ARCHIBALD LOGAN "ROW"

61 & 63 W. Main St., Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky

Source: Old Houses of Lexington, C. Frank Dunn, typescript, n.d., copy located in the Kentucky Room, Lexington (Kentucky) Public Library.

(1838 Directory: Archibald Logan, tanner, 61 & 63 W. Main St.)

Perrin's History has an account of a trip made down the Kentucky, Ohio and Mississippi Rivers with a flat-boat of flour from Higbee's Mill at South Elkhorn, made by John Higbee and Archibald Logan in the early 1800's.

"On one occasion he was accompanied by 'Uncle' Archie Logan, who kept a tan-yard. Mr. Higbee sold his load of goods for $3,000 and lent the money to 'Uncle' Archie to buy hides. He started to return on the steamer Tennessee. When nearly home, the vessel sank one very dark, cold night. Higbee, being a good swimmer, jumped overboard just in time to avoid the whirlpool caused by the sinking steamer." He finally reached shore and climbed in some willows, nearly frozen, and was rescued.

"'Uncle' Archie Logan was unable to swim and had a remarkable escape. He jumped into the river and had sunk twice, when in throwing out his arms he struck a piece of plank floating near him, to which he clung tenaciously. After floating a mile or more, he struck something which proved to be a work-bench with a man on it. He got on it and together they floated about ten miles when they succeeded in landing. They came near to freezing to death but found a wood-chopper's hut. The wood-chopper built a big fire, put them up for the night and they proceeded to a settlement the next day."

Transcribed by Pam Brinegar, March 2000