Excerpts from the Mountain Echo Laurel County's first newspaper 1877

                                                Reprinted with permission of the Laurel County Historical Society

January 5, 1877

A VISIT TO SUBLIMITY-On the morning of December 26th a company of young gentlemen and ladies left London to pay a visit to Mr. C. Pitman’s family at Sublimity. The morning was rather cold and gloomy there being some snow on the ground and clouds still hovering around; but this could not stop a crowd bent upon having some Christmas, so about nine o’clock we were ready and off. Our conveyance each of which were well loaded yet we sped on with considerable rapidity. As we sped along the way ;the woods resounded with songs and laughter with the occasional discharge of a gun to let the people know that Christmas had come. On the morning after our arrival at Sublimity we made a visit to the Bee Rock which is a large rock situated on top of a hill in front of the house. We had a very “grand” time climbing the hill which is nearly perpendicular, to get on top of the rock and perhaps some of us might have been climbing there still had not J. R. Hardin assisted us by bracing himself by stumps and trees and handing a pole to us and thus pulling us up. Finally we all arrived safe on top and after taking a good view of the surroundings we made our way to the “Devil’s Candlestick” a very peculiar rock standing alone and resembling to some extent a common candle stick. Here we built a fire under a cliff and warmed ourselves and then we took our way around the hill home or rather to Mr. Pitman’s. We had a very pleasant ramble and all seemed to enjoy it well. The rest of the day was spent about the house and around the fires; some of the company participating in little games other singing songs, and all seeming happy and contented. On Thursday some of the young men went down to the Old Springs, where they had a right jolly time judging from the report they brought back. But your reporter did not join that expedition as the ladies did not go and he preferred to stay with them. During the day we were on the ice frequently but we did not skate much especially with skates as our feet did not seem to know their places but would try to carry our bodies too fast. We will not say who fell on the ice for fear they seek revenge by telling that we got two mighty falls before we reached Sublimity for we must not say too much you know. On looking out Friday morning we saw there had fallen a very deep snow during the night. The snow being on the trees, hills and cliffs made every thing around have a very sublime appearance. Indeed it seemed that the place had its right name. No description we could give could picture to the mind a scene that would equal it in beauty or grandeur. We had intended to come home on this day but we put it off for better weather so we stayed till Saturday morning. When four of us started home leaving the ladies till winter broke. The young ladies will probably remain there some time if they wait for good weather yet we truly hope they may return soon.

JANUARY 1877

Married: At the residence of Judge Moren on the evening of the 26th by Elder W. B. Landrum, Mr. F. R. Hillard and Miss Mollie Hunt.

Margaret Ann Kuhn, daughter of Solomon H. Kuhn, died at her fathers residence one mile from London, of hemorrage of the lungs, on the 29th ult. After an illness of three weeks.

Marriage license issued by the Clerk of the Laurel County Court, since Dec. 1st 1876 Dec. 3-Garrison Wilkerson and L. A. Garland Dec. 12-H. A. Edwards and M. J. Dees Dec. 24-Lewis Rudder and M. E. Robinson Dec. 19- W. O. Harris and Mary E. Parsley Dec. 20-James W. Boreing and Florence Faris Dec. 16.-Newton Price and Emaline Whitaker Dec. 25-F. R. Hillard and M. J. Hunt

SHERIFF'S SALE By virtue and authority of the powersvested, I as sheriff of Laurel county, Kentucky, will offer for sale to the highest bidder for cash on hand on Monday January,8, 1877 the following named tracts of land, situated and lying in Laurel county, Ky., -------- for taxes for the year 1876:
 

NAME	ACRES
T. K. Adams	1,000
Thomas Forbus	250
Wellington Warren	150
Catharine Carrier	165
A. M. Woods	300
John Pearl's heirs	200
James Curd	200
Peter Heart	280
E. Harriss heirs	40
Peter Leger	150
Pollis Miller	400
Martha W. Myers	400
B. H. Sawders heirs	900
Dr. Smith's heirs	100
Higgin's heirs	100
Jane Hilton	100
Lankfort heirs	912
Armilda Reynolds	100
Henry Wi-e	150
James Cooper	100
Deckers heirs	75
Wm. Mink	100
William Gresham	100
Jack Merrett’s heirs	900
Henry Mullins	900
Wm. C. Smith	135

HENRY MAGEE, S.I.C.

By. J. G. WOODWARD, D.S.
 
 

MARCH 1877

List of Marriage license issued by the Clerk of Laurel County Court for Mar. 1877 Mar 2-James Robinson and Nancy J. Taylor March 4-William Justice and Mary A. Cobb March 2-M. Jones Jr. and Rhoda Gilbert March 6-James Little and Catherine Taylor March 13- William cotttengim and Lucinda Jones March 14-J. P. Mobley and S. A. Vaughn March 14-John Hash and Malinda Adams March 15- W. H. Blair and Sarah Engle March 17, W. T. Evans and H. J. Jones March 17-Gus Loib and J. A. Elliott March 22-T. A. Fain of Fayette Co. and M. E. Nelson of this county.

Winfield Brown died at his residence near Subliimity a few days since.of Malirial fever.

The election of town trustees and Marshal came off on Saturday last. Trustees: Jarvis Jackson, J. T. Williams, W. H.H. Thompson, H. G. Litton, Harvey Sutton. Marshal : James Dees

The tramp nuisance has set in earnest. Over a dozen pass through town everyday, with all their worldly goods tied up in a red handkerchief and slung over their shoulders.

The following is a copy of a note sent to the Clerk of a parish not a hundred miles from London: "Mister, my wief is ded, and wants to be berried tomarrow at wonnor clock. You know where to dig it, Close by my other wief, but let it be dip."

Died on the 4th inst., At the residence of Samuel Jones on Raccoon, Laurel County, Mrs. Martha Doughty wife of James Doughty, and daughter of Exekiel Hendrickson.

Born to the wife of William Magee on the 7th inst. a daughter Sarah E. Magee, weight ten and a half pounds.

Born to the wife of J. H. Wyane a daughter 14th inst. To the wife of Samuel Stansbary a son. 14th inst.

There was eighteen moonshiners in the London jail last Tuesday.

A few good loads of coal and wood will be accepted in payment of subscriptions to the Echo. Bring it along.

LIST OF CLAIMS ALLOWED AT THE LAUREL CO. COURT OF CLAIMS. OCTOBER TERM, 1877
 

End of 1877