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 31
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Aug. 7, 1880, a proposition was voted on, 329 to 32, to issue bonds to the amount of $30,000, for as much money to be ex- pended in general improvements, namely: $20,000 for graveling and guttering the DigitizedSty MicrosoftCewers; $10,000 for im-
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proving the wharf; $5,000 for enlarging the school buildings; and $5,000 for protecting the river front. For the issue of bonds the charter required the affirmative of a majority of all the quali- fied voters of the city, and therefore the above measure did not earry. The apathy of the citizens was astonishing. A publie meeting had been held, and rousing speeches made.
Owensboro, however, is a nice city, apparently in as good a trim as any of her sisters.
POPULATION.
The population of Owensboro from time to time has been as tol- lows:
1830
229
1870 3,430
1850.
1,215
1875.
about 8,000
1860
2,308
1880. .nearly 10,000
1883. about 11,597 1864. about 3,000
The United States census for 1880 gave Owensboro only 6,231, which was evidently an error.
CITY OFFICERS.
1866-'7 .- Mayor, E. S. Ayres (died in office), S. D. Kennady (to fill unexpired term); City Judge, J. P. Washburn; Councilmen, James Kennady, M. D. Soyd, J. Deal, B. Bransford, George Brown and William Shelby; Clerk, C. N. S. Taylor; Treasurer, J. W. Coleman; Assessor, William S. Britain; Collector, Thos. S. Hutchison; Attorney, W. N. Sweeney; Marshal, Thos. S. Hutchison; Wharfmaster, Lafayette Elder; Weighmasters, Mur- phy and Talbot (removed), H. S. Mitehell.
1867-'8 .- Mayor, S. D. Kennady; City Judge, J. P. Washburn; Councilmen, James Kennedy, George Brown, Larkin Field, Jacob Deal, Charles Werner and John Brotherton; Clerk, C. N. S Tay- lor; Treasurer, J. W. Coleman; Assessor, George N. Mckay; Collector, Thos. S. Hntehison; Attorney, Alexander Crayeroft; Marshal, Thomas I. Hutchison; Weighmasters, R. H. Willhoyle (removed), Pate and Adams; Wharfmaster, L. Elder.
1868-'9 .- Mayor. S. D. Kennady; City Judge. J. P. Washburn; Councilmen, George Brown, Charles Werner, John Brotherton Jacob Deal, James Kennady and John Thixton; Clerk, Ed. Moor- man; Treasurer, J. W. Coleman; Assessor, T. II. Pointer; Col- lector, T. S. Hutchison; Attorney, T. B. Hardin; Marshal Thos. S. Hutchison; Wharfinasters, Murphy and Triplett; Weighimasters, Pate and Adams; Engineer, A. Pfafflin; City Physician, Dr. E. H. Lnekett. Digitized by Microsoft®
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1869-'70 .- Mayor, S. D. Kennady; City Judge, J. P. Wash- barn; Councilmen, James Kennady, Jacob Deal, Ellis Dawson, George Brown, John Thixton and William McCallister; Clerk, Ed. Moorman; Treasurer, J. W. Coleman; Assessor, William S. Britain; Collector, T. S. Hutchison; Attorney, Thomas Hardin; Marshal, T. S. Hutchison; Weighmaster, W. E. Moorman; Wharf- masters, Murphy and Triplett; Physician, Dr. E. H. Luckett.
1870-'1 .- Mayor, S. D. Kennady; City Judge, Alexander Cray- croft; Councilmen, James Kennedy, R. H. Taylor, John G. Delker, John Thixton, George Smith and James A. Wilhite; Clerk, Ed. Moorman; Treasurer, J. W. Coleman; Assessor, C. N. S. Taylor; Collector, T. S. Hutchison; Attorney, T. B. Hardin; Marshal, T. S. Hutcherson; Weighmaster, William Moorman; Wharfmasters, Murphy & Triplett; Physician, Dr. R. B. Gilbert.
1871-'2 .- Mayor, S. D. Kennady; City Judge, J. P. Washburn; Councilmen, John G. Delker, Y. L. Ford, Jacob Deal, George Smith, W. T. Owen and James Wilhite; Clerk, Ed. Moorman; Treasurer, J. W. Coleman; Assessor, J. H. Branham; Collector, T. S. Hutchison; Attorney, R. H. Taylor; Marshal, T. S. Hutch- ison; Weighmaster, W. E. Moorman; Wharfmaster, R. S. Triplett; Physician Dr. R. B. Gilbert.
1872-'3 .- Mayor, Ben. Bransford; City Judge, Alexander Cray- croft; Councilmen, J. Thixton, J. Rose, William Clark, A. Cox, J. E. Dawson and C. Zuckregel; Clerk, E. B. Colgan; Treasurer, T. S. Anderson; Attorney, Thomas E. Crutcher; Assessor, Joseph Dear; Collector, W. H. Frey; Marshal, T. S. Hutchison; Weigh- master, P. Ellis; Wharfmaster, T. W. Bacon; Physician, Dr. John O. Scott, succeeded by Dr. Charles H. Todd.
1873-'4 .- Mayor, Ben. Bransford; City Judge, Alexander Cray- croft; Councilmen, J. Deal, C. Rucker, R. H. Taylor, E. H. Bryan, J. A. Godshaw and Dr. John D. Ogden; Clerk, H. L. Cambridge; Treasurer, P. T. Watkins; Assessor, S. D. Shepard; Attorney, L. P. Little, succeeded by R. W. Slack; Collector, A. M. C. Sim- mons; Physician, Dr. J. Q. A. Stuart; Weighmaster, P. Ellis; Wharfmaster, F. W. Bacon.
1874-'5 .- Mayor, George Brown; City Judge, J. C. Dear; Mar- shal, Ifoward Long; Councilmen, Charles Rucker, James E. Daw- son, A. F. McJohnston, J. A. Godshaw, John H. Brannon and John B. Scott; Clerk, David Morton, succeeded by P. R. Zulauf; Treasurer, T. S. Anderson; Assessor, William Pottinger; Collector, Isaac Keunady; Attorney, J. W. Feiglian; Weighmaster, Samuel
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
Morton; Wharfmaster, F. W. Bacon; Physician, Dr. E. H. Luckett.
1875-'6 .- Mayor, George Brown; City Judge, J. C. Dear; Mar- shal, T. B. Yeager; Conncilmen, H. P. Tompkins, S. W. Long, F. J. Clark, Charles Werner, J. B. Cruse and Charles Rucker; Clerk, Roy R. Hathaway; Treasurer, W. B. Tyler; Assessor. W. T. Smith; Collector, J. A. Godshaw; Attorney, J. B. Karn; Weigh- master, Samuel Morton; Wharfmaster, E. B. Trabne; Physician, Dr. E. H. Luckett.
1876-'7 .- Mayor, George Brown; City Judge, J. C. Dear.
1878-'8 .- Mayor, George Brown; City Judge, J. C. Dear, suc- ceeded by F. L. Beers; Marshal, T. B. Yager; Councilmen, F. J. Clark, H. P. Tompkins, A. F. McJohnston (resigned), Larkin Fields (unexpired term), Isaac Kennady, W. W. Hays and James Tharpe; Clerk, Eben Parden; Treasurer, W. B. Tyler, succeeded by John Wandling; Assessor, Wm. Pottinger; Collector, W. H. Owen; Attorney, G. W. Jolly, succeeded by J. B. Karns; Weighmaster, Samuel Morton; Wharfmaster, Bruce Trabue; Physician, Dr. E. H. Luckett; Anditor, H. L. Cambridge.
1878-'9 .- Mayor, John Thixton; City Judge, J. C. Dear; Mar- shal, T. B. Yager; Councilmen, J. B. Murphy, George Rogers, Joseph Lee, Isaac Kennady, W. W. Hays and J. A. Small; Clerk, Eben Parden; Treasurer, John Wandling; Assessor, J. E. Mitchell; Auditor, J. W. Coleman; Collector, T. A. Fuqua; Attorney, II. P. Moorman; Weighmaster, Samnel Morton; Wharfmaster, Hamilton Alexander; Physician, Dr. C. C. Lewis.
1879-'80 .- Mayor, .Thos. Thixton; City Judge, W. W. Chambers; Marshal, Howard Long; Councilmen, James Ashby, James A. Small, James K. Tharpe, George Rogers, Joseph Lee and B. Baer; Clerk, P. R. Zulauf; Treasurer, John Wandling; Assessor, William Pottinger; Collector, T. A. Fuqua; Auditor, J. W. Coleman; At- torney, W. T. Owen; Weighmaster, Samuel Morton; Wharfmaster, II. Alexander; Physician, Dr. C. C. Lewis.
1880-'1 .- Mayor, James K. Tharpe; City Judge, W. W. Cham- bers; Marshal, Charles Haney; Councilmen, J. A. Small, L. J. Cottrell, Charles Werner, Jos. Lee, Robert Burch and B. Baer; Clerk, Phil. R. Zulauf; Treasurer, John Wandling; Assessor, C. R. Coffey; Collector, John W. Carter; Attorney, G. W. Jolly; J. W. Coleman, Auditor; Weighmaster, T. S. Hathaway; Wharfmas- ter, H. Alexander; Physician, Dr. C. C. Lewis.
1881-'2 .- Mayor, James K. Tharpe; City Judge, S. D. Kennady ; Marshal, Charles Haney; Councilmen, J. B. Cruse, S. H. Harrison, Digitized by Microsoft®
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D. M. Griffith, J. H. Taylor, G. W. Rogers and B. Baer; Clerk, Phil. R. Zulauf; Treasurer, John Wandling; Assessor, A. B. Miller; Collector, J. W. Carter; Auditor, J. W. Coleman; Attorney, W. T. Owen; Weighmaster, E. A. Hathaway; Wharfinaster. H. Alex- ander; Physician, Dr. A. A. Haynes.
1882-'3-Mayor, James K. Tharpe; City Judge J. B. Karn; Marshal, J. T. Griffith; Councilmen, J. L. Higdon, J. G. Norton, Anthony Eger, Dr. J. H. Taylor, T. J. Monarch, and A. C. Tomp- kins; Clerk, Phil. R. Zulauf; Treasurer, John W.andling; Assessor, William S. Pottinger; Auditor, J. W. Coleman; Collector, F. J. Clarke; Attorney, W. T. Owen; Weighmaster, T. E. Aull; Wharf- master, Ham. Alexander; Physician, Dr. T. E. Lamping.
INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL.
Mention has already been made of the first store, kept by David Morton. Carpenters and masons of course came in with the de- mands of the growing village.
Among the first brick-masons remembered were Edward Lamb- din, commonly known as "Old Boss;" Joseph Weaver, about 1839; and James A. Wilhite, since that period. The first brick-yard in Owensboro was on Allen street, between Fifth and Seventh streets, near a tan-yard pond, and was owned and operated by Joseph Wea- ver before 1839. " Old Boss" and Stelle made brick near where Henry P. Tompkins' tobacco factory now stands, on Walnut street. Afterward Wilhite had one on Fourth street.
The first blacksmiths remembered by the present oldest residents as following their trade in Owensboro were J. J. Boles (spelling of this name not ascertained), Legge and Faith.
In 1846 Mr. Boles and J. Brotherton formed a partnership .in the wheelwright business, which continued until 1852, when Boles died. Prior to this, however, the German (or Dutchman) named Legge did some wheelwright work in connection with his black- smithing, near where Reinhardt's store now is. He closed in 1849.
The first shoemakers in Owensboro were David Morton and Alex. Moreland.
FIRST LIVERY-STABLES.
The very first was located by Stephen Rogers on the bank of the ravine where the gas-works are now situated, and conducted by him a number of years. It was still standing in 1846, a very old structure.
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
The second was kept by Wm. Sharpe, jailer at the time, in 1846, where the First National Bank Building now stands. Soon after- ward Wm. C. Norris kept one where Courtney's drug store now is. Then Win. Fielding, on the corner of Frederica and Fourth, where Brotherton & Son's stable is. He sold to Geo. Murphy, he to Howard & Glenn. and they to John Brotherton, who has since been a proprietor.
About the time of the last transaction, Pointer & Cummings built a stable on Third street, which was afterward kept by Cum- mings, and owned by Burgess.
TOBACCO HOUSES.
The first tobacco warehouse in Owensboro was built by James M. Rogers, of logs, about 1837. It was forty feet wide by one hundred long. Soon after it was built it was sold to Peter F. Smith. In 1839 it was burned, and on the site a frame house was built.
Hugh Kerr & Co .- The second tobacco warehouse was a frame, built in 1838 by John C. Hobson, Frederick and Win. Il. Brans- ford, all of Richmond, Va. Win. II. Bransford came to Daviess County in the spring of 1838 and superintended the building of the factory. It was 50 x 150, two stories high, with a shed of twenty-five feet at each end and a shed of the same width along one side, making the ground floor 75 x 200, with a capacity of 1,000,000 pounds. This institution was conducted by the firm of W. II. Bransford & Co. for five years, when Mr. B. died. The factory was then rented for two years, when it was sold to Hugh Kerr & Co., of Henderson, Ky., who ran it until 1850. It was burned down April 5, that year, with 800,000 pounds of tobacco in it; but a portion of it was saved in a more or less damaged con. dition.
In the fall of 1850 the same company erected the factory now standing between Clay and Bolivar streets. It is two hundred feet long, fifty feet wide, four stories high, with a shed on the south side twenty-five feet wide, and a warehouse 100 x 50 and two stories high. Capacity, 1,500,000 pounds.
Robert Dunlop, Jr .- The fourth tobacco house in Owensboro was built in 1852 by John A. Dunlop, at a cost of $8,000, includ- ing the house and grounds. Size of building 150 x 60, not counting the packing-room, which is 150 x 25 feet, one story high. The main building is three stories and basement. The warchouse is Digitized by Microsoft®
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100 x 60 feet, two and a half stories high, located on the corner of Fourth and Triplett streets. Its capacity is 350 hogsheads, or 1,500,000 pounds per year, although the business does not justify working to its full capacity. At the decease of John A., Robert Dunlop, Jr., son of David Dunlop, of Petersburg, bought and still runs the factory.
Frayzer ce Bro .- B. Bransford & Co. built the fifth factory, on Elizabethi street, corner of First or River street. In 1856 the company bought this of the Triplett estate, and remodeled and added to the old building, giving it a size 125 x 175 fect, two stories high, with a capacity of about 600,000 pounds. In a few years the firin added 75 x 50 feet to the building, giving to the whole a capacity of 800,000 pounds. This partnership was dissolved in 1862, and the business continued under the name of B. Brans- ford until 1873, when Mr. B. sold to Frayzer & Bro., who are now conducting the business.
Leo Sims, or Fauld's Factory .- This building was put up by Leo Sims in 1857, and the L's were built by John Faulds in 1878, and main building remodeled. Original cost of building, $10,500; additions, $6,000. Capacity, 800,000 pounds.
Sawyer ct Brodie .- This house was built in 1870 by James Saw- yer and Robert Brodie; size 125 x 40 feet, two stories and base- ment. In 1872 they built an addition of 100 x 40 fect, two stories and basement. The cost of the entire house was about $12,000; capacity, 800,000 pounds, although in 1880 they put up 1,000,000 pounds. The building is situated on the corner of Triplett and Fifth streets. Most of the tobacco is shipped to England. Most seasons they have run full capacity.
A. C. Tompkins .- The building now occupied by this gentleman was built by Burbank Bros. in 1875, and the tobacco trade con- ducted by them therein two seasons. It was then rented to Camp- bell & Co., and subsequently purchased by Mr. Tompkins. who has held the place ever since. The building is 60 x 180 feet and four stories high; capacity, 1,200,000 pounds. The main building cost $13.500, and is the largest in town.
HI. P' Tompkins tobacco factory was built by A C. & II. P Tompkins in 1875, and is now owned by the last mentioned, who bought his brother's interest, in 1877. It is 44 x 150 feet, four stories high, and has a capacity of 750,000 pounds. his located at the corner of Third and Walnut streets. The warehouse is 22 x 120, two stories brick and two frame.
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
P. J. Miller's tobacco house was established about 1871, by Benjamin Shown. for re-handling tobacco. Size of building 60 x 40 feet, two stories and basement. In 1874 it was purchased by Mr. Miller, who made improvements and used the house for stemming tobacco. In 1875 he built a large addition to the old building, 140 x 60 feet, three stories and basement. The capacity of the house is about 600,000 pounds. Cost of building, including con- tents, about $10,000. In connection with this house, Mr. Miller has a house on his farm: six miles east of Owensboro, which has been used for tobacco since 1858 or 1559; average capacity, 15.000 pounds. le first built a small house, and has made numerous additions from time to time. The building is low, but covers con- siderable ground. Tobacco shipped to London and Liverpool.
J. II. Barrett & Co .- This house commenced operations in 1838 under the name of A. B. Barrett. Mr. B. died in 1862. IIc was one of the best business men the country ever produced. Ilis estate was worth over $3,000,000. The property was then deeded to his son, A. B. Barrett. Jr., and was afterward, in 1867, pur- chased by J. H. Barrett, the present owner, and from that time till 1871 the firm name was Barrett & Smith (John II. Smith); in Sep- tember, 1871, John W. Mathews took charge, and the business has since been conducted under the firm name of J. H. Barrett & Co. Average capacity of building, 1,000,000 pounds per year. Three fourths of the tobacco is shipped to England.
Daviess County Co-operative Tobacco Association .- This com- pany was incorporated in 1878, with the following Board of Directors: Eugene O'Flynn, Joseph King, J. W. King, W M. Harrison, W. J. Taylor, S. H. Jesse, and R. L. Ellis. Joseph King was elected President, an office he has held ever since. This company was organized for the purpose of buying, selling, stem- ming, drying and prizing tobacco, in the city of Owensboro, where the principal place of their business shall be. The capital stock of said corporation shall not be more than $50,000, divided into ten thousand shares of $5 each. In 1879 the house was occupied by James B. Cruse, who put up two crops of tobacco, and in 1880 he entered int , partnership with John R. Chapman. The size of the building is 100 x 40 feet, two stories and basement, and the average amount of tobacco handled is 300,000 to 400,000 pounds.
S. V. Wallace .-- This gentleman built a tobacco house in the fall of 1570, at a cost of $2.000; size 130 x 54 feet, three stories and usement. Connected with this building is a store-room
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120 x 50 feet, one story; capacity 1,000,000 pounds. The house has eight prize screws for prizing, latest improved, known as the ratchet screw. The tobacco is shipped largely to foreign markets. This house ran under the management of Mr. Harris until the fall of 1875, when he went to Louisville and engaged in business there. In January, 1876, J. A. Fuqna managed the house. In 1878 S. V. Wallace took the management, and has continued it ever since. The building is located on the corner of First and Daviess streets.
W. H. Clarke & Co .- This factory is situated on MeFarland street, between Frederica and Loenst streets, and was erected in 1876 by the present firm. It is 130 x 44 feet, three stories high, with warehouse and shop attached; capacity, 500,000 pounds. The firm consists of William H. Clarke and Edward H. Clarke & Son.
Hamilton & Co .- This tobacco house was built in 1859 by David Hamilton, from Glasgow, Scotland, who was in business here twenty years. Caleb Snyder did the work npon the building, and Mr. Hamilton controlled it until 1878, when he went to Lonisville, holding an interest in the business, however, until 1882. In 1878 Geo. N. Thompson became a partner of Mr. Hamilton, and in 1882 purchased the whole interest. The business is now conducted under the firm name of Hamilton & Co. This firm has done a very large business in the tobacco trade, the house having a capac- ity of 1,000,000 pounds a year.
John. A. Miller's tobacco house was built in 1877 by J. F. Rice and Walter Gowan, under the firm name of Riee & Gowan, who did a light business one season. The following year it was ocen- pied by Aaron Rosenfeld, and in two years more by Norris Ford and John Burnett, who rented of J. T. Miller, the latter h: ing purchased the property in 1879. In 1880 John A. Miller rented the property of J. T. Miller, and has conducted the business ever since, although it has passed into the hands of P. J. Miller, who new owns the house. The size of the building is 100 x 66 feet, two stories and basement; capacity from seventy-five to eighty hogs- heads of tobacco. It is located on Hathaway street, between Fifth and Sixth. In 1851 Mr. Miller put up 233,000 pounds of tobacco.
Turpin at Wood's tobacco house was built in 1877, by A. J. Turpin, who was sole proprietor until the fall of 1880, when the present firm was organized. The building bas a capacity of 130 hog heads of strips. In 1861 the senior member of the firm moved to Lonisville, where he has since resided.
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
Hugh Kerr de Co. (Allan Gilmour) .- Stemmery, southwest corner of Second and Bolivar streets; erected about 1850. Size of main building at present, 50 x 200 feet and four stories high. A. shed twenty-five feet wide is attached, and there is a warehouse 50 x 10 feet in connection with the above.
Henry Keer & Co's tobacco house is located at the northeast corner of Second and Locust streets, and has a capacity of 300 hogsheads. It was formerly occupied by Aaron Rosenfeld, then by Henry Kerr, and lastly by the present firm.
F. J. Clarke and J. Il. Hickman have just formed a partnership (February, 1553) and are buying and receiving tobacco at the McCallister Factory, southeast corner of St. Ann and Front streets.
Faque & Smile's house is at the southwest corner of MeFar- land and Allen streets.
Thomas & John Reid's establishment is at the southwest corner of Triplett and Fourth streets.
Reinhardt & Murks' factory was established in 1576. It is situated at the east end of Fourth street, and is a four-story building, 40 x 180, with a one-story L, 100 feet long. They have the capacity to handle 600,000 pounds per year, and ship large quantities to England.
After the tobacco is stemmed and paeked in hogsheads it is ex- ported to London and Liverpool -- the low grades to Germany -- throngh commission merchants. The average product in 1838 was abont 1,500,000 pounds, from which there was a gradual increase up to 8,000,000 ponnds in 1850, and 12,000,000 pounds before the war. Since that time it has remained abont stationary. A fac- tory of 800,000 pounds employs forty to fifty hands. The season for basiness opens in November or carly winter, and eloses about midsummer. There are, therefore, about nine months to work and paek.
DISTILLERIES.
The manufacture of intoxicating liquors by methods of distilla- tion does not seem to have been understood by the ancients. It is said to have been first invented by the barbarian nations of the North of Europe, and by them was made known to the inhabit- ants of the more civilized countries of Southern Europe. It was formerly manufactured entirely from malt, and unmalted barley or rye, but is now made largely from rye alone, Indian corn, potatoes, molasses, and other articles. All the juices of plants which can undergo vinous fermentation, and all vegetable matter which contains starclDigitized bin Microsoft® Ince distilled liquors.
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A large proportion of the substances used for food may be thus applied to the production of ardent spirits. Sugar-growing coun- tries produce rum, lands where the vine flourishes produce brandy, and in grain-growing countries distilled liquors are made in the form of whisky and gin. The Chinese manufacture a dis- tilled liquor from rice, and the inhabitants of Kamschatka from mushrooms. A great deal of whisky was formerly made from the potato.
The production of whisky has been very large in the United States. Soon after the Revolution its manufacture was carried on to a large extent in Western Pennsylvania, and one of the first serious troubles the Government encountered was the whisky insurrection of 1791-'4, growing out of an attempt to collect an excise tax in this region. The distilleries of the United States were formerly much behind those of Great Britain in the perfec- tion of their machinery, and the wonderful capacity of the produc- tion of single establishments; but improvements in late years have put them on an equal, if not a superior, footing. The States now largely interested in the production of whisky are New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Missouri. Of the counties in Kentucky largely engaged in the distilling business, Daviess ranks among the first. Distilleries existed here in a very carly day, but it is only within the last few years that the business has been increased to anything like its present pro- portions. There are at present eigliteen distilleries within the county. With few exceptions, more grain is grown here than in any other county in the State. This fact accounts for the abun- dance and cheapness of material. The Ohio River furnishes ship- ping facilities of an unequaled character, and the railroad running south from Owensboro is always ready to carry freight on reason- able terms. It is mainly for these reasons that the large distilling business of the county has been carried on so successfully, while it has languished and died in other sections of the country.
But it is not only in regard to quantity that Daviess County dis- tilleries arc celebrated. The county has the reputation of produc- ing as good an article of whisky as can be ound in the United States. A very large proportion of the whisky manufactured in Kentucky is in sweet-mash distilleries, which produce an inferior article in comparison with the product of sour-mash distilleries. Several of the distilleries are the largest in the State. The claim is justly made that the sour-mash distilleries of Daviess County produce the best whisky in the United States, and this is a fact Digitized by Microsoft® that is being rapidly appreciated in the market.
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
Owensboro Distilling Company, consisting now of A. C. Tomp- kins, President; Joseph A. Fuqua, Secretary; N. M. Lancaster and John G. Weir. Their distillery was built in the fall of 1880, and has a capacity of thirty barrels per twenty-four hours. Ca- pacity of the principal warehouse, 10,700 barrels. This building is of brick and wood on the outside, and wood and iron on the inside. Besides this there are four other warehouses of a capacity of 500 barrels each. This institution has been paying good dividends. Their brands of whisky are " The W. S. Stone," "Farmer's Club," und "Kentucky."
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