Townsend Springs Farm

Farm History

Townsend Springs Farm

Townsend Spring Farm was settled originally in 1775-1776 by John Townsend. He was an officer in the company of Captain John Hinkston, who led a group of 15 men down the Ohio River from western Pennsylvania to explore what was then Shawnee territory in 1775. They traveled along what is now known as Licking River, following the buffalo trace to the area that later became Paris, Kentucky. The 15 men made small clearings and built cabins for each member of the company. In 1776, the creek that runs through the farm became known as Townsend Creek. John Townsend raised corn in 1775-1776 on his farm, which the latter furnished cornseed to Jacob Spears, the founder of Bourbon liquor, and to other early settlers in the region.

Two of the 15 men were killed in 1775 during skirmishes with the Shawnees, after which Captain Hinkston returned to Pennsylvania with a majority of his party. However, John Townsend and several others remained and a small community grew around their encampments. By the late 1780s most of the men had returned with their families and construction was begun on many of the farms in this area. Duncan’s Tavern was completed in 1788-1790, as was the “Stone Castle,” home of Jacob Spears on Clay-Kiser Road in Bourbon County. Spears was one of the first two settlers to produce Bourbon Whiskey in Kentucky.

The permanent stone and brick buildings on Townsend Spring Farm were begun in 1790 and the main house was completed circa 1803. The main house retains all masonry and carpentry details that were part of the original construction of the dwelling, including three fireplaces, all flooring, 12-inch thick brick and plaster walls and hand-carved mantels and door jambs. All of the limestone steps and fireplace stones were quarried from Townsend Creek by John Townsend and his family.

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A section of the original stone fence remains standing along the southeastern edge of the farm and Indian artifacts and arrowheads can still be found on the property.

Townsend Springs Farm Farm History