News From Uniontown, Kentucky 1894

You never know where you will find news of your town. The following Uniontown, Union County, Kentucky news was transcribed from the Evansville, Indiana Courier, Friday, 18 May 1894

Murry Cromwell, a prominent young man of Spring Grove, this county, died suddenly Monday evening under mysterious circumstances. He died of poison, whether self-administered or not is not positively known. He was about 21 years old, an orphan, and made his home with his grandfather, Hon. Jas. Blue.

Fred Snodgrass returned Monday from the state college at Lexington, where he has been a student for several months.

Mr. H. Thomas, of New Harmony, Ind., left Monday for his home after six years faithful service as miller in the ill-fated city roller mills.

Mr. J.F. Roberts, in true Chicago style, has rebuilt the blacksmith shop destroyed by fire Saturday morning. His shop was uninsured as were also some valuable tools which were lost, and his friends, conscious of his inestimable worth, have assisted him to retrieve in a measure his heavy loss. It is now ready for occupancy.

Mr. Ben J. Chapman has recently sold to Philomen Richards, of Boxville, his farm of 200 acres, upon which he has resided for the past 12 years, for the sum of $75 per acre. This is one of the best improved and located farms of the county, being nearly midway between Morganfield and Uniontown on the Ohio Valley railroad. Mr. Chapman is to give possession January 1, 1895, when he will remove to one of the towns in the county.

Mr. Rudy of Henderson spent Sunday in town.

Mrs. Otto Anderson, of Hopkinsville, one of the most charming of last winter’s brides, is the guest of her parents, Judge and Mrs. John Gip Berry.

The ladies of the Baptist church will give a strawberry supper next Friday evening in the city hall. Twenty gallons of berries, as many ices and a proportionate number of cakes will be prepared.

Mrs. J.T. Jenkins went to Sturgis Tuesday to visit her sister, Mrs. E.H. Wathen.

Wordless Wednesday - Court Street, Smithland

Court Street, Smithland, Kentucky. The first photo is looking from the Ohio and Cumberland Rivers toward the old Livingston County courthouse. The second photo is from US 60 looking toward the rivers. The old Masonic Lodge is on the left. Photos taken on a Saturday morning in 2009.

Tombstone Tuesday - Elijah T. Mitchusson

E. Turner
Mitchussson
Nov. 24, 1883
Dec. 28, 1911

Buried Lot 1394, Space 2, Fernwood Cemetery, Henderson, Kentucky. Woodmen of the World emblem. Photographed 6 June 2009.

Elijah Turner Mitchusson was the son of William W. Mitchusson and Addie Sellars, who moved to Cincinnati from Henderson in the 1920s. E. Turner Mitchusson was the descendant of two pioneer Kentucky families – the Mitchussons being from Caldwell County and the Sellars being early settlers of Henderson County.

Livingston County, Kentucky Tavern Licenses 1860-1862

Taverns played an important part in the social life of early Kentucky counties. Patrons visited with local residents and gathered news from travelers. Taverns in Livingston County were usually located in towns or at crossroads. The county court granted tavern licenses to those who vowed they would keep an orderly house, would not sell or give liquor to anyone who was intoxicated or to a minor. The following information has been abstracted from Tavern Keeper Bonds 1853 – 1894, found in the Livingston County Clerk’s Office, Smithland, Kentucky.

W.B. Green was granted a license to keep a tavern in Salem 4 January 1860.

William Pippin was granted a license to keep a tavern in Salem 18 January 1860.

John S. Leffler was granted a license to keep a tavern in Smithland 12 April 1860.

John Ross was granted a license to keep a tavern at Ross’ Ferry 3 December 1860.

William Pippin’s tavern license was renewed 9 January 1861.

Alfred Browning was granted a license to keep a tavern in Salem 23 January 1862.

C.A. Berry was granted a license to keep a tavern in Salem 23 January 1862.

Joseph Bridges was granted a license to keep a tavern at the framed Tavern House 1 April 1862.

John Ross’ tavern license was renewed 7 April 1862.

Tilor Elliott was granted a license to keep a tavern in Smithland 5 May 1862.

John S. Leffler’s tavern license was renewed at the American House 6 August 1862.

Masonic Lodge 1860

Masonic Lodge, Court Street, Smithland, Kentucky. Photograph was taken 1 July 2009.

On the 30th of August 1860, James W. Cade and his wife, Helen, sold part of lot #49 for “Smithland Lodge No. 138, Free and Accepted Masons, their heirs and assigns forever …” This deed is recorded in Livingston County Deed Book 4, page 551.

The establishment date of Lodge No. 138 is unknown, but it was by 1858. See List of Lodge #138 Members in 1858 Prior to 1860 they had met in the Gower House on Water or Front Street.

Wordless Wednesday - Union Baptist Church

Union Missionary Baptist Church, the first Baptist church in present-day Crittenden County, was created from Old Salem Baptist Church in 1810. A large cemetery adjoins the church. Union Baptist Church is located off U.S. 60 between Marion in Crittenden County and Salem in Livingston County.

Tombstone Tuesday - Thomas McCormick

In memory
Of
Thomas McCormick
P.J.L.C.
A native of Ireland
Born
Sept. 10, 1797
Died
August 8, 1853

Buried in Smithland Cemetery, Smithland, Kentucky beside his wife and two sons. The tombstone, which is lying on the ground, was photographed 1 July 2009.

Thomas McCormick arrived in Livingston County before 1819, when he married Elizabeth Kellam. He kept a tavern in his home in Smithland and was also a county judge. Thomas and Elizabeth McCormick had four known children: Elizabeth K., who married Gustavus Hodge; Thomas J., who married a lady named Sarah; John D. (1820-1823) and Wallis (1829-1842).

Elizabeth Kellam was first married to Mason Lillard and had one daughter, Jane W. Lillard, who married Dr. David B. Sanders.