To one and all, To separate my Perrin's History Project Updates from my joy of sharing history with you, I have simplified my postings. In the subject heading, when you see a number, it indicates the latest number in the sequence of postings from Perrin book. If you see "Perrin's History Project," that's my latest update on the project. Actually, I'm taking the advice from one of you to post the History Project update on a web page. That way, it will lessen the possibility of complaints. I will let you know when I've created the web page. Today's posting is a bit problematic from our twentieth century perspective. Perrin writes at length about "the savages" (Native Americans) and presents them in a pretty negative light. As students of history, however, we must realize that Perrin was a man of his times and reflected the sentiment of his day concerning Native Americans. It does not excuse his insensitivity but simply puts it in perspective. Enjoy! P.S.--If you've missed my previous historical postings, I have a Perrin Web Page that includes all of my postings to date. You can access it at http://www.shawhan.com/Perrin.html Source: Perrin, pp. 84-86 The Bedfords were early settlers in Paris Precinct, and were from the Old Dominion. The pioneer of the family was Benjamin Bedford, who came to Kentucky about the year 1787, and stopped in Madison County, where he remained one season and raised a crop; then, in the following year, came to this section. His brother, Littleberry Bedford, came out in 1789 and located in this precinct, near where John T. Woodford now lives. He there erected a cabin, and, as he had purchased his land, supposed his title was good. He had not remained long on it, however, when Col. Gist rode up to him one day, and told him to cease further improvements, as he had a prior title, which he showed him. Col. Gist told him he need not leave the premises - that he might stay as long as he wished for an ear of corn per year. But Mr.Bedford was wise enoughh to see in this liberal offer a "consideration," and aware that as soon as he improved the place, he would be unceremoniously dispossessed, he wisely concluded not to remain, but to locate elsewhere. He moved to the place where Mrs. Patsey N Clay now lives. Here he settled and remained until his death, which took place August 29, 1829, in his ninety-second year. He was a great hunter, and said to be the best shot in Kentucky, except Daniel Boone. He paid but little or no attention to agricultural pursuits, but, like many of the pioneers, spent his time mostly in hunting. Greenberry Bedford was another early settler in this neighborhood. He is said to have built the firsty "good" house in what is now Paris Precinct. Hitherto, none but cabins had been put up. and he lived in a very poor one for several years, when he erected a splendid house for the time. He hired a cabinet workman from Virginia to make his furniture, which was of the most substantial kind, and some of which is still in existence. He was a quiet man, peaceful alnong his neighbors, and highly respected by all. He came here and married a Miss Clay, and then returned to Virginia and brought out his negroes. Michael Stoner and James Kenny were supposed to have settled in the present limits of the precinct as early as 1785. Stoner Creek was named for the former. He owned a large body of land on the west side of this stream, but also had fifty acres on the opposite side, which he gave to James Kenny in payment for "stocking" a shovel plow for him. The land is now owned by J. D. Butler; his house is located on it, and it (the land), is worth several car-loads of shovel-plows. Stoner traded 1,000 acres, upon which he settled, to Samuel Clay for a negro woman, a horse and a gun. Stoner was afterward killed at a barn raising, by a log falling on him. Kenny was from Virginia, and settled near where J. D. Butler now lives. He had a son, Capt. James Kenny, who was in the war of 1812, and died of disease while in the service. A man named Bruce settled near Kenny. He had two negro women killed by the Indians, after which he went away and remained until more peaceful times. A man named Gass was also an early settler. He, Col. Gist, Kenny and Stoner, all had surveys on the west side of Stoner Creek. Most of it is now owned by the Clay family, John T. Woodford and George W. Bedford. The Edwards family emigrated to Kentucky and settled in the present precinct about 1794-95. James Marvin came some time prior to the Edwards family, and located the land which Edwards afterward purchased. Jacob Langston, from Virginia, settled here previous to 1790, on the Robert Clark farm. On the east side of the Stoner, one of the earliest settlers was Henry Leer, who came here from Virginia, but was originally from Holland. He settled among the very earliest, locating on the land now owned by his grandson David Leer. His son Daniel succeeded him, and he, in turn, was succeeded by his son David, who now owns the place as above stated, it having been in the family ever since its original purchase. Josiah MeDonald settled on what is now Flat Rock pike, near where the toll-rate stands, about the year 1790. Thomas Rogers settled near the month of Rogers' Creek. The place where Robert Clark now lives was once called Clark's Station. The Indians were numerous then, and hostile. The house was built bullet-proof, and part of it is yet standing, and forms the rear part of Mr. Clark's residence. John Honey came here in 1787, and was from Maryland. He settled on the farm now owned by Col. Lewis Muir. The old house is still standing, and has loop-holes, as the pioneers' houses were all built. It has been "weather-boarded" and modernized, however, since it served as a protection against prowling savages. David Caldwell came from Pennsylvania and settled on Houston Creek previous to 1800, where he died about the year 1828-29. He was a soldier in the Revolutiouary war, and received an injury in one of his arms, which necessitated its amputation after he settled in Kentucky--an operation that was performed by Drs. Todd and Nicholas Warfield. He was a man highly respected in the community. John Reed, William Galloway, Samuel Lyons and Lawrence Protzman were early settlers in the vicinity of Paris. The first three mentioned pre-empted the land on which the city is located. Reed was from Maryland, and made his pre-emption Noveinber 18, 1784. Galloway and Lyons were from Virginia, and made theirs in 1786. Protzman bought a portion of Reed's land and laid out a town, which he called Hopewell, now Paris. James Garrard, afterward Governor, John Edwards, Charles Smith, Edward Walker, Thomas West and James Duncan were also early settlers in the present precinct. Gov. Garrard settted about four miles north of Paris, at "Mount Lebanon," about, 1780-85, and as noted elsewhere. The first session of court was held at his residence. Many other early settlers are entitled, doubtless, to mention in this chapter, but they are gone and forgotten in the long years that have passed, and no one now remembers them. Mr. Collins speaks of "Houston's Station," on the present site of Paris but of it little or nothing is now known. When the first emigrants came to what is now Paris Precinct, not only this immediate section, but nearly the entire State of Kentucky, was a wild region, claimed by numerous tribes of Indians, many of them hostile toward the whites. Our early history bears proof to this state of affairs, in the details given of the long and sanguinary struggle between the two races for supremacy in this rich and beautiful country. The savages let no opportunity to murder, plunder and massacre the whites pass unimproved, and hence the, country contiguous to the early settlements, became a vast graveyard; while in more lonely spots, hunters and isolated settlers with their families were wantonly butchered, their bodies left exposed, when their flesh became the food of wild beasts, their bones the sport of the storm. No early station nor settlement, perhaps, in Central Kentucky, is known, but has connected with it a tale of savaye barbarity, of murder and bloodshed. The pioneer held his life in his hand; he stood ready at any moment to fight, and verily he found his lot cast in a land where he had plenty of it to do. It is said that the early Settler of Kentucky slept with one eye open, and was far more likely to be found without his hat than his gun. These were the circumstances under which this country was reclaimed and wrested from the Indians. When we take a disinterested view of the matter, we have but little ground to blame the Indians for holding on to their hunting-grounds with such a death-like grip. The pale-faces, although they have not held the land so long as did the savages, rather than be driven from their homes now they would fight for them more fiercely than did the savages themselves. And yet the sequel has proven that it was ordained that the Anglo-Saxons should possess this country. The pioneers of Kentucky were but the advance guard--the picket line of the grand army that was to sweep away the last vestige of a crude and imperfect civilization. It was won at it fearful cost, however, but as we look over the beautiful blue grass lands, dotted with luxurious homes, we must admit that it is worth the price paid for it. But the "irrepressible conflict" with the savages was not the only trouble the pioneers had to contend with. From the time they left their comfortable homes beyond the mountains, this toil and privation commenced, and ended not (with many) until their lives ended, and with others until the savages met their Waterloo at the the hands of Mad Anthony Wayne in 1794. As a proof of their hard life, the journey or Thomas Kennedy to the State affords ample illustration, and was but a type of that which fell to the lot of the pioneers generally. ---- Bob Francis 1920A Butner St. Ft. Eustis, VA 23604 MY HOMEPAGE: http://www.shawhan.com/