Tag Archives: Breathitt County

Breathitt Slave Whipped for Theft

Posted on February 28, 2022 by sdbowling

Alfred, an enslaved person belonging to Jeremiah Cockrell, was convicted of larceny in 1845 and whipped at the Breathitt County Courthouse.

It is the only court case involving a slave in our earliest records. Continue reading →

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Jackson Opposed the County’s “Crossing Tax”

Posted on February 26, 2022 by sdbowling

In 1911, the people of Jackson were angry that they were having to pay for a bridge that should have been paid off long ago.

The people organized but nothing was done for nearly a decade. That is the saga of Breathitt County’s unpopular crossing tax. Continue reading →

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John Callahan Strong

Posted on February 25, 2022 by sdbowling

A record of the life of John Callahan Strong- a Sergeant in Company K, 14th Kentucky Cavalry during the Civil War. Continue reading →

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Elijah Bowling, Jr.

Posted on February 25, 2022 by sdbowling

A record of the life of Elijah Bowling, Jr. (1828-1908)- Sergeant, Company E, 3 Forks Battalion, Kentucky State Troops. Continue reading →

Posted in Breathitt County, Civil War, Military, Union Army | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Was It Charles Miller? We May Never Know

Posted on February 24, 2022 by sdbowling

A skeleton was found on Lower Cut Off Branch with a single gunshot wound to the chest.

A coroner’s inquiry determined he was murdered and then nothing happened.

It is just another unsolved Breathitt County murder. Continue reading →

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Remembering Dr. Gardner

Posted on February 21, 2022 by sdbowling

Doctor Rudolphus B. Gardner served the medical needs of the people of eastern Kentucky for years. He chose to spend his final days in Jackson.

We remember one of Jackson’s forgotten medical professionals. Continue reading →

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The Hotel Jefferson

Posted on February 18, 2022 by sdbowling

A brief history of one of Jackson most iconic buildings- The Hotel Jefferson.

Started in 1907 and completed in 1919, the building is one of Jackson’s most recognizable structures. Continue reading →

Posted in Breathitt County, Jackson | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Killing “Bad John” Akemon

Posted on February 14, 2022 by sdbowling

It took several bullets to kill “Bad John” Akemon, but he tried for one more bite before he died.

One of Breathitt County’s leading feudists was killed in February 1911. Continue reading →

Posted in Breathitt County, Feuds, Murder | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Beware of Lewd Women at the Courthouse!

Posted on February 10, 2022 by sdbowling

The Jackson Town Council passed two ordinances aimed at slowing illicit activities in the city. The Lewdness Law and the Bawdy House Ordinance had little impact on the trade. Here is a look at those ordinances. Continue reading →

Posted in Breathitt County, Jackson | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Was Phoebe Banks Really 107?

Posted on February 7, 2022 by sdbowling

Was Phoebe (Hollon) Banks really 107 years old when she died in 1904? Was the old person in America living on Frozen Creek? Continue reading →

Posted in Breathitt County, Frozen Creek | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments