From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (main entry)
Lyon County (KY) Slaves, Free Blacks, and Free Mulattoes, 1860-1880
Lyon County, located in western Kentucky, was formed in 1854 from a portion of Caldwell County and is bordered by five counties. It was named for Chittenden Lyon, who was born in Vermont and came to Kentucky when he was a child. He was a Kentucky Representative and Senator, and a U.S. Representative. The county seat of Lyon County is Eddyville, which was established in 1798 by David Walker, a Revolutionary War veteran who had received a land grant. The town was named for the eddies in the nearby stream. Eddyville was first established as the seat of Livingston County in 1799, and was later the seat of Caldwell County, before being named the seat of Lyon County in 1854. The 1860 county population was 4,214, according to the U.S. Federal Census, excluding the slaves. Below are the numbers for the slave owners, slaves, and free Blacks and Mulattoes for 1860-1880.1860 Slave Schedule
- 195 slave owners
- 902 Black slaves
- 195 Mulatto slaves
- 34 free Blacks
- 10 free Mulattoes
- 1,306 Blacks
- 118 Mulattoes
- About 85 U.S. Colored Troops listed Lyon County, KY, as their birth location.
- 1,102 Blacks
- 390 Mulattoes