Chronology Of The Life Of Rice Haggard

          History comes alive when discussed with Burkesville pharmacist Randolph N. Smith. Smith is considered by some to be the foremost historian of Cumberland County and certainly he has played a big part in preserving much of the county history. Perhaps one of his most ambitious undertakings is the restoration of the Rice Haggard log home which Smith moved from its original location on Kettle Creek to a location next to his home in Burkesville.
          Haggard, an early missionary, is given credit for adopting the name "Christian" in referring to the churches now known as Disciples of Christ and the Church of Christ. Haggard, after severing his connection with the Methodist Church, was one of the leaders in the 1890's movement that later became known as the Christian Church. He is thought to have moved to the Kettle Creek Log cabin in about 1817, and called the cabin his home until his death in 1819. Members of the Haggard family continued to live in the cabin for another forty years.
          The fact that it was the home of Haggard for a short time makes it of particular interest to historians of the Christian Church. The home is listed as a tour stop for church historical groups. The cabin would be of historical significance even if it were not once the homes of Haggard, because of its early construction sometime between 1798 and 1806.
          Smith became interested in the property and, after purchase, dismantled and numbered the logs and spent two years, from 1974 to 1975, overseeing the construction.
          The cabin, a typical dog-trot log cabin build of hewn yellow poplar logs, was apparently built by members of the Davis family. According to the information provided by Smith, the cabin was dated by the date of the land grand as it was a requirement that the settler had to live on the land a year, clear two acres of land and make a crop of corn.
          Smith said the cabin was originally built without windows. Windows cut into the front of the building at a very early date. When this was done, the upstairs floor was moved up one log in one room and this was nearly enough that the support for this floor was pegged to the logs instead of being nailed. Stairsteps were added at a later date as a ladder was used in pioneer times.
          "Any structure that has been lived in for as old as this cabin has been altered several times." Smith said, "I modernized the home for our needs. A modern kitchen was added and also a bath, heating system, electricity and the dog-trot has been glassed in for heating purposes. I did try to do all this in keeping with the age and style of the home." It is an interesting building and Smith, with his detailed knowledge of local history and his love for preserving historical items is the perfect tour guide.

          This historic house has been dated between 1798 and 1806. The house was lived in almost 175 years and has been altered some through the years. Around 1818, the Haggards bought the house. In 1973 this house was purchased, moved and restored by the late pharmacist Randolph Smith and his wife, Winton. (Doug Butler)
          Rice Haggard was born around 1767-1770, and lived in Norfolk County, Virginia. He moved to Kentucky about 1812 and died about 1819, while on a trip. A fatal illness overtook him and burial is said to have been in Xenia, Ohio. He began the life of a traveling preacher in the Methodist connection. Because of his suggestion to discard all names except tat the followers of Christ call themselves, "Christians," and let the Bible be the rule ad guide for the church, he, along with others, opposed of errors and withdrew from the conference in 1792. (P.J. Kernodle's Lives of Christian Ministers)
          Nancy Grimes Haggard, his wife, was born June 19, 1776, the only child of Captain William Grimes, one of the first captains who entered the army of 1776 under the command of George Washington. She died in Burkesville on April 20, 1862, leaving three children. Judge James O'Kelly, Captain David R. (colonel of the 5th Calvary Volunteers), and daughter Elizabeth. (The Millennial Harbinger, Vol. 6, Series 5., pgs. 95-96) Mrs. Haggard, James and David are buried in the King Cemetery currently at the top of the hill behind Dr. Robert and Peggy Flowers' house.

          This cabin has been sitting in the side yard of Randolph and Winton Smith at 120 N. High Street in Burkesville since 1973 when it was reconstructed there by Radford & Radford Construction Company and Mr. Horace Norris. The log and mortar structure was once the home of Elder Rice Haggard, founder of the Christian Church in this country. Before the reconstruction, the cabin was located at Kettle Creek and was originally built between 1798 and 1806 by either Mose, David or Morris Davis. About 1810 to 1812, a second cabin was built to one side and a roof was added to cover both cabins, including the dog trot hallway between.

          As a result of the civic-mindedness and generosity of Randolph Smith, Cumberland County Historian and Researcher, the cabin now sits visible to passersby and available for scheduled visitation. According to Mr. Smith, the Rice Haggard Cabin (which is furnished with antiques from many Cumberland County families, having been purchased by the Smiths) is often visited by members of the Christian and Church of Christ churches from various parts of the country.