Sam Henry Bushong
Birth: Nov. 10, 1863
Death: Nov. 4, 1915
Was son of Henry Clay Bushong and Lucy Woods. Cause of death Remittent Malaria.
Burial:
Skaggs Creek Cemetery
Rockbridge
Monroe County
Kentucky, USA
Created by: Marcella Headrick
Record added: May 13, 2006
Find A Grave Memorial# 14276404. United States Census, 1900 for Sam H Bushong
Name: Sam H Bushong
Titles:
Residence: Magisterial District 3, Brush, Monroe, Kentucky
Birth Date: Feb 1864
Birthplace: Kentucky
Relationship to Head-of-Household: Self
Spouse Name:
Spouse Titles:
Spouse Birth Place:
Father Name:
Father Titles:
Father Birthplace: Kentucky
Mother Name:
Mother Titles:
Mother Birthplace: Kentucky
Race or Color (expanded): White
Head-of-household Name:
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Years Married: 1
Estimated Marriage Year: 1899
Mother How Many Children:
Number Living Children:
Immigration Year:
Enumeration District: 0082
Sheet Number and Letter: 8A
Household ID: 154
Reference Number: 50
GSU Film Number: 1240544
Image Number: 00635
Household Gender Age
Sam H Bushong M 36 /Feb 1864 Kentucky
Spouse Ibbie Bushong F 26 /Apr 1874 Kentucky
Child William P Bushong M 1 /Apr 1899 Kentucky. United States Census, 1910 for Samuel H Bushong
Name: Samuel H Bushong
Birthplace: Kentucky
Relationship to Head of Household: Self
Residence: Brush Creek, Monroe, Kentucky
Marital Status: Married
Race : White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year:
Father's Birthplace: Kentucky
Mother's Birthplace: Kentucky
Family Number: 194
Page Number: 14
Household Gender Age
Samuel H Bushong M 40y
Spouse Ibie T Bushong F 38y
Child Mary Bushong F 7y
Child Earl Bushong M 5y
Child Debsi E Bushong F 4y
Child Leffie S Bushong F 2y. This the Samuel in the "Rock Bridge Gang." This is one of the Gang....
James Sherman5 Clemons (William4, Elizabeth3, James2, James1) was born February 18, 1866 in Rockbridge, Monroe County, Ky., and died March 21, 1941 in DeRossett, White County, Tennessee. He married Ener Tom Walden March 06, 1887 in Monroe County, Ky, daughter of Samuel Walden and Katherine Biggers.
Notes for James Sherman Clemons:
The Glasgow Times...August 2, 1892...
Sheriff Patterson of Monroe County left for Texas a week or ten days ago to bring back James Clemons, one of the rock bridge gang. It is said that the
gang, headed by Jo Carter, are in ambush some eight or ten miles from town in Barren County, with the avowed intention of liberating the prisoner when he passes on his way to Thompkinsville. If this is Correct...and we have it exceedingly straight there is little room for doubt...it is an outrage that the good people of Barren County should not submit to..
James was handcuffed on the train coming back to Kentucky, as they were entering the state, he suddenly stood up, leaped through one of the
train windows ( that was Closed) and tried to escape, but he broke his ankle in
the jump..the train was stopped and he was found hiding in a shock of fodder..
Recaptured and returned to the train...
August 31,1921, uncle Jimmie Pickerel come and went home, back
to Rockbridge, Ky September 3.. "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954," Sam H Bushong, 1898
Name: Sam H Bushong
Titles & Terms:
Event: Marriage
Event Date: 11 Sep 1898
Event Place: Monroe, Kentucky, United States
Age: 35
Estimated Birth Year: 1863
Father:
Father's Titles & Terms:
Mother:
Mother's Titles & Terms:
Spouse: Ibbie Boetley
Spouse's Titles & Terms:
Spouse's Age: 26
Spouse's Estimated Birth Year: 1872
Spouse's Father:
Spouse's Father's Titles & Terms:
Spouse's Mother:
Spouse's Mother's Titles & Terms:
Reference Number:
Film Number: 000589657
Digital Folder Number: 004706080
Image Number: 00271. Sam Henry Bushong, "Kentucky, Death Records, 1911-1955"
Name: Sam Henry Bushong
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 1915
Event Place: Monroe, Kentucky
Residence Place:
Address:
Gender: Male
Age:
Marital Status:
Race:
Occupation:
Birth Year (Estimated):
Burial Date:
Burial Place:
Cemetery:
Father's Name: Henry Clay Bushong
Father's Titles and Terms:
Father's Birthplace:
Mother's Name: Lucy Woods
Mother's Titles and Terms:
Mother's Birthplace:
Additional Relatives:
Spouse's Name:
Spouse's Titles and Terms:
Reference ID: 27934
GS Film number: 1942668. A member of the Rock Bridge Gang (of Monroe, Barren and Cumberland Cos in Kentucky) who robbed and terrorized citizens after the Civil War during 1880-1900.
The core group of the gang included Mack Amyxx, Lon Park, Sam Henry Bushong, Elzie Green Carter, James Sherman Clemons (alias Jim Darnel), Turner Clemons, (alias Turner Darnel), John Pickerel, Winfrey Thompson, Johnson Smith (who killed a Monroe County Kentucky deputy sheriff in 1897), Lanos Walden and Lindsey Walden.
A book was written to tell the tale: The Rock Bridge Gang, Robbery and Terrorism in South Central Kentucky, 1880-1900 - Published by Pansy Page Allison (1993.) Sam Henry. first cousin married Sarah Vibbert, Vibberts are mentioned in the general area
This history of Rock Bridge was submitted by Marcella Pickerel Headrick of Tompkinsville.
[email protected];
The history was written by her mother, Mrs. Ammie Pickerel... A Kentucky Colonel. Mrs. Pickerell signs
the history as if it were a letter but it contains neither a salutation nor date of writing.
It is transcribed here as it was written.
------------------------------
Rock Bridge is, as we are about to speak of, was situated in a little valley in the center of Monroe Co., in Southern Kentucky. We don't know its first existence, but a post office at Rock Bridge was among the first in Monroe County. Then a grocery store was opened for the residents living near. Rock Bridge derived its name from a natural stone bridge which spanned an inlet, on deep branch of water which the main road has to cross on. Therefore, the Post Office was called Rock Bridge. The mail was delivered twice a day.
-------------
Mr. Nelse Hume operated a songhrum mill and also a government distillery. A few names of residents that lived in this area are: Three or four families of Pages, Millers, Pitcocks, Normans, [[Hagans, ]]Sympsons, Chapmans, Waldens, Bushongs, Carters, Smiths, Belchers, Vibberts, Biggers, Bowmans, Humes, Emmerts, Fergusons, Clemons, Rasners, Harlans and Strodes. In the year 1880, the wickeness and the meaness began. We'll have to say they orginated from around the place, four of the main leaders were two brothers and their brother-in-law. They were 25 to 35 years old. They had caused trouble in other territories but was hardly noticed in their own home area. They were all helpful neighbors. Pretty soon they were called outlaws. One of the four gaugers at the Humes distrillery on and one half miles south of Rock Bridge. Trouble started at this place one Saturday afternoon about four o'clock. The writer of this story heard and saw it. The entire law envorcement from Tompkinsville, the county seat, came to the scene. There were shootings, blaspheming, screaming, a noise of a mighty aremy, the ending of the scene cleared away because everyone rean off, after Jimmie Clemons buried the trigger of a double barrel shotgun in Sheriff Smith skull. Death resulted a few days later. Some were wonded and everone else was scared to death. Nelson Humes had the distillery, and Elzie G. Carter was the gauger. He was a government employer who gauged the alcohol content of the brewer. This was the beginning of their wickeness. The neighbors turned their heads when they heard of the shooting, stealing and lawlessness. All but one man in the neighborhood whose name was Jimmie Polk Strode. He bragged of what he would do if they bothered him. One morning when he went to his front poarch [sic], he found a big switch there. On the switch was a note telling him that this would be applied to his rear if he did not shut up. They ruled the neighborhood by intimadation. It's hard to explain what happened in the months thereafter. The men hid out in the woods and the big cave near Rock Bridge. Many foldks in the neighborhood were related to the outlaws and would put food out for them. My grandmother who was related to all would put milk and food in the spring house near their home. This was in the years of late 1880, and early 1890. It was several months before two of the men were apprehended. Sam Henry Bushong and James T. Clemons, who was married to the two Walden boys's sister Enner Tom.
They were sentenced to two years in the state penitentiary. Elgie G. Carter and Loindsey W. Walden left the county, and Walden was never heard of again. There were rumors and thefts and crimes committed during the time the two were in the "pen" and Rock Bridge had to take the blame, of course. Jimmie Clemons served eighteen months of his two years and Sam Henry was parolled. They returned to their homes here, soon they were again united and terrible things began happening again. They began stealing, robbing, torturning aged couples whom they thought had mone. They robbed distilleries, stole meat from the smokehouse of farmers, reaided drugstores to get chlorform, burned buildings and barnes. They tortured an old man by the name of Bryant in Cumberland County. They heated irons in the fireplace and applied them to his feet in hope he would tell them where he had his money hid. The last move they mad the state of mind as the writer remembers was in the early 90's or about 1893. A bank was robbed at Summer Shade, Kentucky, about 14 miles from Tompkinsville. Several hundred dollars were taken, a great amount of merchandise including expensive men clotheing. A young lady in the neighborhood was seen wearing very expensive and beautiful apparels. She was the sister of and girl friend of one of the outlaws. Joe Carter and [[[[[Fendol Hagan]]]] mortaged everything they had to get the boys of of jail. Pretty soon both counties, Monroe and Metcalfe were searching day and night in the coldest winter that had been in years. They hid out until they nearly starved to death. Clemons fled to the mountains of Tennessee near Chattanooga, Tenneessee and established a home for his family. Bushong left the county and was seen in Waveland, Ind., along with Elzie G. Carter. Bushong married and left some descendents. Walden and Carter were never apprehended, reports in later years, was that Walden has met is fate. After being away from
this county for 35 or 40 years Elzie G. Carter came home. By this time a new generation was living in Rock Bridge and no one knew him. He was near 70 years of age. He lived a year or two among his relatives and died about 1955.
--------------------. Story names Sam Henry. his first cousin married Sarah Vibbert, Vibberts are mentioned in the general area but our Sam was in Texas for in 1860 and 1900
Rock Bridge
Rock Bridge is, as we are about to speak of, was situated in a little valley
in the center of Monroe Co., in Southern Kentucky. We don't know its first
existence, but a post office at Rock Bridge was among the first in Monroe
County. Then a grocery store was opened for the residents living near. Rock
Bridge derived its name from a natural stone bridge which spanned an inlet, on
deep branch of water which the main road has to cross on. Therefore, the Post
Office was called Rock Bridge. The mail was delivered twice a day.
During the years of the late 70's to 1880 business began to emerge. The
grocery business was expanding. A business man by the name of Fleming Page moved
in a lumber mill which furnished jobs for the men. A young man by the name of
Ingraham Norman, who was born in Rock Bridge became a medical doctor and
built himself a drug store. His charges were $2.00 a trip, either far or near to
see sick people, and he charged $8.00 to deliver babies. He made quite a
name for himself as all boy babies were named Ingraham. I can recall 8 or 9 born
from 1872 to 1882. In the meantime there were other business taking place. A
blacksmith shop operated by Charlie Vibbert with anvil and bellows. A voting
precinct was established. A government distillery one and one half mile
south of Rock Bridge and a Baptist Church one and one half miles North. Pretty
soon it became a small villiage, estimated to be 250 or 300 people. A large
cave about one mile west of the square called by some Miller's cave, which made
a great hiding place for drummers and the locals to gamble in. Some drummers
never returned to take their orders from the stores. It was also a hiding
place for things to come. By 1885 another Dr. by the name of Dr. William D.
Sympson moved in. He doled out his medicine in powder on the tip of his pocket
knife on paper and twisted both ends. He had one of the first thermonters [sic]
ever seen in Rock Bridge. He would press it half way down ones throat and
would prescribe quinnine for colds, castor oil for belly aches, toddy for coughs
and a pill so large that it required a mucus from the bark of a certain tree
to force it down the throat. It was supposed to cure aches and pains, which
was called "Rheumatize." The villiage was about 3 miles square, with a one
room school house near the limits. It was made from logs, with a fireplace and
wooden shutters for the windows. The school term in 1872 was four months. A
cider mill owned by James K. Polk Strode which ground and pressed the golden
liquid called cider, which was used for vinegar, etc. A cotton gin owned by
Samuel Page, Jr. which separated the seed from the cotton fiber. This was used
by Icyvenia Quigley Page in her tailoring shop. She made men suits and had a
great business. She had the measurments of men far and near that she made
suits for. I have the book. At the foot of the big cave was a grist mill for
grinding of all kinds of grain. On one corner of the village square lived a lady
that would tell your future, and your destiny. Around 1890 another
merchandice [sic] store came in with Bob Miller as manager, whose lady operated a
millenary shop. Mr. Nelse Hume operated a songhrum mill and also a government
distillery. A few names of residents that lived in this area are: Three or four
families of Pages, Millers, Pitcocks, Normans, Hagans, Sympsons, Chapmans,
Waldens, Bushongs, Carters, Smiths, Belchers, Vibberts, Biggers, Bowmans,
Humes, Emmerts, Fergusons, Clemons, Rasners, Harlans and Strodes.
In the year 1880, the wickeness and the meaness began. We'll have to say they orginated from
around the place, four of the main leaders were two brothers and their
brother-in-law. They were 25 to 35 years old. They had caused trouble in other
territories but was hardly noticed in their own home area. They were all helpful
neighbors. Pretty soon they were called outlaws. One of the four gaugers at
the Humes distrillery on and one half miles south of Rock Bridge. Trouble
started at this place one Saturday afternoon about four o'clock. The writer of
this story heard and saw it. The entire law envorcement from Tompkinsville, the
county seat, came to the scene. There were shootings, blaspheming,
screaming, a noise of a mighty aremy, the ending of the scene cleared away because
everyone rean off, after Jimmie Clemons buried the trigger of a double barrel
shotgun in Sheriff Smith skull. Death resulted a few days later. Some were
wonded and everone else was scared to death. Nelson Humes had the distillery, and
Elzie G. Carter was the gauger. He was a government employer who gauged the
alcohol content of the brewer. This was the beginning of their wickeness. The
neighbors turned their heads when they heard of the shooting, stealing and
lawlessness. All but one man in the neighborhood whose name was Jimmie Polk
Strode. He bragged of what he would do if they bothered him. One morning when
he went to his front poarch [sic], he found a big switch there. On the switch
was a note telling him that this would be applied to his rear if he did not
shut up. They ruled the neighborhood by intimadation. It's hard to explain
what happened in the months thereafter. The men hid out in the woods and the big
cave near Rock Bridge. Many foldks in the neighborhood were related to the
outlaws and would put food out for them. My grandmother who was related to all
would put milk and food in the spring house near their home. This was in the
years of late 1880, and early 1890. It was several months before two of the
men were apprehended. Sam Henry Bushong and James T. Clemons, who was married
to the two Walden boys's sister Enner Tom. They were sentenced to two years
in the state penitentiary. Elgie G. Carter and Loindsey W. Walden left the
county, and Walden was never heard of again. There were rumors and thefts and
crimes committed during the time the two were in the "pen" and Rock Bridge had
to take the blame, of course. Jimmie Clemons served eighteen months of his
two years and Sam Henry was parolled. They returned to their homes here, soon
they were again united and terrible things began happening again. They began
stealing, robbing, torturning aged couples whom they thought had mone. They
robbed distilleries, stole meat from the smokehouse of farmers, reaided
drugstores to get chlorform, burned buildings and barnes. They tortured an old man
by the name of Bryant in Cumberland County. They heated irons in the
fireplace and applied them to his feet in hope he would tell them where he had his
money hid. The last move they mad the state of mind as the writer remembers was
in the early 90's or about 1893. A bank was robbed at Summer Shade,
Kentucky, about 14 miles from Tompkinsville. Several hundred dollars were taken, a
great amount of merchandise including expensive men clotheing. A young lady in
the neighborhood was seen wearing very expensive and beautiful apparels. She
was the sister of and girl friend of one of the outlaws. Joe Carter and Fendol
Hagan mortaged everything they had to get the boys of of jail. Pretty soon
both counties, Monroe and Metcalfe were searching day and night in the coldest
winter that had been in years. They hid out until they nearly starved to
death. Clemons fled to the mountains of Tennessee near Chattanooga, Tenneessee
and established a home for his family. Bushong left the county and was seen in
Waveland, Ind., along with Elzie G. Carter. Bushong married and left some
descendents. Walden and Carter were never apprehended, reports in later years,
was that Walden has met is fate. After being away from this county for 35 or
40 years Elzie G. Carter came home. By this time a new generation was living
in Rock Bridge and no one knew him. He was near 70 years of age. He lived a
year or two among his relatives and died about 1955.
The little village began to decline as many had died, many had married and
moved away, most business' had closed its old way of living and by 1900 Rock
Bridge was only a spot by the side of the road. However a store and post
office were still maintained. After the highway came through the neighborhood,
people go on their way, forgetting the Old Rock Bridge. Weeds and brush have hid
the site of the bridge over which Braggs' army passed on, and youngsters of
today don't know one had existed. There's much more could be said about the
people of those days. There are a dozen or more houses of the big log houses
of two story, big double chimney etc., around this area. Some of them are 150
years old. As far as I am concerned Rock Bridge was, and is one of the finest
places on the map. Rock Bridge had some of the finest, bravest, well
educated Christians in society. They were, and are still equal to the best. When one
asks where you are from, tell them you are from Rock Bridge. They'll
probably say, "I don't know where that place is, but I've heard of it".
Sincerely,
Mrs. Ammie Pickerell...A Kentucky Colonel
This history of Rock Bridge was submitted by _Marcella Pickerel Headrick_
(mailto:
[email protected]) of Tompkinsville. The history was written by her
mother, Mrs. Ammie Pickerel... A Kentucky Colonel. Mrs. Pickerell signs the
history as if it were a letter but it contains neither a salutation nor date of
writing. It is transcribed here as it was written. Second cousins once removed.