Benjamin Logan
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Logan was an American
pioneer, soldier, and politician from Shelby County, Kentucky
. As colonel of the Kentucky County
militia (United States)
of Virginia
during the American Revolutionary War
, he was second-in-command of militia in Kentucky
. Logan was a leader in Kentucky
's efforts to become a state. His brother, John Logan
, was the first state treasurer of Kentucky.
, the eldest son of David (1706–1757) and Jane (McKinley) Logan. At fifteen, Logan's father died, and Benjamin inherited his father's 860 acre (3.5 km²) farm. He would marry Ann Montgomery in 1772, and they raised eight children.
In 1764, Logan saw service in Henry Bouquet
's campaign against the Shawnee Indians. In 1774, he was a lieutenant in Lord Dunmore's War. The next year he moved to Kentucky
, then still part of Virginia
, starting the settlement of St. Asaph's, near Stanford
, building Logan's Fort there.
In 1776, he was appointed sheriff
and justice of the peace
. During the Revolution, he was the second ranking officer in the Virginia militia for Kentucky County, as colonel
; and later became a general. He fought Indians north of the Ohio River
, under the command of George Rogers Clark
, as well as in Kentucky. Logan and Clark were in frequent disagreement over strategy.
After the Revolution, Logan was active in Kentucky politics, especially the campaign to establish it as a separate state. He served as the local representative in the Virginia House of Delegates
, from 1781 until 1787, where he first agitated for statehood for Kentucky.
In the fall of 1786, Logan led a force of Federal soldiers and mounted Kentucky militia against several Shawnee towns in the Ohio Country
along the Mad River
, protected primarily by noncombatants while the warriors were raiding forts in Kentucky. Logan burned the Indian towns and food supplies, and killed or captured a considerable number of Indians, including their chief
, who was soon murdered by one of Logan's men. Logan's Raid
and the death of the chief angered the Shawnees, who retaliated by further escalating their attacks on the whites, escalating the Northwest Indian War
.
Logan was one of those who called for the Danville
Convention, and was a delegate when they wrote the first Kentucky constitution in 1791 and 1792. After statehood, he served in the Kentucky state House of Representatives from 1792 to 1795. Logan later ran unsuccessfully for governor, in 1796 and 1800. In 1802, he died of a stroke at home, about 6 miles southwest of Shelbyville, Kentucky
, and was buried in a family plot there.
Logan County, Kentucky
and Logan County, Ohio
are named for him, as is the Benjamin Logan Local School District in Ohio.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pioneer, soldier, and politician from Shelby County, Kentucky
Shelby County, Kentucky
Shelby County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2010, the population was 42,074. Its name is in honor of Isaac Shelby, the first Governor of Kentucky. Its county seat is Shelbyville...
. As colonel of the Kentucky County
Kentucky County, Virginia
Kentucky County was formed by the Commonwealth of Virginia by dividing Fincastle County into three new counties: Kentucky, Washington, and Montgomery, effective December 31, 1776. Four years later Kentucky County was abolished on June 30, 1780, when it was divided into Fayette, Jefferson, and...
militia (United States)
Militia (United States)
The role of militia, also known as military service and duty, in the United States is complex and has transformed over time.Spitzer, Robert J.: The Politics of Gun Control, Page 36. Chatham House Publishers, Inc., 1995. " The term militia can be used to describe any number of groups within the...
of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, he was second-in-command of militia in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. Logan was a leader in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
's efforts to become a state. His brother, John Logan
John Logan (pioneer)
John Logan was a pioneer and politician from the U.S. state of Virginia and later, Kentucky. He participated in Lord Dunmore's War in 1774, serving under his brother, Benjamin. After moving to Kentucky County, Virginia, he took part in several expeditions against the Shawnee, including some led by...
, was the first state treasurer of Kentucky.
Biography
Benjamin was born in Augusta County, VirginiaAugusta County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 65,615 people, 24,818 households, and 18,911 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile . There were 26,738 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
, the eldest son of David (1706–1757) and Jane (McKinley) Logan. At fifteen, Logan's father died, and Benjamin inherited his father's 860 acre (3.5 km²) farm. He would marry Ann Montgomery in 1772, and they raised eight children.
In 1764, Logan saw service in Henry Bouquet
Henry Bouquet
Henry Bouquet was a prominent British Army officer in the French and Indian War and Pontiac's War. Bouquet is best known for his victory over Native Americans at the Battle of Bushy Run, lifting the siege of Fort Pitt during Pontiac's War.-Early life:Bouquet was born into a moderately wealthy...
's campaign against the Shawnee Indians. In 1774, he was a lieutenant in Lord Dunmore's War. The next year he moved to Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, then still part of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, starting the settlement of St. Asaph's, near Stanford
Stanford, Kentucky
Stanford is a city in Lincoln County, Kentucky, United States. It is one of the oldest settlements in Kentucky, having been founded in 1775. Its population was 3,430 at the 2000 census...
, building Logan's Fort there.
In 1776, he was appointed sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
and justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
. During the Revolution, he was the second ranking officer in the Virginia militia for Kentucky County, as colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
; and later became a general. He fought Indians north of the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
, under the command of George Rogers Clark
George Rogers Clark
George Rogers Clark was a soldier from Virginia and the highest ranking American military officer on the northwestern frontier during the American Revolutionary War. He served as leader of the Kentucky militia throughout much of the war...
, as well as in Kentucky. Logan and Clark were in frequent disagreement over strategy.
After the Revolution, Logan was active in Kentucky politics, especially the campaign to establish it as a separate state. He served as the local representative in the Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
, from 1781 until 1787, where he first agitated for statehood for Kentucky.
In the fall of 1786, Logan led a force of Federal soldiers and mounted Kentucky militia against several Shawnee towns in the Ohio Country
Ohio Country
The Ohio Country was the name used in the 18th century for the regions of North America west of the Appalachian Mountains and in the region of the upper Ohio River south of Lake Erie...
along the Mad River
Mad River (Ohio)
The Mad River is a stream located in the west central part of the U.S. state of Ohio. It flows from Logan County to downtown Dayton, where it meets the Great Miami River. The stream flows southwest from its source near Campbell Hill through West Liberty, along U.S...
, protected primarily by noncombatants while the warriors were raiding forts in Kentucky. Logan burned the Indian towns and food supplies, and killed or captured a considerable number of Indians, including their chief
Moluntha
Moluntha or Malunthy was a chief of the Shawnee people following the death of Cornstalk.-Struggle for the Old Northwest:Moluntha fought at the Siege of Boonesborough on the side of the British in 1778...
, who was soon murdered by one of Logan's men. Logan's Raid
Logan's Raid
Logan's Raid was a military expedition early in the Northwest Indian War. In the fall of 1786, under orders from George Rogers Clark, General Benjamin Logan led a force of Federal soldiers and mounted Kentucky militia against several Shawnee towns in the Ohio Country along the Mad River, protected...
and the death of the chief angered the Shawnees, who retaliated by further escalating their attacks on the whites, escalating the Northwest Indian War
Northwest Indian War
The Northwest Indian War , also known as Little Turtle's War and by various other names, was a war fought between the United States and a confederation of numerous American Indian tribes for control of the Northwest Territory...
.
Logan was one of those who called for the Danville
Danville, Kentucky
Danville is a city in and the county seat of Boyle County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 16,218 at the 2010 census.Danville is the principal city of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Boyle and Lincoln counties....
Convention, and was a delegate when they wrote the first Kentucky constitution in 1791 and 1792. After statehood, he served in the Kentucky state House of Representatives from 1792 to 1795. Logan later ran unsuccessfully for governor, in 1796 and 1800. In 1802, he died of a stroke at home, about 6 miles southwest of Shelbyville, Kentucky
Shelbyville, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,085 people, 3,822 households, and 2,549 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,333.5 people per square mile . There were 4,117 housing units at an average density of 544.4 per square mile...
, and was buried in a family plot there.
Logan County, Kentucky
Logan County, Kentucky
Logan County is a county located in the southwest area of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 26,573. Its county seat is Russellville...
and Logan County, Ohio
Logan County, Ohio
Logan County is a county in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 45,858. The county seat is Bellefontaine. The county is named for Benjamin Logan, who fought Native Americans in the area....
are named for him, as is the Benjamin Logan Local School District in Ohio.