1860 Census – Washington County, Kentucky

By Kentucky Kindred Genealogical Research on March 5, 2012 • ( Leave a comment )

1860 Census – Washington County, Kentucky

I came upon a very interesting entry in the 1860 Census of Washington County, Kentucky. On page 85/86 of District 2, Springfield section, there is listed a Thomas Craycraft, 47, and Elizabeth, 43, his wife. The couple had 5 children. The most interesting part of the entry is Thomas’ occupation – he runs a hotel and his eldest son is a barkeeper – presumably in the hotel. There are 12 people staying at the hotel on this day, with various occupations. Four people are listed as artists – this immediately set my mind a whirl. Why would so many artists be in a small town like Springfield, Kentucky? They include a married couple, Frank and Lillie Graham, and their one-year-old daughter Maggie. Frank was born in Virginia, Lillie in England and tiny Maggie in Tennessee. Is this a family that goes from town to town, painting portraits? Or perhaps they make pencil drawings – either portraits or pastoral scenes? I find this interesting since I have a pencil/charcoal drawing of John Cotton Taylor, my 3rd great grandfather. I’ve never heard that anyone in our family was talented in the artistic mediums of paints or pencils – singers we have, but no artists! If anyone knows anything about the artists – or any others living at this hotel – please let me know!

Craycraft, Thomas 47 KY hotel