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Jerry E. Jones, MD, MS, The Jones Genealogist. Library of Congress No. 6192-01064476.

Go "West" to End Up "East"

After returning to Venice, 1294, Marco Polo made a name for himself writing a book about his travels to Cathay.  A new world, and all kinds of opportunities for trade and wealth.  How to get there was the problem.  It was "East" of Europe [particularly the trade centers of northern Italy], and a very long way by land.  What if you could go "West" by water, and get there?  Who would have thought... go "West" to end up "East"!

All those merchant folks in Europe wanted to get there first.  They understood that Cathy [China] was on the 32 degree parallel [latitude] and in theory, all one would have to do is sail western along this latitude, and bingo...you would hit it.  They certainly did not count on this huge land mass in between them and all those riches.  The picture above shows "China" as it was drawn on a very early map.  The compass is drawn "east - west" along the 32 degree latitude, with China to the right.  Simple, yes.

Well the English folks had to squeeze between the French to the north, and the Spanish to the south, seeking their door to this land of riches.  The mouth of the James River is along the 37 degree parallel.  All one had to do is find a water way flowing northwest to the 32 degree parallel.  The James River, or one of those other rivers along this tidewater would certainly lead to China.  Let's go and see.

It took a little while, but the first folks to find a new river which flowed to the west was 1650.  Edward Bland and his fellows describe the "...firft River in New Brittaine, which runneth Weft; being 120. Mile South-west, between 35. & 37. degrees, (a pleafant Country,)...".  This would be just 2 degree below China!  Little did they know that this little town of Danville would be built along this 37 degree parallel, a little further along this river road to China.

[I do not know the origin of the map pictured above.  It is copied from a wall hanging I have.  Any one know the source?  Bland and his account can be found: Alvord, C.W., Bidgood, L. The First Explorations of the Trans-Allegheny Regions by the Virginians 1650 - 1674. Clearfield Company, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, 1912.  The context and story can be found: Jones, J.E., "KEN-TAH-THE" The Life and Times of Walker Daniel, Founder of the Town Lands of Danville, Kentucky, 18th Day of June 1784.]

Who's The First

"The City of Firsts" is what it is called...this town of Danville, Kentucky.  But before there was ever this town, or state, or country, the French, Spanish, and English were all trying to get here first.

However, the first to occupy this land that was to become Kentucky, were ethnic groups called the Shawnee and Cherokee.  As early as 1673 [When the French were roaming the land.] the Shawnee had defeated the Cherokee and occupied a major settlement and ceremonial grounds called "Eskippakithiki".  This was along one of the earliest recorded trails west of the Appalachian mountains called "The Warriors Path".  North to south, it ran along the length of the eastern side of this land that was to become Kentucky and my own family's home at Clark County, Kentucky.

What the Shawnee and the Cherokee were yet to face were the arrival from the north, of the powerful Iroquois.  The warfare which resulted between these ethic groups was felt to have been a cruel and devastating struggle leading to the defeat of the Shawnee and the Cherokee.   The last battle in this struggle is believed to have been fought near the Falls of the Ohio before the year 1700.  The Iroquois were left the victors and claimed the right by combat to the title of the valley of the Ohio.  Therefore, they were actually the first to name this area "Ken-tah-teh" which means "tomorrow", or "coming day".  How about that!  The Iroquois were the first to name this land.

Documentation is taken from: Wallis, F.A., Tapp, H.(eds.) A Sesqu-Centennial History of Kentucky. Vol.I - III, The Historical Record Association, Hopkinsville, KY, 1945.

An Early Map

The world powers of the day were trying to get their land claims clearly established in this new land.  Drawing a map was one way to show that you had been there and made a record of this exploration.

Who would have thought of putting this huge land mass in the middle of the expected water route to China anyway?

At any rate, the French were the first to show the geographic outline of this place that was to become Danville, Kentucky.

There was this river running east to west, that came out of the mountains which separated the occupied area [eastern side of the mountains], from to the road to China [the western side of the mountains].  North to south there was this other, much longer river that would connect the French controlled north to the warm water ports to the south.  Good idea to get there first!

The map shown above is the one first published in 1697 by the French.  The Ohio River [Hohio] is drawn pretty much like it flows from the Appalachian Mountains [Mons Apalachie].  The land that was to become Kentucky was just south of this "Hohio" River.  You can use your imagination to trace the outline of the state as it is drawn on this map.  Smack in the center of this area would become Danville, Kentucky.  A century or more yet to come of course.  Wow, here we were before anyone would ever guess it!

This map was published in 1697 by Louis Hennepin and titled: Le Cours du Fleuve Missippi 1697.
Hennepin, (Louis, SJ) Amsterdam, J.F. Bernard.

The Beginning

Danville, Kentucky, Boyle County, is the geographical center of the State.  Its history begins at the end of the trail they called "The Wilderness Road".  Just after the Revolutionary War it was the first place you could mail a letter, buy supplies, get put in jail, and all kinds of fun stuff.  It has its own history, which needs to be shared.

A blog centered on the center of Kentucky.  How about that?  Spending some time on researching this topic, there is much to be said.  So come join me, and others who might have an interest.  Historic Danville, Kentucky...the beginning.

The figure to the right shows the cover of the book titled "Ken-Tah-The" which gives the story to the naming of Danville.  There is much more to tell.