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Community of Claysville, Kentucky

Chapter XVII
Pages 327-328:

Claysville Precinct - Surface and physical features - Advent of the pioneers - Their buffets with savage beasts and savage men - Pioneer industries - churches and schools - villages, etc.

"Time, though old, is swift in flight, And years went fleetly by--"

Claysville Precinct, which is No. 8 of the election precincts, though the last in number, is one of the early settled and important sections of the county. The village of Claysville was once an enterprising place, and shipped largely to New Orleans by way of the raging Licking.

The precinct of Claysville lies in the northeast part of the county, and is somewhat broken and hilly. It is bounded on the north and east by Robertson County, on the south by Sylvan Dell, or Precinct No. 2, on the southwest by Cynthiana Precinct, and on the west by Richland, or Precinct No. 3. The land is mostly hilly and broken, but produces well, growing the finest of tobacco, which is the main staple. Corn and wheat are also cultivated to more or less extent. The streams are the East Fork of Licking and Beaver Creek, with their tributaries, of which Harrison and West Creeks are the most important. These streams, with a number of branches, which are nameless on the maps, drain the lands well, and afford the greatest abundance of stock water. The original timber growth was very fine, but the settler's ax has despoiled much of the finest forests.. Hickory, black walnut, sugar tree, wild cherry, oak, hackberry, buckeye, etc., etc., grow in abundance. Little of the natural forest is now left, the timber having been thinned out, even where the land has not been cleared up for cultivation.

The settlement by white people of Claysville Precinct was coeval with the settlement of other portions of Harrison County. Among the pioneers were the families of Harrison County. Among the pioneers were the families of John Whitehead, Stephen B. Curran,--Dean, Daniel Durbin, the Obey family, etc. Whitehead and Curran settled near Claysville, lived to be very old, and are long dead. Dean died at an advanced age. Durbin was a very early settler. He was the grandfather of the Rev. Mr. Durbin, the celebrated traveler in Palestine and the Holy Land. These are but a few among the pioneers of Claysville Precinct. Names of others are lost.

"'Mid the rubbish of forgotten things."

The first years of the settlers of Claysville were years of toil and privation. The people had many trials to contend with, not the least of which was the depredations of Indians. Even after the savages ceased to wantonly murder the settlers, they never let an opportunity pass to steal whatever they could lay hands on, on the principle that what they obtained from the pale faces was clear gain. There were may other troubles to be met and overcome. The trouble of procuring bread was sometimes great. The settler's trusty rifle could easily furnish his family with meat, but bread had to be otherwise obtained. This led to the building of mills very early, and the Licking River and Beaver Creek were the scenes of some of the earliest mills built in Kentucky. Distilleries were not far behind mills in the way of pioneer manufacture, and, as a modern industry, they have kept pace with mills, if they have not even passed them, in the onward march. There are still both mills and distilleries in operation in this section.

The roads of Claysville are not to be compared to other and more favored sections of the county. The rough nature of the ground renders turnpiking rather an expensive operation; hence roads of that character are scarce in this precinct. The dirt roads are good--in summer.

The first school in the precinct is somewhat obscure, but is supposed to have been taught in a little log cabin erected for school purposes in the village of Claysville more than fifty years ago. The teacher was a man name Duncan, and was of the old-time style. He believed in the use of the rod, and, it is said, enforced his belief very vigorously. There are at the present day four schoolhouses in Claysville Precinct, including one in the village.

The church history of the precinct compares with that of other portions of the county. But we learned little of the erection of church buildings and the organization of church societies in Claysville Precinct.

The village of Claysville, years ago, was of the most important business points in Harrison County. As we have already stated, it shipped largely by flat-boats to New Orleans. It is situated on the Main Licking, twelve miles northeast of Cynthiana, and nine miles from Poindexter Station on the Kentucky Central Railroad. It exports tobacco, grain and stock, and has a tri-weekly stage line to Milford and Brownsville. Its business comprises two general stores, one grocery, one physician, one tavern, two blacksmith shops, two carpenters, one teacher and one flour-mill. The building of the Kentucky Central Railroad, some miles distant from Claysville, killed its trade, and from that date its business has greatly declined.

Smithville Post Office is in the southern part of the precinct, and is merely a country post office, with no approach even to a village. This comprises a brief sketch of Claysville Precinct. There may be items of interest over-looked, but the foregoing is the result of our researches.--Perrin.

Pages 727-730:
Claysville Precinct.

W.T. ASBURY, farmer and merchant; P.O. Claysville; son of Obannan Asbury, a native of Nicholas County, Ky.; was born in Robinson County, Ky., in 1832, where he received his education and then commenced his work in life by assisting in tilling the soil of his father's farm. In 1861 he was married to Anna M. Hatch, who has borne him two children, the oldest, Maria N., now the wife of H.C. Fightmaster, of Cynthiana, and Obannan N., now eight years of age. In 1862, Mr. Asbury moved to Mason County, Ky., and in 1863 removed to Harrison County, and there buying a farm of 150 acres and also starting in the mercantile business, which, at the present time is the principal one of Claysville; he is politically a Radical, and has held the office of Magistrate for nine consecutive years. Mr. Asbury has been dependent on his own resources, and by his studied economy and industry has accumulated a good property, and his name and reputation is above reproach.

T.S. BECKETT, farmer; P.O. Claysville; a native of Harrison County, Ky., and son of John and Jane (Fleming) Beckett. He was born in 1818. His father was born in Maryland, and removed to Virginia with his parents; afterward removed to Harrison County, Ky., where he died, aged seventy-six years. His mother was born in Virginia. T.S., our subject, is one of Claysville's most respected men; he is a temperate man, and has been a member of the Methodist Church for thirty years. In 1838, he married Miss America Scott. They were the parents of eleven children, viz: Robert, Melissa, Jane, John, Frances, Thomas, Joseph, America, James, Lucy and Mary. He is the owner of 211 acres of land, upon which he makes hog-raising a specialty. His family are members of the Christian Church.

STEPHEN W. BARNES, farmer; P.O. Claysville; is a native of Harrison County, Ky., and son of John and Polly (Godman) Barnes; he was born Aug. 26th, 1817. In 1845, he married Miss Frances Quigley, a native of Ohio; she died May 17, 1879. They are the parents of nine children: Wm. H., Sarah, Elizabeth, Mary, Emily, Stephen, Anna, Ellen and John. He is the owner of 200 acres of land, upon which he still resides; he is a member of the Christian Church. His father was born in Bourbon County, Ky., and at the age of five years was brought to Harrison County by his parents, where he remained, following the occupation of farmer and cooper; he died aged eighty-four years. his mother was a native of Harrison County.

DAVID DUCKWORTH, farmer; P.O. Claysville; is a native of Montgomery County, Ky., and son of William and Susan (Legget) Duckworth; he was born April 24, 1836; his father was born near charlotte, Mecklenburg, N.C. When but four years of age he emigrated to Montgomery County, Ky., with his parents, where he remained and received his education and following the occupation of farming during his life; in 1828 he married Miss Susan Leggett; they were the parents of seven children The mother of our subject was born and raised in Montgomery County, Ky. David, our subject, lived his earlier life with his parents, receiving and education and assisting in tilling the soil of his father's farm; in 1849 he removed to Harrison County, where he has since remained, following the occupation of farming. Dec. 11, 1873, he married Miss Sarah J. Stewart, who bore him one child, George B., now eight years old. His wife died April 12, 1881. He is the owner of 236 acres of land, principally located in Harrison County; he is a member of the A.,F.&A.M., Lodge No. 243, at Claysville; a member of the Christian Church and a Republican.

LOUISA FLETCHER, farmer; P.O. Claysville; a native of Harrison County, Ky., in which she now lives was born in 1828, and was married to B.F. Fletcher in 1857. Five children were born to them, viz.: Oliver, Jefferson, John, Henry and Arthur. B.F. Fletcher was first married to Elzira Dicky, who bore him six children: Anna, Robert, Carolina, Vishti, Frances and Dora. Mr. F. lived about thirty years in Harrison County, and was always a hard-working man, and by so doing succeeded in getting a farm of 130 acres. he was a soldier in the Confederate Army for three years, and died soon after his return from the war. Mrs. F. has lived to witness many of the changes in the development and improvement of the county surrounding her home, and has reared a family of children, whose promise of honorable man and womanhood is an honor to her in her old age.

WILLIAM HUNT, farmer; P.O. Smitsonville; is a son of H.D. and Charlotte Hunt, both natives of Kentucky, and traces the genealogy of his family back to one of the first settlers of Kentucky; his grandfather, Mr. Robertson Hunt, came to Kentucky with Daniel Boone, where he remained a resident until his death, which occurred at the extreme old age of one hundred and four years. William was born in Montgomery County, Ky., in 1842, and at the age of six years, his parents moved to Harrison County, Ky., where he received his education. In 1859, the family removed to Texas, settling in Harrison County of that State; there William engaged in work at the trade of carpenter and at carrying the United States mail from Marshall, Tex, to Keatchie, La. Within one year after the arrival of the family in Texas, his father and mother died, leaving three children younger than himself to his care. In 1860, he returned to Harrison County, and settled on the farm he now owns. In 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate Army, and at the close of the war, on his way home, he walked form Abingdon, Va., to Mt. Sterling, a distance of two hundred miles, in five days. upon his return he at once engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he has since followed, in connection, with which he runs, during the winter season, a saw mill, owned by him, and built in 1810, by one ------- Miller. Here, by his own energy and industry, he has built for himself a comfortable and pleasant home, his house being at the time of its erection, the finest between August, Bracken County, Ky., and Cynthiana. In 1870, Mr. Hunt was married to Miss Lizzie Botts; they are the parents of six children: Hattie, Annie, Amanda, Sidney, Nettie, and Mamie. In religious faith he is a Baptist, he and family being members of the Beaver Church; he is also a Democrat, as was also his father, and although a young man, he has already a good business, and a worthy name and reputation in the community where he resides.

SUSAN HICKMAN, farming; was born in Nicholas County (Ky.), February 18, 1817. She lived with her parents, in Nicholas County, to the time of their death. Her father died when she was but six weeks old, and her mother when she was 17 years old. After the death of her parents she lived with her relatives until she was 23 years of age. In 1840 she was married to Jesse Hickman and removed to Harrison County, where they spent nearly 40 years of happiness together. Mr. Hickman died in 1878, aged 67 years; he was a man of good morals and a Christian. The community in which he lived mourns the loss of such a good citizen. There was born to them 10 children, seven of whom are living, viz.: David, Benjamin, John, Mary, Henry, Amanda and Nany. Mrs. Hickman's grandfathers were both ministers of the Gospel. She is a woman of indomitable energy and perseverance, and enjoys the highest esteem of the community in which she lives.

BEN C. HICKMAN, farmer; is a native of Harrison County, and the son of Jesse and Susan Hickman. He was born in 1844. His early life was spent in receiving an education and assisting in the tilling of the soil of his father's farm. In 1865 he embarked in business for himself by carrying on a mercantile business at Havilandsville with his brother, W.D. Hickman. In 1878 he sold his interest in the business at Havilandsville to his brother; bought a farm of 170 acres, and began farming, which business he still continues. In 1878 he married Miss Emma Casey, a native of Harrison County. Although a young man, he has, by his honesty, economy and industry, succeeded in gaining a good property and a name and a reputation which is beyond reproach. He is a Republican, a member of the order I.O.O.F. Lodge No. 191, at Cynthiana, and, with his wife, united with the Baptist Church.

JOHN HULS, farmer; P.O. Claysville; he was born in Montgomery County, Ky., in 1803, June 30; he received his education from the common schools of his native county, and at the age of twenty-one began farming, which he followed in Montgomery County until 1849, when he removed to Harrison County, Ky., where he has since remained and followed the occupation of farming and working some at the trade of shoemaking. In 1827, September 18, he married Miss Louisiana Fletcher, who has borne him thirteen children, eleven of whom are still living, viz.: Garrett F., Pleasant, Andrew J., Achilles, Jerusha, Winifred, Sally, John, Nimrod, Elizabeth, and Naomi. He had held the office of Magistrate for four years; he is a member of the Christian Church, and is a Democrat. Mr. Huls is one of the oldest citizens of Claysville Precinct, and bears a name and reputation of which his children may well be proud.

J.M. HOBDAY, farmer; P.O. Claysville; a native of Gordonsville, Virginia, and son of Edward and Sarah P. Hobday; he was born in 1825; his father was born in Virginia, and removed to Pendleton County, Ky., where he followed the occupation of farming; he died aged eighty-five years. His mother was born in Charlottesville, Va., in 1796, and is now residing in Harrison County, Ky. J.M., the subject of our sketch, received his education in Pendleton County, Ky., and at the age of twenty-seven left home and began first by teaching school in Harrison County, which he followed for eighteen years, during that time he bought a farm and managed it. In 1872, he married Rebecca M. Jackson; she was born in Bracken County, in 1842. His children by his first wife are James H., and by his present wife Charles B., Thomas M., and Howe. He is the owner of 600 acres of land; he is a member of the Masonic Order, Taylor Lodge, No. 164, at Berry's, Ky.

WINDER KINNEY, farmer; P.O. Claysville; is a native of Harrison County, and son of Isaac and Rutha (Fields) Kinney; he was born in 1839; his father was born in Bracken County, in 1813, and now resides in Illinois, following the occupation of farming. His mother was also born in Bracken County, and died at the early age of twenty-three years. Winder, our subject, lived his earlier life with his uncle, W. Kinney, where he received his education. In 1865 he married Frances Beckett, who has borne him six children, viz: Joel, Susan J., Melissa, Thomas S., William, and James A., named from our assassinated President, James A. Garfield. In 1865, he bought a farm of sixty acres, which he continues to till, raising all the principal crops. He enlisted in the Federal Army, 20th Reg't, Co. I, K.V., as a private, and returned as First Lieutenant. He is a Republican.

T.J. LANGLEY, farmer; P.O. Claysville; was born in Harrison County, Ky., February, 1834, and is the son of Abraham and Anna (Scott) Langley. He is descended from one of Harrison County's old pioneers. His grandfather, Isaac, was born in Virginia, and in crossing the Dix river en route for Kentucky, was drowned; his wife, with her one child, Abraham, father of our subject, continued their journey alone, and settled on Beaver creek in about the year 1798, and in 1815 Abraham married Miss Anna Scott, who bore him twelve children, of whom was T.J. Langley, the subject of our sketch. He spent his earlier days with his parents in receiving an education and assisting in tilling the soil of his father's farm. In 1855, he married Miss Melissa Beckett, a native of Harrison County, Ky[.], and a daughter of T.S. and America (Scott) Beckett. They are the parents of eight children, five of whom are now living, viz: Corrilla, Maggie, Abraham, Ida and Artinsa. Mr.. Langley has always resided at his present residence, having 228 acres of land. The Christian Church in his neighborhood was founded and named from the family; also the school which is called Langley School. His family are members of the Langley Christian Church.

CORNELIUS McLEOD, farmer; P.O. Claysville; is a native of North Carolina, and son fo Duncan and Barbara McLeod. He was born June 12, 1821, in Moore County; his grandparents were both natives of Scotland, and emigrated to North Carolina before the Revolutionary War. The father of our subject was born in North Carolina in 1799, and in 1826 removed to Knox County, Ky., where he followed the occupation of farming to the time of his death, which occurred in December, 1861. Cornelius, our subject, spent his earlier days with his parents in Knox County, Ky., where he received his education, and assisted in tilling the soil of his father's farm. In 1842, he removed to Estill County, where he engaged in the manufacture of salt until 1844, when he removed to Harrison County, where he took contracts for sinking wells for salt. In 1846, he engaged in the lumber business, buying and shipping to Cincinnati. In 1847, he married Miss Martha J. Kinney, a native of Harrison County, and daughter of Wyander and Sarah Kinney. In the same year, he removed to Clay County, where he followed the occupation of farming. In 1852, he removed to Harrison County, again farming until 1861, when he enlisted in the Federal Army, 20th Reg., Co. I, K.V. He was discharged from the army Jan. 17, 1865, when he returned home to Harrison County, and engaged in the mercantile business at Claysville, which he continued until 1867, when he kept hotel, remaining in the same until 1873, when he was appointed by U.S. Commissioner of Internal Revenue as U.S. Gauger, which office he held until 1878, when he again resumed farming, and has since followed it. He has the following children, viz.: John, Mary M., William A., Belle, Harry and Winder. He is a Republican.

ELIJAH MOORE, farmer and miller; P.O. Claysville; a native of Bracken County, Ky.; was born 1809. His father, Levi Moore, was born in Pennsylvania; he was a farmer, and died aged eighty-two years; he was a Whig, and in his life-time held the offices of Constable and Magistrate for several years. His wife, Jane Truax, was a native of Pennsylvania; she died aged forty years. The subject of our sketch is among the most prominent men of his precinct; he is the owner of 600 acres of land, upon which he raises all the principal crops, making tobacco and stockraising a specialty; he also is the owner and manager of a grist-mill; in 1870 he married Miss Parmelia Jackson. He is the father of ten children, viz[.]: Nimrod, Ann S., Levi H., Susan H., Isaac C., John, Elijah, Stilwell S., Artinsia and Mary. Mr. Moore has by his studied economy and business habits, succeeded in gaining a good property, and bears a name and reputation which is beyond reproach.

THOS. A. MONTGOMERY, farmer; P.O. Claysville; was born Feb. 15, 1850, and is the son of James Montgomery, a native of Dauphin County, Pa., who was the owner and successful manager of a leading woolen-mill; he was born in 1806, living to the age of fifty-six years. One year after his death his son, Thos. A., moved to Harrison County, Ky., and there studied for an education until 1871, when he bought a farm of 177 acres upon which he raises the principle products as corn, wheat, rye and tobacco, and at one time made the breeding of hogs a specialty. In 1877 he was married to Fannie Curran, who has borne him two children; James M., now being three years old, and Thomas W., two years old. Mr. M. is a Democrat; he is a member of the Masonic Lodge of Claysville, No. 243, and is now holding the office of Secretary. Though a young man, he has taken more than an active part in the local affairs, and, by his business habits and integrity, is one esteemed by the citizens in this community.

ROBERT F. MILLER, farmer; P.O. Claysville; is a native of Wabash County, Ind., and son of Adam S. Miller; he was born in 1849. His father was born in Indiana in 1820; he was always a farmer to the time of his death, which occurred in 1864. Robert lived with his parents to the age of twenty-one, receiving and education and assisting in tilling the soil of his father's farm. In 1870, he removed to Harrison County, buying a farm of 118 acres, upon which he now resides. In 1871, he married Miss Celia A. Miller, a native of Harrison County and daughter of James H. Miller; she was born Feb. 16, 1851. Her father was born April 7, 1818, in Harrison County. She is a member of the Methodist Church. He is a Democrat. They are the parents of five children, viz.: John J., George L., Willie A., Bruce A., and Charlie H.

T.A. ROBERTSON, farmer; P.O. Smitsonville; is the son of Richard H., and Mary T. (Samuels) Robertson, and was born June 9, 1832, in Shelby County, Ky.; his father was a native of near Richmond, Va., and came to Kentucky about the year 1803, a young man of twenty-three years of age; he settled first in Garrard County, and then removed to Shelby, and subsequently to Harrison; he was a Democrat and a man possessed of a high sense of honor, and though he died in November, 1858, he predicted with wonderful accuracy, as subsequent events proved, the near approach of the late civil war. The mother of T.A. died when he was a child. Arriving at Man's estate, Mr. Robertson, in 1854, was married to Miss Lucy A. Hickman, a native of Harrison County. For about three years following this event he was engaged in buying, selling and shipping stock; quitting the business at the close of this period a poorer, and perhaps a wiser man, he moved to Cincinnati, where he spent the two succeeding years. Returning again to the old homestead, he spent about two years at farming and milling, and then purchased his present farm of 175 acres, located on the extension of the Cynthiana and Claysville Pike. in 1867 his brother was elected Sheriff of Harrison County, holding the office until 1870. In 1873 and 1874 he filled the same responsible position, and during his whole term of service T.A. acted as his deputy, and thought a Democrat, and his long service as deputy thoroughly fitting him for the office, he sought no political preferment at the hands of the people. In 1879 he began agitating the question of the extension of the Cynthiana and Claysville Pike, from its terminus (Oddville) to Claysville. Succeeding in securing the granting of a new charter for the extension, he was made the first President, but accepting a contract for the building of the road, in which he is the heaviest stockholder, he resigned his office. Though not so old a resident of Claysville Precinct as many of his neighbors, there is but little doubt of Mr. Robertson's being one of the leading spirits in that part of Harrison County. When he was twenty-two years of age he jointed St. Andrews' Lodge A.F. & A.M.; subsequently he was [a]dmitted and became one of the charter members of the Thomas Ware Lodge No. 340 of Claysville, which he represented at the Grand Lodge four times as W.M. of Thomas Ware Lodge, and once by proxy. His wife, oldest daughter, and himself, are members of the Christian Church. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Robertson, eight of whom are now living, viz.: Richard Henry, Fannie, now wife of W.H. Zilor; two deceased, Frank W., Laura, Cora, Hattie, Blanche, and Stella.

WILLIAM H. ROUTT, farmer; P.O. Claysville; is a native of Bracken County, Ky., and son of Nimrod and Elizabeth (Howard) Routt. He was born Dec. 10, 1817. His father was born in Virginia, in 1786, and died in 1860, aged seventy-four years. His mother was born in Maryland in 1793, and died in 1865, aged seventy-two years. William, our subject, lived with his parents to the age of twenty-four; receiving an education and assisting in tilling the soil of his father's farm. In 1841 he married Miss Jane Moore, a native of Bracken County, Ky.; by this union they had nine children, eight of whom are still living, viz[.]: Maria, Clara, Lucius, Temple, John, Fannie, Ada and Willie. In 1862, he removed to Harrison County; buying a farm near Claysville, where he remained three years, he then returned to the old homestead, which was willed to him by his father, remaining there until 1867, when he returned to Harrison County, and since remained there, following the occupation of farming. He is the owner of 141 acres of land. His family are members of the Baptist Church. He is a Democrat, and for a number of years in Bracken County, he has held the office of Justice of the Peace

Source:
Transcribed and edited by Philip Naff, August, 1999.
Information previously posted by Jo Thiessen

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