Sunday, March 26, 2017

The Harrison Heritage News for March (Vol. 18, No. 3) is history!

IT'S DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN

Shortly, some of you will receive five neatly-folded sheets of paper, sheets which have been carefully placed in a rather #10 business-size envelope that has a "Forever" stamp affixed to it.  The image on the stamp is rather unremarkable.  So is the Lexington postmark.

I can't say much more about the contents of the paper, envelope, or stamp ... except for to say that I think that this has all happened before.  For, you see, it is that time of the month when the next issue of the Harrison Heritage News, the monthly newsletter of the Harrison County Historical Society, should start to appear in mailboxes and email inboxes all across the country.

What makes this delivery so special is the ink ... its unique arrangement on those five sheets of paper is what makes this issue so different from all the others.

I think I hear a noise!  It sounds like some of you may be asking, "What's in this month's issue?"  Well, I can tell you.


HISTORIES & MYSTERIES

William A. Penn, editor and accomplished author and historian, has offered a brief item entitled "Fate of the Old Covered Bridge" on page two.

There is a fine article entitled "Ireland, Revisited" by assistant editor and senior staff writer Philip Naff.  It is the fourth in what might be called a series of articles about Irish immigrants of Harrison County.  It should help to fill in a little more of the history of the Irish in the county and add even more names to the overall list of Irish immigrants who have gathered together to call Harrison County "home."

A two-page article entitled "Unusual Quilt Donated to the Museum" hopes to help solve a mystery as to the origins of a quilt which has over a hundred names sewn into the fabric of the quilt.  Might you know who some of the names belong to, or what the significance of the groupings of names might be?  Only by subscribing can you help to solve the mystery ... (Well, you can go to the museum, too, and see it in person, but I gotta try to get you to sign up to become a member of the historical society!  ;-)

Another museum page offers pictures and descriptions of some fairly unique items on display at the museum.  What are they, you ask?  Well, why not subscribe and see for yourself!

President Don Wagoner has compiled another "Genealogically Speaking" article, a part of his series on regional libraries telling all about what they have in their stacks that might be of interest to anybody researching local history or genealogy.

There are other items in this month's newsletter, for which you'll just have to get a copy yourself if you want to see it.


JOIN TODAY!

This time next month is just a month away.  You don't have to wait that long to become a member, as it is never too late to join today.

Just send a check or money order for $10 (to receive a link to the PDF version in your emailbox) or $12 (for a hardcopy delivered to your mailbox via USPS) to the Harrison County Historical Society, P.O. Box 411, Cynthiana, KY 41031.  Past issues for the calendar year will be sent to you in the form for which you subscribed.

Applications to join can be found online at


Or go to www.HarrisonCountyKy.US/Harrison-Heritage-News/ and click on the link which says "Join the Society Today!"


THIS MONTH'S HHN

The ink on page one has been arranged to look something like the following image ...

ANY IDEAS?

Do you have any ideas for a story, whether it be about a topic you would like to see or perhaps even write yourself?  There are always about a half-dozen blank pages each month which are just waiting to be filled.  Just speak up or write in with your ideas or suggestions.



Tuesday, March 7, 2017

The New Website of the Cynthiana-Harrison County Museum.

A NEW SITE FOR AN OLD PLACE

The Cynthiana-Harrison County Museum now has a website all to itself.  It is at www.HarriCynMuseum.org.

I have included a few screenshots of the site below..

It has always been true that there will always be lots to look at in the museum.  Now you can do it online.

It looks like you can also join up and get some stuff. Go to

www.HarriCynMuseum.org/membership

for a membership application.

The website has pictures of displays and even a map in case you should get lost, which may spoil it for some. Isn't it always just a little exciting to get lost in a museum around closing time?!?  The thrill of getting locked in with all those dinosaurs and mummys and ... well ...  Actually, I don't think they have any of those on exhibit in Cynthiana, but it is worth your while to go and see what they may have dug up.

Just remember, all the bodies are still buried in the cemetery! Or at least that is where they should be ... except for maybe on Walking Dead Day!

The home page of www.HarriCynMuseum.org.

The exhibits page of www.HarriCynMuseum.org.

Even more to look at when visiting the museum
in person or at www.HarriCynMuseum.org.

P.S.  You can also see what is happening at the museum by visiting their Facebook page.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

The Harrison Heritage News for February (Vol. 18, No. 2) is on its way!

OOPS!  THEY DID IT AGAIN!

The dedicated editor and staff of the Harrison Heritage News have put together another fine issue of the newsletter.  Members of the Harrison County Historical Society should be seeing copies of the second issue of 2017 in real and virtual mailboxes pretty soon.

What do the five sheets of paper hold for the subscriber this month?  Well, there is something about ...
  • "A Tale of Two Tubmans,"
  • What can happen if "Cupid Strikes,"
  • What's in the rename of a city street,
  • How regional libraries "stack up" against each other, and
  • A quiz for museum goers ... and more about the "goings on" at the museum

All in all, the newsletter might not be any more exciting than a night in Sweden, but it  all depends on how you look at it.  You'll never know until you go to Sweden (Pretty expensive!) or  until you get your own copy in the mail (Less expensive!).  This is a choice which reminds me to bring up ...


BUSINESS ... AS USUAL

The annual dues are due, and, for your convenience, a form has been provided with this issue.  Nothing will be lost by using it, for the backside has been left blank.

You can only win by sending it in (along with a check or money order), so that even more issues will continue working their way into your mailbox or email inbox for the next ten months!


HELP THE SOCIETY SAVE YOU MONEY

You gotta spend some to save some!  The society would like to encourage members to sign up for the PDF subscription, versus receiving a hardcopy in the mail (USPS).

What are the advantages of the PDF version of the newsletter, you ask.  Well ....
  • You can save a little money.  A PDF subscription costs only $10.  Hardcopies delivered via USPS cost $2 more.
  • PDF newsletters help the society to save on paper and postage costs, and more of your subscription monies can be used for projects sponsored by the society.
  • Most PDFs are in color.  Print editions are only in B&W.
  • PDF articles contain hyperlinks to even more items of interest on the internet (One can't click on a hardcopy).
  • PDF newsletters can be just a keystroke or two away and can be read "on-the-go" using smartphone and tablet apps.
  • If you join later in the year, prior issues can be sen in "just a jiffy" (Hardcopies will be mailed via USPS).

A CHALLENGE

Harrison County Historical Society President Don Wagoner would like to challenge every member to bring in one more member this year.

I see there are about 225 members subscribed to this FB group.  How many of you are members?  If you are a member, can you persuade a friend or neighbor to join?  Why not pay for a membership for someone you feel would be interested?  If you aren't a member of the Harrison County Historical Society, why not join yourself?

Your February newsletter will look something like the following image ... only a lot bigger ... and, as usual, if delivered via USPS, it will arrive in an envelope!  ;-)


Monday, February 6, 2017

Harrison County Sites Listed on the Register of National Historic Places

LISTED!

There are 25 places in Harrison County which have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1974, when the Harrison County Courthouse was listed.  The last was the Handy House on November 25, 2005.

That's more than forty years of work at identifying and in helping to preserve sites that are deserving of the recognition and protection!

The next time you are driving around Harrison County, see how many of the following sites you can see:
  1.  Harrison County Courthouse (100 Main St., Cynthiana) ~ Listed December 6, 1974
  2. Monticello (aka Thomas Jefferson Megibben House; Monticello Heights, Cynthiana (The house was severely damaged by a fire in July, 1985; its ruins, except for the carriage house, were demolished.)) ~ Listed December 31, 1974 
  3. Poplar Hill (aka John William Kimbrough House; 901 Millersburg Pike (East of Cynthiana on KY 32) Cynthiana) ~ Listed November 7, 1976
  4.  Stony Castle (West of Berry on Lafferty Pike, Berry) ~ Listed December 12, 1978
  5.  Episcopal Church of the Advent (122 North Walnut St., Cynthiana) ~ Listed December 22, 1978
  6.  Kimbrough-Hehr House (U.S. 62, Broadwell) ~ Listed  April 20, 1979
  7.  William T. Lafferty House (548 East Pike St., Cynthiana) ~ Listed April 10, 1980
  8.  Cynthiana Commercial District (Pike St. from Church to Main Sts., and Main St. from Bridge to Pleasant Sts., Cynthiana) ~ Listed October 19, 1982
  9.  Wesley Roberts House (113-115 North Main St., Cynthiana) ~ Listed November 10, 1982
  10.  Joel Fraizer House (Off KY 982, Cynthiana) ~ Listed June 23, 1983
  11. Haviland House, aka Stone House on Haviland Lane (Off U.S. 62, Cynthiana) ~ Listed June 23, 1983
  12. John Hinkson House (Off U.S. 27, Shawhan) ~ Listed June 23, 1983
  13. John Lair House (Old Lair Rd., Shawhan) ~ Listed June 23, 1983
  14. John McKee House (Cook Rd., Shawhan) ~ Listed June 23, 1983
  15. Samuel McMillan House (Off U.S. 62, Shawhan) ~ Listed June 23, 1983
  16. Joseph Shawhan House (Off U.S. 27, Shawhan) ~ Listed June 23, 1983
  17. Smith House (Off Lair Rd., Shawhan) ~ Listed June 23, 1983
  18. Stone House of Indian Creek (Off U.S. 62, Cynthiana) ~ Listed June 23, 1983
  19. John Williams House (Off KY 32/36, Shawhan) ~ Listed June 23, 1983
  20. Archaeological Site No. 15HR4 (Address Restricted, Lair) ~ Listed February 20, 1986
  21. Spur Gasoline Station, aka Jay's Cars Office (201 E. Bridge St., Cynthiana) ~ Listed April 27, 1987
  22. Coleman-Desha Plantation (aka the Duffy House, the Oaks, and the Newkirk House; 1416 U.S. 62 E (Oddville Pike), 1 mile northeast of Cynthiana) ~ Listed February 26, 1993.
  23. Confederate Monument in Cynthiana (Located in Battle Grove Cemetery, 531 East Pike Street (0.75 mi. E of jct. of S. Elmarch Ave. & Pike St.), Cynthiana) ~ Listed July 17, 1997
  24. Second Battle of Cynthiana Battlefield (1 mi. N of Cynthiana, E of KY 36) ~ Listed September 6, 2002
  25. Handy Farm (aka Ridgeway; U.S. 62, Cynthiana) ~ Listed November 25, 2005 (Visit Friends of Ridgeway Historic Community Center on Facebook for the most up-to-date information)
To find out more about these and other sites in Harrison County visit


or let your fingers do the walking over to


and look for the link to "History on the Hoof."

Do you think there is a site, a home, a building, or some other structure or something to be added to this list?  Then maybe you should contact the Harrison County Historical Society for more information.  It is a bit of work to get listed, but then the results are nothing less than HISTORIC!

The Harrison County Courthouse was added to the list in 1974.


Wednesday, February 1, 2017

UPDATE: Harrison Heritage News Index (2000-2016) Now Available!

UPDATE

The index of the 17 volumes of the Harrison Heritage News has been updated by editor William A. Penn and uploaded to www.HarrisonCountyKy.US/harrison-heritage-news by Philip Naff.

That is where you will find it, but you won't find all 17 years of the award-winning monthly newsletter.

Index of the
Harrison Heritage News (2000-2016)

To see the most recent issues, you've got to become a member of the Harrison County Historical Society.

Links to an application can be found along the bottom of the screen of the Harrison Heritage News Viewer.

Happy Hunting!

Philip


Thursday, January 26, 2017

Surname Headings of the "Families of Harrison County" Section of "Harrison County, Kentucky History & Families 1793-2015"

A LITTLE BIT MORE TO SUPPLEMENT THE INDEX
OF THE HARRISON COUNTY, HISTORY BOOK

Partly to aid in the sales of the last copies of Harrison County, Kentucky History & Families 1793-2015, and partly to develop a research aid that will be of use to future historians and genealogists who come along after the last book is sold, I skimmed through the "Family Histories of Harrison County" section of the book (pp. 94-168) and have typed up a list of the surnames which head each individual's submission to the family histories section (Yeah, I know, a similar list has also appeared in the ads for the book in the Harrison Heritage News).

Using this list in conjunction with the index might help to determine the usefulness of the book in researching a particular family.

This same information has just been added to the previous index which appears as part of a post earlier this month at this blog.

Those names are as follows:

A
Ammerman, Anderson, Sam W. Arnold, Jr., Sam W. Arnold, III,

B
Bailey, Barlow (2x), Barnes (2x), Barnes-Arnold, Bastin, Batson, Beagle, Bedfords, Bell, Biancke, Brewer, Brown, Brunker-Platt, Butcher,

C
Cain (2x), Chamberlin, Clough, Colvin, Conway, Cook (2x), Courtney, Coyne, Cummins, Currans,

D
Dailey, Davis, Donovan, Doyle, Dryden, Dryden-Whitson, Duffy,

E
Ecklars, Elliott, Endecott/Endicott,

F
Faulkner, Fite, Florence (4x), Fowler, Freyman, Fritz, Fryman,

G
Garnett (2x), Garrett, Gill, Glenn, Grinstead, Guthrie,

H
Haley-Sowder, Harney, Harrington, Harrington-Herrington, Hehr, Heinrichs, Hicks, Hobday, Howk, Humphrey-Sowder, Hutton,

I
Isaac-Darnell, Ingles,

J
Jones,

K
Kearns (2x), Keller-Smith, Kendall (3x), Kinney, Knox, Kuster,

L
Lair, Lake, Laytart, Lemmon, Lipscombe, Luckey,

M
Mahorney, Marsh, Marshall, Maybrier-Maythorn, McCauley (2x), McDanell, McDowell, McEwan, McGuire, McIntire, McKee, Midden, Miller, Milner, Montgomery-Gregory, Moore, Mulligan/Mullikin,

N
Northcutt,

O
Owen (2x),

P
Palas, Parker-Smith, Patton, Peak, Penn, Pierce, Platt (2x), Platt-Stephens, Poindexter, Price,

Q
None

R
Rankin-Fryman, Riggs, Ross, Russell,

S
Sandy, Shields, Simpson, Simpson-Barnes, Simpson-Maupin-Sandy, Sipe, Skinner, Slade (3x), Smith (3x), Sowder or Haley, Sparks, Stanfield, Steffe, Stevens-Moore, Swinford (3x),

T
Taylor, Tebbs, Thomas, Tribble, Trimble,

U and V
None

W
Wade, Wagner, Wagner/Waggoner/Wagoner, Wagoner, Wells, West (2x), West, Whalen, Whitaker, White-Sandy-Kuhl, Wigglesworth, Williams (2x), Wilson Family, Withers (2x), Wolf(e).

X, Y and Z
None

The Harrison Heritage News for January (Vol. 18, No. 1) has arrived!

TAKING DELIVERY

I just got my hardcopy in the mail yesterday and so everybody, every member that is, should be seeing their own copy of the first issue of the Harrison Heritage News for 2017 in real and virtual mailboxes pretty soon.

What do the five sheets of paper hold for the subscriber this month?  Well, there is ...

THIS MONTH'S FEATURE:  CREATURE COMFORTS

This month's issue features an article about Ashford Acres, formerly the Owen House, now a B&B out on Millersburg Pike.  John Hicks has put together a nice and very informative article about the home's history, and, in addition, has provided a package of beautiful pictures to fill out the cover page and pages five and six.  The home has its own website (AshfordAcresInn.com), along with its own Facebook and Twitter pages.  So there is plenty more to look at when you finish reading the article.

Page four is about ice skating in the olden days of more than a century ago, when one could use the frozen waterways of Harrison County as icy roads on which to travel the county.  Can you imagine that?  Quite remarkable.

CYNTHIANA'S ATTIC

Mary Grable, Vice-President of the Cynthiana-Harrison County Trust, Inc. (aka the museum), wrote a nice piece about honoring three of Harrison County's own:  Herby Moore, Martha Barnes, and the late George Slade.  They will be presented with the "Everyday Heroes of the Cynthiana-Harrison County Trust, Inc. Award."  The award is for their service to the museum over the many years (Dare I say two centuries?), not to mention for the fact that they were among the founding fathers and mothers of what might be called "Cynthiana's attic."

The presentation will be made this Saturday, January 28, at the library's public meeting room, following a talk by Steve Flairty.  Steve is the author of a series of books, Kentucky's Everyday Heroes: Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things, a series which has featured the museum's own Harold Slade in the past.

SOME BUSINESS ... AS USUAL

The annual dues are due, and, for your convenience, a form has been provided with this issue.  Nothing will be lost by using it, for the backside has been left blank.  You can only win by sending it in (along with a check or money order), so that even more issues will continue working their way into your mailbox or email inbox for the next eleven months!

And speaking of the months of the year, this year's calendar of historical society meetings is included (No pictures of pin-up girls included, just one of a guy named Joe B. Hall).  Stick the calendar on your refrigerator door, or maybe better yet, pin it to the inside of your front door, so that when you leave the house you will be sure to see that you aren't missing another interesting presentation offered by the Harrison County Historical Society (On the fourth Thursday of every month except December thru February)!

Your January newsletter will look something like the following image ... only a lot bigger ... and, as usual, if delivered via USPS, in an envelope!  ;-)


P.S.  If you should find yourself in need of another membership form, and the society sincerely hopes that you do, you can always find one here ... when I can update the link. ;-)


Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Harrison County, Kentucky History & Families 1793-2015

THE END OF (A) HISTORY

The Harrison County Historical Society is getting ready to complete the last chapter of its multi-year project to get a new history of the county published.  The volume is entitled Harrison County, Kentucky History & Families 1793-2015 (published by Acclaim Press (AcclaimPress.com)) and the society has been working over this past year or two to sell them all out.  Some of the last books will be donated to local school libraries, but there are still some available for sale to the general public.

There aren't many left, maybe two dozen at most as I write and post this text.  For those whose time is limited, the volume is chockful of pictures of schools, churches, citys, towns, and almost forgotten communities along with the people who made their mark in making the county a success story.  Texts describe life as it was in even the oldest times, during the earliest days of European settlement, through times of war, one civil and two world wars, and many other events.

The history also includes a good many family histories submitted by out-of-town and in-county genealogists that will be of interest to anyone researching in the county.  If not your own, then maybe you will find the family history of a collateral line of interest; I know I have found several submissions which are of special interest to me.

A book that would look nice on anyone's shelf.

TIME IS LIMITED

The book is a limited edition, so no more will be published.  To get yours today, or just sooner than later (which may not be much longer) write to the Harrison County Historical Society, P.O. Box 411, Cynthiana, Ky. 41031-0411 and tell them you want a copy or copies.  You've gotta send $54.95 for each book, plus $6.00 per book for shipping and handling.  Kentucky residents need to add 6% for sales tax. (These same ordering details will appear in the January 2017 issue of the Harrison Heritage News.)

Partly to aid in the sales of these last volumes, and partly to develop a research aid that will be of use to future historians and genealogists who come along after the last book is sold, I skimmed through the "Family Histories of Harrison County" section of the book (pp. 94-168) and have typed up a list of the surnames which head each individual's submission to the family histories section.  Those names are as follows:
A
Ammerman, Anderson, Sam W. Arnold, Jr., Sam W. Arnold, III,

B
Bailey, Barlow (2x), Barnes (2x), Barnes-Arnold, Bastin, Batson, Beagle, Bedfords, Bell, Biancke, Brewer, Brown, Brunker-Platt, Butcher,

C
Cain (2x), Chamberlin, Clough, Colvin, Conway, Cook (2x), Courtney, Coyne, Cummins, Currans,

D
Dailey, Davis, Donovan, Doyle, Dryden, Dryden-Whitson, Duffy,

E
Ecklars, Elliott, Endecott/Endicott,

F
Faulkner, Fite, Florence (4x), Fowler, Freyman, Fritz, Fryman,

G
Garnett (2x), Garrett, Gill, Glenn, Grinstead, Guthrie,

H
Haley-Sowder, Harney, Harrington, Harrington-Herrington, Hehr, Heinrichs, Hicks, Hobday, Howk, Humphrey-Sowder, Hutton,

I
Isaac-Darnell, Ingles,

J
Jones,

K
Kearns (2x), Keller-Smith, Kendall (3x), Kinney, Knox, Kuster,

L
Lair, Lake, Laytart, Lemmon, Lipscombe, Luckey,

M
Mahorney, Marsh, Marshall, Maybrier-Maythorn, McCauley (2x), McDanell, McDowell, McEwan, McGuire, McIntire, McKee, Midden, Miller, Milner, Montgomery-Gregory, Moore, Mulligan/Mullikin,

N
Northcutt,

O
Owen (2x),

P
Palas, Parker-Smith, Patton, Peak, Penn, Pierce, Platt (2x), Platt-Stephens, Poindexter, Price,

Q
None

R
Rankin-Fryman, Riggs, Ross, Russell,

S
Sandy, Shields, Simpson, Simpson-Barnes, Simpson-Maupin-Sandy, Sipe, Skinner, Slade (3x), Smith (3x), Sowder or Haley, Sparks, Stanfield, Steffe, Stevens-Moore, Swinford (3x),

T
Taylor, Tebbs, Thomas, Tribble, Trimble,

U and V
None

W
Wade, Wagner, Wagner/Waggoner/Wagoner, Wagoner, Wells, West (2x), West, Whalen, Whitaker, White-Sandy-Kuhl, Wigglesworth, Williams (2x), Wilson Family, Withers (2x), Wolf(e).

X, Y and Z
None


THE INDEX

I have also gone to the back of the book, located the index, and typed up all eight pages (pp. 169-176).  (The index will eventually work its way into my site, www.HarrisonCountyKy.US)

The index, as much of it as I have copied it here, does not include page numbers.  You may say why not, but if you don't have the book in front of you, then such an index would be useless to you ... and if you have the book in front of you, then you don't need to be looking at this index, do you!  ;-)

The index of the volume is mostly a surname index, the names of individuals are not included, or if it is, then it is only because that name is part of the name of a business or other institution listed in the index, such as businesses, newspapers, schools, churches, hospitals, railroads, military units, monuments, etc.  I could go on, but you get the idea. 


Harrison County, Kentucky History & Families 1793-2015
(Published by Acclaim Press (acclaimpress.com))

The following is a transcription of the index of the above-named volume (pp. 169-176), sans page numbers.  Happy Hunting!

A
Abdallah Park; Ackerman; Adair; Adams; Addams; Aeolian Music Association; Age, The; A. Keller Distillery; Albers; Alcorn; Alexander; Alkire; Allan; Allen; Allison; Allspaw; Althouse; Ammerman; Ammon; Anderson; Angelucci; Anness; Argo; Armistead; Arnold; Arthur; Ashbrook; Ashbrook Brothers Distillery; Ashton; Atherton; Athey; Atkinson; Atmore; Atteberry; Auton; Avery.

B
Bailey; Bakanec; Baker; Bales; Ballard; Baltzelle; Banfield; Banneker; Banneker School; Barbee; Bare; Barker; Barkley; Barlow; Barlow United Methodist Church; Barnes; Barnett; Barrett; Bastin; Batcheller; Batson; Batte; Batterton; Battle Grove Cemetery; Bauldren; B.B. Whitaker's General Store; Beagle; Beale; Bean; Bear; Beasley; Beaver Creek; Beaver Valley School; Beckett; Beckham; Bedford; Bell; Belmont Bridge; Belt; Ben; Bennett; Benson; Benthall; Benton; Berkeley; Berry; Berry Baptist Church; Berry Christian Church; Berry City Hall; Berry High School; Berry Jail House; Berry, Kentucky; Berry, Kentucky Festival; Berry School; Berry's Station; Besson; Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire; Bianchi; Biancke; Biancke's Restaurant; Bible; Bidwell; Biggs; Bills; Binford; Bird; Bishop; Blackburn; Blackford; Blackwell; Blades; Blair; Blake; Bland; Blanton; Blaze; Bloss; Blount; Blue Grass Energy; Bluegrass Kennels; Blumenthal; Bob McNees' Barber Shop; Boisseau; Bolbec; Bonar; Bond; Boone; Boswell; Bowald; Bowen; Bowman; Boyd; Boyd Band; Boyers; Boykin; Brackney; Bradford; Bramel; Brammel; Brand; Brandon; Brandts; Brannock; Brannock[']s General Store; Bray; Breighe; Brewer; Brewsaugh; Bridwell; Broadhurst; Broadwell; Brogli; Bromley; Bromley Mansion; Brooks; Brossart; Broussard; Brown; Browning; Brunker; Bryan; Bryant; Buck; Buckley; Buckner; Buena Vista High School; Bumbarger; Bums; Burbridge; Burden; Burgan; Burgess; Burgett; Burghout; Burke; Burkhammer; Burkle; Burns; Butcher; Buzzard; Byers; Byrd.

Sunday, January 15, 2017

Fifteen Stripes, One for Kentucky

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know that the U.S. flag once had fifteen stripes?

It was on January 13, 1797 that George Washington approved adding two stripes, one for Vermont, one for Kentucky, to "Old Glory."

One of ten historic American flag stamps issued in 1968.


This fifteen-stripe flag is the same one which flew over Ft. McHenry during the War of 1812, you know, the flag that was the subject of Francis Scott Key's little ditty that became the National Anthem.

You can read more about that flag at a page at the Smithsonian's website entitled, The Star Spangled Banner: The Flag That Inspired the National Anthem.  Even more information is available at another Smithsonian page.

What did they do with Kentucky's stripe?  I will have to look that one up ...

The "Star-Spangled Banner" once flown over Ft. McHenry.

Saturday, January 14, 2017

The Pease Abstracts

FIFTEEN VOLUMES OF GENEALOGICAL GOLD

Whether you can make it to the Harrison County Court Clerk's office in Cynthiana or not, one resource which is invaluable to the out-of-town or in-county genealogist is a multi-volume series entitled Abstracted Court Records of Grant, Harrison, Pendleton Counties Kentucky, more commonly known as the "Pease Abstracts."

This series of records abstracts (wills, minute books, court cases, marriage bonds and licenses, and tax records) was compiled by a Colorado genealogist by the name of Janet K. Pease beginning in the 1980s.  For many years the volumes were only offered and sold under the auspices of the Grant County Historical Society, but now they are easily available to anyone with an internet connection.  These volumes, accessed through the Family History Library's website, bring the courthouse to you.

WILL YOUR EFFORTS PAN OUT?

The indexes for these abstracted record books are every-name indexes to the contents of the original court records.  The names of brides and grooms, names of the deceased who left wills and/or property, taxpayers and others are the typical subjects of court records indexes.  The content and indexes of the Pease abstracts include people whose names are not typically the subjects of court records indexes such as bondsmen, witnesses, ministers, administrators, and the like.

So you may not only find your research subject listed as a bride or groom, you may also find where they were witnesses to another wedding or perhaps acted as a bondsman, maybe even as a minister.  Maybe he/she didn't write a will, but you may find that they were involved in the probate of a will.  It may help you to possibly add previously unknown family members or maybe simply prove the presence or residence of a person at a given time.  Many such outcomes are possible.

Why should the Harrison County genealogist be interested in this set?  Well, The series of abstracted county court records not only includes sections devoted to Grant County court records, but to those of Harrison and Pendleton Counties as well (You can visit my Kentucky Room page at HarrisonCountyKy.US to view tables describing the contents of each volume).

WHERE TO GO DIGGING

The Harrison County Court Clerk's office has maintained a set in their offices at 111 South Main in Cynthiana and these abstracted records can be used during any visit to supplement the court clerk's own records indexes.

The multi-volume set is available in several regional county libraries, including the Cynthiana-Harrison County Public Library, the Pendleton County Public Library in Falmouth, Ky., and the Grant County Public Library in Williamstown, Ky.  Larger regional libraries usually have a few volumes, but not necessarily the complete set.

Since these texts were first written and posted to HarrisonCountyKY.US, it has been discovered that the Family History Library has a catalog entry for volumes 1 thru 15 with links to digitized files of each.  All are now available for download as PDF-formatted documents.

Check other online library catalogs as well as national databases for research facilities that may have them among their stacks or perhaps offer them in some form via interlibrary loan (Unlikely to happen with genealogy books, but one never knows).

These volumes were microfilmed years before they were digitized are available through local Family History Centers of the Church of the Latter Day Saints.  Please click on the following links to find out more about using this resource through a local Family History Center:

The following information needs to be updated, but according to the last Grant County Historical Society newsletter I reviewed, about five years ago,, these books were among their then-current offerings, and noted that all but one (Volume 15 (XV)) of these books were out of print, but that they could still be special ordered at $50.00 per volume (Add $3.50 for shipping and $3.00 tax for Kentucky residents).  At the time volume 15 (XV) was still available in hardback for $35.00 (Add $3.00 for shipping and $2.10 tax for Kentucky residents).  Contact the Grant County Historical Society, P.O. Box 33, Mason, Kentucky 41054-9998 to order or for the most recent information.


It looks like these guys found something ...
what will you find in the Pease abstracts?

Friday, January 13, 2017

I Need Help with My Harrison County Genealogy. Who Can I Call? Who Can I Hire?

QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS

After people visit my site at www.HarrisonCountyKy.US they often have questions.  It isn't because there is a lack of resources at the site.  Usually it is because even more or more specific information is needed.

Where do I go for a little in-person help?  Is there anyone who lives in the area and who is familiar with the local research resources (library, courthouse, and/or museum) who could undertake a research project for me?  Who can I hire?  These are a few of the questions I receive.

A former chairman of the board of the Cynthiana-Harrison County Public Library once saw to it that the library's Kentucky Room was well-supplied with research materials.  He was an avid genealogist himself.  The Christine Burgan Kentucky Room is, indeed, well-stocked, but the library has historically made few efforts to help the distant genealogist.

And while there are many in the county who are actively researching their family tree, I can't say that I have known any who have have offered themselves up for part-time volunteer or full-time professional research.

Fortunately, there are alternatives.

"GO GROUPING"

I had not taken up Facebooking until just recently, but I see where there are quite a few options at Facebook that the Harrison County genealogist can pursue.  There are several Facebook groups which focus on either Berry ("Berry, Ky.--Past and Present" (Closed)) or Cynthiana ("Take Me Home, to Cynthiana" (Public)) in Harrison County, or on the county as a whole ("Harrison County, Ky. History and Genealogy" (Closed)).  While two of them are "closed" groups, both have been very open to accepting requests to join, in my experience.

Even more groups with a focus on Kentucky genealogy and local history can be found by checking out the list at the Kentucky History & Genealogy Network.

So if you haven't already, sign up for a Facebook account and join a group. The groups each have a membership in the hundreds with many knowledgeable about local history and genealogy, and so following a Facebook group might be the best route to take.  By some chance, someone might either know a genealogist who could take on your project or even know the answer to your query.  Maybe, and even better yet, you might find a cousin who is a genealogist like yourself.

Three other routes to getting a genealogical query answered lead to the

QUERY THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

One road to take is to the Harrison County Historical Society.  No member of the society has made themselves available for hire to do genealogical research that I am aware of, and just about all that the historical society has to provide along these lines has been given to the local library and to the museum.

The society does publish a monthly newsletter, the Harrison Heritage News, which can be helpful in that it does accept and publish genealogical queries.  The newsletter doesn't generally publish genealogies or genealogical charts.  Write up a query based on the information you have on your research subjects and submit it to the editor.  He is William A. "Bill" Penn and he can be reached at pennwma@aol.com.

TRY THE LIBRARY

I have noticed of late that the Cynthiana-Harrison County Public Library has a contact page for people who have questions about genealogy, but it appears to intended for people who live locally and who need assistance.  You might want to follow the path to the information which they have posted and see if anyone at the library can be of any assistance.  Otherwise, only a personal visit will do.

VISIT THE MUSEUM

If you can make it to Cynthiana on a weekend, then you might want to give the Cynthiana-Harrison County Museum a visit.  They are open most Fridays and Saturdays, and many of the most knowledgeable about local history and genealogy staff the museum (A majority are members of the historical society).  It may be that one of the museum volunteers can point you in the right direction.  Maybe you will find something in the exhibits about your research subjects.  However, do be aware that while you may find something about the skeleton in your closet, all the bodies are buried in the cemetery!

This is about as good a map as I can provide in locating an "in person" answer to any genealogical or local history query.  Of course, one should always exhaust all the many possibilities that the internet offers, whether it be thru a general search at Google or searching a specialized site like Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, or HarrisonCountyKy.US.

Sometimes genealogy research is like searching for a needle in a haystack, but you must first ask yourself if you are searching the right haystack.  If your research has led you to Harrison County, then maybe one of options above will help you to get your answers all sewn up!

There's a needle in there somewhere ... or is there?

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

How Long Has It Been? Get Help to Calculate the Time

TICK, TICK, TICK ...

Have you ever wanted to know how much time has elapsed between two dates?  Do you know the formula?  I know it, but am always forgetting ... uh, where was I?  ;-)

Anyway, there is a site that can do that calculation for you.  It's number one use for the genealogist might be for proofing the ages as cited on tombstones, where no birth date is given, and when only a death date with age has been engraved into the stone.

TimeandDate.com is a site (developed by a few Norwegians, from what I gather) that I have found useful many a time and for many purposes, but the "tombstone proofer" that I am writing about today can be found at a page entitled

Date Calculator:  Add to or Subtract from a Date

ANOTHER USE

If you want to figure out how long it has been since you first took up genealogy research or anything at all, you can plug in that date and today's date to find out how long you have been "at it."  That "calculator" can be found at

Calculate Duration Between Two Dates

I just used it to find out how long it has been since my organ transplant.  500 days!  Yippee!

So before too much more time just ticks away, tick TimeandDate.com off of your list of useful sites to visit and bookmark.

Until later, take care

Philip

P.S.  There may be other sites out there that do the same thing, and maybe some at dedicated genealogy sites, but I usually end up going to TimeandDate, partly because they offer quite a few options, plus it is a d--n easy domain name (or URL) to remember.

Do you know of any other such sites?  Please let me know about them.  Thanks!


Kentucky History & Genealogy Network's Llist of Facebook Groups for Kentucky Genealogy & Local History Research

A LINK WORTH NOTING

I have only been one of the Facebook "faithful" for less than a year now, but I have been finding that it can been a useful tool for like minded genealogists to get together in common cause to exchange notes, ideas, and stories about the places on which they focus their time and efforts.

The Kentucky History & Genealogy Network whose motto is "Discovering Our Kentucky  History and Genealogy and Connecting Families Every Day", has gathered together and posted a list of Facebook group links.  The list should be of special interest to those who have called Kentucky home or whose ancestors once lived there ... or maybe still do.

The can be accessed directly from their site or from a Google Docs link, which is

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uwsNXuLfXRuyuBvDYs0krkszclVV5JIr2KhTNnZkryM/edit?usp=sharing

I always say go there, to Google Docs, and grab it, the list, while you can.  It probably should be the number one rule when researching on the internet.  One never knows, for whatever reason, when a resource may be withdrawn or when the link should no longer function.  "Here today, gone tomorrow" is one old saying that comes to mind.

I hope you find the list useful.  I already have.

So, click, read, learn, & enjoy!  Happy Facebooking!

Philip