Amburgey Cabin on Dead Mare Branch
Bath, Kentucky
 | One spring day in 1939, James Still, poet laureate of Kentucky, moved into the Amburgey log house on Dead Mare Branch. In his spiral notebook, later to become part of the "Wolfpen Notebooks" in which James Still recorded his impressions of Appalachian life, on the day he moved to the cabin between Dead Mare Branch and Wolfpen Creek on Little Carr Creek, he wrote: |
"A pair of black and white warblers teetered along the banks of Dead Mare Branch and minnows riffled the summer pools. Partridges called in the water meadow before the house, and from the cove behind came an occasional 'e-olee' of a woodthrush. A pair of rabbits flashed tails among the bluing weeds."
Built in 1837 by Ambrose Amburgey who came to Eastern Kentucky and bought, for $600, the rights to over 10,000 acres along Carr Creek. Ambrose returned to Russell County, Virginia, to bring his wife and two children, his parents, John Amburgey Jr. (grandson of a German immigrant Conrad Amberger) and Elizabeth Hammons, and brothers-in-law, together with their families and slaves back to Kentucky to settle.
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Greatgrandfather Jethro Amburgey
KNOTT COUNTY HALL OF FAME
JETHRO AMBURGEY
Jethro Amburgey (1895-1971) was an important part of Knott County’s educational heritage. He taught, coached, was a nationally known craftsman, and served as Knott County school superintendent 1940-1944. Amburgey and his twin brother, Woodrow, were born in 1985 in this county, sons of Wiley J. Amburgey. Jethro was a direct descendant of John Amburgey, one of the first settlers of the county. He attended a one-room school for his first six years of schooling and went to the Hindman Settlement School and stayed there through high school. He served in a machine gun squad in France during 1918. He was wounded in the Battle of Argonne Forest. He returned to Hindman to finish high school. He began teaching and coaching basketball at Hindman prior to Pearl Combs at the request of school officials. He also taught woodworking. Jethro was married to Ranie Smith and to this union was born one son, Morris Amburgey. Between 1920-1925, he met Uncle Ed Thomas and learned his pattern for making dulcimers. After Thomas’ death, Jethro made dulcimers to sell, although he was teased for making the musical instruments. He made 1,389 dulcimers during his lifetime. After teaching at Hindman, he taught at the Old Carr Church on Wolfpen. He continued his education during the summer at Berea and Eastern State Teachers College. In 1934-35 he attended Morehead State University and graduated. He attended Morehead because of their celebrated woodworking program. He taught at Carr Creek and Breathitt High Schools. A changing political situation opened the superintendency for him and he served from 1940-1944. He retired after 33 years of teaching. He left his retirement and became the county sanitarian for five years. Jethro Amburgey was known for his sharp wit. The unique man, described by many as a true character, is considered to be one of the most intelligent men to live in Knott County. |
