Carter County Herald, January 26, 1933

CARTER COUNTY AND ONE OF ITS EARLY PIONEER FAMILIES--KITCHEN

Some years prior to the Revolutionary War, four brothers, in the strength and vigor of manhood, sailed from the shore of their native country, England, to take up their abode in the new country, American, with liberty and opportunities for indidivuality. They began their new life in a new country with a new name, havng agreed to omit the last two letters, "er," from their name, which then became Kitchen.

They settled first in North Carolina. After the Revolutionary War, James, the forebear of the Kitchen family now in Eastern Kentucky, moved to Virginia. Later, in 1817, with his wife and married son, Andrew, they came to Kentucky and settled on a large tract of land located on the waters of Dry Fork, just above where the town of Willard now is. The remains of the English pioneer and wife now lie in the section. The original homestead has continued to remain in the possession of the family for more than 100 years. Fleming Kitchen, a great-grandson of James, now owns and occupies it.

When the formation of Carter County took place, Andrew Kitchen, who was at that time a commissioned major in the State Militia, was drafted to serve as Carter County's first legislative representative. He was induced to accept this post over the protest of his good wife, who as the story goes, declared that he could not afford to spend so much time in Frankfurt, when he was needed at home to assist in the rearing of their five sons.

The eldest, James, who grew into Christian manhood; the older was the late W.R. Ktichen, of Grayson, formerly of Willard, who was an exemplary citizen, excellent businessman and devout Christian. The younger son, Lewis, was the father of five splendid sons, among whom is John W. of Grayson, whose business ability and good citizenship speak for themselves; and Fleming, who resides on the original estate settled upon by pioneer, James, 116 years ago.

Another son, Andrew, was the father of four sons whose citizenship has meant much to their communities. One of them was the late Charles, of Ashland, formerly of Carter County, whose sons, James and John, were born and reared in Carter County, and are land owners and taxpayers, but now reside in Ashland and are considered among Ashland's best and most progressive citizens. The other sons of Andrew are John, Marion and the late James of Little Sandy, each having reared families whose citizenship and have been an asset to this community and to Ashland where James and Logan have located, and to any other community which has been fortunate to claim them as residents. This family owns many hundreds of acres in Carter County soil and are among the County's heaviest taxpayers.

The other son of Major Andrew, Fleming, resided for many years at Webbville, and was considered at the time of his death among the wealthiest and most influential and highly respected citizens of the community. He left no family. His wife was Miss Rachel Webb, a fine Christian lady.

There are today many splended citizens scattered over this section of the State who are descendants from this pioneer family, and who have since their immirgration to Carter County in 1817, been among the generous contributors toward the moral, economic and political progress and development of the County snce its earliest settlement.

Contributed by Becky Fox

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