xt7nvx05xs8g https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7nvx05xs8g/data/mets.xml Rue, A. B. 1904  books b92-266-32002009 English Rue, : Harrodsburg, Ky. : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Louisiana Purchase Exposition (1904 : Saint Loius, Mo.) Mercer County (Ky.) History. Historical sketch of Mercer County, Ky. (illustrated)  : the within photographs were made for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis / photographed and published by A.B. Rue. text Historical sketch of Mercer County, Ky. (illustrated)  : the within photographs were made for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis / photographed and published by A.B. Rue. 1904 2002 true xt7nvx05xs8g section xt7nvx05xs8g 


Historical



Sketch



of



MERCER COUNTY.
    KENTUCKY.

 






   IHISTORICAL SK ETCH

                      F'

            MERCE'Is R   C('Ot NTr-.  sY.
                  (I LlA 's;'lT:HATFID)

           THEi WI' fIN' POTO-HAPIIS  t MslAr, E xlf 'I'll  s


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                   S'I,'. I.A) ,II



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                    II)0 ()  

 




































        A. B. vlv.,
Author and Photographer,
   Harrodsburg, Ky.

 







                                             Preface.

    The purpose of this little volume is to give a suecinet but accurate account of the historic scenes it
portrays. Between its covers will be found not only photo-engravings of those scenes which have never be-
fore been accessible to the general public, but also sone history which has never before been written.
I am greatly indebted to the Hon. W. W. Stephenson and Messrs. Pullianm and hIutton, of the Harrods-
burg Herald, for much of the information the volume contains.                         TIE AUTHOR.







                                   11.I)UlATjC- T- MY HEL1.OY1) WAFT

                                J ESSIE ANDERSON RUG.

 


















5:

 




                                          Daniel Boone.

    Col. Daniel Boone, the great western hunter and pioneer was born February 11, 1735, in Exetur
township Bucks County, Pa. While a youth his father settled, with his family on the Yadkin, eight miles
from Wilkesboro, N. C., when Daniel was about eighteen years of age. In 'May, 1769, he set out in com-
pany with others in search of the "Country of Kentucky" and arrived on the banks of Kentucky River in
June where they camped. He spent the winter of 1769-70 in a cave in Mlercer County. known as Boone's
Cave. In March, 1771 he returned to his family on the Yadkin, sold his farm and on September 25, 1774,
with his family started for Kentucky, accompanied by his brother Squire Boonme  In October six of
their number being killed by Indians, they returned to Clinch River. In June (if 1774, in connection
with Michael Stoner, he was sent by (Gov. Dunmore to conduct a party of surveyozrs to the falls of the
Ohio River and on the sixteenth day of June of that year, he was at llarrod's ('amp and assisted in lay-
ing out Harrodstown, afterwards known as Harrodsburg. In the springk of 1775, he started with his family
and others from his home on the Yadkin and reached the banks of Kentucky River at the site which was after-
wards known as Boonesborough on April 1, and began the construction of the fort at that place. In the
summer of 1775, after the completion of the fort at Boonesborough, he returned to Clinch River for his
family. He brought them to the new fort as soon as the journey eould be performed and 'Mrs. Boone and
her daughters were the first white women who ever stood upon the lianks of the Kentucky River. He was
one of the most remarkable men of his time, and one of the most useful. His name will stand prominent
throughout ages on the pages of American history as the most conspicious pioneer of this Western country.

 



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         Key to Opposite Page.



WEST MAIN.                                  EAST MAIN.



A   John Wood.
B   Henry Farnsworth.
C   -     Phillips.
D   J. Lillard.
E   Mann & Mullins.
F   James Curry.
(;  Wm. Payne.
H   Raus Craigg.
I   Poteet Hotel.
J   Chinnoweth Residence.



K   Redwitz; I. 0. 0. F.; Kentucky Signal.
L   Butcher Shop; Comstock: Jeweler.
M   John Vananglin.
N   Wannacutt.
0   Hardesty Livery Stable.
P   Bottom & Beddow.

,,  Ben Patterson Residence and Saloon.
R   Loeb Clothing Store.
S   Sharrard, Jeweler.
T   Daniel Curry, Grocer.
U   John Bingham, Tailor.
V   Henry Canada, Saddler.
W   Dr. C. S. Abell.
X   Steinhuis, Tailor.

 
































HARRODSBUBG IN 1904.

 











                                 Main Street, Harrodsburg.

    By the overwhelming weight of authorities Harrodsburg is the oldest town in Kentucky. Capt.
James Harrod and his men arrived at this place in May, 1774, and made their principal camp about 10)
yards west of the town spring. The town site was laid out June 16. 1774, and a number of cabins built.
From its founder, Capt. James Harrod, it was first called  Harrodstown. subsequently. Oldltown. and
finally received its present name.

 





































BOONE 's CAVE.

 










                                         Boone's Cave.

    Col. Daniel Boone spent the winter of 1769-70 in this cave which is situated on the waters of Shawnee
Run, in Mercer County, about four miles east of Harrdlshurg. The tree shown in the picture marked with his
name is still standing near the head of the cave. The distinguished pioneer. after whom  the cave was
named, was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania on the banks of the Delaware River. on the eleventh day
of February, 1711  He died with fever at the hous  of his son-in-law in Flasiders. Calloway County, Ao._
in the year 1820 at the advanced age of eighty-nine years.

 






































TIuE SPOT WHERE THE OLD FORT STOOD AT HARRODSBURG.

 










                              The Old Fort on Seminary Hill.

    The above is a picture of Capt. Phil. B. Thompson standing on the spot on old lSeminary Hill where
once stood the log house which constituted part of the fort. Capt. Thomipson, now in his eighty-first year,
attending school on the old Seminary Hill, also called Old Fort lill, as early as 1SS. and at that time
there remained two buildings of the Old Fort, one being two-story. the other a one-Ktory addition. The
number of cabins in the fort or its dimensions either way is nowhere preserved. A censtis was taken on
the second day of September, 1777, at which tihe the population of Hlarrod s Fort was 198.

 






































PAYNE'S SPPRING.



CAMP GROUND OF CAPT. HARROD.

 









                                          Payne's Spring.

    The above is a picture of Payne's Spring, known in history as "-Boilinig Splring." ('apt. Jam. larrod
and his men arrived at this spring in May, 1774, and made their prilleiI)al cantip about 100 yards below
this spring under the branches of a large spreading elm, three feet in dIiamlter, under which the first ser-
mon preached in Kentucky, was delivered in the spring of 1776. llele a towni site wxIs laid out with the
assistance of Daniel Boone on June 16, 1774, and a number of cabins were itnxiiediately erected near this
elm and occupied until July 20, 1774, when they were abandoned on account of fear of a general Indian
attack, of which they were warned by Gov. Duninore, of Virginia. These cabins we-e re-oeeupied March
15, 1775, since which time Ilarrodsburg has been a permanent settlement, th e first in Kentneky. A nuni-
ber of authorities say that Jas. Harrod erected the first cabin built in Kentucky.

 





































XILW OF GRAHAMI SPRtINGS.

 





                                         Graham Springs.

    The above is a picture of the principal hotel of the celebrated Graham  Springs.  Dr. Christopher
Columbus Graham was born October 10, 1787, near Danville, in what was then Mercer County. He served
with distinction in the War of 1812. As early as 1819 he began his career in connection with the history
of Harrodsburg. In 1820 he became proprietor of the Ilarrodsburg Springs, which lie kept for thirty-two
years until this celebrated property was sold to the United States Government as a site for the Western
Military Asylum. As early as 1828 Dr. Graham had made Harrodsburg a popular summoner resort as is
testified to by Timothy Flint in his geography of the Western Country. Dr. Grahalma  by his taste and
enterprise beautified the grounds and buildings, and his genial nature attracted people, and the natural
virtue of the mineral waters became so well-known that, under his management, the Ilarrodsburg springs
increased in popularity until it was the summer resort of the South. Lewis Collins in his history (1848),
speaks of this as one of the most fashionable watering places in the State and says that Dr. Graham had
sipent 300,000.00 in the preparation of accommodations for visitors, that. the main hotel is one of the
finest and most commodious buildings in the West. For many years prior to the purchase of this property
as a soldiers' home in 1852, each summer brought hither from 1,200 to 1,540 of the fashionable and aristo-
cratic pleasure seekers of the South. This principal hotel was destroyed by fire about the year 1865, and
this was succeeded by the destruction of other buildings by fire. The water, whose superior medicinal
qualities have been attested by time, is still used by large numbers of health seekers of the town.

 






































FIRST X pERN-FIE;XD IN KENTUCKY.

 











                                First Corn Field in Kentucky.

    Soon after the arrival of Capt. James Harrod and his men at Harrodsburg in May, 1774. John Har-
mon planted a corn-field near their camp which was about 100 yards below the Big Spring. lie cultivated
it until the abandonment of the place on July 20, 1774. This field was near the center of the present town.

 





































TREE UNDER WICH FUCST SERMON WAS PREACHED.

 









                 Old Elm Tree Under Which First Sermon Was Preached.

    Under a large spreading elm tree three feet in diameter, which stood at the south end of the iron
bridge at present located on East Street about 100 yards west of Payne's spring the first sermon that
was preached in Kentucky, was delivered by the Rev. Peter Tinsley followed immediately by Rev. Wm.
Hickman, unless it be that the Rev. John Lythe, who was a resident of Harrodsburg in the early part of
1775, and was a delegate to the Boonesborough Convention, preached prior to that time. Of this, however,
there is no record. This tree was struck by lightning in 1861, and, being hollow, wast set on fire andl the
interior burned, leaving a shell for the trunk. The trustees of Harrodsburg, deeming it unsafe, ordered it
cut down. The above photograph was taken (immediately after it was felled by Archie Woods), of which
this is a true copy.

 








































GORE S SPRING.

 










                                           Gore's Spring.

    The above represents a spring called after Andrew Gore, who purchased it from the Pogue heirs about
1815. It is just 265 feet west of the old or original "town springs," at the northwemt corner of the large
block or tract of land on which the old fort stood. The north line of the fort is supposed to have been
about 250 feet south of the old spring and on the brow of the hill. This old "townm spring" has been dry
for more than a third of a century, and the vein that supplied it so abundantly wheim it was first dixettv-
ered and became historic, has been diverted into other veins which make the present town spring knowni by
the above name.

 














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                            The Old Court-House at Harrodsburg.

    This is one of the old land marks of the historic town of Ifarrodsburg. It was completed in 1818
and was well constructed, but has long since become antiquated. The timbers for the windows and doors
and joists were hewn out by R. K. Fallis. In this forum have taken place sonie of the most celebrated
trials that have taken place in the State, notably the Wilkerson trial in 1841. which brought hither a
galaxy of the moat brilliant orators of the country. Chief of these was Sargeant S. Prentiss.

 













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                                         Ann McGinty.

    Ann McGinty, was the wife of Wm. Poague, a remarkable ingenious man who lived at Harrodsburg
from February 17, 1776, to September 17, 1778. He made the first loom on which weaving was done in
Kentuckv.   His wife, Ann, was a woman of great energy and self-reliance and brought the first spinnintg-
wheel to Kentucky and made the first linen ever made in this State (from the lent of nettles). and the first
linsey (from the nettle and buffalo wool). She afterwards married Joseph Lindsay, an illustrious victim of
the Battle of Blue Licks, and afterwards, in 1782, to James McGinty. Her tombstone above photographied
shows that she died November 14, 1815.



               The Tombstone of the First White Child Buried in Kentucky.

    Aceording to well authenticated tradition, the above photograph represents the resting place of the
first white child that was buried in Kentucky. The early settlers of Harrodsburg, the first occupants of the
old fort, pointed out this spot to Prof. Tobias Askew, who was born in Harrodsburg before the begin-
ning of the nineteenth century, as the tombstone of the first white child that was buried in Kentueky. The
date of death is not given upon the tombstone, but it is presumed that it was soon after the settlement of
Harrodsburg, which was first made in June, 1774. The tombstone consists of a small coffin-shape sarcopha-
gus, which time has almost buried beneath the sod, and an unmarked head stone. A similar stone near by
records the death of its silent occupant in 1800,

 

































THE RAY TREE.

 







                                          The Ray Tree.

    The tree against which the man is leaning is the one from which General James B. Ray shot an
Indian in 1776. The red man had climbed into the leafy branches, and was imitating the call of a wild
turkey, hoping to draw the inmates of the fort from behind the protecting shelter of the palisades into
an ambush that had been laid for them. Several were on the point of going to look for the "turkey," but
General Ray, who had detected the false notes, warned them that the cry was being made by a Shawnee
brave. He, himself, however, slipped out of the fort, made a detour, escaped the ambush, and shot the
Indian, and got back to the fort, although hotly pursued, and shot at several times. Squire James Lillard.
who died three years ago at the advanced age of ninety-five years, had often talked with Ray about early
times in the "Dark and Bloody Grounds," and the old pioneer stated that he heard the splash of the water
when the brave landed in the pool shown in the accompanying engraving. This tree, a sycamore, is in a
fairly well preserved state as is shown. It is about four blocks from Mlain Street, llarrodslburg, and within
150 yards of where stood the elm, under whose spreading branches God's niessage was first delivered in
Kentucky.

 
































BURIAL PLACE OF CoL. GABRIEL SLAUGHTER.

 









                           Burial Place of Col. Gabriel Slaughter.

    Col. Gabriel Slaughter was born in Virginia in 1767, and, when a youth, emigrated to Kentucky, and
settled a few miles from Harrodsburg. His residence was widely known as "'Traveler's Rest." lie com-
manded a regiment of Kentucky troops at the Battle of New Orleans. HIe was elected in 1816 lieutenant-
governor of Kentucky, and upon the death of Gov. George Madison, became governor of this Xtate for four
years. After serving as governor, he retired to his farm in Mercer County about three and a half miles
northeast of Harrodsburg, where he died at the age of sixty-three and was buried in the smaill family grave
yard enclosed by a stone fence, which still stands though much neglected. Within three-fourths of a mile
of this spot the remains of Gov. John Adair were also buried, but his body was removed to the Frankfort
cemetery in 1872. "Traveler's Rest" is now owned by T. H. Coleman, Jr.

 














































VNIEW (ax SALT RIVER.

 








                                       View on Salt River.

    This picture represents a view on Salt River near where the old Blockhouse once iatood. These aneient
fortifications were located about three miles above Harrodsburg, were quadrangular in form, and contained
ditches and a mound some ten or twelve feet high, filled with human bones and pieees of rude erockery. On
one side of the mound a hickory tree, about two feet in diameter, was blown up by the roots sonme years
ago, making a hole between four and five feet deep. Tangled in the lower roots wax a large piece of the
crockery ware, with the handle attached. It had evidently been on fire coals, and beside the coals lay sone
human hair. This was probably at one time a place of human sacrifice. The mound is almost obliterated
now. There are other ruins about a mile and a half farther up the river, but there is no mound here, only
the remains of deep ditches that have onee been dug in the earth.

 






















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                           A Modern Mercer County Residence.

   This magnificent residence. the home of Hon. D. L. Moore, was ereeted in 1893. at a cost of 40,000.00
and is probably the handsomest home in Central Kentucky. It shows quite a contrast of our pioneer fore-
fathers and the wealthy citizens of the present day.

 
































THE OLD THOMpSoN Housz oN SHAWNEE CREEIL

 








                       The Old Thompson House on Shawnee Creek.

    This old mansion was built by Col. George C. Thompson in the year 1795. The farm contained 2.000
acres and on it was a park of forest trees containing 200 acres, filled with elk and deer, and in addition a
large stockade with two grizzly bear. Col. Thompson took great interest in these wild pets of the forest,
and took great pride in showing them to his friends and visitors. The building is of brick, and of the
colonial style, built in the most substantial manner and finely finished in hard wood. It is
situated about four miles north of Harrodsburg, Ky., only a few hundred yards from the
historic Shawnee Spring. The house is still in a fine state of preservation and was for a number of
years the home of the Hon. D. J. Curry, deceased, but lately passed into the hands of the Bonta Bros. It
has stood for all these years in defiance of wind and storms, fires and floods, in peace and in war, long
after all, whose childish prattle and merry laughter, made it a bright and happy home, have passed into
the silent beyond, and it still continues to protect all who come within its hospitable halls, from the cold
and heat of the outer world.

 














































IIA\\ N-1.1: SI'ING(.

 









                                       Shawnee Spring.

    This is a beautiful spring 25 feet in diameter, situated about four miles north of llarrodsburg on the
farm formerly owned by Gen. Jan. Ray, where he lived, died and was buried. In the year 1776 (Gen.
Ray, then a boy of sixteen, met Gen. George Rogers Clark on his second visit to Kentucky at this spring
and conducted him to Harrodsburg. In March, 1777, James Ray, his brother, Wmn. Ray, Wm. Coones
and Thoman Shoren were engaged in clearing land at this place for Hugh AMeoiary, the step-father of the
Rays. The two Rays and Shores visited a neighboring sugar camp and were attacked by a party of
forty-seven Indians and Wm. Ray was killed. James fled to the Hairrod s Fort pursued by the Indians
and gave timely warning of the attack to follow. Ray outran the swiftest warriors. Blackfish at his cap-
ture at Blue Licks the following year mentioned this circumstance to Daniel Boone.

 










































1 T m:  R.i-B o 

 

                                   The Ray Burying-ground.

    Gen. James B. Ray is buried on a knoll overlooking the famous Shawnee Spring, which is shown
elsewhere in this book. The grave yard is four miles north of Harrodsburg, on what is yet known as the
Ray Place. He died in the late twenties, and people came from all parts of the Commonwealth to pay
homage to the dead at the last sad rites. His large double house stood within 300 yards of the famous
spring at which Gen. Ray's brother was killed by the Indians. Mr. George D. Coleman, who is yet living,
aged ninety, and who attended the obsequies, tells us that the crowd was so large that the casket contain-
ing the remains of the dead pioneer was placed under a large elm tree that stood in front of the door so
that the people might hear the words of the discourse.
    Gen. Ray had requested that he be buried at the foot of a large apple tree in his orchardwhich was done.
Only the stump of the tree remains at this day. The man in the accompanying picture has his foot rest-
ing on the remnant of the tree. Gen. Ray came from Virginia with his parents when a mere boy. He
performed many deeds of daring and courage and by his great sagacity provided Harrod's Fort with provis-
ion, when it was beseiged by Indians. The early history of Kentucky is full of remarkable incidents in
which he was the hero. Gen. Ray was the swiftest runner in the settlements, and it was from this spring
that he outfooted the Indians in 1777, and warned and saved the fort after his brother had been slain.
Several of the fleetest Indians gave pursuit, but Gen. Ray distanced them and warned the station that was
ill prepared for an attack. The remarkable swiftness of Gen. Ray elicited the admiration of the In-
dians, and Chief Blaekfish, who led the band, remarked to Daniel Boone, after his capture at Blue Lick.
the succeeding year, that a boy at Harrodstown outran all his warriors. In this chase when Gen. Ray
reached the fort the garrison was in a panic and too much under the influence of their fears to open the
gate. Ray threw himself flat upon the ground, behind a stump just large enough to protect his body.
Here, within seven steps of the fort wall, in sight of his mother, he lay for hours, while the Indians kept
up an incessant fire, the balls often tearing up the ground on either side of him. At last becoming iib-
patient he called out: "For God's sake, dig a hole under the cabin wall and take me in." This was done
and the young hunter was speedily within the shelter of the fort and in the arms of his mother.

 
































roNz DwEtLmNG BUILT IN 1790 ON THE iTsE OF MCAFEE STATION.

 




                       Probably the Oldest Stone House in Kentucky.

    In June, 1773, three brothers, James McAfee, George McAfee and Robert McAfee, of Bottentourt
(then Fincastle) County, Va., arrived at the mouth of Limestone (Maysville), Ky. They had come down
New River to the mouth of the Kanawha and thence by boat down the Ohio. They visited Big Bone Lick
and Drennon's Lick. Thence they passed up the Kentucky River and surveyed the present site of Frank-
fort. But advancing further south on the east side of the Kentucky River when they came to the rich
bluegrass lands of Mercer County they preferred it and made locations of land near Harrodsburg. Re-
turning to Virginia they were prevented by the Indian hostilities known as the Cornstalk war from re-
turning in 1774, but in 1775 they revisited Kentucky in advance of Brown and the Henderson company
and established themselves on the land they had taken up. Later James McAfee, who was the elder broth-
er, established a station on his land, which became an important point of refuge and defenses against the
Indians. The location of the stations, as was the selection of the land, was determined by a fine spring
which still gushes forth near the bank of Salt River, about one hundred yards from the site of James
McAfee's house. This building, which is shown in the photograph from which the above picture was
taken, is in a good state of preservation, was built in 1790, and is one of the oldest stone houses in Ken-
tucky. It was built on the northeast corner of the old station and modeled after the McAfee stone house
in Armagh, Ireland. The shingles were put on with wrought nails. The hinges on all the doors are two
and a half feet long, extending across the doors on the inside. The mantels are of the old eolonial style,
very high and broad. James McAfee lived in the house until his death in 1811.

 
































MCAFEE SPRING.

 












                                         McAfee Spring.

    The above is a picture of the spring about 100 yards from the old McAfee stone dwelling house. Soon
after the location and settlement of the McAfee brothers, James McAfee built a fort on which is situated
the old McAfee stone house. The location of the fort and of the dwelling was decided by this magnifi-
cient source of never failing water.

 

























OuD PtovEDEfCE BURYING-GOUvD.

 








                               Old Providence Burying-ground.

    There are few spots in Mereer County around which so many historic associations cluster. In 1785
James McAfee gave to the Presbyterians two acres of land on the top of a hill about a half mile from his
home, to be used for a church, schoolhouse and burying ground. Mindful of the frequent interpositions
of Heaven in their favor against the dangers which beset them, the godly pioneers called the little log edi-
fice "Providence Church." Here for more than forty years the old settlers worshipped, and here when
their earthly work was done, they were laid to rest in the adjacent burying ground. The graves of James
McAfee and his wife, Agnes, can still be seen, marked with neat tombstones. George McAfee, brother of
James, was the first person buried from Old Providence Church. In 1825 the old log structure gave place
to a more imposing edifice. the site of which was nearly a mile farther to the northwest. This was known
as New   Providence.   Still later another church, a very handsome slate-covered edifice was erected on
the Harrodsburg and Frankfort pike a mile from the cemetery. It has a very large membership.

 



























TmE OLD ViViJO  HousR

 










                                   The Old Vivion House.

    This house was completed by Samuel Taylor in 1790, as is shown by the carved stone in front forming
part of the construction. Samuel Taylor, who purchased of Stephen Trigg. who pre-emipted the land
sold his farm of 454 acres to John Glover August 6, 1811, and he to WIn. B. Vivion. John Glover removed
to St. Louis, Mo., and became a leading lawyer of that place. His son, Wm. Glover. hecalne a distin-
guished representative in Congress from Missouri. This old stone building is still in a geod state 4f preser-
vation and is now owned and occupied by Mr. Dave Chatham.

 






































SNAXERTOWN.

 







                                           Shakertown.

    This is one of the most interesting points in Mercer County. The village was founded in 1810 by that
orderly and industrious society known as Shakers, and for years was one of the richest and most prosperous
communities in the state. They owned at one time 7,000 acres of the finest bluegrass land, which they
tilled in unison; they built their own houses and made their own furniture; they raised their own flax and
wool which the women wove into cloth for the use of members of the society. The buildings are large,
handsome and costly structures, several of them of Kentucky marble, and all of them fashioned for com-
fort, convenience and endurance. The village is one of rare beauty and neatness, situated on a commanding
eminence about a mile from Kentucky River and seven miles from Harrodsburg. To the Shakers belong the
honor of establishing the first system of water works west of the Alleghanies. Many outsiders, attracted
by the quiet beauty of the place and the invigorating atmosphere, congregate here during the heated months,
and the place is rapidly developing into one of the most popular summer resorts in the State. This picture
represents the office and residence of the noted physician, Dr. William Pennybaker, who is now manager of
the society.

 


































HIGH BRIDGE.

 










                                          High Bridge.

    This is one of the boldest and most original pieces of bridge engineering in America. It is a part of the
C. S. R. R., and was designed and built by the Baltimore Bridge Company, Shaler Smith being chief
engineer. There are three spans of 375 feet each, making the total length 1,125 feet. The height of the rail
above the foundation of piers is 286 feet and above low water mark 280 feet. Its construction was be-
gun October 16, 1876, and completed February 20, 1877, at a cost of 404,000.00. The natural beauty of
the scenery at this point near which the Kentucky and Dix Riven; form a junction is not second to that of
the Palisades of the Hudson.

 










































FoUNTAINEBLEAU SPRING.

 








                                    Fountainbleau Spring.

    This spring wells up from the ground as from a hidden source and is situated on the farm of Fred
Forsythe four miles northeast of Harrodsburg. In July, 1775, Col. Daniel Boone, sent out by (Gov. Dun-
more to warn the surveyors at the falls of the Ohio of the hostility of the northern Indians, found Harrod
and his men located at what is now Harrodsburg, where a town site had been laid out and cabins built. On
July 20, 1775, three or four of his men discovered this spring and stopped to rest about noon. The Indians
fired on them and killed Jared Cowan, who was at the time engaged in drying his papers in the sun. They
had gotten wet from a heavy rain in the morning. Two of the company made their way to the falls of the
Ohio and the others fled to Harrod's camp and gave the alarm. Capt. Harrod with a company buried Cowan
and secured the papers. Soon afterwards the settlement at Harrod's camp was abandoned till the follow-
ing March. Capt. Harrod and his eompany stopped at this place in May, 1774, on their way to the present
site of Harrodsburg.

 





































MUD ME2EIOG HOUSE,

 










                                       Mud Meeting House.

    This building is situated about three miles southwest of Harrodsburg, and, if not the oldest, is one of
the oldest churches standing in Kentucky. The frame work was built 104 years ago. Its foundation was
laid in faith and prayer. When the sleepers were put in and a few planks laid, some one asked that the
workmen stop and that a divine blessing be invoked upon the work and the future church. All heads
bowed under the open sky amidst a primeval forest and the voice of prayer and praise was lifted to the
Supreme Being. The frame work was filled in with sticks and mud and the walls thus constructed, though
now concealed by plastering, still stand. The building was re-constructed and ehanged to its present form
in 1849.

 


































THE OLD SHAKER MILL.

 









                                     The Old Shaker Mill.

    The Shaker Mill was built by the Society of Shakers in 1813 and was the first water-mill of significance
erected west of the Alleghanies. The superiority of its flour and meal was known throughout several states
and the capacity of the plant was utterly inadequate to supply the demand. Contiguous counties patron-
ized it, and its flour was marketed in Louisville and other river points to New Orleans, where wealthy
planters booked their orders a years in advance. Its power was supplied by an artificial eanal leading
from a distant point of the South Fork of the famous Shawnee Run hraneh. which made suffieient pres-
sure to turn an immense water-wheel, the power of which operated the machinery of the mill and linseed
oil factory attached. The old land mark is silent now. but stands as a nmonunment to Shake