Person:Edward Strong (1)

William Strong: Dr. John J. Dickey Diary, Fleming County, Ky. Recorded in the 1870's and beyond. Reprinted in Kentucky Explorer, Volume 11, No 3 - August, 1996, pp. 104-105. By permission. Breathitt County. The following interview was made at Lost Creek, Kentucky on July 21, 1898.

Edward Callahan Strong (brother to Susan Strong) I was born November 5, 1823, in what is now Breathitt County, six miles from Strongville. My father was William Strong. He was born in Scott County, Virginia, Halston's Springs, in 1800. His father's name was William Strong who was born in Ireland. He came to America in 1790 and located in Virginia. He married Miss Jane Callahan of Scott County, Virginia, Edward and William, my father and Captain Bill Strong's father. My grandfather came to Kentucky with his father-in-law, Edward Callahan and the Davidsons. Old Sam Davidson married a Callahan, a sister of my grandmother, Elizabeth by name. They all settled first on the North Fork about the mouth of Grapevine. Old John Spencer and Peter Devees bought out Edward Callahan, and he went to Red Bird [sic], first to Bull Skin. William Noble, father of Nathan, was a Revolutionary soldier. I heard Enoch swearing about not getting his share of his father's pension. In 1797, six hunters were at the mouth of Lost Creek making salt peter when some Indians were seen on the point where the grave yard is now. Five of the men stole and shot several of them. They fled and escaped to the mouth of Buck Horn where they killed a big elk, which gave the Creek the name. At the mouth of Ball they killed a "bald" eagle which gave it the name. One man was left and escaped up Lost Creek. Three of these men were Barnet Russell, Dickerson and Jonathan Fugate. Their names are cut on a rock on the hill opposite my house 200 yards up the hill. There were names cut on a beech tree at Salt Spring here. I think all the six names were on that tree. Russell named Lost Creek when he got lost going out. Indians came to the rescue when the whites fired. Old Sam Haddix and his family and old man Miller, Old William Jones, who lived at the mouth of Smith's Branch, came with the Haddixes. Old Sam was a blacksmith, Jones and Miller were shoemakers. Miller was a moccasin maker. These hunters made salt for their own use. Barney Russell came back with his wife and settled on Lost Creek. Stephen Allen was another of the hunters, and he came back with Russell and settled at the mouth of Lost Creek. He and his wife died and Barney Russell and his wife buried them, the woman dying first. I can't tell just when they came back. The Haddixes came later, I cannot tell when. Samuel Haddix was a Revolutionary soldier, drew a pension, had slaves. They came from Roanoke County, Virginia. The Haddixes are Dutch. I found plenty of Fugates in Scott County, Virginia, during and after the (Civil) War. I think Barney Russell made one survey of Lost Creek in 1800. The Haddixes must have come near 1800. Daniel Boone's name was cut on the beech tree at the salt spring. The Haddixes brought salt kettles with them and the first negroes that came to Breathitt County. Sam Newberry was killed by Isaac Callahan, my grandmother's brother. I knew Cava Baker, he was a great poet. The Bakers and Garrards were always together. I think the Garrards and Whites divided as early as this war. William Strong, my grandfather, was at Clay Court when Amis was killed. I heard him say so. I have heard him talk of these things in his preaching, warning people against violence and bloodshed. William Strong and John Gilbert were the leaders in the "Cattle War." I remember this of Cava Baker's poetry: "There is one Captain John Gilbert As I have heard them say, he fed his men on run down venison Till Porter ran away. (Porter, a dog that ran over to the other side). John, the Captain did miss killing All met with homely fare And he who came in last of all Is apt to lose his share." I have seen on a beech tree, just below the mouth of Lick Branch, Strong and Gilbert battle with date. The first coal from that region was taken out at point by Wollery Eversole about 1820. I have heard my grandfather talk all about the "Cattle War." Amis had sworn a lie when he was killed. All parties were then ready to fight. The case was to be tried in that court. The killing was the result of the "Cattle War." So was the killin0g of Newberry by Isaac Callahan. Newberry had been accused of stealing cattle from the people, perhaps the North Forkers. I trained "Veto" for the Garrards, a negro boy rode him. I saw the race. I think it was not a fair race. I saw "Veto" run a race in Missouri afterwards. The Cornetts always sympathized with the Strongs. The Bakers were with the Strongs in the "Cattle War." The Strongs and Amis war in 1873 was the result of the "Cattle War." The effects of the war have never ceased to this day. Veto won the race at Goose Creek. Blevins and Pike Cornett took him through the Missouri by land, and I went by water. I saw Veto run in sight of the Indian Territory line. Veto was hurt in the race in Cars County. They took him to the Indian Territory and sold him. That was in 1840. General Garrard and Ike Blevins made a sang hoe to give to General Combs after he defeated him. Combs said, "If he was here, essentially damned if I would not peck his hand." Grapevine Creek got its name from Gradley's men killing a bear in a tree covered with grape vines in 1812. He was surveying of the 23,000 acres for George T. Cotton of Woodford County. The deed is on record in Clay County. I was 13 days trying the Strong and Amis cases. I had Captain Clark with me. I bound everyone over in bonds. Bill Strong and Amis in $1,000 each; others less. John Akeman and Dan McDaniel $500 each. This was in 1873.