History of Harrodsburg, (Mercer County) Kentucky United States of America

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Local History Notes:

HARRODSBURG, a flourishing post-town, capital of Mercer county, Kentucky, is situated on a commanding eminence, 1 mile from Salt river, and 30 miles S. from Frankfort. It is said to be the oldest village in Kentucky, the first cabin having been built in 1774, by Captain James Harrod. The town is beautiful and well built, and is a place of great resort in the summer on account of its mineral waters. The Harrodsburg springs are among the most celebrated in the state, and perhaps the most fashionable in the Western States: $300,000 have been expended in the buildings and other improvements. This town has lately been selected as the site for the new military academy. A large quantity of fine dry goods is sold in this place, which is also an important market for cattle, horses, and other stock. It contains 1 bank. Turnpikes extend from the town in seven directions, and a railroad is in process of construction which will connect it with Frankfort. A newspaper is published here. Population in 1853, estimated at 3000.

Biographies:

William Holman De motte, educator, was born at Harrodsburg, Ky., July 17, 1830; son of Daniel and Mary (Brewer) De Motte; grandson of John and Anne (Cozine) De Motte, and of John and Jane (Van Arsdol) Brewer; and a descendant of Richard De Motte of Long Island, N.Y., a Huguenot, who came to America the latter part of the seventeenth century. He was graduated at De Pauw university in 1849 and was a teacher in the Indiana institution for the deaf, 1850-64. In 1864-65 he was Indiana state military and sanitary agent, stationed at Washington, D.C., and in the latter year was elected president of the Indiana female college. This office he resigned in 1868 to accept the presidency of the Illinois female college at Jacksonville, Ill. He was superintendent of the Wisconsin institution for the deaf, 1875-80, and superintendent of the Kansas institution for the deaf, 1880-82. In 1882 he was chosen president of Xenia college, Ohio, resigning in 1889 to become teacher in the Indiana institution for the deaf, Indianapolis, Ind. He was married in 1852 to Catharine Hoover, who died in 1872, and in 1874 to Anna A. Graves. He received from De Pauw university the degree of A.M. in 1852 and from Lawrence university that of LL.D. in 1877.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Beriah Magoffin, governor of Kentucky, was born in Harrodsburg, Mercer county, Ky., April 18, 1815; son of Beriah and Jane (McAffee) Magoffin. His father was a native of county Down, Ireland, and his mother was the granddaughter of Samuel McAffee, a pioneer settler of central Kentucky. He was graduated at Centre college, Danville, Ky., in 1834, studied law with his brother-in-law, Charles M. Cunningham, and was graduated from Transylvania university, Lexington, Ky., LL.B. in 1838. He practised in Jackson, Miss., in 1838, in partnership with Judge Harney, and was elected reading clerk to the state senate. Returning to Harrodsburg in 1839 he practised law with Mr. Cunningham. He was appointed police judge by Governor Letcher, a Whig, in 1840; was a state senator in 1850; a presidential elector in 1844, 1848 and 1852; a delegate to the Democratic national conventions of 1848, 1856 and 1860; was the unsuccessful candidate for lieutenant-governor in 1855, and was governor of the state from Sept. 1, 1859, to Aug. 18, 1862, when he resigned the office, finding it impossible to carry out the policy of neutrality between the contending sections. He was opposed to secession, but sympathizing with the South, he refused to respond to the President's call for troops. In 1865 he urged the people of Kentucky promptly to accept the results of the war and abide by the constitutional amendments. He was a representative from Mercer county in the state legislature, 1867-69, and was appointed by President Hayes an honorary commissioner to represent Kentucky at the Paris exposition of 1878. He was married in 1840 to Anna N., daughter of Isaac Shelby of Arcadia, Ky., and a granddaughter of Governor Isaac Shelby . His son, Samuel M. Magoffin, graduated from Centre college in 1878 and settled in St. Paul, Minn. Governor Magoffin established the Institute for Feeble-minded at Frankfort, Ky., and was a supporter of the public-school system. He died at Harrodsburg, Ky., Feb. 28, 1885.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor