Time Line of Boone County and Kentucky
1801-1860
1801
Woolper Creek Baptist Church organized.
George Christy becomes the second coroner of Boone County.
John Hall, Sheriff.
John Cave, Elzephan Hume. Alexander McPherson, Justices of the Peace.
Kentucky Legislature fixes number of Justices of Peace for Boone County as not to exceed eight.
Squire Grant was first State Senator from Boone County.
William Arnold was first State Representative from Boone County.
Jefferson became President and Aaron Burr Vice-President.
Napoleon in power in France and gained control of Louisiana in a treaty with Spain, and Spanish officials in New Orleans withdrew the right of deposit at New Orleans.
Biggest of camp meetings in Bourbon County about 30,000.
Jefferson sent Monroe and Livingstone to France and Napoleon offered Louisiana to the US for $15,000,000.
Camp Meeting at Cane Ridge in Bourbon County was attended by more than 20,000.
Kentucky Legislature fixes number of Justices of Peace for Boone County as not to exceed eight.
1802
District and General Courts abolished and Circuit Courts established statewide. Boone, Campbell and Pendleton Counties were in the same district.
1803
Capt. Lewis visits Big Bone Lick.
Middle Creek (now Belleview) Baptist Church organized.
William Monteague, William Sebree, Archelaus Alloway, Uriel Sebree and John Hall, Justices of the Peace.
Boone County Court of Quarter Sessions to be held on the fourth Monday in March, June and October.
Louisiana Purchase.
1804
John Taylor moves from Boone to Gallatin County.
1805
Cary L. Clark, Judge, and Absalom Graves, Clerk, of Boone Circuit Court.
Jeremiah Kirtley, Justice of the Peace.
Aaron Burr passes through Florence. Burr killed Alexander Hamilton in a dual and went west to escape imprisonment; many in Kentucky regarded him a hero since Hamilton was so disliked.
1806
Big Bone Lick was deeded by David Ross to Wilson Allen, Edmund W. Rootes, and Jacob Myers, to discharge a debt of $14,000 plus interest, though Ross retained possession until 1 August.
1808
John Bush, Sheriff.
Aaron Burr again passes through Florence.
Tanner's Station, on present site of Petersburg, renamed Caledonia.
First Lutheran church organized in Boone County.
1806
Hopeful Lutheran church was organized in Boone County.
Bank of Kentucky was organized; chartered 46 new banks and authorized them to issue paper money.
Shakertown at Pleasant Hill established.
1807
Archibald Huston, Sheriff.
Robt. Fulton developed a steamboat suitable for the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.
Capt. Clark visits Big Bone Lick.
Shakers establish South Union in Western Kentucky.
1808
Boone County Court heard a murder charge against Ziba (also known as Zedick) Campfield for beating Ned, a slave boy to death.
Elzephan Hume, Sheriff.
Moses Scott, Justice of the Peace.
An Inspection Station to be Established in Boone County for tobacco, hemp and flour on the lands of Zarah Tousey opposite Lawrenceburg.
Congress outlawed the African slave trade.
Boone and Gallatin Counties made one of the 70 state representative districts.
Boone, Campbell, Gallatin and Pendleton became senatorial district number 25.
1809
School in North Bend Bottoms taught by Thomas Henderson and William Hodges.
1810
Court Order permitting a ten foot high mill dam to be build on Middle Creek.
Boone County population doubled since 1800. The total population doubled; the slave population doubled. Nearly one third of the families in the county owned at least one slave.
Alexander McPherson, Sheriff.
School in East Bend taught by William Hodges.
Commercial lumber production begins in Kentucky.
1811
Willis Graves, Notary Public.
Thomas Streshly advertised 320 acres of second rate land on Big Bone Creek for sale in the Lexington Reporter (2 Feb 1811).
Zadoc Cramer's "Navigator" published in Pittsburgh, 1811, reported on the salt works of James Colquohoun at Big Bone.
Henry Clay elected to Congress from Kentucky. New Orleans, first steamboat on Ohio River; the Enterprise, reaches Louisville from New Orleans, La., in 1815.
Indians in the North West were getting ready for a war; William Henry Harrison attacked first and won a victory at the Battle of Tippecanoe on the Wabash River.
1812
Last commercial salt boiled at Big Bone.
Reelfoot Lake created by the 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquakes.
Kentuckians supply over one-third of the troops for the war with England north of the Ohio and in New Orleans.
War of 1812 against England.
Kentuckians fought at Frenchtown (near Detroit) on the Raisin River.
Isaac Shelby elected governor.
1813
The first Lutheran preacher, William Carpenter, comes to Boone County.
William Sebree, Sheriff.
Two armies of Kentuckians went north to fight the British - about 3000 men under Gen. Green Clay and about 4000 under Shelby.
At this time Oliver Perry defeated the British at the naval Battle of Lake Erie so the British retreated north.
We won a victory at the Battle of the Thames - Tecumseh was killed and the River Raisin were revenged.
1814
Boone Academy established. Trustees: Absalom Graves, Moses Scott, John Flournoy, Jacob Rouse, Jeremiah Kirtley, John Brown, and Mr. Bosson.
Roger Wigginton, Sheriff.
Treaty of Ghent ended the war of 1812.
1815
Kentucky Legislature allowed Boone County another Justice of the Peace.
Bank of Kentucky (organized in 1806) chartered 46 new banks and authorized them to issue paper money.
James M. Gaines was the postmaster at Walton, then known as Gaines Cross Roads.
Kentuckians in the Battle of New Orleans (occurred after the peace was signed).
There were 500 black volunteers that fought for the US.
War of 1812 left the US nearly bankrupt.
1816
Ferry to and from Rising Sun, operated by Mr. Meeks.
Abner Gaines, Sheriff.
Mammoth Cave first promoted (second oldest tourist attraction in the U.S.)
1817
Petersburg Steam Mill incorporated (Absalom Graves, John J. Flournoy, Whitfield Early, John Terrell, James Conn).
1818
Caledonia, oldest settlement in Boone County, renamed Petersburg.
Town of Petersburg incorporated. Trustees: Jacob Piatt, Benjamin G. Willis, John Alloway, Jr., Rufus H. S. Bostwick, and Archibald Huston.
Bank established in Petersburg: The Petersburg Steam Mill Company with $100,000 capitol stock.
Bank established in Burlington: Bank of Burlington with $100,000 capital stock.
Boone County allowed two more Justices of the Peace.
Boone Academy authorized by the Legislature to raise $5000 by lottery.
Jeremiah Kirtley, Sheriff.
Jas. M. Preston and Benjamin Fowler, Justices of the Peace.
Stagecoach line from Cincinnati to Lexington by Abner Gaines.
First oil well in Kentucky.
First major waterway alterations made to navigable rivers in Kentucky.
The Jackson purchase was annexed after being bought from the Chickasaw Indians.
Jackson Purchase (7 million acres) negotiated with the Chickasaw Indians by Isaac Shelby and Andrew Jackson.
General George Rogers Clark died.
1819
Sand Run Baptist Church organized.
East Bend Baptist Church organized.
Burlington Library Company incorporated.
First commercial coal mine in Kentucky, known as the “McLean drift bank” opened in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.
The first commercial oil well in Kentucky, on the Cumberland River in McCreary County.
Centre College (Danville) founded.
Gen. John Adair, an 1812 War hero, elected governor.
Replevin Law passed and creditors had to accept notes of the Bank of the Commonwealth which were virtually worthless.
1820
First house built on the site of Florence, about 1819-1820.
Joseph Graves, Sheriff.
Cave Johnson and Moses Scott, Justices of the Peace.
A small corner of Gallatin County was added to Boone County.
Daniel Boone died in Missouri.
Missouri applied for statehood.
1821
Constantine S. Rafinesque, Science Professor at Transylvania University, visits Big Bone Lick and the Landing.
1822
Levy for tools to be used on public roads in Boone County.
Benjamin Willis, Sheriff.
1823
The Replevin Law was ruled unconstitutional.
1824
The General Pike, a high-pressure steamboat of 150 tons, was built at Big Bone.
Burlington was incorporated.
Whitfield Early, Sheriff.
The Court of Appeals had thrown out the Replevin Law; they abolished the Old Court and established a new court. The Old Court refused to be abolished; there were now two courts.
1825
The Pilot, a low-pressure steamboat of 150 tons, was built at Big Bone.
Letter of Archibald Huston to Abraham Wiseman proposing to buy 50 acres of land.
The court issue went to the voters and the Old Court group won the house but the New Court supporters kept control of the senate.
1826
John M. Merrill, Sheriff.
Edward Fowler brought the first buggy to Boone County.
LaFayette and his son spend the night in Florence.
The law abolishing the Old Court was repealed; the old court was back in.
1827
Two high-pressure steamboats, the Chesapeake and the Speedwell, were built at Big Bone.
Additional Constable granted Boone County for Petersburg.
Additional Justice of the Peace for Boone County.
1828
1829 New trustees of "Burlington Academy" (actually Boone Academy - in 1833 this act was revalidated under the correct name): Erastus Tousey, Jas. M. Preston, Edward S. Armstrong, Richard Collins, Willis Calvert, Nathaniel E. Hawes and Churchill Gaines.
Prof. William Cooper of New York visits Big Bone Lick to study the bones and the geology of the area.
Andrew Jackson won the Presidency; he carried Kentucky over John Adams who was backed by Henry Clay.
1830
The town of Florence was incorporated; the population was 62, with an area of about 5 acres; the name changed from Connersville. Trustees: Pitman Cloudas, Jacob Shotts, B. A. Collins, Henry Stuck and William T. Bainbridge.
Abner Gaines of Boone County was among six commissioners appointed to examine the Georgetown and Cincinnati Turnpike.
Thos. Connelly, Sheriff.
James Brown was the postmaster at Union.
Louis Web surveys Big Bone Lick for Thomas Carneal.
Peak iron ore production in Kentucky. 1830 - 1860.
2,000 tons of coal mined in Kentucky.
Louisville and Portland Canal opened.
By 1830 there was a canal at the Falls of the Ohio and Louisville had become a major shipping port and passed Lexington in size and importance.
1831
Boone County Court authorized by the Legislature to established a road from Big Bone Lick through East Bend Bottom to Waggner's Ferry opposite Rising Sun, Indiana.
Richwood Presbyterian church organized.
1832
Cave Johnson, Sheriff.
Rafinesque publishes an account of his visit to Big Bone in 1821.
Henry Clay and Andrew Jackson ran for President; Clay carried Kentucky but not win the election.
First Rail Road in Kentucky; the cars were pulled by horses and went from Lexington to Louisville.
1833
Nullification Crisis. Nullifiers had "collected in considerable numbers" at the Big Bone Lick, according to the Kentucky Gazette (19 Jan 1833. p. 3.)
Legislature decides that all fines in Boone County are to be appropriated for benefit of the Boone Academy.
Cholera outbreak in Lexington, which kills 1,500 people in less than 10 days.
1834
Chasteen Scott, Sheriff.
Legislature repealed the section regarding the fines to be paid to Boone Academy.
First railroad in Kentucky. completed - Lexington to Frankfort.
1835
Town of Landing established. Plat laid out by Joel Hamilton and George McGlasson. Trustees: Wm. Winston, Jr., George McGlasson, Joel Hamilton, Henry L. Rose, James Dukan.
Constable added for Landing.
Constable added for East Bend neighborhood.
County Clerk Willis Graves died; his successor, Isham G. Hamilton, required to record deeds and other instruments.
Joshua Zimmerman donated land on Dry Creek, near Florence, for a schoolhouse.
First Christian church organized in Boone County.
First locomotive west of the Alleghenies began service from Lexington.
James G. Birney of Danville formed the Kentucky Anti- Slavery Society.
1836
Burlington Turnpike established from Porter's Ferry on the Ohio opposite Lawrenceburg, to a point on the Covington and Lexington Turnpike towards the direction of Georgetown.
John Cave, Sheriff.
Kentucky River Lock and Dam construction begins.
150,000 tons of coal mined in Kentucky.
Kentucky. Geological Survey formed.
Act of the Kentucky Legislature establishing a Common School System. Boone County was divided into 26 school districts.
Joseph Bullock, a Centre graduate, became the 1st superintendent of education for the state.
1837
Charter of Burlington Turnpike Company amended to require the road to be located so as to pass through Union.
Boone Election Precincts established: Home of Jacob Shotts in Florence, home of Alanson Adams in Union, home of Jesse Gregory Burlington, home of George Black in the "lower precinct.
Boundary between Boone and Gallatin redefined.
1838
Town of Union incorporated. Trustees: John C. Riley, John P. White, Morris Lassing, James Brown, Alanson Adams and Henry F. B. Childres.
Union Literary Society authorized to promote literature and education.
Benj. Watts, Sheriff.
Boone - Gallatin line made more particular.
Kentucky becomes the first state to permit suffrage of any kind for women; property-owning single women were given the right to vote in school board elections.
First public school system in Kentucky was begun in Louisville.
First School term ever held in Boone County; three months.
First public school system in Kentucky was begun in Louisville.
1839
Two more Justices of the Peace authorized for Boone County at Union and Francisville.
Charter of Petersburg amended. Five trustees appointed: Hugh M. Allen, William Snyder, Wm. H. Chapin, William Fisher and Benj. Emley.
10,000 acres, the "Gordon Tract", was offered for sale in Boone County.
1840
Town of Walton established. Constable and magistrate to be appointed.
Town of Landing trustees appointed for one year or until election: William R. Johnson, Benj. E. Garnett, John F. Allen, John M. Brasher, and Middleton S. M'Manima.
Samuel Hardesty, Sheriff.
The peak years of Boone County's slave population: 2183 slaves in 1840 census, which was 21.8% of the total population of 10,034.
One-fourth of Kentucky's population was slaves.
Kenton County created from Campbell.
1841
Big Bone Lick visited by Sir Charles Lyell.
1842
City limits of Florence enlarged.
Morgan Academy (name changed from Boone Academy) in honor of Allan Morgan, whose slaves and property were transferred to the academy.
Burlington Baptist Church organized.
Lyell returns to Big Bone.
First Methodist church organized in Boone County.
1843
Big Bone Baptist Church organized.
100,000 tons of Kentucky coal production.
1844
Robert Walton, Sheriff.
Clay was the Whig candidate and he opposed annexation of Texas. Henry Clay feared annexation would mean war with Mexico, and his stand cost him the election.
1845
Elections in Landing to be held at the house of Benj. E. Garnett.
Justices of Peace in Boone County to be reduced to 15, and no vacancies are to be filled until then.
Samuel Hardesty, Sheriff.
Cassius Clay began his anti-slavery newspaper in Kentucky, The True American.
1846
Road from Carlton's Ferry on the Ohio to Union and then to the Covington and Lexington Turnpike.
Lewis Webb and Leonard Stephens and County surveyors appointed to mark the line between Boone and Kenton Counties.
Boone and Kenton Counties to be part of the Fourth Judicial District.
The name of the Town of Landing changed to Hamilton in honor of Joel Hamilton. Trustees: Benj. E. Garnett, John J. Miller, Marshall M. McManama, James R. Hawkins and Richard Johnson.
John P. Graves, Sheriff
The Mexican War begins.
1847
Burlington and Florence Turnpike incorporated.
Burlington and Hamilton authorized to levy taxes.
Election precinct established in Walton at house of Garrett Brooks.
Creation of a General Index to County Deeds, etc., authorized by the state legislature.
Moses Scott Rice was Boone County Surveyor.
Robert Vickers, Sheriff.
Burlington authorized to levy poll taxes and a tax on real estate.
Hamilton authorized to levy a real estate tax, not to exceed fifty cents per hundred dollars. Same trustees as previous year.
Additional Boone County constable for Union.
John P. Gaines was the first Boone Countian elected to Congress.
David Leidy began scientific description of the fauna of Big Bone.
1848
Election precinct established at home of James Carleton.
William J. Sanford, Sheriff.
Benj. W. White, Sheriff.
1849
Town of Hamilton limits extended. Citizens not required to work on the road more than half a mile from the new limit.
Slave Murder. Gabrial, a slave, killed another slave Edwin. The local paper cautions people not to make up their minds about the matter, as that would make it impossible to form a jury.
275 acres for sale on the waters of Gum Branch and Landing Creeks by John Q. Johnson.
John Uri Lloyd born in New York state.
Land was purchased from Lewis Conner for $125 for a school at Florence.
Zachary Taylor, Kentucky hero of Mexican War, becomes 12th president of United States.
1850
Florence Academy established. Trustees: Paschal Conner, B. F. Rust, Samuel Craig, Jacob J. Carpenter, John M. Stevenson.
There were 46 children in Florence between the ages of 5 and 16.
The town of Walton had a population of 50.
Union had a population of 50.
Henry F. James, Sheriff.
Additional Boone County Justice of the Peace and a Constable allowed in Walton.
Election precinct established at home of A. H. Hedges, Taylorsport.
Limits of Taylorsport and Petersburg extended.
Kentucky was the 8th most populated state in the nation in the 1850 census. There were 982,405 citizens listed.
In the 1850 census the number of slaves in Boone County dropped to 2104, which was 18.8% of the total population of 11,185. One third of the slaves in Boone County were under ten years of age. Almost half of them (48%) were under the age of 15.
There were 37 "free colored" people in Boone county.
The Third Kentucky Constitution and all the slave provisions were kept in the Fourth Constitution, and in addition emancipated slaves were required to leave the state.
1851
New Charter for Burlington and Florence Turnpike.
Napoleon and Big Bone Lick Turnpike.
Union and Beaver Turnpike chartered.
Big Bone Hotel Company incorporated for 100 years. $50,000 stock sold by: M. M. McManama, J. Russell Hawkins, Joseph C. Hughes, B. M. Allen, Esau Click, Thomas Rouse, John W. Leathers.
William J. Sanford, Sheriff; died in office.
1852
Hamilton and Union Turnpike chartered.
James Calvert, Sheriff.
Lexington to Louisville railroad completed.
Henry Clay died.
1854
Lloyd family migrates to Boone County.
1855
First Agricultural Fair in Boone County.
Berea College opened for blacks and whites.
1856
The Garner family, slaves of Archibald Gaines, flee to the home of Elijah Kite in Cincinnati. Margaret Garner murders her daughter rather than see her returned to slavery.
1857
Lewis Loder of Petersburg starts a diary which he keeps daily records for over fifty years.
A building was constructed for the Morgan Academy in Burlington.
1858
The Lloyd family moves from Petersburg to Florence.
1859
334 acres for sale in Boone County by Geo. T. Gaines.
Hon. Jno. W. Stevenson gives a major political speech at Big Bone.
J. J. Dulaney is representative from Boone County.
D. L. Youell and Charles Chambers run for the Senate from this district (Boone, Carroll, and Gallatin).
John Uri Lloyd writes The Kentucky Marksman at age 14.
Beriah Magoffin, a Southern sympathizer and Centre College graduate, was elected governor; the majority of the legislature was pro-Union.
1860
Florence is incorporated in February, but this is repealed in March.
583 people counted in the Petersburg census.
Florence had 63 children between the ages of 5 and 16.
The number of slaves in Boone County was 1745; there were 9373 whites. Slaves were 15.8% of the total, which was the lowest percentage since the formation of the county.
Abraham Lincoln elected President.
[Compiled by James Duvall, M. A.]