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The history of these three precincts, Bainbridge, Hamby and
Scates' Mill, forming the northwest portion of Christian County, are
almost identical in their social, religious and political
organization, and are there-fore taken together. Starting with the
boundary lines of the Union Schoolhouse Precinct on the south, and
the Hopkinsville Precinct on the east, the topographical,
geographical and agricultural features of this part of the county
are also very similar, if not identical with that already de-scribed
in the northeast portion in the chapter devoted to the precincts of
Mount Vernon, Fruit Hill, Wilson and Stewart. In a word, almost the
entire northern half of the county is broken and hilly, and
gradually in-creases in ruggedness till the coal fields along the
Hopkins and Muhlenburg County lines are reached. In this part of the
county, however, the coal strata are much more inviting and
promising than those lying farther to the east in Stewart and
Wilson, and are destined one day to become an important factor in
the commercial and manufacturing interests of the county. Several
mines have already been opened up, and are now being worked in a
small way, supplying coal to Hopkinsville and other minor points,
but it remains to the encouraging proximity of a railroad or a stem
pushed out directly into these fields, to fully develop the almost
inexhaustible resources of this northwestern quarter of Christian. A
road extending out through Hamby to these rich deposits in Scates'
Mill is but a question of time, and when fully opened up, these
mines of " black diamonds " will be a source of great revenue to the
county.
As has been said elsewhere, the advantages of timber, water and game
attracted the pioneers to the northern parts of the county, and
consequently the first considerable settlements were made here
rather than in the timberless or " barren " sections to the south.
And also as in the northeastern portions the " first comers " were
principally from the Carolinas and Georgia, and a few from Virginia,
Maryland and elsewhere. They located here and there along water
courses, built their shanties and cabins in most unexpected places
adjacent to springs, and sometimes perched upon the tops of the most
inaccessible hills.
The first comers to Bainbridge settled principally along the Sinking
Fork of Little River, Horse Creek and other tributaries to that
stream. Among them were the Torian brothers-Peter and George, and
Charles McCarty, who came with them from Halifax County, Va., about
1800 or before. Like most Virginians, they were good tobacco
raisers, and having a number of slaves when the markets opened up
for that commodity, they became among the largest growers of the "
weed " in the county. They were good citizens, and for that day
comfortably well off. About the only one who had preceded them to
the neighborhood was Ned Palmer, who came it is thought from the
same county in Virginia, but at a much earlier date. He was a man
already somewhat advanced in years before he came, and had settled
on the Sinking Fork near the road leading from Hopkinsville to
Princeton. He had a large family of girls, one of whom married Abner
Boyd. Later on when the country around had settled up somewhat
Palmer- built both a mill and a small distillery on his place. The
old homestead is still owned by some of his descendants.
Not far from Palmer's on the Princeton road, and one mile south of
the Sinking Fork bridge, Malcolm McNeil settled at an early day. He
was a man of much wealth, perhaps the richest man in Christian
County at that day, having a large estate of land and Negroes both
here and in Mississippi. He is said to have been not only rich in
this world's goods, but, what is exceedingly rare in the rich at all
times and everywhere, rich in charity toward all men, and in
incorruptible treasures laid up " where neither moth nor rust doth
corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal." As a
Christian he was exemplary in all his habits, and a gentleman who
was often at his house says it was his invariable custom, night and
morning, to assemble about him his family, both white and black, and
lead them in family prayer. He was married four times, and the same
gentleman gives as a remarkable coincidence in connection with his
marriages the fact that the first Mrs. McNeil was a Branch, the
second a Rivers, the third a Sea, and the fourth a Body. It is to be
regretted that the last Mrs. McNeil was not an Ocean instead of a
Body, for then the climax would have been reached, and one might
have indulged oneself in the pleasant fancy that his felicity
beginning with a branch, soon deepened to a river, then widened to a
sea, and finally both deepened and broadened into a mighty ocean.
The only hypothesis his friends can offer for his not having married
an Ocean the last time, is that having enjoyed the most diffuse
forms of marital felicity in his prime, in his old age he preferred
to have it more in the concrete. And no doubt the latter Mrs. McNeil
was a concretion of all the virtues of all the others. Mr. McNeil
afterward moved to the Lafayette Precinct where, for many years, he
lived esteemed by all who knew him, and finally died at a ripe old
age. He was a member of the Methodist Church, a Whig, and for that
day, a man of more than ordinary culture and refinement.
Joseph Bozarth and William Wood, two old "Ironside" Baptists,
settled near each other at a very early day, the former about two
miles northwest of the present site of Belleview, and near Horse
Creek; the latter about two miles further on to the north of
Bozarth's. They were both quite early, Bozarth from Barren County,
Ky., and Wood probably from one of the Carolinas. The former for
many years made a regular business of hauling salt from the saline
works to the infant settlements of Christian County. Further over
toward the present Caldwell line on the Princeton road there long
stood (and perhaps still stands) an old stone house built by Jacob
Colley, who came to the county with his brother William among the
very first, and died at a very early day. William owned the
adjoining farm, and besides being a good hunter was noted as a good
hatter also. His hats were scarcely any, if at all, inferior to the
celebrated Gant hats, and were noted everywhere among the early
pioneers for their finish and durability.
Among other early settlers were Clement Wood, near " Savage Hollow,"
Hicks, the ancestor of Hamlin, John K. and William, who settled on
the Muddy Fork north of the Princeton road, and Calmose, who for
many years kept a house of "entertainment" about one mile east of
Oakland. Calmese is said to have been beside a pleasant host a man
of unbounded loquacity, and anecdotes were told of his having on
various occasions talked his guests to death. These were long the
standing jokes of the neighborhood, and grew out of the fact that a
stranger had died suddenly at his house. " Mine host" had talked him
to death, of course.
Later on (1814) William, John and Henry Lander, brothers, came from
Clark County, Ky., the two former settling in the Bainbridge, and
the latter in the Union Schoolhouse Precinct. They were originally
from Virginia, and men of considerable property. William at one time
bought 2,600 acres of land in one body. Solomon Cates was his
nearest and his only neighbor for miles around. William B. Lander, a
grandson, possesses an heirloom in the shape of a gridiron received
from his grand-mother Lander, which is memorable from the fact that
George Washington once ate cakes cooked upon it for him by her
mother. Besides these there were others scattered here and there,
some of whom came earlier and some later, but these are sufficient
to give the type of the first adventurers into this part of the
county. Hamby Precinct - Further up the country in the precincts of
Ham-by and Scates' Mill, the Pooles, Razors, Chrismans, Ricketts,
Hopsons, Coons, Armstrongs, Williamses, Boyds, Hambys, Keyeses and
others in the precinct of Hamby, and McKnights, Parkers, Collinses,
Thompsons, Alexanders, Adamses, Browns, Longs, Ladds, Clarks and
McCords in the precinct of Scates' Mill, settled at a very early
day, many of them being largely identified with the early political
organization of the county. The Clarks were among the earliest
officers, and figure largely upon the official records of the
county. They are frequently mentioned elsewhere.
Most of our readers will remember the familiar figure of Philip
Hamby, the " butt-cut-of Democracy" still living, who settled just
north of the Buttermilk road about nine miles from Hopkinsville.
Besides being a Magistrate of the county, for many years he led a
forlorn hope " against the serried ranks of Whigs and Know-Nothings.
In spite of early discouragement and disappointments he has lived to
see the principles of his party phoenix-like rise from the ashes of
war and defeat and spread their aegis over the whole land. In his
younger days he was quite fleshy and being low of stature fitly
represented the " butt. cut " of his party. It is related of him
that on one occasion he had the misfortune to be thrown from his
horse, and in the fall received very severe injuries. Some time
afterward on his way to court, the same animal shied with him
violently at the same point in the road, and on recovering his seat
in the saddle, he is said to have remarked good humoredly: " Well !
you old brute, you ! your memory is certainly to be admired, but I'm
sorry I can-not commend your judgement as well."
The Rev. Dr. J. E. McCord will also be remembered by many who read
these pages. He was a man of fine native abilities, and on several
occasions set himself for the defense of his peculiar views as a
Universalist. The most memorable of his debates was with the Rev. T.
C. Frogge, a Methodist preacher, in which he is said to have
displayed much astuteness and force as a debater. On one occasion he
pronounced a memorable oration over the remains of a Fort Donelson
hero, and by way of prelude recited the following original poem: "
"RESPECTED AUDITORY:
We are called today to mourn the loss,
Occasioned by the death of J. H. Doss.
At Fort Donelson when the battle waxed hot,
He fired ten rounds and then he got shot.
The brave boy when he went away
Promised to return another day;
But that he is dead is now no joke,
For he was killed by the rebels under Leonidas Polk.
That his soul is now safe and sound with his Lord
Is the prayer of the Rev. Dr. J. E. McCord."
The oration that followed is said to have been the most eloquent
of its kind ever delivered to a Christian County audience, and is
remembered by those who heard it as one of the grandest efforts of
his life.
Josiah Anderson, son of James Anderson of North Carolina, an old
Revolutionary hero, was born at an old fort near Nashville, Tenn.,
as his parents were en route to Logan County, Ky. Josiah was early
apprenticed to a cabinet-maker at Russellville, and while there made
the coffin in which was buried the unfortunate Dickinson, killed by
Gen. Jackson in a duel. Having removed to Hopkinsville in 1808, on
the breaking out of the war of 1812 he joined Capt. Allsbury's
company, and under the command of that gallant officer followed the
fortunes of Gen. Hopkins in his Northwestern campaign. On his return
having married Miss Agnes Fountain he settled in Hamby Precinct, and
reared a large family of sons and daughters. He subsequently removed
to his farm, three miles south of Hopkinsville, where he died full
of years and honor in his ninety-first year.
The following incident is related of Lemuel Clark, an early pioneer
of Scates' Mill, by one of his descendants. When about eleven years
of age, he one morning wrapped himself in his father's overcoat, and
stealing " Old Bess " the trusty rifle slipped out before day on an
impromptu turkey-hunt. Passing through a small clump of oak saplings
not far from the house, lie suddenly came upon a dark object lying
before him in his path. Seeing it move, but not being able in the
gray of the morning to make out just exactly what it was, h& raised
his gun and fired. The ball cut the bark from a sapling just above
the line of the dark object, which, rising to its feet, discovered
to the youthful hunter the presence of a full grown bear. In his
hurry to reload, young Clark broke his ramrod and had to step aside
to get a hazel-twig, which he had scarcely cut and trimmed before he
saw the bear making toward him. Sending the ball home, and hastily
throwing the gun up to his shoulder, Clark fired, and then turned
and ran off as fast as his legs could carry him. Telling his father
of the circumstance, after daylight they returned together to the
scene of the reencounter, and finding blood upon the ground, soon
tracked his bearship to a distant copse where he lay drawing his
last breath. The last shot though fired at random had entered a
vital part and cut short his pursuit of the embryo hunter. Clark
lived to be grown, and afterward became one of the most noted
bunters of his day.
Jacob Morris, also of Scates' Mill, is said to have been a man of
sterling integrity. It is told of him that he once became involved
as security for a friend, and not having the money by him with which
to cancel the debt he at once took leave of his family and started
for the saline works on Saline Creek, in Illinois. Here at two bits
a day he toiled diligently for many long weary months till the
necessary amount had been accumulated, and then returned home to
discharge the debt. His buckskin breeches are said to have become so
stiffened by repeated absorptions of salt water that he could
scarcely stoop or sit down in them.
But enough of the early pioneers to this northwest portion of the
county. They were a sturdy race of adventurous men and women, and
the difficulties they encountered might well have appalled the
stoutest and bravest hearts. The regions round about were an
unbroken wilderness, peopled by savage beasts and lurking foes, and
day and night made hideous and dismal by the hoots of wide-eyed owls
or the blood-curdling shrieks of prowling panthers. Amid all this
they lived and toiled on day after day, scanty of food and clothing
and all the conveniences and comforts of domestic life. In their
seclusion they had no opportunity for the cultivation of any of the
arts and elegancies of refined life; schools, churches and social
gatherings of any kind were for a long time but the faint echo of a
past civilization back in the older States. A gentleman's diary,
from which we are permitted to quote, will give some faint
conception of those primitive times and customs. He says: I well
recollect the first time I ever saw a tea cup and saucer, and tasted
coffee. My mother died when I was six years old, and my father then
sent me to school at Baltimore, Md. On reaching the town of
Russellville on my way, I found everything new and strange. The
tavern at which I stopped was a brick house, and to make the change
still more complete, it was plastered on the inside, both as to the
walls and ceilings. On going into the dining room, I was struck with
astonishment at the appearance of the house. I had no idea there was
a house in the world not built of logs or poles; but here I looked
around the house and could see no logs, and above I could see no
joists. Whether such a thing had been made so by the hands of man or
grown so of itself I could not conjecture. I had not the courage to
in-quire anything about it. I watched attentively to see what the
"big folks" would do with their little cups and spoons. I imitated
them, and found the taste of the coffee nauseous beyond anything I
had ever tasted in my life. I continued to drink as the rest of the
company did, with tears streaming from my eyes; but when and where
it was all to end I was at a loss to know, as the little cups were
filled immediately upon being emptied. This circumstance distressed
me exceedingly, and I durst not for the life of me say I had enough.
Looking attentively at the grand persons about me and watching their
maneuvers, I at last saw one of the guests turn his cup bottom
upward and put his little spoon across it. I observed after this his
cup was not filled again. I followed his example, and to my great
satisfaction the result as to my cup was the same."
The hunting shirt was universally worn. This was a loose frock,
reaching half way down the thighs, with large sleeves, open before,
and so wide as to lap over when belted. It generally had a cape, and
was made of cloth or buck-skin. The bosom of this shirt served as a
wallet, to hold bread, jerked venison, tow for wiping out the rifle,
or any other necessary article for the warrior or hunter. The belt,
which was tied behind, answered several purposes besides that of
holding the dress together. Moccasins for the feet, and generally a
coon-skin cap for the head, made up the fashionable outfit of the
backwoods hunter and brave. Linsey-woolsey petticoats, with an
overdress of the same material, were the dress of the women of those
days. On Sundays and other extra occasions, a cotton handkerchief
across the breast, and a pair of home-made shoes on the feet made up
the tout ensemble of the average belle of the backwoods. Weddings
were, par excellence, the grand occasions of those days. As there
were no distinctions in rank, everybody in the whole neighborhood
for a radius of many miles assembled at the bride's cabin on the day
of the expected nuptials. After dinner the dancing commenced and was
kept up with little intermission till the following day. After
supper, about 10 or 11 o'clock, a deputation of young ladies would
steal off the blushing bride, ascend the ladder to the loft, and
passing softly over the loft-floor, made of rough puncheons or
clap-boards pinned down with wooden pins, put her to bed. A little
later a deputation of young men would steal off the groom, and
similarly put him to bed, and then return to the dance below. The
next day the " infair " as it was called, went on at the house of
the groom, much as it had at the house of the bride's parents, and
some-times this feasting and merry-making was kept up for days
together.
For some time, as we have said, this was a country without churches
or schools, but as the tide of immigration continued to flow in; and
the settlements began to be more thickly populated, occasional
schoolhouses were built which answered both as seats of learning and
temples of worship. In these for many years the simple yeomen and
their families gathered about the " ambassadors for Christ," and
listened to their homely preachings. Baptists, Methodists,
Presbyterians, Universalists and all other denominations worshiped
together, and were alike glad to welcome to the neighborhood the
itinerants " of each church.
It is impossible now to give the religious composition of these
early settlements or say who was first to organize into separate and
distinct organizations. The records of most have been lost and we
can only give the bare fact that such and such churches now exist.
The West Union Baptist Church, located near Belle View, Christian
Co., Ky., was constituted in November, 1819. Seventeen persons were
in the constitution, seven males and ten females. The officiating
presbytery consisted of Elders John Mallory, Dudley Williams and
David Haggard. David Haggard was an ordained preacher and was one of
the constituent members, and for ten years next succeeding the
constitution of the church was its principal pulpit supply, though
never recognized as its pastor. Elder Haggard was a good man, but
possessed very little ability as a preacher and very few were added
to the church under his ministry. In January, 1831, Elder Dudley
Williams, a man of respectable ability, was chosen pastor, which
position he held for eight years. Under his pastorate the church was
built up and strengthened by a number of very valuable accessions;
among them may be mentioned: James Jones, Dr. I. M. Wooldridge and
C. W. Roach. This trio were made deacons, 'and using the office of
deacons well they became very useful men in the church. Dr. I. M.
Wooldridge was a successful practicing physician, a noble specimen
of the Christian gentleman, liberal of his ample means, the poor
man's friend, a generous contributor to the cause of missions, the
friend of education and the safe adviser of his pastor. After a life
of usefulness he died in 1872, loved and lamented by a large circle
of friends. Deacon C. W. Roach was his devoted friend and
fellow-laborer, his peer in faith and good works, for many years the
clerk of the Little River Association, a man of liberal views and
broad influence; he died in 1875. Deacon James Jones died in 1840 in
the midst of his usefulness.
Elder Williams was succeeded by Elder John S. Wilson, an earnest,
able minister of the New Testament, who after serving the church one
year, was called to Louisville, where he settled and subsequently
died.
During the year 1840 the church had no pastor; the pulpit was filled
by Elders Kelly, Rondeau and others. In January, 1841, Elder John W.
Kelly was elected pastor and commenced his labors in a meeting of
two weeks' continuance, resulting in a large number of very valuable
accessions; men who gave much strength to the church, which had now
become an efficient body. Elder Kelly, after a pastorate of only six
months with large success, died on the 14th of June, 1841. One
incident connected with his ministry with this church will suffice
to show what type of man he was. He had been under the necessity, as
he thought, of reproving a couple of rough, wicked men for
misbehaving in church. After he returned home they sent him word
that if he returned to fill his next appointment they would take him
out of the pulpit and cowhide him. On Saturday morning in due time
Elder Kelly walked into the house of worship with his saddle bags on
his arm; he entered the pulpit, and placing his Bible and a pistol
on the pulpit before him, he calmly remarked, " My friends, I have
come here not to offend nor molest any man but to preach the gospel
of Christ, and with the help of God I expect to accomplish what I
came to do." His would-be assailants though present made no
demonstration whatever. After the death of Elder Kelly, Elder Robert
T. Anderson was elected pastor, which position he held for a term of
thirteen years. Elder Anderson had enjoyed good educational
advantages and had quite a reputation as a preacher, and was very
successful as a pastor; he was much beloved, and his death which
occurred in 1854 was deeply deplored by a large circle of friends.
He had been the efficient clerk of the Bethel Association for a
number of years.
Elder A. W. Meacham was the successor of Elder Anderson. He
commenced his labors as pastor January, 1854. At that time it was
the custom of the church to hold an annual election for pastor; for
seven successive years Elder Meacham was elected without any
opposition. During these seven years 160 persons were added to the
church, which was at that time large and prosperous. In 1861 Elder
Meacham was again elected by a very large majority, a small faction
opposing. This call he promptly declined upon the ground that the
church was not united. From January, 1861, to June, 1862, the church
had no pastor, a majority preferring Elder Meacham, a faction
opposing. In June, 1862, the opposing faction having been reduced to
one single member, Elder Meacham was again called and accepted, and
served the church as pastor for four successive years, during which
time eighty-two members were added to the church. During the fall of
1866 a faction, one of whom was selling whisky, became disaffected
toward the pastor, upon which he promptly resigned upon the ground
that he would not be the pastor of a church that permitted its
members to deal in intoxicating drinks as a beverage. For several
years the church was not prosperous though it enjoyed the labors of
able and good men: Elder T. G. Keen, D. D., one year, two additions;
Elder R. W. Morehead, one year and six months, no additions; Elder
R. A. Massey, two years, one accession; Elder S. F. Forgy, one year,
and Elder R. W. Buckly, six months, no additions to the church.
Elder Buckly resigned, and Elder A. W. Meacham was recalled. The
church though not very large (having given letters to members to
form three other churches) is united and prosperous, occupying a
commodious house of worship, well furnished, situated in a beautiful
grove of forest trees.
The first house of worship occupied by this church was a rude log
structure situated nine miles west of Hopkinsville, on the south
side of the old Eddyville road. The second was a substantial brick,
42x56 feet, located in Belle View, two miles west of their former
building. Their present house is wood, 44x56, well finished and
neatly furnished. It stands in a grove one-half mile south of Belle
View. It has but sixty-five members. Its officers are as follows: A.
W. Meacham, Pastor; Ben Bacon, Church Clerk; James White, G. W.
Lander, R. H. Wilson, IL H. Bryant, E. A. Stowe, Deacons.
Consolation Universalist Church - The following sketch was written
for this work by E. Renshaw:
About seventy-five years ago there came into this neighborhood a
traveling preacher by the name of William Lowe, whose home was then
in Simpson County, Ky. This preacher happened to call at the house
of James E. Clark, who was then residing ,in the vicinity where
Consolation Church was afterward established, and in conversation
the preacher soon discovered the fact that the religious views of
Mr. Clark were exactly in unison with his own. The neighbors were
soon notified that a new preacher would preach the following evening
at Mr. Clark's house, and it is said that a large congregation, for
that clay and time, assembled, and the doctrine promulgated by the
new preacher was generally accepted and believed by the hearers. The
preacher was requested to leave another appointment, which he
readily agreed to. This appointment I am informed embraced the third
Sunday in May, 1819, when a church organization was regularly
established. The first person who joined was James C. Clark, the
next was Hannah, his wife; then Anna Clark, wife of Lemuel Clark,
also John Keys and Ursula, his wife; Samuel Underwood and Tabitha,
his wife; Thomas Fruit and wife, William Henderson, T. B. Pool,
Jonathan Clark, David T. Jones and others. As the early records of
the church have been lost, I only write from memory and the best
in-formation I can get. The preacher agreed to visit the church the
third Sunday in every third month, which promise he faithfully kept
for more than fifteen years, and under his ministration the church
continued to grow and prosper. The old man finally wore out,
sickened and died. To say that Father Lowe was a good man is not
saying enough; he was a righteous man and a Christian in every sense
of the word. " Blessed are they that die in the Lord, for their good
works do follow them," and here I must mention one little incident
in his life: Once when he was down here preaching he was riding a
horse that did not exactly suit him, and old brother Thomas Fruit
told him that he would swap with him, and let him have a horse that
would suit him better. The trade was consummated by Fruit giving
Lowe $10 to boot, and when he (Lowe) came back he went to Fruit and
said: " Brother Fruit, I am not satisfied with my horse swap with
you." Fruit asked what was the matter. Lowe said: I have got a horse
that suits me better than the one did that I let you have, and now
this $10 bill is not mine, and you must take it back." Whereupon
Fruit remonstrated and told him it was fair trading. Lowe said: "
Take it; my conscience will condemn me if I keep it."
Then it was that Joab Clark, being deeply imbued with the doctrine
of God's imparted grace, took upon himself the cross and became a
preacher of the doctrine of universal salvation. The people in the
neighborhood of all sects and denominations turned out in mass and
built a log meeting-house, 24x28 feet. This was about forty-nine or
fifty years ago, and after some little parley about a name it was
agreed to call it Consolation. It is situated about thirteen miles
northwest from Hopkinsville, immediately on the Buttermilk road. At
this house Joab Clark continued to preach for about forty-eight
years, and never would accept one cent for his services.
During this long period we were frequently visited and had the
services of the following preachers: L. T. Brasher, W. G. Bobbitt,
T. B. Pool, William Curry, Stellyard Scott, D. M. Wooldridge, Thomas
Abbott, J. E. McCord, Dr. Medley, W. E. McCord, L. F. Andrews, G. W.
Burruss, L. M. Pope, and Marcus Scott. The church, however, is now
in rather a forlorn condition. Since the death of the Rev. Joab
Clark we have had no regular preaching. Consequently a great many of
the members have become cold, careless or lukewarm; some have died,
others have moved off, speculation and the hope of worldly gain has
seized others.
Among the Methodist Churches in this part of the county may be
mentioned the Cave Spring Church, Mount Carmel and Pleasant Green.
About the most flourishing Baptist Church to be found is that known
as the Sinking Fork Baptist Church on the Princeton road about six
miles from Hopkinsville. The building is of brick, about 40x50 feet,
and is of good finish both inside and out. It has a present
membership of about 160. There are other churches of this
denomination and of the old Baptist as well, but we have not been
able to gather anything of their history.
The Reformers or Christians had a church at Harmony Grove organized
1873 by Elders Robert Dulin and V. M. Metcalf, with about fifty
members, but about three years afterward it was burned down. Since
that time they have been worshiping at Hardy's Schoolhouse or in
private houses. Their new house which is being erected on the site
of the old is now nearly completed, and when finished will give them
a comfortable as well as commodious house in which to worship. Their
present member-ship is about the same as when organized. Among those
who have preached for them are Elders Davis, Hester and White. At
present they have no pastor.
The most considerable and important town in the three precincts is
Crofton, in Scates' Mill, on the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. It
is of modern date, having been founded in 1871 by Mr. J. E. Croft,
but already numbers some 300 or 350 inhabitants. As a business and
educational point it is of much importance to that part of the
county. it has twelve stores, comprising dry goods, grocery and drug
stores, one large flouring mill, the Crofton Merchant and Custom
Mill, and two or more blacksmith shops.
Its educational institutions are said to be excellent of their kind,
and are three in number. The Male and Female Academy, taught by
Prof. Ingraham and Mrs. Kate Yeargin, is the principal of these, and
numbers an average attendance of some thirty or forty pupils. The
building is a large, two-story frame, 30x60 feet, and is furnished
throughout with patent folding desks.
Miss Leah Boxley's private school has an average attendance of
between twenty and twenty-five pupils. The public school taught by
Mrs. Hancock has some eighteen or twenty pupils. Besides some fifty
residences there is one church, Methodist Episcopal Church South,
three tobacco warehouses, handling something near one million pounds
per year, one pork-packing establishment, a post office, express
office and a telegraph office. The town is well supplied with
physicians, there being four to look after the health of the
community.
There are a few other unimportant villages, cross-road stores, etc.,
scattered throughout this portion of the county, but they are not
deemed of sufficient importance to require extended mention.
Christian County,
Kentucky History
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