Historical sketches of Kentucky: embracing its history, antiquities, and natural curiosities, geographical, statistical, and geological descriptions

Front matter

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Preface

The late H. P. Peers, of the city of Maysville, laid the foundation for the work which is now presented to the reading community. Mr. Peers designed it to be simply a small Gazetteer of the State ; and had collected, and partially arranged for publication, the major part of the materials, comprising a description of the towns and counties. Upon his decease, the materials passed into the hands of the Author, who determined to remodel them, and make such additions as would give permanency and increased value to the work. He has devoted much labor to this object ; but circumstances having rendered its publication necessary at an earlier day than was contemplated, some errors may have escaped, which more time, and a fuller investigation would have enabled him to detect.

Serious obstacles have been encountered, in the preparation of the Biographical Sketches. Many of those which appear in the work, were prepared from the personal recollections of the Author ; while others have been omitted, because he did not know to whom he could apply for them, or having applied, and in some instances repeatedly, failed in procuring them. This is his apology, for the non-appearance of many ijames in that department, which are entitled to a distinguished place in the annals of Kentucky.

In the preparation of the work, one design of the Author has been to preserve, in a durable form, those rich fragments of local and personal history, many of which exist, at present, only in the ephemeral form of oral tradition, or are treasured up among the recollections of the aged actors in the stirring scenes, the memory of which is thus perpetuated. These venerable witnesses from a former age, are rapidly passing away from our midst, and with them will be buried the knowledge of much that is most interesting in the primitive history of the commonwealth. It is from sources such as we have mentioned, that the materials for the future historian are to be drawn ; and, like the scattered leaves of the Sybil, these frail mementos of the past should be gathered up and preserved with religious veneration. If the Author shall have succeeded, in thus redeeming from oblivion any considerable or important portion of the early history of the State, his design will be fully accomplished, and his labor amply rewarded.

Of all the members of this great republican confederacy, there is none whose history is more rich in the variety, quality, and interest of its materials. The poet, the warrior, and the statesman can each find subjects, the contemplation of which will instruct him in his art ; and to the general reader, it would, perhaps, be impossible to present a field of more varied and attractive interest.

It is proper that the Author should state that he has received the assistance of many able pens, in the preparation of the work. The " Outline History," embracing about eighty pages, was written by John A. M'Clung, Esq., of Washington. William P. Conwell, Esq., of Maysville, has rendered important aid, particularly in the biographical department. He 3 the writer of the Sketches, among others, of the Hon. Henry Clay, Gen. George Rogers Clark, Col. Daniel Boone, and Gen. Z. Taylor. The author is also greatly indebted to Col. Charles S. Todd, of Shelby county ; Henry Waller, R. H. Stanton, and William H. Wadsworth, Esqrs., of the city of Maysville ; Noble Butler, Esqr. (author of a late and excellent iv PREFACE.

work on English Grammar), of the city of Louisville; Bruce Porter, Esq., of the town cC Flemingsburg ; Thomas W. Kilcy, Esq., of Bardstown ; and Professor O. Beatty, of Centre College, Danville, for valuable contributions. Col. Todd furnished some seven or eight biographical sketches ; among them, those of Gov. Shelby and Judge Innes. Mr. Waller prepared the whole of the county of Mason, Mr. Butler a large portion of the county of Jefll'rson, Mr. Porter a portion of the county of Fleming, Mr. Riley a portion of the county of Bullitt, and Mr. Uoatty the article on the Geology of Kentucky. A distinguished citizen of the Slate contributed the interesting Sketch of the Court of Appeals.

The Historical Sketches of the several religious denominations, were prepared by the following gentlemen : Rev. John L. Waller, editor of the Western Baptist Review, Frankfort, of the Baptist church ; Rev. W. W. Hill, editor of the Presbyterian Herald, Louisville, of the Presbyterian church ; Rev. George W. Smiley,* of the Northern Kentucky Conference, of the Methodist Episcopal church; Rev. James Shannon, president of Bacon College, Harrodsburg, of the Christian Church ; Rt. Rev. B. B. Smith, D.D., bishop of the Diocese of Kentucky, of the Episcopal church ; Rev. Rich. Beard, D.D., president of Cumberland College, Princeton, of the Cumberland Presbyterian church; and Rev. M. J. Spalding, D.D., Yicar-General of Kentucky, Louisville, of the Roman Catholic church.

He also acknowledges his indebtedness to the following gentlemen, for information concerning their counties, for incidents connected with the early settlement of the State, or for biographical sketches, &c., viz :

James W. Carter, Esqr., of Adair county ; W. F. Evans, Esqr., of Allen ; J. W. Crockett, and J. H. Stovall, Esqrs., of Ballard ; B. N. Crump, Esqr., of Barren ; James M. Preston, Esqr., of Boone ; Hon. Garrett Davis, Dr. Joseph H. Holt, Dr. William M. Garrard, and William C. Lyle, John G. Scrogin, and W. G. Talbot, Esqrs., of Bourbon ; Rev. J. C. Young, D.D., president of Ceritre College, of Boyle ; General John Payne, of Bracken; John Hargis, Esq., of Breathitt ; Hon. John Calhoun, Josepli Smith, Joseph Allen, and Francis Peyton, E.sqrs., of Breckinridge ; W. T. Samuels, and Michael 0. Wade, Esqrs., of Bullitt; B. J. Burke, and L. W. Moore, Esqrs., of Butler; Charles B. Dallam, and Marcus M. Tyler, Esqrs., of Caldwell ; E. H. Curd, Esqr., of Calloway ; Gen. James Taylor, and S. D. Smalley, Esqr., of Campbell ; David Owen, Esq., of Carroll ; G. W. Crawford, Esqr., of Carter; Daniel H. Harrison, A. G. Stites, and R. R. Lansden, Esqrs., of Christian ; W. Flanagan, and Willis Collins, Esqrs., of Clarke ; Dougherty White, and William Woodcock, Esqrs., of Clay ; R. Maxcy, and E. Long, Esqrs., of Clinton ; R. L. Bigham, and H. R. D. Coleman, Esqrs., of Crittenden ; E. B. Gaither, and Th. T. Alexander, Esqrs., and Dr. David R. Haggard, of Cumberland ; John P. Devereaux, Esqr., of Daveiss; A. M. Barrett, Esqr., of Edmonson; Robert Clarke, Esqr., of Estill; Hon. George Robertson, Gen. Leslie Combs, Gen. John M. M'Calla, Col. Richard Spurr, Hon. Robert Wickliffe, Rev. Robert J. Breckinridge, D.D.,and John C. Breckinridge, William S. Waller, Jo!m Bradford, James Logue, Samuel D. M'CuUough, and Fielding R. Bradford, Esqrs., of Fayette ; C. C. Lane, and W. S. Botts, Esqns, of ?"leming ; Edwin Trimble, and Daniel Hager, Esqrs., of Floyd; Gov. William Owsley, Hon. Benjamin Monroe, Hon. James Harlan, Gen. Peter Dudley, Col. James Davidson, Orlando Brown, John W. Finnell, William D. Reed, H. L Bcnlley, and A. S. Mitchell, Esqrs., of Franklin ; Major J. W. Gibson, and R. A. Hatcher, Esqr., of Fulton ; Rev. Benjamin Fuller, of Gallatin ; A. J. Brown, Esqr., of Garrard; John W. M'Cann, Esqr., of Grant; Jack Thomas, Esqr., of Grayson; G. W. Montague, Esqr., of Greene ; W. L. Poage, Esqr., of Greenup ; D. L. Adair, Esqr., of Hancock; Dr. Samuel B. Young, and Thomas D. Brown, Esqr., of Hardin; E. V. Unthank, Esqr., of Harlan ; Gen. L. B. Desha, and J. V. Bassett, Esqr., of Harrison ;

• It is due to Mr. ?miley to state, lliat tht Sketch of the .Methodist Episcopal Church, was prcparei; by him upon a few days' notice.

PREFACE. V

Robert D. Murray, and John Bowman, Esqrs., of Hart ; Dr. Owen Glass, 0. H. Hillyer, and J. E. M'Callister, Esqrs., of Henderson ; W. B. Edmunston, and N. E. Wright, Esqrs., of Hickman ; Samuel Woodson, Esqr., of Hopkins ; Hon. Henry Pirtle, Tal. P. Shaffner, Esqr., and Dr. Bullitt, of Jefferson ; R. E. Woodson, Esqr., of Jessamine : John House, Esqr., of Johnson ; Hon. James T. Morehead, and J. W, Menzies, Esqr., of Kenton ; B. H. Ohler, Esqr., of Knox ; John Duncan, and William Beelar, Esqrs., of Larue ; G. F. Hatcher, Esqr., of Lawrence ; W. B. Hampton, Esqr., of Letcher ; R. G. Carter, Esqr., of Lewis ; J. Campbell, Esqr., of Lincoln ; William Gordon, Esqr., of Livingston ; M. B. Morton, and Albert G. Rhea, Esqrs., of Logan : Abner Oldham, Esqr., Col. John Speed Smith, and Col. David Irvine, of Madison ; ]\icholas S. Ray, Esqr., and Captain Edmund \. Graves, of Marion ; Henry Hand, Esqr., of Marshall ; William Fairlcigh, Esqr., of Meade ; Hon. Adam Beatty, Col. James C. Pickett, Dr. J. M. Duke, R. H. Collins, and Joseph B. Boyd, Esqrs., of Mason ; William H. Jones, Esqr., of M'Cracken ; Gen. Robert B. M 'Afee, Captain Samuel Daveiss, Dr. C. Graham, and James M 'Afee, Esqr., of Mercer; William Butler, Esqr., of Monroe ; Richard Apperson, Esqr., of Montgomery ; James Elliott, Esqr., of Morgan ; Charles F. Wing, Esqr., of Muhlenburg ; Hon. Charles A. Wickliffe, G. Clayton Slaughter, and A. G. Botts, Esqrs., of Nelson ; Charles Henderson, H. D. Taylor, and Stephen Stateler, Esqrs., of Ohio ; G. Armstrong, Esqr., of Oldham; J. W. Bacon, Esqr., of Owen ; William Williams, Esqr., of Owsley ; S. Thomas Hauser, Esqr., of Pendleton ; John D. Mims, Esqr., of Pike ; E. Kelley, Esqr., of Pulaski ; Col. Elisha Smith, of Rockcastle ; Joseph T. Rowe, Esqr., of Russell ; John T. Steppe, Esqr., and Rev. Howard Malcom, D.D., of Scott; Thomas J. Throop, L Shelby Todd, and John H. Todd, Esqrs., and Rev. Abraham Cook, of Shelby ; John Hoy, Esqr., of Simpson; Ralph Lancaster, Esqr., of Spencer; W. H. Wells, and R. E. Glenn, Esqrs., of Todd ; Kain A. M'Caughan, and Robert Baker, Esqrs., of Trigg ; W. Samuels, Esqr., of Trimble ; J. W, Cromwell, Esqr., of Union ; Hon. A. W. Graham, Hon. Joseph R. Underwood, and Loyd Berry, Esqr., of Warren ; W. B. Booker, Esqr., of Washington ; W, Simpson, Esqr., of Wayne ; W. S. Cooke, and Squire Gatliffe, Esqrs., of Whitley ; Major Herman Bowmar, of Woodford. — Also, to Thomas B. Stevenson, Esqr., Dr. J. R. Buchanan, and Rev. Thornton A. Mills, of CincinnatL

Index To The Outline History

Adair, Gen., at the battle of New Orleans- -SD, 84 Adams, John, second President, very odious

ill Kentucky 54

Adams and Jackson, presidential contest between 83

Alien and sedition laws condemned 55

Allen, Col., killed 71

Annexation, first step in territorial 57

of Texas, and its effects 97

Batik, first chartered in Kentucky 56

of Kentucky chartered 65

, forty independent, chartered 83

, Commonwealth's, chartered 8S

.Branch of U. S., in Kentucky 95

of Kentucky 95

, Northern, of Kentucky 95

of Louisville 95

Bird, Col., expedition against Kentucky 24

Blannerhasset, the victim of Burr • ■ • 59

Blue Licks, Upper, defeat of Capt. Holder's

party at 25

Blue Licks, Lower, disastrous battle at 25

Board of War, in Kentucky 43

Boone, Mrs., and daughters, first white women on Kentucky river 19

Eooiisljorougli, founded, and fort built 19

, attacked by the Indians 19

Bowman, Col., expedition against Chillicothe, 23

Boyle, John, chief justice of the old court- - • 90 Bradford, John, establishes first newspaper

in Kentucky 36

Breckinridge, Robert, first speaker of the H.

of R. 45

Brown, James, first secretary of state 45

, John, first delegate to Congress 36

, , letters of, on the independence

oi Kentucky 37

Brown, John, first senator to Congress 45

, , implicated in the Spanish intrigue 60

Brown, John, President Madison's letter in

defence of 99

Br^'anl's station, attack on 25

Bullitt, Capt. Thomas, surveying at the Falls, 18

, Alexander, first speaker of the senate, 45

Burr, Aaron, arrives in Kentucky 57

, defeated for the governorship of New

York 57

Burr, kills Hamilton in a duel 58

, conceives a plan of an empire 58

, his character and intrigues 59

, his project developed, ice. 60

, Daveiss' motion against, overruled- •• • 60

, offers Daveiss opportunity to prove his

charge 61

Burr, his trial postponed 61

, his public defence 61

, his trial again postponed 62

, acquitted by the grand jury 63

, disavows to Mr. Clay any improper design 63

Burr, his real attitude at this time 64

, his project unfolded 64

, his letters to Wilkinson and Eaton 64

, liis project denounced and broken up- • 64

Calloway, Col. Richard, moves to Boonsbo-

rough 19

Canada, union with Kentucky suggested- - • - 41

(vi)

P»ge.

Cannon, first employed in Kentucky 24

Caroline, schooner, at the battle of New Orleans 80

Chesapeake, attacked by the Leopard 65

Clark, Gen. George Rogers, first appearance

in Kentucky 19

Clark, expedition against Kaskaskia and Vin-

cennes 21

Clark, expedition against the Ohio Indians- • 24

, expedition from the mouth of Licking, 27

expedition to the Wabash 33

, appointed generalissimo of French legions 47

Clarke, Judge, decides the relief law unconstitutional 89

Clarke, Judge, his trial before the legislature • 90

, , elected governor 97

Clay, Henry, and Daveiss, intellectual combat between 62

Clay, requires of Burr a disavowal of treasonable designs 63

Clay and Jackson, presidential contest between 94

Clay and Polk, presidential contest between, 97

Combs, Capt. Leslie, gallantry of 73

Congress, old, refers tlie admission of Kentucky to the new 37

Constitution, federal, unpopular in Kentucky, 33

, first. Its features 44

, new, formed and adopted 56

Convenlion, first, on the proposed separation

from Virginia 30

Convention, second 31

, third 31

, fourth 32

,fifth 36

, sixth 38

, seventh 39

, eighth 41, 42

, ninth, and last 44

, to revise the constitution 54, 55

Corn, first raised in Kentucky 19

Counties, Kentucky divided into three 24

Courts, first established 20

, of common law and chancery 24

, U. S., for the district of Kentucky, established 28

Courts, jurisdiction under the first constitution 45

Courts, changes in the system of 51

, district, abolished 56

, circuit, established 56

, contest between the Old and New- 01

, New, organized 92

Crockett, Col., remonstrance of • 40

Croghan, Col., defence of Fort Stephenson 75

Crows, required to be killed 51

Danville, the seat of the Conventions- -• • 30,36 Daveiss, Col. Jo. Ilainillon, moves against

Burr 60

Daveiss, intellectual combat with Henry Clay 62

Democratic societies, their spirit and object- 47

Depeau, Charles, a French emissary, letter of, 48

Desha, Gen. Joseph, elected governor 91

DuQuesne, invades Kentucky 20

Edwards, John, senator in Congress 45

England and France, before the war of 1812, 68

English spy in Kentucky 41

INDEX TO THE OUTLINE HISTORY.

Vll

Page.

Erie, Lake, decisive victory upon 76

Eslill, Capt., defeat of 24

Excise lawr, odious in Kentucky 46, 47

Fayette county, competes for the seat of government 45

Federal government, disaffection towards- -46, 47

Finley, John, visits Kentucky 18

Fort, look for the proper name of each —

France and England, their last great strugg'le, 68 Frankfort, how chosen as the seat of government 45

French revolution, how regarded 46

emissaries in Kentucky 48

Frenchtown, battle of 70

Garrard, James, governor of the State 55

Genet, citizen, his projects and conduct 47

, recalled, and his acts disavowed 50

Governor, how chosen under the old constitution 45

Greenup, Christopher, elected governor 57

Hardin, Col. John, murdered by the Indians- 45

Harmar, Gen., disastrous expedition of 43

Harrodsburg, founded 18

Harrison, Gen., marches against Canada- - - - 70

, defence of Fort Meigs 73

, defeats Proctor at the Thames 78

Henderson's purchase from the Cherokees- • 18

Holder, Capt., defeat of 25

Hopkins, Gen., expedition against the Illinois

Indians 69

Hull, Gen., surrender of 68

Impressment of American seamen 67

Independence of Kentucky agitated 37, 50, 53

Innis, judge, connected with the Spanish intrigue - 53

Innis, overrules the motion against Butt 60

, tried and acquitted ■ 65

Insurance company at Lexington chartered- 56

Jackson, Gen. Andrew, at New Orleans- - - • 81

and Adams, contest between 93

and Clay, contest between 94

Jay, John, odium against, in Kentucky 36

, his treaty with England, how regarded- 51

Jefferson, Thomas, elected President 56,57

Johnson, Col. Richard M., at the battle of the

Thames 78

Kaskaskia, surrenders to Gen. Clark 22

Kenton, Simon, settles in Mason county 19

Kentuckians. drafted- ■-•- 43, 50

Kentucky, explored by the Anglo-Saxons- - - 17

'-, traces of the earlier occupants of- 17

river, ascended by the McAfees- - 18

, first log cabin erected in 18

" Gazette," printed at Lexington- • 36

, admitted into the Union 42

Knox, Col. James, leads the " Long Hunters "

to Kentucky 18

Land law. unfortunate operation of 23

Letcher, Robert P., elected g-overnor 97

Lewis, Col., taken prisoner 71

Lexington, first blockhouse built 23

Limitation in actions of ejectment, changed- 65

Logan's fort, erected and settled 19

Louisiana, ceded to France 56

, purchased by the general government 57

Louisville settled 22

Madison, George, elected governor 87

, President, letter vindicating Hon.

James Brown 98

Marshall, Col. Thomas 39

, Humphrey, elected U. S. senator- • 51

Martin's station destroyed 24

Maysville, blockhouse erected 28

Meigs, fort, attacked 73, 75

Mercer county, competes for the seat of government 45

Metcalfe, Gen. Thomas, elected governor- •• 93

Michigan, effect of the loss of 68

Mills, Judge Benjamin, and the old court- - • • 90 Mississippi, proposed to cede the navigation of 34, 40

Mississippi, circular of Muter, Innis, and

others 34

Mississippi, negotiations upon the subject- • - 35

Page.

Mississippi, its navigation secured by treaty, 52 Murray, William, opposes the states' rights

movement 56

Muter, Judge George, attempt to remove 51

, his letter against an independent government 39

New Orleans, right of deposit at, conceded- 52

, this right suspended 56

, preparations for its defence-- 79

, engagement of the 24th December 80

New Orleans, brilliant victory of the 8lh of

January 84

New Orleans, numbers engaged 86

Nicholas, George, in the ninth convention- - • 44

, first attorney general 45

, connected with the Spanish intrigue 53

Nullification, in the legislature 55

Owsley, Judge William, and the old court- - 90

, , elected governor" •- 97

Perry, lieutenant, brilliant victory o(- 76

Polk, James K., and Henry Clay, contest between 97

Power, Thomas, a Spanish messenger 53

Relief and anti-relief excitement 89

laws decided unconstitutional 90

excitement in 1842 96

Replevin, extended conditionally 89

Revolution, French, howr regarded 46

, the age of starthng, not passed- • 58

Ruddell's station destroyed 24

Scott, Gen. Charles, Indian expedition 43

, joins AVayne with 1,500 men 50

, elected governor 65

Sebastian, Judge Benj., attempt to remove-- 51

, interview vnth the Spanish agent- 52

, pensioned by Spain 53

, implicated with Burr 60

, inquiry into his conduct 65

Senators, how chosen under the old constitution 45

Separation from Virginia and the Union, agitated 37

Shelby, Isaac, first governor 45

, reply to Depeau 49

Slaughter, Gabriel, first lieutenant and acting

governor 87

Spain, resents the purchase of Louisiana- - - 57

Spanish intrigues in Kentucky 52

Specie payments suspended 95, 96

Squirrels, law requiring to be killed 51

St. Clair. Gen., campaign of 43

Stephenson, fort, gallant defence of- 75

Stuart, James, killed by the Indians 18

Taxes, upon what imposed 45

Tecumseh, his generous conduct at Fort

Meigs 74

Tecumseh, killed at the Thames 78

Thames, river, victory at the 78

Treaty of 17S3, imperfectly observed 28

with the Indians 51

Trimble, Lieutenant David 73

Vincennes, surrenders to Gen. Clark 22

Virginia, action upon the proposed separation by Kentucky .... ^

Walker. Dr., visits Kentucky 18

War of 1812, causes of 66

feeling in Kentucky and New England, 68

Washington. Gen., elected President of the

United States 41

Wayne, Gen., defeats the Indians at the Rapids 50

"Western AVorld," newspaper at Frankfort- 60

. develops Burr's project. &c. 60

Wilkinson, Gen. James, settles in Lexington, 29

, his voyage to New Orleans 36

, his tobacco privileges 38

, accompanies St. Clair 43

, commissioned under Wayne- - - • 45-

, how he regarded the Spamsh intrigue 53-

Wilkinson, commands the U, S. troops in

Louisiana 57

Wilkinson, co-operates with Burr 59,6ft

Winchester, Gen., at the river Raisin 71