Big Bone Baptist Church was established in 1843. The first pastor was Robert Kirtley (1786 – 1872). The second pastor was his son James A. Kirtley (1822 – 1904).
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Mammoth Bones in a Jelly Bog 1935
BIG BONE, BOONE COUNTY, KENTUCKY
Said Mr. Thomas Rouse to me, in his reminiscences concerning Big Bone: "It occurred to us at one time to try to find out how deep the jelly was in the bog at its center. We therefore had the blacksmith take iron rods, such as were used in making horses shoe nails, and attach them together in such a manner that we could run them down through the jelly to the bottom of the bog.
"One Sunday morning we laid planks down to the middle of the jelly ground, and from that point we lowered the rods, one after the other, all attached. When all the rods were used, we had not yet reached the bottom"
Map by Robert Johnson 1782
This copy has been turned so the Ohio River is on the North.
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Map by Robert Johnson from a survey done in 1782.
Copyright expired, public domain
Lewis and Clark and Big Bone Lick
by James Duvall, M. A. (2003)
Prologue
Thank you for being here today. This session is presented by myself and Don Clare. At the conclusion of the paper we will give you a chance to ask questions or make comments.
My purpose here today in presenting this paper is not so much to supply you with information, though perhaps there may be a few scraps here that even the experts on the subject may have missed; but to offer you an interpretation of Big Bone Lick in American history. The importance of Big Bone Lick went far beyond the local area; it was a place of national and international significance, from a scientific and antiquarian viewpoint. It stood also at the confluence of a great movement of people to the west, which affected the entire nation, east and west. I would like to offer you a perspective of the westward movement from this place, Big Bone Lick.
Minutes Relating to an Attempted Poisoning by a Slave 1848
At a church Meeting at Big Bone Church on the 4th Saturday in May 1848 after complying with the rules of the church the following Business was transacted
To Wit
Brother Robert Huey laid in a charge against Sister Sealy a Slave of Brother Samuel Huey who aptemted [sic] to Poising the sd. Brother and his family we therefore consider her gilty [sic] of Sin and for that act for we do exclude her from this Church.
A Description of Big Bone Lick in Kentucky
Animals bones of enormous size have been found here in great numbers. Some skeletons nearly complete were no long since dug up 11 feet under the surface in a stiff blue clay. These appeared to be the bones of different species of animals, but all remarkably large. some were supposed to be those of the Mammoth, others of a Non-descript. Among these bones, were two horns or fenders, each weighing 150 pounds, 16 feet long, and 18 inches in circumference at the big end; and grinders of the carnivorous kind weighing from 3 to 10 1/2 lb. each; and others of the gramnivorous species, equally large, but quite differently shaped, being flat and ridged — Ribs, joints of the backbone, and of the foot or paw, thing and hip bones, upper jaw bone, etc., etc., were also found, amounting in the whole to about five tons weight.
The Big Bone Country of Kentucky 1935
John Uri Lloyd was the founder and first president of the Big Bone Lick Association. He exercised significant in drawing attention to the Lick, and in getting it preserved as a park.
"Big Bone," a valley hemmed in by high hills, is situated in the western side of Boone County, Kentucky, about three and a half miles from the Ohio River. To reach it from Covington, take the Lexington Pike to Florence, (9 miles,) thence the Union Pike to Union, (six miles,) thence the Big Bone road to the Springs, (six miles); or somewhat longer, but not so hilly, continue on the Lexington Pile through Florence to Richwood, thence branch off to Big Bone. Or take the Cincinnati Southern Railway to either Erlanger or Richwood, and by vehicle proceed to Big Bone. Or go by boat on the Ohio River to Hamilton, (a landing place), thence three and a half miles up the valley to the Springs. In all cases, transportation must be provided in advance. Probably the picturesque road via Florence and Union will be preferable.
The Story of Mary Draper Ingles: A Memoir
At the repeated solicitations of my relations and friends of which letters in my possession are suffitiant evidance, I have consented to write the following short history The application has been made to me as I am the only branch of my Fathers familey now in existance, who knows of the defficulties and sufferings my fathers own familey had to undergo at that early day, in attempting to settle this Western World. Though the greater part of the transactions to which allusion is made happened long before I was born yet having heard them so frequantly repeated by my father and mother in my early days they made such deep and lasting impressions on my youthfull mind that they will never be forgotten by me as long is I live and I believe are as fresh in my memory at this day as they ever was, I will therefore endevour to give a short but correct narative of the scens through which they had to pass in their first settling on the Western Watters of Virginia so fare as my recollection serves me at this time that a record of them may be preserved for the gratification of our friends and rising generation, However fabulous or romantick the narative may appear in some of its parts to many persons they are stubborn facts that could have been abundantly established by many witnesses at an earley day it been reqired. John Ingles Sn
The Will of Absalom Graves 1826
I, Absalom Graves, of Boone County, State of Kentucky, born in Culpepper, now Madison County, Virginia, on the 28th of November 1768, being now in the 58th year of my age, and laboring under a bodily infirmity which seems to indicate the approach of my dissolution, but calling to mind the amazing and unbounded goodness of my great Creator and gracious Redeemer, in calling me by his grace, in the 20th year of my age, when a wild and thoughtless youth, from the paths of vanity and earthly pleasures, to see the folly of my pursuits, and that real pleasure and solid joy were only to be found in Christ, who was revealed to me in the hour of my deepest distress, as a Saviour every way suited and qualified to relieve me from all my wretchedness and wo.
