Traveling A Well-Established Road to See the Large Clark Family

Current Day I-64 and US 31 W. Corridor

9 October, the Clark party was leaving the Barrens, a region in south central Kentucky known for open savannahs. Willian recorded “timber increasing”, and they passed the fork in the road leading to Lexington. The road to the right, to Lexington, was taken by future King of France, Louis Phillippe and his brothers as he traveled in America during 1796-1797.⁽¹⁾

In 1867, the same route was traversed North to South by John Muir on his 1000 Mile Walk, Indianapolis to the Gulf Coast. Muir’s route passed through Louisville then crossed the Salt River into West Point, ascended Muldraugh Hill before passing through Elizabethtown, Munforfville, Horse Cave to Mammoth Cave.⁽²⁾

The road from Bowling Green (549 ft. above sea) to Elizabethtown (758 ft. above sea) is a gradual incline used by large animals including the American Bison (Buffalo). While Clark did not record seeing any Buffalo (Bison), the last reported Buffalo in Kentucky came from Hart County in 1820, along the road Clark was traveling.⁽³⁾

The future Louisville and Nashville Railroad, chartered in 1850, followed the same general route. The gradual incline was important to the large animals, the railroad and assisted William Clark. The route is today’s I-65 and U.S. 31 W.

9 Oct. Monday Set out early, took the left hand road at 8 miles leaving to the right, one leading to Lexington & the other to the same per a man Southerly route 119 miles. We proceeded ot the road to Louisville, Breakfast at gills (Gills, $1.50) the 12 miles Mr. groves (Groves) and paid $1.50 proceeded on Day hot to Mr. Rich(ard)d munford (Munford) N(orth) of Green River, crossed that river at Amos’s Ferry, water about 18 inches deep.

The Clarks had arrived at Munfordville, KY, named for Richard J. Munford.⁽⁴⁾ Amos Ferry operated 1790-1860s at 37°53.21’ N – 85°53.21’W.⁽⁵⁾ The Old Munford Inn is located one block east of main Street. Based on the cost, $2.75, the Clarks stayed all night.⁽⁶⁾

10 October Breakfast at Mr. W(illiam) gages (Gages, $1.25) on nolin. Stayed all night 1 mile north of nolin, at a good little house ($2.50)

At the Nolin River crossing the Clarks were 10 miles from Hodgenville and the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln on 12 February 1809.⁽⁷⁾

11th September Breakfast at Elizabethtown (KY) ($1.75) stayed all night at a little house pestered by flies and mosquitoes. Chentek Tavern, $2.25.

The morning of 11 September William Clark had no way of knowing the tragedy that had occurred with his friend and partner in discovery, Meriwether Lewis, on the Natchez Trace. They were not only separated by approximately 200 miles, but by death.

12 Oct breakfast at Shepherdsville $1.75.⁽⁸⁾ The Clarks had arrived at the Salt River. When they reached Louisville, they had traveled more than 30 miles on a road that was reasonably level, Elizabethtown and Louisville being near the same elevation above sea level. Their anticipation in reaching their beloved family was incentive to keep traveling and they arrived at Bro(ther) Jonat(han) at sun set. Can you hear the joy and excitement when they arrived at Trouth Spring, the home of Jonathan and Sarah Hite Clark?

Sources:

(1) Louis Phillippe, Diary of My Travels in America, Translated from French by Stephen Becker, Delacorte Press, NY, 1996, page 116-117.

(2) https://www.gutenberg.org/files/60749/60749-h/60749-h.htm#chap01

(3) Kleber, John, The Kentucky Encyclopedia, University of Kentucky Press, Lexington, 1992, page 138.

(4) Collins, Lewis, Sketches of Kentucky; Its History, Antiquities, and Natural Curiosities, Geographical Statistical, and Geological Descriptions with Anecdotes of Pioneer Life, Lewis Collins, Maysville, KY 1847, page 344.

(5) Amos Ferry- https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=40020

(6) https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=39989

(7) Appleman, Roy E., Abraham Lincoln From His Own Words and Contemporary Accounts, U. S. DOI-National Park Service, 1946, page 1; Angle, Paul, The Lincoln Reader, Rutgers University Press, Rutgers, NJ, 1947, page 6.

(8) https://www.nps.gov/abli/index.htm

(9) Old Munford Inn https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=39989

(10) https://www.travelbullitt.org/