Sign Up  /  Login

Colonel Abraham Depew LbNA #56436 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Nov 11, 2010
Location:
City:Hebron
County:Boone
State:Kentucky
Boxes:1
Planted by:ekhendrix
Found by: Mohmers
Last found:Jul 21, 2014
Status:FFaaFFm
Last edited:Nov 11, 2010
This box has been replaced as of 11/10/12. Good luck and make sure you replace it the same way you find it.

Colonel Abraham Depew is buried in Boone County and happens to be a historically preserved area. County folks have cleared a trail for people to come check out his tombstone. Drive back deep into the Northpointe Subdivision in Hebron, KY. The trail head is unmarked but is found on a public easement between 1726 and 1730 Bingham Circle. Park along the street, cross over the empty lot (field) and go through the trail that has been cut through the woods. The trail is approximately 1/2 mile long into the woods. It is a wide and grassy trail which easily guides you all the way to the tombstone. I have placed a letterbox about 10 feet from the stone under abig flat rock.
Please replace everything the same way you found it.
Happy letterboxing!

Not much is known about Colonel Abraham Depew. We know that he was a resident here in the early 1800s in what is now known as Boone County. He attended and was baptized in the GunPowder Church. He was a military leader of the Corn Stalk Militia*.
However, there is a legend that has been talked about for quite some time which explains how he became such a historic hero for Boone County.

Legend has it that back in the early 1800s a band of pirates used to terrorize the communities along the Ohio River. This group of bandits was lead by a man named Emo. He was known around the greater Ohio Valley as Captain Emo. He was also known for having a huge pet bird that rested on his shoulder. It was a black turkey vulture that he named Ree. He was named after the sound the bird made when the bandits attacked. Emo lead a group of bandits that he selected including outlaws, wild Indians, and runaway slaves. They would sail up and down the Ohio River by night pillaging homes taking personal goods including: furs, gold, tobacco crops, and other valuables. They were known to yell and shout intimidating their victims with animal like screams. Their attacks were quick lasting less than a minute before they would run for their boat and escape to a hidden location.

Colonel Depew heard rumors of their proximity to his residence and collected a group of his bravest neighbors. He gathered folks from the Gunpowder Church and members of his Corn Stalk Militia. They waited 3 days straight until Captain Emo and his bandits arrived. The fight occurred not far from Depew’s buriel site. Emo’s bandits came screaming into the community while Colonel Depews men blasted muskits in their direction. The bandits fired muskits and arrows back when Depew suffered a mortal wound. With his last bit of life he reached up and fired a mortal shot into the chest of Captain Emo. His bandits retreated and were never heard from again. They also never found Captain Emo’s body. The colonel was buried in 1820.

Some folks say that the legend is simply a myth. However, if you’re ever around those woods that lead to the river during the evening hours, you will hear the wild dog like screams for about a minute, and then the sounds vanish. Some say its wild coyotes. Some say it’s the ghost of Captain Emo and his fallen comrades. If you look up during the day you will also see turkey vultures circling around as if they are looking for their lost leader.

You might also wonder why the street that leads closest to Colonel Depew’s grave is called Emory Court. It could be a combination of ‘Emo’ and ‘Ree’ reaching their ‘Court’ judgement from the honorable and brave Colonel Abraham Depew.

*Cornstalk Militia: This militia was created by our government to protect small communities from indian attacks. Named Cornstalk due to many men in this particular militia carried cornstalks during practice drills b/c they didn't have rifles.