Political rallies have an outstanding role in Harlan County history. Back in 1894 a Republician group gathered on Main Street to hear political speeches. At the time there were only a few Democrats in Harlan County. The livery stable shown in the picture at the left was located where Howard Drug is today.

Across the street was the home of Boyd Kelly and the Joe Kelly Hotel is in the other building shown in the picture.

The outstanding factor of political rallies was the absence of women. Since they didn't vote at that time, the elections were left entirely up to the men. Word spread fast around the town that a "speaking" was going to be held and the "Brass Band" would play.

Many old-timers recalled staying awake half the night because of the excitement of the muisc and speeches. That was the one occasion when everyone came to town riding horses or walking.

Sing Party's Praises

Shown riding the horse and carrying the flag is Bradley Cox. The other flag bearer is France Hall, a life long staunch Republician. The colorful figure went about the streets of Harlan singing praises of the Republician party.

Probably every native in Harlan county remembers Hall's slogan...''''sink or swim, live or die, I'm for the log cabin." He shouted the phrase every where he went.

Hall was a member of the Union Army during the civil War. The North and south slipped behind the lines and stole from each other. Hall received the nickname of "Horse Rogue" because he was the slickest man in the Union army.

He took great pride in telling stories of the civil war days. He loved his country and would sacrafice most anything for it. Children were amused by the little bag of silver dollars he always carried. The silver dollars fit in the bag so perfectly they resembled an arm or leg. Hall referred to the dollars as a "hind leg."

Governor's Candidate Here

About the turn of the century, John W. Yerkes ran for Governor of Kentucky on the republician ticket. Yerkes came to Pineville on the train and rode horse back to Harlan for a big rally.

A large crowd met him a mile or two out of town, some walking and some riding horses and came into town with him. The "Brass Band" mustered a few horns together for a little patriotic music.

Hall kept the crowd lively and happy sing song tune "Sink or swim, live or die, I'm for the nominee party." A life long native, Hall lived on Turtle Creek at one time and on Chevrolet branch before moving to Poor Fork.

Besides his Civil War pension he owned land and had some of the finest apples trees in the county.Around Christmas time he bought his "Razor Green" apples to town riding horse back and sold them for a dollar a bushel.

He had a large crop of apples each year and everyone was proud to have a bushel of his fine apples. One day in 1898 Hall planned to go Alabama to visit his son"Little Bob Hall."

He knew how well "Little Bob" would like his to have a bushel of his sweet potatoes. So that's what he did...took a whole bushel of sweet potatoes from Harlan to his son in Alabama.

Hears Teddy Roosevelt

Hall attended many rallies far and near. Many years ago Theodore Roosevelt spoke at Corbin in favor of Charles Hughes who was running against Woodrow Wilson.

Hall was so excited about the big rally when he arrived in Corbin. Someone asked him who would win and he said, "Oh, Fuze (Hughes) no doubt because everybody I saw coming down here from P.J. to Gorilla was for him."

In his confusion he meant T.J. and Varilla. Always a politician and patriotic soldier, Hall was an outstanding character in Harlan County's pioneer days.

Sunday March 15, 1953

Volume 52 Number 61

Pages 1 & 8

Click Here to return to Main Harlan County Page