Flatboat Travel

In 1976, the late historian, Bob Wheeler, wrote about the flatboat travel in the Cumberland and Ohio Rivers that border the North West and South sides of Crittenden County.

Flat-boating down the Ohio River could not have been the prevalent mode of arrival of pioneer families intent on settling in this area.

It would have been extremely difficult to land and dock these flatboats, which contained fragile household and farming equipment of the early years, without expert piloting.

The Cumberland River access to what became Crittenden County was even more foreboding for the settler flatboats than the shores of the Ohio to the north.

Before the day of the navigational dam at original Eddyville there was a whirl-pool-eddy of sufficient size and force to prevent current driven flatboats from finding a free passage down river.

it was just on the southern edge of a sharp twisting S curve around old Kuttawa before resuming its north northwesterly course to the Ohio River.

The Indian name of the Cumberland River was Suwanee which translated "beautiful or placid stream."  It is quite traveled as far as the present site of Barkley Dam.

The current switching in the S curve just above the dam site cut into the banks often and thus keep the naturally eddy-filled stretch of river full of fallen trees and other drift. These floating logs and entwining roots were called "deadheads" and "sawyers" by the early river travelers.

When they became hung in the mud of the shallow bottoms near the edge of the river and pushed upright by the onward flow of the stream until their tops were just submerged, they could not be very easily seen by the unwary amateur river pilots who poled their way upriver in the shallows near the banks to avoid pushing against the swift current.  This was undoubtedly a very slow process for a powerless pioneer flatboat.

The "deadheads" would smash into the hull of the flatboat, puncturing a gaping underwater hole which caused immediate sinking of the boat.

Thus until the dawn of steam on the rivers had broken into full day on the lower Ohio and Cumberland in the 1820's, there was little commercial through traffic to the Mississippi and New Orleans.

The supplying of the settlers who had pioneered what was to be Crittenden County was done overland, and soon became a profitable market to many advanced-type commercial flatboats, so enterprising pioneers like Robert Kirk (Tolu area) and George Flynn (Weston) took advantage of ownership of natural harbors to provide docks for this trade. 

Salt Peter Cave, and the meaning of it's name.

Salt Peter cave is truly one of the wonders of Crittenden County. But today things aren't like they once were, where one could visit and enjoy these sights, most of these wonders are now hidden from us and we are not allowed to visit them. Due to destruction and vandalism of careless sightseers the location of these sights are now heavily posted, and some not even owned by Crittenden County residents.

As far back as 1880, this cave was considered a wonder. This is a description of the cave that was printed in The Crittenden Press, March 10, 1880.

There is a remarkable cave in the eastern part of this county, by those who live within its vicinity it is commonly called the "Peter or Salt Peter Cave. 

The cave is about nine miles east of Marion. It is located upon the farm of Messrs. Cam and Eph Hill.(in 2006 this land is owned by some people from Madisonville.)

Our way to the cave led us through several fields and cedar thickets up a gentle slope. This slope terminated at the base of an abrupt elevation which forms an apex of a considerable hill. On the side opposite the one we ascended and immediately under the hill, the cave is located. 

Standing upon the brink of the precipice, formed by the almost perpendicular declivity of the hillside, a grand sight presents itself to view. Grim, gray cliffs crowned with mournful pines and gloomy cedars and decked here and there with patches of moss and rock ivy, form a romantic amphitheater of semicircular form about the mouth of the cave. 

There is something amazing about these cliffs; for they are not only very high, but their stupendousness consists in being with but a few exceptions, formed by one solid stone. Some of them forming grand towering walls to the height of 300 feet.

Five hundred feet below through the intervening timber, old Piney Creek could be indistinctly seen, "moving its slow length along" like some huge silver serpent. 

There are two ways by which to gain access to the cave. One is by descending crawfish fashion down a fallen cedar thence over protruding crags until you reach a bench of rocks then turning to the right a few steps brings you to the cave. 

The cave is accessible the other way by going around the base of the hill. We preferred the former way on account of being the nearest, but on our descent we privately wished we had taken the latter. We reached the cave safely however, plus a few scratches.

The scene near the mouth of the cavern is somewhat impressive. The grim over hanging crags with their time stained fronts; throwing their lengthened shadows across the tall leafless oaks far over the immediate vicinity of the cave, lend to the scene a melancholy influence. The solitude was intense. 

On entering the cave we discovered a number of rudely constructed hoppers filled with a grayish brown dust.  This dust subsists in great quantities in the cave, and contains a large percent of niter. The dust is thrown into the hoppers, water is then poured upon it till saturated, this produces a kind of lye. The lye is put into large kettles, boiled down and then run into troughs to crystallize. This is the operation employed by the farmers in the neighborhood, in making salt peter for domestic use.

This is how the cave came by it's name of Salt Peter Cave.

 Another interesting sight at the cave are the initials J. L. B. and the year 1793 carved in the sandstone.

Could this be an earlier pioneer that was making salt at the cave,  or perhaps a traveler exploring the cave?

Mormon Missionaries Visit Crittenden County

From the Crittenden Press archives, comes this interesting article of long ago about a visit from the Mormon Missionaries.

They must have traveled to Crittenden by way of the Flynn's Ferry Road, as the little Oakland school house/church was located on that road. (It was located near the corner of S. R. 654 S and the Cave Spring Church Rd. )

Oct. 6, 1891 - Mormon Missionaries

Last week the Press learned that a meeting of Morman preachers was to be held at Oakland, and a reporter was dispatched to that place to learn something of these wanderers and of their work.

Oakland is a neat little frame church house about seven miles east of Marion. It was built by the Universalists some sixteen years ago, after a time the builders became somewhat disorganized and now the doors are open to whatsoever sect that chooses to use it properly for the the worship of God. 

This fact probably drew the Mormon preachers to friendly portals for the purpose of talking over the effect of their law in Kentucky and Tennessee. The business meeting Saturday was attended by seven of these missionaries and as they evidently preferred to be alone on that occasion, they were not intruded upon.

They were all from Utah and have been traveling and preaching over Kentucky and Tennessee. Wherever they find the people friendly enough to listen, they preach, and whenever they find that a community prefers “their room to their company” they “fold their tent like Arabs and as quietly steal away.” 

It soon became known abroad in the neighborhood that these itinerants would preach on Sunday, accordingly a large number gathered to hear them. 

Three discourses were made by as many discoursers, each more or less along the same line, and permit the writer to say, that they said some mighty good things. 

They took no text from the Bible, but their discourses were not wild nor scattering, but were confined mainly to three things, namely Faith, Repentance and Baptism.

The congregation listened to these things patiently and not with disapproval, but wanted to here about some other doctrines of the “Latter day Saints, that of a plurality of wives, for instance. 

   One of the preachers, who appeared to be higher in ecclesiastical authority than the others, seemed to anticipate our wants, and he took the stand and said that they used to teach polygamy, allowing a man to have more than one wife, if he was able to support more than one, but now as the laws of the country forbid it, they no longer taught nor practiced it, as they believed in being subservient to the laws of the country in which they lived.

They thanked the congregation for its attention and, leaving a sharp sprinkle of their literature behind, they departed for other fields.

James Armstrong, first actual settler in the territory of what is now Crittenden County.

James Armstrong, a native of South Carolina, was the first actual settler in the territory of what is now Crittenden County.  

Coming to Russellville in 1785, he found the best land already claimed.  He then moved on into Western Kentucky.  

In 1786 he built a log cabin near the water of Livingston Creek.  This twelve-foot log cabin was the first home ever built in Crittenden County by a white man.  It had no door and its only window was so high that it was reached by a ladder.  The ladder could be pulled inside the cabin for protection from Indians and wild animals.

In 1791 James returned to South Carolina and bought his family back with him.  By this time other settlers were entering the area.

As other settlers came into the area a settlement grew up nearby.  By about 1787 sixty families were living in the area.  The newly formed town was called Centerville.

In 1799 Centerville was established as the county seat of the newly formed county of Livingston.  From this date until 1809 Centerville was the seat of government for the area from Christian County to the Mississippi River, and from Webster County to Tennessee.

Because Centerville was the center of the settled territory it grew rapidly.  Its buildings included a court house, a jail, a land office, dry good stores, a blacksmith shop, and academy or school, a Presbyterian church, and a loom building.

The jail had a reputation for a place one wouldn't want to be placed. 

 It was constructed in the ground, being 12 by 14 feet in size and about 8 feet deep.  The top was covered with heavy timbers, with an opening in the center covered with a large flat rock which could be removed when prisoners were placed inside.  w

When the prisoners were put in they would sometimes try to hold to the sides of the opening to keep from dropping to the floor of the jail.  

The officers would keep a short ladder handy, and when they wished to let a prisoner out, they could remove the stone top, and place the ladder down so he could climb out.  It is said that the top of the prison resembled the top of a large jug, and that the saying "Putting prisoners in the Jug" probably originated here.

In 1809, Caldwell County was formed from Livingston, and Centerville was no longer the most convenient settlement in Livingston County.  The county seat was moved to Salem and Centerville quickly declined.

Today nothing remains and even the once visible rock cornerstones of some of the buildings have been removed by the clearing of the land for farming purposes.

The Kentucky Highway Historical Marker marks the location of the once important town of Centerville.  I hope some people will take the time to stop and read the important  highway maker that was placed there to try and help preserve the history of the area. (Centerville was located near the Crittenden/Caldwell County line on S. R. 641.  This is where the Highway Marker is located.)

Crittenden County Man, Herbert F. Phillips, Plays A Part In the End Of World War I

Calamity Jane and the Firing of the Last Shot in World War I

  A Crittenden County young man played a historical part in the ending of the Great War of World War I. Herbert Francis Phillips was the son of Robert F. Phillips and Sarah Farley. They lived in the Repton community in the1900's. R. F. as he was known spent his childhood days here. Later he and most of his siblings moved to other states.

H. F. Phillips joined the Army when he was old enough and was in boot camp at Fort DA Russell in Laramie, Wyoming in 1912. He ended up in the 11^th Field Artillery Brigade. In April of 1918, at Fort Sill, Oklahoma the 11^th Field Artillery began intensive artillery and combat training in preparation for overseas assignment. The battlefields of Europe were proving to be a true artilleryman's war.

On July 14, 1918 the 11^th Field Artillery left for England. They arrived in Liverpool, England on July 26th. While another artillery regiment completed its training, the 11^th, occupied several small towns. Within a few days the regiment began drilling on 155mm Schneider howitzers, (a short cannon that delivers shells at a high trajectory) practicing night firing as well as conducting transportation and gas drills. It was also during this training that the 1918 influenza epidemic hit the unit, killing more men than would be lost in combat. The epidemic eventually claimed 57,000 soldiers of the AEF. It was not until October 22 that the 11^th left their training camp and arrived in the Argonne Forest. 

On the night of Oct. 26, 1918, the howitzers of the 11^th Field Artillery fired their first shots at the town of Remonville. On Nov. 1^st the 11^th Field Artillery participated in the largest artillery barrage of the war to that date. They advanced their guns to the south firing close range at the Germans all day before moving into the town.

Meuse-Argonne proved to be the bloodiest battle for the Americans in World War I. The forty-seven day battle involved 1.2 million American soldiers. About half the total American Expeditionary Forces casualties occurred in the Meuse-Argonne. "The aggressiveness and skill of the 11^th Field Artillery helped make American victory possible." 

 The gun "Calamity Jane" as she is getting ready to fire the last shot of World War I.

First Lieut. Phillips is on the right next to the wheel.

  On November 11, 1918, the 11^th Regimental Headquarters received orders that the war would end that day at 11:00 A.M. The men were too exhausted to cheer, but they were relieved and thankful that they had survived some of the toughest fighting ever seen in American military history. The 11^th Field Artillery Unit, was soon notified they were chosen to fire the last shot of World War 1. First Lieutenant H. F. Phillips was in this group and would be among the few to help with the firing of the great gun they had nick named "Calamity Jane."

***

1^st Lieut. Phillips had a sister, Mary, who married Esday Lewis here in Crittenden county. They are buried in the Mexico Cemetery. Esday and Mary had two daughters, whom many may remember, Cleta Lewis was married to Auberdeen Clement of the Chapel Hill neighborhood and Marguerite Lewis Campbell, who also lived in the same area. Marguerite is the reason I knew about this story.

Spelling Bees An Important Part of Our School’s History.

It’s always interesting to read about the old school days and the activities that everyone always looked forward to. One of these events were the Spelling Bees or Spelling Contests that the schools had each year. 

The National Spelling Bee was launched by the Louisville Courier Journal in 1925.  With competitions, cash prizes, and a trip to the nation's capital, the Spelling Bee hoped to stimulate "general interest among pupils in a dull subject."   

The usual procedure was that teams would be picked by two students, if they thought you were a good speller you would be the first one picked, (what a proud feeling to be picked among the first), and then so on down the line. But just like life, what you expect to happen sometimes wouldn’t happen. For one Friday you might do great, not miss a word, and be on top of the world, everybody’s hero. The next week, you would be the first picked for the team, but as luck would have it - you would miss the very first word. Down you would go, downcast with shame and hard looks from your team. But there was always next week for another chance.

From the archives of The Crittenden Press let’s read about some true winners of the old Spelling Bees.

Feb. 22, 1929 - William A. Hoover is Bee Champion.

William A. Hoover of the Forest Grove School was winner of the Crittenden County Spelling contest held Saturday in the graded school auditorium.

William is thirteen years old and is in the seventh grade. AT the close of the Forest Grove school last Friday he was promoted to the eight grade.

Mrs. Fred Gilbert, who is teacher at Forest Grove, has been William’s teacher for the past four years. During that time, Mrs. Gilbert says, William has been an “A: student in every particular.

Parents of the spelling bee winner are Mr. and Mrs. Norman Hoover, who live about two and a half miles from the school near Bells Mines.

Feb. 27, 1931 – C. E. Springs Is County's Best School Speller

Charles Edward Springs, 12 year old student at the Hebron two room school, was winner last Saturday of the Crittenden County spelling contest and will receive as his reward a free trip to Louisville in April to take part with the best spellers of the other counties in the state in the Courier-Journal spelling bee.

Braxton McDonald and Miss Edna Vivian Vaughan are teachers at Hebron and both of them coached the winner in his spelling. 

Jan 22, 1932 – Annie M. Conger Wins Spelling Bee.

Annie Mae Conger, a sister of Wilma Conger, last year's Crittenden County Spelling contest, was the winner of this year spelling contest.

The correct spelling of "mislaid," missed by Estelle Rankin, after four and one-half hours of spelling, won for Annie Mae the title of the best speller in the Crittenden County Schools for 1932. Geneva Wright of Marion took third place.

Annie Mae attends school at Brown, where she receives her spelling instruction from Miss Blondell Boucher. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Conger, who feel rightfully proud of being the parents of two spelling champions.

Estelle Rankin, who took second place, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wathen Rankin. She is a student of Mrs. Stella Simpkins at Frances. The third winner attend the eighth grade in Marion and is taught by Miss Mabel Minner. Her parents are Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Wright.

Twenty-six students were competitors in the spelling bee despite the bad weather Saturday. Superintendent Hadden estimates that with favorable weather between thirty-five and forty would have taken part. There are only fifty schools in the county. Some of the school represented were on the outermost edges of the county.

Spelling contestants by schools are as follows: Geneva Wright, Marion; Helen Stallions, Pleasant Grove; Annie Mae Conger, Brown; Geneva Tabor, Mexico; Beulah Mae Stubblefield, Owen; Mary Sullenger, Irma; Ruth Johnson, Oak Hall; Della Brahser, Caldwell Springs; Hilda Beard, Crayne; Reba Bealmear, White Hall; Belda M. Hughes, Oak Grove; Leatha Boyd, Odessa; Blance Watson, Hebron; Estelle Rankin, Frances; Wilb ur Beard, Chapel Hill; Eugene Watson, Blooming Rose; Ebbie Worley, Belmont; Elba Walker, Sisco's Chapel; Glendal Hunt, Pleasant Hill; James Kemper, Midway; Wilbur Brantley, Mattoon; George Winders, Dam 50 Christine Hodge, Forest Grove; Imogene Clark, Bethel; Vivian Paris, Heath.

Dictionaries were mailed Wednesday to each one who entered the bee as gifts of the Marion Kiwanis Club. Inscribed on the fly leaf are the names of the Kiwanis members.

Annie Mae Conger, as county champion will be given a free trip to Louisville in April to take part in the Courier-Journal spelling bee, where she will compete with students from practically every county in the state. She will be accompanied by her teacher Miss Blondell Boucher.

Pronouncers for the contests were Miss Edna Vivian Vaughan and B. L. Turner. Judges were Dr. James F. Price, Miss Rebecca Moore and Herbert Foster.

 

Richard F. Minner, Civil War Veteran

From an interesting article written for The Crittenden Press in Dec. 1954.  Written and shared by Mrs. Cora Moore Enoch.

My mother, Sarah, was the daughter of Capt. Richard F. Minner, Company E, 48th Kentucky Regiment.

She was born and raised in Crittenden County on January 2, 1854, being seven years of age when the Civil War broke out.  In which her father and oldest brother served.

My  mother, Sarah, could remember many things that took place.  She never tired of telling some of them.

One day about noon a bunch of raider came to their farm, taking their horses, bridles and saddles (which were new) and all the things they found of any value.

Her mother, Catherine Minner Moore, rolled the boys' suits in a sheet and put them in the flour barrel.  The raiders looked everywhere else but there, and that was all the clothes they left.

Mother had two brothers at home at the time, too young for the army.  

Mother had a gold ring her father had sent her from Shepherdsville where he was stationed.  She had put it in the clock for safe keeping but the raiders found it.

Mother saw a man put it in his pocket.  In later years she saw the same man and recognized him long after the war ended.

My father, P. C. Moore, was a Sergeant under my grandfather's Company.  

Another time the raiders came when my grandfather was home on leave.  They were going to take him prisoner.  Grandfather hid on the porch roof, under the eaves of the house until they were gone.

Richard Franklin Minner served the duration of the war.

Here is his tombstone at the Hurricane Cemetery.