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Area History |
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Oldham County in the north central part of Kentucky, situated on the Ohio River was the 74th county created. An Act approved December 15, 1823, formed Oldham from parts of Jefferson, Shelby and Henry Counties, effective February 1, 1824. Oldham was named in honor of Colonel William Oldham, native of Virginia, a Revolutionary War ensign and captain. He moved to the Falls of the Ohio and was one of the early magistrates of Jefferson County. While commanding a regiment of Kentucky militia against the Indians on the Wabash River, Colonel Oldham was killed by the Indians November 4, 1791, in battle known as St. Clair's Defeat. Oldham County's boundary in 1824 extended to the Little Kentucky River and the old Gallatin county line. In 1836 a portion of Oldham was taken to form Trimble County. La Grange, the county seat, was named for General La Fayette's home in France. It was established in 1827 to become the seat of Justice. Commissioners appointed in the creating Law had selected a site near the house of George Varble, which had been designated as the meeting place for the Courts until the permanent seat of Justice could be the site chosen which had been named Lynchburg to become a new town. Lynchburg's tenure as the seat of Justice was short. By Act of the General Assembly December 1825 the seat of Justice of Oldham was moved February 1, 1826, from Lynchburg (land of John Burton) to Westport on the Ohio River. Westport was already a thriving community and a seat of commerce. Joel Kemper's house in Westport was designated as meeting place for the Courts until public buildings could be erected. No public buildings had been erected at Lynchburg, long faded from the map, nor were any erected in Westport in 1826. The citizens of Oldham wished their voices to be heard in selection of their own permanent seat of Justice. In Westport, it remained until 1829 when a second citizens' vote was granted, resulting in return of the County seat to La Grange. By that time, the County owned two Court Houses. In 1830 a Court House was ordered built on the Westport Public Square to be similar to that which had been built in La Grange. No longer needed upon return to the seat of Justice to La Grange, the Westport Court House was sold to the churches in Westport for use as a meeting house. The Methodist Church still uses it today. The first courthouse in La Grange was destroyed by fire in 1874. The courthouse now standing on the La Grange Public Square was completed in 1875 and has been serving the public since that date with an annex more recently built. No records were lost in the 1874 fire. Offices of the Clerks were in a separate brick building in the west court yard. Funk Seminary established in 1842 with a bequest from William Funk, later became a Masonic College, then developed into Masonic University. Its influence was felt throughout the South and students came from many southern states. It was discontinued after the outbreak of the Civil War. In 1873 Funk Seminary reverted to the high school level. Among the noted people who lived in Oldham County was Rob Morris, renowned Masonic leader and founder of the Order of the Eastern Star. The Rob Morris Home in La Grange is now a State Shrine of the Eastern Star Order in Kentucky. A thirty Foot granite obelisk monument which stands at his grave in Valley of Rest Cemetery, La Grange was erected by Masons throughout the United States. David Wark Griffith, native of Oldham County, gained fame as a pioneer motion picture director. One of his best known works was the film drama of the Civil War era called "The Birth of a Nation." Buried in Mt. Tabor Cemetery near his birthplace not far from Crestwood, a monument erected by the Screen Directors Guild of America marks Griffith's grave. The late Annie Fellows Johnston, author of "The Little Colonel" series of books, lived at Pewee Valley. The fictional home of "The Little Colonel" near the former home of Mrs. Johnston still has many visitors. It is know as "The Locust." By M.V. Manby |