Salem Shops Shut on Sundays in 1836

 Blue Laws are nothing new in Kentucky. Even in the 1830s merchants banded together to keep stores and shops closed on the Sabbath. The following Article of Agreement among merchants, mechanicks, grocery and tavern keepers was found among loose county clerk's papers in Livingston County. The following document was first published here on 31 Jan 2013.

"We the undersigned traders & Merchants of the town of Salem, Ky. for the purpose of correcting some degree the pernicious practice of Opening Shops, Stores, &c on Sunday, do obligate ourselves to close & keep closed our doors on the Sabath, & in all cases refuse to trade with any who may come to town on said day to loiter & drink. And do further agree unanimously to present any Grocery, Store or Shop that persists in so unholy & unlawful practice in Salem. June 7, 1836. The above obligation is not to prevent the furnishing of medicin Shrouds &c Sent for by the sick or required for the Dead. [signed] Greer & William, [?] Johnson, G. Robertson, [?] Richardson & Greer, Jos. Watts, Bayliss & McCrosky, Joseph Watts & Co., H.M. Woods, Given Williams & Given, R. & W.U. Hodge, Bass & Williams."

Published again on 30 Jan 2022

Singing For Better Weather

 This post on the weather comes from previously published posts of the Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog. Somehow it seems appropriate. The only thing missing was a pandemic.

After a couple of years with mild winters, those of us living in the middle part of our country had almost forgotten what a real winter was like. Mother Nature hastened to remind us the middle of this month when she sent us bone-chilling temperatures and several inches of snow. 

The winter of 1950 cut a swath of destruction across the country– from  tornadoes in the south, a paralyzing blanket of slush in the midwest and  snow and ice dumped on the northeast.  The tornadoes killed 48 people and injured hundreds.

When two large rain-swollen rivers meet and merge, a flood is sure to happen. The result in 1950 was an inundated business district with part of the residential area being covered by water, too. Part of Smithland had been flooded since early January. [1]

The residents of Smithland, Kentucky knew how to deal with disaster when their options were few.

“From the Pacific Northwest to New England, the northern half of the nation was barraged by almost every weapon in winter’s book – snow, rain, freezing drizzle, high winds and sub-zero temperatures.

“Flood refugees at tiny Smithland, Ky., held a community sing to bolster their spirits. More than 200 people sang “It Ain’t Gonna Rain No More” and “River Stay way From My Door” as the Cumberland and Ohio Rivers, which join near the town, climbed steadily higher …

“The Red Cross served coffee, donuts and punch, and county clerk Gabe McCandless reported, “Yes, sir, everybody was kinda cheered up and felt much better when the thing was over.”[2]

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[1] “Where Cumberland Meets Ohio,” Evansville Press, Evansville, Indiana, Thurs., 16 Feb 1950, page 1.

[2] “Tornado – Battered Southern Sections Get Flood Misery; All Northern Half of U.S. Feels Winter,” Clinton Daily News, Clinton, Oklahoma, Tues., 24 Feb 1950, p. 1, Newspapers.com accessed 18 Feb 2021.

p.s. Don't expect new posts from now on. Maybe cabin fever is getting to me or perhaps this is a way to entertain myself on a quiet winter day.  

Gone Fishing!

 

Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Merry Christmas!

 Merry Christmas from my family to your family!

Published 23 Dec 2021, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Gone Fishing

 

Published 27 Nov 2021, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogyblogspot.com/

Happy Thanksgiving!

Crittenden County, Kentucky Naturalized Citizens July - Oct 1856

A person became a naturalized citizen of the United States after having first filed his intention to do so and disavowing all allegiance to a foreign power. In Kentucky, the intention was filed in county or circuit court and recorded in the court order books (court minutes).  The information in the declarations may vary, but usually includes the name of the person, when he filed his petition for naturalization, and to whom he formerly vowed allegiance. The following naturalization records show when the person became a citizen of the United States. These records are abstracted from Crittenden Circuit Court Order Book D (1856-1860).

Edward Sherrer appeared in court & declared he came to the United States from Germany on or about [no date given] while a minor under age 21; bona fide was his intention to become a citizen of the U.S. and to renounce forever all allegiance particularly Louis 6^th King of Germany. Upon his oath he declared he will support the Constitution of the U.S. He has resided in the U.S. 5 years, with the first 3 years as a minor. He has behaved as a man of good moral character attached to the principles of the Constitution of the U.S. and well disposed to the good order and happiness of same.   Edward Sherrer is admitted a citizen of the United States.  [Crittenden Circuit Court Order Book D, p. 77,  31 Jul 1856]

William Laube declared that he came to the U .S. from Prussia on/about 10 Sep 1850 as a minor and & it is bona fide his intention to become a citizen of the U.S. He renounces all allegiance & fidelity to any foreign Prince or sovereignty, particularly the Emperor Czar of Prussia whereof he was a citizen. He will support the Constitution of the U.S. He has resided in the U.S. for 5 years, three of those years as a minor. During that time he behaved as a person of good moral character attached to the principles of the Constitution of the U.S.  Laube is admitted as a citizen of the United States. [Crittenden Circuit Court Order Book D, p. 96,  3 Oct 1856]

John Schmidt, alien, produced a certificate that he declared his intention to become a citizen of the U.S. on 22 Jan 1850  in the Supreme Court of New York & also produced proof that he has been a citizen of the U.S. for at least 5 years & a citizen of the state of Kentucky for at least 1 year & during that time has been a peaceful quiet orderly citizen & well disposed to go od order & happiness of same & having declared he renounces all allegiance to any foreign Prince or sovereignty particularly William King of Westenburg of which he was before a citizen & will support the constitution of the U.S. He is declared & admitted a citizen of the United States. [Crittenden Circuit Order Book D, p. 95,  3 Oct 1856]

Jacob Ulman came to the U.S. from Prussia on/about 1^st day of July 1850 while a minor; bona fide is his intention to become a citizen of the  U.S. and to renounce allegiance to any foreign prince or state, particularly Frederick William the King of Prussia & adduced satisfactory proof to the court that he hath resided in the U.S. for 5 years and for the first 3 years he was a minor. He has behaved as a man of good moral character attached to the principles of the constitution of the U.S.  Jacob Ulman is declared to be and is admitted a citizen of the United States. [Crittenden Circuit Court Order Book D, p. 6,  22 Jul 1856]

Final issue of the Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog

Best wishes in your research

Published 18 Nov 2021, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/