The Early History of the Fort Knox Area

The initial Euro-American entry into the Fort Knox area is uncertain, but by the last quarter of the eighteenth century, numerous hunters, surveyors, explorers, and fortune seekers had traversed that part of Kentucky. By that time, such well known pioneers as Thomas Bullitt, Michael Stoner, and Daniel and Squire Boone had been active in the area. The earliest known attempt to settle this area took place in July 1776, when Share, Sweeney, and company led by Samuel Pearman traveled by flatboat to the mouth of the Salt River. Pearman and his companions laid claim to several thousand acres along the Ohio and Salt Rivers. They built a small log cabin at the junction of the Salt and Rolling Fork Rivers, but numerous Indian attacks forced them to retreat to Virginia. Settlement attempts were not abandoned, however, and the next few years saw continued efforts to establish permanent settlements.

Louisville was surveyed as early as 1773, but no settlement took place there until 1778 when an encampment was built on Corn Island in the Ohio River. By the following year, the salt licks located to the south of Louisville were being exploited. The earliest and most important of these was Bullitt Lick (also known as Saltsburg), which was located near the northeastern boundary of Fort Knox. In that same year, Brashear's Station (also known as Froman's Station and Salt River Garrison) was established just below the mouth of Floyd's Fork. Continued Indian raids forced the closing of the salt works. By 1780 it was once again in operation, this time defended by a Mud Garrison, constructed of a double row of piles filled with dirt and gravel, and located on the north bank of the Salt River about 1/2 mile above the mouth of Bullitt's Lick Run. This renewed attempt at settlement was joined by the establishment of Dowdall's Station located on the north bank of Salt River at a pool just above the river's falls (near present day Shepherdsville).

Clear's Station was established sometime between 1780 and 1783, and three more salt licks were opened: Long Lick and Dry Lick in 1785 and Mann's Lick in 1787. Fort Nonsense was erected around 1785 near a well-known ford of the Salt River below the mouth of Bullitt's Lick Run. The fort was also known as Froman's Folly in apparent reference to Jacob Froman, who mistakenly built the fort on William Farmer's claim. Farmer's land claim was held superior, and Froman lost the fort to him.


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