Copyright @ 2013 MEHRA Publishing Stacy R. Webb swebb@mehrapublishing.com because history matters! www.mehrapublishing.com

Volume 1 Issue 1 May 2013

The History of Crofton Our Beginnings

Crofton, a quiet little hamlet nestled along historic highway 41 between the cities of Hopkinsville and Madisonville in the northern portion of Christian County. A place where families have come to grow and prosper among the beautiful landscape of western Kentucky. The people of Crofton are best known for their hospitable Southern charm and strong Christian values & conviction. Southern history is, more than any other, the history of its families. Crofton, is one of Christian County's most prominent towns and the founding family among it’s most prominent in our history.

The first pioneers arrived in the area we now know as Christian County around 1784, lured by the fertile land, wild game and abundant timber. Hopkinsville, the county seat, was named for General Samuel Hopkins, a Revolutionary War Veteran. Christian County itself was named in honor of another Revolutionary War Veteran, Colonel William Christian and Crofton, so named for it’s founding father, James E Croft. It would seem that this is a perfect starting place to begin the story of our humble beginnings…The railroad has played an important roll in the history and development of Christian County and Crofton is no exception.

James E. Croft, teacher, merchant, land owner, founder of Crofton, KY. James was born Jan 19, 1839 in what was part of the Scates Mill precinct of Christian County near Castleberry and attended school at the Castleberry School. James was the son of William Garvey b. 9 Dec 1807 in Spartanburg, SC d. 26 Feb 1871 in Hamby and Mary E. McKinney Croft b. 17 Aug 1809 in Illinois d. 02 Jul 1847.

The Croft Family having descended from Johann Frederick Kraft “John F Croft”, who emigrated as part of a group of Protestants from Wurttemberg Germany and at the age of 21 in 1737arrived to the American Colony of Virginia. John m. Unknown and only one child Frederick Croft aka Craft b. 1741 in Charleston, SC d. 1805 in Livingston Co., KY was born to the union. It is speculated that Frederick’s mother may have died at his birth or shortly there after.

Frederick Croft bravely fought in the American Revolutionary War, receiving a land bounty claim for his service. Frederick m. Catherine Unknown b. abt 1750 d. abt 1810 in SC. Frederick staked his claim in the area of Livingston County KY where he reared a large family of 11 children. The 3rd son Martin Croft b. 1772 in SC d. 1834 in Livingston Co., KY. m. Francis Sullivant b. abt 1780 in SC d. 1846 in Livingston Co., KY and reared a family of 6 children in the Scates Mill area near Castleberry; Sarah Ann b.1807-1869 m. Wm Teague, Anderson Bradley b. 1832-1914 m. Marcella Campbell, Mary Annie b. 1835-1862 m. Benjamin Bayless Woodruff, Martha Jane b. 1837-1871 m. Benjamin Webber Crabtree, James Edmund, and Larkin C. Croft b. 1842-1879 m. Mary Victoria Armstrong.

The family is listed among the earliest settlers of Scates Mill precinct, formally included in the Fruit Hill District of the county. Croft was reared on the family farm and at the age of 17 was enrolled at Castleberry School. Cont. inside back panel. A picture of Mr Croft can be seen at the Crofton City Hall.

Earliest Professions 1880 LH Page House Carpenter

Emma Kell Clerk

FC Brasher Druggist

Eva P Brasher Keeping Bar

RP Steven Selling Dry Goods

Ollie K Steven Tobacco Aprizer

VW Croft Undertaker

CA Brasher Merchant

JA Lewis Keeping Bar

WA Keith Doctor

Geniette Grace Cook

CM Day RR Agent

JP Bourland Keeping Store

John Keith Clerk

Julian Boxely Works in Grist Mill

Murdock McIntosh Blacksmith

Charles H Kistner Wagon Maker

GR Hancock Blacksmith

AJ Allbright Cooper

Helen McRenyolds Cook

Calip Harrison Railroader

Michael Burk Railroader

WR McCord Farmer

HC McCord Sells Dry Goods

James B McCord Keeping Store

Gregory Hammon Farmer

Wm Hetherington Sect. B RR

Silas Oates Farmer

Charley Graves House Boy

Community Bible Verses- Love

John 13:34-35 So now I am giving you a new com-mandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another

will prove to the world that you are my disciples."

Romans 12:9-10 Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is

good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

Burkholder Bro’s

Ledger 1901 Cost

Cap

Kirkman bacon 96 corn 25

1.21

Chas. Gibson 9 # cotton 24 yds calico 3 spools soap

.90

1.44 .15 .10

Claud Kirkman Cr by cash

(2.00)

W.H. sizemore Paper pins

.05

Elmer Davis file

.15

F.M. Logan sugar

.50

Bob Sizemore Bacon 50 calico 05 spool

.60

Page is

torn

Gordy Edmons lard

.25

A.W. Deering Butter .15 Bread .05 Oil

.15 .10 .20

Wiley Davis Cr by cash Cotton balls Hat Flour Sugar Bacon meal

(10.00)

.30 1.50 1.15

.50 1.00

.40

John Watson Onions

.10

Tom Bell Lard Axle grease Bridle bits

.10 .05

Page is torn

Tobe Durhum Tobacco

Page is torn

Mat Draper Pepper

.10

Lesley McCord Potato’s Page is torn

.40 .10

1.25

Tom Dulin Lard Bread Oil

.50 .05 .20

Copyright @ 2013 MEHRA Publishing Stacy R. Webb swebb@mehrapublishing.com because history matters! www.mehrapublishing.com

Community Activities

Derby Day Breakfast: May 4th Plan to attend the Derby Day breakfast at Gordon Park from 6:30am to 10:30am.

Branch Outreach: May 11th 2nd annual 5K Fun Run/Walk 8:30am at Gordon Park. You may register online at www.branchoutreach.com. Donations of hygiene products and non perishable food items accepted. God bless you Branch Outreach, a true blessing to our community.

Mother’s Day Riddle Drawing: May 11th Crofton Connection to draw for grand prizes @ The Crofton Diner. You must be a Mother, call with the answer to the riddle and be present to win. TBA 12:30 perhaps?

Mother’s Day: May 12th Happy Mother’s Day!

Splash Park @ Gordon Park: May 27th Summer fun splashes-off on Memorial Day this year. Always a perfect outing for hot summer days! Hours will be

Community Committee: June 8th Chili Cook off & Silent Dessert Auction to benefit Crofton Community Committee. Chili & dessert entries accepted until 12 noon and judging contest begins at 2:00. 5.00 entry fee, 1.00 to taste all entries and vote on your favorite. At 4:00pm Enjoy, Live Music from Junction 41 a Southern Country Band at the pavilion. Mark your calendar & don’t miss the event! For further information find us on Facebook @ Crofton Community Committee.

Crofton Cleanup Days: June 11, 12 & 13. Mark your calendars and help your neighbors, if they are in need of assistance. Crofton will have it’s annual cleanup days. If you have unwanted items please place them on the curb for removal by the city at no fee to it’s residence. Don’t forget to donate salvageable or usable items! Thank you city of Crofton!

Words To Our Youth: Always we hear the cry from teenagers, “what can we do, where can we go?” “My answer is this: Go home, mow the lawn, wash the windows, learn to cook, build a raft, get a job, visit the sick, study your lessons and after you’ve finished, read a book. Your town does not owe you recreational facilities and your parents do not owe you fun. The world does not owe you a living, you owe the world something. You owe it your time, energy and talent so that no one will be at war, in sickness and lonely again. In other words grow up, stop being a cry baby, get out of your dream world and develop a backbone not a wishbone. Start behaving like a responsible person. You are important and you are needed. It’s too late to sit around and wait for somebody to do something someday. Someday is now

and that somebody is you!” The words of a judge who regularly deals with youth.

Cont. The History of Crofton, Our Beginnings

Upon graduation three years later, Croft taught in local county schools for a few years, eventually opening a small country store which began his lifelong association as a merchant and business man.

During the Civil War, in 1862 he married Elmira E. Bourland b. 25 Mar 1840 d. 13 Dec 1919. The daughter of Felix Bourland b. 1807 d. 19 Oct 1873 in Christian County and Ann M. Ratcliff b. 10 Dec 1813 d. 2 Mar 1877 in Christian Co. The Bourland family also settled in the Scates Mill portion of North Christian County and are listed among it’s earliest pioneers.

In the spring of 1850 The Crofton Baptist Church was organized. Although the original church was formed under a different name the present congregation can trace their roots to this early church. Croft laid out the town in 1868 and built a number of homes and businesses within its boundaries.

At one time, James Croft owned the grist and saw-mills and built several warehouses in Crofton. Even though he was engaged in the tobacco business, Croft maintained a deep interest in the matter of education and built a public school for the city at his own expense and became a principal stockholder in the Crofton Academy. A prominent North Christian landowner, Croft donated the land upon which the St. Louis and Southeastern Railway built their depot, and by the tradition of that era, the railroad named the quickly developing settlement around the railroad in Croft's honor. Among the earliest accounts of Crofton, is included in Counties of Christian and Trigg, Kentucky : historical and biographical edited by William Henry Perrin “ With numerous changes in boundaries, and the establishing of a new district or two, the county is at present divided into fifteen election districts-including the new district of Crofton-as follows: No. 1, Hopkinsville District, including the city and precinct; No. 2, Mount Vernon District; No. 3, Pembroke; No. 4, Longview ; No. 5, Lafayette; No. 6, Union Schoolhouse; No. 7, Hamby; No. 8, Fruit Hill; No. 9, Scates' Mill; No. 10, Garrettsburg; No. 11, Bainbridge; No. 12, Casky; No. 13, Stewart; No. 14, Wilson; No. 15, Crofton. The latter has been created since the county map was published, and embraces the country around Crofton Village, being taken from Scates' Mill, Stewart, Ham- by and Fruit Hill Districts.”

10% Discount 1 coupon per visit! M-Sat 6:30am-8pm Sun 6am-3pm

Dine In & Take Out

138 E Main St Delicious Desserts & Coffee! 270-424-9640

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Copyright @ 2013 MEHRA Publishing Stacy R. Webb swebb@mehrapublishing.com because history matters! www.mehrapublishing.com

BURKHOLDER BROS. 50 POUNDS

FLOUR IN TRADE ONLY 50# INGLE SYSTEM PAT. APR. 7, 1914 Ingle

Customer Ledger: Burkholder Bros, order

#3277 shipped about 1916 to Crofton, KY. Thank you to the Ingle Corp. for the pictures!

Easy Fun Crafts

Vintage pillowcase? No, a shopping bag!

Take a vintage pillowcase. Cut like so. Make the handle by sewing a seam, joining the two sides of the 'handle' together. Use your iron to turn over and pin a hem on your raw edges. Sew. Press. It could be as easy as that!

I have been using some of the scrap pillowcase fabric to fashion a little inner pocket and using a soft Velcro to stop it from gaping and keep your phone secure. I box the bottom corners to give it a little shape. And we have made them “no sew” and used a blanket stitch instead of sewing machine! I love mine and use it all the time. It folds down tiny for storage in your purse or glove box.

Prayer Requests:

Please pray for our

friends and neighbors

who are currently

struggling.

Rock Mitchell

Mike Dunnning

Rolland Butler

Kevin Fields

Birth & Death Notices, Family Reunion

Announcements, Prayer Request, Feature

Article & family history Submissions,

Advertisement Space Monthly

270-985-8568

Ads due by 26th of each month

Note from the editor: A big Thank you to Cheryl Byrum, Teresa Young & Brenda West for sharing your time and support in getting the first edition completed. Your help and guidance has been para-mount in the success of the 1st edition! Sincere Gratitude to each of you! We pray the coming month brings you many good and kind days, full of sunshine and peace. Interested in learning how to collect your families genealogy & history? If there is enough interest we will offer a how-to clinic this summer! Do you already have a collection, family Bible records, pictures, stories or heirlooms? If so, please consider donating copies of your pioneering families history, geneal-ogy, biographical sketch & pictures & stories to the The Crofton Connection. In the months to come, we will be collecting the history of Crofton for a fu-ture book titled, The History of Crofton, Ky, Our Beginnings. All proceeds to benefit The Crofton Gordon Park. Submissions by email swebb@mehrapublishing.com or you may contact us through www.mehrapublishing.com or you may call us at 270-985-8568. Correc-tions, edits & editions at The Crofton Connection, are always encouraged and appreciated!

!

“May the wreaths they have won “May the wreaths they have won “May the wreaths they have won

never wither, nor the star of their glory grow dim” never wither, nor the star of their glory grow dim” never wither, nor the star of their glory grow dim” Inscribed on the face of the Veterans Memorial Building in Washington, D.C.

Social Letters:

Why Complicate Life? Missing somebody...Call, Wanna meet up...Invite, Wanna be understood..Explain, Have questions...Ask, Don’t like something...Say it, Like something..State it, Want something..Ask for it, Love someone..Tell it.

A Special Thank You To Our Mother’s Day Riddle Sponsors: Heather Kyle at Swanky

Shanks, beautiful purses hand crafted from repurposed Boots. “Giving New Life to Old Soles”www.swankyshanks.com, Sandra Knighten at Eden’s Creations, Gorgeous handmade jewelry for all occasions at affordable prices, www.edenscreations.net, Jamie Nabb at J-Nabb Rocks custom con-struction & restoration stone, brick & mortar masonry www.mehrapublishing.com & Wm “Dennis” Mays at KY Tin Folks, adorable yard & garden art made from completely recycled everyday items, these Tin Folks can be seen in the little building behind Ideal Market & pictures can be seen at www.mehrapublishing.com.

Farm Fresh Eggs

Organic, Rich & Healthy

Brown Eggs

2.00 dozen

Parrott Farms

1341 Grapevine Rd.

2.00 a dozen

Zumba Classes

Kim Davenport 113

West Brown St. 270-

719-1423

Thursdays 5:30-6:30

first time free $2.00

per class

Copyright @ 2013 MEHRA Publishing Stacy R. Webb swebb@mehrapublishing.com because history matters! www.mehrapublishing.com

Area Churches:

House of Love Full Gospel Church 212 S. Madisonville Rd. (Hwy 41) Pastor: Eddie Elliott Lighthouse Assembly of God 11817 S. Madisonville Rd. (Hwy 41) Pastor: Mathew Hinson Macedonia Baptist Church 12497 Johnson Mill Rd. Pastor: Barry Williams Original Church of God 201 Rabbit Ridge Rd. Pastor: Willie Trawick Princeton St. Baptist Church 197 E. Princeton St. (Hwy 800) Pastor: Roland Butler West Grove Baptist Church 4050 Poole Mill Rd. (Hwy 1348) Pastor: David Brown Crofton United Methodist Church 140 Church St. Pastor: Junior Heltsley Crofton Pentecostal Church 244 N. Madisonville Rd. (Hwy 41) Pastor: Marvin Upton Empire Full Gospel Church 179 Empire Rd. Pastor: Roger Fuller Cornerstone Bible Church 470 E. Princeton St. (Hwy 800) Pastor: Kris Page Crofton Baptist Church 155 College St. Pastor: Bobby Reno Crofton Christian Church 175 E. Mill St. Pastor: Steve Allen Voice of Faith 788 Grapevine Rd. Pastor: Alan Hopper Solid Rock of Oldburg 109 No Madisonville Corner Hwy’s 800 & 41 Pastor Thad Hopper

In Honor of Mother’s Day Pioneering Mother’s of Kentucky Riddle, Who Am I?

Rebecca Bryan Boone (1739-1813) Imagine what it must have been like to settle Kentucky during the1700s. It wasn’t easy, especially for Rebecca Bryan Boone and her Daughter, Jemima, who are said to have been the first white women to become residents of Kentucky (others followed soon after). Hardships and tragedies accompanied their arrival at Boonesboroughon September 8, 1775. While en route from North Carolina, Rebecca’s son James was killed by Indians. Within three years, Rebecca’s husband, Daniel Boone, was captured by Indians. Thinking him to be dead, she returned to North Carolina with her children. After his escape from captivity in 1780, he brought his family back to Kentucky. They lost a son and another was seriously wounded in the massacre at Blue Lick Springs. Rebecca died in 1813 in Missouri. Later, her remains and those of her husband were returned to Kentucky to be buried in Frankfort. The historical notice Rebecca Boone has received has been through her husband, but she was a representative of the wives and mothers who lived lonely and heroic lives, enduring heart-rending bereavements in the settlement of the commonwealth of Kentucky

Jane Coomes (c. 1750-1816) moved to Fort Harrod with her husband, William, in 1775 as a member of a group of Catholics from Maryland. Two years later she became Kentucky’s first

schoolteacher. Jane used the primitive version of the old English Horn Book. The “book” was made of clapboard and was paddle-shaped with the handle

whittled to fit little fingers. The alphabet and the Lord’s Prayer were written crudely with berry juices and charcoal. Jane taught school at Fort Harrod about 10

years until she resettled in Nelson County.

Mother’s Day Riddle, Who Am I? I was born 1846 and died in 1911. I was one of the most notorious crusaders of the Temperance Movement. I was born in Garrard County and lived for short periods in Boyle and Woodford counties Kentucky. I disliked alcohol and was influenced by the observance of the effects of heavy drinking of my neighbors, friends and family. My first husband was an

alcoholic who died young. My daughter also had a problem with alcoholism. I became famous as “hatchetations,” the name they called me for smashing up saloons and liquor bottles as I carried a hatchet and sang Christian hymns. I was sometimes accompanied by a hand organ playing an entirely different song. My opinion of the law was reflected in my practice of addressing judges as “your dishonor. “ I was a journalist as well, and published books and an autobiography, My ancestor was among the same group of Protestant emigrants from Wurttemberg, Germany as Crofton’s founding family, Johanne Frederick Kraft/Craft/Croft and my family also settled in Kentucky Country. I also lived in Texas where I started my crusade for the Temperance Movement & latter moved to Kansas.

eresa’s Beauty Shop

Flowers & Gifts for all occasions

Stop by M-F 9am-5pm & Sat 9am-3pm

for the perfect Mother’s Day gifts!

Hairstyling, Mani-Pedi’s

424-5141 for appointment

Walk-in’s Always Welcome!

Condolences :

Richard Otis Stroud, 79 - Apr 21

Radford Walker, 75 - April 12

Carlton E. Long , 76 -April 10

Alysia K. De Armond, 56 - Mar 30

Jason M. Sholar, 29 - Mar 7

Ellen I. White, 81 - Mar 6

Rachel I. Ripley, 66 - Feb 9

Dorothy L. Corley, 68 - Feb 5

Marcus Combs, 81 - Feb 4

Edith Miller, 72 - Jan 12

Opal J. Hargis, 92 - Jan 11

Lenvel M. Crunk, 75 - Jan 6

Virginia Cansler, 99

May knowing you're in the hearts and prayers

of our community help you and yours through

this time of sorrow.

A Mother’s Day Riddle: Who Am I?

All Crofton Mother’s who call the Crofton Connection by

May10th with the correct answer to the May Mother’s

Day Riddle, your name will be added to the drawings on

May 11th @ Crofton Diner 2:00. You must be present to

win! The 1st drawing winner’s will receive a beautiful

purse “Double Hearts” Collection at Swanky Shanks retail

value 275.00. The 2nd drawing is for a gorgeous set of

handcrafted, heirloom jewelry from Eden’s Creations

retail value 85.00. A 3rd drawing for an adorable KY Tin

Folk Family yard & garden art retail value 25.00. 4th

drawing is for a custom built stone mailbox by J-Nabb

ROCKS retail value 400.00! You can see more details at

www.mehrapublishing.com and items will be displayed

at participating locations! in Crofton until May 10th!

Good Luck!

Birth Announcements:

Jamie & Liz Nabb welcomed Cody “Lane” to their

family.

Van & Reta Flemming welcomed a Grandchild Hud-

son Grey to their family.

Barney & Carolyn Bishop welcomed a Grandchild to

their family.

Lee & Lynn Seats welcomed their first Grandchild,

Levi Riley Scott to their family.