Welcome to Franklin County, KY History

Home                                                  Communities                                         Graveyards                                        Early Residents                              Early Settlers By the early 1800's Leestown was becoming an important commercial shipping port.  Dailey shipments of goods were shipped to New Orleans and during the War of 1812, Leestown served as an important supply base. After the war, Leestown was the site of a large tobacco warehouse, which later became the Kentucky River Mills, a hemp factory producing twine. CARLISLE & O.F.C. DISTILLERS By the 1870's distillers at Leestown were becoming famous for their production of Kentucky bourbon. In the 1860's Edmund Taylor, Jr., established the Carlisle and O. F. C. In the years to come this distillery would be owned by the George T. Stagg Company, Schenley Distillers and Ancient Age Distilling Company. Today, the distillery operates under the name of Buffalo Trace. Glenn Willis In 1774, Willis Lee accompanied his cousin, Hancock Taylor, his brother, Hancock Lee and a party of surveyors to Leestown.  Just a few days before his death Hancock Taylor left part of the land he had surveyed to his cousin, Hancock Lee.  In 1783, Lee gave his nephew, Willis Atwell Lee, an acre of ground at Leestown on the banks of the Kentucky River.  Willis built a two story log hom, which was his residence for over thirty years.  Lee became prominent in Franklin County, serving as County Court Clerk.  About 1815, Willis Lee replaced his original log house with a one and half story brick home he called Glen Willis.  Lee lived in this residence until his death in 1824.  The in 1832 the house passed to HUMPHREY MARSHALL, who resided there until his death in 1841.  A few years after the death of Marshall, William Harrison Murray bought Glen Willis.  He remodled the house and added a third floor.  At William's death the house passed to his son, James A. Murray.  For many years Glen Willis laid in ruins.  A few years ago the  house was completely restored, as much as possible, to its original design. Today, a kitchen has been added and it is operated as a restaurant. The Beeches HARRISON BLANTON, built a federal style brick home across from the distillery on the main road at Leestown. He named his home the Beeches for the grove of beech trees that surround the property.  In 1818 he began the first phase of the home.  In later years an addition was added to the back and side of the house.  One of the noticeable features of this home is the entry with a fan light over the entryway and the four-paneled sidelights.  Over the years the Beeches has been well maintained and is occupied today as a private residence.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Leestown The area which would become known as Leestown was a popular camp site for hunters and explorers.  Here on the sandy river banks of the Kentucky River where the old buffalo trace crossed the river. Leestown was located on the Kentucky River about one mile below Frankfort.  Founded in June 1775 by CAPTAIN HANCOCK LEE and his brother, Willis Lee, of Virginia.  It was the second pioneer settlement on the Kentucky River.  Franklin County records indicate Hancock Lee owned the land on which the town of Leestown was established. Settlers came and several homes were built.  It appeared that Leestown would becone a properous town on the Kentucky River. Then in April 1776, Willis Lee was killed by Indians.  And, in the year that followed Indian attacks forced the residents to abandon the town. Lee's title to his claim at Leestown was in jeopardy.  His private survey had been conducted on December 1775 while he was serving as a deputy surveyor for the Ohio Company.  Virginia law stated surveys made prior to 1776 had to be surveyed by surveyors commissioned for the county in which the survey was made.  Several of Hancock Lee's surveys, including the claim at Leestown were void and nullified.  Lee then secured possession of 500 acres through a Treasury Warrant in October 1779.  The new law sent land hungry pioneers to the Leestown area to establish land claims.  William Haydon claimed 1000 acres on the Kentucky River about two miles above Leestown.  Then George Mason claimed 1000 acres from the Kentucky River to the Louisville Road.  Humphrey Marshall discovered that Robert McAfee's 400 acre claim at the bend of the river had elapsed.  Marshall then entered a claim for the McAfee tract.  Two tracts were located.  The largest covered most of the northern area of the original site of Frankfort. Graveyard in the Area The BELLEVUE CEMETERY , sometimes referred to as the Bellfont Cemetery is located on a hill above Leestown backing up to Fifth Avenue.  It preceded the Frankfort Cemetery, which was established in 1844.  The cemetery lay in ruins and at the hands of vandals for years.  Some graves remain and have been recorded; however, others were moved to the new cemetry when it was established.

Sources:
History of Franklin County, Kentucky, by L. F. Johnson
Lee of Virginia, by Edmund Jennings Lee
Forks of Elkhorn Church, by Ermina Jett Darnell
The Kentucky Encyclopedia, by Kleber