Past Forests and Sawmills

 Crittenden County, must have had in the early days, wonderful forests with an abundance of all kinds of huge trees. Through the years the early settlers must have taken their toll on these forests. Recently I have been fortunate that people have shared some really good old pictures of sawmills that once were located here in the county. Though not much history is known about the pictures they are enjoyable to look at and shows us a different time in our past history.

 

 In 1908 the Forest Service was worried about how fast the timber in our area was being harvested, they wondered how long it would last. (Even today the forests all over the county are still being heavily timbered.)

 

To add a little past history about our forests to go with these old sawmill pictures are a few tidbits of history from the archives of the Crittenden Press. I hope you enjoy seeing these old pictures and reading the old history.

 

Feb. 13, 1902 - The Timber Question

I wish to call all the attention of your readers to a matter of some importance to us all now and will be more to the next generation. I mean the timber question.

 

The barrel makers have stripped our country of all that would do for barrels, and now are hunting out all that will do for headings, and the farmer will be left nothing for fencing. True we can use wire, but for the posts iron will not do. What will be needed is some durable timber for posts and the like.

 

Well, I think we can have them coming on. In this section and other places, I suppose, there is a large growth of young cedar on hand. I may be a little too enthusiastic but look on this as a God send – just in the nick of time. Cedar is the most durable timber we have, ad with a little attention each little cedar can be made a valuable stick of timber; by proper trimming in time we can make a nice, long bodied tree of a scrubby little bush.

 

When left to itself on open ground the cedar will branch from the ground and all go to limb, which is food for ornament; but for timber purposes by trimming you can make a twenty foot-post of it. While it is not as fast growing as some it will grow anywhere in poor land, hard tramped ground shaded ground, among thick timber, and is at home on a rocky hillside.

 

For ornament in the yard it makes a good cover for fowls, as well as an excellent roosting place, affording shelter from bad weather by the thick foliage.

 

So let us attend to our young cedars, and set more, and they will prove a blessing to the rising generation.

 

                                     (Picture shared by Nancy Hopkins Rushing)

Oct. 15, 1908 – Our Forests Fast Disappearing.

The study of the forest conditions of the state, which the U. S. Forest Service is now carrying on in cooperation with the Kentucky Board of Agriculture. Forestry has now extended to Crittenden County.

 

Mr. J. S. Holms is now riding through the county looking up the available supply of standing timber and ascertaining as closely as possible the annual output of all forest products. He will visit the chief saw mill men and timber men of the county and obtain from them on timber conditions, supplementing this with his own observations in the woods. This study is bringing out the truth with which we all more are less familiar, that the supply of merchantable timber is fast disappearing. 

 

In a few year time most of the counties in the state will scarcely have enough timber to supply the needs of their own people, and the end of the timber business as a means of livelihood to our citizens is in sights. That the big timber in this section has not been all cut before now seems almost remarkable.

 

 

This sawmill was located in the Sheridan area of Crittenden County.  The large square logs may be railroad ties.  All of the men are unidentified.  Picture courtesy of Dave Wilson, who was descended from the Wilson-Bebout families that lived near Sheridan.  Nothing but little saplings left to see in the background.
 

 

A Neice of Thomas Jefferson, Matilda Threlkeld

 

 Such an interesting and fascinating story to add to our Crittenden County History and Legends.

 This article appeared in  The Crittenden Press, December 22, 1880

A Niece of Thomas Jefferson

In the quiet little village of Marion, where the eyes of the people have never fallen upon a President from father Washington down to Jas. A. Garfiled and where the vintage of the lineage of either of the illustrious has never been knowingly looked upon, the discovery of a descendant of the “Sage of Monticello” might awaken a riffle of astonishment.

Yet within the walls of a poorly chinked, ill constructed log cabin in the suburbs of our out-of-the-way village may be found an ancient woman through whose veins the blood of Thomas Jefferson is slowly ebbing. “Aunt” Matilda Threlkeld is verging upon the age of four scores. And Old Time has pressed his blightening fingers upon her until the aged woman can no more leave the miserable hovel she calls home.

According to her own testament she was born in Albermarle County, Va., and is a daughter of Charles Lewis whose mother was a sister of Thomas Jefferson. The brothers, Randolph, Charles and Lilburn immigrated to this State when “Aunt Matilda” was but a child.

After remaining in Gallatin County a short time, they permanently settled in Livingston County, where “Aunt” Matilda was raised, being hired out as a servant girl. Subsequently she came to Marion which has since been her home. Fluent in conversation, with an active mind and a memory unshattered by time, she relates many historical events in a well delineated manner that indicates a parentage above the mediocrity.

She remembers well the soldiers of Gen. Jackson, and can relate incidents connected with the War of 1812. She told the writer which illustrates the longevity of her mind about as follows:

When Jackson was fighting, I was living in old Salem, a number of his soldiers took dinner at my masters one day, when whiskey begin scare, one of the soldiers drank during the meal, thirty cups of coffee. I remember distinctly of handing him that number for I was waiting upon the table and counted every cup. My arms ached when I was done passing it.

Among other things she remember the Lewis tragedy that occurred about five miles from Smithland, when she was twelve years old and account of which was published in the Cumberland Wave some sever years ago, and which we will republish if a file of the Wave containing it can be obtained.

(On the Crittenden County, 1850 census, the name is spelled Threlkill. Matilda died after the 1880 census, no information on her actual death date or place of burial. Her burial location might possibly be in the Old Marion Negro Cemetery located at the end of Weldon Street. She had three children Howell, Zerilda and Fredonia Threlkill/Threlkeld, listed on the 1850 census.)

Added Note 8/24/2026

County Court Order Book,7, Page 250, June 11, 1883

It appearing to the sanctification of the Court that Matilda Threlkeld colored is very aged and a cripple and in destitute circumstances and is a real object of charity and having applied to this Court for the sum of $24 dollars to aid her in her distressed circumstances, It is therefore ordered by the Court she has and she is hereby allowed $24.00 for the purpose and aforesaid said sum payable quarterly in advance that is $6 per quarter to be paid by the Sheriff, and said Sheriff shall have credit for same in his settlement and G. C. Gray is appointed a committee to receive said amount from the sheriff and expend same for her as aforesaid.

The Haunted Bridge - By Miss Ruby Dean, 1978

The Haunted Bridge –

Near the turn of the century (1890-1910) there was in Crittenden County a small bridge which was known for miles around as the ha'nted bridge.

 

Where was it located and what were the circumstances which led to this strange phenomenon?

 

Well, it was on the old Shady Grove road, then a dirt road, between Deanwood and Shady Grove.

 

Traveling toward the latter from Deanwood, you crossed Piney Creek by way of the iron bridge, long since gone, turned rather sharpy to the right for a short distance, then to the left, and began the long climb up Piney Hill.

 

About midway up this rocky steep, a stream cut through a sort of gorge on the left and made a swash across the road. This necessitated a crossing which resulted in a loosely thrown up bridge with wide cracks between the heavy boards.

 

Often when I crossed it, I wondered what kept horses from stumbling there.

 

It was in a ravine just to the right of this spot that the ha'nt reportedly appeared, in the shape of a person, headless, arms outstretched and draped in gauzy white. It floated back and forth, sometimes higher, sometimes lower, but always at a distance.

 

Now this unidentified floating apparition never harmed anyone in anyway, shape or form, during all the years of its habitation there, and probably would never have been remembered except for the difficulty it caused passersby who were riding or driving horses. In such cases, always at night, the horses would rear, try to turn back and in some instances absolutely refuse to go another step.

 

A doctor once had to return to his home and ask a friend to accompany him on his call. It seemed that when two or more persons crossed the bridge together, the ghost remained in hiding.

 

Whether this non-understandable phantom was the result of trickery and or deviltry played by human hands, or whether it was an inexplicable phenomenon of nature, has not been determined to this day.

 

In fact, it has been years since I heard anyone even so much as mention the ha'nted bridge. But, sometimes, when and if you are traveling eastward on the Shady Grove road, at night and alone, and get about halfway up Piney Hill, you might just take a peek into the ravine to the right of the culvert there, which bridges the self-same stream at the self-same place as did the haunted bridge, and see if by any chance you see any signs of a headless form in white.

 

Who knows? This ha'nt must might at some point in time, at its own discretion and pleasure, choose to revisit old haunts! 

 (Another wonderful story written by Miss Ruby Dean.  wish I could have known her.)

(This bridge was replaced in 1934 with a concrete bridge)

Crittenden County's Second Covered Bridge - The Irma Covered Bridge

 

 Crittenden County's only other covered bridge was located at Irma and spanned Coefield Creek.  It was located on the Irma-Salem road or S.R. 723, 2.5 miles south of Irma.  

In 2013 I talked with Carol and Margaret Croft, who lived on the Carol Croft Road off of S.R. 723.  Mr. Croft has since passed away, but I'll always be grateful to him for sharing his memories with me.  

They also shared this wonderful one-of-its-kind picture with me.  The boys on the bicycles are Jesse and Harry Porter.  I believe this may be the only picture available of this old covered bridge.

Mr. Croft told me the covered bridge was rather large, and it was about the length of four cars. He told me that he remembered when he was about 9 or 10, in 1936-37, that he and the Porter boys, Jess and Harry, would climb in the rafters of the bridge and when the Pepsi truck would pass through on its round from the Lewis Croft Store going to the store at Irma, they would grab them a Pepsi. As the truck would go through the bridge and exit out the other side there was a high spot on the road that made the back of the truck rise up in the air as it cleared the bridge. What a special treat for these 3 young boys, as it must have been a quite an adventure as they waited until just the right time to grab their prize drink. 

 

He also remembered another time he and his brother were loading loose hay on their wagon to take to their barn on the Raleigh Rd. (now the Carol Croft Rd.) and wanting to get through faster, they overloaded the hay wagon by piling the hay too high, as the too-high-piled wagon exited the covered bridge over the rise, the hay was caught by the rafters and pulled off the wagon. He smiled and said it took them longer to reload it than it would have to made two trips.

 

I'm sure the old covered bridge would have many stories to tell us if it was still here and could talk. I not only got to enjoy these wonderful memories and history of the old covered bridge, but Mr. and Mrs. Croft shared some other pieces of history of the area with me. Mr. Croft said me the area around where the old bridge was located was called Porterville, because of all the Porter families living there. Mrs. Croft showed me the old Liberty Grove Christian Church that you could see from their home. It is now a family dwelling. She remembers attending church there, and the revivals, homecomings and dinners on home-made tables underneath the trees. But like so many of the country churches it had to close its doors due to lack of membership and lack of interest.

 

The old covered bridge had gotten in really bad condition and was torn down in the 1950's as the new concrete bridge that was constructed down stream was built and ready for use in 1959.

Happenings in January 1923, 100 years ago

 Let's take a trip back in our past history 100 years ago, to the beginning of the new year in January 1923. From the archives of The Crittenden Press we find these interesting headlines.

***

Court House News

Owing to the very favorable weather the January meeting of the County Court drew a big crowd from all sections of the county.

The examining trail of George Rushing charged with shooting Eugene Travis Friday night of last week was held before County Judge E. Jeffrey Travis and he was held under a $1500 bond for his appearance before the grand jury at the next term of Circuit County.

George Rushing plead guilty to the charge of carrying concealed deadly weapon and was given a fine of $50 by the court.

The will of the late Maurie Y. Nunn was filed for probate. Dr. Frederick W. Nunn was made administrator of the estate and the children of the deceased were made beneficiaries.

***

Pool Tobacco House Opens

The tobacco warehouse of the Dark Tobacco Growers Co-operative Association near the Illinois Central Station opened Thursday for receiving crops of members of the Association. Mr. Sidney T. Dupuy is general manager and Mr. Henry K. Woods is bookkeeper.

In order to avoid a rush and to facilitate the handling of the tobacco this management requires that before a member delivers his crop he first comes and registers and have a date fixed to make the delivery. Enough crops have already been registered for delivery to occupy Thursday, Friday and Monday.

***

Railway Agent Makes Report

During the calendar year there were received at Marion depot, 233 carloads of coal, or approximately 11,000 tons. There was shipped from Marion during the year, 64,439,915 pounds of fluorspar, or approximately 32,200 tons. This required approximately 800 cars to move these shipments. I am sure that everyone living in Marion wants Marion to stand at the front at all times and you can do your part of keeping the Marion depot up to the standard of I. C. stations by purchasing Round Trip Tickets when you start on a journey. Revenue is what it takes to keep a railroad office up to the standard and by purchasing round trip tickets you help increase our station's revenue and keep us at the front.

***

Eastern Capital Invest in Crittenden County Mine.

Big deals have just been consummated and are announced by A. A. Northern of Hopkinsville, president of the Kentucky Fluor Spar Company, of this county, whereby practically unlimited outside capital has become interested.

The Kentucky Fluorspar Company was the first to begin the production of fluorspar on a commercial basis in Kentucky, 20 years ago. It is the third largest producer of fluorspar in the United States and the second largest producer of ground fluorspar and the only producer of ground spar in Kentucky.

Its activities have been handicapped for lack of adequate finances. Just last week a deal was closed whereby strong financial interest in Illinois, who are associated with eastern capitalists, became permanently interested in the holdings. The Kentucky Fluorspar Company owns and controls twelve properties, the largest single assembly of similar properties in the world.

Not only have the Illinois interests become associated with this company now, but an option to purchase out right has been given on four of the chief properties to one of the subsidiaries of the steel corporation. This is a six months option and it is believed the holders will close it, and this means the direct interest of the steel companies in the spar producing filed.

The purchase price under this option is reported as being half a million dollars. With the securing of this outside capital the fluorspar industry in Kentucky is expected to come really into is own for the first time.

***

Measles Epidemic Covers County

From reports coming in it appears that Crittenden county is now in the grip of the worst epidemic of measles that has ever visited this part of the state. No community in any section of the county is exempt from the disease and physicians report a very busy time.

County Superintendent J. L. F. Paris reports that the epidemic has played havoc with the attendance at all the schools, especially of the rural schools, and that while there has been no official closing authorized, a number of teachers have closed their schools for want of attendance. While the attendance of the city schools has fallen off on account of the disease, the effect has not been so appreciable as in those of the county districts.

A few cases of influenza, many cases of grip, and severe colds are also reported.

***

Bells Mines Now Scene of Activity

These old hills covered with boulders, black jack and oak, all but abandoned farms, indeed the old tramway used for getting coal to the river in the days of Robert E. Lee and the Natchez, are now covered for miles with scores of busy men, teamsters, engineers, machinists, electricians, miners, carpenters, a center of industry has sprung into being within the year and a good sized town of at least twenty dwellings are cozily housing men and their families who are reaping the reward of industry, taking a fortune from the treasure cove of the earth.

It seems impossible that all of this could be accomplished in a year and without steam or even a passable country road. Nevertheless it is true and nothing but a visit to the works of the Bell Coal and Navigation Company will make the size of the accomplishment comprehensible. It is stupendous. It is remarkable and every scrape of the hundreds of tons of massive machinery and equipment has gone through Sturgis and one out on the muddy trail.

Four men have always believed in the possibilities of this coal pile. One of them, Col. Scott, has passed on to his heavenly reward, but not until he saw the work started in fulfillment of his dream. Clarence Wilson of Sturgis has worked for years to get the mine in operation. W. K. Kavanaugh of St. Louis has long been a believer and was finally the angel to come with the fortune necessary to complete development.

Last but not least, through it all we have seen the patient smile, at time almost sad smile, but always a smile, of Superintendent Herbert. "Old, Man" Herbert the others call him when he is absent, but his reference has more to do with his position as daddy of the works than as referring to his age.

As a result of all of this belief and constant endeavor, three mines are producing coal, steel barges are taking it to market, doing all they can to supply the trade, while the work of development and new construction is going doggedly forward.

***

J. N. Boston and 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 mill work is un-excelled and their business is built upon years of good service.

***

These are a few of the important things going on in our county at this time 100 years ago.

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.