Jessamine County, Kentucky - The whole text, 1898 (part 1 of 5)

The whole text

President Polytechnic Society ; Member Filson Club ; Member Constitutional Convention, 1890; Author History of the Constitutions of Kentucky. OF " Battle of Blue Licks, etc., etc.

"Every brave and gflod life out of the past" is a treasure luhich cannot be measured in money, and should be f>rcserved -,uith faithfullest care.

I Dedicate This Volume

My father was a resident of Jessamine County for sixty-five years. He was honest, upright, patriotic, public-spirited, and always the friend of the poor and suffering. My mother God bless her name and memory ! - had a heart full of human sympathy and tenderness, and also of the love of Christ, whose teachings she faithfully followed for sixty years, in the midst of the people of Jessamine. Descended from Revolutionary sires, they both ardently loved the freedom of this free land with an unquenchable love, and taught their children, as the noblest aim of life, to serve God and be true to the glorious liberty their ancestors had so courageously fought to w^in. They sleep in the cemetery at Lexington, Ky., and I trust they have a kindly remembrance with the people among whom they lived and died.

Preface

Jessamine' ctnnit\- is one of the few jj^reat counties of the state whose history remains unwritten. I"'or a long time after its beginning, it was overshadowed in many ways by Lexington. Danville, Paris, 1 larrodsburg, and W'incliester. 'Die county had no positofifice until 1801. Mails were infrequent and carried by hand. Lexington was the great town south of the Ohio and west of the Alleghenies. Wlicn the county was organized, Lexington had a population of nearly 2.000. while Cincinnati had less than 500, and was buying its merchandise in Lexington ; which was already the seat of a university; it had churches and schools, and was the great trading point for a large part of Kentucky, and portion of Ohio. Indiana and Tennessee.

Brick houses had begun to be erected, and newspapers had been published for eleven }ears, and being only twelve miles from Nicholasville. it was inevitable that it should draw to it a very large share of the trade of Jessamine. Lexington was then, and remained for many years thereafter, the political, intellectual, and commercial metropolis of Kentucky, and it necessarily dwarfed the surrounding towns and attracted ihe I)est trade from the counties within a radius of fifty miles.

Lexington, too. had the first railroad in the west. The line to P'rankfort was finisheil and operated in December. 1835. and b}- 1851. trains Vvcre run through from Louisville to Lexington. In 1854, a train ran from Covington to Lexington, and from Lexington to I'aris in 1853. Hiese railways diverted the trade from the steamboats on the Kentucky river and thev made Lexington a great center.

The enterprise and courage of her people received a just and ample reward. J^'ayette county and Lexington always exhibited great enterprise as well as the highest public spirit, and in commerce as well as education they attained high rank, because thev had the sagacity and tlie enter|)rise to improve the op])ortunities which presented tliemselves.

the Kentuckv CcMitral, tlK-rc came to it both travel and trade, and it began to improve. The loss of slaves and the destruction of values ; the result of the war of 1861-65. greatly affected both thes town and the county, but after the period necessary for a recuperation from these troubles, the county and town have developed witli steady and constant growth, and both are now taking the l)t)sition to wliicli their natural advantages entitle them.

lessaniinc county has never lacked in pul^lic s])irit. She has liberalh' rcs]ionded to all calls for ptiblic improvement. She never re])udiated any of her obligations. She always paid what she agreed to pay, and her subscription to the Kentucky Central Railroad, to the Cincinnati Southern Railroad, to the improvement of the Kentucky river, and to the Richmond, Xicholasville, Irvine and Beattyville line: is highest evidence of her sagacity and generosit\-. and placed the county in the best possible position for the development of all its resources.

Looking back one hundred years, the people of Jessamine can feej a glow of honest pride at what a centtu'v has accomplished. The smallest, except fifteen, of the one hundred and nineteen counties in ihe state, with an area of only 158 square miles, it has always maintained a prominent place among the rich and large agricultural ccjunties. I'^or its population it is surpassed in wealth b_\- only a very few cotinties, and it ranks as one of the great producing counties of I\entucky. Its land, per acre, has always, for taxation, been valued at a very high rate.

In 1846 It was the sixth county in value of lands per acre, and in 1870, notwithstanding the great cities in other counties, it stood ninth : and still maintains that place.

Led by the guiding liand of fate to make mv home in the greatest of all Kentucky's cotmties. Jefferson, I have never lost my love for Jessamine, and its capital citv, Nicholasville ; and oftentimes there creeps into m)' heart a longing to spend the evening of life wb.ere 1 first saw the light, and an absence of thirty-seven }-ears, has neither destroyed nor dimmed my love for the ]:)eople who juive always remembered me in my comings to the old liome i)lace, with such generous hospitalit\' and unchanging kindness.

uliile under ilie pressure of a l)usy professional life; but it is a labor of love, and if the story of the sacrifices, courage, and patriotism of our forefathers who settled and organized the county. shall be efficient in creating upon the present and future sons and daughters of Jessamine higher love (jf their ancestors, great devotion to Kentucky, and better aj)prehension of the cost and vakie of the freedom of our country, I shall be more than repaid for the labor and cost of ])roducing this voliune. It does not contain all that a history of the county should include, but it does for the first time \n\i in ])ermanent form ilie leading facts connected with the organization of the county and accounts of the men who first cut down the forests, grubbed the cane brakes and drove out the savages who (lis|mted its possession, and it will, at least be a help to those who may hereafter desire to write a more extended history of Jessamine and of its people.

Mr. S. M. Duncan, of Xicholasville. has for more than forty years been gathering notes of the history of the people who have lived in Jessamine. He has done more for the preservation of its history than any one man who ever lived in the county. He has generously given me the tise of all his facts. 1 have bv research gotten others and verified his. and J have, as is his just due, placed his name upon the title page of this book as associate author. Although the preparation and ptiblication was assumed by me. I consider it both a privilege and a duty to thus connect Mr. Duncan with the first history of the couiU}-.

In 1767 joliii ImiiIcv, a woodsman and hunter, from Xorth Carolina. mo\ed hy a spirit of adventure and a love for hunting, entered the country known as the lUuegrass region. He was the first white man, history asserts, that ever penetrated the wilderness and forests of Kentucky sufficiently to see the central part of the state. A\^ho came with him, whither they went and how long the party remained, neither traveler, legend, nor written storvtells. It is most likel\- that they passed through Jessamine count}- and were the first of their race to look upon its ]:)ristine beautv and glory. Two Acars later, ]-lnley returned witli Daniel Boone to that wonderful land he had descril;e(l to his neighbors and associates in North Carolina, with such eloquence and enthusiasm as to arouse within them an inextinguishable desire to visit a land which then was looked upon as "God's own country." What became of him after this second visit is unknown. ])ut it is a reasonable conchisionthat somewhere in the stillness and std)lime silence of the great forests to which he had led the white man. the red man took his life and left him as his shroud the leaves of the forest and his monumeiu the mighty trees which stood sentinel for ages over the fertile and genial soil of Kentuckw

Dr. Thomas Walker, from \ irginia, liad in 1750 explored a ])ortion of Kentuck)-. hut he onl\- skirted the lUuegrass ami rode over the mouiUains of .Southeastern KeiUuckw and what he saw and reported, created no s])irit of ex])loration and no desire of emigration. lMnle\- was the man who saw the huntsman's paradise, and whc^se soul was hred for it^ possession, and into whose nn'nd was huniecl '.nemories which made life miserable awa\' from the glories of the new land into which he had hv accident come.

Some months after his return, while wandering along the Yadkin river in Xorth Carolina, I'inley met a kindred spirit, one of the master woodsmen of his age. In the solitude of the wilderness of Xorth Carolina, far out beyond the advance of civilization and settlement, he found a rude cabin, in wliich dwelt a youngman, not nmch beyond his majorit\'. lly his side was a brave \\()man, who. amid the dangers ami hardships of the wild, wild frontier, shared his life and hopes and brightened the solitude and drearyness of his isolated home. By the humble, Init hosi)itable fireside of the young hunter, Finley was weiloomed as a guest, and again and again he told the story of his journey toward the north, of the magnificent region where there would be an eternal feast for the hunter, where game was so abundant that the droves of buft'alo could be counted like herds of cattle, where deer licked the hand of the intruder, and coons, 'possums, turkeys and pheasants, were so plentiful as to obstruct the path along which men would tread.

P^inley had found a h.eart which would respond in fullest harmony to his words, a harp which answered his touch, and each day gave back not only sweetest note, but varied and sympathetic chords ; a man whose brave soul ^vas devoid of all fear and who wanted nothing better for time or eternitv than that glorious and distant region of which the ne\\' found friend spoke. A compact, ofifensive and defensive, was then and there signed. Boone had at last heard of a land for which his soul sig-hed, a land which fdled his ideal of a ])aradise and to see it, to tread its traces and to enjoy its pleasmx, he resolved to give up his home, his wife, his children, and if need be to surrender his life. To once see such a land as Finley described, he felt would be com])ensjtion for all that earth could bestow.

vSparse settlements along the Holston, 200 miles away, and the forts on the Ohio at Pittsburgh and the few houses strung along the line of the wilderness now were the closest neighbors to Kentucky.

The founding c^f tlie Transylvania ct)lon\- by Henderson, in 1775. gave an armed and trained force to meet Indian attack, and TTarrodsburg ar.d St. Asajilis. or Logan's h^)rt. formed the military triangle about which and in which the new settlers made their homes.

The Transy]\-ania land scheme of 1775 did not include Jessamine county. Its lines followed the south or western side of the Kentucky river, and left the eastern l)oundarv alwavs in \'irginia.

W lien Ijy act of the Virginia House of Ikirgesses. in 1780, Kentucky was divided into three counties, Fayette, Jefferson and Lincohi : Jessamine was comprised within the Hmits of Fayette, and so remained until. December 17, 1798, when it was separated from the parent C(nnUy, and became the thirty-sixth countv of the state.

The initial lines of ])ionecr travel did not traverse Jessamine. The Wilderness road, entering- the state at Cumberland Gap, divided at Rockcastle ri\er, one !)ranch going to Boonesboro, and the other by Crab < )rcliard. Danville and Bardstown, to Louis- . ville.

The persistent assaults of the Indians on tlu' settlers in Kentucky in 1782, caused the abandonment of all the forts in the state east of the Kentucky, except five, Lexington, Bryants, Mc- Connells, ]McClellans (Georgetown) and P)Oones.

The county of Kentucky was established in 1775. and divided into three counties in 1780; and ])rior to 1792 six more were added, making, at the inception of its statehood, niiu- in all.

The first fort and only fort in Jessamine county was cstaljlished by Levi Todd in 1779. This was one year before Lexington was built. The line of travel between Ilarrodsburg and the Fayette county stations, passed through the northern and western parts of the county, and on this trace, near Keene. Todd's station was built.

The isolation of ihe forts and the constant and destructive marauds of the Indians, no\\- officered l)\' Englishmen and provided with improved arms, terrified the settlers east of the KenUicky river. They were nearest to the homes of the Indian > from the northwest, who had now ])ecome the most dreadful of all the savages who invaded the state, and 1780-81-82, they drove in the outposts, and with great difficulty the white men wore able to maintain their stations at all in and aromid Lexington. It was then that ])ersonal safety compelled Todd to abandon his Jessamine holdings and take such help and protection as the four stations around Lexington offered to tlu' almost hopeless men and women who occui)ied the limited territory in Fayette, which re-

'I he land law enacted by the X'irginia Legislature, in the settling of land made location easy and popular. The wonderful accounts of the fertilitN , ])eauty and salubrity of Kentucky turned an innuense tide of inunigration to the state. In 1782, the population did not exceed 1500; in 1790, it had grown to 61,133 white ])eople ; 114 colored free people, and 12,340 slaves; a total of jt,,- 677, while ten years later, in 1800. it had 179,873 white, 739 free colored, and 40,343 slaves; a total of 220,995, an increase in ten years of 224 1-2 per cent.

Of this extraordinary improvement, Jessamine county received a full share. In 1782, it had not a single settler, and vet in 1800, eighteen years thereafter, it had 5.461 inhabitants. This was the first decade in which a censtTS could be taken. Fayette, from which Jessamine was entirely taken, had, in 1800, 18,410 inhabitants, or one-fourth of the entire population of the state. As a part of Clark was included in this enumeration, and assuming that Jessamine had grown in proportion as other parts of Fayette, the county in 1790 had about 2,000 inhabitants.

A great proportion of Jessamine immigration, came from \ irginia. The Revohitionary soldiers were ])oiu'ing into all parts of the state, and Jessamine received her full share, and more than one hundred of these brave and sturdy settlers found homes within her borders.

Xo state could secure nol)ler treasure than were these Revolutionar)- soldiers. Their sj^lendid coiu-age, exalted patriotism, hard}- natures, and noble characters, made them a worthy addition to any connutmity. The self-reliance, tact and enterprise engendered by Revolutionary service, rendered them citizens of great and unusual worth. Of the rich store given by Virginia, Pennsylvania, North and South Carolina, Jessamine received an extraordinar\- ])roportion.

The most distinguished men of Revolutionary fame who came to Jessamine, were George Walker, Joseph Crockett, Benjamin Netherland, William Price, Percival Butler, William McKinney and John Price.

which made them more prominent than their associates in the early liistory of the county. A brief sketch of each is properlv a ])art of the history of Jessamine countv.

One of the most uni(|ue and cxiraorchnar}- cliaracters in the liistory of Jessamine count} in its early da\s was Maj. Benjamin Xetherland. He was born in Powhattan county. \'irc;-inia, in 1755. He went to Cuba as the agent of liis father, to dispose of his tobacco crop. There learning- that Sir Peter Parker was to make an attack on Charleston, he left his cargo and ran the blockade into Charleston and helped to defend Fort Ahniltrie against British assault. He accompanied La Fayette on his journey from Charleston in 1777 as fajr as Mecklenburg coirnty, North Carolina, when the distinguished Frenchman was on his way to Philadelphia, to tender his services to Washington in behalf of American liberty. He remained at (Charlotte, North Carolina until 1781. took part in the battle of Guilford Courthouse, and shortly after this he drifted into Kentucky. In May. 1782. he was at Estill station, and was with the Kentuck\- troops in the I'Istill defeat. He took ])art in nearly all the Indian battles from 1781 to 1784. He went with (ieorge Rogers Clark on his expedition in 1782 to punish the Indians for the wrongs of Blue Licks.

He was with General Ilarmar in his defeat, and with General \\'aync in his victory at Fallen Timbers in 1794 and was instrumental in ])tmishing ilic men who had ])er])etrate(l the slaughter at Blue Licks. After se\en \ ears' absence in Kentuckv. he returned to North Carolina in 1788 and luarried his boyish sweetheart. Miss Theodosia I^.ramlette, who was a daughter of the distinguished Revolutionary fighter Col. I'.ramlette. He had lived in l-"ayette and Madison counties ])rior tt) his coming to Jessamine. After his marriage he settled on a farm five miles east of Nicholasville, and in J7*)3 he removed to where Xicholasville now stands, and built a hotel and called it Mingo Tavern - this Ikuisc he kept until his death in !8^^8. The house was torn down in 1864. The author has often seen it when a boy. and the picture of it in this history is from a tlrawing made in 1820. He was chairman of tlie IJoard of Trustees of Xicholasville, and was prominent in its early liistory, and his children were the first white people born within its limits. He was the real hero of the battle of Bltie Licks. Robert W'icklifife, of Lexington, whose second wife was the onl\- daughter of Col. Todd, who was in command at the battle at lUue Licks, in a ])olitical speech in 1848 in Xicholasville said that the majority of men who escaped at iilue Licks owe<l their preservation to I'enjamin Xetherland and that Xetherland was a fearless man, fruitful in resources and of magnificent courage.

Col. Robert Patterson, writing to Xetherland in 1836. says. "1 can not forget the part yoti acted in tlic l)attle nf lUue Licks." .\t the time of tliis battle X'etherland was onlx' twent_\-seven years old, and he went from Lexington as a member of Capt. Robert Patterson's company. In the disastrous conflict he remained mounted, and gained the ford over Licking in safety and crossed the stream unhurt. As he reached the west bank he looked back over his shoulder, and his sotil was stirred witli deepest emotion, and his heart filled ^\-ith grandest courage as he saw his comrades struggling, swinnning and plunging in the river, or rushing down the bank ])ursued by the savage enemy with unsheathed knives and uj'ilifted tomahawks. He was a man of towering form, six feet two inches in height, lie dismounted from his h(jrse. and tlirowing the rein o\er liis arm, in stentorian tone ordered his fleeing comrades to halt and fire upon the Indians and save those who were still in the stream. His bravery and liis splendid presence restored the s])irits of his fear-stricken conn-ades. More tlian a dozen men instanth- ol:)eyed his call, and facing about with Xetherland and standing in line they opened a fatal and deadly fire upon the foremost of the ])ursuing savages. The counter attack was so sudden and unexpected that U checked tlie fierce pursuit of the Indians and tliex' instantly fell ])ack from the o])- posite bank. Xetherland and Ids men maintainetl their position and drove the Indians to cover, whik' the wearied and almost <lespairing footmen were enal)led to ford and swim the river in safety. nnl\- a few minutes were necessarv for those who coidd reach the stream or wlio were in it to pass over. Tlie footmen as they left the bank (piickly Med from the buffalo trace and disappeared in the thickets and started b\- circuitous routes to reach some frieiuilv station. So soon as these distressed and exhausted or wounded footmen were enabled to secrete themselves in the dense forests, large nimibers of the Indians were seen crossing' botii above and below, iand Xetherland and his comrades mounting' their horses galloped along the well-worn trace, and reached Bryan Station that evening, without further loss.

Major Xetherland always retained his old-time dress. He wore a cut-a-way coat, short breeches with knee buckles, and low shoes with silk lacers and silver buckles. His pants ^vere always fastened with red bands, and his long queue was tied with a red ribbon. From his entrance into Xicholasville early in 1791 for forty years he was prominent as a leader in all its affairs. Hewas postmaster for about twenty-three years and always dispensed the village hospitality with a lavish hand. Every man who had fought in the Revolutionary A\ar or in the Indian wars either in Kentucky or in the X^orthwest. was his friend, and none ever went from his door himgry or uncared for.

He w'as passionately fond of horse-racing, and owned some of tlie great race-horses of Kentucky in the early part of the century. He was a fair and just man in his dealings with his fellow-men. He was not averse to a "good time." as people call it, and was always, even toward the end of his life, considered "one of the boys." He opened a race track on the A\'illoughby place near Sulphur \\'ell. and maintained it for many years.

In 1802 there was a quarter race on the track, and in the hearing of the crowd. Major Xetherland announced that on a certain day (naming it) there would be another race for a purse of $50,. one mile heats, wliicli was "free for anything \\ith four legs and hair on." j\.t that time there was working on a farm a young man named Michael Arnspiger who had broken a bull to the saddle, which he rode to mill. He immediately put the bull in training and for several days gave him turns around the race track. He used spurs on the bull and when these were dug into his sides, he was accustomed to bellow. On the day of the race Arnspiger appeared on the ground with his bull. He had placed: a dried hide of an ox on the bull's rump, and he carried a tin horn^ in his hands. He demanded of the judges the right to enter his. animal, to which the owners of the horses vehemently objected, Ijut Arnspiger answered by appealing to Major X^etherland if lie had not said llial the race was free to "anything with four legs and Iiair on." Maj. Xctlierland admitted that he had, and ex- ])hiinc'd that the bull had a right to enter. When the drum was taijped. ArnsjMger blew his horn, planted his spurs in the sides of the bull, which bounded ofif with a dreadful bellow, with the o.x-hide flapping on his sides and presenting a spectacle, combined w ith the noise, that had never been seen on the race track before. The horses immediately flew the track, and Arnspiger galloped home a winner. The losers contended that they were swindled out of thir money; that Arnspiger should not have been allowed to blow tlie tin horn, or use tlie o.x-hide, and that but for this he could not have won the race. Thereupon Arnspiger offered to take the ox-hide off and leave his tin horn at the stand and run them from end to end. Mr. Willoughby and .Mr. Xetherland were judges at the next start. Arns'piger again planted his spurs into the sides of the bull with redoul)led fury. The loud bellow that followed drove the horses from the track despite the exertioiis of the riders, and Arnspiger pulled in the second $50 purse, ^^"ith the money tlnis obtained he purchased a blacksmithing outfit, working for nianv A-ears at his trade near W'ilmi;re, and died there in the sixties, in the 8^th vear of his age.

Major Xetherland had a great fondness for race horses and not only ran his own horses ])ut went to see everbody else's horses who ran in the neighborhood. The race track in those early days was on the \\"illoughl)y farm in the new field now owned b}' Col. X. 13. Miles. Major Xetherland owned a very fast horse for those days, whicli he called by the name of bearnought. J le had secured this horse in \'irginia and brought him across the mountains. The horse had been trained in X'irginia and made his first race at l'"redericksl)urg, in 1805. beating General Tracy's horse. Indian, in three heals. In those times four mile races were run. The time given ])y .Major Xetherland was as follows :

I hen ])eoi)le ])elie\e(l in bottom and horses had to nm long distances. Tin's time was not up to that made by the great race horse, Lexington, at Xew ( )rleans, when' he beat the world's record in 7 minutes, H) 3-4 seconds, l)ut it was good running.

]*>arnouglit was the special pride of Major Xetiierland. He ran against a horse called Bald Eagle, who was owaied by Daniel Bradford, a son of John Bradford, the founder of the Kentucky Gazette, and w ho was for long time editor of that paper. The Alexander Willoughby referred to was a Revolutionary soldier. He came early to Kentucky and settled in Jessamine county on the Sulphur Well road. He was the father of Mrs. Catherine Shelb}- and died in 1837, in his eighty-fifth year.

(General Samuel Hopkins was a Re\'olutionary soldier, a native of Albemarle county. \'a. He was a distinguished ofiticer in the Revolutionar}' army, and none performed more active service or enjoyed in a greater degree the confidence of Washington. He caime to Kentuck}- in 1797 and settled on Green river, in Green county. He was a member of Congress in 1813 and '15 and was engaged in the Indian wars in the west. He and ]\lajor Netherland were great friends and General Hopkins himself had a weakness for a good horse. The following letter describing the race, is both interesting and unicjue :

Dear Friend : I take my seat to inform you that Fearnought is again winner of a purse of $100. In all the races which have previously been run on this track, it has been a matter of much inconvenience to the judges to make a fair decision without a fuss, which often creates unnecessary excitement throughout the day. r>ut it did not in any manner afTect tlie nerve of Air. \M11- oughl)\ , who was one of the judges who started the horses. He seemed to have a ]jroper and just idea of the necessity of an even start, and nothing else l)ut an even start would suit him, and that he gave. I wish all the other judges were as honest as he is. At the tap of tlic drum Fearnought and Bald Eagle darted like tlnmderbolts, eacli determined to win or die. Around the track they sped like hell cats, not a shade between them. Up the back stretch they ilew like doves escaping from a hawk. At the half mile in 40 seconds, they locked around the turn. They tried it again, a slight ])ull l)efore reaching the home stretch, and with renewed vigor, I^'earnought in the lead. Bald Eagle reneW'S his extraordinary power, but Fearnought comes otit w'ith unfalter-

Description Of Fearnought

Fearnought is rive years old last grass ; is a dark blood bav, 16 hands high, of superior l)one and muscle, with fine limbs, loftv carriage and elastic tread : a star in his forehead, vividlv lighting up a countenance expressive of great superiority ; game head, curved neck ; unusual depth of chest ; fine, ])road shoulder; beautifully inclining back, which gives him the appearance of a horse of most wonderful strength and endurance. I expect to enter him this fall for a purse of $1,000 at Fredericksburg, and the city of Baltimore and ^^'ashington. Raid Fagle is now the property of Daniel Bradford, and was trained in Maryland, and won many races there, but, I think, his career upon the turf is over.

In another letter, written to General liupkiiis in 1802. Major Xetherland recites a most interesting incident. During that year a party of Cherokee Indians from Xorth Carolina stopped all night at the .Mingo Tavern, kej)! 1)\ Major Netherland. In ihe morning one of them was very sick and unable to travel and in a few days died at the hotel. He received the kindest possible treatment from Major Netherland and liis familv. In describing this incident Major Xetherland says:

"A few days ago four Cherokee Indians from Iredell county. X. C, called at my home and remained over night. Xext morning one of them was too sick to travel. All da\ his sufferings were severe and painful. I sent for Drs. dale and Peter Trisler, who at once ])ronounced his case liopeless. .\fter intense suffering for four da\s tlie ])oor Indian died. Tlis poor, disconsolate friends were ])ain fully grieved at the death of one of their number, who was a man of some notoriety among his people, particularly as an ex])ert lumter. having himself killed seventy-odd deer while on the last ( )ctober hunt in the Cumberland mountains. The dead body of the poor Indian was taken to the Kentucky river clififs, eiglit miles south of Xicholasville, and interred in the earth after the Indian custom, but instead of filling;- the vauh with earth, as is tised witli us, these poor Indians made a small frame work of wood, hke a steep roof, which they ])ut round the mouth, and reared up a lieavy pile of earth, s^ivin^' it the appearance of a potatoe heap. The three Indians who buried their comrade appeared bowed with grief. ( )ne seated himself on the ground, directing his face toward sunset, and extending his voice, made a great and sore lamentation. As much as I hate these wild children from the forest, I cotdd not refrain from shedding tears when looking on them in this honest grief at the loss of one wdio was regarded as a good and true man. In four or frve weeks after tine death of their comrade, the same party, with a brother of the Indian, who died, came back and took his body in a small wagon to Xorth Carolina, a distance of more than 300 miles, and reinterred his remains in the land of his birth among his own people. 1 have been much among the Cherokees of North Carolina. I consider them among the best of our Indian friends. They have strange customs. I w'ish I had time to give voti more correct idea of their general character as comi)ared with the other Indian tribes of otu" country.

]\lajor Xetherland died October 10, 1838, and was buried in Ills garden, which is now the lot on which the county jail is built. Mr. Jos. Wallace, a remote kinsman, has, with most commendable love and liberalit}' and true sipirit of kinsliip, erecte^d a headsitone over the grave of Major Netherland and that of his wife, who, in 1 85 1, was laid beside her husiband. At his death Major Netherland was accorded a magnificent military funeral. The ftuieral sermon was preached by Bishop Kavanaugh, who was then the Presiding Elder of the district. Gen. Leslie Combs, Maj. D. B. Price, Gen. John McCalla and Robert Wickliffe w-ere his pall-bearers, and all the leading military companies of the county turned ottt to do his memory honor.

session, he begs liim to come to Xicholasville on the following Sunday to dine with liini and promises to show him "the damndest best three colts in the world."

Among- the large train of Revolutionary soldiers who followed the track of empire westwardly, was Col. Joseph Crockett, of Albemarle county. \ irginia. He was born in Albemarle county in 1742. lie received fairly good educational advantages for ^hat period, lli.^ fatlier. Jt)hn Crockett, came to \'irginia in the first half of the century. He followed teaching as his profession and taught a high school near Charlottesville. Joseph Crockett was his oldest son.

In 1774 Joseph Crockett went as a private soldier with Gen. Andrew Lewis and was engaged in the battle of Point Pleasant. This was one of tlie most important of all the l)attles in the West. It was there that (leneral Lewis met the Indians under the celebrated cliief Cornstalk, and after a tight of nearly a whole da_\- the Indians were ]iut to flight.

Jn 1775 the county atuhorities of .\lbemarle directed that two companies be raised iuv the defense of the western section of the state. One company was to be stationed at Point Pleasant, where the Kanawha and Ohio rivers unite. Gen. William Russell was a])])()inted captain of one of these companies and Joseph Crockett lieutenant. In the winter of 'j^ they were discharged and tliev were ordered to raise two new conii)aiiies for the Continental arm\. Iose])]i Crockett was appointed captain of one of these com])anies and on the 5th of May. 1776, served in \'irginia. Tn 1776 the regiment was marched to Philadelphia. That year he was a])pointed major and raised two companies for Gen. Daniel ^Morgan's rifle regiment. He took part in the battle of [Monmouth, fouglit June 20. 1778. and after this battle was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and so remained until October. 1780, when, by resolution of congress the army was reorganized and Colonel Crockett was reduced to the rank of captain. He was witli r.ntes at the surrender of I'urgoyne in 'jj. 1 le was engaged in tlie l)attles of Prandvwine, Princeton and Trenton, and was A\ itli \\'ashiiigt()n at X'alley Forge, where there sprung- up between Colonel Crockett and General Washington a warm friendship, whicli lasted until the end of their lives. He was wounded in the arm at the siege of Yorktown in 1782.

In 1779 Colonel Crockett was directed l)\- the state of A'irginia to raise a regiment, of which he became lieutenant-colonel, to proceed down the Ohio river to Kentucky and Illinois to assist George Rogers Clark. He raised the regiment, which was known as the Illinois or Crockett Regiment, and served for eighteen months \\'ith General Clark. He was in many of the l)attles with the Xorthwestern Indians on the ^liami river, and helped to destroy Chillicothe and other towns in the northwestern territory on the Wabash. In one of the battles in which he fought he had two horses shot under him bv the sharpshooters, and it was admitted that he had been in as many fights and skirmishes as any officer in the Revolutionarv armv.

In 1784 he moved to Kentucky and settled first between Cumberland Gap and Crab Orchard. He remained there only a short time, and moved to Jessamine county and settled on lands near the Union Alills. His son, Robert Crockett, built the Union Mills and Col. Joseph Crockett built the old stone house on the banks of Hickman creek, which is now standing and was latelv occupied by Dr. Jasper, a descendant of Sergeant Jasper, who was put to death at Savannah by the Ptritish.

Colonel Crockett was appointed by Mr. JefTerson as United .States Marshal for the district of Kentucky. He held this of^ce for two terms. When the applications were read to ]\Ir. Jefferson for this offtce, his eye dropped upon that of Joseph Crockett. He said, "Joseph Crockett; honest Joseph Crockett; you need go no further, he shall have the appointment." Immediately after his removal to Kentucky he at once assumed a prominent place in the development and in the government of the new state. In 1786-1790 he represented Fayette in the Mrginia Legislature. He was also appointed magistrate of Fayette county in 1792, along with Percival Butler. He was a member of the first legislature from Fayette county, in 1792. "93, '94, and '()5. Lender the Constitution of 1792 he was elected one of the senators. These senators were chosen by electors elected for that pur])ose.

In 1792 a project was organized for the clearing and improvement of the Wilderness Road, under Col. John Logan and James Knox. The subscriptions for that purpose at that time would probablv be the highest evidence of public spirit. Among them are the names of Isaac Shelby, for 3 pounds; Robert Breckinridge, 2 pounds 8 shillings ; George Nicholas, 2 pounds 8 shillings; John Brown. 2 pounds 8 shillings; Joseph Crockett, i pound 18 shillings; Robert Patterson, i pound lO shillings; G. ^I. Bedinger, 18 shillings ; Samuel McDowell, i pound j. shillings, and a large number of other prominent names.

He represented Fayette county in the convention called in 1788 at Danville, to consider separation from \'irginia. .\1- though at first opposed to separation. Colonel Crockett was convinced by the arguments of John Marshall of the projiriety of this separation.

The question in this convention was, whether there should be a violent separation from \ irginia, or whether the separation should be legal and on constitutional grounds. It was in this convention that Colonel Crockett became alarmed at the speeches of John P'rown and General Wilkinson. He left his seat in tlie convention, hurried to Lexington and on Saturday, Sunday and ^Monday secured the signatures of several hundred citizens of Fayette county remonstrating against separation from \'irginia without her consent, when he returned and presented this petition to the convention. After it was read (General \\ ilkinson saw that he was in opposition to the wishes of the people and vielded to what was the inevital)le.

Colonel Crockett, being then United States Marshal, arrested Aaron Burr in 1806, under jiroceedings by Joseph Hamilton Daveiss against Aaron Burr. Colonel Crockett's connnission bore the signature of General \Vashington and was handed to him bv La Fayette, and when La Fayette visited Kentucky in 1825 he threw his arms around Colonel Crockett at Frankfort and they wept with each other like children. Col. Joseph Crockett, Col. Anthony Crockett and (ien. I'eter Dudley rode in a carriage with La I'ayette from hVankfort to Lexington. Colonel Crockett introduced a large number of old Revolutionarv soldiers to General La Fayette at the reception given him by Mr. Wicklifte.

As General La Fayette passed l)y a hotel in the parade, Maria Henderson, a little girl twelve years of age, a granddaughter of Colonel Crockett, and from Jessamine county, from the window of the hotel sang, "I lail to the Chief Who in Triumph Advances." The fresh, yotmg voice of the little girl had a wonderful attraction for (General La Fayette. He requested that tne carriage slioitld be stopped and as he listened to the song from the lips of the child, tears streamed down his cheeks. He said that it was the sweetest act of homage ever paid him.

Colonel Crockett was pensioned by the ITiited States Governnunt. hi company Avith other soldiers in the Revolutionary war, he received several thousand acres of land from the government and shortly before his death his pension was increased to $600 a year. He enjoyed it only for twelve months. When visiting his daughter, Mrs. Augustine Bower, at Georgetown, he was seized with a fatal illness and died there.

The following letter written by a Revolutionary soldier to Maj. Daniel B. Price, will be interesting as it refers to many characters prominent in Jessamine county at that time.

Dear h'riend : 1 was pained that I had not the pleasure of seeing you at the Inn-ial of Col. Josej^h Crockett, six weeks ago in Jessamine count)-. I have learned from your letter that you were very sick at the time of his burial and unable to get out of bed. He died at the home of Dr. Bower, his son-in-law. For three weeks, or more, previous to his death, he re])eatedly informed his friends that he viewed himself as a dving man ; that he was not afraid to meet death at any moment. A few days after he was taken with his last illness, and while he was able to walk about the room, his eye sight failed him. He took the Rev. Isaac Reed to be vou and ordered liini to bring vour son, Joseph, to see him. as he had not seen him for some months. ( )n my telling him that you were detained in Jessamine, but would probably be up Friday, lie (|uietly fell into a sleep. He slept al)()iU an hour, and waked and had a severe coughing spell. It was at this time that he drew his breath with great difficulty, and the agony he was in was so great that in two hours after he had awakened from sleep lie died. Capt. William Christy, Maj. John T. Pratt. Maj. William Johnson. Capt. William Smith, of Bourbon, and the Rev. John Hudson and Air. Reed, were present in the room when he died.

When he was dyin^ I noticed him ])ut his head a little back, closed his eyes as if g'oing to sleep and expired, at the ripe age of 83. His remains were taken to his home in Jessamine and buried with the honor suitable to the memory of a brave and ])atriotic man. who served his country l)ravely in the Revolutionary war. The order of procession to the grave was as follows :

The hearse with the military escort, attended by music, on each flank. The relatives, the ladies, the citizens, the fine volunteer company from Georgetown, commanded by Maj. William Johnson, with Capt. Thomas Cogar's company from Xicholasville. the whole conducted by Col. John T. Pratt, marshal of the day. At the grave the usual ceremonies took place by the firing of thirteen rounds by Captains Graves and Leslie Combs, of Lexington, who, at the head of the gun squad, tired at intervals during the services at the grave. There were present more than a thousand persons with carriages and horses. Such was the good order and decorum preserved that not the slightest accident occurred. At the close of the ceremonies the Rev. John Hudson delivered a brief address touching the high character of Col. Crockett as a citizen, neighbor and friend - a model of virtue and morality, cherished in the affections of all who knew him. Though his manly form lies low in death, his man\ virlues. liis patriotic exam])le, shall continue to abide in the memory of the living. Such, my dear friend, is a brief account of the ])urial of your father-in-law. Col. Joseph Crockett.

Colonel Crockett was a man of splendid physique, six feet three inches in height, spare but muscular, dark hair, sallow complexion, with keen. ]iiercing. black eyes : roman nose and thin, expressive lips. The many offices to which he was elected in Fayette and Jessamine counties evince in what high esteem he was held by those who knew him. J le always wore a long, blue ciit-a-\vay coat with brass Ijiittons, witli knee breeches and black silk stockings and heavy silver shoe l)uckles. As was the cnstom among- the gentlemen at that early ])eri()d, he wore a cue falling down his back between his shoulders, tied with a blue ribbon.

Colonel Oockett was buried on his old home place, where had preceded him to the tond) his wife and children. The brick house which he built in the early part of the century still stands near the grave-yard, and is the property of Mr. John Baker, formerly owned by Otho Roberts. A few years since, his grandson, Col. IJennett H. Young, haid erected around it an iron fence.

]\lv Dear h^riend : 1 was very nmch pained on hearing that your cut on the leg has not improved since I was to see you in x-Vpril last. T was sorry that your V\'ounded leg prevented you from being in Lexington last year, when the Marquis de la Fayette was given one of the greatest and grandest receptions I ever witnessed. More than ten thousand people marched in line to receive on the big road leading from h^rankfort to Lexington. He rode in a fine four-horse carriage accompanied by Governor Desiia, Col. Anthony Crockett, Col. Joseph Crockett, Genl. Peter Dudlev, and manv other gentlemen who rode on horseback and acted as a guard of honor in the rear of the carriage. More than forty-six years ago I was in Charleston when he landed there in 1777, a young man from France on his way to offer his services to General Washington to fight for the liberties of the people of our country. In Charleston he was received \\\\\\ becoming respect and honor, the people everywhere were loud in their praise of the _\oung l-'rcnch soldier - but his reception was nothing in comparison to the reception given him by the patriotic people of Lexington last Tvfay. When General La Fayette got into Lexington the rush of many of the old soldiers was truly exciting. Everywhere his carriage was stopped by the surviving veterans wdio had served with him and Washington at Monmouth, Trenton, Brandywine and Little York. Everyone was anxious to see La Fayette. It just seemed that there was no other actor in the great revolutionary drama who had been so near to the heart of Wash- iniiton as General La l'"a\ette. When tlie S'reat dinner sjivcn to the general in the city limits was over. 1 went to Mr. Wickliff's house with Cols. Josei)h and Anthony Crockett to pay my respects to the young man, forty-seven years ago. I introduced to Col. AN'illiam !Moultry w ho was putting Charleston in fighting trim to resist the Britisli licet which 1 learned while in Cuba was to sail from lamaca imder Admiral I'arkcr and h()nd)ard Charleston. I brought this intelligence w hich 1 hastened to give Colonel Moultrie, who immediately conmienced putting the town in a proper state for defending every i)lace along the harbor. ( )n arriving at Mr. Wickliff's liouse Joe Crockett first introduced me to George Washington La l-^ayette, the son of the general. His son looked like a man who had seen nuich mental trouble ; he seemed to l)e pleased at the reception given to his father, but was not a man to talk, was stiff and I thought not an intelligent man whatever, but a ])roud, weak man. A\'hcn Colonel Crockett brought me into the jiarlor of Mr. Wickliff's house. General La Fayette, he introduced me as the young man ""Xetherland" who fortv-seven vears before had made him known to Colonel .\b)ultr\- who in 1776 and 1777 had connnand at Charleston. He remembered me introducing him to Moultry and my gx)ing as far as Charlotte with him, as he went through Richmond to Philadelphia, he received me very warmly, shedding tears as he did when meeting witli Anthony and Joe Crockett. He asked my age, I told him T was just in my seventieth year; he then informed me he was 69 years of age and felt that his health had greatly improved since he had revisited America. When I ImiI him farewell I. in compan\- with tlic two Crocketts and Robert I'.. McAfee, lieutenant-governor, all went and bid the general a long farewell. The general shed tears and in fact every one who was present cried. Dosia. mv wife, kissed the general and we separated, never to see General La Fayette again on earth. Hundreds of the peo]:>le of Lexington in talking of La Fayette cried out aloud. The ladies especially shed tears when taking leave of the great

Col. John Price early settled in Jessamine county in what is known as the Marble creek district. He came to Kentucky in 1788 and was one of the l^est educated of the Revolutionary soldiers who made the county their home. His letters show that he was man of fine mind and good scholarship and he influenced a great many of his Revolutionary friends to settle in Jessamine, Fayette and Woodford counties. He was one of the first men to respond to the call to arms in the Revolutionary war.

While born in Maryland he was descended from a distinguished X'irginia family. He was severely wounded at the l)attle of I'randywine, September 11, 1777. He was also at Alonmouth and Princeton and at the surrender of Cornwallis, at Yorktown. He died at his residence in Jessamine county on the loth of August, 1822.

He started the agitation for the creation of a new county. He and his neighbors had l)een subjected to what they termed petty persecution, on the part of the constables and sherififs, or their appointees, and as these all resided at Lexington and were not elected Ijy the people, the inhabitants of that part of Jessamine became aggrieved at the conduct of these officers and this dissatisfaction produced the movement which finally ended in the organization of a county.

He was the first man to represent the count}- in the legislature and was elected late in 1798. It must have been a special election called for the purj^ose of choosing a representative. As the county was created on December Kjth. 1798, and as the elections for 1798 under the constitution, were in May of that year, he must either have been appointed or elected as the first member from the county. A letter which he wrote to Col. Joseph Hamilton Daveiss on the 28th of August, 1799, explains much, about which there have been different statements in the county, and shows that Col. Joseph Hamilton Daveiss and others assisted Colonel Price in securing the creation of the new county.

Colonel Price affiliated with the Baptist church. He was a man of great kindness of heart and li))eralitv. He was a friend of all who needed his help and especially of the old Revolutionary soldiers, llurietl upon llic old homestead, his grave was not marked. The place is now owned by a Mr. Hinds and while it is known in what enclosure he was buried, there is no stone to designate his grave.

Manv of liis descendants now reside in Indiana, Illinois. Missouri and in tlie West, and the distinguished publisher John 1'. Morton, of Louisville, was a grandson of Colonel Price.

Col. William Price, who was not related to Col. John Price, was born in Fredericksburg. \'a.. in 1755. and came with his family to Jessamine county in 1787. Capt. James C. Price, who commanded the Jessamine P.lues. at the battle of Raisin, on the 23d of Februarv. 1813. was his oldest son. and was born while his father was absent in the American army.

Col. Wilham Price was descended from I'.aptist ancestry, who emigrated from Wales to Virginia, in 1720. When a mere lad, only fourteen years of age, he had seen Revds. John Waller and Louis Craig lodged in the Fredericksburg jail for preaching the Baptist doctrine. This was 1)efore the passage of the Statute of Virginia, granting religious liberty, in the passage of which. Thos. Jefferson considered that he had achieved one of the greatest triumphs of his long career. This jiroduced a profound impression upon his mind, and he was never al)le to eradicate his i)reiudice against the Churcli of Fngland, which had l)een instrumental in the arrest of these jM-eachers. and he became an inveterate enemv of that clnu-cli, and never I)rought himself to look with complacenc\' ujion those who were connected with it. lie came to Kentucky with Louis Craig and his traveling church, in 1781, and remained for three years. He then returned to \irginia. and in ly^y came l)ack to Kentucky, settled in Jessamine county and made it his i)crmanent home.

Colonel Price was in the Revolutionary war. fnun its very conmiencement luuil the end. He was a first Lieutenant in the ])attle of Stony I'oint, July 16. 1799. and at the battles of Brandywine, Germantown. Monmouth, and Princeton, he was acting as Captain. He rose to the rank of Major, and was at Yorktown when C\)rn\vallis surrendered Octo1)er IQ, 1781. He married Mary Cunningliam, in 1777, and three months after left his home and youn^' wife to fight the l)attles of freedom. His first engagement was in the battle of Ilrandywine, Sejitember 11, 1777, and he (lid not return to his famil\- until the close of the war. The part which most of the Episcopal clergy in A'irginia took against the revclution. still further embittered Colonel Price against that denomination. The following letter of his to Capt. Edward Payne, dated December 20th, shows both his feelings to the church, as well as to the character of the entertainments which were given in those days. A similar invitation was written to Col. Luke Allen, in which a like prejudice crops out :

My Dear Sir - This note is to apprize you that I invite you and all your r)aptist friends to my house on Christmas day to partake of a big dinner of turkey and oysters, and to conclude with a dance at grandmother's in the evening. Xo Episcopalian has been invited. Such people are too aristocratic and overbearing. The people who are communicants of that church try to imitate their aristocratic brethren of England in almost every act that they perform. I have no patience with such harpies as the clergy of this estal)lishment. Their titles, dignities and livings are too nnich like our late oppressors in the great war just closed. They must now consider that the people of the country now look chiefly to the practical and useful and not to mere empty titles which serve no good purpose in a free country. What w'e want in the church as well as in the state is plain, practical men, devoted men, who know and mingle with the people as one of themselves. W'e want no more English airs, no arrogance of demeanor among neighbors. Tell Robert Craig to bring his fiddle, as we e.\])ect a good time generally. Tell Black Tom to come by all means.

]Maj. janics L'lukc, the day after this battle, \vill show that in that l)attle lie acted witli threat courage and liis conduct was commended by (leneral Wayne himself:

Dear Major - 1 wish that God would heal your wound and I could once more see you among your brave comrades. On yesterday evening, July i6th, after marching over the roughest country T ever saw, through deep swamps and narrow roads, we got within a mile of thi:; fort, which is on the west bank of the Hudson river. It was of vast importance to our enemies and had been strengthened by every means of art that lay in their power. At night our heroic commander, Brigadier \A'ayne, came among us and told us that everything depended on secrecy, and, says he, "I want you men who belong to the regiments of Colonel Butler and Colonel I'leury to march with unloaded muskets and fixed bayonets ; 1 \\\\\ lead you myself," said he. The river had flooded the swamps deep, but when we saw our beloved General go forward, we sprang forward, and our advance of twenty men at once attacked the double palisade. When one of the red-coated sons of bitches shouted in great alarm, "Here comes the damned rebels, shoot them." He was soon knocked on the head, but a terrible fire was opened on us as we advanced through the swamps. The guns from the fort spattered nuid on us as well as dirty water. Their grape and canister did not damage more than to spatter mud and water on our clothes. About this time our brave General was knocked on the head in the right temple by a spent ball. I instantly raised him u]). "March on. Lieutenant I'rice; carry me to the fort; I will die at the head of my men." We bore him forward until we got near the center of tlie fort and both commands met, when the shout of victory rent the air. Our victory was complete ; we carried everything so rapidly that our enemies were suqjrised. We lost about sixty men. Joseph Campbell, of Fredericksl)urg, was killed ; also Private Clow and Richard Climer was killed. He was from Philadelphia, was a brave Dutchman, deeply religious. T hope he is safe in heaven. Hoping that you will soon recover from your wound, T am, your friend,

Me died al his residence, where he had settled when coming" to Jessamine connt\, on the loth of ( )ctol)er, iSo8, at the age of 53 \ears. He failed to reach that longevity which marked the lives of most of the Re\-ohitionary soldiers who were transplanted to Kentucky, and especially Jessamine connty.

He wa.s a patriot of the greatest intensity and earnestness. He earl\- introduced in Jessamine count}-, celehrations of the Foiu'th of Iul\. He had such a celebration at his house on the Fourth of July, 17<)4. He invited a large number of his friends. On the hfth of Jul\-, 1794. he wrote a letter to Governor Shelby, and Revolutionarv soldiers must have been alnmdant in those daAS, for he said that he had forty at his table on that occasion. The following is the communication which he made to Governor Shelby :

]\rv Fsteemed j-'riend - 1 was greatl\- disappointed by your not coming to my house on yesterday (July 4). We had a glorious time and a big dinner. Forty men sat down at my tables. wdiO' had served in the late struggle for our freedoni and independence. It was a glorious sight to behold, and I wish King (leorge HI and Lord North could have witnessed the scene in the wilds of America. ( )n the return of this glorious birthday of our freedom from IJritish despotism, the heart of every patriot in the late struggle ma_\- rightfully pom' its highest tribute to God and the great sages and soldiers who resolved to stake their lives and sacred lionor in maintaining the Declaration of Independence. Throughout the limits of our country, from Massachusetts to Georgia, the hearts of a free and happy people have been dedicate<l on \esterday to the contem])lation of the great blessings achiexed and bequeathed to us b\' such heroic leaders as George Washington, Israel Putnam and Nathaniel Greene. Stich brave leaders took their lives in their hands, and libert\' or death was inscribed on their hearts. ( iod, in the plenitude of His beneficence, has generally chosen men cjualitied to resist kings and tvrants in their attacks on the rights of the ])eo])le. The history of our mother country furnished full ])roof of this fact and our own glorious countr} in tlie late war for independence is a more brill- iant illustration of the great truth th.Mi God hates all tyrants and despotic rulers, and sooner or later overthrows all such rascals in causini^- the i)coi)le to rise up and cut their heads off. Trulv th\- old friend.

The house in which he lived has been changed so as to bear no similarity to what it was when he resided in it. but the graveyard on the place is still niaintainec] in fairly good order, and a substantial stone wall surrounds the spot where he and his loved ones rest. He had (piite a number of children and some of his descendants reside in [essamine and I-'avette counties now.

Gen. George Walker was one of the most distinguished gifts of A'irginia to Jessamine coimty. He was the second man to open a law office in the town of .Xicholasville. which he did in 1799. Samuel H. Woodson having been the first man to open such an office, (ieorge Walker owned the land upon which Mr. Melanchthon ^'om^g now resides, and was buried in the orchard about one hundred yards \vnm the residence.

He was a man of great learning and great enter]-)rise. as well as great ct)urage. I'oni in Culijcp.r:' county. \'a., in ijb^. he settled in Jessamine count \". in 1794. He married Miss Rachel! Coffee, of Xashville. Tenn.. who was a daughter of Gen. John Coffee, who ])ore a distinguished ])art with Gen. Andrew Jackson in the Indian wars in the South and West, as well as the war of 1812. He was a mere lad when he entered the ranks of the Rev()luti()nar\- arm\ imder Generals Green and Morgan, in the campaigns of T780-S1, and was at tlie battle of Cowpens. January 17. 1781. and Guilford Court House. He was also at the siege of York town.

He was a man of noble phy.sique and his appearance indicated his intelligence as well as his high character. His devotion to his c(nmtry and its cause knew no bounds. 1 le was appointed to a seat in the United States Senate by Gov. Isaac Shelby, to fill a vacancv.

David .Meade was an uncle of Colonel Walker, his father having married C'olcjnel .Meade's sister. He was in the battle of New Orleans with the Kentucky troo])s, where he attracted the attention of General Jackson l)y his superb bravery and his splendid heroism. He was also in the battles of the Northwest and was aide to (iovernor Shelby at the battle of the Thames.

He died in Nicholasville in 1819, at the house now owned by Lewis C. Drake. Two of his sons emigrated to Texas and held distinguished positions. ( )ne of his sons, .\ndrew Walker, was a great friend of Quantrell. the celeljrated Missouri soldier.

The e.xact location of the grave of Colonel Walker is now unknown, but in his day he was one of the most prominent and re^ spected citizens. His youngest son. Courtney ]\Ieade Walker, removed to ( )regon, where h.e led the life of a hunter. He died in 1886, at an advanced age.

The first jniblic service rendered by George Walker was as one of the conuiiissioners to run the lines between Kentucky and Tennessee, and the boundar}- was known as Walker's Line. Some extracts from Courtney Meade Walker's letters will be interesting as showing the condition of affairs in olden times. He says : 'T was in Nicholasville in .August, 1826. Harrison Daniels was a candidate for the legislature at that time. It was on the last dav of the election. There were some five or six fist fights in the streets. i)ut no one was injured or seriously hurt. I had come up fnim Louisville, where I had been at school. I was at the burial of Samuel H. Woodson, in 1827, at the residence near David Meade's.''

Gen. Percival lUitler. was born in Carlisle. Pa.. April 4, 1760. In 1778. he entered the .Vmerican army as a lieutenant. He was at X'alley Forge with Washington, at the battle of Monmouth, and at the surrender at Yorktown. LaFayette was such an admirer of the young man that he presented him with a sword as a token of his friendship and esteem. He married a Aliss Hawkins, of A'irginia. Col. John Todd, who fell at Blue Licks, married another sister. Tt was probably through this connection tl.at (iciKTal lUillcr settled in Kentucky. He came to Jessamine count} in 17S4, and settled at the mouth of Hickman creek and cn^au,ed in merchandise. This point was then one of great importance. 1 he Kentucky river w .is the outlet for a large pan of Central Kcntuckw and datboats plied up and down the stream, carrying the ccMumerce of the country tributary to it. The ricli lands lying in i)n)ximity were already producing large treasure w liicli f( >und markets in the East and at New Orleans, (ien. James W'ilkinson had opened a large dry goods store at Lexington in 1784. wSalt was carried c^ut of the Salt river from Mann and I'.ullitt Licks in 1796 to Xashville, and the Kentucky river was also sending its tide of wealth to the outside world.

In 1785 a ferry had been established at the mouth of Hickman creek 1)\- the X'irginia legislature, and in 1787 W'ilkinson had pushed his trade down tlie AIississi])pi to New ()rleans. and the mouth of Hickman at once became a center of trade.

By this date roads were cut through from Lexington to Danville. Stanford and Lancaster, and the chartering of the ferry as early as 1785 shows that a large trade crossed at this ])oint. Prior to this date no other ferry had been established by Mrginia exce])t the one across the Kentucky river at r)Oonesboro {1779). The next were those at the mouth of Hickman, the mouth of Jack's creek. Madison county, at Long Lick, and two at Louisville, to the mouths of Silver creek and Mill Run.

Gen. Pcrcival lUitler remained at the mouth of 1 licknian until r796, when he removed to the mouth of the Kentucky river, at Carrollton. Lie was made adjutant-general of l\cntuck\- in 1792 and took part in tlie war of 1812. and died in Carroll county, in 1821.

His eldest son. Thomas L. l^)Utlei-. was born at the mouth of Hickman, in 1781). lie was an aide to General Jackson at the battle of Xew ' )rleans in 1815, k.eing then only twenty-six years of age. and was left by General Jackson in conuuand of the city, to protect it against outbreaks. He represented Gallatin (then comprising Carroll) countv in the legislature, in 1826, and Carroll in 1 848, and died at Carrollton in 1877, aged 88 years.

(ien. A\"m. < )rlando lUuler. second son of Gen. Tercival Butler, was born at the mouth of TTickman, April 19, 1791, and remained there until he was fi\e vears of age: then went with hi?

father to CarroUtoii. He g-radnated at Transylvania L'niversity at twenty-one years of age. ami at once volnnteered as a private in the war of 1812, then in progress. He entered the service as a private, in Captain Xathaniel G. Hart's company, the "Lexington light infantry." Young Butler was made a corporal. This company was in the battle of Raisiri. fought January 22, 1813. Captain Hart was wovmded in the leg in the tight. A British officer named Elliott, who had l)een nursed 1)\- Hart's family during a severe spell of illness, in Lexington, ottered to protect Captain Hart, who was a brother-in-law of Henry Clay, but he basely failed to redeem his promise, and Hart was massacred. Li both l)attles at Raisin. January 18th and 22d. r)Utler's conduct conunanded the highest praise. His courage, gallantry, and self- elicited miiversal praise. He was wounded and taken prisi'Uer.

His heroic conduct at Raisin shows that he has had no su- ]:>erior in courage and chivalry in the world's history, and one event is thus told by V. P. P.lair, .Sr. :

".\fter the rout and massacre of the right wing, belonging to the Wells ct)uunaud. the whole force of the liritish and Lidians was concentrated against the small body of tr(^ops under Maj. Geo. Madison, that maintained their ground within the picketed gardens, a double barn commanding the ])lat of ground on which the Kentuckians stood - on one side the Indians, under the cover of an nrchard and fence, tlie IVitish on the other side, being so posted as to conmiand the s]iace between it and the pickets. A partv in the rear of the barn were discovered advancing to take possession of it. All saw the fatal consequences of the secure lodgment of the enemv at a place which would present every man within tlu' pickets at close rifle shot, t-,) the aim of their marksmen. Major Madison in(|uired if there was no one who would volunteer to run the guntlet ot the tire of the IJritish and Indian lines, and ]~)ut a torch to the combustibles witlu'n the barn, to save the remnant of the little armv from sacrifice. The heroic Butler, without a moment's delay, took some blazing sticks from a fire at hand, leaped the pickets, and running at his utmost speed, thrust the fire into the straw within the barn. ( )ne wb.o was an anxious spectator of t^he event says that, although volley upon volley was fired at liim. Butler, after making some steps on his way back, turned to sec if the tire had taken, and,jiot being satisfied, returned to the barn and set it in a blaze. As the conflagration grew, the enem\ was seen retreating from the rear of the buiUHng, which they had entered in one end, as the flames ascended in tht other. Soon after reaching the pickets in safety amid the shouts of his friends, he was struck by a musket Ijall in his 1)reast. Beheving, from the i)ain Ik- feU, tliat it had penetrated his chest, he turned to John M. .McCalla, one of his Lexington comrades, and, pressing his hand on the spot, said: '1 fear this shot is mortal, l)Ut while I am able to move 1 will do my duty.' To the anxious inquiries of his friends, who met him soon afterward, he opened his vest, with a smile, and showed them that the ball had spent itself on the thick wadding of his coat and on his breastbone. He suffered, however, for many weeks.''

He was a captain in the battle of Xew ( )rleans, December 14, 1814, and on January S, 1S15, was brevetted Major for his gallantrv, and (ieneral Jackson conmiended his conduct in the highest terms. He was an aide on the staflf of General Jackson, in 1816 and 1817, but resigned to study law. He married a daughter of General Robert Todd. He represented Gallatin county in the legislature in 1817, was elected to Congress in 1839, and served four years, refusing a re-election. In 1844 he was the Democratic candidate for Governor and reduced the \\'hig majority to 4.000.

On June 21;, 1846. President Polk appointed General Butler a major general of volunteers, and on the same date Zachary Taylor, major general in the regular armw

On the 2^(1 .)t l-'ebruary, 1847, tlie Kentucky legislature presented him a .-word for bis gallantry in ^Mexico. He bore a distinguished ])art in many of the battles of that war. He was wounded in the battle of ]\Ionterey in September. 1846. ( )n February t8, 1848, he succeeded General Scott in the chief command of the American army in ^fexico, and remained in such ]-»osition until the declaration of peace. .May 29, 1848. In that year he was nominated for \'ice-President of the I'nited States on the ticket with ( ien. Cass: but they were defeated by Taylor and Fillmore. He received the full vote of his party for Cnited States Senator in 1 83 1 . l)ut failed of election. He was one of the six Peace Commissioners from Kentuckv in Tamuu-v. 1861, and thereafter he remained in the (luiet sechision of h.is home, at CarruUtuii, and died Atigust 6, 1880, in his 89th year. He rests in a sepulchre overlooking the splendid scenery where the waters of the Kentuck}- and the ( diio unite - a fit resting-place for him who did so much to wrest Ohio and the Northwest from the savage and ^o make still greater, the renown of the great conunonwealth which had given him l)irth.

He was a man of the highest courage, truest patriotism, noblest public spirit, thorough culture and splendid talent. His poem, "The Boatman's Horn," induced by the associations and memories of his childhood on the ( )hi(), when listening to the large and sonorous horns the boatmen were accustomed to blow to announce their coming to the landing ]:)laces on the river, is a real poetic gem :

As if to charm from storm and wreck The boat where all his fortunes ride ! Delighted nature drank the sound. Enchanted - echo bore it round In whispers soft, and softer still. From hill to plain and plain to hill,

Jolin riuiitcr, jacol) lluntcr an^l Saiiuu-I llunter came to Jessamine coimty in ilie s])rin_o- of 1779. Jacob was the oldest and was l)orn in 1753. They first stopped at Hoonesboro in 1778 and were employed by Elias Hite. son of Abraham Hite, who was at that time engaged in the snrveying of lands in Kentucky. Tlie father of these young men died at Boonesboro. They had two sisters. They had been employed by Mr. Hite as chaincarriers, and they all settled close to each other on Hickman creek. The following letter shows when they were dismissed:

Dear heather: Ivismiss the chain carriers. John Hunter, ."^anniel llunter and Jacob Hunter; pay them six shillings per day for three months" services on IJoone and Hickman creeks.

Here, in 1780, was born Joseph Hunter, who was the first white child born in the present Ijoundary of Jessamine county. Joseph Hunter lived to be quite an old man. He died in !858. The old home of these first settlers embraced about 000 acres of land, which has now l^een in cultivation 120 years and is still fertile and jiroductive. The old house for a long time was the ])ro])ert\' of John I'ortwood, who \vas a sonin-law of John llunter. The farm is situated about si.x miles east of Xicholasville on the pike leading to Boone's Ferry.

\\'hen John Portwood died, Dudley Portwood. his son, sold a part of the farm containing 200 acres to Jessamine county for the erection of a poor house.

The Hunter liomestead was built (>f l)rick and is still standing, and was erected about t7<;8. ( )ne of the bricks in the chimneys has this date ui)on it.

brothers, on HickiiKin creek, and they were un(|uestional3ly the first white men who ever imdertcjok a ])ernianent settlement in Jessann'ne conntv. Thex' (hd not l)nihl forts or blockliouses, and were doubtless drivi-n in alxmt 1782, wlicn tlie fndians were so determined in their assaults on the Ixenluckv settlers.

The earlv settlers on jessamine creek were mostly German Protestants who came in large part from Pennsylvania and ]\Iaryland. with a lew from A'irginia. The following letter written by Dr. Peter Trisler to Rev. David Zeisberger in 1794, from Jessamine count}-, will prove valuable, historically:

Jessamine Creek, September 4, 1794 Dear David: I am exceedingly sorry that you did not come along with your father during his recent visit to this delightful country. The sun shines brighter in this country, and the skies are more blue, than the damp, moist atmosphere at the mouth of the Cuyahoga. A good school is needed among us, and I invite you once more to leave that inliospitable countr\' of savages and cold winds.

From most reliable records Rev. Jacob Rhorer was the founder of the first Moravian church on Jessamine creek, in 1794, and the building was used as a Aloiravian church by the Rhorer family up to near the beginning of the Civil War.

The following are the names of the early settlers who were of German parentage and belonged to the Moravian Church, or "United Brethren" : Arnspigers, Alcorns, Cormans, Howmans, r.runers, Earthenhousers. Easleys, Funks, Fraziers, Grows, Gilmans, Goforths, Hififners, Howsers, Harbaughs, Horines, Ritters, Rices, ^Nlasners, Zikes, Ketrons, Waggamans, Warmslys, Overstreets, Quests. Yosts. Hoovers, Trislers. Turks, Turpins, Shreves, A'eatches. \*antresses. Xaves, Cogars, Crows. Cooleys. Cawl)ys, and Schmidts. Xearl}- all of these names were in the list of German settlers in the western part of Jessamine county, who were lars^cl}' the followers of John Iluss. They were men of great common sense, good judgment, honesty, a high sense of morality, and great lovers of freedom, and their descendants still reside in that part of jessamine county which their ancestors in the early history of the state settled.

In 1884 John C"awl)y had a Bible which was printed at Wittenberg in 1440. This Bible was brought from (jermany to Maryland in 1780, by Peter 1>islcr, who, in 1794. settled in the present limits of Jessamine count}', where I13 died April 22. 1821. Tins old Jiible was the |)ro])erty of }^Irs. Xanc\' llorine, who was a grandaughter of Dr. 'i^ri-^ler.

Dr. Peter l^risler was born in A\'ittenberg, Germany, in 1745. He came to Hagerstown, !\lar\lan(l. when a very young man. and settled on Jessamine creek in 1791. \\'hen he came from (jermany he brought the old IJible above referred to. and this book contained records of a large number of the fanu'lies above named. From tliis stock German settlers have gone throughout the West and South, and they usu.all}- became men of thrift, energy, character and l)rains. Some now in Illinois and many in Missouri have carried away with them the splendid qualities of these early settlers, and in their new homes have shown the sterling qualities of their ancestors, who did so much to create and promote the best interests of the new state they helped to found in the then wilderness of Kentucky.

It is strange that, from the time of the settlement at Harrodsburq- in 1774 down to 1779, there were no stations established in Jessamine count}-. In Mercer, IJoyle, Fayette, Woodford, Madison, Scott and I'^ranklin. nmnerous stations were erected, but with all the richness of the land in Jessamine county, nc:»ne came to found a fort within its midst. 'Jdiere were surveys made in the county during this time, one of which, the Abram Hite survev of 2,000 acres on Marble creek, was both jH^rmanent and important, and discussed in the fort at Harrodslmrg in 1774 and 1775. A ^\r. Black established a station (^n what is known as the G. B. Uryan farm, half way between Xicholasville and Brookline on the Harrodsburg- turnpike. It was on the old trace which led through the county along the waters of Jessamine creek to the waters of South Elkhorn. There were several large boiling springs in the locality, and as these were always in demand for settlements. Black located his station there. It was composed of several calkins, and the land was originall}- part of what is known as the "Craig Survey," and was subsequenth' owned bv Archibald Logan. \\ho was a rich tanner and had an establishment in Lexington.

Logan conveyed this land to his daughter, ^Irs. Hord, when he left Jessamine cotuitv in i82<), and the house known as the I'atterson House is where Logan lived. ]Mrs. Hord conveyed the place to her daughter, Mrs. W'orley, and she conveyed it to others, and it is now owned by the l>ryan's heirs.

Beginning with 1783, this station became quite an important one, and was one of the stopping places for those who followed the trace froiu Afercer and Boyle to l-'ranklin and Woodford counties. Idie diffictdty in obtaining water in this general section was very great, and Joel W'atkins, in his diary, says : June 24 - "Forded river at mouth of Hickman ; after travelling seven or eight miles on the road that leads from the river to Lexington I luriK'd tt) the left of said ruad and crossed a wau-r course called East Jessamine : after leaviiij; the said creek, the land is very level and of a \er\ pretty nnilatto soil and the growth is l>lack and white oak, hickory, and some walnut and sugar trees, and the undergrowth ha;'v-l nut and red bud. till 1 arri\ ed at West Jessamine. I proceeded U]) sai<l river to head, the land altering as I proceeded up said creek until I came near the head springs, the land there appearing very rich till 1 struck the waters of South Elkhorn. This (lav I ])assed several good farms, and especially John Craig's. badly watered between the two Jessamines, so much so that people settled onlx' along the said creeks." This scarcity of water was doubtless one of the reasons for establishing the station at I 'lack's.

W'atkins says August ]8. 1889: "Passed Dick's river at Mc- Guir's, from thence we proceeded to Curd's l-'erry on Kentuckv. which is at the mcnith of Dick's river - the latter we forded - dierc' the clift's are of amazing height): we proceeded towards Lexington abotit eight tniles : we turned to the left of said road l>ast lUack Station on the waters of Clear creek, proceeded onward, the land King ver)" well, Init the growth indicating the rock being nigh the surface of the earth ; we crossed several forks of Clear creek ; we came to Captain Woodfolk's mentioned on page 22; from this ])lace the land continued very slightly, both soil and Growth, to Mr. \\ atkins'. at wliich place we arrived about dark - received ver\' kindlw"

He also says. August 24: "Monday, after breakfast with Mr. W'., set out for the smiuIi side of Kentucky ri\er. agreeing with the aforesaid gentleman at ])arting to keej) tip a literary correspc^ndence. past I '.lack Station again and crossed the two forks of Jessanu'ne and arri\-e(l at Kentuck\- river at the mouth of Hickman, wliich 1 forded, and arrivetl at Mr. Walker's at two 111 itirs bestni."

It will be seen that the trace along b\- 1 '.lack's Station was the read usually traveled by those who passed from Garrard and fiercer and J.oyle to Woodford and Franklin.

Another station in Jessamine county was btiilt by Levi Todd a little northwest of Keene - its exact location can not now be determiiK'il - it, i>, however, laid down u])on hilson's map. l)Ut was abandoned. This was a fort. The road from Tfarrod^bnrg to

Lexington doubtless passed l)y Slack's Station, and from this on to Todd's Station. There was also another route by which they crossed the river to the mouth of Hickman, Itvllowed Hickman for some distanc?, and then turned northeast towards Lexington, then their route followed Hickman for several miles, then struck East Jessamine and followed it to its nead at Airs. Horine's on the Southern Railroad, about a mile east of Nicholasville, and from this over to> the headwaters of Jessamine, and from tliis along the general route of the Lexington and Harrodsburgh turnpike to Lexington. This is shown by deposition of David Williams, which was filed in the case of Manson's Executors vs. Craig Williams, in which Williams deposes as follows :

"He was well acquainted with Hickman's creek from a small distance above the survey, 'Abram Hite/ to the head of the creek, and that the east fork of Jessamine was as well known to the people of Harrodsburg as Llickman's creek was. The east fork of Jessamine lay more out of the course generally taken 1)y hunters in traveling from Harrodsiburg to the waiters of the Licking; they connnc^nly fell on main Jessamine above the mouth of East Fork-, thence up the main Jessamine spring; thence crossing the waters of Hickman to Boone's creek, and over to the head of Stroud's creek, where there were roads leading down most of its branches to the Salt Licks. It was also connuon to pass by main Jessamine above the East Eork and l)y Todd's station on the waters of Hickman to go to tlie headwaters of South and North Elkhorn. This deponent, with others, fre(|uently took this road to avoia large canebrakes."

The liigh cliffs, covered with dense forests of cedar and other timlier, along the Kentucky river, and their utter inaccessibility, rendered them excellent hiding places for the Indians who disturl)ed the settlers as late as the end of 1792. No great incursion of tlie Indians into Kentucky happened after the battle of Blue Licks, in 1782, l)ut predatory bands, consisting of four or five mej; hers, lioth from the south and from the north, gave the settlers great disturl)ance and uneasiness and nmrdered a great iiianv women and children. Shortly after the battle of Blue Licks the people abancloned the ft)rts and scattered out in their log cabins over the state. l->ar of Indian raids had been removed and the immense tide of settlers which came into tlie state duritig- this period took up lands in every part, but as late as 1792 many people were killed in darrard. Lincoln, Aladison and Jessamine. On Jul\- 6, I7<;3. Major llcnjamin Xethcrland wrote the following letter to ( io\'crnor .Sliclhw wliich gives a contemporaneous account of these troubles:

"Dear Sir - \'our letter of the 2c;th of June, was lianded tcj me on yesterday by John Wilson. I tender to you my liearty. warm thanks for the good opinion you express concerning my pt:)or services in the defense of our beloved countr}-. To enjoy your confidence and friendshi]) may well be considered a distinguished honor, and I shall at all times consider it a jjleasure to be of service to you.

There have biU few depredations occurred in these ])arts of the count}-. Last year it was reported three men were killed by a l)arty of Shawnees. They were pursued, overtaken and two of them \vere killed the following day at lioonesboro. .\l)out three month's ago two Indians crossed tlie Kentucky at the mouth of tiie Dix river, and came an-iong the settlers, as the_\- said, for trading. I was not pleased at seeing such treacherous enemies, and gave orders to Tom Lewis and his father to keep a watch on them. They spoke English ver\ well and were trying to make the im- ]:)ression that the\- were our best friends, ^^'hen they left the next morning the\- met one of the settlers named Michael lliffner, who had been to see Thomas Rowland, who settled on a plantation some miles above. 1'he Indians told lliffner he uuist let them have his horse. This be refused, when he heard the snap of a gun. He at once jum])ed front tlie horse and stal)bed the Indian to the heart, lie then turned upon the other, who shot him in tlic arm and r;in off into the timber. lliffner, being a good Indian fighter and a ])ra\e and acti\e man. i)ursued him, .md before the Indian could reload his gun liift'ner caught him and knocked his brains out with a club, and threw his body down the high cliffs into the river. The body of the Indian he stabbed to death was buried. A party of W^andots killed a man at the mouth of Jessamine last spring. At the various crossings Indian tracks have been discovered. At I'aint Lick two years ago two men were killed by this same party of Indians. It is my opinion that if 50 mounted men were employed to scour the Kentucky river cliffs during the fall, I feel sure no more of our people would be ambushed and killed. These hills and cliffs, Major Whitley says, are good hiding places for Indians to do us much injury. I must urge yoti to appoint Tom Wilson captain and lieutenant of this end of the county. He is young and active and can run like the wind, and such service would be in keeping with his nature, which is daring and full of adventure. I would seek the place myself, but I have so long neglected my private affairs that it would be ruinous for me to put my affairs into the hands of others, who seek their own interest to the neglect of mine, besides I have now rhe high and responsible duties of husband and father, which I can not throw aside without doing great injustice to the innocent who look to me for protection as husband and father.

All sorts of "varmints" were plentiful in the days of the early settlers. Bears and rattlesnakes were in great abundance. On the farm of INIr. Alexander Willoughby, near Sulphur Well, one of the great curiosities was a place known as "Rattlesnake Spring." When the land was first settled this spring was a great resort for these snakes. The water issued from a large crevice in a limestone rock, overlaid l)y a l)old bank. Near the spring- was a cave. Major Netherland, who visited the i)lace in 1796, says: "In the fall oi the year they would crawl from the cave to the spring and enter the crevice of the rock, where they remained torpid during the winter. W'hen the warmth of spring revived them they would emerge from the crevice and the cave and bask in the warm sun. At this season they fell an easy prey to the destroyer. Henry Allsman, who is now living on this portion of Mr. W'illoughbv's land, told me he and his familv have killed

Innidreds uf them in the last week. \\c woukl pile them up on a log heap and liurn them. Jly this wholesale slaughter, this enemv of (tO(1 and man was extirpated, and in another season of spring and summer nothing will remain of that representative of the transgression hut his hateful name."

The man Allsnian here referred to was the father of the notori'Uis Andrew Allsman. who caused General McXeil to shoot ten innocent men at rahinra, Mo. He was horn (ju tliis farm in 1805 and left home in 1829. Allsman boasted on the streets of Palmyra of causing the death of these men. The next day after he made this dreadful confession his dead l)od_\- was foimd hung and riddled with hullets. He had been jnit to death by Col. Joe Porter's men in the neighborhood.

Erected in Jessamine county was located on Hickman creek, near the ol<l Union Mill. The old powder houses remained there as late as the vear 1850. These j^owder mills were owned by Richard LafTcMMi, btit the ])<)wder house was erected bv Robert Crockett, and after he left the countr\-. it fell into the hands of th.e Lafi'oons. It was struck by lightning and destroyed in 1837.

1"hc first paper mill in Jessamine, was erected on Jessamine creek at the old Class .Mills 1)\- Thonias r>r\an in 1837, and he carried it on until 1848.

The first btuT mill-stones ever imiwrted to Jessamine, came from J'' ranee in 1837. and were used b\- P>rvan in what is known as the Henrv Class Mills.

The first mill built in Jessamine county was constructed by Meredith Wright, father of Mr. Pobert Wright, who still lives in Xicholasville at the advanced age of eighty-one years. ^leredith Wright was tlu' first nnllwright in the state, and the mill he built was Haydon's Mill, afterwru'd nm by Mr. Gavin Steele. Mr. Wright also built the Union Mills and the Torbett Mills. He was amon<r the earliest settlers in Kentuckv. and came from

Culpepcr C'ourtliKiisc. in \ ir^inia. tind ininicdiateiy scttk-<l in Jessamine connty. J lis mills were used g'enerally 1)\ the early settlers, and the one used hy l)a\id Trahue in jessamine eounty was amonq- the first and nmst i)rimitive. The process of grindin,q- was very slow ; each man's or hoy's grist was ground in its turn, and sometimes a wait of twelve hom-s was required before the flour could he taken home.

Thomas lierrw hrother of Josejih and Lewis Tlerrv, ran the paper mill on jessamine creek, where the character of paper made was good ior the opportunities of manufacture. It was deep blue and broadl\' lined, hut it was smooth, with a good polish, and held the marks distinctl\-.

In 1825 James \\'ilson owned and ran a i)()wder mill on Clear creek. The power used was horse power, and the mortars and pestles were oj^erated by this ]^ower. Powder was then worth $1 a pound.

At this time a fine flour mill was operated also on Clear creek by Air. Campbell Steele, who was the grandfather of W'm. L. Steele, of Nicholasville, and Mr. John Steele: and a hominv mill was operated by Samuel RufTner on Clear creek. The pestles were operated 1)}' horse power.

House building in jessamine count} in early da\s was not a very expensive or ])rotracted work. The houses were rude and simple structures of hewn logs and the chinks stop])ed with nuid or filled with stone and then plastered with mud on the outside. l"he roof was made of clap-boarding about three feet long and four inches wide, and along these were ])laced poles supported by blocks of wood and these were weighted so as to hold the clapboarding in ])lace. There was rarely more than (^ne window, which was at the side of the door. In earlv da\s it had no elass but was closed by a wooden shutter made of heavy oak boards. The floors were made of logs or ]iuncheons hewed smooth on one side with an adze. The logs were generally split to a convenient size and length, and then hewed flat. The doors were made of riven boards fastened together with w(^oden pins to wooden slabs, lliese doors always had the latch on the inside and a hole was Ijored above the latch about 4 inches, through which a leathern strin-^ passed and so fastened to the latch on the inside. When this string was taken in there was no way to open the dcior from the outside, in the morning the string was passed luick from the inside so that an\- party who desired to enter could raise the latch. I'rom this comes th,0 Kentucky proclamation of hospitality, "You will always find the latch-string on the outside." The chimneys were made of logs plastered w ith mud. Tlie back and jamjjs were either covered with nmrl or stones were placed on the inside to keep the heat from .setting them on fire. The fire places were often 10 or 12 feefMd^^-and while they consumed afi; enormous quantity of wood, they made jolly good fires, which lent cheerfulness and comfort to the whole house. W'eather- was not used until al)out 1815. Some of these houses are still standing in tlie county, and in some of the brick houses v.hich were erected in early times, the doors were made withotit nails. ( )ne of the earliest brick houses erected in Jessamine count V was that of William Shreve, which was built in 1793 and is now owned b\ .Mrs. John .Sinmis, a short distance west of the Cincinnati Southern depot, and it is still in a good state of preserv^aticn.

b)lm I'lances DeFoure was a native of \ eva\', Switzerland, and planted the first viney-ard west of the .Mleghanies, in Jessamine count\- in 1 7c)6. The land was ])atented by William Hazelrigg in 1785. The ])lace is ten miles southeast of Xicholasville, and is the land on which Col. I'ercival I'utler lived when Gen. \\'m. ( ). r.utier was born in 1791. Col. I'ercival Cutler had moved to this section because the Indians were less dangerous than in the northwest territory. The DeFoures, purchased the land from Colonel Hazelrigg, who lived and died in r)Ourbon count v. They afterwards settled in A'evay, Indiana, and named the count\- .'Switzerland. They were very successful in Indiana, and l)ocamc verv wealthy. The deed and agreement between the l)cl'~oures and llazelrigg is recorded in Deed Book i. ]')age 34. in the jessamine count \' clerk's ofiice.