Today we visit Greenup County, Kentucky, in particular Mt. Zion Cemetery.  When Ritchey and I took our trip back to Kentucky two years ago we took Highway 23 from Portsmouth on the Ohio side of the river into Fullerton, Kentucky, a small town of less than 2,500 people.  The cemetery was inside the city limits, but you felt you were in the country.

The Gammon family was originally from Virginia.  Samuel Wilson Gammon was born there in 1792, the son of Richard Dozier and Mary Wilson Gammon who came to Greenup County about 1800, settling on Tygart Creek, which is located near the cemetery.  Samuel’s siblings were William, John S., Joshua Smith, Martha, Josiah and Robert. 

Samuel W. Gammon served in the War of 1812.  He was stationed at Limestone, now known as Maysville.  He is listed as a Private in Moses Demmitt’s Company who served in the Battle of the Thames, October 5, 1813.

March 23, 1818, Samuel married Martha Morton, the daughter of William and Sallie Morton Fuqua.  Consent was given by Martha’s father, and Moses Fuqua was bondsman.  Their children – Richard, 1819-1838; William 1820; John, 1823; Mary, 1826; Martha, 1828; Lavina, 1836; and Samuel Wilson, 1839.

Samuel W. Gammon was a Justice of the Peace for the county in 1838, and Sheriff of Greenup County, in 1842-1843.

The Greenup County Tax records for 1843 show Samuel W. Gammon with 156 acres of land (the same acreage sold by the Gammon children after the death of their parents), with a value of $800.  Samuel had 1 slave over sixteen years and a total of 4 slaves, with a value of $1,050.  4 horses valued at $160, 17 cattle worth $50.  Four children are listed between the ages of 7 and 17 years old.  Total valuation of property was $2,060.

The couple’s oldest son, Richard, named for his grandfather, died June 28, 1838, at the age of 19. 

The following is a letter written by Samuel W. Gammon to brothers Robert and Josiah Gammon, living in Lee County, Iowa, where they moved in 1838

June 20, 1841

Dear Brothers:

I received your letter bearing date of March 23, 1841, on the 14th instant and am thankful to hear you are all well and satisfied with the country. We are all enjoying the same blessings with the exception of our father. He is very feeble and has had one or two very bad attacks since I wrote to Josiah last season. Indeed we did not expect him to live but a short time. He is better at this time.

You speak of money being scarce and hard times. The same disorder rages here. Produce is cheap – corn is worth from twelve and one-half to twenty-five cents per bushel and bacon from three and one-half to four cents a pound. Wheat is fifty cents per bushel. all speak of having a very cold spring. We have had the same here, just planted our corn in April, and there came a cold wet spell. When it cleared off the ground baked so hard that the corn could not get through it. We had to plant over which made us late. Since that time it has been so dry that it looks like we should raise but very little.

You mention of getting a letter from Romulus E. Culver stating that E. Brooks becomes paymaster to you instead of Hardwick. I have seen Brooks and he state he expects to pay balance to you. If you will take leather at a low price it shall be ready by the last of October or sooner, if you will let him know when you will take it.

There has been nothing take place in the neighborhood worth relating since I wrote to Josiah except the death of cousin Robert Brown which took place last winter. He was attacked with a violent cold, it settled on his lungs and took him off in a few days. The people in the county are generally health at this time so far as I have been informed and I believe that I have heard from all parts of it.

Our candidates to represent us in the next legislature are amongst us every few days promising what they will do if we will send them to Frankfort. I will name some of them: Jeff Evans, Nehemiah Cravens, R. M. Biggs, Robert Smith and John T. Woodson, all genuine Whigs. There is no beg treasury candidate out yet, but I expect there will be one come out in the heel of the evening.

I have got none of the seed of Mrs. Bryson’s big potatoes yet.

No more at present only all friends wish to be remembered to you and family and to Josiah and family and all inquiring friends.

Samuel W. Gammon

N.B. There have been fine showers of rain here since I commenced writing.

I found no will for Samuel; perhaps dying at such a young age didn’t give him the opportunity to think about his mortality.

Martha died seven years afterward, October 7, 1852, at the age of 54 years.  Very early deaths, even during this time period.  Neither left a will.  The two youngest children Lavina and Samuel were underage.  Their older brother William was their guardian.

After their mother’s death the family farm, just over 156 acres, was sold to Franklin Booten for $2,500 dollars. A tidy sum worth $102,500 today!

This Indenture made and entered into this 17^th day of February 1854, between William Gammon, John Gammon, John F. Landon and Sarah his wife, late Sarah Gammon, Mary W. Gammon, William S. Smith and Martha his wife, late Martha Gammon, Lavina Gammon and Samuel W. Gammon, the said William, John, Sarah, Mary W., Martha, Lavina and Samuel W. being the heirs and legal representatives of Samuel W. Gammon, deceased, of the first part, and Franklin Booten of the second part, witnesseth that the parties of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars to them in hand paid, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, have given, granted, bargained and sold and by these presents do give, grant bargain and sell to the part of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever, all that tract or parcel of land situated, lying and being in Greenup County and State of Kentucky and on Tygarts Creek and bounded as follows, to wit:  Beginning at eight white oaks and one dogwood on a high bank on the west side of Tygarts Creek, the beginning corner of a survey made in the name of Kenton and Dillon, thence to the middle of the creek, thence down the creek as it meanders . . . corner to Montgomery, thence with Montgomery’s line to a white oak, sugar tree and two beeches, corner to said Montgomery and thence with Montgomery’s line to Richard Gammon’s corner.  Thence with his line down the creek with its meanders and thence with his line to the beginning, containing one hundred and fifty-six acres and forty-eight poles, together with the privileges and appurtenances thereunto in anywise belonging.  To have and to hold the land hereby conveyed, with its appurtenances unto the part of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever, and the parties of the first part covenant that they will warrant and defend the title to the land hereby conveyed with its appurtenances unto the party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, against the claim or claims of all and ever person or persons

whatsoever.  In testimony whereof the parties of the first part have hereunto subscribed their names and affixed their seals.

William Gammon, John W. Gammon, John F. Lawson, Sarah Lawson, Mary W. Gammon, William S. Smith, Martha Smith

State of Kentucky, Greenup County

J. J. M. Robb, Deputy for William Corum, clerk of the Greenup County Court, do hereby certify that this deed from William Gammon, John W. Gammon, John F. Lawson and Sarah, his wife, Mary W. Gammon, William S. Smith and Martha Smith, his wife and others to Franklin Booten was this day produced to me and duly acknowledges by said William, John W. and Mary W. Gammon, John F. Lawson and Sarah his wife, William S. Smith and Martha his wife, to be their act and deed for the purposes therein mentioned and the same and this certificate has been duly recorded in  my office.  Given under my hand this 19^th day of February 1854.

J. M. Robb, D. C. for William Corum, Clerk