Hancock County, Kentucky Stories
Pellville History
[Query Forum] [Archives] [Lookups] [Home] [Email County Coordinator]
Retyped as it appeared in the Clarion, by Mary L. Gibbs, for non-profit use

By E.H. Barlow with help from Mamie Ashworth, Mrs. Willie Fuchs, Mrs. Jack Stephens, Mrs. Lee Jackson, Mrs. Waitman Jackson and Mrs. W.P. Newman.

The story of Pellville before the year of 1902 is folklore with me, so if those who read this take that portion with a grain of salt-that will be fine.

Over 200 years ago pioneers settled at Hardinsburg, Kentucky, and it was said there was a Fort or Stockade erected, here for protection against the Indians. About the same time a man by the name of Smothers settled at Owensboro, at the time, called Yellow Banks. Between these settlements there were to be a trail. Tradition says most of this followed an old Indian trail. Starting at Hardinsburg, this trail came through what later was Balltown, Patesville, Weberstown, Pellville, Knottsville and Thruston, to Yellow Banks.

Now let’s imagine one of our ancestors, lodging his family in a covered wagon and taking off from Hardinsburg down this trail. He makes it by nightfall between the Knobbs (Pellville) where they camped.

Some time in the night his little son woke his father, saying, “I heard a noise out there.” His father said, “what did it sound like, son.”

The boy said, “Sounded like something snorted.” The father left the wagon a few yards and a big buck deer took off from the camp. So the next morning, when they decided to make this spot their home, they called the place Buck Snort; and this was the name the settlement was called for many years.

Tradition says this became quite a rough little town. To believe the report that came down through the ages, there was a big trade in whiskey and other goods. Many fist fights-a man walked into town and said he was the best man there. Someone at once took up the challenge. Of course, we know how these stories go. But let us hurry in with our story.

Now just when the place quit being Buck Snort and became Pellville is a much-discussed subject. The chronicle that I consulted was of the opinion that one of Joe Pell’s (former County, Judge) ancestors had the honor of naming Pellville.

Sometime in the early 1890’s Pellville was made an incorporated town. City limits were laid off, streets were named, and a city judge and marshal were elected. A small stone building back of the hotel used to be pointed out as the jail.

James Obenchain was the last City Judge and was after known as Judge Obenchain.
 
The topography of the land here runs the same as most knob sections. Nice rolling farm and pastureland spreads out away from the three knobs. The knobs are known as Pellville, Temple and Stephens. Many Indian relics have been found near Pellville, leading us to believe there were many Indian camps here. On the South knob there are a few graves marked by rough unlettered stones and no one living has any knowledge of who was buried here.

When I first saw Pellville, there were three stores, a hotel and livery barn, two blacksmith shops, two gristmills, one funeral home, church school, post office and millinery shop. For the benefit of those under 50, this is a place where they made ladies hats.

For many years before the 1920’s horses and steam power were very important to Pellville. Tobacco was prized at the factory, hauled on big wagons and placed on boats and sent to market. H.D. Brown, and P.A. Stephens were in the sawmill and threshing business. One of our oldest memories is of their big steam traction engines.

In 1921 the Newman Oil Co., was formed at Hawesville. This company employed Burt Thompson to test out some leases near Pellville. A wildcat well was drilled on the Tommy Brown farm and then on the farm of Tom Jackson, where oil was found. In early 1922 Burt Thompson drilled on the Barlow farm. Oil was found here and also in the same year on the farm of Cole Jett.

The last three farms have oil sand named for them. Oilmen and geologist swarmed over the countryside. Every house or spare room that could shelter workers was filled. The big boom lasted 5 or 6 years, and production of oil is still going on. Millions of dollars was paid out in wages and royalties. Six million dollars worth of oil was sold from the Great Lakes lease 1 mile west of Pellville.