferson county, Kentucky. His father, Robert Ayars, resides but a short distance from him. Mr. Ayars was married April 24, 1873, to Miss Georgie B. Hikes, an adopted daughter of George Hikes. They have three children. Mrs. Ayars is a member of the Christian church. Mr. Ayars is a Free Mason. He served four years in the Federal army in the Second Kentucky regiment.
Paul Disher was born June 7, 1816, in Baden, Germany, and emigrated to America in 1835, and at once came to Kentucky, and settled near Louisville, where he resided several years, then moved into the country where his widow and family now live. He was married April 19, 1845, to Miss Teresia Huber, of Germany. They have nine children. Mr. Disher died August 17, 1872. He was a member of the Catholic church.
Charles Wetstein was born July 23, 1844, in Jefferson county, Kentucky. His father, Jacob
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
Wetstein, came from Switzerland in about 1825, and settled in Kentucky, where he lived till 1877, when he went to Switzerland on a visit and died in his native country. Mr. Wetstein was mar- ried in 1871 to Miss Carrie Baringer, of Jeffer- son county, daughter of John E. Baringer. They have had two children. One is living. Mr. and Mrs. Wetstein are members of the Methodist church. He is also a Knight of Honor.
Frederick Baringer was born August 8, 1818, in Jefferson county, and has ever resided in the State. His father, Jacob Baringer, was a native of Germany, and came to America in 1817, and was one of the old settlers. Mr. Baringer has a farm of seventy-three acres of excellent land. He was married in 1843 to Miss Catherine Basler, of Louisville. They had four children. He was married the second time in 1859 to Miss Sophia Edinger, of Pennsylvania, daughter of George Edinger. They had five children by this marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Baringer are mein- bers of the Methodist church.
JEFFERSONTOWN PRECINCT.
The history of the earliest or original settlers of this section is but traditionary. It would be gratifying always to know who first spied out the land, afterwards moved to the place; how and from whence he came; where he settled, and in order take up each of the new comers and treat of their arrivals similarly, but the remoteness of these events precludes such mention. We can only reach the times of the Revolution, and learn something in regard to the settlers in general.
Probably as early, and certainly not long after the survey made by Captain Thomas Bul- litt, agent for Mary and William College, in 1773, the Tylers settled in this precinct near Jeffersontown. There were three of these men -Moses, Robert and Ned. They experienced hardships common to all early settlers, and to Indian warfare.
Nelson Tyler, son of Moses, was born in 1790; and died in 1874 at the advanced age of eighty- four years. One descendant of the Tylers mar- ried a Shaw, and afterwards, while hunting
horses early one morning, was himself with a negro servant, captured by the Indians and mur- dered. His wife was taken prisoner; was treated very well, andafterwards taken to Canada, where under the British she received worse treatment than at the hands of the Indians.
James Guthrie, an old settler in the southern part of this precinct, was born in 1749. His father, William Guthrie, was a native of Ireland. James Guthrie came to Kentucky in 1780; was an Indian fighter, and as was the custom in those days, had recourse to his block-house to defend himself against their wily attacks. He built a stone house at Fern creek-still standing-in 1794, which in 1812 was badly shaken by an earthquake, and after many years became unsafe in consequence.
William Goose, Sr., was also an early settler, coming to Jeffersontown about 1790, from Pennsylvania. The Blankenbakers, a large family, came about the same time. Mr. Goose was a wagon-maker. The Zilharts were also very early settlers. Phillip and George erected a wagon-shop, the first of the kind in Jefferson- town. Mr. Goose had a family of eight children. The late William Goose was the first wheel- wright in the village, and made spinning-wheels, also chairs, and did cabinet work. Jacob Hoke was also an early settler, coming here as early as 1795. He purchased of Colonel Frederick Geiger four hundred acres of land and erected a stone house, now the property of William O. Ragland, in 1799. This house is still standing. At that time there was a block-house on Colonel Anderson's tract of land, at Lynn Station, which had been of service to the early settlers, but the last raid of the Indians was made about this time, when seeking some horses, after which the settlers lived without being disturbed. Colonel Geiger came from Maryland about the year 1796-97. He was colonel in the War of 1812, and fought at the battle of Tippecanoe. His regiment was made up of men around Louisville. He sold here and moved down where Wash Davis now lives, where he had between three and four hundred acres of land. He was of some kin to the Funk family, and married the second time, his last wife being Margaret Yenawine, who was also related to A. Hoke's wife. William Shaw, who was killed, bought one hundred acres of land off the Sturges farm, and settled on
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
Chenoweth run, just above Andrew Hoke. His son William was taken prisoner when a man, but escaped, came home and later participated in the battle of Tippecanoe, where he was shot and afterwards died from the effects of the wound. George Pomeroy came in 1791-92. He was also chased by the Indians but not captured. He settled near Mr. Hoke's place, on the run. His son, James Pomeroy, was a distinguished teacher in the Jeffersontown school for many years.
Major Abner Field settled here about 1790, a mile and a half west of Jeffersontown. His sons, Alexander and John, became distinguished men in the Government employ.
The Funks were very early and settled at the Forks of Bear Grass. The son of John Funk (Peter) was major of the horse at the battle of Tippecanoe. Joe Funk was a captain at that time and afterwards a colonel in that war.
James H. Sturges came as early as 1776. He then owned the place now in the possession of A. Poke. His name was cut in the bark of a tree with the date of 1776. His sons became eminent men. William H. Pope married his daughter, and was afterward one of the clerks of the county court.
Martin Stucky, Philip Zilhort, Dr. Ross, and the Warwicks, were all early settlers in this pre- cinct.
MILLS.
Funk's Mill on Floyd's fork below Seatonville, was the oldest one, and was patronized exten- sively until Angustie Frederick built one just below Jeffersontown about the year 1800. He had also a saw-mill near Jeffersontown. The stream now is hardly strong enough to turn a grindstone, such having been the effect of clear- ing the lands on the creeks and rivulets. .
CHURCHES.
In a very early day the German Reformed society built a small log church, very plain in style, which they used some few years. Rev. Mr. Zink, a Lutheran, preached to this people for several years. Sometimes other preachers would call this way. The old church was torn down and a union church was built by all the denom- inations in 1816. This was made of brick. The walls were not built solidly owing to the brick not having been burnt as they should
have been, and in a few years the building was worthless, and a stone church was built by the same denominations about the year 1820, and soon after this, the Lutheran denomination, feel- ing able of themselves, built a church. The present pastor of this church is Rev. J. E. Lerch. The church has a membership of about seventy- eight.
The German Reformed established in 1809, is still in a flourishing condition. The Lutherans, established before 1800, is the church that is non est.
The Methodist Episcopal society built a large brick church building just before the war, and the society was a flourishing one for a number of years.
The New-school Baptists bought their church occupancy in the Masonic hall from the Presby- terians about ten years ago.
The Presbyterians, who were originally strong, have about lost their identity.
The Christian church has just put up a large new building. Their first building was erected about 1856, but the organization dates farther back than that.
The colored people have two churches, a Bap- tist and a Methodist, both of which are flour- ishing.
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The Farmers' and Fruit Growers' association was established in 1880. The society put up a shed two hundred feet long at Fern City, on grounds in all comprising fifteen acres of land, and fenced the whole. The officers of this asso- ciation for the present are: President, John Decker; vice president, E. J. Hikes; secretary, Bryant Williams; treasurer, Moses Johnson. There is also a board of twelve directors. The success of this enterprise was guaranteed to the people of Jeffersontown last year, when the most sanguine expectations were realized. Fruits, vegetables, and everything, in fact, raised and manufactured by farmers and their wives, graced the tables at this fair, and much en- couragement was given to agriculturists in at- tendance.
ORIGINAL PRICES.
In early days the people of this part of the county paid for calico fifty cents per yard, corn twenty to twenty-five cents per bushel, wheat fifty to seventy-five cents per bushel, oats twenty
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
to twenty-five cents per bushel, rye fifty cents per bushel. Hired help could be had for six or seven dollars per month, and other articles in proportion.
THE LOUISVILLE AND TAYLORSVILLE PIKE was commenced in 1849. Mr. Andrew Hoke was one of the original directors, and still serves in that capacity. Mr. Ed. Brisco is president of the company. Dr. Stout is secretary. There is also a board of directors.
JEFFERSONTOWN
now has a population of three hundred and fifty. It was laid out in 1805 by Mr. Bruner, and at first called Brunersville. One of the first settlers of this town was George Wolf. He afterwards moved to Indiana, and his sons became distin- guished men in politics.
THE WAR OF 1812.
There were many men who volunteered from this precinct for that war. It would be impossi- ble to give, with data at hand, a complete list of those who did go. A company of men was raised round about Jeffersontown. Captain Quiry, who raised this company, paid his men for enlisting, a bounty of fifty cents. A number of the citizens also participated in the Mexican war.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
J. A. Winand, son of Jacob Winand, was born in Jefferson county January 20, 1836. Jacob was the son of Phillip, who was a Pennsylvanian and was born in 1798 in Jefferson county. He married in 1824 Christiana Hoke, daughter of Adam Hoke. John A. Winand was educated in the common schools and has always been a farmer. January 20, 1857, he married Sarah Briscoe, daughter of 'Squire Jacob Briscoe, of Jeffersontown precinct, in which precinct they live. They have six children-William A., J. Edward, Blanche, Mollie, Anna, and Lillie P.
William L. Hawes is of German descent and was born October 25, 1815. His father, Jacob Hawes, went to Jefferson county from Bourbon county, Kentucky, when William was six years old. Jacob Hawes, in 1812, married Fannie, daughter of David Omer. William was educated in the common schools, and his occupation from boyhood to the present time has been that of a farmer. In 1851 he married Matilda, daughter of John Nett, long a resident of the
county. She was born in Jefferson county in 1825. They have five children, two boys and three girls. He is a member in good standing of the Baptist church.
Franklin Garr was born in Jefferson county, Kentucky, November 21, 1836. He is the seventh son and eleventh child of twelve chil- dren of Benjamin Garr, who was born in Virginia in 1789. He married Nancy Smith, a native of that State, January 8, 1815. In 1828 they came to Jefferson county. Franklin Garr was educated in the common schools. His occupation is that of farming. In 1859 he married Mary Cheno- with, daughter of Steven O. Chenowith. She was born in 1838. They had but one child, Charley, born July 29, 1863. Mrs. Garr departed this life in 1867. Mr. Garr resides upon and manages his farm in Jeffersontown precinct.
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