The Jacob Tevebaugh, Sr. House, located at 378 Escondida Road, Paris, KY 40361, is a historic two-story weatherboarded log dwelling constructed around 1800 along Green Creek in Bourbon County’s Clintonville area (BB-396, Historic Architecture of Bourbon County, Kentucky). Built by early settler Jacob Tevebaugh, Sr., the rectangular single-pen log structure adheres to a hall-parlor plan, characterized by two main rooms on the ground floor, with two exterior brick chimneys on stone foundations, one notably larger than the other. The house’s weatherboarded exterior and robust log construction reflect the practical yet enduring architectural style of early Kentucky frontier homes. Tevebaugh, a significant figure in the Clintonville community, contributed to its development by deeding land for the Republican Union Church, a multi-denominational meeting house established to serve the spiritual needs of the area’s diverse settlers.

In the early 19th century, the Tevebaugh farm was emblematic of Bourbon County’s agricultural economy. Tobacco, a labor-intensive cash crop, was a primary focus, thriving in the region’s fertile Bluegrass soil and driving much of the local economy. Sheep were raised for wool and meat, supporting both household needs and local trade, while cattle provided beef, dairy, and hides, contributing to the farm’s self-sufficiency and market engagement. These activities aligned with the broader agricultural patterns of Bourbon County, where smaller farms often balanced subsistence crops like corn and wheat with livestock and tobacco production. The labor for such farms frequently involved enslaved individuals, as slavery was integral to Kentucky’s early economy, particularly in the Bluegrass region.

The 1800 census confirms the Tevebaugh family’s residence in the home, with Jacob Tevebaugh, Sr., as head of household. A recently discovered family cemetery on the property contains markers for several family members, including Solomon (husband), Nancy (wife), Martha, Mary, and Frances, underscoring the family’s deep roots in the area. The discovery of the Lay slave family, documented in the 1870 census, highlights the property’s connection to enslaved labor. The Lay family’s presence post-emancipation suggests they may have remained in the area as freedpersons, possibly working as tenant farmers or laborers, a common transition for formerly enslaved individuals in Kentucky after the Civil War. Further research into Bourbon County probate records or deed books could potentially reveal more about the Lay family’s role on the Tevebaugh farm, though specific details remain limited in available sources.

The Republican Union Church, supported by Tevebaugh’s land donation, was a vital community hub in Clintonville, reflecting the area’s early religious diversity. Clintonville itself, originally known as Curtright Station and later Stipp’s Crossroads, was a thriving crossroads community by the mid-19th century, with fertile soil fostering agricultural prosperity. The church’s role as a shared space for various denominations underscores the collaborative spirit of early settlers like Tevebaugh.

Recent archaeological or genealogical surveys, such as those conducted by the Kentucky Archaeological Survey, may have contributed to the discovery of the Tevebaugh family cemetery and the Lay family’s historical presence, though specific reports on these findings are not publicly detailed. The Tevebaugh House remains a significant example of early Kentucky architecture and a testament to the region’s complex social and agricultural history, shaped by both free and enslaved communities.