Dennis Partridge

Social Development of Todd County, Kentucky

The early settlers of Todd County came primarily from Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, with a democratic social structure that resisted aristocratic pretenses. Limited education and a caste system were prevalent due to the influence of slavery. Slave ownership indicated wealth, fostering a pseudo-aristocracy and a divide between slaveholders and non-slaveholders, with large landowners living a life of ease while dominating local politics and social structures. Slavery also led to a violent society, exacerbated by alcohol consumption. Post-emancipation, society struggled to adapt, but gradual improvements in farm labor and enterprise unfolded. Emancipation exposed challenges in integrating freed slaves into society and underscored the need for equal legal responsibility and integrity in rebuilding.

Pioneer Settlements of Kirkmansville, Kentucky

This article narrates the pioneering spirit and early settlements of Kirkmansville, Kentucky, starting with hunters and evolving to settlers like William Redden in 1794. It highlights key contributions to the community’s development, including the establishment of a post office by William Kirkman and infrastructural advancements like roads and bridges. The narrative also acknowledges the challenges of frontier life, marked by figures such as the Harpe brothers, showcasing the transformation from wilderness to a structured community. Through these developments, the settlers’ legacy in shaping the district and contributing to Kentucky’s growth is celebrated.

Pioneer Settlers of Allensville

This article chronicles the pioneering settlers of Allensville, within Todd County, Kentucky, focusing on their early 19th-century arrivals and contributions. Though the exact identity of the first settler remains unknown, by 1808, figures like Bernard Edwards encountered established settlers such as George and Thomas Cross, John Hill, James Lowry, and Isaiah Boone—a nephew of Daniel Boone. Notable arrivals through the following years include Bernard Edwards in 1808, the Muir brothers in 1809, and John Small in 1810, among others, each bringing their own contributions to the burgeoning community. The narrative emphasizes the settlers’ agricultural focus, devoid of the typical frontier conflicts with wildlife and indigenous peoples, highlighting their successful transformation of the wilderness into productive farmland. The article also honors the legacies of these early settlers, acknowledging their hard work and the prosperity it brought to the region, despite the absence of their dramatic tales in the local historical record.

Pioneer Settlers of Hadensville Precinct

This article delves into the early settlements and pioneering families of what is now Hadensville, Kentucky, tracing their roots back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It begins with the earliest documented settlement near Elk Fork, Logan County, around 1785, identified through remnants of a fort near Guthrie. Significant early settlers and developments include the discovery of a bronze medal from 1757, suggesting the presence of a Prussian immigrant among the pioneers. The narrative progresses to cover various settlers and their contributions to the region’s development, such as Maj. John Gray’s land grants and the establishment of mills and agricultural practices. Highlighted families and individuals include the Kendal, Gorin, Roach, Vauter, Allen, Moore, and Taliaferro families, among others, illustrating a diverse and robust community foundation. This historical account emphasizes the agricultural focus of the pioneers, contrasting their experience with the lack of wild animals and absence of traditional pioneer stories involving hunts and battles, showcasing a unique aspect of this region’s early settlement.

Pioneer Settlers of Trenton Precinct, Todd County, Kentucky

This historical account details the settlement of a district by pioneers primarily from Virginia, dating back to 1796 with figures like Brewer and Martha Reeves. Notable early settlers included Major Sam Moore, a large landowner who arrived before 1809, and the esteemed Moore, Reeves, and Garth families, with several members serving in state legislatures or as war officers. Culminating with figures like Thomas Waller in 1830 and Roscoe C. Dickinson in 1831, the narrative describes the agricultural transformation of the region. It pays homage to these settlers for their indelible mark on the district’s prosperity, acknowledging their struggles and accomplishments with gratitude for their foundational work in shaping the community.

Political Development of Todd County, Kentucky

The establishment of Todd County’s seat of justice involved mild competition among Newburg, Old Elkton, and the new site where John Gray donated land. The latter was chosen for its central location and additional donations by Gray and Robert T. Baylor for public buildings, including a courthouse and jail. On May 8, 1820, a magisterial court was organized at James Kendall’s house, Elisha B. Edwards was elected Clerk, and the first session commenced constructing county infrastructure and delineating constable districts. Subsequent re-districting and optimizations improved government structure. Public buildings evolved over time; Gray’s brick courthouse in 1821, later replaced in 1835, and a new jail in 1869 replaced earlier structures. The poor-house, established in 1829 to support the indigent, still operates, highlighting the county’s evolving public services.

Reformed or Christian Church, Todd County, Kentucky

The Zion Christian Church, formed in 1833 in Todd County, emerged from dissensions within the Baptist Church, influenced significantly by Alexander Campbell’s guidance and contributions from the Presbyterian Church. Early itinerant preachers sustained the church until Elder C. M. Day took a leading role, preaching without financial reward and supporting himself through teaching. Day, known for his logical sermons and persuasive nature, founded several churches and served as the pastor of Trenton and Allensville Churches for 38 years. Other noted ministers included the eloquent J. B. Ferguson, who later turned to spiritualism, and Elder John T. Johnson, a former Congressman and Judge, successful in evangelism throughout the county. Ministers like W. E. Mobley maintained long-term pastorates, and J. W. Gant worked as a missionary, helping establish numerous churches. The denomination boasts several congregations in Todd County, most with their own places of worship.

Newberg, Todd County, Kentucky

As early as 1815 there was a little hamlet on the Russellville and Hopkinsville road exactly half way between those two points. As early as 1816 Elisha B. Edwards had a store there and ran it for two or three years; it was within a half mile from the center of what is now Todd County, and when the question of constituting Todd began to be agitated, it was thought that that point would become the county seat. In 1817 Maj. John Gray had a store there, followed by James Kendal, who kept store about 1817-18-19. The location of the … Read more

Old Allensville, Todd County, Kentucky

The town of Allensville, Kentucky, emerged at the intersection of the old State road and the Elkton and Keysburg road, originally owned largely by P. A. Wines. The early commercial landscape included a few merchants like Ned Trabue and Clayborn Wooldridge, alongside a blacksmith and a handful of houses. The arrival of the Memphis Branch of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad shifted the town’s center towards new development led by F. A. Anderson and E. W. Hughes. Following the Civil War, the town saw a resurgence in commerce, marked by the establishment of various businesses and the construction of significant buildings. Allensville’s growth included religious and social institutions such as the Mount Gilead Baptist Church and several lodges, reflecting a community rich in social and commercial endeavors. By 1884, Allensville housed around 300 inhabitants and maintained a variety of businesses and services, underpinning its status as a vibrant town within Kentucky.

Origin of Todd County, Kentucky

Col. John Todd, a Pennsylvania native and Virginia-educated lawyer, moved to Kentucky around 1775, attracted by the region’s fertility as described by Daniel Boone and others. In Kentucky, Todd acquired land in what is now Madison County and played a significant role in early American frontier expansion. He participated in Gen. Clarke’s expeditions against Kaskaskia and Vincennes, and under the Virginia Legislature’s act of 1777, was appointed Colonel-Commandant and County-Lieutenant of the newly formed Illinois County, wielding considerable civil and military authority. Todd’s contributions were cut short when he was killed in the Battle of Blue Licks in August 1782, leaving behind a significant legacy, including his role in the development of Lexington, Kentucky, and his universally respected character and leadership.