Dennis Partridge

Jefferson Davis

Samuel Davis, a Revolutionary War veteran, settled in what is now Fairview, Todd County, Kentucky, where his son, Jefferson Davis, was born in 1808. Jefferson Davis, later becoming the President of the Confederate States of America, was educated at Transylvania University before attending the United States Military Academy at West Point. His military service included participation in the Black Hawk War, after which he resigned to become a cotton planter. Davis’s political career was marked by his strong advocacy for “States’ Rights,” serving in Congress and as Secretary of War under Franklin Pierce. His leadership during the Civil War and his role in the Confederacy remain a significant part of his legacy. Post-war, Todd County saw shifts in political affiliations, particularly with the enfranchisement of African Americans, influencing the local political landscape towards a Democratic majority, distinct from Confederate ideals.

Kirkmansville Precinct, Todd County, Kentucky

IN gathering the histories of the different districts, we find that the boundaries between them are indefinite and indeterminate, and often-times in our mention of early settlers they have been credited to one, when they should have been given to another. Especially in writing the history of the northern portion of the county we are oft times at a loss where to exactly locate an early pioneer. Consequently if in some of the chapters names of settlers are found when they should have been given elsewhere, the errors thus made may be assigned for the reason given above. Geographically, Kirkmansville … Read more

The Log Cabin

The log cabin, emblematic of early Kentucky settler life, varied in construction quality, reflecting the relative wealth and resources of its builders. Basic yet functional, these cabins featured clapboard roofs, puncheon floors, and handmade furniture, including beds integrated into the cabin’s structure. Notably, some settlers, like Adams who sold to Kennedy in 1809, constructed notably finer cabins, distinguishing themselves with features like black walnut shingles and poplar plank floors, even at this early frontier stage. The cabins were central to family and community life, encompassing both living spaces and areas for essential activities like spinning and weaving. Settler attire was practical, with the hunting shirt serving as a versatile garment for men, adapted to the demands of frontier life. Women’s clothing was similarly utilitarian, made from linen and linsey-woolsey. As communities developed, particularly post-1811, attire began to diversify, reflecting increased access to materials like calico and broadcloth and a gradual shift towards more refined dressing styles among the wealthier settlers by 1820. This evolution in housing and clothing illustrates the settlers’ adaptability and gradual move towards more established societal norms within the challenging conditions of early 19th-century Kentucky.

Methodist Episcopal Church, Todd County, Kentucky

The Methodist Church, among the earliest denominations in Kentucky, experienced significant growth from 1800 to 1810, its membership rising from approximately 1,741 to 7,057 communicants. This increase was partly fueled by the great revival starting in 1799, led by figures like John and William McGee. In Todd County, Methodism’s spread was spearheaded by Peter Cartwright and John Grahame, who held services in homes and orchestrated camp-meetings due to the absence of church buildings. A major revival in 1811, coinciding with the New Madrid earthquakes, further bolstered the church’s presence, leveraging the era’s superstitions and scriptural interpretations to draw in converts. Despite a competitive religious landscape, the Methodist Church established a significant presence in Todd County, with congregations in every key community.

Todd County, Kentucky Military Records

PATRIOTISM is the sum of social and political virtue; the tangible expression of a people’s intelligent appreciation of worthy institutions. Founded upon a nation’s civilization it rises like some fair temple, bounded by the wisdom of the statesman, towering with the aspiration of the people, and beautified with an unselfish devotion. In this virtue Todd County was early schooled. Coming into existence at the close of the Revolutionary war, and its people imbued with the chivalric sentiment of the Old Dominion State, love of country became an absorbing passion, and national affairs the absorbing theme of debate. Many of the … Read more

Guthrie, Todd County, Kentucky

In about 1867 the Louisville & Nashville road, which had been building, drew near completion, and in the early days of 1868 the cars commenced running on it. The road passed through the land owned by Mr. J. C. Kendal, and he conceived the plan of having a town here, and also to have the shops of the road located here. He accordingly laid out a town to which he gave the name of Guthrie, in honor of James Guthrie, of Louisville, who was then President of the road and Member of Congress from that district. Mr. Kendal was born … Read more

Hadensville Precinct, Todd County, Kentucky

THE district of Hadensville, or Guthrie, which forms the subject of the following pages, is a somewhat level body of land lying in the southeast portion of the county. It is bounded on the north by District No 6, Allensville; on the east by Logan County, on the south by Tennessee, and on the west by No. 5, Trenton. The surface of the district is somewhat diversified. In the south, especially in and around Guthrie, it is swampy, and at one time a part of the district was under water. In the center it is rolling, and in the north … Read more

Hadensville, Todd County, Kentucky

What is known as Old Hadensville originally stood about one mile from the present village of that name on land now owned by Mr. Smith, and here some of the ruins of the buildings can yet be seen. As early, probably, as 1815, Elijah Haden settled on this farm, and it being a crossing of two public roads, he commenced to merchandise there, and for many years he did an extensive business. He was succeeded by Dr. Burton, who had a store there in about 1821. Alexander Chesnut merchandised there in about 1830. John C. Harlan, whom we have mentioned … Read more

History of Todd County, Kentucky

There seems to have been no settled system in accordance with which the various counties of Kentucky were formed. The absence of a public, systematic form of survey has made it necessary to depend largely upon natural objects for fixed points, and county outlines are irregular and uncouth, enclosing areas of widely differing extent. Thus Todd County, in order of time the sixty-fourth county formed, erected as early as 1819, is a little parallelogram, imperfect in outline, wedged between and formed from the larger and wealthier counties of Logan and Christian. By its origin and location doomed for all time … Read more

Todd County Kentucky Genealogy

The county thus organized and named is situated in the southern part of the State, on the Tennessee line, and in the eastern border of that section of Kentucky arbitrarily called the Southwest. It is bounded on the north by Muhlenburg County, east by Logan, south by Montgomery, in State of Tennessee, and west by Christian, and contains about 330 square miles. The county lies partly in the Green River Valley, and partly in that of the Cumberland River, and represents the characteristics of both valleys. The dividing line between these valleys passes in a northwesterly direction through Todd several … Read more