From the book, In the Land of Breathitt
During the last decade of the eighteenth and the first quarter of the nineteenth century, a group of several families whose surnames have the savor of old England in them, came from North Carolina to found new homes in the foothills of the Kentucky Mountains. Although it is possible that they came as early as 1790, only uncertain memories place the date of their entry into Kentucky this early. In this colony, which settled in the Middle Fork section, were the Spicers, Turners, Becknells, and Sebastians, With them or around the same time also came the Littles. Many other settlers from North Carolina settled in the area now embraced by Breathitt County. James Johnson, who came with his two brothers, Israel and Frank, took up land on the Middle Fork at the mouth of Bollings Creek, while his brothers settled in Perry County. Another prominent family which settled along the Middle Fork and gave its name to a tributary creek was the Jetts. The progenitor of this family, Stephen Jett, came from Rappahannock River, near Richmond, Virginia. He first settled in what was then Fayette and later Bourbon County. Other families which settled along the Middle Fork included the Bryants, Terries, Crawfords, Aikmans, Amis', Evans', Arrowoods, Gabbards, Bakers, Bollings, Callahans, Heralds, and Griffiths. William Hagins, descended from the North Irish Higgins', came from North Carolina and settled near the Spring Fork of Quicksand around 1840. Thomas, one of his five sons, built a two-story log house below the mouth of Spring Fork Creek, about fifteen miles southeast of Jackson. He held by proscription 3,000 acres of land from the head of Big Caney Creek to the mouth of Spring Fork, a distance of about nine miles. He was considered a man of wealth by the standards of that date, owning a number of slaves. Another son of William Hagins, Daniel, became prominent as sheriff of the county.
At a later date, Levi Hollan (Holland), who established another family which looms prominently in the affairs of Breathitt, came from North Carolina. The Cardwells of Breathitt trace their first settlement in the county to John Cardwell who immigrated from Knoxville, Tennessee, to the mouth of Panbowl Branch around 1830. His son, Thomas P., became active in Breathitt County politics, serving several terms in the State legislature (H.R., 1863-65, 1871-73, S.S., 1865-69).
Turners, Strongs, Combs', and Watts', in addition to the Nobles, Neaces, and Haddixes, settled along Lost Creek.
On Troublesome the Russells, Millers, Harveys, Allens, Campbells, Hayes', Richeys, Mulens', Hutsons, and Johnsons settled.
Along the North Fork there settled the Bohanons, Cardwells, Hargis', Sewells, Spencers, Souths, Hays', Spurlocks, Fraziers, Duffs, Hursts, Cockrells, Stidhams, Turners, Crawfords, Williams, Moores, Deatons, Aikmans', Amis', Whites, Shacklefords, Sheffields, and Chandlers.
Settlers on Quicksand included the Howards, Roberts', Millers, Pattons, Williams', McQuinns, Josephs, Manns, Bays, Patricks, Walkins', Keiths, Carpenters, and Crafts.
On Frozen Creek there settled families bearing the name of Cope, Day, Taulbee, Johnson, Pelfrey, Wilson, Bank, Flinchum, Shockey, and Hatton.
Outstanding among the families of German or Dutch origin who settled in Breathitt County are the Hursts, Kashes, Vancleves , and Bachs. Only the Bachs, who settled along Quicksand, and the Vancleves, who settled on Frozen Creek, have remained.
(Other early settlers and prominent families are mentioned
elsewhere in this book in connection with other stories.)
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