October 1, 1777, Col. George Rogers Clark left Harrodsburg for the east , and reached the capital of Virginia on November 5th .
On October 1, 1779, Simon Girty and Alexander McKee led a large force of Natives in an ambush against settlers in present-day Northern Kentucky. The settlers had returned from an expedition to New Orleans when the attack occurred near Dayton, across from Cincinnati. Only a handful survived, among them Colonel John Campbell and Captain Robert Benham.
On October 1, 1788, Shawnees attacked John Filson, and locals never found his body . One of Kentucky’s 1st historians never married and left no direct descendants.
On October 1, 1789, a group of eleven Native Americans – two Cherokees, three Shawnees, three Wyandots, and three Delawares – raided the Bland County, Virginia, cabin of Thomas and Jenny Wiley . Natives kidnapped Jenny, pregnant with her 5th child, and her 15-month-old child. Exactly how long Jenny was held captive is debatable, but most believe it was about eleven months. Eventually, Jenny escaped her captors, reunited with her husband, and had five more children. In 1800, the Wiley family moved to Johnson County, where she died in 1831.
October 1, 1794, Lexington established the 1st post office as Innes B. Brent Post Master. Both the post office and jail shared the same two-story log building. The state’s 1st post office opened in Danville, 42 days earlier. The Squire’s Sketches of Lexington by J. Winston Coleman, Jr.; pg: 22
October 1, 1838, locals published a list, showing the name, age, and tribe of each student in the Choctaw Academy in Scott County. Under the treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, signed in 1825, Natives established an academy for childhood education.
October 1, 1866, Kentucky University President, John B. Bowman, purchased Henry Clay’s former estate, Ashland , and the adjacent Woodlands Farm (Woodland Park) to establish the A&M College. The A&M College was by law a secular state school and opened with 190 students. The University offered courses in the sciences and liberal arts.
On October 1, 1870, Louisville opened their 1st public schools for African Americans . One in the Center Street African Methodist Church, where Sallie Adams presided as principal, and the other in the Fifth St. African Baptist Church, with Susie Adams as the principal.
October 1, 1890, Caldwell County lynched Ernst Humphreys for murder.
October 1, 1894, Crittenden County lynched Berry Rich for arson and theft.
On October 1, 1902, a group headed by Louisville Mayor Charles Grainger (1901-1905), Charlie Price, and Matt J. Winn agreed to take over Churchill Downs . Grainger was named president, Price racing secretary, and Winn vice president. Under this administration, the track finally showed its 1st profit in 1903, 28 years after its founding.
On October 1, 1934, the James E. Pepper Distillery planned to rebuild after a devastating fire, according to Fred Pauly, the plant manager for Schenley Products Company, who got the green light from New York.
On October 1, 1948, President Harry S. Truman made a campaign speech at the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad station from his 17-car train in downtown Lexington. His brief talk was his third of the day, which started early in Louisville with stops in Shelbyville, Frankfort, and Lexington by 10:25 a.m. The President stayed two days in Kentucky with more stops in Winchester, Mt. Sterling, Morehead, Olive Hill, and Ashland.
October 1, 1952, Jackie Robinson and Ekron native Pee Wee Reese both hit home runs in Game 1 of the 1952 World Series, helping the Dodgers take home a win in Brooklyn.
October 1, 1953, Maker’s Mark’s origin began when T. William “Bill” Samuels Sr., purchased the “Burks’ Distillery” in Loretto for $35,000.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Ashland native and 1st woman director of the CIA, Gina Cheri Walker Haspel , born in 1956. Her tenure as the 7th director lasted two years and eight months.
October 1, 1958, Abe Black caught a state record Walleye from Lake Cumberland; 21 lbs. 8 ozs.
October 1, 1966, Kentucky football players prepared to carry coach Charlie Bradshaw off the field after UK defeated Auburn 17-7 at Stoll Field/McLean Stadium in Lexington. That was the last time Kentucky defeated Auburn at home. UK beat Auburn at Jordan–Hare Stadium in 2009.
October 1, 1967, Shelby County native Whitney Young, 40, became the Executive Director of the National Urban League . The National Urban League’s Board of Directors unanimously elected him.
October 1, 1972, the Milwaukee Bucks returned to Freedom Hall . Oscar Robertson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar each scored 20 points as the Bucks beat the Colonels 131–100.
On Tuesday, October 1, 1974, the Pike Fiscal Court enacted a 10-cent tax on each ton of coal mined in the county. They directed the money to the road department. Pike was the first Kentucky county to impose a special tax on its operators, but it had to survive the legal battles.
October 1, 1975, Muhammad Ali (49-2) fought Joe Frazier (32-2) in Araneta Coliseum, Manila. The rematch called “The Thrilla in Manila” might have been the most incredible heavyweight fight of all time. Ali promised it would be “a killa and a thrilla and a chilla when I get the gorilla in Manila.” He mistakenly thought Frazier was over the hill. Ali attacked Frazier early, but Frazier took the momentum in the 5th round and pounded Ali for several rounds. Ali rallied in the 12th , and both men were exhausted by the end of 14 rounds. Frazier’s trainer, Eddie Futch, would not let his fighter come out for the 15th . Ali raised his arms in victory, then collapsed, saying later it was the closest thing to death he had ever experienced.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Cave City native Leticia Ann Bjork Passmore , born in 1978.
On October 1, 1995, Garrard County native Jody Payne performed Workin’ Man Blues at Louisville’s Farm Aid concert. Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp started Farm Aid in 1985.
October 1, 1996, Kentuckians over 21 years of age could obtain licenses to carry concealed deadly weapons after a background check and a gun safety course.
On October 1, 2005, the Rosemary Clooney House held its grand opening, three years after her death. Starting in 1980, Rosemary began calling Augusta’s 106 Riverside Drive home. Located on the banks of the Ohio River in historical Augusta, this was her retreat from the demands of her career and a haven for rest between performances all over the world.
On October 1, 2020, Frankfort disagreed with Lexington about the latest “incident rate (ir).” Governor A. Beshear claimed it was ir28, and Lexington claimed it was ir22. Beshear blamed city officials for not sounding the alarm (red status); however, Lexington said it wasn’t that bad and stuck by their numbers. Meanwhile, UK police roamed the campus looking for parties to break up, and 124 of the 171 Kentucky school districts opened in-person learning.
On Sunday, October 1, 2023, Belmont at the Big “A” hosted three stakes races: Vosburgh, Gallant Bloom Stakes, and the Woodward Stakes. Kentucky breds won all three, and the average payout on a $2 win ticket was $3.40. Originally scheduled for Saturday, historic New York rainfall and flooding moved these races to Sunday, and the turf races ran later in the week.