The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1909-10-08
The Lair FAMILY.
700 Defendants From Permanent Or.
ganizatOn, with Mrs. ]. R.
johnson, President.

! the Courier Journal Of September
10 contained very interesting illus
trated article concerning the Lair
family, of Central Kentucky, who
came to this State in liza. There
were three brothers, Andrew, Mat
thias and John, the two latter of
whom followed Andrew in 1892, the
year Kentucky was admitted TO the
CnIon. Andrew was the father Of Miss
Elizabeth Lair, the second girl child
born of white parents in Kentucky.
Through the untiring efforts of
Miss Eliza Lair, great-granddaught
of Matthias Lair, and Mrs. w. T. Laf-
ferty, reat-granddaughter of John
Lair and Observation-Disclosures G.
Andrew Lair, reunion and picnic of
the Lair descendants was held Sat
mday, August 2S, at the ancestral
horne, now owned by Charles Lair. A
permanent organization OF the des-
cendants, Of whom there are now
some 700, was. formed, with these
officers: President, Mrs. Richard
Johnson, Richmond. Ky; treasurer
and recording secretary, Isaac Newton
Lair, Wilmington, O.; corresponding
secretary, Miss Eliza Lair, Cynthiana;
historian, Mrs. w. T. Lafferty, Gym
thiana.
Mrs. Richard johnson is the wife
OF Prof. J. r. Johnson, formerly of
Louisa. She has visited this city
frequently and is a very intelligent
and popular woman.
The Lair estate is near Cynthiana.
The great house, still standing, was
built in 1925 and its construction
y consumed five years and $4,000. The
estate, embracing from seven hundred
TO thousand acres, when in its
prime was OF magnificent proper
I tons. Its fields were outlined by
double rows OF stately cedar trees
and enclosed by high stone walls
Near the house were walled-in gar
dens aggregating many acres: choice
fruits vines, berries of every known
> variety and the choicest flowers
c tlouriShed in luxuriance. The out
houses were ample, providing rhelter
u for many slaves, and the granaries,
% always full to repleion. were of
generous size.
m The remains Of the once imposing
st barn are of historic value. Built in
1911, its beams were all mortised TO-
IS gether, as was the method OF the
rs period, no nails being used Wooden
A. pins held the structure firmly 10.
gcther. When the roof was being
- put together 1t was customary to cal
Il, in all the neighbors for help. Or
this occasion the structure was O.
such size 500 men were required tC
% RAISE it. It's great door was forty
~ feet in width, permitting a four
horse team to enter, turn round ant
H. pass out. Its foundation or first
RS floor was of stone, containing stall
for horses and cattle. The uppe,
N ncor was entered from the rear
ad where the ground was elevated, suit
ed TO drive in on the level,
les It was at this barn. that soldier
as received their numbers for the draft
sc ing of the War Of 1872, when the,
hn were called to serve under Col. Hink
nut stOn. Charles Lair held a hat whiC
ge contained slips of paper. AS Cac
en- man passed he drew slip. John Lai
he drew a number and William Lair
tie blank. Being younger man an
ice without family, William offered /
m 20 in Johns stead, and did so.
Near the house, probably fourt
IRA Of a mile distant, is one of The mos
on unique features of this historic plac
"a family vault of simple but statl
ow design, situated on the bank of Lick
ing river some thirty feet above tn
on normal flow. One large room, Iiflee
en- by twenty feet, is hewn out of tn
solid granite, and faces toward th
sed river, a space of some twenty by fit
to feet being left in front for passag
An iron door closes the entrance, Ov
in the door is a maEble block bearin
de- these words: Beware; do not distur
the remains Of the sacred dead !
sed D. 1885, In this vault now rest ov'
to score OF caskets, All are flute
metallic coffins except two OF carve
stone Some have lain in the sflel
A. sepulchre for over hundred years.
In this vault were placed the bon
Ger OF the Inflated pioneers who we
n,assacred by the British Gener
lie, Byrd and his savage allies in LIS
lay. at the time of the first raids in Ike
ing lucky when the first artillery vi
brought into the State. Charles la
last caused the bones to be ggthere
placed In cases and laid with b
ing loved ores in the stone vault.
The exhuming ceremony was ma
n. an event. Negro slaves prformed {