County of the Month: Edmonson County, Kentucky

Around the time of the War of 1812, chemists and miners explored the vast rock houses and rock castles near Green River. Under these ledges, they found solid masses of niter weighing from 100 to 1600 pounds. Because niter was precious - an element needed to make gunpowder during a time of constant conflict with the British and Indians - niter "fever" hit Kentucky, and migration to the area almost rivaled the subsequent gold fever of 1849.

Edmonson County was established in 1826, carved from parts of Warren, Hart, and Grayson counties. The county was named after Captain John Edmonson, who raised a company of volunteer riflemen and joined Colonel John Allen's regiment in the War of 1812. He was killed in the Battle of River Raisin the next year.

Brownsville, the county seat, was established in 1828 on the banks of the Green River. It was named in honor of General Jacob Brown, commanding general of the U.S. Army (1821-1828).

The county's proximity to Bowling Green, the Confederate stronghold and leading city in the movement to declare Kentucky a pro-Southern state, led to a number of skirmishes taking place in the area. An 1861 raid by Confederates on Brownsville to acquire medical supplies was followed by recapture of the area by the Union army in 1862.

Source: Kentucky Files: Counties-Edmonson

Edmonson County Trivia

Long before European man discovered Mammoth Cave, prehistoric Indians used the cave, traveling over three miles underground to remove large quantities of gypsum (calcium sulfate) that line the walls and ceiling of the caves.

In 1799, a Kentucky pioneer named Houchins discovered the entrance when he tracked a wounded bear to it. Since then, more than three hundred miles of subterranean passageways have been found. Below are some of the names of the historic caves and their respective origins.

• Methodist Church - Church services were held here in the 19th century.
• Water Clock - a dome that sounds like a clock ticking
• Martha Washington Statue - "S"-shaped curves in the passage form a shape of a colonial woman. First discovered in the 1870's by a tour group.
• Giant's Coffin - Large rock shaped like a 19th century coffin
• Scotchman's Trap - a Scotchman refused to pass through on an early cave tour
• Fat Man's Misery - Small canyon that twists and turns
• Great Relief Hall - relief from Fat Man's Misery and Tall Man's Agony
• Ruins of Karnak - Limestone pillars reminiscent of the Temple of Karnak in Egypt
• Thanksgiving Hall - named for flowstone that looks like a dressed turkey hanging by its feet
• Snowball Dining Room - Gypsum looked like someone had thrown snowballs on the ceiling
• The Cat - Limestone surface that looks like a small white cat with a collar
• T.B. Huts - During the 1840's, people thought the cave's constant environment would cure tuberculosis
• Mummy Ledge - named for prehistoric Indian body found in 1935

Source: Kentucky Files: Counties-Edmonson

Family History and Edmonson County Research Resources

Below are some resources for genealogists and researchers interested in the Edmonson County area.

County Clerk records

• Agency history
• Guardian's bonds books - 1843-1876
• General index to deeds - grantee - 1825-1971
• General index to deeds - grantor - 1825-1971
• Deed books - 1825-1878 and 1971-1993
• Inventory, appraisement and sale bill books (indexed) - 1831-1977
• General cross index to marriages - 1843-1954
• Marriage bond books (indexed) - 1853-1865
• Marriage books (indexed) - 1843-1853 and 1865-1994
• Marriage certificate book - 1825-1835
• Marriage registers (indexed) - 1825-1908
• Marriage register "negro" - 1870-1907
• Marriage returns - 1833-1870
• Militia book - 1875
• Mineral lease books - 1916 and 1930-1992
• Miscellaneous books (indexed) - 1922-1992
• Mortgage books - 1935-1993
• Order books - 1825-1977
• Settlement books - 1875-1978
• Tax assessment books - 1825-1892, 1950, 1957, 1969-1970, 1972-1977, and 1979-1981
• Veteran's discharge books (indexed) - 1943-1968
• Will books (indexed) - 1831-1992

Fiscal Court records

• Order books (indexed) - 1931-1977