More Profiles of Past Paducah People; Volume 4

The format is approximately 5.375 inches by 8.5 inches. 192 pages. Illustrated front and back covers. Illustrations. Index. Increasingly scarce item. Among the individuals featured in this compilation is Alben Barkley, Senator and Harry Truman's Vice President and John Thomas Scopes of the famous "Monkey Trial" on evolution that pitted William Jennings Bryan against Clarence Darrow. This work is replete with short individual biographies and brief vignette and anecdotes about Paducah. John Edward Lever Robertson, Sr. was born September 2, 1928 in Sullivan, Kentucky. Initially enrolled at Western Kentucky University as a music major, he soon transferred to Murray state University, where he earned a BA in history in 1950. He earned an MA in American history from the University of Louisville. He began teaching history at Paducah Junior College in 1962 and remained on the faculty for 48 years. He later earned an MA in economics from Murray State University. From 1969 to 1979, he served as academic dean of the college, then returned to the classroom teaching both history and economics. He was the first recipient of PCC's Presidential Award of Excellence in 1989. Upon his retirement from PCC in 1997, Robertson was named professor emeritus. Robertson was best known as Paducah's unofficial historian, making frequent presentations and publishing numerous articles and books about the people and places of his adopted hometown. In 2012, he appeared as an expert on railroad history on the television show, "Who Do You Think You Are?" featuring football player, Jerome Bettis. McCracken County was originally part of Hickman County, but as population growth occurred, the territory was divided into Hickman, Graves, Calloway, and McCracken Counties. McCracken County was formed on January 15, 1825 and was named after Captain Virgil McCracken, who was killed at the Battle of the River Raisin during the War of 1812. In 1832, Paducah became the county seat of McCracken County. Paducah, originally known as Pekin, was settled around 1815. Settlers were attracted to the community due to its location at the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers. The community was inhabited by a mix of Native Americans and Europeans who lived harmoniously, trading goods and services. In 1827, William Clark, Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Mississippi-Missouri region, arrived in Pekin with a title deed to the land he now owned, which was issued by the United States Supreme Court. Clark most likely took stock of the settlers that had arrived at some point before himself, and offered the land for purchase, so they could occupy it with title in their name. If they did not choose to purchase the right to occupy the land, they most likely relocated to another domicile. The town was platted out and named in honor of the largest nation of Native Americans that ever roamed North America, the Padouca Indians. Lewis and Clark had made acquaintance with many of them while on their trek west. A letter written by Clark to his son clearly states the reason for the naming of the town. (A facsimile of the letter and the original Paducah maps are on display at the Market House Museum in Paducah.) The community was incorporated in 1830. Paducah thrived due to its port facilities along the waterways that were used by steamboats. A factory that manufactured red bricks was established and a foundry for making rail and locomotive components was built, ultimately contributing to a river and rail industrial economy. In 1856, Paducah was chartered as a city. The community continued to capitalize on its geographic location by becoming the site of dry dock facilities for steamboats and towboats and, in turn, headquarters for various bargeline companies. Paducah also became an important railway hub for the Illinois Central Railroad (ICRR) due to its proximity to the coal fields in Kentucky and Illinois. In 1937, the Ohio River at Paducah rose over its 50-foot flood stage. The flood was.…