Beech Tree News Network

This year, I continue with my county origins series.  We pick up with Letcher County, founded in 1842 and named for Robert P. Letcher, a Kentucky politician and lawyer who served as a U.S. Representative, Minister to Mexico, and the 15th Governor of Kentucky.  He also served in General Assembly where he was Speaker of the House in 1937-38.  Letcher County’s county seat is Whitesburg and largest city is Jenkins.  Estimated population, as of 2015, was 23,123. Late country singer Gary Stewart hailed from Letcher.   Lewis County, founded December 2, 1806, was named for Meriwether Lewis.  You might recognize that name, as he was best known as leader of the Lewis and Clark expedition with William Clark.  This was also known as the Corps Discovery.  Clark was an American explorer, soldier, politician and public administrator.  Lewis County’s seat and largest city is Vanceburg.  Estimated population in 2015 was 13,682.  Notable residents were Thomas Marshall, U.S. Army general of the Mexican-American War.  The founder of “Pillar of Fire Church” and KKK advocate Alma Bridwell White was born there.  Thomas Massie, Congressman, Kentucky’s 4th District, also hails from Lewis County. 
Lincoln County, Kentucky was founded in 1780 and named for American Army officer Benjamin Lincoln.  The county seat and largest city is Stanford.  Estimated population as of 2015 was 24,463.  Lincoln was one of the original three counties formed out of Virginia’s Kentucky county(the other two were Fayette and Jefferson counties).  These three were separated from Virginia to create the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1792.  The county’s original seat was Harrodsburg, but that part of Lincoln County became Mercer County in 1785. 
Livingston County, Kentucky was founded in 1798 and named for American lawyer, politician and diplomat Robert Livingston.  The county seat is Smithland and the largest city is Salem.  Estimated 2015 census was 9,316.  Notable people from Livingston were James Ford(1775-1833).  Mr. Ford was a civic leader and businessman, who was later discovered to be the secret criminal leader of a gang of Ohio River pirates and highwaymen in the early 19th century. 
I end this week with Logan County.  Logan County was founded in 1792 and named for Benjamin Logan, American pioneer, soldier and politician from Shelby County.  The county seat and largest city is Russellville.  Estimated 2015 population was 26,910.  Created from Lincoln on September 1, 1792, Logan was the 13th Kentucky county in order of formation.[5] Originally, its territory stretched from the Mississippi in the west to the Little Barren River  in the east and from the Green and Ohio Rivers  in the north to the Tennessee border on the south; since then, 28 other counties have been formed within that area.[6] The settlement of Logan Court House was made the county seat at its incorporation under the name Russellville.Future President Andrew Jackson fought a duel with pistols against Charles Dickinson at Harrison's Mill in Logan County on May 30, 1806. Jackson was seriously wounded and Dickinson was killed.  I’ve heard tons of facts and stories about Logan County, as my great grandmother was from Logan County-Bald Knob.  When I was a kid, I always thought she was saying BALL Knob.  Haha! Join me next week for more county information.