The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1919-12-11


is indeed a credit to the county, and
had IL been built many years sooner.
the county would have been wealth
Ter by many thousands Of dollars.
However. better late than never.
The great majority Of our people
are under the impression that this is
the first public tobacco market Of
which Garrard county can boast.
Such however is not the case. Gar
rard county had tobacco market in
full operation in 1917, and how long
before that time we are unable TO
trace.
Major James A. Burnside talked
Interestingly to Record man Of this
industry, and he came by his infor-
nation from different sources, the
greater portion of IL being told to
him by Uncle" Claiborne Lear, who
was a frequent visitor TO the old time
mart.
The original tobacco growers Of
4 the state were hard put for a market
for their weed, and were compelled
to send il to New Orleans; the trip
was Of n necessity a hard and some
times perilous one; II was loaded
on hatboaS, OF sometimes RATS, at
the mouth Of Sugar Creek, thence
down the Kentucky. Ohio and Miss
issippi rivers 10 New Orleans. The
return trip was made on foot. One
Of the more hardy pioneers would
usually organize an expedition and
take his neighbors crops with him to
market. taking enough Of his hardy
companions with him to assist in
manning the boat, and to insure
safety on the return trip through the
then Wild and unsettled country.
This tobacco eventually found its
, way to Enghnd. and the English
people psissd il very highly because
49, Light bely aud rich flavor so
suitabIs TOR blending with eoarser
and heavier tobacco. and they de-
ter ,ined TO sseertain its source and
origin. With this in view, they start
ed out a runner; this runner first
landed in New Orleans, tracing with
difficulty this runner gradually work
ed his way up the big rivers and FIN
ally found the origin of this peculiar
quality weed in the sand stone hills
of old Garrard, around the mouth Of
Sugar Creek. This man returned to
England and reported the result Of his
investigation. and in a very short
time a house was built and n market
established at the mouth Of Sugar
Greek for the handling of this pecu-
liar type Of tobacco, afterward
known as White Burnley.
This is known to have been the
first tobacco market south Of the
Alleghanies. and for many years the
only market in the state. To this
market was attracted tobacco from
four counties on the north side and
five on this side Of the river, the best
grade coming as far south as Casey
county. Many farmers began TO give
their undivided attention to the rails
ing Of tobacco, to the exclusion Of
other crops.
Billy Wall. an Englishman was the
first manager, a man by the name Of
Mitchell. also an Englishman, the
book-keeper, and Isaac Marksbury.
the first Inspector. The latter was
the great grandfather Of Mr.. Frank
Marksbury, our townsman.
The industry at that time was of
necessity in a crude state, they hav-
ing none Of the appliances which are
now considered necessity around
warehouse. The slaves Of the hogs
heads were hewn, while the hoops
were split saplings. The hogsheads
when priced weighed 1000 pounds
the press or prize was a crude, prim-
tive affair consisting Of log ingen-
iously arranged between two trees
and rugged with log chains.
Uncle Clairb, is sure Of the ware
house being in running order in 1917
because Of the fact that this was
the year Of the. great freshet in Ken
lucky river, during which 1000 hogs
heads Of tobacco then on the ground
awaiting shipment were swept away
snd lost.
Elijah sartain, the great grand
father Of postmaster Z. P. Brown, at
the time Of this freshet had con-
alignment Of tobacco ON the ground
ready Ger shipment; part Of this he
had rnine6 and part bought. noting
Ne rat1<g rising waters and know
M TIE bss Of this tobacco meant
ruin fes him, he hastened prepare
49, for his trip. The river at this
tine vas almost solid from bank to
bank with floating trees and debris.