Geology—Why the Farmers Should Understand It—The Riches of Brazil—Effects of the Soil on the Animal and Human Races—The Cavernous Limestone of Southern Kentucky—Local Geology—Timber and Streams—Pilot Rock—Climatology—The Prehistoric Period—Mound Builders—Their Antiquity—Mounds in Kentucky, and in Christian County—The Indians—Conjectures as to Their Origin—Their Attempts to Destroy the Whites—Extermination of the Red Man—Struggles upon the Dark and Bloody Ground—Indians in Hopkinsville, etc., etc 

Early Settlement—The First Pioneers—Whence They Came—Davis and Montgomery—Death of the Latter—Incident of Davis—Other White Settlers—James Robinson—Hardships and Privations—Organization of the County —Act of the Legislature—Name of the County—Col. William Christian— County Court—Locating the Seat of Justice—The Tax Levy—A Unique Bill—Court of Quarter Sessions—The Circuit Court—County Officers—Abraham Stites—Court Houses and Jails—Census—Election Precincts—The Poor Farm, etc., etc

Chapter III
 

Following the Footsteps of the Pioneers—Additional Facts Concerning Them—Later Settlers—Jerald Jackson— Gaibraiths and McFaddens— The Bradshaws—Crabtree, Morris, Cushman and Others—Joshua Cates—James H. McLaughlan—Pioneer Pastimes—The Old Militia Musters— Land Speculations and Troubles—Crime and Lawlessness— The Pennington Family—Alonzo, and His Sharp Practices—The Crime that Brought Him to the Gallows—His Trial and Execution—The Way of the Transgressor— Regulators and Their Work—Summary, etc.

Chapter IV
 

The Early Court and Bar—Ninian Edwards—Rezin Davidge— Willjam B. Blackburn-Judges Wallace and Shackelford— Charles S. Morehead— Joseph B. Crockett-James Breathitt— Fidelio Sharp—Daniel S. Hays—Edward Rumsey—The Pattons -- Robert Coleman—The Heurys—McLarning, Grey, Ewing, Dozier and Others—Political History—” Wild Cat” Banks and Worthless Money—” Relief” and “Anti-Relief “—Exciting Times—Daniel Mayes—Young Ewing—Organizing Parties—Whigs and Democrats—The Republican Party— County Patronage— Winston J. Davie—Benjamin H. Bristow—Senators and Representatives—Gen. John M. Palmer—Joseph Duncan—Jefferson Davis, etc... 

Chapter V
 

Internal Improvements—Trails and Paths Through the Forest— Legislative Enactments for Building Highways— Bridges—Some of the Rude Structures of the Past—Stone Bridges and Their Cost—Turnpikes—Efforts to Build Them in the County—The Hopkinsville and Clarksville Pike— Railroads —Estimated Advantages of Them—Evansville, Henderson & Nashville—Other Railroads—Agriculture—Its Rise and Progress—Influence of Negro Slavery— Grain, Mills and Stock—Tobacco the Great Staple—Facts and Figures—Agricultural Associations—List of Officers—The Fair Grounds, Buildings, etc., etc 

Chapter VI
 

Religious History of the County—Early State of Society—The Baptists, the Pioneers of Religion in Kentucky, and in Christian County—First Churches and Preachers— Education — The Present School System —State Patronage— Origin of Our School Fund—Early Schools and schoolhouses— Statistics—Illiteracy — Compulsory Education — The Newspaper Press — Its Advantages to a Community—The First Paper in the County—Editors and Printers—Improvements and Newspapers—The Present Christian County Press, etc., etc

War History—Revolutionary Soldiers in the County—Pensions Allowed Them by the Government—Tories and Their Settlement Here—The War of 1812—Hull’s Surrender—Perry’s Victory, and Christian Men in It—The Battle of New Orleans—Incident of the Dutch Captain—A Black Hawk Soldier and His Death—Our “ Discussion “ with Mexico—The War Between the States—Christian County Assisted Both Sides—Col. Woodward —Other Heroes, Federal and Confederate—Col. Sypert—The Third Kentucky Cavalry— Col. Starling—His Assassination—Gen. Jackson, the Hero-Martyr of Perryville, etc., etc

Hopkinsville City and Precinct—The Town Site— Bartholomew Wood—Other Early Settlers—James Puraley, Dr. Steele, Major Long, Peter Cartwright, Capt. Wood, etc.—Topography of’ Hopkinsville Precinct—its Boundaries and Extent—Western Lunatic Asylum—Laying Out the Town of Elizabeth —Name Changed to Hopkinsville—Gen. Hopkins— Early Merchants and Mechanics—Gant, the Hatter—Twyman, the Bricklayer—Taverns—Growth and Development—The Post Office—City Press—Communication of Judge Lindsay— Manufacturing Industries—Banking—The Butter Company— General Business —Fine Blocks and Residences—Loan Association—Fires, etc., etc

Chapter IX
 

Hopkinsville—The Churches—Methodism and its Introduction Into the County—First Methodist Organization in Hopkinsville—The Baptists-Formation of a Baptist Church—Its Present Strength and Glory—The Presbyterians—Northern and Southern Divisions—Their Church Societies and Buildings—Christian Church—Its Organization, Growth and Prosperity—Cumberland Presbyterians—Episcopalians—Their New Church Building—Catholic Church— Colored Churches—Their Organization—Cemeteries, and Their Silent Inhabitants, etc., etc

Hopkinsville—Educational—Some of the Early Schools and Teachers —James Rumsey’s Academy—Prof. Ferrell’s Select School—The Hopkinsville Public Schools—Prof. Dietrich’s Sketch of Them—The Colored Schools—South Kentucky College—Maj. S. R. Crumbaugh—Bethel Female College— Benevolent Institutions—Freemasonry, Odd Fellowship, etc.—The Horticultural Gardens—Drs. Montgomery and Glass, etc., etc 

Casky Pembroke and Longview Precincts—General Description— Early Settlement—Some North Carolina Tories—Block-houses in the Old Davis Settlement—Going to Russellville to Mill—Rumsey’s and Coleman’s Mills— Other Settler8—Moralizing on the Negro’s Future— Educational—Early Schools and Teachers—Religious—Old Bethel Church—Other Congregations—Villages —The Business of Pembroke—Summary—Casky Grange, etc., etc

Chapter XII
 

Union Schoolhouse Precinct-—Description, Topography, Boundaries, etc.—Early Settlement—The Meanses, Cravenses, and Other White People —Incidents and Anecdotes of Pioneer Times—Mills and Early Improvements— Schools and Teachers—The Churches—When and by Whom Organized—Old Shiloh—Sketches of the Different Congregations—Villages—The Colored People, etc., etc

Chapter XIII
 

Lafayette and Garrettsburg Precincts—Topography and Description—Settlement by White People—Hon. James A. McKenzie’s Sketch of Lafayette—Churches—McKenzie’s Chapel or “Kirk “—Other Church Organizations — The Villages of Garrettsburg and Lafayette —Ancedotes,, Accidents, Incidents, etc., etc

Chapter XIV

Mount Vernon, Wilson, Fruit, Hill and Stewart Precincts—Early Settlers in Mount Vernon—Topography of Northeast Christian—Settlements in Fruit Hill—The Robinsons—Wilson Precinct Pioneers—The Settling of Stewart —Early Trials and Tribulations—Churches—Their Good Works in this Part of Christian County—The Hardshells and Universalists—Educational Facilities— Coal, etc., etc

Chapter XV

Bainbridge, Bamby and Scates’ Mill Precincts—Description and Topography— Coal — Early Settlement — The Pioneers of Bainbridge — Some Incidents— First Corners to Hamby and Scates’ Mill—The” Butt-cut” of Democracy—How Clark Killed the Bear—Churches and Schools—Pioneer Life and Frontier Weddings—The Village of Crofton—Its Growth, etc., etc