Passing along this interesting letter in the hope that other researchers of Owen County
Indiana forebears will be able to put together some answers for Bob. Walter & I are
at Blue Ridge YMCA, Black Mountain, NC for an Elderhostel Road Scholar history program,
and today we drove through the Kentucky mountains. Thinking of those long treks in
pioneer days. When I get home, I'll put on my own thinking cap, too.
Happy hunting!
nancy
--- On Sat, 4/2/11, Bob and marion <rmbmjb(a)charter.net> wrote:
From: Bob and marion <rmbmjb(a)charter.net>
Subject: early owen county travel
To: nrscott30(a)yahoo.com
Date: Saturday, April 2, 2011, 7:15 PM
Dear Nancy--I read with much interest today your acticle on early owen county travel, I
have one comment and then some questions. In Russell Hamm's quote, he lists Adam
Britton's Ferry at Munday's Station. That man is Adam Brenton, the older brother
of my great-great grandfather, Robert Samuel Brenton. These two brothers came to Owen
County from Clarke County, Their father, William, having been granted land there for his
Revolutionary War service, took his family from Bourbon County, Kentucky. A question:
How might they have crossed the Ohio River; that is, where were the landing sites or
fords. And how might the brothers, who came independently to Owen County, travel from
Clarke County? The aforesaid Samuel Brenton later left Owen County about 1855 for Iowa
or Nebraska with his wife, Margaret L.Jean. They had a son, Adoniram Judson, born near
Ottumwa, Iowa in 1856 and a second son, Benjamin, born in Nebraska. Their third child, a
daughter, was born in Owen County. What route or routes might they have traveled?
Late in 1861 Sam Brenton enlisted in the Indiana 50th,which mustered in Seymor. The unit
then traveled, I know not how nor by what route, to the camp of rendevous and instruction
near Bardstown, Kentucky. Sam contracted pneumonia enroutee and died before the reached
the camp.He was buried in Bardstown, and along with other soldiers was removed
to the military cemetery near Lebanon, Kentucky sometime after the war. Any idea how
those men went from Seymour to Bardstown? No more questions. My great grandfather,
Judson married Mary Elizabeth Rice and they lived at one time in Farmer,or Farmer's
Station. My grandfather, Herman Orville Brenton, married Mary Annette Gantz, a daughter
of Dr. Thomas Gantz of Freedom. He was an only child. They moved to Indianapolis and
after Judson and Mary died, the Brenton family was gone. My grandfather inherited the
house down by the railroad and general store in Farmer. We vient down there frequently to
fish and get away to see relatives. The old highway went up over the hill to the east of
the present highway; it still exists and a few families still live there. My grandfather
tore down the old place and built a new house, and then sold it when he was unable to make
the trip from Indianapolis. My grandmother's parents are buried in the
Farmer Cemetery; My Brenton great grandparents and grandparents are buried in the
Riversida Cemetery in Spencer.
Well, I've told you "more than you ever wanted to know".I would love a reply
with any information that you may have.
With regards, Bob Brenton