Old Times In Crittenden County Remembered by James P. Loyd

 

 

 James Preston Loyd, was born Aug. 23, 1873 and died Dec. 8, 1953 and is buried in the Crayne Cemetery.  Mr. Loyd was a retired farmer, and an elder in the Crayne Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which he was one of the charter members.

This article first appeared in The Crittenden Press on February 1, 1906. Mr. J. P. Loyd shares some of his memories and knowledge of the time with the readers of the Press. These old articles help us to know what was going on in our county and town many years ago.

***

Crittenden Press, February 1, 1906. Editor Press: As I sit thinking over past incidents, and quite a few are yet fresh in my memory, I will share with your readers some happenings in the year 1886.

I was teaching school at the time at old Cookseyville in this county, and in those days we would send in a monthly report of our schools, which Mr. Walker, being scarce of news, I suppose would publish most any article in writing sent him.

Here are some items that may be interesting to many of your readers. First I will give the names and business of some of our people who advertised in the Press in those days.

***

Businesses of the day

Crayne & Henry, dealers in tombstones, A. E. Clark, transferring and handling drummers.

Dr. T. H. Cossitt and J. H. Hillyard were selling drugs, Pierce & Son was in the business of selling hardware, Woods & Walker and G. C. Gray, selling dry goods, also Sam Gugenheim was selling a bankrupt stock of goods sent here by his brother for Sam to dispose of.

K. B. and R. F. Dorr and Jesse Olive were selling furniture. P. R. Finley selling groceries.

W. M. Morgan shaving his friends, R. L. Tinsley laying brick and Misses Orr & Steward were trimming the ladies hats.

***

Political Men I will next notice the name of the boys who were burning the county with political fire. The following were candidates:

Circuit Judge, M. C. Givens and Ben P. Cissell; Commonwealth Attorney, J. H. Powell; County Judge, Lemuel H. James, John A. Moore and John B. Kevil; County Attorney John G. Rochester and W. C. Monroe Travis; County Clerk Will Hill and Dave Woods; Circuit Clerk Harry A. Haynes and Henry A. Hodge; Sheriff Albert J. Pickens and Wm. F. Summerville; Assessor Thomas J. Yandell; School Superintendent E. E. Thurman and Geo. W. Perry; Jailer Sid Lucas, M. L. Hayes, and Al Wilborn; Surveyor George H. Crider and Wm. K. Minner; Coroner Jas. F. Flanary; Constable, Marion Prescient John Grissom.

 

Now while on this line of thought and in order to make it more interesting to the elder people I will give something of the men and incidents of the early history of Crittenden County.

The first circuit court of Crittenden was held at the house of Samuel Ashley, on the 28^th day of May 1842. Judge Wiley P. Fowler preceding. The court appointed Harvey P. Bigham clerk of the court.

 

There were five lawyers present at the term. They were George W. Barter, Francis H. Dallam, Patterson C. Lander, Robert H. Marr and Sumner Marble.

 

There was only one civil suit on the docket and that was a chancery case. Only three indictments were found during the term, and strange as it may seem, there was a woman in two of the cases. The whole proceedings of the term, organizing the term, impaneling the juries, appointing officers, recording oaths and bonds, all only occupied a little over three pages of space in the order book.

The office of clerk, which is so desirable now, would not have furnished much roast beef and patent plows at that time.

***

First Grand Jury

The first grand jury impaneled in the county was as follows: Alexander Dean, Edward Ashley, William Ashley, Matthew Parmley, Martin Hammond, William Hoggard, John M. Wilson, Isaac Loyd, Jacob Gill, George Melton, John F. Wilson, Uriah Witherspoon, Andrew J. Hill, Thomas Akers, and Andrew J. Hill, and Angus McAlister. The last surveyor, Andrew J. Hill, died a few months ago.

But the descendants for the list of honored patriots constitutes a large and respectable portion of the present population of the county who can refer back, with pride to their origin. 

 

The next circuit term was held at the brick church near Marion, for the reason it being impracticable on account of the inclemency of the weather, to hold a court at the house of Samuel Ashley the place designated by law. (The brick church in this statement was located on the corner of the Old Marion Cemetery near were Hwy. 60/Gum St. and Moore St. meet today.)

This court was begun on the 28^th day of November, 1842. The following lawyers were sworn as member of the bar; David W. McGoodwin, Willis G. Hughes, Robert A. Patterson, Livingston Lindsey, W. H. Calvert, Hiram McElroy and John W. Headley. Most of these men became 

 

John H. Bruff was the first jailer and he received for his services in attending on court, such as making fires, and other duties assigned by the court, for a whole term of circuit court a sum of ten dollars. The first court house our county had was not occupied until October 1843.

***

The Hodge Mines.

 This Article and Picture was written in 1902.  Some Interesting Facts About the Great Wealth Producer.

I presume there is no question as to the Hodge being the most extensive bed of this mineral in the county.  With a breast of some seventeen feet average and of unknown extent, it is hard to estimate the amount of the deposit, and it seems the irony of fate that the man who first discovered this mine of wealth sold it for a mere mess of pottage, as it were.  

I noticed several large "dumps" near the main shaft, and was told it was rich gravel spar.  There were hundreds of tons of it and it had all been discarded by he old company as worthless "tailings."

When Supt. Watkins assumed charge of the works, however, he immediately saw the value of this discarded stone which had now become a chief of the corner as it were.

A number of men are now engaged in sorting it and running it through the log washer, from whence it comes forth clean, first grade spar.

Most of the work at the Hodge is being done by contract, my old friend King being one of the principal contractors.  He has just completed a new shaft some fifty yards west of the main entry.

I noticed a large pile of very fine, white spar, lying to itself and on inquiry I was informed that this was waiting to be "jigged."  On examination I discovered the entire mass to be heavily veined with rich galens,(lead ore) running all the way in percent from ten up to ninety.

I was told that this galena bearing spar is about twelve inches in width and runs through the entire vein.  When jigged this galena will be clear gain to the company, while the value of the spar itself will be greatly increased as grinding spar.

The mine is now putting out about fifty ton daily, but the output is to be greatly increased at once, and a larger force of hands and teams put to work.

Great is the Kentucky Fluor Spar Company and the Hodge mine is its "profit."

The mine was located in the Frances community a few miles north on S. R. 855.

J. N. Boston & Sons Mill Work - 1922

 Common Sense Business Review, appeared in The Crittenden Press, Dec. 1922

J. N. Boston & Sons

Located in Marion is a modern and up to date building material company that has aided greatly in the development of Crittenden County. Their buying power enables this concern to go into the largest markets and secure large quantities, which are offered at reasonable prices. Their millwork is un-excelled and their business is built upon years of good service.

 

By reason of their improved and modern facilities and the large number of employees, which they maintain, they are able to execute all classes of work and to furnish unexcelled service with promptness and dispatch.

 

By reason of the tremendous buying power this local concern is able to enter the worlds largest markets and secure vast quantities at prices so low that they offer the public astounding values in lumber and building supplies of every description. The tremendous power of such large buying cannot be too emphatically stated. It gives this local concern a prestige and an advantage, which accrues to the benefit of all its customers.

 

Shingles, doors, casings, sidings, roofing and a few of the builders materials included in the stock of this large concern, suffice to say that they have absolutely everything that there is in the lumber and building material line and that their mill work is of a class unsurpassed by any of the kind in the country. 

 

Throughout this part of the country it has come to be known as headquarters for all of these many things and by fair and honest dealings with the public, the company has not only increased its patronage but also held the trade of old customers for years.

 

Mr. John Noble Boston and his two sons are thoroughly conversant with every feature of the business and the large establishment, which they manage. These popular men have won the everlasting friendship and patronage of hundreds of customers.

 

Able and efficient, but at the same time genial and accommodating they have become the prominent men in their line in this section and deserve the success that they have achieved and the commendation that is being given them by the public.

 

The industrial end of this concern has had an unusual growth. It has handled the contracts of practically all the buildings for the West Kentucky Coal Co., the Morganfield National Bank and practically every big building and residence in that city. It is evident that complete satisfaction has been rendered by this branch.

***************

 

J. N. Boston is one of the leading members of the Methodist Church and serves on the Board of Stewards. He has been a member of the board for many years. During the years he has been connected with the church here, he not only has been more than ordinarily liberal with the church in a financial way, but has given freely of his time in his efforts to help the church maintain its place in the community. Not only is he interested in the church, but in other worth while things in the community life of Marion.

Maurie N. Boston is also prominent in the activities of the town. One of the most noteworthy things he has done was the part he took in bringing water works to Marion during his administration as mayor. Not only in working for a water system but in other things for the best interests of his town has he been very active.

Ted Boston is one of the leaders in the organizations of which he is a member, especially in the Epworth League of the Methodist Church. He is a member of the community orchestra and at the church of which he is a member.

John Noble Boston died Oct 1939, at age 77. Son Maurie N. died in 1968 and son Ted died Nov. 17, 1990. All are buried in Mapleview Cemetery.

The Boston family left a legacy for generations to come by the outstanding buildings that they constructed that are still a vital part of our community today.