Beech Tree News Network

Monroe County was founded in 1820 and named after James Monroe, 5th President of the United States.  The county seat and largest city is Tompkinsville.  Estimated population as of 2015 was 10,667.  Cities are Fountain Run, Gamaliel and the county seat, Tompkinsville.  

Montgomery County, founded in 1796, was named for Richard Montgomery.  He was an Irish-born soldier who served in the British Army.  He later became a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, and is most famous for leading the failed 1775 Invasion of Canada.  Mount Sterling is the county seat and largest city. Estimated population as of 2015 was 27,608.

Morgan County was established in 1822 from Floyd and Bath Counties.  Prior to and after the Civil War, four counties were created from it.  It was named for General Daniel Morgan, a hero in the Revolutionary War.  Wells Mill was the first settlement in the county and was named for Edmund Wells who began operating a water mill on the Licking River in 1816. In 1823, the county seat of West Liberty was established.

Morgan County is located in the foothills of the Cumberland Mountain Range and is characterized by beautiful rolling hills and wide valleys along the Grassy, Blackwater, Elk Fork and Caney Creeks as well as the Licking River Valley. In the spring, its hills are a mass of red and white colors produced by redbud and dogwood trees in full bloom. In the fall, the hills display brilliant colors of red, orange and brown from the maples, sumac, gum oak and hickory trees.

The county is widely composed of conservative Scotch and Irish descendants who take pride in their county. The residents of Morgan County, influenced by their churches and schools, have affection for God and country as well as education. Morgan County has contributed many prominent citizens to various parts of the United States.

Muhlenberg County was founded in 1798 and named for American clergyman, Continental Army soldier John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg.  A Lutheran minister, Muhlenberg served in the U.S. House of Representatives and United States Senate from Pennsylvania. A memorial to him is located in Washington, D.C. on Connecticut Avenue.  Another memorial to him is found behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  Two statuse of Muhlenberg are located in front of the Shenandoah County Courthouse in Woodstock, Virginia.  The county seat is Greenville.  

Don Everly of the Everly Brothers was born in Brownie, Muhlenberg County, KY in 1937.  His brother Phil was born two years later in Chicago, Illinois.  Late actor James Best(born Jewel Franklin Guy), was the son of the Everly’s dad Ike’s sister.  Best was born in Powderly July 26,1926.