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The Hemp Stone

Hemp was a plentiful crop used mainly for rope making. It was also spun into a gunny sack like material which was used to make clothes for slaves.

A large hand-hewn stone called the Hemp Stone sits in the yard of the late Dr. John Bell, in recent years known as the home of the Bell Sisters. The Bell residence is southeast of Monroe City on Route W. The stone is said to weigh over a ton. It was turned by horses.

Joe Hardy’s great-grandmother Hornback, with the help of slaves, was in charge of making clothes from this durable cloth. One year she would weave enough cloth for pants for all the slaves; the next year she would weave enough cloth for shirts.

This was no small task. The Hornbacks owned a thousand acres and there were thirty-four slaves who helped with the farm work.