never be changed, the origin of those which do not clearly explain themselves may not be without interest,

Chillicothe. Hays was the surveyor. names, uncouth and inappropriate as They had a merry time of it in their they are admitted to be, will perhaps encampment that night roasting venison, telling stories, &c. They, however, succeeded in dividing the land, in the course of the next day, to the satisfac- Paint, which forms a considerable tion of the parties interested. The portion of our eastern boundary, reshare that fell to William Rogers was ceived its name from the Indians. A five hundred acres, which he divided short distance below Reeves' Crossing between his two sons. As the survey- there are two high banks, washed by ing party passed up Paint Creek they the stream, called the Copperas Mountcame to a long, deep pond, on which ains. It is said that the Indians used, was a large flock of wild geese. They at an early day, to resort to one or botli became alarmed at the presence of their of these to procure the earth which unusual visitors and all took flight, they used, in the absence of genuine leaving them to name their lonely and happy home the "Goose Pond," which it bears to this day.

vermillion, to paint and decorate their faces and persons. In this way the stream derived its name. Rattlesnake The following August, about the was so named because of the immense 25th, Thomas and Hamilton Rogers number of rattlesnakes which infested commenced building each a house on its banks and cliffs at an early day. his land. After they got them com- They were chiefly of the large spotted pleted and returned home to the North and black species, though snakes of alFork of Paint, about Christmas, they most every variety known in this latimet a company of Virginians encamped tude were found there. It was emnear the ford. John Tudor and Philip phatically a snake country bordering Adair, with their families, gladly ac- on the stream. Old settlers say in the cepted the offer, the first of William spring of the year when they first came Rogers' cabin, the other of Hamilton's. out of their dens to sun they were often They had interesting families and be seen rolled up in large bundles or fagcame permanent citizens of that neigh- gots, half the size of a barrel, each one borhood and drew to them many other having his head sticking outward, and valuable settlers. They soon after all forming a most frightful circle of built a school house and church. Part heads, glaring eyes and forked, hissing of the company went on up into the tongues. Various kinds of snakes Pope settlement with a view of re- were frequently seen composing the maining there, but were not pleased same bundle. Whether this singular and soon returned to Paint. Among combination was for amusement or dethese was Benjamin Adair, the patri- fence is not known. Humbolt, in his arch of the party. They hunted up travels in South America, describes the their friends, from whom they had sep- serpents of that country as frequently arated at the falls of Paint. Soon after found banded together in a style simithey arrived at the settlement at the lar to the snakes on Rattlesnake. He mouth of Rattlesnake, and having concluded the object was defence made the necessary arrangements against the anticipated attack of some moved down and became permanent dreaded enemy. residents. Shortly afterwards, the old A story about these snakes on Rattleman Adair purchased in that vicinity snake is related by an early settler the land on which he lived and died. thus: In the spring of 1802 William He had the pleasure of seeing all his Pope, John Walters and Hezekiah children settle in life around him and Betts were passing up the trace united with the church. The cabins along the banks of Rattlesnake erected by the Rogers were the first from the falls of Paint, where improvements above the falls of Paint, they had been for milling and other immediately on the stream, except at purposes. This trace was on the northGreenfield, and were four miles below that place.

There is nothing particularly striking or beautiful in the names of the water courses of this county, and many of them are simply named for some very palpable local quality or characteristic. Indeed it is much to be re gretted that names more pleasing and euphonious had not been adopted at first. As it is, however, these are now permanent. In view of the fact that

east side of the creek. A short distance below the mouth of Hardin's Creek, and nearly opposite the present town of New Petersburg, a strong and remarkably cold spring breaks out of the cliffs and the branch there crossed the trace. This spring was a favorite stopping place for all thirsty travelers over the lonely route. When the party reached the branch William Pope dismounted and left his horse standing near the remainder of the company,

who declined drinking. He walked to chased the tract of land on which the the spring-two or three rods-and was Patterson mill now stands of Benjamin just in the act of stooping down to take Elliott. James Smith had previously a drink when his eye detected the erected a small tub mill on this land, a presence of a huge rattlesnake, very few rods below where the turnpike close to him. He happened to have the now crosses the creek. This little mill wiping stick of his gun in his hand was run by Patterson for some time with which he soon killed the snake. afterwards. His son Robert was the By the time, however, that he had ac- miller and kept bachelor's hall in a complished this, he saw others and he very small cabin close by. It had an took his tomahawk and cut a pole and extensive run of custom, particularly kept on killing till they became so in dry weather, as the water at that numerous that he grew alarmed and point was more lasting. Persons came started for his horse-literally killing to this mill a distance of fifteen to his path through them to where he had twenty miles. Patterson built a saw left his company. It appeared as mill and made some necessary improvethough they had all rushed out to the ments on the land before he moved on aid of the first which were attacked it. and slain. After Pope reached his horse he was so fatigued and overcome with the nauseous odor emitted by the snakes that he was unable to stand and was obliged to lie down on the ground, where he vomited intensely. His companions were also sickened. Pope wore buck skin breeches and heavy blue cloth leggins. During the fight with the snakes several struck him on the legs and fastening their fangs in his leggins, hung there till he cut them off with his butcher knife. After the killing was over the other snakes, which had come out in great numbers, retreated, and their heads could be seen thick, sticking up over the rocks. The snakes had just come out for the first time that spring and were very fat and clumsy. Walters and Betts went back afterwards to see how many Pope had killed and counted eighty-four dead snakes.

Hardin's Creek derives its name from Col. Hardin, of Virginia. Hardin, Hogue, Redick and some others surveyed jointly a very large tract of land extending over a large scope of country about the mouth of Hardin's "Creek, containing some fifteen or twenty thousand acres. On the division of this survey Hardin's portion fell on both sides of the creek which bears his name, from the mouth up some considerable distance. Fall Creek was named in consequence of the numerous rocky falls in its channel, while Clear Creek was named for Clear Creek in Woodford county, Kentucky. The Rocky Fork of Paint Creek explains itself.

Moses Patterson, with his family, emigrated from Fayette county, Kentucky, to Highland county, in the fall of 1805. He settled about a mile north of New Market, where he continued to reside for some three or four years. About two years after he came he pur

On the 17th of October, 1805, Andrew Shafer, a Revolutionary soldier, arrived with his family at New Market, from Washington_county, Maryland. He remained in New Market till February, when he moved on to his land, the same on which he lived up to the time of his death in 1855, at the age of 94 years.

Mr. Shafer was in the battles of Germantown, Monmouth and Trenton.

John Roush and Adam Arnott, with their families, emigrated from Virginia to Highland in 1805, and settled in the neighborhood of Philip Wilkin, three miles east of the present town of Danville. Wilkin had settled at this place some two or three years before, having emigrated from Virginia in 1801, in company with Lewis Gibler. David Wilkin, his grand-son, afterward occupied the same farm. Isaac Leamon also settled in that neighborhood about the same time.

This year was remarkable as the great mast year. The trees were breaking down with nuts. Acorns could be gathered under the whiteoak trees in incredible quantities. In many places the ground was covered to the depth of several inches.

At this point, the close of the first year of the existence of our county, it might be interesting to speak briefly of the domestic condition of the people who were then its citizens. They lived in long cabins, without, perhaps, a single exception, even in the towns. Some of these cabins, it is true, were graced with lap shingle roofs, and in rare cases, one four-light window. But this was looked upon by the public as rather aristocratic, and did not receive much encouragement. Furniture was scarce and generally of the rudest character. Owing partly to the want of passable roads and the consequent difficulty of transportation through the

wilderness, few or none of the emigrants thought of carrying furniture with them. When they arrived at their destination, it required but few hours, work, after erecting the indispensable cabin, to split out timber and make a rough table, by boring holes with an inch auger and putting in four rough but strong legs. In the same way were stools made to sit on, and bedsteads to sleep on, for those who could not be satisfied with the softest puncheon of the cabin floor. The cupboard was erected in one corner, by placing nice clean white clapboards on pins driven in auger holes in the logs of the cabin. On these shelves were set up on their edges, bottoms to the wall, the bright pewter plates, which were the only article of table furniture of that day, except the cups and knives and forks,the latter frequently wooden. Wooden platters served for the rough uses of the family, which with the heavy oak buckets occupied the lower shelves just above the skillet and hominy pot, when they were not in use. A "dresser," as the cupboards were called, thus ornamented, looked pretty, because of its very nice, bright and clean appearance. In the course of a few years, men traveled over the country, remolding pewter plates and dishes, and it was common all over the country to find all the plates and dishes on the table at dinner of this metal brightly scoured. There were no regular physicians in this county at that day. The old women were all the doctors the county appeared to need and they practiced on a very safe system of herb teas chiefly. Mrs. Samuel Gibson was celebrated for her skill, and ministered to the wants of the people far and near. At later day somewhat, Mrs. Daniel Inskeep practiced extensively. There was however, but little sickness. The only lawyers who practiced in this county in 1805, were found in Ross, Adams and Clermont, there being none resident within the county. Each man made his own house, and pretty much all his domestic necessaries-shoes, ploughs, harrows, sleds, &c. The farmutensils consisted of a long nosed old Virginia bear shear plow with wooden mole board, weighing more in itself than one of the splendid steel plows of the present day. All the iron about one of these primitive ploughs was the sheer and coulter, but this deficiency was made up in the wood work, which was clumsy and heavy beyond the conception of one who never saw such an implement; in length, when hitched up, they were ten or fifteen feet, and the wickedest thing to kick, except a

mule, ever known. It is said they have been known to kick a man over the fence and kick through at him several times before he was able to rise. They were both horse and man killers, and in truth did the land little or no good. If a farmer in those days happened to want a harrow he hunted out a forked tree, cut it, dressed the fork, bored holes in it, drove in wooden teeth, and dragged it over the ground. The horses were harnessed with raw hide bridle and traces, husk collar and elm bark muzzle on his mouth to keep him from eating the young corn as he tugged the merciless plough through the roots and stumps, among which it was making a desperate effort to grow. The hoe was heavy and clumsy,also the axe, and these were the implements of husbandry used in Highland when it had the honor to take a distinct position among the counties of the State, and for many years afterwards. It may be there were a very few who had better fortune and enjoyed the pleasure of handling better tools, but the masses did not. Augers, hand-saws, drawing knives, &c. were rarities, and of course, as they were much needed by the new comers, borrowed for miles around. There were no saw mills, and such a thing as a piece of plank could not be found in the county. All lumber had to be split out of the solid log. In those days, fashion did not play the tyrant. This odious office was left to stern necessity.

If men could manage to procure the absolute necessaries of life they were quite as well off as their neighbors, and consequently all were about on an equality in this respect. But they were hearty and happy in their humble homes. Game was still abundant, and they supplied themselves liberally, and on the whole, enjoyed life very much. They had few cares, and having per force reduced their wants within their capacity to supply them, they soon learned to be content with what they had, and make the most of life as it passed. They had their amusement,too, which sufficed for the times. Shooting matches and dances about Christmas, chopping frollicks, quiltings, log rollings, house raising, elections, and occasionally a religious meeting in the woods, or more rarely still, a burying, in some of the new but lonely hill top grave yards, brought the settlers together, and made them acquainted. Hospitality was a prominent characteristic among all the pioneer settlers of Highland, which the few of them who yet remain never forget to practice when visited.

CHAPTER XXV.

INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES OF THE EARLY NEW MARKET SETTLEMENTCOLONEL WILLIAM KEYS AND THE HARDSHIPS WHICH HE AND HIS FAMILY ENDURED IN THEIR JOURNEY ΤΟ HIGHLAND-THE STAFFORD, CALEY, AND CREEK FAMILIES MOVE IN AND SETTLE IN DIFFERENT LOCALITIES -FURTHER COURT RECORDS, CLOSING UP THE YEAR 1806.