In 1818, Marcus Huling and Andrew Zimmerman were drilling salt wells along the South Fork of the Cumberland River on land leased from Martin Beaty when they struck oil. Attempts to market it downriver were not successful, so the oil was barreled and carted away for medicinal use. This was the first commercial oil well, and its production reached one hundred barrels daily. Martin Beaty first came to this area in 1817 and bought land on the South Fork. Besides operating salt works, Beaty served as state senator from 1824 to 1828 and in 1832, as representative in 1848, and was elected to Congress in 1833. He was twice a Presidential elector, served locally on the first Board of Common School Commissioners, died in 1856, and Beattyville in Lee County was named for his family.