Some Histories of Bowling Green, KY #genealogy #kentuckypioneers

The Confession of Beauchamp
By Jeannette Holland Austin

From the Nashville Whig. The publication known as the "Confession of Jeroboam O. Beauchamp who was executed in Frankfort, Kentucky on the 7th of July 1826, for the Murder of Colonel Solomon P. Sharp, consisted of 130 pp.

"Mingling with my acquaintances of the bar at Glasgow, and those attending the courts there, from Bowling Green, I was attracted by a general burst amongst them, to words of Colonel Solomon P. Sharp of Bowling Green, for the seduction of Miss Ann Cook of that place. "

Ann Cook resided with her mother in the neighborhood of hi father. He became acquainted with her and asked for her hand, which she refused. She then told him that she sought the revenge of the villain, Colonel Sharp, and would give her hand to anyone who would revenge her honor. Source:The Southern Recorder, Milledgeville, 13 Marh 1827.

Notes on Kentucky in the Kentucky Gazette
By Jeannette Holland Austin

"This country was well known to the Indian traders many years before its settlement. They gave a description of it to Lewis Evans, who published his first map of it as early as 1752. In the year 1750, Dr. Thomas Walker, Colby Chew, Ambrose Powell and several others from the counties of Orange and Culpepper, in the state of Virginia, set out on an excursion to the Western Waters; they traveled down the Holstein river, and crossed over the Mountains into Powell's valley, thence across the Cumberland mountain at the gap where the road now crosses, proceeded on across what was formerly known by the name of the Wilderness until they arrived at the Hazlepath; here the company divided, Dr. Walker with a part continued north until they came to the Kentucky river which they named Louisa or Levisa river. After traveling down the excessive broken or hilly margin some distance they became dissatisfied and returned and continued up one of its branches to its head, and crossed over the mountains to New River at the place called Walker's Meadows." Concerning the 1750 explorations of Kentucky it is belive that the meadows were located in central Kentucky. The Loyal Land Company, organized in 1749, secured a land grant of some 800,000 acres to be located in what is now Kentucky. Walker set out from his home (Castle Hill) in Charlottesville, Virginia during 1750 and passed through Cumberland Gap in April. He called the steep cliff "Steep Ridge"

" In the year 1754 James McBride with some others, passed down the Ohio river in canoes, and landed at the mouth of the Kentucky river, where they marked on a tree the initials of their names, and the date of the year. These men passed through the country and were the first who gave a particular account of its beauty and richness of soil to the inhabitants of the British settlements in America. No further notice seems to have been taken of Kentucky until the year 1767, when John Finlay with others (whilst trading with the Indians) passed through a part of the rich lands of Kentucky. It was then called by the Indians in their language, the Dark and Bloody Grounds. Some difference took place between these traders and the Indians, and Finlay deemed it prudent to return to his residence in North Carolina, where he communicated his knowledge of the country to Colonel Daniel Boone and others. This seems to have been one of the most important events in the history of Kentucky, as it was the exciting cause which prompted Colonel Boone shortly afterwards to make his first visit to the Dark and Bloody Grounds." Sources: From the Kentucky Gazette (August 25, 1826); Kentucky's Last Frontier by Henry P. Scalf: ?History of Thomas Walker Explorations.

How Family Stories Shape the Future
By Jeannette Holland Austin (profile)

Little children love to hear family stories. In fact, they have a deep need for them. The reason is to learn more about their own identity. It is satisfying to learn how grandma made a funny mistake, or how others handled difficult times. What family story does not begin with "Times were harder when I was growning up," etc. Did you play with toys? Or, did your great grandmother spend her evenings sewing dolls for Christmas? Then there is Uncle Joe who owned a T-model Ford. The further that we trace back in time, the more that we learn about ourselves. We resemble our families in temperament and appearance but how do we resemble them in their struggles and the wars which they fought for the future? Something to think about.

The Hobson House in Bowling Green
By Jeannette Holland Austin

The construction of the home of Colonel Atwood Gaines and Juliet Van Meter Hobson was begun in 1857, only to be interrupted by the Civil War. Hobson was a Union sympathizer and offered the home for use as a Confederate munitions depot rather than see it destroyed. It was not completed until 1872. It is located at 1100 West Main Street in Hobson Grove Park. 

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