
James Harrod: The Kentucky Pioneer and his Mysterious Disappearance
From Stories of Appalachia by Steve Gilly, Rod Mullins
April 18, 2026 · 17 min
About this episode
The episode explores the life of James Harrod, the founder of Kentucky's first permanent settlement, and the mystery surrounding his disappearance.
James Harrod was a soldier, a longhunter, an explorer and the man who founded Kentucky’s first permanent pioneer settlement. But in February 1792, the legendary Colonel Harrod walked into the woods and never returned. Today we tell the story of the man who founded Harrodsburg, Kentucky and the many theories surrounding his mysterious disappearance, including a possible connection to the fabled Swift’s silver mine. Be sure to subscribe to the Stories podcast so you don’t miss any of our stories. You’ll find us wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks for listening!
People in this episode
Hosts: Steve Gilly, Rod Mullins
Topics covered
- pioneers
- disappearance
- Kentucky history
- exploration
- settlement
- theories
Keywords
- James Harrod
- Kentucky
- Harrodsburg
- disappearance
- longhunter
- explorer
- Swift’s silver mine
Mentioned in this episode
Places: Kentucky, Harrodsburg, Swift’s silver mine
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