Morning All, We had a good meeting of the Jessamine County Historical Society last evening. I did a short presentation on the founding of Nicholasville. I would like to share my notes with you. I had maps, pictures, and plats that went along with this, that made it a wee bit more interesting. Nicholasville One could actually say, Nicholasville had its beginning in the summer of 1776. These were hard times for the early settlers in Kentucky. The year following would be called "The year of War, or the Bloody Year." The Indians were so troublesome that the settlers were confined to the forts, they could not tend their gardens, nor even could they hunt for food. But, the desire to own land, was a greater urge then their safety, and often even the welfare and safety of their own families. It was in the summer of 1776 the a small party left the safety of Fort Harrod, crossed the Kentucky River, and entered what is now Jessamine County. In the party was Jacob Sodowski (Sandusky) his brother Anthony, and two fellows by the name of Higgins. They set up camp on the east fork of Jessamine Creek, just a little south of where the town now stands. While out scouting the country side, Sodowski heard sound coming from the nearby woods and went to investigate. He was soon to discovered they were not alone in the wilderness. Leonard Helm and another party had been surveying, just north of them and were camped at a big spring were the town of Nicholasville is now located. Leonard Helm would be first to lay claim to the town site of Nicholasville. His claim would be made for him by his good friend, and commanding officer General George Rogers Clark. When the Commissioners opened their land office at Fort Logan in October 1779, Gen. Clark entered a 1400 acre claim for Helm under a Settlement and Preemption Rights. Leonard Helm was a very unique carature. He was a small man in statue, but had the courage of a lion. When the war broke out with Great Britain, Helm was consider much to old to go to war. But, he not only went to war, but became General Clark's top officer and right arm. Gen. Clark wrote in his diary about him, "Helm was a rugged fun-loving, rather old man, with a keen mind and great common sense, absolutely trusty and wonderfully fearless." Unfortunately Leonard Helm would never see the town of Nicholasville, nor would he profit from any of his land holdings in Jessamine County. He would die by the hands of the Indians in 1781. On General George Rogers Clark's Illinois campaign, they captured the fort at Vincennes. Capt. Leonard Helm was left in charge of the garrison with just a hand full of men under his command. On December 17, 1778, the British officer Henry Hamilton returned, with a force of 500 solders and Indians to retake Vincennes. Capt. Helm learning of the approach, of Hamilton's Army, hurriedly got a message off to Gen. Clark. He writes " My determination is to defend the garrison, though I have but 21 men but what has left me." He goes on to say, "You must think how I feel; not four men that I can really depend on, but am determined to act brave." And act brave Helm did. He rolled a little canon up to the fort gate, and refused to lower his flag and surrender the fort. Hamiltion was so impressed with the courage of Capt. Helm that he refused to fire on the fort. He chose instead to parlay for the surrender of the fort, as if Helm had been in charge of a great force many time the size. I would like to note here, that Frederick Zimmerman, the first county surveyor of Jessamine County, severed under Capt. Leonard Helm in the Illinois Campaign. It is likely that he was one of the 21 men that was with Helm at Vincennes. Achilles Helm the only son of Leonard Helm, make an exempt to recover his father's land in Jessamine County. But, was mostly unsuccessful in doing so. Helm's land had been lay off in three tracks of 500 acres in each. On November 10, 1784, Achilles lay claim to all three tracks, only to discover, others had filed claim to the same land, and some had filed much earlier then Achilles. Achilles did manage to secure a part of upper track. This was just a little north of the town and took in what is called the Orchard today. This track he sold to Fisher Rice. The remaining 250 acres of this track, had been claimed by Anthony Sandusky, and the heirs of Nathaniel Evans. This property was sold to Benjamin Blackford. The lower two 500 acre tracks became the property of Nathaniel Evans. He had filed claim to these two tracks on December 10, 1782, two year before Achilles Helm. At the death of Nathaniel Evans this property fell to his heirs, and into the hands of some of the most interesting people in early history of this state. We will begin with the lower track, the one just south of town in that is now called Edgewood. This was given to daughter Mary Evans. She was the wife of John Welch, Revolutionary Soldier. John Welch is buried on the back loop of Shannon Park. This cemetery has just been recently cleaned by the Jessamine County Historical and Genealogical Society. Part of this track was inherited by Nathaniel Evans daughter Hannah Evans. She was the wife of Capt. John "Wild Cat" McKinney. If you will recall, John McKinney was the first school teacher in Lexington. It was there that McKinney had his famous bout with a bobcat. John and Hannah moved from Bourbon County to Jessamine County, in about 1790, and settled south of Nicholasville at what we now call the Vineyard. They owned the property where the old Butler's Tavern stands today. It was here that their daughter Catherine was born, October 25, 1802. She would become the wife of George I. Brown. John Mckinney was born in South Carolina in 1756. He first came to Kentucky in 1780, and settled first at McConnell's Station. Back in Augusta County, VA., where he had migrated from, he had known and was well aquatinted with the Presbyterian minister Abram Rankin. McKinney had been in the Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774, and had been severely wounded, leaving him partially disabled. John McKinney became the first school teacher in Lexington in 1783. His little one room school house set just outside and to the east of the fort. A small plaque in the in the courthouse yard near Cheapside, marks the site today. It was here that John McKinney's name would be forever made famous. Not for his wounds he received in battle, or for fighting the Indians, but for his fight with a bobcat. The story of John McKinney and his fight with a bobcat was told and retold many time by the early settlers in Lexington. It was sometime altered by the story teller, but all agreed on certain facts. Early one morning John McKinney was in the schoolhouse alone, working at his desk when he looked up, and there in the doorway, stood the biggest bobcat he had ever laid eyes on. John looked at the big cat, and the cat glared back at John, both with dismay. John not knowing quite what to do hurled his ruler at the cats head. This was a bad mistake, the cat leaped on John, locking his teeth and claws into his rib cage, and the fight was on. John embraced the cat with his good arm. The other arm was nearly made useless from wounds he had received at the battle of Point Pleasant. John with all might hurled his body, and the cat's back into the edge of a nearby table. The cat screamed out with pain, and dug it's claws deeper into John chest, causing him to do the same. Two women standing near the fort heard the ungodly sound coming from the little schoolhouse, and ran to investigate. One of the woman peeked around the edge of the door, John saw her, and recognizing her to be a women he knew to be in bad health. and not wanting to alarm her, spoke as calmly as he could, given his situation and said; Don't be alarmed Madam; I have caught myself a wild cat, could you get some person to assist me in killing it? Help came, the cat was killed, and John after a bit recovered form his ordeal. For many years afterwards, when John was asked about his fight with the cat. Would reply, I had rather fight two Indians, then one bobcat. John McKinney and Hannah would later moved the Woodford County, were they both lived to be very old people. John died August 16, 1837 at the age of 82, and was buried in the Versailles Cemetery. Hannah died December 16, 1845, and was buried by the side of her husband. She was 85 years old when she died. George I. Brown, husband of Catherine McKinney, was born in was in North Carolina, December 11, 1784, and settled in Jessamine County in 1811. He build a log cabin on main street in Nicholasville, and here he operated a dry good store for several years. He later bought a large track of land south of town where he raised and manufactured hemp. This endeavor soon made Mr. Brown one of the richest men in the county. He build a fine home he called "Edgewood" that still stands today. He would represent Jessamine County in the State Legislature from 1829 to 1834, and another term in 1850. George I. Brown died March 14, 1859 and was buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery. His wife Catherine, the daughter of John "Wild Cat" McKinney, died October 2, 1867 and was buried near him. Jessamine County was at one time considered the capital of the world when is came to the growing and manufacturing of hemp. All this early success in the county can be traced back and credited back to George I. Brown. I also find it interesting that George I. Brown's first wife was Sarah Perry. She was born in Orange County, Va., September 30, 1789, and was a daughter of Lewis Perry. Her brother John Perry was the father of Oliver Perry, who own and lived in the house recently remodeled by the county, in the Camp Nelson project. The center track, which contained the old part of Nicholasville was left to daughter Rebecca Evans. She was the wife of William McConnell. This is the same William McConnell that was one of the founders of Lexington, and that McConnell's Station and McConnell's Spring receives their names. In August of 1799, William and wife Rebecca McConnell sold part of track that would contain the town of Nicholasville to Thomas Caldwell and Chesley Gates. A few day later Caldwell and Gates would turn part of the land over to the city fathers to establish the town of Nicholasville. Note: William McConnell had a brother Andrew, who was killed in the Battle of Blue Licks. This Andrew McConnell was the father of Sarah January, wife of Ephraim January. There was some discussion about establishing the town 2 miles south of Nicholasville at the present site of the Vineyard. Jonas Davenport, John McKinney and Jesse Stovall all living in the area were pressing very hard to have the county seat placed there. They had a good argument, the crossing there was probably much more used then the one farther to the north. It was here that the Boone's Station Road, Frankfort through Versailles Road, and Hickman Road all merged. On April 22, 1799 court was held in the home of Jonas Davenport to discuss the matter. It was at this time that the following court order was entered into the Order Book. "Ordered that the seat of justice for Jessamine County be permanently fixed on the lands of Thomas Caldwell and Chesley Gates on the Hickman Road." Not all were pleased with the decision. Three days later, on April 25, 1799, Jesse Stovall gave notice in the Kentucky Gazette, that he was going to ask the August section of the Jessamine County Court give him the permission to establish a new town on his land. On August 26, 1799, court was held at John Gate's Tavern, which was being used as a temporary courthouse. Gate's Tavern was located across the street from the present courthouse, on the southwest corner. The court up held it's rescent descision, and placed into law, that the town be established on the land of Caldwell and Gates. You would have thought the decision on where to locate the town, would have ended with the, passing of this law, but it didn't. Frederick Zimmerman and Fisher Rice wanted the town located to the north, on Rice's land. Samuel Woodson the County Clerk wanted the town on his land a little farther to the south, on his land. Thomas Caldwell, Chesley Gates and John Metcalf wanted the town to remain on it's chosen site. A heated debate would be carried on for several more years, before the latter finely won out. Across the street from Gate's Tavern, and on a lot to the south side of Hemphell's set Hightower and Payne's Tavern. It was here on a Wednesday afternoon, July 6, 1819 the President of the United States, James Monroe set down to dine, with the local dignitaries. At the end of his meal, he arose with a glass in hand, and said; "The Town of Nicholasville, may prosperity and happiness attend it's inhabitants." Clyde N. Bunch 2001 ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.