ky-footsteps-digest Wednesday, March 3 1999 Volume 01 : Number 507 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 15:59:07 -0800 (PST) From: jan gillespie Subject: KFY: OBIT: Osborne, 1950 - Lewis Co January 23, 1950 Wesley Dimmitt Osborne born and raised in Cabin Creek, Ky died today after a lengthy stay at the Dayton, Ohio VA hospital. Mr. Osborne left Cabin Creek in 1910 for a 14 year term in our Armed forces. He was preceded in death by his wife Emma Belle Sowers Osborne. He leaves behind a brother Caleb of Cinti, OH, three children, Mrs. Janice Lee Gillespie Cinti.,OH, Mr. Dimmett M. Osborne, Walla Walla, WA, and Mrs Kathleen S. Houston, of Saginaw MI, and four grandchildren. He will be buried in the VA Cementary, Dayton, Oh. submitted by Janice Leslie Gillespie Granddaughter and holder of VA Death Certificate and Notice ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 19:13:08 EST From: BLTDEFORD@aol.com Subject: KFY: BIO: Ben L. Bruner - Grayson, Hart & Jefferson Cos History of Kentucky and Kentuckians Page 657 & 358 a full sized photo of Ben L. Bruner is also on a page. Ben L. Bruner, Secretary of State, to which he was elected on the Republican ticket, November 5, 1907; for a term of four years, is a native son of Kentucky and a man of typically American antecedents, his forbears having served in every American war of importance. The career of this statesman and physician should prove an inspiration to every youth to whom fortune has been chary in the bestowal of her favors, for he is a self made man of the beast type, having risen unaided from position of a street car driver to his present office. He was born at Clarkson , Grayson Co., January 16,1872, and is the son of the Hon. Peter S. Bruner, who was likewise a native Grayson County, born within it's present limits on the day preceding Christmas, 1838. Peter S. Bruner was the son of Peter and Rachael (Evans) Bruner, the former of whom saw the light of day at Danville, in 1792. he was a soldier in the way of 1812. His Father, Dr. Bruner's greatgrandfather, whose name was John Bruner was a native of Pennsylvania, of Dutch ancestry, and was a Soldier of the Revolutionary War. Hon. Peter S. Bruner, like those of his family who had gone before him, came speedily to the aid of his country at the breaking out of the Civil war , and served as a soldier in the union ranks throughout it;s progress. He enlisted as a private in company 1, Third Kentucky Calvary, rose to the rank of second lieutenant of his company, and at the close of the war was breveted first lieutenant for conspicuous service. He was elected a member of the house of representatives from Grayson county as a republican and served during the "long legislature" of 1891-3, with credit and distinction. The mother of Dr. Bruner bore the maiden name of Mary Rogers. She was born in Leitchfield, Grayson County, Kentucky, and her father was the Hon. Ben L. Rogers (in whose honor the subject is named) who was a county judge and a son of Jacob Rogers, a Native of Virginia and a Kentucky pioneer. Thus he is descended not only from Revolutionary stock, but from old Kentucky families on both paternal and maternal sides, and in his veins course a mixture of German, English, Welsh, and Scotch-Irish blood. Ben L. Bruner was reared on his father's farm, as has been the lot of so many prominent men as to make it almost the rule, and in his youth experienced what the average farmer's son experienced in farm work, ---saw logging, plowing and engaging in other strenuous occupation. He first attended the common schools, then first attended Millerstown Academy, then Leitchfield Seminary and finally, graduated from Sweetwater College, Sweetwater Tennessee, when twenty- one years of age. For a time he led a diversified existence, trying his hand as a pedagogue, clerking in a mereantile establishment and finally becoming a traveling commercial salesman. By reason of having at one time served in this capacity he later became a member of the Travelers Protective Association of America, in which he has been prominent for years, having been a delegate to many national conventions of the association. In 1893, shortly before the attainments of his majority, Dr Bruner paid adieux to home scenes and went to Louisville where he drove a street car, and in his fashion worked his way through medical college. In 1897 he graduated from the hospital Medical College, medical department of Central University and the following year, at the inception of the Spanish-American war, he heeded the inherited thrill of patriotism in his breast and enlisted as a private in Company M, Third Kentucky Regiment, and was immediately promoted to the office of first lieutenant and assistant surgeon of the Fourth Regiment, Kentucky Infantry, United Sates Volunteers. He remained in the army service one year. and receiving an honorable discharge, returned to Kentucky. Dr. Bruner now located at Hardyville, in Hart County, where he hung out his shingle and practiced his profession for five years. In 1904 he remove to Louisville, and has ever since that time resided in Kentucky's largest city. His first political office was bestowed upon him while he was in Hart co. being nominated by the Republicans as candidate fir the legislature and being elected as representative from that county in the year 1902. In 1907 he became the Republican nominee for secretary of state, to which office he was elected on November 7th of that year, for a term of four years beginning January 1, 1908. As secretary of state, Dr. Burner has rendered felling service in behalf of the commonwealth, and in splendid manner has improved the administration of affairs in that office. Among his most momentous accomplishments has been the strengthening of affairs relative to corporations and the banking department. He was the First State official to move into quarters in the new capitol, removing from the old building some seven weeks in advance of any other state official. >From every early period in life Dr. Bruner has been active in political affairs. As early as sixteen he made campaign speeches and engaged in joint debate with leaders in of the Democratic party. Not alone to Kentucky have his political efforts been confined, for being a forceful and effective campaign speaker his services have been called into requisition in other States. Liberal and generous as he has always been, and yet a man of earnest conviction, he has won favor with the populace and has a political following perhaps second to no other leader in the republican party in Kentucky. Noted for untiring energy and indefatigable determination, he does not know the word "fail." and with characteristic pluck he has forged his way to the front in life. Dr. Bruner is a popular and much desired lodge man and his fraternal afflictions extend to the Masonic order, in which he holds the Thirty-second degree, and is a Knight Templar and a member of the Mystic Shrine. In his profession he hold membership in the Hart County Kentucky State Medical Societies, and in the American Medical Association. He is President of the Transylvania Casualty Insurance Company of Louisville On April 30, 1891, Dr. Bruner joined the ranks of the Benedicts, wedding Miss Anna Blanche Bruner the daughter of the Rev. Issac W. Bruner, a prominent minister of the Baptist Church, and they have had five children: Walter Lewis, Mary Rogers, Mabyl Blanche , Ben L. Jr. (deceased) and Issac Simeon ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 05:32:16, -0500 From: DBXP64A@prodigy.com ( C L CRAWFORD) Subject: KFY: Mt Vernon Signal Newspapers, 1900, Rockcastle Co ROCKCASTLE COUNTY, KENTUCKY AUG 3, 1900 (CONT) LOCAL ITEMS (CONT) The birck mason's began laying the brick for Houk & Son's new house Monday. MR Harris of Richmond is the contractor C. C. Williams was down from Mt Vernon Saturday and Sunday with his borther Judger R.G. Williams who is gerting along nicely at the Jospeh PRice Infirmary Mrs Sam Pennington after an illness of two weeks died Saturday morning of Typhoid fever. The burial took place in the cemetery here Sunday morning at 10 o'clock Tom Proctor who got his leg broke about a month ago and then had an attack of peneumonia, is very much improved and Dr Lovell says he will be able to be out in about six days Miss Fannie Mcclure is some better Jerry Kriby of East Fork is on the sick list Mr James McFerron of Hansford is quite sick A.J. Sears merchant of Level Green was in town yesterday Joda Meece of Hansford has twins at his house ..boy and girl DEATH: A child of Bob Bloomer's of near Hansford died Tuesday night of croup In all probablitity Billy Sowders will move his saw mill to Tennessee Circuit Clerk Griffin has about completed the docket for September Court Henry Forbus and wife are here from Madiosn county to visit their daughter Mrs W.A.B. Davis DEATH: Mrs Celia Casper came up from Nashville Tenn Saturday last to attend the funeral of her siser Mrs Sam Pennington School commissioner W.A.B. Davis says all the schools he has visited are well attended and are in a flourishing condition Judge Williams returned Tuesday from the Joseph Price Infirmary. D.N. Williams is acting as special clerk during the Judges illness John Neloson, Chas Green and Lige Cox were here from East Bernstadt, Wednesday on moonshine matters in US Commissioner White's court F.L. Thompson says he has worked hard enough during the year that he is now entitled to a few days rest which he is going to take for the next ttwo weeks James Bodkins indicted for moonshining was tried and acquitted. Dink Matingly and Jesse Trosper of Laurel county were tried and held over to the district Court Judge P.D. Collyer left Tuesday night for Nicholasville to attend a meeting of the district commiteemen held for the purpose of selecting a place and date to hod the convention to nominate a condidate for congress NOTICE..I have to pay for my papers and those that buy from me on credit must pay me. I am no Vanderbuilt or William Waldor Astor or railrod magnet. This is a matter of business. I am out for the stuff and not glory. F.L. Thompson, Jr Marshal Short succeeded in arresting Tuesday night James Burdine whom he tried to arrest about 3 months ago but owing to the rapidity with which Burdine used his leg fMr Short had to remain behind. The only thing left for Mr Short at time was a sack of chickens, which Burdine didn't have time to take with him. This makes four arrests which the Marshal has made in the last week which is somewhat of a record breaker. Ther eis only one thing which will keep him from getting a prisoner when he goes after him and that is the fellow isll have to run faster than he can The firm of Collyer & Owens has dissolved partnership and Granville Owens has purchased the entire stock and will be run by Owens exclusively hereafter Dannie as he is better known is a clever nice gentleman and deserves the patronage of te people you have made others who were poor rich now let us see he gets a liberal share of the patronage of the people Dr D.N. Williams seems to be leading a very lonely life now days his family having gone to "Happy Holler, Mal-lor-y Springs" as he expresses it some two weeks ago. He says that the owls have taken possession of the verandas of his handsome home in East End, the chickens the back proch, while the dog and cats poor things having no one to cook for them have engaged other quarters. The old hydraulic ram that has butted the water form the spring to the house has refused to butt any more without feed. As for himself he is stopping at Hotel de Miller and eating at table de hote, at a pay of there dollars per week, no flesh put on, no pay ORLANDO Geo Evans has a very sick child this week BH. Ball and Elza Langford have been in Jackson county on business G.W. Anderson who lives in Boones hollow is one of our best farmers his corn crop will show Miss Mattie Bales is teaching a good school at Macedonia. This we learn from the patrons of the district A free for all fight at new Hope last Tuesday is given as the reason why Deputy Sheriff Langford has arrested seven or eight of our young men GeoT. Johnson is advertising very extensively. You can read his bargains at all road crossings in this section of the county and in the Signal and you will find it correct when you visit his store Dr Childers hangs out a very nice shingle in front of his office. It seems that the Doctor dropped into the right place at the right time for he went into a good practice as soon as he come home. S.S. Ball is now working with the tunnel crew south of this place ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 09:25:37 -0600 From: Rita Subject: KFY: OBITS: Arrowood, 1946 & Raleigh, 1951 - from Breathitt Co Here are two obits for your list, they are my great grandparents Rita wojskim@hughestech.net WILLIAM ARROWOOD Died February 17, 1946 William J. Arrowood, 78, of Lily, died at 10 o'clock Sunday morning, Feb. 17, 1946 at the Langlade County Memorial Hospital following a six weeks illness. He was born Sept. 21, 1867 in Breathitt county, Kentucky, the son of Newton and Elizabeth Turner Arrowood. On may 28,1886 he married America Raleigh at Canoe, Ky. They came to Minnesota in 1914 and moved to Wisconsin in 1916, making their home at Bryant, and in 1944 moving to Lily. He was a farmer. Surviving are his wife, three daughters, Mrs. John Raleigh (Ellen), Whick, Ky., Mrs. Ed N. Arrowood, (Elizabeth), Lily; and Mrs. Percy Monk (Martha), Bryant; seven sons, Jerry, Edward, and Sam of Bryant, Newt of Crandon, Green of Chicago, John of Antigo, and Joseph of Janesville. Two brothers, N.L. Arrowood of Kent and L.P. Arrowood of Breathitt county, several sisters, 51 grandchildren and several great grandchildren also survive. Two daughters and one son preceded him in death. Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon at the home of Mr. and Mrs. E. N. Arrowood at Lily, the Rev. James Fraley of Crandon officiating-Burial will be in Bent cemetery, Bryant. Source Antigo Journal on microfilm # P 21991 State Historical Society of Wisconsin Library Madison Wisconsin MRS. ARROWOOD Died February 4, 1951 Mrs. W. J. Arrowood, 79, died at 3:10 a.m. Sunday at the home of her daughter. She had been ill for a long time. Mrs. Arrowood was born America Raleigh on April 14, 1871 in Kentucky and was married there to W. J. Arrowood in 1886. In 1914 she moved to Floodwood, Minn., until 1918, when she came to Langlade county. She had lived since in the vicinity of Lily. Among those surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Martha Monk of Bryant, Mrs. Ellen Raleigh of Which, Ky., and Mrs Elizabeth Arrowood of Lily; six sons, Newton of Crandon, John of Antigo, Sam and Ned of Bryant, and Jerry and Joe of Lily. Also surviving are two brothers, Green Raleigh and Jerry Raleigh of Kentucky, 54 grandchildren. Preceding her in death were her husband who died in 1946, four children, a brother, and two sisters. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow at the Soman-Bradley funeral home, the Revs. Arron Queen and James Fraley officiating. Burial will be in the Bent cemetery at Bryant. Source Antigo Daily Journal microfilm # P77-2081 State Historical Society of Wisconsin Library Madison Wisconsin ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Feb 1999 11:14:57 -0700 From: "Phyllis Hill" Subject: KFY: OBIT: Hazel, 1999, born Warren Co OBIT: Hazel, 1999, born Warren Co., KY Submitted by: phill@redrock.net (Phyllis Hill) OBITUARIES: HAZEL, Carl, 1999, Cedar City, Iron Co., UT Copied with permission of The Spectrum, St. George, Washington Co. Utah Wednesday, February 25, 1999, page A5 CEDAR CITY -- Carl Hazel, 88, passed away Feb. 23, 1999 in Cedar City Care Center. He was born Jan. 5, 1911 in Bowling Green, Ky. to James Lonzo and Angie Namoi Barrett Hazel. Carl married Lillian Munford on Oct. 17, 1936 in Parowan. Carl loved to hunt and bowl. He was an avid golfer and he also loved to garden. He was a member of the CCC camp and came to Cedar in 1933. He was a life-time member for 52 years and was the chairman of the House Committee of B.P.O.E. Lodge of Cedar City, Utah. He is survived by his wife of 63 years: Lillian; daughter: Juanita (Eugene) Wallenfang of Las Vegas, Nev.; and six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, whom he loved dearly. He was preceded in death by 16 of his brothers and sisters. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Feb. 27, 1999 at 11 a.m. at the Southern Utah Mortuary. Friends may call Friday evening from 7-8 p.m. and Saturday morning one hour prior to services at the mortuary. Interment will be in the Cedar City Cemetery. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Feb 1999 08:39:35, -0500 From: DBXP64A@prodigy.com ( C L CRAWFORD) Subject: KFY: Mt Vernon Signal Newspapers, 1900, Rockcastle Co ROCKCASTLE COUNTY, KENTUCKY AUG 3, 1900 (CONT) GENERAL NEWS A postfoffice has been established at Wildwood Allen county with John W. Whiteside postmaster Governor Beckham has appointed James Weir Griffith of Ownsboro, to a place on his staff with the rank of colonel S. Smith of Duncan of Eureaka, Ky who went to Evansville with his wife and child is missing. He had considerable money with him and his wife fears foul play Joseph McDowell the defaulting cashier of the Estill County bank at Irvine who was arrested a few weeks ago in Kansas City Mo and returned to the Irvine jail has been released on bond. George Easton who is charged with assaulting Minnie Young an eleven yearl old negro girl at Middlesboro has been arrested at Norton, Va. He refuses to return to Kentucky without a requistion A tramp named Albert Williams applied at the home of Mr George Davis near Sorgho. Daviess county for soemthing to eat. MRs Davis who was alone her husband being away from home gave him something to eat after which he attempted to assault Mrs Davis. She escaped and notified neighbors Williams was arrested later and lodged in jail in Owensboro At Sparta Lindsay Davis and William Davis, brother, became involved in a quarrel over politics both being Democrats. William Davis felled Lindsay with a stone. When Lindsay got to his feet he drew a postol and shot at this brother. The trouble took place in the Exchange Hotel and the proprietor Scott Moore endeavoring to get the men out of his house got into the fight with them. Moore drew a postol and shot Lindsay Davis twice in the abdomin and leg. William Osborne a bystnder was shot in the finger. Davis is reported to be in a dying condition and cannot recover BRODHEAD Mr Joe Cash one of Maretburg merchants was in town Thursday R.W. Wallin has opened up a nice lot of groceries &c in a.E. Albright's old stand Three Bordhead's teachers, Misses Bettie Hendreickson and Mollie Brown and Rev Henderrickson began their schools Monday MARRIAGE: Mr Will Weaver twice a widower and Miss Matilda Webb were married at the residence of R. Totten on the 29th. Rev G.D. Hendrickson officiated Mr Tim Hamm of the Glades was stung by a kissing bug and for several days his head and face were so badly swolen he was beyond recognition R.H. Hamm and William Adams made a business trip to Lebanon last Monday John Roberts tells us that Gillis craig is to pace his fast mare next Saturday at Crab Orchard next Saturday for a purse of $30 Miss Berda Martin was visiting her uncle R.R. Martin and family Saturday and Sunday Brodhead school began last Monday with Prof R.L. Brown as principal and Miss Helen Thurmond as assistant Mrs Sarah Totten is still confined to her room not able to be out W.H. Collyer is no better...very low Mrs A.E. Albirght has returned from Cincinnati to visit friends here ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Feb 1999 21:02:55 EST From: BLTDEFORD@aol.com Subject: KFY: OBIT: Hawkins, 1999 - Jefferson Co 2/18/99 James Elbert Hawkins, 78, died Wednesday at Norton Southwest Hospital. He was a native of Millerstown, a retired inspector for Ford Motor Co. and Army veteran of World War II and a Baptist. Survivors: his Wife, the former Edna Dorsey; sons James R., Stephen H. and John C. Hawkins; a daughter Deborah K. Davis: a brother Damon B. Hawkins and sisters Ruby Singhiser and Eula Belvy Funeral: 2 P.M. Saturday, Owen, 5317 Dixie Highway. Burial Bethany Memorial. Visitation: 2-5 and 7-9 P.Friday and after 10A.M. Saturday. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 09:24:46, -0500 From: DBXP64A@prodigy.com ( C L CRAWFORD) Subject: KFY: Mt Vernon Signal Newspapers, 1900, Rockcastle Co ROCKCASTLE COUNTY, KENTUCKY AUG 10, 1900 GENERAL NEWS Walter Blevins was struck by a train in Daviess county and perhaps fatally injured John Powers under indictment for the complicity in the Goebel assassination is said to have opened a law office at Harlan BRODHEAD B.J. Farris says Logue Cash has been lost in his corn field since about June 1st and that he has decided to offer a liberal reward for his recovery provided he is not found in his garden F. Francisco has quait furnishing lunches for the L&N employees Ora Frith, Oscar Totten, Erbin Cass and otehrs have malarial fever Mrs Campbell Houk is very sick Mrs Barbara houk was visiting her sister Miss Mollie Brown the first part of the week Egbert Wallin killed a mad dog Monday in Grandpa Tharp's yeard J.G. Frith is runnin his saw mill daily givign employment to about a dozen men at good wages Josh Dunn and wife returned home last Saturday from a portracted visit to see freinds in Boyle and Garrard I am glad to inform the people that Uncle Jim Wiggins is better Jim Painter and wife and Mrs Lila Murphy and husband are visiting friends and relatives this week Mr and MRs G.E. painter and daugher Mrs Charlett Jarrett attended the funer of Judge Carter at Mt Veron last Monday Perry Hayes and wife were in town Tuesday also Mr Arch Albright made his appearance the same day W.H. Collyer still continues very low ORLANDO Fish & Wood are having their new building painted this week J.E. Singleton traveling slaesman was here this week Judge Chenault and Mr World adn daughter of richmond are spending a few days in our little town Dr Childress is busy lookig after his patients. He reports quite a good deal of sickness such as fever and etc. Rev Williams has just returned from Hazel Patch where he has been preaching and reports religion on a boom in that neck of the woods DEATH: Died on FRiday Aug 3rd, Miss Ida Choldress daughter of J.C. Childress after a serious illness, of several months with pulmonary tuberculosis. She was buried in the family grave yard the following day; and qute a crowd of relatives and friends attended the funeral exercises, which were conducted by Rev Williams LIVINGSTON Mrs W. S. Cummins has returned from a visit to her sister Mrs Dr. Brown Mrs Joe Poynter was with friends here Saturday and Sunday Miss Roberts of Gumsulphur and Jesse Cook of Jelico are visiting Miss Lida Cook Mrs B.N. Roller gave an entertainment at the Dillion switch in honor of her sister whi is visiting her Capt Bentley has finished up his handsome cottage down by the river where Mr Chumley now lives The wife of Agent Fishback is visiting her parents Mr and MRs Ben King in Madison county Miss Lucy Coffey is here from Wildie with her sister Mrs Mila Petit Bro Rice has taken rooms with Mr and Mrs Matt Ballard. Miss Butner is also boarding there Joe Oliver will soon move into one of W.S. Cummins new dwellings on Smith street Public school opened here Monday with G.M. Ballard Principal; Mrs Ballard and Miss Butner as assistants. Everything seems promising and we look for a good school Ex sheriff W.G. Mullins was in town Saturday on legal business Miss Anna Owens of near Brodhead was visiting ehr cousin Mrs steve Carson last week Mrs N.E. Merrimee wife of Dispatcher Merrimee has returned from an extended visit to her sister in Chicago Mrs C.A. Moore and sister Miss Pearl Pollock are with relatives in Louisville ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 19:02:39, -0500 From: DBXP64A@prodigy.com ( C L CRAWFORD) Subject: KFY: Mt Vernon Signal Newspapers, 1900, Rockcastle Co ROCKCASTLE COUNTY, KENTUCKY AUG 10, 1900 (CONT) LIVINGSTON (CONT) Mrs Minnie Martin of Rowland is visiting her parents Mr and Mrs W.P. Raines Mrs Hearld at Junction city is visiting her niece Mrs J.T. Blandenship Geo Griffin has recovered from a recent spell of sickness and retruend to his saw mill in Laurel county Mrs Marsh Owens returned Monday from a visit to relatives Maretburg "Uncle" Ashley Owens is quite feeble and has not been able to come to town for several days. Mrs Sarah Odell and little son Willie left Tuesday for Lebanon Junction where she will maker her home with Bob Owens her son' who is engaged in business at that place Mrs Sallie Magee has been visiting ehr sister Mrs Gresham at lancaster Rev T. D Mullins has returned from Sycamore Ky where he has been engaged in a week's meeting at that place Mrs Shade Herrin and Mrs Proctor mother and sister of E.A. Herrin of this place were visiting realtives here last week Miss Luna Herrin entertained quite a crowd of her young friends Saturday eve "uncle" Albert Owens says he handles the best apples and is going to out peddle the boys Mr E.S. Elmore was iwth his wife in Stnaford Wednesday. She is still improving but not able to come home yet Capt J.R. Sickey has resigned as hotel keeper and moved to the property belonging to Mr Joe Coffey Tuesday night the Maccabees met at the hall and six new names were enrolled. Dr E.J. Brown, of stanford and Messrs Davis, Pennington, Krueger and jailer Griffin having been members of the Mt Vernon lodge and it being on decline they moved their membership to this tent which is rapidly growing strong POLITICS AND POLITICIANERS Geo Beckham was 32 years of age Sinday and quietly celebrated the event at his mother' home near Bardstown Hon James B. McCreary formally accepted the chairmainship of the Democratic State Campaign committee. Mr McCreary has issued a call for the first committee to be held in Louisville tomorrow John W. Yerkes made a speech at Newport in the interest of W.H. Dyer Republican candidate for State Senator in that district FATAL ACCIDENTS Frank Thompson while hauling logs near Eubanks Pulaski county fell from a wagon on his head and died within a few minutes At Chenoa Bell county, Ky Peter Mason a mill owner was killed by a pile of lumber falling on him and another man was probably fatally hurt Charles Kyle the sixteen year old boy who fell into a coal shaft eight feet deep at the Ruddy mines died from the inuries he received Mr C.E. Myers of Crider died after a long illness. He leaves a wife and two small children a daughter and son Miss Lucy Smither the oldest woman in Nicholasville is dead. She leaves three children J.C Smither and Mrs Lucy Saunders of Nicholasville and Mrs J.W. Puthuff of Louisville J.Polie Clark who had for many years been the jaoler of Marion county died at his home in Lebanon of a complication of diseases. Mr Clark was serving his therd term as county jailor. he leaves a wife and four children Perkins the negro porter in the Agricultural office under the Taylor dynast swore at Georgetown Tuesday that "Tallow Dick" Combs and Hondersmith could not have killed Goebel as they were in the Adjuant General's office at the time PERSONAL Tom Proctor is improving slowly Rev Jim Riddle was here Monday Joe Ramsey of Scaggs Creek has fever Mrs Geo Fish was shopping in town Monday W.F. Champ was over from Paint Lick sunday Mrs Sue Mullins was up from Livingston Monday R.L. Joplin spent Saturday and Sunday with home folks L.C. Bell of Orlando gave us a pleasant call Friday last D.B. Langford was in Monday form Orlando on business W.A. Coffe of Wildie called to see us while in town Monday Mr and Mrs W.T. Houk spent Tuesday ngiht with relatives here James Houk Jr, E.B. and Robt Cox are in Louisville buying goods Miss Pearl Butner who came here from Indiana for her health is no better ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 3 Mar 1999 15:55:11 -0500 From: "Woosley, Darla" Subject: KFY: NEWSPAPER: Early Settlements - Clark Co The following is a transcription of articles which the transcriber found in a scrapbook at the Clark County KY Public Library. There was no identification to tell who compiled the scrapbook. It contained articles of historical nature which had been printed in "The Winchester Sun". The articles titled "Clark County Chronicles" and were "conducted and collaborated by the Clark County Historical Society". The transcriber kept all spelling, misprints, and punctuation as it was in the articles. They were printed in installments starting March 29, 1923. EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN CLARK COUNTY Though not the oldest by several years, one of the very early settlements in the eastern portion of the county, on Big Stoner, near Goshen church was known as the Tracy Settlement. The very interesting account of this settlement which follows was written by the late Captain B. A. Tracy, about the year 1890. Captain Tracy was the son of General Obediah Tracy, and the grandson of Charles Tracy, one of the pioneers mentioned. A copy of this manuscript is in the collection of the Clark County Historical Society and has not heretofore appeared in print, and will no doubt be read with great interest not only by the descendents of the settles mentioned, but also by Clark county citizens in general. A SCRAP OF CLARK COUNTY HISTORY CHAPTER 1 In the early spring of 1783 a band of hardy, resolute Revolutionary soldiers who had been comrades and messmates throughout the long and bloody war that terminated in our independence from the government of that old tyrant, King George III, having just been discharged from further service to their country, and finding their homes, in many instances, in waste, determined to emigrate to the dark and bloody grounds of Kentucky, having heard very glowing descriptions of its fertility and great abundance of wild game. Accordingly about fifteen families, some from Virginia, others from Marys Potomac westward to Kentucky, bringland, started from the banks of the ing with them some horses, a few cattle, thirty or forty slaves and a few necessary household articles. After many hardships and trials, heroically borne by both men and women, they halted upon the banks of Big Stoner in what is now the eastern part of Clark County, and after examination of the country around, determined to establish a settlement, as they learned that there was a considerable settlement ten miles west of the Strode's Station, and other settlements in other directions, though at much greater distances. The section of the county in which they chose to stop was an undisturbed wilderness, not a single cabin (as they thought-Ed.) nearer than the neighborhood of Strode's Station. The timber was large and of the most desirable sorts, the cane was thick and high, the wilderness was complete and unbroken save by a large buffalo trace that passed through this immediate section from the South running North toward Upper and Lower Blue Licks. A few of the giants of the forest as it then existed are standing yet, and many thousands of them have been felled within the recollection of the writer. Of the men and their families who composed this settlement the writer remembers the names of Edmond Ragland, who built his home on the land now known as the Thomas Gardner farm; Charles Tracy, who built his cabin within fifty yards of where the old Tracy residence now stands; Richard Hainey built his cabin near the site of Elija Miller's present residence; Wyatt Hulett built about halfway between Hainey and Tracey. The logs would not be more than four feet long. The roof was made of four foot boards, put on two double, and fastened in place by straight edge logs laid across each course of boards, the first of these roof logs was fastened in place by being pinned to the first rib pole, the next was kept in place by scatches one end resting against the first roof log and extending to the second, and so on to the top or comb. A few chimneys to these houses were built entirely of stone. William Halley's chimney was entirely of stone and had a fire place on either side, so that one chimney did for two rooms. Others were built up four, five, or six feet with stone and then finished with sticks and mortar, these sticks for chimney building were riven about the size, or a little larger than tobacco sticks, the chimney was then built up after the fashion of a chicken coop, and the space between the sticks was plastered with a stiff mortar made of yellow clay, and some chimneys were built from the foundation with mud and sticks and then protected from the fire by large flat rocks set up at the sides and back of the fire place. One of these houses was built entirely of sassafras logs, from twelve to eighteen inches in diameter, unhewn, but the bark taken off. This house was moved about sixty yards to another site in 1795, and removed again, about thirty feet in 1850, and to this day is being occupied by a family---one hundred and seven years after it was first built, and the logs are apparently as sound as they ever were. CHAPTER II Edmond Ragland was several years the oldest man in the colony, and was also the wealthiest man, that is, he had more negroes, more horses and cattle. So far as silver and gold was concerned, it was not worth a banbee for there was nothing to buy. So it was decided by the colonists that he should build a much larger and much stronger house than any other in the colony in order that his house might serve as a sort of fort for the colony, in the event of a raid by the Indians, which they had many reasons for believing might at any time occur. Accordingly he built a house twenty by thirty feet, two stories high, of very heavy poplar and white oak logs, and made it in every way very strong, having a special reference in its building for a defense of the colony from the outside. The house was divided into four rooms, two below and two above, by means of a heavy plank partitions, the plank being sawed with whip saw, with very large stone chimneys at either end of the house. There was so much to be accomplished by this colony with such an insufficiency of tools, that it was not until after the first snow of the approaching winter had fallen, that many of them were able to get into their houses. It must be remembered that in addition to the whites, there were thirty to forty negroes to be provided for with houses, besides the approach of winter brought with it large packs of ravenous wolves, that made it absolutely necessary to build other strong houses or stables for the protection of the live stock, and ere this could be done, a favorite horse or cow had often to be taken into the family room at night for its protection from ravenous beasts of the forest. In addition to all these cares, they were kept in a state of continual anxiety by rumors of Indian raids upon Strode's Station, Bryant's Station, and other places, but whilst there were raids upon Strode's Station, Bryant's Station, Lexington, Boonesboro, Estill Station, and other places, not a single Indian was seen or heard of, in the vicinity of Big Stoner Settlement during the year of 1783. It is possible that they had not heard of this settlement, and accidentally failed in their rambles to stumble upon it. All possible arrangements had, however, been made by the colonists for their coming. Mr. Ragland's strong house had been put in the best possible condition, gun and ammunition were ready at a moment's warning. The few valuables were kept packed ready to be grabbed on the run, or else buried where not likely to be found. An agreement had been made with other settlements to warn them by a swift messenger of the approach of savages. It had been agreed by the colonists that a certain shrill intonation of the horn, sounded from house to house, should serve as a note of warning, and that each family should run with all possible haste to Mr. Ragland's strong house. One of Charles Tracy's daughters, Jahoba, (who became the wife of Edmond Ragland's son Robert) told the writer that at the time of which we write, she was eight or ten years of age, and how well she remembered this shrill note of the horn, and how at its sounding they (to give her words) ??????? Ragland's. But these alarms, to use their expressions, were frequently false alarms, and it was not until sugar making time, in early spring of 1784, that they actually received a visit from Indians. They had been warned by a swift running messenger from another settlement of their coming. All the people and valuables had been collected at Mr. Ragland's, and everything made secure for the safety of the women and children, and then the men sallied forth with guns in hand, eager to meet these savages of the forest. Traveling northward and keeping near the line of the big buffalo trace, they had gone scarcely a mile when from the top of a hill they discovered fifteen or twenty Indians around Mr. William Hailey's house trying to effect an entrance, and having failed to batter the doors down, one big buck had mounted to the roof, and was effecting an entrance by that route. When discovered, the settlers were scarcely a hundred yards off, and a steady aim from one of their rifles brought the Indian to the ground a corpse. In the fight that ensued two other Indians were known to have been killed, and several others seriously wounded. The Indians retreated precipitately, the settlers following eagerly, but with prudence and caution, coming in sight of them several times, though at too great a distance to do further execution. Following on for several miles, the settlers saw indications that led them to believe that the party of Indians that they were pursuing were not all that were engaged in the raid and fearing that another party might have fallen upon another part of their settlement, they hastened to return only to find all quiet in the settlement, and the women and children greatly rejoiced at their safe return. These alarms now for a time became quite frequent, so that the colony was kept in a constant state of anxiety and while some men were at work clearing more land and making preparations for another crop, others with trusty rifles in hand were scouring the country around on the watch for the approach of these cruel and bloody savages. On another occasion not long after this the Indians made their appearance on Stoner in considerable numbers, but were surprised by the whites in their camp and quickly repulsed with a loss of several of their number, retreating in the direction of Strode's Station. They were overtaken about the spot where the Newport News and Mississippi Valley depot now stands in Winchester, and a fight that then ensued an Indian was killed on the spot now occupied by the residence of Col. Robert Winn. In this fight the whites suffered a severe loss by the death of one of their bravest of their number, a gallant young man whose name the writer regrets has been lost, but remembers that he was a cousin to the Sphars. But what became of the savages after the fight just alluded to the writer does not clearly remember, the paper giving account of this fight having been lost, but thinks it proved to be a part of a large band of Indians that were at the same time menacing Strode's Station and Bryan's Station. After the Indian raid last alluded to the Big Stoner Settlement enjoyed comparative quiet for a considerable period, though never entirely free of anxiety on that account, at least, not for several years after the time of which we write. Mrs. Jahoba Ragland told the writer that after one of these raids and Charles Tracy's family returned to their home from Mr. Ragland's, they found a favorite cow "Crumple Horn" and a faithful watch dog "Ruler" had been killed by the Indians during their absence, and ????? now the children and servants of the family wrung their hands and wept in the bitterness of grief over the death of these favorite animals that had accompanied them from the banks of the Potomac. Some time after this Ezra Brown's family had gone to visit Charles Tracy's to spend a social day, Mr. Brown being at home all alone and having finished the job of work on which he had been engaged, decided to take his gun and go into the woods and kill a deer and being desirous of making a still hunt fastened his dogs, Brylo and Sylo, in a house so they could not follow him. He was not long in the woods when he was attacked by a pack of half a dozen wolves; he quickly dispatched one of them with a load in his gun, the other five made not the slightest halt, but came at him snarling and snapping. He clubbed his gun and at the first blow killed another wolf, but it still being so hard pressed he sprang into a tree with the four remaining wolves jumping at his legs as he went up. He climbed quickly to the top of the tree and began calling lustily for his dogs, Brylo and Sylo, who hearing their master's excited call after much scratching and gnawing finally effected their escape from their prison and went with all speed to their master's rescue. The dogs cleaned up the wolves and Mr. Brown came down from the tree, and picked up the fragments of his gun and walked home, fully resolved never to go into the woods again without his faithful dogs, Brylo and Sylo, at his heels. It might have been stated by the writer ere this that in some of the numerous raids made by the Indians upon the Big Stoner Settlement, more than one of the settlers' houses were burned, sand others set fire to, but being of green wood, ceased burning before doing much harm. Quite a lot of their live stock was killed or driven off, much scanty household effects were destroyed, and they were severely harassed in many ways, but they were a brave resolute people, and finally triumphantly overcome all of their disasters. The settlement having relapsed into comparative quietude about the year 1785 or 1786, Richard Hainey proceeded to build the first mill ever built upon the waters of Big Stoner, the site of this mill being upon the land now owned by and within a short distance of the present residence of deaf Jimmie Ramsey, and about a quarter of a mile, a little east of north, of Goshen Church. The name of the millwright who constructed this mill for Mr. Hainey was David Petty. The dam was built of stone and brush, the mill house was said to have been small, indeed it was in every way a rude structure. Just where the burrs or stones came from the write is unable to state, but they were probably manufactured on the ground out of material found in the neighborhood. The mill was a small affair, but did good work, and would grind several bushels of corn into meal in a day and a night, and was considered lightening and a luxury compared with the old method of pounding corn into meal in a mortar. It must be borne in mind that the "Big Stoner" of which we write, a hundred years ago, was quite a different stream from the Big Stoner of today. Then it contained within its banks almost as much water as the Red River of today. There were very many places within its banks that would swim a horse at any season of the year, and it was a much wider stream then than now and abounded with the finest fish. Charles Tracy, who was probably the most successful fisherman of the colony, did not think anything of going to Stoner with hook and line and catching forty or fifty pounds of fish in a day, many of his catches weighing several pounds apiece. The writer remembers forty or fifty years ago when the Brandenburg mill (situated a short distance above where the Hainey mill had once stood) was in operation nearly the entire year, except in very dry seasons, with two sets of stones and saw mill being propelled by a stream that would not now furnish power enough to run the same machinery thirty days in a year. The adjacent forest being cut away, exposing the stream and its banks to the sun, thereby created a large absorption that had not before existed. Hundreds, perhaps many thousands, of gushing springs that daily emptied their waters into this stream, have from cultivation, and many other causes disappeared. The washing of plowed soil from either side for many years has filled its bed and so narrowed its bank that the Big Stoner of today is a mere branch compared with the Big Stoner of a hundred years ago. Chapter III During the year of 1785 the colony received accessions to their number from North Carolina, from near the former home of the distinguished pioneer, Daniel Boone. Among them were John Rupard, the grandfather and great-grandfather of all the Rupards now living in Clark county. He built his house a short distance south of Edward Raglan, about a quarter of mile from the present site of Dodge, or K. U. Junction. Absolom March and two brothers built their houses on the northern border of the settlement, near William Halley, William Jackson, and Mr. Ladd. Some of them brought quite a number of slaves and were in many ways a valuable acquisition to the colony, sharing with them the trials, hardships, and dangers that fell to the lot of all Kentucky pioneers. Several other families came with those named from North Carolina, among them David and John Hampton, who after a short stop at Big Stoner, went on to Strode's Station. David Hampton was the father of our highly esteemed and venerable fellow citizen, A. Howard Hampton. After a time, the Hamptons left Strode's Station and settled upon the land that Mr. Howard Hampton now lives upon. And Mr. William Hainey and two or three others being rather afraid to risk their scalps in the unprotected wilds of Big Stoner, went on with their families to Strode's Station and Boonesboro There perhaps never lived in the County of Clark a man who possessed to a greater extent of love, the esteem, the perfect confidence of his fellow citizens than Thomas Boone. His remains now lie in the church yard at Lulbegrud, covered by a handsome monument erected by his brethren, and not by other people, as has falsely been written and published. It id true, however, that a few men, prominent members of other denominations, of the character of Thomas Boone, came forth and asked to be permitted to contribute to the monument of this humble servant of God.. During the years 1786 and 87 the settlement enjoyed some respite from Indian encroachment and made considerable progress: a number of new fields were cleared and put in cultivation, the crops of corn, flax, and tobacco were largely increased, dwellings were made more comfortable and in some instances added to, tobacco houses were built, ready for the coming crop. They were built of logs, usually about twenty feet square, and often twenty-five feet to the plates with tier poles built in, every three and a half or four feet. They raised what was called Little Frederic and Big Frederic tobacco, always cured it with fire, using hickory wood for that purpose, or else burned coal pits and used charcoal. Tobacco soon became the currency of the county. It was so many pounds of tobacco for a day's work, or for a horse or cow, and finally when taxes were levied it was so many pounds of tobacco. Tobacco was sent back over the mountains to Virginia on pack horses, as a currency (rather than a commodity) with which to purchase various articles needed by the settlers. When courts were established in county, all fees and services of the courts were paid with tobacco, thus it will be seen that an article unsuitable for either food or raiment, used only to gratify an unnatural but acquired taste for a filthy practice, took position above every other article of production. Flax was one of the essential crops of the colony, for on this the settlers, depended largely for raiment. The stalks, which grew three or four feet high, were rotted and broken, similar to hemp, and it was then turned over to the women who by a process called swingling, separated the coarser fibres from the finer, and it was then spun and woven by hand into linen, the coarser fibres being made into what was called towlinen and used for working suits for men, and for the negroes of both sexes. The finer linen was used for shirts, for sheets for the beds, for men's suits, and for ladies' dresses, and many a coy maiden has appeared to very decided advantage robed in a dress of this material. Cotton was also grown in small quantities by some of the settlers, although in this climate it grew scarcely higher than a man's knee, with a very limited number of bolls to the stalk, yet it was very essential to the settlers. The seed had to be separated from the lint by hand, an exceedingly slow, tedious process. It was then carded into rolls by hand and spun by hand and used for the most part as warp in the making of jeans and linseys. All the wool used (a very limited amount) by these settlers for several years was obtained from Virginia and brought out in the usual way, upon pack horses. Wool, like cotton, was carded, spun and woven by hand. The writer has seen in his day some most beautiful dresses of linsey similar to those made by the settlers, possessing perhaps the advantage of better coloring material than that used by the settlers. It must not be supposed that during the years of 1786 and 87 of which we have been writing that everything in the settlement was serene and lovely---far from it. Whilst this colony did not receive a single visit from the Indians during either of those years, they heard of frequent depredations upon other settlements and of the most shocking murders, so that they were often in the greatest state of consternation. Night was frequently made hideous by the hooting of owls, the most piercing of screams of panthers, the howling of hungry wolves, the bellowing of a score of mad buffalo bulls and the fierce baying of the watch dog. Amid this confusion sleep was driven from every eye and often a timid maiden would steal softly from her bed to see if the windows were securely barred, but the hardships, the trials, the heart-rending sorrows experienced by these dear people who rid this county of ours of the deadly savages, the vicious wild beasts, the poisonous reptiles and put it in a state of cultivation for us, cannot be written nor scarcely imagined. Let us hope by the grace of a merciful God through the atoning blood of Him who suffered and died upon the cross of Calvary that they are now safely in Heaven enjoying that blissful rest prepared for the children of God. Chapter IV In the years 1788 and 89 the Big Stoner settlement received large accessions to their number and for the first time there were a few houses built on the western bank of Big Stoner. David Brandenburg came and built a house at the foot of the hill just below the present site of the Goshen Church. Mr. Brandenburg was by trade a miller and millwright and in the course of a few years erected a mill on the site known to many still living as "Brandenburg's Old Mill". Just when and how the Big Stoner settlement got their first mess of biscuits the writer is unable to state, but it is certain that the first mill erected in the eastern portion of what is now Clark county, was Brandenburg's mill (about the year 1790) in which wheat could be ground into flour. The flour was bolted by means of a bolting cloth stretched on a frame made in the form of a parallelogram: this was set in a frame and turned by hand with a crank like the old fashion wheat fan and required several hours to bolt a hundred pounds of flour. Alexander Ramsey came to the settlement in 1788 and settler not far from Mr. Brandenburg and near the present site of the Sugar Ridge Church, and by great industry and frugality acquired a large landed estate, so that he was enable after years to settle a large family of children around him in comfortable circumstances. He was the grandfather, the great, and the great great grandfather of all the Ramseys now living in Clark county. There also came from Virginia in company with David Brandenburg and Alexander Ramsey, William Wills, who settled on the west bank of Big Stoner and near the original site of Sugar Ridge Church, close to Mr. Brandenburg and Mr. Ramsey, and about one mile west of Charles Tracy. These gentlemen, to-wit, Brandenburg, Ramsey, and Wills, had been soldiers in the same brigade with Ragland, Tracy, Brown, Hulett, Hainey, and others of the original Big Stoner settlement. Mr. Wills was an industrious, thorough-going man, possessed of far more than ordinary mental capacity and soon became well-to-do, and one of the leading citizens of the settlement. He had seven sons and four daughters, but all of the Wills of Clark county sprang from his three sons, Washington, Isaac, and Thorton, the other four sons having left the county in their early manhood. One of the first marriage ceremonies ever solemnized in the Big Stoner settlement was Mr. Wills' daughter, Fannie, to Mr. Luke Hood. From this union sprang all the Hoods of Clark county and several of their children and grandchildren became very distinguished citizens of the county. Two of their sons, Andrew and John, are numbered among the most eminent physicians that the county has ever produced. Dr. Andrew Hood's sons, James, was considered not a wit behind his father in medical skill and two or three other sons were physicians of ability. Dr. Andrew Hood was chosen by the people of Clark county over an eminent lawyer to represent the county in the Constitutional Convention of 1849, and his son, Thomas, one of the brightest and most talented young lawyers of the State, was chosen to the same position by the people of Carter county, thus it will be seen Mr. Wills had a grandson and a great grandson members of the Constitutional Congress of 1849. Dr. John Hood's son, John B. Hood, received a military education at West Point and was a Lieutenant-General in the late Confederate Army and was numbered among the very hardest fighters in that army, as the historian can learn by reading of the battles he fought at Atlanta, Georgia, and Franklin, Tennessee. William Wills was a Jeffersonian Democrat, as has been nearly all of his descendents. His son, William, and his son-in-law, Luke Hood, were soldiers in the War of 1812, and narrowly escaped with their lives from the human butchery of Dudley's Defeat, and but a few men who ever lived in Clark county had as many descendents in the Confederate Army as did William Wills. Some time during the year of 1788 the colony of Big Stoner learned through emigrants just arrived from Virginia that General George Washington was a candidate for the presidency of the then thirteen United States. So some time during the fall of that year, Richard Hainey and Charles Tracy (who, by the way, were brothers-in-law) leaving their families in care of two young men, cousins of theirs, recently from Virginia, shouldered their trusty rifles and walked back to Virginia for the pleasure of voting for their beloved old commander. It will be understood that at this date, Kentucky was still a territory belonging to the State of Virginia, and there was as yet, no arrangement made for holding an election in the territory of Kentucky, hence this trip to Virginia. It would be pleasant, indeed, to relate the reception given these two pioneers and soldiers by their relatives and friends upon their arrival at their old homes, the stories of their lives led in the "dark and bloody ground," and of many hair-breadth escapes from both savage and beast. Men no doubt listened to them with bated breath, very much like the stories of Henry M. Stanley's explorations in the wilds of Africa would be listened to in the present day, but unfortunately we have no account of their arrival and sojourn while there. We only know that they returned safely to their families some time during the winter of 1788-9, bringing with them several emigrants and several pack horses, laden with various articles essential to their families in their wild new homes. Among other articles that Charles Tracy brought home with him were a couple of pear spouts, which he carefully transplanted on the ridge just above his home, near the spot where he intended in the near future to build a better residence than he was then occupying. One of these pear trees was blown down by a storm only a few years ago, the other, at more than one hundred years of age, is still standing and bears most delicious fruit every year, except occasionally when nipped by an unseasonable frost. Chapter V By the year 1790 the Big Stoner settlement had increased to several times its original number and had extended over a much larger area of country, though quite a number of its accessions were mere squatters in search of game and adventure, rather than homes, and as the country opened and the began to disappear they moved on westward, but the bona fide settlers were hard at work building more and better houses, clearing other and larger fields, thereby largely increasing their crops of corn, tobacco, and flax, and quite a number of patches of wheat were being sown for the first time in this settlement. This wheat was harvested with sickles, threshed with flails, and separated from the chaff by pouring it slowly from a height of several feet on a windy day, and the biscuits made of flour from Brandenburg's mill began to be a Sunday morning treat. It was in this year (1790) that Edmond Ragland had brought down the Ohio River to Limestone (now Maysville) and from thence in some way, transported to his home, a small copper still, and in that year erected the first distillery ever operated upon the waters of Big Stoner. The immense amount of labor required to put this country in a state of cultivation can scarcely be conceived by one of the present day. The timber grew thick and large, the undergrowth of cane was large and tall often fifteen or twenty feet high, and so thick in many places, that it was with great difficulty that a man could penetrate it. All of this had to be cleared away, and almost every square foot of the ground had to be grubbed with mattock before the very imperfect plow was used at all, but to say nothing of the most formidable undergrowth, the getting rid of the immense amount of large timber was a Herculean task. The settler with his two, three, or half dozen laborers, as the case might be, with constant hard chopping of a month or three months, made but a comparatively small impression upon this immense forest, or to use their expression, made but a small sunlight hole in the woods. The settler would work hard with all the force he could control during the fall and winter, felling the trees and cutting them in lengths that could be handled, and in the spring would invite all of the neighboring settlers in to his "log rolling". These log rollings were always attended by whole families, and while the stout, stalwart men with hand spikes rolled the logs into great heaps, the women and children were piling and burning cane and brush. These log rollings were always looked forward to by both old and young with the greatest anticipation of enjoyment, fully as much so as our young people of the present day look forward to an approaching wedding feast or fashionable ball. Some of the girls who were piling brush in the days of which we write, are the grandmothers and great-grandmothers of some of the wealthiest and most aristocratic families of today. On these occasions there were many tests of physical strength and the young man who exhibited the greatest strength and skill with the hand spike was the hero of the day, and became an unusual favorite with the young ladies, being second only to the best marksman with rifle, who was always the hero of every pioneer settlement. After a hard day's work these log rollings were always celebrated by a feast at night. Buffalo beef, venison and bear meat were barbecued after the most approved style of the day, hot fish in abundance with plenty of bread, pickles and sassafras tea, finished up with pumpkin pies, sweet cakes and a drink called metheglin; this was made in some way of honey comb and was delightful to the taste. After the feast the older people of the company would gather around large fires built in the yard and while the men told of their exploits as soldiers of the Revolutionary War and of their many adventures and hair-breadth escapes from savage Indians and vicious wild beasts, the older ladies gathered in groups and talked of the dear fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and friends left back at the distant old homes in Virginia and Maryland. Th young people cleared the room of tables, benches, and beds, and to the music of fiddle, tripped the light fantastic toe, and it was not until the wee small hours that they separated with friendly heartfelt good-byes, to meet again in a few days at another neighbor's "log rolling." In after years these log rolling frolics were changed to the extent of having added to them quiltings, and while the men went to the woods and rolled logs the ladies remained at the house engaged in quilting. The writer has been unable to ascertain definitely, but it was probably about this year, 1790, that Ebenezer Chorn and Septimus Davis, with their families, came from Virginia and joined the Big Stoner settlement. Ebenezer Chorn settled nearly a mile east of Absolom and John March, on land now owned by Mr. John T. Prewitt, better known as the Proctor farm. This is a very fine section of land, and having brought with him quite a number of able bodied slaves, soon had one of the very best farms in the settlement. It has often been ascertained by the oldest settlers that the first blue grass ever seen in Kentucky was found growing around an old deer lick about three miles north of Ebenezer Chorn's, in what is now Montgomery county, near the banks of the creek which derived its name from that spot "Grassy Lick". There was not more than an acre or so of this grass, but it grew thick and luxuriantly and from this patch of grass Mr. Chorn stripped seed with his fingers, and sowed it upon his farm. His effort to grow this grass was a success from the start. Many others tried it again and again, but without success. So that it became the popular opinion of settlers that this much desired grass would not grow anywhere except upon Ebenezer Chorn's land. People often came from quite a distance to see this wonderful grass and to learn what they could about it, and then ride on to the old deer lick to see it in its original state, and, if possible, procure some of the seed or roots. So this is the history of the origin of Kentucky "Blue Grass", as handed down to the writer. We are aware that there are certain very learned agricultural writers who would jump astride of this disputed origin with a whip and spurs and quickly ride it out of existence, nevertheless, what we have written is no doubt the true origin of Kentucky blue grass, at least so far as the Big Stoner settlement is concerned, and there we leave it. Septimus Davis settled about a quarter of a mile west of Edmond Ragland, on land now owned by John Sumpter, Alvin Beall, and others. Mr. Davis was said to have been an educated, polished Virginia gentleman. He took more than ordinary pains to educate his children, and two of his sons, James and Herchel, are numbered among the most distinguished teachers this county has ever produced. Major James Davis later in life became a very able minister in the Christian Church and was still living only a short since in the State of Mississippi. Mr. Davis' daughters were said to have been beautiful women and were belles in the settlement. The writer did not know whether Mr. Davis was a Revolutionary soldier or not, but supposes he was from the company he stopped in. our fellow citizen, W. B. Kidd and James Septimus Kidd, are his grandsons. It was at this spot, Grassy Lick, that Capt. Sphar and three companions while watching for deer, were ambushed by Indians and Capt. Sphar and two of his companions were killed on the spot, the fourth man was badly wounded in the thigh, but in some way managed to effect his escape and \by circuitous route reached the fort at Boonesboro after several days of great suffering. Friends were sent out to recover the bodies of Capt. Sphar and his comrades, but they had been devoured by wolves. He was the great grandfather of Mr. Asa Sphar, of this county. William Payne settled a half a mile southeast of Ebenezer Chorn, on the site of Mr. Shields Cunningham's present residence. Mr. Payne brought with him from Virginia quite a number of slaves, horses and cattle and being a man of nice refinements soon became a popular and leading citizen of the settlement. He is the ancestor of the Paynes, now of Fayette and Scot counties, but we shall have more to write of him hereafter. David Petty settled on the spot now occupied by the residence of deaf Jimmie Ramsey, a quarter of a mile north of the present site of Goshen Church. William Petty and Peleg Petty settled close by. The country was now being rapidly filled up, but as has already been stated, many of them were only squatters in search of fame and it is only of those who became permanent settlers that we wish to write. NOTE.---The above concludes the very interesting account of the early Big Stoner settlement, so cleverly and capably written by the late Captain B. A. Tracy, whose untimely death prevented the completion of this very valuable, historical narrative. The names of all those fine old pioneers are still perpetuated in Clark county's best citizenship and will be referred to from time to time in these Chronicles. The Winchester Sun, April 23, 1923 This transcriber has been pleased to furnish this document to you. Darla J. Abney Woosley Descendent of Asa Tracy son of Charles Tracy March 3, 1999 ------------------------------ End of ky-footsteps-digest V1 #507 ********************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all copied material. 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