History of the Property
This property and home dates back to the beginnings of Bullitt County. Benjamin Summers the son of John Summers a Revolutionary War Veteran came to Bullitt County in about 1800. Benjamin and his wife came to Bullitt County to be close to her parents. Benjamin was a founding member of Bullitt County. The first fiscal court meeting of Bullitt County was held February 28, 1797 at his home. It’s unknown if this meeting took place on this property or on property he owned in Shepherdsville. Benjamin was the first Bullitt County Sheriff. Benjamin deeded an acre and half to a Baptist meeting house that would be later be named Little Flock Baptist Church. Benjamin died on August 6, 1844. After the death of his father Benjamin F. Summers inherited this home and 333 acres of property. Benjamin Franklin Jr. was a doctor and lived in this home about 8 years before he died. On April 19, 1886 John Foster from Sonoma, California bought this property from Lucy C. Summers and her family, she was the widow of Benjamin Franklin Summers. James Cochran bought this property on November 20, 1890 from John Foster he had live on the property about 16 years. The Cochran family lived in the home and on the property for 33 years until R.G. Cochran sold the property to Laura Elizabeth Frick on July 17, 1923. Elizabeth and her husband Ben lived in the home for 15 years until they sold it to Frank Christman on October 28, 1938. The Christman’s owned the property for 72 years until it was sold in 2010. During their ownership the road which leads to their property was named Christman Lane.
Sources
Benjamin Summers Timeline
6/12/1771 - Benjamin Summers born
12/1/1772 – Fincastle County, Virginia established
1773 - Bullitt’s Lick was discovered by Captain Thomas Bullitt
4/19/1775 - American Revolutionary War begins
12/31/1776 – Kentucky County, Virginia established
11/13/ 1779 – Colonel William Fleming documented the Bullitt Lick Salts works in his journal.
11/1/1780 – Jefferson County, Virginia established
4/11/1783 - American Revolutionary War ends
11/29/1784 – Nelson County, Virginia established
4/30/1789 – George Washington becomes first President of the United States
1/1/1792 – Kentucky becomes the 15th state
12/21/1793 – Shepherdsville established
9/1794 – Last Indian battle in Kentucky
1795 – Benjamin Summers Comes to Kentucky
12/13/1796 - Bullitt County with part taken from Jefferson and Nelson Counties Established
1797 - Benjamin Summers Bullitt County Sheriff
2/28/1797 - First meeting of Bullitt County Court held in Benjamin Summers home in Shepherdsville
3/4/1797 – John Adams becomes 2nd President of the United States
3/1/1797 - Bullitt Court meeting held at the home of Benjamin Summers
3/1/1797 - Benjamin Summers appointed to come up with best placement of roads coming in to Shepherdsville
4/25/1797 - Bullitt Court meeting held at the home of Benjamin Summers
4/25/1797 - Benjamin to finish 2 lower stories of Adam Shepherd Stone Store House to be used for tempory jail
5/23/1797 - Benjamin Summers Sheriff appointed Benjamin Pope Jr. Deputy Sheriff
6/12/1797 - Benjamin Summers buys lots 13, 14, 26,41,42,43,44,45,46 & 51 in town of Shepherdsville
6/27/1797 - Bullitt Court meeting held at the home of Benjamin Summers
5/23/1798 - Benjamin Summers Sheriff appointed Robert Matthews Deputy Sheriff
6/1/1798 - Benjamin Summers time as Sheriff ended
10/12/1798 - Married Volindah Beckwith in Maryland
12/22/1798 – Benjamin Summers appointed Trustee of the Bullitt Academy
1799 - Benjamin Summers appears on Bullitt County Tax list
7/4/1799 - Son John Beckwith Summers born
9/24/1799 - Benjamin Summers appointed overseer of road from Shepherdsville
11/26/1799 - Benjamin Summers appointed Commissioner of South District of Bullitt County
1800 - Benjamin Summers appears on Bullitt County Tax list
2/25/1800 - According to Bullitt County court minutes Benjamin Summers is Bullitt County Sheriff
6/26/1801 - Son George Washington Summers born
6/29/1803 – Daughter Susan White Summers born
3/9/1805 - Son Rufus King Summers born
12/10/1806 – Daughter Martha Theresa Summers born
2/19/1808 – Benjamin Summers once again is appointed Trustee of Bullitt Academy
6/3/1808 – Daughter Beverly Basil Summers born
1/31/1809 – Benjamin Summers bought 500 acres of land from John and Mary Bryant
1810 - Appears in Bullitt County United States Census
1810 - Little Flock Baptist Church was founded services were held in a stone building owned by Benjamin Summers
3/4/1812 – Benjamin Summers sells
10/12/1812 – Daughter Sarah Eleanor Summers born
5/15/1813 - Benjamin Summers deeds 1 acre of Land to Little Flock Baptist Church
6/30/1815 – Daughter Patsy Ann Summers born
2/6/1817 - Daughter Mary Volindah Summers born
1830 - Appears in Bullitt County United States Census
11/10/1834 – Donates 1 acre lot for a School (Hebron School?)
10/26/1836 - Benjamin Summers wife passes away
1840 - Appears in Bullitt County United States Census
1843 - Benjamin Summers donated land on Zoneton Road and built a new Brick Building for Little Flock Baptist Church
1/29/1844 – The Kentucky General Assembly approves Little Flock Baptist Church trading their property to Benjamin Summers for new property to build a new church.
7/19/1844 - Daughter Patsy Ann Summers passes away
7/26/1844 - Benjamin Summers writes will
8/6/1844 - Benjamin Summers dies
7/25/1845 - Benjamin Summers Estate leaves 1 1/2 acres of land to Little Flock Baptist Church
If you, the reader, have an interest in any particular part of our county history, and wish to contribute to this effort, use the form on our Contact Us page to send us your comments about this, or any Bullitt County History page. We welcome your comments and suggestions. If you feel that we have misspoken at any point, please feel free to point this out to us.
The Bullitt County History Museum, a service of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is located in the county courthouse at 300 South Buckman Street (Highway 61) in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. The museum, along with its research room, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday appointments are available by calling 502-921-0161 during our regular weekday hours. Admission is free. The museum, as part of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization and is classified as a 509(a)2 public charity. Contributions and bequests are deductible under section 2055, 2106, or 2522 of the Internal Revenue Code. Page last modified: 12 Jan 2024 . Page URL: bullittcountyhistory.org/bchistory/summers_house_addedinfo.html
