In the News - Henderson, Kentucky 1899

I love old newspapers. They allow us to peek through the window of time and see how folks lived years ago. The following items appeared in the Friday, 1 December 1899 issue of the Henderson Daily Journal.

M.D. Thornberry, of Poole, spent yesterday in the city.

Judge M.C. Givens went to Dixon yesterday to attend court.

J.B. Cabel, who spent yesterday with his mother, Mrs. Ellen Cabel on Lower Main, leaves this morning for his home in Memphis.

Mrs. Sullivan Hopkins (nee Lockett), of Columbus, Ohio, is in the city visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John W. Lockett.

Miss Catherine Fraser, of Henderson, arrived this morning to spend Thanksgiving with her grandmother, Mrs. Sally Frayser [from Owensboro Inquirer]

Mr. R.C. Walker, editor and proprietor of the Crittenden Press, was in town today, the guest of his brother, Mr. J.H. Walker, of the Adams Express Co. Mr. Walker says the smallpox situation in Crittenden has to be watched, but it is not scaring anybody, and the disease has not become epidemic, and is not likely to.

Mr. J.E. Rankin is building a one-story ware house for agricultural implements in the rear of the Rankin building on First street. It will be used by J.T. Hopkins, agent for the Milwaukee Harvesting Machine Co.

J. Lambert Kimmel was here from Henderson Thanksgiving attending the Masonic celebration. [from Evansville Courier]

Marriage Licenses:
Martin W. Sinkhorn and Mrs. Beulah Holmark, both of Zion
Silas Griffle and Pauline Tonini, both of Zion
W. Henry Williams and Lizzie Rideout, both of Webster County; married by Squire Davis at the court house
Frances John Tscharmer and Miss Carrie Keach, both of Baskett

Rev. T.C. Frogge, a pioneer Methodist preacher in Western Kentucky, died at his home in Russellville Wednesday. Fifty years ago he was a noted preacher and debater in this section.

 

Tombstone Tuesday - James P. and Lucinda Joyce

James P. Joyce

Born

June 11, 1804

Died

May 29, 1876

71 yrs  11 mos  18 days

Lucinda Hopkins

Wife of

J.P. Joyce

Born

Oct. 15, 1808

Died

Jan. 13, 1861

Both are buried in Shady Grove Cemetery, Crittenden County, Kentucky. Tombstones photographed 11 March 2011.

James P. Joyce was a son of Alexander Joyce and Margaret Hill. Lucinda Hopkins was the daughter of Thomas Hopkins and Susannah Joyce. Both were born in North Carolina. During the 1840s, James P. and Lucinda moved from North Carolina to Kentucky and eventually settled in Shady Grove. Following Lucinda's death in 1861, James P. Joyce married Mrs. Matilda E. Jenkins on 25 April 1861.

Yes, this is part of my Joyce family, but we are not closely related. My family followed a different migration route: Stokes County, North Carolina to Lawrence County, Tennessee to Hardin County, Illinois. It is ironic that only the Ohio River separated these two families, but I'm sure they never knew each other. An added twist is that my great-grandfather was also named James P. Joyce.

Published 29 March 2011

by Brenda Joyce Jerome, CG

Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog

http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com

Wrongfully Accused

A man's reputation has always been one of his most valued assets and when wrongly accused, an apology is in order.  The following deposition was found among Livingston County Circuit Court Miscellaneous Papers 1800-1820 (1805 session), Dept. for Libraries and Archives and proves that rash accusations were made years ago just as they are today. The additional value of this document lies in the placement of each person at a particular place and time.

"The Subscriber takes this method to inform the public that uppon a suspicion that he had lost a sum of money by theivery [sic] he had charged a certain Israel Harmon with the theft who now lives uppon hurricane creek but uppon finding the money contrary to expectation he declares said Israel Harmon to be entirely innocent of the theft and I the subscriber do profess to be extremely sorry for being so rash in the charge and am willing to make every acknowledgement  ... in order to prevent Harmons character from being injured by the charge which he is innocent of. [signed] Cornelius Merry. Witness: Stephen Sullivant, David Davidson."

Published 27 March 2011, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Crittenden County, Kentucky Lunacy Records 1844-1849

For some time I have been searching for the one place in Crittenden County that lists those persons who were deemed mentally incompetent. Thus far, these records have been found in county court, circuit court and as loose papers. It wasn't until 1906 that these records are kept in a separate book in Crittenden County.

 After the initial referral of mental incompetency was made by the Commonwealth Attorney, a jury of twelve men heard the facts and determined the condition of the person's mental state. The following entries are indexed under Idiots in the Crittenden Circuit Court Order Book A (1842-1850). Later Circuit Court Order Books (through 1856) have no listings for Idiots in the indices. 

Lewis Nelson, about age 40,  has been a citizen of Livingston now Crittenden County for about five years and has no property to support either himself or his family and is  found to be a lunatic and has been for about six years. He has a wife and eight children. Henry L. Cartwright appointed to convey Nelson safely to the asylum.  30 April 1844, page 94.

Clement R. Stewart, about 23 years of age, is single and has no family. He has no personal property but has 115 acres of land.  He has been a resident of Crittenden and Livingston counties for the past 4-5 years. His father has been dead several years and left no property; his mother is not a resident of this state and has no property. The jury decided Stewart had been a lunatic for upwards of two years. The Deputy Sheriff was appointed to convey him to the asylum. 17 October 1844, page 143.

Stokley Molsby is an Idiot, according to information filed by the Commonwealth Attorney.  After hearing the evidence, the following verdict was returned: We do not believe Stokley Molsby to be an Idiot. 21 April 1846, page 208.

This date the Commonwealth Attorney made known that Hiram Yarnall is a lunatic. Yarnall, age 37, is a farmer, single, has been insane occasionally about 14 years, is tolerably well educated and his natural temper is mild, affectionate towards relations and his general health is good; his estate is worth about $1,000. The jury deemed Yarnall a lunatic and Aaron Yarnall was appointed to take  charge & custody of Hiram Yarnall.  23 April 1846, page218.

Anderson Brown, age 35,  is reported to be of unsound mind. Brown has 160 acres of land, wagon and two horses worth $500, all his property is in Illinois; he has been roaming about , has no home in this state and his debts amount to more that the value of his estate.  Jesse B. McMican and Willis McMican to convey him to the asylum and Jesse McMican to take charge of Brown's estate.  29 May 1849, page 525.

It appearing to the satisfaction of the court that Anderson Brown, a Lunatic, has been restored to his proper mind and Jesse McMican discharged upon making settlement. 26 September 1849, page 606.

It is reported that John D. Boyd is a person of unsound mind. He was brought into court and a jury returned the following verdict:  Boyd, age 48, a miller & farmer, is a lunatic. He is married and has two brothers who are insane; his education is moderate or ordinary and his natural temper is rather mild. He owns about 800 acres of land upon which is a flour mill and saw mill and has personal property. C.C. Cole appointed to take charge of Boyd & provide him with diet, clothing &c.  28 September 1849, page 616.

Copyright on text and photographs

by Brenda Joyce Jerome, CG

Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog

http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Tombstone Tuesday - Evelyn Groom

Evelyn

Dau. of

Geo. A. & Willie H.

Groom

Jan. 3, 1904

Jan. 15, 1911

She was but a jewel lent us

to sparkle in our midst a while

Then God called and took

His treasure

Before she knew an early guile

Buried Cedar Hill Cemetery, Princeton, Caldwell County, Kentucky. Tombstone photographed 18 March 2011.

George A. Groom and Willie Hunter married in Caldwell County, Kentucky 1 August 1899. The 1910 Caldwell County census lists Evelyn as the only child of George and Willie Groom.

Copyright on text and photographs

by Brenda Joyce Jerome, CG

Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog

http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com

Piney Fork Church - Crittenden County, Kentucky

According to an article, "The Annual Piney Fork Camp-Meeting," in the 23 August 1906 issue of the Crittenden Press, the first camp-meeting was held in May 1812. The services were held under an arbor and the people who attended the meetings lodged in camps or huts constructed of round poles and clap-board roofs. Ministers who were present were Finis Ewing, Alexander Chapman and Wm. Harris.

Original members of Piney Fork Church were John Travis, Rebecca Travis, James and Rachel Travis, John Wheeler, Susan Wheeler, James Clinton, Ann Clinton, Rev. Wm. Henry, Mary Ann Henry, Mrs. McGough, Mrs. Zuchariah Bivens and Mrs. Wm. Leach.

The first church was of logs and was located where the cemetery is today. John Travis donated land for the church and later George Green donated additional land.

According to tradition, the last Indian battle in western Kentucky occurred where the cemetery is now located.

Marker designating the original site of the

church and school.

Piney Fork was organized when this area was still part of Livingston County. It has seen good times and bad, but has remained sacred to all those who worshiped here or passed through the area.

Piney Fork Cumberland Presbyterian Church

Crittenden County, Kentucky

Organized 1812

Published by Brenda Joyce Jerome, CG, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com



Research Tip - WorldCat

WorldCat is the world's largest network of library content and services. It allows you to search for particular items in the collections of libraries around the world. This is especially helpful to genealogists as we can learn what publications are available and where.

For example, if you are looking for a particular book on Union County, Kentucky or even want to see all books available on the county, go to WorldCat and type in the name of the book or just Union County. Available books will be listed and at which libraries. If the library is nearby, it is simple enough to visit, but if the library is at a distance, ask your local library if the book can be interlibrary loaned to your local library.

I just acquired through WorldCat and interlibrary loan a book that I was sure would never be available to me. It was loaned by the Illinois State Library and I can use it for three weeks. The only cost to me was for mailing. This convenience in borrowing these materials somehow makes the world seem just a little smaller.