From: KyArchives [archives@genrecords.org] Sent: Sunday, December 23, 2007 12:14 AM To: Ky-Footsteps Subject: History.of.Henderson.Chapter.3 Chapter Iii Second Colony 1887 Henderson County KyArchives History Books Book Title: History Of Henderson County, KY CHAPTER III. SECOND COLONY. TRIALS OF THE PIONEERS-THE OUTLAWS DRIVEN OUT-GREAT RELIGIOUS REVIVAL. THE few pioneers who had settled here were, a few years afterwards, reinforced by the incoming of the ancestors of many of the best families now living, among whom were the Hopkins, headed by General Samuel Hopkins, agent and attorney, in fact for Richard Henderson & Co., the Bells, Andersons, Holloways, Talbotts, Newmans, Barnetts, Ashbys, McBrides, Fuquays, Rankins, Hamiltons and others. About this time all of this section of the country, to the Tennessee line and including a great portion of the territory north of Green River, was infested and completely overrun by a band of notorious murderers and thieves, who proved a terror to the better class of people. Among this class of outlaws were the Harpes, the Masons, the Wilsons, the Mays, of whom mention has been made, and many others, who were not the avowed, but were the secret friends and abettors of the outlaws. These fiends incarnate, thirsted for blood; they rode the forests through and through, fearing neither the power of God, nor the defense of the settlers. At that time cabins were far apart, and they connected only by paths and trails. For the settler to attempt a defense by the use of fire-arms, was but an invitation to murder, and to undertake a union of forces at any time for the purpose of combining against the outlaws, was as useless as it was next to impossible. Therefore, many men, solely for self-preservation, were forced to become apparent friends of these people. Outlawry was at high tide, and deeds of violence, shocking to civilization, were perpetrated with as little concern as though regulated by law, and carried out by authority of the courts. A half hour's ride in any direction would place the highwayman out of the range of primitive danger, and safely away in a territory where they could not be found with a double microscopic search warrant. For this reason, then, they were to be, and were greatly feared by all honest men. The better class in those days were in the minority and had to content themselves and keep absolutely quiet in the enjoyment of their possessions, and in the occupancy of a purely neutral position. SALT. One of the greatest privations the early settlers had to contend with was the great lack of salt. For months they were compelled to do their cooking without this necessity, and oftentimes forced to ride hundreds of miles over a wild and untraveled country to obtain a small sack, for which a fabulous price was charged. Accounts now in possession of the writer furnish conclusive evidence of this important fact. Ten dollars per bushel was often paid, to which had to be added the loss of time and the long and dangerous journey made to secure a small supply. From old records it would seem that this commodity passed current between men, and in very many instances was taken in exchange for land and stock. It was also frequently given in exchange for labor and merchant accounts. In 1794, external evidences suggested beyond question, the existence of salt water in many parts of the county, and the feasibility of utilizing it so as to supply the wants of the settlers. Hunters and surveyors traversing the woods and barrens in search of game and boundary lines chanced upon buffalo trails and narrow paths, beaten by the hoofs of deer, and following them discovered what was known as "licks." These licks were frequented by large numbers of wild animals, and as an indisputable evidence, hillsides were found to be undermined by the lick of wild tongues, and numerous holes yet moist were found there to attest the presence of a briny substance. Upon closer and more accurate examination, the clay was found to consist of a strong part salt, and this determined some of the more enterprising settlers to venture an enterprise which subsequently resulted in one of the greatest blessings to the new country. Eneas McCallister, grandfather of the late John E. McCallister, Esq., having discovered one of these licks on Highland Creek, about twenty miles from the Red Banks-now Henderson-much frequented by buffalo and deer, conceived the idea of boring for salt water. He at once proceeded to sink a well, and at a short distance found water of very great strength in abundance. He erected here salt works, and in a short time was able to supply all those living at the Red Banks, the adjoining neighborhood, and for many miles surrounding. He continued to manufacture salt at this point for the term of three or four years, at the end of which time parties from Virginia appeared upon the ground, not only asserting, but proving a better title to the land under the laws as then understood. With these undisputable evidences staring him in the face, Mr. McCallister immediately dispossessed himself and soon after located other wells three miles east on Highland Creek, at a point then and yet known as the "Knob Lick." This soon became a noted locality, so much so that the most important public road running south of west from the Yellow Banks, now Owensboro, was directed to that point. In the formation of Webster County in 1860, this spot was included within the boundaries of that county, and can be found three or four miles to the right of Sebree City. At the Knob Lick, Mr. McCallister found a stream of water equally as strong as the one he had left at Highland Lick, and here salt was made as well as at Highland until the year 1827, when both wells, from some unaccountable reason, ceased to flow, and the works were abandoned. Simultaneously with the enterprise of Mr. McCallister, salt was made in large quantities at the Saline Wells in the Illinois Territory by Captain James Barbour, of Henderson. Much of the salt used by the early settlers of Henderson County was obtained from these works, they going and returning on horseback, with two bushels or less. CAPTAIN YOUNG AND THE OUTLAWS. During the year 1799, the outlaws, of whom mention has before been made, had increased in numbers, daring and villiany. They rode over a large territory of country, embracing the entire Green River section, extending as far northeast as Mercer County, and met with no resistance adequate even to their discomforture. They were guilty of hell-born iniquities, which would put to blush the demoniacal deeds of all ignorance and vice which had preceded their adventure into the new country. They were the terror of terrors, and so much to be dreaded, that Captain Young, a dashing commander, with a number of equally brave men of Mercer County, armed themselves and determined at all hazards, to drive the villains from the country. Mounted upon fiery chargers of blood and metal, and armed with the best weapons the country afforded, this body of liberty-loving, impetuous troopers, rushed to the deliverance of their country and friends from this organized clan, not actuated by any lion-like temptation to spring upon their victim or to satiate a long settled and deadly hate, but a clan organized to glut a savage vengeance unknown to the most heartless red man. The life they led, was one of hire and salary, not revenge-it was the counting of money against human life. It was not only the counting of so many pieces of silver, against so many ounces of blood, but it was a life of inhuman nature, enveloped in depravity, intensified in all of its paroxysms of crime. Murder, coupled with robbery, or murder alone seemed to have been the actuating impulse of this Godless clan. The innocent, the weak and harmless, the silvery locks of decrepit old age, the golden tresses of sweet infancy and purity of charming maidenhood, served as no paliating medium, but these met the same fate as did hardy manhood. All, all, who fell in the way of these highwaymen were sacrificed to satisfy their thirst for blood, and died examples of the barbarity of incontinent brutes and fiends. To capture or slay these, was the ultima-thule of Captain Young, and his men, and nothing short of a sad and serious reverse, a grand and overwhelming victory for the outlaws, could check them in their most holy, lawful and natural expedition. A bright sun shone upon their departure, the blessings of the people followed them, the sweetest smiles and cheering words of female beauty greeted them and bade them God speed. The eolian whisperings of the winds cheered them on, the forests echoed, clear consciences and a firm faith in the right and their ultimate triumph, strengthened them. In all of their adventurous plans and perilous surroundings, they recognized the coadjutant power of the Almighty, in whose good will they most implicitly relied. Captain Young and his men recognized the perils of their undertaking; they understood the wily machinations of the enemy, and with blood for blood emblazened upon their banner; started upon their mission of capture or death, utterly regard-less of their own personal comforts or the hardships attending a campaign in such a wild and comparatively unmarked country. Exasperated by new stories told them as they passed on in search of the outlaws, the feelings of the patriots became more and more .intense, and to slay an outlaw was an act commending the slayer to promotion. None of the sympathetic cords were to be touched, no repentance or contrition, no changing of minds firmly purposed, but the keenest ambition was to come in rifle range and then to unhorse the fleeing malefactor. To apply the knife to the throat of one of these was to be a favor graciously embraced by any one of the command. So determined was Captain Young and his men, Mercer County was soon delivered, and the outlaws fleeing for the south side of Green River, many of them, however, were killed before reaching Green River. Captain Young was not satisfied with the great and good work that had been done, but determined to pursue the villains until the last one of them was made to bite the dust, or flee for safety to some other more congenial territory. To this end, therefore, he crossed Green River into what was then Henderson County, and it is asserted as a positive fact that twelve or thirteen outlaws were killed in this county. The citizens who had been so long under the terrible yoke, gave him all the aid possible and Henderson County was soon free. The mission of this God-serving band of brave and true men was extended through Henderson on down as low as what was known as "Flin's Ferry" and "Cave-in-rock," on the Illinois side of the Ohio River. This place, it was said, and most generally known, was the headquarters of a numerous gang of Jack Shepard cut-throats, who had appointed it as a place of rendezvous, where they kept supplies forflatboats descending the Ohio. Here they held high carnival, engaged in their debauches and planned raids upon the surrounding country It was a secret hiding place, wild and frightful and dangerous to attack. When rendezvous in sufficient numbers they frequently attacked flatboats, murdered the crews and floated the boat on to New Orleans on their own account. This raid of Captain Young was the first check ever given the outlaws, and for a time broke them up almost entirely. It was soon followed by the killing of the notorious Uriah, or Big Harpe, and the flight of Little Harpe, Mason and others, to the territory of Mississippi, where they and their co-operators were killed by each other, or captured and hanged by the law. Captain Young and his men returned to Mercer, receiving the plaudits of the people, and were ever afterward remembered in the prayers of those few settlers who had lived in indescribable suspense. The country, though thinly settled, was now brought to a state of quiet security, every face beamed in the hallowed evidence of liberty and freedom of speech, which had so long been denied them, and honest men soon became outspoken, while the over-timid and secret abettors of the outlaws couched lances with them in heralding the good name and daring deeds of Captain Young and his glorious little squad. The outlaws had no friends now. GREAT REVIVAL OF 1797. It seemed as if by special divine will, that a yet greater check was.to be given any future life of theirs in the Green River country. This came in the shape of a great religious revival, certainly the most wonderful and remarkable ever known prior to that time, and perhaps ever known since. Religious interest manifested itself in a most magical way, sweeping like a prairie flame, and extending its influence in every direction. The entire Green River country, beginning with Warren County, was affected with this wonderful contagion. In those days there were very few, if any church buildings, and the population small and very much scattered. No matter, this excitement seized the entire population, permeating every nook and corner of the counties, flying here and there with all the indications of an incomprehensible outbreak. These were the days of the great divine, Rev. Jas. McGready, whose strong preaching drew hundreds around him, and engaged their earnest work in behalf of the Master and His Kingdom on earth. Camp meetings became the order of the day, often continuing for a month or more. These meetings were attended by people who had come from fifty to one hundred miles away- not curious amusement seekers, but men and women who had heard and had come to be taught and learn. They were bent upon more light and grace spiritually, than they had ever been enabled to gather from the solitude of a wilderness life. When assembled the body was a large one, a grand one, and great numbers, indeed a very great majority, connected themselves with the church. Among that astonishing number of converts were many who had been suspected of being the secret abettors of the outlaws, but, notwithstanding the repulsive taint attaching to their moral character, they were welcomed into the church and did afterwards become respectable and useful citizens. These meetings were conducted by eminent divines, the most noted of whom was the Rev. James McGready, then came Revs. Rankin Hodge and William McGee, Presbyterian preachers, and John McGee, a brother of the last named gentleman, who was a Methodist preacher. In addition to these the Rev. William Barnett, of that part of the country, now known as Caldwell County, frequently officiated. Mr. Barnett was a remarkable man, and in addition to his wonderful pulpit and revival powers, is said possessed a voice absolutely surpassing belief. Hon. Philip B. Matthews, to whom I am indebted for much of the foregoing interesting recollections of early times, affirms that he could be heard and understood at a distance of one mile. It was at these revivals a disease-if it may be so called-farsical in its intervention and never before known, manifested itself. This anomalous evidence of regeneration-a sample of faith never before witnessed, a disease pedantic in its form-partook of an impassioned restlessness, then the tremors, then the wriggles, then the shakes, then the flounders, then the staggers, and then the whole epileptic catalogue of nervous jerks, seized the victims, while the victims seized the nearest saplings and exerted herculean powers seemingly to unhinge themselves. This very remarkable outcropping of religious fanaticism permeated the entire camp, creating among many a considerable degree of alarm. The whole country became christianized, and society, law and order became the gainers thereby. At this time and a little after, there was an influx of most desirable immigrants from other States. The Dixons, Alves, Harts, Cowans, Hillyers and others, from North Carolina; the Towles, Cabells, Subletts, Townes, Terrys, Wilsons and Atkinsons, from Virginia; John J. Audubon, from Louisiana, and the Ingrams, Herndons and others, from Central Kentucky. The population had not only increased greatly in numbers, but the improvement in morals and intelligence became very noticable. Henderson society, at that early day, would compare favorably with any in the West, and the deeds of violence which had been so frequently committed in the still earlier settlement of the county were of rare occurrence. Submitted by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KENTUCKY, BY EDMUND L. STARLING, COMPRISING HISTORY OF COUNTY AND CITY, PRECINCTS, EDUCATION, CHURCHES, SECRET SOCIETIES, LEADING ENTERPRISES, SKETCHES AND RECOLLECTIONS, AND BIOGRAPHIES OF THE LIVING AND DEAD. ILLUSTRATED. HENDERSON, KY, 1887. This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/kyfiles/