RUCollins2@aol.com wrote: > > I have seen a record somewhere but can't at this moment find it, of Meredith > Collins of Shelby Creek, Floyd /Pike Co. KY "Trying for salt". Does anybody > have information on this? What is "trying for salt" ? Was it a business ? Was > it something the folks in that time period needed and for what? > > Sorry if this is a dumb question but mom always said there is never a dumb > question if you truely want an answer. > > Brenda Brenda Collins; <RUCollins2@aol.com>; 14 Feb 1999 Brenda: Salt making was an early business along Long Fork Creek in the Shelby Valley going back to the 1820's. Salt was a precious commodity. They drilled wells, pumped up the brine and boiled it in large kettles. I have photos of some of these kettles used by partners & brothers-in-law, Wm. Tackitt Jr., 1809-1894, Richard Hall, 1810-1855 [son of Mesias], & James Cook, c1800-abt1845, [son of George]. One of these old salt wells was on the property on which the Long Fork Reg. Baptist Church now stands, so I've been told. The stumper: I've had water out of several wells along Long Fork and never tasted any salt so perhaps the salt was just in certain locations, the cause of which is unknown to me. Jim W. Tackitt, 1830 Johnson Dr., Concord, CA 94520; <jtackitt@jps.net> *************************************************************** Tackett Assn. Website: <http://www.jps.net/jtackitt/index.html> [Please send along your name & USPS address with all email. Thanks!]