Taking Bids For Whipping Post and Stocks

Punishment for crimes was sometimes dealt in full view of local citizens in the public square. The following court order to have stocks and a whipping post built was located in Box 2 (1805-1811) of the loose county clerk's papers in the Livingston County, Kentucky Clerk's Office and recorded in Court Order Book C, (no pagination) on Wednesday, the 4th of May 1808.  At the time of this order, Salem was the county seat of justice.  Click on the photo for an enlarged view.

Order for Bids on Whipping Posts and Stocks

"Livingston County Court May Term 1808

                Ordered that stocks and whipping post be erected on the publick square of this county, to wit, a good strong white oak post 20 inches in Diamiter eight square and a platt form 8 feet long and four wide and a pillory thereon    the post to be placed 4 feet in the ground  strong white oak stocks put through it at the ground  six feet long   the platt form and pillory to be 7 feet from the ground and a pair of hand cuffs or clamps fixed on said post at a proper hight for whipping post  the work to be done by the first monday in June next provided it can be done for $20 -  and the money to be paid out of the County Levy laid next fall and that Enoch Prince  William Ficklin & Enoch Hooper be appointed to let superintend the same &c --   A copy test    Enoch Prince"

Published 28 Feb 2019, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Samuel C. Cook 1853 - 1864

Samuel C. Cook

Born

Oct. 16, 1853

Died

Nov. 8, 1864

11 yrs. [illegible]

Buried Smithland Cemetery, Livingston County, Kentucky. Tombstone photographed 19 December 2018.

Samuel P. [sic] was born 16 October 1853 in Smithland to Elbert Cook and Malinda H. Smith, who were Smithland residents. [1]  He died during the last year of the Civil War while Smithland was occupied by the Federal army.

 Samuel appears in only one census, the 1860, in the household of Elbert and Malinda Cook. His age was given as six.[2]

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[1] Kentucky, Birth Records 1847 - 1911, Livingston County 1853, Samuel P. [sic] Cook, Ancestry.com.

[2] 1860 Livingston County , Kentucky census, Smithland, Roll M653_382, p. 285, Elbert Cook, Ancestry.com.

Published 26 Feb 2019, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Caldwell County, Kentucky Guardian Appointments 1826

A guardian was appointed when a person was unable to act for himself or was a minor (under the age of 21 years). At the age of 14, a minor could choose his own guardian with the approval of the county court. If under the age of 14, the county court appointed the guardian. To guarantee the faithful performance of the guardian, a security was required to sign the bond, also. The following records were transcribed from Court Order Book D (1822-1829), located in the Caldwell County Clerk's Office, Princeton, Kentucky.  The page number on which the information appears in  Court Order Book D is given at the end of each entry.

Anthony Laughlin was appointed guardian for Winefred Prescott Laughlin, infant orphan of William Laughlin dec'd.  Security: David W. McGoodwin. 16 Jan 1826 [p. 216]

Arnold Jacob was appointed guardian for Lucy L. White, infant orphan of Elisha White dec'd. Securities: Wm. Lander, Henry Machen.  16 Jan 1826 [p. 216]

Abel Neely Armstrong, infant orphan of Joseph Armstrong dec'd made choice of  Matthew Armstrong as his guardian. Securities: Wm. Wadlington, Reddick Nichols.  20 Feb 1826  [p. 221]

James Clark was appointed guardian for Ruth Harper & Asa Morrow Harper, orphans of William Harper dec'd. Securities: John Pennington, James Smith.  20 Feb 1826  [p. 222]

On motion of James Smith, security for James Clark, guardian to Ruth Harper & Asa Morrow Harper, Clark ordered to shew cause why he shall  not give added security; refused and was discharged as guardian.  17 Apr 1826  [p. 231]

Oresteso Cook, infant orphan of Reuben Cook dec'd, made choice of Johnson McLaughlin as his guardian. Security: Wm. Lander.  21 Aug 1826  [p. 253]

Louise Johnson, infant orphan of Samuel Johnson dec'd, made choice of Buford Lewis as her guardian. Security: John Prince.  16 Oct 1826  [p. 259]

Samuel A. Keale, infant heir and orphan of Asa Keale dec'd, made choice of John Prince as his guardian. Security: Buford Lewis.  16 Oct 1826  [p. 260]

Manly Cannon, heir & infant orphan of Kinson Cannon dec'd, made choice of James Morse as his guardian. Security: Wm. Lander. 16 Oct 1826  [p. 264]

Samuel C. Harkins, guardian to Alfred Champion, infant orphan of Thomas Champion dec'd, was displaced as guardian and Wm. Lander appointed guardian. Security: James Morse. 16 Oct 1826  [p. 266]

Lewis Martin was appointed guardian to Patsey Pennington, Wade H. Pennington, Nicey P. Pennington & Louisa Pennington, infant orphans of Jacob Pennington dec'd. Securities: Jonathan Stevens, Benjamin Jones.  20 Nov 1826  [p. 268]

Hannah Wilson was appointed guardian to Nancy Wilson, heir & infant of John Wilson dec'd. Security: James Wilson. 20 Nov 1826  [p. 269]

Major Groom was appointed guardian to Sarah Elizabeth Groom, heir & infant of John B. Groom dec'd. Security: Benjamin Quisenberry. 20 Nov 1826  [p. 272]

Abel Neely Armstrong, infant & heir of Joseph Armstrong dec'd, being of sufficient age to choose a guardian, made choice of Edmund Franklin as his guardian. Security: Lewis Franklin. 18 Dec 1826  [p. 279]

Published 21 Feb 2019, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Andy and Ruth Rotes of Carrsville, Kentucky

ROTES

Andy

1874 - 1942

Ruth

1895 - 1981

Buried Carrsville Cemetery, Livingston County, Kentucky. Tombstone photographed 8 December 2014.

According to his Kentucky Death Certificate,[1] Andy Rotes was born 17 June 1874 in Illinois and died 15 Feb 1942 in Carrsville, Kentucky. His father is listed as Sebastian Rotez [sic] and his mother's maiden name is given as Shelby. Their birthplaces were unknown. Wm. H. Rotes is listed as the informant on the death certificate.

Andy Rotes is found in the household of Sebastian and Hariet Rots [sic] in 1880 Pope County, Illinois. [2]  Sebastian, as well as his parents, was born in Germany. Hariet was born in Illinois as were her parents. The children, Mary F., Martha C., Anton [Andy] and John E. were all born in Illinois.

Ruth Rotes was born 27 Feb 1895 and died 26 November 1981.[3]  She married Andy Rotes about 1914 and they were living in Pope County, Illinois in 1918, when Andy registered for the draft for World War I.[4] The couple, along with their two children, were living in Carrsville, Kentucky by 1930.[5]    Ruth died in Crittenden County Hospital in Marion in 1981. The funeral was at Carrsville United Methodist Church. Survivors were a daughter, a son and a grandson.[6]

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[1] Kentucky Death Certificate #4359 (1942), Andy Rotez [sic], Ancestry.com.

[2] 1880 Pope County, Illinois Census, Golconda, Roll 243, p. 139D, E.D. 086, Ancestry.com.

[3] Social Security Death Index, Ruth Rotes, last residence Marshall County, Kentucky, Ancestry.com.

[4] U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards 1917-1918; Andy Rotes registered 12 Sept. 1918; residence Pope County, Illinois, Ancestry.com.

[5] 1930 Livingston County, Kentucky Census, Carrsville, p. 2B, E.D. 0010, Ancestry.com. It was stated that Andy married at the age of 41 and Ruth married at the age of 21. This places the year of their marriage as 1914. No marriage record has been located.

[6] Obituary of Mrs. Ruth Rotes, Paducah Sun, Fri., 27 Nov 1981, p. 46, Newspapers.com.

Published 19 Feb 2019, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

H.F. Given Family Tomb - Smithland Cemetery

One of the most beautiful monuments in Smithland Cemetery is the H.F. Given Family Tomb. The land for the monument was purchased  on 19 July 1860, a few months after the death of Adaline C. Haynes Given, wife of H.F. Given.[1]

The tomb is almost 160 years old and has witnessed a great deal of history, including the occupation of Smithland by the Federal Army during the Civil War. The tomb needs some very costly repairs to insure it survives for future generations to enjoy. The Smithland Cemetery Committee welcomes donations to help defray the cost of these repairs. Donations may be sent to Smithland Cemetery Fund, Smithland City Hall, 310 Wilson Avenue, PO Box 287, Smithland, Kentucky 42081. Any queries may be directed to Smithland City Hall at 270-978-2446.

 H.F. Given Family Tomb 2013

Front of H.F. Given Family Tomb 2013

Top of Tomb

In Memory of Adaline C. Given

Front, Panel 1

Dickson Given  born July 3, 1784   died Jan. 7, 1830      Epitaph:   He spent his life serving his friends and the public.

Mrs. Nancy Ramsey  born Oct. 23, 1791  Married to Dickson Given  Feb. 26, 1807    Married to Jonathan Ramsey  1832[2]   Died Feb. 3, 1854 [3]           Epitaph:  Unreadable

Esther A.  Daughter of Dickson & Nancy Given & Wife of W.P. Fowler  Born July 22, 1809  Died July 1, 1847

Front, Panel 2

Adaline C.  Daughter of C & S. Haynes   Wife of H.F. Given  Born Apr. 30, 1814  Died in the City of New Orleans Jan. 9, 1860

H.F. Given  born in Livingston Co, Ky July 7, 1811   Died Oct. 13, 1873

Front, Panel 3

Joseph R. Given  Born 1779  Died Oct. 3, 1832 in the 53 year of his life

Elizabeth wife of J.R. Given  died Feb. 27, 1833 in the 39 year of her age

Mary  sister of Dickson & Joseph R. Given and wife of Dr. J.A. Whyte  died Oct. 4, 1832 in the 55 year of her age

Back, Panel 1

Sarah  Wife of C. Haynes died June 11, 1849  Aged 72 years

C. Haynes died Dec. 14, 1844  Aged  [damaged] years[4]

W.B. Haynes born Jan. 18, 1804  died at Hickman, Ky July 15, 1830

Epitaph:

By strange hands thy dying eyes were closed

By strangers hands thy decent limbs composed

By strangers thy humble grave adored

By strangers honored and by strangers mourned.

                                                 By his sister  A.C. Givens

Back, Panel 2

Annie  wife of H.F. Given  Born in Henderson Co, Ky Aug. 9, 1840  Died Apr. 17, 1900

Geo. Milford  Son of E.P. & Elizabeth Haynes  Died March 31, 1851

[No epitaphs]

Back, Panel 3

Missing

 Back of H.F. Given Family Tomb 2013

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[1] Livingston County, Kentucky Deed Book 4:522, Town Trustees to H.F. Given. Recorded 25 July 1860.

[2] Joyce McCandless Woodyard, Livingston County, KY Marriages, Vol. 1 (Oct 1799-July 1839),  (Smithland, KY: no. pub. 1992), 115. Jonathan Ramsey married Mrs. Nancy Given, widow, 23 Oct 1831 Livingston County.

[3] Jonathan Ramsey, age 74 and born Tennessee, and Nancey Ramsey, age 58 and born Kentucky, were enumerated on the 1850 Cole County, Missouri census., Roll M432_393, p. 243A, Ancestry.com

[4] The recording of Mrs. Berna Presnell McChesney in "The Old Cemetery at Smithland, Kentucky," The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Vol. 41, 1943, p. 239 lists his age at death as 70. The 1840 Livingston County, Kentucky census shows Christopher Haynes between the ages of 60 and 70.

Published 14 Feb 2019, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,   http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

George M. and Melissa Lowey

Lowey

George M. Lowey

June 9, 1857

Oct. 31, 1905

Melissa Lowey

April 1, 1868

Sept. 21, 1942

Buried Cedar Hill Cemetery, Princeton, Caldwell County, Kentucky. Tombstone photographed 10 December 2018.

George M. Lowey and Melissa B. Smith married 10 June 1883 Caldwell County.[1]  On the marriage bond, George M. Lowey stated he was 26, a grocer and was born in North Carolina and lived in Princeton, Kentucky. His father was born in Tennessee and his mother was born in Kentucky. Melissa Smith  was 15 years old when she married and was a resident of Princeton.  Mattie Smith, mother of the bride, gave written consent for the marriage license to be issued.

George M. and Lizzie Lowey were enumerated on the 1900 Caldwell County census.  Living in their household were children, James S., Clara, Margaret and George, plus George's mother in law, Mattie Smith.[2]

According to her death certificate, [3] Melissa Lowey was born in Logan County, Kentucky, was the widow of Geo. M. Lowey. Her parents were Alonzo Smith, born Boston, Massachusetts , and Martha Williams, born Virginia.

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[1] Brenda Joyce Jerome. Caldwell County, Kentucky Marriages 1874-1884, (Evansville, IN: Evansville Bindery, 2008) 158.

[2] 1900 Caldwell County, Kentucky census, Princeton, p. 22, E.D. 0008, Ancestry.com.

[3] Kentucky Death Certificate #21453, Melissa Lowey, Ancestry.com.

Published 12 Feb 2019, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Martha Emma Hill - World War I Nurse

When the United States entered World War I in 1917, the Army Nurse Corp was only 17 years old. There were only 403 nurses on active duty and 170 on reserve duty at that time.[1] One of those nurses was Martha Emma Hill.

Miss Hill graduated from Henderson, Kentucky Hospital shortly after the turn of the 19th century and served there as a nurse before going on active duty during the war.[2] Miss Hill enlisted 15 July 1918 and was discharged 30 May 1919.  She was stationed at Base Hospital #59 in France. [3]

After the war, Miss Hill was a nurse for the Babies Milk Fund, which later became the Public Health Nursing Association. She was also a private duty nurse before retiring in 1948.[4]

The daughter of Virgel James Hill and Martha Jane Austin, Miss Hill was born 25 September 1874 in Kentucky and died 17 November 1959 Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana.[5] Survivors included two sisters, Mrs. Rose Galloway and Mrs. Luzetta Freeman, both of Evansville. A bronze government marker is over her grave in Lot 520, Space 2 in Fernwood Cemetery, Henderson.

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[1] "Army Nurse Corps: Introduction, Purpose and Introduction to Contribute Content," The United States World War I Centennial Commission, https:www.worldwar1centennial.org, accessed 9 Dec 2018.

[2] Obituary, Miss Emma Hill, Evansville Press, 18 Nov 1959, p. 6.

[3] U.S. Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963, Martha Emma Hill, Ancestry.com, accessed 9 Dec 2018.

[4] Obituary, Miss Emma Hill.

[5] Indiana Certificate of Death #59  038818, Martha Emma Hill, Ancestry.com, accessed 9 Dec 2018.

Published 7 Feb 2019, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

James Ferguson 1828 - 1851

James Ferguson

Born

March 24, 1828

Died

June 5, 1851

Buried Ferguson Cemetery, Livingston County, Kentucky. Tombstone photographed 21 Feb 2017.

James Ferguson was a son of Hamlet Ferguson, who died in 1840 and is also buried in Ferguson Cemetery. James was living with his brother, Robert,  in Livingston County in 1850.[1]

No record, thus far, has been found that tells us what took the life of this young man, who had barely reached his maturity, but we do know that cholera took many lives in western Kentucky during June of 1851. The Louisville Courier of June 18th reported the following about the cholera: "At Smithland there were three or four deaths last week. At Owensboro there have been some three or four deaths during the past few days."[2]  The Louisville Courier also reported that "the cholera has been prevailing with some severity at Princeton."[3]

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[1] 1850 Livingston County, Kentucky census, Roll M432_210, p. 384A, image 459, Ancestry.com.

[2] Daily American Telegraph of Washington, District of Columbia, 24 June 1851, p. 2, Newspapers.com.

[3] The Louisville Daily Courier 11 June 1851, p. 3, Newspapers.com.