BOURBON COUNTY, KENTUCKY

Source: "Stockading Up" by Nancy O'Malley. Kentucky Heritage Council, University of Kentucky Program for Cultural Assessment, April 30, 1987, pp. 71-72

This station was established by a William McConnell who reportedly built a stone house on the west side of Paris Pike. This McConnell was not the same one who helped to settle and establish Lexington but rather a latecomer. Ardery (1934) reported that William McConnell bought 1000 acres from James Buckhannon in 1788 and established his home on this tract. Bourbon County Deed Book "A" (p. 157) does indeed contain an indenture between McConnell and Buckhannon, dated February 9, 1788 and containing 1000 acres on Houston Creek. No survey plat was drawn for this deed nor were environmental features clearly described. However, James Buckhannon (or Buchanan) acquired 1400 acres on Houston Fork through assignment from John Holder and John Martin (Virginia Survey Book 5, pp. 358-9). The survey calls for corner "B" in the plat to specify a sugartree and hoopash near a sinkhole. The corresponding corner in the plat described by the indenture between Buckhannon and McConnell also specifies a hoopash near a sinkhole. It seems reasonable that McConnell-s parcel was partly taken from this tract.

The reported location of the site (designated 15Bb75) contains clear evidence of a former domestic structure. A rectangular depression marks the site of the house. A nearby burned tree stump is testimony of the fire which destroyed the house before 1934. Observed artifactual debris around the depression included 19th and 20th century materials such as re-fired brick, transfer-printed and undecorated earthenware, glass and linoleum. The early occupation has undoubtedly been obscured by substantial quantities of later occupational debris. However, the potential for preserved early remains is judged to be good. Limestone used in house construction has probably been removed in the course of converting the field to horse pasture. An associated springhouse covering a copius spring has been rebuilt by owner James Brady. He reported that, even in the severe drought of 1983, the spring continued to flow abundantly (James Brady 1983:personal communication). Ardery (1934) also reported that McConnell died in 1823 and was buried in a family cemetery on the farm. This cemetery has not been relocated.

This site was apparently not fortified and probably served as a stopping place rather than for defensive protection. Virtually no pioneer accounts were located which provided any more than passing mention of the site. In a case between Lanier vs. Protzman (Ardery 1939), William McDowell deposed that he lived at McConnell's Station about four miles from Paris around 1789-1790. McDowell's land connected to McConnell on the south side of his 1000-acre tract.