John Kasey Papers
(b. 1806 Bedford Co., VA, d. 1841 Breckinridge Co., KY)
Return to Big Spring. Return to Stith Valley. This material courtesy of Pam Kasey 
.
The linked pages are only partially contained at the web site. Contact Pam Kasey or
Jess Scott 
for more information.
Diary 1835-1841
- September, 30, 1840 letter Capt,
John Kasey, Breckenridge, County, Kentucky, "Fauoured by Mr. Francis
Johnson". From John Cumpton, looking for land to purchase.
- January 29, 1841 letter to Capt.
John Kasey, Big Spring, Kentucky. From William B. Jones, Rhonoke County Virginia
Diary 1835-1841
| Cover
“John Kasey, Jr.” A drawing (woodcut?) of a hunter with a gun, and a
poem: See the keen sportsman, through the snow pursue /
The feather’d trembling tenants of the wood / As if his heart no kindly feeling knew
/
As if his greatest joy was shedding blood. // How different he who makes the peaceful aim
/
To add [each virtue?] to his humble name.
Page 1 a
list of clothes and other possessions. Refers to himself as John Kasey, Jr. |
 |
Page 2 November
24 to December 6, 1835, visits with S___ Wingfield, M. Hunt, Pleasant Dickinson, William
Campbell, H. Moorman, Dr. Daniel F. Morris
Page 3 December
6-15, 1835, visits with a Miss Turner, Dolly Reans? Charles C. Lee’s family? Writes a
letter to Alexander Kasey, Jr. Joseph Pedigo preaches.
Page 4 December
15-25, 1835. Sarah Stockton, Susan Hunt, N.B.Turner, Miss Bird, Miss Morris, Moorman
family, Richard W. Stegall. Silas Minter preached.
Page 5 December
25-26, 1835. Mr. Welcrone. Susan Hunt with Mr. Johnson, Susan Wingfield, John J. Lovell.
Received a letter from A. Kasey Jr.. Wrote letters to father (Alexander Kasey) and A.
Kasey Jr.
Page 6 January
1-10, 1836. Elvira Callan? mentioned. John spat up some blood.
Page 7 January
10-17, 1836. William Stockton. Doctor Morriss, S.P.R. Moorman, Mrs. Calland?, A.H.
Moorman. Letter from A. Kasey, Jr.
Page 8
January 17-24, 1836. Mrs. John J. Lovell, John G. Wingfield, Mr. Martin, Richard
Gregory, Jo Stults. News from William Tate, wrote back; also wrote letter to William
Kasey.
Page 9 January
27-31, 1836. Mr. Moorman, James Roberts, William Stockton, A.H. Moorman. Letters from
William H. Tate, James S. Kasey, Alexander Kasey, Jr.
Page 10 February
6, 1836 (it says March, but I think it’s February). Moorman, John King, Benjamin
King, Miss Susan Barrow.
Page 11 February
14 to March 8, 1836. Mrs. Moorman, Stockton, A.H. Moorman, Col. Christopher Wingfield,
John Cook, William Young. Received a letter from R. Clement or Clements, an accrostick.
Wrote a letter to A. Kasey, Jr.
Page 12 March
13-26, 1836. Elias Botner, a tailor; Bondurant and Taylor, a store or hatmakers; A.H.
Moorman.
Page 13 March
26-31, 1836. Lewis Bird and James? Roberts, A. Ruckers, Matthew Scott. Campaigning for an
election: William Goggin, Robert Campbell, Thomas Preston, Jervis Arthur. Visited father
in Bedford; there, “Uncle Dick” (aunt Ann Kasey’s husband Richard Shaon?)
read a letter from Singleton Kasey to brother Alexander Kasey. “Kasey vs. Shaon”
suit is mentioned.
Page 14 March
31-April 3, 1836. Christopher Cundiff, Alexander Kasey, S.P.R. Moorman, Board family,
brother James Kasey, Mr. Moorman, Mr. Marshall, Thomas Moorman, A.H. Moorman. Friendly
chat with E.M.C. and N.B.J. Zeigler’s Mill. Wrote letter to William H. Tate, received
one from brother William Kasey and one from lawyer Dabney re Kasey v. Shaon.
Page 15 April
12-17, 1836. Moorman, Hunt, Finch?, Stockton, B. Marshall. Martin elected mayor. Letters
from C.C. Peters and John G. Wingfield; wrote one to Mildred J. Hurt. This is the first
page that John uses his code on; Mildred J. Hurt is in code.
Page 18 [top
section only.] April 19, 1836. Sarah Stock (Stockton).
Page 16 April
25, 1836. A.H. Moorman, Richard W. Steagall?, William L. Stockton (in code). J. Flood and
T. Miller preached.
Page 17 April
25-26,1836. Benjamin Barrow? (in code), A.H. Moorman, James Taylor, B. Marshall. Letter
from A. Kasey, Jr. from Richmond. Wrote letter to father Alexander Kasey and one to Newt
Preston.
Page 18 [starting
5th line down.] April 26, 1836. Negotiations between A. Moorman and B.
Marshall.
Page 19 May
1, 1836. A.H. Moorman.
Page 20 May
1-7, 1836. Sarah Stockton, Susan Hunt, John Bernard, Benjamin Bernard, A.H. Moorman,
Joseph Connte?. Letter from J.N. Preston.
Page 21 May
16-29, 1836. Moorman, Thomas Moorman, Doctor John Moorman, Mrs. Pedigo (died), Mistress
Moorman, brother Alexander Kasey, Mrs. Moorman. Wrote letters to John G. Wingfield,
William H. Tate, Isaac N. Preston.
Page 22 May
29 to July 6, 1836. Mildred Jane Hurt (in code), John D. Arnold, Peter Finney. Silas
Minter preached. Wrote a letter to William H. Tate, received one from him and one from
Alexander Kasey, Jr.
Page 23 July
6-12, 1836. B.G. Hendrick, Thomas S. Keen, Elias Botner, Daniel Pace, Green R. Finch or
Linch, Benjamin Marshall, John Seyell William Galloway, John Pinkard, William S. Stockton.
Wrote a letter to R. T. or R.G. Shaon (probably “Uncle Dick”)
Page 24 July
19 to August 5, 1836. Ann Parberry (died), A.H. Moorman, Botner, Thomas S. Keen, Mildred
J. Hurt, Richard W. Steagall, J. Pedigo. Miller preached. Wrote letter to and received one
from I.N. Preston. Received letters from Tate, Peters, and Rucker in Lynchburg.
Page 25 August
5-15, 1836. John G. Wingfield, Mrs. Calland and daughter, A.H. Moorman. A child is
disinterred. Letter to A. Kasey, Jr.
Page 26 August
15 to September 4, 1836. William Stockton, Daniel W. Williams, Preston Bennett, John
Bernard, Benjamin Bernard, Board family, William Ray. John visits father Alexander Kasey
in Bedford. Received letter from William H. Tate.
Page 27 September
4-11, 1836. Christopher Cundiff, Captain S.P.R. Moorman, father Alexander Kasey, Mrs.
Peters, A. Ruckers, brother James Kasey, John Board, Reuben Thacker, A.H. Moorman, John
Wingfield, William Stockton, Mrs. Moorman.
Page 28 September
11 to October 7, 1836. Doctor Hereford. J. Pedigo preached. Wrote letters to Echols and to
A. Kasey, Jr., received something from William Copeland.
Page 29 October
6-23, 1836. Edwin Moorman, Michael Scott, John Wingfield, William Stockton. Arnold &
Barrow, a store. John had pains.
Page 30 October
30 to December 8, 1836. Col. Wingfield, father Alexander Kasey, A.H. Moorman. Letter from
A. Kasey, Jr. John left his job with Moorman November 27.
Page 31 December
8, 1836. Moorman, Thomas S. Keen, Gabriel Matox, father Alexander Kasey, brother Singleton
Kasey, Board family, Mrs. Peters, William Hurt, A. Ruckers, William Tate, William Morgan,
Clifton.
Page 32 December
8-26, 1836. Board, McCabe, Christopher Cundiff, James C. Kasey, Paschal Meador, C.C.
Peters, Miss Moorman, Miss Board, Edward Hancock. Alexander Kasey, Jr. (Sandy) is married.
Page 33 January
4-14, 1837. Wingfield, Alexander Kasey, Jr. (Sandy) and wife (Lady), father Alexander
Kasey, Mary Jane Cundiff, Jane Board, Susan Board, S.J. Harriss, Griffin Nichols. Wrote to
Moorman and William Stockton; received a letter from John Cook.
Page 34 January
14 to February 18, 1837. Francis Board and family (sick), Edward Jones, Cundiff, Moorman.
Received letters from brother Singleton Kasey, William Stockton, Edwin Moorman, Clifton C.
Peters; wrote to John Cook and Clifton Peters.
Page 35 February
18 to … seems to skip to July 20,1838? Board family, W. Peters, Jackson Ayers, E.C.
Jones, Joe Board, Meadors of Goose Creek, John Kasey, George Kasey. Mention of Kasey v.
Shaon suit. James S. Kasey moving west 14th March. Received letter from brother
James Kasey.
Page 36 July
20 to November 3, 1838. John Kasey, Thomas Kasey, George Kasey, M.S.R., S.G.B, Alexander
Kasey, Jr. David Dickinson married Miss McClain. Sued John, Thomas, and George for slaves.
Father Alexander Kasey started October 3 for Kentucky.
Page 37 November
3, 1838. Echols, Jubal Cundiff, William Morgan (a miller?), Thomas Cain, James Leftwich.
Alexander Kasey, Jr.’s wife had a son and a daughter about October 16. John started
teaching school October 22. Francis Worley and Eliza Meador married October 31 at Wilson
Meador’s.
Page 38 November
3 to December 12?, 1838. Alexander Kasey, Jr. Cundiff, Moorman, Mr. Jones, James Kasey.
Father Alexander Kasey, (and mother and Meadors?) arrived in KY after 24 days. Received
letter from father Alexander Kasey and from William Kasey. James M. Ramsay and Martha
Huddleston married 12 December and Levi? West and Miss Barnard of Campbell County married.
Page 39 December
12? - 26? 1838. W.H. Leftwich, Benjamin Meador, Edward C. Jones, C.C. Peters, Alexander
Kasey, Jr. Kasey v. Shaon suit settled.
Page 40 December
26? 1838 to February 23, 1838. Clifton (Peters), Mary Jane Cundiff. Edward Jones and
Sophia Board married. Wrote father Alexander Kasey, wrote George Hangton?, wrote Alexander
Kasey, Jr., received a letter from Alexander Kasey, Jr.
Page 41 February
23, 1838. A. Ruckers, W. Peters, William Jones, Uncle Thomas Kasey, McClain, Mrs. John
McCabe, Mr. Jones, S.P.R. Moorman. John Ayers preached at Bethlehem. Wrote letter to
brother Alexander Kasey, Jr.
Page 42 February
10 to April 3, 1839 (seems to skip a year?). Mrs. Peters, Aunt Mary Martin (Mary Kasey,
who married Samuel Martin), Capt. S.P.R. Moorman, Leftwich. John’s health poor.
Page 43 April
3, 1839. John Jordan, Virginia Cundiff, Jerry Jordan, C. Cundiff, S.P.R. Moorman, John
Compton. Description of Buckhannon.
Page 44 April
3-27, 1839. Doctor Jones, father Alexander Kasey, brother William Kasey, brother Singleton
Kasey, aunt Mary (Kasey) Martin, Mr. Jones. Read letter from brother Richard Kasey.
Page 45 April
27, 1839. Board family, Philip Hix, Mrs. Peters, Mildred, Franklin family, A. Ruckers,
Mrs. Moorman, C. Cundiff, Chisley Cundiff, aunt Mary (Kasey) Martin.
Page 46 June
2 to July 13, 1839. Alexander Kasey, Jr. and wife, Board family, Morgan, Wes Peters,
Adaline Holland. Wrote to father Alexander Kasey and to lawyer Dabney. Mrs. Peters
married? John had mumps.
Page 47 September
17 to November 13, 1839. Board family, Ruckers, Uncle William Kasey, Charles Gills, Samuel
Williams, James Kasey, Jr., Alexander Kasey, Sr., Milton Franklin, John Board, Adison
Whitlington. Getting ready to move to Kentucky.
Page 48 November
13 to December 8, 1839. Cundiff, Moorman, Thomas Johnson, James Burruss, Thomas Johnson,
brother William Kasey, Mariah Jones (in code), Edward Jones, Clement Dickinson, James
Spradlin. Started to KY November 19. This is the beginning of a detailed description of
the route to Kentucky.
Page 49 December
8, 1839. Jon Murrill. William Preston (Roanoke Co.), Jacob Kent, Andrew Todd, Thomas
Galbraith, Thomas Triggs, Joseph Davis, Tomapson, Abram Bradley (w. of Abingdon), Isaac
Stoffle, Boatyard Edmundson, William Armstron, Robert Naul, McHenry (Powel’s River)
George McAlister (in Kentucky), J. Henry (on Little Rockcastle River), R. Thoney
(Stanford), Jesse Peters (maxville?), Mumford, Easton (Bardstown).
Page 50 December
8-19, 1839. Huffman, John B. Holland, brother William Kasey, father Alexander Kasey
(“the old man), William Albright, brother Singleton Kasey, brother Richard Kasey
(sometimes “Dick”), William Dent, Miss Dent, Aunt Hannah Kasey (wife of older
brother James S., presumably?).
Page 51 December
19-20, 1839. Brother William Kasey (“Billey”), father Alexander Kasey, Sim? Shrewsbury,
Christopher Board, Christopher Dowell, John C. Meador, brother James S. Kasey. Description
of early Big Spring (it sounds as though John had been there a decade before, around the
time brothers Singleton, William, and Richard had moved there).
Page 52 December
20-26, 1839. Brother William Kasey, John Dowell, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Kinchelow, Aunt Hannah
Kasey, Lemuel Dent, Miss Wintersmith, Thomas Kasey, John Bewley, Christopher Bewley,
Roberts. John O’Banion preached.
Page 53 December
26-28, 1839. Christopher Bewley, Kimble Bewley, David Hurendon, John Bewley, brother
William Kasey, brother Singleton Kasey. John spat blood “from the left lobe of the
lungs” for two or three hours.
Page 54 December
28 to January 12, 1839. Brother William Kasey, brother Singleton Kasey, father Alexander
Kasey, Miss Hardaway. John spat blood for ½ hour. Rents from Lucy Dowell.
Page 55 January
12, 1839 to February 5, 1840. William Yates, Uncle Thomas Kasey, John C. Meador, William
Holley, father Alexander Kasey, Christopher Bewley. Wrote to Edward C. Jones. Visited Louisville,
KY.
Page 56 February
5 to March 8, 1840. Brother James S. Kasey, Joseph Bewley, Thomas Robertson, brother
Richard Kasey, James Minter, Thomas Kasey (in KY, not his brother in VA). Reverend Barnet
preached. Wrote letters to brother Alexander Kasey, Jr. in VA, C.C. Peters in VA, Maria
Jones in VA. Father Alexander Kasey moved to Lucy Dowell’s place.
Page 57 March
8 to April 4, 1840. Thomas Kasey, father Alexander Kasey, Edmund McGeorge and Billey Hanks
(both on the way from Arkansas to Virginia), John Dowell, cousin Alexander M. Kasey (son
of James S.), Thomas Cain. Wrote a letter to T.A. Cobbs, received one from brother
Alexander Kasey, Jr. in Virginia.
Page 58 April
4 to 22, 1840. Father Alexander Kasey, aunt Hannah Kasey, Miss McKance, Miss Shantley,
Sashwell Jordan, John B. Holland. Brother James S. Kasey’s wife Nancy Ross Kasey had
a child April 3, dead before April 11. Wrote a letter to brother Alexander Kasey, Jr.
Page 59 April
22 to May 27, 1840. Miliner Haynes, William Haynes, Alexander Price and wife Ursula Price,
Peter Street and his wife Polly, Shearman Cobbs, Linius Scott, John Dowell. Barnett
preached. Received letters from Tilghman A. Cobbs and C.C. Jones. Wrote to T.A. Cobbs.
Visited Cloverport.
Page 60 May
27 to June 2, 1840. Brother Singleton Kasey, father Alexander Kasey, Sashwell Jordan, V.
Daniel. Buchanan preached. Great Harrison festival at Brandenburg.
Page 61 June
15 to July 24, 1840. Berry Wright, Charles R. Noell, brother James Kasey, brother
Singleton Kasey, brother William Kasey, Albright.
Page 62 July
4 to August 17, 1840. Henry Hardaway, Alexander McCance?, Aunt Hannah Kasey. Wrote a
letter to his uncle Col. Thomas Kasey in Virginia, and one to Anthony Rucker, Charles R.
Noell, Edward Hardaway, Sashwell Jordan, Thomas Morgan?, James Morgan?. William Morgan
died. “The Reverend James Taylor preached Mother’s [Lurana Shaon Kasey] funeral
at the Big Spring.” I’d previously seen a date of 1832 for her death, but John
seems to write earlier that father and mother and Meadors travelled together to Kentucky,
so I’m not sure. The odd thing about this is he never talks about seeing her, about
her being sick, or about her dying. Doesn’t seem to be sad.
Page 63 August
17 to September 22, 1840. Sashwell Jordan, father Alexander Kasey. Received a letter from
C.C. Peter and one from E.C.Jones. Wrote letters to T.A. Cobbs, brother Alexander Kasey,
Jr., S. Goggin. James M.Carter. Brother Singleton Kasey’s wife Frances Tinsley
Boatwright Kasey sick, Vincent sick. Capt. Nehemiah Dowell died, Stanley Dowell died.
Administered estate of William Morgan.
Page 64 November
18-25, 1840. Francis Johnson, William Haynes, Miliner Haynes, Rich Dickinson, Miss
Purcell, Josiah Caps, brother Richard Kasey, Sashwell Jordan, John Dowell. Received
letters from John Compton, brother Alexander Kasey, Jr., uncle William Kasey, cousin
William C. Kasey, and Tilghman A. Cobbs.
Page 65 November
25, 1840 to January 28, 1841. Brother Richard Kasey, Mrs. Dent (Esther Board Dent?), Abel
Meador, William Dent, Bewley, Widow Ropes, Jane Meador (in code), George Dowell, father
Alexander Kasey, Jackson Dowell. Received letters from Joseph Johnson and John Calhoun.
Page 66 January
28 to March 29, 1841. William Dent, Abel Meador, Markus King. Wrote a letter to brother
Alexander Kasey, Jr., received one from William B. Jones. Married Jane Meador February 4.
John had a pain in his left side that prevented him from working for a week.
Page 67 March
29, 1841. Ann Ross, Elizabeth Meador, cousin Thomas Kasey.
Page 68 dates
for John Kasey, Jane Meador Kasey, and daughter Mary Jane Kasey (John Ann Elizabeth
Kasey?).
Page 69 list
of bonds and money received for father Alexander Kasey, September 10, 1838, before
Alexander left Virginia for Kentucky.
Page 70 list
of bonds and notes received of father Alexander Kasey October 28, 1838.
Page 71 list
of property sold September 28, 1838.
Page 72 accounting,
August and September 1838.
Page 73 A.
Morgan, Board and McCabe.
Back
cover A drawing (woodcut?) of
soldiers with swords on horses and carts, and a poem: The gallant soldier in his
country’s cause / Moves bravely on and gains a just applause; / And those who forward
in their studies press / Shall from their friends and country gain no less.
September, 30, 1840 letter Capt, John Kasey, Breckenridge, County, Kentucky,
“Fauoured by Mr. Francis Johnson.” From John Cumpton, looking for land to
purchase
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
January 29, 1841 letter to Capt. John Kasey, Big Spring, Kentucky. From William
B. Jones, Rhonoke County Virginia
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 49
then waiting for John Murrill to bear us company to Ky and he did not come thence to
William Prestons in Roanoke Co and staid all night travel 16 miles
20th
Thence to the Biglick and waited for Murrill till 10 o'clock AM. thence to Jacob
Kent's 28 Miles. Bill 90 c
21
Thence to Andrew Todds 11 Miles Bill 40. Thence to Thomas Galbreaths 25m 90c
22nd
thence to Thos C. Triggs 13 Miles 50 c thence to Joseph Davis's 23 m Bill 75c
23rd
thence to Thompsons 14 M Bill 35 c thence Abram Bradleys w. of Abingdon 28 m Bill 60c
24
thence to Isaac Stoffers 15 m Bill 50c thence to the Boatyard Edmondsons 22 M Bill 80c
25th
thence to William Armstrong 14 m Bill 35 c thence to Robert Nauls 26 m Bill $1.05
26th
thence to Powels River McHenrys 37 m Bill $1.05
27th
thence to George McAlisters Ky 35 m Bill $1.00
28th
to J. Henry on Little Rockastle River 35 m Bill $1.05
29th
thence to Stanford to R. Thomass's (Thoney?) 37 m Bill 1.25
30th
thence to Jesse Peters a Brother of Major Peters 32 m and Rested 2 days. Peters well
fixed. Own 200 odd Acres of
land & lives 2 m from Maxville (probably Mackville?)
31st
went to Meeting at Maxville thence to Peters thence to Munford his sons
Decr 2 Retd to Peters
3rd left peters thence to Bardstown 31 to Eastons Bill 1.13
Decr 4th
thence to wckow
(Page 50 at top of page)
Decr 7th (miles add to 482)
Huffmans 15 m Bill 37c thence to John B. Hollards 25 m
Decr 5th
thence to William Kasey about 1/2 past 1 o'clock P.M. amt Bills $13. Totl besides 87
spurrs money Pass& Saddle Pad Stuffed 1.03 the weather was cold all the way and some
Rain but 1/2 way out it was very cold. The Roads were good for the time of the year.
As I came out at Powels River wrote to A. Kasey, Jr. and there was nothing of
any Particular note took place from the time I left Va till I Arrived at my Journeys end
that is worth noting down.
Arrived at Williams. All well. the old man (Father) at Dicks helping to build a
stone chimney at Dicks a few minutes and staid at Williams
6th
went over the old mans land and viewed a situation to build on and to Singletons
7th
went to William Albrights to a corn shucking & to William's
8th Sunday
Went to Dicks several girls Miss Stith
9th at Billeys
Decr 19th
Well as usual, Since my last notes been at Williams Singettos & Richards and nothing
new have been helping to kill hogs & making a Table the 15th Went to William Dents
& found all well not much attend in appearance Miss Dent smartly broke from thence by
Aunt Hannah Kasey all well staid a short
Page 51
Dec 19th 1839
Time & thence to court to Hardensburg to court. The people appeared friendly and
a goodly mannerly. Were pretty well Shot in the neck ascertained that there is no chance
to get a piece of land. I wanted (invanted?) of Stephens at present thence home.
Nothing of importance took place, only Billey killed hogs and Father salted
down 10 19th for his own use. Billey (cornered?) 6 hogs to sell. Nothing more
of note.
Dec 20 The 19th went to The Big Spring in company with T. Kasey
and saw Sim Shrewsbury, Christopher Board, Christopher Dowell, and John C. Meador
that I was acquainted with. Several persons passing about the Spring Dealing (Vc?).
The big spring has improved considerably since the year 1830. There is
at this time 3 stores; 1 grocery, 2 tavern houses & 1 church (a brick one) and several
dwelling houses; work shops: one tailor & 2 sadlers; 2 blacksmiths shops.
Thence went to brother James S. Kaseys and found all well & stayed
all night. The 20th looked over James's Land. He has a very good tract of 400
Acres. We walked over it and found an other Spring on the land and he is well
satisfied.
