TOPOGRAPHY

     The surface is a high rolling land with a clay soil.  Along the streams, however, are narrow valleys of rich bottom land that is very productive.  The limestone rock is the principal geological formation.

STREAMS.

     The principal stream of water is the cast branch of Brush creek, which passes through it from north to south, with its numerous smaller tributaries.

FARM PRODUCTIONS.

     The main grain crops of the farmers are wheat and corn; their stock, cattle and hogs.  These are their principal sources of revenue.

EARLY SETTLERS.

     Abraham Shepherd, of Kentucky, located a tract of two thousand acres in this township, known as Shepherd's survey, which he sold out in parcels to suit purchasers.  He came in 1803, and settled on a part of this tract, now owned by Peter Andrews.  He was probably the first settler within the present limits of Bratton township, and perhaps only came here, that he might the more easily dispose of his land, as we find that as soon as he sold it out, he moved to Ripley, Brown county, and settled there.
     When Mr. Shepherd came, he cut a road through the forest from Maysville here.  This is yet known as "Shepherd's trace" and a small stream that passes Louisville, along which he passed, is called Shepherd's run.
     In the spring of 1803, three brothers, Benjamin, Joseph and John West, came from Pittsylvania county, Virginia.  In 1804, John West bought 200 acres in the north part of this survey, and in 1805 he bought 200 acres more of it, and built his cabin on the first purchase.  The original 200 acres is now owned by Edwin Butler, R. McClure and L. West.
     John West was a Quaker, an industrious, hard working man, through in all he did, and done much to develop the resources of the county.
     William Armstrong came about 1803 or 4, and settled two miles above Loudon, on the farm now owned by his son, John Armstrong.
     Adam Keller settled on Brush creek in 1804 and Michael and Mathias Beavers, who came from Kentucky, settled in 1807.
     George Mackey, one of hte early settlers, bought 200 acres of land of a Mr. Trimble, of Kentucky, paid for it by building a house for Mr. Trimble over in Kentucky, then built his own house without using a nail in it.

MILLS.

     The first mill in Bratton was built by Samuel Shoemaker, on Brush creek.
     There are at present two mills in this township, Viz.:  Williams & Kelley's mill on West creek, in the N. W. corner, and James R. Hooper's mill at Marble Furnace.

CHURCHES.

     The first meeting house was built at Loudon in 1842, by the M. E. church.  The first sermon in the township was preached by Rev. Benjamin Van Pelt, a methodist minister, at the house of Morgan Williams.
     There are at present four churches, one M. E. church at Loudon, one M. E. Church, at Louisville, one German Baptist (Dunkard) at Marble Furnace, one German Baptist (Dunkard) at May Hill.

SCHOOLS.

     The first school was probably taught by Mr. Vinsonhaler, in 1815, in a house of Gov. Trimble, on land now owned by Alfred Fulton.

VILLAGES

     There are in Bratton three villages, Loudon, Marble Furnace and Louisville, all very small places.

LOUDON.

     This was never regularly laid out as a town.  In 1839, E. L. G. Lovett started a country store at his residence, and sold from time to time small lots of land, which were improved and a few mechanics and tradesmen settled on them, and in 1844 a Postoffice was established.  There are now one store, one blacksmith shop, a Post office, and some three houses.
     In 1841 Mr. Lovett sold his store to William George, who in 1842 or '43, sold to David Fulton, who was in 1844, or '45, succeeded by S. E. Gore and Dorscy Fulton.  They in turn sold to Charles Fulton, who sold to Addison turner.  John M. Gore next succeeded, but soon died.  The store was then sold by the Administrator to J. S. Williamson and David Lovett.  Williamson presently sold his interest to his partner, Lovett, who aftewards sold to the present proprietor, H. S. McClure.

POST OFFICE.

     The Post office at this place was first called Loudon because a large proportion of the neighbors came from Loudon county, Virginia, but there being a post office in the State called Lodon, the mails were frequently missent to that office.  The name of Loudon was changed to Lovett, in honor of the proprietor.  The office was established about 1844, with Mr. Lovett as postmaster.  He was succeeded

by David Fulton, and he by Addison Turner, then John M. Gore; next, J. B. Williamson, then D. D. Lovett, who was succeeded by A. Spencer McClure, the present incumbent.

MARBLE FURNACE.

     This small village that grew up around the furnace of that name, which was established here at an early day.  This furnace was bilt by the late Gov. McArthur and Thomas James, in 1811-12.  In getting out the stone for the furnace they quarried a kind of limestone that bore some resemblance to marble, and hence its name, "Marble Furnace."  It has not been run since 1832 or '33.  It is generally supposed it ceased from exhaustion of the supply of ore, but this has since been doubted.  The buildings are now in ruins.  A few houses now compose the village.  A mill, a country jobbing foundry, a shoe shop and post office, constitute the business of the place.  There in a Dunk_rd, or German Baptist church.

LOUISVILLE.

     This place can now hardly be called a village, though it was regularly laid out as such.  It lies on the southern side of the township.
     It was laid out by Dr. John Gustin, Dec. 3, 1838.  It was on a plat of eleven acres of land, divided into forty lots.
     There was a store started in the now village of Lacey Peyton, which, after passing through many hands was finally, in 1867, while owned by a Mr. Shelby, burnt, and none has since taken its place.  A post office was also established, with James McAdow as Postmaster, who resigned, and W. C. Gustin was appointed to succeed him, who also, in 1852, resigned.  Jonathan McMillen was appointed to fill the vacancy, Oct. 27, 1852.  He died and was succeeded by his son, T. H. McMillen, Jan. 27, 1864, but resigned in October, 1865.  No appointment was ever made to fill the vacancy and no post office has since existed.  The office was called Gustin, in honor of Dr. John Gustin, an esteemed citizen.
     There is an M. E. church, that stands on lot 2.  This church was organized and a house built in 1848.  This building was need until 1866, when a good frame edifice was erected.  There is now a membership of 90.  This church building and a small log house are all that remains to mark the place of the village.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

THE MURPHY FAMILY.