History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II, Part 8

Author: Williams, L.A., & Co., Cleveland
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : L. A. Williams & Co.
Number of Pages: 680

USA > Ohio > History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 8

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Colonel Richard Taylor, father of Zachary Taylor, was an old settler in this precinct. His distinguished son lies buried near the old place, with a suitable monument to mark his last resting place. - Colonel Taylor served through the Revo- lutionary war. He came from Virginia and set- tled on a large plantation in 1785, and here it was that Zachary Taylor spent twenty-four years of his life. His brother Hancock, who had a lieu-

tenancy in the United States army, died in 1808, and the vacant commission was assigned him. He was made captain in 1810, and served at Fort Harrison, and for gallantry was promoted to major. He served in the Black Hawk war in 1832, and in 1836 in the Florida war, where he was promoted to general, and in 1840 was made chief in command of all the forces in the South- west, and soon after took command of all forces in the Mexican war. He was nominated by the Whig National convention, assembled in Phila- delphia in 1848, as a candidate for the Presi- dency of the United States, and took his seat March 5, 1849, and died next year (see biogra- phy). One of the descendants of Colonel Rich- ard Taylor, bearing the same name, is a real estate broker in Louisville.

Colonel Stephen Ormsby, one of the first judges of the county court, settled upon a large tract of land.

Major Martin, a farmer, was an old settler. He had a brother who married a sister of W. C. Bullitt.

David L. Ward was an extensive salt trader, making trips to New Orleans. He at one time owned one of the first water mills on Goose creek. This property was erected by Mr. Leaven Law- rence, and run by him for some years, being the first used; and with its coming a new era was marked in the advance made over the old fash- ioned hand or horse mill. It was situated on Goose creek, north of Lyndon station. After Ward purchased it he failed.

Alex. P. Ralston owned one on Bear Grass at an early day, and sold it in 1804 to Colonel Geiger. These mills received custom for many miles around.

Edward Dorsey was an old settler. He, how- ever, did not come to the precinct before 1812. He purchased a large tract of land near O'Ban- non station. He was a native of Maryland.

Colonel Richard Anderson, father of Richard C. Anderson, Jr., was a distinguished citizen who settled here at an early period. He was a mem- ber of Congress, serving with honor to his con- stituency and credit to himself for a number of years, and was afterwards honored by a position as Minister to one of the South American States. He was married to a Miss Groatheny, and his only child, now dead, married John T. Gray. Colonel Anderson settled on the Shelbyville pike.

HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

William Chambers will be remembered, not only as an early settler of this portion of the, county, but on account of his wealth. He mar- ried a Miss Dorsey, and afterwards, in conjunc- tion with General Christy, purchased a large quantity of land near where the central portion of St. Louis city is now. 'The increase in value of his land made him immensely wealthy, and upon his death he left property to the value of a million of dollars to his only daughter, Mrs. Mary Tyler.

Norborn B. Bealle, one of the wealthy citizens of the pioneer days, was a large land holder, owning probably a thousand acres of land. He lived in grand style; owned a fine, large, resi- dence. He was the father of three children.

Of the early settlers who left numerous descend- ants is Mr. James S. Bates, a very worthy man, and a good, influential citizen. He was an exceedingly large man, weighing four hundred pounds. He also owned a large tract of land, a great many slaves, and raised a large family of children, who left many descendants now living. He was a dealer in real estate, and sometimes made very hazardous ventures.

PHYSICIANS.

There have not been many professional men in the precinct, owing to the contiguity of the place to Louisville. People in an early day would, however, sometimes need a doctor, and to supply the demand Dr. Gualt settled among them and plied his calling. He was their first physician, and remained some time.

No record has been kept of the magistracy of Gilman, but we have in tradition the services of one man, John Herr, Jr., who filled this office for a period of forty years. He was born No- vember 20, 1806, and died in 1863. He was a quiet, unobtrusive man in his manner, but influential and a very successful man in several respects. In 1854 he was selected by his dis- trict to represent them in the Legislature, and ac- quitted himself with credit. He held various positions of trust, and owned the fine farm now the property of A. G. Herr, the noted stock dealer. He was the son of John Herr, Sr., be- fore mentioned, and one of four brothers who lived to an honored, useful old age.

Alferd, the youngest brother of this family, is the only one living. He is a man of some con- siderable influence and of property.

There are others who figured quite extensively in the history of this precinct-the Bullitts, Breckinridges, Browns, Colonel William Cro- ghan, father of Major John Groghan, the hero of the War of 1812, and'others.

CHURCH.

One, if not the first, of the original organiza- tions of a religious character in the precinct, was a Baptist society, on Bear Grass. This society had its place of meeting first in Two Mile Town-it being encouraged in that precinct by Mr. George Hikes, who settled there about 1790-94. One of the first pastors was Rev. Mr. Walker. The congregation was made up of the citizens, not only of their own precinct but of Jeffersontown, Gilman, and other places. In the course of time the question of close communion was one which gave the organization some trouble and caused its entire overthrow.

The first building was a stone structure, erect- ed about the year 1798-99, on the north bank of Bear Grass. Rev. Ben Allen was also one of the divines who ministered to the people spirit- ually in an early day.

The membership, however, became numerous and the questions arising concerning communion made a split, a portion of the church going to Jeffersontown and a portion to Newburg, but the old church still retains the name of the Bear Grass church and remains on the original site.

BEAR GRASS.

This stream of water, so frequently mentioned previously, is a considerable one, named to retain the original idea of wealth represented by the lands and surrounding country through which it flows. It has a number of good mill sites, and furnishes an abundance of water ten months in the year, and supplies water for a number of grist-mills, and one paper-mill. It rises from eight different springs, and like other streams in the State sometimes disappears for a quarter of a mile or so and then emerges. Near the city it runs parallel with the Ohio for a distance of about half a mile, and enters the river at Louis- ville.

At the mouth of the creek is one of the best harbors on the Ohio, perfectly safe and com- modious for vessels of five hundred tons burthen. During seasons of the year when the waters are the most depressed there can be found here water twelve feet deep.

Susan V. Dorsey.

L.L. Dorsey.

RESIDENCE OF L. L. DORSEY. LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

Albert G. Herr was born in this county and has always lived here. His father, John Herr, was born here, and his grandfather, also named John, was one of the first settlers. Mr. Herr is the proprietor of the Magnolia stock farm, so named by the poet Prentice forty years ago. His stock and farm are widely celebrated. The farm contains two hundred and six acres. Mr. Herr's residence is most beautiful, and his gar- den is filled with a great variety of choice ex- otics. Mr. Herr does an extensive business breeding Jersey cattle, trotting horses, Berkshire hogs, and Silesian Merino sheep.

Dr. H. N. Lewis was born at St. Matthews in 1856. His father, Dr. John Lewis, practised in this county thirty years and was eminently suc- cessful. He died in r878, and his son succeeds him in his practice. Dr. Lewis was educated at the Louisville high school, and graduated in medicine from the Louisville Medical college, also from the Hospital Medical college. He now does a good business, and is looked upon as a rising young physician. He is a gentleman in every sense of word and richly deserves success.

Benjamin Lawrence came to this county from Maryland, in very early times, and settled on what is now L. L. Dorsey's Eden Stock farm. He was an excellent farmer and a prosperous business man. His sons, Samuel and Leben --- the former the grandfather of Theodore Brown, now residing here-were upright and worthy men, highly successful in business. Samuel Lawrence was the father of Benjamin and Elias Lawrence, who were among the prosperous mer- chants and most esteemed citizens of Louisville. Urath G. Lawrence, their sister, became the wife of James Brown, the father of Theodore and Arthur Brown. She was a lady widely known and beloved for her hospitality, benevolence, and high moral integrity, None but good words were ever spoken of her.

James Brown came from eastern Maryland about the year 1800. He was a clerk in the salt works of David L. Ward, at Mann's Lick, Bul- litt county. He afterwards bought land on Bear Grass creek, and became one of the richest men of the county. At one time he owned nineteen hundred acres in the county. He was a man of good judgment, of the strictest integrity and honesty, and was noted for his benevolence and public spirit. His modest demeanor and manli-

ness won for him hosts of devoted friends. He died in 1853, aged seventy-three years. Theo- dore Brown was born in 1821, and lives on what was once a part of the old farm. He has two hundred and fifty acres of land and a pleasant and beautiful home. He has been for forty years a member of the Protestant Episcopal church. Arthur Brown, his brother, and the youngest of the three surviving members of his father's family, was born in 1834. He married Miss Matilda Galt, daughter of Dr. N. A. Galt, who was the son of Dr. William C. Galt, who came from Virginia to Louisville in very early times. Mr. Brown has six children-J. Lawrence, Alex- ander G., Arthur A., William G., Harry L., and Matilda G. Mr. Brown is now serving his sec- ond term as magistrate. He is engaged in farm- ing. Mr. Brown is a member of the Episcopal church.

John C. Rudy was born in this county in 1822. His father, Daniel Rudy, was one of the early settlers here, Louisville being but a small village when he came. Daniel Rudy died in 1850, aged seventy-five, and his wife, Mary (Shibely) Rudy, in 1852, at the age of sixty-five. Mr. J. C. Rudy lived upon the old farm until recently. Rudy chapel was named for his father, and built chiefly by his means. Mr. Rudy is a good farmer, and owns two hundred acres of land. He held the office of magistrate eight or ten years. He is a member of the Methodist church. He married Miss Priscilla Herr in 1852. They have four children living-Ardell, George F., James S., and Taylor.

Mrs. Ann Arterburn, widow of the late Norbon Arterburn, was born in this county. She was the daughter of John Herr, an old resident here. Her husband was also a native of this county. They were married in 1840, and had eight chil- dren-Orphelia, Bettie, Emma, William C., Edward, Anna, Clifton, and an infant son. Orphelia, Bettie, Edward, and Clifton are now living. Mr. Arterburn died April 9, 1878, aged sixty-five. Mrs. Arterburn still resides upon the place where she was born. Her sister, Mrs. Emily Oldham, widow of the late John Oldham, lives with her.

Joseph Raymond was born in county Sligo, Ireland, August 5, 1804. In 1831 he came to Quebec, and soon afterward to Kentucky. He settled in Louisville and engaged in gardening,

HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

his present business. Mr. Raymond was mar- ried in 1835 to Miss Margaret Drisbach, a na- tive of Philadelphia. They have had four chil- dren-Mary Ann, who died when three months old; Jacob B., died in his twenty-third year; George Frederick, resides in this precinct; Thomas P. lives with his father. Mr. Raymond is a member of the Methodist church, and of the order of Odd Fellows.

James Harrison, the oldest man living in this county having Louisville for a birthplace, was the son of Major John Harrison, who came to this county in 1785. Major Harrison was mar- ried at Cave Hill in 1787 to Mary Ann Johnston. They had five children-Sophia J. (married Robert A. New), Benjamin I., Colonel Charles L., Dr. John P., and James. James is the only survivor. James Harrison was born May I, 1799, and has always lived in this county. He has been engaged in the practice. of law in Louisville since 1842, and stands high in his profession.

George F. Raymond was born in Jefferson county, December 4, 1840. He received a good common school education, and was brought up a farmer. He was married in 1862 to Miss Eliza McCarrell, of Washington county, Kentucky. They had eight children, five of whom are liv- ing-Margaret, Mary (deceased), Carrie, Ruth (deceased), George (deceased), Joseph, James, and William. Mr. Raymond has served as mag- istrate fourteen years.

Captain William C. Williams was born in Louisville, April 4, 1802. His father was a Welshman, who came to this country in 1788. Captain Williams followed farming the most of his life. He furnished capital for several busi- ness enterprises, but took no active part himself. His residence is an elegant mansion a few miles out of town. He was one of the wealthiest citi- zens of the county. He owned twenty-six houses in Louisville, including some fine business blocks. He was elected a captain of militia in 1823-24. For fifty years he was a member of the Masonic fraternity. Religiously he was con- nected with the Christian church. He married Miss Hannah Hamilton May 27, 1857. They had sixteen children, four of whom were: David M., John H., Mrs. Fannie W. Fenley, and Mrs. Mary E. Tyler. Captain Williams died in his seventy-ninth year, September 13, 1880, widely

known and everywhere respected throughout this section.

I. B. Dorsey, son of L. L. Dorsey, Sr., is a leading farmer and respected citizen. Edward Dorsey, father of L. L., came here from Mary- land about the year 1800. L. I .. Dorsey, Sr., had three sons, but the subject of this sketch only, lived to grow up. Mr. I. B. Dorsey has a farm of two hundred and twenty acres, and is engaged in raising grain. The land taken up by his great-grandfather has been held by represen- tatives of the Dorsey family since the time of the first comer of that name. Mr. Dorsey was married in 1860 to Miss Sarah Herndon. Their children are: Susan, Mary, Amanda, Levvie, Sally, Rhodes, George, and Eveline. Mr. Dorsey is a member of the Christian church.

O'BANNON PRECINCT.

O'Bannon (originally Williamson) precinct, was established in 1813-14, the first magistrates being E. M. Stone and Miner W. O'Bannon. J. M. Hampton and Miner W. O'Bannon are the magistrates at the present time.

Bushrod O'Bannon, deceased, and Miner O'Bannon, now resident of the place, were the sons of Isham O'Bannon, a native of Virginia, who was born in 1767, and came here in 1816, first set- tling in Shelby county. In 1830 he settled his estate upon his seven children, three daughters and four sons; one daughter now being eighty- one years old, and the average age of the four children now living being seventy-five years.

J. B. O'Bannon owned here an extensive tract of four hundred acres ot land, which he im- proved. He was the first president of the Farm- ers' and Drovers' bank, president of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance company, and owned consid- erable stock in the railroad, was director in the Louisville City bank, and was the founder of the Methodist Episcopal church in this place, which has, however, gone down since his death, owing to the members of the church dying off and moving away. It was first called O'Ban- non's chapel, but against his wish, and was an outgrowth of the Salem church. It was a neat

HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

structure, built in 1869, under the Rev. Mr. Hen- derson's appointment to this place. Mr. J. B. O'Bannon died in 1869.

M. W. O'Bannon was born in Virginia in 1810. He was the son of Isham O'Bannon, who moved to Shelby county, Kentucky, in 1816; thence to Jefferson county in 1831, where he resided until his death in 1845. Mr. M. W. O'Bannon was a merchant of Shelbyville from 1834 to 1838. In 1840 he went to Marshall, Saline county, Mis- souri, where he resided until 1863, farming and practicing law. During the unpleasantness con- sequent upon the outbreak of the war, Mr. O'Bannon was obliged to leave Missouri. He re- turned to this county, where he has since resided, a prominent and respected citizen. Hehas been thrice married. In 1835 he married Miss Jane Richardson, of Lafayette county, Kentucky. She died in 1838, leaving two daughters, one since de- ceased -- Mary Adelaide, who died in 1847 in the twelfth year of her age ; Jane Richardson, born in 1838, is the wife of J. R. Berryman, Marshall, Missouri. His second wife was Miss Julia Bar- nett, of Lafayette county, Missouri. She died in 1843, having borne one son, who died in infancy. In 1847 he married Mrs. Elizabeth (Harrison) Payne, formerly from Woodford county, Ken- tucky, but at that time residing in Missouri. Mr. O'Bannon has held the office of justice of the peace six years.

John Williamson was an early settler of this precinct, owning at one time a couple of thousand acres of land, also a distillery on Floyd's fork. He raised his own corn for distillery use. He was an active, large-hearted, and clever man. His daughter by his first wife married Bushrod O'Bannon. His second wife was the widow of Ed Dorsey, and from this union owned all his lands except four hundred acres.

In this precinct is the old Chenoweth spring house, built by Mr. Chenoweth as early as the summer of 1782. It is near Williamson's station, and on the farm now owned by John Williamson, and was built for a fort and as a refuge for the Chenoweth family in case of an attack from the Indians. The house was made of unhewn stone, packed in mortar made simply of lime, water and gravel. The cement thus made one hundred years ago appears as durable to-day as it was when the house was erected, and the stone, so nicely and evenly laid, presents a

surface as perpendicular and smooth on both the in- and outsides as most stone houses built in then ineteenth century, and so solidly are the walls built it is not improbable it will stand yet one hundred years longer before the crumbling process begins.

THE CHENOWETH MASSACRE.

Richard Chenoweth first built Fort Nelson, which bankrupted him. He was disappointed in the Government refusing assistance in this mat- ter, and came here in 1782, after the Floyd's Fork massacre, and built for himself this fort, and just above it the cabin where he lived with his family. At that time there were no out set- tlements except Lynns, Bear Grass, Harrods creek, and Boone's stations. The family con- sisted of himself, his wife Peggy, who was a brave woman-and who was a McCarthy before marriage-Thomas, James, Alexander, Millie, and Naomi, the last named being at that time about two years old. He had also some few persons constantly about them as guards, and at this time Rose and Bayless were with the family.

About dusk one evening in midsummer, while this little family were talking over the past at their evening meal, they were suddenly surprised by sixteen Indians, belonging to the tribe of the Shawnees, suddenly opening the door and rushing in. Rose, being nearest the entrance- way, jumped behind the door as soon as it was swung open, and in the dreadful excitement which followed passed out undiscovered and effected an escape. Bayless was not killed out- right and was burned at the stake at the spring house, just a few feet distant. The old man was wounded and his daughter Millie toma- hawked in the arm, but they escaped to the fort. The old man, however, survived and lived many years, but was afterwards killed by the falling of a log at a house-raising. James, a little fellow, was, with his brothers Eli and Thomas, killed at the wood-pile. The daughter Millie afterwards married a man named Nash. Naomi, the little girl, crept to the spring house and took refuge, child like, under the table. An Indian after- wards came in and placed a fire brand on it, but it only burned through the leaf. In the morning a party of whites were reconnoitering and sup-

HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

posed the Chenoweth family all killed, and upon approaching the scene discovered the little girl, who stood in the doorway, and told them upun coming up that they were all killed. The mother was scalped and at that time was not known to be alive, but she survived the tragedy many years and did much execution after that with her trusty rifle. Her head got well but was always bare after that.

John Williamson, Jr., owner of the property upon which the Chenoweth Spring-house fort now stands, was born in 1796, and still lives at this advanced age, having a mind and memory clear as crystal. His father, John Williamson, came with his father, John Williamson, from Virginia, and settled at the Lynn station in 1781. During the massacre of that year the Indians at- tacked the fort, killed the grandfather, Mr. Wil- liamson's oldest uncle, and made captive his father, who was taken that night to Middletown, where he saw the scalps of his father and oldest brother stretched over a hoop to dry, and knew for the first time of their murder. His legs and feet being sore, the Indians made leggings of deer skins and tied them on with hickory bark. He was then ten years old and remained with the Indians in all four years before he made his escape. He was adopted into the Tecumseh family, the father of that noted chief being the Shawnee chief of that party, and the one who adopted him. He was taken to Chillicothe, and there granted his liberty on condition that he could run the gauntlet. A fair chance was given him, and he would have succeeded had it not been for a log at the end of the race that pre- vented his mounting it successfully, and he was struck by a war-club. He was next taken by two Indians and washed in the river. This was for the singular purpose of washing all the white blood out of him. It was done by two Indians who alternately dipped and ducked him until breath and hope were gone, and he was then pronounced Indian and trained in their hunting grounds and by their camp fires. He attempted several times to make his es- cape, but failing in his purpose would return. He was finally purchased of the Indians for twenty-four gallons of whiskey. After his return to Louisville he fought the Indians for seven years ; was in Wayne's army and the battle of the river Raisin, where he was again captured,

taken to. Detroit, and burned at the stake. His daughter Elizabeth married Major Bland Ballard, an old Indian fighter and uncle of Judge Ballard, of Louisville. The second daughter married a Mr. Smith, who also participated in the Indian wars. Ruth, who afterwards married a Mr. Hall, was quite young at the time of the massa- cre. George and Moses were born after that time. James was thirteen years old when mur- dered, and John ten years old when captured, and his son, John Williamson, is now in the cighty-seventh year of his age, and although mar- ried the second time has no children.

PROFESSOR M'GOWN'S SCHOOL.

Dr. McGown, deceased, was a prominent man in O'Bannon precinct. He was born in 1805, was the youngest child of his father and the mainstay of his widowed mother. He was a circuit-rider and preached for a number of years. He finally established a school here in 1860, put up large buildings and carried it on quite successfully until his death, which occurred in 1876.

BOSTON PRECINCT.

This part of the county is ever memorable in the Long Run Indian massacre which preceded the terrible defeat sustained by General Floyd, who the day after with thirty-four of his men attempted the burial of the victims of the massacre. And also will this precinct not for- get the lamentable disaster which occurred just one hundred years thereafter, lacking eight days, in the giving way of the bridge over Floyd's fork, sending a loaded train of cars twenty feet into the terrible abyss below, killing eight per- sons outright and dangerously wounding many more, many of whom were of the most promi- nent representatives of this precinct. Floyd's defeat occurred September 17, 1781. The names of those who fell are not known, nor is there much that is definite. The facts given were furnished by Colonel G. T. Wilcox, a prominent citizen of northern Middletown pre- cinct, who is a descendant of 'Squire Boone, being his grandson, and gleaned some facts rela- tive to the terrible tragedy from Isaiah Boone, his uncle, and son of 'Squire Boone.

He was at Floyd's defeat. His father had

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History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II, Part 8

Author: Williams, L.A., & Co., Cleveland Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : L. A. Williams & Co. Number of Pages: 680

Author: Williams, L.A., & Co., Cleveland
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : L. A. Williams & Co.
Number of Pages: 680