A History
Of Marion County's
City Of
Bradfordsville
City
Named For Adam Bradford,
Who
Came To The Rolling Fork Area in 1802
Editor's Note: For years Eula Ray
Kirkland of Grand Switch, Kentucky, has been gathering information
on the city of Bradfordsville, Marion County, Kentucky. She has
compiled all these facts and is graciously sharing them with The
Explorer and our readers. She has done extensive research at the
Marion County Courthouse, the Marion County Library, and has talked
to many residents of Bradfordsville.
Marion County was formed from Washington County on January 25,
1834.
Compiled by Eula Ray Kirkland - 2003
The first note of settlement in the
Bradsfordsville area was in 1777, one year after the Declaration
of Independence was signed. Edward Hammond claimed a tract of
land of 400 acres below the joining of the North and South Fork
rivers, known as the Rolling Fork River. Legal papers verifying
this are on file in the land commis-sioner's office dated November
2, 1779.
The Long Hunters, whose job was seeking out property with valuable
timber and suitable places to homestead, found the valley very
beautiful. John McMurry came to this area in 1776, to raise corn
and clear land. John was one of 13 men, who were from Virginia,
known as the Long Hunters. After John proved himself clearing
the land and raising corn, he was granted a preemption on 1,000
acres of land in Kentucky on June 23, 1780, on Rolling Fork, known
as McMurry Flats. The Felix Gribbins and Fred Marlow farms, as
known in 1999, were part of this property. John McMurry's oldest
daughter, Margaret (Peggy), who married John Scanland, Sr., on
February 26, 1805, in Washington County, Kentucky, was carried
on horseback by her mother, when the family moved to Kentucky.
John Simpson and James Wilson, who were Long Hunters, also settled
in this area.
In 1789 there was an historical committee meeting in Bradfordsville,
with the purpose of deciding a place to build a Presbyterian Church
in the area. Those serving on this committee were James McBride;
Samuel McElroy; James McElroy; John Simpson; Thomas Simpson; John
McMurry; James Wilson John McElroy; and Rev. Thomas Cleland, Sr.
It was their decision to build the church on Hardin's Creek, now
known as Lebanon.
John Henry Bradford,
1851-1909, is buried in the Old Liberty Cemetery. Bradfordsville,
Kentucly. He was the grandnephew of Adam Bradford.
A most interesting family, descending
from Monarch Brian Baru of Ireland, ended up in this area. One
of John Hite's family sailed to Ireland to recruit settlers for
the valley of Virginia and fell in love with Brian O'Bannon's
lovely, young daughter on the return voyage. The O'Bannon's settled
in the Fauquier-Culpeper area, where they prospered mightily.
James O'Bannon came to Kentucky down the Cumberland and stopped
at Logan's Fort near Stanford. There he met Mary Logan, who he
married, and came to this area. They lived somewhere near where
the Bradfords later lived and are buried in the O'Bannon Cemetery
located behind the Bradford House. They were living where they
could see where the North and South Forks met, forming the Rolling
Fork River. James drowned in the Rolling Fork on February 11,
1809. The family remained in the area, and later, one married
into the Coppage family.
Adam and Peter Bradford, who were brothers, left Snow Hill, Maryland,
in 1788 and went to Orange County, Virginia. They separated there.
Peter went to Somerset, Pennsylvania, married and purchased 156
acres of land on May 20, 1801. He sold this property on January
30, 1809, and came to Kentucky with his wife, Margaret. In the
meantime Adam went to Sequatche Valley in Tennessee, where he
married Nancy Cole. Adam and Nancy had four children. Nancy died
in 1802. Only one son, William, lived and came with his father
to the new frontier of Kentucky, looking for a place to settle.
They came upon a valley that struck them with its tucky, which
spot was pointed out as where the North and South Forks join.
On September 7, 1825, a petition was filed in Washington County
court to establish the town as Centerville. The town was laid
out by Dr. Joseph Rose, who came from Pennsylvania in 1824. James
Bradford told him they needed a doctor and thought he could do
well at Bradford's Mill. Dr. Joseph Rose had been in a glass manufacturing
company, which had gone broke. He was in the business with several
others, but he was left with the debt. He was able to pay off
the debt after he came to Bradford's Mill.
Betty Purdy Hotel
located in Bradfordsville, Marion County, Kentucky, durin the
late 1800s. Standing, l-r: Verda burke, Watt Thornton, Lyda Wright,
Edna Thornton, Lyda Wright, Edna thornton Drye, Fleece Hocker,
and Ethel McBride. Seated, center, Warren Breeding and Etta Purdy
Arvitt. Seated, front, Jim Kirkland and Myrtle Crews Gartin.
(Photo
courtesy of Eula R. Kirkland.)
Following is the petition that was
submitted to the Washington County Court:
To the worshipful, the county court of Washington County, your
petitioners would pray and solicit this worshipful court to establish
a town upon Dabney Tucker's Plantation on the Rolling Fork in
Washington County. They would represent to this honorable court
that there are few more eligible situations for a town than this.
They would represent that this site is a considerable distance
from any other town in the county, which reason, with the many
others, prove the necessity of its establishment. They hope for
the indulgence of the law in this special case and in duty bound
September 7, 1825. The board consisted of James H. Tucker; Robert
Wright; Moses Burnett; William B. Shreve; Green Gay; Booker Wilkinson;
Charles Dyer; James McMurry; Matthew Tucker; Richard Chandler;
Stephen Gartin; James L. Tucker; John Tucker; Samuel Kennett;
James Bradford; John Pope; Squire Bates; John Wayman, Sr.; Basil
Speaks; James V. Mahan; Levi Fairs; Hudson Watkins; Ignatius Abell;
John Isaac; John Bradford; Dabney Tucker; George Roberts; Robert
Burnett; William ?; Garrett VanDyke; Joseph Rose; John Reed; and
John Scanland, Sr.
The town continued to be called Bradford's Mill. The Act of 1835-36
of the General Assembly, Commonwealth of Kentucky, Chapter 75,
was the Act to establish the town of Bradfordsville and appoint
trustees. It follows:
Section 1: Be it enacted by the general assembly of the Commonwealth
of Kentucky that the town formerly laid off in Marion County by
Joseph Rose, shall be, and the same is hereby established, upon
the plan as laid down by the plat of said town, and the said town
shall be known and called by the name of Bradfordsville.
Section 2: Be it further enacted, that Micajah Malone, William
M. Chelf, William F. Scanland, James Bradford, and Joseph Rose,
are hereby constituted trustees for said town, who shall continue
in office for one year, from and after the first day of May next,
until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
Section 3: Be it further enacted that the free white male inhabitants
of said town, over the age of 21 years, shall meet annually and
elect their trustees in such manner as they think proper.
Section 4: That the trustees of said town shall have power to
appoint town officers and establish all by-laws, which they may
deem necessary for the government of said town provide the said
by-laws be not inconsistent with the constitution or laws of this
Commonwealth.
Section 5: Be it further enacted that the said trustees shall,
by a unanimous voice, add such found to the said town, as they
may think proper.
This Act was approved on January 29, 1836.
The state later developed the act of incorporation and on February
27, 1860, the town became incorporated. By this time Bradfordsville
had a post office. The first rural post office in Kentucky started
in 1834. William Henry "Uncle Free" Austin was the first
rural carrier in Bradfordsville and second in Kentucky. Once his
wife, Clemmie Morrison Austin, had to take tea kettles of boiling
water to thaw Uncle Free's boots loose from his saddle.
There were three churches: Bradsfordville Christian Church, Bradfordsville
Methodist Church, and Liberty Meeting House (Presbyterian Church)
located at Old Liberty Cemetery, which was organized in 1813.
There were two hotels: the Yowell Hotel and Livery Stable and
Purdy Hotel. There was a tan yard, a saw mill, a hat factory (the
first factory in Marion County), a broom factory, a wool or carding
business, and a grist mill.
In 1866 Henry White Bradford rebuilt the Bradford House, which
stands in 2003 in very poor condition. This was the first house
in the area to have running water. It was a gravity system with
a windmill and tank on a hill forcing water down to the house.
Home College was
an independent and fully accredited college. It was built of brick
from the kiln in Bradfordsville, Marion County, Kentucky. The
college was in operation from 1866 to about 1901.
(Photo
courtesy of Eula R. Kirkland.)
During the fire on February 8, 1865,
the Yowell Hotel and Livery Stable were destroyed, along with
the tavern connected to the hotel. Curb stones still remain along
the street in front of where the hotel was located.
Dr. Joseph Rose's home, located across from Rose Cemetery, was
a brick home and burned on February 8, 1865.
The sawmill, on the river side of the street, was burned and helped
fuel the fire that destroyed the town. Many other buildings and
homes were destroyed, and there were several injured and killed
as a result of defending their homes.
Mr. Jim Cager Yates, the Burke brothers, and Walter W. Crews helped
to rebuild and establish the town.
In 1866 Home College was built on land owned in 2003 by James
Robert and Patsy Hardesty Kirkland. The location is above the
sewage plant on the point of the hill in front of their home.
The college was independent and was fully accredited by the state.
It was built of brick from the kiln in Bradfordsville. This brick
was used later to build Rolling Fork Bank. Home College was incorporated
on January 28, 1866. The first board of trustees were: James Yowell;
John Arvitt, Sr.; Dr. James H. Tucker, Jr.; Moses M. Beard; Travis
Thornton; and John Arvitt, Sr.
Teachers known to have taught at Home College were: Governor Augustus
O. Stanley, who taught Greek and Latin; Dr. J. C. Fales, who married
first, the daughter of Thomas Cleland, married second, Amanda
Helm, daughter of Joseph Helm of Danville, Kentucky; Amanda Weatherford
Yowell; Dr. Clem Hill; and Jasper Snodgrass. Students known to
have attended the Home College are: Ethel Gay Tatum Rawlings,
Millard Thornton, Fannie Helm, Sallie Helm, Hattie Crews Newcomb,
Edna Thornton Drye, Verna Glasscock Willis (sister of Raymond
Glasscock), Sallie Spalding Overstreet, and Dr. James C. Rawlings.
In November 1897 Tom Douglas rented the Joseph and Isabelle Surber
Home and opened a new hotel. This was a log building that Junior
Sherrill tore down, and he built a new home and was living there
in 1999. After the Surber Hotel closed, Mrs. Florence Mullins
ran a boardinghouse for several years. She had two daughters,
one was named Sarah Longmire.
Behind the Lewis and Drye Department Store was the Shugars and
Dinwiddie Drug Store. This store was sold to D. O. Burke.
Augustus Ryder, born in 1810, was a merchant from Germany. He
lived in Bradfordsville with John and Sally Coppage Yowell. Augustus
worked in Lewis Crittenden Rawling's store in Bradfordsville.
He never married and left the land for Ryder Cemetery in Lebanon.
John N. Scanland built a large home in 1780 next to where the
Christian Church is today. Hiram and Althalinde W. Poole bought
the property and sold it to Lewis Crittenden and Susan Crawford
Riley Rawlings on November 4, 1883. Hiram Poole was an engraver
for tombstones, and many in the Old Liberty Cemetery bare his
name.
The Bradfordsville Overall Manufacturing Company made Elk Brand
overalls where the telephone office was on Middle Street, located
behind the Baptist church. They sold $5,000 worth of stock at
$50 per share: J. C. Yates, 20; J. O. Beard, ten; W. F. Purdy,
12; A. D. Purdy, 14; Lewis and Drye, ten; J. R. Breeding, six;
H. H. Reynierson, four; Will McBride, four; W. A, Thornton, two;
18 shares to be taken. (Business commenced March 18, 1907.) Directors
were J. C. Yates, E. C. Lewis, A. D. Purdy, J. C. Beard, W. F.
Purdy, and H. H. Reynierson. Miss Effie Dohoney was reportedly
the first lady foreman in Kentucky.
In the Rice Bradford home there was a private school taught by
Annie Newcomb. This was a log home located at the corner of present
River Drive and Third Street. Annie Newcomb was a sister of Gilbert
Newcomb's father. Rice Bradford married first, Anne Raber; married
second, Janie Wright of Bradfordsville.
Dr. John J. Fleece and James Hall started the Masons at Bradfordsville
in 1844. The Lodge number is 136. In 1877 the Masonic Lodge was
on the second floor of the Union Chapel where the present day
Bradfordsville Baptist Church is located.
The Union Chapel was used by the Presbyterian, Baptist, and Methodist
denominations. Some of the pastors were Rev. J. W. Campbell in
1903, Rev. Mahoney in 1905, and Rev. T. M. Wood. Harvey B. Dean
gave $500 to the chapel, so the Presbyterian preachers would continue
to be paid. The preacher was only paid a dollar or two per week.
Bradfordsville Roller Mills was located where the last house on
the right on Highway 49 North is located, before you come to bridge.
The flour brands were Lafayette and Alpine Snow. The mill was
owned by Baker Terhune and sons. This mill was later known as
Terhune and Lapsley. Dewitt Taylor was shot by his step-father,
Lucian C. Owsley, at the Terhune and Lapsley Mill. The Owsleys
lived across the road where James Robert Kirkland presently lives.
It is said that blood stains were visible on the floor for a long
time. Roy Bateman placed a candle where it caught shucks on fire
and the mill burned. Jimmie Yowell was so excited he put his britches
on backwards, and Mr. Sam May, who lived across the road, brought
a lantern so they could see to put out the fire. Mr. Lewis VanDyke
rode a horse across the river to the fire.
The bridge across Rolling Fork River was started in 1904, and
in 1905 the people still couldn't cross and were anxious for the
completion. The bridge across South Fork was completed in 1911.
Burke's Carpenter Shop was where Sam's Used Car Lot is presently
located. The shop was run by Calimese Burke. He died in the building,
and the building was thought to be haunted afterward.
The Lexington Theological Seminary verified that in December 1840,
a Rev. L. Merritt reported he had baptized, for the congregation
of Bradfordsville Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, and had
been working with them the last seven years. In 1920 they verified
the church had 200 members. It is still uncertain when the church
started, but it goes back to at least 1833. This was Dr. Joseph
Rose's land, where the first church was built. Rose was very religious
and when he died 1849, he probably gave the land for the church.
In September 1896 the new Christian Church building, built by
D. C., Matt, and Will Burke, was dedicated by Ira M. Boswell.
Two of the pastors were Joe Montgomery and a Brother Wyatt.
The Powell Building, owned by Don V. Drye, was at the corner across
from the Christian church where Bird's Place is presently located.
The Bradfordsville Post Office was on the first floor. Mr. J.
R. Breeding was postmaster. The second floor was used for apartments,
and the top floor was used as community theatre. Ms. Lucille VanDyke
remembers being in a production there. Fire destroyed the building
on February 2, 1929. Carl Overstreet and Gilbert Newcomb were
able to get the mail out of the post office. The fire was started
by someone putting ashes down the elevator shaft. The apartments
were occupied by Cassie Bright and Mr. and Mrs. Joe Cabell. The
telephone exchange was also in this building. Rakes Motor Company
and a blacksmith shop were located in the rear.
Alford Graves Crews, born April 3, 1875, and died February 2,
1942, is buried in the Old Liberty Cemetery. He married Fannie
Followell. Alford and Fannie were parents of Essie Crews Morgeson.
Alford was a native of Illinois. He owned the building that burned
on February 2, 1929. His home was also in the building.
The original Fred Milburn building, which later was known as the
R. M. (Dick) Chelf building, was destroyed by fire on February
2, 1929. The building also housed Wallace Raney's barber shop
and a poolroom.
Bradfordsville City School was built by Walter Crews around the
turn of the century. This was a subscription school run by the
city. It was a grade and high school which still stands. Some
of the students were: Frances Thornton Tucker, Everett Tucker,
Hazel Woodrum Lis, Gilbert Newcomb, and Linnie Swiggett Raney.
Burt Hogan found a book where Linnie made the highest grades in
the school.
Some of the teachers at Bradfordsville City School were: Nell
Fallis; Janette McDonald, who was L. C. Richardson's aunt; Mr.
Fales; Gene Bohanon; Hubert Keltner; Mrs. Sam Tharp; Beulah Bradford
Pipes; Carlos Burkhead; Professor Lucy, who had been a college
professor; and Gilbert England, who married Betsy Dahoney. Their
son Kenneth played basketball for the University of Kentucky,
then went to war. They had another son, Harold.
Retherford (Red) Yowell owned a building in back of Lewis and
Drye's store warehouse. Lewis and Drye opened the store in 1905,
on the corner where Bird's Place is now. They started a department
store in a frame building across the street known as the Poole
and Avritt building. In 1910 they moved the frame building back
and used it for undertaking and a supply department. This was
when they built the new brick department store that was opened
in 1911. This became the biggest retail and wholesale business
in central Kentucky. "From the cradle to the grave"
became a popular term to describe the large variety of services
they offered. The basement housed Kuloff, which was an ice cream
parlor and place of entertainment for the community.
In 1930s Bradfordsville acquired the waterworks from Don V. Drye.
Dr. George Graham Thornton graduated from the University of Louisville
in 1886. He practiced in Gravel Switch. He owned the first car
in Marion County. He bought it from Sears. He closed his office
in the Masonic building in 1935, making home visits by horseback.
In 1954 the Marion County School Board closed the high school,
causing much opposition. There was a one year strike with many
of the students attending Hustonville High School. The parents
furnished a bus to transport the pupils. There were many meetings
and trips to Frankfort opposing the closing, but they lost the
fight.
The grade school remained until 1984, when it was also discontinued.
The Rolling Fork Bank was started September 2, 1901. The cashier
was Roy C. Smith; and directors were: J. H. Glasscock, T. C. Purdy,
W. W. Crews, W. J. Shreve, Manuel Evans, H, H. Reyneirson, R.
H. Yowell, J. C. Yates, and J. C. Beard.
The Owen Harmon Grocery Store was where Superior Grocery is today,
and it burned. Burt Hogan and James Mullins rebuilt the store.
After several years James Mullins purchased the store and sold
it to Billy Higdon. Eugene Young ran the store for Billy Higdon,
then Wayne Hancock bought it. Doug Ray owns the store today.
Newbolt School was on the Everett Tucker property. This was a
subscription school and later renamed Cabin Branch School.
Earl Hancock ran a grocery store. It burned and a new store, with
apartments, was rebuilt. It is now an all apartment building owned
by Johnnie Wiser.
In February 1903 H. H. Reynierson sold one-half interest in his
store to Edgar C. Lewis.
Henry Veatch lived about where Bradfordsville Garage is now. He
was a barber and his shop was between where the Masonic building
and Oatley Burke's store were located.
H. C. Walker had a grist mill and store located where Sam's Supersave
is presently located. His daughter was Bess Walker Breeding. They
had a son Bob. The Walkers lived where Dorothy Evans Chelf now
lives.
On the back street Aunt Jane Hocker lived in a log home. Charlie
Cochran was living there when the home burned. This was the old
city hall and it was a tavern at one time.
Gilbert Newcomb and Leonard Lane built and ran a plumbing supply
store. It was converted into a home and David Edelen now lives
there.
Mrs. Nannie Burke ran Burke's Drygoods and made hats upstairs.
Mollie Avritt worked there. The store was later ran by Oatley
Burke, then Horace Gribbins, then it was the T. T. Hogan Store.
Now Sam Wright has a restaurant and a laundrymat. This is the
oldest business house left in Bradfords-ville.
The Turner Rakes family died in a fire on February 28, 1937. Six
children were killed that day, and Turner lived until April 2,
1937. The fire was at the gap near the Taylor County line.
U. A. Stuart, a Confederate soldier, was from Bradfordsville and
lived in the Jones Fork area.
Mr. Jesse Abell had the first automobile wreck in Marion County.
There was a harness racing track located on Liberty Meetinghouse
Road on the Grundy farm, presently owned by Bernard Luckett. The
area had several forts for protection from the Indians as this
was their "happy hunting" grounds. They especially liked
to stay close to the river. The Kennett Fort was located above
Bradfordsville on the present Steve Whitehouse farm. The fort
was supplied by a large spring, which is still supplying water
today. There was another fort up the North Rolling Fork River
known as Swan-Isaac Dever Fort. It was located on the Jimmy Glasscock
farm. Also on the Kedron-Buffalo Road was a fort known as Rawlings
Taylor Fort. This is located on the farm known as Rawlings farm
owned by Richard and Eula Ray Kirkland. Up the North Rolling Fork
River about another mile was the Gray Fort. It is just over the
Boyle County line as you go up the river.
The Indians also had forts in the area. There was one located
earlier just one field away from where the Gray Fort was located
on the Hogan farm owned by Richard and Eula Ray Kirkland.
On the Henley Taylor farm the researchers from the University
of Kentucky found evidence that there was an Indian fort on the
Henley Taylor farm on the hill above the Kedron Bridge. This property
is also owned by Richard and Eula Ray Kirkland.
Eula Ray Kirkland, 7245 HWY 337,
Gravel Switch, KY 40328, shares this article with our readers.
