Road From James Ford's Ferry 1829

When residents wanted to open a new road or change an existing road, an application was made to the county court. Three or more men were appointed to view the road and report the advantages and disadvantages to the court.  If approved, the court would issue summons to the land owners to give testimony regarding why or why not the road should be approved. If approved, the court would order the road work to be done.   These road orders are usually recorded in the county court order books and some counties also have these transactions recorded in separate road order books.  The road orders are a good way to learn the names of neighbors. Yes, the James Ford mentioned below is the same man who operated Ford's Ferry Ohio in what was then Livingston County, but would now be in Crittenden County. John E. Wilson lived on the waters of Crooked Creek and was my 4th great grandfather.

On Monday, the 2nd day of November 1829, James Ford made a motion to the Livingston County Court  that George Witherspoon, Joseph Mercer, Dempsey Jerrald, John E. Wilson and Henry Shouse, or any three of them,  be appointed to lay out and mark a way for a road  from James Ford's ferry on the Ohio River to intersect the road leading from Centreville.[1]

Ten days later, George Witherspoon, John E. Wilson and Joseph Mercer made their report on the prospective road.

                "We the undersigned after being duly sworn, commenced to view & mark out a way for a road from Jas. Fords Ferry opposite the rock & cave, on the Ohio river, which was marked as follows: viz, At or near Barker's old landing, with the old way through a military survey of land, belonging to Mr. Singleton, living in Virginia, thence through the land belonging to the heirs of Joseph Morris of the state of Mississippi, thence through John Wider's Mr. Owen's, & then intersecting the Salem road, & keeping sd. road until it passes the house of Joseph Mercer, & through land belonging to Mary Mercer, thence through the land belonging to George Witherspoon, & by  Witherspoon's house, thence through Boling Thompson's, Jas. Hillhouse's, James Thompson's of Virginia, David Elder's, John E. Wilson's & by Wilson's house, David Mcleskey's, Richard Cruce's and Robt. Woodsides, and intersecting with the road leading from Centreville to Ford's old  Ferry, where Barker's old road did formerly.  The conveniences are these:  A nearer, and we think a better way for a road from Centreville to the Salt Works, than any other.  It is, for the most part, a dry ridge way, and yet tolerably well supplied with spring & stock water.  Another is that Crooked Creek where it crosses, is fordable, when it is not where the road from Centreville to Ford's old Ferry crosses it.  Another, that there is a Waggon makers Shop on this way.  Under existing circumstances, we do not think there is any inconvenience arising from the opening of this road, either to the public or individuals.  [signed] George Witherspoon, Jno. E. Wilson, Joseph Mercer."[2]

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[1] Livingston County, Kentucky Court Order Book G, p. 393.

[2] Livingston County, Kentucky Clerk's Court Misc. Papers 1829-1830-1831,  County Clerk's Office, Smithland, Kentucky.

Published 17 Oct 2019, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Crittenden County, Kentucky Road Report 1868

One of the functions of the county court was to hear petitions from local residents regarding the establishment of new roads. After the petition was received, commissioners were appointed to determine the feasibility of such a road and, finally, owners of the land on which the road was proposed, must give consent for the project.

The following report was for a proposed new road through Bells Mines in the northern part of Crittenden County. The Tradewater River is the dividing line between Crittenden and Union Counties. Stephen Rutherford, one of the commissioners, lived in this area and his old family cemetery is located in a small wooded area just off present-day Hwy 365, near the local office of Kimball International Inc., the current owners of this land. John T. Black also lived in this area and is buried in the Newcom-Black Cemetery across Hwy 365 from the Rutherford Cemetery.

"Bells Mines, August 1868.
Your Commissioners would respectfully report to the Honorable County Court that they met at Mr. Thos. Harlands on the Marion and Morganfield Road near to Bells Mines, Ky. and near to or at the corner of S. Rutherfords field fence, thence running along an old neighborhood Road out side of Mr. S. Rutherfords fence and on his land near his line, for about a half mile. Then leaving his land, and running on or through Mr. G.W. Trapnells land along or near to the same old neighborhood road about half a mile down to Tradewater, about 75 yards above Bells old Tip.

And your Commissioners would further report that to have a Public Road established along the above described route, crossing Tradewater at or near to Bells Tip and intersecting the Road from thare to Caseyville (via Caseys Mines) will save in distance about one half and we do believe it will incur no material disadvantage to the community, but will be of an advantage to the travelling community and citizens especially. Yours Respectfully, L.M. Lowry, Stephen Rutherford, Commissioners. Attest: John T. Black, J.P.C.C. [Justice of the Peace Crittenden County]

And your Commissioners would further recommend to have the Road that leads from the Newcom ford, on Tradewater to Bells Mines annexed to the new road as they will be in 150 yards of each other, where they intersect the Marion and Morganfield Road. And we further Recommend that you would appoint Mr. John Braden for Surveyor of Road from the Newcom ford on Tradewater to Bells Tip on Tradewater. This is the most direct way from the Miners shaft & Company mines to Bells Mines & Caseys Mines & Caseyville.

I Stephen Rutherford give my consent for the establishing of the foregoing Public Road this Augst 8th 1868. Stephen Rutherford.

I Hiram Smith agent for George Trapnall give my consent for the establishing of the foregoing Public Road this Augst 10th 1868. Hiram Smith agent for George Trapnall."

Filed 13 Oct 1868.