The Jackson Purchase region of Kentucky is comprised of the eight westernmost counties - Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Marshall and McCracken. It is bordered on the west by the Mississippi River, on the north by the Ohio River, on the east by the Tennessee River and the state of Tennessee to the south. By Kentuckians it is generally referred to simply as "the Purchase".

Andrew Jackson and Isaac Shelby purchased the land lying west of the Tennessee River from the Chickasaw tribe and opened the area for settlement around 1820. Within the next few years, my grandfather's ancestors came there from Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee - the Beadles, Clapps, Pryors and Wingos settled in Graves County with the Reeves and Halls in neighboring Ballard County.

Saturday, December 11, 2021

Sad News

Courthouse after 11 Dec 2021 Tornado
When my ancestors came from North Carolina to Kentucky, my 4th great grandfather settled in Madison County which adjoins Fayette, then my 3rd great grandfather migrated on west to Warren County and the next generation settled in Ballard County in the Jackson Purchase. This morning's news is full of details of a massive tornado that ravaged each of those areas.

Much of Graves County has had great loss of life and immeasurable damage to the courthouse in Mayfield. The loss of life there may be as great as 100 people based upon information from the governor of Kentucky.

Each of the areas where my Reeves' ancestors settled - the Jackson Purchase, Bowling Green and Lexington received great damage by this destructive weather system. Graves County was also the county where my Wingo, Pryor and Beadles ancestors settled. Since Kentucky is such a significant factor in our family history, especially in the areas affected by this storm, I thought this event should be recorded here.


Graves County Courthouse
2009

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