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News Release

ISAAC SHELBY-FRONTIERSMAN, MILITARY HERO

AND POLITICIAN

Living History Portrayal in Shelbyville

Isaac Shelby was instrumental in the formation of Kentucky as a state. At home on the battlefield or in the political arena, Shelby was truly one of Kentucky’s “founding fathers.” Shelby served his country at the Battle of Point Pleasant and the Battle of King’s Mountain, was a member of the 1792 convention that drew up Kentucky’s first constitution, was governor of the state twice, and joined Andrew Jackson to draw up a treaty with the Chickasaw Indians for 4,600 square miles of land in western Kentucky and Tennessee, now known as the Jackson Purchase.

Isaac Shelby, first Governor of Kentucky, “was a man for all seasons. He was a frontiersman, a soldier and a politician; yet all he really wanted to do was to be a farmer and raise cattle,” according to living history interpreter, Mel Hankla. The Painted Stone Settlers, Inc. will host Hankla as he brings his vivid portrayal of Isaac Shelby to life. The performance will be held in Shelbyville, KY at 7 p.m. on April 1 at the Stratton Center located at 215 Washington Street.

Shelby was born on December 11, 1750 near Hagerstown, Maryland. After the Battle of King’s Mountain, Shelby settled in Kentucky and married his childhood sweetheart, Susannah Hart, on April 19, 1783 at Fort Boonesborough. The couple reared ten children. In 1786, Shelby completed a stone house on his Lincoln County farm, better known as Traveler’s Rest. In his lifetime he was appointed a trustee of Transylvania Seminary, worked as a surveyor, was High Sheriff of Lincoln County, was a member of the war board appointed by Congress to provide defense of the frontier, and participated actively in ten conventions that led to Kentucky’s statehood.

He retired to Traveler’s Rest for 16 years and prospered from the sale of horses and mules to southern cotton planters. But at the outbreak of the War of 1812, Shelby was once again called upon to serve a second term as governor of Kentucky. He organized and led an army of Kentuckians that defeated the British army at Thames,

Canada

in 1813. Shelby died on July 18, 1826 while sitting on his front porch at Travelers Rest. “Not only was Isaac Shelby important to Kentucky, but he was also instrumental in procuring our independence from Britain during the Revolutionary War, and in keeping the Liberty and Freedom that we enjoy in American today by being a part of the War of 1812,” said Hankla, a Jamestown, Ky resident.

This program is sponsored by the Painted Stone Settlers, Inc., an organization of living history interpreters based in Shelbyville, KY. Their goal is to research, record, portray and maintain history through such live presentations. “The Painted Stone Settlers are all about teaching history,” said President Kathy Cummings. When deciding upon whom to feature with this presentation, “Isaac Shelby, first Governor of Kentucky was an obvious choice. He was prominent not only in the settling of this land beyond the mountains, but also in the formation and governing of the state.”

This program is free and open to the public. It will begin with a brief presentation by the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) – Isaac Shelby Chapter and a Color Guard ceremony. Light refreshments will be available in addition to an art show and information about the Painted Stone Settlers and their involvement in local events.

To learn more about Mel Hankla’s performances, please visit www.AmericanHistoricServices.com. To learn more about the Painted Stone Settlers, Inc., please visit www.PaintedStoneSettlers.org. For more information on the Isaac Shelby presentation please contact Kathy Cummings at (502) 228-3746 or Helen McKinney at (502) 738-9435.