Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. I, Part 49

Author: Collins, Lewis, 1797-1870. cn; Collins, Richard H., 1824-1889. cn
Publication date: 1874
Publisher: Covington, Ky., Collins & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452

USA > Kentucky > Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. I > Part 49

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).

684.969 29

611,165 80

507,890 44

729,188 42 699,292 14

522.754 78

286,509 79

$175,961 47 Expenditures.

000,000 00

+19,522 87

158,037 81

205,133 77

46,983 46 39,326 80

46,631 88

51,307 73

$153,009 35

$145,336 29

Deficit.

Surplus.

Feb. 23-Death, at Chicago, Ill., aged 66, of Rev. John H. Brown, D.D., a dis- tinguished Presbyterian minister; born March 26, 1806, in Greensburg, Green co., Ky .; pastor at Richmond, Ky., for 17 years, and of the McChord church at Lexington for 12 years ; removed in 1855 to Illinois,

preaching as long as his health lasted, 2 years at Jacksonville, 7 at Springfield, and nearly 2 at Chicago; was a preacher of great earnestness and decided ability. Dr. Brown's trial, in 1851-2-3, before the West Lexington Presbytery was one of the most celebrated and thoroughly contested in Ky. ecclesiastical history. It was on a charge of fraud, &c., in the sale of a bookstore; occupied the presbytery for 18 days, besides 41 days spent by a commission in taking testimony. Feb. 4, 1853, the presbytery, by 13 to 7, decided " the testimony insuffi- cient to sustain the charges," and resolved that Dr. Brown "has our undiminished confidence, as a man of integrity and ve- racity, and as a minister of the gospel," &c. In an arbitration of the case before Frank K. Hunt, Henry Bell and Benj. Gratz, they decided, May 27, 1851, that they "found nothing in the controversy which could be construed to impair the in- tegrity or good faith of Dr. Brown ;" but corrected some errors, for which provision was made in the written contract of sale, requiring Dr. B. to refund $483, with in- terest.

Feb. 23-Frightful accident on the Lou- isville and Cincinnati Short-Line railroad, 4 miles from Verona Station, Boone co .; a train goes through an iron bridge, 25 feet high ; 2 passengers killed and 53 wounded, of whom one dies.

Feb. 28-Legislature passes a resolution in relation to the death, Feb. 17, of Daniel Clark, of color, known as the "Ancient Governor"-who came to Frankfort with Gov. Clark in 1836 as his body-servant, and has thus remained attached to the gov - ernor's mansion and executive office ever since, now nearly 36 years-commending him as "a notable example to all men, white and black, of industry, sobriety, courtesy according to his station, and in- tegrity in office." Jan. 27-The senate, by 32 for and 2 against, passed a bill giv- ing him a pension of $1212 per month for life-he being " a very old and infirm man, not able to work or perform the full duties of said office any longer, and as an evidence of the appreciation in which Ky. holds his faithfulness and honesty, and of her unwillingness that he shall want for a sup- port ;" but his health was failing fast, and before the house acted upon it, he had gone to the land where all good governors go. He was a native African, and distinctly remembered his passage in the slave ship from the African coast to Charleston, S. C.

Feb. 28-The committee on military af- fairs in the house, in reference to the recent lawless outbreaks in Franklin county, re- port, recapitulating the outrages testified to, which they ascribe to "organized bands of outlaws who do not remain together, but gather for a special purpose, and quietly disperse when it is accomplished." In some cases, their vengeance was directed against men who had offended against the public peace, or were of dangerous char- acter or bad reputation ; in other cases they aggravated or extended existing evils, and

* Of this amount, there was borrowed from the sinking fund in 1861, $300,000; in 1867, $350,-

000,000 00

127,837 02

81,343 72

48,799 44

....

000,000,000

I ... 15

226

ANNALS OF KENTUCKY.

1872.

were guilty of outrages more gross than any they had attempted to put down. The committee see no necessity for a secret service fund ($50,000 has been suggested) or for a secret police. Some of the law- breakers are known to the officers of the law. The latter and the grand juries, with less diligence than the committe has shown would unravel many of the so-called Ku- Klux mysteries, and find sufficient evidence for more indictments. "The present laws are sufficient to cover all the offenses of which these bands are guilty, except that of sending anonymous threatening letters, or posting threatening notices, and intim- idating quiet and law-abiding people by riding about armed and disguised." For these they recommend additional legis- lation.

Feb. 28-A communication from the au- ditor to the house shows the number of judgments obtained against revenue offi- cers since 1861 (all but 13 in or after 1865) is 152, and the amounts thereof $368,631, increased by damages, interest, costs, and attorney general's fees to $464,561; on which $357,718 had been paid, and $106,842 remained unpaid.

March 1-Legislature authorizes the appointment of two sworn official phono- graphic reporters, for the four Louisville courts, to take short-hand reports of evi- dence and cases, when requested by either party or directed by the judge ....... 2-Ap- propriates $45,000, to extend the walls of the penitentiary, and erect a prison-house and spinning-walk for female convicts ..

5-Passes act for the benefit of common schools ... Directs monuments to be erected over the remains of Gov. John Breathitt, in the cemetery at Russellville, Logan co., and of Gov. John Adair, when removed from Mercer co. to the state cem- etery at Frankfort ......... 8-Foot passen- gers over any bridge in which the state has an interest exempt from toll ........ 9-"For the protection of sheep in the counties of Nicholas, Gallatin and Fleming," all dogs therein taxed $1 for the first on each place, and $5 for each additional one-the proceeds to be applied to build school- houses or pay teachers ........ 8-The law of March 10, 1871, so amended, that 5 com- missioners shall be nominated by the gov- ernor and court of appeals jointly, and confirmed by the senate-2 to revise t' s statute laws, 2 to revise the codes of prac- tice, and the 5th to assist, and to act as umpire ......... 13-Made unlawful to take fish in Ky. river with a seine, or set-net, or gill-net; and from April 1 to May 31 (the spawning season) to use a gaff, or gig, or trap ; under penalty of $10 to $30 finc ...... 13-Made finable from $50 to $500, with 3 to 6 months imprisonment, for any person to break the seal of or open the poll-books until the meeting of the comparing board ... 18-Law of March 16, 1869, for supplying public books to destitute counties repealed ; except as to the counties not yet supplied, Boone, Bourbon, Cascy, Crittenden, Frank- lin, Grayson, Jackson, Lyon, Mason, Perry

and Wolfe. [A report from the secretary of state shows about $55,000 paid to Robert Clarke & Co. of Cincinnati for public books in place of those "lost, worn out, or de- stroyed."]. .26-The sinking fund to be deposited in such bank or banks in the state as will pay highest interest, not less than 5 per cent ........ Vice chancellor for the Louisville chancery court to be elected ...... 27-Fine of not over $100, or imprisonment not over 30 days, for willfully destroying or injuring grave or tomb stones, or the graves, or the inclosure around same or the flowers or shrubbery therein ......... $50 of wages of laborers who are housekeepers exempt from attachment or garnishee ...... 32 pounds of cleaned or shelled oats to be a legal bushel Elections for repre- sentatives in congress to be by ballot here- after ...... 28-$250 appropriated for library for the penitentiary . . Pauper lunatics, when, as now, they can not be received in the asylums for want of room, to be taken care of by a committee (appointed by court ) who shall be paid therefor at rate of $200 per annum In Campbell co., a "law- ful fence," if of rails, brick, stone, plank, or picketing, must be strong and sound, and 4 feet high ; or it may be a ditch 3 feet deep and 3 feet broad, with a hedge 2 feet high, or if of said other material then 212 ft. high on the margin of the ditch-the hedge or fence so close that cattle or other stock cannot creep through ... Unlawful to drive deer with dogs, unless owner of lands consent ........ Streets of a city or town may, on certain conditions, be extended into the country ......... Before assessing, assessor shall administer oath; sheriff shall sell land to pay taxes, not paid by Nov. 1, and give certificate of sale, but the land may be redeemed within two years ... .... .. Mili- tary claims already audited by the quar- termaster general, to amount of $4,768, ordered to be paid .. . Auditor is author- ized, where proper, to remit all damages on 3-years' delinquent tax-payers, except 10 per cent. per annum interest and the agents' commissions.

March 1-The senate, after striking out the proposed state appropriation of $50,000 and also of $25,000, passed, by 29 to 2, the act to incorporate the Central Kentucky Inebriate Asylum in Boyle co. It passed the house, and was approved by the gov- ernor, March 28.

March 4-The first train of cars from Maysville to Paris reaches the latter place, 21 years after the Maysville and Lexing- ton railroad was begun.

March 8-James McNeale, an old man, murdered near Shelby city, Boyle co., while defending his wife from outrage by a negro or negroes. Two negroes were imprisoned in Danville, on the charge, and threats of lynching rumored. A large number of negroes paraded the streets, declaring that the accused should not be lynched, but have a fair trial. Tom Guthrie was con- victed, April 20, and sentenced to be hung July 5 ; after sentence, made a full con- fession of guilt.

用心

1872.

ANNALS OF KENTUCKY.

227

March 6-Swigert's block, 5 stores with dwellings over them, burned at Frankfort; loss $40,000 ; an infant burned to death.

March 8-Bourbon Lodge No. 226, of Good Templars, pass resolutions " hailing with joy the noble example set by Gov. Preston H. Leslie, in excluding all intox- icating liquors from his sideboard, at a recent reception," &c.

March 9-First locomotive crosses from Ohio to Ky. on the Cincinnati and New- port railroad-bridge.

March 13-Republican state convention at Louisville ; J. B. Stansberry (colored) temporary secretary. Because a pledge to support the nominees of the Philadelphia convention was demanded, and because also of what they deemed the uncourteous treatment of one of their number by the chairman, 14 (one colored) of the 17 dele- gates from Kenton co. withdrew. Dele- gates selected in favor of Gen. Grant's re- election as president.

March 14-The governor and the judges of the court of appeals jointly nominate and the senate confirms Richard A. Buckner, jr., of Lexington, and Joshua F. Bullitt, of Louisville, as commissioners to revise the codes of practice ; Edward I. Bullock, of Hickman co., and Elijah C. Phister, of Maysville, to revise the statutes ; and Geo. W. Craddock, of Frankfort, to assist in the labors of both revisions, and act as umpire at all the joint meetings of all said com- missioners. Judge Phister declined, and, March 28, Robert T. Davis, of Paris, was appointed ; who also declined, and James Monroe Nesbitt, of Owingsville, Bath co., was appointed.

March 14-Suspension of the Louisville Daily Sun.

March 18-Legislature lays off the state into 10 congressional districts, thus :

1st-Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Crit- tenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Living- ston, Lyon, McCracken, Marshall, and Trigg counties.

2d-Christian, Daviess, Hancock, Hen- derson, Hopkins, McLean, Muhlenburg, Ohio, Union, and Webster counties.

3d-Allen, Barren, Butler, Clinton, Cum- berland, Edmonson, Logan, Metcalfe, Mon- roe, Simpson, Todd, and Warren counties.

4th - Breckinridge, Bullitt, Grayson, Green, Hardin, Hart, Larue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, Spencer, and Washington counties. 5th -. Jefferson and Oldhamn counties.

6th-F one, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, harrison, Kenton, Pendleton, and Trimble counties.

7th-Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Franklin, Henry, Jessamine, Owen, Scott, Shelby, and Woodford counties.

8th -- Adair, Anderson, Boyle, Casey, Gar- rard, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer, Pulaski, Russell, Taylor, and Wayne counties.

9th - Breathitt, Clay, Elliott, Estill, Floyd, Harlan, Jackson, Josh Bell, Knox, Laurel, Lee, Letcher, Magoffin, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Powell, Rockcastle, Whitley, and Wolfe counties.

10th - Bath, Boyd, Bracken, Carter, Fleming, Greenup, Johnson, Lawrence, Lewis, Mason, Martin, Nicholas, Robert- son, and Rowan counties.

March 18 -The joint committee ap- pointed by the legislature to visit Ken- tucky Agricultural College at Lexington, and make certain inquiries, reported that " the contract between Ky. University and the state has not been violated, that the former has spent annually over $15,000 more for said college than the state pays, that it is not desirable to take from that institution the interest on the agricultural fund-as this would seem like an attempt to injure a great college which is not only non-sectarian, but broad, catholic, and comprehensive in its spirit and scope."

March 19-Sharp newspaper controversy between Gen. Stephen G. Burbridge, of Covington, and Col. Walter Evans, of Hop- kinsville, about the vacancy in 1870 in the Hopkinsville post-office.

March 19-In the senate, the resolution in relation to the removal of the state cap- ital was postponed indefinitely.

March 20-A bill providing for a geo- logical, mineralogical, and chemical sur- vey of the state failed in the house, yeas 48, nays 32, three less than a constitutional majority.

March 20-The legislature incorporated the Boone Bridge Company, capital $2,- 000,000, with exclusive right for 99 years to build and operate a railroad and foot pas- senger bridge across the Ohio river, " from some convenient point within the corpo- rate limits of the city of Louisville to some convenient point on the Indiana side ;" and the city of Louisville (on behalf of its eastern district, which alone shall be taxed to pay the interest and principal) is author- ized to subscribe, if the people so direct by vote, not less than $500,000 nor more than $1,000,000 of the capital stock.

March 20- In the contested election cases in the house, John N. Woods ( Repub- lican), the sitting member from Crittenden co., was awarded the seat, by 44 to 34. Wm. Cassius Goodloe (Republican), the sitting member from Fayette, was unani- mously (81 voting) decided to be legally elected. Benj. E. Woodworth (Democrat) was, by 53 to 35, decided not to be legally elected from Lewis co., and the seat now occupied by Thos. Jefferson Walker ( Re- publican ) declared to be vacant; Col. Gco. M. Thomas (Republican) was elected to fill the vacancy ( Thomas 949, Woodworth 791), and took his seat, Feb. 21.

March 21-A report of the auditor to the house shows nearly $9,000 in the state treasury to the credit of the "Old Bank of Kentucky," and that said bank is in- debted to individual depositors $1,315, and to stockholders for unclaimed dividends between 1808 and 1845, $21,942.

March 21-The Louisville Ledger, pub- lished at 3 p. M., says (a remarkable illus- tration of the wonders of the telegraph) : "Our London (England) dispatches at 1:30 this P. M. report the heaviest snow-storm

228

ANNALS OF KENTUCKY.

1872.

in 14 months prevailing there, and the city | a little child of Mr. Masters in Franklin enveloped in a dense fog, making it as dark as midnight."

March 23-Estill co., by 960 for, 538 against, subscribes $150,000 stock in the Richmond and Three Forks of Ky. rail- road; and, April 4, Lee co. subscribes $50,000, by an almost unanimous vote, (only 10 against it.)

March 25-Legislature amends the law in reference to lotteries, increasing the fine to not less than $500 nor more than $10,000, for setting up, drawing, managing, or other- wise promoting lotteries for money or other thing. [The law, Revised Statutes, i, 405, is very severe, and the fine heavy, for writing, printing, or selling lottery tickets, for advertising lotteries, or for permitting them to be drawn or tickets sold in any house.]

March 25-A message from Gov. Leslie to the senate shows the sum of $354,599.59 collected from the U. S. government since March 10, 1870, for advances made by Ky, during the war, under the act of congress to indemnify the states for such advances ; out of which was paid to agents and other costs of collection $39,815.73. $525,258.72 additional has been adjusted by the ac- counting officers of the U. S. treasury and declared to be due to Ky., but is improp- erly withheld by. Geo. S. Boutwell, U. S. secretary of the treasury. [It was paid, in summer of 1872, under a special act of con- gress.] $540,301.33 is still due, but un- adjusted.

March 28-Death, at Louisville, aged 60, of Gen. Humphrey Marshall. [See sketch, under Jefferson co.]

March 28-Kentucky and Great Eastern railroad, 146 miles, from Newport along or near the south bank of the Ohio river *to Catlettsburg, Boyd co., announced as under contract to be built by Alton & Beach, of New York city.

April 1-Louisville, Cincinnati and Cov- ington railroad trains transferred from Cov- ington, its terminus hitherto, to Newport, and trips extended to Cincinnati over the new railroad bridge. Louisville newspa- pers and some citizens claim that the open- ing of this bridge transfers the terminus of the great Pennsylvania Central railroad from Cincinnati to Louisville.

April 3-Death, at Owensboro, of Maj. John P. Thompson, clerk of the Daviess co. circuit court; he was the first man in Ky. who raised a company of soldiers for the Confederate army.

April 5-Suspension of the Frankfort Commonwealth, by Col. Albert G. Hodges, its founder 39 years ago ; he is unwilling to advocate the renomination of President Grant for a second term.

April 8-Hailstorm at 4 A. M. so severe as to kill lambs in a field near Lexington.

April 8-Severe rain-storm over a large portion of the state ; freshets in small streams ; some turnpikes and railroads greatly damaged by washing, and loss of bridging ; two young men near Louisville, Wm. Mardis, aged 70, in Taylor co., and

co., killed by lightning ; C. A. Bright drowned in Shelby co .; a man drowned, and barn with crop of tobacco swept away, in Bracken co .; at Falmouth, Pendleton co., a sawmill struck by lighning and burnt; 100 coal barges, half of them loaded with coal, swept off from Covington.

April 9 - Greatest flood in the upper Kentucky river since 1817; river rose 15 feet in 6 hours; over 20,000 saw-logs, the property of poor people, floated off and lost; above Irvine, Estill co., most of those residing on the river bottoms were driven from their homes by the rising flood; many houses, coal and iron boats, corn boats, &c., washed away, and stock drowned. Eagle creek, in Grant, Owen, Carroll and Gallatin counties, was 4 feet higher than ever known; great damage done.

April 10-Portion of the new hemp fac- tory in the penitentiary destroyed by fire ; loss 829,800 ; one convict killed and several injured by the falling of the cornice.

April 13-Ole Bull, the great Norwegian violinist, gives a concert at Lexington.

April -Fire at Smithland, Livingston co .; a hotel, 3 business houses, and 6 dwell- ings burned.

April 16-Rev. Stuart Robinson, D.D., of Louisville, sues the St. Louis Democrat for $50,000 damages, for a libel, in con- necting his name with the slanderous re- port of distributing in the North during the civil war infected clothing. He had previously sued the Chicago Evening Post, for $100,000 damages, for libel in publish- ing that he had advised a congregation to which he preached to ship infected cloth- ing to the United States.

April 16-Oil well struck, at Boyd's creek, Barren co., near Glasgow station, L. & N. R. R., which flowed 150 barrels per day, with prospect of increasing.

April 18-Committee on public buildings in the U. S. house of representatives rec- ommend the appropriation of $100,000 for erecting a post office and custom-house in Covington.

April 24 -- Louisville, Cincinnati and Lex- ington Railroad Co. purchases, at $23,000 per mile, the branch railroad from Anchor- age to Shelbyville, 18 miles.

April 24 - Robert Bonner's celebrated (Ky.) colt Startle, at Flectwood Park, New York city, trots a quarter of a mile in 33 seconds - the fastest trotting to & road wagon ever done by a horse of any age, except that precisely the same had been done by Dexter. Startle had trotted a half mile to a road wagon, on a heavy track, in 1:0934. Mr. Bonner paid $20,000 for him in March, 1871, and refused an offer of $35,000 for him.

April 24-Death, at Louisville, aged 52, of Gen. John C. McFerran ; born in Glas- gow, Barren co., son of Judge W. R. Mc- Ferran ; graduated at West Point in 1843, and promoted to brevet 2d lieutenant, 3d infantry ; was at the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, in the Mexican

1872.

ANNALS OF KENTUCKY.

229

war; assistant quartermaster in 1855 ; ! Nov. 1863, chief of staff to Brig. Gen. Carleton ; 1865, in the action of Peralta, New Mexico; March 13, 1865, for faithful and meritorious services during the rebell- ion was made brevet licutenant colonel, brevet colonel, and brevet brigadier gen- · eral U. S. army ; at the time of his death, was deputy quartermaster general U. S. army, and chief quartermaster Department of the South. He was a noble and faithful officer and an estimable gentleman.

April 25-Mrs. Emily H. Tubman, (née Thomas), of Augusta, Georgia, attests her love for her native place, Frankfort, Ky., by having rebuilt there, in a far more ele- gant and enduring manner, in place of the one destroyed by the great fire of Oct. 3, 1870, the Christian (or Reformed) Church ; total cost over $26,000.

April 27-Bourbon co. subscribes $400,- 000 to the Frankfort, Paris and Big Sandy railroad; 1,672 for, 1,384 against-maj. 288.

April 27-Formal opening of the Public Library of Ky. at Louisville, Col. Reuben T. Durrett president ; oration by J. Proctor Knott, poem by Ben. Casseday ; 20,000 volumes already in the library, and 100,000 specimens in the museum.

April 29-Daring robbery of the National Bank of Columbia, Adair co. Five men enter the town about noon, and make some small purchases at the stores ; at 2 P. M., remount their horses, ride rapidly to the bank, where three dismount and enter, present their guns and drive from the bank Jas. Garnett, Jas. T. Page, and W. H. Hudson ; kill the cashier, R. A. C. Martin, because he refused to unlock the burglar- proof safe; rob the bank of about $1,000 in the cash drawer, and some bonds (special deposits); and make good their escape, those outside having stood effectual guard on horseback, riding and shooting up and down the street, thus keeping it clear. Gov. Leslie offers $5,000 reward for their capture, or $1,000 for either; the banks increase the reward to $8,750, but up to Nov. Ist, none had been caught.

April 29-$298,000 of state bonds and $128,000 of interest coupons, redeemed and canceled since May 10, 1871, burnt by the state officers at Frankfort.

April -Charles K. Caron's Louisville Directory for 1872, recently issued, con- tains 36,486 names, or 2,020 more than that for 1871; corresponding increase of population estimated at 8,000, and present population of the city at 145,944. Esti- mated banking capital $12,000,000, with over $7,000,000 deposits : capital employed in manufactures $18,000,000, with annual product of $20,000,000.

May 1 - Liberal Republican national convention at Cincinnati nominates Horace Greeley for president on the 6th ballot : Horace Greeley .. 147 245 258 251 258 482

Chas. F. Adams.203 243 264 279 309 187 Lym. Trumbull.110 148 146 141 91 ..... David Davis ..... 9212 75 44 41 30 .....

B. Gratz Brown 95 2 2 2

2 .....

And. G. Curtin ... 62 ..... Salmon P. Chase 212 1 24 B. Gratz Brown, of Mo. (a native of Lex- ington, Ky.) nominated for vice president on the 2d ballot.

May 4-Barren co., by 000 majority, votes a subscription of $350,000 to the Cumberland and Ohio railroad ; the prop- osition had been defeated three times before.

May 6-Meeting of the Supreme Coun- cil, Thirty-third Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Free Ma- sonry, at Louisville-instead of -at San Francisco, changed because the Pacific railroads refused to carry the members at half fare, thus losing $35,000.

May 8-Meeting, at Lexington, of prominent alumni of Centre College and others, who inaugurate a movement for a great university in Ky., the theological department to be under control of the (Southern ) Presbyterian church. $50,000 subscribed, towards an endowment of $500,000.

May 8-Destruction by fire (incendiary ), at Paris, Bourbon co., at 1012 P. M., of the court house - built in 1797-99 by Thos. Metcalfe (afterwards governor of Ky.) and his uncle John Metcalfe. The clerks' offi- ces, although badly damaged, were saved, with all the county records.

May 15-First regular train from Lex- ington to Winchester on the Lexington and Big Sandy railroad.

May 17-Locusts - variously called 7- year, 13-year, and 17-year locusts-make their appearance in greater numbers than at any time since 1836 and 1852.

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Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. I, Part 49

Author: Collins, Lewis, 1797-1870. cn; Collins, Richard H., 1824-1889. cn Publication date: 1874 Publisher: Covington, Ky., Collins & Co. Number of Pages: 1452

Author: Collins, Lewis, 1797-1870. cn; Collins, Richard H., 1824-1889. cn
Publication date: 1874
Publisher: Covington, Ky., Collins & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452