KYLAUREL-L Archives

From: "Jess Wilson" <>
Subject: [KYLAUREL-L] Re: The American Frontier was once here.
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 17:48:41 -0500

Richard, My grandmother once said of a family that left our community and
moved to Matamore, Indiana that they were "seeking the sugar pond and the
fritter tree." The better life some where else. In this area people moved
from Leslie County to Clay and Jackson. From Clay County they moved to
Laurel County or Jackson County, seeking better land or better
communities.

Sometimes the moves were implemented by a family being helped by another
family or individual. One example; The couple that would be my great
grandparents Marion and Sallie Lewis Estridge, on my mother's side of the
family was able to move from Leslie county to a farm in Clay County by a
loan from my father's father, Alfred Wilson.

The money was gold money and g Grandpa carried it in a bucket to buy a half
section of land from Batey McQueen. They were followed by g Grandpa's
brother Elihu and Nancy Bailey Estridge who settled in the edge of Jackson.
County. And in turn, a third brother, Felix Estridge moved to Jackson
County and then on to Laurel County. They were part of a multitude that
moved on seeking a better place to live or to make a living.

All three families were able to move because Marion and Sallie happened to
become acquainted with Alfred Wilson of Clay County, when he came to Leslie
county in the fall of the years to buy cattle that he would fatten then
drive to markets, "down in the settlements". The money would be exchanged
into gold "land money", that he would use to buy more land or loan to
people so that they could buy land.

Now, practically, all the descendants of the people I have mentioned have
moved on for many, many reasons. There have been many factors in their
reasons for moving on, however, the chief one is a desire for something
better.

During the thirty some years I wrote "It Happened Here" that went to
electric users in south eastern Kentucky. I eventually got letters from 40
states and Japan and Greece. This was due to the fact that so many people
came to this area in the early 1800's and then moved on Seeking the sugar
pond and the fritter tree.'Some moved on and others stayed, that's how I
happened to be born a century later. If some had changed their plans I
might have been someone else AND SO WOULD YOU.

JESS WILSON
POSSUM TROT ROAD
MANCHESTER KY 40962

> From: richard l reams <>
> To:
> Subject: Unidentified subject!
> Date: Sunday, November 01, 1998 11:17 AM
>
>
> I have noticed a lot of people migrated from Laurel County to the west,
> especially Kansas and Nebraska, including my gg grandparents William J.
> Reams and Margaret Ann Edwards In the late 1850's. Does any know what was
> happing at that time to cause so many people to migrate, even the eldest
son
> in some cases ? I have heard someone was giving free land to homesteaders
> who would vote for a free state. If any one has any ideason this I would
> appreciate any information.
>
> The Wyandotte County Historical Society sells a replica plat map of
1870
> Wyandotte, Co. Kansas . This map shows all the land owners in the Co. at
> that time.
>
>
> RICHARD REAMS
> P.O. BOX 4384
> MARIETTA, GA
> 30061-4384
> Richard Reams
> P.O.Box 4384
> Marietta, GA.
> 30061-4384
>
>
> ==== KYLAUREL Mailing List ====
> Condolence messages to Gerri Sutton on the loss of her husband
> should be sent to
>

This thread:

• [KYLAUREL-L] Re: The American Frontier was once here. by "Jess Wilson" <>