The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1914-12-15
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Early History of Stanford 1
and Lincoln County 1
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J (Read by Mrs J. B. Paxton before
the Woman's Club
| About November l, 1880, twelve
years before Ketucky was made q
State, the Virginia Legislature di-
vided it into three counties and
named them, Lincoln, jefferson anu
Fayette. Lincoln is therefore one Of
the three Orglnal counties of thu
State and was named in honor OF
General Benjaslin Lincoln, of the
Revolutionary Army. Each county
ut the time of division embraced
about one third OF the State. The
! act of division named certain river
courses, mountain chains, and other
natural objects as the boundary
lines of Jefferson and Fayette and
then recites that ''all the residue of
| said county shall be called Lincoln
county" The connty, therefore. be-
gan its career by taking what was
left. Roughly speaking, jefferson
county embraced the western part
of the State, Fayette, the central,
and Lincoln the eastern. The early
history OF Lincoln county is there
fore the early history of about one
third of the counties of the State
into which it h.s since been sub
divided. and also. the early history
Of kentucky for the greater part of
the States most laring and chival-
ric incidents occurred within the
confines of the original boundary of
Lincoln county,
The earliest oce apant> of the lands
were not Indians, as is generally
::anp"sed. but wild beasts. for by a
sort of underst,ndin. among the
Indians the main part Of the State
had been set apart. to them that they
might have little trouble finding
game on their hnntin. expeditions.
The Indians. it seems. had made IF
the State sort sof Yellow Stone
Reservation. though it was visited
by them frequently on hunting. ex-
petitions as our ancestors on num-
erOus occasions learned to their
sorrow. The first white settlers of
Lincoln county We're mainly Of that
sterling Scotch Irish race who orig
inally migrated from the North of
Ireland to Pennsylvania. and from
there swarmed into the Valley of
Virginia and the, scinte .Kentsckx.
They were Of stern stuff and brook !
ed no opposition and to the last
proved worthy of their glorious tra-
ditiOns.
When we remember the Difficult !!
ties they had to encounter, the mail
ner III which they SurmOunted them. !
we should never cease tn revere
their memories and be thankful for
the heritage they left behind.
Here is Il theme to which >cail. !
justice has been done in song an! !
story. The traveller now vending !
his way eastward on palatiul diners !
and Pullman >leepers rarely think;
Of the privHtion> of our forbear>
when they made the same journey
by the Wilderness Road.
The first settlement in Lincoln !
county and third in the State was ut /
ST. A>aph'~ or Lo"an's Fort. as it Is ,
more generally known. Its site WAS
in the yard of Mr.. j. r. Camcni~rh.
near the water-work> plant. The ,
lnnvin" spirit in this settlement was
General Logan. Il name dear to the
heart Of every kentuckian who ;,
loves the traditions of his State. He
was born in Virginia in 1742. then a
rol"ny of Great Britain i'm which the
English law of prinogeniture WAS III
force, which gave To the oldest child
the entire estate on the death Of the
parent. General Logan was the first
child. but on the death of his father
declined to take advantage of this
aw AMI sold the lands and divided
he proceeds equally among his bro
hers and sisters. Uniting his share
With that of Il brother he purchased
/. fine farm on James river and COM
eyed it to his mother for. life with
'cmaindcr to the brother, and then
eft the place of his birth to seek
lis fortune
After serving some years in hi
liam wars he settled near the pres
mt location of Abingdon, Virginia.
nd lived there for many years and
vas one of the leading men of that
Here too he met and
married Anne Montgomery of the
anne Sc"tch-lrish stock as himself.
.arly i'm 1873 he set out to make al
ettlement for himself with no COM
'anions save few, trusty slaves.
'alling in with Boone, Henderson and
ther adventures. he united with
heir party and travelled some dis
ince with them along the line Of !!
ne Wilderness Road; then leaving
. !