The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1917-03-05

told, she remarked, "Why of course
you know this place, for this Is where
your pappy once lived" and in this
way was introduced to the house in
which | was born, and from which
was taken while an infant never to re-
turn but this one time.
Just u word further of personal his
tory. never knew until recently that
any of my ancestors had ever visited
Maysvlle prior to the coming of my
father, but from diary kept by DR..
Saugrain, pioneer Kentucky explor-
er, and published copy of which has
lately come into my hands, take the
following extracts relating to my
great-grandfather Colonel Ephraim
Blaine, Commissary General of the
Revolutionary Army, which may be
of interest to Maysville readers.
Louisville, KY, May 7th, 1855" An
excellent opportunity is presented,
and | am going to avail myself of it.
Colonel Blaine Is going as far as Car
Isle Carlisle, Pennsylvania, was his
home) and intend to travel with him,
that is to say, we shall see the whole
of Quimtague kentucky together.
We shall 60 on horseback as far as
Limestone (Maysville) where we shall
wait the small boats which are to
take us to Monsquingome (Muskin-
gum).' They were two weeks making
the journey and we quote again the
record of the last three days: "Of the
10th. At one o'clock we arrived at
Lexington, the capitol of Kentucky.
This city is not large, but it is the
largest in The country. 1t is quite
pleasantly situated. We found our
selves present at the time for holding
Court, which brings in quite a large
number of people. | think we shall
remain here two days, and shall use
two days getting to Limestone" "Of
the 10Th. Set out at seven o'clock, we
got to Bourbon Paris) at eleven
O'Clock. We departed thence and
IN do A.
night in that place because Colonel
Blaine had business" "Of the Goth.
We set out at three o'clock. We dined
at Salinebleu (Bue Licks). 1t is a
very extraordinary thing to see eight
or ten feet apart two springs, one of
which is very salt, the other fresh. A
great quantity of salt is made here
by evaporating the water. From Blue
Licks we went to little town four
miles from Limestone Greek This
town is quite large it is called Wag-
entone (Washington) From there we
went to Limestone, whence intend to
depart tomorrow seeing that the boats
have arrived from the falls"
OF Colonel Blaine's further move
ments we have no record. but II is
quite probable he remained in Lime
stone for some time as his business
in Kentucky was entering lands I'M
der Treasury Warrants and looking
after other lands which he had enter
ed some years before. One of these
tracts containing five thousand acres,
is described as Opposite two islands,
between the Scioto River and cabin
Creek, on the banks of the Ohio
River"
Fifty years later QS3S) Ephraim
Blaine's grandson, Samuel Lyron
Blaine, who had become familiar with
all the points along the river while
engaged in fiat boat traffic between
Pittsburg and New Orleans, chose
Maysville as his home. Here in 1910
ne married Anna Coons, sister of the
Reverend George w. and Charles b.
Coons; here his family was raised and
here he and his wife lie buried.
Nearly fifty years later, his oldest
son, your correspondent, attracted by
the broader life of the world, resign
ed the office of U. s. Collector of In
ternal Revenue, which he had held
for many years, and sought a home
elsewhere. In Maysville he married;
in Maysville his children were born,
and though new generation to whom
he Is practically a stranger, fills its
streets, he holds in memory dear,
fond recollections, and a loving rev.
erence for the little City under the
hills.
Sincerely yours,
JOHN EWING BLAINE