Kentucky Pioneer 1811 Document - Feb 11, 2015 | East Coast Books In Me
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Kentucky Pioneer 1811 Document

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Kentucky Pioneer 1811 Document
Kentucky Pioneer 1811 Document
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Description
Manuscript document dated 1811, from the Hardin County, probably Elizabethtown, Kentucky. A court summons for one William Allen to be brought to court in the matter of a debt. The document is signed by Ben Helm BEN HELM (1779-1858) born in Virginia, his father, Thomas Helm, moved his family to Hardin County, Kentucky in 1780. Young Ben thus became a pioneer and became noted for his success as an Indian fighter. Major Ben Helm was the uncle of John Larue Helm, governor of Kentucky and grandfather of Confederate General Ben Hardin Helm who married Emilie Todd, sister of Mary Todd Lincoln. Ben Helm, married Mary Edwards, the daughter of Benjamin Edwards and was a sister of Governor Ninian Edwards. It was the governor's son and namesake who married Elizabeth Todd, sister of Mary Todd Lincoln. Thus there was a connection with Mary Todd Lincoln on both sides of Ben Helm's family. Ben Helm was a prominent citizen of Elizabethtown who served as a merchant and bank president. He was County Surveyor and was a member of the Town Board, Clerk of Hardin County Court and the Circuit Court and a major in the War of 1812. He as County Surveyor and the first to survey Elizabethtown, the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln. Helm built the first brick house in Elizabethtown that became an important social and meeting center of town. On May 28, 1860, Abraham Lincoln referred to Ben Helm in a letter to Samuel Haycraft. Ben Helm also became the owner of the Christopher Bush farm. It was Bush's daughter Sarah that became Abraham Lincoln's step-mother when Abe's mother, Nancy Hanks died of milk disease.Another interesting signature appears on the verso, Robert Bleakley. Bleakley & Montgomery operated a store in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Bleakley & Montgomery were interesting men and written about by Carl Sandburg. They were young Irishmen, came to Elizabethtown and opened a dry goods store with a stock of goods, and soon became very popular. The store was opened in a log house at the corner of the Public Square. Montgomery was engaged in the rebellion in Ireland in 1798. He evaded Government officers by concealing himself in a vessel and thus made his escape to the United States. Bleakley remained some years after Montgomery left town, and acted as sheriff for several years, and then settled on a farm and died about 1850, leaving a large family. There is something romantic and interesting in the history of these two men. Born on the same island, engaged in the same rebellion, both compelled to leave to save their lives; emigrating to the same country, finding employment in the same establishment in Baltimore, partners in merchandising in Elizabethtown, marrying sisters, and then living and dying on adjacent farms. It was in their general store that Tom Lincoln [Abe Lincoln’s father] purchased many items when he was courting Nancy Hanks [mother of the future president]. Approx. 8 x 6-1/2 in. VG.
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VG
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Kentucky Pioneer 1811 Document

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