The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1921-07-12
STONE TABLET UNVEILED ON
SITE OF OLD FORT

Swaying leafy boughs, singing
birds, sunny skies, fields of ripened
grain, freshly cut, lying yellow in
the golden June sunshine-in the
background the historic old stone
house, Fairfield, in former days tho
home of the renowned Gen. James
Garrard, behind whose gray stone
walls was held the fourth court in
the State of Kentucky-these mark
ed the scene of the coming together
of the Jemima Johnson Chapter, D.
A. R., of Paris, and their guests from
adjoining Central Kentucky towns,
on Friday, June "a, at eleven o'clock.
The occasion was the unwilling OF
the stone tablet erected by this
Chapter to mark the site of what was
known in early pioneer days as Mar
tins Fort.
The place is on the e. F. Clay
farm, three miles from Paris on the
Cynthiana pike, the exact spot hav-
ing been located by the research of
Mrs. Wade Whitley with the assist
ance of surveyors. This portion was
ceded to the Paris Chapter by Col.
Clay prior to his death and has been
recently enclosed by substantial
stone wall with the tablet in the
center. After the invocation by Rev.
DR.. F. w. Eberhardt, pastor of
Georgetown Baptist church, Mrs.
Cassius Clay, Regent, stated briefly
the purpose of the meeting and cour-
teously introduced the speaker of the
occasion, Mrs. w. T. Lafferty, of Lex
ington. Mrs. Lafferty, who has done
such valuable research work in gath
ering. together data concerning early
Kentucky history, read from her care
fully prepared manuscripts, excerpts
setting forth the manners, dress and
customs of the pioneer settlers, who
blazed the way through the track
less forests, endured privations and
suffered hardships that we, their
children, might live in peace and
plenty. The speaker had made a
careful study of all the records and
consequently was prepared to give
interesting accounts of the lives and
characters of many of these settlers
who had an active part in the settle
ment of our beloved old Common
wealth, Boone, Harrod, Hinkson,
Townsend, Cooler and Martin
being foremost among them.
Mrs. Lafferty stated that this par
ticular spot was the cradle of Bour-
bon county history. Martins Fort,
built in 1873 was one of the most
formidable on the frontier. 1t was
destroyed by the British and Indians
on June "a, 1880, it's occupants taken
prisoners and carried away to the
far North across the border into
Canada.
At the site of the fort are the re-
mains of the famous old Cooper's Run
Baptist church, which played so i'm
portant part in the religious life of
early Kentucky settlers. At the con-
clusion of Mrs. Lafferty's reading,
Mrs. E. F. Clay made brief remarks,
as did DR.. Daugherty, of Paris, who
spoke of further incidents connected
with the fort and church, which in
formation he had CLEANED from the
dairy of Gen. Garrard, from whom he
is a lineal descendant.
The tablet was then unveiled by
the two lovely little daughters of Mr..
and Mrs. Brutus Clay, Mary and Ann,
dressed in airy green frocks, wear
ing the cunningest of poke bonnetS
tied over their pretty curls, their
dimpled knees encased in lace trim
med pantalettes after the fashion OF
We olden time. During the ceremony
the guests stood and all sang Amer
lea, while the manly young son OF
Mr.. and Mrs. VIM. Talbot, clad IN
khaki uniform, stood at attention be-
fore the flag which yelled the stone
tablet.
After the impressive ceremonies
were concluded the Rev. j. T. Shar-
rard. of Paris, pronounced the bene-
diction, and so another red-letter day
rassed into the history of the Jemima
Johnson Chapter, d. A. r.
About 125 guests were present. a
most bountiful and delicious lunch
con was served at the noon hour.
Those in attendance from Harrison
were Misses Eliza Lair, Mary
Louise Northcutt, Gladys Rankin and
Mrs. w. H. Jenkins.
The well-known old Ruggles' Fort,
built about the same time as Mar
tins Fort. was located on the Lair
farm i'm Harrison county, now in the
possession of Miss Eliza Lair. 1t,
also. has a most interesting history.
# is the purpose of Miss Lair to
mark the site herself and thus pre-
serve for posterity the exact location
of this early Kentucky stronghold.