Folsom

Folsom, a settlement located in a beautiful valley at the confluence of Ten Mile and Eagle Creek, and the junction of Highway 467 and 1132 was first known as Lawrenceburg. Some of the early families were Ford, New, Jump, Delph, Sipple and Lawrence, thus the name Lawrenceburg. W. H. B. New gave land for a schoolhouse between 1830-1840. In 1857, Vine Run Baptist Church was organized in the school house. Tradition tells the name Vine Run was used because the hill was covered with vines. Among the early leaders in the church were Joseph Ambrose, J. M. Arnold and J. T. Elliston.

The present name of Folsom was given to the community of Lawrenceburg around 1893, when a post office was established there. The name was given in honor of Frances Folsom (1864-1947), the wife of Grover Cleveland, who was President at the time. Postmasters were: Charles Bradley, 1893; T. Pettit, 1896; and William Price, 1905. The post office was discontinued in 1916. Folsom had two general stores, a mill and a blacksmith shop. William Pettit operated the mill and a store. John Osborne owned the last blacksmith shop.

An interesting and historic spot near Folsom is the old Ford Stone House. It is significant as being one of the few and possibly the oldest stone building in Grant County. The Ford House was built around 1829. It has historical interest because of its association with the Ford family, who were important to the development of that area as early millers. John Ford, the original owner of this house, emigrated to Kentucky from Virginia circa 1794. He acquired the land on which this house stands in 1811 and moved into this area from Bourbon County. Upon his death in 1840, the property passed to his son, Elijah. Elijah Ford was killed in 1856 by a slave named Warrick Ford. This made such an impression in the area that most older people in Grant County even today have a familiarity with the murder, the trail of the slave, Warrick, his quick conviction and the hanging, all of which followed in rapid succession.

Cemeteries
The Folsom community includes several cemeteries. One is Old Vine Run Cemetery located with the church "about nine miles northwest of Dry Ridge on the Dry Ridge-Warsaw Road (Kentucky 467), according to Grant County Cemeteries, Volume III. Inventoried in 1985, the cemetery contained about 185 identified graves and "at least 86 unidentified graves". Located on the Warsaw Road about 6-1/2 miles from Dry Ridge is the New Vine Run Cemetery, according to the same source. Surveyed in 1987, this cemetery contained more than 260 graves.

History of Grant County, John B. Conrad, Editor
Published by Grant County Historical Society
Williamstown, Kentucky

Article by C. Vannarsdale and K. H. Connely

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