Joel :
Yore Daddy had lots of land with tall big trees and they with help of Rok and them that come with us and our nebbors put up a church after we bilt our houses we new we was going to have a baby and other kids there, Benjamin, Dunn, and others tole Benjamin, Red Banks was to colse to River, it was swampy marshy low wet land and later on the path betten oute to here would be betten out further throw the woods so Benjamin said, here is my land near our house, to bild the school so we all settled here can protect the children, our Indans like to protect people - I can see everybody out there kutting down the trees, falling with a bang, stripping off other limbs, it was getting late so they just put the logs together, without cutting them in to peaces, putting one on the other, and the woman making up mud to dobbed in the holes -one room with one winder and one door - the roof was whabby-gobby covered with logs, tree limbs and dobbed with mud, one side was longer than the other, but they pushed out one end and met them - but bilding the stick chimley, draging all size and shaped from everywhere - what a pull and push it was getting one on top of the other, one that fell mashed Russel big toe flat and it never did get in shape again - we had linment made out egg betten up with turpentine got out of drippin of trees and paked, but left no fealin in his toe.
Soon the stick chimney was up bove the roof. Mr. Dunn said now walls roof and chimney up, lets split the logs half way into for seats and we will rush the buffalows by in groves, plug them down skin and dry the hides to make seats for our children to Set on; cover window and door with buffalo skins when it gets cold and use candles when too dark. We put a stove in it like the one your daddy's picture is made by.
They got it all bilt and reddy for a teacher, we watted, none or even a preacher come by so before winter set we wanted to open it - we set a day. All gathered in best klothes with little one to start to school and big ones to - we put the Bible on a made out of a high log, table with picture of Christ on back wall, everybody that had sacks or scrap of paper brought them along ink and pencil brush out of goose quills ink made out of Elberyberry.
So Benjamin was to be the teacher until one come along, he dressed up in best suit, beard hanging to shoe toe, shoes shining, white shirt, we all got there first and was seated, in come Benjamin, my he looked beautiful, blue eyes shining with always a big smile, gracefully walking through the door to the high log table with the Bible on it, and Christ picture behind him - "he looked like Christ's desciple" -He asked us to stand and say the Lord's prayer next we sung Our National Anthem - Yankee Doodle Dandy our people in Revolutionary War, drummed it before and after battle and...he taught her to read and awl our slaves children that wood take it, ours and our slaves children went to school with all the children that wood take it.
We soon saw a twinkle in Our Teacher's eye of wandering-and learned he had a Suzy Jane back home, he water was coming up and a hard winter was to be had so he left us for his Suzy Jane. It was swampy there rainy sickness taken hold of us, so I told you about Benjamin having land along the way to Madisonville bilding it up and a good price for this here, we like others pulled up stake £or there and other places.
Your daddy finished out the school. A very good road had been padded out on below us too Shanetown. We went back to see our neghbors but Our beloved teacher never returned with Suzy Jane, I have told you about our new home, will tell you more about our church and school there if I stay in this place longer.
I can see my handsom husband walking in that school house and never forget that sun shinny day Aug, fiftenth 1793. Benjamin and others set up a Board of Trustees same as ones we left to help plan and see everything was in fit, the children liked for Benjamin not to wear his long beard plated on Fri. so they could tug at it and giggle as on Fri. after a long week everybody was tired, he never had much trouble there as most children had been taught at home, but one day Bill Upp put cockleburs in his beard Benjamin had Bill to pick them out, he platted his beard and gave Bill a good laching with it, one kid always if out, rest wood be good I just keep huming Yankee Doodle Dandy while writing
There was a thousand men
As rick as Square David
And what they wasted every day
I wish it could be saved
Yankee Doodle Dandy
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be hand
The ladies they eat every day
Would keep a house a winter
They have so much that I'II be bound
They eat it when theyre a mind to
Benjamin had a long way to go to first criminal court in Red Banks a hot day July 1, 1799 and there he saw Gen. Sam'l Hopkins, Hugh Knox, Bill Blackburn elected Common Attorney for the County. It had not been to long since he saw them as the Governor met in our school house and pointed some men to be justices and quarter court in 1798 soon after Red Banks and all land was made a County in that year, it was so little the court that day gave us people there $50 to make it better the first thing they did there was to start making longer and better roads - Mammy and everybody else cooked there best and brought it to our house,and this bunch of men make a feast of it and they talked about Isaac Dunn swearing on Sunday on his way back from church living close to us. They said people living around had to help bild the road,
Love me forever
Your Mamma
The above narrative was taken to Miss Susan Towles, City Librarian, by Ora CHANDLER. She showed Ora the following article in her book -Henderson - Home of Audubon, page 65:
"Before the Indian war whoop had ceased along the Ohio River, Henderson County had a school though its location has not been definetly established. The question of its site depends on which of the Ohio River island was then called Diamond Island Captain John Dunn was a patron of this school as is shown by the following order.
Capt, John Dunn:
Sir - please pay Russell Hewitt, or order, ten shillings, your quarterly subscription to my school, at Diamond Island, and this shall be your sufficient receipt.
October 26, 1794 Henry Patmers
Teste: John Devritt
This school was conducted in an unhewn log structure with the stick chimney so characteristic of Kentucky log houses,"
Miss Towles was delighted with Ora's article and said it definetly proved the Diamond Island near Corydon, Ky, was the site. She planned erection of State Historical Placque, but was not completed before her death.
Letter(s) from Sarah MCCLENDON, wife of Benjamin MCCLENDON, to her mother & father.
Sunday - April 1797
Dear Mother, Daddie, Bruthurs, Susters, all our People, nebors and frunds -
We was surprised and thankful, when Preacher Hobson located vur little bilage and brought us yor leters and from Benjamin people. We red and rered and let all the pepople here red them. I was worred about Daddie sou glade the boys toke his worke over and had a good ductor. It is a lounge way hear to get a ductor. Preachur Hobson gave and renewed the word of salvation to us. He is pretching ever night here. Benjamin had bilt a circle for us to have church and covered it with timber, our new log church is almost done. The nebors and al are splitting logs, putting legs on for benches, all are getting animal skins dried to cover them with making animal oil lamps - Preacher Lambast left a bible, it is in alter of church on the pulpit, covered with skin.
Saturdaey
We are getting cloth spined to cover it. It is center of our litle vilage. Kiut worreng bout us not havin plenty to eat. We hade boiled wild geese, wild plum puddin, wild cherry perserves, corn bred, cracked hominy, wild greens, roaster deer, dandelions, beaten white bred, goseberry purserves made with honey, hog meat, milk, butter, kottage, cheze, gravy, mushrons. All this wild food is better than what you others have, popcorn, lots of other things we are healthier. We never go hungry. I never want for help. Benjamin is good to me, he still calls me Love, and I have a surprise now do not worry bout me. I am in the family way with my first baby, Benjamin say it makes him love me more, but I do not see ho
w he could love me more. He said we will name him William that is a name in both our family. I never was in better health in allmy life - my mid-wife Nancy is watching over me as all and they are happy for us. No women in our clan everdie when they have a baby and I have walked and lived with God, so has Benjamin and we want this baby.
Monday
We are well fixed for the cold weather and are well guarded from the wilds of our country. We like here. We live, love, pray, work together.
Friday
We have plenty warm clothes, We are progressing. Back home l know you have more in livirg than we do - but back there it started like we are here. Preacher Hobson is hear third time, he will stay here and marry Kanny Crampfell. She is getting her dress spined and will color it with berry and we will have a big weddin for them. The men and negroes are rushing to get there 2 room ready. Benjamin gave the land. We are nebors dividing our furniture.and everything. She is a pretty girl. We are giving her Fanny - 14 years old and she can tran her to help. We want them to stay and preech hear and he will teech the youngins, soon our little William will be big to go. Mary is still with me. Benjamin is a good man, like my Daddie and Bruthers. I wood like to come back and we plan to some. You and Daddie ought to come here , they are making board boats now and could cume on them to Illinoisy. Benjamin has a fast, fat, fine steeds and will come and meat you. You wood like hear - not many sins here. I no all the youngins of you all are in school and hope all got nough money to pay for hime and live now alright. You all could help more people there like we do and feel better.
Each day I rite a little more and am trying to rite all I no so if some one get out this way I can sent it. Benjamin sends his love, not to worrie about us, when we get our family will bring back home to see you. If you here about the pirates coming round hear forget it. We love God and know he will be with us. Rok is here and sees after us. Poore Old Jim Smucker that come with us, got awful sick and died. Preech Hobson said the last rites. Mary has five of,his children. Henry Upp is going to marry her, his wife Nancy died and he has her two boys. Both of them need each outher and he is a good working man. How did John little boy Billy get, does he still have the thisis or has he lost it. I pray for him as I do all of you. I love you all. I know you hated for us to leave but we never wish we had not. Sometime it was hard but we made it, all of us together and we wood not have it any other way. People tels it is worse than it is, They have not ben hear and don't know. We dry wild apples flavor better, crab apple purseves with honey -blackberry Jam, butter, hot bred, just like you have, wild rice all this wild flavor better than when you tame it. I hope you all will keep the negro to help you. You are getting older, we all want you and Daddie stay hear long time til God see fit to take you from us. I hope to do the same for mine, but what a loving sweet memory you will leave us. Tell Uncle Watch, Aunt Marry and everybody helo and I know they are still praying for us. Benjamin with his long bread and me still love you all. Will add to this -
Thursday
Yesterday the sun shined all are getting ready for spring work today a howling cold wind but the trees keep part of it away. The men all have a blacksmith shop, when cold cold they get in it swap tales of old, some make brew or wild peach brandy, some get too much but what can you do about it but Benjamin do not. We all like peach brandy seasoned with honey. I tell you this wild taste is a better taste - a beter for your health reason we are healthy here. We had lots of deep snow - we cut ice off creek and had wild grass piled up to covered the ice to make ice cream when it get hot. Nothing healthy more the creek runned all time with clear water. I wish you all could see this spring. It runs as far as you can see cutting the ditch wide and deep. Benjamin a nd the men are piling up big rocks and will put them inside the spring, make a wall, they will dig it deeper. It is pretty here, they take the pepperming put it in candy. Mary makes soap and puts wild roses in it, it makes you smell good. We have about what you have we eet it a different way. Preacher Lampkin brought us some champhor and fedita, we divide, Rok and the Indians showed us what weeds to make medicine from with help of old Ductor Burdon that come with us, before he died - Sam Crumbream it all from him so when we get sick and can not see Ductor Rankin we get Ductor Sam. We buried Ductor Burdon and when Preecher Hobson come he said the rites a lots of pretty things about him. Soem time the hail and sleet gets so thick and heavy on the tree limbs they bend, bend and creak, til they break off, it is kind of a music sound, when spring opens up the mean chop them up, that is one way God helps us, sometime he send the deer and buffalo by so we can have meet when the snow is awful deep, he send the snow bird to chirp to us with the hail covered trees swaying crackling poping with music, the bright sun coming up through the tree tops no place but heaven could be prettyr than this, the eagle and birds flying or setting in the tree tops with there music wabbles, just come and enjoy a while what we live with the year rond in God Country where peach and sin is littler. Will ad to this.
We Was glad everbodie rote a little and sent in your letter, that tell us they still love us.
(Found in Hugh B. Chandler's file. His wife Sallie was grand-daughter of Sarah (Sallie) McClendon.)