First sale of a house, first paint-laned dwelling at that, in Harlan was for price of only 51 dollars, including the lot, occupied by Berry Cawood, a veteran of the Revolution and ancestor of school Supt. James A. Cawood, according to a deed of sale recorded in 1826, in the office of county court clerk.

The lot and house in town, called Mt. Pleasant at that time, stood on lot no. 8 next to lot no.7 owned by George Chappell,an ancestor of F.G. Chappell, Sr.,operator of Chappell's Dairy. The Chappells also were pioneer settlers."

Renowned For Valor

A soldier renowned for valor while serving under General George Washington's command, Cawood had settled early in Harlan county, after gaining a widespread reputation as a crack shot, brining a long string of Indian scalps to Harlan as evidence of his marksmanship, says Sup. Cawood.

The house was built apparently after the court's records shows Berry Cawood had bought lot no. 7 in "downtown" Mt. Pleasant three years earlier, in 1823, for 20 dollars from land set apart for a town site and county seat by Samuel Howard, first settler in Harlan. It came from a strip of land eight miles long, Howard had acquired in Harlan. Cawood's lot was on the other side of the "red house."

Here"s Deed

The deed's language, recording sale of the house to Sally Holmes in this first house sale of record know is as follows: "Trustees of the Town of Mt. Pleasant "Harlan County Court "To, Sally Holmes "This indenture made this 19th day of October in the year of our Lord 1826 between the trustees of the town of Mt. Pleasant and county court of Harlan of the one part and Sally Holmes of the same County and State of Kentucky on the other part.

"Witnesseth that the trustees of the town of Mt. Pleasant for and in consideration of the sum of 51 dollars to them in hand paid the recepit whereof is hereby bargain sell and confirm and by these presents hath bargained, sold, aliened and conveyed unto the aforesaid Sally Holmes a certain tract or lot of ground situate, lying and being in the County of Harlan, Kentucky, and in the town of Mt. Pleasant, it being lot No. 8 and including the dwelling house now occupied by Berry Cawood, and known as the "red house" to have and to hold the said tract or lot of ground with all singular its appertunances to said Sally Holmes, her heirs and assigns for ever, and the said trustees for themselves and their heirs the said tract or lot of ground do.

"Warrant and forever defend against the claim or claims of all and every person or persons whatsoever, in testimony whereof we have hereunto set our names and affixed our seals this day and date first above written.

""John Noe, deputy clerk."

Friday January 29, 1960

Volume 59 number 24

Page 3

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