Pulaski County, Kentucky

by: Mary Weddle Kaurish

Pulaski County is located in the south central part of the state and was the twenty-seventh county formed in Kentucky. It was created by an Act of the General Asssembly, December 10, 1798, to begin June, 1799. It was formed out of the territory of Lincoln and Green Counties. The assembly named the county in honor of Count Casimir Pulaski, a Polish officer who assisted our fore fathers in their struggle for freedom from England.

Several changes have taken place in the boundaries first made. Wayne County was formed from Pulaski, December 10, 1800. Rockcastle in 1810. Part of Pulaski was added to Whitley County February 1825. Another part was added to Wayne County in 1831. Russell County received a part of Pulaski territory February 22, 1839. The last change was make in 1912 when McCreary was formed from Pulaski, Wayne, and Whitley Counties.

Somerset was selected as the County seat February 24, 1801. The first officers of the County in the year 1799 were Judge Samuel GILMORE; Clerk of County Court-----William FOX; Sheriff-----Samuel NEWELL; Attorney-----Archibald MILLS; Tax Comissioner-----Andrew EVANS; Surveyor-----Thomas WILES.

     In the first marriage book is found:
John COOPER married Polly MCCOWAN, August 19, 1801 by Rev. Thomas HILL.
John MCNISH married Patsy COOPER, August 18, 1801 by Rev. Thomas HILL.
Abner COOPER married Polly SPENCER, Dec. 17, 1801 by Rev. Thomas HILL.
John Milton WEDDLE married Polly MCDANIEL, August 8, 1803 by John MCWHORTER.
     Polly, daughter of Spencer MCDANIEL, SR. Bond signed by Spencer MCDANIEL and Daneil WEDDLE.
Christian TARTER married Betsey TRIMBLE, Nov., 23, 1817 by Rev. John BLACK.
    Betsey, daughter of William TRIMBLE.

The first Military Claim was to Thomas HANSFORD on April 22, 1800, and the second to Henry WADDLE and Michael STONER, (page 42, order book 1). Claims followed to Thomas BANKS, Edward COOPER, Samuel DUNCAN, Aaron LAWSON, Drury LEE, David McELMER, and Henry MOORE.

Andrew McDANIEL gave power of Attorney to Achilles JASPER to collect for troops commanded by Co. Micah TAUL, Seventh Regiment of Mounted Volunteers. He, Andrew McDANIEL, was entitled to the pay as a private for two months and twenty-one days for service under Captain TATE, August 19, 1815.

Members of the Legislature from Pulaski County, 1800 to 1825, were:
Representatives: John JAMES, Robert MODERIL, Tunstall QUARLES, Henry JAMES, Thomas DOLLERHIDE; Robert GILMORE; James PORTER, Gideon PRATHER, George B. COOPER, Charles CUNNINGHAM, Bourne GOGGIN
Senators: John GRIFFIN, Thomas DOLLARHIDE, and John COWAN.

Some of the early settlers of the county were: Samuel ELLIOT, William FOX, John GIBSON, Samuel NEWELL, William OWENS, Jesse RICHARDSON, Michael STONER, John TARTER, William TRIMBLE, Samuel TATE, John Milton WEDDLE, Spencer McDANIEL, Daniel WEDDLE, Henry WADDLE, and Thomas WILES.

There were other: John HAMM, Benjamin HAIL, Malachi COOPER, Jack HAMMONDS, Beton LEE, and many more.

Some of the early churches in the county were: Sinking Creek Baptist, Fishing Creek Baptist, Flat Lick Baptist, Hopeful Baptist, Mt. Gilead CHurch and Pisgah Church (Presbyterian).

The earliest school was Somerset Academy, the trustees being William FOX, James HARDGROVE, Robert MODRELL, and Jesse RICHARDSON. The year was 1802.

The first bank in Somerset was organized January 1818. It was known as the Farmers Bank, with Tunstall QUARLES as it's president.

The first record of a tavern or "ordinary" was issued to Henry FRANCIS September 24, 1799 ---- "to keep a tavern at his dwelling house in the County of Pulaski, with Samuel NEWELL as his security."

Mills Springs National Cemetery is located in the western part of the county. This is the site of the battle of Mills Springs, or Logans Crossroads, and was a turning point in the Civil War. General Zollicoffer, of the Confederate army, was killed in the battle and a monument marks the spot. Nearby, is a marker of the grave containing over one hundred Confederate soldiers. The land for the Union soldiers was donated by S.H. LOGAN, and that for the Confederate soldiers was donated by his daughter, Colanza TRIMBLE.

Some Revolutionary War Soldiers who settled in Pulaski County, were:

Adams, Robert	Barren, William	Blackledge, Ichabod
Aldridge, Francis	Barren, John	Buchanan, Robert
Armon, Thomas	Barker, John	Burton, Michael
Armon, Thomas	Beqakman, Michael	Denny, Elijah
Dick, John	Jasper, Nicholas	Reagan, Michael
Dogan, Lovell	Kelley, Thomas	Roper, David
Earp, Joshiah	Kennedy, James	Sayers, Robert
Edwards, John	Lee, James	Seaton, Thomas
Evans, John	McAllister, Joseph	Sewell, Dorson
Gatineau, Job Sr.	Martin, Moses	Swearinger, Richard
Gilmore, James	Mayfiled, John	Sweeney, William
Goggan, Richard	Murrary, Barnabas	Tarter, Peter
Hansford, William	Newby, John	Tomlinson, Nathaniel
Hamilton, James	Newell, Samuel	Trimble, William
Harrell, James	Owens, William	Turpin, Martin
Hays, William	Perry, John	Wilson, John
Heath, William	Rainey, James	Young, Michael
Hopper, John	Richardson, Jesse

Some of the most prominent citizens of the county through the years are: Senator John Sherman COOPER, Governor Edwin P. MORROW, and Dr. Arthur W. ALLEN -- nationally known surgeon.

The population of the county in the year 1800 was 3, 161, and in 1970 it had grown to about 50,000. Some of the pioneers who came here moved on West, but many of their descendants are living here today.

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