Today I had a question from a reader about her ancestor who settled on Hog Run. Does anyone have an idea where this stream may be located? It is near the small town of Fredericktown, in the southwestern portion of Washington County, not far from the Nelson County border. When I met my husband-to-be in 1980, he lived very close to Hog Run, renting a house in the area. His house was located nearer to Beech Fork and Cartwright’s Creek, both caused flooding in the spring. On the above map you can see St. Rose Church highlighted in yellow at the bottom of the map. This is where my mother went to church when she was young, and many of my ancestors are buried here. She rode the school bus to Fredericktown during her high school years, graduating in 1950.
In one of his articles from The Springfield Sun, October 18, 1934, Orval W. Baylor talks about this small stream of water and the early inhabitants who settled there.
Streams and Their Names
Many of the streams of Washington County took their names from the men who discovered them or settled on them in the early days. But there is one stream, in the Northwest [Southwest] part of the county, that didn’t get its name from a man, or if it did, God pity the man! For that stream was called and known as Hog Run.
How many of my readers have ever heard of Hog Run? How many could locate it without asking for bearings? Well, Hog Run was well known a hundred and twenty years ago [1814], and anyone in Harrodsburg, not to mention the folk in Washington County, could have directed an interested party to the proper locality.
On Old Hunters Trace
Hog Run was well known in early years because it was on the trace that the settlers traveled to and from Harrodsburg to the Salt Works near the present site of Shepherdsville. One old-timer deposed in 1820, that he had been acquainted with Hog Run “ever since the year 1786.” He observed that the trace along the run appeared to have existed before the year 1781, “as the roots were left bare and the banks was cut in eight or nine inches deep in places.”
Let us first locate Hog Run and then tell some interesting facts about the stream, the country about it, and the folk who settled there before the year 1800.
Tributary of Beech Fork
Hog Run is a tributary of the Beech Fork. Its waters enter the Beech about one mile above the lower mouth of Cartwright’s Creek. Notice that I say, lower mouth, for that statement is significant, as I shall later show. From about three-quarters of a mile above its mouth to its head, Hog Run is a remarkably straight stream. This fact was commented upon by many who knew it in the early days. The first white owner of the field in which the run had its head was Zachariah Hobbs, who settled there in 1790. The stream had its beginning at a spring.
Run Named in 1780
William Wright deposed in 1819 that he carried the surveyor’s chain “in 1782 or 1783,” when a 200-acre tract on Hog Run was surveyed for John Sanders. Wright also said that he “understood a certain Mr. Davis and Richard Parker named Hog Run in 1780.” Wright mentioned Dow Run, and said that it was the first stream “that empties in on the northeast side of Cartwrights Creek above its mouth. Distance about two miles.” He pronounced Dow Run a smaller stream than Hog Run.
What Makes A Branch?
Certain persons were trying to establish the fact that there were several noteworthy branches of Hog Run in the early days and disputing the statement of some that the run had its head in the field of Zachariah Hobbs. Asked if there were not several “dreans” [a variant of the word drain] emptying into Hog Run, James Weathers in 1820 said that there were and that they furnished water “in wet weather, but they soon go dry.” Hog Run itself, he continued, “goes dry almost every year, some time of the year.” Asked if he considered any of the “dreans” large enough to be called a branch, Weathers said he “didn’t know how big a drean it takes to make a branch.” Said he had known Hog Run from the mouth to its source since 1791.
The above is the appraisement of the estate of Jesse Hobbs, deceased, appraised at his late residence in Washington County, Kentucky, on the 9th day of October 1830. Personally appeared George Grundy, John Walker and Godfrey Gregory and made oath that they have made a just and true appraisement of the estate of Jesse Hobbs, deceased, given under my hand this 28th day of August 1832. M. Hardin, J.P. W.C.
Spring Called the Head
Zachariah Hobbs and his son, Jesse Hobbs, were early settlers in the Hog Run district. The run had its head in a field where Jesse Hobbs lived, so “the oldest settlers in the Country” had always told Zachariah Hobbs. Asked about some of the early settlers in the district, the elder Hobbs said that “Godfrey Gregory settled where he then lived (1820) in 1800.” Said he first saw Thomas Moody in Washington County in 1802, but didn’t “recollect that he was a resident at that time.” Knew the Dorsey’s and said that he first saw Ann Dorsey in 1806, and said that she was living on the Beech Fork at that time.
The Courier Journal, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky
Sunday, March 8, 2015
First Settler on Run
William Kendrick, according to his own statement, was the first settler on Hog Run. He said that he was there before 1793. He spoke of the trace that runs up and down the Run,” and said that he “used it as a road when going into Nelson County.” The trace, Kendrick said, was “an old one and run on to McCullom’s lick and then on to Walton’s Lick and from thence to Harrodsburg.”
Cosby’s There Early
The Cosby’s settled on Hog Run in 1794. John Cosby lived there, and Dabney C. Cosby, a lawyer of considerable talent and reputation, was there before he moved to Springfield and opened a law office. Dabney C. Cosby represented Washington County in the General Assembly in 1813-15, 1821-22, 1824-25.
Categories: Family Stories
Kentucky Kindred Genealogy 
Thanks so much for your column. Related to your husband via our Revolutionary War Patriot James McKee. Let me know if I can retrieve anything for you in Illinois.
Thank you so very much! I will keep that in mind. From which child of James do you descend? We loved the small town of Rushville when we visited. It reminds me of our small town of Rudyard, MI, where we now live.
My father grew up in Pleasant Grove near what is now Lincoln Park. I don’t recall his ever mentioning Hog Run. But it is fascinating to read about these early settlers and how important these streams were to them in the early days.
My gr-gr-gr-gr-grandfather Captain John Hancock Linton gave land and lumber to help build Pleasant Grove Church. My gr-gr-grandparents, Edward and Catherine Linton are buried there, some of their children, and others related to the Linton family. I’m glad you enjoy the blog!
William Kendrick was the brother of my 4th GG Isabel Kendrick (1754-1822). I found the following about William: William Kendrick
William Kendrick was born on 19 Oct 1747 in Hanover County, Virginia as the first child of Patrick Kendrick and Jane Fox. He had eight siblings, namely: Mary, James, Isabell, Jane, Francis, Rachel, Patrick, and George. He died between 11 Aug–11 Oct 1824 in Based on the date of the wWill and its Proved date. When he was 75, he married Rebecca[Mrs] Humphrey on 30 Oct 1822 in Shelby, Kentucky, USA.
Source: Leaves of a Stunted Shrub: A Genealogy of the Scrogin-Scroggin-Scroggins Family, Volume 6, pages 281-282
“William Kendrick of Washington County, Kentucky, whose will was dated 11 August 1824 and proved on 11 October 1824. was born in Hanover County, Virginia, on 19 October 1747. His heirs were wife Rebecka Humphrey Kendrick and children: William; John; Gabriel; Elizbeth Kendrick Aubrey; Susannah Kendrick NaIl, wife of James Nelson Nail; Mary Kendrick Nail, wife of Richard Nall; Lucy Kendrick, who may have married a Crooke; and Rachel Kendrick Tucker, wife of Thomas Tucker.
Susannah Kendrick was born on 04 July 1784 in Kentucky. She married James N. Nail on 21 August 1804. He was a son of James NaIl and Barbara Humphrey, who came from Culpeper County, Virginia”
===
Deed Book A, p. 218.
KENDRICK to Ellison, 1795.
Wm. KENDRICK & Susannah his wife of Washington Co., State of KY,
first part, Thomas Ellison, second part.
18 hundred pounds, twelve shillings, Land 62 acres on Hoggran [?]
Branch of Beach Fork.
Signed, William KENDRICK, Susannah KENDRICK
p.123 –Washington Co., KY, Marriages —
Richard Nalle & Mary KENDRICK, Jan 15, 1809
Issac [sic] Sherry & Catherine KENDRICK, Sept 18, 1811
Lucy KENDRICK & Richard Croake, Oct 11, 1824
James Kendall & Sarah Humphrey, June 1, 1816
Deed Book G, p. 409, dated 1822 —
William KENDRICK, Jr., & Nancy his wife.
William KENDRICK, Sr., land next to William KENDRICK, Jr.
Deed Book I, 23 Aug 1824 [no pg. # given] —
John KENDRICK & Mary Ann his wife sold land to John Reed.
Deed Book M, p. 107, May 8, 1830 —
John KENDRICK gives land for Baptist Meeting House, to be Brick, on
Road the Fork of Beach Fork.
Deed Book A, p. 218.
KENDRICK to Ellison, 1795.
Wm. KENDRICK & Susannah his wife of Washington Co., State of KY,
first part, Thomas Ellison, second part.
18 hundred pounds, twelve shillings, Land 62 acres on Hoggran [?]
Branch of Beach Fork.
Signed, William KENDRICK, Susannah KENDRICK
==
1773-1780 King George County Deed Book 5 (Antient Press); pp. 1034-1035
THIS INDENTURE made this Fourteenth day of December- in the year of our Lord God one thousand seven hundred & seventy two Between PATRICK and JEANE KENDRICK his Wife, of King George County of one part & MARY HORTON, their Daughter, of said County or other part; Witnesseth that PATRICK KENDRICK & JANE his Wife for the natural love affection which the said PATRICK KENDRICK hath and doth bear to his Daughter, the said MARY and also for the consideration of the sum of five shillings current money by said MARY to said PATRICK in hand paid, by these present, do bargin sell and confirm unto MARY HORTON her heirs lawfully begotten of her body, for the want of such heirs to returne to WILLIAM KENDRICK, Son to PATRICK & JANE KENDRICK his Wife & his heirs all that tract of land containing seventy acres lying in County of King George & STAFFORD granted to MARY HORTON by Patent dated the six day of November in year one thousand seven hundred and seventy one & bounded; Begining at a mark’d Box Oak in the line of Capt. LAURENCE WASHINGTON, thence S 15d E. 182 poles to a stooping Box Oak, a corner of CARTERs Land, thence S. 39d, W. 67 poles to a small Box Oak by the Road side, thence No. 20 Wt. 62 poles to a Box Oak pointers. thence No. 87 W, 90 poles to ye said WASHINGTONs line, including 70 acres & all houses orchards profits & appurtenances belonging; To have & to hold the seventy acres of Land and other the premises & the appurtenances unto MARY HORTON or her heirs lawfully begotten of her body and for the want of such heirs to WILLIAM KENDRICK; Witness our hands and seals the day and year above written and in the presence of
JAMES BROWN, PATRICK KENDRICK
WILLIAM LAWSON JANE her mark / KENDRICK
At a Court held for King George County the 3d. day of June 1773
PATRICK KENDRICK and JANE his Wifes Deed Indented to MARY HORTON the said JANE being first privately examined, was ackd: and admitted to Record
Test JOS: ROBINSON, Cl Cur
https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3953m.la000238/?r=0.297,0.576,0.23,0.101,0
Hog Run on the 1877 Library of Congress map I sent you a while back. It shows families living there then.
Top of the green area below Beech and Nelson words.
Got everything unpacked yet?
Mike
On Thu, May 21, 2020 at 6:01 AM Kentucky Kindred Genealogy wrote:
> Kentucky Kindred Genealogical Research posted: ” Today I had a question > from a reader about her ancestor who settled on Hog Run. Does anyone have > an idea where this stream may be located? It is near the small town of > Fredericktown, in the southwestern portion of Washington County, not far > from the” >
Love this map! Most boxes are empty – not everything on the walls yet, but we are getting there!