Three Forks of the Kentucky River Historical Association

Sarah Campbell-Baker

Wooton, July 22, 1898 (Pg 2436 - 2437)

I was born in Perry County, Kentucky in 1824. My father was born in 1800. His name was William CAMBELL [sic]. He was a son of John CAMPBELL who emigrated from New River, North Carolina. I do not know when. His wife was Polly COUCH, his brothers-in-law Martin and James came with him, also his brother, William, who went to Indiana after I was 17 years old. None of his children were married when he came. He was poor and came to better their condition.

I have cried many a night at hearing the wolves howl. The cows would come home with their calves.

I have heard my mother and father say that a man named John GILBERT made up a company of men from Middle Fork and Red Bird to take the cattle and stuff and one of their number betrayed them and told the North Forkers so they gathered up and met them at "Hanging Rock" GILBERT'S horse was shot from under him.

My father had to go to General COMBS for a male for his cows.

When I was a girl, bears were too numerous to raise hogs.

The panthers bothered us a great deal when I was raising my family.

My mother was a FRIAR. Her father came from Chuckee River. He was twice a prisoner with the Indians, 3 years one time and 7 another.

My grandfather CAMPBELL could not read or write when he came to Kentucky. His children taught him after he came here, so he could read the bible. That was all the reading he ever did. He was a very peculiar man, had very little to say.

My maternal grandmother was a ROARK. She was red headed.

My mother had 7 sheep. She used to watch and listen all day for the bell. She went after them one dark evening and found them a few hundred yards from the house with their throats cut. Wolves had done it.