USA > Kentucky > Jefferson County > Louisville > The Louisville directory to which are annexed lists of the municipal and bank officers, list of the various societies and corporations, of Louisville, 1843-44 > Part 1
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GENEALOGY 976.902 L93coa
M. L
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
L
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02570 2074
GENEALOGY 976.902 L93coa
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/louisvilledirect00coll
NTO
THE LOUISVILLE DIRECTORY.
FOR THE YEARS 1843-'44
TO WHICH ARE ANNEXED LISTS OF THE
MUNICIPAL AND BANK OFFICERS,
LIST OF THE VARIOUS
SOCIETIES AND CORPORATIONS,
OF LOUISVILLE, . AND A LIST OF STEAM - BOATS ,
WITH THEIR TONNAGE, &C.
IN THE
WESTERN AND SOUTHWESTERN WATERS.
AN ADVERTISER, &c.
BY G. COLLINS.
A. S. TILDEN, PRINTER. 1813. " .
F 88352 ,186
64-617
1704933
ADVERTISEMENT.
The publisher in submitting the 4th edition of his Di- rectory of the City of Louisville, claims no indulgence for errors only those incidental to the compilation of such a work, and which are unavoidable, owing to the irregu- lar periods which the citizens take in changing their loca- tions, and some of them so frequently, that it would be impossible to keep up with the changes; but he flatters himself that the present is more full and complete than any of his former editions.
He has delayed the publication of his work far beyond the time at first intended, with a view of taking in the names of new citizens which have settled amongst us since he had commenced his labors, and, in fact, so rapid was the increase about the time he had completed the ma- nuscript for the press, that he thought it advisable (after consulting several of the most prominent citizens) to defer the publication for some weeks.
It will be seen that he has dispensed with the map owing to the small number of subscribers that wanted it; and in fact its size would have been so small that it would have added little, if any, interest to the work, and would haveincreased considerably the expense without profit to either reader or publisher.
His statistics, owing to the difficulty of arranging them in a form for the book , and the limited circulation they would have through'this medium at a distance, he has thought suf- ficientto allude to them in general terms, in his sketch of the City, but intends preparing them for the press, and will be published free of charge to the citizens; and he . would say. before closing this paragraph, that we have all the ellements in this place to build up one of the great- est cities in the Mississippi valley.
It may be thought by some that the sketch of the City. is too short. This might have been lengthened, but the question was whether the historical sketch would be more
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ADVERTISEMENT.
interesting than the article that has been substituted. In the opinion of those with whom he consulted, they thought not, and he coincided with them. To this article he would respectfully call the attention of his fellow citizens as suggesting projects of improvements, which, if carried into operation, the salutary influences it might have upon the interest and prosperity of the place would be incalcu- lable.
The miscellaneous matter, connected with the city, in- cluding a list of steam- boats, will be found as usual, under their proper heads. The Advertisements will be found indexed, to which he would respectfully refer his patrons and the public. Index back of the book,
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HISTORY AND PROSPECTS OF LOUISVILLE.
The natural advantages of the site occupied by the pre- sent City of Louisville, attracted the attention of the se- gacious men who were the first to visit it; and their pre- dictions of its after growth and importance have already been realized. The town was located by Captain Tho- mas Bullitt, who led the first exploring party to this sec- tion of the country in 1773. Ile mado a treaty of relin- quishment of the land, with the Indians, on his route, and laid out the town on its present site, but made no settle- ment on the land, and died before that was effected.
Small parties for trade and hunting visited the Falls and its neighborhood, but no further progress was made in locating the country until the expedition of Gen. Gec. R. Clarke, in 1778. In the spring of that year he em- barked, with a few settlers and pioneer soldiers, on the Monongahela, and occupied the season in his progress to Kaskaskia. In the fall of 1778 or early in 1779, the first rude stockade was raised, near the ravine at the present termination of Twelfth street. The first encampment was on Corn Island, so designated from the first crop of corn in the country raised on it in the season of 1779. The skill and address of Clarke in his isolated position, his accurate observation and knowledge of the character of the savages and his steady uncompromising energy in carrying out his plans and purposes, gave him a reputa. tion, and inspired confidence in his success that drew vo- lunteer soldiers and settlers to his encampment, at the Falls, from the settlement of Virginia and Pennsylvania, though exhausted by the war with Great Britain. In 1780, the first fort, that could be so called, was built; and in 1782 a large and more commodious one was constructed north of Main street and between Sixth and Eighth streets. This was named "Fort Nelson," in honor of the third Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Trading vovages above and below the Falls continued
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HISTORY AND PROSPECTS OF LOUISVILLE.
with, and preceded, the location of the town. The boats usually loaded at Pittsburgh until the settlements in Ken- tucky had sufficient substance to furnish a trade from themselves. The first voyage was of Col. Richard Tay- lor and brother from Pittsburgh to the mouth of the Ya- zoo, 1769. Another in 1776, by[Gibson and Linn, from Pittsburgh to New Orleans, and Messrs. Tardivean and Honori, 1782-3, left Redstone, now Brownsville, in the commencement of a trade to New Orleans, which; they subsequently continued from Louisville to the Spanish and French settlements of the Mississippi.
The Territory, now Kentucky, in its first explorations, fell within the indefinite and almost illimmutable boundaries of Fincastle county, of Virginia; but the Legislature of that Commonwealin by an act passed Dec. 31, 1776, formed the county of Kentucky. Nov. 1. 1780, they form- ed the counties of Jefferson, Fayette, and Lincoln, by the division of the county of Kentucky.
The county of Nelson was taken from Jefferson, Jan., 1785, by the description of "so much of Jefferson county 'as lies south of "Salt River," and Shelby in 1786, by a description too long for the purposes of this work; but the former boundaries show more clearly the territory that had its political and municipal centre at Louisville.
The Head Quarters of the Government, the first Land Of- fice to enter lands, and the original records were at this place. The subsequent divisions which narrowed down the county of Jefferson to its present limits, were made by the Legislature of Kentucky.
The public and private buildings of Louisville, have, until lately, been only worthy of notice in tracing the his- tory of improvements in the place. The first dwellings were mere log-huts.
The first building with a single roof, was built by John Campbell, in the fort at 12th street. The first brick house. in 1789, by Mr. Kaye on Market between 5th and 6th streets; the second by Mr. Eastin, on the N. side of Main street, below the corner of 5th street; the third by Reed at the southwestern intersection of Main and 6th streets.
The progress of the City of Louisville in wealth, busi- ness, and population has been rapid, and almost uninter-
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HISTORY AND PROSPECTS OF LOUISVILLE.
rupted. The following statement of the . increase of its population, speaks volumes in favor of the prosperity of the place.
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POPULATION OF LOUISVILLE WITH THE INCREASE AT VARI -. OUS PERIODS.
17SS
estimated census
30
€00 increase 1st 12 years
570
1810
1.375
2d 10 6. 775
1820
1,012
3d 10 66 2637
1830
10,336
4th 10
6324
1835
19.967
5th 5 9631
1837 and 'S computed 27,000 com'ted 6th 2
66 7033
1840
census
21,305 loss 7th 3 5697
1843
28,403 increase 8th 3 7098
1800
From this table, it will be perceived that the population regularly increased up to the disastrous period of 1838. Our city suffered intensely from the causes which afflict- ed every section of the United States, at that gloomy pe- riod in the affairs of the nation. A reaction has, how- ever, taken place, and since 1810 egy population has in- creased rapidly. Indeed there n'$ , -was a period in the history of Louisville so auspicious as the present. Our population is not only augmenting in a ratio never before equalled, but every kind of business, and every species of manufacturing, enterprise, and industry, are , prospering beyond all parallel in our history. All the elements which enter into the composition of the largest and most flourishing cities, are at present exerting themselves in fa- vor of Louisville, and nothing but an obstinate blindness on the part of her citizens as to their true interests, can prevent her from realizing the most brilliant destiny ever contemplated for her by her most enthusiastic friends.
As the erection of a bridge across the Ohio, and the im- provement of the navigation of the river at this place, have always been subjects of prominent interest to the ci- tizens of Louisville, we cannot better fill the space as- signed this sketch, than by placing before the public the following remarks and estimates in reference to these subjects.
HISTORY AND PROSPECTS OF LOUISVILLE.
The Ohio river above Louisville flows in a southwes- terly direction, but opposite to this city it makes a bend nearly at right angles toward to the northwest, and sweep- ing around in an irregular curve, resumes its genera! course below New Albany.
The falls of the Ohio occupy the upper part of this curve, and are occasioned by a ledge of limestone rock about a mile in width, which crosses in an oblique direc- tion the river bed, forming in fact a natural dam, the up- per and lower sides presenting. in the general outline, a nearly vertical face, and the water above and below being deep.
On the Kentucky side, and in the middle of the river, the water posses over the surface of the rock with a gentle descent, until it has arrived at the lower edge, and is there precipitated to the lower level in cascades between Rock Island and the Kentucky shore, and between Rock Island and Goose Island, through what are called the Kentucky and Middle Chutes; but on the Indiana side the descent is gradual throughout the whole distance, constituting rather a rapid than a fall, a rough channel having been worn through the entire width of the ledge of rock, into which the water flows through a slight depression at the head of the falls, and also through leturel channels from the high- er level of the middle chute.
The amount of fall in this channel (the Indiana chute) is about IS feet from the head of the falls to their termi- nation at the first whirlpool-leaving 6 feet fall from this point to Portland, in a distance of two miles, and perhaps two or three more from Portland, to the mouth of Falling Run, below New Albany, which may properly bo consi- dered as the final termination of the rapids below the main falls.
The obstruction to navigation occasioned by the falls of the Ohio, is by far the most important of any in the whole Mississippi valley; and it has accordingly been a desideratum from the earliest settlement of the country, and especially since the introduction of steamboats to de- vise the most proper means for removing or avoiding this obstruction. Our liniits, as well as the want of necessary information, forbid our entering into any details with re- gard to most of the various plans which have been pro-
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HISTORY AND PROSPECTS OF LOUISVILLE.
posed for effecting one or the other of these objects; but, at this particular time, since the late general survey of the falls, with a view to improving the navigation by the General Government, it has become a matter of serious interest to every individual residing in the vicinity of the falls to know something of these plans, and which is most likely to be adopted; and, also, to ascertain, if possible, whether some plan may not be urged upon the attention of Congress which will secure the lasting prosperity of this city, and of the adjacent cities and villages without interfering with the general benefit to be derived from any similar plan.
One of the earliest projects was that of a canal to be excavated in the rock.bed of the river on the Indian side --- the excavation to extend perhaps three quarters of a mile, and the rock thrown out to be made into a wall on the river side for the remaining distance. The canal was to terminato at the first whirlpool, where locks were to be constructed for passing boats.
A similar canal was also projected on the Kentucky side, to commence at the head of Corn Island, and termi- nate at Shippingsport.
Oa either bank of the river several routes have been surveyed for a canal around the falls --- and joint-stock companies have been incorporated and instalments paid in; but nothing further of importance has been done ex- cept in the case of the Louisville and Portland Canal; and even this enterprise would most likely have failed had it not been for the assistance of the General Govern- ment; so blind are men of capital to the real value of improvements of a public character, made in a section of country where the population and business are rapidly in- creasing, for although this canal cost more than a million of dollars, it has already probably paid the original capi- tal two or three times over.
The Louisville and Portland Canal is about two miles in length, extending from the harbor of Louisville to Port- land below the falls. It is excavated partly in solid rock the whole distance-in some places to the depth of 12 feet. On the bottomn it is 50 feet wide, and 200 feet wide at the top of the banks, which are carried above high water mark -the difference between high and low water at Louisville
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HISTORY AND PROSPECTS OF LOUISVILLE.
being about 40 feet. At the lower termination there is & guard lock and three lift locks in connection. The guard lock is 190 feet long in the clear-50 feet wide, and 45 feet high. The lift locks are each 183 feet long in the clear, 50 feet wide, and 20 feet high-the fall to be over- come being 24 feet. This canal was intended to accom- modate boats of every class, and at all stages of the water; but when completed, it was found that boats of an ordina- ry size could not pass through it at low water; and when the water was above a medium stage, they all passed over the falls as they always had done before. There was no magic in the canal which could attract them into its channel while the broad Chio was open before them.
After it was deepened, other difficulties appeared which, by occasioning accidents, delays. and extraordina- ry expenses, besides the exorbitant tolls, have excited from the first a deep feeling of dissatisfaction on the part of those engaged in the river trade. The danger to which boats are exposed on entering from above, owing to the ra- pid currents and concealed rocks near the mouth-the danger of grounding on the mud banks which accumulate at either extremity, rendering it often necessary to unlade a partof the cargo-the danger of having a wheel-house carried away by a projecting rock on the steep sides of the caual -- the necessity in some cases of cutting away some part of a boat before it can be admitted into the locks, and the impossibility of admitting others not above what is now considered a medium size-these are some of the dangers and vexations which have caused this feeling, and finally created a strong public opinion on the subject; which, having been made known to the Govern- ment, the proper steps have been taken to provide a re- medy.
On the Indiana side two routes have been located, both commencing a short distance above the steam-mili at Jef- fersonville, and terminating the one at the "Big Eddy," and the other at the mouth of "Falling Run." An esti -- mate it is understood will be made for a deep canal on both routes, and also for a lift lock canal, (a shallow ca- nal with locks at both ends.) to be supplied by a feeder from White river, (which would also furnish water power,) or by water pumped up by the force of the current at the
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HISTORY AND PROSPECTS OF LOUISVILLE.
falls. On the Kentucky side the present canal has been examined, and the expediency of its enlargement and ex- tension will be reported on. The bed of the river- has also been surveyed in order to ascertain the practicability and expediency for making a black water navigation by means of one or more dams and locks -- or of blasting out a chan- nel which would would unite all the water into one stream at low stages.
If the necessary facilities for a free and convenient na. vigation be alone considered, then is it more than probable that this latter plan will be recommended in preference to any other. There appears to be no serious difficulty in the way of its execution, and as to the expense, it could hardly be as great as that of any other plan. It may be objected by some that if the bed of the falls were lowered at this place, another fall would be created at the Grassy flats, or farther up; But should this happen, it would still be an improvement to divide the fall between the two places, neither of which would then be insurmoun- table.
Be this, however, as it may, the questions which the citizens of Louisville are called upon to answer is, whether they are prepared to see, if not this, perhaps some other plan carried into execution, which would destroy their al- ready shallow barbor, or materially injure their trade- or deprive them of the immense water power of the falls- that bright jewel, which once parted with, may never be recovered? Are they willing to sit still and see them- selves deprived of those a ivantages which the God of na- ture has so freely and abundantly bestowed upon them? Wetrust they will seriously consider the present crisis and act accordingly.
Now there is one plan which is believed to be entirely feasible, and which promises to unite all interests which are in any way concernel in this matter. This plan we shall briefly uctice. it is proposed in the first place to throw a dam across the f: fis as low down probably as the first or second lateral channel above Goose Island, in the interior of which is to be constructed a tunnel, with a sin- gle or double archway-thereby creating a head of water, anl at the same time forming a sabiqucous passage be- tween the Kentucky and Indiana shores, to answer in
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HISTORY AND PROSPECTS OF LOUISVILLE.
place of a bridge-the construction of which at this point, on account of the rapidity of the current, and the great rise and fall of the river, and other circumstances would be attended with almost insuperable difficulties.
The extremeties of the tunnel should of course come out above high water, and as it would not be advisable to. give the grade line of the roadway a quicker ascent in any partthan 1 in 20, or 5 feet to the 100, it would be necessary to extend the wings a considerable distance in- to each bank, in order to gain the requisite elevation.
The height of the dam should be such as to produce the largest amount of available water power, without increas. ing the expense of construction. It should, at any rate, be high enough to cover, with a sufficient depth of back water, the head of the falls at the lowest stage of water- so as to form an extensive basin in front of the city in which boats might move with freedom, and without the danger of accident from rocks or currents.
The outline of the dam should be lowest in the middle, in order to attract the main current, together with the drift-wood and floating ice to one point, which might be easily strengthened to resist their impulse-and also to enable boats to pass freely over the dam when the water is high enough, as well as to prevent any current near the shores at the entrance into the canal or locks on either side when the water is low.
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On the Indiana side a canal might follow up a ravine above the dam 400 yards, and passing under an arch near the extremity of the tunnel, and through a deep cut of 200 or 300 yards in length, enter the valley of Cane \ Run; between which and the river, there is a tongue of of land nearly half a mile in length; which being above high water, and having a rock foundation, would furnish a proper location for the locks, and also for a number of mills. Or, a depression or gateway being left in the crest of the damn for boats to pass over the tuunel, (the lowest part of which would of course be in the Indiana Chute,) a canal might be carried from the dam along the bank to any desirable termination. Or, the locks might be con- structed in immediate connection with the dam, without any canal-which would, perhaps, be the cheapest plan.
On the Kentucky side it would be more difficult for
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HISTORY AND PROSPECTS OF LOUISVILLE.
boats to pass over the tunnel, but a canal might easily be carried under an arch at the extremity, and along the river bank, to terminate perhaps at Shippingsport, or far- ther down. The present canal might also, by proper alte. . ratiens, te made to answer the purpose of passing boats of the largest size. With say 6 or & feet more water at low stages, the width of the water surface in the canal would be about 80 feet. Then if the locks were enlarged, and the canal made wider where it could be conveniently, boats would find no difficulty in passing through.
Let us now follow in imagination the construction of the proposed work in the different stages of its progress, and ascertain as near as may be the probability of its being feasible, economical, durable, and profitable.
The pinns being all completed, and the materials pre- pared -as soon as the water is low enough, a dam 4 or 5 feet high is made across the head of the Indiana Chute, and along the chain of low islands in the middle of the river, to throw all the water on the Kentucky side. A se- ries of arches are then constructed across the deep bed of the Indiana Chute to serve the purpose of a culvert or sluice-way, and which may be closed, when necessary, by sliding gates. On these arches the dam and tunnel is commenced and carried along one of the lateral channels before mentioned as far as the Middle Chute. The dam at the head of the Indiana Chute is then destroyed, and another one made across the changel on the Kentucky side-when the remainder of the dam and tunnel is com- pleted, and afterward the two wings, together with the ca- nals, locks, mill races, S.c. The work then is not only feasible, but may be constructed with every advantage of a dry foundation and free access to every part across the dry bed of the river-at least if all the water could be made to pass through the shuceway under a head of 10 or 15 feet -- which we do not doubt, as the openings taken together might, in fact, be made as large in section as the present channel at low water.
Suppose now the tunnel be made with a double archway similar in form to the Thames tunnel, and of like dimen- sions-each archway being 15 feet 6 inches from the car- riage path to centre of arch, and 13 fect 6 inches wide- the arch above being a semicircle three feet thick, and
N HISTORY AND PROSPECTS OF LOUISVILLE.
the lower part (of like thickness) formed of three seg. ments of a larger radius-the two archways uniting so as to form a middle wall between them three feet thick at the centre level, with cross arches occupying about one-third of the longitudinal section. The area of an average cross section of the stone work would then be about 31 yards, which multiplied by the distance across the river, say 1200 yards.gives 37,200 cubic yards for the solid content.
Suppose another arch of the same thickness, and of 30 feet radius be thrown over the tunnel, nearly touching the double archway in two places, and resting on the rock bed of the river, then an average cross section of this arch would be less than 13 yards, which, multiplied by 1200, gives 15,600 cubic yards.
Suppose the spaces between the outer arch and tunnel be filled with broken rock, gravel, and sind -- say 18,000 yards.
Suppose finally, the dam be paved with large slabs, le- vel on the the top 20 feet wide with, sloping sides making an angle of 30° with the horizon, and extending each way till they meet the river bed-requiring say 20,000 yards. Suppose the arches be laid in hydraulic cement, and the remainder be thoroughly grouted so as to become one so- lid mass-requiring say 6000 barrels of. lime, and 2000 cubic yards of sand. Then, as the stone for the arches can be purchased in the quarry for 123 cents per yard, and can be quarried in the form of rough voussoirs or rectangular blocks of any convenient size, for 37} cents per yard, and can be transported to the place where they will be wanted for 25 cents per yard, and can be laid for 50 cents per yard, the expense of the arches will be 52,000 vards multiplied by $1 25=866,000. The expense of filling with broken stone, gravel, and sand, as they are found on the river bed, 18000 yards at 25 cents == $4,500. The expense of filling the outside, and covering with large slabs 20,000 yards at an average of 50 cents per yard=$10,000. The expense of lime and sand-6,000 barrels of lime at $3 per barrel=$18,000-2000 yards of sand at 25 cents per yard-500, Total for the dam and tunnel $99,000.
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