Upper Town Precinct

Map of Upper Town Precinct in 1876

Boundaries

In 1867, this precinct was marked out as follows: Beginning with Precinct No. 1, at a point on the Ohio River in the center of the north end of Frederica street; thence southward along the middle of Frederica street to the middle intersection of Second or Main street; thence along the middle of Main street to a point opposite the middle of the north and south hall of the courthouse; thence through the middle of the court-house by the north and south hall and across the court-house lot to the middle of Third street; thence with Third street to the middle of Frederica street; thence southward along the middle of Frederica street and the Livermore road to Panther Creek; thence up main Panther Creek to mouth of North Panther Creek; thence up North Panther Creek to the bridge over same where the Leitchfield road crosses said creek; thence along the Leitchfield road toward Owensboro to Caney Creek; thence up Caney Creek so as to exclude James McKinney's; thence to Ben Allen's, excluding E. S. Jones's, William McKay's and said Allen's; thence to the Hardinsburg road to Richard Jett's, including said Jett's and J. W. Gabbert's; thence to the Pike's Peak schoolhouse; thence with the old trace to David Clark's, excluding him; thence to the nearest point to the new road and along said new road to the Barker road near C. Bell's; thence on a straight line to the interesection of the Joseph Wright and Hawesville road; thence with the Joseph Wright road to the Ohio River; thence down the Ohio River to the beginning.

Early History

Upper Town precinct adjoins the city of Owensboro, and some of the earliest settlements in the County were made within its limits. One of the first settlements was made by Valentine Husk, who after living two or three years at Yellowbanks (according to his son George Husk who lived north of Knotts- Ville) moved to a point on the Ohio River at the mouth of Pup Creek. There were then no settlements nearer than Yellowbanks. Valentine Husk had a family of seven children of whom the third was George Husk, born in October, 1800, on the Ohio River at the mouth of Pup Creek, seven miles above Owensboro. In 1809, Valentine Husk moved with his family to a point now included in Knottsville precinct. Robert Duncan, the father of Robert G. Duncan, was one of the early settlers of Upper Town precinct. He came from Nelson to Daviess County in 1816, and first settled on the banks of Yellow Creek, and lived there for some time, but finding the title to the lands not good, moved to the vicinity of Yelvington. Upper Town precinct embraces the farms of Joseph Daveiss, from whom the County received its name, and his brother General John Daveiss. Daveiss' farm was long known as Cornland, and was settled about 1806/07. About 1807/08, Thomas Clay, the grandfather of Senator Thomas C. McCreary and the brother Of General Green Clay, who was the father of Cassius M. Clay, settled seven miles above Owensboro on the farm on the Yelvington road now owned by Senator McCreary.

This is generally an upland precinct, and the land of good quality, much of it No. 1. There is some coal in the eastern portion, especially among the hills about Dr. Lockhart's. Near town are shafts sunk about iifly feet, where a three-and-half-foot vein is found. In the eastern jjortion the thickness is about four and a half feet. About all the land is under fence, and the population as dense as the average near large towns. The timber, which was once very abundant and of fine quality, is of course very scarce now.

Distilleries

J. W. M. Field commenced to distill whisky in this precinct Feb. 3, 1873, three miles southeast of Owensboro, on the Pleasant Valley road. He commenced by manufacturing two and a half barrels a day, and gradually increased the quantity until 1881, when the capacity was increased to twenty-five barrels a day. Mr. Field is the sole owner of his distillery, never having had a partner connected with it. He has manufactured apple and peach brandy every fall from 1873 until 1880. Previous to this he had run distillery No. 28, of New Yelvington. His distillery as of 1883 was No. 3.

Neighborhood Battle

Article about the Payne-Turnbull Incident, Plymouth Pilot, May 28, 1851.

In the spring of 1851, a difficulty arose between the families of Ignatius Payne and William and George Turnbull, in regard to the building of a fence between the farms. The Turnbulls wanted to join fences, and the Paynes wanted a road between so that stock could pass back and forth. The Turnbulls persisted and joined the fences, in spite of all opposition. Payne went out to move the fence, when the Tumbulls came out and commenced an attack, using butcher-knives for weapons. Mr. Payne and his son George were killed, and John, James and Ignatius Payne were badly wounded. The women portion of the family fought as desperately as the men. This affray occurred six miles east of Owensboro, on the Pleasant Valley road, on what was later known as the John A. Payne farm.

Towns in this Precinct

• Dermont - AKA: Cruseton/Oak Ridge
• Ensor
• Philpot
• South Hampton
• Thruston
• Yellow Creek

An Illustrated Historical Atlas Map Of Daviess County, Ky. Published by Leo McDonough & Co. 1876.

Source: David Rumsey Map Collection, Online Copyright ©2000 by Cartography Associates.

Source: History of Daviess County, Kentucky. Chicago: Interstate Publishing Co., 1883. Print.