Notes On Early Breathitta County Families

Editor's Note: During the 1890s Dr. John J. Dickey, the founder of Lees College, worked on an unpublished account of Breathitt County family history. He traveled throughout our county asking older members of different families to tell interesting facts about their families. This was a kind of oral history project. Of course, many of the facts have been lost, but a few exist. Some of the facts given may be questioned, however, they are worth looking into. Here are some statements from Dickey's work.

Turner

Old Nedie Turner, the great grandfather of Big Berry Turner, was the first Turner to settle in Breathitt Co. He settled at the mouth of Elesome Creek, after coming from North Carolina, Scott County. He rode horseback and walked while driving a sled. He was of Scotch Irish descent. There is a record of Big Berry Turner that breaks all records in Breathitt Co.; he is the father of twenty-two children, the grandfather of one hundred and eight grandchildren, the great grandfather of one hundred and twelve children, and the great-great grandfather of four children. He was born on Feb.12, 1853. He married when he was nineteen.

Deaton

John Deaton was the first Deaton to settle in Breathitt about 1840. He came from Virginia, on foot. He first settled on Grape Vine in Perry County, then later moved to Wolf Coal, and from there to Crockettsville in Breathitt. John Deaton was a member of the legislature.

Amis

William Amis was the first of this family to settle in Breathitt. He came from Clay County, and settled on Longs Creek in Breathitt County about 1836 or 1837. He came by way of horseback. He married Elizabeth Bowling: through the Bowlings the blood lineage is traced to Pocahontas about 13 generations.

Sewell

Tom Sewell was the first Breathitt Co. settler of the Sewell Family. He came here in 1840 from Claiborne Co., Tazewell, Tennessee. He came on foot with very little furniture for his home. He married Jona Turner in Harlan County. Tom Sewell was a very poor man when he came to Breathitt Co., but when he moved from here to Fayette Co. he owned large boundaries of land. Bud Sewell was a Confederate Soldier. Many of the Sewells were schoolteachers and bookkeepers. Most all of them were tall, of English descent. The first Sewell came over from England with Lord Baltimore as his secretary.

Cundiff

T.G. Cundiff was one of the first settlers in Breathitt Co. He came from old Virginia and married a Gabbard, who lived on Puncheon Camp. They came on foot, bringing some stock and household goods, and settled on Frozen, on what was known as the Cockrell farm. Later they moved to War Creek and bought thirteen acres of land for three pairs of oxen and one hog rifle gun. The Cundiff's were all farmers and schoolteachers.

Johnson

Thomas Johns on was one of the earliest settlers of the Johnson Family. He came here from Bunclam Co., North Carolina, about 1835. He settled near the mouth of Turkey Creek. He and his folks disagreed about a certain matter so he left home and came to Kentucky; he stayed about two years. His folks learned where he was and wrote for him to come home, so he returned. His father gave him stock, household goods, and five slaves to bring back to Kentucky with him. He also brought seven brothers, with him, who settled in different parts of Eastern Kentucky. Early generations were all farmers. Later there were lawyers, preachers, and schoolteachers. They are of Welsh decent.

Cardwell

John W. Cardwell was the first Cardwell to come to Breathitt Co. He first settled in Harlan for only a short time, later moving to Breathitt around 1820, where he settled at the mouth of Pan Bowl Branch in a small log cabin. He came from Tennessee, near Knoxville. The Cardwells are Scotch Irish. They are a very prominent family of Breathitt Co. John W. Cardwell was County and Circuit Court Clerk jointly. Charles O. Cardwell was a lawyer and served as County Judge of Breathitt, Edwin B. Cardwell was Circuit Court Clerk, Thomas P. Cardwell served in the legislature and Senate, Thomas P. Cardwell, Jr. was in the Spanish American War and was also a schoolteacher.

Crawford

Archibald Crawford came to Breathitt before it was made a county. He came from Virginia to Tallega, which is now a part of Lee County. He raised a large family at Tallega. Crawford came on foot through the Cumberland Gap and down the Cumberland River. Kentucky had not been made a state long when he came. The Crawfords are Scotch Irish. The Crawfords were all industrious people merchants who owned large boundaries of land. Athol was once known as Crawford. The railroad changed the name from Crawford to Athol.

Russell

John Russell was born and raised in Lee County, Virginia. He came here in 1856 and settled at Clayhole on Troublesome. The land belonged to Henderson Combs. Russell came on foot over Pine and Black Mountains, then on down the river. He brought seven children and very little furniture. They came from Sugar Run, Virginia. The Rus sells were schoolteachers in the earlier generations. A.C. Russell was jailer for two terms and Circuit Court Clerk for one term. Alfred Russell was County Clerk for two terms and County Attorney for two terms. Some were lawyers and one was a preacher. The Russells were of Scotch Irish descent. Tall, light haired William Russell owned large boundaries of land. His grandfather didn't want to own land because of the taxes he would have to pay. He wouldn't even pay rent, just moved from place to place. On Troublesome there is a branch named Russell's Branch; at one time all of the early Russell settlers lived there.

Terry

Ike C. Terry came to Breathitt in about 1839. It was made a county right after he moved here. He was nineteen years old in May 1839. He came from Pike County and settled on Long's Creek where he lived for three to four years. He fell among the Gabbards and married. His first child lived to be two years old , died, and was buried on Terry's Branch. Afterwards they came to Turkey Creek. He settled there and raised a large family. He remained there until he died; the creek was named Bowman Fork. Ike Terry said that wouldn't do to let it go by that name so he changed the name to Honey Run. He had twelve or thirteen children. Two of the boys were captured in Civil War and died at Lake Eire.

Ike C. Terry was raised in Pike County. His father came from Virginia, by foot. They would hunt and fish awhile, then go back and bring some more of their relatives in. They owned large boundaries of land. A number of the Terrys were teachers, some were merchants, all were of Irish descent. Jake Terry is one for the oldest teachers. Turkey Creek got its name this way: Some people were hunting. While stopping there, they saw that this creek emptied into the Middle Fork River. They saw a big white turkey fly up the creek, just as they got ready to shoot, someone else shot the turkey and it fell in the creek. They never did know whether an Indian or a White man shot the turkey.