HEROD Family - Putnam

Between Loch Quoith and Glen Garry in Scotland, centuries ago, lived a family of Scotch-Irish by the name of Herod. It was in that picturesque, wild landscape among the mountains of Scotland, the Herod ancestry was known nearly a thousand years ago. It is too remote to trace their origin. It is only for us to know that as far back as Scottish history can be correctly gleaned, the Herod family were component parts of an ancient Scottish descent. In Scotland did the family originate, live, prosper and become one of the prominent factors of that part of the Island, and as generation after generation came and went, the Herod family increased rapidly, until about 1770 in a lowly hut near Loch Quoith, was born Bailey Herod. His parents were hardy, rural peasants, used to toil and hardships. In that early day in the Scottish wilds, was Bailey Herod born. He was a vigorous, well-developed child, and soon became a youth of extraordinary strength, displaying feats of powerful muscular strength and nervous activity. He was known to be a youth of daring and intrepid nature. He would hunt in the mountain gorges, climb their sides, mount to their summits, and bathe in the cool waters of the Loch, returning at night to rest for the coming day. Such was the forefather of the Herod family. On one of his rambles with his Scottish dog and gun, he was leisurely walking in a long, deep vale between the hills, Lo Shue and Li Hei, 4 or 5 leagues from the Herod home. It was late in the evening, and the high hills shut out the lingering rays of the setting sun. There was a continuous mixed noise in the valley from the beast, bird and rippling water of the brook running swiftly over the pebbly bed of gravel, when he was suddenly accosted by a Scottish cur, whose barks and growls quickly made young Bailey know, that so far and no further canst thou come. He suddenly stopped and poising his gun for defense, waited for the canine to make the attack. At that critical moment a young maiden came to the door of a modest, little cot nestled in the hills. She had a Scottish air and her beauty was marvelous to behold. Her simple Scottish attire was neat and modest; her long, black hair lay on her rounded shoulders; her gaiters were made from the skin of the chamois; her bright eyes shone with that pleasant, innocent look, that could not emanate from a wicked heart. As she stood there, riveted to the spot, young Bailey thus addressed her: “Fair maiden I am a lonely and weary hunter, and having become belated, came to your home to seek shelter lor the night. Please don’t let your dog molest me.” She rebuked the dog, bade him back into the yard, and assured him protection and rest. He was kindly invited into the rural home and favored with a frugal repast and a comfortable resting place for the night. On the following morning, after a pleasant meeting with the cottage maiden, he bade the family adieu and hied away down the valley to the Herod home. Time rolled on ^fortnight after fortnight, and young Bailey dreamed pleasant dreams of the maid of the hills. Often he would take his faithful dog and gun and make his way to the cot in the vale. There he could often be found on the banks of the muttering little stream, wooing and winning the hand and heart of Miss Susan Hart, the fair and lovely little Scottish maid of the valley. Time rolled by and on one beautiful day in October, 1790, that loving couple stood in the doorway of Chas. Hart’s home, and the neighborhood esquire pronounced them one. Those were times of emigration and hustle for the newly discovered world. Bailey readily entered into the emigration excitement, and as a colony was forming around those hills and mountains of Scotland, he entered it, and they set sail for the new world. After landing in the colonies, Bailey and family settled in Virginia thence emigrated to Kentucky and settled on a beautiful homestead. The impressment of American citizens into the services of Great Britian, caused the war of 1812. War was declared and a demand on the patriotism of American citizens was demanded, when Bailey Herod entered as a volunteer to the army to fight against the mother country. He bade farewell to home, wife and little ones. He served during the war and was honorably discharged, and came back to his Kentucky home and family. He lived a retired and happy life around the hearthstone with the loving companion of his youth. He was in the battles of Chippewa, Lundy’s Lane and New Orleans. In fact, he was in all the general engagements, one of the notable events being the battle of the Thames, he being near by when Col. Richard M. Johnson. of Kentucky, shot the Shawnee chief, Tecumseh. He heard the savage yells of anguish and dismay, when they saw the killing of their beloved chief. Mr. Herod lived to be an old and honored citizen of Kentucky, and in Boone and Putnam counties today are reminiscences of Bailey and his worthy companion rehearsed around the family altar. He now lies under the sod by the side of Miss Susan Hart, the maid of the hills, who rebuked the vicious cur in the hour of need.