Saturday’s post introduced you to Dr. Robert C. Frazier.  Today I share an article found on his wife’s family – James Quisenberry and Jane Garnett.  Powderly is a small area of Muhlenberg County a few miles northwest of the county seat of Greenville.  Robert and Sarah Quisenberry Frazier are buried in Greenville Cemetery.

The Record, Greenville, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky

Thursday, March 9, 1911

A Sketch of Powderly Past and Present by Amy M. Longest

Just after the memorable “era of good feeling’ had passed, when Jackson was having his war on the United States Bank, and South Carolina was threatening to nullify the tariff acts, it seems that a spirit of restlessness reigned throughout the country, its influence was felt in the vicinity of Powderly, for people moved by that spirit or in search of adventure began to settle there.  The first to come was one John Salmon and wife, formerly Elizabeth Robinson.  They came from Virginia about the year 1830 and settled what is known as the Quisenberry place.  John Salmon was a devoted church member, and attended the monthly meetings at Hazel Creek Church.  In the year of 1840, he sold the place to James Quisenberry and went to Missouri.  Mr. Quisenberry was originally from Virginia, but came to this county from Christian County.  He had two children, Irskine and Sarah Catherine, by his first wife, formerly Jane Garnett, who died before he came to this county.  Soon his arrival here he married again, one Mary Cisney; by her he had one child, Robert, who died at the age of sixteen.  Mr. Quisenberry built a new house on the farm nearer by two miles to Powderly, than the old one which has long since gone to ruin.  It still stands, a reminder of the ante-bellum days, a crevice in the old rock chimney made by the slave cook, sharpening her knives, is still visible.  When court was in session at Greenville, this commodious home was well filled with people who had come from a distance, and could not make the trip in one day.  Irskine Quisenberry married Margaret in 1867.  He lived on the old place which at that time comprised about 200 acres.  To this union were born seven children, some of whom are still living.  They raised five children to manhood and womanhood in the home that still stands as if to shame modern architecture by its disregard of time.  The genuine southern hospitality for which Kentucky is noted was never wanting in that home.  The children who often went there from the mines on errands were sure to carry away pleasant memories, as well as cookies, candy, popcorn, pretty cards or some little gift from the kind hostess.

Mrs. Frazier’s descendants.

Sarah Catherine Quisenberry married Dr. R. C. Frazier in 1850.  He came to this county from Christian [County] a few years prior to that time.  The Frazier family is an old one, and their family history can be traced back many generations to their native shores, immortalized by that wonderful poet who sang “In Simple Scottish Lays.”  The spacious country home built by Dr. Frazier and occupied by himself and wife, who was noted for her industry and liberality, while the doctor was known far and near on account of his medical skill and successful practice.  Those two people whose kindness, hospitality and industry made such a lasting impression in the circles in which they moved, have long since passed into the great unknown.  Their son R. E. Frazier, and his family, now live at the old homestead.