middletownkentucky

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Long Run marker

1781

Settlers were trying to make their way to stations on Beargrass Creek and Louisville for fear of Indian attacks near Squire Boone's Station in Shelby County. At least 60 pioneers were killed with very few escaping. John Floyd led a small militia to find the Indians. Their pursuit led them to near present-day Eastwood. Here a few Indians, acting as decoys, led Floyd and his party into an ambush. Seventeen of Floyd's men were also killed.

1786, Lincoln's Grandfather

Captain Lincoln

Abe Lincoln's grandfather was a Revolutionary War veteran. He was killed by Shawnee Indians just outside of Middletown. Look to the right for more information about truly hair raising attack of 1786.

Chenoweth Massacre, 1789

1778, Chenoweth Massacre

Read the details of this event as told by one of the Chenoweth children. 1789 commentary on the right.

Long Run, 1781

Douglas Farm

Farms in Middletown

In the 1950s, Middletown was still very much a farming community. The Moser farm was on Moser Road and the Douglas farm was present day Douglas Hills subdivision. Blue Ridge Manor and Plainview subdivisions were also large farms. Hurstbourne Lane was a small gravel road. "Mark's Feed Store" was a real feed store. Small farms were scattered about. The large farms were picturesque. The Douglas farm had a beautiful red barn visible from Shelbyville Road. Mrs. Douglas planted thousands of buttercups on either side of a stream that flowed past the barn and down toward the road. Each spring this scene looked like a James Archambeault postcard. It was not uncommon to see a farmer riding his tracter down Shelbyville Road.

Betty Southard Stokes

Middletown Cemetery

Middletown Memories

Bill Stang's Grocery Store is the present day Bybee Pottery Studio.

Middletown Apothecary was in a miniature building by the First Baptist Church. A scoop of ice cream or a pack of gum could be purchased for five cents. They had a small soda fountain.

When we got sick, Dr. Bernard Bland Sleadd made "house calls" with his little black bag.

Julia Stewart was our crossing guard at the Madison & US 60 intersection as we walked to and from Middletown Elementary each day.

Peterson Hardware, Keeling Grocery, and Grossman's Dry Goods were thriving businesses on Main Street.

"Fessor" Crosby was our principal at Middletown Elementary. He hosted the 'Middletown Sock Hop' every Saturday night plus sports and arts & crafts every summer in partnership with Metro Parks.

Betty Southard Stokes

Edith L. Wood 1901-1997

Edith Wood

Miss Edith Wood was a mathematics teacher at Eastern High School. She spent years researching and writing the history of Middletown. Her published work is titled “Middletown Days and Deeds”, copyright 1946.

“Population growth is inevitable and desirable, but our community must not lose its character. One of the most treasured rewards of living in Middletown, as in any small town, is the individual recognition. Each citizen is a human being to his grocer, his druggist, his milkman, and even to his neighbor!” Edith Wood

Favorite sites

Historic Timeline
The Filson Historical Society
Historic Locust Grove
EHS Class of '68

Middletown's History

One of the oldest towns in Kentucky, Middletown was created by action of the Jefferson County Court in May 1797 on 500 acres of land lying on a branch of the forks of Beargrass Creek. The name was chosen because the town was in the middle of two older towns (Louisville, founded June 24, 1778, and Shelbyville, founded December 20, 1792).

The town's Davis Tavern was a regular stagecoach stop. Famous guests at the tavern were Henry Clay, the Breckinridge men, and the French General Lafayette. In later years the tavern was called the Weatherby House. Today it serves as City Hall for the community.

The Middletown community dates prior to 1797 as a pioneer settlement. It is not known when the first white men came to the Middletown area, but Kentucky history indicates that white men may have been in the area as early as 1769.

In 1778, General George Rogers Clark landed on Corn Island, which was in the Ohio River near the foot of Louisville's Fourth Street. Later, the settlers moved to the mainland which was, at that time, a marshy and swamp infested land built Fort Nelson. It is believed that some of these first settlers migrated to the Middletown area because its elevation was 700 feet above sea level and seemed to be an excellent alternative to the marshes of Louisville.

The Louisville-Frankfort Turnpike (US 60) ran through the Middletown's Main Street, sometimes called Old Shelbyville Road. This road was part of buffalo traces and Daniel Boone's Wilderness Road. It led settlers on to Fort Nelson in present day Louisville.

Eastern High School's Class of 68 is very proud of Middletown's history and the safe community atmosphere provided as we grew to adulthood.

Historic Middletown

Historic Main Street, Middletown

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Long Run Massacre, 1781

In September 13, 1781, settlers from Squire Boone Station (alarmed by reports of impending Indian attacks) decided to retreat to the safety of the stations along Beargrass Creek. The group hesitated for two days for unknown reasons before moving toward Middletown. Abandoning a wounded Squire Boone & another family member at Squire Boone Station, they finally started for better manned stations near Louisville.

At the intersection of Floyd's Fork and Long Run Creek, along the Falls Trace Trail, the group was attacked. Survivors fled and reached Linn's Station by nightfall. Two days later, September 15, John Floyd led his 26 militia to bury the dead and pursue the Indians. As the militia escort approached the Long Run tributary to Floyd's Fork, they were ambushed by Shawnee Indians under the command of British Captain Alexander McKee. Seventeen of Floyd's men were killed. Indian losses are unknown. (Kentucy Encyclopedia, 1992: at least 60 people were killed and only a few escaped)

Squire Boone's Station

Abe Lincoln's grandfather killed by Shawnee Indians, 1786

When Abe Lincoln was a small boy he used to listen to the stories his father, Thomas Lincoln, told of his life (near present Middletown, KY) in the constant fear of Indian attack. There was one story which Thomas told very often, the story of his father's death.

In 1786, the elder Abraham Lincoln was at work cutting down the trees, so as to clear an open space near the house which he could plough and then sow with seed. One morning he set out as usual with his three boys. They were talking together as they walked, and none of them saw that behind one of the trees a Shawnee Indian was hiding, his dark skin strangely painted with arrows and circles in white and scarlet, and on his head a tuft of black feathers standing upright and waving as he moved. In his hand he had a gun. As soon as the father had passed, the Indian came out from behind the tree, moving without making any sound. He shot at Abraham from behind, and the bullet passed right through his heart. Thomas’ father fell down dead before the eyes of his boys. They were terrified. The two eldest ran off, one to the house and the other to the fort for help.

Thomas, the youngest, was only six. He could not run as fast as his brothers, and he was too much frightened. He stood still beside his father's body, not understanding what had happened. His eldest brother, Mordecai, made all speed to the house. As soon as he reached the shelter, he took down a gun, loaded it, and jumped up to the window so that he might kill the Indian. As he looked out he saw the Indian walk up to the place where their dead father lay, look at the body for a moment, then pick up little Thomas. Putting the child under his arm, the Indian turn and walked away. Mordecai felt his heart stand still with fear. Being a brave boy and knowing how to shoot at a long distance, he aimed straight at a white star painted on the Indian's chest. There was an awful moment. The Indian fell dead to the ground. Thomas fell from his arms and ran to the house as fast as his legs would carry him, screaming with fear. Now several other Indians began to appear from the woods. Mordecai fired again and again at them from the house. Help came from the fort with the third brother and drove the Indians away.

(Captain Abraham Lincoln was a Revolutionary War veteran. He had been awarded a land grant near Middletown for his service. 1738 - 1786)

Chenoweth Massacre, as told by James Chenoweth, 1789

In July 1778, the Chenoweth family had traveled down the Ohio River with General George Rogers Clark and his men.

"When I was eight years old, my father bought a large tract of fine land about fifteen miles east of Louisville, and two miles from a settlement called Middletown. A little stream ran through the land which is now known as Chenoweth Run, in honor of my father. We moved to our new home after father had built a good double cabin. He then cleared more land, built cabins for the slaves, stables for the horses and cribs for the corn. Father took most pride in a stone spring-house which he built on the side of the branch about two hundred yards from the house.

In the summer of 1789, our family consisted of Father, Mother, Milly, Jane, Naomi, then six years old, and myself. We also had a guard named Bayless, loaned us by the garrison at Louisville stayed at our house. There were several slaves in the cabins. On July 17th, after supper, the family was lingering around the table when suddenly the outside door opened and a party of sixteen Indians, yelling with their utmost fury, burst into the room.

I had been asleep in a chair by the door. I was thrown to the floor. As I scrambled to my feet an Indian gave me a terrible blow with a tomahawk. How I reached the outside I cannot tell, but I suppose I crawled. I remember that I made my way to a large heap of firewood and hid as far under the brush as I could. An Indian dog evidently scented me, for he ran snuffing around the pile, but left without finding me. I lay there a long time. I must have been considerably stunned by the tomahawk, for I do not remember when the Indians went away.

When next I knew anything, there was no noise and no one was moving about, no light in the house. On the hilltop a woodpile was burning and this gave some little light. Slowly and very easily and softly I got on my knees and climbed out of the place where I had lain. I crawled back into the woods some distance where I found a dark spot and there sat down to think. I could not hear a sound, not even a horse stamping in the stable, nor a cow taking a deep breath. It was an awful scrape for a boy. I was sure all the others had been killed or carried off as prisoners by the Indians. All the dreadful stories I had been hearing for years came back to me, to make me afraid. I thought I might make my way to the little group of houses called Middletown, about two miles away.

I moved very cautiously along the slope of the hill toward the branch, aiming to strike some distance below our spring. I crossed the hollow and crept over the hill located on the south side of our land. I soon came to a piece of land, which I did not recognize. I broke down, for I felt that I had lost my way. Miserable and weeping, I crouched down between the roots of a big tree.

In a few moments I saw an animal coming toward me. It was my dog. He knew me and began to lick my hand and my face. He was as glad to find me as I was to meet with him. His kisses on my face became too intimate and I put my hand up to ward off his lickings. I found my face covered with something moist which I knew must be blood. There was so much of it that I was sure I had been cut with a scalping knife. With trembling fingers I felt the top of my head. I was very glad to find hair instead of bare skull. The blood had come from the tomahawk wound.

As I wore only a shirt and a pair of homespun breeches, I was cold. I went to sleep, warmed by my faithful dog, which lay quite still in my arms. It was daylight when I awoke. I decided to try again and find Middletown. I had not gone far before I heard footsteps approaching. I was thrown into another fright. If they were Indians I was a 'goner'. If whites, they seeing my face red might shoot me for an Indian. I hid myself under the side of a log as best I could. I was soon discovered and recognized by the search party. The party was under the command of Col. Richard Clough Anderson (brother-in-law to General Clark).

The men went out, and woke up all the men on the place. Some were sent on horseback to gather a company. (Note - In this company of men gathered by Colonel Anderson was a young man 19 year old brother-in-law, William Clark, a brother of General George Rogers Clark and Mrs. Anderson. He would later be a leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1803 to 1806.

Colonel Anderson took me on his lap, and as we rode along he had me tell all I could about what had happened. Before we reached our farm, Colonel Anderson had everybody dismount and see that their guns were loaded and ready to fire. He then ordered three men to hold the horses. The others in the company were to walk toward our house and see if the Indians were there. Three men were sent ahead to give the alarm. But there was no sign of anyone. All around was quiet. No sounds at all. The Indians had taken all the horses, killed the cow, robbed the chicken roost and left, as they thought, not a sign of life. They had burned poor Bayless, the guard, on the fire. I had seen it while hiding in the woodpile. Colonel Anderson cut his body down from the tree to which he had been tied and placed it on the ground. A piece of bedding was thrown over his face.

The Indians had set fire to the house, but it had gone out. As Colonel Anderson stepped into the room where we had been having supper, he saw little Naomi sitting in front of the fireplace, her little petticoat thrown over her head to cover her eyes. As soon as she heard a voice she dropped her petticoat and asked them not to kill her. She was asleep when the Indians came, and was rolled up in the bedclothes and was left unnoticed and unhurt. She had slept through it all and did not wake until daylight came. Finding no one about, and seeing everything destroyed, she thought everyone had been killed.
With the hope of finding some trace of the rest of the family, a search was ordered by Colonel Anderson.

At the spring-house, Mother was discovered. She lay on the floor by the spring, almost dead, but had managed to get water. She had been scalped, tomahawked and wounded with an arrow. She soon rallied when in the hands of our friends. Colonel Anderson bound up her bleeding head, dressed the arrow wound and put her left arm in a sling. He then washed my wound and face, and tied a bandage around my head. Jane had escaped to a neighbor's house. Milly received a bad gash in the arm and Father had been grazed by a tomahawk.

Col Anderson followed the trail of the Indians a short distance, but finding danger of an ambush he called his men in council. He was advised to return and take care of our family. After looking over the place he gathered up what clothing the Indians had left, and we prepared to make the journey to Colonel Anderson's home (Soldiers' Retreat), where we might be cared for until our farm could be again established.

I rode with a neighbor. Naomi rode with John Rose. Mother was placed in her own saddle, and a man rode on each side to keep her from falling. She stood the march like a soldier, and was quite strong when we reached Soldier's Retreat, as Colonel Anderson's place was called. Here, Mrs. Anderson tenderly cared for Mother and for the rest of our family." James Chenoweth

Rural Anchorage (north by Evergreen Road)

Rural Anchorage

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Anchorage

Take Evergreen Road and head north. The quaint community of Anchorage is waiting. Anchorage's northwestern boundary was formed by land claimed in 1773 by Isaac Hite. It was identified on John Filson's 1st map of Kentucky as "Hite's Mill". The main roads run to the Ohio River at Harrods Creek and to Middletown. To the south were early transportation routes along with the farms of the first settlers.

One of the most influential early landowners was Edward Dorsey Hobbs. As a surveyor, he drew some early maps of Louisville and Anchorage, planning for the orderly growth of the area. He was involved with the establishment of the Louisville and Frankfort Railroad through Anchorage in 1849. For several years the crossroads were known as Hobbs' Station.

Although the Ohio River is twelve miles away, the community's nautical name came from a retired riverboat captain named, James W. Goslee. The riverboat captain felt he had dropped his anchor when he retired and settled in the area. The name Anchorage was adopted when the town was incorporated in 1878, three years after Goslee's death at a railroad crossing.

Jeffersontown, KY (south by Tucker Station Road)

Jeffersontown, KY

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The Tyler family & Blackacre Nature Preserve

Blackacre was first settled by the Tyler family, who arrived in Louisville in 1780. Edward Tyler II purchased a Treasury Warrant allowing him to lay claim to a parcel of land just outside of present day Jeffersontown. Moses Tyler was given a portion of the 220 acres that we now call "Blackacre Nature Preserve". Later the land transferred to Moses' son, Presley. Moses Tyler had already built a barn, a stone cottage, and a springhouse. Presley added an impressive two-story farmhouse. In 1884, the Tyler family left the farm. In 1979, the land was donated to the State of Kentucky, allowing Blackacre to become the first State Nature Preserve of Kentucky, 600 acres are on this national historic rural settlement.

Several of the original farm buildings remain, including the 1844 Presley Tyler home, the Appalachian-style barn, and a reconstructed stone spring house. The barn is one of three original Blackacre buildings. Built in 1790, the double-crib Appalachian barn was made out of large popular logs harvested from the property. The 1790 stone cottage is the second original building. The springhouse is the last of the original buildings. Springhouses acted as a refrigeration unit for perishable food that could not be salted or smoked. A second floor of this spring was built to allow the family members to cool off on hot summer days. The spring that lies next to the springhouse was man-made by the Tyler men and slaves.

Floyd's Fork

Civil War 1862 outside Middletown

On September 21, 1862, raiding parties lead by Confederate General Edmund K Smith were in Shepherdsville. Another Confederate force under General Braxton Bragg held Frankfort. Union forces posted in Louisville feared Smith & Bragg would join forces and attack Louisville. Their fears were amplified in September when a Confederate troop of 500 swooped onto 18th & Oak Streets. They captured 50 Union soldiers. The following night, a heavy skirmish began west of Middletown on the Shelbyville Pike. On September 30th, Confederate & Union troops clashed at Gilman's Point in St. Matthews. The Union troops successfully drove the detachment of Confederates back through Middletown to Floyds Fork.

The Charm of Anchorage

Beargrass Creek and Goose Creek create boundaries for this quaint rural community. Anchorage is host to an 18th century log cabin, pre-Civil War villas, carriage houses and summer estates. Neighbors leisurely riding their horses down the lane, community theater at Anchorage School, neighborhood shops, waiting for the train to pass, taking a relaxing walk on rolling brick paths, or laying beneath the nearest shade tree all add to the charm of the quiet community of Anchorage.

Famous Man of Jeffersontown

Henry Watterson (1840-1921) was a journalist and founder of Louisville's Courier-Journal. He also served part of one term in the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat.

Born in Washington, D.C., the son of a journalist and Congressman, Watterson became a newspaper reporter early in his life. He served in the Confederate Army during America's Civil War.

After the war, Watterson edited newspapers in several states before settling down in Jeffersontown to edit the Louisville Journal. When that paper merged with the Louisville Courier in 1868, the Courier-Journal was formed. The new paper soon gained national attention for its excellent reporting.

Watterson was called "the last of the great personal journalists", writing colorful and controversial editorials on many topics. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1918 for two editorials supporting U.S. entry into World War I. He remained the editor until 1919, retiring after conflicts with Robert Worth Bingham, who purchased the paper in 1918. Watterson became widely known as a lecturer and orator.

Floyd's Fork

Named for Colonel John Floyd, Floyd's Fork is the largest and least-polluted watershed in Louisville. This formerly rural 122-square-mile watershed has been undergoing rapid residential and commercial development. To ensure that people living or working in this area will have access to a first-class park, David A. Jones Sr. and Dan Jones founded 21st Century Parks, a non-profit organization working to acquire and develop a system of inter-connected parks and trails along a 27-mile stretch of Floyd's Fork, from Shelbyville Road to Bardstown Road. In addition to trails for hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders, a waterway will allow park users in canoes or kayaks to explore Floyd's Fork.

In 2009, 21st Century Parks has partnered with Metro Parks and Future Fund, to acquire nearly 3,000 acres of land. A master planning process is underway to determine what these parks and green spaces will ultimately contain.

John Floyd was a peer and companion of Daniel Boone, General George Rogers Clark, Benjamin Franklin, Patrick Henry, and George Washington. His greenway will enable folk to paddle a canoe along Floyd's Fork or hike trails through 3,500 wooded acres. It is hoped that John Floyd's greenway will be equal to our Olmsted Parks (Central, Cherokee, Iroquois, and Seneca).

11/22/2009 1:35:57 PM