TIP #547 MORE INDIAN PROBLEMS - Carroll, Clark and Fleming County Correction to last week's post. Please change the reference to the Civil War to read the Revolutionary War. Again, information is taken from Lewis Collin's History of Kentucky. Carroll County was formed in 1838, but before that date, had it's problems with Indian uprisings. In March of 1795, a body of Indians surrounded the house of one Mr. Elliott, situated at the mouth of the Kentucky River and made a furious assault upon it. The members of the family generally made their escape but Mr. Elliott as killed and his house burnt by the savages. In 1786 or 1987, Captain Ellison built a block house on the point at the confluence of the Kentucky and Ohio river, and was successively driven from his post in the two succeeding summers, by a superior Indian force. In 1789-90, General Charles Scott built a block house on the second bank, in an elevated position, and fortified it by picketing. This post was occupied until 1792, when the town of Port Williams (now Carrolton) was first laid out. The Indians were then troublesome. In Clark County there were also problems. "Clark County was settled at a very early period in the history of Kentucky; it being separated from Boonsborough, the first point settled in the State, only by the Kentucky River, which forms the southern boundary of the county. Strodes Station, a point of considerable importance in the early Indian wars, was situated about two miles from Winchester, the present seat of justice. In the year 1780 it was besieged by a large body of Indians, who attempted to cut off the supply of water from the garrison. But, foiled in this effort, the savages were repulsed and forced to retreat. In the pursuit which followed a white man by the name of Van Swearingen, a man of noted courage, was killed. This was the only loss sustained by the garrison during the siege." In Fleming County is found an interesting tale of George Stockton. "George Stockton, who, in his infancy, had been taken prisoner, together with a sister, by the Indians in Virginia, and carried to New York, there remained until he became so much attached to the Indian manner of living, that the desire to see his friends and family could scarcely overcome his reluctance to part with those whom association had made dear. After he had grown up, he accompanied his tribe on a trading expedition to Pennsylvania, and there determined to visit his friends in Virginia. A fondness for forest life had so entertwined itself with his very nature, that he could ill support the dull uniformity of society, and he soon set out for Kentucky, to enjoy the glorious solitude and freedom of the woods. He settled at Stockton's station, in sight of Flemingsburg, in 1787. "Robert Stockton and Beacham Rhodes set out from Stockton's station in the winter of 1789, for the purpose of hunting on the waters of Fox's creek and its tributaries, then the favorite resorts of the buffalo, deer, bear, &c. Regarding the season of the year, it was not considered any adventure fraught with great danger as the Indians rarely visited Kentucky except in the seasons when the necessaries of life were more easily obtained. The hunters pitched their camp upon the bank of Fox's creek, and enjoyed several days of successful hunting and exciting sport. On the night of the 15th February, after a day of unusual excitement and fatigue, the hunters, replenishing their fire, rolled themselves up in their blankets, and stretching themselves (with their two fine dogs) upon the ground, after the manner of the hunters of that day, without other "means and appliances," were soon sound asleep. About the middle of the night, they were aroused by the simultaneous discharge of two guns. Stockton sprung to his feet only to fall lifeless to the earth. Rhodes, though severely wounded in the hip by two balls from the same gun, succeeded (whilst the dogs made fiercely at the Indians), in crawling beyond the light of the fire. Stationing himself behind a tree, he calmly awaited the re-appearance of the Indians, resolved to sell his life at the cost of one of theirs. The Indians, doubtless, suspecting his purpose, were wise enough to mount the horses of the hunters, and made for the Kentucky river, where one of them was afterwards killed. The Indians not appearing, Rhodes determined, if possible, to conceal himself before day should dawn. With this hope, he crawled into the creek, and that his trail might not be discovered, kept in the water until about a half a mile from camp he dame to a large pile of brush and logs which the creek had drifted. In this he remained secreted (in a momentary expectation of hearing the Indians) all day. At night he set out on a painful journey towards home, and on the seventy day after his wound, reached Fleming creek, having crawled a distance of fourteen miles. The creek was considerably swollen, and in his wounded and exhausted state, presented an insuperable barrier to his further progress. Fortunately however, he was found by another hunter, who aided him in reaching his home. The friends of Stockton, instantly collecting, started for the camp, where they found "His faithful dog, in life his firmest friend, The first to welcome, foremost to befriend, Whose honest heart was still his master's own, Who labor'd, fought, lived and breathed for him alone," - guarding his body, though so weak from starvation, as to be unable to walk. A circle of torn earth all around the body of Stockton, marked and rage and disappointment of wolves and panthers, and told how watchful and firm had been the protection of the dog. Stockton was buried where he fell, and his grave, marked with a large slab, is yet to be seen in going from Flemingsburg to Carter courthouse, one mile beyond Phillip's springs. The friends of Stockton carried home the dog, and after several week, the other dog, which had followed the horses, also returned." Collins continues: "Michael Cassiday was a native of Ireland, whence he emigrated to the United States in his youth. At the breaking out of the revolutionary war, he enlisted and served for several years in the ranks of the army. After leaving the army, he came to Kentucky, and attached himself to Strode's Station, in what is now Clark county, and from thence removed to this county, and settled at Cassiday's station. He was remarkably small in stature, little if at all exceeding five feet, and there are many amusing stories told of his contests with Indians, who looked upon him as a boy. Upon one occasion, while camped in the woods with two other friends, (Bennett and Spor), three Indians attacked their camp, and killed Bennett and Spot at the first fire. Cassiday sprung to his feet, but was soon overpowered and made prisoner. The Indians, supposing him to be a boy, and proposing to relieve the tedium of the night, selected the smallest of their number to carve him up with a large butcher knife, for their diversion. Cassiday, whose fiery spirit little predisposed him to suffer an unresisting martyrdom, grappled with his antagonist, and flung him several times with great violence upon the earth, greatly to the amusement of the other Indians, who laughed immoderately at their companion's defeat by one seemingly so disaproptioned in strength. The two Indians, finding that it was growing a serious matter, came to the rescue of their companion, and with several strokes of their war clubs, felled Cassiday to the ground. Fortunately, Cassiday fell with his hand upon the knife which his competitor had let fall, and rising, brandished it with such fierceness that the Indians gave back, when he, stepping to one side, darted rapidly into the woods. The darkness of the night enabled him to elude his pursuers until he came to a deep pool of water, overhung by a large sycamore. Under the roots of the tree, up to his neck in the water, he remained concealed until the Indians, flashing their torches around him in every direction, gave up in despair. He carried to his grave the marks of the Indian clubs, to testify with what good will they were given. Colonel Thomas Jones, who was at the burial of the two men (Bennett and Spor), yet lives near Flemingsburg. To be continued next week. © Copyright 30 June 2005, Sandra K. Gorin Sandi's Puzzlers: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gensoup/gorin/puz.html SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html GGP: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/

TIP #546 A THISTLE AND A BAGPIPE I recently attended an annual event in Glasgow KY that I look forward to each year; the Glasgow Highland Games. The games here just celebrated their 20th anniversary and the festivities, music, competitions and accommodations are wonderful. Whether one has Scottish blood running through their veins or not, during the Highland Games, everyone feels welcome. This got me thinking of the Scot-Irish influence in America and most especially in Kentucky as I am a daughter of Scotland. America opened it's arms to immigrants from Scotland as early as the 1600's with various peaks in the arrivals to our shores. Many came during the Cromwellian Civil War in Britain; others during the Jacobite rebellions of 1715 and 1745. The immigrants were commonly referred to as "Scotch-Irish". Between the years of 1715 and 1776 more than 250,000 arrived, settling in the Chesapeake Bay area, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, the Carolinas with later groups moving on to Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Oklahoma and Kentucky. In the late 1800's other large groups came and we can be thankful; included in this later arrival sprang Andrew Carnegie and Alexander Graham Bell. Approximately 1.5 million Scots have immigrated to America -- they have been settling here since the earliest Colonial days. The number of Americans who have some Scottish heritage is huge. The 1790 census indicated that 6% of the American population of 260,000 were of Scottish/Scots-Irish origin. Most of the Scottish settlers coming to America before the mid 1850's came from Glasgow, Lanark, Renfrew, and Ayr with some coming from Edinburgh , Lothians, Inverness, Southwest, and Perth (1) There are two divisions of Scotland: the east and south parts of Scotland are known as the Lowlands and their ancestry dates back to a people partly of Teutonic origin; the Highlands - the center and west part of Scotland were Celtic and had come from Ireland back in the 6th century. The Highlanders settled primarily first in the Cape Fear River area North Carolina; and also in South Carolina and Georgia. Others settled originally in the Mohawk Valley of New York. By the 1790 census Pennsylvania, Virginia and North Carolina had the highest proportion of Scottish stock among their inhabitants. What lured these Scotts-Irish to America? Some were sent here against their will - it was prison in Scotland or execution. These included the political prisoners involved in various rebellions, paupers who were considered a liability and some small-time criminals. Others came because they were living in poverty in their home land and had heard tales of the opportunities in America. Many arrived as bonded servants. They were given their passage to America by funds donated by the person who brought them over. The individual would have to work off their passage when they arrived which could last up to seven years. Once the contract was fulfilled; they were free to make a life for themselves. The English and Germans already in America did not think much of Scots, as did the Dutch. They rather looked down their noses assuming that the Scots were less civilized and didn't want to work. But when it came to protecting the frontiers against Indian raids, these same Scots-Irish were sent to the front lines because of their fighting abilities. Over time the stigma lessened as they provided much to the development of America. The names Aaron Burr, Alexander Hamilton, John K Polk, James Monroe, James Buchanan … all signers of the Declaration of Independence, all of Scot descent. Many of the Scots who settled in Pennsylvania came to Kentucky; many were here before Kentucky became a state in 1792. They worked at the same jobs as other pioneers; farmers, blacksmiths, timbermen and always the brave-hearted soldier in any battle threatening the United States. According to Billy Kennedy "The Scots-Irish were prominent in the first flow of pioneer settlers who headed for Kentucky from the years immediately after the Civil War. They came along the Wilderness Road via the Ohio River and over the Cumberland Mountains to a region that many considered too dangerous to encounter." (2). A disputed fact is that Daniel Boone was of Scottish descent. He also states that Fort Harrodsburg were said to be almost all Scots-Irish. Their presence changed the face of America. Those who settled in the Appalachian area gave birth to what we call bluegrass music. Many traders or merchants and moved with their business. Later in the late 18th and 19th centuries one could find Scottish immigrants doing higher-skilled jobs such as jewelers, miners, clerks, portrait painters, printers, wigmakers and many other crafts. The Scotts were normally highly educated and contributed much to our literature over the years. The Scotts also left their imprint on religion in America. If they came in the 18th Century, they were normally Presbyterian; though some of the Highlanders were Roman Catholics and some Scottish Episcopal clergy came to America. But, they also expanded into new religious groups such as the Glassites, Sandemanians. Other noted names in Kentucky's history that came from Scotland included: John Adair, eighth Governor of Kentucky; Gabriel Slaughter and Beriah Magoffin; all reported to be Ulster born. General George Rogers Clark was descended from Ulster-Scott heritage. Benjamin and John Logan who were prominent in early Kentucky were the sons of Ulster-born parents. The McAfees, Binghams, Warnock's, McGary's, Whites, Blairs, Meek's, Paogues, Stewarts, Allen's, Kennedy's and Johns(t)on's are all named by Kennedy as Scotland born. Does your heart stir at the sound of a lonely bagpiper playing "Amazing Grace"? Or do you thrill to the marching bands in kilt? Maybe you have some Scottish blood too! (1) Migration Patterns of Our Scottish Ancestors, Myra Vanderpool Gormley, CG, Copyright 2000 Myra Vanderpool Gormley. Reprinted from American Genealogy Magazine, Vol. 4, No. (2) Kennedy, Billy, The Scots-Irish in Pennsylvania & Kentucky, Ambassador Productions Ltd., Belfast, © Sept 1998. © Copyright 23 June 2005, Sandra K. Gorin Sandi's Puzzlers: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gensoup/gorin/puz.html SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html

TIP #545 - WHAT AM I DOING WRONG? Are you a new genealogist? Did you just turn the computer on while the kids weren't watching and discover the internet world of genealogy? Do your family members run out in the yard screaming if you start asking them questions about their lives and memories? Or - are you a seasoned genealogist who feels like they are spinning their wheels, burning rubber, but getting nowhere? Let's look at some of the things you might be doing wrong or might have forgotten over the years. If you are new, the big challenge is spelling genealogy. I have literally roared with laughter when I hear someone trying to say genealogical. I've had it pronounced (and been on many snail-mailing lists with) geology but the best of all happened this week - gynecological. Small difference! Once you've mastered spelling and saying genealogy and genealogical, you are well on your way! Now that you've mastered that, let's look at 8 biggie traps we can fall into: 1 - Are you that gullible? I've stressed this many times over the past few years. Don't believe everything you read or are told. The biography can be wrong. The tombstone could have been transcribed by someone who was blind in one eye and couldn't see out of the other. The family Bible could have been written in years after the event recorded by someone who can't remember what he did five minutes ago. The funeral home director might have written down the wrong cemetery if a change was made at the last moment. The typed transcription of the will (deeds, marriages, etc) could have been done by a very tired lady or gentleman who really didn't know how to read the old handwriting. Whom can you trust then? Yourself! Check it out! I know there's times you just can't go dashing across the country to see the cemetery yourself, but you can find someone who'll run out and take a digital picture of the stone. You can order the marriage certificate and see it for yourself. Go to the primary source yourself if you can. If you can't: put it in pencil! All the family trees on the web? Wondrous, awesome, appreciated. But do they show their sources? Or have them copped on to someone else's family tree without checking it out? Hmmm. 2 - Your grandmother said that she was the great-great-grand-niece of the woman who was married to the man who was Pocahontas' 4th cousin, 8 times removed? Whew! I call this the celebrity syndrome. This can lead us all over the genealogy map and take us away from our own immediate family. Surely, it's wonderful to think you are related to Daniel Boone or Jefferson Davis. A president or so wouldn't be too bad, even the notorious are nice in retrospect. But, start at the beginning with your confirmed family. If it leads to a world hero or a queen or two - wonderful! But don't start with them, don't get sidetracked up front. In my daughters' pedigrees, I have then connected with Daniel Boone, George Rogers Clark, Meriwether Lewis, and back on one line to a Roman official. They're even fairly closely related to one of the bad guys killed at the Shoot-Out at the OK Corral in Tombstone, AZ! Looks wonderful, good talking point. But you've got to admit; we're all related if we go back far enough! 3 - Stay away from just dates! Ok, admit it. You are thrilled when you get a marriage date, or a death date; now that line won't be blank on the pedigree chart. But, again, as a repeat of what I've said before … flesh out those ancestors! Try to find out what they did for a living, where they lived, who were their friends and neighbors, where they went to church and what was going on in the world around them! When I get bored, really bored, I'll pick an ancestor and see where they lived and the time frame. Then I'll go on the web and do a search for that town or locality and read up on when it was settled, what it looks like, what the crops are, what the weather is normally like, special events that have occurred there … and then I place my family there. Were they there during the cholera epidemic? Did their crops survive the big tornado? Were they aware that there was a war going on in Europe (or someplace) that they might have eagerly awaited news on? Were they living in an area effected by the Civil War? Did they have a son or sons who fought in the Revolutionary War or was at a recorded battle? Read up on the battle - see what happened - who won, what privations were there? Dates are exciting - people's lives are more exciting! 4 - Have you paid $49.95 for your personalized family tree and a cheap wooden crest of your family tree? Oops - I know some of you surely have; I was roped in very early in my genealogy searching days as I was trying to shake out some nuts from the tree! Avoid them like the plague!!! They are rip-offs. They normally have some generic "history" of that surname, a generic coat of arms and then page after page of addresses and phone numbers of everyone with that surname in America. You can find that yourself if you try elsewhere, for free. The family coat of arms? Ours was for the Goring family of whom we have no connection. There was a section on "the oldest Gorin in America", "how many in America share the same surname", etc. Stick with reputable sources - ancestry.com, rootsweb, worldconnect, Family History Libraries on line, etc. There will still be mistakes there, and some are very costly, but at least they are not promising you the world and giving you junk! These rip-off companies change their name, they move their offices, they are fined but like a bad penny, they keep coming back. 5 - Fact or Fiction - Family Legends. Oral history is wonderful; it preserves the memories of those who have lived through it or heard the stories told over the years. Don't trust them without proving them out. Great-great-grandma always said that great-great-grandpa was big in electricity. Sure, he sat in the electric chair! If Uncle John was known to hang around a lot; was it by a noose on a gallows? Was he really that rich, was she really courted by the princes of Europe? I love oral history. I love hearing my family talk of the past and thankfully my family had good memories and didn't embellish. But stories grow over the years. Remember the old game we used to play where you whisper something in someone's ear, they turn around and whisper it in the ear of the one next to them? By the time it got to the original person, the story bears absolutely no likeness to what you started. You can use them in your family books of course, but always add a note that this is the way gg-grandmother remembered it and you cannot confirm it. Maybe it's better not to put it in public records at all because once in print, it is perpetuated forever (like the emails that you receive all the time about some warning or some reward if you forward this on to 10 people and please don't break the chain). It's hard to erase once it's public! 6 - Or, have you fallen into the trap of surname spellings? Have you pulled your hair out because you can't find any reference to Clarke? How about Clark? Oh no, you think, we're not related to the Clark's, our name is spelled Clarke! Or maybe Mathews? Can't be, our name is Matthews! When we first start, we're thrilled when we find our surname ANYPLACE, especially if you have an unusual surname or a small family. But please, think wild! These clerks didn't always write all that well. Those transcriptionists didn't always know the spelling and put it down phonetically. Or there is a smear in the page that makes the name look one way or the other. I recently met a dear family whose mother had tried all her life to learn about her family - spelled Goren. The son stumbled over my name and took a chance and emailed me even though our name is spelled Gorin. All he knew was the name of one of his ancestors who was in Warren Co KY. Could I help? You betcha, I handed him his family tree for many generations! Somehow the name had been written wrong in the mid 1850's and everyone started spelling their names that way. What a reunion we had. Write down all the crazy variations of the spelling you can think of and go fishing! 7 - Now - I'm going to hit you right between the eyes. It's one of those "do as I say and not as I did" things. Write down your sources! If I took a poll of those on this mailing list of about 1800 people, I bet that 1,799 will shudder on this one because they're as guilty as I. Dash into a library. Find a book. Find a citation. Write down the citation. Dash out the door because the husband is getting impatient and the kids are screaming so loudly with boredom/hunger/fatigue that the hubby is afraid he'll be charged with child abuse. Six months pass. You pick up your notes. You've been to 5 other towns, visited 22 cemeteries and when you look at that note - which has become critical in your research - all you can say is "Where did I find THAT?" In a library, write down the name of the library, the date you were there, what book or record contained the information (including publisher's name and address in case you want to buy the book later). If at a cemetery, write down the date, name of the cemetery, directions for getting there, condition of the stone, who was buried beside them (could be kin you know!), and take a picture or so. If you fail point #7, you will hate yourself forever and don't expect that husband to drive you 300 miles back to find it! 8 - Don't delay!!!!! Relatives don't live forever and one of the most common things I've had said to me in teaching genealogy is "if I'd only asked the questions of my parents before they died … or lost their memory." I shake my head in agreement; been there, done that. But I learned pretty fast and didn't fail in too many relatives but I still could have asked more. My precious Dad who died 9 years ago, used to tell me stories, but many were repeats of traumatic events in his life. I worked up a book for him for Christmas in 1995 with a lot of family pictures, a simplified family tree and what history I knew. He looked at the pictures eagerly, and being almost blind, couldn't get through all the stories. But it got him talking about different memories brought to the surface by the pictures. 14 days after Christmas he was gone without warning. My grandfather didn't like to answer questions about genealogy stuff, but my dear aunt (who trained me in this crazy biz) finally left him a tape recorder, showed him how to use it, and just suggested that when he felt up to, just talk into the tape recorder and tell her anything he remembered about his growing up in southern Illinois. I never saw my grandfather alive again, but what do I have? A copy of a 90 minute tape with my Grandfather telling about how he met my beloved Grandmother who died when I was nine years old, of my mother, singing old coal mining songs, where they lived, the problems they faced. What a cherished gift he gave his family but just sitting down and pushing a button. I hope that something I wrote here will help you, the new researcher, from getting side-tracked or discouraged. And for the seasoned researcher, a reminder of how easy it is to get off the beaten path. © Copyright 16 June 2005, Sandra K. Gorin Sandi's Puzzlers: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gensoup/gorin/puz.html SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html

TIP #544 - TWO BROKEN ARMS AND TWO BROKEN LEGS Campbell County, KY was formed in 1794, one of the earliest counties and was named in honor of Colonel John Campbell. Located on the northern part of the state, it lies on the Ohio River, immediately above the Licking River. Its boundaries are the Ohio River on the north and east sides; on the south by Pendleton County and on the west by the Licking River. It's county seat is Alexandria which lies about 80 miles from Frankfort. Originally, Campbell County encompassed what is now Campbell, Pendleton, Boone, Kenton and a part of Grant Counties. Justices of the first quarter session court included Washington Berry, president, Robert Benham, Thomas Kennedy, John Hall, John Bush, John Cook, John Ewing and Thomas Corwin. The first clerk of quarter sessions was James Taylor; Captain Nathan Kelly was the first sheriff. Long before Campbell County was formed, it had its share of Indian problems. I will be quoting from Lewis Collins' Historical Sketches of Kentucky, published 1847. "In the autumn of 1779, two keel boats, laden with military stores, bound from New Orleans to Pittsburg, under the command of Colonel Rogers, were ascending the Ohio River; and when near the sand-bar, above where the city of Cincinnati now stands, called four mile bar - they discovered a number of Indians on rafts and in canoes coming out of the mouth of the Little Miami river, which stream was then very high, and shot its waters, together with the Indian craft, nearly across the river. Colonel Rogers immediately landed his boats, and the crew, to the number of seventy men, advanced secretly through the woods and willows that grew thickly on the sand bar which here joined the Kentucky shore, expecting to attack the Indians, when they should land, by surprise. Before, however, Rogers had succeeded in reaching the point where he presumed he would encounter the savages, he found himself suddenly surrounded by a force of more than treble his numbers. The Indians instantly poured in a close discharge of rifles, and then throwing down their guns, fell upon the survivors with the tomahawk! The panic was complete, and the slaughter prodigious. Major Rogers, together with forty-five of his men, were almost instantly destroyed. The survivors made an effort to regain their boats, but the five men who had been left in charge of them, had immediately put off from shore in the hindmost boat, and the enemy had already gained possession of the other. Disappointed in the attempt, they turned furiously upon the enemy, and aided by the approach of darkness, forced their way through their lines, and with the loss of several severely wounded, at length effected their escape to Harrodsburg. "Among the wounded was Capt. Robert Benham. Shortly after breaking through the enemy's line, he was shot through both hips, and the bones being shattered he instantly fell to the ground. Fortunately, a large tree had recently fallen near the spot where he lay, and with great pain, he dragged himself into the top, and lay concealed among the branches. The Indians, eager in pursuit of the others, passed him without notice, and by midnight all was quiet. On the following day, the Indians returned to the battle ground, in order to strip the dead and take care of the boats. Benham, although in danger of famishing, permitted them to pass without making known his condition, very correctly supposing that his crippled legs would only induce them to tomahawk him on the spot, in order to avoid the trouble of carrying him to their town. "He lay close, therefore, until the evening of the second day, when perceiving a raccoon descending a tree, near him, he shot it, hoping to devise some means of reaching it, when he could kindle a fire and make a meal. Scarcely had his gun cracked, however, when he heard a human cry, apparently not more than fifty yards off. Supposing it to be an Indian, he hastily reloaded his gun, and remained silent, expecting the approach of an enemy. Presently the same voice was heard again, but much nearer. Still Benham made no reply, but cocked his gun, and sat ready to fire as soon as the object appeared. A third halloo was quickly heard, followed by an exclamation of impatience and distress, which convinced Benham that the unknown must be a Kentuckian. As soon, therefore, as he heard the expression, "whoever you are, for God's sake answer me," he replied with readiness, and the parties were soon together. "Benham, as we have already observed, was shot through both legs. The man who now appeared, had escaped from the same battle, with both arms broken! Thus each was enabled to supply what the other wanted. Benham, having the perfect use of his arms, could load his gun and kill game with great readiness, while his friend, having the use of his legs, could kick the game to the spot where Benham sat, who was thus enabled to cook it. When no wood was near them, his companion would rake up brush with his feet, and gradually roll it within reach of Benham's hands, who constantly fed his companion, and dressed his wounds as well as his own - tearing up both their shirts for that purpose. They found some difficulty in procuring water at first, but Benham at length took his own hat, and placing the rim between the teeth of his companion, directed him to wade into the Licking up to his neck, and dip the hat into the water by sinking his own head. The man who could walk, was thus enabled to bring water by means of his teeth, which Benham could afterwards dispose of as was necessary. "In a few days, they had killed all the squirrels and birds within reach, and the man with broken arms was sent out to drive game within gunshot of the spot to which Benham was confined. Fortunately, wild turkies were abundant in those woods, and his companion would walk around, and drive them towards Benham, who seldom failed to kill two or three of each flock. In this manner they supported themselves for several weeks, until their wounds had headed so as to enable them to travel. They then shifted their quarters, and put up a small shed at the mouth of the Licking, where they encamped until late in November, anxiously expecting the arrival of some boat, which should convey them to the falls of the Ohio. "On the 27th of November, they observed a flat boat moving leisurely down the river. Benham instantly hoisted his hat upon a stick, and hallooed loudly for help. The crew, however, supposing them to be Indians - at least suspecting them of an intention to decoy them ashore, paid no attention to their signals of distress, but instantly put over to the opposite side of the river, and manning every oar, endeavored to pass them as rapidly as possible. Benham beheld them pass him with a sensation bordering on despair, for the place as much frequented by Indians, and the approach of winter threatened them with destruction, unless speedily relieved. At length, after the boat had pass him nearly half a mile, he saw a canoe put off from its stern, and cautiously approach the Kentucky shore, evidently reconnoitering them with great suspicion. "He called loudly upon them for assistance, mentioned his name, and made known his condition. After a long parley, and many evidences of reluctance on the part of the crew, the canoe at length touched the shore, and Benham and his friend were taken on board. Their appearance excited much suspicion. They were almost entirely naked, and their faces were garnished with six weeks growth of beard. The one was barely able to hobble on crutches, and the other could manage to feed himself with one of his hands. They were taken to Louisville, where their clothes (which had been carried off in the boat which deserted them) were restored to them, and after a few weeks confinement, both were perfectly recovered. "Benham afterwards served in the north-west throughout the whole of the Indian war, accompanied the expeditions of Harmar and Wilkinson, shared in the disaster of St. Clair, and afterwards in the triumph of Wayne. Upon the return of peace, he bought the land upon which Rogers had been defeated, and ended his days in tranquility, amid the scenes which had witnessed his sufferings." © Copyright 9 June 2005, Sandra K. Gorin Sandi's Puzzlers: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gensoup/gorin/puz.html SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html

TIP #543 FISK METALLIC BURIAL CONTAINERS Fellow researcher Bill Utterback recently sent me some information on an unusual burial container and thought I might be interested in the details. I certainly was and would like to share this with the list. Bill did some research after an inquiry was made about a strange metal container had been located in TN, just across the state line from Calloway Co KY in the 1960's. The container looked like a miniature sarcophagus with a glass at the top of it. Looking through the glass, the body of a small child's head could be seen, well preserved. It soon became an object that many people wanted to see and drove by for a view of this strange burial container with the little child inside. A newspaper article with photos was taken in the 1960's, but the date of the container was unknown. Bill remembered seeing a like photo in a TVA grave removal record, adult size. These containers were known as the Fisk Metallic Burial Containers and came on the market in 1849! Model #1 looked like a sarcophagus and had ornate engravings of flowers and angels on it with 2-3 handles on each side. The adult sized model came in various sizes, starting at 29 inches long, weight of 100 pounds and cost $50. This would be considered very expensive since a wooden coffin at that time as going for $5.00 plus hardware. Fisk advertised these containers to be completely airtight and waterproof which enabled a body, if embalmed, to be preserved indefinitely. Fisk Model #2 came out about 1858 and looked different from the first model, allowing Bill to date the container shown in the photographs as being from 1850-1860. This model could be placed directly in the ground or put inside an outer vault for added protection. Some of these containers have been found near Williamsburg VA and other locations that have been removed due to cemetery relocation or archeological studies. If you will go to: http://www.history.org/Foundation/journal/Spring05/funerals.cfm you will find an interesting article on Williamsburg burials and photographs of the Fisk containers. http://www.uark.edu/campus-resources/archinfo/SCHACmason.pdf is a PDF document describing various burial containers including Fisk, with photographs. http://dave.burrell.net/OofUnder.html contains a detailed look at the beginnings of the undertaker and includes information on Fisk. Wooden coffins with a glass plate over the face were common in the early days and were used in Kentucky. Many times the coffin was placed at an angle, leaned against a chair or table, and the family had their photograph taken standing around the coffin with the face of the deceased showing. This was considered a way to honor the memory of the deceased. It was also a custom in many areas to have pictures taken at the cemetery with the family gathered around the grave. The widow/widower or a child of the deceased could be seen standing or seated, holding a picture of the deceased. My thanks to Bill Utterback for his assistance in this tip. © Copyright 2 June 2005, Sandra K. Gorin Sandi's Puzzlers: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gensoup/gorin/puz.html SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html

TIP #542 - LET'S GO TO THE FAIR!!! Oh, memories of childhood! Did you live in an area where THE summer entertainment was the county or state fair? Can you remember riding the ferris wheel, tossing balls at wooden bowling pins to win a prize for the love of your life (stuffed oversized bears, a goldfish, a chameleon on a chain), the music, the assorted games of chance, always rigged against you? Do you remember walking through the produce displays, checking out the cattle, sheep and horses? Many of my childhood memories can go back to the fair. Even then parents held tight on children's hands and discouraged the "freeway" where who knows what displays might shock you - the bearded lady, the reptile skinned man, the Egyptian dancers??? Kentuckians, like other Americans, have long cherished the fair. It was a time for families, friends, farmers, businessmen all to get together and just enjoy themselves. Competitions for the best baked cherry pie or the largest pumpkin have always drawn crowds. It was just a time when many of us could let down our hair and just be ourselves with our worries put on hold for a time. Kentucky fairs have always been more geared to the farms in contrast to the larger urban area fairs. The Kentucky State Fair dates back to 1902; but the roots of Kentucky fairs go back much further. In 1853, Louisville hosted the world's fair and what an event it was. But it goes back farther than that. The Southern Exposition, which was a regional fair, was hosted by Louisville from 1833 until 1887. The first recorded fair in Kentucky was held on the Lewis Sander's farm north of Lexington in 1816. Looking more like a cattle show than a fair, there was livestock of every kind and prizes. By the 1830's, the fair had added agricultural products to the menu with produce displayed by the proud farmers and their wives. Fairs reached their peak in 1838 according to the Kentucky Encyclopedia when 21 county fairs were held in the then 88 counties. They saw a decline in interest in the early 1840's and in 1844 and 1845, Bourbon Co was the only county still having a major fair. This was a three-day event and drew huge crowds for the time, estimated to be 10,000. During 1850-1860, 52 agricultural fairs were organized and the Germantown Fair began - in continuous operation since 1854. Then came the Civil War when all celebration stopped. Christian Co had a big fair planned in 1860 but the rumblings of the oncoming war stopped all festivities. It came back with a vengeance in 1869 with additional thrills for people far and wide. There was a parade by the local fire department and something seldom seen - a balloon ascension! By 1947 there were 61 local fairs going on in the summer throughout the state; by 1959 the number had grown to 96. Slowly the fairs expanded to what we are most familiar with. Prizes for the best livestock, junior competitions, 4-H competitions, Grandma's best preserves, quilting displays. And somewhere along the line came the food to be sold to the hungry and foot-weary visitor. Do you remember your first taste of cotton candy and standing there watching the machine spin the sugar with added food color? The lemonade - best you could taste; later the hot dogs, ribs and other delicacies. Did your Mom or Dad ever steer you away from the food stands saying that one could never tell how the food was prepared or who prepared it and you might just get sick and die from poisoned food? Did you ever taste a real peach from the agricultural displays - you used to be given a peach free as you ooohed and aaahed over the quality of the garden crops. Can you remember the smells? Fresh fruit aromas mixed with the livestock stalls? Hotdogs cooking and sweaty bodies? Barbequed ribs on the grill? Well, how about the sounds? The carneys yelling out invitations to see the rubber boy, raucous music from the rides, squeals of delights of the children as they rode the beautifully painted merry-go-round, friends and family chatting back and forth and urging each other to go see a certain display. Blue, white and red ribbons hanging proudly on animal pens while the owners strutted proudly that they had taken a ribbon? Despite the modern inventions of television, video games, rock concerts and other media events - there will never, in the hearts of many of us, being anything like the fair. © Copyright 26 May 2005, Sandra K. Gorin, All Rights Reserved Gorin Publishing: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/ New books available now! 29 Apr 2005 Sandi's Puzzlers: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gensoup/gorin/puz.html SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html

TIP #541 - MISCELLANEOUS EARLY LAWS Today's tip will be rather short (and perhaps boring) as I have been having difficulties with my computer and have not had time to work on a fancy tip. But, perhaps you will find it interesting. When Kentucky reached statehood, various laws were passed, primarily based on those of Virginia. Some of them seem rather strange to us now, and I thought I would list some of them together in one tip. Perhaps this will explain why your Kentucky ancestor did something, or couldn't do something! BILLIARD TABLES: In 1821 an act was passed laying a tax of $500 on each and every billiard table. You will notice that on the old tax records that this is one of the categories shown. The County Clerk was responsible for keeping a list of those who owned a billiard table and issued a certificate on payment of the tax which then the owner had to pay an additional $1.00 for the certificate. If it was found that someone didn't have a certificate, they were fined $100 a day! The owner could also be taken to court and if found guilty, the billiard table(s) could be sold and they had fines to pay. ENCLOSURES: January 15, 1798. The definition of a legal fence was established on this date defining what was considered a fence for horses, mares, cattle, hogs, sheep and goats. Remember that in the early days, livestock was often left free to roam all over the place. The fence had to be five feet high and constructed so the animals could not "creep through". Hedges were allowed which had to be two feet high with a ditch three feet deep and three feet broad. If an animal owner did not comply and their animals got free, they would be fined and the animals killed if someone had been hurt or damages had been incurred. A committee was to be appointed to approve all the enclosures. TAVERNS: Taverns had to meet several requirements: Lodging had to be "good, wholesome, clean, had a good diet for travelers, have a stable and pasture for the traveler's livestock. No gaming was allowed in the tavern, drunkenness was not permitted nor was any "scandalous behavior" allowed. Rates for food, lodging and drink was controlled by the Justices who were to inspect the tavern twice a year. If alcohol was to be sold, a permit had to be granted and the prices set by the court. PEDDLERS. Spelled pedlars, an act approved 1814 covered the rules and regulations for the traveling peddler. He had to obtain a license for $20 which covered him for one year. POSTAGE: Yes … the government had that covered early too! Postage was required for any written communication to the Governor, to the military, and for "for the carriage of any books, papers or other articles transmitted" from other governors. From there is just kept growing! PROFANITY was known as profanation. "Any person or person shall not, in any stage play, interlude show, May-game or pageant, jestingly or profanely speak or use the holy name of God, or Christ Jesus, or of the Holy Ghost, or of the Trinity, which are not to be spoken but with fear and reverence shall forfeit, for every such offence by him or them committed, ten pounds." RACES: It was illegal for anyone to induce someone under the age of 21 to be a rider in a race. If someone under age 21, a slave or servant did race without permission of the father or owner (or the mother if the father is dead), it was a misdemeanor. It was prohibited to race horses on the public streets and highways; a $10.00 fine was imposed. © Copyright 19 May 2005, Sandra K. Gorin Gorin Publishing: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/ New books available now! 29 Apr 2005 Sandi's Puzzlers: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gensoup/gorin/puz.html SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html

TIP #540 - OH POOR ME! How did Kentucky help the poor in the early statehood days? If we take a look at some of the early laws of the Commonwealth, it might help explain the actions that were taken. An act was passed December 19th 1798 regarding the poor. In this act it is stated that the county courts in the state had the power, and were required to provide relief for the poor by laying out a county levy. This levy was to cover those who were personally unable to procure a livlihood. The courts could from time to time, make orders on the sheriffs or county levy collectors and use it to pay such sums of money as they shall allow to help such people. The count justices when meeting monthly provided to the court information about poor orphans and other children whose parents are incapable of supporting or bringing them up in "honest courses". If it seemed right to the court, a "next friend" could be appointed as to where this child should reside. The next friend normally knew the child and parents. The court then bound out the child (orphan or a child whose family could not provide for them), and apprenticed them until the age of 21 for a boy and 18 years for a girl. It was the responsible of the next friend to teach them reading and writing and, if a boy, common arithmetic including the rule of three. The child was also to be paid three pounds and ten shillings when the apprenticeship ended, and provide him with a new suit of clothes. All indentures were to be recorded by the county officials. The next act was passed January 30, 1798 and went into effect March 1st. The act stated and every poor person who had a cause of action against any person within the Commonwealth would have the discretion of the court before whom he would sue. This allowed the poor the right to sue out writs without paying for the suit. February 10, 1798 was the next act involving those considered poor, again went into effect March 1st. This act dealt with anyone who brought into the state from any other state, or from one county to another, people who were unable to support themselves and thus become chargeable to the new state or county. This protected the state and the county from individuals who were likely not provided for in another state/county and rushing here in order to reap the benefits of generous Kentucky! On December 23rd, 1803, another act passed that empowered the courts to provide what they deemed necessary to the poor and make a reasonable compensation for medical treatment. This money was also taken out of the county levy. Poorhouses were established December 19th, 1821. This act stated that the county courts would have full power and authority to purchase and receive a conveyance - housing - for the poor to reside in. The county could build a home known as the poor house for the housing of the poor. The county levy could be used to hire carpenters to build the home and to pay the workers who built the home. Once the house was built, it was lawful for the county court to appoint someone they saw fit to superintend the poor house and to pay them a reasonable salary out of the levy. The superintendent of the poor house could be removed by order of the court if there was any problem. Poor widows also were provided for by the county. An act passed December 21st, 1820 regarding these widows. If a widow could provide proof to the county or circuit clerks in the county where she resided that she has no estate in her right greater than $100.00, she would be considered for assistance. Her finances would to be proven in open court by testimony of two or more credible witnesses. She could be issued 100 acres of land with a land warrant issued for the land in her name. Any unoccupied land could be chosen except for the land west of the Tennessee River and south of Walker's line. This land would not be liable to sale by execution; it vested in the widow who acquired the title for the rest of her life with the remainder to her children if she has any. If she died without children, the land reverted back to the state. (c) Copyright 12 May 2005, Sandra K. Gorin, All Rights Reserved. Gorin Publishing: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/ New books available now! 29 Apr 2005 Sandi's Puzzlers: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gensoup/gorin/puz.html SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html

TIP #539 - THE FAMILY SHOEMAKER I give credit to a 5th grader in a south central Kentucky school for giving me the thoughts about this topic. So I did some research and learned a little more about the family shoemaker. In pioneer times, many went without shoes in the countryside. During the spring, summer and early fall, children ran barefoot, their feet toughened by running though the fields and timbers, hunting with their father, playing games among the trees and tall grasses. But, families did desire shoes for church and community affairs and many times the shoemaker was the father of the family. If he was really good, the word would go out and perchance he would find himself making shoes for his neighbors and friends. So, how did one create a pair of practical shoes? It started with the slaughter of their beef cattle. Normally slaughter took place in the fall and the meat packed away in salt and stored to feed the family during the winter months. The hides were saved and were used for making shoes, boots, harnesses, and rein for the family use. Nothing was wasted. Tan yards were found in most of the early communities and it is here that the process moved. They were normally found near a body of water and could be an acre in size. The tan yard had a building where the hides were kept during their various phases of production. A number of vats were created which were dug in the ground that were usually about ten feet long, six feet wide and four feet wide. There was also a bark mill which would be similar to a big coffee mill; measuring two feet across the to and weighing 600-700 pounds. This mill was operated by horse power. Workers would collect bark by cutting down trees, white oak was frequently used. The bark would be skinned off and ground down to sawdust size before being added to the vats. Water was then put into the vats and the skins were left to soak, removing the hair from the hides. The hides had to soak for approximately 9 months; they were then pulled out and a currying knife was applied to the skin. This removed the skin and hairs. Next the hide was worked back and forth over a pole until it became soft and pliable. Next men came with mallets and beat the hides. Lye soap could also be used in the curing process. When the hides were ready, the tanner notified the owner who was given one half of the hides that had been processed; the tanner kept the other half for his pay. The owner of the hides then either took the leather to a shoemaker, if the town had one, or took it home and made his own shoes. The family shoemaker would tote the leather home in his wagon and draw a pattern for the size of shoe he needed. After cutting the leather out based on the pattern, he would take the upper part of the shoe and punch holes in the leather with a pegging awl. This could also be accomplished by pounding a nail into the leather to make the holes. Next he would take another piece of leather to make an inner sole which he fastened to the bottom of the shoe. Next he fastened the upper part of the shoe to the sole and inner sole. He then used an awl and drove holes through the 3 layers of leather and drive pegs through the holes to hold everything in place. The pegs were then trimmed off close to the leather. The next step was the making of a heel. This normally came from the back of the cow and was two layers thick. The soles were fastened to the heel and pegged down. The upper part of the shoe was sewn on using home-made flax that had been waxed with tallow and bee's wax. He then made eyes for the strings to go through (the laces). Eyelets as we know them today weren't available to the average family, but could be sometimes ordered through the mercantile. If he used eyelets they would be slipped into the holes, the soles was then greased with the same tallow and bee's wax. When finished, the man had a pair of shoes that he hoped would last a year. What about the strings used as laces? They were from the hides of a hog. After killing the hog, skinning it and processing the meat for the family, the father would put the hide in a pit of ashes for a week or so. He then removed the hair and put the hide in lye soap for a few days. It was worked until pliable then and the hide turned white. Shoe strings were then cut from this about a quarter of an inch wide. They were very sturdy and could be re-used for many pair of shoes. A man skilled in making shoes could make a decent wage in making them for other villagers. So, the next time you buy a pair of shoes from the local store, wear them awhile and toss them out when they become worn or out of fashion, take a minute to think of how those shoes used to be made. Now manufactured by machine and being produced in mass by the modern equipment, look at those shoes one more time and think of the old-time shoemaker and all he had to do to provide his family with "Sunday go to meeting" footwear. (c) Copyright 5 May 2005, Sandra K. Gorin, All Rights Reserved Gorin Publishing: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/ New books available now! 29 Apr 2005 Sandi's Puzzlers: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gensoup/gorin/puz.html SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html

TIP #538 - THE GREAT SNOWBALL FIGHT I am not a Civil War expert and through the years knew little more than the name of some of the major cast of players, some of the more noted battlegrounds, and that the blues and the grays often split entire families apart as one son marched north, one south. I have recently transcribed a series of some 116 newspaper articles that appeared in the Glasgow (KY) Republican, penned by the late Jimmy Simmons. Jimmy was not only the high school history teacher here; an inspiration to an entire generation to learn their family roots, but was a Civil War historian of great knowledge. These weekly columns ran through the 100th anniversary of the Civil War and deals with the role of Barren County soldiers, Union and Rebel, and those of adjacent counties. I have cried through many articles, laughed through others, and gained a much deeper respect for the soldiers who lived and died through this war. I have learned of the lack of food, the lack of shelter, the bravery of the men on both sides of this battle; the victories, the losses, the uniforms, the arms, and the life that these men endured. One such column really impressed me as it was considered the most unusual battle of the war. While we in the 21st century feel we live with too much stress, consider the loyal soldier and officer of the time. The "Orphan Brigade" was headed by General Joseph Horace Lewis who replaced General Helm when he fell in battle. General Lewis was from Barren County and is buried at the Glasgow Municipal Cemetery. I hope you enjoy this short chapter from Jimmy's book that I will soon have in print. It originally appeared in the December 19, 1963 edition of the Glasgow Republican. The long, dreary winter at Dalton as broken by one of the most unusual battles in history, the Great Snowball Battle. The men who had endured three years of the bloodiest fighting engaged in an all-day snowball battle which helped greatly to relieve the tension and monotony of camp life. It seemed to have been one of the most memorable experiences of the war for many of its participants as many of them were to write of it in later years. It is to three of these veterans that I owe my thanks for the material I have assembled on the battle. They are Ed Porter Thompson of Metcalfe Co., who wrote "The History of the Orphan Brigade", John William Green, author of "Johnny Green of the Orphan Brigade," and an unknown writer in the "Confederate Veteran." On the twenty-second day of March 1861, the members of the Orphan Brigade and their comrades of the Army of the Tennessee, awoke to find that snow blanketed the ground and it continued to snow for sometime. When it ceased to come down, the Kentuckians emerged from their shelters and began to toss snowballs at one another. Soon every able bodied man in the brigade seems to have been engaged in throwing snowballs. The "Orphans" wee not the only ones who found a release in throwing snowballs, the Floridians in the next camp unused to snow were frolicking also. Soon, one of them hollered at the Kentuckians and a general fight ensued. All ranks fell out, even General Lewis, who commanded the Kentuckians. There were charges and counter charges; generals fought in the ranks as privates and privates served as generals. The Floridians grudgingly gave ground as they were driven back by the charge of the Orphans. Under a hail of snowballs, the Kentuckians made one final charge and drove the Floridians from their own camp. Even Frank the Soldier dog. Numbers of eyes were blackened and noses wee bloodied by over-enthusiastic combatants. Even though the Kentuckians occupied the Florida camp, the victory was not complete. The color bearer and a part of the flag staff of the 9th Ky. had been captured and so with due ceremony, a truce was arraigned and a treaty of peace signed. The Kentuckians got their men and pole back and the Floridians were given back their camp. By this time, the whole camp had engaged in the fighting. Some of the caissons and limbers of the artillery had been captured and driven pell mell through the camp. It is a sad note to relate that some men were injured by these heavy vehicles, some fatally. One southern soldier, whose name I do not know told of his bunk mate; a boy of only 15 or 16, whose legs were crushed when the heavy wheels passed over them. The surgeon was called but he informed his comrades that the boy would not recover. He was then tenderly carried to his hut and made as comfortable as possible. An old Negro slave, who cooked for the company, being a very devout man, was called. He asked the boy if he knew Jesus. The boy's reply was that he did not, and asked who He was and why he had been asked that question. The old Negro explained that Christ had died for our sins and that the boy, too, was soon to die and that Jesus would come to take him home. The simple southern boy then raised both hands, and when asked why he did this, he said that he was doing it so that Christ would not miss him, when He came. One by one, his comrades dropped off to sleep. In the morning when they awoke poor Jimmy still had his hands raised but death had claimed him in the night. This impressed his comrades so that at least one never forgot and even as an old man was convinced that Jesus must have found poor Jimmy that night. (c) Copyright 28 April 2005, Sandra K. Gorin Colonel Sandi Gorin SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html Sandi's Puzzlers: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gensoup/gorin/puz.html Gorin Publishing: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/

TIP #537: THE SALTPETER INDUSTRY IN KENTUCKY Many of our ancestors were involved in earlier days in the saltpeter industry. Saltpeter, which is potassium nitrate was something the early pioneers knew a lot about. Like regular salt, their survival depended upon saltpeter. Gunpowder was derived from saltpeter and gunpowder was a necessity for not only hunting for game to feed the families, but to defend themselves from the yet attacking Indians. The saltpeter was derived from calcium nitrate which was found in dry caves and rock shelters, abundantly found in Kentucky. It was a product that was extremely difficult to transport from other major towns, so the pioneers were very careful in taking care of their supplies. A slave named Monk Estill is credited with being one of the first of Kentucky's manufacturers of saltpeter. He supplied the valuable commodity to Fort Boonesborough and Estill's Station as early at 1780's, two of the earliest forts who were constantly under attack. By the year 1805, there were 28 saltpeter caves and rock shelters that were actively being mined. Samuel Brown, M.D. was a professor of chemistry, anatomy and surgery at Transylvania University who wrote extensively on the mining of saltpeter entitled "Great Saltpeter Cave in Rockcastle County. During the War of 1812, the demand for salt peter reached a peak. The U S ports had been blockaded under the British embargo of 1807 and this stopped the importation of saltpeter which had been produced in India. The prices went up and caused the mining efforts to be very profitable for the pioneers. Mammoth Cave in Edmonson County Kentucky became a major source of saltpeter in Kentucky and the remains of the operations are still found in the cave and shown on the tours. Dixon Cave, nearby, was also known for saltpeter manufacturing; both had been mining since 1799. After 1811, most of the soil containing niter was pretty well depleted; and the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-1812 damaged many of the saltpeter works. In 1812, Kentucky is shown as having produced 300,000 pounds of saltpeter. After the war, production resumed somewhat but prices fell to it's $1.00 per pound to 15 cents per pound and most pioneers could earn better wages elsewhere. After this time, any production was fairly well just for the individual's use. There are 133 caves in Kentucky and six rock shelters that produced saltpeter. Many slaves, likely as many as 70, from Edmonson, Barren and surrounding counties were employed in this occupation at Mammoth Cave and the same would have held true in other caves. It is said that mules were brought into the cave and lowered by pulleys into the caves. How They Did It: (Courtesy Foxfire Volume 5). "Cave dirt was tested for its nitrate potential by the following procedure: A footprint or mark was made in the dirt and left for twenty-four hours. If the print was scarcely visible by the next day, then the dirt was deemed high in niter. "A mattock was used to break up the cave dirt, and a wooden saltpeter paddle was used for digging and scraping The dirt was removed from the cave in gunny sacks and poured on top of the twig and straw in the V-vat. Buckets of water were then poured over the saltpeter dirt to leach it of its nitrate or 'Mother liquor'. The mother liquor (also sometimes called 'beer' ) would run down the sides of the V-vat and into the split-log base and out into the collecting trough. A dipper gourd was often used to transfer the mother liquor into a container. This same liquor was poured again and again over the saltpeter dirt because re-leaching caused more nitrates to be dissolved. According to the old reports, re-leaching went on until the solution was of sufficient density to float an egg. "The next step was to combine the mother liquor rich in calcium nitrate with wood ashes that contain high amounts of potassium hydroxide. The best woodashes for this purpose were made by burning hardwoods such as oak and hickory. The mother liquor was either poured directly over the woodashes or the woodashes were leached in barrels and the leachate directly combined with the mother liquor. Upon combination, a white haze could be seen , and this white precipitate (calcium hydroxide or 'curds' as it was called) would slowly sink to the bottom of the barrel. If the solution contained an excess of calcium nitrate, the product was termed 'in the grease.' An excess of woodashes produced a condition called 'in the ley.' "The wood ash leachate was poured into the mother liquor until the white curds could no longer be seen precipitating out of solution. The remaining solution thus contained the still soluble potassium nitrate. This solution was dipped out into an apple-butter kettle (or"evaporator'), and a fire started under the kettle. Turnip halves were then thrown into the boiling solution to help keep it from foaming and to take up the dirty brown color. Oxblood (or alum) was also added to the boiling liquid and caused the organic matter to rise to the top of the liquid and form a scum which, with continued boiling, was constantly ladled off. After a few hours of boiling, the hot liquor was poured through cheesecloth in order to filter out the remaining scum and organic material. Upon cooling, fine, bitter, needle-shaped crystals of niter (potassium nitrate) formed in the liquor. These crystals were then collected and dried. Potassium nitrate crystals were far superior to calcium or sodium-nitrate crystals because they are non-deliquescent (do not take up moisture from the air) and, hence, would not make the gunpowder wet and unusable. The nitrate crystals thus obtained had to be further refined and purified. This purification procedure was done either by the individual and homemade into gunpowder, or it was done after the saltpeter crystals were sent to a refinery where the final gunpowder was made." (http://www.dangerouslaboratories.org/foxfire5.html) Information from the Kentucky Encyclopedia. Other information can be found at: http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/35mammoth/35facts2.htm http://www.caves.org/conservancy/gsp/articles/engle.html (c) Copyright 21 Apr 2005, Sandra K. Gorin Colonel Sandi Gorin SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html Sandi's Puzzlers: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gensoup/gorin/puz.html Gorin Publishing: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/

TIP #536 - Wacky Well-known Census Enumerations This week's tip is not just about Kentucky, but I think no matter where our roots stretched in the United States, the following will be of great interest to you. It is reprinted by permission of Michael John Neill, a name of which many of you will be quite familiar. Michael John Neill is the Course I Coordinator at the Genealogical Institute of Mid America (GIMA) held annually in Springfield, Illinois, and is also on the faculty of Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, Illinois. Michael is currently a member of the board of the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) www.fgs.org. He conducts seminars and lectures nationally on a wide variety of genealogical and computer topics and contributes to several genealogical publications, including Ancestry Magazine and Genealogical Computing. My thanks to Michael for permission to reprint! His wacky spellings of the country's "well-known" people will get us thinking! From Michael: One of my spare-time activities is locating well-known individuals in United States census records. This week we look at some census entries for notable individuals that are also notable for being somewhat unusual. These enumerations may provide us with some insight into why we cannot find our own less-famous relatives in the census. Links to images of entries discussed in today's column can be found at www.rootdig.com/oddfamous.html. English Name Spelled a German Way Cowboy actor Roy Rogers was born in Ohio, not in the Wild West as some may imagine. His actual name was Leonard Sly, not Roy Rogers. Interestingly enough he is enumerated in the 1930 census in Cincinnati, Ohio, as Leonard Schlei. Fortunately both Sly and Schlei have the same Soundex code (S400), so a search using the Soundex option would locate this family. Census takers frequently spelled last names the way they thought it should have been spelled. With United State census records, it usually is a native English speaker writing the names. Occasionally though, the enumerator might be a native German or Swede and spell the names the way he thinks they should be spelled, creating additional confusion. An Unusual First Name Made Even More So In 1850, future U.S. president Ulysses Grant is living in St. Louis, Missouri, with his in-laws, Fred and Ellen Dent. His first name on the census looks like Julicious, not Ulysses. Grant was located in 1850 by searching for his wife Julia. Her given name was more common than his and less likely to be spelled incorrectly or misinterpreted by an indexer. It is interesting to note that there are five adult males enumerated in the Fred Dent household, including Grant. Grant is listed as a lieutenant. The other males are listed as gentlemen. There, But Not Named Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis is apparently enumerated in the 1930 census in Manhattan, New York, but is not listed with her name. An entry for John Bouvier at 935 Park Avenue appears to be that of her father, based upon information obtained from other sources. A twenty-two-year-old wife and a daughter under the age of one are also listed in the Bouvier household. The information on the wife and child matches what is known about Jacqueline and her mother. For reasons unknown they are not named specifically in this enumeration. They Weren't Home The infamous Al Capone apparently was not home when the census taker came knocking at 7244 Prairie Avenue in Chicago in 1930. Several members of his family, including his wife and mother, are enumerated but Al managed to elude census taker Mrs. Margaret Hinkamp when she took the census on 3 April 1930. What Is Your Name Anyway? Charles Bronson was not always Charles Bronson. He was born Charles Buchinski. The problem with his 1930 enumeration is that his last name is listed as Bunchinski. Buchinski and Bunchinski are not Soundex equivalents. Buchinski has a Soundex code of B252. Bunchinski has a Soundex code of B525. A Soundex will not work. A wildcard approach will not be successful either because Ancestry.com requires that any wildcard search begin with at least three letters (my ideal search for a last name of Bu* would require more search time and would slow down searches for others using the Ancestry.com website). Bronson's father was a Walter Buchinski, a Lithuanian native. I decided that perhaps this was enough of a unique characteristic that I should search for the father in the 1930 index instead of the son. Searches for a child named Charles born in Pennsylvania and living in Pennsylvania in 1930 were bound to result in more hits that I could manage to sift through. I searched for men named Walter, living in Cambria County, Pennsylvania (which contained Ehrenfeld, Pennsylvania, where Bronson grew up), who were born in Lith*. There were not too many hits and as soon as I saw last name Bunchinski I was hopeful that I had the right one. Sure enough the details contained in the enumeration matched other information known about Bronson's family and included a son Charles the right age. We Are Not Giving That Information New York City Street Commissioner "Boss" Tweed refused to provide his age in 1870. In fact the ages of all his family members are omitted from his 1870 enumeration in New York's twenty-first ward. The census taker noted that "many fruitless attempts have been made to ascertain other data concerning family of Wm. M. Tweed." The Tweed family is not the only well-known person to refuse a census taker. Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, in 1900 refused to provide her month and year of birth when the census taker came knocking to her home at 233 Pleasant Street in Concord, New Hampshire. She appears in the 1900 census index at Ancestry.com as being zero years old. Is That My Initial Or Is It My Name? Billionaire John Paul Getty was commonly known as J. Paul Getty. The 1900 census taker who came to his home on Hennepin Boulevard in Minneapolis, Minnesota, enumerated him as "Jay P. Getty." After all "J." and "Jay" sound an awful lot alike! List Me Once, List Me Twice One should never overlook the possibility that an individual might have been enumerated twice in the same census year. Author Mark Twain (actually Samuel Clemens) is listed twice in 1850 in Hannibal, Missouri. Once with his mother, Jane Clemens, and again with Editor Joseph Ament. Actor Humphrey Bogart is enumerated with his parents once in Manhattan and again at his family's second home in Ontario County, New York. While most of our ancestors could not afford multiple residences, some were enumerated more than once, usually because they moved. Occasionally, like Twain, they were enumerated once with their family and once in a home where they were working (it happened to my non-famous grandmother in 1930 as well). What Is That Letter? To the unaware, Abraham Lincoln's 1860 occupation may look like "Sawyer." However a close reading of the entire census page indicates that there is a difference between the enumerator's "S" and his "L." A few households before the Lincolns is one containing a secretary and two servants. The letters beginning these two words are clearly different than the one that begins Lincoln's occupation. Also it is doubtful that a sawyer has the amount of real and personal property that Lincoln does in 1860. How Did You Say That? Charles Walgreen's 1900 enumeration in Chicago certainly looks like Charles Walgram. Fortunately a Soundex search would have located this reference as both surnames are Soundex equivalent. He and two other drugstore clerks were living in the same boarding house and it is possible that the lady of the house answered the questions when the census taker came to the door. As long as Walgreen paid his rent, she might not have been overly concerned about exactly how he spelled his last name! They Actually Corrected Something! While it is highly unusual, there is an enumeration where someone from the census department has actually made a correction. John P. Sousa's 1870 enumeration indicates he is forty-four years of age, a year older than his father. Someone has written on the enumeration "should be 14 see 1860." Actually John P. Sousa's 1860 enumeration lists him as five years old. Both the 1860 and 1870 enumerations were done in June, and John P. Sousa was actually born in November of 1854. This would have actually made him five at the time of the 1860 enumeration and fifteen at the time of the 1870 enumeration. The correction is an oddity and one should be glad the corrected age is as close as it is. If enumerations for the well-known can occasionally be quirky, what is the chance that your ancestor's enumeration might be a little bit off the wall? Resources * Soundex Converter at RootsWeb http://resources.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/Soundexconverter * Census Enumerator's Instructions 1850-2000 www.ipums.umn.edu/usa/voliii/tEnumInstr.html Copyright 2005, MyFamily.com. Reprinted 14 Apr 2005 by permission of author. Colonel Sandi Gorin SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html Sandi's Puzzlers: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gensoup/gorin/puz.html Gorin Publishing: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/

TIP #535 - THE JACKSON PURCHASE The Jackson Purchase was a tremendous effort between agents of the United States and the Chickasaw Indian Nation. Isaac Shelby, now an elderly man who had fought in the Revolutionary War and had served on two occasions as Governor of the State of Kentucky was involved. General Andrew Jackson who had been recognized as the hero of the Battle of New Orleans and later served as President of the United States was there. The proud Chickasaw nation was well represented by their chiefs, head men and mighty warriors. Levi and George Colbert, Chinubby (the Boy King), and Tishomingo were among those present for this historical event wherein the United States was set to purchase a large area of land later to be known as the Jackson Purchase area. A treaty was signed in northwestern Mississippi on October 19, 1818 and later ratified by the U. S. Senate and confirmed by President James Monroe on January 7, 1819. The Chickasaw Indian Nation, by this treaty, relinquished all of their lands east of the Mississippi River and north of the Mississippi state line. In return for the land they were to receive $300,000 at the rate of $20,000 annually for fifteen years. This treaty enlarged Tennessee and Kentucky by about 2,000 and 6,000 square miles respectively. The land in Kentucky became known as the Jackson Purchase or the Purchase District; lands in Tennessee were called West Tennessee. The treaty reads: "To settle all territorial controversies, and to remove all grounds of complaint or dissatisfaction that might arise to interrupt the peace and harmony which have so long and so happily existed between the United States, America and the Chickasaw Indians, James Monroe, President of the United States, Nation, by their chiefs, head men, and warriors, in full council assembled, of the other part, have agreed on the following articles which, when ratified by the President and Senate of the United States of America, shall form a treaty binding on all parties." ARTICLE 1: Peace and friendship are hereby firmly established and made perpetual between the United States of America and the Chickasaw Nation of Indians. ARTICLE 2: To obtain the object of the foregoing article, the Chickasaw Nation of Indians cede to the United States of America (with exception of such reservation as shall be hereinafter mentioned) all claim or title which the said nation has to the land lying north of the south boundary of the States of Tennessee, which is bounded on the south by the 35th degree of north latitude, and which lands, hereby ceded, lie within the following boundaries, viz: Beginning on the Tennessee River, about thirty-five miles, by water, below Col. George Colbert's Ferry, where the 35th degree of north latitude strikes the same; thence due west, with said degree of north latitude, to where it cuts the Mississippi River at or near the Chickasaw Bluffs; thence up the Mississippi River to the mouth of the Ohio River; thence up the Ohio River to the mouth of the Tennessee River; thence up the Tennessee River to the place of the beginning. ARTICLE 3: In consideration of relinquishment of claim and cession of lands in the preceding article and to perpetuate the happiness of the Chickasaw Nation of Indians, the Commissioners of the United States, before named, agree to allow the said Nation the sum of twenty thousand dollars per annum, for fifteen successive years, to be paid annually; and as a further consideration for the objects aforesaid, and at the request of the Chiefs of the said Nation, the Commissioners agree to pay Capt. John Gordon of Tennessee, the sum of one thousand and one hundred and fifteen dollars, it being a debt due by General William Colbert of said Nation, to the aforesaid Gordon; and the further sum of two thousand dollars, due by said Nation of Indians, to Capt.. David Smith, now of Kentucky, for the sum by him expended, in supplying himself and forty-five soldiers from Tennessee, in the year 1795, when assisting them (at their request and invitation) in defending their towns against invasion of the Creek Indians; both which sums (on the application of the said nation) are to be paid within sixty days after the ratification of this treaty, to the aforesaid Gordon and Smith. ARTICLE 4: The Commissioners further agree on the further and particular application of the chiefs, and for the benefit for the poor and warriors of the said Nation, that a tract, of land, containing four miles square, to include a salt lick, or springs, on or near the River Sandy, a branch of the Tennessee River, and within the land hereby ceded, be reserved, and to be laid off in a square of oblong, so as to include the best timber, at the option of their beloved chief, Levi Colbert, and Major James Brown, or either of them; who are hereby made agents and trustees for the Nation, to lease the said salt lick, or springs, on the following express conditions, viz: For the benefit of this reservation, as before recited, the trustees or agents are bound to reasonable quantity of salt to be paid annually to the said Nation, for the use thereof, and that, from and after two years after the ratification of this treaty, no salt, made at the works to be erected on this reservation, shall be sold within the limits of the same for a higher price than one dollar per bushel of fifty pounds weight; on the failure of which the lease shall be forfeited, and the reservation revert to the United States. ARTICLE 5: The Commissioners agree that there shall be paid to Oppassantuby a principal chief of the Chickasaw Nation, within sixty days after the ratification of this treaty, the sum of five hundred dollars as a full compensation for the reservation of two miles square, on the north side of the Tennessee River secured to him and his heirs by the treat held with the said Chickasaw Nation on the 29th day of September, 1816; and the further sum of twenty five dollars to John Lewis, a half breed, for a saddle lost while in the service of the United States and to show the regard of the President of the United States has for the said Chickasaw Nation at the request of the chiefs of the said Chickasaw Nation, the Commissioners agree that the sum of one thousand eighty nine dollars shall be paid to Maj. James Colbert, interpreter, within the period stated within the first part of this article, it being the amount of the sum of money taken from his pocket in the month of June, 1816, at the theater in Baltimore. And the said Commissioners as a further regard for said Nation, do agree that the reservation made to George Colbert, and Levi Colbert in the treaty held at the Council House of said Nation of the twenty-sixth day of September 1816, the first to Col. George Colbert on the north side of the Tennessee River, and those to Maj. Levi Colbert, on the east side of the Tombigbee River, shall inure to the sole use of said George Colbert and Maj. Levi Colbert, their heirs and assigns, forever, with their butts and bounds, as defined by said treaty, and agreeable to the marks and boundaries as laid off and marked by the surveyor of the United States where that is the case; and where the reservations have not been laid off and marked by the surveyor of the United States the same shall be so done as soon after the ratification as practicable on the application of their legally appointed agent under them, and agreeably to the definition in the before recited treaty. This agreement is made on the following express condition: That the said land and those living on it shall be subject to the laws of the United States, and all legal taxation that may be imposed on the land or citizens of the United States inhabiting the territory where the said land is situated. The Commissioners further agree that the reservation secured to John Mc Cleish, on the north side of Tennessee River, by the before recited treaty, in consequence of his having been raised in the State of Tennessee and marrying a white woman, shall inure to the sole use of the said John Mc Cleish, his heirs and assigns, forever, on the same conditions attached to the lands of Col. George Colbert and Maj. Levi Colbert in this article. ARTICLE 6: The two contracting parties covenant and agree that the line of the south boundary of the State of Tennessee, as described in the second Article of this treat, shall be ascertained and marked by commissioners appointed by the President of the United States; that the marks shall be bold, the trees to be blazed and both sides of the line, and the fore and aft trees shall be marked U.S.; and that the Commissioners shall be attended by two persons to be designated by the Chickasaw Nation, and the said Nation shall have due and reasonable notice when said operation is to be commenced. It is further agreed by the commissioners that all improvements actually made by individuals of Chickasaw Nation, which shall be found within the lands ceded by this treaty, that a fair and reasonable compensation shall be paid thereof to the respective individuals having made or owned the same. ARTICLE 7: In consideration of the friendly and conciliatory disposition evinced during the negotiating of this treaty by the Chickasaw chiefs and warriors but more particularly as a manifestation of the friendship and liberality of the President of the United States, the Commissioners agree to give, on the ratification of this treat, to Chinnubby, King of the Chickasaw Nation, to Teshuamingo, William Mc Gilvery, Anpassantubby, Samuel Seeley, James Brown, Levi Colbert, Ickaryoucuttahah, George Pettygrove, Immartarharmicco, Chickasaw Chiefs, and to Malcolme Mc Gee, interpreter to this treaty one hundred fifty dollars in cash; and to Maj. William Glover, Col. George Colbert, Hopoyahaummar, Immauklusharhopoyea, Tushkarhopoye, Hopoyeahaummar, Jr., James Colbert, Coweamarthiar, Illsvhouesthopoyea, military leaders, hundred dollars each; and do further agree that any annuity heretofore secured to the Chickasaw Nation of Indians be treaty to be paid in goods shall hereafter be paid in cash. In testimony whereof the said Commissioners and undersigned chiefs and warriors have set their hands and seals. Done at the treaty grounds east of Old Town this nineteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen. (October 19, 1818) From Indian Affairs, Laws and Treaties: Volume II - Treaties. Senate Document No. 452. (Signed by) Isaac Shelby, Andrew Jackson, and the Aforesaid Chiefs and Others. In Kentucky, the purchase became part of the state as an extension of Christian County with Old Wadesboro named as its capital. The land was then divided into eight counties: Hickman in 1821 with Columbus, later Columbia as the county seat; Calloway in 1822 (Wadesboro, later Murray), Graves in 1823 (Mayfield), McCracken in 1824 (Wilmington, later Paducah), Marshall in 1842 (Benton), Ballard in 1842 (Blandville, later WIckliffe), Fulton in 1845 (Hickman) and Carlisle in 1886 (Bardwell). This land forms a peninsula that goes northward from Tennessee and is bounded by the Tennessee, Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to the east, north and west. Large earthquakes in 1811-12 changed the landscape of the area in the west with Reelfoot Lake being formed. Earliest residents of the area other than the Indians, included Louis Jolliett and Jacques Marquette in 1673 and Ren Robert LaSalle in 1682. Fort Jefferson was established in 1780. During the Civil War, this was known as Confederate area. Now it is the location of Murray State University, Paducah Community College, Mid-Continent Baptist College, an area of agriculture, industries, rich uranium fields, railroads and river industries. Kenlake and Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Parks are located here and the Jackson Purchase area has become a high tourism area. Bill Utterback, a well-known researcher has provided much information on the Jackson Purchase area and is considered an expert in this area. The following two sites of Bill's will show extensive maps of the area and FAQ's about this beautiful addition to the State. http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygraves/temp/JPL.htm maps http://users.arn.net/~billco/jacksonfaq1.html The following URL will explain more about the mapping of the area. http://www.sos.state.ky.us/Land/JacksonPurchase/jppubliclands.asp If you have family in the Jackson Purchase area, I would recommend highly that you subscribe the Jackson Purchase Area query list by sending a subscribe message to: KYJACKSONPURCHASE-L-REQUEST@rootsweb.com. This is hosted by Bill Utterback and he provides a plethora of information, files and records via the list. (c) Copyright 7 April 2005, Sandra K. Gorin Colonel Sandi Gorin SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html Sandi's Puzzlers: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gensoup/gorin/puz.html Gorin Publishing: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/

TIP #534 - THE SISTERS OF LORETTO In Marion County, Kentucky lies the town of Loretto, seven miles northwest of Lebanon. The town, according to Robert Rennick was "named in the early 19th century when an academy was founded here by the Sisters of Loretto at the Foot of the Cross, an order established at nearby St. Mary's in 1812. The order of the Sisters of Loretto was named for the town in the Italian Marches noted for its shrine to the Blessed Mother." The Sisters of Loretto was one of the first native American communities of religious women when founded in the desolate frontiers in 1812. According to the Kentucky Encyclopedia, Mary Rhodes, a native of Maryland, came to the area to visit her family's relatives near St. Charles Mission Station on Hardin's Creek, at nearby Bardstown. She felt a concern for the children and remained on to teach their children how to read and write. Soon, neighbors began asking that she teach their children too. In time, a little school, nothing more than a primitive building, was erected in an abandoned log cabin. Sister Mary was soon joined by two other women; Christian Stuart and Ann Havern. They put in a petition to their priest, Charles Nerinckx who was Belgium born and had been exiled by the French Revolution. He had come to Kentucky and worked with missions in 1805. It was with his help that the Sisters of Loretto at the Foot of the Cross was establish 25 April 1812. The school operated in this location for twelve years and moved into other facilities at St. Stephen's farm (now know as Nerinx KY). The first Catholic priest to be ordained in America resided here, Stephen Badin. The Loretto Motherhouse there has been in operation since 1824 and according to records, over 3,000 women have been trained there. From this humble beginning, the Sisters of Loretto have established schools all over the United States, involving also social work, and have expanded into foreign countries. Forty schools were established in Kentucky alone in the 1800's; Daviess County and east to Maysville. Many schools didn't survive, they flourished for a few years and then closed their doors. Some of the schools included Holy Mary's at Calvary (1816-1899), Gethsemani (1818-1848), Bethlehem Academy at St John's (1823-1958); Loretta Academy at Loretto (1834-1918); Cedar Grove at Louisville (1842-1925); Loretto High School at Louisville (1925-1973). These schools had a broad spectrum of courses offered, including History, science, language, philosophy, religion, art, music, and sewing. The Sisters of Loretto "moved with the times" and as westward ho became the goal of many, the Sisters moved westward also. The Missouri Compromise of 1823 gave them an opportunity to establish in Missouri by 1847 with the opening of the Osage Mission in Kansas. From there they moved onward to Santa Fe NM in 1852; to Colorado in 1864; to Texas in 1879; to California in 1866; to China in 1923 and to South America in 1953. The Sisters of Loretto are still flourishing in Loretto KY where there are administrative headquarters and training centers; it also serves as an ecumenical retreat and a has a licensed nursing home facility. Although not set in Kentucky, many of you will remember a movie and I believe a special at one time about a Catholic order of nuns who experienced the "Miracululous Staircase" According to Dan Paulos, seven of the Sisters of Loretto left Kentucky in 1852 for New Mexico. It was an extremely difficult trip as they had to travel up the Mississippi River to Independence MO by boat. It was here that one Sister became ill and had to return to Loretto KY. The remaining six Sisters then completed their journey on horseback and in covered wagons. This would have been, of course, a very strenuous journey in the 1850's for six women. There were perils at almost every step, including an Indian attack in Kansas. Despite the fierceness of the attack, the Indians did no harm to the Sisters. Right after this attack, one of the Sisters died. (not named). She was buried in the Kansas plains in an unmarked grave to keep the Indians from coming back and finding her body. It took months for the journey to be completed and when arriving in Santa Fe they found a home among the Mexican and Indian population of this then small town. By 1853 they had opened their first academy for girls there. In 1873, the Archbishop of Santa Fe made a suggestion that a small replica of the "Sainte-Chapelle" in Paris be added. It took five years before the "Our Lady of Light" chapel was completed; and it was then the Sisters realized that something had been forgotten - an error in the designing of the chapel's choir loft. The ceiling of the chapel was 85 feet tall. Despite the beautiful statuary, stained glass windows and the altar (all shipped from Europe), the choir loft was left unattached. There was no staircase - the architect, P. Mouly, had failed to place a staircase - he had planned originally to connect the loft with the second story (the convent school) using an outdoor hallway. But this was never done. Mother Magdalene, the Superior, decided that a normal staircase would take up too much space in such a small chapel; they decided against a ladder as it would be impossible for the chanters to climb up a ladder! So they began praying and offering novenas to St. Joseph the carpenter. They needed a miracle. On the very last day of their novena, they heard an approaching clopping of hoof beats and a gray-haired man riding a donkey appeared. He needed work and when the Sisters explained their problem, he said he could build them a staircase. However, he would only do it if he was not paid for his work, and his name was never to be mentioned. On the last day of the novena, a gray-haired man on a donkey appeared at the convent with a chest full of tools. He asked to speak with the Mother Superior. He offered to build the sisters a staircase, but required one thing in return. The superior, who was properly introduced, was never to disclose the name of the craftsman. Mother Magdalene ordered her nuns not to speak with the gentleman, and, under no circumstances, was he to be bothered. The superior swore herself to secrecy, and even upon her deathbed, refused to divulge the man's identity. He had no fancy tools - a saw, T-square and a hammer. The work went quickly and it was finished. After telling the Mother Superior, the word went out, the Sisters gathered, and during the excitement, the man disappeared, never to be seen again. Word spread through the village that this mysterious carpenter might have been St. Joseph himself. He was a total mystery as no one had sold him wood, the wood was not native to the United States, and the staircase is one of the most unique in the world. Architects from all over the world have visited the chapel and none can identify the wood. The staircase is 22 feet high; has 33 steps forming two complete circular turns of 360 degrees each - and it has no center support. There were absolutely no nails used; it is held together with wooden pegs. Each piece of hardwood is spliced in seven places on the inside and nine on the outside with each piece forming a perfect curve. Those steps were used daily for over 85 years. People who have climbed the steps describe a feeling of vertical movement with each step taken as if it were a coiled spring. Our Kentucky roots have spread to the entire world. We have provided Presidents, governors and many statesmen, noted physicians, scientists and even the Sisters of Loretto - brave young nuns on a hazardous journey from the little town of Loretto Kentucky in the early 1800's; to the miraculous staircase in a chapel in Santa Fe, NM. (c) 31 March 2005, Sandra K. Gorin Colonel Sandi Gorin SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html Sandi's Puzzlers: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gensoup/gorin/puz.html Gorin Publishing: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/

TIP #533 - ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS A TOWN CALLED STITHTON I've never been there yet, I have no idea of the lives of the people who lived and worked there. The hopes, ambitions, the layout of the land - I will never know. According to Robert Rennick in Kentucky Place Names ( (c) 1984, University of Kentucky Press), the little town of Stithton was located in Hardin County KY. In the 19th century it was a trade center, named supposedly for either Thomas Stith, a local resident who had served in the Mexican War, or the family of Milton Stith who had settled there soon after his purchase of 1,000 acres in 1859. The post office there was established in 1859 and in 1874, the Illinois Central Railroad built a station there. A stagecoach stop was located in the area on the old Louisville and Nashville Turnpick. Stithton was located about 12 miles north-northwest of Eliabethtown. However, in 1918, everything changed. Camp Knox - later to be known as Fort Knox was established there and the government acquired the entire town site. Many of the residents of Stithton moved a little ways away only to be forced to move a second time when the military instillation was expanded in 1942. The Stithton name disappeared from the records when the post office was official changed to Camp Knox on May 15, 1925. Fort Knox has 109,000 acres and is garrison of the U S Army; now encompassing parts of Hardin, Meade and Bullitt Counties. It has another distinction; it is where the U S Bullion Depository is located. From the smaller Camp Knox it has grown to tremendous size; originally it was a field artillery training range for Camp Zachary Taylor in Louisville. The name Camp Knox came from the first U S Secretary of War, General Henry Knox, who also held the distinction of being the chief of artillery in the Revolutionary War. In 1940 it became the center for training officers and enlisted soldiers; it develops weapons and tactics and establishes doctrine. Camp Knox or Fort Knox was noted during the Civil War. Both Union and Confederate were in abundance nearby. In 1862, the 6th Michigan Infantry built fortifications on the top of Muldraugh Hill, a ride now in the military reservation. General John Hunt Morgan, in 1862, led the 2nd Kentucky Cavalry to a raid in the area and captured Union troops. By 1903, the War Department began considering this area as the location for a permanent military reservation when it established Camp Young as a maneuvers headquarters here. 30,000 artillery, cavalry and infantry troops moved there for large maneuvers over land that is now in Fort Knox. Congress, after World War I allocated $1.6 million dollars to purchase 40,000 acres - the year that Smithton disappeared from the map. A firing and training center was planned, barracks and facilities large enough to house six brigades of artillery; 60,000 personnel. Quartermaster W. H. Radcliffe led the construction. One little note is given in the Kentucky Encyclopedia: "One of the casualties of Camp Knox development as the small agricultural community of Stithton." After WW I, construction stopped and the grounds were not totally occupied. The Field Artillery Central Officers Training School was established there and a few troops coming back from France went her for demobilization. In 1921, artillery activities were transferred to Fort Sill in OK and the 5th Corps remained at Camp Knox. Thousands of troops arrived in the summer from the National Guard, Reserve Officers Training Corps and the Citizens Military Training Camps. In 1925, the Camp Knox National Forest was created and civilian personnel took over the camp. This was abandoned in 1928. Fort Eustis VA moved the Army's mechanized force there; and on January 1, 1932, Congress designated Camp Knox as a permanent garrison and the name was changed to Fort Knox. In 1933, the oldest mounted regiment in the U S Army, the 1st Cavalry Regiment moved to Fort Knox from Marfa, TX. In 1936 it was joined by the 13th Cavalry Regiment from Fort Riley, KS. The cavalry brigade had light tanks, combat cars, mototcycles and became known as the "fastest-moving, hardest-hitting outfit in the US Army" (Kentucky Encyclopedia, p. 346). Fort Knox soon developed many of the tactics used by the U S Armored Force in WW II. The 7th Cavalry Brigade (Mechanized) became the 1st Armored Division. The final victory of WW II saw great use of the 1st Armored. By 1940 there were 864 buildings at the Fort, but by 1943, there were 3,820. The Fort now encompasses 14 miles north to south, eighteen miles east to west; and the daily population is 35,000 to 40,000 including civilian personnel. For more information on Fort Knox, you may check: http://www.knox.army.mil/ http://fortknox.maineguide.com/history.html (c) Copyright 24 Mar 2005, Sandra K. Gorin, All Rights Reserved Colonel Sandi Gorin SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html Sandi's Puzzlers: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gensoup/gorin/puz.html Gorin Publishing: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/

I'm posting this one day early as I won't have computer access tomorrow. Sandi TIP #532 - CONCLUSION CONFEDERATE HOME AT PEWEE VALLEY RAGLAND, M. F. 11th KY Cav, Co A 2-25-1846 8-20-1910 RALLS, Richard French 9th KY Cav, Co F 1838-1914 RAYMOND, Thomas A. Clay's Batt, Co A 12-26-1825 11-29-1914 RAZOR, David 1st KY, Co C 6-16-1837 12-18-1911 REAMER, Alfred 15th KY Cav, Co B 1826-1909 RHODES, B. C. 6th KY Cav, Co A 1825-1908 RING, A. N. 1st TN Cav, Co D 1826-1907 RITCH, J. A. 7th Ga Inf, Co D 1841-1928 ROARK, J. B. 3rd KY Inf, Co D 1822-1904 ROBBE, Julius C. 5th KY Inf, Co D 1827-1906 ROBBINS, Lewis 10th KY Cav, Co A 1834-1913 ROBERTS, W. B. 9th TN Cav, Co A 1826-1907 RYAN, George W. 8th KY Cav, Co A 1837-1926 SALTER, Capt. Mike Forrest Reg, Co C 3-12-1836 1-14-1914 SAMPLE, J. B. Co B 6-1834 -1913 SANDERS, E. J. 4th KY Cav, Co C 1831-1910 SCHUKCK, Elias 4th KY Cav, Co K 1829-1910 SEBREE, T. J. 5th KY Cav, Co B 1835-1922 SETTLE, W. A. 6th KY Inf, Co E 1839-1910 SHACKLETT, J. D. 1st KY Cav, Co A 1822-1905 SHEARIN, L. M. 6th KY Cav, Co A 1843-1926 SHELTON, William T. 1st KY Cav, Co C 1834-1924 SHIMFESSEL, William 9th KY Cav, Co D 18-- 6-14-1921 SHORT, James 8th KY Inf 1840-1912 SHUMATE, S. F. 37th VA Inf 11-26-1832 2-11-1904 SIMPSON, William 1st KY Inf, Co A 1845-1928 SMITH, Elbert E. 51st Va Inf, Co H 1837-1910 SMITH, John Lynn 8th KY Cav, Co A 1837-1923 SMITH, Joe H. 2nd KY Cav, Co C 10-1842 9-20-1914 SMITH, Richard P. 4th KY Cav, Co C 1843-1910 SMITH, Walter R. KY Cav, Co C 1843-1918 SMITH, George W. 5th MO Inf, Co H 1844-1929 SMITH, Jos. W. 4th KY Cav, Co E 1845-1905 SNAPP, Peter 2nd KY Inf, Co E 1834-1905 SNIDER, John T. 1st KY Cav, Co D 1839-1907 SONS, George W. 2nd KY Mt Inf, Co E 11-16-1841 2-5-1918 SOUTHER, Jas. Y. 9th Mo Inf, Co C 8-20-1837 7-15-1912 SPENCER, Noah 63rd Va Reg, Co I 1840-1920 SPENCER, Stephenson, Lt. William A. 8th VA Hv Art, Bat A ------ ------ STEWARD, Z. M. P. 4th N.C. Reg 9-18-1832 9-30-1911 STRANGE, Ben 1st KY Cav, Co A 1837-1928 STRINGER, James L. 33rd TN Inf, Co A 1839-1910 SULLIVAN, J. M. 2nd KY Inf, Co D 1839-1931 SUTHERLAND, William 6th KY Cav ------ SYKES, J. T. 8th Texas Reg 11-30-1841 8-16-1906 TABOR, J. D. 25th TN, Co K 9-5-1834 11-6-1913 TANDY, G. L. 1st KY Cav, Co A 1839-1929 TAYLOR, William B. 1st KY Bn, Co C 1841-1920 TTHOMAS, Ben 2nd KY Cav 12-23-1825 5-9-1912 THOMAS, P. W. 10th KY Cav, Co G 6-10-1840 5-6-1916 THOMPSON, Robert L. 9th KY Cav 1846-1910 TODD, Jas. M. 2nd KY Mt Rifle 1844-1921 TRUNTY, George 9th KY Inf, Co B 6-30-1839 3-7-1909 TURPIN, R. M. 1st Ga Inf, Co D 1842-1930 VAN HOOK, J. C. 6th KY Cav, Co G 7-1831 4-14-1911 VASS, J. S. 18th Va Inf, Co A 1825-1917 VAUGHN, T. J. Va Reg, Co 51 6-26-1826 1-16-1903 VITTILOW, J. R. 1st KY Inf, Co G 3-1841 4-3-1913 WALLACE, C. A. Eufala Light Art 1-9-1833 4-2-1913 WARD, Lee C. 12th TN Cav, Co B 1847-1921 WATSON, J. W. 1st KY Cav, Co A 1844-1928 WATSON, William Fontaine 4th Ala Cav, Co F 1-15-1842 3-1-1921 WEBSTER, M. N. 5th KY Inf, Co C 1834-1927 WELLS, George W. 4th KY Cav, Co B 1835-1922 WELLS, George C. 2nd KY Inf, Co F 1835-1925 WESTON, E. T. 2nd KY Inf, Co A 1836-1916 WWHITE, Alexander N. 42nd Miss Inf, Co D ------ ------ WWHITE, A. J. 9th KY Inf, Co D 9-23-1837 1-23-1916 WHITTEMORE, J. M. 8th KY Inf, Co C 1846-1912 WILCOX, J. C. 2nd KY Cav, Co E 1837-1911 WILLEY, John B. 3rd KY Cav, Co E 1845-1926 WILLIAMS, J. W. 46th Va Inf, Co F 1833-1908 WILLIAMS, W. Polk 4th KY Cav, Co D 1849-1916 WOOD, George R. 1st KY Mt Rifle, Co A 10-15-1833 4-13-1907 WORSHAM, David 2nd KY Inf, Co B 1843-1919 YATES, Col. H. 6th Ark Inf, Co K 1842-1925 YORK, W. H. 5th KY Cav 1840-1929 YOUNG, John W. Slayback's Reg, Co I 1825-1921 YOUNG, j. B. 1st KY Bat Mt Rifle 1-17-1835 2-14-1904 No Identification No Markers - Possible graves: 16 Prop3wash@aol.com, one of our listers, provided some interesting information that I thought I would share with you by permission. She stated: My husband's great grandfather: BARKER, John W. 2nd KY Cav, 12-11-1841 11-13-1906 John W. rode with Morgan's Men and was captured with them at Buffington's Island. After a lot of searching for records, I found out about John's disposition through the Confederate Home records at the Archives in Frankfort. While John was not a resident at the home, he was in Room 49 in the Infirmary (at the Home) for almost 3 months before his death and burial in the cemetery. It's possible for a veteran to be at the Home but not shown on the resident listing. The Archives has an "Occupation and Use of Rooms" for patients on a monthly basis (at least through 1906) and a hospital register. Also, I saw some resident information in another register. For example, the George Barker listed, was a musician with the Mississippi regiment. George had friends or contacts in Louisville, and their addresses were recorded in the log... as well as personal info on a few other individuals. John's treatment for tuberculosis, consisted of: Cod Liver Oil every six hours and Whisky Toddies 3 times daily. (No wonder the vets didn't want to leave) (c) Copyright 16 Mar 2005, Sandra K. Gorin Colonel Sandi Gorin SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html Sandi's Puzzlers: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gensoup/gorin/puz.html Gorin Publishing: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/

TIP #531 - CONFEDERATE HOME AT PEWEE VALLEY PART 2 Continuation of the burials at the Confederate Home Cemetery showing name, unit, birth and death dates. JACKSON, B. F. 6th KY, Co D 1840-1910 JEFFREY, W. F. 3rd KY Cav, Co F 1840-1906 JESSEE, A. J. Buckner Guards 2-24-1830 09-15-1914 JOHNSON, Jas. 9th KY, Co H --------- 4-30-1908 JOHNSON, L. H. 5th KY, Co A 11-14-1840 1-5-1906 JOHNSON, A. B. 8th KY Cav, Co C 1845-1915 JOHNSON, D. F. 2nd KY Cav, Co A 1847-1932 JONES, David Cheneworth Cav, Co A 1842-1921 JONES, John P. 8th KY Cav, Co I 1841-1921 JONES, John T. 1st Bn Mt Rifle, Co C 1838-1922 JONES, Y. B. 38th VA Reg, Co H 2-15-1826 11-5-1908 JONES, Jos. C. 4th AL Inf, Co F 1842-1909 KANNADY, I. S. 3rd KY Mtd Inf, Co C 1842-1929 KARR, Jas. C. 32nd TN Inf, Co D 1843-1925 KEHRER, Jacob 8th KY Bat L, Co B 2-9-1828 11-30-1912 KENDALL, W. T. 5th KY Inf, Co A 1840-1919 KIRTLEY, A. J. 9th KY Inf, Co C 5-14-1836 9-7-1916 KLEINPETER, E. L. 4th La Inf, Co C 1842-1931 KNOX, Newton A. 4th KY Cav, Co B 7-6-1842 4-17-1913 LADD, T. J. 1st KY Cav, Co B 1833-1918 LAMDEN, Joseph 1828-1910 LANCASTER, Benjamin 1837-1921 LANE, W. H. 2nd Mo Cav, Co D 1841-1918 LAWLER, C. W. 4th KY Inf, Co E 1826-1909 LAWS, John Tom 2nd KY Inf, Co K 1835-1925 LAYMAN, J. A. 3rd MO Cav, Co A 7-15-1833 10-8-1907 LEE, Melvin 2nd KY Div, Co E 4-1841 3-5-1914 LEECH, J. W. 2nd KY Inf, Co A 1848-1919 LIGGETT, J. M. 2nd KY Inf, Co G 1839-1910 LITTLE, Matthews 9th KY, Co H 12-28-1832 1-8-1906 LLWELLYN, A. B. 13th KY Cav, Co B 1846-1905 LOGUE, J. L. 19th Va Cav, Co A 1832-1907 LONG, William A. 14th KY, Co A 2-9-1842 10-18-1907 LYON, James 4th KY Cav, Co C 12-3-1827 7-1908 MADDOX, Wilson 18-- 1907 MAHAN, William 6th KY Cav, Co A 7-12-1845 3-31-1913 MALONE, W. E. 8th KY, Co B 1-1846 11-2-1910 MANLEY, J. P. 2nd KY Bn, Co F 1845-1915 MARKWELL, Jesse R. 2nd Bn, Co C 1843-1919 McCORKLE, Robert G. 9th KY Inf, Co B 1842-1909 McCORMACK, Joe 1st MS Cav, Co A 1844-1912 McCOY, Taylor 4th KY, Co A 5-11-1834 4-3-1906 McCRACKEN, Cyrus 2nd KY Mt Rifle, Co D 1834-1922 McEVEIGH, Jas. 1st KY Cav, Co A 1839-1919 McHEEHEE, J. W. 7th TN, Co C 2-25-1824 8-18-1906 McMANNON, Patrick 1st KY Inf, Co A 1842-1927 MEADE, R. E. 9th KY Cav, Co G 10-19-1830 6-23-1903 METCALFE, J. W. 2nd KY Cav, Co H 1835-1927 MILES, W. H. 9th KY Cav, Co G 7-6-1838 10-27-1908 MILES, R. M. 1st Reg Inf, Co D 1848-1922 MILLER, George W. 4th KY Cav, Co A 5-9-1824 6-19-1908 MILLER, John P. 1st KY Cav, Co E 1-9-1832 9-3-1913 MILLER, William A. 3rd KY Inf, Co H 1841-1919 MITCHELL, Daniel 11th KY Cav, Co E 1817-1905 MITCHELL, M. R. 4th KY Cav, Co E 1843-1918 MITCHELL, T. H. 32nd NC Inf, Co G 1843-1926 MOCAHEE, J. H. 1840-1910 MONROE, C. C. 3rd Ark Cav, Co F 1-31-1836 2-8-1906 MONTAGUE, Lewis 8th KY Cav, Co B 1-29-1845 3-13-1913 MOOKLAR, William B. 2nd KY Inf, Co H 1839-1922 MOORE, William S. 8th KY Inf, Co K 1838-1912 MORRIS, Charles K. 12th KY Cav, Co I -------- ------ MUNDAY, Isaac 19th VA Inf, Co E 12-14-1833 3-28-1912 NANCE, Thorpe H. 2nd VA Cav, Co F 1831-1920 NELSON, J. W. 4th KY Inf, Co F 2-6-1831 5-22-1907 NICHOLS, S. R. B. 12-17-1842 7-28-1903 NICHOLS, Shadrick 4th KY Inf, Co K 1840-1920 NUCKOLS, Abner T. 45th VA Inf, Co A 18-- 1923 O'BANNON, W. G. 18-- 1924 O'BRIEN, Ed 14th TN Inf, Co A 1841-1922 OFFUTT, Ben C. 18th TN Inf, Co K 1837-1915 O'NEAL, J. W. 4th KY Cav, Co F 1843-1912 PARIS, William ------- ------ PARKER, Charles E. 9th KY Cav, Co A 1836-1917 PARKER, Robert D. 12th KY Cav, Co I ------- ------ PARKS, David 2nd KY Inf, Co F 1814-1907 PARROTT, Lebanos 5th Ark Inf, Co D 1837-1924 PARSONS, Willis 5th KY Inf, Co C 2-24-1820 2-11-1906 PATTERSON, D. M. Gen. Price's Div, Co C 1827-1907 PEARCE, Henry A. 5th KY, Co F 1838-1909 PEEK, R. F. 18-- 1912 PERKINS, C. W. 3rd KY Inf, Co I 1845-1908 PEYTON, S. O. 9th KY Inf, Co C 1830-1908 PHILLIPS, W. H. 1st KY Cav, Co B 1838-1915 PIKE, J. B. 1st TN Inf, Co E 1840-1912 PREWITT, L. L. 5th KY Cav, Co B 1842-1920 PRICE, John L. 5th KY Cav, Co E 1834-1911 To be concluded next week. (c) Copyright 10 March 2005, Sandra K. Gorin Colonel Sandi Gorin SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html Sandi's Puzzlers: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gensoup/gorin/puz.html Gorin Publishing: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/

TIP #530 THE CONFEDERATE HOME AT PEWEE VALLEY - PART 1 Many years after the close of the Civil War, individual states began the operation of Confederate Homes; a retirement facility for the veterans of the war. Kentucky established their Confederate Home for the inform on 17 March 1902. The Daughters of the Confederacy and Confederate veterans bought a home called Villa Ridge which had been a Victorian summer resort in Pewee Valley, Oldham County. The then governor, J. C. W. Beckham was the host at it's opening 23 October that same year. Barely two years later, the Confederate Home had approximately 300 old veterans in residence. It is noted that the most famous gathering was that of 25 of General John Hunt Morgan's Raiders who lived there. The building burned on 25 March 1920 leaving only one wing that was large enough to house a few of the veterans. More than 700 soldiers resided at the Confederate Home during its operation but when it closed totally in 1934, there were only five soldiers left there. Several times during its existence a proposed sale was made as it was extremely costly to operate the home; the Daughters of the Confederacy were successful in stopping all but the last sale. The State Legislature approved the property sale on 17 March 1934 and voted to pay the remaining veterans of the Confederacy $800 a month. Those still residing there were transferred to the Pewee Valley Sanitarium, and in June of the same years, the doors closed on this period of history. I have been unable to obtain a list of all those veterans who resided there, however, the manuscripts, records and listings are held by the Kentucky Historical Society and the Boone National Guard Research Library in Frankfort, one of which has the originals, one on microfilm. Pictures of the Confederate Home can be found at: http://www.littlecolonel.com/ConfederateHome.htm There is a cemetery where many of the old veterans are buried; records indicated there are 313 burials. In 1952, the state restored the cemetery which had become overgrown and in great disrepair and it was re-dedicated in 1957 by Gov. A. B. Chandler. It is now under the operation of the Kentucky State Parks Department. Listed below are the burials that I could find that have been recorded there; I have no further information on any of the names. My thanks to those who have transcribed the cemetery. It might be possible to reconstruct some of the soldiers who resided at the Confederate Home by going through the Oldham County census records for 1910 through it its closing. Shown is the soldier's name, Unit, Birth Date, Death Date ADAMS, John J. 2nd KY Cav, Co A 1839-1920 ADAMS, Peter B. Morgan's Comm, Co A 1831-1909 ANDERSON, H. B. 1st KY Mtd Rifles 1834-1913 ANDREWS, J. W. 2nd KY Cav, Co M 1831-1911 ASHBY, Z. K. 4th KY Cav, Co E 2-15-1830 4-16-1916 ASHFORD, Sandford P. 2nd ARK, Co F 1833-1913 AUBREY, John P. 2nd KY Inf, Co I 1830-1908 BAIN, L. C. 6th KY Inf, Co C 1842-1919 BAIN, W. A. 4th KY Cav, Co E 9-14-1844 2-1918 BAKER, E. F. 8th KY Cav, Co G 1842-1905 BARKER, John W. 2nd KY Cav, 12-11-1841 11-13-1906 BARKER, George 20th MS Inf, Co A 5-28-1832 2-21-1915 BARTON, James MO Cav, Co A 1-1-1834 4-28-1907 BATES, John W. 4th KY Cav, Co H 1842-1907 BENSON, J. E. 1st KY Cav, Co H 1841-1905 BERRYMAN, J. A. 12th KY Cav, Co C 1-2-1836 10-17-1917 BLAIR, John C. 8th KY Cav, Co C 1828-1912 BLAZER, John 9th KY Inf, Co C 1827-1905 BOAZ, R. D. 4-1847 12-2-1912 BONE, W. C. Cobb's Legion, Co C 1842-1915 BOWMAN, John W. 1st Bn Inf, Co B 1840-1919 BRABSON, Enoch 1st KY Inf, Co A 1837-1911 BRENT, J. M. 27th VA Reg, Co B 1827-1904 BREWER, James 6th KY, Co H 1838-1918 BRISCOE, John F. 3rd MO Cav, Co K 1-16-1830 9-1-1913 BROMLEY, Abner Bullitts Batt, Co A 1824-1905 BRONSON, Marion 18-- 1923 BROWN, Ed C. 2nd KY Cav, Co E 4-2-1842 9-22-1913 BROWNING, Henry 2nd KY Reg, Co D 1832-1904 BUCKMAN, John 1st KY Cav, Co F 1836-1906 BURBIGE, J. W. 2nd Batt Cav, Co F 1831-1911 BURCH, T. H. 1st KY Inf, Co A 1838-1919 BURDETTE, J. A. 36th Va Inf, Co A 1833-1906 BURGESS, George L. 1st KY Inf, Co D 1838-1907 BURNES, Timothy 10th TN Inf, Co G 7-1835 6-8-1903 BURNETT, J. W. 9th KY Inf, Co G 1839-1908 BURNS, J. Pollard 4th KY Cav, Co A 1842-1922 BUTTERWORTH, W. L. 6th Mo, Co G 4-17-1844 6-9-1812 CALMES, W. T. 8th KY Cav, Co A 12-26-1841 1-27-1908 CAMPBELL, E. C. 2nd KY Inf, Co E 1822-1906 CANNOY, J. C. 37th VA Cav, Co I 1845-1929 CARR, C. W. F. 12th GA Bn, Co F 1848-1922 CENTER, William H. 8th KY Cav, Co K 9-25-1844 6-12-1917 CASSITY, Willis 5th KY, Co E 12-23-1838 2-12-1908 CASTLEBERRY, James 1st KY Cav, Co K 1824 1915 CHESTER, W. F. 6th NC Inf, Co D 1842-1925 CLARK, Zack 4th KY Cav, Co G 1827-1905 CLARKSON, G. N. 1st KY Cav, Co F 1841-1920 CLORE, T. B. 10th KY Cav, Co C 1845-1930 COLLINS, W. L. 1st KY Inf, Co G 1842-1920 COMBS, Walker C. 4th KY Cav, Co G 1832-1906 CONNOR, John 1st KY Inf, Co G 1838-1915 CONOVER, John J. Buckner's Body Guard 1834-1907 COOK, J. W. 8th KY Cav, Co B 1843-1905 COPAL, Abraham Scott's Reg VA, Co I 2-1821 4-9-1914 COTTRELL, George C. 24th VA Reg, Co A 1845-1910 CRABTREE, H. R. 1st KY Cav, Co A 1831-1927 CRAFTON, A. J. 4th KY Cav, Co A 1827-1908 CRAIN, J. P. 40th TN Reg 3-15-1842 8-28-1917 CRAYCROFT, W. E. 2nd KY Inf, Co C 1842-1920 CROCKETT, John W. 4th KY Inf, Co B 1842-1920 CROWE, G. P. 9th KY Cav, Co C 1841-1930 CROZIER, James M. 6th KY Cav, Co A 1833-1907 CRYSTAL, George W. 8th KY Cav, Co A ------ ------ CUMMINGS, Jos. 5th KY Inf, Co C 1839-1915 CUNDIFF, W. H. 13th KY Cav, Co A 1843-1929 DAUGHERTY, M. N. Wilfrey's 5th Inf 1831-1918 DAVIES, W. B. 6th KY Inf, Co B 1834-1906 DAVIS, M. A. 7th NC Inf, Co K 12-14-1840 3-30-1908 DELANEY, C. W. 10th KY Cav, Co F 1843-1924 DICKINSON, Ben 10th KY Cav, Co C 10-5-1827 3-1-1915 DICKINSON, W. P. 1st KY Cav, Co G 7-29-1838 9-25-1904 DILBECK, W. M. 10th KY Cav, Co C 4-5-1932 2-28-1914 DOTSON, Greenberry 9th KY Cav, Co H 1839-1921 DOWNS, Benjamin C. 8th KY Cav, Co G 1841-1926 DULANEY, Leroy 7th KY Inf, Co K 1820-1907 DUNCAN, M. 1st KY Bat Mtn Rifle 6-10-1836 11-28-1914 DYKE, E. J. 64th NC Cav, Co H 1835-1930 EDEN, Paul 3rd KY Inf, Co D 1840-1910 ERSKINE, Jas. R. 1st KY Cav, Co G 1840-1911 ESKEW, A. F. 33rd VA Inf, Co C 1823-1904 EVANS, Garrett 1st KY Inf, Co C 5-13-1838 7-21-1914 EWING, George B. 11th MS 1-12-1833 7-14-1912 FANT, W. J. 11th MS Inf, Co F 1836-1920 FARMER, B. C. 1st KY, Co C 7-28-1841 4-1-1913 FARRIS, R. C. 3rd KY, Co E 10-9-1838 4-13-1910 FAULKNER, J. D. 1st KY Cav, Co A 2-12-1834 11-22-1910 FEAMSTER, John A. 14th VA Cav, Co E 18-- 1923 FISHER, G. H. 24th TX Cav, Co A 1833-1928 FOSTER, S. O. 3rd KY Cav, Co B 1838-1910 FOUSCHEE, William Forrest Cav 4-25-1833 1-12-1912 FRANKLIN, Henry 37th VA Inf, Co B 1840-1924 FURNISH, John T. 4th KY Inf, Co D 1843-1923 GARR, J. Polk 1st KY Inf, Co E 1844-1927 GASNEY, J. W. 36th GA Reg 7-19-1823 7-8-1909 GIBSON, Allen 10th KY Cav, Co C 7-10-1822 5-19-1911 GILBERT, James B. 3rd KY Inf, Co G 1837-1925 GILLASPIE, William 9th KY Cav, Co D 10-20-1835 6-23-1917 GIVENS, W. A. 10th MO Cav, Co A 1835-1907 GLASSCOCK, Isaac 9th KY Cav, Co B 1841-1923 GOBIN, J. D. 10th KY Cav, Co F 1845-1928 GOUGH, W. H. 4th KY Inf, Co C 1836-1912 GRAY, W. S. 2nd KY Inf, Co H 1844-1919 GREEN, John Henry 4th KY, Co C 1825-1909 GRIFFITH, William 6th KY Inf, Co B 1837-1922 GRIMES, R. W. 2nd KY Cav, Co B 1843-1919 GRUBBS, John W. 2nd KY Cav, Co I 11-22-1844 11-23-1912 GUNSALA, John 7th KY Cav, Co C 1844-1924 HAGERMAN, S. Gilbert 2nd KY Inf, Co C 1840-1921 HALEY, Edward F. 2nd KY Cav, Co A 1844-1925 HALL, Alfred S. 8th KY, Co G 4-20-1838 6-7-1907 HAMILTON, J. H. 7th KY Inf, Co K 1843-1909 HAMMON, G. W. 4th KY Mt Inf 11-9-1830 5-3-1912 HANCOCK, Thomas J. A Faithful Nurse ------ 9-3-1910 HANCOCK, B. F. 4th KY Inf, Co B 1844-1912 HANCOCK, Harry 4th KY Inf, Co E 1844-1921 HARDIN, W. H. 6th KY Inf, Co A 1831-1911 HARRIS, W. H. 3rd KY Cav, Co B 1845-1929 HATCHET, Edwin H. 2nd ARK Cav, Co D 1838-1919 HAUSER, William 4th KY Cav, Co F 1835-1913 HAYNES, F. M. 6th KY Inf, Co F --------- 1904 HEAD, R. F. 1st TN Cav, Co D 2-10-1843 11-1-1914 HEADY, Mike 8th KY Cav, Co C 1836 - HENDERSON, Peter 30th Bn Inf, Co F 1837-1912 HENDREN, J. C. 5th KY Cav, Co A 1840-1928 HENRY, W. F. 9th KY Inf, Co A 8-22-1824 4-24-1906 HENRY, Patrick 5th KY, Co A 11-13-1838 1-12-1906 HERRELL, G. A. Woodard's Reg, Co D 1841-1919 HERNDON, E. L. 4th TN Cav, Co I 1843-1928 HERRING, Jas. A. 4th TN Inf, Co E 1840-1930 HIGHTOWER, John A. Parker's VA Batt 1844-1913 HILL, Sam H. 32nd TN Inf, Co B 1847-1929 HINES, James F. 9th KY Cav, Co D 1841-1916 HODGES, Daniel 3rd KY Cav, Co C 1832-1908 HOGGINS, Jas. H. 5th KY Cav, Co D 1833-1909 HOLLAND, Joe 2nd KY Bn, Co E 11-25-1946 12-25-1914 HOLLOWAY, R. G. 4th TX Inf, Co I 1839-1928 HOPPER, T. J. 8th KY Col, Co A 2-22-1832 11-14-1910 HOPPER, Frank M. 4th KY Inf, Co D 1845-1918 HOURIGAN, John C. 8th KY Cav, Co I 1831-1904 HOWELL, Thomas 8th KY Cav, Co A 4-10-1833 5-18-1908 HUDSON, D. C. 6th KY Cav 1833-1910 HUFF, William 13th KY Cav, Co A --------- 1908 HUNTER, John 7th GA, Co H 1839-1919 To be continued. (c) Copyright 3 Mar 2005, Sandra K. Gorin Colonel Sandi Gorin SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html Sandi's Puzzlers: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gensoup/gorin/puz.html Gorin Publishing: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/

TIP #529 - WILL YOU GO TO THE STORE FOR ME HONEY? Now: "Honey, we're out of VCR tapes, will you run down to the mall for me?" "Oh dear, it's raining and the video store is a mile away; the traffic will be heavy." "But dear, they have a big sale going on and I don't want to miss out on it." "OK, but I don't have any cash on me." "Put it on the credit card." Hubby departs the house, gets into his air conditioned car and makes the mile drive to the mall. There he is greeted with dozens of mega-marts with selections ranging from clothing, sporting goods, fast food shops, hardware stores, entertainment centers, barbers and beauty shops, groceries of all types from all over the world. He makes his way to the video shops, grabs a few tapes, tosses out his credit card, grabs his purchase and tries to find where he left his car in the huge parking lots. Barely a half an hour passes before the husband enters the front door of the modern home and plops down in front of the plasma television, sighing, about the trip really taking it out of him. Then: "Honey, we need some more sugar, will you ride down to the mercantile for me?" "Oh dear, it's raining and I have to get Mollie out of the barn, get the wagon out, hitch her up and go twenty miles along those rutted paths; no one should be out on a day like this." "But dear, Arnold just got a new shipment in today from Louisville and I don't want all the sugar to be gone before you get there. He won't get any more until next month. "Ok, but I don't have any cash on me.". "Put it on credit dear, Arnold knows we're good for it when the crops come in." The MERCANTILE. Does that stir up something in us today? We've never been there, but our mind can create the sights and sounds of the old-time mercantile based primarily on the old western movies or television shows, or from tourist stops replicating the old-time stores. . It can be so real to us that we can almost smell the aromas, a blend of spices, foodstuffs, oil, kerosene, pickle barrels and mentally wend our way through the store. The mercantile came in all sizes and shapes but were normally a wooden building - small or large - with wooden floors, makeshift wooden counters on which an old ledger book lay open. The owner barely eked out a living as so many of his customers could not pay cash. They ran accounts with him, paying sometimes pennies on their bills; and he went many times without customers at all. His supplies had to be brought in by wagon from the "big towns" - likely Louisville or Nashville. The towns in Kentucky that were along a major waterway didn't have the difficulties of the smaller towns who had to send wagons once a month or so over poorly maintained roads, the list of products they needed tucked away in their wallets. If the owner could not go, he would have to pay drivers to make the long trip of many miles in weather of all kinds. He wanted to be sure to get the right things or they would sit on his shelf unsold. When the goods arrived back at the mercantile, unloading and putting out neatly on the shelves and counters he had painstakingly built. A fireplace was usually at one end of the store and likely the town gentlemen found this their favorite meeting place; there they could sit in bad weather, swapping tales of battles in which they had fought, how the crops were doing, who had eloped with who; talking the day away as the customers wended their way past them to see what Arnold had brought back that day. The supplies were limited by the size of the building and the financial means of the owner. Many customers raised their own vegetables, crops and livestock; but some of the "city folk" needed foodstuffs. I have been transcribing an old mercantile account book from the 1840's and have found it to be extremely interesting, both in goods sold and prices charged, plus who did the shopping. I'm sorry ladies, but it was normally the men-folk who did the shopping; guess it was considered a "man thing". Women did come in, but they weren't the shoppers in the family. I think the following will give you a little idea of some of the goods that one mercantile owner in south central Kentucky stocked and what some of them were - terms change and a lot of the below will be alien to our vocabulary. Almanacs, alum, apron checks (material used on the back of quilts and other goods, a heavier cloth), awl blades, bakers (portable oven), Bead cords, bed castors, bed chords (the ropes used as the foundation - the original bed springs), bed ticking (used to make mattress covers), bees wax (for candles and polishes), blacking (stove or shoe polish to impart a black color), bobinett (cotton netting), bolts of cloth, brimsone (sulfur), Buckram, Cambric (cotton fabric), canvas, capiras, casinette (cloth of fine wool or wool and silk), castor oil, chamber pots (what a delight to see a husband buying chamber pots - those little pots that were slid under the bed for the relief of those who had to use the bathroom), copperas (used as a die and in the tanning process), coat binding, curry combs, darning needles, drab fringe, drawing knives, drilling (fabric, used to pack drill bits when drilling for water or oil), edging, gimblets, gimpe (thread used in making lace), grammar books, spelling books, New Testaments, shoes of several varieties, indigo (used as ink or in dying clothes), Irish linen, janes (jeans material), lincy (linen and wool), logwood (used for dying), madder (same), saws of every variety, osnaburg (rough cloth), padding, a paper of needles, paste boards, plates, writing paper, files of every variety, razor strops, buttons, laths for building, saddle tacks, sail cloth, salaratus (baking soda), satin, shirting, knives, rasps, silica, whiting, spriggs (rails), stirrup and horse supplies, stockings, muslin, tow linen, threads, whetstones. Other goods that could be carried would include: lead and steel, blankets, boots, buckets, candle wicks, caps, gloves, handkerchiefs, dishes, pots and pans, silverware, screws, hammers, razors, tar, hose, suspenders, flax seeds, feathers (many orders for these), thimbles, yarn, wagon boxes, roses, shovels, bacon, coffee, salt, pepper, sugar, tea, butcher knives, spoons, wallpaper, chickens, eggs, cows, chalk, chisels, window glass, knobs, door locks, nails, blasting powder, powder kegs, sandpaper, shears and slate and many more. Prices in the mid 1840's would be those we would love today if we didn't take into account the limited amount of money they had and inflation over the years. Below are just a few samples: Apples per lb. .02 Bar iron per lb. .05 Butcher knife .15 Chamber pot .50 Coffee per lb. .12 ½ cents Eggs per dozen .05 Flannel per yd. .31 Hat, wool 1.00 Knives & forks 1.50 Looking glass 1.50 Package of needles .12 ½ cents Peaches per lb. 1.00 Pocket knife .25 Pork .02 ½ cents a pound Razor 1.00 Ribbon per yard .05 Shoes, leather 1.00 Sugar per lb .08 Tea per lb 1.00 I just had a thought! Are you busy this afternoon? Why not join me at the mercantile? You can come casual, in your work clothes. Don't be in a hurry to leave. There's an old rocking chair in the back just for you and the fire is roaring. A couple of your neighbors are already there; they're having a lively discussion on the politics of the day and the drought that's causing a lot of farmers to lose all their crops. Miss Jones is coming in to buy some material for her new dress; you know there's a big dancing party coming up at the Smith's and she needs something really gorgeous. Arnold brought some fancy pickles back to see if his customers would like them; has them in a big barrel off to the left. Bill, the miller is on his way in to get some milling saws and Robert is trying to work out a barn raising party for his new tobacco barn. I know it's raining outside, but it's sure toasty by the fire; come on in and sit a spell! (c) Copyright 24 Feb 2005, Sandra K. Gorin, All Rights Reserved. Colonel Sandi Gorin SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html Sandi's Puzzlers: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gensoup/gorin/puz.html Gorin Publishing: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/

TIP #528 - WHY ARE THE LEAVES TURNED INSIDE OUT? When I lived in Illinois, the expression was often heard, "if you don't like the weather in Illinois, wait ten minutes and it'll change." When I lived in Missouri, when I lived in Texas, and now in Kentucky ... same expression with little variation. Well, how was the weather in Kentucky for the new settlers and what are some of the things they checked to have an "up-to-date" weather report without the Weather Channel? For the pioneers coming from Virginia or nearby states, there wasn't much of a change. But everyone, since early settlement seem to have stated "we don't get the snows like we used to when I was a child." They're still being repeated today. Kentucky's climate is based a lot on its location - an interior location. They had (as we do today) hot and cold weather, but it is usually of short duration; snow remaining more than a few days is rather uncommon. So, what did the early settlers experience as they were building their new homes in Kentucky? The average temperature is 58 degrees in the Jackson Purchase area, and 52 degrees in the northern counties. January in Kentucky ranges from 36 to 29 degrees going south to north. July, the hottest month, has a variation of 78 in the south to 75 in the north. It is often seldom that the temperatures soar above 100 or dip below zero. Settlers were pleased with the length of the planting season as they cleared their lands and planted their first crops; Kentucky has an average of 210 days in the southwest to 170 in the eastern highlands of Kentucky. This normally allowed for bountiful crops for their families, livestock and to be taken to market and sold. What about that rain? Having gone through a week when I would have thrown a party to see sunshine, sometimes I doubt the statistics, but Kentucky has an average of 52 inches of rain in the southern part of the state to 41 inches in the north near the Ohio River. This also allows for good crop growth, another blessing of the early settlers down to today. My first impression of Kentucky was the beautiful shades of green from trees and grass; spring time is a marvel when the trees begin to leaf again. No wonder the early settlers so desired to move to the wilderness of Kaintuck based on the tales told by those who had visited or hunted here. When the weather turns cold, March is the month with the greatest chance for snow; the rains are heaviest in July with fall being the "dry season". October ranks highest with the least rainfall or snow; and Kentucky has suffered through many droughts. According to old records, the worst of the droughts occurred in 1854, 1881, 1894, 1901, 1904, 1930, 1931, 1936, 1954, 1986 and 1988. Thus, if you find your great-great-great grandfather listed as a farmer on the census records near the earlier dates, you can imagine how hard it was as he tried to save his crops. Mayfield KY endured a heat wave in 1930 when the temperatures reached the hundred mark and passed it; Greensburg in Green Co saw temperatures of 114 degrees the same month. Flooding does occur, normally happening in late winter or springtime due to the remains of hurricanes moving inland from Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. Flash floods often occur in the mountainous areas of eastern Kentucky. The winds are normally mild year around, averaging 10 mph. But how did the early settlers determine what the weather was going to be? Many of these expressions below occur in other states as well, they are not unique to Kentucky. What has this to do with genealogy? Well, it tells us how they tried to predict the weather to the best of their ability. Many of the sayings below (and there are likely a lot more), were actually based on scientific principles; many were iffy as to their accuracy. But can you picture your ancestor out in the field noting various objects as he walked behind the oxen; or the mother looking through the cabin door and warning the children to come in immediately? What fears they must have experienced in tornadoes, floods and heavy snows with no local forecaster to tell them what to expect. Children down to this time are aware of some of these expressions; we learned them from our parents who learned from their parents .... Enjoy. A coming storm your shooting corns presage, And aches will throb, your hollow tooth will rage. If your corns all ache and itch, the weather fair will make a switch A cow with its tail to the West makes the weather best, A cow with its tail to the East makes the weather least. A rain storm is coming if dandelions close their blooms tightly, morning glories tuck in their blooms as if ready for a long nap, clover folds up its leaves, leaves on many trees rollup or show their underside, cats will clean themselves more and meow more, cow and sheep will huddle together seeking comfort, horses "switch and twitch" and sometimes bolt, insects fly lower and bite more, and birds chirp louder. A round topped cloud, with flattened base, carries rainfall in its face. A ring around the sun or moon means a storm is coming. Count the stars within the ring and rain will come in that many days. Ash Wednesday wind continues in Lent. Cats and dogs eat grass before a rain Cold is the night, when stars shine bright. Count the cricket chirps to tell the temperature Count the seconds between lightning flashes and thunder booms to tell how far away the storm is. Crickets chirp faster as the temperature rises. Evening red and morning gray, send a traveler on his way. Evening gray and morning red, brings the rain upon his head. Expect the weather to be fair When crows fly is pairs Flies will swarm before a storm. Fog goes a hoppin', rain comes a droppin'; Fog in January makes a wet Spring; Feb fog means a frost in May Ice in November to bury a duck, the rest of the winter is slush and muck. If ants move their eggs and climb, rain is coming anytime. If bees stay at home, rain will soon come. If they fly away, fine will be the day. If Candlemas Day be fair and bright. Winter will have another flight. But if it be dark with clouds and rain. Winter is gone and will not come again. (Groundhog's Day) If February brings drifts of snow There will be good summer crops to hoe If the cat eats hay, then wait because on the next day, it will rain like a dog's day! If the clouds be bright, t'will clear tonight. If the clouds be dark, t'will rain, will you hark? If Ducks or Drakes their Wings do flutter high, or tender Colts upon their Backs do lie, if Sheep do bleat, or play, or skip about, or Swine hide Straw by bearing on their Snout, if Oxen lick themselves against the Hair, Or grazing Kine to feed apace appear, If Cattle bellow, grazing from below, Or if Dogs Entrails rumble to and fro, If Doves or Pigeons in the Evening come later than usual to their Dove-House Home, If Crows and Daws do oft themselves be-wet, Or Ants and Pismires Home a-pace do get, If in the dust Hens do their Pinions shake, Or by their flocking a great Number make, If Swallows fly upon the Water low, Or Wood-Lice seem in Armies for to go, If Flies or Gnats, or Fleas infest and bite, Or sting more than they're wont by Day or Night, If Toads hie Home, or Frogs do croak amain, Or Peacocks cry ... Soon after look for Rain! If it rains on Easter Sunday, it will rain every Sunday for 7 weeks If January has never a drop, the barn will need an open prop. If in February there be no rain, it is neither good for hay nor grain. March damp and warm, will do the farmer much harm. April cold and wet, fills the barns best yet. Cold May and windy, barn filleth up finely. If the moon shows a silver shield, Be not afraid to reap the field, But if she rises haloed round, Soon well tread on deluged ground. If the rooster crows on going to bed, You may rise with a watery head If woolly worms are dark, the coming winter wilt be severe It will rain the same time the next day if the sun shines while it rains. March comes in like a lamb and goes out like a lion. Moss dry, sunny sky, moss wet, rain you'll get. No dew at night, rain by morning. No dew at morning, rain by next day. Onion skins very thin Mild winter coming in; Onion skins thick and tough Coming winter cold and rough Pale moon rains; Red moon blows. White moon neither rains or snows Plant your beans when the moon is light, You will find that this is right; Plant potatoes when the moon is dark, And to this line you'll always hark; But if you vary from this rule, You will find you are a fool; Follow this rule to the end. And you'll have lots of dough to spend Rain before seven quits before eleven. Rain in three days when the horns of the moon point down. Red skies at night, sailors delight. Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning. Ring around the sun, time for fun. Ring around the moon, storm coming soon. Snow like cotton, soon forgotten. Snow like meal, will give a great deal. Some people sliced an onion into 12 pieces and sprinkled salt on them. They were put away and then examined several days later. Wet-looking slices indicated wet months. The louder the frog, the more the rain. The sky is red, the devil is dead, it's going to be good tomorrow. Three days of heavy morning fog, watch for bad weather in 90 days. The first snow comes six weeks after the last thunderstorm in September When oak is out before the ash, 'Twill be a summer of wet and splash. But if the ash before the oak, 'Twill be a summer of fire and smoke When bees stay close to the hive, rain is close by. When chairs squeak it's about rain they speak When clouds appear like rocks and towers, The earth will be washed by frequent showers. When clouds look like black smoke, A wise man will put on his cloak. When eager bites the thirsty flea, clouds and rain you sure shall see. When ladybugs swarm, Expect a day that's warm When leaves show their underside, be sure that rain betide. (I learned it was maple tree leaves). When pigs carry sticks, The clouds will play tricks; When they lie in the mud, No fears of a flood When sheep gather in a huddle, tomorrow we will have a puddle When smoke descends, good weather ends. When spiders' webs in air do fly, the spell will soon be very dry. When squirrels lay in a big store of nuts, look for a hard winter. When the ditch and pond affect the nose, Look out for rain and stormy blows When the forest murmurs and the mountains roar, close your windows and shut the doors. When the frog croaks in the meadow, there will be rain in three hours time. When the wind is blowing in the North, No fisherman should set forth, When the wind is blowing in the East, 'Tis not fit for man nor beast. When the wind is blowing in the South it brings the food over the fish's mouth. When the wind is blowing in the West, That is when the fishing's best! When Windows won't open, And the salt clogs the shaker, The weather will favour The umbrella maker! When you see 'sun dogs' (a bright spot on either side of the sun) look for rain When the clouds look like horsetails, rain or snow will come in 3 days. When the wind howls around corners and cracks, and down chimneys rain is coming. When your bone joints hurt a storm is coming (the older I get, the more I believe this one!) (c) Copyright 17 Feb 2005, Sandra K. Gorin Colonel Sandi Gorin SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html Sandi's Puzzlers: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gensoup/gorin/puz.html Gorin Publishing: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/