Arthur Love, Silent Story Teller

 Cemeteries, silent story tellers lie in our many cemeteries.  This one is from the Hurricane Cemetery, located a short distance off S. R. 135 in western part of Crittenden County.  It is from Arthur Love, and more about  his father, Col. Andrew Love, who has a tragic ending to his life and has not a stone to mark his burial place. 

 

This picture made in Nov. of 2014.  The stone had just been recently cleaned by a local boy scout as project for his Eagle Scout badge. It included cleaning and resetting fallen stones.

 

 

Arthur Love, born Jan. 15, 1785, died Feb. 19, 1853. He was the son of Andrew and Anne Latimore Love. He was born in South Carolina. His parents were early pioneers of then Livingston County.

 Arthur owned a farm in the Hurricane area. In 1842 he one one of the men appointed commissioner to view out and mark the best way for a road from the Hurricane area to Tolu. 

 Most remembered for being a neighbor and family friend of the Ford family and was in charge of the funeral services for James Ford. He gathered together a crew of slaves and had the grave dug in the Ford family graveyard and was a member of the funeral procession escorting Ford to be buried.  When the slaves got scared and tried to run away during a fierce thunderstorm, Mr. Love demanded they come back and reset the casket into the grave.

***

Arthur's father was Col. Andrew Love, born Sept. 12, 1747, in Pennsylvania, who came to then Livingston County in the early 1800's around 1805, as some of his children had previously moved here.   The Love's family plantation was located somewhere in the same area as James Ford's near present day Tolu. (also known as the Hurricane area)

Andrew Love was a solider in the Revolutionary War in South Carolina.  He served with General Sumter, and rose to the rank of Colonel, and was wounded at the battle of "King's Mountain"  He was, in common with the rest of the Americans of Scotch-Irish ancestry, particularly severe on those who remained loyal to the British Crown, and were termed by their neighbors, 'Tories.'

For many years after removing to Kentucky, he was actively engaged in farming, on March 26, 1821, he went out to work on his farm, not returning when he was expected, search was made for him, and he was found in one of his fields, dead. On this day, the day before the trail where he would be a witness for the Plaintiff, in a case against James Ford, he was found in a field on his farm, dead, and bearing marks of violence.  Nothing to prove the deed, but some thought he was killed to be kept from testifying again Ford.

He was buried on his farm, about fourteen miles from Marion.  (How I wonder where this area was, also for his wife Anna Latimore Love who died May 18, 1814, did they once have sand stones for markers? or they still there covered by years of dirt,  have they been moved or destroyed?  my mind wonders?)

***

Hopefully in the near future, Col. Andrew Love, with nine other Revolutionary Veterans, will be remembered by a special Memorial Marker that is being worked on to be ready by the year 2026, for American's 250 Anniversary.  God be with us through these trying times. 

Marion's Fires of 1912 and 1913

 

During the history of Marion's existence it seems to have had it's fair share of devastating fires. The people have always worked together and built their town back.

Let's travel back to the years of 1912 and 1913 and read about some of these fires. From these articles we can learn of the people and their businesses that were a vital part of our town during that time. From the archives of The Crittenden Press comes the history.

November 28, 1912 – Big Fire Sweeps Several Buildings.

Last Friday night, Nov. 22^nd, just before midnight, the fire alarm whistle called the fire fighters from the downy beds of ease, to fight a stubborn blaze, which had broken out in the Pierce produce brick building on North Main Street.

The building was occupied by C. R. Newcom, Grocery and Produce dealer on the ground floor and Valentine Threlkeld's colored barbershop up stairs, also the colored Lodge and sleeping rooms.

Opinions differ as to where the fire started; some say it originated up stairs, others downstairs.

The produce building was soon a mass of flames and quickly gutted and the flames leaped to the large frame stable owned by Pierce & Son and occupied by Eskew Bros. and extended the entire length of the block on the south and to John B. Grissom's residence on the north, both of which were quickly devoured.

The fire then seized for its prey McConnell's frame building on the south and Seldon Hughes' house on the north occupied by S. S. Woodson and both were soon reduced to ashes.

The grocery stock of C. R. Newcom and in fact all the contents of the brick produce house were lost, but all the live stock and harness, and most of the feed and vehicles in the stable were saved.

The people turned out well and helped the poor suffers save their household goods, and but little furniture was lost.

A telephone pole which burned down came near striking City Marshal Loyd and had it done so he would have been instantly killed. He dodged sufficiently to miss the pole but the cross arm hit his leg, almost breaking the bone and he was scratched considerably by the wires. He was assisted to any empty buggy standing near and two townsmen grasped the shafts and drew him to hi home where he has since been confined to his bed and where his physicians say he must remain for ten days longer.

Thomas McConnell, the merchant, received a severe cut over his eye and there were several others who narrowly escaped injury. Fred Hughes, colored, came near being roasted alive in his bed.

Before the carnival of the fire was checked the money loss was heavy; Pierce & Son, stable, J. P. Pierce, produce house, J. B. Grissom, residence, Seldon Hughes, residence, W. T. McConnell store room, C. R. Newcom, loss of stock and fixtures.  (on East Bellville St.,  where Wheeler's parking lot is now)

The Marion Electric Light & Ice Co., suffered the loss of much service wire, several poles and other items. As soon as the wires burned into, the plant was closed down until the section involved could be cut out, after which service was resumed in all other parts of the city. Repairs were rushed and completed in 12 hours from the time the first fire alarm sounded. Thus restoring service for the section damaged in time for lights that afternoon.

The Marion Home Telephone Exchange suffered a much more severe loss from the fires. Nearly 200 feet of cable through which the subscribers in the northwest part of town are served, burned down. When the messenger wire carrying the cable, burned in two, it fell for several hundred yards, carrying several poles with it.

The total cost to the company will be nearly $300.00 and had not Supt. Obenchain taken matters in charge so promptly and managed them so systematically, the delay would have been much longer and inconvenience to patrons much greater.  (not sure the location of all these buildings in this fire)

On March 26, 1913 Marion was again visited by fire. The buildings of the New Marion Hotel and the Farmers Bank being the seat of the conflagration. The fire originated for some unknown cause in a rear room of the upper story of the hotel, which was unoccupied, having been vacated a few days before.

The fire alarm was given at 11:45 p.m. and every possible effort was made to stop the flames, but the "tin bucket brigade" were unable to control the flames and the building was burned to the ground.

Beside the hotel and the bank, the building contained the office of Dr. A. J. Driskill, who had two rooms on the first floor; the office of C. V. Oakley, insurance, on second floor; the office of Dr. O. S. Young, dentist, on the second floor.

R. F. Door, owner of the New Marion Hotel, estimates his loss at $3,500.

Farmers Bank, unofficial estimate of loss, $3,000, covered by insurance. The money, books, etc., deposited in the bank's vault was found after the fire to be undamaged. They set up immediately temporary headquarters at the office of James & James, where E. J. Hayward, O.S. Denny and W. E. Carnahan are transacting business in the same satisfactory way.

By a coincidence the fire of Wednesday night occurred on the eighth anniversary of the great fire which visited the city on March 28, 1905.

It was by only the hardest work that the buildings across the street were kept from igniting and a repetition of the disastrous conflagration of eight years ago prevented.

The plate-glass fronts of the stores of Yandell-Gugenheim Co., T. H. Cochran & Co., Yates Bros,. and J. H. Orme were broken by the heat. (just across the street from Farmer's Bank;, Frazer's law office, Botanicals, and Roy and Tim's Barber shop)

As soon as plans and contracts can be had, the burned out businesses expect to rebuilt on the same site, and will erect a more commodious building than the old ones.

Stills and White Lightening

In the early and mid 1920's many of the top headline stories in the local paper were about the illegal making of moonshine or the selling of "white mule."

Our hills and hollows of Crittenden County must have had their share of hidden stills and the dark of night making and selling of white lightening.

Moon shinning has deep roots in American history. It was a way of life to support their families; it was their drink, medicine and currency.

Did you ever think where it got the name moonshine; it was because the men did most of the work at night, by the light of the moon. The white lightening was well liked for it's high alcohol content and tax-free prices. As early as 1894 Congress had increased the whiskey tax to $1.10 per gallon, a stiff tax. While the increase was intended to up the government's take in revenue, it ended up creating a boom in untaxed liquor. Whether or not this had any effect on Crittenden County's moonshine business, or it was just made for the pure excitement of making the white lightening, it is still interesting to read about this time in our history.

From the archives of The Crittenden Press we can read of this illegal activity that took place in our area, it's a colorful part of our past history that many of us might not really know about, and there are probably some that might remember the time when this activity of just a part of life.

In 1921 Kentucky Gov. Edwin P. Morrow addressed the Association of Circuit Judges and Commonwealth Attorneys, stating that moonshining and bootlegging were rampant in Kentucky, and the violations of the liquor laws were such as to challenge all the forces of law and order.

Illicit manufacture and sale of liquor has grown to an appalling extent, he said, and the use of liquor, is increasing alarmingly.

There is today, a challenge being thrown out to the forces of law and order in Kentucky. I ask the Circuit Judges of Kentucky to meet this challenge and I will help in as much as I can. He ask the judges and commonwealth attorneys, "Which shall be supreme in this state the law or the blind tiger?" So Crittenden was hard pressed to fight the blind tigers.

                            ***

Here are some of the interesting articles that were in The Crittenden Press about stills found in all areas of our county.

In early 1921 the press reports that Crittenden County has acquired the distinction of having a "real" moonshine still.

Some of the boys of Tolu were hunting a few days ago and found a fully equipped still in the woods on the farm of Mr. John L. Franklin. Some one had taken, without Mr. Franklin's knowledge or consent, a tank belonging to him and used it in building the still, which has a sixteen-gallon capacity.

Mr. Franklin immediately notified the United States revenue authorities of his find, and to preserve the still moved it into his cellar, where it will be safely kept until an investigation has been made.  The tank was about one-half full of meal, which evidenced the fact that it had been tested and used.

In November of 1922 on suspicion derived from previous information Sheriff J. T. Wright, Deputy P. R. Taylor and former County Attorney John A. Moore went Saturday to a home located two miles from Piney Fork Church, with a warrant to search the premises. Upon arriving there the man of the house readily gave his permission to have his premises searched.

In a barn near the house the officers discovered a still covered with sorghum fodder, which they took possession of and brought to the courthouse in Marion.

The owner of the farm denied all knowledge of the still being on his premises. He said that it was evidently brought there by some one unknown to him on the night before while he was away from home fox hunting.

The still is of about 15-gallon capacity, is in good condition and seems to have been recently used. It is of copper throughout. The still is now at the courthouse and many visitors have called to see it.

Another still found by J. U. G. Claghorn. While he was out squirrel hunting Monday, he stopped at a supposedly unoccupied cabin on the John Nation farm, near Fords Ferry. Looking thru a window he discovered a family in the cabin and a man working around a still.

Returning to town he reported what he saw to the authorities, and with a warrant Deputy Sheriff P. R. Taylor went to the cabin, took charge of the still and arrested the man under a warrant charging him with having in his possession an illicit still.

The man gave his name and stated that he came from Illinois. He will be placed in jail to await the action of the grand jury at the next term of Circuit Court. The captured still is of copper and of about ten gallons capacity.

In November 1923 officials captured a moonshine still near Mexico. A big haul was made Friday morning when Deputy Sheriff P. E. Taylor, Jailer J. C. Spees and County Judge E. Jeffrey Travis, with a search warrant, went to a home a few miles southeast of Mexico, this county, and after searching the premises, located a moonshine still in a back room of the residence.

Besides the still, which was of about 40-gallon capacity and the best equipped yet found in this county, the officials also found in the room seven barrels of mash and eight gallons of white mule whisky, all of which they confiscated except a small amount of the whisky which, together with the still, they brought here and turned it over to the authorities.

Out in the Bells Mines area Constable Bob Adams captured a large moonshine still, together with two gallons of "white mule" which was brought to Marion and delivered to the County authorities.

The parties who were operating the still were unknown and escaped after a running fight in which several shorts were exchanged, one of which passed through the Constable's hat.

The still was located in what is known as Heath's Hollow, near Bells Mines and Constable Adamson was assisted in its capture by his deputy, Charlie Bob Sanders.

The constable and deputy went near where the still was located before daylight in order that they might find out who was operating it and at the break of day a sentinel on the opposite hill saw them and fired two shorts, then it was the constable and his assistant made a dash for the still and the operators of the still opened fire as they ran off. There were about fifteen or twenty shorts exchanged between the officers and distillers as they ran away.

When Adamson and his assistant arrived the still was in full operation. They found three gallons of moonshine and brought two gallons to town as stated, the other gallon container was broken and the contents lost. The still is said to have been well equipped for the business.

W. H. Hardesty, justice of the peace in the Tolu district, raided and found on a farm near Tolu a still that had been in recent operation. The still was of forty gallon capacity and with it was found 350 gallons of mash.

In the Cookseyville area, Sheriff Taylor raided the King farm and discovered on gallon of whiskey and one hundred gallons of mash. The discovery was made in the woods on the back of the farm and the mash and whiskey was covered with a quantity of cedar brush. No arrests were made because it wasn't known who had made the still at the time.

Most times the stills were sit up on someone else's property other than the one that actually made the whiskey. Easier not to be associated with the crime when the stills were located.

The Press Scribe Visits the river towns of Tolu, and Weston

 

As the Press correspondent traveled the county getting ads and subscriptions for the paper he would share some of his journey’s adventures with the paper. They are interesting and fun to read, plus saving some of our past history along the way.

 

 

Crittenden Press, Feb. 23, 1881

Visit to Weston

I took the road, if road it can be called, for there is no rougher one in the county, to Weston in company with Cal Elder, who was visiting tobacco growers in the interest of his firm. I saw a five-mule team badly stuck in the mud and only one hhd of tobacco and assisted the teamster to unload and get out of that snap and the need of good roads again impressed me. 

 

Next we came to M. G. Gilbert's the boss tobacco farmer. Uncle Mike is getting old but he is a determined farmer and was busy at work. Then on to John Gilbert's another one of our good farmers, who raises tobacco with the many other crops, such as grasses, corn and wheat.

 

We soon arrived at the town of Weston, we were the guests of the Weston Hotel, kept by J. L. Hughes, and no one knows better how to care for the wants of the weary and hungry, his table is supplied with the very best of eatables, his rooms comfortable and neat, and beds with snowy linen and elder down. You at once feel that you are at home. Connected with this well kept Hotel is a good table, a grocery store where staple and fancy groceries, as well as the choicest wines and liquors, cigars and tobacco are kept.

 

Weston is a very unpretending little place, but is surprising at the amount of goods sold there, all lines of goods are very well represented and no complaint of dullness in trade, all the merchants assuring us that trade was very good. Our young friends the Haynes Bros. are going to increase their business by adding groceries to their neat drug store.

 

Otho Nunn and Son intend building a storehouse soon to accommodate their growing trade. They carry an assorted stock of general merchandise. Lambeth Bros. are doing a thriving business. Billy is going to Cincinnati soon and if you will read the Press when he gets back you will see what he has for sale.

 

John Nunn and Co., has a nice lot of hardware, saddlery, furniture, plow, and field seed for sale. They keep the best line of cooking stoves I have ever seen in the county, and they sell for prices to suit the times. The store is presided over by the junior member, Bob, that enterprising, modest and gentlemanly young man, will charm you and you will be pleased and sure to go again.

Crittenden Press, Oct. 29, 1903

Tolu  by the Press Scribe.

Tolu is a much larger and prettier town than I expected to see, and viewed from the hilltop approaching it presents a picturesque and very beautiful appearance. There are a number of handsome residences and some really pretentious cottages – Mr. Ed. Dowell’s and the one adjoining it for instance.

 

The town has a fine flouring mill, which manufactures the best grades of flour; there are several general merchandise stores and a number of other business houses, two hotels – the Minner House and the Weldon Hotel.

 

Judge Gordon and Mr. Grayot dined at the Weldon, and your correspondent did the same, and was a guest of the house until Friday morning.

 

While there I was treated most royally, both by landlord Weldon and wife, and their handsome and accomplished daughter, Miss Mima. Every attention is paid to the comfort of the guest’s at this hotel and I will wager any amount that in a cooking contest Mrs. Weldon will win the prize every time.

 

I thought we had a beverage called milk here in Marion, but the golden nectar they gave me at the Weldon dispelled that illusion. Any traveler wishing the real comforts of a home will surely find them at the Weldon Hotel, with a grand landlord thrown in for good measure.

 

About half-past 7 o’clock Friday morning Old Eagle and I took the back trail for Marion. The sun shone brightly, the air was sharp and frosty, and as Eagle hit the road with that long, heavy swing of his which whizzed the buggy along like a young tornado we soon rattled off the miles between Tolu and Marion.

***

Assessor's Report for Crittenden County in March 1911

 

March 1911 - What the Assessor's Book Shows About Crittenden

Thanks to the old assessor's reports, we have historical information from Dogs to Diamonds that were in Crittenden County. 

 

One would expect the books to show the largest increase in dogs, that is, if one may believe all the evidence that his ears hear, and his eyes behold. But the increase is only 208, and there are there are now but 1278 dogs in the county. Since the tax is moderate, and the signs of increase many, we may expect the books to show it next year.

 

We have 4863 sheep, an increase of 45 over last year. These are valued at $2.50 per head. But for the work of some of the dogs listed, or not listed, the number of sheep would have been swelled to 4943, as their were damage claims filed for exactly 80 sheep killed and crippled during the year. It is not surprising to see that the sheep killed, were in every case, the best of the flock, and that the average claim per head was $5.00. The Crittenden county dog certainly knows a good sheep when he see it.

 

It is not so easy to account for the loss of 5665 acres of land, and 26 town lots. It may be that the surveyors have abandoned the old time way of calculating and measure from hilltop to hilltop. Certain it is, the assessors books show that we now have that number less of acres and town lots than we had one year ago. The total acreage is now 213,989, but the average value has increased 30 cents and it is now valued at $7.90 per acre.

 

There are 34,456 acres of woodland and the woodland taken in connection with the land in cultivation shows that there are 126,243 acres, more than half the land in the county, cleared, but idle and unproductive. Some can find encouragement to the fact that the 34,456 acres of woodland is an increase of 2876 over the year before. It is doubtful if a clearer example of re-forestization exists any where.

 

We raised 38,826 bushels of wheat on 2871 acres of land, and the year before raised 13,507 bushels on 967 acres; an average yield of each year of 14 bushels per acre.

 

From the hand bills posted at cross roads and other public places, one would believe the county to be the veritable home of thoroughbred stallions, yet there are only three, with a value of but $500.00.

 

There are only two diamonds in the county, as against eight the year before, but the size and quality has vastly improved. The eight were worth $955. while the two still in the county, are worth nearly as much, to be exact, $740.

 

In jewelry there are manifest signs of economy. Last year there was $1,110. worth of jewelry, while now there is only $140. worth, and we know the man that owns it all. In gold, silver and plated ware, economy and retrenchment too is shown. Last year there was $190 worth of such ware, while now the stock is reduced to $105.

 

It is good to note an increase of 300 in children of school age over last year and the number now stands at 3,769. As compared to ten years ago, we now have 360 fewer children.

 

The adult males in the county number 3,083 a slight increase over last year, but a decrease in the last ten years of 140. Children may come but they certainly go from us as soon as the age of discretion permits.

***

This very impressive and detailed report of the county was taken by Robert Thomas who was the County Assessor in the year 1911.

Frontier Setting was early Marion

 

 In the 1840's and 50's Marion had no direct state connection with the older communities of east and central Kentucky and Tennessee.  The new town like the trans-Mississippi West cow-towns, had to  build itself independently like most Western frontier towns. 

The town of Marion during her first two decades must have closely resembled the typical movie set of an old frontier town with weatherboard log and frame two-storied buildings surrounding a public square.

As noted before Marion, like the towns of the Old West, was not intended to be a residential center but a business centralization point of the surrounding territory, so there were only a dozen or so substantial residences within the boundaries of Marion before the Civil War.

Marion had only two or three sawmills and a couple of grist mills, all water or horse-powered, situated near the bank of Crooked Creek just to the north and west of the present Northwest corner of Marion.  

One of the original by-laws provided that with the exception of citizens of Crittenden County that all "peddlers and transient persons" should pay a license before doing business in Marion.

Apparently this first attempt at an "occupation license tax" was successful, for the town's industrial and mercantile growth in the 19th century was truly phenomenal.

In 1850 R. E. Haynes was appointed the first Marion City Attorney, and the Trustees ordered that each proprietor build a substantial brick or stone pavement in front of his property on each side of Main Street.

Bill Monroe At Fohs Hall in February 1954

Bill Monroe at Fohs Hall

Feb. 19, 1954. Direct from the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn, Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys will appear in person at Fohs Hall, on the night of February 24^th. The show will be sponsored by the Marion Kiwanis Club, for the underprivileged children and needy persons of Marion and Crittenden County.

 

Bill Monroe is regarded by experts in the field of American Folk Music as one of the truly representative singers in this field. He expresses the feeling of the countryside to a marked degree. His handling of heart songs is in a class by itself. Tis said in the singing of folk songs that the words are secondary and the feeling is primary. Bill has been with WSM since October 1939 and he brought his Blue Grass Boys with him.

 

Since then he has written several outstanding song hits – "Kentucky Waltz," "Uncle Pen," and Poison Love" which are riding high in the list of popularity charts. He comes by these writings honest, being born and raised in the hills of old Kentucky, taking the themes from actual characters and situations.  His latest hits can be heard on the Decca label and music stops cannot keep up with the demand for his recordings. 

Bill Monroe is still one of the most consistent box office attractions for the Grand Ole Opry and is known as "America’s Number One singer of American Folk Music."