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THE NATIONAL ROAD Emigration from the east to Indiana and the states farther west, three-quarters of a century ago, was encouraged and facilitated by the extension of the Cumberland, or National Road, into the heart of the great Mississippi Valley. This thoroughfare was named “Cumberland Road,” because of its having been projected from Cumberland, Maryland, as its eastern terminus, and the “National Road,” for the equally pertinent reason that it was founded and improved by the aid of the national or general government. …..In 1832 this road was surveyed through the north part of Clay County by the way of Williamsburg, then the only town in the county north of Bowling Green. Among the Clay County pioneers who wielded the shovel and otherwise plied their muscles and energies on the construction of this national thoroughfare may be enumerated at this day, James Yocum, John Crooks, Job Combs, Berryman James, Nathan Williams, Jesse Yocum, John McBride, David Myers, Samuel Moore, Moses Parr, Morgan B. Ringo, Jonathan Yocum, Isaiah S. Myers, Henry Yocum, James Harlan, Esau Presnell, Preston Yocum, Henry Bemis, David Moore, Absalom Slack, Levi Brackney, Thomas Moore, Marmaduke Brackney, who with but few exceptions, became land holders and, in part, to say the least, owed their start in life and future success to their earnings from this source. Pg. 35; Travis, Vol. I Close this window to return to the website
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