HISTORY: The Wayne County Outlook January 18, 1934 Edition Typed as published and submitted By Laura Frost Wright 21 Feb 2000 EMINENT EARLY KENTUCKIANS Furnished Through the courtesy of ARNDT M. STICKLES, PH.D HISTORY DEPARTMENT, WESTERN KENTUCKY TEACHERS COLLEGE, BOWLING GREENE, KY ISSAC SHELBY, By MRS. W.E. SHIRLEY graduate student ISSAC SHELBY, son of EVAN SHELBY, was born December 11, 1750, In Hagerstown, Maryland. SHELBY as a young man was an officer in the army in many of its operations on the frontier. It was largely due to his movements that the Shawnee were defeated, in 1774. He planned and helped to win the significant victory of King"s Mountain in the American revolution. At different times he was a member of both the Virginia and North Carolina legislature. SHELBY came to the unsettled region of Kentucky in 1775 and settled Knob Lick, Nelson County, the next year. In 1779 the Land Commission at bryant"s Station granted him 400 acres of land on claim of settlement, and 1,000 acres on claim of pre-emption near Danville. In 1783 he married SUSSANAH HART, settled on the pre-emption near Danville , and lived there until his death , 1826. ISSAC SHELBY had much to do with the future of kentucky. He built the first stone house and lived on the first pre-emption granted in what now is Kentucky, and was a member of the trustees of Transylvania College at their first meeting. He was the first president of the board of trustees of Center College, a member of Kentucky"s first river Drainage Company, a member of the first convention that formed kentucky"s first constitution. He was the first president of our first state agricultural society. SHELBY was inaugurated Kentucky"s first govenor June 4, 1792 and his popularity was such that he was again elected in 1812. He personally led Kentucky troops to victory October 5, 1813, at the bloody battle of the Thames. Nationallu, he favored internal improvements and the protection of American industries. In 1822 he opposed the proposed releif measure to aid debtors and gave this toast: " The releif measures are demoralizing , impolitic and unconstitutional, may they be crushed". He opposed wild-cat banking and charcterized the insecure bank of the commonwealth as a child of folly, SHELBY"S last public service was given in acquiring the jackson Purchase, 1818. As soldier, statesman, and patriot he served his state in most trying times nobly and well. ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.