xt7bk35m9c6t https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7bk35m9c6t/data/mets.xml 1908 books b92-114-27763377 English Dan T. Fischer, : Flemingsburg, Ky. : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Fleming County (Ky.) History. Condensed history of Fleming County, Kentucky text Condensed history of Fleming County, Kentucky 1908 2002 true xt7bk35m9c6t section xt7bk35m9c6t
CONDENSED HISTORY
OF
FLEMING COUNTY
KENTUCKY
Published by
DAN T. FISCHER
Flemingsburg, Ky.
1908
Price 15 Cents
This page in the original text is blank.
CONDENSED HISTORY
OF
FLEMING COUNTY
KENTUCKY
Published by
DAN T. FISCHER
Flemingsburg, Ky.
1908
Price 15 Cents
. ..... A- - --- -.
This page in the original text is blank.
Historical Sketch of Fleming County
O F the 119 counties in Kentucky, Fleming was 26th in order
of formation. It was carved out of Mason in the year
1798, and named in honor of Colonel John Fleming, a
native of Virginia, who came to Kentucky in 1787, settling at
Strode's Station. in Clark county. Three years later he re-
moved to Fleming, settling at Fleming Station, five miles
west of where Flemingsburg now stands, and near Fleming
creek. Harvey T. Grannis now owns the land on which the
fort was built. Some of the graves where the settlers buried
their dead, and the spring where water was obtained for the
garrison, are yet to be seen. In very dry times this spring
failed, and water was carried from one located high up on the
creek bank, fronting the Joseph Bell farm. This spring is
about 200 yards below iron bridge between Flemingsburg and
Tilton. The spring is on the land of the late "Larry" Howe.
Early of mornings, when men went to this spring for water,
they always halted on the summit and examined the surround-
ings for Indians in ambush before descending to the spring.
In 1791, a party of Indians stole two children and some
horses in Clark county, and were pursued by a smaller party
of whites. The Indians crossed Licking river at upper Blue
Lick, making their way to the Ohio river. A short distance
west of where Battle Run church now stands, in the ravine that
heads near the turnpike road, almost opposite the old Ricketts
house, among the giant poplars and a dense undergrowth, the
Indians halted in ambush and awaited the coming of their
pursuers. Soon the whites appeared, and there was a hot
fight, with about equal loss; but being greatly outnumbered,
and the Indians in their chosen position, the whites were forced
to retire.
Colonel John Fleming, of Fleming Statio, who was at
Strode's when the Indians committed their depredations, joined
H4ITSTRICAL SKETCH (OF FLEMING COJTNTY
in the pursuit and was badly wounded in the fight. Being pursued
by an Indian with uplifted tomahawk, he dropped behind a
log, and, resting his gull on the log, he fired and killed the In-
dian. Just then his faithful mare, that had broken loose when
the tight commenced, came running to him, halted beside the
log, received him on her back and bore him safely home. He
died at his station inl 1794. This fight gave to the little village
and the creek on which it is located their names-Battle Run.
Fleming county is bounded by Mason, Lewis, Rowan, Bath,
Nicholas and Robertson, and its area is about 350 square miles.
It was much larger when first formed. In 1856 a portion of its
territory was taken to aid in the formation of Rowan; and in
1867 another strip went to help make Robertson. The surface
of Fleming is in some parts undulating, in others hilly, and
the eastern portion is "knobby." The soil is as diversified as
is the surface, but most of it is exceedingly productive. All
kinds of grain and grass are grown in abundance; fine horses,
cattle and sheep grow fat on bluegrass pastures, while hogs
are up to their eyes in clover. Licking river forms much of
the south-western boundary of the county, and its many trib-
utaries, great and small, drain the lands and supply abundance
of water for all purposes.
Fleming county has about 25 miles of railroad, more than
200 miles of free and well-kept turnpike road, and a complete
network of telephones. She has 72 public schools, many
churches, but not a single drinking saloon, barroom nor "blind
tiger." Her people are industrious, law-abiding, social, char-
itable, intelligent and refined.
Flemingsburg, the county seat, is situated in the north-
central portion of the county, on the Maysville and Mt. Ster-
ling turnpike, and is surrounded by beautiful bluegrass farms.
It is a neat, prosperous, up-to-date little city, containing all
the necessary public buildings, a fine graded high school, three
banks, two hotels, two printing offices, electric lights, steam
fire departments. etc. There are 7 churches. The city con-
tains a large roller flouring mill, electric light and ice plants.
Near th-he. northern limit of Flemingsburg is the site of
Stwkton's Station, settled by Major George Stockton in 1787.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF FLEMING cOuNTry
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Nothing of the old station remains to mark the exact spot
where it stood, but the spring from which the settlers obtained
their water and the graveyard where they buried their dead
are there to indicate that it was not far away. Major Stock-
ton was a native of Virginia and in company with Colonel
John Fleming, came down the Ohio river in a canoe to Lime-
stone, (Maysville) settling his station soon after his arrival.
From infancy to manhood he had been a captive among the
Indians of New York, and when at length he returned to Vir-
ginia and civilization, he was not satisfied with the change in
his mode of living, and he determined to seek a home in the
wilderness of Kentucky.
One day a man by the name of Williams was working near
the fort, when shot and killed by prowling Indians. These
were frightened away by the loud blasts of a horn, blown by a
negro woman to warn the settlers. The horn was heard at
Fleming's Station, five miles away.
About the year 1789, two men, Beacham Rhodes and Rob-
ert Stockton, mounted and followed by two good dogs, set out
for a few days' hunt on Fox creek,where game of all kinds was
abundant. They established their camp on a tributary of Fox,
a short distance east of what is now known as Bell Grove
springs. One night, after an unusally successful day's hunt,
when both men were asleep, two Indians stole upon their camp
and shot them. Stockton was killed and his companion dan-
gerously wounded. Rhodes crawled beyond the light of the fire,
while the dogs fiercely assailed the Indians. These, instead of
killing the wounded man and scalping the dead as was their
custom, mounted the hunters' horses and fled, followed by one
of the dogs.
Being wounded in the hip and unable to walk, Beacham,
who possessed wonderful pluck, crawled into the creek, where
he remained concealed in a pile of driftwood during the re-
mainder of the night and the next day, and then he started
homeward. After seven days he reached Fleming creek,
(known as Weaver's Ford, and the exact place, under the rail-
road bridge of C. F. S. R. R.,where the railroad wreck of May
10, 1908, occurred) having crawled the entire distance-four-
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF FLEMING COUNTY 7
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF FLEMING COUNTY
teen miles. Here he met another hunter from the station, who
conveyed him to his home.
Very soon the friends of Stockton were on the way to Fox
to care for his body, which they found guarded by his faithful
dog. The smell of blood had attracted beasts of prey to the
spot, but the brave dog kept them at hay and none had touched
the body. The remains were buried where they lay. A large
slab marks the spot, and this may yet be seen near the little
creek, one mile from Bell Grove springs and two miles south-
east of Plummer's Landing. The creek bears the name of him
who died upon its banks-Stockton.
"His faithful dog, in life his firmest friend,
The first to welcome, foremost to defend,
Whose honest heart was still his master's own,
Who labor'd, fought, lived and breathed for him alone,"
was so weak from starvation that he could not walk, and he
was carried back to the fort where, in a few weeks, he was
joined by the other, that had followed the Indians and horses.
Speaking of the fidelity of dogs, Senator Vest, of Missouri,
once said in a public speech: "A man's wife may desert him,
his children may desert him, his kindred, his friends, and all
mankind may desert him, but his dog never will."
Major Stockton was the owner of a negro man named Ben,
who was quite a favorite with his master, as well as all the
hunters in the fort. He frequently accompanied them on their
hunting excursions and always made himself so useful and
agreeable that they were glad to have him. He was a good
shot and a successful hunter, and his hatred of Indians was
unbounded. He had never killed one, but had boasted much
of what he would do if given a chance. The chance came, aimd
Ben shot a redskin. It happened in this way: Some Indians
had stolen horses in Clark county and were hurrying to cross
the Ohio river with them. The party in pursuit being weak,
call was made at Stockton's for help. Several men volunteered,
and Ben, with the consent of his master, accompanied the
party. In Lewis county the Indians were overtaken, but their
actions convinced the whites that they were being drawn into
an ambuseade, and a halt was ordered. Only a few Indians
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF FLEMING COUNTY
were to be seen, and these were retreating leisurely down the
hill, on the summit of which the whites had halted, to a dense
woods at the base, where the ambuscade was supposed to be.
Ben, who was somewhat in advance of the party, did not hear
the order to halt. but continued on down -the hill. Presently
he was seen to raise his rifle to his shoulder, a sharp report
followed, and an Indian, that had just climbed on a log to get
a view of the whites, sprang high in the air and fell to the
ground. As the savage fell, Ben yelled at the top of his voice:
"Take dat, you red rascals, to 'member Ben, de black white
nman! "'
During the time of trouble between the white settlers and
Indians in "the dark and bloody ground," there were three
stations, or forts, located within the present limit-s of Fleming
county-Fleming's, Stockton's and Cassidy's-for defense
against the savage. The three commanders were brave men,
experienced hunters and were thoroughly skilled in Indian war-
fare. Farms were opened, crops grown and stock raised by
settlers in the vicinities of these forts, while the garrison scout-
ed, hunted and kept guard. The forts or stockades, were con-
structed of large, heavy posts, either round or split, twelve or
fifteen feet in length, firmly planted in the ground, and inclos-
ing sufficient territory for houses, stables and stock-pens. This
afforded ample protection against rifles, but not against
artillery.
Michael Cassidy, the most active and warlike of the three
commanders, was a son of the Emerald Isle, diminutive in size,
but with a big brave heart under his hunting-shirt. When quite
young he canie to America, and at the breaking out of the Rev-
olutionary War he enlisted and served in the Continental army.
The war over he came to Kentucky and for a time stopped at
Strode's Station. Soon, however, he came and settled in what
is now Fleming county, where the remainder of his life was
spent-dying near his station in 1829. He was the first
representative in the State Senate from his district, and he
was several times elected to the other branch of the legislature.
Cassidy's Station was located about 2y miles west of Stock-
ton's, and nearly the same distance from Fleming's, near the
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source of Cassidy's creek, just north of the old Cassidy resi-
dence,which is on the dirt road leading from the Flemingsburg
and Elizaville pike to the Blue Lick pike. In this house he
lived, raised his family, and here he died an old man, leaving
behind him an honored name.
Michael Casaidy was in many encounters with Indians; was
once made prisoner by them, but escaped after a very brief
captivity and a hot fight with a little redskin. This was the
way of it: Cassidy and two companions were hunting some
distance from the station. One night, after aii unusally wear-
isomne day's hunt, when they were camping and asleep in the
woods, three Indians stole upon them, killed his two compan-
ions and captured Cassidy. The little Irishman was handed
over to the smallest of the three savages to be dissected with a
butcher knife, for the entertainment of the other Indians. But
Cassidy, who objected to being made the subject of any such
operation, watched his opportunity and as the Indian ap-
proached him, knife in hand, with his fist gave the savage a
blow that sent him sprawling to the ground, and elicited loud
and prolonged laughter fromn the others. At length after a
stunning blow from the Irishman's fist that almost paralyzed
his assailant, the other Indians interfered and with their war
clubs knocked Cassidy down beside their prostrate comrade
But the active little white man was on his feet again in a nio-
mnent, and, armed with the fallen Indian's knife, he assaulted
his other two enemies so fiercely that they drew back, when
instantly he sprang into the shelter of the woods and made
his escape.
There was an understanding among the garrisons of three
forts and the settlers living near that no one was to fire a gun
iiear either fort except at an Indian. Late one evening a man
named Stuart, one of the regular scouts, when near Cassidy's
Station fired his gun at an owl. Thinking, of course, that In-
dians were coming, Cassidy seized his gun and started in the
direction of the firing. Not far from the fort, in the dim twi-
light, he discovered a man in the garb of an Indian. carrying
a gun, and he fired. The supposed savage fell. Going up to
the fallen man, he found that he had killed his frie-nrd Stuart,
12
HPITORWCAL SKETCH OF FLEMING4 COUNTY
COURT HOUSE, FLEM3INGSBURG, KY.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF FLEMING COUNTY
one of the most valuable men in the settlement, whose folly in
firing the shot cost him his life.
On one occasion, while hunting on a creek that now bears
his name, south of Licking river, he suddenly encountered an
Indian. Each leveled his gun at the other, but, though they
stood face to face in the open, neither fired. Cassidy could not
shoot because his handkerchief was tied around the lock of his
gun to protect it against a drizzling rain that was falling. Be-
lieving that something was wrong with his enemy's gun, too,
he began to unwrap the handkerchief; perceiving which, the
Indian "treed." Cassidy, having removed the handkerchief
from his gun lock, waited till his enemny exposed enough of his
body to afford a fair mark, wheni he fired and the savage fell.
On approaching himi the Indiaii extended his hand, saying,
"Howdy do. brother!'" But the Irishnman would not recognize
the relationship, and the desperate fight that followed Resulted
in the death of the already wounded savage. The little (reek
near which the encounter oceurred is in Nicholas county, and
a similar one iD Fleming benrs the name of the brave little
Irish hunter.
Fleming county had yetanother pioneer citizen that settled
here in 1792, who is highly deserving of notice and coninjenda-
tion. William Kennan owned and occupied land on Fleming
creek, known as the Clinkinbeard farm, but more recently the
property of Marion Mark well. Here he raised the castor bean,
built a mill and made castor oil. He was a Baptist minister
and preached for a church near his home. One Saturday
morning he sent his son James, the father of Mrs. Lawrence
Howe, to Maysville to ascertain the price of castor oil. The
son did not return till Suuday morruiiig, after his father had
gone to church. James got ready and went, too, to find the
good man in his pulpit and preaching an excellent old-fash-
ioned sermon to an attentive audience. Spying James coining
into the house, the father halted in his sermnon and inquired,
"Jeems, my son, what is oil worth in Maysville" and then
resumed his discourse and-still held the attention of his con-
gregation. This is to illustrate the eccentric character of a
pioneer preacher and a brave, genexous man.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF FLEMING COUNTY
William Kennan was a man of extraordinary activity, as
was shown by his "big jump" and his swift race just before
and immediately after St. Clair's defeat by Little Turtle and
his Indians November 4th, 1791. He was then but 18 years of
age, but every inch a man.
At early dawn on the morning of the battle, Kennan, who
with a few comrades was stationed in advance of the main
force, discovered a small body of Indians cautiously moving
toward them. After firing at the foremost savage, Kennan
concealed himself in the long grass and proceeded to reload his
rifle; but his comrades, seeing great numbers of their enemies
rushing toward them, retreated in haste, calling to Kennan to
run for his life. Springing to his feet the young man beheld
Indians within a few yards of him, while his comrades were a
dozen rods away. Here it was "devil take the hindmost," but
Kennan did not purpose to be taken by the single red devil
that pursued. It was "nip and tuck" between him and the
young chief that was about twenty feet behind him-a distance
that "Nip" could not increase nor "Tuck" diminish.
The Indian carried a tomahawk in his hand, while Ken-
nan WAs without arins. Because of having to wateh his pur-
suer, that he might dodge the weapon if thrown at him, Ken-
nan suddenly found himself confronted by an immense fallen
tree upon which brush was piled to the height of eight or ten
feet. It could not be avoided; the young white man must go
over it or be tomnahawked. Now sure of his victim, the Indian
uttered a yell of joy; but in a moment thatwas changed to one
of disappointment, for Kennan, at a single bound, cleared all
and alighted safe and sound upon the other side. "Uh! white
man gone!" was that redskin's farewell to Kennan.
The surprise was complete, notwithstanding General Wash-
ington's parting advice to General St. Clairto "beware of sur-
prise; " and after three hours of desperate fighting the army was
defeated and in disordely retreat, with a loss of about 1,000
men. William Kennan was among the last to leave the field,
but his fleetness of foot enabled him to keep out of reach of the
pursuing enemy, and to help some of his wounded comrades.
One of these he carried upon his back until almost overtaken
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by the Indians. The poor fellow clung to Kennan, begging
piteously to be saved from the tomahawks of the inf uriated sav-
ages; and the brave boy continued to carry his wounded com-
rade till the red demons were within a few yards of them,
when, to save his own life, he dropped his burden.
He next came up to Major Madison, afterward Governor
Madison, of Kentucky, who, wounded and bleeding, was un-
able to go farther. He ran back a short distance where he had
seen a horse that some soldier had abandoned because of its
exhausted condition. This he caught and returned with it to
Major Madison, assisted him to mount and continued by his
side till the pursuit ceased.
These brave, noble deeds were performed by an eighteen-
year-old boy, who soon after became a resident of Fleming
county, or what subsequently became Fleming county, where
the remainder of his life was spent. He represented the county
in the first session of the State Legislature, in 1799, Michael
Cassidy being Senator. Kennan died Feb. 4th, 1827.
In the eastern, or "knobby," portion of the county are a
number of mineral springs, some of which possess fine medicinal
qualities. The Fox springs, near the source of Fox creek, are-
the most noted. Here, many years ago, stood a large hotel,.
and during the summer season it was crowded with guests from
far and near-seekers of health and pleasure. At that time there
was plenty of game in the woods to tempt the hunter, and he
came with his gun and hounds; professional ard business men
were there for rest and recreation; sporting men and men of
leisure came to have a good time, the Kentucky colonel to talk
politics. drink whiskey and play poker. Many of the men
brought their wives and daughters, and pleasure reigned su-
premie. Outdoor sports were the order of the day; night brought
music and dancing, and "bright the lamps shown o'er fair wo-
men and"-fast men.
Candidates for office always completed their canvass-us-
ually on Saturday before the election on Monday- at Fox
springs. Many voters were there to hear their candidate make
his last speech, to eat and drink at his expense and to "borrow"
a few dollars for a short time. It was Whig and Democrat
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF FLEMING1 COUNTY
then, with but one voting place in the county, and that at
Flemingsburg. where three days' election was held. The ne-
gro could not vote, but his master usually gave him one day to
attend the election, and he enjoyed it thoroughly.
In time the game about Fox springs became scarce, men
sought pleasure and recreation at more accessible places, and
the big hotel ceased to be profitable. Years ago it was destroy-
ed by fire, and only the springs remain toremind the "old set-
tler" that this was once a popular resort for seekers of health
and pleasure, and that there he spent his Saturday evenings
drinking the pure, health-giving water and participating in
gaines and other amusements.
In the valley, just below the spring, is Park lake, a beau-
tiful body of water, covering about 20 acres. It is owned by
a stock company and was made in 1906 by damming a small trib-
utary of Fox creek. It is well stocked with the best of fish.
Members of the company have their cottages, their boats and
their fishing outfit, and there they can spend a few days or
weeks away from busy care, fishing, boating, bathing and
drinking the healthful water.
About seven miles below Fox springs. near Fox creek, are
the Bell Grove springs, the waters of which are similar in
quality to those of the former. Here, too, was once a hotel
that accommodated a good many boarders during the summer
season and hunters during the winter. Being immediately on
the main road leading to Virginia, it was a convenient stopping
place for drovers-men driving horses and hogs to the eastern
market-for in those days there were no facilities for shipping.
But in time, as was the case at Fox springs, game became
scarce, boarders dropped off, and the hotel ceased to pay ex-
penses. After changing hands a number of times it, too,
burned.
On the turnpike leading from Flemingsburg to Bell Grove
springs, and about five miles from the county seat, is a natural
curiosity. It is a bowl-shaped depression in the earth, about
100 yards in diameter, through which the road passes. Its
sides are composed of a blue substance, in some places piled
to the height of sixteen or eighteen feet, and looking as though
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF FLEMING COUNTY 2
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF FLEMING COUNTY
it might have been thrown up from the bowels of the earth by
some internal force. In this strange-looking substance there
is not a stone of any character, no sand, no soil, except where
leaves and other substances have blown, found lodgment and
decayed. In such places a bunch of coarse grass or a small
bush may be seen. This place is known as Blue Bank.
Some years ago a traveler who had been in South Africa
visited Blue Bank, and after a careful examination of the
strange blue substance of which the bank surrounding the
basin is formed, he pronounced it very much like that found
in the diamond fields of the "dark continent." But as no
"sparklers" have ever been found by any of the many thousand
people that have visited Blue Bank during the last century, it
is hardly probable that any exist there.
Six miles south of Blue Bank, on the same road, is Iron
Mountain, so named because of the vast quantity of iron ore it
is supposed to contain. Enough has been dug from its sides to
justify the name, and geologists who have examnined specimens
pronounce it quite rich; but because of its location and the
low price of iron there is little probability that mining will be
done there very soon.
Though the upper Blue Lick is on the west side of Licking
River, in Nicholas county, it is on a tract of land most of which
lies in Fleming. This land was first owned by John Finley,
who with three other men, discovered the lick and surveyed
thle tract in 1773. Soon after the Revolutionary war, in which
he served as major of a Pennsylvania regiment, Finley came to
Kentucky and settled soon on his land, on the Fleming county
side, remaining there and owning the lick till his death. In
1800 he succeeded William Keminan as representative from
Fleming county in the State Legislature. After his death the
Blue Lick property fell to his son David D. Finley, the grand-
father of David D. Sousley, who is now (1908) Judge of the Flem-
ing county court.
On the farm of Wallace Peck, eleven miles south of Flem-
ingsburg and one mile from Licking river, is an Indian bury-
ing-ground. Several of the graves have been opened and all
found to contain human bones-those of adults-and in one
was a stone pipe; in another a stone hatchet, and several con-
tained small pieces of mica. From one was taken a dark-col-
ored and highly-polished bit of stone about 2 by 3 inches and
about Y4 of an inch in thickness. Through the center is a eir-
ciular hole X of an inch in diameter and neatly drilled-possi-
bly an ornament.
Each grave has an inside wall constructed of flat stones set
on edge, and is covered with similar material. These stones
must have been brought from a considerable distance, as none
such are to be found in that locality.
22S
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF FLEMING COUNTY 23
History tells us that there were no resident Indians in Ken-
tucky when white men first visited it; that the various tribes
claiming it had a mutual agreement that it should be kept as a
hunting ground for them to the exclusion of all others; that
hostile tribes frequently invaded this territory, and that
great battles were fought between them and the claimants.
This being true. it is not improbable that many of the Indian
burying-grounds found in Kentucky contain the bones and be-
longings of warriors slain in these deadly conflicts; and the
fact that few bones of cnildren are found in these graveyards
strengthen this conclusion.
With very few exceptions the people of Flemingcountyare
American born, but are of varied ancestry, and so mixed by
intermarriage are some of them that they can scarcely trace
their lineage; but these crosses have made and are making
many good and useful citizens and able men, who are bringing
their county to the front rank and classing her with the best
in the State.
Fleming county has given six governors to other States.
Besides filling her own offices with good men Fleming
county has furnished to other States and territories men of
ability and capability who have occupied high places as legisla-
tive, executive and judicial officers. She gave to Cincinnati a
mayor, to Ohio, Indiana and Missouri governors, and to West-
ern territories a delegate in Congress and two high judicial
officers. To the Southern Confederacy she gave a brigadier
general, and three Congressman; to Virginia a legislator, and
a high sheriff to Richmond, on the James. She has furnished
two State Grand Masters to the Masonic Order and one to the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows. She has given to other
counties and to other States preachers and teachers, lawyers
and doctors, husbands and wives, and the supply is by no
means exhausted.
1-The first man born at what afterwards was called Flem-
ing county, was at Stockton's Station in 1788, and his name
was Lake Stockton.
2-The Battle of Blue Lick Springs Aug. 19th, 1782, was
fought between the Indians and whites, the loss of whites
being 65.
3-Flemingsburg was laid out as a town in 1796. There
were two churches erected in 1799. The Methodist church was:
built near Stockton's Station and the Presbyterian churchk
where our Fleming county cemetery is.
The stone house, 2Y2 miles from Flemingsburg on Mt. Ster-
ling turnpike, was built in 1800 by Thos. Benton. The brick
residence of the late Robt. Andrews, one mile west of Flemw
ingsburg, on Elizaville pike, was built in 1803; also the two-
24 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF FLEMING COUNTY
story brick building next to Exchange Bank building, on West
Water street, was built in the same year by John Stockwell.
The first man hung in Fleming county was Dan MeLough-
lin in Sept., 1828.
Fleming county court house was built in 1829.
First turnpike in Fleming county was finished in 1836 from
Flemingsburg to Maysville, Ky.
Cholera was in Fleming county in 1833 and 1855. The
highest death-rate in 1833 was 65 and same in 1855. The high-
est death-rate in one day was same both times, 9 in one day.
In 1842 there was a wealthy slave owner named Thomas
Wallace, who did not care to hold his slaves in bondage any
longer, and in order to set them free he had to send them back
to their native country, Liberia. Among them was one called
Val Todd, who afterwards became governor of that country.
The first oil well dug in Flemingsburg was dug in 1865;
at the depth of 995 feet, they found gas instead of oil. The
first railroad in Fleming county was in the north-western
part of the county 1869, and was called Kentucky Central fnow
L. N.) R. R. The next railroad was Covington, Flemings-
burg and Pound Gap. The dirt was broken on this road Oct.
24th, 1876, by Mrs. Robert Samuels,who at present lives at Pop-
lar Plains, y., making its first regular run in the spring of 1877.
This road has changed hands and name several times and now
is called Cincinnati, Flemingsburg and South-eastern R. R.
We have only had one railroad wreck that has amounted to any-
thing in Fleming county. It wason C. F. S. R. R. May 10th,
1907, LXk miles east of Flemingsburg near Weaver's Ford ,where
Rhodes crawled when wounded by the Indians, known in.
time of wreck as double deck trestle. The train of the C. F.
S. R. R. fell 38 feet, 20 persons being on the train at the time
of the wreck, 3 were killed and with the exception of a 6-months
old baby, there was not a one escaped without injuries. This
railroad (C. F. S.) is narrow-guage. In August, 1908, they be-
gan work to make a broad-guage road; finished Dec. 21. 1908.
Sept. 1st, 1905, was the biggest fire in the history of Flem-
ingsburg. Seven business houses completely destroyed and
several other buildings were damaged. F. G. H. S. building
was built in 1890. On May 20th, 1894, eight inches of snow fell,
breaking down trees and blockading the roads. In 1854 was
the greatest drouth ever experienced. Wm. Cord had to haul
water from Garr Pond, a distance of six miles, to Flemingsburg
to run his flour mill. The first store in Fleming county was at
Flemingsburg, run by Thos. Wallace in 1804, and the fisrt ho-
tel was run by John Faris in same year (1804).
The old cedar church was built in 1816 and was torn down
in 1882. The drouth of 1908 lasted from July till Christmas.
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Electronic reproduction. 2002. (Beyond the shelf, serving his