The Withers Memorial Library was founded in 1897 after Mrs. Sarah Rice Withers bequeathed a sum of money in the amount of $32,943.00 to the Nicholasville Presbyterian Church for the formation of a public circulating library. A room was rented on the ground floor of a building at Maple and First Street, a collection of 600 books were moved in, more books were purchased, and a librarian and an assistant were employed. The library operated on a full time basis until 1906, when a large two story building was constructed at Main & Oak. The first floor was rented out to provide income and the second floor was occupied by the library It was opened to the public in 1907. The library then moved to the corner of Chestnut and Second Street. At that time, the Swintosky's bought, at auction, the contents of the library which consisted of some 3000 hard cover books. The books have remained at the Swintosky residence until now.
Jessamine County, Kentucky was surveyed by Frederick Zimmerman in October, 1796.1 It consists of an area of about 172 square miles.3 The act creating Jessamine County was passed on February 14, 1797, but did not take affect until December 17, 1798.1 It was formed from the southern portion of Fayette County and became the 36th county of Kentucky. Colonel John Price was the first to urge the necessity of forming a new county and gave the county its name.1 He was elected as the first representative from Jessamine County to the Kentucky State Legislature.1 Colonel Price was born in Maryland and descended from a distinguished family of Virginia.1 The first settlers in Jessamine County heralded from Virginia, with a few being from North and South Carolina.1
In addition to the holdings of the Jessamine Historical Society, early land records, marriage records, and court records can be found in the Jessamine County Courthouse. They are open Monday through Friday, but close at noon on Thursdays. The courthouse is located at 101 North Main Street, Nicholasville, KY. 40356. The telephone number for the County Clerk's office is 859-885-4161.
In addition to the holdings of the Jessamine Historical Society, early land records, marriage records, and court records can be found in the Jessamine County Courthouse. They are open Monday through Friday, but close at noon on Thursdays. The courthouse is located at 101 North Main Street, Nicholasville, KY. 40356. The telephone number for the County Clerk's office is 859-885-4161.
Nicholasville is the county seat of Jessamine. Nicholasville was founded by Reverend John Metcalf in 1798.2 The town was named by Metcalf in honor of Colonel George Nicholas, a framer of the Kentucky constitution in 1792.2 The main reasons that led to the location of the town were first, because of four large springs, which were presumed to be never failing, and second, the crossroads that led from Lexington to Danville and from East Hickman Creek to the Jessamine Creek.2 The first log cabin was built by Nathaniel McLean and his wife Catherine Blackford McLean.2 Major Benjamin Netherland was another of the first settlers in the community.2 He built his log cabin on the lot that is now occupied by the old county jail.2 Netherland became the town's first postmaster in 1801 and held that title for more than twenty years.2 The first city charter was passed in 1812 and the second in 1823 which allowed for the "Regulation of the Town of Nicholasville".2
Wilmore, first settled in 1779, is the second largest town in Jessamine County.4 It is the home of Asbury University and Asbury Theological Seminary. Asbury was started by Reverend J. W. Hughes in 1890 and was named after Bishop Francis Asbury, the first Methodist bishop in America.5 The actual town of Wilmore practically began with the foundation of Asbury College.2 Wilmore's Main Street is a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places.4
Camp Nelson, first established in 1863 and named for Major General William "Bull" Nelson, is located on both the Jessamine County and Garrard County sides of the river.2 During the Civil War, Camp Nelson was used as a supply depot and a training site for new Union soldiers.6 It was the home of Colonel Harlan Sanders before he left to found the very prosperous Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise. Camp Nelson National Cemetery, established in 1863, is located just north of Camp Nelson. It contains the remains of 1,600 Camp Nelson soldiers, including some 600 African-Americans.7 In 1868 this cemetery was designated a National Cemetery and over 2,200 Civil War dead from several Kentucky Civil War sites including Perryville, Richmond and Covington were reburied here.7
High Bridge Park originally consisted of an open air pavilion which was heavily used in the 19th and early 20th centuries. As passenger train traffic waned, the pavilion fell into disrepair and the park was closed in the mid 1960’s. In 2005, the State of Kentucky and Jessamine County jointly reopened the park which consisted of the restored open air dance pavilion, playground, picnic area, and viewing platform that overlooks the bridge. This postcard, depicting the early High Bridge Park, was donated to the Jessamine County Historical Society by Mr. David Doss.
WWI Soldiers of Jessamine County This year, 2017, the Jessamine County Historical Society commemorates the U.S. entry into WWI. More than four million American families sent their sons and daughters to serve in uniform. Congress voted, overwhelmingly, to authorize the entry of the United States into the war. Many women served in the Red Cross in France, Italy, and other European countries. These soldiers, that served so far away from home, sacrificed their lives for our freedom. Click here for a partial list of soldiers that served in WWI from Jessamine County.
Revolutionary War Veterans of Jessamine County I have been interested in the Revolutionary Soldiers of Jessamine County for a great many years. I thought others would enjoy reading about these remarkable men. I will start with the data on each and end with a list of the ones I have discovered in this county. Clyde Bunch
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER/PENSIONER - Lord Cornwallis surrendered the British Army to the Americans at Yorktown on October 19, 1781. This would be the decisive and last major battle of the Revolutionary War. It is said that the American band played one of their favorite songs, "Yankee Doodle Dandy". The British band played an Old English lullaby called "The World Turned Upside Down". One might wonder what the Old Revolutionary Soldier would think if he saw his world today? Would he be proud of what he saw? Could he even comprehend what has taken place? Or would he truly think that his world too had been Turned Upside Down. After the close of the Revolutionary War, Kentucky saw a great influx of veterans migrate into the state. Jessamine County received more than its share of these old soldiers. Many of them took up land and became farmers. Others acquired trades that sustained them quite well. A few were not so fortunate. Some became discontented and moved on to new territories. Some even turned to alcohol to relieve their problems. In 1818 Congress passed an act in the form of a pension to relieve some of the suffering these old soldiers were facing. This gesture was a good one, although, it did have several drawbacks. The money offered was a measly sum, even for those days. It also only benefited those who could prove that they were destitute or in dire need of assistance. Some of the Pension Applications were read aloud and then entered into the Jessamine County Court Records. One can but imagine the mixed emotions these old soldiers must have felt at the time. He was extremely proud of the part he had played in the War that won the freedom of his country. But, on the other hand, he had to admit that his life had been something of a failure. Even though many years had passed, the memories of the war were so etched in his mind he could name most of the battles in which he had served. He sometimes became a bit confused about the dates, but never about the battles or officers he had served under. If he had been wounded in battle and he mentioned this, it was only as a matter of pride and not to gain sympathy. In 1832 congress revised this Pension Act and lessened the restrictions to the applicant. This enabled some of the soldiers and widows to apply that did not qualify for the 1818 Pension Act. As so often is with the government, it was too little too late. Most of the old soldiers, by this time, had passed into another world. Only a handful remained behind to benefit. On the following page you will find a list of Revolutionary Soldiers who chose Jessamine County as their home. Following this, you will find extracts of pension papers taken from either the Court Order Books in the Jessamine County Courthouse or the Archives in Washington D.C. I am quite certain that this list consists of only a small portion of the Revolutionary soldiers who lived and died in Jessamine County. With the exception of a small plaque placed in the courthouse yard, no other tribute was ever paid to these old soldiers in Jessamine County. The small family graveyards where many of them are buried, are slowly being destroyed, either through neglect or to make way for new developments. I sincerely think that some attempt should be made to identify as many of these gravesites as possible. We could pay no greater tribute to these Revolutionary Soldiers and what they stand for, than to protect their last resting-places.
Clyde N. Bunch ©2002 8
List of Soldiers
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER/PENSIONER - Lord Cornwallis surrendered the British Army to the Americans at Yorktown on October 19, 1781. This would be the decisive and last major battle of the Revolutionary War. It is said that the American band played one of their favorite songs, "Yankee Doodle Dandy". The British band played an Old English lullaby called "The World Turned Upside Down". One might wonder what the Old Revolutionary Soldier would think if he saw his world today? Would he be proud of what he saw? Could he even comprehend what has taken place? Or would he truly think that his world too had been Turned Upside Down. After the close of the Revolutionary War, Kentucky saw a great influx of veterans migrate into the state. Jessamine County received more than its share of these old soldiers. Many of them took up land and became farmers. Others acquired trades that sustained them quite well. A few were not so fortunate. Some became discontented and moved on to new territories. Some even turned to alcohol to relieve their problems. In 1818 Congress passed an act in the form of a pension to relieve some of the suffering these old soldiers were facing. This gesture was a good one, although, it did have several drawbacks. The money offered was a measly sum, even for those days. It also only benefited those who could prove that they were destitute or in dire need of assistance. Some of the Pension Applications were read aloud and then entered into the Jessamine County Court Records. One can but imagine the mixed emotions these old soldiers must have felt at the time. He was extremely proud of the part he had played in the War that won the freedom of his country. But, on the other hand, he had to admit that his life had been something of a failure. Even though many years had passed, the memories of the war were so etched in his mind he could name most of the battles in which he had served. He sometimes became a bit confused about the dates, but never about the battles or officers he had served under. If he had been wounded in battle and he mentioned this, it was only as a matter of pride and not to gain sympathy. In 1832 congress revised this Pension Act and lessened the restrictions to the applicant. This enabled some of the soldiers and widows to apply that did not qualify for the 1818 Pension Act. As so often is with the government, it was too little too late. Most of the old soldiers, by this time, had passed into another world. Only a handful remained behind to benefit. On the following page you will find a list of Revolutionary Soldiers who chose Jessamine County as their home. Following this, you will find extracts of pension papers taken from either the Court Order Books in the Jessamine County Courthouse or the Archives in Washington D.C. I am quite certain that this list consists of only a small portion of the Revolutionary soldiers who lived and died in Jessamine County. With the exception of a small plaque placed in the courthouse yard, no other tribute was ever paid to these old soldiers in Jessamine County. The small family graveyards where many of them are buried, are slowly being destroyed, either through neglect or to make way for new developments. I sincerely think that some attempt should be made to identify as many of these gravesites as possible. We could pay no greater tribute to these Revolutionary Soldiers and what they stand for, than to protect their last resting-places.
Clyde N. Bunch ©2002 8
List of Soldiers
Additional Links
Foot Notes
1 "Jessamine County"; by S. M. Duncan, Borderland Books, Anchorage, KY, reprinted 1998
2 "A History of Jessamine County, Kentucky from its Earliest Settlement to 1898"; by Bennett H. Young, Courier Journal Job Printing Co., Louisville, KY, 1898
3 U.S. Census Bureau: State and County QuickFacts. Data derived from Population Estimates, American Community Survey, Census of Population and Housing, State and County Housing Unit Estimates, County Business Patterns, Nonemployer Statistics, Economic Census, Survey of Business Owners, Building Permits
Last Revised: Monday, 06-Jan-2014 17:31:55 EST. retrieved 03/23/2014
4 City of Wilmore. "Welcome to Wilmore". 03/18/2014 Retrieved from www.wilmore.org. retrieved 03/23/2014
5 Asbury University. "John Wesley Hughes". n. d. http://www.asbury.edu/offices/library/archives/biographies/john-wesley-hughes. retrieved 03/23/2014
6 Camp Nelson Civil War Heritage Park. "More than a Depot". n. d. http://www.campnelson.org/history/origin.htm. retrieved 03/23/2014
7 Camp Nelson Civil War Heritage Park. "Camp Nelson National Cemetery". n. d. http://www.campnelson.org/history/cemetery.htm. retrieved 03/23/2014
8 Reproduced with permission, Clyde N. Bunch article 2002
1 "Jessamine County"; by S. M. Duncan, Borderland Books, Anchorage, KY, reprinted 1998
2 "A History of Jessamine County, Kentucky from its Earliest Settlement to 1898"; by Bennett H. Young, Courier Journal Job Printing Co., Louisville, KY, 1898
3 U.S. Census Bureau: State and County QuickFacts. Data derived from Population Estimates, American Community Survey, Census of Population and Housing, State and County Housing Unit Estimates, County Business Patterns, Nonemployer Statistics, Economic Census, Survey of Business Owners, Building Permits
Last Revised: Monday, 06-Jan-2014 17:31:55 EST. retrieved 03/23/2014
4 City of Wilmore. "Welcome to Wilmore". 03/18/2014 Retrieved from www.wilmore.org. retrieved 03/23/2014
5 Asbury University. "John Wesley Hughes". n. d. http://www.asbury.edu/offices/library/archives/biographies/john-wesley-hughes. retrieved 03/23/2014
6 Camp Nelson Civil War Heritage Park. "More than a Depot". n. d. http://www.campnelson.org/history/origin.htm. retrieved 03/23/2014
7 Camp Nelson Civil War Heritage Park. "Camp Nelson National Cemetery". n. d. http://www.campnelson.org/history/cemetery.htm. retrieved 03/23/2014
8 Reproduced with permission, Clyde N. Bunch article 2002