USA > Kentucky > Jefferson County > Louisville > Haldeman's picture of Louisville, directory and business advertiser, for 1844-1845 > Part 3
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" Tennessee.
" Missionary Bish.
resid. St. Louis.
Samuel A. McCoskry, D. D. =
" Michigan.
J. P. K. Henshaw, D. D.,
" Rhode Island.
Manton Eastburn, D. D., 66
" Massachusetts.
Stephen Elliott, D. D., 66
" Georgia.
= Leonidas Polk, D. D., 66
" Missionary Bish.
Alfred Lee, D. D.,
" Delaware.
Carlton Chase, D. D., " elect of N. Hampshire.
F. L. Hawks, D. D.,
Mississippi.
N. H. Cobbs, D. D.,
Alabama.
The Episcopal Church of the United States holds its triennial Gen- eral Convention at Philadelphia and New York, alternately.
The Senior Bishop presides over the deliberations of the clerical and lay delegates. The House of Bishops holds its sittings apart from the clerical and lay delegates, as a separate and independent, but as a co-or- dinate branch of the Church in its Legislative character and proceed- ings.
The Rt. Rev. Wm. White, D. D, was the first American Protestant Episcopal Bishop, under consecration of the Episcopal Church , and was Presiding Bishop of the American Church for near half a cen- tury. He died in 1834. Bishop Seabury was his senior in consecra- tion by the Bishops of the Scotch Episcopal Church, but never assisted in the consecration of Bishops. Bishop Seabury was consecrated Nov. 14, 1784, by Bishops Kilgour, Peter and Skinner, (Scotch Bish- ops.) Bishop White was consecrated February 4, 1787, by Bishops Moore, Markham, Moss and Hinchcliffe, (English Bishops.)
The Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States carries on ex- tensive Missionary operations. It has several Theological Seminaries, a Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, embracing for its members, every person in its communion. A Protestant Episcopal Sunday School Union, and Prayer Book Society, all under the direction of, or created by the General Convention.
There is a standing committee in each Diocese, composed of the clergy and laity, who act as a check upon the Bishops authority, and is considered as his council of advice.
In each Diocese Annual Conventions are held, in which the Bishop of the Diocese presides.
" Kentucky.
= C. E. Gadsden, D. D., 66
Jackson Kemper, D. D., 66
" Western «
Benj. T. Onderdonk, D. D.,
John H. Hopkins, D. D.,
35
36
ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS IN THE UNITED STATES.
Most Rev. Samuel Eccleston, Arch Bishop of Baltimore. Rt. Rev. Benedict Joseph Flaget, Bishop of Louisville. 66 .Guy Ignatius Chabrat, Bishop Coadjutor of Louisville.
Anthony Blanc, Bishop of New Orleans.
Benedict Fenwick, Bishop of Boston.
John Fitzpatrick, Bishop Coadjutor of Boston.
John Hughes, Bishop of New York.
66 McClosky, Bishop Coadjutor of New York.
66
William Tyler, Bishop of Hartford
Francis Patrick Kenrick, Bishop of Phiadelphia.
66 Michael O'Connor, Bishop of Pittsburgh.
Ignatius A. Reynolds, Bishop of Charleston.
66 John B. Purcell, Bishop of Cincinnati.
Richard Peter Kenrick, Bishop of St. Louis.
Richard Pius Miles, Bishop of Nashville.
John Chanche, Bishop of Natchez.
" Celestine De La Hallandiere, Bishop of Vincennes, Ia. Frederick Reze, Bishop of Detroit.
66 Peter Paul Lefevre, Bishop Coadjutor and Adm'r. of Detroit.
Mathias Loras, Bishop of Dubuque.
66
Michael Portier, Bishop of Mobile.
66
William Quarter, Bishops of Chicago.
66 J. H. Henni, Bishop of Milwaukie.
Andrew Byrne, Bishop of Little Rock.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. (O. S.)
This division of the Christian Church, is under the government of a General Assembly, which meets annually. The last session was held in the city of Louisville, and was quite numerously attended.
There were present 112 clergymen, (denominated in the minutes of the General Assembly, Bishops,) and 84 ruling Elders. Next meeting will be held in Cincinnati.
Rev. George Junkin, D. D., Moderator, (chosen annually.) Rev. Wm. M. Engles, D. D., Stated Clerk, Philadelphia. Rev. John M. Krebs, D. D., Permanent Clerk, New York. Matthew Newkirk, Treasurer, Philadelphia.
Board of Missions, Cor. Sec. and Gen. Agent, Rev. Wm. A. Mc- Dowell, D. D., Philadelphia, Treasurer, Rev. Thos. Hoge, do. Board of Education, Cor. Sec., Rev. M. B. Hope, Philadelphia. Treasurer, Joseph B. Mitchell, do. Board of Foreign Missions, Cor. See., Walter Lowrie, Mission House, New York. Treasurer, Rev. Daniel Wells, do., do. Board of Publication, Publishing Agent, Paul T. Jones, Phila. Treasurer, A. W. Mitchell, M. D., do.
Ministers' and Widows' Fund .- Corporation for the relief of poor and distressed Presbyterian ministers, and poor and distressed widows and children of Presbyterian ministers. Treasurer, R. M. Patterson, M. D., United States' Mint, Philadelphia.
37
METHODIST EPISCOPAL BISHOPS.
Rev. Robert R. Roberts, Joshua Soule, D. D.,
Rev. Elijah Hedding, Thomas A. Morris.
The Methodist Church of the United States, sometimes called Wes- leyan Methodists, from the circumstance that the Rev. Mr. WESLEY, an English Episcopal clergyman, of great eminence, introduced a form of discipline somewhat more rigid than that which characterized the English Church at large, in his day, is, perhaps, if we except the Bap- tist, the most numerous sect in America.
In England, the followers of Mr. Wesley, have separated them- selves from the Established Church, so far as church government and ordinances are concerned; and it is said to have given that great and good man much concern for the welfare of his friends of that order, in this country, when he learned that, as a Church, the Methodists had separated from the Protestant Episcopal Church of America.
The discipline of this church is very rigid. By its organic law, its conventions have the power to assign stations or circuits to all the clergy, both ordained and licentiate, so that no church may be certain of the continued ministrations of its pastor, however much beloved and useful he may be.
The clergy are supported by voluntary contributions from the breth- ren where they officiate.
INFIRMARY AND ORPHAN ASYLUM,
Jefferson, above Wenzel; conducted by the Sisters of Charity, From 45 to 50 orphans in this Asylum. This Asylum is under good and wholesome regulations, and sustains a high character for its liberal charities to the orphan. Dr. Wantyn, Physician in ordinary.
- ORPHAN ASYLUM, (Episcopal,)
On First, between Chesnut and Gray.
This institution was founded by the Episcopalians, and was liberally endowed by the late John Bustard, of this city. The affairs of the Asylum, are managed by a Board, composed of 24 ladies, selected by the two Episcopal Churches.
SCHOOL OF THE PRESENTATION, Conducted by the Sisters of Charity, on Fifth, between Green and Walnut. D 1
38
MAGDALEN ASYLUM, FOR PENITENT FEMALES. Conducted by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd.
CEDAR GROVE FEMALE ACADEMY, Portland; conducted by the Sisters of Loretto.
FREE SCHOOL FOR GIRLS, On Fifth ; conducted by the Sisters of Charity.
SCHOOL FOR BOYS, Jefferson, between Third and Fourth. Principal, Rev. J. Larkin, who is assisted by four Professors.
AMERICAN SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION DEPOSITORY.
East side Fourth street, between Market and Jefferson. At this Depot, may be had all the publications of the society. William H. Bulkley, Agent.
LOUISVILLE BIBLE SOCIETY,
Rev. Wm. L. Breckenridge, D. D., President, pro tem., H. T. Curd, Treasurer, R. A. Robinson, Secretary.
YOUNG MEN'S TRACT SOCIETY OF LOUISVILLE,
AUXILIARY TO THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY. J. C. Talbot, President. Wm. H. Bulkley, Cor. Secretary Arthur Peter, Vice President. Redick D. Anderson, Rec. do. James Todd, Treasurer.
Committee of Ways and Means :
J. C. Talbot, John W. Coleman, James Todd, James M. Lincoln,
Arthur Peter,
Wm. H. Bulkley,
Redick D. Anderson.
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THE MERCANTILE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
Has a well selected Library, of nearly 4,000 volumes, embracing antiquities and the fine arts ; commercial law; geography ; jurispru- dence and politics ; natural philosophy ; moral and intellectual phi- losophy ; mechanics and the useful arts ; religion, fiction and medicine ; political economy and statistics ; philology, logic, education, &c., &c. The officers are a President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secre- tary, with a Board of Directors, consisting of seven members.
The Library is open daily, (except Sunday,) from 8 to 10 a. m., and from 3 to 10 p. m.
The Library Rooms are on Fourth, near Market.
Officers :
S. S. Bueklin, President,
A. A. Gordon, Treasurer.
J. W. Brannon, Vice President.
G. W. Ormsby, Secretary.
Directors :
W. T. Bartley,
J. Owen,
S. S. Bucklin, J. Cochran, Jun., John Barbee, H. S. Julian, Thomas Slevin, Geo. Spratt, George W. Noble, Librarian.
40
PROFESSIONAL MEN.
PHYSICIANS.
Abbott, James B. (Botanic.)
Kafka, John Lartega, Paul
Angell, Richard
Lewis, M. L. (Botanic.)
Amzi, Martin Alexander, John Baum, W. J. C.
Logue, John G. (Homeopathist.) Linton, Lauth, John
Bayless, George W.
Mc Dowell, William A.
Dozier Alexander F.'
Preston William C.
Raleigh, Charles G.
Mosby, L. H.
Brite, J. W.
Miller, W. N.
Bullitt, H. M.
Parrott, Irvine
Pendegrast, G. E.
Pirtle, Claiborne
Powell Llewellyn Phillips, B.
Cochran, William
Randolph,
Cochran, P. H.
Raverty, Bernard
Colescott, D. W. Dashiell, G. W.
Roberts, Greenbury
Day, Joseph H
Robertson, Rogers, Coleman
Rogers, Lewis Short, Charles W. Smith, G. W.
Stewart, D. G. (Homeopathist.) Talbot, John M. Thayer, John H. Wakefield, H. M. Wantyn, Richland Way, C. M. Weatherford, H. M.
Weatherford, E. D. Wilson, Ezekiel F. Wilson, James Winlock, Yandell, Lunsford P.
LAWYERS.
Butler, Percival
Lancaster, Joseph B.
Baird, Robert F.
Lilly, Joseph
Ballard, Andrew J.
Ballard, Bland
Boone, W. P.
Brown, William
Bullock, William F.
Banks, H. C.
Morris, Walker Nicholas S. S.
Bridges, Harrison
Clarke, Benjamin F.
Ogden, John B.
Page, Gwynn
Clement, Joseph
Payne, William D.
Coke, Richard H.
Pilcher, William S.
Crawford, W. S.
Pirtle, Henry
Craig,
Pope, Hamilton
Dozier, James I.
Pope, Godfrey
Bell, Theodore S. Britt, Lewis, (Botanic.) Bodenhamer, Wm.
Miller, Henry
Drake James G.
Duncan Garnett
Ripley, Charles
Field, W. H.
Field, W. G.
Flusser, Charles
Fry, W. W.
Fontaine, Alexander
Graves, William J.
Green, Isaac R.
Guthrie, James
Gray John T. Jr.
Tharp, Thomas J.
Thomasson, William P.
Thruston, Charles M.
Toy, John F.
Tyler, Robert
Weber, C. H. Wilcox, Gustavus H.
Wilson David W. Winn, Minor Wolfe, Nathaniel
Hinkle, George Hornsby, B. H. Hornsby, T. N. Holt, Joseph Jacob, J. I. Jr. Johnson, Jed. Kearney, John
Woolley, Abraham R.
Wheatley, Richard S. Wood, W. C.
D 2.
Soule, Joseph R.
Sprague, Judson R.
Spear, David D.
Speed, James Sisson, Silas
Haggin, William T.
Harrison, James
Harrison, John O.
Hausser, William
Heady, William J.
Scudder, Amos
Smith, Luther
Smith, Hamilton
Buck, John R. Caldwell, Charles Caldwell, Thomas L. Clark, James
Richardson, Samuel B.
Doll, Linnaeus Donne, W. H. Dunhoff, Ewing, U. E. Elston, Allan P. Ferguson, Richard Ferguson, Richard, Jr. Flint, Joshua B. Galt, William C. Gilpin, Leyman Gross, Samuel D. Gunn, John C. Hogan, John Holland, Gustavus Hewitt, R. C. Johnson, J. C. Knight, J. W.
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Loughborough, P. S. Marshall, Humphrey Marshall, Charles E.
Mayo, Joseph Minor, William
Clay, Henry Jr.
42
STEAM BOATS
REGISTERED AT THE PORT OF LOUISVILLE, 1843-4, OWNED BY CITIZENS OF LOUISVILLE. Also such Boats as have taken registers in this Port, and are in the Louisville trade.
Name.
Ton- when nage built.
Name.
Ton- when nage built.
American Eagle
298 1842
James Pitcher
116 1843
Arkansas
229 1841
Kate Aubrey
278 1844
Alice Grey
267 1842
Little Mail
82 1842
Ambassador
473 1843
Lucy Long
94 1844
Belle Air
166 1842
Market Boy
45 1843
Bob Letcher
161 1843
Mount Vernon
161 1842
Ben Franklin
311 1841
Music
198 1843
Bee's Wing
133 1843
Memphis
462 1843
Bourbon
171 1843
Montgomery
407 1843
Balloon
154 1843
Belle of Nashville
124 1842
Nathan Hale
135 1843
Bois de Arc
182 1843
Noxubee
1.08 1843
Bunker Hill
271 1844
Neptune
227 1841
Concordia
449 1843
Ocean 106 1840
Clermont
111 1843
Oliver Anderson
141 1843
Ascending the Mississippi.
To Cape Girardeau,
441
Mouth Arkansas,
885
Kaskaskia,
509
Vicksburg,
1068
St. Genevieve, 522
Natchez,
1184
St. Louis,
600
New Orleans,
1480
Gulf of Mexico,
1604
OVERLAND MAIL ROUTE DISTANCES.
From Louisville to Washington City, 596 miles.
New Orleans to do. 1172
66 Cincinnati to do.
482
66
Wheeling to do.
266
Greenwood
198 1843
Swallow
159 1844
Grace Darling
292 1843
Sabine
106 1843
Grey Eagle
359 1843
261 1844
Gen. Warren
103 1842
Talma
306 1843
Gov. Breathitt
Tom Metcalfe
131 1842
Gallant
Uncle Sam
432 1844
Herschel
84 1841
90 1842
Hiwassee
101 1843
Vermillion
198 1841
Hempstead
75 1844
Waverly
127 1842
James Hewett
336 1843
Yazoo Belle
122 1843
TABLE OF RIVER DISTANCES ON THE OHIO AND MISSISSIPPI RIVERS.
LOUISVILLE is in 38° 3' N. Lat., 85° 30' W. Lon. from Greenwich, England; 8º 45' W. Lon. from Washington City, and 53 miles W. by N. from Frankfort, Kentucky.
Ascending the Ohio.
Descending the Ohio.
From Louisville
miles.|From Louisville 50 To Portland, 23
To Madison,
Carrollton, mouth of Ky. 60
New Albany,
4
Cincinnati,
West Point, at the Mouth of Salt River,
20
Newport and
139
Covington,
202
Evansville,
98
Portsmouth,
255
Henderson,
113
Guyandotte,
333
Shawneetown,
267
Parkersburg,
415
Smithland,
339
Marietta,
429
Paducah,
351
Wheeling,
524
Cairo,
400
Steubenville,
536
Economy,
Descending the Mississippi.
Pittsburgh,
607 To Mill's Point, 440
Randolph, Memphis,
667
Decatur
282 1843
Dallas
244 1843
Patriot
214 1844
Diamond
308 1842
Queen of the South
198 1841
Diana (new)
296 1844
Radnor
163 1844
Douglass
263 1841
Rodolph
213 1843
Edward Shippen
289 1838
Reindeer
165 1844
Florence
135 1841
Ruby
98 1843
Feliciana (aband.)
1840
Rainbow
222 1842
Fashion
110 1842
134 1844
Fawn
133 1843
Sultana
527 1843
Frontier
109 1843
Star of the West
105 1842
Frolic
126 1844
Sallie Ann (schooner)
60 1844
Pittsburgh, do.
226
=
Louisville to St. Louis, 350
125 1842
125 1840
Visitor
74
61
Owensboro,
Maysville,
589
597
Ouachita
103 1842
LOUISVILLE
43
Sea Bird
Raritan
44
LOUISVILLE.
-
CHAPTER I.
Act of incorporation. Latitude and longitude. Difficulties attending
its first settlement. The old block house-its position. General Clarke's encampment. Prepares an expedition. The spring. Popu- lation. Trustees of the town appointed. Town laid off. Sale of lots. Speculators ask for a relief law. Ponds. The way they landed on the shore. First brick house erected Earthquake. Corn Island, the original landing place. Beginning to pave the streets.
+ ORIGIN OF THE CITY, 1780.
An act by the Legislature of Virginia, incorporating the town of Louisville, passed May, 1780, entitled " An act for establishing the town of Louisville at the Falls of Ohio."
Whereas, sundry inhabitants of the county of Kentucky, have, at great expense and hazard, settled themselves upon certain lands at the Falls of the Ohio, said to be the property of John Connolly, and have laid off a considerable part thereof into halfacre lots, for a town, and having established said town ;
Be it enacted, That one thousand acres of land, being the forfeited - land of the said John Connolly, adjoining the lands of John Campbell and -- Taylor, be, and the same is hereby vested in John Todd, Jr., Stephen Trigg, George Slaughter, John Floyd, William Pope, George Meriwether, Andrew Hines, James Sullivan, and Marsham Brashear, gentlemen, trustees, to be by them, or any four of them, laid off into lots of half an acre each, with convenient streets and public lots, which shall be, and the same is hereby established a town, by the name of Louisville.
And be it further enacted, That after the said lands shall be laid off into lots and streets, the said trustees, or any four of them, shall proceed to sell said lots, or so many as they shall judge expedient, at public auc- tion, for the best price that can be had, the time and place of sale being
45
previously advertised two months, at the Court Houses of the adjacent counties, the purchasers, respectively, to hold the said lots, subject to the condition of building on such lot, a dwelling house, sixteen feet by twenty, at least, with a brick or stone chimney, to be finished within two years from the day of sale; and the said trustees, or any four of them, shall, and they are hereby empowered to convey the said lots to the purchasers thereof, in fee simple, subject to the conditions aforesaid, on payment of the money arising from such sale, to the trustees, for the uses hereafter mentioned : that is to say, if the money arising from such sale shall amount to thirty dollars per acre, the whole shall be paid by said trustees into the Treasury of this Commonwealth, and the overplus, if any, shall be lodged with the Court of the County of Jefferson, to defray the expenses of erecting the public buildings of the said county.
Provided, That the owners of lots already drawn, shall be entitled to the preference thereto, upon paying to the said trustees the sum of thirty dollars for such half-acre lot, and shall be thereafter subject to the same obligations of settling, as other lot holders within said town.
The remainder of the act of incorporation, defines the duties of the trustees, as municipal officers, and authorizing them to re-enter upon, and sell all lots forfeited for a non-compliance on the part of the pur- chaser, with the building stipulation.
Louisville is the chief town of Jefferson county, and is in 38d. 3m. N. lat .; 85d. 30m. W. lon. from Greenwich, and 8d. 45m. W. from Washington City.
By the river, it is 1480 miles from New Orleans; 600 miles by water and 350 by land from St. Louis; 607 miles, by the river, from Pittsburgh, and west of the last named place, 576 miles. Situated on the south bank of the Ohio river, at the head of the Rapids.
At this place, the river is more than a mile in width, and for the dis. tance of six miles above the town, is a most beautiful sheet of water, presenting more the appearance of a bayou, than a river with a current of considerable strength, accelerated beyond that of the river at almost any other point, by its proximity to the Falls.
The coup d'œil from any spot within the line here drawn, presents, finely grouped, with its rapids, islands, cliffs, villages and towns, a delightful landscape. Along the entire length of this graceful water- course, sweeping past, in its descent, the borders of so many States, there are few, if any places, which combine so many natural advan- tages. A noble and secure landing, of more than 4000 feet of well paved wharf; a delightful and salubrious climate; magnificent hotels; numerous and spacious boarding houses, capable of accommodating hundreds each; many lines of packet steamers, possessing superior ac- commodations, plying regularly between the city and most of the interior large towns on the rivers ; the constant influx of visiters from the South, who seek for a renovation of health, or relaxation from the toils of their agricultural pursuits, at our watering places, or amongst the sports of our mountains, combine their attractions, to render Louisville, at all seasons, a delightful and thriving city.
But we are, perhaps, in the commencement of our proposed very brief narrative, inverting the order in which we should proceed. We
46
have spoken of the town, as it is, rather than, as we should have done, as it was, at the beginning, when there were more stumps than houses, and fewer of those evidences of wealth, comfort and elegance, that we were going on to describe. This, however, we feel assured, will find a ready excuse in the mind of every reader, if he will, with us, take his startd on any one of the eminences overlooking the city, and then reflect that only as remote as the year 1778, these very gay and thronged streets-the very grounds on which now stand our noble halls of science and legislation-our seats of learning and our beautiful temples of wor- ship, were neither more nor less than the haunts of the Indian, and the hiding places of beasts and birds of prey, but which now present an as- pect so widely different.
In the year 1778, a small party of settlers, not exceeding thirty in number, made a lodgement at this place. Finding themselves in the midst of a savage race, they threw around their encampment a slight stockade, and erected a small block house. Their first agricultural undertaking, was to plant corn on the island, opposite the town, which was deemed more secure than the main land, from Indian hostility. Hence the name which the island has borne, from that day. To this island, the settlers were often compelled to flee before the savages; but they maintained their ground, and finally succeeded in keeping posses- sion of the whole coast, for some miles about the Falls. At this early period, several small trading parties from the towns at the head of the river, had descended even below the Falls.
About this time, Gen. Geo. Rogers Clarke, with a detachment of re- gulars and militia, took up a position at this settlement, and erected a strong block house. This gave the inhabitants greater security. The Indians made fewer incursions into the settlement, and the people were better able to pursue their plans for clearing and planting.
General Clark here prepared his expedition against the British posts of Kaskaskia, Vincennes, &c.
The remains of the timbers forming the base of Clark's block-house, have been, the present season, discovered in excavating for a cellar on the north side of Main Street, opposite the Louisville Hotel. From their position, it is ascertained that the south facade of the Fort was on Main, extending from Sixth to Seventh streets, as far as the N. E. cor- ner of the Tobacco Warehouse, with its pickets extending Eastward, so as to enclose a never failing spring of water, that may yet be seen, a little West of Fifth, and not 200 feet from Main street. This spring, from some cause, has been neglected and has fallen into disuse.
Two years after, viz: in 1780, the Legislature of Virginia authorized the laying out of a town at the falls of the Ohio. Numerous trading voyages had been made, from the head waters of the Ohio, to the Span- ish and French settlements on the Mississippi ; and the Falls becoming better known to the people of the East and the South, induced the Le- gislature to erect this place into a township, and for that purpose, com- missioners were appointed, who proceeded, forthwith to the discharge of the duty assigned them. The usual preliminaries were settled, a sur- vey made, and the site selected was named Louisville, in honor of the
47
first ally of the republic, Louis, XVI., the unfortunate monarch of France.
Until this period, that portion of Virginia, now Kentucky, was little known except to few. The Indians were numerous and warlike, and followed with wary step, every advance of the white man.
This whole section formed originally the Fincastle county of Vir- ginia. In the year 1776, by an act of the Legislature, the county of Kentucky was erected. Subsequently, this county was subdivided in- to the counties of Jefferson, Fayette and Lincoln. Jefferson county was, at a later period, subdivided, and the county of Nelson formed.
Not until after this large domain was erected into a State, in the year 1792, re the limits of Jefferson county further curtailed. All subsequent divisions are the acts of her own Legislature.
In the year following the survey, by direction of the Virginia Legislature, formal possession was taken of the new town, by Trustees appointed for that purpose.
The colony continued to flourish under its new order of things; and the incursions and depredations of the Indians became less frequent, because attended with greater hazard.
The frontier settler, at. the period of which we are speaking, seldom ventured from his cabin, even in the performance of the ordinary duties of the husbandman, without his trusty rifle by his side. For it was not an unusual incident of the times, for the farmer to be suddenly called to exchange the grubbing-hoe for the rifle, and contend, foot to foot, with an Indian foe, at the very threshhold of his little cabin, for the live. his family, and his hard-earned possessions.
The law defines a man's house to be his castle. In the days of the pioneers of this region, it may be with historic truth, affirmed that every man's cabin was his fort, and God his high tower, in whom he trusted. In numerical strength, the natives were vastly superior to the whites ; and it must be ascribed to the mercy of an overruling Provi- dence, that the feeble bands, who came out to these regions, spreading far and wide, the blessings of civilized life, were so signally sustained and upheld amidst the strifes, insidious arts and furious resistance of the powerful hordes of savages that filled the surrounding forests.
Notwithstanding all these hindrances, a recurrence to facts will attest that the march of civilization, once began, is onward. In the instance before us, it will be seen that the strides are those of a giant.
For example, the population of the town, in 1780, may be put down at thirty souls; in 1800, at 600; in 1810, it was 1300; in 1820, 4000 ; in 1830, 10,090 ; in 1840, 21,000 ; and in 1843, 28,000. It is be- lieved that the present population is from 30 to 32,000. A ratio of in- crease with few parallel examples.
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