You have found an item located in the Kentuckiana Digital Library.
Historical sketch of Mercer County, Ky. (illustrated) : the within photographs were made for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis / photographed and published by A.B. Rue. Rue, A. B. 400dpi TIFF G4 page images University of Kentucky, Electronic Information Access & Management Center Lexington, Kentucky 2002 b92-266-32002009 Electronic reproduction. 2002. (Beyond the shelf, serving historic Kentuckiana through virtual access (IMLS LG-03-02-0012-02) ; These pages may be freely searched and displayed. Permission must be received for subsequent distribution in print or electronically. Historical sketch of Mercer County, Ky. (illustrated) : the within photographs were made for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis / photographed and published by A.B. Rue. Rue, A. B. Rue, Harrodsburg, Ky. : 1904. [72] p. : ill. ; 15 x 24 cm. Coleman Microfilm. Atlanta, Ga. : SOLINET, 1995. 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm. (SOLINET/ASERL Cooperative Microfilming Project (NEH PS-20317) ; SOL MN05106.13 KUK) Printing Master B92-266. IMLS This electronic text file was created by Optical Character Recognition (OCR). No corrections have been made to the OCR-ed text and no editing has been done to the content of the original document. Encoding has been done through an automated process using the recommendations for Level 1 of the TEI in Libraries Guidelines. Digital page images are linked to the text file. Louisiana Purchase Exposition (1904 : Saint Loius, Mo.) Mercer County (Ky.) History. Historical Sketch of MERCER COUNTY. KENTUCKY. IHISTORICAL SK ETCH F' MERCE'Is R C('Ot NTr-. sY. (I LlA 's;'lT:HATFID) THEi WI' fIN' POTO-HAPIIS t MslAr, E xlf 'I'll s LOU)ISIAO.N , PI -cI' l.ASES ax- 1'()O'ITI( )N S'I,'. I.A) ,II 1'lIf)Tf(i HAE'f P) AN'lE I-'illX.lIf 1:1) III' ,. Ii. ft 1 I:. IIAH lbI) II4I.AP ' II)0 () A. B. vlv., Author and Photographer, Harrodsburg, Ky. Preface. The purpose of this little volume is to give a suecinet but accurate account of the historic scenes it portrays. Between its covers will be found not only photo-engravings of those scenes which have never be- fore been accessible to the general public, but also sone history which has never before been written. I am greatly indebted to the Hon. W. W. Stephenson and Messrs. Pullianm and hIutton, of the Harrods- burg Herald, for much of the information the volume contains. TIE AUTHOR. 11.I)UlATjC- T- MY HEL1.OY1) WAFT J ESSIE ANDERSON RUG. 5: Daniel Boone. Col. Daniel Boone, the great western hunter and pioneer was born February 11, 1735, in Exetur township Bucks County, Pa. While a youth his father settled, with his family on the Yadkin, eight miles from Wilkesboro, N. C., when Daniel was about eighteen years of age. In 'May, 1769, he set out in com- pany with others in search of the "Country of Kentucky" and arrived on the banks of Kentucky River in June where they camped. He spent the winter of 1769-70 in a cave in Mlercer County. known as Boone's Cave. In March, 1771 he returned to his family on the Yadkin, sold his farm and on September 25, 1774, with his family started for Kentucky, accompanied by his brother Squire Boonme In October six of their number being killed by Indians, they returned to Clinch River. In June (if 1774, in connection with Michael Stoner, he was sent by (Gov. Dunmore to conduct a party of surveyozrs to the falls of the Ohio River and on the sixteenth day of June of that year, he was at llarrod's ('amp and assisted in lay- ing out Harrodstown, afterwards known as Harrodsburg. In the springk of 1775, he started with his family and others from his home on the Yadkin and reached the banks of Kentucky River at the site which was after- wards known as Boonesborough on April 1, and began the construction of the fort at that place. In the summer of 1775, after the completion of the fort at Boonesborough, he returned to Clinch River for his family. He brought them to the new fort as soon as the journey eould be performed and 'Mrs. Boone and her daughters were the first white women who ever stood upon the lianks of the Kentucky River. He was one of the most remarkable men of his time, and one of the most useful. His name will stand prominent throughout ages on the pages of American history as the most conspicious pioneer of this Western country. Hi I -E U o 0 n W A - _ 1ID uD . em Up 9 : .tIh coaC X :E A:v _ 1= : t A;4; 4 u 43 E- 34 W4 Key to Opposite Page. WEST MAIN. EAST MAIN. A John Wood. B Henry Farnsworth. C - Phillips. D J. Lillard. E Mann & Mullins. F James Curry. (; Wm. Payne. H Raus Craigg. I Poteet Hotel. J Chinnoweth Residence. K Redwitz; I. 0. 0. F.; Kentucky Signal. L Butcher Shop; Comstock: Jeweler. M John Vananglin. N Wannacutt. 0 Hardesty Livery Stable. P Bottom & Beddow. ,, Ben Patterson Residence and Saloon. R Loeb Clothing Store. S Sharrard, Jeweler. T Daniel Curry, Grocer. U John Bingham, Tailor. V Henry Canada, Saddler. W Dr. C. S. Abell. X Steinhuis, Tailor. HARRODSBUBG IN 1904. Main Street, Harrodsburg. By the overwhelming weight of authorities Harrodsburg is the oldest town in Kentucky. Capt. James Harrod and his men arrived at this place in May, 1774, and made their principal camp about 10) yards west of the town spring. The town site was laid out June 16. 1774, and a number of cabins built. From its founder, Capt. James Harrod, it was first called Harrodstown. subsequently. Oldltown. and finally received its present name. BOONE 's CAVE. Boone's Cave. Col. Daniel Boone spent the winter of 1769-70 in this cave which is situated on the waters of Shawnee Run, in Mercer County, about four miles east of Harrdlshurg. The tree shown in the picture marked with his name is still standing near the head of the cave. The distinguished pioneer. after whom the cave was named, was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania on the banks of the Delaware River. on the eleventh day of February, 1711 He died with fever at the hous of his son-in-law in Flasiders. Calloway County, Ao._ in the year 1820 at the advanced age of eighty-nine years. TIuE SPOT WHERE THE OLD FORT STOOD AT HARRODSBURG. The Old Fort on Seminary Hill. The above is a picture of Capt. Phil. B. Thompson standing on the spot on old lSeminary Hill where once stood the log house which constituted part of the fort. Capt. Thomipson, now in his eighty-first year, attending school on the old Seminary Hill, also called Old Fort lill, as early as 1SS. and at that time there remained two buildings of the Old Fort, one being two-story. the other a one-Ktory addition. The number of cabins in the fort or its dimensions either way is nowhere preserved. A censtis was taken on the second day of September, 1777, at which tihe the population of Hlarrod s Fort was 198. PAYNE'S SPPRING. CAMP GROUND OF CAPT. HARROD. Payne's Spring. The above is a picture of Payne's Spring, known in history as "-Boilinig Splring." ('apt. Jam. larrod and his men arrived at this spring in May, 1774, and made their prilleiI)al cantip about 100 yards below this spring under the branches of a large spreading elm, three feet in dIiamlter, under which the first ser- mon preached in Kentucky, was delivered in the spring of 1776. llele a towni site wxIs laid out with the assistance of Daniel Boone on June 16, 1774, and a number of cabins were itnxiiediately erected near this elm and occupied until July 20, 1774, when they were abandoned on account of fear of a general Indian attack, of which they were warned by Gov. Duninore, of Virginia. These cabins we-e re-oeeupied March 15, 1775, since which time Ilarrodsburg has been a permanent settlement, th e first in Kentneky. A nuni- ber of authorities say that Jas. Harrod erected the first cabin built in Kentucky. XILW OF GRAHAMI SPRtINGS. Graham Springs. The above is a picture of the principal hotel of the celebrated Graham Springs. Dr. Christopher Columbus Graham was born October 10, 1787, near Danville, in what was then Mercer County. He served with distinction in the War of 1812. As early as 1819 he began his career in connection with the history of Harrodsburg. In 1820 he became proprietor of the Ilarrodsburg Springs, which lie kept for thirty-two years until this celebrated property was sold to the United States Government as a site for the Western Military Asylum. As early as 1828 Dr. Graham had made Harrodsburg a popular summoner resort as is testified to by Timothy Flint in his geography of the Western Country. Dr. Grahalma by his taste and enterprise beautified the grounds and buildings, and his genial nature attracted people, and the natural virtue of the mineral waters became so well-known that, under his management, the Ilarrodsburg springs increased in popularity until it was the summer resort of the South. Lewis Collins in his history (1848), speaks of this as one of the most fashionable watering places in the State and says that Dr. Graham had sipent 300,000.00 in the preparation of accommodations for visitors, that. the main hotel is one of the finest and most commodious buildings in the West. For many years prior to the purchase of this property as a soldiers' home in 1852, each summer brought hither from 1,200 to 1,540 of the fashionable and aristo- cratic pleasure seekers of the South. This principal hotel was destroyed by fire about the year 1865, and this was succeeded by the destruction of other buildings by fire. The water, whose superior medicinal qualities have been attested by time, is still used by large numbers of health seekers of the town. FIRST X pERN-FIE;XD IN KENTUCKY. First Corn Field in Kentucky. Soon after the arrival of Capt. James Harrod and his men at Harrodsburg in May, 1774. John Har- mon planted a corn-field near their camp which was about 100 yards below the Big Spring. lie cultivated it until the abandonment of the place on July 20, 1774. This field was near the center of the present town. TREE UNDER WICH FUCST SERMON WAS PREACHED. Old Elm Tree Under Which First Sermon Was Preached. Under a large spreading elm tree three feet in diameter, which stood at the south end of the iron bridge at present located on East Street about 100 yards west of Payne's spring the first sermon that was preached in Kentucky, was delivered by the Rev. Peter Tinsley followed immediately by Rev. Wm. Hickman, unless it be that the Rev. John Lythe, who was a resident of Harrodsburg in the early part of 1775, and was a delegate to the Boonesborough Convention, preached prior to that time. Of this, however, there is no record. This tree was struck by lightning in 1861, and, being hollow, wast set on fire andl the interior burned, leaving a shell for the trunk. The trustees of Harrodsburg, deeming it unsafe, ordered it cut down. The above photograph was taken (immediately after it was felled by Archie Woods), of which this is a true copy. GORE S SPRING. Gore's Spring. The above represents a spring called after Andrew Gore, who purchased it from the Pogue heirs about 1815. It is just 265 feet west of the old or original "town springs," at the northwemt corner of the large block or tract of land on which the old fort stood. The north line of the fort is supposed to have been about 250 feet south of the old spring and on the brow of the hill. This old "townm spring" has been dry for more than a third of a century, and the vein that supplied it so abundantly wheim it was first dixettv- ered and became historic, has been diverted into other veins which make the present town spring knowni by the above name. 4 a PI 0 I E. 14 0 0 S 0 II m The Old Court-House at Harrodsburg. This is one of the old land marks of the historic town of Ifarrodsburg. It was completed in 1818 and was well constructed, but has long since become antiquated. The timbers for the windows and doors and joists were hewn out by R. K. Fallis. In this forum have taken place sonie of the most celebrated trials that have taken place in the State, notably the Wilkerson trial in 1841. which brought hither a galaxy of the moat brilliant orators of the country. Chief of these was Sargeant S. Prentiss. I". z 0 02 Ann McGinty. Ann McGinty, was the wife of Wm. Poague, a remarkable ingenious man who lived at Harrodsburg from February 17, 1776, to September 17, 1778. He made the first loom on which weaving was done in Kentuckv. His wife, Ann, was a woman of great energy and self-reliance and brought the first spinnintg- wheel to Kentucky and made the first linen ever made in this State (from the lent of nettles). and the first linsey (from the nettle and buffalo wool). She afterwards married Joseph Lindsay, an illustrious victim of the Battle of Blue Licks, and afterwards, in 1782, to James McGinty. Her tombstone above photographied shows that she died November 14, 1815. The Tombstone of the First White Child Buried in Kentucky. Aceording to well authenticated tradition, the above photograph represents the resting place of the first white child that was buried in Kentucky. The early settlers of Harrodsburg, the first occupants of the old fort, pointed out this spot to Prof. Tobias Askew, who was born in Harrodsburg before the begin- ning of the nineteenth century, as the tombstone of the first white child that was buried in Kentueky. The date of death is not given upon the tombstone, but it is presumed that it was soon after the settlement of Harrodsburg, which was first made in June, 1774. The tombstone consists of a small coffin-shape sarcopha- gus, which time has almost buried beneath the sod, and an unmarked head stone. A similar stone near by records the death of its silent occupant in 1800, THE RAY TREE. The Ray Tree. The tree against which the man is leaning is the one from which General James B. Ray shot an Indian in 1776. The red man had climbed into the leafy branches, and was imitating the call of a wild turkey, hoping to draw the inmates of the fort from behind the protecting shelter of the palisades into an ambush that had been laid for them. Several were on the point of going to look for the "turkey," but General Ray, who had detected the false notes, warned them that the cry was being made by a Shawnee brave. He, himself, however, slipped out of the fort, made a detour, escaped the ambush, and shot the Indian, and got back to the fort, although hotly pursued, and shot at several times. Squire James Lillard. who died three years ago at the advanced age of ninety-five years, had often talked with Ray about early times in the "Dark and Bloody Grounds," and the old pioneer stated that he heard the splash of the water when the brave landed in the pool shown in the accompanying engraving. This tree, a sycamore, is in a fairly well preserved state as is shown. It is about four blocks from Mlain Street, llarrodslburg, and within 150 yards of where stood the elm, under whose spreading branches God's niessage was first delivered in Kentucky. BURIAL PLACE OF CoL. GABRIEL SLAUGHTER. Burial Place of Col. Gabriel Slaughter. Col. Gabriel Slaughter was born in Virginia in 1767, and, when a youth, emigrated to Kentucky, and settled a few miles from Harrodsburg. His residence was widely known as "'Traveler's Rest." lie com- manded a regiment of Kentucky troops at the Battle of New Orleans. HIe was elected in 1816 lieutenant- governor of Kentucky, and upon the death of Gov. George Madison, became governor of this Xtate for four years. After serving as governor, he retired to his farm in Mercer County about three and a half miles northeast of Harrodsburg, where he died at the age of sixty-three and was buried in the smaill family grave yard enclosed by a stone fence, which still stands though much neglected. Within three-fourths of a mile of this spot the remains of Gov. John Adair were also buried, but his body was removed to the Frankfort cemetery in 1872. "Traveler's Rest" is now owned by T. H. Coleman, Jr. VNIEW (ax SALT RIVER. View on Salt River. This picture represents a view on Salt River near where the old Blockhouse once iatood. These aneient fortifications were located about three miles above Harrodsburg, were quadrangular in form, and contained ditches and a mound some ten or twelve feet high, filled with human bones and pieees of rude erockery. On one side of the mound a hickory tree, about two feet in diameter, was blown up by the roots sonme years ago, making a hole between four and five feet deep. Tangled in the lower roots wax a large piece of the crockery ware, with the handle attached. It had evidently been on fire coals, and beside the coals lay sone human hair. This was probably at one time a place of human sacrifice. The mound is almost obliterated now. There are other ruins about a mile and a half farther up the river, but there is no mound here, only the remains of deep ditches that have onee been dug in the earth. 0 -i 0 A Modern Mercer County Residence. This magnificent residence. the home of Hon. D. L. Moore, was ereeted in 1893. at a cost of 40,000.00 and is probably the handsomest home in Central Kentucky. It shows quite a contrast of our pioneer fore- fathers and the wealthy citizens of the present day. THE OLD THOMpSoN Housz oN SHAWNEE CREEIL The Old Thompson House on Shawnee Creek. This old mansion was built by Col. George C. Thompson in the year 1795. The farm contained 2.000 acres and on it was a park of forest trees containing 200 acres, filled with elk and deer, and in addition a large stockade with two grizzly bear. Col. Thompson took great interest in these wild pets of the forest, and took great pride in showing them to his friends and visitors. The building is of brick, and of the colonial style, built in the most substantial manner and finely finished in hard wood. It is situated about four miles north of Harrodsburg, Ky., only a few hundred yards from the historic Shawnee Spring. The house is still in a fine state of preservation and was for a number of years the home of the Hon. D. J. Curry, deceased, but lately passed into the hands of the Bonta Bros. It has stood for all these years in defiance of wind and storms, fires and floods, in peace and in war, long after all, whose childish prattle and merry laughter, made it a bright and happy home, have passed into the silent beyond, and it still continues to protect all who come within its hospitable halls, from the cold and heat of the outer world. IIA\\ N-1.1: SI'ING(. Shawnee Spring. This is a beautiful spring 25 feet in diameter, situated about four miles north of llarrodsburg on the farm formerly owned by Gen. Jan. Ray, where he lived, died and was buried. In the year 1776 (Gen. Ray, then a boy of sixteen, met Gen. George Rogers Clark on his second visit to Kentucky at this spring and conducted him to Harrodsburg. In March, 1777, James Ray, his brother, Wmn. Ray, Wm. Coones and Thoman Shoren were engaged in clearing land at this place for Hugh AMeoiary, the step-father of the Rays. The two Rays and Shores visited a neighboring sugar camp and were attacked by a party of forty-seven Indians and Wm. Ray was killed. James fled to the Hairrod s Fort pursued by the Indians and gave timely warning of the attack to follow. Ray outran the swiftest warriors. Blackfish at his cap- ture at Blue Licks the following year mentioned this circumstance to Daniel Boone. 1 T m: R.i-B o The Ray Burying-ground. Gen. James B. Ray is buried on a knoll overlooking the famous Shawnee Spring, which is shown elsewhere in this book. The grave yard is four miles north of Harrodsburg, on what is yet known as the Ray Place. He died in the late twenties, and people came from all parts of the Commonwealth to pay homage to the dead at the last sad rites. His large double house stood within 300 yards of the famous spring at which Gen. Ray's brother was killed by the Indians. Mr. George D. Coleman, who is yet living, aged ninety, and who attended the obsequies, tells us that the crowd was so large that the casket contain- ing the remains of the dead pioneer was placed under a large elm tree that stood in front of the door so that the people might hear the words of the discourse. Gen. Ray had requested that he be buried at the foot of a large apple tree in his orchardwhich was done. Only the stump of the tree remains at this day. The man in the accompanying picture has his foot rest- ing on the remnant of the tree. Gen. Ray came from Virginia with his parents when a mere boy. He performed many deeds of daring and courage and by his great sagacity provided Harrod's Fort with provis- ion, when it was beseiged by Indians. The early history of Kentucky is full of remarkable incidents in which he was the hero. Gen. Ray was the swiftest runner in the settlements, and it was from this spring that he outfooted the Indians in 1777, and warned and saved the fort after his brother had been slain. Several of the fleetest Indians gave pursuit, but Gen. Ray distanced them and warned the station that was ill prepared for an attack. The remarkable swiftness of Gen. Ray elicited the admiration of the In- dians, and Chief Blaekfish, who led the band, remarked to Daniel Boone, after his capture at Blue Lick. the succeeding year, that a boy at Harrodstown outran all his warriors. In this chase when Gen. Ray reached the fort the garrison was in a panic and too much under the influence of their fears to open the gate. Ray threw himself flat upon the ground, behind a stump just large enough to protect his body. Here, within seven steps of the fort wall, in sight of his mother, he lay for hours, while the Indians kept up an incessant fire, the balls often tearing up the ground on either side of him. At last becoming iib- patient he called out: "For God's sake, dig a hole under the cabin wall and take me in." This was done and the young hunter was speedily within the shelter of the fort and in the arms of his mother. roNz DwEtLmNG BUILT IN 1790 ON THE iTsE OF MCAFEE STATION. Probably the Oldest Stone House in Kentucky. In June, 1773, three brothers, James McAfee, George McAfee and Robert McAfee, of Bottentourt (then Fincastle) County, Va., arrived at the mouth of Limestone (Maysville), Ky. They had come down New River to the mouth of the Kanawha and thence by boat down the Ohio. They visited Big Bone Lick and Drennon's Lick. Thence they passed up the Kentucky River and surveyed the present site of Frank- fort. But advancing further south on the east side of the Kentucky River when they came to the rich bluegrass lands of Mercer County they preferred it and made locations of land near Harrodsburg. Re- turning to Virginia they were prevented by the Indian hostilities known as the Cornstalk war from re- turning in 1774, but in 1775 they revisited Kentucky in advance of Brown and the Henderson company and established themselves on the land they had taken up. Later James McAfee, who was the elder broth- er, established a station on his land, which became an important point of refuge and defenses against the Indians. The location of the stations, as was the selection of the land, was determined by a fine spring which still gushes forth near the bank of Salt River, about one hundred yards from the site of James McAfee's house. This building, which is shown in the photograph from which the above picture was taken, is in a good state of preservation, was built in 1790, and is one of the oldest stone houses in Ken- tucky. It was built on the northeast corner of the old station and modeled after the McAfee stone house in Armagh, Ireland. The shingles were put on with wrought nails. The hinges on all the doors are two and a half feet long, extending across the doors on the inside. The mantels are of the old eolonial style, very high and broad. James McAfee lived in the house until his death in 1811. MCAFEE SPRING. McAfee Spring. The above is a picture of the spring about 100 yards from the old McAfee stone dwelling house. Soon after the location and settlement of the McAfee brothers, James McAfee built a fort on which is situated the old McAfee stone house. The location of the fort and of the dwelling was decided by this magnifi- cient source of never failing water. OuD PtovEDEfCE BURYING-GOUvD. Old Providence Burying-ground. There are few spots in Mereer County around which so many historic associations cluster. In 1785 James McAfee gave to the Presbyterians two acres of land on the top of a hill about a half mile from his home, to be used for a church, schoolhouse and burying ground. Mindful of the frequent interpositions of Heaven in their favor against the dangers which beset them, the godly pioneers called the little log edi- fice "Providence Church." Here for more than forty years the old settlers worshipped, and here when their earthly work was done, they were laid to rest in the adjacent burying ground. The graves of James McAfee and his wife, Agnes, can still be seen, marked with neat tombstones. George McAfee, brother of James, was the first person buried from Old Providence Church. In 1825 the old log structure gave place to a more imposing edifice. the site of which was nearly a mile farther to the northwest. This was known as New Providence. Still later another church, a very handsome slate-covered edifice was erected on the Harrodsburg and Frankfort pike a mile from the cemetery. It has a very large membership. TmE OLD ViViJO HousR The Old Vivion House. This house was completed by Samuel Taylor in 1790, as is shown by the carved stone in front forming part of the construction. Samuel Taylor, who purchased of Stephen Trigg. who pre-emipted the land sold his farm of 454 acres to John Glover August 6, 1811, and he to WIn. B. Vivion. John Glover removed to St. Louis, Mo., and became a leading lawyer of that place. His son, Wm. Glover. hecalne a distin- guished representative in Congress from Missouri. This old stone building is still in a geod state 4f preser- vation and is now owned and occupied by Mr. Dave Chatham. SNAXERTOWN. Shakertown. This is one of the most interesting points in Mercer County. The village was founded in 1810 by that orderly and industrious society known as Shakers, and for years was one of the richest and most prosperous communities in the state. They owned at one time 7,000 acres of the finest bluegrass land, which they tilled in unison; they built their own houses and made their own furniture; they raised their own flax and wool which the women wove into cloth for the use of members of the society. The buildings are large, handsome and costly structures, several of them of Kentucky marble, and all of them fashioned for com- fort, convenience and endurance. The village is one of rare beauty and neatness, situated on a commanding eminence about a mile from Kentucky River and seven miles from Harrodsburg. To the Shakers belong the honor of establishing the first system of water works west of the Alleghanies. Many outsiders, attracted by the quiet beauty of the place and the invigorating atmosphere, congregate here during the heated months, and the place is rapidly developing into one of the most popular summer resorts in the State. This picture represents the office and residence of the noted physician, Dr. William Pennybaker, who is now manager of the society. HIGH BRIDGE. High Bridge. This is one of the boldest and most original pieces of bridge engineering in America. It is a part of the C. S. R. R., and was designed and built by the Baltimore Bridge Company, Shaler Smith being chief engineer. There are three spans of 375 feet each, making the total length 1,125 feet. The height of the rail above the foundation of piers is 286 feet and above low water mark 280 feet. Its construction was be- gun October 16, 1876, and completed February 20, 1877, at a cost of 404,000.00. The natural beauty of the scenery at this point near which the Kentucky and Dix Riven; form a junction is not second to that of the Palisades of the Hudson. FoUNTAINEBLEAU SPRING. Fountainbleau Spring. This spring wells up from the ground as from a hidden source and is situated on the farm of Fred Forsythe four miles northeast of Harrodsburg. In July, 1775, Col. Daniel Boone, sent out by (Gov. Dun- more to warn the surveyors at the falls of the Ohio of the hostility of the northern Indians, found Harrod and his men located at what is now Harrodsburg, where a town site had been laid out and cabins built. On July 20, 1775, three or four of his men discovered this spring and stopped to rest about noon. The Indians fired on them and killed Jared Cowan, who was at the time engaged in drying his papers in the sun. They had gotten wet from a heavy rain in the morning. Two of the company made their way to the falls of the Ohio and the others fled to Harrod's camp and gave the alarm. Capt. Harrod with a company buried Cowan and secured the papers. Soon afterwards the settlement at Harrod's camp was abandoned till the follow- ing March. Capt. Harrod and his eompany stopped at this place in May, 1774, on their way to the present site of Harrodsburg. MUD ME2EIOG HOUSE, Mud Meeting House. This building is situated about three miles southwest of Harrodsburg, and, if not the oldest, is one of the oldest churches standing in Kentucky. The frame work was built 104 years ago. Its foundation was laid in faith and prayer. When the sleepers were put in and a few planks laid, some one asked that the workmen stop and that a divine blessing be invoked upon the work and the future church. All heads bowed under the open sky amidst a primeval forest and the voice of prayer and praise was lifted to the Supreme Being. The frame work was filled in with sticks and mud and the walls thus constructed, though now concealed by plastering, still stand. The building was re-constructed and ehanged to its present form in 1849. THE OLD SHAKER MILL. The Old Shaker Mill. The Shaker Mill was built by the Society of Shakers in 1813 and was the first water-mill of significance erected west of the Alleghanies. The superiority of its flour and meal was known throughout several states and the capacity of the plant was utterly inadequate to supply the demand. Contiguous counties patron- ized it, and its flour was marketed in Louisville and other river points to New Orleans, where wealthy planters booked their orders a years in advance. Its power was supplied by an artificial eanal leading from a distant point of the South Fork of the famous Shawnee Run hraneh. which made suffieient pres- sure to turn an immense water-wheel, the power of which operated the machinery of the mill and linseed oil factory attached. The old land mark is silent now. but stands as a nmonunment to Shaker enterprise. and industry, and as a souvenir of the days when its cotton and grain product was so prolific of revenue to the Shakers. ,,1, I -P4, I , I BrAuroNT CaLt.TGM Beaumont College. The present site of Beaumont College was in the early history of the last century used as a resort for invalids seeking health. This property was a part of the Harrodsburg Springs, of which Dr. C. C. Gra- ham was proprietor for a third of a eentury. The property was afterwards purchased by Mr. Samuel Mul- lins and converted into school property under the style of Greenville Institute. In 1856 this property was purehased by Prof. John Augustus Williams and his father. Dr. C. E. Williams, and became widely known as Daughters College. This institution under the presidency of John Augustus Williams, deceased, became one of the most famous colleges of the South. Some years ago this property was purchased by Col. Thomas Smith and the name of the school changed to Beaumont College. This school has, probably, the most complete curriculum to be found among the girls' sehools of the South. .SI k-N, AT TIlE AI T1f F DIX RIVER. Scene at the Mouth of Dix River. The scenery on the Kentucky and Dix Rivers is among the grandest and most picturesque in the IUnited States. Next to the Palisades of the Hudson it is probably unequalled in its imposing effect. The towering cliffs rise in perpendicular walls many hundreds of feet above the water, overpowering the beholder with a sense of Nature's majesty. They look like the battlements of a world, standing so stern and erect in their massive proportions, and as one gazes upon their bald fronts. against which the storns of ages have beaten, one can almost realize the truth in the fable of the Titans, and believe they have been thrown up in some long forgotten battle of the gods. SCENE AT KINo'S Miu. Scene at King's Mill. The scenery at this point on Dix River is beautiful beyond description. The river runs in silvery soli- tude between rugged cliffs, that seem to guard with frowning sternness the peaceful valley. Along the cliffs the road, blasted out of the solid rock, slopes gradually down o01 either side to meet the river. The old mill stands like some gray and hoary sentinel, besides the water, dipping its huge wheel in and out of the crystal depths as if it loved them. Budding shrubbery and many-hued wild flowers turn the gray cliffs to rainbow colors, in the spring, and the silence is so intense that even the whir of a bird's wing is magnified by the stillness. This is one of the places where Nature makes mortals feel the supremest majesty of God. BumRGilN. Burgin. This enterprising town is situated four miles east of Harrodsburg at the juncture of the Queen and Crescent, and Southern railroads. It is quite a commercial center and is growing rapidly. It is a well ordered town, with a fine graded school, two prosperous banks, an elegant little opera house, a good hotel. three churches and a number of stores, and is one of the best business points in the county. It lies in one of the finest belts of land in the bluegrass, and a great deal of wealth is centered about this little place. The present population is about 900. Being on the main line of the Q. & C. and its connecting point with the Southern, it is an important railroad center, and all trains make daily stops here. SALVISA. Salvisa. This is a pretty village, eleven miles from Harrodsburg on the Frankfort pike. It was laid out in a beautiful stretch of country by Gen. R. B. McAfee in 1816, and its present population is about 500. It contains four churches: Presbyterian, Christian, Baptist and Methodist, and has an excellent graded school. It has also lately established a bank with 15,000.00 capital, which is steadily increasing. There are several fine stores, among them a magnificent New Department Store. It is one of the most thriving of the mailer towns in Mereer County. CJRTNISHVILLE. Cornishville. This is a thrifty village, situated in a beautiful valley on Chapline River, about ten miles northeast of Harrodsburg. This stream was named for Alexander Chapline, who discovered it in 1774. Cornishville contains several stores, a large flour mill, a bank and several mechanic shops, all of which are doing a fine business. The present population is about 800, and among its people are numbered some of the best citi- zens of Mercer County. The east and west portions of the town are connected with a magnificent new iron bridge, which spans the Chapline River. RUE'S STU DIO, HARRODSBUR(, KY. Fine Photographs, Fine Oil Paintings, Beautiful Medallions, Splendid Assortment of Fine Gold Frames, Every Style of Picture known to our Art turned out at this establishment. First Class Work Only.