The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1919-12-11
FIRST TOBACCO MARKET EVER HELD
In KENTUCKY,
and FOR Many YEARS The ONLY MARKET, WAS HELD
IN GARRARD COUNTY.
SOME INTERESTING HISTORY.


/ friends tried TO deter him from the
perilous trip, but without avail he
declaring profanely that "his tobacco
was going and II II went to hell he
would go with it,, and il was thought
that he had actually been lost. He
was not heard Of for years and he
was mourned as dead. However,
such was not the case. He finally
reached New Orleans in safety, load
ed 1t on ship and went with il to
Liverpool. where he disposed Of il
for an enormous price. returning
here and investing the proceeds in
land near Lancaster, where he spent
the remainder Of his days.
Naturally quite village sprang up
around this warehouse; hotel was
constructed and its proprietor was
Mike Shlter, his good wife Aunt
| Osee" assisting him in looking after
/ the welfare and comfort Of his
guests. This is familiar name TO
Garrard county people, he being a
I revolutionary soldier. the grand
| father Of Capt Thomas A. Elkin Of
Lancaster. Mr.. Salter conducted
bar" in connection with his hostelry
and il became congregating place
for notables from all over the coun-
try.
Sam Marksbury, son Of Isaac
Marksbury, kept bar at the hotel;
Sam frequently visited at the home
Of Major Burnside's father, and from
his wonderful memory Major Burn
sides recalls some Of the entries from
Marksbury's ledger, which he fire.
quently brought with him on these
trips. Among them was Capt. Billy
Woods, one pint whiskey, pence.
Gen. Tom Kennedy, | quart whiskey
pence. Upon this book also APP
peared the name Of Henry Clay, Gov
! George Robertson. Bob Letcher. the
Warfelds. BENEFITS and many other
noted Kentuekians.
There was whiskey galore and Of
course gambling, and another sport
which was INDUCED in Of which many
Of us never heard. men met there to
fight their DULLES. Ii was the Gus
tom in those days for rich planters
TO keep attached to his household a
bully. This person was well fed
and groomed, furnished good sad
die horse and negro to care for it
and accompanied his boss" where
ever he might 90; the only return ex-
pected Of him was that he must fight
at the word Of his boss, much money
usually being waged on his prowess,
his downfall Of course meaning the
loss Of his job and his luxurious
means Of livelihood. His head was
kept shaved, biting and gouging was
barred, and they fought rough and
tumble, fist and skull until either ne
or his opponent, or some one for
them. cried enough. Cock fight
ing was also a favorite sport with
these old time tobacco planters ami |
their friends, and fabulous sums were
won and lost at this place.
This market flourished for years,
and until the railroads furnished a
quicker, cheaper and more conven-
lent mode Of handling the crops.
Mr.. James Clark, one of Louis
ville's pioneer tobacco buyers was
also one of Major Burnsides infor-
mants as to this unique market, and
insisted that some effort be made to
secure some definite data in regard !
to it, and also the seed of the origi- !
nal tobacco. Major Burnside made !
careful inquiry, and what is here
written is the result Of that inquiry. |
The tobacco grown is supposed TO
have been what is known as White |
Burnley. Other information was
CLEANED from Major Robert Burnside |
a great uncle Of Messrs James A. and |
Joe Burnside. who resided in the vi
entity Of the mouth Of Sugar Greek,
and who owned distillery and pow
der mill and who was noted for a
peculiar rifle powder which he man
ufactured.
Other names mentioned in con
nection with the old market are FAM
liar. "Uncle Billy" Wall was wen
known to many Of our older inhabi-
tants, and spent his declining years
in the county; Isaac Marksbury was
the founder of the well known fam
lily of that name, some Of whom now
reside in Lancaster; Bob Mitchell,
the book-keeper, afterward became
cashier Of a branch of the old Bank
Of Kentucky in Danville, and many
others who were connected with this
original tobacco market have de-
cendants now residing in the county.