The 1883 Atlas of Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties includes a map of Hamilton Precinct businesses and residences. According to the map, the area of Big Bone along the main road boasted approximately nine buildings: George Clayton residence, Big Bone Hotel, C.A. McLaughlin residence, Dr. John A. Stevenson residence, T.M. Rich residence, Dr. S.M. Adams residence, Dr. J.A. Wood residence, and two unnamed residences (Griffing 1883).
George Clayton owned a house along Gum Branch Road northwest of the springs at Big Bone. The 1880 US Federal Census details his occupation as “Serving Machine Age” potentially indicating skills related to a mechanic. He lived with his wife, Martha (b. 1837) and their six children: William (b. 1860) and Archable (b. 1866) who by that time were able to help as farmhands, Mary (b. 1868), Minnie (b. 1871), George (b. 1873), and John B. (b. 1876). The Clayton residence is no longer extant (US Federal Census 1880; Griffing 1883).
Charles Alfred McLaughlin (1818-1904) of Covington, Kenton County, Kentucky was detailed in the 1860 US Federal Census as being a merchant living with his wife, seven children, and two servants. His wife, Ann Hamilton Ball (1824-1901) bore eight children: William Walter (1844-1903), John (b. 1845), Charles (1847-1915), Clara (b. 1850), Edward Ball (1852-1911), Emogin (b. 1854), Lucy (b. 1857), and Lou (b. 1859). Shortly after the 1860 Census, McLaughlin purchased land at Big Bone and began operation of the newly renovated hotel. By 1870, the US Federal Census lists the younger Charles as a 23-year-old farmer also living in Big Bone (Griffing 1883; US Federal Census 1860-1870).
The 1880 US Federal Census also indicates that at one time, Edward B. McLaughlin was keeping the hotel. The 1883 Atlas shows the residence of C.A. McLaughlin immediately to the east of the Big Bone Hotel. He resided there with his wife, Camelia who kept house, and a domestic servant, Frannie Evans. The McLaughlin residence is no longer extant and appears to have been demolished in the mid-twentieth century (Griffing 1883; US Federal Census 1880; Historic Aerials).
Aside from the hotel industry in Big Bone, there were three doctors who practiced in the area in the early 1880s. Dr. John E. Stevenson operated a hotel for invalids in Big Bone near the resort. After acquiring his medical license in 1845, he first lived in Covington and served as a City Commissioner. Following the Civil War, he moved south to work at some of the hotels built at Big Bone. He built his home ca. 1870, opening it to “those who visit these springs for cures.” His home was built east of the hotel closer to the main road. The 1883 Atlas notes that Stevenson was a physician with 38 years of experience and that he cared for those who visited the springs to cure ailments. The Dr. John E. Stevenson House is one of the few buildings extant from the historic period of Big Bone and listed on the NRHP in 2000 (Taylor 2000; Griffing 1883).
Directly east of the Stevenson house, the 1883 Atlas reveals the residence of T.M. Rich. There is a Thomas Rich living in the Big Bone area according to the 1870 and 1880 US Federal Census. In 1870, Rich (b. 1808) was a 62-year-old farmer who lived with his wife Martha (b. 1810) and their three children: Martha (b. 1840), Joseph L. (b. 1843), and William O.B. (b. 1849). Historic aerial imagery reveals that the Rich residence was demolished sometime between 1970 and 1993 (US Federal Census 1870-1880; Historic Aerials).
Doctor S. M. Adams resided near Big Bone along Big Bone Road to the northeast of the springs. He lived to the east of Dr. Stevenson with his wife Mary at the current northeastern intersection of Beaver Road and Big Bone Road. The 1870 US Federal Census notes that Dr. Adams lived in Big Bone and practiced medicine. The Adams residence is no longer extant (Griffing 1883; US Federal Census 1870; Historic Aerials).
Dr. John A. Wood also practiced medicine at Big Bone Springs. His residence was located on the south side of the road, close to present-day Gum Branch Road. He lived in Big Bone with three children: Cornelius (b. 1860), Martha D. (b. 1862), and Horatio A. (b. 1865). Dr. Wood advertised his specialty in treating chronic cases at his office in Big Bone. The Wood property is no longer extant and appears to have been demolished sometime in the early to mid-twentieth century (Striker 2010:107; US Federal Census 1870-1880; Historic Aerials).
The greater community of Big Bone also boasted two churches: Big Bone Baptist Church and Big Bone Methodist Church. The Big Bone Baptist Church was organized ca. 1943 approximately four miles north of the springs at Big Bone. It was built on land donated by General John Wallace and Thomas Huey and was the first church constructed in the area. The building was a red brick meeting house with white trim and shutters. The original church appears to be no longer extant, as the current church is a mid-twentieth century building that has undergone modern additions and alterations (BCPL 2018a; Big Bone Baptist Church).
The Big Bone Methodist Church was first organized in 1887 in a barroom under the ministry of Reverend George Froh, a German veteran of the Civil War. The building was constructed in 1888 in the Gothic Revival style. The local social organization of the Oddfellows assisted with its construction and as a result, the two-story building, in addition to the first story sanctuary, contained an upper story meeting space for the Oddfellows organization. The Big Bone Methodist Church is one of the few buildings extant from the historic period of Big Bone and was listed on the NRHP in 1988 (KHC 1979:89–90; Gibbs 1986).
The 1883 Atlas also reveals a homestead along Big Bone Creek to the east of the springs owned by S. Baker. Stewart Baker (1810-1886) was born in Montgomery County, Kentucky. By 1850, he was living in Boone County with his wife, Elizabeth (1810-1882) and eight children: George Washington (1832-1906), James Milton (1834-1853), William Harrison (1836- 1901), Sally Ann (1839-1870), Edwin H. (1840-1911), Lucy Ellen (1843-1925), Mary Jane (1846-1897), and Zachary Taylor (1848- 1906).
The 1860 US Federal Census lists the Baker family as residing in Walton where Baker worked as a farmer and by 1870, his residence fell within the community of Big Bone. By 1880, he and Elizabeth lived with their sons Zachary and Harrison along with two granddaughters, Carrie and Leona, and two servants, Ed Cummons and Franke Seales (Griffing 1883; US Federal Census 1870-1880).
At the same time, Baker also had a family with a woman he enslaved, Rhett (Henrie) Connely. Together they had at least five children: Amos (Amis), Leon, Bonnie Annie Laura, David Richard, and Ida Dora. In 1870, she lived adjacent to Baker with four of their children, the two sons working as farm hands to the Baker property. By 1880, Amos still lived adjacent to Stewart with his wife, he was still employed as a farm hand and she kept house (US Federal Census 1870-1880).
The Baker farmstead appears to be extant until the 1960s, around the same time the land was purchased in order to create the Big Bone Lick State Historic Site. The only remaining component of the Baker property is the family cemetery in which many of the Baker family members are interred. The cemetery is adjacent to campground facilities located east of the visitor center (Historic Aerials).
