Family of Thomas J. Key

This is one of the recollections written by Wallace A. McKay and published in The Pioneer-News. Follow the "Recollections" link above to find others of his writings.

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The Pioneer-News, June 9, 1933, page 1

One of the pioneer families of Bullitt County, whose names have been prominent in the affairs of this section for more than 150 years, is the Key family. They are all the descendants of Thomas J. Key and are connected collaterally and by blood with a large number of people living in that section of the County between Salt River and the Jefferson County line.

HISTORY OF THE KEY FAMILY OF BULLITT COUNTY, KY

In the year 1782 Thomas J. Key came from Albemarle County, Va. and established the Ferry across Salt River in Bullitt County six miles above West Point, Kentucky, where this river empties into the Ohio River. At that time there was no ferry at West Point, so all travel going or coming from all points south over the State high way road were forced to cross the Key ferry which did quite a flourishing business as all travel then was by foot or horse. At his death the property went to his only son, George Key, who in his day, made two trips to New Orleans in flat boats loaded with products and, often disposing of the cargo and boats, returned home on foot, which took him six weeks to return.

George Key married Averilla Alender from the Bluegrass section of Kentucky, who bore him twin sons and one daughter. John T., his eldest son, went out west about 1850 and Green L., his other son and Minerva, his daughter, remained in Bullitt County. His daughter married Captain Johnson Rawling, but had no children. Green L. married Minerva Chappell and raised eight children, three girls and five boys. The eldest child, Cordelia, married Stephen Arnold and had three girls Villa, Edith and Lola, and one son, Lee. The second daughter, Roxanna, married William Arnold and raised three daughters, Alma, Maud and Pearl. The third daughter, Sarah Amandaville married Dennis Tierney and raised one son, Lee, and one daughter, Vivian. The Fourth child, Corbin M, was married twice, his first wife, Nina Scott, had one daughter, Edith L, and one son Alvin E. His second wife, Bell L. Lynch, had one daughter, Mignon, and two sons, Raymond L. and Robert C. The fifth child, Marcus Lindsey, married Tony Brown and raised eleven children, six boys and five girls, as follows Blanche, Lula B., Catherine, Virginia and Marie; also boys, John, William, Lindsey, Arthur, Walter and Shirley. The sixth child, John T. married Lillian Brashear but had no children. The seventh child, Clarence E. married Cora Brekham and had no children. The eighth child, George W. never married.

George Key operated the old Ferry till close of our Civil War when all his boats were destroyed and he died in 1866 and the Ferry was never opened again. The property was taken over by the Government as part of the Fort Knox purchase.

The Gaul Crist massacre occurred about five miles above the Key Ferry on Old Salt River.

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