Vol. X of my Western Kentucky Journal contains a series on “The Other Side of the Law,” including an article on the murder of Jimmy, a Chickasaw Indian in 1803 in Eddyville, Kentucky. A newspaper article showing a slightly different view of this murder appeared in the New York Evening Post of 28 April 1803.
From a letter dated Eddyville, 10 March 1803:
“It is with extreme regret I have to inform you, that a Chickasaw Indian was murdered in this town on Monday last. The circumstances are nearly as follows:
“Six Indians of the Chickasaw Nation, who had been hunting on the south side of Cumberland, came into this town and sold a quantity of venison, turkies, etc. They went to a tavern drank pretty freely. After night two of them left the tavern, and it appears were followed by two men by the name of Cook and Furguson, with each a large club - these men concealed themselves within the yard of Mr. J.W. Throop, and as the Indians came through the gate struck them. One fell - the other made his escape. The stroke of the club was heard by Mr. Throop’s family - some neighbors were alarmed and search made for the Indian, who was at length found under a fence with his head beat to pieces in a barbarous manner. He was removed to a house and his wounds dressed by a physician, but he died the Wednesday following. The other Indian was not very badly hurt.
“On Friday a Court was called and Mathew Cook [sic], J. Furguson and Reuben Cook were apprehended - Mathew Cook made his escape from the officer - the other two were committed to jail and are to have their trial before the Circuit Court in May next.
“The other five Indians have set off for the Nation. They carried letters to their Chief, informing of the above circumstances, and requesting one of the Chiefs with an interpreter to attend the trial.
“Every kindness and attention was shewn to the Indians - the dead was decently interred, with which they seemed satisfied. But when they took their leave, they made signs that the prisoners must be hanged.
“It is said that some of the friends of the prisoners have threatened to rescue, and it is expected an attempt will be made. They are guarded at night by seven or eight men. What the consequences will be God only knows - several families who settled on the other side of Cumberland this spring, have moved back since this unfortunate affair took place.”
All three men, Matthias Cook, Reuben Cook and Isaac Ferguson, were tried and found not guilty of the murder of Jimmy
Showing posts with label Eddyville. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eddyville. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Matthew Lyon's Opinion of Eddyville
Eddyville, Kentucky began as part of old Livingston County. When Caldwell County was created from Livingston in 1809, Eddyville was located in that county. It wasn’t until 1854 that it fell into the new county of Lyon and today is the county seat of Lyon.
Many of you have heard that Matthew Lyon brought a large number of people from Vermont to settle in and around old Eddyville, Kentucky. Just recently I came across a newspaper item in the 16 January 1801 issue of the Columbian Courier, which states that Lyon petitioned the Legislature of Kentucky for a grant of 20,000 acres in the counties of Christian and Livingston for the use of himself and “certain Emigrants” from Vermont. His petition was rejected.
He didn’t give up on his quest to populate Eddyville with Vermonters as just a few days later, Lyon wrote a letter to the editor of the Vermont Gazette, in which he described the area around his Kentucky home. He said, “I am settled at a place called Eddyville, situate about forty miles up Cumberland river, which empties into the Ohio, at about sixty miles from its confluence with the Mississippi, and few miles above the mouth of the Tennessee.
“Eddyville is in the centre of Livingston county well situated to enjoy a good country trade of forty or fifty miles extent, and to command its share of the river business, the river being navigable for light boats for 300 miles above Eddyville, and for heavy flat boats down to New-Orleans, at all seasons of the years, and at high water for any vessel whatever. The country is new, having been among the hunting ground of the Indians at the time of Wayne’s treaty. The Indians have all retired some hundred miles south and west of Cumberland, and there are now a great many good farmers settled in Livingston, Christiana [sic] and Logan counties, which too last are adjacent to and older settlements than Livingston county, and whose trade will be considerable advantage to Eddyville, if the settlement prospers.
“Money is not yet plenty here nor yet to scarce as in Vermont ... The present and ensuing years sale of tobacco, cotton, hemp, wheat, beef and pork will help us greatly in this respect, as our imports are small, and salt is made in great quantities among us. Cast iron is made in Kentucky ...
“There is in Kentucky, particularly in the counties of Livingston, Henderson, Christiana and Logan, large quantities of vacant land, a considerable share of which is good for cultivation. For 2 years past I have petitioned the legislature to set apart a share of that land for such republicans from Vermont as may emigrate hither. The legislature have not thought best to comply in all points with my petition, but they have done more, they have offered their vacant land to any body that will settle it, in 400 acre lots or less, except that those settlers who have had 200 acres already, shall have but 200 acres more.”
Lyon went on to encourage people from Vermont to take advantage of this generous offer. He described “the situation” as desirable with luxuriant soil, temperate climate and provisions easily obtained. I know a number of families from Vermont did settle in and near old Eddyville, but do not know how many. Do you?
Published 12 April 2008, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/
Many of you have heard that Matthew Lyon brought a large number of people from Vermont to settle in and around old Eddyville, Kentucky. Just recently I came across a newspaper item in the 16 January 1801 issue of the Columbian Courier, which states that Lyon petitioned the Legislature of Kentucky for a grant of 20,000 acres in the counties of Christian and Livingston for the use of himself and “certain Emigrants” from Vermont. His petition was rejected.
He didn’t give up on his quest to populate Eddyville with Vermonters as just a few days later, Lyon wrote a letter to the editor of the Vermont Gazette, in which he described the area around his Kentucky home. He said, “I am settled at a place called Eddyville, situate about forty miles up Cumberland river, which empties into the Ohio, at about sixty miles from its confluence with the Mississippi, and few miles above the mouth of the Tennessee.
“Eddyville is in the centre of Livingston county well situated to enjoy a good country trade of forty or fifty miles extent, and to command its share of the river business, the river being navigable for light boats for 300 miles above Eddyville, and for heavy flat boats down to New-Orleans, at all seasons of the years, and at high water for any vessel whatever. The country is new, having been among the hunting ground of the Indians at the time of Wayne’s treaty. The Indians have all retired some hundred miles south and west of Cumberland, and there are now a great many good farmers settled in Livingston, Christiana [sic] and Logan counties, which too last are adjacent to and older settlements than Livingston county, and whose trade will be considerable advantage to Eddyville, if the settlement prospers.
“Money is not yet plenty here nor yet to scarce as in Vermont ... The present and ensuing years sale of tobacco, cotton, hemp, wheat, beef and pork will help us greatly in this respect, as our imports are small, and salt is made in great quantities among us. Cast iron is made in Kentucky ...
“There is in Kentucky, particularly in the counties of Livingston, Henderson, Christiana and Logan, large quantities of vacant land, a considerable share of which is good for cultivation. For 2 years past I have petitioned the legislature to set apart a share of that land for such republicans from Vermont as may emigrate hither. The legislature have not thought best to comply in all points with my petition, but they have done more, they have offered their vacant land to any body that will settle it, in 400 acre lots or less, except that those settlers who have had 200 acres already, shall have but 200 acres more.”
Lyon went on to encourage people from Vermont to take advantage of this generous offer. He described “the situation” as desirable with luxuriant soil, temperate climate and provisions easily obtained. I know a number of families from Vermont did settle in and near old Eddyville, but do not know how many. Do you?
Published 12 April 2008, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/
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