In November of 1999, an idea was born. This idea was the brainchild of Sheila Ramos-Bruner, a fellow Arnspiger family researcher and native of Jessamine county, Kentucky. I had become acquainted with Sheila through the internet. We were both avid subscribers to the Jessamine County website mailing list. Sheila innocently suggested it would be fun if a few of us could meet in Jessamine county sometime… do a little research … do a little socializing. Let me tell you how that one innocent idea caught fire. The entire list responded with a YES, we want to come; when should we have it, where could we stay, etc., etc. Sheila grabbed the reins of this runaway idea and began organizing. The ultimate result was something called the Jessamine County History Fest. The ramifications of that first gathering will continue for years to come.
This is my recollection of those wonderful five days in Jessamine county, Kentucky. This was written at the time and is a firsthand recollection of the days.
Today, the second day of the History Fest, was one of the best days in my genealogy quest. We all met at the recently restored High Bridge Park for a picnic lunch provided by the Historical Society. High Bridge was at one time, the highest railroad bridge over a moving body of water in the United States. It is 276 feet above the river bed. It was built in 1876-77. The setting was beautiful with large, lovely trees surrounding the area. There were several old gazebos which made perfect picture backdrops. A portion of High Bridge was visible through the many tree tops. The company was interesting, everyone with their own story of their ancestors here in Jessamine county. Such a wonderful exchange of information.
At one point during the lunch we heard the approach of a train. Many of us ran to the railing to try for a picture. I snapped one off but I'm sure I was too far away and with the trees obscuring the view, it will be hard to see. It doesn't really matter though, it was fun doing it.
Clyde, the president of the Historical Society, talked about the history of the park area, including the original camp meetings held, starting about 1890 where five to six thousand citizens would arrive for revival type meetings. I don't know if our Arnspiger's would have been there but perhaps, maybe a trip from the outskirts of Lexington would have been possible. This Historical Society is responsible for the renovation of High Bridge Park, which has been restored to its near original condition.
I spoke with Thomas and Bertha Rhorer Whelshel, who had information on Sally, a daughter of Christian Arnsparger, who married Samuel Rhorer. During this time Gene was talking with Ken Houp who is leading the tour tomorrow to the old Jessamine meetinghouse graveyard. Ken volunteered to be a personal guide for us, to what I think are the original Arnspiger lands. We of course accepted his wonderful offer. For the next three hours, Ken showed us the Jessamine county I have dreamed of seeing.
He took us first down to the original site of the bridge, just a little way from High Bridge park. We were standing directly across from the opening of the original bridge. Above us was the "new" High Bridge, its tresses and girders were directly above us and out across the river. As we were talking and taking pictures, a train sounded. As it started over the bridge, I must have jumped a foot, the noise and vibration so startled me. Again I attempted a picture but just for the sake of saying I did. I'm again quite sure it will be hard to see anything much in the picture. Ken then took us down to the river bottom, to the "Lock". This is something I have never before seen. Very beautiful area with this impressive stone structure controlling the river flow. Apparently Jessamine county has built nine such Locks on the river since the river is the county's boundary.
From here we went up stream to the convergence of the Dix river with the Kentucky river. As we pulled up to this area of the Kentucky river, three beautiful horses in a pasture across the road, came trotting over to say hello. Another dream. People have built houses back off the road, very close to the river. They are built on hugh stilts to prevent them from flooding when the river rises. Ken mentioned that he had lived here; was actually born and raised in this area and in the flood of 1978 his home was washed down the river. He also told us stories of playing tag on High Bridge as a child.
The trees and plants were beautiful and numerous. I really can't describe it but will always remember it. As we watched the Shaker Ferry go down the river we waved to the passengers and they waved back. From this locale, we had a beautiful view of the bridge and I finally got my picture of the train as it crossed the bridge silouetted against the blue sky. Ken explained this is was also the landing of the ferry which was used before the bridge was built. The pioneers would bring their products here and have them ferried across the river and then down to New Orleans to be sold. There were stairs set into the side of the hillside that were used to get the produce down to the river bottom. They were very indistinct, but visible never the less. The pioneers would also string fishtraps here to catch the river's bounty. The glimpse into the past was so interesting.
From here we travelled to Jessamine creek where Glass Mill is located. Glass mill was the first grist mill built in Jessamine county in 1782. Parts of the original millhouse and dam are still standing and incorporated into a beautiful blue home standing on a hill a little up from the creek. In my heart and Ken's also, I know our Arnspiger ancestors walked this ground. They would have brought their corn and wheat to this mill be ground and to converse with their neighbors. Just up the creek are the remains of the Abraham Houser Mill; stones are still standing in the creek. Abraham and Paul's son and daughter, respectively, married. Paul and his sons would have also frequented Houser's mill as it was in close proximity to their land.
A beautiful bridge with four arches was built across the creek for the narrow country road. It is the original bridge built by these same ancestors. Christopher Arnspiger' land is here just below Houser's mill. Paul and Michael's land is also nearby. What a wonderful thing to see. The creek is a quaint waterway covered with a canopy of trees, sycamores and poplar trees. Small bass could be seen in the water of the creek. Of course numerous pictures were taken.
From here we proceeded over the hill just a mile or two to the Bethel Church area where Gabriel and Malinda must have lived as Malinda, along with her children, sold land to the Bethel Church after Gabriel's death. Unlike the immediate creek area which is down between rather steep, tree covered hills, this land is rolling green farmland with trees dotting the landscape. With chills on my arms and a hugh smile on my face I just looked, hoping to soak this up and never forget.
The last stop on the tour was a view of Conrad Earthenhouse's land and home location, again on the creek and surrounded by the rolling landscape of the blue grass county. Conrad was another German pioneer, closely intertwined with the Arnspiger family.
This day made our trip. (Or so I thought) This is what I came for. This is what I wanted to see. To walk on the land belonging to these older Arnspigers and to see the country they settled, fulfilled a long-time dream of mine. I will be forever thankful to Ken for showing us this and for my wonderful husband, Gene, for encouraging me in this trip.
Tomorrow we head to the cemeteries and "Chattersville", the area where the Germans settled. It was so named because the Germans spoke their native language and the other English speaking neighbors had difficulty understanding them.
June 21….
Today is the day we were to go on the tour of Abraham Houser's old mill and then on to the old Moravian or Jessamine meeting house cemetery. A caravan of six or so cars followed Bill Kenkel, owner of the farm where the mill is, from the headquarters of the Historical Society, out to the site. Most of the old mill is still standing within a wood barn. It sits next to the convergence of the east and west forks of Jessamine creek. Parts of the original dam are still standing which was apparently also used as a bridge across the two creeks. There are the remains of numerous buildings all built of stone, scattered around the area. There are stands of trees on the banks of the creek to the east. From deeds, we know Christopher Arnspiger owned the land next to Abraham Houser, along the east fork of Jessamine creek. Gene asked Bill if he knew of any other gravesites in the surrounding area. He said years ago he had been to an old graveyard that was on the farm just next to his down the east fork of the creek. The rest of the group was going on to the old Moravian cemetery but Bill said he thought he could find this other old graveyard. Gene and I both agreed quickly, that we wanted to see it, thinking possibly it was one Howard Teater may have missed. We followed Bill out to the road and then around the bend and over the creek, turning into nothing more than a path, which lead past a large, old dilapidated house up to a barn. From there we all went in Bill's truck through a hayfield to a stand of trees. There was the old cemetery, completely overgrown with large trees, high grass and numerous vines. The three of us, Bill, Gene and myself started looking around. There were numerous field stones and obvious headstone but most were unreadable. We found two large well preserved stones for two Grow girls and a small double stone that was for twins, also Grow's. Then Gene found one that was from a different type of stone, more white and with some legible letters, the most prominent being a "P" and then what he thought was a "U". He called me over and we tried to make out more but couldn't really. I took a couple pictures, but didn't really think it was what we were looking for. We explored around a little longer and then decided we should try and hook up with the tour again. Bill took us to where the Moravian cemetery was but we didn't see any of the group so we proceeded to the Wilmore Christian Church. This Church had been moved from it's original site in the Moravian cemetery to Wilmore. Supposedly original timber from that church was used in the building of this new church. Others say the whole church was moved. It's a small white church. When we pulled in there was no sign of the tour. I asked a lady working in the church yard if a group had been by and she said no, she hadn't heard anything about it. We talked a few minutes and were getting ready to leave when, yes you guessed it, the group arrived. After the tour guide, Ken, explained our mission she was more than happy to open the Church for us. As we walked in the feeling was amazing. Here our ancestors of two, three even four generations ago had worshipped. In the front of the church behind the alter, hung a beautiful picture of Christ. Gene and I sat in the front pew. At this point Gene related a story to me. He remembers this from when he was about seven or eight years old. His father had his own ideas of worshipping God. He did not feel that one had to go to a building to worship. He felt an individual worshipped by the way he lived his life. Eugene was having some plaster work done on the home they had recently purchased about a month or so ago. He became involved in a debate of sorts with the plasterer regarding his views of worship. Finally the plasterer said ok, if you're right then ask God to give you a sign. Eugene agreed. That night he did ask God for a sign. The next morning, the doorbell rang. When Eugene answered it, it was the real estate agent who had sold him the house over a month ago. She was bringing a housewarming gift. The gift was a picture of Christ. To Eugene, it was his sign from God. The picture that Eugene received is the exact picture hanging in the church in Wilmore, Kentucky in the church of his ancestors… We saw this church and picture not more than one hour after Gene and I had looked at the old headstone.
Those letters on that headstone kept pulling at Gene. We made arrangements to meet Howard Teater on Monday at the Historical Society to follow up some other leads. Howard is the acknowledged expert on the cemeteries in Jessamine county. He has cataloged over 300 hundred of these neglected cemeteries over the last 30 years. From those 300 hundred cemeteries he has over 40,000 names. Among all those names there was not one Arnspiger listed. We felt if we could get Howard to go with us to this old cemetery perhaps we could solve this mystery. All day Sunday that stone kept pulling at Gene. He was convinced that what we had seen was P? U?. Could it really be Paul? Is it possible that two west coast city slickers could waltz into Jessamine county and find the gravestone of their pioneer ancestor who had been dead for 178 years?? We had to get back and look again and take some of the tools to help read the stone. On Monday, we spoke with Howard and he agreed to go out to the cemetery again on Tuesday. We would meet him at his house. Monday night it started raining, really coming down. It rained off and on through the night. It started hard again around 7:00 am. It was still raining when we met Howard at his home. He said Bill had agreed to go out with us again. He wanted to see it again also. We drove to Bill's and then on to the farm. With the rain, it had made the fields wet and the hay slippery. About the time we reached the farm, the rain stopped. We agreed to go in Bill's truck but there was only room for three in the cab. Gene volunteered to ride in the bed and Howard wanted to join him but we made him ride in the cab.
When we arrived at the old cemetery Gene took us directly to the stone. Howard started his magic with shaving cream and a trowel. That helped to highlight the top letters. They were "P and "E". Then Gene started working using baby powder we had brought, and then brushing it off. Howard said "Okay, there's a date, looks like 22, I jumped and sqweaked "22", I know Paul died in 1822." As we worked and brushed the stone it became clear it read: P.E. died July 18, 1822. WE HAD FOUND THE HEADSTONE OF GENE'S 4TH GT GRANDFATHER, PAUL ERNSPIGER, or Arnspiger as we now spell it. The feelings that went through me are indescribable. The awe, the fulfillment of a twenty-five year dream, the absolute amazement that this could possibly be. What are the chances of this? This was and continues to be a once in a lifetime moment.
We continued to look through the cemetery. I took numerous pictures and then some more. After an hour or so, we realized Howard and Bill were getting restless. We all packed back into the truck and started back through the hayfield. As we got to Howard's car, guess what…. it started to rain, again, hard.
We went back to Howard's home and visited briefly and then, thanking him profusely, said good-bye. As we talked about this the rest of the day, we realized the unbelievable number of events and coincidence that occurred for us to have actually found this stone were incomprehensible. We have decided that seven men, Eugene Steeves, Eugene Nettles, George William, (GW), Gabriel, Michael and Paul led us to that site. They gave us the signs and clues to find the gravesite of a man whose kin had not known the existence of, for 123 years at the very least. To know and stand on the same ground some of them had stood on, and pay homage to a true pioneer, Paul Ernspiger; Revolutionary War soldier, husband and father will always be the highlight of my genealogy mission. As Gene and I stood over that grave, I was thinking, Michael Arnspiger and his wife and children, as well as his mother Mary Bruner Arnspiger and his brothers, all stood on this same ground 178 years ago. Now they are all sitting on a cloud high in the heavens looking down at us.
There are no words that will convey to those readying this the emotional experience of standing in that wild, overgrown cemetery looking at the headstone of Paul, a man I have been searching for, for twenty-five years. A man I feel l know. A man I have grown to love and respect as my own ancestor.
July 2
We are flying home now. I don't remember where I left off previously, but I want to recount our discovery of Paul's gravesite. After Howard, Bill, Gene and I left the old forgotten cemetery, it was of course all Gene and I could talk or think about. The coincidences, the clues, the manipulation by something or someone other than ourselves was hard to ignore. Why less than one hour after Gene initially spotted the stone with the obvious "P" on it, were we sitting in an old church with a very large picture of Christ… the EXACT picture Gene's father had been given. Was it a sign? Was Gene's dad saying, "C'mon stupid, put it together." In retrospect we feel he was. At the time it was just eery. After hours of talking and thinking we decided this was one of the greatest things to happen to us but that we would not go back to the cemetery to explore further. The feeling, the pull, Gene had been experiencing was gone and it didn't feel right to go back. The next morning, all that changed and we decided to give it one more try and see what we found. I packed a lunch, we bought some gloves, a shovel, a machete and set out again. We arrived at the old cemetery. After several hours with no success being able to read the stone we uncovered, we took a break and had lunch. In discussing the problem, Gene mentioned how the cemetery did seem to have rows and that there didn't seem to be any stones in Paul's row. We started looking closer and found the stones for the row, one at the very edge of a large groundhog hole. It was obviously a headstone, even though it was almost completely buried. We removed the dirt from around it and used the baby powder magic. The writing became clear and we were able to read the following…. 1827 Aug 10 J ARNSPIGER. Arnspiger was split on two lines and the N and the S were both backwards, but it was obviously Arnspiger. There was our confirmation. This stone is right next to Paul's with the name spelled out, although several letters were printed backwards and the name was too long to go on one line. It looks like the stone was carved by a family member. I believe this to be a stone for one of Michael's four sons who died before reaching adulthood. I also believe it was carved by Michael. Of course I have no proof, but this whole thing has been so much about feelings that my feelings are this is Michael's family. There were three other stones but unfortunately they were not readable. We looked and hunted for an hour or so more but were unable to find any more stones with writing. This was the end of our excursion but the adventure continued for the rest of the trip as we talked and remembered and exchanged ideas about this whole scenario.
Howard called us to let us know the committee heading the Revolutionary War soldier project will be including Paul's burial site in the project. A map with all the known Revolutionary Soldiers gravesites is being put together and displayed at the Historical Society. There is also an effort being made to put military markers on these old veterans graves. I will be get additional information about it, but it is yet another bit of strangeness and coincidence. Why now, why for these seven days we are here, is this in progress. It has been over 75 years since the county did anything for it's RW veterans and now there is a project to recognize all known burial sites. How strange.
The rest of the trip was great but anticlimatic… what could possibly be better than what we had already found.
Jo