Muhlenberg County, Kentucky - The whole text, 1913 (part 4 of 13)

Many who had land warrants located them, irrespective of any other claim, on any ground that seemed dcsirahle, for the country hail not been surveyed and "sectioned" by the government. As early as 1775 Richard Henderson propos<?d that the lines run on the territory claimed by the Transylvania Company be made "by the four cardinal points, except where rivers or mountains so intervene ns to render it too inconvenient." The neglect of Virginia to provide for the general survey of Kentucky, and the failure of the pioneers to adopt Henderson's idea, resulted in complications all over the State, many of which are still unsettled.

Many of the settlers employed profc.ssional surveyors, hut more often had the tracts they intended to occupy laid out according to their own notions, independent of their neighlwrs' lines. However, most of the pioneers did their own surveying. Some, it is said, "ran their lines with grapevines, using a portable knot-hole for a transit, the sun for a compa.ss, and a dogwood saplin' for a flag-pole." In modern parlance, it was "the Eye-See Way." They, like the professional surveyors, also establislied courses by planting stones and pegs or by marking "a hickory on a hill," "a beech near a branch," or by blazing any convenient trees along a line or near a comer, or by following the meanderings of a stream. The old maps represent most of the militar}' lines (lines bounding military grants) "as straight as an arrow," but many of such old lines are in reality, as one man expressed it, "as crooked as a dog's hind leg." The fact that many of these old calls can not be traced as originally run out has given rise to the report that the description of a certain line in the county reads, "from a ben' in a creek, thence a kinder south-like forty poles, more or less, to a nigger in a fiel'."

"The first settlers of Muhlenberg County were people of nerve, enterprise, and industry. They braved the hardships and obstacles of a wild and unbroken forest. They came, stayed, and conquered, and laid the foundation for future greatness. We have many advantages over our forefatliers ; they had only about two over us. They had a wonderful range for stock. Pea-vines were knee-high all over tlie county, fast canebrakes stood in many places, and there was always an abundance of mast. On all these tlie horses, cattle, and hogs fared exceedingly well. The other advantage %vas in the abundance of game, which supplied them with much of their meat and leather,

"Most of the pioneers had apple and peach orchards. Many of the apple trees planted by them produceil fruit for thirty years, and some ns long as fifty years. Drietl apples and dried peaches were a commodity with the old settlers. Their cider and vinegar have never In-en equaled. Their whisky, apple jack, and peach brand}', made at the various still-houses in the county, were according to all reports very fine,

"Their method of preparing meals was very different from that of today. Cooking was done in pots, skillets, and ovens around a large open wood fireplace. They beat and chopped their meat into sausage with cleaver and hammer made in the blacksmith shop.

"One of their great burdens was in their disadvantage as to tran.sportation facilities. Most of the traveling was done afoot, on horseback, or in a public stage-coach. There were no tvTO-horse wagons in those days. Oxcarts and ground-sleds were u.sed for farm purposes. In nearly every neighborhood there were one or two six-horse wagons run by regular wagoners, who in the earliest times hauled much of the produce to shipping points on the Ohio River, but about the beginning of the Nineteenth Century, when Kincheloe's Bluff was made a landing-place, all x>roduce for the outside world was sent there, and later, after South Carrollton was settled, all the hauling was to and from that point."

In the early days, and even until comparatively recent times, some of the farmers u.sed a ground-sled or a "landslide" for short hauls. It was built on the principle of a sled, and so used during all seasons. The so-called "truck wagon" was also frequently seen in the olden days. Its wheels were discs sawed from a solid black gum log, and were alanit two and a half feet high. It was usually drawn by a yoke of oxen. The owner lubricated the axles with homemade soap before starting from his farm, but after driving two or three miles and allowing the wagon to stand in the sun for a few hours the lubricant would waste away. On his return home the screeching of the old wagon could be heard for more than half a mile.

Many of the pioneer families not only "killed" or raised their own leather but also made their own shoes and harness. They went to the tanyards to have the hides tanned. The process of tanning required almost a year, and although the tanner often had hundreds of hides in his tan-pits at one time, he could "tell any man's hide" in his tanyard. No matter how much the "unhairing" and other processes may have changed the original skin, he would return to each customer the identical hide that had been brought months before. In payment for his work the tanner usually received one third of the leather.

Practically all the pioneers wore clothes that were made from homespun cloth. Klax was more or less extensively cultivated in the county until about 1850, but .since 1870 this crop has not been raiseil. Flaxseed was usually sown on Good Friday. The plant cultivated in Muhlenberg was from two to three feet high, branching only near the fop, and stood about as thick as wheat stalks. The harve.sting began by pulling the plant out by the roots. It went through a nuralier of prooes.ses before the fibre was finally separated from the "bone." The women, after spinning this fibre into thread, wove it into linen. Their linsey or linsey-woolsey was a homespun cloth made of home-grown linen and home-grown wool.

A few of the pioneers, some of their children, and even some of their grandchildren, experimented with the raising of cotton in Muhlenberg. The local cotton crop was usually a very small one, although it is said that on one or two occasions it was greater than the local demand.*

"I have often heard my father, Samuel C. Fleming, tell of an incident that took place about the year 1815, or shortly after my grandparents set-

' Up to 1900 Mrs. Cynthia B. (.1. K.) Gary raised all the cotton she used In her (jullts, and ginned It with a device that resembled and worked on the principle of a clothes-wringer. In 1847 John Staples built a small public cotton gin near Friendship. A few years later he sold It to Thos. Terry, who moved It three miles west of Greenville; although a number of people tried to raise cotton during the Civil War, not enough was produced to Justify the running of the gin. In 1870 W. H. James moved the gin to near Pleasant Hill Church (Russell Old Field), and after three years' trial sold It to E. V. Tate, who transferred the rollers, sweep, and other parts back to the Friendship neighborhood, where they were used for various purposes.

Mfe Ik The Oldek Days

tied in the Mud River country. Ammunition was scarce in those days, but game was plentiful and easily caught. My grandfather, David L. Fleming, had cleared a small field, in whicli he built a turkey-pen for the purpose of trapping wild turkeys. One day at dinner my grandfather told my father, then a boy of alx)ut ten, to go over to the turkey-pen after dinner and see whether any turkeys were in it. Shortly before supper father walked over to the pen, but found no turkeys nor any signs. On his return he followed a path through a strip of dense woods. Soon after entering the woods he heard a noise like a erying child. lie glanced around, and seeing nothing rushed home and told his father, who was then in the blacksmith's shop at work. The old gentleman remarked that he had often heard a 'child' crying in the woods at night, but never before so early in the evening. Grandfather picked up his gun and followed the path lending to the turkey-pen. He entered the woods, looked and listened, and after bearing the e.xpected cry hid himself behind a tree and from there mimicked the slowly approaching beast. When it came within safe shooting distance he blazed away and killed one of the largest 'Tom' panthers ever seen in Muhlenberg County. The animal measured eleven feet from the end of his nose to the tip of his tail. Although 1 was not born until alwut eighteen years later, I remember using this old panther skin for a pallet."

No panthers have been seen in Muhlenberg since alwut the close of the Civil War, notwith.standing that even to this day reports are occasionally circulated that one had been seen, or rather heard, in the Clifty Creek country. Wolves, too. have long ago disappeared. The desire to exterminate wolves, and incidentally to receive the laninty paid for their scalps, resulted in a war on wolves that lasted as long as there were any to be killed. Any one producing the head of a wolf before a justice of the peace, stating under oath when and where he killed the animal, was granted a certificate to that effect. These certificates, upon pre.sentation to the sheriff, were paid for at the rate of two dollars and a lialf for wolves over six months of age and one dollar for those under that age. A reduced facsimile of one of the.se certificates is here reproduced.®

Great Hocks of wild pigeons or pa.sscnger pigeons frequented Muhlenberg in the olden days. Up to about 1830 they were, on occasioas, seen in

* In a bundle of old documents marked "Medley of papers" In the courthouse 1 found many "wolf-sculp" certifleates. Four, selected at random, read:

"March 4th, 1800. This day came Jacob Wiley before me. one of the Justices of the Peace of Muhlenberg County and brought a wolfs head which appears over the age two years and took the oath prescribed by law. Given under my hand. Isaac Davis."

"I hereby do Certify that Sharp Garness Brought before me a Justice of thee peace for Muhlenberg County four Groan Wolf Sculps and proved them as the Law directs. Given under My hand thee 27 day of .\ugust 1800. W. Bradford, J. P."

Passenger Pigeon (Vol. V, pp. 25-30). In this he relates that on one occasion In the autumn of 1813 he saw "Immense legions" of wild pigeons passing over the country near the mouth of Salt KIver. and that they continued "passing In undlinlnlshed numbers . . . for three days In succession." "The air was literally

In this same sketch he says that he repeatedly visited one of the roostlngplaces "on the banks of Green lllver in Kentucky." This particular roosting place was probably near the mouth of Gn-en Kiver. for there "two farmers from the great numbers passing over the country while moving from place to place or at .some of the pigeon-roosts in various parts of the count.v. Since about 1860 none have been seen at all. That "they came by the millions and were killed with clubs by the thousands," and that while Hying over the country "they hid the sun even more than the blackest cloud" and "turned day into night" is verified hy many local traditions. Amos M. .lenkins. now eight.v years of age, declares that wild pigeon meat was better than the best <iuail. One tradition is to the effect that in the olden limes .some of the farmers near Paradi.se fattened their hogs on them. A few places in the Pond Kiver country and along Green Kiver

Probably the first store opened in the county was the one started by pioneers James Weir and James Craig in Greenville in 1799. After a time they dissolved partnership and James Weir and Oliver C. Vanlandinghara conducted the store. In the course of a few years they di.s.solved partnership. Weir continued the business in Greenville, and Vanlandingham returned to his large farm near Paradise. Jluch of the merchandise brought from the Hast by old James Weir was e.xchanged for wild pork, rawhides, produce, and tobacco. These he shipped to New Orleans on flafboats, where he sold them for cash, with which he bought more goocLs in Philadelphia.

Harry Weir has in his possession an old ledger kept from 1813 to 1815 by James Weir, his great-grandfather, who.se store at that time had already been moved from the log house on the west side of Jtain Street to the brick building on the opposite side and a little farther north, on what is now and has been for a century known as the Weir corner. South of the brick store and facing Main Street he erected, about the year 1816, a brick residence. Both houses are still standing, and are among the county's most interesting landmarks.

This letlger of long ago gives us some facts and figures pertaining to the olden times. It is a Ixwk about sixteen inches long, six inches wide, and more than two inches thick. Although its leather ewers and its five hundred pages show their age, both are remarkably well preserved. Tbe penmanship is good, and cvidentl.v by one Jacob Zimmerman. It contains the accounts of three hundred and twenty people, all of whom probably lived in Muhlenberg at the time the transactions took place. The first entry is dated August 5. 181.3, and the last was made in August, 1813. All prices and vicinity of Russellville, distant more than a hundred miles, had driven upwards of three hundred hogs to be fattened on the pigeons, which were to be slaughtered . . . The pigeons, arriving by the thousands [shortly after sunset], alighted everywhere, one above another until solid masses were formed on the branches all around. Here and there the perches gave way under the weight with a crash, and, falling on the ground, destroyed hundreds of the birds beneath, forcing down the dense groups with which every stick was loaded. . . . Thousands were knocked down by the polcmen. . . . The pigeons were constantly coming, and It was past midnight before I perceived a decrease in the number of those that arrived. ... No one dared venture within the line of devastation. The hogs had been pent up in due time. . . . The dead, the

In his minute description of the adult male, Audubon says: "Length 16<4 Inches, extent of wings 2a Inches. . . . Bill black. Iris bright red. Feet carmine purple, claws blackish. Head above and on the sides light blue. Throat, fore-neck, breast, and sides, light brownish red, the rest of the under parts white. Lower part of the neck behind and along the sides, changing to gold, emeraldgreen, and rich crimson. The general color of the upper parts is grayish-blue, some of the wlng-coveris marked with a black spot. Quills and larger wing-coverts blackish, the primary quills bluish on the outer web. the larger coverts whitish at the tip. The two middle feathers of the tall black, the rest pale blue at the base, becoming white towards the end."

colors of the female are much duller than those of the male, although their distribution Is the same. The breast Is light greyish-brown, the upper parts pale reddish-brown, tinged with blue."

totals are in English pounds, shillings, and pence, except the few connected with Eastern houses, the post-office, and one pertaining to the sale of a slave, which are in dollars and cents. English money as a medium of valuation passed out of use in Muhlenberg shortly after 1815, and the dollar, which had been more or less extensively adopted as a standard since the days of the first settlers, became the sole standard in all financial transactions. The slave referred to was "one negro woman, Leah," bought on December 5,

1814, for l)i850, by Jesse Murphy, who p:iid about half in cash and the balance in "pork and lard. " To-day the value of a pound sterling is a little less than five dollars, a shilling twenty-five cents, and an English penny two cents. However, the ealeiilations in this ledger indicate that at the time of these accounts the value of a ptiund was about three dollars, which made the shilling fifteen cents and the penny a little more than one cent. The entries here given are copied verbatim and show the prices eharged for goods. The tirst column repn^sents the numher of pounds, the second shillings, and the third pence. The items arc taken at random and are confined to single purchases, for when more than one artii'le was bought the entry was transferred from the day ls)ok and the total rworded in the ledger as either "merehentilise" or "suiulries. " Among the hundreds of single iti'ins are the following:

1 door lock 1 lb. nails 1 bridle bit 1 pr. .saddle bags 1 fine woman's saddle 1 fine man saddle 1 pr. shoes 1 pr. hoots 1 thimble 1 pr. specks 1 gun lock 1 dozen flints 1 skillit 1 spelling book 1 hymn liook

Tobacco was tlie principal crop raised for the market, and was in many cases the source of most of the farmer's "cash." According to the Weir ledger the price paid for tobacco in 1813 and 1814 varied from twelve to fifteen shillings per hundred pounds. The account kept with George Davis shows tliat he bought merchandise and also received cash at various times, for all of which he received credit as follows :

Comparatively few men settled their bills bj' paying the actual cash. A number of pioneers bought large quantities of goods and in many cases paid for them with some of their home products. From among the various credit items I gather the following:

David Campbell is credited with among other things: "By 121 >4 Ions whisky, £22, 15 s. 7 d." and "By Four barrels to hold it, £1, 4 s." James Corder: "By a spinning wheel, £1, 4s."

Jeremiah Langley is credited for trips to Lewisburg and Hopkinsville and trips from Shawneetown and Henderson. William McCommons evidently made a number of trips between Grwnville and Shawneetown. David Robison made a number of trips to and from Lcwi.sburg.

In the olden days many of the pcmple exchanged their pnvlucts for various things in the store, ju.st as butter, eggs, ponltrj', etc., are now exchanged by some farmers for articles sold by the merchants.

James McCown exchanged "12 lbs. sugar'' for "one wool hat, 12 s." George Miller exchanged "feathers" for "Ballance spoon, 4 s. G d." Matthew Rice's account is debited: "Sundries, per his mother," and credited "By midwife fees, 13 s. 4Yn d."

Some Old Chimneys

These items give a wonderfully intimate glimpse into the everyday life of these people and let us see, as it were, in actuality how they lived.

A grist mill was regarded by some of the pioneers as a greater necessity than a store, a courthouse, or a professional physician. Corn was the first crop raised by the pioneers, and has been one of the principal products ever since. Cornmeal was the pioneer's most essential food. Going to mill to have the corn ground was always looked forward to with great expectancy, for the mill was, in olden days and even until recent times, the best place to hear the latest news. Every farmer had occasion to go or send to the mill many times during the course of a year, for he usually took no more than a bushel or two of corn or wheat at a time. As a rule the bag into which the grain had been placed was thrown across tlie horse's back and used by the rider as a saddle.

All the mills in the olden days were run by water-power or horse-power. When wheat was ground it W'as bolted by hand-power. Grinding was a slow process, and men were obliged to remain around the mill until their "turn" was ground. This time was usually spent in hearing and telling the news. Every man waited and got his cornmeal or flour from the grain he took to mill. Now he can get his "turn" without delay by taking some of the "grinding" that is carried in stock by the miller.

"My grandfather, J. H. Staples, ran a horse power mill in which wheat and corn were ground. Across the road he ran his turning lathe and cotton gin. It would take from an hour to an hour and a half to grind a bushel of corn. I remember hearing him tell of a little incident that occurred at his mill one day. A tall, bony young man. always hungry, rode to the mill and being a little late quite a number of turns were ahead of him, so he had to wait until his time came. It was late in the afternoon when his corn was poured into the hopper. Wliile it was being ground he stood at the meal spout and caught the fresh meal in his hand and ate it as it came slowly from the burrs. Grandfather watched the young fellow for quite a while and then asked him, 'How long could you eat that meal?' and he answered, 'I'ntil I starved to death!' "-

Preparing corn for the mill was a comparatively simple affair. After it had been gathered and sufficiently well dried it was shucked and then taken to the milt, either on the cob or off. Wheat, however, in the olden days required a more complicated process. The wheat was cut in the field with the old-fashioned scything cradle and then either bunched or swathed on the ground. This was done by one man. Another man followed, binding the wheat into bundles as fast as it was cut. Two good hands could cut and shock about seventy-five shocks a day. These shocks stood in the field until

' Laborn Ford, the father of Reverend G. W, Ford, was born In North Carolina In 1811. settled In Muhlenberg In 18.19. and died near Friendship in 1897.

In 1840 1-abom Ford married Lucy Ann Staples, daughter of John Burton Staples, who was born in Virginia in 1785. came to .Muhlenberg in 1835. and died near Friendship In 1867. The Staples Mill, near Friendship, disappeared many years ago. but the farm on which It stood Is still known as the Old Mill Place.

Mr. and Mrs. Laborn Ford were the parents of Mrs. Virginia Ann (David M.) Durham, Mrs. Arrltta (J. B.) Browning. John Laborn. Samuel Henry, Reverend George William, James Riley. Napoleon Monroe, and Laborn ("Sonny") Ford.

Reverend G. W. Ford was born in 1853 and married Susan Eliza Alien, daughter of William Booker Allen, who came to Muhlenberg in 1845, raised eighteen children, and died near Friendship in 1900, aged elghty-slx.

they were thoroughly dry. They were then hauled and stacked near a plot of level ground. When the time came to separate the wheat from the straw and chaff, the farmer would decide on one of two processes.

F'ollowing one method, he built a rail pen, some three feet high and near to his wheat stack. He covered the top of this enclosure with other rails laid side by side, and then placed some of the wheat from the stack on this platform of rails, laying the heads close together and all in one way or direction. Then he proceeded to flail out the grain on the pen with a hickory pole about eight feet long and the thickness of an average man's wrist. The farmer had previously prepared this pole by beating a wide band around it about two feet from the end, which was done with an ax or hammer, to make the stick bend easily without breaking. With this limber-ended pole he flailed out his wheat by striking heavily on the bundles. This knocked out the grain, which then fell to the ground through the cracks between the rails.

In following the other method the farmer took a hoe and scraped off the top of a level piece of ground and formed a circular space some twenty or twenty-five feet in diameter. He made the ground inside the circle perfectly level and smooth and tamped it down as solidly as possible. The dirt scraped off was banked up in the shape of a circus ring around the prepared yard. Then the farmer took enough of the sheaves from the stack to make a batch. The bundles were laid down as closely as possible, with the heads pointing towanl the center of the ring and the butt-ends against the ridge. When this outer row was laid, another was made by turning the butts toward the center of the circle and lapping the heads just over the heads of the first layer. This left a space of from eight to ten feet in the center of the yard, which was reserved for the piirpo.se of piling the grain. The farmer now brought two horses into the ring, put a boy on one, and let him lead the other. The horses walked around and around until they had "tramped" out the grain. They were then led out. the straw was raked away and thrown on the outside of the eirenlar ridge, and the grain and

After the farmer separated the grain by either of these two processes he ran it through a wheat fan. This fan was something like the one now used for cleaning wheat preparatory to sowing it, except that it was much larger and more heavily built. The wheat and chaff were thrown into the hopper of the machine, which was run by a crank turned by one man. This work was kept up until all the wheat was fanned out, sacked, and stored away. The grain was still mixed with more or less chaff, but this was then the only way they had to clean it.

Some of the old-style mills were run for many years ; others were in operation only a short time. Some were well known, others were not. Among the comparatively few that are still occasionally recalled in local traditions are Tom AVagoner's Mill, at Findley's Ford on I>ong Creek; Hancock's Mill, on lower Cong Creek; Thompson's or Oreen's Mill, near the mouth of Jjong Creek; McKinney's Mill and Keno's Mill, on upper Pond River; Clark's Mill, above Ilarpc's Hill; Morgan's Mill, near the mouth of Isaac's Creek; Tiding's Mill or Needham's Mill, on Pond River near Millport; Turner's Mill, on Ixig Creek; Calvert's Mill, near Hlack Lake; Morehead's Horse Mill, near what is now Central Cit.v; AA'eir's Mill, on Caney Creek; Leonard Stum's Mill, aliove Paradise; IIenr,v Stum's Alill, in Paradise, later known as Kirtley's Mill ; the Ely Smith Mill, on Pond Creek near Paradise, which was established in 1706 and a few years later became the Elias Smith Alill, and in 1850 the Smith Rrothci-s Mill, b.v which name it was known until 1806, when it quit running; Iladen's Mill, in Paradise; Brewer's Mill at the mouth of Mud River; Forgy's -Mill and Barr's Mill, on Mud River; Taggart's Mill, near Hazel Creek Church; Sta|)lcs Mill, near Friendship; Martin's Alill, on Jarrell's Creek, and Cooksey's Alill, on Clifty Creek.

Other water and horse mills were erected in various parts of the count}', but all, with the exception of Cooksey's Mill, have either been abandoned or have been replaced b.v small steam saw mills, most of which are now prepared to grind corn on Saturda.vs. However, the greater part of the flour and cornmeal now consumed in the county is ground at the few steam mills, that run ever.v day and confine their work to the grinding of wheat and corn.

In 1848 Edward R. AA'eir, sr., set up the first steam mill. It was a saw and grist mill, built on the banks of Caney Creek aliout a mile and a half north of Creenville, on what is now called the Central City Road. A number of other steam mills were established shortl.y after.

Cooksey's Mill, the onl.v survivor of the old-time grist mills, was started about the year 1810 b.v Alexander McPherson and some of his ncighlmrs, who built an overshot wheel and ran a mill on the site that has ever since been used for "grinding." They were .succeeded b.v Henr.v M.vers, who converted the wheel into an undershot. Shortly after the Civil AVar the original building was torn down and a new house erected with a turbine waterwheel. Cook.sey's Mill still grinds at least once a week. Now, as in years gone by, "turns" are carried there and are paid for in "toll." Cooksey's

Mill and other grist mills of old, like "the mills of flod," though they grind slowly, "yet they grind exceeding small" - and exceeding well. The oldfashioned stone burrs still work in the old-fashioned way, grinding out the old-fashioned cornmenl hy slowly crushing the grain, without heating and robbing the meal of its natural flavor.

In the olden days, as now, Greenville was the center of the county from a business and social standpoint as well as from a geographical standpoint.

From its beginning it was the county s«'at. The courthouse and Russell's Tavern, both of which were of logs, formed the nmdeus of the new town of Greenville. The town was slow of growth. It is probable that not only the small population of the county hut the lack of good roads limited the early development of the county seat. Then, ns now, all roads in the county led directly or indirectly to Greenville, but then, more than now, the roads were wellnigh impas.sablc at some seasons of the year, and it was no easy matter to get into or out of the county seat. Kxeept in the lamg Creek country and .south of it there is no stone suitable for road building, and the problem of good wagon-roads was therefore a serious one for the pioneers, and is still for the citizens of to-day. 'riie streets of Greenville were unpaved mud roads.

In 1800, according to the census report, Greenville's population was 26; in 1810 it wa-s 75, and in IS.SO it had grown to 217. In 1830 there were probably fewer than forty residences, business houses, and mechanic's shops in the town. The location of some of thrae was, according to tradition, as follows :

The John January house was near the southwest corner of Main and Hopkinsville streets. The homes of Ezias Earl and John Walker were on the south side of Hopkinsville Street. Edward Ruinsey then lived on the west side of Main Street near Hopkinsville Street. James Weir's store and his residence stood where they are still standing, on Main Street south of the courtliouse. On the west side of Main Street, opposite Weir's store, stood his tobacco and storage house. On the northwest corner of the public square, not far from the log courthouse, stood the "old brick bank'' building.

Among the houses on Main Street opposite the courthouse, facing its main entrance, were Russell's Tavern and a few stores. Isaac Bard lived on the northwest corner of Main and JIain Cross streets. Doctor Robert D. McLean's office was on Main Street a little north of Bard's. Opposite Doctor McLean lived Doctor Thomas Pollard. North of Pollard's house was a wool-carding factory. On Main Cross Street, near where the Y. M. C. A. now stands, livetl Alney McLean. A short distance north of McLean's hou.se, near a good spring, was a tanyard. The Charles Pox Wing home was on the southeast corner of Main Cross and Cherry streets. Across the street and west of Captain AVing's home was the home of his brother, John Wing. On the east side of Cherry Street, a few hundred feet north of Main Cross Street, stood the Oreenville Seminary, and near it a small graveyard. About two hundred yards east of Weir's store stood the Presbyterian Church. E. M. Brauk lived about a half mile from town on the west side of the Itumsey road, and atx)ut a half mile farther down this road was AV'eir's Mill on Caney Creek.

Although the county's leading lawyers, physicians, and merchants lived in Greenville and were extensively identified with the growth of the county seat and the develoi)ment of the county, they were by no means the only prominent men in Muhlenberg in the olden da,v-s. In the Pond River counfr.v, the "Dutch Settlement," the Green River and the lanig Creek countries, as well as in and around Greenville, there lived man.v men who were in their da.v atnong the (ounty's mo.st intelligent and influential citizens.

Samuel Russell was Greenville's first postmaster, lie was appointed April 1, 1801, and served until October 1, 1800, when he was siieeeeded by Parmenas Redman. Later James AA'eir became postmaster at Greenville. It was at AA'eir's store that for man.v years the pioneers received and sent their mail. Weir's store was for more than half a century the principal headquarters for Jluhlenherg men and women who had things to l)uy, sell, or exchange. Among their man.v customers were old Revolutionary soldiers and men who had fought in the AVar of 1812.

Such Inisiness as must he transacted in the eourthousc made it neccs.sary for man.v peo|)le living in and out of the county to fri'quent the log "Temple of .lustice." Of those who were compelled to remain in town many were the guests of friends; others stopped at the Russell Tavern. All. no matter whose guests the.v might be while in town, eongregated during a few hours each day at the Ru-ssell Tavern or "The Hog Eye" tippling house. There the.v not onl.v heard the news from other sections of the county and the outside world. Imt also had man.v opportunities to quench their thirst.

Life Ik The Olden Days

Practically every man and woman living "out in the county" had occasion, or at least a desire, "to go to town" one or more times during the year. Some went for business, some for pleasure, some for "business and pleasure combined." Many arranged to make their trips to town on county court days. In the olden times county court days were "big days" in Greenville, and are such even to this day. Then as now, of the number of people who went to Greenville on county court day only a few had court business to attend to. Some went to trade, some to meet friends and discuss business or social matters with them, some to "swap" horses, and some "to see what was going on."

Other meetings, besides tliose that took place in Greenville, around the mills and in the stores, offered the pioneers an opportunity to intermingle. Public speakings, militia musters, picnics on the Fourth of July, and, after the battle of New Orleans (January 8, lSl-5), the celebrations on the eighth of January, brought together many people from all parts of the county. House-raisings, log-rollings, hog-killings, quiltings, wedding celebrations, harvesting, hunting, fishing, shooting-matches, frolics, dances, fiddlers' contests, and racing, ahso, served as a blender of the early .settlers. However. churches and baptizings, camp-meetings and buryings, brought them in closer and more intimate touch with each other than any other form of gathering.

Many of the first-comers were more interested in religion than in any other one subject. Tlieir fathers and many of the pioneers themselves were Revolutionary soldiers, and had fought for political and religious liberty. Liberty stood foremost among their thoughts and deeds. Thus the church established by the pioneers near Murphy's Lake was called by them New Liberty - now known as Old Liberty. They were willing to continue to devote their time and fortune.s, and even to sacrifice life itself, for the liberty that had been won not many years before. A spirit of altruism prevailed in tho.se days. The patriotic pioiuicr did not dream of the probability of an age of dollars - an age characterized by its sellish men who with little thought of honor or justice accumulate or try to accumulate a fortune, and look on the making of money ns the only victory in life. When in 1812, and again fifty years later, volunteers were called for, men responded with a patriotic spirit and unselfish motive.

To the pioneer the Bible was as symbolic of political and religious liberty as was the Flag.^ Those who could read were sure to read the Bible often. In the beginning, when as a rule farms were far apart and church

* Mrs. James Duvall, of Greenville, a great-granddaughter of pioneer Samuel Allison, has In her possession a Bible published In 1815 by M. Carey, Philadelphia. It Is a large, well-printed volume, bound In calf. It was published by sub.scription. and In It are given the names of the subscribers (about six hundred and fifty) then living In Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, and other sections of the West. The fact that these men subscribed for a Bible of this character Indicates that they were men who appreciated good books and could afford to buy expensive volumes. Eighteen Muhlenberg men appear among the names of the subscribers to this Bible: "Samuel Allison, John Bone. William Campbell, Hugh Carter, B. Coffman, W. Campbell. Abraham Dennis, Samuel Drake. John January, 1. Langlls, Job Matthews. Solomon Rhodes, D. H. Stephens. Thomas Salisbury, James Wier, Charles F Wing. Lewis Webb. J. Zimmerman." houses, in most locations, were impracticable, religious exercises were held in turn in the homes of the pioneers. These services were conducted in English. In some homes there were no Uibles other than Gorman - copies that had been brouglit by the German-American pioneers - nevertheless the services were conducted in English. Henry Rhoads, it is said, frequently addressed audiences and read chapter after chapter from a. German Bible, translating them into English with more grace and rapidity than some of his contemi>oraries who on other occasions read a Bible printed in English.

Hazel Creek Baptist Church was organized December 3, 1798, and was the first cliurcli organized in the county. Tliis is not only the first but also the oldest church organization in Muhlenberg. Furthermore, it is the only church in the county of which a history has been published. In 1898 Professor William J. Johnson, who then lived near Wells, printed a seventypage pamphlet entitled "History of Hazel Creek Baptist Church." This church, like many of the other early churehes, became the mother of other organizations. Relative to the twelve churches originating from Hazel Creek, Professor Johnson says;

"In 1799, twelve memhcrs were authorized 'to continue an arm at George Clark's, on the west side of Pond Creek,' which doubtless led to the formation of Nelson Creek church, June 10, 1803. June 1, 1805, eighteen members were dismissed from Hazel Creek church to form Mi<lway church, now Monticello. Augu.st 2, 1806, eighteen members were disrni.ssed to form what is now Cave Spring, near Pond river, on the road from Greenville to Hoi)kinsville, Cypnws church, Mcl/ean county, was formed from this eliureh in 1808. Antioch, 'I'ndd county, was formed from this church, and al.so Whippoorwill church in the year 1819. May 6, 1820, the arm known as Hebron (now 51t. Vernon) was made a constituted body. In 1840. thirteen members from this chimdi formed new Hebron church (Muhlenhcrg). Ehenezer was organized with twenty-.six members from this church, January 3, 1851. Macedonia was former! from this church on November 22, 185G. New Hope church (Muhlenhcrgl was formed of material mo.stly from this church, in 1858; hut is now extinct. Sugar Grove was constituted with twenty-five members, mostly from this church, in January, 1873."

It may he well to add that the Haze! Crwk congregation built its first house in 1800, its second in 1807, and its thin! in 1857, all of which were of logs. Its fourth (the present) building was erected in 1906.

Mount Olivet (three miles northeast of Central City) is probably the old<>st Methodist church in JIuhlenherg. Mount Zion (one mile east of Central City) is among the ohh>st Pre.shyterian organizations. Although Mount Zion was organized as early as about 1802, the congregation, it is said, did not erect its first house until about twenty yeni-s later. As a rule, the church houses built by the pioneers %vere union churches - that is. buildings erected jointly hj- two or more denominations, who conducted their services independently of one another. In Greenville, up to about 1825, the academy building served the purposes of a school and a union church. As far as I have been able to a.scertain, the Presbyterians of Greenville were the first in that town to erect a building of their own. I tried to procure data relative to the early history of all the old churches in the county, hut

Ufe In The Olden Days

In religion, as well as in politics and business, the pioneers of Muhlenberg were always conservative. The "Great Revival" of the first part of the last century, that spasmodically stirred what was then called the West, did not throw many of the people of Muhlenberg into "jerks" and other mysterious "exercises." In Kentucky its effect was felt more in the southern and central sections of the State.

Hazel Obeek Baptist Oruboh. Ebeoted 1906

This "Great Revival" liegan in Ixigan County in 1799, under the ministr>' of John McGee, of the Methodist church, and his brother William McGee, of the Presbyterian, and soon spread over the State. Tradition says that the local men and women who had gone to Ixigan and Christian counties to attend these great camp-meetings were the only ones affected by the "exercises."

Reverend Barton W. Stone (who married Klizabeth Campbell, daughter of Colonel William Campbell) in his "Autobiography," publi.shed in 1844, says that while at Greenville in July, 1801, he heard of the wonderful things taking place at some of the revivals in other sections of Kentucky, lie and his wife "hurried from Muhlenberg" immediately after they were married, and went to Cane Ridge, Bourlion County, to see and study the extraordinary phenomena. His description of the "bodily agitations" is the beat that has been written. Had any of these "exercises" taken place in Muhlenberg he in all probability would have stated the fact in his book.

Peter Cartwright in his "Autobiography," published in 1H56, also gives an interesting accxnint of these revivals, but refers to Muhlenberg only onee. Commenting on the widespread effect of one of his great camp-meetings held some time during the year 1812, while he was riding the "Christian circuit." so named after Christian County, he says (page 122) : "From this meeting a revival spread almost through the entire country round, and great additions were made to the Methodist church. This circuit was large, emhraeing parts of liOgan, Muhlenberg, Putler, Christian and Caldwell counties in Kentucky and parts of Montgomery, Dixon and Stewart counties in Tennes-see."

It is more than probable that Peter Cartwright conducted a number of meetings in Muldeuherg. Tradition, however, tells of only one place where he did so - the Old Camp (Jround, located north of Cleaton and near the Greenville and Seralvo Hoad. Tradition has it that he preached there not only once hut often, and that all his meetings were well attended. One of Peter Cartwright's personal friends and disciples in Muhlenberg was Heverend Silas Drake, one of the best-known local Methodist preachers anil circuit riders, and of whom the following characteristic incident is related:

Preacher Drake was opposed to the wearing of things that were more ornamental than useful, declaring that such apparel was indicative of ])ride, and that "ear bobs are the devil's stirrups." One day, while addressing a crowd at an arlmr meeting, he observed a woman with large hows of ribbon on her bonnet. He called her by name, reprove<l her, and told her that such 1k)ws were of ah.solutcl.v no use. She, without hesitating, retaliated by saying. "Neither are the buttons on .your coat sleeves or on the back of your coat!" He immediately pvilled off his coat, cut off the buttons referred to, and never afterward wore a coat with buttons sewed on the .sleev(>s or back.®

No matter whether affected permanentl.v, temporarily, or not at all by the "Great Revival" or any other revivals, all of the early settlers exercised more or less influence over their contemiwrarics and dc.scendant.s. However, it is an indisputable fact that many, if not most, of the good influences exerted by the early settlers were due directly or indirectly to the work of the women of the community. Written records ns well as local traditions fail to give the women who lived in the olden days the credit they deserve for their moral and religious influence. They always showed courage on trying occasions. They were the doctors of the times, and in some instances the sole preservers of hard-('arned homes or farms.

' Revercml Silas Drake was a son of pioneer Albritton Drake, a Revolutionary soldier who settled In southern Muhlenberg in 1806, where he died in 1834. Albritton Drake married Ruth t'ollins. They, as already slated, were the parents of Reverend Silas, .Mosley f'olllns, Reverend Benjamin, .1, Perry, kldmond, and William. Reverend Silas, .Mosley Collins, and Edmund Drake married daughters of pioneer Mleajah Wells. Reverend Silas Drake was born in 1790 and married I'atsy Wells: he preached for a half century, and in the meantime farmed in the l.a>ng Creek country, where he died in 1858. .1, Perry Drake married Priscilla Buell, who was a sister of General Don Carlos Buell's father. The parents of General Buell died while he was still a child, and the rearing and educating of young Buell was assumed by his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. j. Perry Drake, who were then living In Indianapolis. J. Perry Drake was a .Mexican War soldier and a well-known Indiana lawyer. One of his daughters, Elmira Drake, became the wife of General W. T. 11. Brooks of the Eederal army.

Mke In The Oi.Den Days

In the olden days, as now, the foundation of the career of every man and woman depended largely on the training received in youth from his or her mother. The control of many mothers was confined to their own family fireside, where while also attending to their domestic duties they were not only mothers to their children but often as.sumed the duties of schoolteacher. In many cases the mother, a grandmother, or an aunt was the only guide through the "three R's" the child of an early settler ever knew. The influence of some mothers was felt far he.vond their own home and neighborhood. Local public schools were few and far between. Post-primary schools were not established until the middle of the last century.

Among the best known ami one of the noblest of the pione<>r women of Muhlenberg was Mrs. Tabitha A. K. Campbell, "the .Mother of (Ireenville." Ijocal tradition still tells many interesting things regarding Mrs. Campbell's great work in the moral and religious unbuilding of the new county and her deep interest in social and educational affairs. Her path through life was followed by her four daughters and her son. Tbe same can be truly said of many others of the pioneer mothers of Muhlenberg, who although now perhaps forgotten, .vet who in their day smoothed the rough paths over part of which man.v of their sons and daughters of the present generation are still treading. The.v were of that strong and generous t.vpe of pioneer women, great in virtue and .sacrifice and deserving to have their names inscribed on a monument erected to tht- .Mothers of .Miihh-nberg.

On most of the old farms in Muhlenberg one can find small groups of old-time graves, where rest those who lived during the days of the early settlers. Public cemeteries were rare amt frtspiently inaccessible. Pew congregations had established a common graveyard adjoining their church lot before 1870. Many of the old graves in these private burying-grounds are marked with crude and unlettered rocks. Jlost of them, however, are identified by slabs of lettered sandstone; a few are of white marble. In some sections, especially in the southern part of the county, a large number of the old graves are marked with stone liox-eovers placed over them many years ago. These covers were made of slabs of dressed sandstone erected either in the form of a long, narrow box, or in the shape of a stone coffin. They were placed over the graves as markers, and not - as is now sometimes stated- - to prevent animals from digging down to the buried body. The cu.stom of constructing these vault-like grave-eovers was introdueiHl by the pioneers and prevailed to a great extent during the first quarter of the Nineteenth Century. Very few graves were marked in this solemn and picturesque manner after the year 1850.

The olden days were the heroic age. What Judge Little has said in summing up the men of Kentuekj- and their life in the early days is particularly applicable to the men and women of Muhlenberg: "Existing conditions produced a type of men surpassed by no other time or country. . . . Without contrasting them or measuring them by a common standard, it is conceded that the type of the pioneer differs from his de.scendant of the third and fourth and subsequent generations. The latter, with less daring, is more intelligent, with less vigor lives longer, with le.ss fortitude is more patient, with less activity accomplishes more. To the pioneer belongs the warrior's laurel - to his descendant the moral and intellectual achievements of peace.

"Ijonz Powers" is a historical story based on the actual operations of a number of outlaws, and of a class of citizens known as Regulators. These bands of Regulators, in the early history of many sections, felt themselves called on to enforce the law which was being violated by the outlaws, who had no regard for law, human or divine. Organizations like the Regulators, which took the law into their own hands, are not only found in the early history of many communities but al.so exist, to some extent and in one form or another, even to the pri«ent day. The Ku-Klux Klan had its rise and fall. Up to a few years ago White Cap raids, that took place in .some sections of this and other States, were frequently reported. Unorganized twdies such as mobs and lynchers still occasionally take the law into their own hands.

What might be called tbe reign of the Regulators did not begin in Muhlenberg until about a quarter of a century after the county was organized. Regulators here were, as a rule, composed of members of some of the best families. Most of them were .sons of pioneers, and like their fathers were men of good standing. For a period of about ten years, beginning about 1820, there came into southern Muhlenberg and northern Todd and Christian counties some settlers who, through their dishonesty, became undesirable citizens. The fact that they either escaped the officials of the then slowacting law, or were ignored by them, resulted in the organization of the Regulators, whose reign lasted until about 1850.

Tom Anderson was a horse and slave thief, and lived on Long Creek near Read Hill Church. The Regulators burned his home alx)ut 1837 and drove him and his gang out of .Muhlenberg County. Jack Shepherd was a horse-thief, and lived in Todd County near New Harmony Church, where he was killed by William Welborn, who with others attempted to arrest him together with two of his brothers and Isom Sheffield. Alonzo, or "Lonz" as he was called, and Morton Pennington lived in Christian County. It is the career of these two Penningtons, and the movements of the Regulators who finally brought one of them to justice and ran the other out of the State, that form the plot of "I/onz Powers, or The Regulators." The situa- tion is one frequently found in the early history of new and sparsely settled countries. Only a few of the scenes are laid in Muhlenberg County. The book is here reviewed more as a literary work by a Muhlenberg man than as a story bearing on Muhlenberg's local history. Before attempting to sketch a brief history and outline of "Ijonz Powers," and before commenting on the theme of the hook. 1 will give a few facts from the author's life.

and Anna Cowman (Ruinsey) Weir, daughter of Doctor Edwanl Rumsey, who was a brother of James Rumsey the inventor. James Weir was graduated from Centre College, Danville, in 1840, and the following year completed a course in the Lexington Law School. In 1842 he left Oreenville and .settled in Owensboro, where he began the practice of law and where for more than forty years (up to his retirement fnnn the profe.ssion) he was a leading member of the local bar. lie not only had the reputation of being a lawyer of the higlu>st rank hut was likewise well known as a scholarly author, a banker of ability, a man with a kind, generous heart, and always worthy of the distinction that ''among his fellowcitizens he stood priHuninently as the first citizen of Owenslioro."' Many words of praise could be quoted regarding the life and career of Janies Weir, hut since it is one of his literan.' works we are aliout to review I shall confine myself to a few paragraphs from ''Kentucky Biographies" on the subject. In this we read that in 1850 he wn>te ''Lonz Powers, or The Regulators," and in 1852-53 ''Simon Kenton, or The Scout's Revenge," and ''Winter I»dge, or Vow Kulfilled," which novels were published by Lippincott of Philadelphia. From ''Kentucky Biographies" I quote:

These three novels gave promise of a brilliant future, but since that time Sir. Weir has been Um much engrossed in his profession and other business matters to devote much time to literature, and his work in that direction has

' James Weir married Susan C. Green. They were the parents of ten children, eight of whom reached maturity: Mrs. Ann Belle (Clinton) Grinith, John G., Arthur W., Doctor James. .Mrs. Susan Green (James I.,ee) Maxwell, Mrs. Norah (R. S.) Triplett, William L., and Paul Weir. Paul Weir is an attorney and banker in Owensboro. Doctor James Weir wrote two books, "Religion and Lust" and "The Dawn of Reason," of a scientiHc nature, and numerous magazine articles of the same character.

James Weir. The Author. In 1850

been limited to an occasional sketch for the newspapers and magazines. The stories referred to were written in Owensboro before Mr. Weir was thirty years of age.

The first of these was "Lonz Powers, or The Regulators," a romance of Kentucky, based on actual scenes and incidents of the early days of the ''Dark and Bloody Ground." The second, ''Simon Kenton," was designed to give a sketch of the habits and striking characteristics of the people of western North Carolina, immediately following the Revolutionary times, and to introduce Simon Kenton, the scout and Indian fighter, and also his opponent and enemy, Simon Girty, the Tory renegade. In this volume the character which Kenton represented came off victorious. ''Winter Ix)dge" is a sequel to "Simon Kenton," in which the author introduces many of the most striking characters who were prominent in the early history of Kentucky, with descriptions of scenery, Mammoth Cave, the battles in which Kenton and Girty were engaged, and the habits and marked characteristics of the pioneers. The name "Winter Ijodge" is derived from a cabin erected by Kenton, for the hero and heroine, which was ornamented with carpets and buffalo hides and lined with furs. Mr. Weir intended in his younger days to write a third volume of this series, coming down to the war of 1812 and the death of Kenton and Girty, but his increasing business ])m'cnted him from accomplishing this, and his literary work of late years has been undertaken as a pastime and recreation rather than a matter of business.

Immediately after its publication "Ijonz Powers" became the most popular and enthusiasticallj' discussed book in Western Kentucky, and in fact it attracted attention in literary circles throughout the whole country. The edition was soon exhausted, and as the writer refused to permit the issuing of a second edition until he could find time to revise the book, it was soon out of print. Later, when time for revision might have offered itself, the inclination on his part seemed lacking.

It is probable that after the publication of "Lonz Powers" Weir, realizing that since his romance would be likely to help perpetuate the name and deeds of his hero, decided to let its circulation spread no further. He was undoubtedly aware that frequently a character's fame depends more upon the power of his historian than upon the hero's actual acts. Furthermore, through "Ix)nz Powers" the writer gives his opinion on a thousand and one subjects, and it is quite possible a few of these expressions being in advance of his day and time were then somewhat harshly criticised, while these same ideas, with one or two exceptions, are to-day accepted. This slight opposition, and the desire not to perpetuate the name of Lonz Pennington, or "Lonz Powers," probably influenced James Weir to refuse the issuing of a second edition of this book.^

Whatever the reason, the work was not republished, and the few volumes printed of the first and only edition were soon sold or loaned to neigh-

* There Is a story, affirmed by some and denied by others, to the effect that James Weir did not Issue a second edition of 'Txmz Powers" because a number of the outlaws, haring recognized themselves as the originals of characters portrayed therein, sent the author an anonymous note In which they requested him to suppress the further circulation of the hook and threatened to kill him If he Issued another edition.

bors and friends and to kith and kin, far and near, until now, sixty years after, it is almost an utter impossibility to obtain a copy. But in spite of this fact, "Lonz Powers" is still discussed not only by the old citizens of Western Kentucky - many of whom read it when it first appeared - but is also talked about by those generations which have come upon the scene since the Civil War, among whom, however, there are hut few who have even seen a single page of it. Thus, as I have .said, ''Gone but not forgotten" is the book's most appropriate epitaph.

And now, ''lest we forget," I shall attempt to perpetuate this old story in at least its outlines. Practically all the men and women who were old enougli to appreciate and rememl)er ''Ijonz Powers" when it first appeared have pas.sed into the Great Beyond. Very few of their successors have had an opportunity to read it. Some have permitted their imaginations to mislead them concerning the nature of the book. Thus it is that we frequently hear it compared to ''The Life of Jesse James," ''The Texas Hangers." or ''Tracy, the Bandit." No comparison could be more erroneous or absurd. To suggest that this story more closely resembles that of ''Robin Hood" better approaches the mark, especially in the cave life of the bandits.

Most of the scenes in the story are laid in and around Chri.stian County. It would be impossible to quote all jK-rtaining to Muhlenberg and other counties of Western Kentucky without rcpnalucing the greater part of the text. I shall, however, in the course of this chapter, copy many paragraphs word for word.

Turning page after page we soon recognize the literary merits of this work, note the accuracy with which Mr. Weir records local hi.story and the vividness with which he portrays the early days. We are alTeeted by the pathetic little sketches scattered throughout the tiook. We thrill at his tragedies and laugh at his ever-recurring humor, wit, and fun.

It is the story, the author tells us, of a p«>ple living ''away from the busy haunts of commerce and from the brick, mortar and marble of the city ; away from the hacks and pavements; away from baronial ca.stles, brave knights and fair ladies. " In the preface he says he confidently believes ''few works, claiming the title of romance, have ever comprisi'd so many real characters and actual incidents. Throughout the particular loeal- ities of the story hundreds of persons may be found who will detect, in the career of the hero, a transcript of the life and adventures of one Edward Alonzo Pennington ; and although the author, in the exercise of one of the pri^-ileges of the craft, has brought many of the minor characters and incidents of the b*ok into a new juxtaposition, yet many of these will also be recognizetl, with equal facility, as real and true."

As to the identit.v of some of the other characters n-pre-sented, or to what extent they are true portrayals of the originals, no one seems now to be able to state with any eertaint.v. Tradition has it that Francis P. Pennington is the name of the father of Alonzo and Morton, and that Alonzo's wife was a Mi.ss Oate.s, a granddaughter of pioneer deswe Oates. The ''O'Rourke" of the hook was Simon Davis, a stone ma.son. ''Old Sisk" is ver.v likely drawn from a certain Frank Cessna, or Cisney, and also a Sheffield. According to tradition - which differs in some instances greatly from the written romance - Alonzo Pennington was pursued and arrested by Doctor Reece Rourland, living near Hopkinsville, who captured the outlaw while he was pla.ving a ''breakdown" on his fiddle at a cowlxiy dance in Northeastern Texas. Hut, aceoriling to the author, Ijonz was captured in the lame Star State b.v ''Charles Burton." a leading but fictitious eharacter who.se romantic career adds much to the interest of the l>ook. The court records show that John McLarning was the pro.secuting attorney for Christian county when Alonzo Pennington was tried and condemned in .\pril, 1846, and Colonel James F. Buckner, then of Hopkinsville, was employed by the defense, a dut.v that was considered dangerous, yet discharged with courage by young Buckner.

The plot of "Loni! Powers" is a very thrilling one. It holds the reader's interest from the beginning to the end. Now and then the author leads up to a melodramatic clima.x. But after all it is not, in my opinion, the exciting plot that gives the book its value. It is the author's literary style, his portrayal of the Regulators and their times and his frequent digressions, in which he expresses himself on various subjects, that give the work its value. I shall attempt to give a brief outline of the plot, incidentally accompanying that outline with quotations from the book, and add a few remarks based on tradition.

The story begins at a time when Southern Kentucky was yet almost a wilderness. The Powers farm, "Forest Home," "presented as beautiful and inviting a scene as the most impassioned lover of Nature could desire." Its two hundred acres "lay imbedded in a deep and almost impenetrable forest." Its well-kept barns sheltered blooded stock, and evidences were many that the inmates of the comfortable home lived in a style befitting country gentry of the time and place. The sons of the house, Lonz and Morton, were young men of widely different dispositions - Ixinz even then a stern fatalist, and Morton gay, brilliant, changeable, and led at all times by his elder brother.

To pay a gambling delit, Ixinz Powers stole several blooded mares from his father's farm. The fact that Lonz was guilty of this theft was known only to four persons - to himself, bis brother Morton, to a character we shall later know as "the Colonel," and to Charles Burton. Burton and his wife, Laura, had a few years previous removed to this neighborhood from Virginia. It was by mere chance that Burton discovered Lonz taking the horses.

In this same neighborhood lived a man called, from his prematurely gray hair, "Old Sisk." Previous to his settlement in Kentucky he had committed crimes, knowledge of which had followed him, and though he had lived uprightly in the midst of a little colony of which he was head by reason of his superior intelligence and education, his past record being against him he was arrested and placed in jail for Tx>nz Powers' crime - namely, that of horse-stealing.

On the day preceding the trial of Old Sisk, Ixinz pleaded with Burton to divulge none of the proceedings ho had accidentally witncs.sed. But silence on the part of Burton would have meant the imprisonment of Old Sisk for a theft committed by Ixinz. So Burton told horn, he would "tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth," no matter whom it helped or hurt.

That night, just before retiring, Charles Burton, "leaving bis chair by the fire, walked to the open door and there leaning against the rustic pillar of the porch, while gazing at the moon, just rising over the dark veil of the forest, was shot" from ambush by Lonz Powers, who had shrewdly taken every precaution to cover his tracks and divert suspicion.

During the few years preceding this murder various persons bail been robbed along the highways and byways and many horses had been stolen, but no guilty parties had ever been located by officials or other citizens. The murder of Charles Burton now shook the whole community, which, as it gathered around the dead man's home and there beheld his young widow and their son, Charles, almut eight years old, declared it had now fallen on the citizens to avenge this daring and bloody deed.

Every man present seemed enthusiastically in favor of such action - none more than Lonz Powers himself, whose own father was made chairman of the assembly. A few of the wiser and cooler heads were for lawful proceedings, but tlie majority were moved hy the insinuations of Lonz (whose purpose is clear to the reader) that Old Sisk, though in jail awaiting trial, was the instigator of this foul deed. Jlorton (who was ignorant of the fact that his brother was tlie murderer) made a speech to the crowd, during the course of which he said :

But they say we have no proof of the guilt of Old Sisk or the guilt of his gang in this murder. If they are innocent then who can be guilty t . . . Old Sisk knew that Burton was a witness for the Commonwealth . . . and that such a witness as Burton was more than enough to cause his conviction and death. . . . The citizens of a neighlmring county were long infected by just such another band. Tom Anderson and his fierce crew of outlaws, for years and years, eommitted crime after crime, and the law made futile and fruitless efforts to convict and punish them. At last the people, having borne and suffered as long as to bear and suffer was wise and honorable, arose in their power and majesty, and casting aside for the moment laws - in that case vain and useless - swept in the hour of their anger this entire band from the county, and drove them homeless and houseless to another land. Shall we now follow their example, and treat in the same manner this cursed gang? Or shall we weakly submit and retire to our homes, leaving this atrocious and cowardly assassination of a friend and neighbor unpunished and unavenged ?

The crowd, fired hy his daring speech, soon left the Sisk home a pile of smoldering ashes, and made his wife and children fugitives. Thus took place the organization of this band of Regulators, according to the author of "Lonz Powers." Old Sisk, an unfortunate victim of prejudice and popular excitement, was convicted of the crime of horse-stealing, of which he was innocent, and sent to prison for fifteen years. There was, of course, no evidence to convict him of Burton's murder.

Fifteen years have joined the endle.ss train of eternity since the scenes described in our foregoing chapters. Fifteen years of sunsliine and storm, of winter and summer, of springtime and harvest, have come and gone. Treading on with quiet, but regular and ever-moving steps, old Time has gingerly tripped along, like some light-hearted maiden over the dewy grass, scarcely leaving a trace of his passage. For fifteen full, long years have the flowers bloomed only to wither, and man ha.s been Imrn only to die. For fifteen years Time, like interest, lias never slept, but has sfolen by with noiseless tread while we were sleeping; thus hurrying on, careless. reckles.s, and ignorant, still nearer to the grave. . . .

But you must not suppose, gentle reader, that because fifteen years have gone, and we have .seen proper to pass them over in silence, that they have fled like a day, without producing many changes. During that period, wars and revolutions have convulsed the world; kingdoms have sunk into ruin and risen again; men, religion, politics, the sciences and arts, have all been remodeled, and have thrown off their ancient garbs and appeared in holiday dress, to suit the march of intellect or change in taste. Like flowers transplanted, the change has bettered some and injured others.

During these fifteen years many strange inventions have startled the eye of man. The iron horse has trampled his way through forest and over mountains, dragging after him long trains of wealth, and driving away, with his wild whistle and hoarse snort, the old rumbling conveyances of our fathers, and speeding along with all the force and power of steam, reckless alike of toil or distance. The bright forerunner of the thunderbolt has beei) snatched from the whirling clouds, and made the post-boy of this intelligent and progressive age. Steam has dashed a.side the dark bosom of the ocean, and careless alike of wind or wave, brought the old and new worlds in a few days' travel of each other. . . .

During that period many changes have occurred in the scenes and characters of our present story. The country, then almost a wilderness, is now teeming with life; the activity and energy of our moving and restless race has filled the old forests ; and broad farms, golden with grain, and made glad by all the comforts and nec(*s.saries, and even luxuries of life, have taken the place of wild wood and tangled briar. The little village of Hopkinsville now aspires to the dignity of a city ; the sluggish waters of Pond River have now, by the wisdom of our Legislature, been declared (what God never intended) navigable - whether for steamlioats, broadhorns or dugouts, our wise lawmakers did not see proper to mention. . . .

Fifteen years have fled ! Long, weary and solitary to Old Sisk, for they had been spent in the gloomy, silent cells of a prison, and had been made even longer and more dreary than they really were by the fierce raging of never-sleeping pa.ssion, coupled with an insane and almost hopele.ss longing for freedom. ... In person he was almost gigantic - a perfect specimen of thews and sinews; and as he wielded his hammer in the forge of the penitentiary, with his stern face illuminated by the blazing metal, and dark with pa.ssion and malice, he would have made a glorious picture for the God of the Infernals. He loved that work, for every stroke he gave the fusing iron, he fancied it a death-blow to an enemy and oppressor. ... lie loved to bear the ringing sound of his blows, and see the firm iron crush beneath his stroke; for he knew then that the power and force of his arm was not yet destroyed, and that he was still able to execute the vengeful schemes of liis dark and unforgiving heart. . . .

Old Sisk is now, after fifteen years' absence, approaching with slow and wearied but steady and firm tread tbe location of his once comfortable, and to him, perhaps, happy home. -No wife or child or kindred are there to greet and welcome that old man ; to .soothe him in his hour of darkness, and rejoice over his return. ... He slept that night stretched on the green sod where once stood his pleasant home, and there will he dream either of happier days or of bloody vengeance.

This intermission of fifteen years brings the story of "Lonz Powers" down to about 1844. Charles Burton, jr., who after the death of bis father had been sent to his grandfather in Virginia, had grown to .voung manhood and had just returned to Kentuckv, the scene of his early life. Old Sisk, having served out his prison term, had come back, as already shown, an em- bitterecl, revengeful man. Lonz Powers had married Alary Warren, and was living on a farm near his old home. lie and his brother had a bad reputation in the neighborhood, but no one could point to any real lawbreaking on their part. Their old father, still living at "Forest Home," almost a ruin, sat dreaming over his wrecked fortune and the almost ruined reputations of his once darling sons.

During these fifteen years the hypocrites among the Regulators withdrew from the association, declining, as they put it, to ally themselves with such an organization, but secretly associated themselves with a band of outlaws by whom many former crimes had been committed.

The writer says : "For a space of two years previous to the present period of this narrative the entire southern portion of Kentucky, from the Ohio River, or from the counties around Fort Massac in the State of Illinois, across to the Tennessee line, running along up through the counties of Hickman, Caldwell, Hopkins, Christian and so on to Nashville, and through Tennessee to the States of Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, had been infested and preyed upon by a daring gang of robbers, horse-thieves and counterfeiters, who had, as yet, escaped all discovery or punishment."

The representatives of that fraternity of outlaws who plied between the Green and Tennes.see rivers e.stablished their headquarters in a cave, described in this story as being located near Pilot Rock in Christian County. Of this organization I>onz Powers was the leader. Among themselves this retreat was known as "The Hermitage." Besides Lonz, to whom they referred as Captain, there were alwut five other leaders and a greater number of sulKirdiuates or "strikers."

Morton Powers was usually second in command. The Monk, Pilot, or Dick Murdock, as he was variously called, was an old flatlwat man and river pilot, and frequently entertained his brothers with a raft full of fun. Old Sisk was another of the leadei-s, for he had joined this band after his release from prison as a means of being more easily revenged on his enemies, the Regulators. Then, too, there was a character known as the Parson, who, in the capacity of circuit rider, held camp-meetings while his brothers in crime pre.ved upon the praying mourners by appropriating their horses. Last, but not least in wickedness by an.v means, was the Colonel, the. gambler who had first led Lonz Powers into crime and who was the sharer of his first guilt.v secret.

In the course of the narrative each man tells the stor.v of his life to his a.ssembled companions while idly sitting around in the cave. Some of these are daring, some pathetic, some humorous. Each would make an interesting story in itself. The Colonel, a card sharp, was not sparing of humor, and among other things, while speaking of his past, is made to remark: "In those daj's I scattered ray money about like a prince. No one, you know, had a better right than myself to ape the luxury and expense of royalty, for all m.v funds had l>een given me by kings and qtieens. "

Returning to the plot, it develops that a .young Irishman named O'Rourke is making preparations to vi.sit his native isle, and it is therefore supposed he will have money on his person. Lonz hears that O'Rourke intends to come to the muster which is to take place at Pleasant Hill, a drill- ing ground in the northwestern part of Christian County.® For Lonz to hear was to plan, so he at once made up his mind that not only the Irishman's money but his rich farm should soon become his own. Thus, working on the revengeful mind of Old Sisk by telling him that O'Rourke had been among the destroyers of his home, he plots to kill 0 'Rourke on his way from the muster.

Lonz and the Irishman meet after tlie muster and proceed toward their homes, and according to Lonz's prearranged orders they are soon overtaken by Old Sisk, who is to deal the deatli blow when Lonz pronounces the words, "And this is the end f' O'Rourke tells the story of his life, his early struggles, his final success; of his love and his loss, and of his mother and sister who eagerly await him at his old home in Ireland, where they are happy in the hope of returning to America with him. By this time "they had traveled four miles from the training ground and were in the midst of a broken and rugged chain of hills.'' Thus they reached Cave Hill, near what is now Haley's Mill, in Christian County. When O'Rourke had finished his story, Lonz, unaffected by the pathetic recital, gave the signal, "And is this the end?'' - in response to which Old Sisk struck the fatal blow, but it was not without much struggling that their wicked work was finished and their victim robbed and his body thrown into a nearby pit, since known as Davis Cave.

Lonz's versatile talents were next to be applied to accomplishing a robbery on a larger scale than any he had yet attempted. It was rumored that the safe in the Bank of Kentucky in Hopkinsville contained "six hundred thousand dollars'' (more or less). Lonz decided to enrich himself with at least a part of that amount. .\s usual, he played upon Old Sisk's desire for retaliation by putting him under the false impression that the cashier had been present at the burning of his home, fifteen years before.

On the night set for the robbery Lonz stationed a number of his men at various places around the bank to act as guards, while he and Old Sisk were to do the actual work. They concealed themselves in some shrubbery in the yard near the rear door of the building, prepared to make a charge on the cashier, whom they judged was alone at the time, for the front door had been locked several hours before. But it suddenly developed that another man was with the cashier. The robbers did not know that young Charles Burton had returned to Kentucky.

At this moment Burton, walking to the open door of the bank, folded his arms across his bo.som, and leaning against the po.st, gazed thoughtfully out over the garden. Ix)iiz siuik upon the ground as if a bullet had passed through bis brain, while his heart beat quick and fast, and he gasped and struggled for breath, like a man when laboring under a horrible nightmare. Covering his blanched face with his hands, as if he would shut out some terrible sight, he murmured: "''Pis his ghost! And standing in the same position and attitude as when 1 last saw him fifteen years ago!''

YouDg Burton having heard this outburst of surprise and horror, quietly, but much bewildered, stepped back into the bank. In the meantime the robbers, suspecting they were detected, returned homeward and gave up the attempt. In the course of a few hours, however, the enraged Lonz learned that the "ghost" he had seen standing in the open door was not that of Charles Burton, the man he had killed fifteen years before, but tbe living son of the murdered father, to whom the son bore a striking resemblance.

The next morning young Burton left Hopkinsville on his return to the home of Major Thompson, whom he was visiting and whose daughter Julia was receiving much of his attention. Young Burton had not seen Lonz Powers since his early childhood. By a strange and unfortunate coincidence he was overtaken by Lonz, who introduced himself as Jack Randolph. In the course of their conversation Burton, wishing to show a friendly feeling toward his new acquaintance, who claimed to be an old friend of his father, kindly suggested to Randolph, "If you ever need the services of a strong arm or the aid of a long purse, never be backward in calling on the son of your old friend." These overtures were declined with thanks by his new acquaintance, who pretended to be much insulted by such an offer. Burton then begged his pardon, after which Randolph remarked, "No man was ever seriously insultc<l by the offer of money, for that is an insult very seldom given and when once given very soon forgotten."

That "a man may smile and smile and be a villain still" certainly is applicable to Lonz, for a few moments after their pleasant conversation he deliberately shot Burton, robl)ed him, and left him lying apparently dead on the highway, where he was soon afterward discovered by some friends and taken to Major Thompson's home, where he received the best attention from his prospective mother-in-law, his ladylove, and fox-hunter Thompson, and soon recovered.

At some time in the life of almost every daring man we find he overreaches himself. This was to be Ijonz's fate, and he was about to engineer a robbery, small in itself, but upon which depended his final undoing. Some of his band descended upon the then quiet village of Greenville, and robbing a store there, were followed by the fully awakened townsmen ; one of the thieves was captured. This reference to Greenville, the town of Mr. Weir's birth and youth, arouses a reminiscent spirit, resulting in a description of which the author of "Sleepy Hollow" himself might well have felt proud.*

Now we shift the scene to Pilot Rock, in Christian County, where a small party of young lovers are picnicking, among whom are, of course, our hero Charles Burton and his heroine Julia Thompson. This famous rock and resort is. according to "Ixmz Powers," located in the immediate vicinity of the cave of the niblars, and being .so frequently visited by picnic parties the outlaws decided to make the place less popular in the future by capturing the girls of this jolly party and holding them prisoners in their hidden and undiscovered retreat. This they did, and left the struggling young men bound to trees. After the young men had liberated themselves, failing to

By noon of the following day more than five hundred men were gathered upon and about the rock. Every stone and crevice in the neighborhood had been examined for some traces of the girls or robbers, but as yet without success.

In the meantime Old Sisk and his companions and their captives were securely concealed in the cave. One robber, as said, had been captured near Greenville a few days before. He was brought to the scene by some of the Regulators. Having refused to make a confession, he was stripped and bound to a tree and then whipped, and after much pounding and persuading and a promise of liberty he revealed the names of the outlaws.

"He was ignorant of the seizure of the girls and the names of their abductors, but had no doubt they were .some of the band to which he belonged. He declared that Ix>nz and Morton Powers were the leaders of the daring gang which had so long infe.sted the country, and gave the names of many of the citizens of the country and surrounding counties who were secret members of the numerous and widespread association." Every name mentioned created a surprise. Even I/onz aud Morton Powers were heretofore unsuspectetl.

A consultation followed, after which alwut fifty Regulators marched to the home of Morton, and marching away again left it in flames. They next visited the home of Ixtnz. determined to burn it down also and give him a good lashing. Through his wife's heroic intercession he was spared on condition that he leave Kentucky at once. Then the Regulators turned toward "Forest Home," having resolved to send the father of these two outlaws out of the State, but the pleadings of the innocent old man were so pathetic that the Regulators changed their resolution and permitted him to remain.

In the meantime the girls were still captives in the undiscovered cave. Five dark and weary days and nights they spent anxiou.sly waiting to be rescued. However, all this while they were gallantly protected from Old Sisk and the other %'illains by the Pilot and the Parson, who although outlaws like their companions in iniquity had still some traits of decent character. Five long and diligent days and nights were spent around Pilot Rock by the searching party. At last their efforts were rewarded, for Burton discovered the entrance to the secret cave.

Lonz and Morton being atwent during the abduction, the besieged, quarrelling among themselves in the cave, could hold out no longer. An exciting conflict followed between the robbers and the rescuers. One of the outlaws da.shcd out the brains of the Colonel. Two or three of the other bandits were killed, among whom unfortunately was the Parson, who had so courageously aided the Pilot in defending the fair prisoners. The girls were liberated, safe and unharmed but nervous and exhausted, and, of course. "Julia, half crazed with delight, sprang forward to meet Burton and fell fainting upon the lx)som of her lover and deliverer."

The lash was applied freely to all the captured outlaws except the Pilot, who having helped protect the girls was now left unwhipped, and who was later pardoned by tlie Governor on Burton's petition. The revengeful Old

Sisk willingly made a confession, for lie had long entertained a secret determination to betray Lonz and ilorton, whose connection with his false conviction and imprisonment for horse-stealing he had learned from bits of their overheard conversation and hints from the Colonel, who knew the real criminals. Old Sisk gave a brief hi.story of the maneuvers of the outlaws, saying, among other things, that "Ixinz was the thief of his father's horses, for which crime I suffered fifteen years imprisonment; he was the mur- derer of Burton's father, who was witness of his guilt; he was the in.stigator of the Regulators who di-ove away my family and burnt my home. Since that time he has been a gambler, a robber, counterfeiter and kidnapper. A few weeks ago he murdered the young Irishman, O'Rourke, and threw his body into the pit. It was Ixinz Powers who planned to rob the bank in Hopkinsville, but failed lieeause when he saw Burton standing in the back door he believed him to be his father's ghost, and the ne.xt day, under the false name of Jack Randolph, he came very near murdering young Burton."

This certainly was a very interesting confession to the Regulators. However, Old Sisk failed to relate his own connection with the murder of O'Rourke. About this time Morton Powers suddenly disappeared, and according to the story was seen only once after this exposure.

Lonz having learned from some of his secret a&sociates that the cave had been discovered and that he had been betrayed by Old Sisk, "fled as fast as horse and terror and money could take him, for flight was now his only hope of safety," until finally he arrived at "one of the most remote settlements in Texas, then the great valley of refuge for felons." There he associated with a crowd of strangers, who like himself were fugitives from justice.

Burton, now knowing his father's murderer, determined to avenge the terrible deed. He pursued I/onz, and with the aid of the Pilot arrested him in Texas, where he was taking part in a cowlioy dance.

While Burton and the Pilot were pursuing Lonz in Texas the Regulators were still at work in Kentucky. Old Sisk was confined in the jail at Hopkinsville, where he had remained until the present moment. The community, hoping that Lonz Powers might be taken, and trusting with the evidence of Old Sisk to be able to convict him of the murder of O'Rourke and bring him to punishment, had quietly permitted the old convict to remain in jail. But when week after week rolled by and nothing was heard of the fugitive, secret whisperings and threats against the prisoner were bandied alraut among the Regulators, or rather those who had the strongest reason to fear the bloody vengeance of the fierce old man; and as the time for the convening of the circuit court was drawing rapidly near and he would soon be taken under the power and control of the law, and as they feared, on account of want of testimony, would either escape or be sentenced to only a TIiw years of imprisonment, they determined to take vengeance into their own hands and thus rid themselves of all future fear.

In order to carry out these plans Old Sisk and his fellow-prisoners were secretly supplied with a small file and a highly tempered saw, accompanied by a note signed by "friends from without," saying "at 12 o'clock to-night we intend to undermine the northwest corner of your jail and set you at liberty." The prisoners filed away all day and at midnight crawled, to their great surprise, into the arms of the Regulators. They were taken to the spot where O'Rourke had been murdered by Ixmz Powers aided by Old Sisk. Old Sisk admitted he had aided in the murder of the young Irishman on his return from the mu.ster, but explained that it was all done at the instigation of liOnz. Old Sisk pleaded for his life, and begged to be permitted to live until he could kill Lonz, swearing by all things living and dead that after he had seen Ijonz die and thus satisfied his aching for revenge he would return and submit to any punishment they eared to inflict.

But his prayers were all in vain. "Directly in front of Old Sisk stood twenty men grasping their long rifles, and silently awaiting the command of their leader. They had been chosen by lot before the coming of the victim, and only ten of the rifles were loaded with ball, and so prepared that the executioners might be ignorant who were the real destroyers." A quick, ringing volley followetl the signal of their leader; Old Sisk fell, and disappeared info the mouth of the same cavern into which he and Ix>nz had thrown the body of O'ltourke a few weeks before. The other outlaws who had been taken from the jail along with Old Sisk were each given a hundred lashes and then driven out of the county.

In due time Lonz was brought from Tc.xas and safely lodged in the Hopkinsville jail. The authorities, learning from experience, did not lock him in the cell recently vacated by Old Sisk, but placed him under heavy guard to prevent his escape or rescue. During his imprisonment his true and faithful wife called on him frequently, consoled him, and even to the last believed him innocent.

Ix)nz was tried for the murder of O'Rourke, found guilty, and hanged. On the day of the execution, which took place Friday, May 1, 1846, people came from far and near to witness the hanging. Very likely Charles Burton and his bride Julia were in the great crowd, for their gay and festive wedding celebration had taken place shortly after Burton returned from the West with his prisoner, Lonz Powers. Morton Powers, too, according to the story, was among the spectators of the hanging, but in disguise. Tradition says that some years after I»nz's death Morton appeared at the home of his brother's widow, where as an unwelcome guest he lingered for a few' weeks. Fearing that his shiftless life would have a bad influence on her children, Mary Powers called in her neighlwrs to run him away. At her request he was given an application of "hickory oil," after which he fled the county without delay.

Lonz met death bravely and without any unusual demonstrations. Thus ended the life of a brilliant but misguided and misguiding man, who if his abilities had been applied in a legitimate course might have had as great an influence for good as he had for evil. As it is, he has the distinction of being one of the greatest outlaws in Western Kentucky, and also the distinction of being the first man legally hanged in Christian County.

There is a tradition to the effect that when Lonz stood on the scaffold with the hangman's rope around his neck lie asked for his old violin, which was handed to him and he played a musical composition of his own, entitled "Pennington's Farewell." Nothing is said about such a scene by the author of "Lonz Powers," and it is therefore likely that this sometimes confirmed but usually denied incident is groundless.

Another tradition says that in the first attempt made to hang Ix>nz the rope broke, and he then cried out, "See, gentlemen, this is proof of my innocence!" The sheriff, however, proceeded with the work, and thus ended Lonz's earthly career. A denial of his guilt, and not a tune on his fiddle, was "Pennington's Farewell."®

In justice to the Penningtons, it must be said that Lonz's heartbroken father was an honest and upright man. Ijonz's wife (who remained a widow and died in 1892) and their five children all lived to old age, and each during his or her entire life proved a credit to their county. So, too, his many grandchildren, now living in various parts of Kentucky, are all, without a single exception, good and highly respected citizens.

As to the Regulators and their methods, the author brings up many arguments for discussion. He admits that lynch law as a general custom may he injurious and in some cases unjust. In this instance he a.sks the reader to bear in mind the fact that at the time and in the country described the inhabitants were few and lived far from any seat of government; that they were constantly suffering from the bold and unpunished work of outlaws, and that most of them practically depended upon themselves and their own efforts for obtaining their necessities. They raised their own bread, shot their own meat, spun their own cloth, and also enforced their own laws.

- One version has It that the day Pennington was hanged he not only played "Pennington's Farewell" on his violin, but also recited what has ever since been referred to as "Pennington's Lament":