Hey there,
Your question states: What geographical feature of the popular with transport people and goods from these into western Kentucky western Tennessee and beyond and Western expansion in North America.
Your correct answer would be (The Ohio River). Many people use this alot. To transfer goods and to use as a small transportation. They would basically have one person on one end of the river and then I believe they would have someone else on the other end to be there to perhaps catch the item. I think that's how it work. But it was for sure (The Ohio River).
Hope this helps.
~Jurgen