Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-04-25

ington County Kentucky. He was
| neighbor to the Linco1ns and Berrys, and
1t was probably this fact, and no de-
nominational relationship, that caused
him to perform the marriage.
He was a cabinet maker and JUS
tice of the peace.
Year by year Jesse Head turned In
his lists of marriages performed, dozen
or more at time, not by calendar years
but in convenient groups.
! His last signature on the Washington
County records is dated Oct. 10, 1910,
when he signed the court order as Jus
tice Of the peace" At that time he had
given up his home in the village and
was living on his farm.
But his name Immediately reappears,
and that ON the records of Harrodsburg,
the oldest town in Kentucky. He bought
a lot there in March, 1910. On Oct. IL,
1911, he was elected to fill a vacancy on
the town board He continued one of
the town trustees until 1915, when he re-
signed and apparently lived out of
town; but he was reelected in 1919 and
again at intervals until 1927 Frequently
he presided at the board meetings, and
often acted as clerk, many pages Of the
records being in his handwriting.
NEVER WAS
REGULAR PASTOR.
He seems to have done good deal OF
preaching, but never. so far as any rec
ords thus far are discovered, as regular
pastor. At one time he preached stately
In Lexington, but does not seem to have
lived there, unless 1t was in one of the
intervals In which his name disappears
from the Harrodsburg records. He had
carpenter shop opposite the courthouse,
~
coming to secure their marriage licenses.
1t is reported that Jesse Head was a
strong opponent OF slavery. have not
been able to confirm this report. He was
an opponent of Henry Clay and was
good, hard hitting Democrat. In 1880 he
edited a newspaper, called the Amert-
can. Harrodsburg had a Wing paper
called the Union. The two papers were
not on good terms.
There exists but one likeness Of Jesse
Head. a drawing in the Durett collection,
which have been permitted to photo
graph. How accurate 1t is, do not
know, but 1t is the best we have.
JINGLE GIVES
HEADS DESCRIPTION.
The only description Of his personal
appearan Of which l know Is jingle
which appeared in the opposing news
paper:
There lives a man in our town
Who walks the streets IN q dressing
gown;
His nose is long and his hair Is red.
And he goes by the name Of Jesse Head"
Jesse Head was a brave man. He had
frequent controversies, and was
straight out hitter in argument. One
day a man with whom he was on bad
terms stood watching him as he passed
toward the courthouse, and after Head
had gone by, fred shot which missed
the minister Head at once turned back,
and confronting the man with the smok-
Ing pistol said, III you hred that shot
10 XIII me. you are a coward II you did
II TO Brighten me, you are fool"
Jesse Head died March ~, 1912. in his
74th year He was buried in Harrods-
burg have Just visited Harrodsburg.
and the grave Of Jesse Head Is IN
marked.
He died poor. He did not prosper
in worldly affairs. When tho commits
siouers were appointed to make an In
ventory Of his estate. they found that
all that he had possessed belonged to
his son. who had bought 1t in at sherins
sale.
This present article builds no monu-
ment to Jesse Head. though he deserved
one; but 1t attempts to rescue from
oblivion an honored name, and one that
stands In intimate association with that
Of Abraham Llncoln.-Copyright, 1922.