The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1877-08-15
FRAGMENTS OF the EARLY HISTORY
OF CHG COUNTY.
ny II. d. TAYLOR.
CHAPTER XVIII.

CHAPTER XVIII.
The intermediate grades between the
thrifty, industrious farmer and the hunter
was, first, the lazy, indecisive monsrel'
sometimes coaxcd into fits Of industry by
an energetic wife, and then again driven
into the forest by her scoldlng at his in
dolence and mismanagement; and, like
most persons destitute of will and energy,
succeeded in nothing. The officers, Of
flee seekers and politicians Of those days
NAV scarcely be named as forming a class,
as they do at the present day. All the
country offices, save members Of the Leg
islature, being filled by the Governor or
county court, and held during good be-
havior. We were not annoyed with annu>
al hords of candidates, who had been
forced on the track by innumerable hosts
Of friends; and as for members Of the
Legislature in these early days, people
thought they were really of some utility
TO the country, and consequently selected
men whose character and qualifications
we're thought the best in the community
Sher.ts and justices Of the peace were
recommended by the county court, and
commissioned 10y the Governor; and con-
stables and jailers were appointed by the
county courts alone, and the different
courts appointed their own Clerks.
1t will be thought by tins that we in
by-eone days lived hum-drum life; and
Il is no doubt that the children went un.
kissed, the women unnatterci, and the
men uninterrupted by hords OF candi-
dates.
There was also another trait OF char
acter peculiar to early times. Men not
having the fear Of being a candidate
before their eyes cultivated
free, on,hand mode of thought and
speech, and communicated their thoughts
of men ana things in a plain, direct man.
ner and language, without evasion or
disguise. But nowadays If we meet
with one of those gentry who expects to
be forced upon the track by the host OF
friends, and press him with questions, we
may expect about as evasive answers as il
we we're before the shrine Of Delphi
Our early settlers were by no means
selfish or misanihropic, but fond Of social
meetings and amusements, besides visiting
between famil;es-quiltings log-rollings,
cLopping matches, cotton pickings and
other such gatherings were great sources
of amusement and pleasure. Muster days
were also quite an affair; company mus
tiers were held monthly from April until
September; and the climax Of great mill
iary affairs came off in a regimental
muster in October, at which all the ma
litia of the country assembled
1t is true our tactics were not equal Ia
those now taught at West Point, but men
and officers did the best they could. In
the company musters, especially some
ludcrous incidents would occur, one par
ticularly is recollected. One awkward
young fellow, who had not studied the
discipline" but was suddenly promoted
to the Office OF Captain. Muster day
came, and with the military strut, hC
formed and dressed his men in line. HI
now commenced giving the command
Fright face r. setting the example o
facing himself, by which he and his mel
got their backs to each other; then, will
with loud braying voice, came the com
mand-"Forward march q and off hi
stepped, with the stride Of Wellington
and beheld his men march directly from
instead of following himl This wa
more than his temper could withstand
and he screamed forth in most unmilitar.
phrase; "where the plague are vol
g'oiae therel Turn about, and follow
metz
Those mastering days were also recog
nized as a tournament in which quarrels
insults and other wrongs we're to be set
tied; not by the code duello, but by
game Of fisticuf, which game was gov
erned by equally fair and lnfiexible rules
as the Code Of Honor. fla difficulty oc
CURED between two men, which could nc
be settled by mutual friends, it was I'D
iourned over until the next muster day
where each of the parties met with thei
friends, and after muster the ground wa
selected, a ring formed, and a regula
fist-fght settled it. This fight, wher
the parties were equally matched, woul
sometimes be long and bloody, but neve
dangerous to life and limb. No attempt
at foul play or parting the combatant