A Pinhook Wedding

Taken from an article written by Mrs. Sudie Reeves

Thursday, November 23, 1843, Aaron Hitt and Sarah Browning, Peter Linville and Arlimatia Browning were married by the Rev. Samuel VanHook Lee in a double wedding at Pinhook. Sarah and Arlimatia Browning were sisters. An account of the wedding written by Mrs. Sudie Reeves for the Robertson Review Centennial Edition tells us it was a Grand affair. Logs were cut and planking was added to make a platform near the residence for Dancing. We know that Dancing was frowned upon in those days as sinful, except at Weddings. Brothers and friends of the sisters had hunted wild turkey, quail and ducks for the Wedding supper. The guest list numbered about one hundred people from around what is now Robertson County and adjacent Counties. The sisters had made butter ducks to decorate the long tables loaded with food for the occasion. The ducks were molded by hand with coffee beans used for the eyes. The Guests said they were too pretty to eat, but when the hot biscuits were passed, John Phillip Buckner of Augusta, with a flourish, cut off the head of the duck nearest him-then everyone joined in slashing the butter ducks. The sisters wore white wedding dresses and white kid shoes. The first white kid shoes they had ever owned. The second day their dresses were blue, to be worn to visit the groom's family, where another sumptuous meal was served and dancing for the evening. The Hitts rode horseback, Sarah wearing a long black riding skirt, which protected her lovely dress from the dust or mud. Her beautiful shoes were carried, not worn on the way. They rode to The community of Shannon in Mason County (The home of the groom's father). The Thompson Hitt home sat in a curve about a quarter of a mile north of Shannon Cemetery. John S. Hitt, Aaron's baby brother was four years old at the time. He loved the white shoes and would not go to bed without one to hold. Sarah was late in the dancing, for she had to wait until Johnny was asleep to get her shoe back. Aaron and Sarah lived at the Hitt home for a while, then bought a farm in that part of Bracken County which is now Robertson County. This was around 1844 or 1845. Here they reared a family of five boys and four girls. Aaron passed away in 1904 at the home place at Hittville. Hittville was named for him. Melinda, the oldest girl, married Frank McDowell in 1867. She lived and died near Pinhook. The Farm was sold out of the family having had four generations live there. The house was owned by Robert Rumford when it burned to the ground in March 1971. Susan Hitt, the second daughter of Aaron and Sarah, married Franklin Trueax at the close of the Civil War. Franklin, a Pennsylvanian, met Susan while visiting his Uncle Joseph Trueax at Santa Fe. After his discharge from the Army he returned to Kentucky and Married Susan. He bought a farm on the hill above Pinhook, on the Old Pinhook Road, added rooms to the old loghouse and lived there until Susan's death in 1884. He never farmed and earned his living as a carpenter. He built many of the homes in Bracken and Robertson County. Some of which are still standing. He built the Fosters Chapel Church which is in use today. It is easy to recognize a house built by Franklin Trueax. They are identifiable by the style of the roof and the distinct high pitched gables. A normal school was opened in a large three story building in the early eighteen seventies at Pinhook. Some say the first and only one in the county. The third Hitt girl, Amanda, attended this school in 1875. She lived with the Trueax Family. She was very much in love with one of the teachers a "Professor Clarence." The third Trueax baby was named by her "Etna Clarence." The romance didn't last long and in 1876 she married John Francis Buckner, the son of John Philip Buckner. After the death of his wife Susan, Franklin Trueax sold the farm for $50.00 per acre. It was the first farm in Robertson County to sell for that price. He moved to Nicholas County where he lived till his death in 1921. Oh yes, there were Ghost stories in those days. The "lady in white" happened to be a ghost story passed on to the Trueax family when they moved into the house. Amanda scoffed at the idea of ghosts. During her sister's terminal illness she stayed with her as much as she could, although she had a family at home of her own. She was at the Trueax home the night her sister passed away. The neighbors had persuaded her to rest and get some sleep. She laid down on a bed or lounge in the central hall where she drifted into a light sleep. Some say it was a dream, but Amanda said not. She was awaken, when suddenly a "little lady in white" came tripping into the hall, stopped at the foot of her bed, gazed at her briefly, then turned, disappearing completely as she neared the door of Susan's room. Susan passed away before morning. The Preacher, Rev. Samuel V. Lee, who officiated the double wedding at Pinhook, was my Great Great Grandfather. He lived on West Creek in Robertson County. He was a Christian Preacher who helped to organize 45 churches in Kentucky, one in Indiana and one in Missouri. He helped to organize Churches at Milford, Kentontown, Jacktown, Brooksville, Germantown, Moorefield, Antioch, Augusta, Indian Creek, Salem Church of Christ, Mt Gilead, Richland, and many others. He was one of nine ministers from the area who were a part of the Reform movement started by Barton Stone and Campbell. One of the Churches he preached at was the Mt. Olivet Christian Church. His Great Great Grandson and my brother, Rev. B.J. Lee once preached there. Rev S.V. Lee, also known as Elder Lee, is buried beside the Republican Christian Church in Harrison County. His stone reads he preached for 68 years and baptized 5,828 persons. The Valley Church was built on his farm along West Creek. His wife Ellen McCauley Lee is buried in the Lee Family Cemetery on the Massie Farm. Her father Thomas McCauley, A Revolutionary War veteran, is buried next to her The Bridegroom Aaron Hitt of the story was also a relative. His Grandfather, also named Aaron Hitt was my fourth great Grandfather. Aaron the Groom is my first cousin 4 times removed. Aaron died in 1904 and was buried at Fosters chapel. His wife Sarah passed away in 1908 and was laid to rest by the side of her husband. The other Bride and Groom Peter Linville and his wife Arlimatia are buried next to the Christian Church at Mt. Olivet. Their Stones can be readily seen as you drive up the driveway of the Church. Aaron's little brother who loved to hold the bride's shoe was John Samuel Hitt. He lived in Mason and Bracken County. He married Sarah Elizabeth Jefferson of Mason County. He died at the home of his daughter at Dover on September 24, 1924. He too is buried at Fosters Chapel. The Hitt family of Mason, Bracken and Robertson Counties can trace its origins to Balthasar Heite in 1600 at Kaan near Siegen, German. Balthasar and his wife Johanna owned the Rehbach estates in an area where iron production was the major industry. If you would like more information on any of the above families please feel free to contact me.

Submitted by: Rev Don Lee

618 Buckeye Hills Road Falmouth, KY. 41040

Email: [email protected] ~ Phone: 859-654-3848

Back