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Excerpts from the Interior Journal The Interior Journal 29 Feb 1874 Home Jottings.
In Stanford, there are six practicing physicians and ten lawyers. In Barren County they have seven candidates for Surveyor, and Lincoln can't raise one. The turnpikes of the county (Lincoln) are in very good condition generally, but in some places they have been cut up badly during the late wet spells. When you leave the turnpikes for dirt roads, it is almost impossible to travel. The business men of Stanford and the citizens along the Stanford & Somerset road are alive to the subject of completing the Somerset turnpike to the Pulaski line, and await only the action of the citizens of Somerset and Pulaski to begin the work. As for raising the means, that will be a small consideration. Come to time, neighbors? Coal Oil for Consumption. By this we do not mean consumption by lamps, etc., but for that terrible disease of the lungs and bronchial tubes. A paragraph is going the rounds of Kentucky papers, (and perhaps others) that coal oil is almost a specific for this dreadful disease which sends thousands to the grave every year. We desire to correct the report at once, for fear that some over credulous person may try to cure himself by taking inwardly the coal oil of commerce, in teaspoonful doses. Such a dose would prove as dangerous as so much turpentine. Allow us to suggest that only the crude petroleum should be used, as it comes from the well, and that, too, diluted with syrup of some kind, in moderate doses at first. We have known of several cases of lung disease, where the "rock oil" (or petroleum) has been of great benefit when used as here directed, but we warn all persons, not to use the ordinary burning fluid for any disease, unless they wish to pass to another world unbidden. Let charlatans rave as they often do, we enter our most solemn protest against the indiscriminate use of "coal oil." The Briggs Family Burial Ground. (Note: Believe in Lincoln Co.) In locating the Cincinnati Southern Railroad it became necessary to run the line through a portion of the above named burial ground, and Mr. B. Van Arsdale, who married one of the daughters of the elder Briggs, had fourteen members of the family who were buried there, carefully taken up and re-interned in the Stanford Cemetery, thus clearing the way for the railroad, and preventing any unpleasant feelings in the minds of the friends of the dead, whose remains might have been ruthlessly disturbed by strangers in making the road bed. By the way, we desire to say a few words about the Briggs family, and with the assistance of a friend we have gathered the following facts in reference to it. The elder, Capt. Benjamin Briggs, came to this county from Virginia with Ben. Logan, his uncle, when 18 years of age. At the time of their arrival there were but three stations on this side of the Kentucky river, namely, Harrods Station, Boonesborough and Logan's Fort. Young Briggs was a fearless, daring man, and just the kind to make a successful pioneer. He it was who lead their scouting parties and was ever found at the point where danger was the greatest. The county was a wilderness where wild beasts and Indians contended with the few brave white men who dared and endured all for the good of the country. Their trusty rifles furnished them food as well as protection. On one occasion young Briggs and a small party set out on a hunt and pitched their tent at a spring on the farm now known as the John E. Wright place. One day they struck a trail and followed it, going in the direction of the Hanging Fork. Soon a large buffalo was seen and a chase begun. Young Briggs was in the lead, and in his excitement, soon left his comrades far behind. His comrades knowing their dangerous position where the Indians had a chance, retraced their steps camp-wards - first calling to Ben to return. But he went on, and was only checked by the sound of the Indians given across the creek from him. He then turned and fled, only to hear other sounds of guns and the yells of the savages. He made good his escape however, and arrived in camp late in the evening to find his comrades there making preparations to go in search of him. There was general rejoicing that night over Ben, and although he lost his coveted buffalo meat, he saved his own "bacon." It was on this expedition that the spring was discovered where the entire Briggs family finally located and built their first home in the pathless wilderness. They pre-empted about 1,100 acres of land around it, and the wisdom of their choice is apparent to all who are acquainted with the superior lands of today. It was entered in the name of Samuel Briggs, father of Ben. Here it was that Ben died, in 1847, aged 82. He married Elizabeth Gay in 1790, and had nine children. Samuel Thomas, Woodson, John, Samuel A., and Alfred, sons, and Mariah, Patsey Ann and Eliza Jane, daughters. The two Samuels died quite young, but the other seven lived to advanced years, and all held prominent positions in society. They are now all dead. Only one grandchild and three great grandchildren now survive of the Briggs descendants. All of their dead were buried here except John and Patsey Ann, who died and were buried in a distant State. All who slept here were removed as before stated. The dead of the B. Van Arsdale family, namely, his wife and four children, were also removed to our Cemetery. These children were Sally Van., dec'd, wife of Joe H. Engleman, Benjamin, Annamariah, and Isabel. The only grandchild remaining is Annie, wife of our townsman, J.H. Craig, Esq. Thus we see that one generation passeth away and another cometh on to take their places in the busy scenes of life.
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