The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1877-09-26
FRAGMENTS or the EARLY HISTORY
OF OHIO COUNTY.
bY N. D. TAYLOR.
CHAPTER XIV.

Perhaps no early settler Of the Green
River country added more TO the popu
lstiou, or whose posterity is now more
widely spread and intermarrisd with
other families than old Harrison Taylor.
unknown to fame, yet. q community OF
just such men, would render any land
famous. Honest, industrious, mild. mod
est and retiring, he glided on in that
great under-current Of social life from
whence the purest virtues flow.
lie Was born in the central pat OF
Virginia. His parents were Of Welch
aud English origin, and he received his
given name from an intermsrrisge with
the family Of Harrisons in Virginia. or
his early history it is only known that
his father died, and, his older brother,
under the old colonial laws, took the
whole OF his estate. leaving young Har-
rison shareless, who, instead of laying
around a pensioner, or lacky ON his
brothers bounty boldly struck for the
frontier, crossed the Blue Ridge, and lo>
Gated ut Winchester, then small village,
just building up on the frontier, where
he took up the trade of house-carpenter.
But single incident lie related Of bis
Virginia life A British recruiting Of
6cer had taken fancy TO him, and had
tried all means to persuade him TO be-
come a colder, but in vain. II was the
usual practice OF this officer TO gather in
a crowd about the tavern at nights. and
drink and frolic until some one became
so drunk and insensible that he either
took the offered bounty. or it was slipped
into the pocket, and the poor victim thus
cheated aud forced into the service; but
as young TAYLOR never drank to excess,
he could not be entrapped in this way.
One night, however, after a hard days
labor, he had taken his seat in retired
corner, and fell asleep The officer,
passing, saw his condition, and slyly
slipped the bounty into the sleepers
pocket, and walked around until he
awoke, and then blandly addressing him,
remarked that il was time for them to 60
home to the barracks. Taylor looked at
him and inquired what he meant The
officer, who had heretofore formed an in
correct idea Of his man, with naughty
air informed him that having taken the
bounty, he was now Q soldier Of King
George, and the barricks were his house.
TAYLOR denied ever having taken any
bounty, when the officer, IN like naughty
tone, asked him il be would deny il when
he had King Georges coin In bis pocket
At the word pOeket. the youth suddenly
ran his hand into his. grasped the coin.
and threw il with his utmost strength at
the officers head, and then, with ell the
venom OF an enrsged tiger, sprsng al
him, but was caught and held by bis
friends, while the Kings representative
beat hasty retreat. aud gave him wide
berth ever afterwards
This sudden exhibition Of pluck and
courage astonished all who bad known
the quiet. retiring, peaceable young man
and is said to be the only ebulition o.
ungovernatle rage ever known during
his life. II was not long before be mar
ried Miss Jane Curlet, and settled fal
back into the woods, where, with only 9
single horse he commenced clearing and
cultivating the forest. This horse hsC
to be belled and turned to the range a
night, and hunted up in the morning
Taylor usually took his gun when HI
went into the woods, and one morning
shot deer just as he came up with hi
horse. Tie had scarcely reloaded wher
he heard a turkey gobble, and though
he would kill that also; another sobbl
was soon heard and replied to, until the.
were heard nearly all around him. II
an instant he comprehended his danger
He started his horse with blow in th,
direction Of home and took an opposit
direction himself. and stole stealthil'
through the underground until he though
himself out Of the gobbling ring, and the'
made for home with the utmost speed
and had barely arrived there when
messenger announced an Indian raj
upon an adjoining settlement Tn
horse, in passing the gobbling ring, hs
, been greatly alarmed by the redskins
and made his way home where he stoo
ready 10 convey them TO the nearest forI
As the country improved, he built
mill on q stream by which the main roa