The following was included in the Jessamine History and is an excerpt from a 3,000 word story written by the late Mary Pearl Sallee. FROM LIBERTY TO KEENE The little town of Liberty lay in a curve on the crossing trails. The Shawnee Run led north and south; the road from east to west was called Sublett's Ferry Road, now called Munday's Landing. Many homes were in Liberty, surrounded by farms with substantial homes. Romance ripened fast. Side saddles, long skirts, small velvet hats were the mode of dress for ladies on their horses. The Stauntons lived on Mrs. Fannie Cleveland's farm. At the back of the old home stood a hemp factory where bagging was woven and ropes twisted. A similar factory was on a hill above Liberty. Cotton was also grown in the area. George Cleveland made a rope walk across the creek. William Sallee also made rope for his plowlines and bedstead. Across the road from Ben Wilson's store, Manoah Singleton had a mill, turned by a water wheel or by horses when water was low. A Mr. Drysdale gained ownership of the mill and sold an interest to Richard Woods, who had Mr. Drysdale's life insured so he could get his money back in case Drysdale died suddenly. Drysdale moved to California and wrote back to Wilson that at the age of 80, he had his second eyesight, third set of natural teeth, and a new wife. Morton Woods bought the mill and policy and later sold it to F. S. Wilson. The mill was finally paid off. Three men moved in from Keene, New Hampshire; Thomas Jones, a hatter who also made boots, harness saddles, and shoes from leather tanned in John Mosely's tanyard, Harvey Higgins, surveyor, and Ephraim Carter, first postmaster, were the other two. It was found that there was another Liberty in the state and Carter suggested the name Keene for his hometown. The first mail carrier was a Mr. Russell. Keene had its share of inventors. Richard Woods invented a clover stripper drawn by a horse. Mr. Grow invented a reaper, which was pushed, not pulled, by a team of horses. Another Keene citizen, William Lyne, was a noted mathematician. Many slaves lived in Keene in those days, among whom was Hannah Broke, who refused to leave when her husband, Ben, decided to join the "Yankee" army. When asked if he were going to fight against their master's two sons and he admitted he was, she told him never to come back there. He didn't. In the 1860's, the Civil War brought many changes to Keene. With their freedom, the former slaves were able to buy lots when one owner decided to divide his land into lots. The war also had another effect on the area. There were no more dances in the ballroom at Bronaugh's Tavern, opposite Mr. Drakeford's. McTyre's Tavern owned by Ben Wilson, and Dr. Jean's Sea House were also forced to close. Hatters, shoemakers, and harness makers all left Keene for better opportunities elsewhere. In the big kitchens, mothers, daughters, and perhaps aunts, patiently wove carpets for their floors or bent over frames running fine stitches over peiced quilts. Sheep were sheared for their wool for blankets or cloth for warm garments. A plot of cotton grown near the house was picked, carded and made into thread for sewing. Blue-flowered flax furnished thread for fine linens for hope chests. What had been beautiful woodlands was turned into tobacco patches. Sugar maple trees were cut. Ambrose Collins once had a "sugar camp;" now it was gone. Ladies and gentlemen no longer rode their shining saddles on blooded horses in a carefree spirit. Now automobiles rush back and forth where those horses once trod, but pride in Keene still remains.