FArming in elm bend

Early white settlers like the Johnston family were able to purchase large tracts of land, which they developed into farms in an era where everyone had to produce food, clothing, and shelter to live. The Johnston land surrounded Clear Creek as access to water was crucial for survival. The first Johnstons did not own slaves. When Thomas died in 1792, he left his wife Elizabeth with 6 children under 10 and trusted her to build the home and run the farm until the sons were of age.  

Fifteen enslaved people and four sons created a varied production system for Nancy Johnston, widow of Thomas' second son Silas: 200 acres improved land, 13 horses, 6 mules, 4 milk cows, 8 cattle, 30 sheep, 50 swine, 78 bushels: of wheat, 40 rye, 1500 corn, 80 oats, 20 potatoes, 2 tons: hay, 1 ton hemp, 80 lbs wool, 180 lbs butter, 40 lbs beewswax and honey, $50 homemade manufacture (clothing?). Cash values: $100 animals slaughtered, $1000 livestock, $100 implements, $5490 cash value of farm land.

Note the shrinking of production without enslaved people to do the farm work: 180 acres tilled or pasture, 4 horses, 3 milk cows, 5 cattle, 10 lambs,  8 swine, 10 poultry, bushels of : wheat 100,  corn 400, rye 20 and apples 100, 130 lbs fleece, 20 doz eggs. Cash value; $6600 value of farm land, and buildings  $200 income. Brothers William W. and Samuel D. Johnston farmed together, though maintained separate residences, on 265 acres.

Benjamin Caise and Berry Maxberry (75 acres) own their own farms. Caise has 4 acres of crops and 18 acres of permanent pasture. He owns 2 horses, 1 milk cow, 8 hogs, 10 poultry, and produced in bushels: 10 wheat, 10 potatoes, 20 doz eggs. Cash value: $310 land, buildings, and machinery, $78 income from production. Other Elm Bend farmers,  formerly enslaved, who owned land were: Margaret Walker (12), Joseph Wilson (31), John Wilson (28), Thomas Smith (8), James Kinkead (14), Theophilus Bates (30); in Mortonsville: Jordan Washington(4), Lewis Smith(10), Willis Tyler(6), Andrew Mack(35). They raised corn, wheat, apples, cattle, swine, horses and poultry. Joseph Wheat, free, owned 30 acres.

Jacob Caise, in 1890s, owned 60 acres on Troy Pike. His wife, America Wheat Caise,  Louis and Nannie Caise; William and Edna Caise, the last of the Elm Bend farmers.

Per Mac McCauley, "Mr. William Caise taught me to farm."

(William Caise pictured above)

In 2019, Johnston heirs sold the remaining 240 acres off in tracts.  Jim and Lynn Mansfield bought 90 acres with the house, cemetery, and barns. The Mansfields are sheep farmers, who recently put the farm into the Bluegrass Conservancy. It is likely Ben and Ann Caise's home, later owned by Louis and Nannie Caise, was on this property along  Clear Creek. 

No Elm Bend families own land in the area. This research aims to encourage Elm Bend descendants to reclaim the land of ancestors, whether it's home purchase, visits, sharing, tours, saving the school, marking cemeteries, applying for a historic marker, or helping create this Elm Bend archive.