Historical Marker(s) # 1163 “Fayette County Hemp” & # 1809 John Hunt Morgan.
Location:
Fayette County Hemp #1163 Newtown Pike at Iron Works Rd. By the Civil War Era Hemp Warehouse, Lexington (Marker Missing)
Marker Text:
“Consistently the leader in hemp production and cordage making in Kentucky. In 1803 Hunt and Brand Co. produced first hemp bagging made in U.S. In the early 1840’s the county had 63 ropewalks; they were long, narrow sheds for the spiral winding of hemp fibers. In 1871, 2,000 tons of fiber were harvested, 1/3 of the yield for the entire state that year”
Fayette’s Hempstory:
Fayette county was the heart of Kentucky’s hempire. First settled in 1775, by the early 1790’s, the first hemp mills and rope walks started operations. In 1801, on a trip to Natchez to sell trade goods, pioneer merchant John Wesley Hunt realized there is a needs for baling supplies to support the emerging cotton industry. Additionally, Hunt also noticed the huge labor shortage on Southern cotton and sugar plantations. In 1803 Hunt, and his partner John Stuart Brand open the first domestic hemp bagging factory in the country in Lexington. In order to meet rapidly growing demand others entrepreneurs soon followed. Hemp manufacturing transformed the small frontier community into, as one poet declared “The Athens of the West”.
Eli Cleveland’s Hemp Mill:
Cleveland Rogers home visible from US 25 built 1819
Eli Cleveland operated one of the first hemp mills in southern Fayette county. Cleveland was born in Virginia sometime around 1732-1734. He was part of the first wave of settlers to migrate to Kentucky in the 1780’s. Legendary frontiersman Daniel Boone originally surveyed the tract of land where Cleveland settled, the property running along the west side of Boone’s Creek. In the confines of Boone Creek Gorge, Eli Cleveland set up one of the regions first integrated industrial sites. The ruins of the abandoned industrial site are 1 mile from where Boone Creek feeds in to the Kentucky River.
Aside from hemp, Cleveland’s industrial site featured lumber and grist mills, a boatyard and warehouses. In 1792 one of the first acts of the state legislature was commissioning 3 hemp inspection stations. Significantly, one of them is located at Cleveland’s industrial site. Advertisements for his hemp mill first appear in the Kentucky Gazette in 1793.
Ruins at Cleveland’s hemp mill. This is the arch at the end of the mill “race”.
In March 1796 fire damaged Cleveland’s mill. Believing the fire a deliberate act, Cleveland subsequently accused his enemies of arson in a letter to the Kentucky Gazette. In response Cleveland listed the entire property for sale. However, it failed to sell. Finally, in 1801 Joseph and Jeremiah Rogers purchased the mill.
Today the property is owned by the adventure company, Boone Creek Outdoor who operate a zip line canopy tour. Seasonal hiking excursions down to the mill site ruins are also offered.
John Wesley Hunt:
In 1803 the first hemp bagging factory in the nation opened in Lexington, KY. John Wesley Hunt (1773-1849), the first millionaire west of the Allegheny mountains opened the facility with partner John Brand, a Scottish sailcloth manufacturer. Hunt saw the potential for hemp manufacturing while on a trading expedition to Natchez, Mississippi. Hunt was the financier with the business connections. Brand was the shop foreman with manufacturing expertise.
In 1813, Hunt sold his share in the bagging factory to Luke Usher and Company. His timing is impeccable. The War of 1812 created instability for hemp prices and many manufacturers went out of business. Furthermore, during the war, Britain replaced American cotton imports with cotton from Egypt. The south’s main source if income had been replaced, crippling not just the cotton industry’s recovery but the recovery of adjacent industries, like hemp. But Hunt is an evolving businessman, he sells his share of the business to Brand. He then turns his attention to becoming a financier. Hunt established a line of credit with eastern banks and in turn finances businesses in Kentucky.
Historical Marker # 1809 “John Hunt Morgan”
Location:
This marker was moved during the Confederate Statue controversy of 2017.
Marker Text:
“Known as the “thunderbolt of the Confederacy,” Morgan was born in Huntsville, Alabama; in 1831 moved to Lexington. After attending Transylvania, he fought in the Mexican War. In Lexington, he prospered as owner of hemp factory and woolen mill. Morgan organized Lexington Rifles Infantry, 1857; later led them to aid Confederacy.”
“John Hunt Morgan (1825-1864) Leading cavalry raids behind enemy lines, General J. H. Morgan disrupted Union supplies and communications. For southerners, he was the ideal romantic hero. Captured in Indiana-Ohio raid, he escaped and was killed in Greenville, Tennessee, September 4, 1864. Buried in Lexington Cemetery. Morgan became a courageous symbol of the Lost Cause.”
John Hunt Morgan’s Hempstory:
John Hunt Morgan was the maternal grandson of John Wesley Hunt. While born in Alabama, Morgan moved to Lexington in 1831. His father, Calvin Morgan, was a merchant in Alabama. After his business failed, Calvin moved the family to Lexington where he managed his father in law’s farm. The farm house, “Shadeland” is at the corner of Alumni Dr. and Tates Creek Rd.
Shadeland, John Wesley Hunt’s farmhouse, childhood home of John Hunt Morgan.
After several smaller successful ventures, Morgan eventually opened a hemp factory in Lexington. Morgan firmly embraced his role as a Southern aristocrat. In Morgan’s world this included, drinking, gambling and womanizing. As a result of his devotion to this lifestyle, Morgan quickly sides with the Confederacy. In addition to declaring his allegiance, at the outset of the war Morgan flies the Confederate flag over his factory. Before he formerly enlists Morgan manufactures Confederate uniforms. Later he is caught attempting to smuggle them through Union lines.
John Hunt Morgan statue Confederate Section Lexington Cemetery.
Far from the “ideal romantic hero”, Morgan’s famous Indiana-Ohio raid defied direct orders. His raid is conducted concurrently with the Battle of Gettysburg. Morgan’s orders were to raid and possibly occupy Louisville. Had he achieved this objective it would have been far more strategically damaging to Union forces than the raid he leads. Additionally, losing Morgan’s experienced cavalry regiment subsequently cripples future Confederate operations.
Other Points of Interest:
Several historic sites in Fayette County have a hempstory. These include Ashland, the home of Henry Clay and Waveland the estate of Daniel Boone Bryan.
Hemp Harvest at Ashland
In 2015 Ashland, 120 Sycamore Rd. off Richmond Rd south of downtown, features an educational hemp plot. The historic site also schedules educational programs about Clay’s role as a hemp farmer, industrialist and advocate in Congress.
Waveland was the home of Joseph Bryan. Joseph was the son Daniel Boone’s nephew, Daniel Boone Bryan. The Boone-Bryan party left North Carolina to settle the Kentucky frontier in 1773.
Daniel Boone Bryan, the son of Daniel’s sister Mary, built the original stone homestead in the 1770’s. His settlement eventually included mills, a gunsmith and school.
In the 1840’s Daniel’s son Joseph Bryan tore down the original stone house. After which he built an estate mansion for his wife. Completed in 1848, the fields of hemp and flax greeting arriving visitors inspired the name “Waveland”.
Designated a state historical site, the mansion creates a portrait of antebellum life in Kentucky.
Hemp Brake, Waveland
The Carrick House, formerly known as “the Weir House”, is a catering and banquet facility located at 312 North Limestone St. James Weir manufactured hemp products. He commissioned construction on the house in 1832. However, he died before its completion in 1854.
The James Weir House
Driving and Walking Tours:
John Brand house at Rose Hill, North Limestone St.. Privately owned residence, please be respectful when viewing or taking pictures
Downtown Lexington is a historical goldmine. Several downtown houses are historically tied to the hemp industry. Consequently, there are several walking and driving tours available. Many of the homes listed on these tours are privately owned. Therefore, please be respectful when looking and taking photographs.
The Hemp Highway is compiling a hemp centered driving/walking tour.
Grab a Bite:
Luigart-Harting Complex. Mintons is located to the left of the frame, just past the telephone pole.
Lexington is blessed with a wealth of dining options. Minton’s at 760 N. Limestone sources many of their ingredients from local vendors and farmer’s markets. Situated in the heart of Lexington’s historical hemp district, Minton’s is adjacent to the Luigart-Harting complex. Built in the 1850’s the complex originally housed the first steam powered hemp factory in Kentucky. The facility is being renovated and restored.