About the Authors

Madison "Maddie" Brasher-Evans is a senior at Murray State University. She is a double major in History and Theatre. Her interests include Shakespearean acting and The War of the Roses. In her time at Murray State University she has been a part of twelve productions that were produced by the Department of Global Languages and Theatre Arts. She hopes to become a middle school history teacher.

JuanCarlos (JC) Castellanos is a History Major with a minor in Criminal Justice he is a graduating Senior this May. He started attending Murray State University in January of 2018. He had moved with his family from Washington State where he transferred from Everett Community College. When he is not in class he works at KenLakes Food a local processing food plant. He plans to further his education in hopes of becoming a college professor.

Emily Combs is a history major at Murray State University, with a minor in Creative Writing. She has lived in or near the Jackson Purchase region for most of her life, and enjoys learning about local history. She hopes to one day share this interest with others through a career in museums.

Geoff Crippen had originally planned to attend Southern Illinois University, then later changed his mind and attended Murray State University in Kentucky. This was because he had grown up learning much about history and took interest to the point of wanting to know more. This led him to learning about the Chickasaw Nation and their place in the history of Western Kentucky, especially since there were individuals historically important such as Andrew Jackson. As a result of this, Crippen had learned so much and resorted to writing about how the Chickasaw Nation and their role in acquiring the Jackson Purchase area, or Western Kentucky. The main goal for Geoff Crippen in terms of writing is to present it in a manner that readers would understand and teach about the importance of history and what makes the subject unique.

I’m a senior at Murray State University majoring in Secondary Education. I plan to become a history teacher after graduation. I have lived close to the Jackson Purchase region all my life in Todd County, Kentucky. I always enjoyed going to Fort Donelson as a child and learning about the events that transpired there. As a hobby, I like to learn about the military and American Civil War.

Corey Dearing is a student at Murray State University who is a history/social studies certification major. After he graduates college, he plans on teaching at a high school in the Jackson Purchase region of Kentucky.

Ashleigh Deno is a Junior History/Social Studies Certification major at Murray State University. She began researching the Jackson Purchase in early 2019 when she started working at Wrather West Kentucky Museum researching the role of women in the area. She looks forward to graduating next year and beginning her career as a high school educator.

Chris Edwards is a resident of Marshall County. Many members of his family were involved in the Civil War on both sides which fueled his curiosity on his chosen topic. He is finishing up his Bachelors degree in History, Minor in Political Science at Murray State and will be graduating in May.

is a student of history & philosophy excited to graduate in May 2020 from Murray State University. She has been exploring the Jackson Purchase since her culture shock exposure to the region in 2016.
She enjoys spending long nights drinking wine & reprimanding injustices, is known to smile & dance spontaneously, & can make a fabulous salad.

Her future holds more research & endless adventures.

Colton McGrew is a student of History at Murray State University. Originally from Smithland, Kentucky, adjacent to the Jackson Purchase region, and raised in the Baptist Church, he chose to research the religion of the area for his senior research. Colton plans on graduating Murray State in May of 2020.

David Wallace is a Junior at Murray State majoring in History and Japanese. His research interest is in global history from the 19th century to the present with a focus on East Asian studies, but he is passionate about researching and writing local histories regardless of geography. He grew up in Lyon County but moved just outside the Purchase Area to Hopkins County in elementary school. David has spent the past two years working at Wrather West Kentucky Museum to write local histories that have been overlooked, forgotten, or hidden.