The Glacial Boundary in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky
by Wright, G. Frederick (George Frederick), 1838-1921
Page -90-
The Glacial Boundary in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky – Boyd county is in Northeastern Kentucky, bordering upon West Virginia, and upon the remarkable bend of the Ohio River where it receives the waters of the Big Sandy. Through the attention of Mr. John Campbell of Ironton, Ohio, and Mr. J. H. Means of Ashland, Ky.
I was assisted in making a pretty thorough examination of the region. Upon going back about two miles into Kentucky from the Ohio River, opposite Ironton, we find ourselves in a valley two miles wide, running parallel with the Ohio River, and two hundred and twenty feet above it.
This valley extends for many miles, reaching the river towards the west at Greenup, and continuing some miles, at least, above Ashland. It is known as Flat Woods. The level is remarkably uniform; and the hills upon either side of it rise about two hundred feet, with numerous lateral openings toward Ohio.
When upon the farther side, and looking northward, one sees the reeky bluffs of the old channel rising so like those facing the river itself that he can scarcely resist the illusion that he is in the present valley of the stream.
The supposed glacial phenomena consist of numerous water-worn pebbles of quartz and quartzite scattered along with the whole range of this old valley. Most of the pebbles are small, and perfectly rounded, though some were a foot or more in diameter; and one observed was about two feet and a half through, and only slightly worn.
These pebbles are not found upon the hills back from this channel, on the Kentucky side, nor, according to Mr. Campbell, who is a most competent witness, anywhere in Lawrence County, Ohio, back from the river. Plainly enough they are the result of water transportation.
Whether they were deposited at the very early period then Ohio flowed at the level of two hundred and twenty feet higher than now, and regularly occupied this old channel, or whether they were brought into place during the existence of the glacial dam which I have supposed at Cincinnati, I will not venture to say; though the latter theory would seem more in accordance with the facts.
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