Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-09-15
ISAAC SHELBY.
A Leader 10 the Battle Of Kings Mountain
Governor Of Kentucky.


IA Leader 10 the Battle Of Kings Mountain
Governor Of Kentucky.
st. Louis Republic. =.
There is long list Of men distin-
guished for individual valor, patriot
ism and executive ability, in the his
tory Of the formative period Of oul
country. History, as it too often
written today, has failed to mention
the names Of many Of these men, and
their fame has become matters Of local
memory. The history Of the frontiers
men, Of the men who conquered the
West, is factor of our national devel-
opment too often neglected and forgot
ten. The part played by individuals in
this stirring drama was Of immense
importance. These men OF the border
between the more civilized stretch OF
land along the Atlantic seaboard and
the settlements which were just begin
ming west of the mountains, performed
great -epoch-making deeds.
A glance backward few score years
will, show that here were two streams
Of emigration which peopled the west
ern country, as it was called in early
days. One came from the Southern
states, notably Virginia and North and
South Carolina, and their neighbors,
and the other came from New England,
New. York and Pennsylvania. From the
Southern country the pioneers estab-
lished themselves, ever pushing for
ward, to the West and Southwest,
while the northerly stream occupied the
Northwest territory as it was called. It
was not until after the Revolution that
this, Northwestern stream began; but
the men who fought the wilderness,
and the savage denizens thereof, in
Kentucky and Tennessee, whose de-
scendants eventually spread over Mis-
souri, and the Southwest helped to make
the American War of independence a
great fact in history.
John Sewer, leader in the founda-
tion of the commonwealth Of Tennes-
see, was one who had to fight to the
west and to the east, and Isaac Shelby,
first governor Of Kentucky, was an
other.
Isaac Shelby was born December II,
1850, near Hagerstown, Md, where his
father and grandfather had settled af-
ter their arrival in America from Wales.
He obtained the elements Of a good
English education, bis schooling being
interrupted many times on account Of
the Indian wars. Naturally under sur
roundings Of danger, he was brought
up to the use Of arms and the pursuit
of game. At the age Of 21 he removed
to Western Virginia, having previously
acquired a knowledge Of surveying.
The extensive ranges of that region
encouraged cattle raising, and young
Shelby kept large herds Of cattle.
He was a lieutenant in the company
of his father, General Evan Shelby, in
the battle at the mouth Of the Kama
wha, October 10, 1774, where the officers,
Colonels Lewis, Fleming and Field hav-
ing been killed or disabled, Evan Shell
by became commanding officer. The
battle gave peace to the frontier for
several years.
In ITS young Shelby was in Ken
lucky acting as surveyor for Henderson
& Co., and in 1776 he was appointed
captain of a minute company by the
Committee Of Safety in Virginia. The
worth, nerve and skill Of the young pa
triot were thus early recognized by his
fellows. In the year 177F he was ap-
pointed by Governor Henry commits
sary of supplies for an extensive body
of militia, posted at different garrisons