Bands of Indians roamed the hills of Harlan County years ago. It was a happy hunting ground with trees, bushes, and cane fields. In the fall of the year, known as Indian Summer, Indians came through here stealing and robbing. They had no tents for shelter. Cliffs served mainly as "just a place to sleep.

There is much evidence that Indians once roamed the hills of this county. Several years ago a mound was excavated on Main Street uncovering tommy hawks, trinkets, money and arrows.

One burial ground produced evidence that Indians were buried sitting up when they died. Stones at the sites and skeltons showed that they had been in a sitting position.

The last old Indian known to have been in this county ws called Watts. Watt's Creek near Wallins was named for him. He just sorta' drifted away.

In the year of 1819 Harlan was known as Mount Pleasant. It wa known by that name until about 50 years ago. There was another town in the state by the same name, so it had ti be changed.

Chief Justice Harlan

The present name is derived from Chief Justice Harlan. For many years, mail sedt to this county was addressed to Harlan C.H. (court house) Kentucky.

Samuel Hoard (later changed to Howard) and some of his relatives were said to be the first settlers coming to Harlan from Virginia. Hoard built a log house with a mud and stone chimney at the foot of Ivy hill.

The object was to settle near a stream of water. his brother built a log house on the George Green hill. They raised potatoes and a few vegetables depending on bear and wild turkeys and other animals for meat.

The spring near Samuel Hoard's house never went dry. the mountain water came from Ivy Hill. Sometimes the Indians lay in wait near the spring to attack white people. They knew sooner or later someone would come for water.

Samuel Hoard secured a patent for his land. The whole valley of Harlan ws covered with cane. he cleared some of the bottom land and planted corn. The corn wouldn't ripen.

Moved To Hickory Flats

He moved his family back to Hickory Flats near Pennington Gap and lived there for six or seven years before returning here. Returning here in the spring, he staked more land on Pine Mountain and Nolan's Branch. Other pioneer families moved into the county from surrounding states, mostly Virginia.

George Eager and John Carter first settled near Pansy. They married Clark sisters who were descendents of George Rogers Clark. The Creech's and Gilliam's moved into Poor Fork probably from North Carolina.

Cawood Families Settles

The Turner families settled on Clover Fork, the Cawoods and Skidmores on Martin's Fork. In the fall of the year when the river was low, families went to Virginia fo have their corn ground into meal. the tide was too low to run the mill here.

The Middletons were among the first settlers in the county. Others who were here at the time of the Revolutionary War were Ephrian Osborn, Carr Bailey, Berry Cawood, Lewis Green, james hall, Stephan Jones, Henry Smith and Henry Shackleford.

William Turner, grandfather of D.Y. Turner owned a large part of the town from First Street to Clover Fork. He was said to have owned approximately 60 slaces before the Civil war.

he also owned the ground where the present court house is today. In 1885 the Fiscal Court appointed three commissioners, J.H. Middleton, J.K. Bailey and Felix Lewis to locate a suitable site for a new court house. The two first court houses were near Main Street.

Two of the commissioners thought the town would grow and it would be wise to get over in the new territory and buy an acre in the cornfield. One of the men thought that was too far away from Main Street, the only business section.

Nevertheless the two out voted him and chose the site where the fourth court house in the history of the county now stands. The acre of land was bought from William Turner.

Sunday May 10, 1953

Volume 52 Number 108

page 1 & 8

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