Daviess County, Kentucky - Chapter 27, 1883

Chapter 27

This precinct lies directly south of Lower Town, andis separated from it by North Panther Creek. The boundary line begins at Widow Tanner's, on the Daviess and McLean counties line, running thence to Adam Young's, including him, thence to Lydan's bridge on Panther Creek, thence up said creek to the mouth oi Rhodes's Creek, thence with said creek to the county lines aforesaid, thence west with said lines to the beginning. Part of the precinct is hilly and broken, but the hills are covered with good soil and well adaptpd to farming. In the western and southeastern portion is a vast amount of coal. It was named after the numerous families of Vanover, who settled there about twenty years ago, coming to the county from East Tennessee.

Early Settlement

The first settlers of Vanover Precinct were the Crabtrees. There were four brothers - Moses, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Moses was the oldest of the family, and was a young married man, the others being in their teens. They all came at the same time, and were from Virginia, but the exact date of their settlement is not certainly known. The Potts family came in an early day; also, Thomas Minton, Andrew Kelly, one Mr. Jones and Abner Lea, all of whom, including the Crabtrees, settled in the western part of the precinct. Moses Crabtree became the father of sixteen children. This part of the county was for along time thinly settled, and it is only within the last twenty years that it has begun to be improved to any great extent.

This is a small grist-mill, run by water-power, situated on Panther Creek, ten miles southwest of Owensboro. It was built by Jonathan Barnett about 1847. He ground corn in it for several years, and then sold to Ebenezer Cawhorn, who rebuilt the entire mill. It was afterward owned by Samuel Vanover, who added a

Tanotee Peeoinct The District School-House

In the western part of this precinct stands the old log house, where the old men now living in this locality received their early education; and it was then considered quite an old house. It is supposed to be the oldest school-house in all the surrounding country. It is still used for school purposes, and is extensively known as "the district school-house." But

Vanover is strictly a temperance precinct; not a drop of whisky has been sold here for more than four years, and during this time the grand jury of Daviess County has found no indictment whatever against any of her citizens.

There are no villages in this precinct. About 1868 F. M. Austin sold whisky and groceries in the southwest corner, and Joseph P. Waltrip was requested to give a name to the locality. As the whisky that was sold was of a very bad quality, Mr. W. gave it the name of Blue Ruin. Some time later, J. M. Buker commenced building a house at this point in which to put dry goods, but for the want of capital he failed to complete it, whereupon Mr. Waltrip changed the name to Needmore. There are four families, one small grocery, kept by J. W. Cravens, and one grist-mill. The burg is situated two and a half miles east of Possum Trot, in Curdsville, and four miles south of West Louisville. Mr. Waltrip died in McLean County in 1880.

Panther Creek Postoffice

is situated on the Ashbysburg road, thirteen miles southwest of Owensboro, and was established in 1880, with John P. Burns as Postmaster. It was named after Pantiier Creek, which is the nearest stream. There is no regular mail route to this office. Owensboro is the distributing office, and the mail is carried by any of the neighbors that happen to "go to town." Mr. Burns established a general store at this point in 1880, and is doing a good business.

1846, by Revs. Downs, Allen and Howard, ministers ot the Missionary Baptist church, two or three miles southeast of the present house, in a log house that had been built by the Presbyterians. They occupied this church building several years. The original members were James F. Bennett, Wilson Waltrip, Benjamin Short, John Iglehart, Jonas Little, John H. Vanover and Elizabeth Short. Rev. Isum Allen was Moderator, and Wilson Waltrip and Benjamin Short were elected and ordained Deacons. James T. Bennett was the first Clerk. Rev. Isum Allen was the Pastor until 1849, when W. J. Owen was called. The Pastors who have served this church since are Revs. Benjamin Lafferty, William R. Welch, K. G. Hay, J. S. Taylor, D. E. Yeiser, William Stevens and B. F. Swindler. Rev. William Stevens is the present Pastor. During the winter of 1855-'66 Rev. W. R. Welch held a series of revival meetings in the district school-house, and soon after moved to that locality, and built a log house within a few yards of where the present commodious structure stands. Rev. Allen, the first Pastor, resided a few years in Owensboro, where he died about 1866. Rev. Rafferty died in this county in 1877 or '73 near Hayden's bridge, on Panther Creek.

There are now about 140 communicants; services once a month. The Deacons are : W. T. Hemingway, Matthew Murphy, W. H. Thomasson, J. H. Bandy and G. M. Hemingway; C. M. Cary, Clerk. The present church was built in 1875, and is a two-story frame building, 50 x 36 feet.

Little Tlock United Baptist Church, more commonly known as Bristowites, is not recognized as a denomination by the regular Baptist association. About forty years ago, when the Panther Creek Baptist church adopted the work of missions as an especial part of its work, one Jasper Bristow made several motions in the church, which were voted down by the members. Finding all his wishes entirely disregarded, he took his hat, arose and said, " All who believe as I do, follow me." Several followed him, and they left the house. They then assembled in another place, drew up their letters, sent delegates to the Green River Association, claiming to be the church. These remaining in the church transacted the usual amount of business, drew up their letter for the Association, sending delegates as usual. The Association decided that those who remained in the house constituted the Panther Creek church. Bristow and his followers continued their work, calling themselves the Green River Association of the United

Vanover Pkecinct

Baptist Church. The Bristowites bitterly opposed the missionary work adopted by the Panther Creek church. They also believed in the practice of feet-washing, and did not believe in a paid ministry. Those were the main points of difference between them and the mother church. Several other congregations have been organized, and they call themselves the original Green River Association.

The Little Flock congregation was organized about the year 1847, with six or eight members, by Revs. Jatnes Samples, Jasper Bristow and William Hendricks. They first worshiped in private houses, but soon built a small log cabin near where the present one now stands. It burned down several years ago, and they then built the present house, which is a small hewed-log building. There are now sixty-three members; services the first Sunday in each month, and the Saturday previous, by the Pastor, Eiev. James

Mount Pleasant Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized Aug. 17, 1844, in the Sand Spring school-house on the John Moseley laud, by Revs. L. C. Philips and Joseph Weaver, with twenty-three members; seven of these members had been members of the old Camp-Ground Cumberland Presbyterian Church, long since discontinued, namely: William Hansford, John Moseley, James Little, William Little, Mary Chapman, Frances Lashbrook and Frances Crabtree. The last-named is the only one living of the original seven. This church was first called the Sand Spring Cumberland Presbyterian Church, taking its name from the schoolhouse, in which .it was organized, which took its name from a large sand spring near by. They worshiped in this house a few years, when, with the aid of the citizens, they built a hewed-log house, 24 X 30 feet, on Union Hill, where the new Methodist church now stands, and was used by them until 1868, when they built the present structure, one half mile north of the old one, on the land of

C. M. Ruby. At the time of the dedication of this church the name was changed to Mount Pleasant. They had no regular Pastor until October, 1845, when Rev. Joseph Weaver was called and had charge of the church until 1854. The Pastors that have since served are as follows: Revs. W. O.Smith, from 1859 to 1861; Charles Gates, 1863 to 1865; J. C. Crabtree, 1865 to 1867; Charles Gates, 1867 to 1870- J. C. Armstrong, a short time during 1871; Charles Gates, 1871 ^o 1873; C. C. Boswell, 1873 to 1878; W. S. Casky, 1878 to 1879; Willis Smith, 1879 to the present time. The present Elders are Isaac T. Moaeley, M. C. Moseley, J. M. Ruby, J. H. Wilhite, J. "V. Wilhite, Luther Moseley aud W. G. Hansford; Present Deacon and Clerk, C. M. Ruby. Number of communicants, 103. Services the third Sabbath of each month by Rev. Willis Smith. Sabbath-school is held from the first Sunday in April until the third Sunday in October, inclusive; prayer-meeting once a week during the winter. Rev. Joseph Weaver, the first Pastor, lived in this county until his death, which occurred several years ago. Three churches, Christian, Baptist and Methodist, are located on one hill, known as Union Hill. At one time all of these denominations worshiped in a small log house, where the Methodist church now stands - hence the name. It was the property of the C. P. congregation, and was built by members of all denominations in a very early day.

Olenville Baptist Church was organized July 29, 1865, by Elders Dawson, Givens, Blansford and Robertson, at the old log house, sometimes called Mount Pleasant. The names of the charter members are as follows: Bats Oost, Joseph Givens, John L. Igleheart, Louisa Phillips, Anna Givens, Sophronia Cox, Emily Baird, Eliza Clark, Amanda F. Igleheart and Palestine O'Burns. The first Clerk was J. L. Igleheart. The first Deacons were Joseph Givens and Bats Oost. The church continued to worship in the old log house until their new house was completed, in 1867. Cost of new bnilding, $1,200 or $1,400. The first Pastor was Elder L.

D. E. Yeiser, and in June, 1871, Elder Tichnor was again called, and served until 1876. D. E. Yeiser was then re-called, and served fifteen months, and was succeeded by Elder William Stevens, who served until July, 1880. After his resignation Elder Tichnor again became Pastor, and has served to the present time. Services are held twice a month. Present membership, sixty.

Vanovek Peecinct Vanovee Precinct

Magistrates' Courts: For one justice, the third Thursday in March, June, September and December; for the other, the third Tuesday in these months.