PREFACE. The aged actors in the scenes connected with the early settlement of Kentucky have passed away, and all are now slumbering with the dead. To preserve in a durable form such of those events as have not been recorded in history, we have to rely on oral tradition, or to the recollection of the sons of those ancient worthies who participated in the scenes of those stirring times, and who in infancy were witnesses of some of the scenes, or else received them traditionally from their fathers. Much of the primitive history of Kentucky, which would be exceedingly interesting even to the youth of this day, is now forever lost, and lies buried with those venerable witnesses who have long since passed from earth to that bourn from which there is no return. Many mementoes of the past, however, both useful and interesting to the rising generation, have been collected and preserved by the author, and will, in future, occupy a conspicuous place in history. Many things recorded in this volume were delivered me in my youth from the lips of my venerated father, and from my uncle, and others who participated in the scenes of those times, and which would, probably, have ever been lost had it not been for my predilection for such knowledge. I have derived great advantage and assistance from the History of Kentucky, by Lewis Collins, written nearly thirty years ago, as well as from Marshall's and Butler's, written some time previously. Many of the biographical sketches (v) given in this work are an abridgment from those works, especially those of the earliest settlers. Many, also, from a Dictionary of Congress, by Charles Lanman, and from any and every other source from which I could derive certain and reliable information. A great number of them are written from my own recollection and knowledge of the persons described, with such information as I could collect from their descendants or intimate friends and relatives. I have indulged much throughout the work in biography, looking upon biographies as landmarks, to which the larger portion of the world refers, and which is of itself, for the most part, a history of the times in which the persons lived who are described. Instance the lives of Plutarch of the most distinguished men of Greece and Rome; the lives of the signers of the Declaration of Independence of the United States; the life of Napoleon Bonaparte, &c., &c. I have endeavored all along to possess the reader with useful, interesting, correct, and entertaining matter; and with narrations so plain as to be easily understood, even by those of the humblest pretensions to learning. My object has been to state facts, stripped of all unnecessary ornament. I have given also a historical sketch, without partiality or sectarian predilection, of each of the leading denominations of Christians in Kentucky, including Roman Catholics, Episcopalians, Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Cumberland Presbyterians, and Christian Church, and have added also an account of the Shakers and of the Mormon Religion; and have given biographical sketches of the most distinguished ministers in each of these churches. The interest and usefulness of this work would have been considerably augmented had all the persons to whom we wrote for information on particular subjects have communicated the information desired, but many failed or neglected to do so. To many, however, we acknowledge our indebtedness and tender our thanks; particularly the Rt. Rev. B. B. Smith, D. D., of Frankfort, Bishop of the Diocese of Kentucky of the Episcopal Church; Rt. Rev. Wm. McClosky, D. D., of Louisville, Bishop of the Diocese of Louisville of the Roman Catholic Church; Drs. Humphrey and Wilson, of Louisville, ministers of the Presbyterian Church; Rev. Thomas Marshall, of Green County, minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church; Rev. John James, of Columbia, Adair County, minister of the Baptist Church; Dr. McDaniel, of Greensburg, circuit minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church South; Mrs. Elizabeth H. Scott, for a sketch of her father's life; the Rev. Isaac Hodgen, of the Baptist Church; Mrs. Judy Wakefield, daughter of Creed Haskins, deceased; Rev. W. K. Asbill, of Columbia, of the Christian Church; Hon. John B. Huston and Rev. James H. Mulligan, of Lexington; General Walter C. Whitaker, of Louisville; Christopher Graham, M. D., of Louisville. I have ever thought that the way to spend most profitably our leisure moments was by the perusal of good books, and especially historical works; and of these, the first to be preferred, aside from the Bible, is the history of our own State and country. I have endeavored so to arrange the work as to make it not only a pleasing and interesting study, but instructive also; and if I have succeeded in ever so small a degree in redeeming from oblivion any mementoes of the past which deserve a place in history, my highest expectations will have been accomplished. Multum in parvo have been my watch-words; and I have consequently contracted the statements of facts and events as much as possible, so as to render the book of such size and price as to be accessible to all, even those of small pecuniary means. WM. B. ALLEN. INDEX. CHAPTER I. PAGE. Boundaries and Situation-Face of the Country-Surroundings of Fayette CHAPTER II. Earliest condition of Kentucky-Tribes of Indians which disputed first 17 |