Jessamine County Kentucky River Task Force
Kentucky River Guidebook

11.    Majors Landing (G) (RM 120.1)

An informal ferry and warehouse, that is one not chartered by the state or county, probably began operation here in the late 1700’s or early 1800’s primarily to serve the local farmers.  The first documented ferry at this site was operated about 1900 by Thomas J. Major then by his son James P. Major, then by other members of the Major family. The enterprising Major family also operated excursion cruises from this site. The ferry continued in operation until about the beginning of WWII when it was powered by a 6-hp one cylinder gasoline engine.

12.    Bowman Warehouse (G) (RM 121.0)

The property has recently (late 1990’s) been purchased by the Nature Conservancy as part of their effort to preserve a significant portion of the world-class palisades and is open to the public.

Elk Shoals (G)

The December 1818 term of the Garrard County Fiscal Court awarded George Bowman approval to have an “Inspection of Tobacco, Hemp, and Flower (flour) at the place he is building a new warehouse near Little Elk Shoals.”  George Bowman owned the land on the Garrard side of the river at the mouth of Elk Shoal Branch so the assumption is that Little Elk Shoal and Elk Shoal are the same place.  By this time William McQuie had been operating a ferry at  both McQuie Landing and Elk Shoal for about ten years.

The Bethel Academy was founded by Methodist Bishop Asbury during his first visit to Kentucky in 1790-91. It was the second chartered institution of American Methodism.   Thomas Lewis donated one hundred acres of prime land overlooking the Kentucky River near present High Bridge for the site of the Academy.

Bethel Academy was officially chartered by the Kentucky legislature in 1798.with the admonition  that:  “The President of said academy shall be a man of most approved ability in literature.”

13.    McQuie Ferry (J-G) (RM 121.5)

William McQuie settled on a tract of 223 acres, part of the Bowman survey in Bowman’s Bend, shortly before the establishment of Garrard County. Later in 1806 one George Tracy managed to get the Garrard Court to agree and establish a road down to the Elk Shoal on the Kentucky River. This road ran through McQuie’s land and sparked his interest in developing a river landing of his own. In October of that year Garrard County granted William McQuie the benefits of a ferry operation on Kentucky River and proposed a new county road down to his landing.

William McQuie would eventually lose his extensive holdings on both sides of Kentucky River and disappear from the Garrard record by the mid-1820s.

14.  Downs Ferry (J-G) (also known as William Smith ferry) (RM 127.0)

In 1788 William Smith acquired 200 acres of land across from the mouth of Jessamine Creek (Garrard County) and established a ferry.  He gave George William Downs half the land and let him operate the ferry, which became known as “Down’s Ferry”.    The 1799 Jessamine County Court Orders mention “Viewing a proposed road from Down’s Ferry to the Seat of Justice .  .  .” (presumably Nicholasville) . 

In 1802 Downs, together with John Moss, leased Hogans’s ferry near the mouth of Hickman Creek and Downs ferry presumably closed.

15. Mouth of Jessamine Creek (J) (RM 127.3)

While on an exploring/surveying trip through Kentucky in 1774, James Sodowski camped by a large spring which impressed him a great deal because of its size and force of water.  He brought this to the attention of one of the other surveyors of his party, James Douglas, who named the spring Jessamine Spring after his daughter.  The creek which is created by this spring and later the County, was named for this spring and creek.

In the very early 1800’s William Steele obtained from the state legislature the right to build a dam for a milling operation across the Kentucky River near this point.  The dam was  built so flatboats could go over it during high water.  The dam lasted only a few years before it was washed out.