Hi All, You can meet some most interesting people in Old Cemeteries. How often have you looked at an old gravestone, dateing back in the mid-1700s, and said to yourself, "boy I would have loved to talked to that person." Well, in a way you can if your willing to take the time. I was up in the Nicholasville the other day, walking in the Maple Grove Cemetery. You might say, I was visiting some old freinds. It sort of remined me of walking down the street of a small town. Every once and a while you seen an old friend, threw your hand up, and stoped and chated a bit. Let me tell you about some of the people I met that day. Caleb Wallace McDowell - was born in Rockridge County, VA., in 1777. Caleb and his family came to Kentucky and settled near Danville in 1784. His father was Judge Samuel McDowell, the persuading Judge of the first court held in Kentucky in 1784, and would remain at that set until the state was formed in 1792. Judge Samuel McDowell is offend referred to as the father of the Kentucky Constitution. After Kentucky became a state, he became a Circuit Court Judge. He presided over the first Circuit Court in Jessamine County in 1803. Caleb had an older brother, Dr. Ephraim McDowell, who became the most famous surgeon in America. When Judge McDowell became to old to practice law he moved to Jessamine County to live with his son Caleb. Caleb died before his father in 1811, and the old judge moved back to Boyle County to be near his family. Judge McDowell had another son, William who lived in Jessamine County. He became Circuit Court Judge after his father. Hugh Chrisman - was born in Rochingham County, VA., March 15, 1769. He and his wife Hannah McKinney, emigrated to Jessamine County, in September of 1792. On the morning of June 11, 1848. Mr. Chrisman saddled his horse and left his home, headed the Watt's Mill to see a man who owed him some money. Mr. Chrisman was now well up in years and really should not have been making such a trip alone. But, he was a strong will person and insisted on taking care of business as he had done all his life. When he failed to return home that evening, panic struck the family. The next morning at first light an all out search set in for the old man. But, he was no where to be found. It seemed that he had disappeared from the face of the earth. Then on Saturday, after four days searching, some tracks found about a large sink hole lead the search party to believe that Mr. Chrisman had fallen in the sink hold. After a bit of discussion, an uneasy volunteer was lorded into the dark hole to investigate. At the depth of 130 feet, the flickering oil lantern caught the glimpse of something that sent a chill over him. There wedged between some timbers and the cave wall was the old man's horse. The young volunteer was then lowered another 40 feet, and there he see Mr. Chrisman's body laying face down in a beautiful little stream that ran through the cave. Mr. Chrisman was removed from the cave and taken to his home on Chrisman's Mill Road and buried. His remains were later moved to Maple Grove Cemetery. George I. Brown - 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 McKinny was a daughter of John "Wild Cat" McKinney. She 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. 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. (Remind me sometime to tell you about John "Wild Cat" Mckinny.) Ben is burried on main street in Nicholasville. Benjamin Netherland - was born in Powhattan Co., Va. in 1755. and first settled at the fort in Lexington. In 1784 he left Kentucky, and returned home to Virginia. In 1788 he married Theodosia Bramlette, and in 1793 returned to make Kentucky their home. The place they chose to build their new home was in the city Nicholasville. This was a two story log house was built in 1793. It would remain the Netherland's home until their deaths, his on October 10, 1838 and Theodosia on October 20, 1853. Both were buried in the garden next to the tavern, where the Jail is located today. In the early 1970s a company bought this adjoining lot, destroyed the cemetery and build in it's place a Convenient Store. A sad tribute to be paid to one of Kentucky most noted heroes. The only thing to escape the destruction of the little cemetery was Ben Netherland's gravestone. It now sets in front of the Old Jail. The Mingo Tavern was also used as a stage coach stop. In 1801 it became the first post office in the area, and Ben Netherland, it's proprietor the first Post Master. Ben Netherland personally knew General La Fayette. In 1825, Benjamin and Theodosia attended a Ball, held in Lexington to honor the General. In a letter Benjamin, would later write to a friend he stated, "Dosia, my wife, kissed the general and we separated, never to see General La Fayette again on earth." Main St. Nicholasville James Duncan - was born in Culpeper Co., VA., July 18, 1763. He was the father of Alexander C. Duncan and grand-father of Samuel M. Duncan. In the summer of 1791, James Duncan, John Huckstep and Joseph Burnside, all residents of Jessamine County, set out for the south side of the Kentucky River to make salt. They set up their kettles at a salt spring near the mouth of Paint Lick Creek, in now Garrad County. While at work a shot rang out, Joseph Burnside had been shot through the heard. Then another shot was fired, striking James Duncan in the head, killing him insanely. John Huckstep made his except and headed for home. A rescue party was formed and returned to the scene, but little was left to do, but bury the dead. James Duncan body lay buried at the mouth of Paint Lick for nearly a hundred years, and almost forgotten. Then a flash flood came, in Paint Lick Creek and the remains of Duncan were washed out of the creek bank. His remains were identified by the bullet hole through the skull. With the exception of the right foot, all the remains of the skeleton were found. Duncan's remains were brought back to Nicholasville and buried in the family cemetery. Clyde Jessamine Co., KY ________________________________________________________________ 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.