Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Tombstone Tuesday - What's Her Name?


 


This lovely tombstone for John Bebout and his mother Katherine is located at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Crittenden County, Kentucky. There is just one thing wrong with the tombstone - the mother's name is likely incorrect. Most records list her name as Harriet or Harriet C. Bebout. It would be easy to assume the C. in Harriet's middle name stood for Catherine, making the name on the tombstone correct. However, in the will of her father, John E. Wilson, recorded in Crittenden County Will Book 1, page 46, she is listed as "Cassa Bebout wife of Peter Bebout." When her daughter, Harriet Ann Bebout, married James P. Sullenger in 1863, the wedding was at "Casander Bebout's."

Her full name might be Harriet Cassander or Harriet Cassa , but it surely was not Katherine. Harriet C. and her husband, Peter Bebout, were my 4th great grandparents. Harriet C. Wilson Bebout was born in 1824 and died in 1908. Peter Bebout was born in 1823 and died in 1862.

Published 29 Dec 2009, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Sunday, December 27, 2009

First Baptist Church - Henderson, Kentucky



The First Baptist Church of Henderson, Kentucky was formed in 1839. A church building was erected at the corner of Center and Elm Streets, the same place where the church is currently located. This photograph was taken 18 December 2009.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Oliver Research Donated to Martin Library

The Glenn Martin Genealogy Library in Princeton, Caldwell County, Kentucky has received a wonderful Christmas gift in the form of a donation of the research files of the late Willis "Pat" Oliver, a native of Lyon County, Kentucky. The files were donated by Pat's widow, Trevah, and will be available for use by other researchers after they have been sorted and catalogued. Pat, a long time genealogist, was the original county coordinator of the Livingston, Caldwell, Crittenden, Lyon and Trigg County KYGenWeb sites. Among the families he researched were Oliver, Galusha, Parent, Throop, Chittenden and McCracken.

Watch for more information when the files become available for research.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Letters to Santa 1911

Letters to Santa Claus appeared in the Henderson, Kentucky Gleaner shortly before Christmas each year. The following appeared in the issue of Saturday, 16 December 1911.

Geneva, Ky.

Dear Santa Claus,
I am a small girl [and] am going to school every day. I want a doll, doll buggy, ring, Bible, work box, candy, nuts, figs, oranges, grapes, apples, bananas and raisins.Remember Mother, Father, Grandfather and Grandmother and sister and teacher, Miss Carrie Crenshaw.

Your little girl, Avolin McDonald.

~ ~ ~

Happy Hollow Neighborhood

Dear Old Santa,
I will write you a few lines as I think it is time to let you know what I want. I am a little boy only four years old and I am a little orphant, I live with my good old Uncle. I want a cap pistol and plenty of caps to shoot. I want a little toy horse and a dog and a pair of rubber boots and a suit of clothes and candy and all kinds of raisins and nuts of all kinds and that is all for this time. Do you think it is little for myself, but don't forget me, good old Santa, and don't forget my uncle and aunt. Goodbye.

Lockett Buckman.

~ ~ ~

Henderson, Ky.

Dear Santa,
I am a little girl five years old. I am going to move to Hot Springs, Ark. and please don't forget to come down there and see me Christmas. Please bring me a doll, doll buggy, candy, nuts, oranges and some bananas. Don't forget mama, papa and my little sister, Tommie.

Yours truly, Ethel May Koonce.

~ ~ ~


Henderson, Ky.

Dear Old Santa,
I am a little girl twelve years old. I want a nice locket, a trunk, story book, some handkerchiefs and candy, oranges, apples and squibs, roman candles, raisins and nuts of all kinds and figs and I hope I do not want too much for Christmas.

Your truly, Ida May Pyle. Please bring me a box of writing paper.

~ ~ ~


My Dear Santa,
I am a little boy ten years of age and am tolerably good some times. I want you to bring me pistol caps, a rubber ball, candy, oranges and all kinds of nuts and some squibs. Well, I guess that is a plenty for this time, as I want you to remember the orphans and poor. So goodbye.

Roscoe Christison.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Tombstone Tuesday - Little Laura Davis

We
Have an angel in heaven
Little Laura
Daughter of
C.B. & Ida C. Davis
Died
Nov. 15, 1877
Aged
4 years, 7 months
17 days








Tombstones on the graves of children are usually the most poignant, often including artwork of cherubs, lambs or angels. An example of such a tombstone is that for little Laura Davis in Smithland Cemetery, Livingston County, Kentucky. Laura was the daughter of Charles Bertrand Davis (1845 - 1927) and Ida Cade (1851 - 1930). Photographed 21 December 2009.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Zion United Church of Christ



Zion United Church of Christ, corner of North Ingram and First Streets, Henderson, Kentucky. High on the front of the building is the following:




Photographed 18 December 2009.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Livingston County, Kentucky Tavern Licenses 1863 - 1864

Taverns were important places in early Kentucky. Not only could one obtain a beverage, but news and gossip were discussed, debated and digested. Travelers bearing news of the outside world were in demand to tell all they knew of current events. There was some regulation of taverns, though, with certain requirements needing to be met and rates for the area were standardized.

In order to receive a license to keep a tavern in Kentucky, the prospective tavern keeper had to appear before the county court and promise to keep an orderly house, vow not to sell or give liquor to anyone who was intoxicated or was a minor. The license was renewable yearly. The following information has been abstracted from Livingston County Tavern Keepers Bond Book 1853 - 1894, Livingston County Clerk's Office, Smithland, Kentucky.


J.W. Kayse requested a license to keep a tavern in Salem 31 January 1863 and requested a renewal 7 March 1864.

Joseph Bridges applied to keep a tavern in Karrsville 6 April 1863 and asked for a renewal 4 April 1864.

W.F. Mitchell requested a license to keep at tavern at the Elliott House 7 September 1863.

J.L. Hibbs requested a license to keep at tavern in Birdsville 6 October 1863.

John S. Leffler posted bond to keep a tavern at the American House (in Smithland) 7 December 1863.

R.L. Caldwell requested a license to keep a tavern in Pinkneyville 4 April 1864.

C.A. Berry requested a license to keep a tavern in Salem 4 July 1864.

C.G. Halstead posted bond to keep a tavern in Smithland 6 September 1864.

Robert Crotser applied to keep a tavern in Karrsville 4 October 1864.

E.T. Duffen applied to keep a tavern in Salem 5 December 1864.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Books to be Mailed Soon

After being out of print for almost 10 years, the following book has been reprinted:


Livingston County, Kentucky
Deed Books D - E 1818 - 1822
and
Miscellaneous Loose Papers 1799 - 1804



148 pages with full name and location indices, soft cover
$27.00 postage paid.

During this time period, the county seat was in Salem. Both Salem and Smithland were small towns, but were growing. In addition to the conveyance of land, bills of sale for personal property (including slaves), mortgages, powers of attorney, and divisions of estates are also found in this book. The second portion of the book contains transcriptions of miscellaneous loose county court papers (bonds, depositions, advertisements and judgments) and lists land claims, including the name of the claimant, number of acres and the owners of the adjoining property.

I'll be mailing books soon to those persons who have already ordered placed orders. Those of you who want the book and have not yet ordered it, keep in mind that this is a very limited printing and will not be reprinted again.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Tombstone Tuesday - George Woodfork


George
Woodfork
Died
Dec. 29, 1879
Aged 50 years

Buried Uniontown Cemetery, Union County, Kentucky. Photographed 21 June 2009.

This type of metal grave marker, fairly common in this area, takes on a bluish cast and becomes brittle over a period of time.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

First Christian Church - Sturgis, Kentucky



First Christian Church, 702 North Adams Street, Sturgis, Union County, Kentucky. Nate Harper, minister. Photographed 4 December 2009

Thursday, December 10, 2009

The Town of Weston, Kentucky

Copyright by Brenda Joyce Jerome, CG

Flynn's Ferry Road, which led from the direction of Princeton, Kentucky, had been a favorite route to the ferry crossing at the Ohio River in early Livingston County, Kentucky for many years. However, it wasn't until the early 1850s that the owner, Richard M. Ford, grandson of the notorious James Ford of Fords Ferry Ohio, decided to establish a town at the site of the ferry crossing. Richard M. Ford and his brother, William, had inherited the land from their father, William M. Ford.

On the 14th of August 1854, Richard M. Ford, proprietor of the land, "including the place known as Flynns Ferry," petitioned the Crittenden County Court of his intention to establish a town. According to law, Ford posted his intentions in three public places, including the Courthouse door in Marion and in the Paducah newspaper. The location of the town began at the "lower edge of Cedar Bluff at high water mark ..." and contained about 15 acres. He proposed calling this new town Weston. Ford, who had married Nannie, daughter of Claborn and Frances V. West, named the town after his wife's family. The following persons were appointed trustees of the town: W.P. Miles, N.S. Long, Richard M. Ford and Jackson B. Hill.

In early October of 1854, a license was issued to Richard M. Ford to keep a tavern at his wharf boat on the Ohio River at Flynn's Ferry. Apparently, the new name of Weston had not taken hold yet.

Two months later, Ford petitioned the court for a license to establish a public ferry. In order to have the ferry rights at Weston, Ford was required to "keep at all times one good substantial ferry boat and not less than one good hand to manage same ..."

The sale of lots in Weston progressed slowly at first with Hugh McKee, Stephen H. Walker and John Darby being among the earliest lot owners.

Being located on the bank of the Ohio River, Weston offered a ring side view of skirmishing throughout the Civil War, but especially during the summer of 1864. In June of that year, guerrillas fired on the 7th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on board the steamer Nightengale as it passed Fords Ferry. The news was passed along to the steamer Mercury, who was headed towards that town. As the Mercury reached Weston, the ladies of the village, in a supposed friendly manner, waved to passengers on the steamer. On the bluff on the northern extremity of the town, as the steamer approached, bullets tore through the air toward the boat. Fire was returned and the rebels were seen retreating. Some took shelter behind a house. A volley was fired at the house and was literally riddled by bullets. The rebels retreated in every direction, carrying their wounded with them.

After the war, Weston began to grow and sported hotels, dry good stores, taverns and churches. Many who died were buried in the cemetery on top of the bluff. While Weston's location on the river was advantageous in shipping and receiving goods, it also flooded every time the river rose. The great Flood of 1937 devastated every town along the Ohio River, including Weston. Weston never recovered and today the town consists of only a few houses and exists mainly in yellowed newspaper articles and in the memories of former residents.

References:
Crittenden County, Kentucky Court Order Book 2, pp 102, 115, 121.
Evansville Daily Journal 23 June 1864

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Tombstone Tuesday - Virginia Dallam Atkinson



Virginia Dallam
Atkinson
1863 - 1941


Virginia Dallam Atkinson was born 26 February 1863 Henderson, Kentucky and died 29 December 1941. She is buried at Fernwood Cemetery.

Virginia Dallam Atkinson was the daughter of Virginia Josephine Dallam, born 20 February 1834 Caldwell County, Kentucky and died 1 May 1869 Henderson County, Kentucky, and John Cunningham Atkinson, for whom Atkinson Park in Henderson is named. Siblings of Virginia Dallam Atkinson were John C. Atkinson, Kate Atkinson and Anna Webb Atkinson. The Dallams were members of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Sturgis United Methodist Church



Sturgis United Methodist Church, 1001 N. Adams Street, Sturgis, Union County, Kentucky. Photographed 4 December 2009.

Friday, December 4, 2009

After the Fire

The following photographs show the condition of the old Barner (or Massey) House in Smithland after the fire earlier this week. The photographs were taken today.

The oldest portion of the house, consisting of a log cabin, was on the right side of the photo. Only a smoldering pile of logs and ash remain.



The following two photographs show the newer portion of the home.





The fire has been ruled arson.

Copyright on text and photographs
by Brenda Joyce Jerome, CG
http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Another Landmark Gone

Copyright on photo and text by Brenda Joyce Jerome, CG
May not be copied without written consent

Smithland has lost another of its old landmarks. The old Barner home, which began as a log cabin and was also known as the Massey house, was destroyed by fire Tuesday night. I believe this home was possibly built by Benjamin Barner, an early commission merchant of Smithland. His brother, Sterling M. Barner, and family came from Nashville, Tennessee to live with Benjamin Barner in the 1840s. I've written about Sterling M. Barner's daughter, Miss Pattie, and the Barner family several times on this blog.

The above photograph was taken about a year ago. The last time I saw this old house, the gutters were falling down and the roof was falling in. Remnants of its beauty were still there, but neglect had taken its toll.

The electricity had been disconnected and the cause of the fire is unknown.

One-by-one, the old buildings of Smithland are being destroyed and, as a result, we are losing relics of the town's history.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Tombstone Tuesday - Margarette Sherar


In
Memory
of
Mrs. Margarette
Sherar
native of
Nova Scotia died
Novr 17th 1843
Aged 28
years
And closed for ay
the sparkling glance
that dwell on me
so kindly


Buried in Smithland Cemetery, Smithland, Livingston County, Kentucky. Margarette Sherar was likely the first wife of Robert Sherar, who was born 21 October 1805 Canada. Sherar arrived in Smithland the middle of 1842 and purchased part of lot 49 on the corner of Main and Charlotte streets. After his wife's death, he moved to Paducah, Kentucky. Sherar married secondly Mary Adkins 5 September 1852 McCracken County, Kentucky and can be found on McCracken County census records thereafter. He died 31 January 1887 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Paducah.

The tombstone of Margarette Sherar was photographed 4 April 2009.