County of the Month: Boyd

Boyd County was created in 1860 from parts of Greenup, Carter, and Lawrence counties. The county was named in honor of Linn Boyd, a former U.S. Congressman who was elected as the state's Lt. Governor, but died shortly after winning the office.

Ashland, first known as Poage Settlement, was settled by the Poage family of Virginia after receiving a land grant from General James Wilkinson in 1783. The Poages acquired most of the land above and below (the original) Poage's Settlement and many tracts west. They founded the first church in the area, Bethesda (Presbyterian). The area they settled was rich in timber, coal and limestone. In 1832, the family built the steam-powered Clinton iron furnace.

Industrialists and their families were quickly drawn to the Boyd County area, enough so that the Kentucky Iron, Coal and Manufacturing Company was formed, then incorporated in 1854. Immigrant Irish and German laborers and ironmasters from Pennsylvania followed, attracted by the possibility of employment at furnaces such as Oakland, Buena Vista and Sandy. By 1856, the city of Ashland was established as a second-class city. The area surrounding Ashland was then designated as Boyd County in 1860.

Source: The Kentucky Encyclopedia

Boyd County Trivia

From the Historical Marker Database

Amanda Furnace, near the Greenup County line; US 23

Built in 1963 by Armco Steel Corp., the Amanda Furnace was rated as the ideal blast furnace, with a hearth diameter of 30.5', a daily capacity of 3340 tons of iron. In March 1966, it set the American record of 110,515 tons.

Ashland Furnace, Greenup Ave. at 17th Street

When dismantled in 1962, the Ashland Furnace was known as the world's oldest operating blast furnace. Built in 1869 by Ashland Coal and Iron Railway Co., it measured 60' high with an inside diameter of 15'. Its daily capacity was 40 tons of iron, increased later, after rebuilding, to 550 tons.

Buena Vista Furnace, KY 5 at KY 784

Built by William Foster and Co., in 1847, the Buena Vista Furnace was named for the Mexican War battle that year. It was an important factor in the Hanging Rock iron industry until dismantled in 1876.

Clinton Furnace, US 60 at KY 538

Built in 1832 by members of the Poage family, the Clinton Furnace had a stone stack 10' across inside and stood approximately 35' high. In less than a year, it used 2992 tons of ore and 247,000 bushels of charcoal to make 950 tons of iron.

Norton Furnace, Winchester Ave. at 23rd Street

In 1967, the Norton Furnace was known as the world's oldest operating blast furnace. Built in 1873 by the Norton Iron Works Company, the furnace had an iron shell stack 67' high with a maximum inner diameter of 18'. Burning "stone coal," it produced 10,502 tons of iron in 1874. Its capacity in 1884 was 20,000 tons yearly.

Oakland Furnace, US 23 at KY 538

Built in 1834 by John and Jacob Kouns, the Oakland Furnace was a stone stack with air blast machinery powered by steam. It made 600 tons of iron in 1838, consuming 2100 tons of ore and 180,000 bushels of charcoal fuel.

Princess Furnace, KY 5

Built in 1876 by Thomas Means, the Princess Furnace was an iron-jacketed stack used to burn "stone coal."

Sandy Furnace, Built in 1853 by Young, Foster and Co., the Sandy Furnace was originally a stone stack 32' high, and 10.5' across inside. In1854, its last year of operation, it made 1000 tons of iron, which had to be hauled by oxcart across country to the Big Sandy River.

Family History and Boyd County Research Resources

Below are some resources available at KDLA for genealogists and researchers interested in the Boyd County area.

County Clerk records

• Agency history
• Articles of incorporation book - 1990-1991
• Administrator's bonds books (indexed) - 1860-1975
• Executor's bonds books (indexed) - 1860-1977
• Guardian's bonds books (indexed) - 1860-1977
• General index to deeds - grantee - 1860-1978
• General index to deeds - grantor - 1860-1978
• Deed books - 1860-1968 and 1990-1998
• Commissioner's deed books - 1877-1934
• General index to marriages (groom or bride) - 1860-1993
• Marriage bond books (indexed) - 1860-1867
• Marriage books (indexed) - 1860-1993
• Miscellaneous book - 1990-1992
• Mortgage books - 1860-1941 and 1990-1992
• Order books - 1860-1977
• County Judge/Executive order books - 1978-1994
• Minute/order book (indexed) - 1860-1869
• Real estate release books - 1990-1992
• Road orders book (indexed) - 1886-1893
• Settlement books - 1868-1968
• Tax assessment books - 1860-1884 and 1886-1892
• General index to wills - 1874-1962
• Will books - 1860-1899 and 1990-1992

Circuit Court records

• Agency history
• General indexes to civil cases - defendant - 1953-1977
• General indexes to civil cases - plaintiff - 1953-1977
• General index to criminal cases - 1910-1987
• General index to criminal cases - defendant - 1911-1940
• General indexes to equity cases - defendant - 1860-1953
• General indexes to equity cases - plaintiff - 1860-1953
• General index to ordinary cases - 1924-1940
• General indexes to ordinary cases - defendant - 1860-1953
• General indexes to ordinary cases - plaintiff - 1860-1953
• Civil case files - 1953-1977
• Criminal case files - 1910-1987
• Equity case files - 1860-1953
• Ordinary case files - 1860-1953
• Coroner's inquests - 1911-1959
• Lunacy inquest books - 1919-1928, 1960-1964, and 1967-1974
• Judgment book - 1875-1885
• Judgment from inferior courts book (indexed) - 1901-1930
• Order books (indexed) - 1860-1876
• Civil order books (indexed) - 1877-1978
• Criminal order books (indexed) - 1876-1978
• Fiscal Court records
• Order books - 1895-1991

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