Coffman, Edward. The Story of Logan County, Nashville, TN: The Parthenon Press, 1962.
Map of Logan County, Kentucky
Logan County, Kentucky is situated in the southwestern part of the state and is one of the southern tier of counties bordering the northern Tennessee line. It is bounded on the north by Muhlenberg and Butler Counties, on the east by Warren and Simpson Counties, on the west by Todd County and on the south by Robertson County, Tennessee.
Russellville, the county seat, is almost in the center of the county. It is 144 miles by railroad southwest of Louisville and 72 miles by rail south of Owensboro, Kentucky. It is 55 miles due north of Nashville, Tennessee. . . .
Logan County is one of the early counties of Kentucky being the thirteenth of the 120 counties of the Commonwealth. It was originally formed in 1792, the year in which Kentucky became a state.
Kentucky itself was at first a part of Virgnia. Fincastle County, Virginia, from which Kentucky was formed, was the frontier county of Virginia from 1772 through 1776. By an act of the legislature of Virginia, Fincastle County was dissolved, effective December 31, 1776 and one part of it became Kentucky County, Virginia; bounded as follows: "All that part thereof which lies to the south and westward of a line beginning on the Ohio River, at the mouth of Great Sandy Creek and running up the same and the main or northerly branch to the Great Laurel Ridge or Cumberland Mountain; thence southwesterly along the said mountain to the line of North Carolina." It is not very plain what the norther or western limits were but they were supposed to run along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.
In 1780, Kentucky County was divided into three new counties - Fayette, Jefferson & Lincoln. . . . in 1792 when Kentucky was admitted to the Union as a state there were already nine counties - Fayette, Jefferson, Lincoln, Nelson, Bourbon, Mercer, Madison, Mason and Woodford.
Kentucky became a state on June 1, 1792 and the first legislature meeting that year added seven new counties to the original nine. These were Washington . . . Shelby . . . Scott . . . Logan . . . Clark . . . Hardin . . . and Green . . .
Logan became a county on September 1, 1792. It was cut out of Lincoln County and it ran from Elk Lick, on Little Barren River, to the North Carolina line, thence westward to the Mississippi River, thence along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers to the Green River, thence along the Green to Elk Lick on Little Barren River.
Thus the original Logan County ran from the Little Barren River on the east to the Mississippi River on the west and from the Ohio and Green Rivers on the north to the Tennessee line on the south and embraced a very large portion of Western Kentucky. Twenty-eight counties have been formed wholly or in part out of Logan.
Logan was soon reduced in size however, by the creation of Christian and Warren Counties in 1796, Muhlenberg in 1798, Butler in 1810 and Todd and Simpson in 1819. It has retained its present size since the beginning of the last two named counties. . . .
In its present size, Logan remains the third largest county in Kentucky. Its greatest length from north to south, near the western margin, is approximately 29 miles. Its greatest width from east to west, through Auburn, is about 24 miles. The area is 559 square miles, or 357,760 acres. (Schoenmann & Jones, Soil Survey, 1920). . . .
The southern half of the county is more level and rolling and the better farming lands are situated south of Russellville and Auburn. The northern half of the county is more hilly but there is much good farming land in this portion. The soil prevailing in the county is a good limestone with red clay base. . . .
Corn, wheat and tobacco were the earliest products of the pioneer settlers, with livestock consisting of cattle, hogs and sheep, which usually ran loose.
Russellville is the county seat . . . Three other towns in the county are Auburn . . . Adairville . . . and Lewisburg . . . Oakville, Olmstead, Richlieu and South Union are smaller centers having post offices. . . . Other small trading or community centers are Homer, Ferguson, Cave Spring, Godonsville, Epley Station, Edwards, Schochoh, Corinth, Lickskillet, Pauline, Costelow, Beechland, Dot, Keysburg, Deerlick, Baugh Spa and Bucksville. . . .
The Iroquois or Six Nations, were a very powerful people who played an important part in the history of the American Continent. They were cruel and warlike to the greatest extreme, and showed no quarter to conquered tribes, many of whom passed under their yoke.
The Iroquois always claimed title to what is now Kentucky which they did not occupy but which they desired to hold as a suitable place to which to migrate in case they were driven from their Eastern possessions. From this fact arises the name Kentucky which means The Land of Tomorrow. . . .
Later, the French crossed the Mississippi River and about the latter part of the latter part of the Seventeenth Century they made a settlement on the site of Nashville, Tennessee. It was called first, Shawnee Bluffs and afterward French Lick. The Shawnees were then in possession of the country between the Cumberland and Green Rivers, including Logan County, and they were the first of the Indians to trade with the French settlers at Nashville.
The Shawnees were driven from this section about 1714 by the Chickasaws, following a magnificent battle in canoes on the Cumberland River at Nashville. . . .
During a period of about fifteen years - from 1780 to 1795 - the Indians waged war upon the settlers. This was thought to be somewhat in retaliation for the building of a fort at the mouth of the Ohio by Gen. George Rogers Clark. After about 1795 there was no more trouble from the red men in Logan County. . . .
While one stream of immigrants was coming from Virginia and the Carolinas into central Kentucky, another line of pioneers was pouring across the mountains into Tennessee, which was then still a part of North Carolina. The first of these settlements was made near Knoxville in 1756. Others passed on into middle Tennessee and James Robertson soon founded Fort Nashboro on the banks of the Cumberland River. This was the beginning of Nashville although it must be remembered that near the year 1700 the French had previously occupied this site with the trading camps called Shawnee Bluffs, or French Lick. This settlement was not permanent and perished after a few years.
In June of 1769 a party of about twenty was formed in Virginia and North Carolina to explore and hunt in the middle Tennessee territory. The party set out under the leadership of Kasper Mansker, an excellent hunter and woodsman, with little education but with fine common sense and a born leader. In the Spring of the next year, 1770, about half of the party returned home, but Mansker, with eight or ten men, explored the Cumberland River to the mouth of the Ohio. They are said to be the first white men to navigate the Cumberland and they are reported to have gone down the Ohio into the Mississippi, to Natchez where they sold their furs and skins and then returned to Virginia.
Mansker organized another company to go into Tennessee in the Fall of 1771 and they returned to Virginia in 1772. In fact from 1769 to 1780 Kasper Mansker was making continuous trips through the middle Tennessee region, and in 1779 he made a settlement near Goodletsville which he called Kasper's Station. Finley's history says he visited Logan County in 1776.
Benjamin Logan, for whom the county was named, was born of Irish ancestry in Augusta County, Virginia . . . He met and traveled with Daniel Boone.
Logan settled in Lincoln County, near Stanford. His home was known as Logan's Fort. . . .
Benjamin Logan was elected a representative from Lincoln County to the Kentucky legislature several times. He was a member of the first two Constitutional Conventions in 1791 and 1799. He died at an advanced age. . . .
Col. William Russell for whom the town of Russellville was named was born in Culpeper County, Virginia, on May 6, 1735. He was the son of William and Mary Henley Russell. The elder Russell had come to Virginia from England in 1710 and had married Mary Henley in 1730. Their children were William, Henry and Catherine. . . .
Col. Russell was given a grant of 2000 acres of land near Russellville and the town was named for him. One of his sons, Henley Russell was one of the first trustees of the town. William Russell died January 14, 1793. . . .
Logan County has given four men to become governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. They are:
- John Breathitt, Governor of Kentucky 1832-1834
- James T. Morehead, Governor of Kentucky, 1834-1836
- John J. Crittenden, Governor of Kentucky 1848-1850
- Charles S. Morehead, Governor of Kentucky 1855-1859 . . .
Six times the rank of United States Senator has been attained by former citizens of Logan County. These include: . . . James T. Morehead of Kentucky . . .
Much of the history of Logan County was written by the prominent families who through the years have taken places of leadership.
In the early years, by the Maulding family, consisting of James Maulding, one of the two first settlers of the county, and his four sons, Ambrose, Morton, Richard and Wesley. They were political leaders in the beginning years and held a number of local and state offices. Ambrose was one of the first magistrates and Wesley was the first sheriff. Some years after the death of James Maulding, three of his sons left the county and only Wesley remained until his death in 1832.
Another leading family was that of the Ewings. Beginning in 1792 six brothers of this family came to the county. They were Robert, Young, Urban, Reuben, Chatham and Finis.
The Ewings were elected to many offices including members of the lower and upper houses of the Kentucky legislature, the court of appeals and William Lee Davidson Ewing, son of Finis Ewing, became lieutenant governor and later United States Senator from Illinois. The Ewings were political opponents of the Maulding family.
The Rhea family followed the Mauldings and the Ewings in political leadership which lasted well over a hundred years. . . .
The Morton family furnished many leaders through many years. The family of William Jordan Morton originally settled on a farm known as Snowden ten or twelve miles north of Russellville. His son, William I. Morton became county judge, postmaster and also pastor of the Russellville Baptist Church. One member of this family was Marmaduke Beckwith Morton, many years managing editor of the Nahsville Banner daily newspaper. David Morton, leading minister and educator, was also a member of this family. . . .
The first two settlements of lasting importance in Logan County came at the same time and were in the year 1783 or 1784. At that time the family of James Maulding and that of Philip Alston, both of North Carolina, settled in south Logan on the banks of the Red River. This may be regarded as the county's real beginning.
Alex C. Finley's History of Logan County says on page 25, volume I, that Sam Mason settled on Red River near Kilgore's Station in 1781. Kilgore's was formed about 1780 and was broken up by Indians in 1782. The exact location is in doubt and it was probably in what is now Tennessee rather than in Logan County.
Collins' History of Kentucky says of Logan County settlements "The most definitely known early settlement was that of Mr. Smart, in 1782, sw of Russellville, on the Elk Fork of Red River, about five miles from its mouth." (Book 2, p. 487) This statement is evidently based upon a deposition in the noted suit of Craddock vs. Russell's Heirs.
Since the settlements of Sam Mason and Mr. Smart are of such uncertain proof, and had so little importance in early Logan County history, we may accept the coming of the Mauldings and Philip Alston as the real beginning of the county.
Captain Richard Maulding came from England and settled in Virginia. He received a grant of 387 acres of land in Caroline County in 1732. He was the father of James Maulding, who married Caty Tyler, a relative of President John Tyler, and they had four sons, Ambrose, Morton, Richard and Wesley. They also had several daughters. James Maulding who had received a good education, moved with his family to North Carolina.
Finley says that in the Fall of 1780, James Maulding came with his family and settled on Red River southeast of Adairville and called the settlement Maulding's or Red River Old Statioin. Finley says this station was "not very far from Kentucky." (p. 17, bk. I). It was in what was then the state of North Carolina but is now Tennessee. This station was broken up by Indians in 1782. the Maulding family returned and in 1783 or 1784 made a permanent settlement on Red River in what is Logan County.
The Maulding family was quite prominent in the life of the county in the early years. Ambrose was a member of the first court which met on September 25, 1792. Wesley, who was then quite a young man, was the first sheriff of Logan County. Morton was the first representative in the Kentucky legislature. The Maulding family contested with the Ewing family for political leadership in the early years and for some forty years exerted influence in a political way.
Finley says that Maulding's fort was visited by George Rogers Clark on his way from Fort Jefferson to Harrodsburg (Finley Bk 1, p. 22)
Maulding's was situated about fifteen or twenty miles from Philip Alston's. His home was probably a stopping place for travelers as Finley calls him a hotel keeper.
The first court held in Logan County was in the home of Richard Maulding, who lived on Elk Fork in the western part of the county, near the Todd County line.
Ambrose Maulding lived on the road from Russellville to Adairville in 1789 or 1790. He was twice married. His first wife's name was Peggy. he was married a second time to Mary Purdy on February 19, 1801. He had a son Ennis who was married to Fannie Crisel on December 4, 1804 and another son, James who was married to Margaret Crisel on April 11, 1809. Ambrose Maulding was a member of the first Logan County court, the other two magistrates being Young Ewing and Burwell Jackson.
Ambrose left Logan County in 1808 and lived for some time in Christian County. He was living in Union County in 1813 and in White County, Illinois in 1820 or 1821. He died in Hamilton County, Illinois in 1833.
In 1924 a monument was dedicated to Ambrose Maulding at Ten-Mile Church in Hamilton County, Illinois. A history of the Maulding family has been written by Val B. Campbell, McLeansboro, Illinois.
Morton Maulding was the first representative from Logan County in the Kentucky legislature. He was chosen at the first election held in the year 1794. Finley says he could neither read nor write but that many other members of the Kentucky house were in the same condition at that time. He retired after one term. He lived near Red River in south Logan and Finley says his house formed a triangle with those of Philip Alston and James Dromgoole and that in this triangle many acts of violence or lawlessness were supposed to have been committed. Travelers passing through were not heard from again. Morton left Logan County in 1808 and lived first in Christian County, then in Livingston County where he died in 1820 or 1821.
Wesley Maulding was the youngest of the four brothers. His wife was named Gelia. Wesley was appointed the first sheriff of Logan County in 1792. Feeling that the sheriff should have a suitable house in which to live the citizens assisted in the erection of a home known as the Cedar House. Finley says it had two rooms above, two rooms below and a cellar and was "the most commodious and elegant in the Green River country." Here Wesley presided as host while sheriff and it was in the nature of an inn where travelers and important visitors were entertained. It was located on the hill near the forks of the Bowling Green and Franklin roads at the east end of the town of Russellville. Finley says also, that in later years the reputation of the Cedar House declined and acts of violence were suspected. It is possible that these rumors may have emanated from political opponents of the Mauldings.
Wesley was the only one of the four sons who lived in Logan County for the remainder of his life. For a number of years he was a magistrate and he died in Logan County in the year 1832.
James Maulding, the father, died in 1796 or 1797. His wife Caty, was administrator of his estate.
Richard Maulding left Logan County sometime before 1812 and in 1814 was living in White County, Illinois.
The contributions of the Mauldings to the settlement of Logan County was large. Settling just south of the Logan County line in 1780 and having their settlement broken up by Indians in 1782, they returned and made a permanent home in the county, furnished a number of the original county officers and were a power in the early politics of the period.
In 1940, Dr. James E. Maulding was living in Washington, DC. He was a lineal descendant of the James Maulding family who settled in Logan County. Many other descendants of the family are still living in Hamilton County and other parts of southern Illinois.
The Mauldings were sturdy woodsmen of a hardy pioneer type. They were people of determination and stamina as is shown by the fact that in 1780 they established a station on Red River very near Kentucky, only to have it broken up by Indians in 1782 but they returned a year or two later to permanently effect a settlement in Logan County.
Captain Richard Maulding, the immigrant and father of James was a Virginia landholder in 1732. James received a good education in Virginia and wrote a good hand. His wife, Caty Tyler, was well connected, her people being related to President John Tyler.
The boys dis not have the same advantages in schooling as did their father, or at least did not avail themselves of it. The move of the family from Virginia into North Carolina may have had some effect on their schooling opportunities, or the fact that the Revolutionary War was in progress may have been the cause of limited educational opportunities.
The Mauldings were men of leadership. This is evidenced by the fact that they held leading offices in the early years of the county and that their family was the contender against the Ewing family for political domination when Logan County was new.
After the death of James Maulding his wife, Caty was appointed to administer his estate in 1797. She administered the estate in spite of the fact that there were four grown sons, which would indicate that she was a woman of some ability.
By 1812 three of the brothers, Ambrose, Richard and Morton had left Logan County. Ambrose and Richard appear to have been good and substantial citizens who made their homes, reared their families and held places of leadership in the community.
Finley indicates that Morton Maulding fell under the influence of Philip Alston, his neighbor but a man whose reputation was not the best. Suspicion of Morton's having had a part in the lawlessness of his time in the neighborhood may have been due to the Alston influence.
Wesley was the youngest of the four brothers. He was probably not over twenty-one when appointed sheriff in 1792. This would make him a man in his sixties when he died in Logan County in 1832. If any part of the lawlessness and disappearance of persons at the Cedar House, as described by Finley, was attributed to him, he outlived it to the extent that he was chosen to serve as magistrate for a number of years in his later life. Finley says he became a drinking man a few years before his death. (Finley Logan County Bks 1 to 5 and letters from Dr. James E. Maulding)
At about the same time the Mauldings were coming, Philip Alston settled on Red River, below the mouth of Big Whipporwill creek. This was some fifteen miles or more from the Maulding station. Finley places the date of settlement as 1783 and designates Philip Alston as the first settler and farmer as well as the first manufacturer and merchant in Logan County. The manufacturing and merchandizing consisted of the making and sale of salt in north Logan County, beginning about 1788.
Philip Alston was born in South Carolina and moved to North Carolina. He lived at Raleigh and became a counterfeiter. When regulators were formed in North Carolina to put down lawlessness, he joined the regulators but he was forced to leave North Carolina and in 1772 he went to Natchez. Here he became a planter and a speculator and was well off by 1776. He again took up counterfeiting. He became a Roman Catholic and it was said he did this in order to counterfeit a large image in a church. He was found out and was excommunicated. From Natchez he went to Nashville, then to Mansker's Creek and on into Logan County. (Finley, Bk. 1, p. 21-23)
In 1784 Philip Alston began the making of salt at Mote's Lick in north Logan County. Salt was a commodity very much needed by the early settlers. To reach Mote's Lick he must travel some twenty-five or thirty miles, almost the entire length of present Logan County. . . .
Peter Alston [Philip's son] became an outlaw. He joined Sam Mason's band at Cave-in-Rock and later was said to have been allied with the notorious Harpes. He then went to Mississippi and was arrested with Little Harpe for helping Harpe kill Sam Mason. Both Harpe and Peter Alston were hanged for the crime at Washington, Mississippi. . . .
Finley says Morton Maulding was in Logan County in 1780. This is probably true since it was in the Fall of that year that the Mauldings made their original settlement at Maulding's Old Station just across the Tennessee line. Maulding indicates his visit in deposition in the Craddock vs. Russell suit. . . .
Kilgore's Station was loacted on or near Red River and was established in 1782 but was broken up by Indians the same year. Collins reports it (Bk. 2, p. 481) as in Logan County or in Tennessee, near the Kentucky line. Kilgore's existed such a short time and its location was so doubtful that it had little effect on Logan County history. . . .
This then would leave the stations of the Mauldings and of Philip Alston, on Red River fifteen miles apart, in 1783 or 1784 as the actual beginning of permanent and importatn settlement in Logan County.
Following these are the settlements of some of the Mauldings on Whipporwill Creek in 1784. Also, in the same year, 1784, Gasper Butcher is reported to have made a temporary shelter on or near the site of Russellville. . . .
Finley states these were the settlers on Red River in 1785: James Ford, James Maulding, John White, Francis Prince, Evan Shelby, a brother of Governor Shelby, Gasper Butcher, Solomon White, Philip Alston, John Lesoer and others. (Finley, Bk. 1, p. 24) . . .
Valentine Cook once described Logan County as "the devil's campground." Finley said in these years people of Logan County were "hardened in sin, inclined to the world and many of them vile outlaws." (Finley, Bk. 2, p. 8)
An the Ewings came. It was said "The Ewings brought the law and the gospel; for before them there was no law and no gospel."
An illustrious family, they came in the 1790s and took the lead in bringing civilization to Logan County, in establishing law and order, in promoting justice and in placing capable men in offices of trust. Among them were men of distinction as legislators, as jurists, as politicians and as churchmen. They were farmers and they were lawyers. From 1792 to 1800 the Ewings and Mauldings contested for the political leadership and in the end the Ewings were victorious. . . .
Shortly after 1790, six brothers and one sister of the Ewing family settled in Logan County. Robert, Young, Finis and Polly located in south Logan close to Red River. Urban, Chatham and Reuben made homes a few miles northwest of Russellville. Their father was Robert Ewing who had come to Virginia from Ireland about 1745 . . .
Gen. Robert Ewing was representative from Logan County in the Kentucky legislature 1797-1805 and was state senator 1806-1818. . . .
Young Ewing . . . came to Logan County about 1792. When the county was organized and the first court held on September 25, 1792 he was one of the first magistrates. He was the first assessor of Logan County and was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1795. He settled first in south Logan near Red River but later moved to what became Christian County. . . .
Another brother was Urban Ewing. . . . came to Logan County about 1796. He was active in political leadership in the county for twenty years or more. He was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1803, 1807, 1809, 1811, 1814 and 1816. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. . .
Still another brother was Reuben Ewing . . . Coming to Logan County in the early years, he was the second sheriff of the county, following Wesley Maulding in 1795. He was a delegate to the Kentucky Constitutional Convention in 1799; was one of the judges of the first court of quarter sessions in 1801; was associate justice of the first circuit court in 1803. He went to the lower house of the Kentucky legislature in 1822. . . .
Reuben is mentioned as being active in the religious revival of 1800 . . .
The fifth of the brothers was Chatham Ewing. . . . He came to Logan County in 1796. After living here for twenty-five years, he moved to Lafayette County, Missouri in 1821. . . .
The sixth and youngest of the brothers was Finis Ewing. Instead of entering the political field as his brothers did, he entered the ministry and was one of the founding fathers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. . . . He settled near the old Red River meeting house and was active in the revival of 1800. . . .
And so the Ewing family was prominent in Logan County affairs for some seventy-five years from the beginning in 1792 to Civil War days. . . .
Kentucky became a state on June 1, 1792, with Governor Isaac Shelby the first governor. The legislature met in June. To the three original counties of Lincoln, Jefferson and Fayette there had been added six more before statehood came, making nine counties in all. The first legislature created seven more and one of the bills passed read in part:
From and after the 1st day of September next, the county of Lincoln shall be divided into two different counties - that is to say all that part of said county included in the following bounds, to-wit Beginning at Elk Lick on Little Barren River, thence a South course to the North Carolina line; thence along the said line to the Mississippi River, thence along the same to the mouth of the Ohio, and up the same to the mouth of the Green River, thence up the same to the mouth of the Little Barren River, thence up the same to the beginning, shall be one distinct county, and called by the name of Logan, and all the residue of said county shall retain the name of Lincoln.
Accordingly, the first court in Logan County met on September 25, 1792, at the home of Richard Maulding, who lived on Big Whipporwill and Elk Fork, not far from the present Todd County line. (Finley, Bk. 1, p. 38)
The first three magistrates of this court were Burwell Jackson, Ambrose Maulidng and Young Ewing. These first magistrates were in reality judges since no central officer acted as county judge as in later years in Kentucky.
It is interesting to note the composition of this first court. From Finley's account in Book 1, pages 34f we learn these facts.
Burwell Jackson was a surveyor. He had originally made a survey in Logan County in 1784. He lived on Gasper River and was a large landholder . . . In 1792 he was about forty and was described as a "fine looking, intelligent man of the old Virginia type." He was prominent in the affairs of the county in its early years and Finley thinks he manipulated the appointment of the first officers. . . . In the first court, Jackson represented the eastern section of the county.
Ambrose Maulding, who had settled in 1789 or 1790 on the road from Russellville to Adairville, represented the southern part of the county.
Young Ewing, who settled first in the Red River section represented the western section of the county. . . .
Samuel Caldwell was clerk of the first court . . .
We also read that "Wesley Maulding, gentleman, produced a commission appointing him sheriff of Logan County; whereupon he had the oath of fidelity to the United States, the oath prescribed by the Constitution and the oath require by law administered to him, and thereupon he, together with Morton Maulding and Richard Maulding, executed and acknowledged a bond in the sum of Three Hundred Dollars, conditioned as the law directs."
William Reading was admitted to the practice of law. He was the first commonwealth's attorney for the county. . . .
FInley thinks that all of the men connected with the court were younger than Burwell Jackso, who was about forty. Wesley Maulding, the first sheriff, was probably twenty or twenty-one. His name does not appear on the first assessors's list for the year 1792. . . .
The second term of the county court met at the home of William Harrison on October 23, 1792. Harrison lived on the South Fork of Red River about a mile from its mouth. Only two of the magistrates were present - Ambrose Maulding and Young Ewing.
Young Ewing was the first tax assessor and the number of Tithables or taxable persons in the county in December 1792 was 134. Ewing's assessors list was as follows:
Assessor's List, Logan County, Sep. Court, 1792 Young Ewing, Assessor. . . .
- Hopton, Stephen, 200 acres [Hopkins?] . . .
- Mauldin, Ambrose,372 acres
- Mauldin, Richard, 274 acres . . .
- Mauldin, Morton, 700 acres
- Mauldin, James [no acreage listed] . . .
- Taylor, Wm.
- Taylor, Peter . . .
- Taylor, Elkins . . .
In March 1794 the number of tithables in the county was reported as 367. In November 1794 the number had grown to 416. In October 1795 there were 635. In October 1796 there were 845. In the years 1795 to 1800 the population was steadily increasing . Indians who had been hostile since 1780 finally signed a treaty in 1795 and from that time the safety of the population was assured.
In December 1792 the court ordered a tax of 42 pounds of tobacco from each tithable person. In March 1794 the tax was fixed at 1 shilling 7 pence. In that year the compensation for sheriff's services was fixed at 1200 pounds of tobacco. The clerk received the same and apparently the magistrates served without pay.
Tavern and liquor rates were fixed in 1795 as follows:
- Wine 6s a quart
- Whiskey 2s a quart
- Brandy 3s a quart
- Dinner 1s, 6d
- Breakfast or supper 1s
- Lodging 6 d . . .
In the Fall of 1796 James McGready came from North Carolina and settled on Red River, taking charge of the Red River Presbyterian congregation and soon forming new congregations at Muddy River and Gasper River. He was pastor of these three celebrated churches during the Revival of 1800. . . .
One of the early court orders, soon after the establishment of the county, provided that a building for the holding of court be erected on the land of William Campbell on the head of Muddy River.
This was the first court house. The second was in what was later Russellville and located on East Fourth Street. Following this a building in the center of the public square was the court house from 1822 to 1903. This was followed by a building at the corner of Fourth and Winter streets. . . .
At the March 1798 term of court an order read: "Ordered that the place where Logan Courthouse now stands a town be established by the name of Russellville, and that Handly Russell, Samuel Caldwell, James Ross, Urban Ewing, William Reading, Wesley Maulding, William Johns, Peyton Nowlin and Charles Stewart be appointed Trustees to the same."
The town was not incorporated until January 13, 1810. . . .
The first great revival in American church history, known as the Great Awakening, began in Massachusetts in 1734 under the leadership of Jonathan Edwards at his church in Northampton. The second great revival, known as the Second Awakening, began in Kentucky in 1800 under the leadership of James McGready, pastor of three little churches in Logan County; Red River, Gasper River and Muddy River. . . .
McGready arrived in Logan County in the latter part of the year 1796. He became a pastor of the Red River Presbyterian Church and made his home nearby in the Red River community. The church was located about ten miles south of Russellville and two or three miles north of Adairville. It was about three miles east of the road from Russellville to Adairville. [Very near Maulding's Station on Red River].
Finley says that "In 1789 or 1790 the Presbyterians had formed a small society on Red River, and in 1791 the Baptists had also formed one, and the Methodists in 1794, but the Presbyterian Society was very small and the Baptist and Methodist were still more insignificant." (Bk 2, p. 8). It is not known just when this small Presbyterian group was able to build a church but it was apparently some time between the organization in 1789 or 1790 and the time McGready arrived in 1776. Finley also says the Red River congregation did not number over twenty or twenty-five members in 1797. (p. 10). . . .
In 1837 a book was published entitled The Posthumous Works of James M'Gready. One of the preliminary chapters of this book of sermons of McGready is entitled "Revival of 1800" and is dated Logan County, Kentucky, October 23, 1801. It sounds almost like a pastor's report to his congregation and it was dated very shortly after the events occurred. He says:
"In the month of May 1797, which was the spring after I came to this country, the Lord graciously visited Gasper River congregation, an infant church under my charge." (p. vii) "In May as I said before the work began." Here follows an account of a woman who was converted and did much work of exhortation in the community. (p. vii)
"During the Summer about ten persons were brought to Christ. In the fall of the year a general deadness seemed to creep on apace. Conviction and conversion work, in a measure, ceased; and no visible alteration for the better took place until the Summer of 1798, at the administration of the sacrament of the supper, which was in July, on Monday, the Lord graciously poured out his Spirit; a very general awakening took place. (p. vii) . . . .
"But the year 1800 exceeds all that my eyes ever beheld on earth . . . In June the sacrament was administered at Red River. This was the greatest time we had ever seen before. On Monday, multitudes were struck down under conviction, the cries of the distressed filled the whole house . . . During this sacrament and until the Tuesday following, ten persons, we believe, were savingly brought home to Christ." (p. ix)
In July the sacrament was administered in Gasper River congregation. Here multitudes crowded from all parts of the country to see a strange work, from the distance of forty, fifty or even one hundred miles, whole families came in their wagons; between twenty and thirty wagons were brought to the place, loaded with people and their provisions, in order to encamp at the meeting house." (p. ix). Mention is made of "on Friday" and "on Saturday." Evidently this meeting continued over Sunday. It appears to have been the firs actual campmeeting in American church history. . .
The above was James McGready's own account of the events leading up to and following the Red River meeting of June 1800. . . .
The meeting at Red River in June 1800 was the real beginning of the revival of 1800 and it was the forerunner of the first camp-meeting in American church history. It was a sacramental meeting, in which the communion was celebrated and there were three days of worship and preaching. There were five ministers present. These were James McGready, who was pastor of the church, John Rankin, William Hodge and John and William McGee. John McGee was a Methodist and the other four were Presbyterians. John Rankin tells us it was a joint meeting of the Red River, the Gasper River and the Muddy River congregations. . . .
To John McGee we are indebted for a detailed description of the Red River meeting. It is contained in a letter written by him to the Rev. Thomas L. Douglas, at that time Presiding Elder of the Nashville district, written June 23, 1820 and printed in the Methodist Magazine, vol. IV, pages 189-191. It was reprinted in The History of Methodism in Kentucky, by Rev. A.H. Redford, 1868, pp. 267-272.
. . . in the year 1799 we agreed to make a tour through the Barrens, toward Ohio and concluded to attend a sacramental solemnity in the Rev. Mr. McGready's congregation on Red River, in our way. When we came there, I was introduced by my brother [William McGee] and received an invitation to address the congregation from the pulpit, and I know not that God ever favored me with more light and liberty that he did each day, while I endeavored to convince the people they were sinners, and urged the necessity of repentance, and of a change from nature to grace; and held up to their view the greatness, freeness and fullness of salvation, which was in Christ Jesus, for lost, guilty, condemned sinners. My brother and the Rev. Mr. Hodge preached with much animation and liberty. The people felt the force of truth, and tears ran down their cheeks, but all was silent until Monday, the last day of the feast. Mr. Hodge gave a useful discourse; an intermission was given, and I was appointed to preach. While Mr. Hodge was preaching, a woman int he east end of the house got an uncommon blessing, broke through order, and shouted for some time, and then sat down in silence. At the close of the sermon, Messrs. Hodge, McGready and Rankin went out of the house; my brother and myself sat till; and the people seemed to have no disposition to leave their seats. My brother felt such a power come on him, that he quit his seat, and sat down on the floor of the pulpit - I suppose, not knowing what he did. A Power which caused me to tremble was upon me. There was a solemn weeping all over the house. Having a wish to preach, I strove against my feelings: at length I rose up and told the people I was appointed to preach, but there was a greater than I preaching, and exhorted them to let the Lord God Omnipotent reign in their hearts, and to submit to him, and to let their souls live. Many broke silence: and the woman in the east end of the house shouted tremendously. I left the pulpit to go to her, and as I went along through the people , it was suggested to me: "You know these people are much for order; they will not bear this confusion: go back and be quiet." I turned to go back and was near falling. The power of God was strong upon me: I turned again, and losing sight of the fear of men, I went through the house, shouting and exhorting with all possible ecstacy [sic] and energy, and the floor was soon covered with the slain; their screams for mercy pierced the heavens, and mercy came down. Some found forgiveness, and many went away from the meeting, feeling unutterable agonies of the soul for redemption in the blood of Jesus. This was the beginning of that glorious revival of religion in this country, which was so great a blessing to thousands; and from this meeting camp meetings took their rise. One man, for want of horses for all his family to ride and attend the meeting, fixed up his wagon, in which he took them and his provisions, and lived on the ground throughout the meeting. He had left his worldly cares behind him, and had nothing to do but attend upon divine service. . . .
The celebrated duel between Andrew Jackson and Charles Dickinson, on May 30, 1806 at Harrison's Mills, on Red River, is one of the historic events of Logan County. . . .
By the hand of Judge Overton, as second, Jackson sent Dickinson a challenge, which was promptly accepted. The latter's representative was Dr. Hanson Catlett, of Nashville. The seconds lost no time in meeting and arranging the regulations for the duel. We give a copy of the agreement:
On Friday, May 30, 1806, we agree to meet at Harrison's Mills, on Red River, in Logan County, State of Kentucky, and it is understood that the hour of the meeting is to be at seven o'clock in the morning. It is agreed that the distance is to be twenty-four feet, the parties to stand facing each other with their pistols down perpendicularly. When they are ready, the single word Fire is to be given, at which they are to fire as soon as they please. Should either fire before the word is given, we pledge ourselves to shoot him down instantly. The person to give the word is to be determined by lot; also the choice of positions. We mutually agree that the above regulations shall be observed in the affair of honor pending between General Jackson and Chas. Dickinson, Esq. . . .
Near the dueling grounds the two parties secured lodgings at houses not far apart. Dickinson took lodgings with a man named Harris, living where Mr. W.B. Tyler now owns and lives. Jackson took lodgings with a family named Miller. That farm is now owned by Mr. J.N. Rutherford. This farm has a large spring and on his way Jackson drank water from this spring. After the duel he came back by this same spring and drank of Mrs. Miller's buttermilk in that spring. . . .
The duty of giving the signal fell on Judge Overton. Hardly was the word out of the later's mouth when Dickinson raised his pistol, took quick, rue aim and fired. A puff of dust flew from the left side of the breast of Jackson's coat but he made no movement except to press his left arm tightly across his chest.
Literally astounded, for he had confidently expected Jackson to fall dead, Dickinson stepped back a few paces, exclaimed with an oath, "Have I missed that scoundrel?" "Back to mark sir," commanded Judge Overton.
With a deathlike pallor on his handsome face, Dickinson coolly resumed his position and stood erect and unflinching. Jackson took deliberate aim and pulled the trigger. It stopped half way down. Readjusting it and again taking careful aim, Jackson fired and Dickinson fell mortally wounded. Jackson looked at him for a moment, then threw down his pistol and walked away . . .
The surgeon found that Jackson had sustained without a tremor a wound that would have prostrated an ordinary man. It is said that the bullet broke two of his ribs and wounded the lung beneath them. . . .
Harrison's Mill was probably selected as the site of the duel because it was the spot closest to Nashville which was also out of the State of Tennessee. The Kentucky state line runs approximately forty miles due north of the city of Nashville and Harrison's Mill was located on the South Fork of Red River just about a mile and a half across the state line.
The Andrew Miller home was some half mile across the line just south of the River and the Harrison home was about a mile north of the Miller home and on the opposite side of the river. Both houses are just a short distance west of the present highway from Nashville to Russellville. However, Esq. H.N. Hart, in an article reprinted in the Adairville Enterprise of September 1, 1911, says that in 1806 the main road ran a little west of the present highway and passed directly by the Miller Tavern and the Harrison home. . . .
These two homes were spoken of as taverns but in fact they were more like the modern day tourist home and like hotels. With room for the accommodation of passing strangers they were prepared to offer hospitality in the form of lodging and food to the occasional traveler who desired to stop for the day or night.
The Miller home was destroyed by fire or earthquake some time after the duel and has been rebuilt. . . .
James Turner Morehead was another son of Logan County who achieved the distinction of becoming governor of Kentucky. He was one of a prominent family who produced two governors as well as winning many other offices of trust.
In 1789 three brothers, Armstead, Charles and Pressley Morehead moved from Fauquier County, Virginia to Nelson County, Kentucky. Their father was Charles Morehead, a Revolutionary soldier. In 1798 Armstead and Pressley moved to Logan County and Charles came shortly afterward.
Armstead Morehead was a leader in the life of Logan County for twenty years. He was the first postmaster of Russellville, April 1, 1801 to October 1, 1801. he was one of the first trustees of Newton Academy. For some years he was clerk of the circuit court and also of the county court. In 1818 he moved to Bowling Green. He was also connected as clerk or cashier with the old Bank of Kentucky.
James T. Morehead, his son, was born near Shepherdsville, in Bullitt County, on May 24, 1797. His family removing to Russellville the next year, he studied in the Russellville schools and attended Transylvania University 1813-1815. He studied law in the offices of Judge H.P. Broadnax and John J. Crittenden.
Moving to Bowling Green in 1818 he began to practice law. From 1828 to 1830 he represented Warren County in the House of Representatives of Kentucky.
In 1832 he ran on the Democratic ticket with John Breathitt as a candidate for lieutenant governor. They were elected and at Governor Breathitt's death, he became governor on February 22, 1834 and served until 1836. He represented Franklin County in the legislature in 1837. In 1841 he was elected as a Whig to the United States Senate and filled that position from 1841 to 1847. After that he practiced law in Covington. He died December 28, 1854 (Kerr, Kentucky, Vol. 2, p. 1074 & 1095-1096. Also Collins, Vol. 2, p. 437)
Charles Morehead, brother of Armstead and Pressley came from Fauquier County, Virginia in 1798 and settled in Nelson County, Kentucky. Blackey in his Men Whom I Remember, says he was a Revolutionary War soldier but this is not clear. His father, whose name also was Charles, may have been the soldier. Charles Morehead who came to Nelson County married a Miss [Margaret] Slaughter. He was elected to the legislature in 1798 and again in 1808. Moving to Logan County he lived east of Russellville near Bibb's Chapel. He served as magistrate in Logan County and was State Senator from 1821-1824. Of his daughters, one [Elizabeth] married Richard Curd, another [Margaret] married Elder William Warder and one married John Piper. One of his sons was Charles Slaughter Morehead. He died at an advanced age. (Blakey, Men Whom I Remember, Ch. 16, and Finley Bk. 3, p. 82f)
Charles Slaughter Morehead, his son, was born in Nelson County, Kentucky on July 7, 1802. Removing to Logan County when a small boy, he studied in the Russellville schools and at Transylvania University. He studied law in Russellville under Judge H.P. Broadnax and John J. Crittenden. About 1824 he moved to Hopkinsville and began the practice of law. From 1827 to 1829 he was a member of the House of Representatives from Christian County. Removing to Frankfort he served as Attorney General of Kentucky from 1832 to 1837. Between 1838 and 1844 he was a member of the legislature from Franklin County. He was Speaker of the House in 1840, 1841 and 1844. He was a member of Congress from 1847 to 1851. He was again in the lower house of the Kentucky legislature from 1851 to 1853. Running on the American or Know-Nothing ticket, he was elected governor of Kentucky and held the office from 1855 to 1859. After this he removed to Louisville and practiced law.
At the beginning of the Civil War he favored neutrality and was a member of the Border Peace Conference at Washington in February 1861. He later favored the cause of the South. He was arrested in Louisville for disloyalty in 1861 and was held a prisoner for some months but was released in 1862. He lost much of his fortune. He went to Canada to avoid further trouble. After the war he toured Europe and also went to Mexico. He left Kentucky and located in Mississippi. He died at his plantation near Greenville, Mississippi on December 23, 1868. (Collins, Bk. 2, p. 388f and Kerr, Vol. 2, p. 1076)
Pressley Morehead, brother of Armstead and Charles, was also a man of public affairs. He lived first about eight miles east of Russellville until about 1820 and then moved to a home six miles west. In public life, he was elected to the House of Representatives in 1824-1830-1831-1833. From 1834 to 1838 he was state senator. He had one son named James and another named Armstead. (Blakey, ch. 16 and Finley Bk 3, p. 82f) . . .
The first Court of Quarterly Sessions in Logan County was held in 1801, with Ebenezer Alexaner and Reuben Ewing as judges. Armstead Morehead was clerk of this court. . . .
Rhard Curd, nephew of Spencer Curd and son of Joseph Curd was married to Eliza Morehead in 1812. In 1814 they built a home on what is now Seventh just west of Main Street and lived there until 1838 when they sold the place and moved to Bowling Green. They were active in the Baptist Church. . . .
List of voters in Russellville who voted for trustees of Russellville in 1807:
- Richard Maulding . . .
- Tyler Maulding . . .
- West Maulding . . .
Two graduates of Bethel College who later won success in legal and financial circles were Seldon Y. Trimble and Henry Leland Trimble. They were the sons of the Rev. Selden Y. Trimble who was born in Logan County and married Mary Ellen Morehead. In 1855 they went as missionaries to Liberia and after their return to America Mr. Trimble served as a Baptist minister in western Kentucky. . . .
John W. Edwards was born December 31, 1861 near Allensville, Todd County, Kentucky. He was the son of William Martin Edwards and Sarah Caldwell Edwards. William Martin Edwards was the son of William Bernard Edwards of Virginia.
John W. Edwards married Mary Morehead on October 5, 1892. Their children were John W., Jr., Robert L., Pressley Martin, Ina, who married Hershell Trimble, Mary Ermine and Irene.
The Edwards family moved from near Allensville to Gordonsville and here John W. Edwards conducted a mercantile business for some years. In 1905 he was elected county judge and served sixteen years until 1921. He then entered business in Russellville with his son John W., Jr. and his nephew Henry B. Edwards. Their firm was the Edwards Dry Goods Co. Henry B. Edwards soon retired from this firm and began a business of his own. Judge Edwards was elected representative in the Kentucky legislature in 1927 and again in 1929. After 1931 he was connected with the state government in Frankfort for a number of years. He died April 18, 1947. . .
The earliest settlements of Logan County were in the Adairsville section. The Maulding family and Philip Alston made stations along Red River as early as 1783. In 1792 Robert Ewing made his home near Adairville . . .
The Red River meeting house where the great revival began in June 1800 was about tow miles north of Adairville. Red River church continued as a Cumberland Presbyterian congregation until 1916 after which the building was torn down. In the 1950s a group organized under the leadership of Mrs. Martha Cheek, of Lexington, Kentucky, promoted a restoration of the old church and in 1959 a replica was erected at the original site. Annual meetings are held at the sport.
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