Matthew Walton

• American

Matthew Walton, a native of Halifax County, Virginia, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, distinguishing himself at the Battle of Kings Mountain, which was considered the turning point of the American Revolution. After the war, Walton was in Kentucky surveying lands, permanently settling at the site of the cottage. Walton's fees were paid in land, thus he accumulated a vast amount of acreage. In 1785 Walton was elected to represent Nelson County in the Virginia legislature. He was elected again from Nelson County to serve as a delegate to the 1792 State Constitutional Convention in Danville, which led to the adoption of a constitution and the formation of Kentucky as a State. During this time Walton was a member of the Danville Political Club, that met in Danville, and was influential in forming the political opinions of the Commonwealth. After the State was formed, Walton was elected to the Kentucky General Assembly. He wrote and introduced one of the first bills to the assembly which provided for the division of Nelson County into a new county, called Washington, named in honor of the first President. The bill was passed and Washington County was formed in 1792. Walton was appointed one of the eight justices of the peace for the county. At this time Walton's land holdings amounted to over 200000 acres, 45000 acres of which fell in the newly formed county. From 1795 to 1799 Walton served in the lower house of the legislature and in the state senate from 1800-1803. - NRHP, 24 August 1977