USA > Kentucky > Daviess County > History of Daviess County, Kentucky, together with sketches of its cities, villages, and townships, educational religious, civil military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, biographies of representative citizens, and an outline history of Kentucky > Part 15
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committees of Ohio and Kentucky, in connection with the late Benj. Drake, of Ohio, to prepare sketches of the civil and military history of General Harrison. He then assumed the editorial charge of the Cincinnati Republican, devoted to the support of General Harrison's claims to the Presidency. Colonel Todd accompanied General Harrison to Washington, and remained with him as a member of his family during the short interval that he occupied the Presidential chair, and as the last sad office accompanied his remains to North Bend, and by request of Mrs. Harrison selected the spot for his burial.
On the death of Harrison, President Tyler, desiring to carry out the wishes of Harrison, appointed Colonel Todd Envoy-Extraordi- nary to St. Petersburg, and John Lathrop Motley, was chosen first Secretary of Legation, and they reached St. Petersburg early in November, 1841.
The Emperor of Russia held him in high esteem, and he was elected a member of the Imperial Agricultural Society, the only compliment of the kind ever paid an American citizen. His mis- sion to Russia expired in 1846, and he returned to the United States. In 1850 he accepted a mission, in company with Robert B. Campbell and Oliver P. Temple, tendered them by the United States Government, to treat with the Indian tribes on the borders of the United States and Mexico.
Colonel Todd was among the first of American statesmen who advocated and demonstrated the practicability of the Pacific Rail- road from the Mississippi, through Texas to El Paso, and was elected Vice-President of the road upon its organization, and held that position up to the breaking out of the late war.
Colonel Todd then removed to Owensboro, and was appointed United States Assessor by President Lincoln for Southwestern Kentucky, which position he retained during the war, when his feeble health and increasing years would not permit him to engage any longer in public life, and the last years of his life were spent with his children in Owensboro, Ky. He was rearcd in the mil- itary school of Harrison and was a pupil in the diplomatic school of Monroe, and with his ripe experience in public affairs and high mental accomplishments, united to courteous and graceful man- ners, was worthy to have been associated with such eminent patriots and illustrious statesmen as Madison, Monroe, Adams, Harrison, Clay and Webster. After having discharged faithfully and with ability all the duties of the man, the soldier, the patriot and states-
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man, he died at an advanced age, while ou a visit to his grand- danghter, at Baton Rouge, La., May 16, 1871.
Robert S. Todd, born Dec. 7, 1856, in Daviess County, is a son of David F. and Jane H. Todd. He lived on a farm till the fall of 1865, when his parents moved to Owensboro. During the fall of 1873 he taught a district school for a short time, and in the winter of the same year entered the county clerk's office as deputy; continued in this office till December, 1877, when he was appointed Master Commissioner and Receiver for Daviess County Circuit Court; continued till September, 1880, when he resigned and procured license to practice law, at the September term of 1880, of Daviess Circuit Court. He began the study of law in 1875, while he was in the clerk's office. On the 15th day of March, 1881, he formed a partnership with Geo. W. Jolly, and is now engaged in the practice of his profession. He was married April 8, 1879, to Curram P. Thrustum, daughter of Colonel A. S. Thrustum (deceased), a Colonel in the Texan war. They have one daughter, Jeane D., born Jan. 26, 1880.
Burr H. Triplett was a prominent lawyer in Owensboro for a number of years.
George V. Triplett, editor of the Saturday Post, is a member of the bar. See Chapter VIII., " The Press."
Geo. W. Triplett. The life of Judge Triplett has been closely identified with the history of Daviess County for many . years. Forty-two years ago he came to the county, and in his public career has filled the position of County Surveyor, member of the House of Representatives, member of the Senate of Kentucky, member of the Confederate Congress, and Judge of the County Court.
The original three brothers of the name of Triplett were doubt- less the ancestors of all by that name in this country. Judge Triplett's great-grandfather, John Triplett, emigrated from England to Virginia at a date which reaches baek to the colonial period. His grandfather, also John Triplett by name, was born in Culpeper County, and followed the profession of public surveyor, holding a commission from George III., then King of England. The struggle of the thirteen colonies for their independence found him on the side of freedom. He joined the patriot army together with five of his sons, whose names were John, Roger, William, Nathan- iel and Hedgeman. The last and the youngest of these, Hedgeman Triplett, became the father of Judge Triplett. He was born in - Culpeper County, Va., about the year 1760. He was only six-
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teen years of age when he ran away from home, at the beginning of the Revolutionary war, to join the army. At eighteen he was made Lieutenant and served till the conclusion of the struggle, doing his share of the fighting at Guilford Court-House, on the field of Cowpens, and of Brandywine. Himself and all his brothers except Roger, who was badly wounded, were present at the battle of Yorktown. John and Roger were Captains.
After the war, about the year 1782, Hedgeman married Miss Nancy Popham, daughter of Job Popham, who was sent over from England to dispose of those who were exiled for minor crimes. He was a descendant of Sir John Popham, who came to Massa- chusetts as an agent of the Government to establish a colony that failed. Job's wife was a Miss Nall, of Virginia. Hedgeman emi- grated to Kentucky and settled in Scott County, stopping the first season at Bourbon. He lived in Scott County ten years, then moved to Franklin County, where he died in 1837. He had in all a family of twelve children, ten of whom grew to maturity; three are living. Nancy married Edmund Poe and died at the age of ninety-five; Betsey Gravett is now aged ninety-six; Mildred mar- ried Mr. Wright, and died at the age of eighty-six; William is in Platte County, Mo., in his eighty-sixth year; Hedgeman died many years ago in Franklin County, Ky .; John was killed in a steam boat explosion near New Orleans; Frank died at the age of about thirty- eight, and was buried on Island No. 10.
George W. Triplett, the subject of this sketch, was born Feb. 18, 1809, in Franklin County, Ky. His early education was lim- ited, but at the age of sixteen he pursued the study of grammar, geography, surveying, trigonometry and other branches in a school of higher grade than ordinary. In 1827 he began teaching school in Scott County, and taught for six consecutive years. Oct. 18, 1827, he married Amelia A. Head, a native of Scott County, but whose ancestors were from Orange County, Va. While teaching school Mr. Triplett began surveying, and served two or three years as Deputy County Surveyor. In 1833 he came with his wife and three children to Daviess County, and reached Owensboro, Oct. 30, same year. He commenced farming about two miles from Owens- boro, and the subsequent year he took charge of the school at Owensboro, which was under his care for nine months. He also turned his attention to merchandising, but surveying was his prin- cipal employment. He was engaged in this pursuit for seventeen years, and his long experience entitles him to the rank of veteran
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surveyor in this part of Kentucky. There is no part of Daviess County over which he has not sighted his instruments and measured the lines. From 1836 to 1840 he carried on a wood-yard at Bon Harbor, on the Ohio, three miles below Owensboro. In the politics of the day he bore a prominent part, and sympathized with the Whig party. He was first elected to the Legislature in 1840, and was kept there three successive terms. In 1848 he was elected by the Whigs to the State Senate, and ably represented the counties of Daviess and Henderson.
The commencement of the civil war found Judge Triplett in ardent sympathy with the Confederate States. In May, 1861, he enlisted in the service, and for three years belonged to the Army of the Ten- nessee, first as Captain in the First Kentucky Cavalry; next as Major in Brigadier-General Helm's staff, commanding the Kentucky Brigade; then on the staff of Jolin C. Breckenridge. During his three years connection with the Army of the Tennessee Mr. Trip- lett never asked leave of absence, never had a furlough, and was absent ouly one day from duty. In 1864 he was elected a member of the Confederate Congress, sitting at Richmond, to represent the Second Kentucky District, composed in part of Daviess County. He served in the Confederate Congress till the defeat of the South. On his return home he found his property destroyed, and the necessity before him of beginning life over again. A year after coming back to Owensboro he was chosen County Judge of Daviess County and occupied the position until Sept. 1, 1878.
Judge Triplett has had eleven children, six sons and five daughters. Of the sons, Captain Robert S., born in 1830, owns the upper wharf boat in Owensboro, and is agent of navigation com- panies; Joseph F., born in 1834, is a stock-raiser and rancher at Camp Halleck, Nev .; went there in 1852; Captain John H., now running the H. M. Sweetzer, has followed steamboating since he was sixteen years of age; George W., Jr., born in 1849, now residing at Aspen, Col., in mining and land agency. Two sons, Willie and Daniel, died in infancy. Of Judge Triplett's daughters, Mary married James M. May, and died in 1854; Sallie died in Owensboro aged about twenty; Margaret married S. J. Howard, and is now living in Lyon County, Ky .; Amelia married John Jewett, and resides in Nevada, near Elko; Octavia married Dr. J. H. Seaton, of Kansas, and died several years ago.
Judge Triplett now co-operates with the Democratic party, and is known as a man possessing honesty of purpose and a faithful servant of the people.
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Phil. Triplett, a younger brother of Robert, commenced the practice of law in Owensboro about 1824, in an office owned and fitted up by his brother. He came to be a leading member of the bar in this Judicial Circuit, following the Judge around, who inade his tour twice a year. In 1826 he was elected to the Legis- lature, and afterward twice to Congress; in 1849 he was elected to the State Constitutional Convention. He married Betsey Hopkins, of Henderson County, and had twelve or more children, but only two of these lived to be grown and married. One married John Green, who died during the war, and the other married James L. Johnson, and died last fall, leaving only one child, Dr. Phil. T. Johnson, as the representative of the family.
United States Senator George G. Vest, of Kansas City, Mo., was once a practicing lawyer in this county. He came from Frank- fort, Ky., his native place, to Owensboro, about 1852 and edited the Gazette about two years, when he moved to Booneville, Mo., and afterward to Sedalia. He served in the Confederate army un- der General Price, and served three sessions in the Confederate - Congress, and was a member of the Senate when the war closed. He is a remarkably shrewd man, and is now well known through- ont the nation, as a formidable competitor of Northern statesmen.
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CHAPTER VI. THE CIVIL WAR.
When, on the 12th day of April, 1861, the news by telegraph reached the citizens of Daviess County that the bombardment of Fort Sumter had commenced, they scarcely knew what to think or say. The sympathies of some were with the Federal Government, and those of others with the South; and nearly all deplored the incoming of war. Being on the border, many did not know which way to turn, or which way the State of Kentucky herself would turn. It is to be taken as granted, however, that whatever public course any man chose to pursue in the terrible ordeal, his motives vere patriotic. He either stood up for the party he honestly thought was originally right, or for what seemed to be the quickest way to end the fratricidal war. In other sections of the country further sonth or further north, the citizens flew to arms, as they would be expected to do, with extraordinary readiness, within a few days or weeks after the outbreak; but here the people had to hesitate, although, it is to be supposed, with the same degree of patriotism.
The State of Kentucky was at first very desirous of remaining neutral, and so did the people of Daviess County; and accordingly "Home Guards," for the protection of property and life against inarauders were organized all over the State. These were volun- cary, and not under any military authority. One such company was organized in Owensboro, in July, 1861, but events so turned out that it was of little or no avail.
Sept. 5 Joseph H. Millett raised a company of about seventy men, mostly from this county, and joined the Confederate army in Tennessee, as Company K, Fourth Regiment. On the 13th he was elected Captain, and Nov. 19, 1863, he was promoted Major. He fought at Shiloh, Vicksburg, Baton Rouge, Jackson, Chicka- manga, Mission Ridge, Rocky Face Gap, Resaca and Dallas -- at which last place he was killed May 28, 1864. Previously he had received several wounds. In this company were also the follow- ing men from Daviess County: David C. Hughes, First Lieutenant, afterward Captain; Geo. W. Rogers, Second Lieutenant; James Hand-
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ley, James Thompson, Horace M. Watts, A. M. Hathaway, George Faith, Elisha Adams, Wm. Bradshaw, James M. Bowles, Green B. Cooper, James Donaldson, George Disney, James Forbes, Wm. H. Forbes, Albert Frazier, Wm. C. Fletcher, Matthew Garrett, Win. Goodwin, Turner Griffin, James Hayden, H. B. Ilayden, Jerry Hennessey, Joseph Jarboe, Miles C. Jenkins, Edward Lamb- din, Wm. Lashbrook, Crawford McClarty, Enoch C. MeKay, Wm. E. McDonald, J. D. May, John Mattingly, Burr Norris, Green B. Partridge and John R. Partridge.
Sept. 9, 1861, J. H. McHenry and John Grissom commenced recruiting for the U. S. army. The latter, however, did not enter the service; but MeHenry raised a regiment, the greater portion from Ohio County, and the next in numbers, from this county. This regiment was numbered the Sixteenth Kentucky. On the 24th the Colonel came with 400 or 500 men from Hartford to Owensboro for equipment.
Sept. 21, 1861, Brigadier-General Robert Anderson, of the United States Army, at Louisville, announced his assumption of the command of the Department of the Cumberland.
Sept. 25 the gunboat Lexington was anchored opposite Owens- boro, to protect the place, and probably also the Union soldiers. Two days afterward the gunboat Conestoga took its place.
Oct. 2 the steamer Hettie Gilmore arrived at Owensboro from Louisville with Colonel Jackson, and during the night it was watched by the home guards. The next day Colonel Jackson's cavalry and Colonel Burbridge's infantry, all of whom came by boat from Louisville, encamped on the fair grounds. Colonel Jackson had a presentiment that he would never come out of his first battle alive; and, sure enough, he was killed in first action at Perryville. On the 4th the camp here was named, "Camp Silas F. Miller, " after the proprietor of the Galt House in Louisville, who is still a resident there, and a leading Republican. The next day Lieutenant-Colonel Johnson, of the regular army, arrived, and on the 7th he was made Provost-Marshal of Owensboro. On the 9th Colonel Hawkins and 400 men, with two six-pounders, ar- rived in Owensboro, on the way to Rumsey, on Green River.
()et. 21, first battle in Kentucky. It took place in Laurel County, between Zollicoffer, of Tennessee, and Colonel Garrard. The former was afterward killed at the battle of Mill Springs. On the 24th four six-pounders arrived at Owensboro, and on the 29th 251 horses came down river on a packet and were taken to the camp. Nov. 1
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a good many Union troops passed Hartford for a Southern field. On the 4th, Colonels Jackson and Burbridge, with cavalry, returned from Hartford, but two days afterward two companies of cavalry left for Calhoon, where the Federals began to rendezvons, and " Camp Silas F. Miller " was gradually broken np.
Nov. 16 these Colonels, with 600 or 700 men, went to Hender- son, there being rnmors that Confederate troops were marching in that direction; but the rumor proved to be without foundation.
During the month of December mercantile business was greatly embarrassed by the embargo laid on commerce along the Ohio, by the Government. Owensboro merchants could not get their prod- uce in Indiana delivered across the river, even when there were several thousand men back of the city to protect it. Colonel Crafts was the immediate commander to enforce this prohibition, which lasted for some time, and back of him was Officer Robinson, at Evansville.
1862 .- At the beginning of this year the chains of war began very perceptibly to tighten their clanking hold upon a helpless peo- ple. Even newspaper circulation was prohibited to some extent, and citizens of nearly all classes began to be arrested for suspected disloyalty, or persecuted and robbed by guerrillas for having any strong sympathies in any direction. J. G. McFarland, H. S. El- liott and others were arrested on the 9th of January, on charge of assisting deserters from the United States army, at Calhoon, to cross the river into Indiana. On the 11th they were taken to Louis- ville, but were afterward released. But this was generally the case. Nearly or quite all who were arrested for disloyalty were detained in camp at Louisville, or elsewhere, for awhile, and soon released, withont anything more done. These arrests were often made, appar- ently without any discrimination.
Feb. 19, etc., a great many boats and troops came down the river. On the 23d George Moorman (son of S. M. Moorman) and others passed up the river to some point, as prisoners, but were soon afterward released. On the 26th Captain Behr's bat- tery of eight guns arrived from Calhoon and passed through Owensboro. Feb. 27 General Thomas's brigade passed down the river.
During this month four regiments, two Kentucky and two Indi- ana, Colonels Hawkins and Burbridge, came from Calhoon and embarked on eight steamers for Tennessee River; and while they were here the Grey Eagle bronght a dispatch from Evansville
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that Fort Donelson was captured by the Federal forces. Colonel MeHenry's regiment was engaged in that battle, but none of the Daviess County soldiers were killed there.
March 2, Captain Behr's battery left on the Aurora down the river.
April 8, John T. Higdon, a soldier from this county, was killed at Pittsburg Landing. His remains were afterward brought home and buried here.
May 11, Commodore Foote passed up the river on the gu ' at De Soto.
June 16, E. A. Hathaway, Dr. S. S. Watkins, Mr. Barber and others were arrested by the Provost Guard at Louisville, Captain Blood, on charge of "aiding and abetting " the Rebellion. Most of them were required to take the oath of allegiance to the United States, and were all released in a few days.
June 19, " minute men " organized at Owensboro.
June 20, Dr. J. F. Kimbley was arrested by guerrillas, but was directly released. His horses and buggy were stolen.
June 21, abont 200 soldiers here from Louisville. June 25, a company of cavalry arrived. June 30, Union flag raised on the court-honse.
About these times arrests were made almost daily by the mil- itary anthorities, and for a time a picket guard was kept around the city of Owensboro.
July 18, J. M. Hany, being ordered to arrest Vawters on account of hurrahing for Jeff Davis and publiely exulting over the occupa- tion of Henderson by the Confederates, was resisted; and the latter, swearing that he would die, etc., before he would be taken, was shot and killed. On this day also a company of horse guards was or- ganized in Owensboro, to protect the town against marauding bands. Geo. H. Yeaman was elected Captain, Jo Harrison First Lientenant, and Joseph Thomas Second Lientenant. This com- pany, however, was not long kept up.
July 21, a company from Terre Haute, Ind., here.
July 27, Aquilla Spray attacked and wonnded by guerrillas at Curdsville.
Angust .-- During this month Mr. Yeaman endeavored to raise a regiment, but failed. Ang. 21, I. P. Washburn arrested and sent off, but' soon returned. Ang. 29, Lientenant-Colonel Netter arrived from Hartford with a number of men. The whole number of en-
11
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rolled militia in this State was ascertained to be 101,378; that of Daviess County, 1,999.
Sept. 19 --
THE SKIRMISH NEAR OWENSBORO.
About sunrise on Friday, Sept. 19, a band of abont 850 guerrillas advanced upon this post, in three divisions, under the command of Lientenant-Colonel Martin. One division, numbering 385, under the command of Major J. S. Scobee, a Methodist minister, took possession of Owensboro. A second division, under Captain Taylor, numbering 225, marched from a southwest direction; and the third division, un- der the command of Captain Merriweather, numbering 240, from a westerly direction. As Major Scobee was marching in he was rec- ognized by a pious Methodist woman, who in immediate ecstacy cried ont, " Thank God! my Savior has come."
Very soon a Confederate soldier was stationed at each street crossing, and efforts made to obtain what equipments and ammu- nition were within reach. During the day the soldiers took all the saddles and bridles there were in Mr. Littell's shop, and some of Mr. Scott's; also, what powder they could find in the jail and some of the stores, and were on the point of robbing the stores by whole- sale, but were restrained by the officers. Judge Geo. H. Yeaman and several others were arrested and taken away a short distance, but soon released. From the Judge was exacted a promise to use his influence against the indiscriminate arrest of Southern sympa- thizers-which, indeed, he had all along been doing.
Abonteight o'clock this morning Major Scobce sent a'flag of trnee to Colonel Netter, in camp at the fair-grounds, and demanded his unconditional surrender; but the latter peremptorily, yet politely, refused. About one o'clock in the afternoon the Major, with his men, retired on the gravel road to Panther Creek.
Colonel Netter, immediately after his refusal to surrender, formed his men, made all necessary arrangements, and marehed against Cap- tain Merriweather with 200 mnen, leaving the cannon and 140 men to protect the camp. His advance guard, under Adjutant Stout, discovered the enemy in ambush, in a corn-field. Colonel Netter flanked them, and whilst leading his men in action, and in the act of climbing over a fence, he was shot, with a squirrel rifle, by one of the enemy who had a white handkerchief tied about his head; and he himself immediately had all his brains blown ont by a Un- ion soldier named W. C. J. Adams, of Company A. The report that James Fanlds was the man who killed Netter is probably not true. At the same instant Colonel Netter, as he was shot, sprang to his Digitized by Microsoft®
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feet, turned to his command, and with a clarion voice, amidst the crashing reports of muskets, called out, " Forward! charge bay- on-" and fell. On seeing him fall, the left of the line gave way, the center collecting around him amidst the deadly storm of bullets and buckshot from the enemy. The right also fell back. Adjutant Stout immediately assumed command and rallied the men, reform- ing line, advanced, and at the point of the bayonet completely ronted the enemy. This action lasted half an hour, resulting in the death of Colonel Netter and the wounding of Lientenant Cherry, John London, A. W. Wallace and Mr. Taylor, on the Union side, and in the death of twelve and wounding of fifteen or twenty on the other side.
According to previous arrangement, squads of soldiers were de- tailed to Rockport and Enterprise, Ind., who gave the alarm, and within a few hours Colonel Wood, of the First Indiana Cavalry, was on hand and assuined Colonel Netter's place. Soldiery from across the river, to the number of 400 or 500, arrived during the after- noon of Friday as fast as they could be transferred in skiffs, and at the last the steamer Ben South brought the remainder of the Warwick County boys over, and also took the remainder of the Spencer County troops to their homes. The steamer McCombs also was impressed into service and brought about 300 Indi- ana farmers over toward night. Three companies of home guards also came into town, while many citizens left for parts un- known, to avoid the contingencies of a crnel siege or battle.
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