Memoirs of Cave Johnson
Cave Johnson was among the most prominent early Boone County citizens. He was born 15 Nov 1760 in Orange Co., Va., and died in Boone County 19 Jan 1850. He spent service in the War of the American Revolution, then came to Kentucky in April of 1779 spending time at Bryant's Station near Lexington. He married in 1784 and moved to Woodford County. In 1786 he served with Gen. George Rogers Clark under Col. William Steele as Captain Cave Johnson. [See the roster of his company] He was clerk to the Quarter Sessions of the Woodford County County Court from 1789-1796. In 1792 he was one of the trustees appointed to lay off the town of Versailles. In 1796 he moved to the North Bend of the Ohio River in what was then Campbell County, and soon after united with the Baptist Church at Bullitsburg by letter. At some point he was appointed Colonel of Militia and he served in this post until 1819. About this time he became Justice of the Peace until 1833, when he became Sheriff of Boone County at the venerable age of 73. He was elected to the Kentucky Legislature in 1817. In 1819 he became a charter member of the Sand Run Baptist Church. His first wife, Sarah, died in 1835. He married Margaret, who died in 1840, and Betsey, who survived him (she died in 1855). He died 19 Jan 1850, and was buried at Sand Run. He was ninety.
The Johnson family was prominent in political affairs. His older brother, Robert Johnson, was elected a member of the General Assembly of Virginia in 1782. Robert moved to Kentucky, and settled at Beargrass, now Louisville. His son, Richard M. Johnson, whom I have written about elsewhere, was vice president under Martin Van Buren (1837-1841). He was said to have killed Tecumseh in battle. Richard was noted as the founder of the Choctaw Academy near Georgetown, Ky., about 1819, taking advantage of his political clout to gain federal funds for the undertaking. He is spoken of in Col. Johnson's Memoirs.
The Memoirs of Cave Johnson Printed in Boone County Recorder 1 Feb 1877, p. 1 and 8 Feb 1877, p. 1. under the title "The Early Days of Kentucky"