Among the other well-educated families of the early settlers, whose names occur to me at the moment, I will mention the Rountree, Maxey, Breants, Clymer, Philpott, Robinson, Montgomery, Thompson, Ament, Abbett, Faulkner, Yancy, Allen, Craddock, Rogers, Garnett, Hardy, Wood, Smith, Gillespie, Young, Hamilton, and Gatewood families, and among later arrivals the Newman, Beauchamp, Pemberton, Bohannon, Douglas, Lawless, and Hord families.
Many soldiers of the Revolution and of the Indian wars settled in this district, some of them being well provided with worldly goods, and a few being wealthy; and many of those not so well off, being intelligent and industrious, much improved their circumstances later; but for years schools ere poor. The principal reason for lack of good schools was not an indifference on the part of parents or lack of books, but principally for lack of good teachers. It somehow never occurred to those well-educated men and women that they could teach school, or that they were under any obligation personally to do so, or to do anything in the line of education further than to give some instruction to their own children. The truth was that the old-country idea still prevailed that the business of a teacher was a low-grade calling--on par with or only a little above that of a tinker or cobbler--and that suitable for men who were cripples and unable to follow other business. The best teachers to be had were generally Irishmen or Scotsmen who had not been long in the country, who would teach until they could make a start at some other business. Few young men -- Americans -- could be induced to teach, and as for young women it was hardly considered, first for social reasons, and secondly because it was then thought that they could not control the larger boys. The demand for competent teachers soon became so great that meetings were held in some neighborhoods to devise ways and means , and, many neighborhoods in turn following the first ones to act, they proceeded in a way to draft teachers, and the result was that within a few years this district moved far ahead of other part can be illustrated by an account of how it was managed in the section where I was brought up, as I have often heard it related by old persons who were conversant with the facts.
On Blue Spring Creek there lived a man of middle age named Isham Hardy, who had purchased a tract of land (on Time) which was very rich and heavily timbered, and which he was trying to open up with the assistance of some small boys. He was not a gifted man as to general management, and was poor and hard run, but he was a man of fine mental capacity; was a fine English and classical scholar, and of excellent morals and standing. He was selected as a teacher, and a committee of the foremost men in the neighborhood called on him and announced the fact. He was much taken back at the proposition and asked to be excused -- saying that he was in debt for his land and could not meet his payments unless he could get more land under cultivation, and that teaching would ruin him. The committee asked for a detailed statement of his indebtedness, and of the value of all crops and stock raised by him per year, and they then proposed to build a house and employ him to teach five months each year at certain rates, but to teach the children of the very poor within certain limits free -- and if his income from the school, added to what he might make on his farm each year, did not amount to as much as he was then making, they would make up the deficiency each year; and that they would pay him in addition thereto the sum of ten dollars in money each month. A contract was drawn up on these terms and the school was soon in operation, and it continued for much longer than for the five years contracted for. It became the first real seat of learning in the section under consideration, and there were educated many men who afterward became noted business men, and others who became distinguished in law, medicine, divinity, and in public life. After the old gentleman retired by reason of age the school continued by his son for some years -- he was also a gifted teacher, and was afterward a man of great political prominence.
In the neighborhood lying between the villages of Center and Knob Lick and the Blue Spring Creek, there resided one Major Pond, a man somewhat past middle age, who had been brought up in the lap of luxury in the tidewater region of Virginia but had been unfortunately reduced to poverty and now found himself in this new country with little else than his wife, three small boys, and six girls ranging in age from ten to twenty-two. The girls were all beautiful, and the older ones were well educated and accomplished, but were so crushed by grinding poverty that their friends feared for their future. The Major was a man of good intentions; well educated, and refined in speech and manners, and he was much cast down because of the little he could do for his family. He was drafted for a teacher in about the same manner as in the case of Mr. Hardy, with the difference that, as the Major had little or no income, the committee simply made an estimate of what it would take to maintain his family in comfort and guaranteed him a sum agreed on for a term of years in case both parties were satisfied, and the school began at once; and, while it did not prove to be a permanent seat of learning as in the former case, the Major lived long enough to educate a number of young men who afterward taught successfully in other neighborhoods. The school was also a God-send for his family, as all of his daughters married respectably before his death.
These two cases are given as samples of the procedure taken in most neighborhoods in the region above described, and the schools thus established constituted the first steps towards laying the foundation on which was afterward built the best educational system that I have ever known.
The educational boost given by the first schools thus founded was not allowed to die out, but was perpetuated and improved upon by young men who went out from these centers to teach, and they prepared their pupils for the higher courses in the academies which came later. A little experience with the kind of schools described put the best people in the notion of trying to have a schoolhouse and a good teacher in every neighborhood was then considered to be about five or six miles square, which, with the house near the center, would require few children to walk over two and a half miles to school, which was not then regarded as too far.
The Hardy school, which was considered the best of the type described, sent out more good teachers than any of the others. It was located exactly in the present track of the public road, in front of the church Rock Spring, and it seems that this neighborhood, on lower Blue Spring Creek, became the center point from which improvement went out in every direction. After houses were built it was still at times hard to get teachers, and for many years it was occasionally necessary to draft one for a short time.
**Source: Excerpt from "Cyrus Edwards' Stories of Early Days and Others" In What Is Now Barren, Hart, and Metcalfe Counties. Edited and Compiled by Florence Edwards Gardiner, 1940 The Standard Printing Company Inc. Louisville, KY. pp.45-49
The next settlement southward was made by Isham Hardy between the years 1795 and 1800, where Homer Edwards, his great-grandson, now resides and he lived there until his death at an advanced age. He was well educated, and was a School Teacher and Surveyor as well as a farmer. He was among the earliest of the really first-class teachers in the county. I have heretofore given an account of the school that he taught at Rock Spring, and its great influence for good, and will not add to the statements then made. He was far ahead of the age in which he lived, and only lacked a little more self assertion to have become a power in the land, and he might have been of great service to the people in much higher station than he ever dreamed of occupying. It is seldom that one so gifted along so many lines -- mental, educational, and moral -- voluntarily remains in an humble station, and resists the importunities of his friends to step up higher.
He raised a large family, and one of his sons, James G. Hardy,...succeeded his father as a Teacher and Surveyor...
(See James Green Hardy notes "Cyrus Edwards' Stories..." notation for continuation of excerpt)
Source: Excerpt from "Cyrus Edwards' Stories of Early Days and Others" In What Is Now Barren, Hary, and Metcalfe Counties. Edited and Compiled by Florence Edwards Gardiner, 1940 The Standard Printing Company Inc. Louisville, Ky. pp.197-198
Rock Spring School
The precursor of free public elementary education in Barren County was the Rock Spring School, taught by Isham Hardy in the neighborhood around lower Blue Spring Creek. Hardy had purchased a tract of land on the Creek during his middle years and was struggling to clear and settle it when the citizens of the neighborhood recognized his qualities as an intellectual and classical scholar and prevailed upon him to open a school for the area children. Hardy initially resisted the solicitation of the local committee, citing his financial burdens. Undaunted, the group offered to supplement Hardy's expected tuition revenues with an amount which would enable him to support himself and pay his debts. On August 1, 1810, the Hardy School opened on the site of the present highway at Rock Spring. As with most of the neighborhood schools that would follow, Rock Spring drew its students from the families living within a section of five or six miles. Typically, the schoolhouse was located near the geographical center, minimizing the walking distance for students.
Isham Hardy taught his school five months each year, collecting tuition from those who could pay and exempting from payment the very poor students. Hardy taught at Rock Spring until his retirement, whereupon his son, James G. Hardy, began teaching. James was a gifted teacher and public figure. In 1855, he was elected Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
After the division of Barren County into public school districts, the Rock Spring district was given the numerical designation 1. The first teacher at Rock Spring after organization of the common school system was Mrs. James G. Hardy. She later taught at Allen Lodge Female Academy in Glasgow.
Source: "Barren County Heritage" A Pictorial History of Barren County Kentucky, Compiled by The South Central Kentucky Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc. Cecil E. Goode & Woodford L. Gardner, Jr. Editors, Homestead Press, Bowling Green, Kentucky, 1980.
... *Benjamin Hardy, *Isham Hardy, *Thos Hardy, Aron Harlin, Elihu Harlan, Jacob Harlin, Jas Harlin, John Harlin, John Harlan Jr, Saml Harlin, Anderson Harlow, Clebon Harlow, Jesse Harlow, Michael Harlow, Randal Harlow, Wm Harlow, Absolom Harper, Hance Harper, Joel B Harper, Marton Harper, Mathew Harper, Benj Harris, Benja Harris, Francis Harris, Francis Harris, John Harris, Jos Harris, Peggy Harris, Robt Harris, Geo Harrison, James Harrison, Jesse Harrison, James Hart, John Hart, Charles Harvey, Eliza Harvey, John Harvey, Jos Harvey, Saml Haston, Wm Hathe, Jas Hathorn, Robt Hathorn, Michael Hatler, Nicholas Hauser Isham Hawkins, Jehue Hawkins, Jehue Hawkins, John Hawkins, Allen Hays, Aron Hays, Henry Hays, John Hay, John Hay, Polly Hays, Rich. Hays, William Hays, Jos Henderson, Peter Henderson, Danl Hendrick, John W Hendrick, Obediah Hendrick, William Hendricks, Henry Hensley, Frances Hester, Wm Hicklin, Jesse Hickman, Jos Higdon, Wm Higgins, Mark High, Jane Hiletock, Clement Hill, Andrew Hilton, Nathaniel Hilton, Wm Hindman, *James Hinds,* Saml Hinds
Source: Excerpt from 1810 Barren County, Kentucky Census. Abstracted from "Barren County, Kentucky Census 1810 through 1840, © Sandra K. Gorin, Gorin Genealogical Publishing, 205 Clements Avenue, Glasgow, KY 42141-3409.
*Isham Hardy, *James G Hardy, Samuel W Harlan, Thomas Harlon, Wier D Harlon, Margaret Harlow, Samuel Harlow, James A Harman, Absalom Harper, John Harper, Robert Harper, Elijah Harris, Henry Harris, James Harris, John R Harris, William Harris, William Harris, Robert Harrison, Samuel Harrison, Thomas J Harrison, Poliner Hartegrove, Clairborne Harton, Jesse Harton, Abner Harvey, Austin Harvey, Charles Harvey, Martin Harvey, Thomas Harvey, Archibald Hatcher, Barnett Hatcher, Benjamin Hatcher, Elizabeth Hatton, James Hatton, James Hatton, Henry Hawkins, Smith Hawkins, Henry Hays, John Hays, William Hays, William Hay, Wyatt Hazlewood.
Wiley Hede, Thomas J Helm, Benet Henderson, Benjamin Hendricks, Duke Hendrick, William Hering, Armstead Hester, Francis Hester, Jesse Hickman, Gabriel Higden,John M Higden, Joseph Higden, Thomas Higden, Jane Hilder, Cary Hill, Robert R Hill, Nathaniel Hilton, John Hindman, Robert H Hindman, *Willis A Hinds,
*Source: Excerpt from 1830 Barren County, Kentucky Census. Abstraced from "Barren County, Kentucky Census 1810 through 1840, © Sandra K. Gorin, Gorin Genealogical Publishing, 205 Clements Avenue, Glasgow, KY 42141-3409.
1795, settled in Seymour, Barren County, Kentucky. Was a surveyor and a school teacher. Was of the Baptist faith. He was the father of James Green Hardy, Lt. Gov. of Kentucky.
Source: Hart County Historical Society
Kentucky Land Grants
Grantee: Hardy, Isham
Acres: 150
Book: A
Survey Date: 1-30-1816
County: Barren
WaterCourse: None
Reference: THE KENTUCKY LAND GRANTS
Volume 1
Part 1
CHAPTER VI KENTUCKY LAND WARRANTS (1816-1873)
THE COUNTIES OF KENTUCKY
page 581
_____________________________
Kentucky Land Grants
Grantee: Hardy, Isham
Acres: 200
Book: 19
Survey Date: 12-19-1815
County: Barren
WaterCourse: None
Reference: THE KENTUCKY LAND GRANTS
Volume 1
Part 1
CHAPTER IV GRANTS SOUTH OF GREEN RIVER (1797-1866)
THE COUNTIES OF KENTUCKY
page 331
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DATABASE SOURCE INFORMATION:
Land Records--Kentucky
Description:
This wonderful database contains the records of the Kentucky Land Office from 1782 to 1924. The work is intended as a source book for historical workers, genealogists and others who need a complete and chronological index to the early documentary land records and history of Kentucky. Due to the large amount of early records contained in these two volumes, The Kentucky Land Grants has been termed "the rarest book of its size, covering early Kentucky history and genealogy, to be found anywhere."
Bibliography:
Jillson, Willard Rouse. The Kentucky Land Grants, - Vol. I-II (2). Louisville, KY: Filson Club Publications, 1925
Information obtained from AncestryPlus
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