USA > Kentucky > Franklin County > Frankfort > A short history of Franklin County, Kentucky, prepared in compliance with the suggestion of the resolution of Congress in regard to the celebration of the centennial anniversary, and read at Lake Park, near Frankfort, Kentucky, on the Fourth of July, 1876 > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Two companies of volunteers were formed in Franklin county, and went to the Mexican war in 1846. One, Co. C, of the First Kentucky Cavalry, commanded by Captain B. C. Milam, with Jos. H. D. McKee, First Lieutenant, R. D. Harlan, Second Lieutenant, and G. R. Davidson, Third Lieutenant. The other company belonged to the Second Kentucky Infantry, and was commanded by Captain Frank Chambers, with James Monroe, First Lieutenant, Wm. Robinson, Second Lieutenant, and Henry Long, Third Lieutenant. The two companies left Louisville, where they rendezvoused in July, 1846, and many of them fell at the battle of Buena Vista.
On the 20th of July, 1847, the remains of the Kentucky soldiers who fell in the Mexican war were interred in the cemetery at Frankfort. Eleven volunteer military companies, besides several hundred of the returned soldiers of the Mexican war, and twenty thousand people, took part in the impressive ceremonies. Col. Theodore O'Hara composed his " Bivouac of the Dead" for this occasion, and read it as part of the ceremonies. In 1848 the remains of the brave Kentuckian, who were victims of the horrible River Raisin mas- sacre were interred there with like ceremonies.
A line of telegraph from Maysville to Nashville, Tennessee, by way of Lexington, Frankfort, Louisville, Bardstown, and Bowling Green was erected in 1847. On February 13, 1849, Gen. Zachary Taylor, then on his way to Washington to be inaugurated as Pres-
7
FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY.
ident of the United States, visited Frankfort. He was received with distinguished consid- cration by the Governor and Legislature, and with great enthusiasm by the citizens of Franklin ; but his principal object in visiting Frankfort was to take another look at the old school-house where he received his education, and to thank his old teacher, Kean O'Hara, who was still living at Frankfort.
The Farmers' Bank of Kentucky was established February 15, 1850.
The State Military Monument, in the Frankfort Cemetery, was erected on the 25th of June, 1850.
The third Constitution of Kentucky was adopted by a convention held at the Capital on the IIth day of June, 1850
In 1851 the railroad between Louisville and Frankfort was completed, and the suspension bridge over the Kentucky river at Frankfort was erected.
The Capital Ilotel was first opened to the public on the first of December, 1854.
The Asylum for Feeble-minded Children, on the hill east of Frankfort, was erected in 1860. The Second State Agricultural Society was organized at Frankfort in 1856, with Brutus J. Clay, President, Robert W. Scott, Corresponding Secretary, and Wm. Mitchell, Treasurer. Franklin county was well represented in both armies in the late war. A great many of her citizens went off to other places of enlistment on the Union side early in 1861, while those who joined the Confederate Army, went singly or in small parties to camps in Tennessee. Captains Daniel Garrard. Robt. B. Taylor, Jackson, and Estep, raised a com- pany of infantry each in Franklin, and Capt. James R. Page a company of cavalry, all for the Union army. While Captains Ben. Monroe, Wm. C. Actons, each raised a company of infantry, and Capt. Alex. Grant, a company of cavalry, for the Confederate Army.
In the fall of 1862, the Confederate General Bragg took possession of Frankfort and inaugurated Hon. Richard Hawes Provisional Governor of Kentucky.
Hon. John J. Crittenden, one of America's greatest statesmen, and Franklin county's most distinguished citizen, died on the 26th of July, 1863.
On the 10th and IIth of June, 1864, Lieutenant Colonel Pryor's Confederate cavalry (part of Morgan's) made two unsuccessful assaults upon Frankfort and the fort, which was defended by Col. Geo. W. Monroe, with 250 regular troops and militia.
S. Thomas Hunt, a young lawyer from Maysville, Kentucky (captured on his way to the Confederate army), Thos. Lafferty, a political prisoner, and two others (names not ascer- tained), were taken by a military escort from the Lexington jail to Maj. Hunt's pasture in South Frankfort, and shot, in obedience to Gen. Stephen G. Burbridge's order that for every Union man killed by guerrillas, four guerrillas must be publicly shot on the spot. Robert Graham had been killed near Peak's Mill.
In 1870, October 3d, a large portion of Frankfort was destroyed by fire.
The foregoing is a brief sketch of some of the most important events that have happened in Franklin county since its settlement by the Anglo-Saxon race. Comparatively little of her land is not susceptible of cultivation. The crops raised for exports are : Corn, wheat, rye, barley, hemp, tobacco, &c. Much attention is paid to the raising of fine blooded stock and to horses, mules, cattle, sheep, Angora goats, and hogs for market.
The manufacture of whisky, beer, lumber, cotton yarns, hemp-bagging, furniture, barrels, paper, and flour, &c., is carried on very extensively in this county.
The population of Franklin county was 5,078 in 1800; 8,013 in 1810; 11,024 in 1820 ; 9,254 in 1830; 9,420 in 1840; 12,462 in 1850; 12,694 in 1860 ; and 15,300 in 1870.
The population of Frankfort was 628 in 1800; 1,099 in 1810; 1,617 in 1820; 1,987 in 1830; 1,917 in 1840; 3,308 in 1850; 3,702 in 1860; and 5,396 in 1870.
There were 1,692 white males over 21 years of age in Franklin county in 1846, and 2,080 in 1870. There were 2,819 children between the ages of six and twenty in 1870.
Franklin's tobacco crop in 1870 was 304,455 pounds; hemp, 193,200 pounds ; hay, . 1,203 tons ; corn, 450,550 bushels; wheat, 31,388 bushels ; barley, 259 bushels ; horses, 3,633 ; mules, 518 ; cattle, 4,303 ; hogs over six months old, 4, 566.
The value of taxable property in the county in 1846 was $4,004,223, and in 1870, $4,923, 176.
The average price of land per acre in 1846 was $11 40, and in 1870, $20 47.
Several small streams of chalybeate water show themselves about Frankfort. Scanlan's Spring, at the Kentucky Military Institute, was long a place of summer resort for invalids ; valuable medical salts have been made from the water. Faught's old Sulphur Spring, on
8
'A SHORT HISTORY OF
Benson creek, not far from the railroad, was formerly much resorted to. A small but never failing stream of black sulphur water rises from a bottom on Flat Creek.
Magnesian water and a reservoir of inflammable gas were reached by deep boring at Stedman's Mills on Main Elkhorn creek. All the wells in the valley at Frank;ort have a mineral flavor.
Small veins of lead, imbedded in limestone, have been found in the bed of F'at Creek ; also on the banks of North Elkhorn ; a considerable quantity of fine lead ore was obtained in 1867. A grey limestone, frost and fire proof, and excellent for building purposes, is found on the railroad five miles east of Frankfort.
. The Kentucky river marble is a most beautiful building material. It is a peculiar smooth-textured, dove-colored limestone, with disseminated specks and veins of white cal- careous spar, and by some is termed a birds'-eye limestone. The principal beds are twenty feet above low water in the river, where the marble is from eight to twelve inches thick, and thirty-four feet higher up it ranges from eight to eighteen inches.
The county of Franklin has always enjoyed the best educational advantages. Among the celebrated schools were Rev. Phillip Fall's Female Seminary, located two and one half miles northeast of Frankfort, Mr. Kean O'Hara's and Mr. B. B. Sayre's High Schools for young men, and Rev. John R. Hendrick's High School for young ladies, all situated in Frankfort; also the Kentucky Military Institute, located six miles south of Frankfort. At the present day Franklin has three high schools, besides the Kentucky Military Institute; and the Frankfort Public School is one of the finest in Kentucky.
DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS.
A history of the county would be incomplete without allusion to some of its distinguished citizens, many of whom have been intimately connected with the history of the State, and more than one becomes eminent in the history of our country.
The seat of government of the State being at Frankfort, all of the Governors, State officers, and Judges of the Court of Appeals, have resided here during their several terms of office, and many of them have, at the end of their term, continued their residence here. The holding of the sessions of the Court of Appeals at this place attracted many of the ablest lawyers of the State to the Franklin county bar.
The limit of this short notice will not allow space to name all, by any means, who are deserving of mention ; but the following contains the names of those who were promi- nently connected with the history of the county prior to the late civil war.
Harry Innis, one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of the District of Kentucky from 1784 to 1785, and Judge of the United States Court for the district of Kentucky from 1787 to 1816.
John Brown, twice a Representative and three times a Senator in the Congress of the United States.
Thomas Todd, after holding many minor offices of trust, was Judge of the Court of Ap- peals of Kentucky in ISO1 and Chief Justice in 1806 and Judge of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1807 to IS26.
Ilarry Toulmin was Secretary of the State of Kentucky from 1796 to 1804 under Gov. Garrard.
Isham Talbott, member of the Kentucky Senate from 1812 to 1815, and Senator in Con- gress of the United States from 1815 to 1825.
Geo. Madison was State Auditor from 1796 to 1816 and Governor of Kentucky in 1816. Geo. M. Bibb was Judge of the Court of Appeals of Kentucky in ISO8; Chief Justice in 1809. Chief Justice again in 1827 ; twice Senator in the Congress of the United States from ISII to 1814, and from 1829 to 1835 ; Chancellor of the Louisville Chancery Court from 1835 to 1844, and United States Secretary of Treasury under President Taylor in 1844-'5.
Humphrey Marshall, sr, United States Senator from 1795 to ISO1; member of the Kentucky Legislature from Franklin county from ISOS to ISog, and author of Marshall's History of Kentucky.
William Littell, Reporter of the Court of Appeals and compiler of the Statute Laws of Kentucky.
Martin D. Ilardin, major in the war of 1812; Secretary of State under Gov. Shelby from IS12 to 1816, and United States Senator from 1816 to ISI7.
John J. Marshall, Representative of Franklin county in the Kentucky Legislature in IS15 ; State Senator from 1820 to 1824, and Court of Appeals Reporter from 1829 to 1832.
9
FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY.
Charles S. Todd, Colonel on the staff of Gen. Harrison in the war of 1812; Secretary of State under Gov. Madison in 1816; Representative of Franklin county in the Kentucky Legislature in 1817, and Agent of the United States to Columbia.
Benjamin Mills, Judge of the Court of Appeals of Kentucky from 1820 to 1823.
Solomon P. Sharp, Representative in the Congress of the United States from 1813 to 1817, and Attorney General of Kentucky from 1823 to 1827.
James T. Morehead, Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky from 1832 to 1834; Governor from 1834 to 1836; Representative from Franklin county in the Kentucky Legislature in 1837 ; and United States Senator from 1841 to 1847.
John J. Crittenden, Representative from Logan county in the Kentucky Legislature for six successive sessions ; Speaker of the House of Representatives of Kentucky; elected to United States Senate ; resigned in 1819, and removed to Frankfort ; represented Franklin county in the Kentucky Legislature from 1825 to 1831; Speaker of the house again in 1831 -- '5; United States Senator again from 1835 to 1841; Attorney General under President Harrison ; again U. S. Senator from 1842 to 1848; Governor of Kentucky from 1848 to 1850 ; again Attorney General under President Filmore from 1850 to 1853; United States Senator for the fourth time from 1855 to 1861; and Representative in Congress from 1861 to 1863, the time of his death.
Thomas B. Monroe, Reporter of the Court of Appeals from 1824 to 1828 ; United States District Attorney, and Judge of the United States Court for the district of Kentucky from IS35 to 1861.
Charles S. Morehead, Representative in the Kentucky Legislature from Nelson county from 1827 to 1831 ; one of the compilers of Morehead & Brown's Statute Laws of Ken- tucky ; Attorney General of Kentucky from 1332 to 1837 ; Representative of Franklin county in the Kentucky Legislature from 1838 to 1844 ; three times Speaker of the House ; Representative in Congress of the United States from 1847 to IS51 ; and Governor of Kentucky from 1855 to 1859.
Mason Brown, one of the compilers of Morehead & Brown's Statute Laws of Kentucky ; circuit judge from 1839 to 1848, and Secretary of State under Governor Morehead from 1855 to 1859.
James Harlan, Representative in Congress of United States from IS35 to 1539 ; Secre- tary of State under Governor Letcher from 1840 to 1844; Attorney General of Kentucky from 1849 to 1856; one of the authors of Monroe & Harlan's Digest of Kentucky Decis- ions ; and one of the revisers of the Kentucky Code of Practice.
Owen G. Cates, Attorney General of Kentucky from 1838 to 1848.
William D. Reed, Representative of Franklin county in the Kentucky Legislature in 1846, and Secretary of State under Governor Owsley from 1847 to 1848.
Ben Monroe, Reporter of the Court of Appeals from 1840 to 1858, and one of the authors of Monroe & Harlan's Digest of Kentucky Decisions.
Jacob Swigert, Clerk of the Court of Appeals from 1826 to 1858, and afterwards Judge of the Franklin County Court.
Alex. H. Rennick, an officer in the war of 1812, and county clerk of Franklin county for half a century.
Gov. Robt. P. Letcher was a citizen of Franklin county from 1840 till his death, which occurred on January 24, 1861.
Among others who have been closely identified with the business interests of Franklin may be mentioned Achilles Sneed, Frank Blair, John M. Scott, John Harvie, Amos Ken- dall, Harrison Blanton, J. H. Hannah, Jeptha Dudley, Gen. Peter Dudley, Thomas S. Theobald, Orlando Brown, E. H. Taylor, A. W. Dudley, Phillip Swigert, A. G. Hodges.
The following list is incomplete, but as far as it goes it shows that Franklin county has furnished many distinguished and faithful public servants.
UNITED STATES SENATE.
John Brown, from Kentucky, 1792-'5. Jas. Brown, from Louisiana, 1812-'17; 1819-'24. Humphrey Marshall, from Kentucky, 1795 to 1801. George M. Bibb, from Kentucky, ISII-'14; 1829-'35. Isham Talbott, from Kentucky. 1815-'19; 1820-'5. Martin D. Hardin, from Kentucky, 1816-'17. John J. Crittenden from Kentucky, 1817-'19; 1835-'41-'42-'48 -'55-'61. James T, Morehead, from Kentucky, 1841-'47. B. Gratz Brown, from Mis- souri, 1860-'67. Frank P. Blair from Missouri, 1871-'77.
10
A SHORT HISTORY OF
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Christopher Gre rup, 1792-'7. Solomon P. Sharp, 1813'-17. James Harlan, 1835-'9. Charles S. Morehead, 1847-'51. Humphrey Marshall, 1849-'53; 1857-'9. John J. Crit- tenden, 1861-'3. Green Clay Smith. 1863-'6.
FOREIGN MINISTERS.
Charles S. Todd, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Russia 1841-'5. Robert P. Letcher, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Mexico 1849.
HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS U. S. GOVERNMENT.
Amos Kendall, Postmaster General, 183,-'40. Robert Johnson, Assistant Postmaster General. John J. Crittenden, Attorney General, from 1841 to 1850-'3. Geo. M. Bibb, Secretary of the Treasury, 1844-'5. Montgomery Blair, Postmaster General, 1861-'5.
JUDGE OF U S SUPREME COURT.
Thomas Todd, 1809.
ยท GOVERNORS.
George Madison, Governor of Kentucky, 1816. James T. Morehead, Governor of Ken- tucky, 1834-'6. John J. Crittenden. Governor of Kentucky, 1848-'50. Charles S. More- head, Governor of Kentucky, 1855-'9. B. Gratz Brown, Governor of Missouri, 1870-'4. Jos. M. White, Governor of Florida.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
James T. Morehead, of Kentucky, 1832 -'34.
JUDGES OF COURT OF APPEALS.
Harry Innis, Chief Justice, 1792. Thomas Todd, Chief Justice, 1806. Geo. M. Bibb. Chief Justice, 1809. Alvin Duvall, Chief Justice. 1862-'4.
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF KENTUCKY.
Geo. M. Bibb, 1816-'23. Solomon P. Sharp. 1823-'7. Charles S. Morehead, 1832-'8. Owen G. Cates, 1838-'48. James Harlan, 1849-'59. A. J. James, 1859-'63. John M. Harlan, 1863-'7. John Rodman, 1867-'75.
SECRETARY OF STATE OF KENTUCKY
James Brown, Secretary to first Governor, Shelby, 1792-'96. Harry Toulmin, Secretary to second Governor, Garrard 1797-1804. Martin D. Hlardin, Secretary to sixth Governor, Shelby, 1812-'16. Charles S. Todd, Secretary to seventh Governor, Madison, 1816-'20. Thomas B. Monroe, Secretary to eighth Governor, Adair, 1820-'4. Lewis Sanders, Secre- tary to eleventh Governor, Breathitt, 1832-'4. John J. Crittenden, Secretary to twelfth Governor, Morehead. 1834-'5. Austin P. Cox, Secretary to twelfth Governor, Morehead, 1835-'6. James Harlan, Secretary to thirteenth Governor, Letcher, 1840-'4. Wm. D. Reed, Secretary to fourteenth Governor, Owsley, 1844-'S. Mason Brown, Secretary to seventeenth Governor, Morehead, 1855 -- '9. Thomas B. Monroe, jr., Secretary to eight- eenth Governor, Magoffin, 1859 -- '63. Samuel B. Churchill, Secretary to twentieth Gov- ernor, Stevenson, 1867 -- '71. A. J. James, Secretary to twenty-first Gov rnor, Leslie, 1872 -- '3. Geo. W. Craddock, Secretary to twenty-first Governor, Leslie, 1873 -- '5. J. Stoddard Johnston Secretary to twenty-second Governor, McCreary, 1875.
AUDITOR OF STATE OF KENTUCKY.
George Madison, 1796 -- 1818. Thos. S. Page, 1851 -- '59. Grant Green, 1859-'63; W. T. samuels from 1863 -- '67. D. Howard Smith. 1867 -- '79.
TREASURER OF STATE OF KENTUCKY.
James H. Garrard, 1857 -- '65. Thomas L. Crittenden, 1866 -- '7. James W. Tate, 1868 -- 276. SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
Benjamin B. Smith, 1840 -- '2. H. A. M. Henderson, 1871 -- '5.
HIGH MILITARY OFFICERS U. S.
Francis P. Blair, Major General U. S. Vol., Mo., 1863 -- '5. Thomas L. Crittenden General U. S. Vol., Ky., 1862 -- '5. Wm. P. Sanders, Brigadier General U. S. Vol., Ky.,
1I
FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY.
#863 -- '5. D. W. Lindsey, Adjutant General U. S. Vol., Ky., 1864 -- '7. Geo. W. Monroe, Quarter-master General U. S. Vol., Ky., 1866, 1867.
HIGH MILITARY OFFICERS C. S.
Geo. B. Crittenden, Major General C. S. Vol., Ky. 1862 -- '5. Daniel Adams, Brigadier General C. S. Vol., Ky., 1862 -- '5. Thomas H. Taylor, Brigadier General C. S. Vol., Ky. 1862-'5.
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE FROM FRANKLIN COUNTY-SENATE.
Bennett Pemberton, 1800 -- '3 ; 1803 -- '7. Jno. Allen. 1807 -- '10. Isham Talbott, 1812 -- '14. Richard Taylor, 1814-'18. John J. Marshall, 1820-'24. Jeptha Dudley, 1824-'S. Benj. B. Johnson, 1841 -- '4. John W. Russell, 1846-'50. Thomas N. Lindsey, 1851 -- '3. Phillip Swigert, 1865 -- '9. Wm. H. Sneed, 1872 -- '3. Scott Brown, 1873 -- '7.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Bennett Pemberton, 1796-'97-'98. Anthony Crockett, 1796-'99. Thomas Montague, 1797. Wm. Murray. 1798. John Smith, 1799. ISO1. Otto Beatty, 1800. Baker Ewing, 1802. John Allen, 1803-'4-'5-'6. Humphrey Marshall, ISO8-'9. Geo. Adams, 1810-'11- '14. Martin D). Hardin, 1812-'18-'19 John Arnold, 1813. John J. Marshall, 1815, 1816, '33. Philip White, 1816. Geo. M. Bibb, 1817. Charles S. Todd, 1817-'18. Jas. Mc- Brayer. Wm. Ilunter, 1824. Lewis Sanders, jr., 1825-'6-'7-'8. John J. Crittenden, 1825-'29-'30-'31-'32. David White, 1826. James Downing, 1827 Jamison Samuel, 1834. John Harvie, 1835. Dandridge S. Crockett, 1836. James T. Morehead, 1837. Charles S. Morehead, 1838.'9-'40-'41-'2-'4-'53-'5. James Milan, 1843. James Harlan, 1845. Wm. 1 .. Reed, 1846. Landon A. Thomas, 1847. John A. Holton, 1848. James Monroe, 1849. Lysander Hord, 1850. Andrew Monroe, 1851-'3. John M. Hewitt, 1855-'7. Thomas N. Lindsey, 1857-'9. John Rodman, 1859-'61. R. C. Anderson, 1861-'63. II. M. Bedford, 1863-'5. James Harlan, jr., 1865-'7. S. I. M. Major, 1867-'9. D. M. Bowen, 1869, 1871. Harry I. Todd, 1871-'3. Ben. F. Duvall, 1873-'5. George W. Craddock, 1875-'7. From Franklin and Owen counties-William Gerald, 1819-'20-'22. John H. Todd, 1820. Edward George, 1822.
Frankfort, the Capital of the State of Kentucky, and seat of justice of Franklin county, is situated on both sides of the Kentucky river, and has a population of about six thou- sand.
The town lies in a beautiful valley surrounded by high hills and river bluffs. The buildings are mostly of brick and stone, and generally from two to three stories high. The Capital Hotel is built of Kentucky marble, occupies nearly two acres of land, three stories high, and cost $120,000. The State Capitol buildings, Penitentiary, Arsenal, the county public buildings are all very handsome structures. The Farmers' Bank is a mag- nificent illustration of the Kentucky marble as a building material. Frankfort has six churches (Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, and Reform or Chris- tian), besides two colored churches; also three banks, two steam printing establishments, three hotels, Odd Fellows' Hall, City Hall, twenty lawyers, twelve physicians, three high schools, and a splendid common school, two flouring mills, six saw-mills, a number of other manufactories and machine shops, and stores of all kinds.
The other towns in the county are Belle Point, Bridgeport, Forks of Elkhorn, and Peak's Mill.
The cemetery at Frankfort is ornamented with many beautiful and costly monuments, erected by the State over the graves' of her governors, statesmen, soldiers, &c. The State military monument stands on a little knoll about the center of the cemetery. This mon- ument is built of pure white marble on a gray granite base, and is about forty-five feet high. For beauty of design, and symmetry of form it is perhaps unsurpessed.
.
1 304509 S. C. 6478 - 8 56
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 0 014 613 642 4
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.