Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1871-09-07
[For the Fayette County Herald. ]
UNCLE DAVY.
An Ola-rtme kentucky schoo1mas,er.

At the time of the discovery of Ken
lucky by Daniel Boon, in 1869, il was
an unbroken wilderness. Tall trees
spread their branches over wild grass
and shrubbery, Towering plants and
vines Canebrakes, somewhat resemb
ling tall fields of green corn, were
growing in many places from the
! bosom of the richest Of soils, while
rivers and lesser streams meandered
through wales of unsurpassed beauty
and fertility. Such, indeed, was the
richness and loveliness of the great
central portion of this country, that it
is said a preacher in early times in
| trying to give his hearers a most su-
perlative idea of heaven, exclaimed
with enthusiasm: Brethren, language
cannot describe the glory. 1t is a real
Kentucky of a place." Game was
plenty-the deer, the bear, the buffalo,
the wild turkey and grouse, with nu-
merous other birds and animals, were
seen in every direction.
1t had long been the favorite hunt
| ing ground of different Indian tribes
whose frequent bloody contests for
supremacy over the rich, dark soil had
gained for it the title of ''The dark and
bloody ground,' which title was sub
seqnently perpetuated by the many
conflicts between the red and white
man for its possession. News OF the
discovery of this inviting, healthy
cline extending to older and more dis
tant settlements, different little bands
of brave pioneers and hunters, inspir-
ed by various motives, penetrated its
forests. The hostility of the aborigi-
nal owners of the soil retarded, for n
time, the rapid settlement of the coun-
try, but at length was fully overcome
by the increasing tide of emigra,
ton.
Then the pleasant banks of the
streams, with the rich country in gen
eral, where the uncultivated savage had
reared his wigwam, held the war dance
and pursued the chase, were soon oc-
cupied by a civilized race with farms
and villages, school houses and
churches, and last and worst, distiller-
les. For it must truly be confessed
that the multitude of the latter estab-
lishments had a deleterious effect Oh
the health and morals of many of the
people. The courthouses were used
as churches in County Seats, in early
times. The churches, in other places,
were generally plain; many of them
very rude structures, and the same
might be said of the schoolhouses,
which were often mere cabins built Of
round logs with clapboard roofs and
puncheon floors. A fireplace ten feet
wide at one end with long, narrow,
horizontal windows, with creased pa
per instead of glass to let in the light
Such was an early Kentucky school
house. But it is due to the State to
say that wealth and taste in public
buildings has made great changes for
the better. She has long had her
academies and colleges in successful
operation, whilst her churches and
scho olhouses will compare favorably
with similar structures in other States.
We might here say that those insight
cal by eloquent and powerful sermons,
and many that received the rudiments
of education in those rude, primitive.
schoolhouses, have arisen to emi-
nence in the learned professions, and
in the highest walks of oratory and
craftsmanship.
It was early in the present century
that a gentleman, generally called
Uncle Davy, emigrated from Virgins
to Brackin county, Kentucky. He
was tall and well proportioned, with
dark, intelligent eyes, and the bearing
of one who had been reared in the best
society. Yet there was something ir
his looks often seen but hard to de
scribe, that told OF some loss Of self
respect and of better days past ant
gone forever. Uncle Davy was by
profession schoolmaster, and being
preceded by respectable relatives il
the county, through their infuenct
he was soon at the head of country
school. He engaged in this vocation
for years, occasionally removing from
one district to another, until he hat
taught in many adjacent neighbor
goods. 1t was not long, however, un
til he showed himself to be lover 0
! strong drink. Sometimes he woult
get over his spree in a day or two
and at other times he would be in hi
, cups and neglect his school for a week
ana such frolics generally occurre'
several times during three month
term. He generally went out of th
district where he taught to have hi
spree-scarcely ever showing himsel
in a state of intoXication. but when h
did, his extra airs of gentility betray
ed his condition at once to the scho1
ars. At such times he avoided unbe
lo, "a Yo,,NIlc