1887 Clark County Historical Profile

Source: History of Kentucky, 1887, W.H. Perrin et al, F.A. Battey and Company, Louisville, Ky.

Clark County was formed in 1792 and hence is as old as the State. Bourbon and Fayette Counties contributed to its territory, and Gen. George Rogers Clark its name. It was the fourteenth county formed, and lies in the central part of the State, on the margin of the famous blue-grass section. It is bounded on the north by Bourbon, on the east by Montgomery, on the south by Madison and Estill, and on the west by Fayette. The Kentucky River flows along the south part of the county and a number of tributaries fall into it, which afford it ample drainage and irrigation. Among these are Lulbegrud, Boone's, Strode's, Howard's, Four Mile and Two Mile Creeks. About one- third of the county lies in the blue-grass region, and is highly improved and very productive, like all the genuine blue-grass lands. The middle and northeast portions are somewhat hilly, but produce well; the east and southeast portions are rough, broken and poor. The products are wheat, oats, grass, and of late years tobacco. Of stock, cattle, horses , mules and hogs receive greatest attention. The county, by the last census, had 12,115 inhabitants, and produced the following: Corn, 791,292 bushels; oats, 14,836; wheat, 129,943; rye, 15,465; tobacco, 17,187 pounds; horses and mules, 4,984 head; cattle 17,331; sheep, 25,931, and hogs 20,824. The settlement of Clark County was early. ... Boonesboro, the settlement of Boone, was just across the Kentucky River from the territory of Clark, and venturesome pioneers early crossed the river from the fort and erected cabins in the fine country on this side. Strode's Station, about two miles from where Winchester now stands, was established in 1779. The next year it was attacked by Indians, but after a short siege they were repulsed. There are numerous springs in the county, but none of them have ever become famous as watering-places. The oil springs in the eastern part receive their name from the natural production of oil. There were also sulphur and chalybeate springs near by, that years ago were frequented to some extent. Winchester, the seat of justice, is an old town, verging on to a hundred years. Upon the formation of the county it was adopted as the county seat, over Strode's and Hood's Stations, which seem tp have also been contestants for the honor. It was incorporated in 1793, and by the census of 1880 had 2,277 inhabitants. It is on the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, and on the extension of the Kentucky Central Railroad, likewise the turnpike leading from Lexington to Mount Sterling. It has an excellent court house, several handsome churches, fine schools, a number of flourishing stores, banks, factories, shops, mills, etc. The other villages and post offices are Schollsvills, Ruckerville, Kiddville, Pinchem and Vienna. The people of Clark County, with that chivalrous spirit of pioneers of Kentucky, turned out about 900 soldiers in the war of 1812. In the Mexican war it furnished one company, that of "Cerro Gordo" Williams, and in the late Civil War four companies, three for the Confederate and one for the Federal Army. The first settlers of the county found some corn fields that had been cultivated by the Indians many years before. They are some twelve miles east of the present city of Winchester, and have always been known as the "Indian Oil Fields." Among the wise and great of Clark County are Hubbard Taylor, Judge James Clark, Gen. Richard Hickman, Samuel Hanson, Judge James Simpson, William Flanagan, Dr. Andrew Hood, Col. William Sudduth, Chilton Allan, Gen. John S. Williams, etc. Dr. Hood was a native of the county and a man of fine ability. He not only became noted as a physician, but held important positions in which he discharged his duties with credit. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1849, and died a few years later. Gen. Hickman was lieutenant-governor during Gov. Shelby's last term as governor. Col. Sudduth was an early settler of Clark County, and a soldier under Gen. Wayne against the Indians. James Clark was a prominent citizen of the county. He was born in Virginia in 1779, and came to Kentucky with his father's family in an early day. He studied law and soon became a successful practitioner. He served in the Legislature, in Congress, the United States Senate, as circuit judge, and governor of the State. To the latter he was elected in 1836. While on the circuit bench, the exciting struggle occurred, known as the "relief and anti-relief war" which is fully treated in a preceding chapter. Gen. George Rogers Clark, for whom the county was named, was one of the foremost soldiers of the age. He is mentioned so often in early history, and in connection with the early wars in which the infant commonwealth participated, that nothing further here can be said without repetition. He died in 1818 and was buried near Louisville.