Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-28
SHAKERS IN KENTUCKY.

In Looking Backward Edward Bell
amy laid down the law of consolidation
as the ruling spirit of the human race in
coming generations. His view of the con-
ditions of life in the twentieth century
has been pronounced impracticable and
absurd, for it is stated that the tenn
permanent of mankind is such that it will
not permit men to live in the idyllic state
Of which he dreams. Perhaps this dog
ma is true, but only a short distance
from Cincinnati, in Kentucky, is to be
found a quiet, peaceful settlement Of
Shakers that is an extraordinary excep-
ton to this rule.
An interesting account is given of these
quaint people by a w~ell-known cyclist of
this city, who recently rode down to their
settlement at Shakertown. near High
Bridge. Branching off from Nicholas
Vile the party of wheelmen proceeded Ii
miles into Mercer county, arriving, at
Shakertown at 1880 p. m. There they
were met by a most dignified, courteous
gentleman, DR.. P~ennybaker by name,
whom they afterward ascertained to be
one of the largest property holders IN, the
settlement. DR.. Pennybaker, at dinner,
gave a most interesting account of Shak-
ertown, it's inhabitants and history. "A
colony of Shakers first established itself
at this point in 1905, acquiring about 1900
acres of land, which was divided among
five families. Each family had It's head,
or general superintendent, whose duty 1t
was to take. charge of all matters per-
taing to the family's welfare. These fam
lilies embrace from 20 to so members each,
hone of the members being married, as
marriage is contrary to the rules of their
religion, and a misstep in this direction
leads at once to Punishment.
The men and women maintain separate
houses and have their respective duties,
which are faithfully attended to. When
ever a family is unable to attend to its
share of land by it's own efforts outside
labor is employed and paid for just the
san as in the working of an ordinary
farm. .-.,
The principal houses of the settlement
as they now stand bear dates ranging
from 1912 to 1921. They are built of brick
and stone, manufactured or Quarried on
the farms of the settlement, and are
models of strength and cleanliness. Al
the present time the settlement consists
of two main families, at the head OF one
of which is DR.. P~ennybaker and his
brother. The land o owned by the set
| Element consists of 5000 of the most fer
| tile acres in the Blue Grass region, and
the two families have a membership OF
about rs, and employ labor amounting to
about 200 hands in working their farms,
Since early in the history of the settle
| ment it has been famous for it's atten-
| ton to visitors, and has always been a
stopping place for travellers between
| ~Harrodsburg and High Bridge, and the
! hsopitable board offers %abundant reasons
!, for this having been the Mecca for the
tired and hungry.
Every one seems to be well clothed
happy and active, without appearance OF
want or inactivity within their entire set
Element. The farms are under excellent
! cultivation, the inhabitants simple. In
their manners, educated above the aver
| age, and, so far as report goes. absolutely
honest. Their religion provides for any
one coming into their midst who iss OF
their faith and able and willing to buy o,
earn the right to enjoy a place in one. OF
the families, and to a student of pOiiti.
cal economy of the present day a sojourr
in this town could not but prove deeply
observation-disclosures Enquirer.