John P. Parker, UR conductor; follow-up on
previous articles; Indian raids; & the
Cadwallader tragedy
By William M. Talley
(use the "Contact Us" form to comment on Dr. Talley's columns)
The Story of John P. Parker
The month of February was designated as Black History Month, so we are a bit
late in bringing to you some history appropriate for that month and interesting
to this community.
Frequently we are asked if Vanceburg was a part of the Underground Railroad
(UR). The answer is: Not exactly. The most active towns involved in that project
were Portsmouth, Maysville and Ripley. The reason is simple: There was not a
line of safe houses on the Ohio side of the river at Vanceburg and there were
no known Abolition sympathizers on that side of the river to help the fleeing
men and their families. The only incidents we have come across that even
relate indirectly to the UR are these:
(1) a Mr. Kissick on Quicks Run, acting as a bounty hunter, arrested a group of
slaves from Fleming County, who had mistakenly followed Quick’s Run instead
of Cabin Creek to the Ohio River; and (2) a Miss Cottingham and her future
husband, both of whom had moved to Ohio and taken up the abolition cause,
were sued by other family members for allegedly enticing one of their slaves
to flee across the Ohio River to their home near West Union, Ohio, so he could
connect there with the UR.
Recently, Harvey Denham called my attention to the book, “His Promised
Land,” edited by Stuart Seely Sprague (Morehead State University). This
intriguing book is actually an autobiography of John P. Parker, a Black slave
who, after many tribulations, finally made it to the Ohio River and settled at
Ripley, Ohio, to open an iron foundry. Many of his farming implements and
tools still exist and are prized by those who possess them.
John P. Parker (1827-1900) was born into slavery near Norfolk, Virginia, the son
of a Black woman and a white man, supposedly a member of the Virginia
“aristocracy.” He was forced to walk from Norfolk to Richmond, Virginia, where
he was then sold and forced to march to Mobile, Alabama. This brutal journey,
where his only solace was that of helping weaker captives survive, helped him
cement his feelings about the brutality and violence of slavery. Actually, the
experience laid the foundation for his later obsession in helping others win
their freedom by becoming a conductor on the UR.
In Mobile, Parker was purchased by a doctor who exhibited some sense of
humanity toward him. The doctor’s sons helped Parker to learn to read, even
though it was illegal to teach a slave to read. He became a good friend of one
of the doctor’s patients and made an agreement with her to let him purchase
himself for $1,800, paying the sum from the proceeds of his work. This was an
unusually high price, but he was young and strong and possessed the skills of
an iron worker. Within a year and a half, he managed to pay the widow the
entire sum. His trip up the Mississippi and his mistreatment by those who did
not believe he was a free man, were incredible. His intention was to settle at
New Albany, Indiana, where he could secure a job in the iron working industry
but he eventually moved to Ripley, Ohio, where he opened his own foundry.
In 1848, Parker married Miranda Boulden, a native of Cincinnati, and they
started their own family. In Ripley, Parker found a satisfying homeland --one
where he could run his foundry and in the evening work with his co-
abolitionists to help run-away slaves to cross the river and connect with Rev.
Rankin who connected them with the UR. In addition to helping slaves escape,
he assisted many of the fleeing men to join the Union army in the Civil War.
None of this was easy for Parker. There were financial setbacks, discouraging
difficulties with his foundry, and the constant fear of being attacked or killed
while helping the stream of humanity crossing the Ohio River.
Two of his sons, Hale Giddings Parker (born 1851) and Cassius Clay Parker
(born 1854), were educated at Oberlin College. Another son, Horatio W. Parker
became a school principal and a postal clerk.
Parker had three daughters: Bianca (born 1871), Portia (born 1865) and
Hortense (born 1859). The latter was one of the first African-American
graduates of Mt. Holyoke College. Several members of the family, in adulthood,
moved to St. Louis.
The John P. Parker home, still standing on the river bank at Ripley, is in the
process of being restored.
This book (c1996) is an inspiring story that has no boring interludes. I highly
recommend it for your education.
Two further comments
Mike Mineer, president of the CDT Bank, tells me that he has a shovel with the
imprint of “Samuel Parker” on it. We are not able to connect this with John P.
Parker at this point, but we would like to know something about Samuel Parker.
On a more humorous note, in one of my classes at McGill University, one of my
students, who was Black, informed me in his paper that his great-grandfather
helped build the Underground Railroad. After class, I asked him to speak to me
about it, and afterwards he went away an embarrassed but wiser young man.
More letters
A few weeks ago we published an article made up entirely of interesting old
letters. Prior to that we had published an article on the life and war experience
of James J. Andrews, of Flemingsburg, who stole the railroad engine, “The
General,” and tried to run it to Huntsville, Alabama, while along the route
attempting to destroy railroad bridges and tracks so as to destroy a critical
supply line to the Confederate Army. He was a native of Hancock County,
Virginia, coming to Flemingsburg in 1859, but we know nothing of his family in
Virginia. He was hanged in Atlanta, Georgia, for this action.
Andrews’s will is recorded in Fleming County Will Book I, page 334, and it is in
the form of a letter he wrote to his friend, D.S. McGavic. The complete copy
follows:
D.S. McGavic,
Flemingsburg , Ky.
Dear Sir: You will doubtless be surprised to hear from me from this place and
more surprised to hear that I am to be executed on the 7th inst. [June 1862] for
attempting to capture and run a train from the Western and Atlantic RR to
Huntsville, Alabama, for the use of General Mitchell. I had a party of twenty
detailed men from the 2, 21 and 33 Ohio Regiments with me. We succeeded in
getting possession of the train and traveled with it some eight of eighty five
miles when on account of one extra train’s being on the road we were
compelled to abandon the train. The party scattered and trying to make our way
back on foot the whole party ware [sic] captured.
I was taken on the 14th of April. I am satisfied that I could easily have got away
had they not put a pack of Dogges on my trail. It was impossible to elude them.
Was tried by court marshall [sic] and rec’d. my sentence on the last day of May
inst. On the week before the time of my execution on Monday morning the 2nd
I made an attempt to escape. I succeeded in getting out of prison and ran by
the guard, they shooting at me but not hitting me. The whole country was
immediately swarmed with soldiers.
I succeeded in eluding them until Tuesday about two o’clock when I was
captured and will be executed on Saturday. The sentence seems a hard one
for the crime proven against me but I suppose the court that tried me thought
otherwise. I have now calmly submitted to my fate and have been earnestly
engaged in preparing to meet my God in peace and I have found that a peace
of mind and tranquility of sole [sic] that even astonish myself.
I never supposed it possible a man could feel so entire a change under similar
circumstances.
How I would love to have one hour’s chat with you, but this I shall never have
in this life but hope and pray we may meet in heaven where the troubles and
trials of this life never enter. What the fate of the balance of the party will be I
am unable to say but I hope they will not share the fate of their leader; if they
ever return home two or three of them will call on you and the rest of the
friends and I hope you will receive them kindly. They are noble fellows and will
give you a full history of my fate. I shall write to some two or three more before
my execution. Tell J.B. Jackson should there be any claims that I neglected to
settle to pay them and keep the horse. I don’t think there are any but there may
be. In regard to other matters do exactly as instruction before I left. I have
received no letters from Flemingsburg, since I left I wrote several but never
rec’d any answers.
Please read this letter to Mrs. Eckles and tell her what I have thought of her
kindness many times and that I hope we may meet in Heaven where we shall
enjoy the presence of the Lord forever. Give my kindest regards to Mr. Eckels,
also according to the course and nature. It will not be long until we shall meet
in that happy country, blessed though. Remember me also to the young ladies
of Flemingsburg, especially to Miss Kate Wallingford and Miss Nannie Baxter.
Hoping we may meet in that better country I bid you a long and last farewell.
J.J. Andrews
Chattanooga , Tenn.
June 5, 1862
D.S. McGavic, Esq., J. B. Jackson, Mrs. Sarah Eckels,
Flemingsburg, Fleming County, Ky.
You will find one trunk and one valice [sic]. The valice has my name in Read
[sic] letters on the end. These are at the City Hotel, Nashville , in care of the
old porter on the third floor; these contents I present to you. Mr. Hawkins will
find at the Louisville Hotel a large lady’s trunk. No mark on it and is entirely
empty. Please take it to Mrs. Lindsey’s place on the Maysville and
Flemingsburg pike near Mill Creek Church and request him to present it to
Miss Elizabeth J. Layton for me and much obliged. J.J. Andrews
NOTE: Unfortunately we do not know the identity of the people mentioned in
his will. We think that D.S. McGavic was the son of Dr. E.J. McGavic (May 2,
1810-Dec. 18, 1852), who is buried in the old Andrews Presbyterian Graveyard
near the intersection of Ky. 57 and 32 near Flemingsburg. We don’t know the
identity of Miss Layton. She may have been related to the family of Dr. Layton
who was an early physician at Concord, Lewis County .
Andrews was hanged and buried in a shallow grave near the site where author
Margaret Mitchell was killed when hit by a car in Atlanta .
Although there were many affluent Andrews families that lived in Fleming
County, they and James J. Andrews knew of no relationship between them.
Indian attacks between Vanceburg and Maysville 1790
Many of you have spoken or written to me about an earlier article on
Confederate volunteers from Lewis County in the Civil War, much of the
information taken from the papers of the late John A. “Gus” Doyle. Not only
was Mr. Doyle an authority on the Civil War as it existed in Lewis County, but
he was also thoroughly knowledgeable about the “Indian Wars” that led up to
the War of 1812. His ancestor, Capt. John Doyle (Doyal), served in the
Revolutionary War and, in addition, was active in the Indian Wars. He was also
one of the Mason County spies nominated by Simon Kenton to Gen. Scott to
patrol the Ohio River to look for Indian signs and protect settlers on their
flatboats as they were heading down river from Wheeling. Doyle and his group
were employed at this courageous effort from Mar. 31, 1792 to Dec. 9, 179 .
After the Treaty of Greenville (1794), it was not considered so dangerous for
river travelers because the terms of the treaty determined that the Native
American Indians were to leave southern and eastern Ohio and, in exchange,
lands were reserved for them in Northwestern Ohio. Of course, that
arrangement did not work out well.
Capt. John Doyle is buried on his old farm in Thacker Hollow on Quick’s Run.
Through the years the hollow has changed names several times, e. g.,
Greenhow Hollow, Doyle Hollow, etc. It is only a stone’s throw from Mamie
Chandler’s home, where she and her dog, Thacker, keep a watch over the old
pioneers grave.
Gus Doyle, several years ago, sent me copies of some of the correspondence
related to Brig. Gen. Harmer during this touchy time. Some of the letters refer
to historical points in Lewis County (then in Mason County). We believe that
the attack mentioned in the following letter took place some place between
Vanceburg and Maysville.
“Report of Buckner Thruston, Esq., to Brig. Gen. Harmar, Mar. 24, 1790. On the
21st of March, about 12 o’clock, we discovered on the Indian shore [ Ohio ] a
flat bottomed boat crowded with Indians. We were fortunately near the Virginia
[now Kentucky] shore at the time. On coming opposite them a white man ran
out on the beach and halloed to us: ‘For God’s sake surrender’ because there
were fifty Indians, and if we made resistance we should be massacred. We
refused to surrender, and they immediately fired upon us for a considerable
time, perhaps to the number of a hundred guns, which gave us time to pass
them. They then embarked all hands upon a Kentucky boat, which they had
taken a day or so before from a Mr. John May [for whom Maysville was named],
who with three or four other men were either killed or taken, and gave chase
to us. Upon finding we could not escape, there being three boats in the
company, we chose to cut the strongest boat. We set the horses adrift and
embarked therein. All the people belonging to the three boats cut holes in
their sides and put in the oars of the three boats and made the best way we
could for 15 or 20 miles, the Indians pursuing us with great earnestness. They
left us after a chase of two or three hours and we arrived without further
impediment at Limestone [Maysville]. We lost 28 horses, 1500 pounds of
merchandise besides private property of passengers and others, to a
considerable amount. We had about 28 men and 16 or 17 guns, a family of
women, a few Negroes, women and children. The principal sufferers were Col.
Thompson, Col. Edwards, Mr. Abner Field, and Mr. Thomas Marshall.”
"Ft. Washington [Cincinnati], May 30, 1790.
“Sir: I beg to report as follows: On the 12th inst. as I was coming down the
Ohio, in company with five other boats, in the evening before we came to
Limestone, by the request of the company we put to shore, in order to stay to 2
o’clock, so we might land at Limestone in daylight. I landed 9 miles above
Limestone, the others landed about 100 yds. below me. About 12 o’clock the
Indians attacked the lower most boat. After a number of shots they left it and
fell on the one above it. I had much to do to keep the men in the boat from
cutting her loose, and leaving my men ashore, so I thought proper to order my
men aboard, for I thought them too strong for me and my few men. Being dark I
ordered the boat off shore and fell down into their fire. When I found not all
the boats were taken, I ordered them to go ahead in case the Indians did
pursue them, we might check them. We arrived in Limestone, where I reported
to the county Lt. Henry Lee. He, with 20 men, myself, with 5 men, went up to the
place where we were attacked. We found one man, one woman, and three
children scalped and killed, which we put in the boat and brought to
Limestone. There are 8 missing, the whole killed and missing -- 13 souls.
(Signed) Asa Hartshorn, Ensign, 1st U.S. Regt.”
NOTE: From the description it appears that this incident took place some
where between the Three Islands and Limestone Landing (perhaps a short
distance below the former site of Springdale. No information was given on the
identity of the murdered couple and their three children -- probably a
Pennsylvania or Virginia couple on their way to Kentucky to settle. Apparently
they were buried in the old Maysville graveyard behind the present day
museum and historical society.
In the following letter Col. Robert Rankins writes about the Indian attack on
Graham Station which stood in Carrs Bottom almost directly across the road
from the old Bierley home.
“Col. Robert Rankins to Col. Thomas Lewis, Apr. 3, 1790
“As I presume you have not heard of the late mischief, I shall just beg leave to
inform you that about six weeks ago, two men were taken off Cabin Creek, who
had been made use of to decoy boats ashore, by which six men going up the
river in a canoe, attempting to escape after finding themselves ensnared,
were murdered. Mr. May’s boat was taken, himself and one other killed, the
rest of the crew made prisoners; two boats in which there was a considerable
amount of property belonging to Col. John Edwards, of Bourbon County. Capt.
Thomas Marshall and a number of other gentlemen [were] taken, the
gentlemen themselves being forced to crowd into Col. George Thompson’s
boat, and row for life, the Indians having pursued them in Mr. May’s boat,
armed for that purpose. Ten men were killed and seven more, one woman and
five children, taken prisoners, about six week’s ago in Kennedy’s Bottom [now
Carrs], on the Ohio, 20 miles above Limestone [Maysville] where they were
engaged in erecting a new settlement [later known as Graham’s Station].”
Among the later inhabitants of Graham’s Station were the McDowells, the
Doyles, Strickletts, Stouts and many others. It was said that one old lady was
appointed to watch for Indians crossing the river, and if she spied any, she
would beat a drum to warn the men at work.
Later in 1790, Brigadier Gen. Harmar wrote to the U. S. Secretary of War about
the Indian attacks:
‘Brigadier Gen. Harmar to Sec’y of War, Mar. 24, 1790
“The Indians still continue to murder and plunder the inhabitants, especially
the boats going up and down the Ohio River. About the beginning of this
month, they broke up Kenton’s Station, a small settlement about fifteen miles
above Limestone, killing and capturing the whole of the people, supposed to
be ten or twelve in number.”
NOTE: It is supposed this station was two or three miles below Concord .
In the closing months of 1793, Thomas Sloe, of Washington, Ky., was authorized
to pay from the State’s funds to Capt. Joshua Baers and John Dyal’s companies
of volunteers for service during 1793. Extra pay was allowed by the US Sec’y of
War to the guides and spies in Capt. Kenton’s company on the late expedition
of Kentucky’s Gen. Charles Scott. This was ordered paid through Innes B.
Brent, at Lexington, and the boys under Kenton not only got a boost of official
recognition of their services, but a trip to Lexington, and a spending good time
spree at the capitol of the Blue Grass.
Gus Doyle told me that he wondered what the entertainment was, and knowing
the nature of these men it probably consisted of drinking, cock fighting,
drinking, wrestling matches, drinking, horse racing, and shooting matches.
There was probably a good deal of passing the jug of old Kentucky corn liquor,
while one was drinking another was grabbing the jug, and needless to say
some teeth were loosened and heads bumped in the general melee. A stone
jug probably left a dent in many a militia-man’s skull.
The Cadwalladers
Last week Mrs. Fannie May, of Cincinnati, sent us some material on the
Cadwalladers, Moores and McCanns and it called my attention to the fact that it
has been 37 years since the tragic deaths of Omar H. Cadwallader, age 64, and
his sister, Miss Inez Cadwallader, 73, in January, 1970. According to newspaper
reports, the two people lived near the Queens community on Quicks Run. They
helped maintain a small farm on which they were born. They were found dead
on a Saturday and had been dead since the previous Wednesday. The couple
was last seen by their sister, Mrs. Daisy May, on the previous Monday. Mr.
Wade May found their frozen bodies in the barn lot and it was determined that
Miss Cadwallader just before nightfall had gone to feed some stock. She fell
and broke her hip, rolling into a shallow ravine. Her brother became alarmed
when she did not return and went out to look for her. He had lit a lantern and
had gone only a few feet from the house when he apparently suffered a heart
seizure. Neither had the strength to return to the warmth of their home and
died from exposure.
Omar Cadwallader was born August 14, 1905 and his sister, Inez, was born
March 31, 1896 . They were the children of George Will and Neva (Moore)
Cadwallader. Their burial was at Salem Cemetery.
Many of us can recall this picturesque couple who came into Vanceburg almost
every Saturday to do their shopping, making their trip riding in an old wagon
pulled by two horses. Their father, George William Cadwallader, married Neva
Frances Moore, daughter of the well known minister, Rev. Ephraim Moore.
Mrs. May and her family are related to the Cadwalladers through Morgan Isaac
Cadwallader, who married Alice McCann. Daisy Lee Cadwallader, sister to Omar
and Inez, married Ross Caleb May, father of Don May of Cincinnati. In a later
article we shall cover these families in more detail.
previous articles; Indian raids; & the
Cadwallader tragedy
By William M. Talley
(use the "Contact Us" form to comment on Dr. Talley's columns)
The Story of John P. Parker
The month of February was designated as Black History Month, so we are a bit
late in bringing to you some history appropriate for that month and interesting
to this community.
Frequently we are asked if Vanceburg was a part of the Underground Railroad
(UR). The answer is: Not exactly. The most active towns involved in that project
were Portsmouth, Maysville and Ripley. The reason is simple: There was not a
line of safe houses on the Ohio side of the river at Vanceburg and there were
no known Abolition sympathizers on that side of the river to help the fleeing
men and their families. The only incidents we have come across that even
relate indirectly to the UR are these:
(1) a Mr. Kissick on Quicks Run, acting as a bounty hunter, arrested a group of
slaves from Fleming County, who had mistakenly followed Quick’s Run instead
of Cabin Creek to the Ohio River; and (2) a Miss Cottingham and her future
husband, both of whom had moved to Ohio and taken up the abolition cause,
were sued by other family members for allegedly enticing one of their slaves
to flee across the Ohio River to their home near West Union, Ohio, so he could
connect there with the UR.
Recently, Harvey Denham called my attention to the book, “His Promised
Land,” edited by Stuart Seely Sprague (Morehead State University). This
intriguing book is actually an autobiography of John P. Parker, a Black slave
who, after many tribulations, finally made it to the Ohio River and settled at
Ripley, Ohio, to open an iron foundry. Many of his farming implements and
tools still exist and are prized by those who possess them.
John P. Parker (1827-1900) was born into slavery near Norfolk, Virginia, the son
of a Black woman and a white man, supposedly a member of the Virginia
“aristocracy.” He was forced to walk from Norfolk to Richmond, Virginia, where
he was then sold and forced to march to Mobile, Alabama. This brutal journey,
where his only solace was that of helping weaker captives survive, helped him
cement his feelings about the brutality and violence of slavery. Actually, the
experience laid the foundation for his later obsession in helping others win
their freedom by becoming a conductor on the UR.
In Mobile, Parker was purchased by a doctor who exhibited some sense of
humanity toward him. The doctor’s sons helped Parker to learn to read, even
though it was illegal to teach a slave to read. He became a good friend of one
of the doctor’s patients and made an agreement with her to let him purchase
himself for $1,800, paying the sum from the proceeds of his work. This was an
unusually high price, but he was young and strong and possessed the skills of
an iron worker. Within a year and a half, he managed to pay the widow the
entire sum. His trip up the Mississippi and his mistreatment by those who did
not believe he was a free man, were incredible. His intention was to settle at
New Albany, Indiana, where he could secure a job in the iron working industry
but he eventually moved to Ripley, Ohio, where he opened his own foundry.
In 1848, Parker married Miranda Boulden, a native of Cincinnati, and they
started their own family. In Ripley, Parker found a satisfying homeland --one
where he could run his foundry and in the evening work with his co-
abolitionists to help run-away slaves to cross the river and connect with Rev.
Rankin who connected them with the UR. In addition to helping slaves escape,
he assisted many of the fleeing men to join the Union army in the Civil War.
None of this was easy for Parker. There were financial setbacks, discouraging
difficulties with his foundry, and the constant fear of being attacked or killed
while helping the stream of humanity crossing the Ohio River.
Two of his sons, Hale Giddings Parker (born 1851) and Cassius Clay Parker
(born 1854), were educated at Oberlin College. Another son, Horatio W. Parker
became a school principal and a postal clerk.
Parker had three daughters: Bianca (born 1871), Portia (born 1865) and
Hortense (born 1859). The latter was one of the first African-American
graduates of Mt. Holyoke College. Several members of the family, in adulthood,
moved to St. Louis.
The John P. Parker home, still standing on the river bank at Ripley, is in the
process of being restored.
This book (c1996) is an inspiring story that has no boring interludes. I highly
recommend it for your education.
Two further comments
Mike Mineer, president of the CDT Bank, tells me that he has a shovel with the
imprint of “Samuel Parker” on it. We are not able to connect this with John P.
Parker at this point, but we would like to know something about Samuel Parker.
On a more humorous note, in one of my classes at McGill University, one of my
students, who was Black, informed me in his paper that his great-grandfather
helped build the Underground Railroad. After class, I asked him to speak to me
about it, and afterwards he went away an embarrassed but wiser young man.
More letters
A few weeks ago we published an article made up entirely of interesting old
letters. Prior to that we had published an article on the life and war experience
of James J. Andrews, of Flemingsburg, who stole the railroad engine, “The
General,” and tried to run it to Huntsville, Alabama, while along the route
attempting to destroy railroad bridges and tracks so as to destroy a critical
supply line to the Confederate Army. He was a native of Hancock County,
Virginia, coming to Flemingsburg in 1859, but we know nothing of his family in
Virginia. He was hanged in Atlanta, Georgia, for this action.
Andrews’s will is recorded in Fleming County Will Book I, page 334, and it is in
the form of a letter he wrote to his friend, D.S. McGavic. The complete copy
follows:
D.S. McGavic,
Flemingsburg , Ky.
Dear Sir: You will doubtless be surprised to hear from me from this place and
more surprised to hear that I am to be executed on the 7th inst. [June 1862] for
attempting to capture and run a train from the Western and Atlantic RR to
Huntsville, Alabama, for the use of General Mitchell. I had a party of twenty
detailed men from the 2, 21 and 33 Ohio Regiments with me. We succeeded in
getting possession of the train and traveled with it some eight of eighty five
miles when on account of one extra train’s being on the road we were
compelled to abandon the train. The party scattered and trying to make our way
back on foot the whole party ware [sic] captured.
I was taken on the 14th of April. I am satisfied that I could easily have got away
had they not put a pack of Dogges on my trail. It was impossible to elude them.
Was tried by court marshall [sic] and rec’d. my sentence on the last day of May
inst. On the week before the time of my execution on Monday morning the 2nd
I made an attempt to escape. I succeeded in getting out of prison and ran by
the guard, they shooting at me but not hitting me. The whole country was
immediately swarmed with soldiers.
I succeeded in eluding them until Tuesday about two o’clock when I was
captured and will be executed on Saturday. The sentence seems a hard one
for the crime proven against me but I suppose the court that tried me thought
otherwise. I have now calmly submitted to my fate and have been earnestly
engaged in preparing to meet my God in peace and I have found that a peace
of mind and tranquility of sole [sic] that even astonish myself.
I never supposed it possible a man could feel so entire a change under similar
circumstances.
How I would love to have one hour’s chat with you, but this I shall never have
in this life but hope and pray we may meet in heaven where the troubles and
trials of this life never enter. What the fate of the balance of the party will be I
am unable to say but I hope they will not share the fate of their leader; if they
ever return home two or three of them will call on you and the rest of the
friends and I hope you will receive them kindly. They are noble fellows and will
give you a full history of my fate. I shall write to some two or three more before
my execution. Tell J.B. Jackson should there be any claims that I neglected to
settle to pay them and keep the horse. I don’t think there are any but there may
be. In regard to other matters do exactly as instruction before I left. I have
received no letters from Flemingsburg, since I left I wrote several but never
rec’d any answers.
Please read this letter to Mrs. Eckles and tell her what I have thought of her
kindness many times and that I hope we may meet in Heaven where we shall
enjoy the presence of the Lord forever. Give my kindest regards to Mr. Eckels,
also according to the course and nature. It will not be long until we shall meet
in that happy country, blessed though. Remember me also to the young ladies
of Flemingsburg, especially to Miss Kate Wallingford and Miss Nannie Baxter.
Hoping we may meet in that better country I bid you a long and last farewell.
J.J. Andrews
Chattanooga , Tenn.
June 5, 1862
D.S. McGavic, Esq., J. B. Jackson, Mrs. Sarah Eckels,
Flemingsburg, Fleming County, Ky.
You will find one trunk and one valice [sic]. The valice has my name in Read
[sic] letters on the end. These are at the City Hotel, Nashville , in care of the
old porter on the third floor; these contents I present to you. Mr. Hawkins will
find at the Louisville Hotel a large lady’s trunk. No mark on it and is entirely
empty. Please take it to Mrs. Lindsey’s place on the Maysville and
Flemingsburg pike near Mill Creek Church and request him to present it to
Miss Elizabeth J. Layton for me and much obliged. J.J. Andrews
NOTE: Unfortunately we do not know the identity of the people mentioned in
his will. We think that D.S. McGavic was the son of Dr. E.J. McGavic (May 2,
1810-Dec. 18, 1852), who is buried in the old Andrews Presbyterian Graveyard
near the intersection of Ky. 57 and 32 near Flemingsburg. We don’t know the
identity of Miss Layton. She may have been related to the family of Dr. Layton
who was an early physician at Concord, Lewis County .
Andrews was hanged and buried in a shallow grave near the site where author
Margaret Mitchell was killed when hit by a car in Atlanta .
Although there were many affluent Andrews families that lived in Fleming
County, they and James J. Andrews knew of no relationship between them.
Indian attacks between Vanceburg and Maysville 1790
Many of you have spoken or written to me about an earlier article on
Confederate volunteers from Lewis County in the Civil War, much of the
information taken from the papers of the late John A. “Gus” Doyle. Not only
was Mr. Doyle an authority on the Civil War as it existed in Lewis County, but
he was also thoroughly knowledgeable about the “Indian Wars” that led up to
the War of 1812. His ancestor, Capt. John Doyle (Doyal), served in the
Revolutionary War and, in addition, was active in the Indian Wars. He was also
one of the Mason County spies nominated by Simon Kenton to Gen. Scott to
patrol the Ohio River to look for Indian signs and protect settlers on their
flatboats as they were heading down river from Wheeling. Doyle and his group
were employed at this courageous effort from Mar. 31, 1792 to Dec. 9, 179 .
After the Treaty of Greenville (1794), it was not considered so dangerous for
river travelers because the terms of the treaty determined that the Native
American Indians were to leave southern and eastern Ohio and, in exchange,
lands were reserved for them in Northwestern Ohio. Of course, that
arrangement did not work out well.
Capt. John Doyle is buried on his old farm in Thacker Hollow on Quick’s Run.
Through the years the hollow has changed names several times, e. g.,
Greenhow Hollow, Doyle Hollow, etc. It is only a stone’s throw from Mamie
Chandler’s home, where she and her dog, Thacker, keep a watch over the old
pioneers grave.
Gus Doyle, several years ago, sent me copies of some of the correspondence
related to Brig. Gen. Harmer during this touchy time. Some of the letters refer
to historical points in Lewis County (then in Mason County). We believe that
the attack mentioned in the following letter took place some place between
Vanceburg and Maysville.
“Report of Buckner Thruston, Esq., to Brig. Gen. Harmar, Mar. 24, 1790. On the
21st of March, about 12 o’clock, we discovered on the Indian shore [ Ohio ] a
flat bottomed boat crowded with Indians. We were fortunately near the Virginia
[now Kentucky] shore at the time. On coming opposite them a white man ran
out on the beach and halloed to us: ‘For God’s sake surrender’ because there
were fifty Indians, and if we made resistance we should be massacred. We
refused to surrender, and they immediately fired upon us for a considerable
time, perhaps to the number of a hundred guns, which gave us time to pass
them. They then embarked all hands upon a Kentucky boat, which they had
taken a day or so before from a Mr. John May [for whom Maysville was named],
who with three or four other men were either killed or taken, and gave chase
to us. Upon finding we could not escape, there being three boats in the
company, we chose to cut the strongest boat. We set the horses adrift and
embarked therein. All the people belonging to the three boats cut holes in
their sides and put in the oars of the three boats and made the best way we
could for 15 or 20 miles, the Indians pursuing us with great earnestness. They
left us after a chase of two or three hours and we arrived without further
impediment at Limestone [Maysville]. We lost 28 horses, 1500 pounds of
merchandise besides private property of passengers and others, to a
considerable amount. We had about 28 men and 16 or 17 guns, a family of
women, a few Negroes, women and children. The principal sufferers were Col.
Thompson, Col. Edwards, Mr. Abner Field, and Mr. Thomas Marshall.”
"Ft. Washington [Cincinnati], May 30, 1790.
“Sir: I beg to report as follows: On the 12th inst. as I was coming down the
Ohio, in company with five other boats, in the evening before we came to
Limestone, by the request of the company we put to shore, in order to stay to 2
o’clock, so we might land at Limestone in daylight. I landed 9 miles above
Limestone, the others landed about 100 yds. below me. About 12 o’clock the
Indians attacked the lower most boat. After a number of shots they left it and
fell on the one above it. I had much to do to keep the men in the boat from
cutting her loose, and leaving my men ashore, so I thought proper to order my
men aboard, for I thought them too strong for me and my few men. Being dark I
ordered the boat off shore and fell down into their fire. When I found not all
the boats were taken, I ordered them to go ahead in case the Indians did
pursue them, we might check them. We arrived in Limestone, where I reported
to the county Lt. Henry Lee. He, with 20 men, myself, with 5 men, went up to the
place where we were attacked. We found one man, one woman, and three
children scalped and killed, which we put in the boat and brought to
Limestone. There are 8 missing, the whole killed and missing -- 13 souls.
(Signed) Asa Hartshorn, Ensign, 1st U.S. Regt.”
NOTE: From the description it appears that this incident took place some
where between the Three Islands and Limestone Landing (perhaps a short
distance below the former site of Springdale. No information was given on the
identity of the murdered couple and their three children -- probably a
Pennsylvania or Virginia couple on their way to Kentucky to settle. Apparently
they were buried in the old Maysville graveyard behind the present day
museum and historical society.
In the following letter Col. Robert Rankins writes about the Indian attack on
Graham Station which stood in Carrs Bottom almost directly across the road
from the old Bierley home.
“Col. Robert Rankins to Col. Thomas Lewis, Apr. 3, 1790
“As I presume you have not heard of the late mischief, I shall just beg leave to
inform you that about six weeks ago, two men were taken off Cabin Creek, who
had been made use of to decoy boats ashore, by which six men going up the
river in a canoe, attempting to escape after finding themselves ensnared,
were murdered. Mr. May’s boat was taken, himself and one other killed, the
rest of the crew made prisoners; two boats in which there was a considerable
amount of property belonging to Col. John Edwards, of Bourbon County. Capt.
Thomas Marshall and a number of other gentlemen [were] taken, the
gentlemen themselves being forced to crowd into Col. George Thompson’s
boat, and row for life, the Indians having pursued them in Mr. May’s boat,
armed for that purpose. Ten men were killed and seven more, one woman and
five children, taken prisoners, about six week’s ago in Kennedy’s Bottom [now
Carrs], on the Ohio, 20 miles above Limestone [Maysville] where they were
engaged in erecting a new settlement [later known as Graham’s Station].”
Among the later inhabitants of Graham’s Station were the McDowells, the
Doyles, Strickletts, Stouts and many others. It was said that one old lady was
appointed to watch for Indians crossing the river, and if she spied any, she
would beat a drum to warn the men at work.
Later in 1790, Brigadier Gen. Harmar wrote to the U. S. Secretary of War about
the Indian attacks:
‘Brigadier Gen. Harmar to Sec’y of War, Mar. 24, 1790
“The Indians still continue to murder and plunder the inhabitants, especially
the boats going up and down the Ohio River. About the beginning of this
month, they broke up Kenton’s Station, a small settlement about fifteen miles
above Limestone, killing and capturing the whole of the people, supposed to
be ten or twelve in number.”
NOTE: It is supposed this station was two or three miles below Concord .
In the closing months of 1793, Thomas Sloe, of Washington, Ky., was authorized
to pay from the State’s funds to Capt. Joshua Baers and John Dyal’s companies
of volunteers for service during 1793. Extra pay was allowed by the US Sec’y of
War to the guides and spies in Capt. Kenton’s company on the late expedition
of Kentucky’s Gen. Charles Scott. This was ordered paid through Innes B.
Brent, at Lexington, and the boys under Kenton not only got a boost of official
recognition of their services, but a trip to Lexington, and a spending good time
spree at the capitol of the Blue Grass.
Gus Doyle told me that he wondered what the entertainment was, and knowing
the nature of these men it probably consisted of drinking, cock fighting,
drinking, wrestling matches, drinking, horse racing, and shooting matches.
There was probably a good deal of passing the jug of old Kentucky corn liquor,
while one was drinking another was grabbing the jug, and needless to say
some teeth were loosened and heads bumped in the general melee. A stone
jug probably left a dent in many a militia-man’s skull.
The Cadwalladers
Last week Mrs. Fannie May, of Cincinnati, sent us some material on the
Cadwalladers, Moores and McCanns and it called my attention to the fact that it
has been 37 years since the tragic deaths of Omar H. Cadwallader, age 64, and
his sister, Miss Inez Cadwallader, 73, in January, 1970. According to newspaper
reports, the two people lived near the Queens community on Quicks Run. They
helped maintain a small farm on which they were born. They were found dead
on a Saturday and had been dead since the previous Wednesday. The couple
was last seen by their sister, Mrs. Daisy May, on the previous Monday. Mr.
Wade May found their frozen bodies in the barn lot and it was determined that
Miss Cadwallader just before nightfall had gone to feed some stock. She fell
and broke her hip, rolling into a shallow ravine. Her brother became alarmed
when she did not return and went out to look for her. He had lit a lantern and
had gone only a few feet from the house when he apparently suffered a heart
seizure. Neither had the strength to return to the warmth of their home and
died from exposure.
Omar Cadwallader was born August 14, 1905 and his sister, Inez, was born
March 31, 1896 . They were the children of George Will and Neva (Moore)
Cadwallader. Their burial was at Salem Cemetery.
Many of us can recall this picturesque couple who came into Vanceburg almost
every Saturday to do their shopping, making their trip riding in an old wagon
pulled by two horses. Their father, George William Cadwallader, married Neva
Frances Moore, daughter of the well known minister, Rev. Ephraim Moore.
Mrs. May and her family are related to the Cadwalladers through Morgan Isaac
Cadwallader, who married Alice McCann. Daisy Lee Cadwallader, sister to Omar
and Inez, married Ross Caleb May, father of Don May of Cincinnati. In a later
article we shall cover these families in more detail.
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