On October 10, 1773, Daniel Boone’s eldest son died in the Boone Massacre in what is now Lee County . Separated from his father’s leading party, James Boone set up camp near Wallen’s Creek. The Natives attacked at dawn and killed James Boone and seven others. The massacre prompted Boone and his party to abandon their 1st attempt to settle in Kentucky and return to NC.
On October 10, 1774, Isaac Shelby, 23, made a name for himself at the Battle of Point Pleasant against the Shawnees during Lord Dunmore’s War. Fought at the mouth of the Kanawha River in what is now WVA, it led to a treaty where Natives relinquished all claims to Virginia’s western territories, which comprised most of Kentucky. He became Kentucky’s 1st governor at 41.
Localtonians wish a Happy Anniversary to Henry Clay, Jr. and Julia Prather, who wed in 1832 . The couple had five children. Their daughter Anne Brown Clay married Major Henry Clay McDowell (1832–1899). In 1883, they purchased her grandfather’s Ashland estate from other heirs. Their son, Thomas Clay McDowell, bred, owned, and trained thoroughbreds and won the 1902 Kentucky Derby with Alan-a-Dale.
October 10, 1849, a Lexington court sentenced abolitionist Patrick Doyle to 20 years of hard labor for enticing away slaves.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Kentucky’s 33rd Governor William Sylvester Taylor , born in 1853 in a log cabin on the Green River, about five miles from Morgantown, Butler County. He won the original disputed gubernatorial election of 1899, however the Kentucky General Assembly, reversed the election results, giving his opponent, William Goebel, the governorship. Thus, Taylor served only 50 days.
October 10, 1864, Maysville native John S. Darrough earned the Medal of Honor during a Civil War skirmish in Mississippi.
Localtonians wish a Happy Anniversary to Governor William J. Fields and Dora McDavid Fields, who wed in 1893. “Honest Bill from Olive Hill” served as the 41st governor from 1923-27.
On October 10, 1899, the Independent Negro League of Kentucky organized, representing all African-Americans who opposed the state’s Republican administration. They supported Democratic candidate Goebel because he supported the Separate Coach Law. Goebel proposed a 1st -class coach for black women, so they didn’t have to ride in the rear of smoke cars, and a 2nd -class coach for black men. After the meeting, they agreed that Taylor would do nothing as governor to improve the conditions of “Jim Crow Cars” in Kentucky.
October 10, 1903, Kentucky State College (UK) defeated Berea College 17-0 on their way to a 7-1 season, losing to their rivalry, Kentucky University, in the last game of the season.
October 10, 1916, Deputy Sheriff Lem Nolan, Perry County Sheriff’s Office , died from a gunshot near the mouth of Buffalo Creek, near Hazard, while arresting two men for illegal shooting. One of the men opened fire, mortally wounding him. Through his wounds, Deputy Nolan returned fire and wounded the man.
On October 10, 1924, the Washington Senators defeated the N.Y. Giants in extra-innings to win their 1st World Series. The 2nd time a series was decided in OT. The Giants became the 1st team to play in four consecutive World Series. In 1961, the Senators relocated to Minnesota. President Coolidge attended the game even though he was not considered a baseball follower.
On October 10, 1938, explorers found a vast new underground section of Mammoth Cave National Park . “The abundance of the various forms of gypsum,” the report continues, “is the outstanding mineral feature in the newly-discovered section. These deposits are certainly far superior to any previously found in this or any other cave in this area, and I believe they will prove to be the best display in the entire US.”
October 10, 1939, A.B. “Happy” Chandler became Kentucky’s 31st Class II Senator by appointment . The day before, he was Kentucky’s governor. He would win two Senate elections and stay seated until becoming baseball commissioner in 1945.
October 10, 1943, Chief of Police James W. Smith, Falmouth Police Department , died while responding to a domestic disturbance call on Park Street. When he arrived at the scene, he confronted a male subject armed with a 12-gauge. The Chief attempted to talk the man into putting the gun down, but he shot him in the chest.
October 10, 1945, President Harry S. Truman dedicated the $115,000,000 Kentucky Dam at Gilbertsville and pushed for more projects like “this T.V.A. dam” during his speech. It was the President’s 3rd visit to Paducah in 27 days. On this visit, thousands lined the streets from the airport to the dedication.
October 10, 1951, Army PFC Harold K. Norfleet from Pulaski County dies fighting in the Korean War.
October 10, 1953, in Bear Bryant’s last year as head coach , his unranked Kentucky football team tied the 14th ranked LSU Tigers on the road 6-6. The Wildcats finished the season 7-2-1.
October 10, 1966, Marine Corps PFC Lawrence E. Clark from Amba in Floyd County died fighting in the Vietnam War.
October 10, 1968, Air Force TSGT Emmett S. Orr from Ashland in Boyd County dies fighting in the Vietnam War.
October 10, 1971, crews completed Louisville’s Citizens Fidelity Bank & Trust Co . The 31-story skyscraper became Kentucky’s tallest building; however, it didn’t last long; the 1st National Bank building under construction down the road had 40 stories.
On October 10, 1980, the Kentucky Justice Secretary fired embattled State Police Commissioner K.E. Brandenburgh. Governor John Brown, Jr. said it was over the death of a cop killer who died by gunfire by a Kentucky Trooper in an Illinois motel. Brandenburg cleared the trooper in an internal investigation, but AG Steve Beshear initiated a second one, which led to the firing.
October 10, 1990, two months after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, President George H.W. Bush had a 15-year-old Kuwaiti girl lie to Congress to build a case for war in Iraq. She testified in D.C. that she saw Iraqi soldiers taking babies out of incubators at a Kuwaiti hospital and leaving the babies to die on the floor. Legacy media used it to fuel xenophobia and support Bush’s war. Journalists proved it was a lie two years later.
October 10, 1997, Dr. Bill Collins left prison for extorting money from state contractors and disguising kickbacks as political contributions . Martha Layne Collins was in the courtroom when he was sentenced and picked him up when he was released.
On October 10, 1999, 250 locals gathered at the Mercer County Courthouse to dedicate a monument to the only Kentucky female Police Officer killed in the line of duty. Regina Nickles would have celebrated a 46th birthday on this day. The mother of two passed in 1998.
On October 10, 2001, Margaret Josephine Adams, the eldest daughter of Colonel Harland Sanders, passed. Known as the “spicy daughter,” she led a life of travel and variety. She sculpted for many famous people, including her father’s burial monument. Her communication with Albert Einstein on his work added to her mysticism. Ms. Sanders, who wrote a tell-all book about the Colonel, later owned the Florida franchises where she took credit for the concept of takeout fried chicken. She ran a body relaxation treatment business in Lexington and worked in a gun plant and acted in Louisville.
October 10, 2003, Kentucky’s 51st governor, Ned Breathitt from 1963-67, collapsed while making a speech at Lexington Community College . He died four days later in the UK Hospital. His final resting place is his hometown of Hopkinsville. As governor, he accomplished the Kentucky Civil Rights Act, the 1st desegregation law passed by a southern state.
October 10, 2020, Kentucky reported seven deaths ages 58, 60, 80, 87, 89, 91, and 93. Governor A. Beshear, “The # of + cases is increasing at a troubling pace. We’ve had multiple week-over-week increases, and we are at an all-time high here in Kentucky. Don’t fool around with this virus. Take steps to protect your health and the health of others; stay at least six feet from other people, wear a mask, and wash your hands repeatedly.”
On October 10, 2023, Governor A. Beshear had the privilege of handing out another “Big Check” to improve the quality of life for some well deserved locals.
