Caldwell County, Kentucky Board of Health Report 1906 - 1907

Caldwell County Board of Health

Dr. J.A.H. Miller, Princeton

Dr. R. Woods Ogilvie,  Princeton

Dr. J.A. Mott,  Crider

J.E. Baker, Esq.,  Princeton

D.B. Blalock, Esq.,  Princeton

Princeton Board of Health

Mr. W.H. Rich,  Princeton

Mr. John W. Young, Princeton

Dr. R. Woods Ogilvie, Princeton

“Princeton, Ky,  Dec. 31, 1907  to the  State Board of Health  

Gentlemen: During 1906-07 we have had only one case of smallpox that was supposed to have been contracted on a steamboat, between Smithland and Paducah. As soon as the case was discovered, the patient was sent to the eruptive hospital and all who were exposed were vaccinated and kept in quarantine the required time.

During these two years we have had about 50 cases of scarlet fever out in the county. The causes of so many cases of scarlet fever were carelessness of attending physicians and non-observance of quarantine laws by families in which disease occurred.

The expense to the county for infectious diseases during these two years has been practically nill.

The slaughter house has been inspected repeatedly and the proprietor, Charles Raucher, was urged time and again to observe the rules and regulations pertaining to slaughter houses, but he could not be induced to observe these rules, so he was indicted by our last grand jury.

On the whole we consider the condition of the county much better than at the last report.

Very Respectfully,

Jos. A.H. Miller, M.D.,  Secretary.[1]

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[1] State Board of Health of Kentucky 1906 – 1907, Google Books, accessed 3 May 2020, p. 72.

Published 25 June 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Tavern License Granted John E. Wilson 1836

Several Acts of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky governed the granting of early tavern licenses.  Among the requirements was that the tavern keeper must keep an orderly house and  provide adequate  provisions for travelers and horses. The licenses were granted for one year.[1] 

One tavern keeper was John E. Wilson, who was was in Smithland, Livingston County by 18 March 1830, when he married Nancy Hagey, daughter of John and Catherine Hagey.[2]  Wilson was granted a license to keep a tavern at his house in Smithland on 4 July 1831, but the exact location was not given. Then, in 1836, a license was granted for Wilson to keep a tavern at his house on Lot #7 in Smithland.  Smithland Lot #7 faces the Cumberland River where Mill Street intersects Riverfront Drive and overlooks the boat ramp  in Smithland today.

John E. Wilson was also a Smithland town trustee in 1837.[3] He died 18 March 1850 and just one month later on 16 April 1850, his wife, Nancy Hagey Wilson, died. Both are buried in Smithland Cemetery.

Below is a copy of the original, handwritten tavern license from 1836.[4]

Note:  This is not the same man as the John E. Wilson, who lived on Crooked Creek in present-day Crittenden County, Kentucky, died 1853 and is buried in Crooked Creek Cemetery.

Know all men by these present that We John E. Wilson & John H. Criddle are held and firmly Bond unto the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the penal sum of One hundred pounds Current money the payment of which well and truly to be made we Bond ourselves and heirs &c Jointly and Severally firmly by these presents given with our seals and dated this 4th day of April 1836.  The Condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the above Bound John E. Wilson hath this day obtained a license t keep a Tavern at this house in this County in the Town of Smithland on Lot No. 7.

Now should the said Wilson consistently find and provide in his said Tavern good wholesome diet and ... lodging for Travellers and Stabling and provinder for horses for the Term of one year from this date and shall not Suffer or permit any unlawful gaming ... nor Suffer any person to drink more than is necessary or at any time suffer any disorderly conduct or scandalous Behavior  to be practiced in his said house with his priventy[?] or consent then this obligation is void & otherwise to remain in full force ...  [signed] J.E. Wilson, John H. Criddle.  Witness: J.L. Dallam.

Click on document for an enlarged view

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[1] Digest of the Statute Laws of Kentucky, Vol. II, (Frankfort, KY: Albert G. Hodges, 1834) 1503, Section 1-10, Google Books, accessed 22 Dec 2012.

[2] Joyce M. Woodyard. Livingston County, Kentucky Marriage Records, Vol. 1 (Oct 1799-July 1839), (Smithland, KY: n.p., 1992) 105.

[3] Livingston County, Kentucky Deed Book EE:252, Benj. Temple of Logan County, Kentucky conveys half of In Lot #113 in Smithland to Trustees of Smithland (includes John E. Wilson), for theological and literary purposes or to build a church, for $100.

[4] Loose Livingston County, Kentucky Clerk's Papers, 1836 - 1839, Tavern License of John E. Wilson.

Published 18 June 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Spiritualism's Influence in Smithland

On the 1^st day of July 1875, a jury of 12 men met in a special term of the Livingston County Court to hear evidence and decide if Charles S. Lyon, a 35 year old resident of Smithland was of unsound mind and, if so,  to determine the cause. 

Lyon, the son of Harriet Cook and Stephen Lyon, had come under the influence of a different kind of religion and had wandered away from home. His half brother suspected he had gone to Memphis, Tennessee where one of the leaders of this religion might be found.  Although a reader of general spiritualistic literature, Lyon’s relatives believed that the immediate cause of his insanity was the reading of Dr. Samuel Watson’s works on that subject.  Lyon was found in the bottom lands across from Memphis and was brought back to Smithland to determine the condition of his mind. [1] The jury, after  hearing the evidence, rendered the following verdict: “We the Jury find that Charles S. Lyon … is of unsound mind, that he is a Lunatic … lost his mind about the 13^th day of May 1875, that the probable cause from the evidence, was Spiritualism, Religion and Love.”[2]  E.G. Leeper was appointed to convey Lyon to the Lunatic Asylum in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. We do not know if Lyon continued his interest in Spiritualism, but we do know that Lyon lived in the Asylum until his death 37 years later. His remains were returned for burial near his relatives in Smithland Cemetery.  

What was this Spiritualism that was given as a reason in Charles S. Lyon being declared insane?  Wikipedia describes Spiritualism as a religious movement based on the belief that the spirits of the dead exist and have both the ability and inclination to communicate with the living. Some people believed in elements of this movement that later became known as Spiritualism, but there was no organized movement prior to 1848.  Also, there was no formal text outlining the principles of Spiritualism.   “Spiritualists believe in the possibility of communication with the spirits of dead people, with whom they regard as ‘discarnate humans.’ They believe that spirit mediums are gifted to carry on such communication, but that anyone may become a medium through study and practice.” They believe spirits are capable of growth and perfection, progressing through higher spheres or planes …  The two beliefs – that contact with spirits is possible, and that spirits may dwell on a higher plane – lead to a third belief, that spirits can provide knowledge about moral and ethical issues, as well as about God and the afterlife. Many believers therefore speak of ‘spirit guides’ … [3] 

During the early years the fundamentals of Spiritualism were spread mainly through magazines, lectures and camp meetings and many of the speakers were women.    One of the early leaders was the Rev. Dr. Samuel Watson. In 1875, he published Volume 1 of The Spiritual Magazine.  A prominent member of the Methodist church for 30 years,  Dr. Watson chose to sever his connection with the Methodist church in favor of his strong belief in Spiritualism.    Dr. Watson was living in Memphis in 1875, the same year Charles S. Lyon wandered off to that city. [4]                                                                                                                                           

It was “A Sad Case,” when Charles S. Lyon was judged to be of unsound mind because of “Spiritualism, Religion and Love.”  Was he, indeed, of unsound mind or was he simply practicing a different kind of religion?  Lyon was not the only person in the area who espoused Spiritualism. Peter H. Conant of Smithland (1809-1890) was also a believer in this religion. According to his obituary, he was “a Spiritualist and an earnest believer in the faith.” [5]  “The Conant family belonged to a religious group that did not believe in marking the graves of its dead. Many of the family members were buried in a sand bank on the left of Highway 60 that now runs from the town of Smithland to the Cumberland River bridge.”[6]  His burial place is unknown.

Robert Dale Owen of New Harmony, Posey County, Indiana was also a Spiritualist.  Owen (1801-1890) was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives, wrote about his personal and political views and published two books. His family is found throughout New Harmony’s history.  Another well-known Spiritualist was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) who was interested in many subjects, including the paranormal and those of a mystical nature, but is perhaps better known as the creator of the character, Sherlock Holmes.

Spiritualists are still found in all segments of society with some having websites and online videos explaining their beliefs.

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[1] “A Sad Case,” Daily Louisville Commercial (Louisville, Ky), Fri., 9 July 1875, p. 4, GenealogyBank, accessed 1 June 2020.

[2] Lunacy Record, Charles S. Lyon, Livingston County Loose Court Clerk’s papers, Box 19, July term 1875, Livingston County Court Clerk, accessed 2008.

[3] “Spiritualism,” Wikipedia, < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritualism>, accessed 4 June 2020.

[4] S. Watson. The Spiritual Magazine, Volume 1, (Memphis, TN: Boyle & Chapman, 1975) Google Books, accessed 4 June 2020.

[5] “A Sad Case,” Daily Louisville Commercial, 9 July 1875, p. 4.

[6] Leslie McDonald. Echoes of Yesteryear, (Smithland, KY: Livingston County Historical and Genealogical Society, Smithland, Kentucky, 1972) 105-106.

Published 11 June 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Kentucky Blind Institution 1885

The Kentucky Institution for the Education of the Blind was a boarding school with sessions lasting ten months of the year. It was recommended that the blind children should be sent to school between the ages of  8-10 as delaying after age 10 made it more difficult for the child to learn. Each child returned home during the summer. At the Institution they were provided wholesome food and received a sound English education and training in music and instruction in handicrafts.

In 1885, the following were the employees:

B.B. Huntoon, Superintendent, salary $125 per month

Mrs. Sarah J. Huntoon, matron, salary $33 1/3 per month

Miss Nina Grist, teacher, salary $30 per month

Miss Josephine Sloan, teacher, salary $30 per month

Miss Julia Purnell, teacher, salary $30 per month

Miss Mary Reilly, sewing teacher, salary $30 per month

D. Lasch, handicraft teacher, salary $50 per month

Charles Frederick, music teacher, salary $100 per month

Miss Eleanor Beebe, kindergarten teacher, salary $30 per month

Mrs. Neppie Frederick, music reader, salary $10 per month

Barbara McKinney, assistant pupil teacher, salary $10 per month

Some of the pupils enrolled in the Institution Recorded During the past year (1884):

Lidian Ball of Henderson

Anna May Carlisle of Henderson

Sophia Cromwell of Henderson

Max Rushing of Caldwell County

Anna Evaline Vaughn of Webster County

List of Blind Persons Between the Ages of 6 – 16 According to the 1880 United States Census in Kentucky [in counties covered by this blog]:

J.M. Sullivan of Williams Mills, Caldwell County

Robert Clark of Marion, Crittenden County

Arthur Riley of Hurricane, Crittenden County

Fanny Mullen of Bells Mines, Crittenden County

Kitty Wallace of Corydon, Henderson County

Eva Wallace of Corydon, Henderson County

Sarah H. Jones of Smithland, Livingston County

Ida Lee Heater of Smithland, Livingston County

Mary Bennett of Carrsville, Livingston County

Mary J. Wilson of Webster, Webster County

L.J. Shouner of Claysville, Webster County

Christina Claner of Claysville, Webster County

L.A. Stone of Jones Stand, Webster County

The information for this post comes from Legislative Document No. 13. Annual Report of the Kentucky Institution for the Education of the Blind at Louisville, KY. For the Year Ending October 31, 1885, Google Books, accessed 14 May 2020.

Published 4 June 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/