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 32
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Sour-Mash Distilling Company .- M. V. Monarch, President; P. E. Payne, Secretary; J. A. Brown, Assistant Secretary. A stock company of five or six members, manufacturing the "M. V. Monarch," "Sovereign " and "Jockey Club" brands of whisky. Distillery a mile east of Owensboro, established in 1868, with a capacity of eight barrels a day, now increased to about fifty.
Hill, Perkins, & Co. (Alex. Hill, Wm. H. Perkins and Abra- ham F. Berryman). - This distillery was erected in the summer of 1880, and has a capacity of 300 bushels. Location, just west of the city limits, in rear of the Daviess County Distillery.
Rock Spring Distillery, Hill & Hill (W. H. and T. C., brothers), proprietors. Started in 1881. Capacity 128 bushels, or eleven bar- rels. Four warehouses, affording room for 6,000 barrels. A ten-acre stock lot in connection. Located on the river bank, a mile east of Owensboro.
Hill & Perkins .- The distillery operated by this firm was built by E. C. Berry in 1866. Its capacity was sixty or seventy bush- els a day. It was conducted by him until 1877, when Alex. Hill and William H. Perkins became the proprietors. The capacity of the distillery is now 250 bushels of corn per day, and the brand of whisky is still the " E. C. Berry." Distillery and office west of the city limits.
R. Monarch & Co. (Richard Monarch and J. T. Magale), dis- tillers of " Sonr-Mash Whisky," " Kentucky Standard " and " R. Monarch & Co." Their distillery was built in the fall of 1869 and started in operation in March. It is located one mile west of Owensboro, on the Lancaster road. Capacity about 750 bushels. Office a few doors south of the Deposit Bank.
E. P. Millet & Co. (Edwin P. Millet, Richard Monarch and Wm. H. Monarch) manufacture several celebrated brands of sour-
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mash whiskies. Their distillery was built in 1880, with a capacity of 350 bushels per day.
John Thixton Distillery Company .- The wholesale liquor house of Thixton & Slaughter was incorporated May 1, 1879, it being the oldest wholesale house of the kind in the county. They succeeded the late Dr. A. D. Hill, buying his stock, etc. This company handle nearly all the different brands manufactured in the county. The invoice taken Sept. 1, 1882, showed the capital in the wholesale house to be $87,000 in whisky. Their sales amount to 150 to 200 barrels a month.
The John Thixton Distillery Company was incorporated in Feb- ruary, 1881, the stockholders being John Thixton and Joseph W. Slaughter. The distillery is situated about a milc east of the court- house, and was built at a cost of $18,000, building and equipments all new. The capacity is 280 bushels per day, and turns out 6,500 barrels per year. Their brand of whisky is "The John Thixton Distillery Company, 2d District of Ky." The House is in charge of Mr. Slaughter, and the distillery is under the personal super- vision of Mr. Thixton.
John Hanning Distillery .- A building was erected in 1869 by Jolin Hanning, and its capacity was ten barrels a day. It was burned down in the fall of 1880, and in February following the " John Hanning Distillery Company" was formed, consisting of John Hanning, F. T. Gunther and G. W. Crutcher. Mr. Gunther is President and Mr. Crutchier, Secretary. This company erected a distillery below town, on the river, about a mile from the court- honse. Capacity, twenty-five barrels a day. Brand, "The John Hanning Hand-Made Sour-Mash Whisky."
Eagle Distillery Company .- In 1869 T. J. Monarch erected a distillery at Grissom's Landing, having a capacity of five barrels a day; but the works have been enlarged, so that the capacity is now abont forty barrels. It was first the "T. J. Monarch Distil- lery," now it is denominated the " Eagle Distillery at Grissom's Landing." Mr. Monarch is President of the company and Geo. A. Williams, Secretary. Office at the northeast corner of the Pub- lic Square.
The " Eagle Distillery " at Birk City was started in 1880, with a ten-barrel capacity. Company: T. J. Monarch, President; S. Monarch and Thomas Shaffel. Office in Owensboro, same as above. The brands of whisky placed in market by both establish- ments are the "T. J. Monarch, " " Imperial " and "'Cliff Falls."
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Daviess County Distillery Company (W. S. Harris and John Callaghan) .- This distillery was started April 16, 1874, by Cal- laghan & Trigg. Mr. Bell afterward bought an interest in the concern, when the firm name became the "Daviess County Dis- tillery Company." In March, 1879, Mr. Harris commenced, alone, and Oct. 14, 880, the present partnership was formed. Both these gentlemeu reside in Louisville, and their business here is superintended by C. A. Todd, General Agent. The distillery is ocated about a mile west of town, on the river, and its capacity is 800 bushels of corn per day; it has 720 mash tubs and its engine is ninety horse-power.
M. P. Mattingly's distillery was started at the present locality, in a small way, about 1855, with a capacity of about sixty bushels. In 1863 Blandford & Bro. took possession of it; subsequently H. C. Elliott, then W. S. Stone, since which time it has been known as the " W. S. Stone Distillery." Its location is about five miles west of Owensbo o, near the river bank, and its present capacity
275 bushels of corn per day.
Daviess County Club Distillery .- Building erected in the spring of 1880, with a capacity of 380 bushels of corn per twenty-four hours. The works were built by the club, an incorporated party, but are operated by N. P. Mattingly. Located one mile below Owensboro, on tho Ohio River.
J. W. M. Field .- This house was started Feb. 3, 1873, with a capacity of two and one-half bushels per day. In the fall of the same year Mr. Field increased the capacity to six barrels a day. In 1880 the capacity was again increased to eight barrels a day; in April of the same year he doubled the capacity, making sixteen barrels a day, and in April, 1881, it was increased to its present capacity-twenty-five barrels a day. Mr. Field has conducted the business from the beginning.
J. T. Welch Distilling Company .- Organized about the first of March, 1881. Building was erected during the spring, with a capacity of about 400 bushels of grain per day. It is located about a mnile and a half above Owensboro.
J. T. Welch, President, lives in McLean County; R. S. Triplett, Vice-President; S. V. Wallace, Secretary; A. Rosenfeld, Treasurer. A. T. Harris, Jr., of Louisville, is also a member.
Boulware & Wilhoyte's distillery, four and a half miles south- west of Owensboro, was erected in 1880 by M. Boulware & Son. Clarence Boulware originally built the main structure for the pur- Digitized by Microsoft®
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pose of making apple brandy. In the spring of 1881 the present firm of Boulware & Wilhoyte was formed. The capacity of this distillery is seventy-five bushels a day.
C. L. Applegate & Co., Yelvington.
OTHER ENTERPRISES.
Owensboro Woolen Mills .- This establishment was started soon after the war, by O. S. Warner & Co. It was burned down in 1873 or '4, and the loss fell heavily upon Dr. A. C. Wood. The engine was a twelve-inch cylinder. Thespinning-jack ran 210 spindles, which kept eight looms in operation, producing 150 yards of cloth daily, thirty-four inches in width, which sold wholesale at $1.15 a yard. Two sets of cards were in constant operation doing custom work, which turned off 200 pounds of rolls a day, the cost of which was from ten to fifteen cents a pound for carding. The blankets made were two and a quarter to two and a half yards in width, weighed seven and a half to nine pounds, and were entirely free from grease. The jeans they turned out was four, five and six leaf, and thirty-four inches wide.
Twenty-five operatives were employed, all industrious and of un- impeachable character, and the firm composed of gentlemen of the highest business integrity.
The factory has not been rebuilt.
Steffen & Bishop's carding-mill is located on the north side of Fourth street, opposite Poplar street.
Troutman, Rarick & Co. (M. V. Monarch), manufacturers of hubs, spokes, wagons, carriages, plows, etc., and dealers in agricult- ural implements, at the junction of Fourth street with the Liteh- field road. Messrs. J. P. Troutman and Peter Rarick started at this place, first as blacksmiths, about twelve or thirteen years ago, in a frame building, which was burned down in 1874. Immediately af- terward they built a brick shop, which still stands as a portion of the present establishment. In 1876 they were partially. burned out again; but these enterprising gentlemen still again rebuilt, went ahead with an increasing business, adding the manufacture of wagon material and dealing in agricultural implements.
In 1881 Mr. Monarch was admitted to partnership, and the com pany put in new machinery, added other buildings, and commenced the manufacture of hubs and spokes on a large scale, employing about forty hands and a sixty horse-power engine. They now have
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two two-story brick buildings, one work-shop, one two-story frame, besides engine-house and numerous sheds. Of the two-story structures the lower rooms are devoted to work and the upper to storage. Carriage painting, trimming, etc., is done in the second story of their large frame building, and one or two of the fore- mentioned sheds are really large two-story structures, the upper portions of which are devoted to storage.
John J. Hill's Hub and Spoke Factory .- This house was built in 1862, by Richard Smock, for a flouring mill, and was occupied by him three or four years. It was then converted into a distillery, and was used by J. G. Bailey and John Taylor two years for mak- ing sour-mash whisky. Taylor retired and Bailey ran it alone one year. It was then seized and sold by the Government, and pur- chased by William J. Lumpkin, who used it as a flouring mill six years. The building was then unoccupied for a year, when it was rented by Fuqua & Wise for a flouring mill. These men were unfortunate; the boiler was burned by a careless engineer, and they only used the house about six months. Sept. 1, 1882, it was rented by John J. Hill, who converted it into a hub and spoke factory, using the boiler and engine that were put in after the for- mer was burned. He leased the building and power for one year, with the privilege of retaining it for an unlimited time. He aver- ages about seventy-five sets hubs per day, running full capacity.
Owensboro Wheel Company .- James Weir and John Moorman, doing business under the style of Weir & Moorman; John Delker and W. F. Reinhardt, doing business under the style of Delker & Reinhardt; and John Reinhardt and John W. Marks, doing busi- ness under the style of Reinhardt & Marks, Dec. 11, 1882, associ- ated themselves under the style of the Owensboro Wheel Company, this partnership to continue ten years, unless sooner dissolved by a vote of the majority. The design and intent of the association is the manufacture of wagon, carriage and buggy wheels; and their place of business the city of Owensboro. The capital stock of said company is $15,000, subscribed by the parties in this association, and divided into thirty shares of $500 a share; but the association reserves the privilege of increasing the stock to $30,000 if a majority of the stockholders shall so determine.
Building not yet erected.
Southern Wheel and Handle Company .- Owned and operated by Weir & Moorman since Aug. 19. One-story brick, 125 x 40, with wing 75 feet. The firm manufactures spokes almost exclu- Digitized by Microsoft®
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sively, but turns ont single trees, ax handles, hammer handles, ete. The capacity is about 15,000 spokes per day, which are ship. ped to every principal point in this country, also Europe and Sonth America.
J. G. Delker, Manufacturer of Furniture and Chairs .- This business was established in the fall of 1870. Cost of building and machinery, about $18,000, Building was burned in February, 1872, after being in operation abont sixty days. Loss, $13,000; insured for $3,000. In April the manufactory was re-built, both buildings being made of brick; cost of new building and machinery about the same as the old house with the addition of the old tonn- dation. Began running in May, 1872, making a general line of furniture, which continued until 1881. Dec. 1, 1852, a change was made in the business; firm organized under the name of Delker & Reinhardt, -J. G. Delker and W. F. Reinhardt in the manufacture of rims, and felloes, and carriage material. A stock company just organized is using the second floor of the building in the manu facture of wagon and carriage wheel -. The corporation consists of the firms of Weir & Moorman, Delker & Reinhardt, and Reinhardt & Marks, with James Weir as President. Directors are John Moorman, W F Reinhardt and John Marks. Corporation or ganized Dec. 11, 1582. Machinery was purchased and operation begun 1st January, 1883; capital stock, $30.000.
John R. Osborne & Son's Planing- Mill was built in January, 1875, by Thornton & Osborne. 1 May, 1875, Thornton sold to J. R. Osborne & Son, who have since conducted it. The value of mill and property, inelnding machinery, about 85,000. Located corner of 7th and Railroad streets. They manufacture sash, doors, blinds, moldings, frames, cornice and stair work, counters, man- tles, brackets, ete. Trade extends over county and Southern Ken tueky. Have also a saw mill at Livermore, McLean Co., Ky .; value, $2.500. It was erected in 1850. run in connection with mill, preparing logs for mill. At their planing-mill they supply the distilleries with material for whisky tanks, fermentors, water tanks, stills. mash troughing, blow-pipes, etc. This is the oldest firm in city in this business. Their trade has doubled each year since they commenced. They turn ont only first-class work, for which they have a large reputation. During the fall months of 1881 they were running day and night on distillery work, when the distilleries were running to their ful capacity. They ship a great deal of wal- nut and other lumber. Owing to their increased trade they en.
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template enlargements of the buildings this spring (1883), with addition of new and improved machinery, which will enable them to turn out still more work. William D., son of J. R. Osborne is the business manager.
J. H. Taylor's Planing-Mill .- This is a large mill on the bank of the river at the foot of St. Elizabeth street. Size of the main building, 60 x 90 feet; engine, thirty-six horse-power. Both hard and soft woods are dressed here, and the patronage is local. The proprietors have been: Barron, Marble & Co. (Lakin Field) Marble, Hicks & Co. (Larkin Field, D. C. Carter and Michael Carey), Hicks, Field & Co. (Carey and Carter), Hicks & Carter, J. H. Taylor.
Owensboro City Foundry is situated on the corner of Fifth and Poplar streets, and was built in 1868 by J. A. Castlen, William King and T. H. Guthrie. The main building was 40 x 60 feet; the molding-room, 30 x 60 feet. It was a frame building, but in 1881 a brick one was erected in its place and enlarged to 60 x 150 feet, with a pattern-room in the second story. The molding- room as enlarged is 40 x 60. In 1869 Mr. King withdrew from the partnership and it was continued under the firm name of Castlen & Guthrie until 1872, when Mr. Castlen sold to Stephen W. Long, and in 1881 Benjamin Bransford was taken in as a partner, since which time it has been conducted as Guthrie, Long & Bransford. The business consists of all kinds of castings, railroad and mill work, steam engines and mill machinery, and all kinds of repairs. An average of twenty mechanics are employed in its various de. partments.
Joshua C. Terrill's Flouring Mill was erected in 1874 by Mr. Terrill at a cost of $8,000, including machinery. Size of main building, 60 x 30 feet, three stories and basement. The engine-room is 37 x 25 feet, 45 horse-power engine, 24 inch stroke. There are two warehouses, one of them 60 x 30, and the other 25 x 40, one story. The mill is located on Fourth street, near corner of Triplett street. Improvements have been made from time to time, and during the fall of 1882 new machinery was put in at a cost of $7,000. Capacity of the mill is 100 barrels flour per day. They do a large exchange business with farmers in this and some adjoin- ing counties, part of the time running day and night.
Ogden Mills .- The first structure here now constituting the larger part of these mills was built in 1856-'7, by Ogden & Bro. (John D. and Ben H ) for a furniture manufactory; but finding that Digitized by Microsoft®
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Mr. J. Thomas had concluded not to rebuild his flouring mill, in place of the one burned down, Messrs. Ogden turned their works into a mill of that kind, attaching also the machinery for wool- carding which Jo Daveiss ("Judge ") had previously used for two years. They did some carding for about ten years. The flouring mill, with three run of burrs, was started into operation in Jan- nary, 1857, and for all the works two eight-inch cylinder engines were used. Since then the building has been considerably enlarged, a sixty horse-power engine substituted, and two runs of burrs added. John D. Ogden is the proprietor, his brother, Ben. H., having died. The polite and jovial Marcus L. Ogden, another brother, is the bookkeeper. The proprietor manufactures the "New Process," " Gold-Dust," and " Gilt-Edge" brands of flour, and does both merchant and custom work. Mills on St. Elizabeth street, near the Planters' Hotel.
W. J. & L. Lumpkin's Flouring Mill .- Located at the foot of Crittenden street, Built in 1880, 40 x 60 feet and three stories high above the basement, besides engine-room; eighty horse- power engine; started with five run of stone; now liave a roller- mill added. Capacity, 120 barrels every twenty-four hours. Be- sides the mill the proprietors have a warehouse and elevator, 40 x 100 feet, and also three stories high above the basement. They do both merchant and custom work, dealing in flour, meal, grain and mill offal.
Brick Manufacturers .-- According to the Directory of 1882, the following were manufacturers of brick last year : Robert G. Crutch- field, west side of Triplett street, just north of McFarland; Wal- lace II. Decker, north side of Fifth, west of Vine; Sweeney & Co., west side of Lewis and south of MeFarland; Mrs. Christine Tennes, south side of Fifth, second west of Vine; and Terrill & Jett, east end of Second street.
Cigar Manufacturers .- (. 11. Bottonweiser, northeast corner of second and Elm streets; A. Hehke, west side of Frederica and sixth door south of Second.
Express Companies-R. R. Hathaway, next door south of the National Bank, is agent for both the Adams and the Southern Ex- press Companies.
Phillips Bros. & McAter, Dry Goods, Notions and General Store .- This house was built the summer of 1881, at a cost of $26,000. The room fronting Main street is 474 x 100 feet; the room fronting on Dapiattized By Microsoft® is 90 x Ub feet, three stories; cel. lar full size of building; wal , water-proof ; cellar is cemented.
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The first floor fronting on Main street is used for dry goods, no- tions, boots and shoes; the portion that fronts on Daviess street is used for groceries. That part of the second floor that fronts on Main street is used for clothing, carpets, window-shades, trunks, etc .; the second floor on Daviess street, for queen's-ware and millinery. Third floor front of building is the wholesale depart- ment, and third floor fronting Daviess street is used for farming implements of every description. The house is arranged with all modern improvements. Yearly sales are over $150,000. Trade extends to all the surrounding country and Southern Indiana. Phillips Brothers reside in Lebanon, Ky., and the house is under the immediate supervision of T. W. McAtee.
Citizens' Building and Loan Association .- This was organized in the summer of 1872, under the general law, to enable its mem- bers the more easily to erect buildings in the city of Owensboro. It was governed by a board of directors. The capital stock was formed by subscribed shares of $1 weekly payments. Any share- holder, by giving real-estate security, could borrow of the capital fund thus created a sufficient amount to aid him in the construction of a dwelling at a fair rate of interest and on a long credit. First officers: R. H. Taylor, President; Jo. Thomas, Secretary; P. T. Watkins, Treasurer; and J. W. Feighan, Attorney. Present offi- cers: W. T. Owens, President; R. S. Hughes, Secretary;J. H. Mc- Henry, Attorney. The association is inactive at present, but in former times it has done a great deal of good.
Mechanics' Savings Association .-- This was organized some time after the foregoing, for similar purposes; but it has not accom- plished much.
Peoples' Wharf-Boat and Transfer Company was organized about 1869, the incorporators being R. S. Hughes, John S. Wool- folk, John B. Scott and J. D. Powers. The object of the company is the transportation of freight and passengers, by either rail or river, to any point. They have a good wharf-boat here. Capital, $25,000. The present stockholders are: R. S. Hughes, Hamilton Alexander and J. D. Powers. The latter has always been Presi- dent of the corporation. Mr. Hughes is Secretary and Treasurer.
The Owensboro and Rockport Transfer Company, consisting of J. H. Cox, R. Monarch and J. H. Triplett, was incorporated Dec. 29, 1882, for twenty-five years, " to build, buy and sell steamboats, machinery, barges and wharf-boats, and use and navigate the same for the transportation and forwarding of freight and passengers be-
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tween Owensboro, Ky., and Rockport, Ind., or anywhere else ie- sired, and all other purposes for which steamboats and barges and wharf-boats are adapted or nsed." Capital stock, $2,300, in shares of $50. Commenced business Feb. 1, 1883. Have a large wharf- boat at Owensboro. Run the H. M. Sweetser at present, mainly between Owensboro and Rockport, three trips a day. John H. Triplett, Jr., Agent.
Steam Ferry Company .- This company was formed in June, 1882, as a stock company. President, T. S. Anderson; Secretary and Treasurer, R. L. Courtney. They run a very large, nice ferry- boat, charging teamsters only two fifths of what the law allows. This is the first steam ferry ever run at this point, the boats hereto- fore having always been run by hand.
Owensboro Water Company .- This company was incorporated Sept. 9, 187S, for twenty-five years, and consisted of Dennis Long, of Louisville, John G. Barrett, Donald McPherson and Samnel A. Miller. Authorized capital stoek, 880,000, and a board of seven directors to control, who are elected annually on the second Monday in September. Mr. Long proposed to the city council to erect the works on the Holly system, on condition that the city would take fifty-five fire plngs at $75 each per year. This proposition was accepted, and the contract for building the works was awarded to Coverdale & Cowell, of Cincinnati, who completed them by the following July. Two engines and two pumps were placed in the establishment, with a capacity of 2,500,000 gallons daily. The engines have cylinders twenty-five inches in diar eter by thirty inches stroke, and are eighty horse-power. The pumps, which are located at the bottom of a shaft thirty-thre. . eet deep are fourteen inches in diameter by thirty inches stroke There are two boilers, sixteen feet by five feet each, with fifty-four three and a half inch tubes, set separately, so that either or both can be used at pleasure.
The buildings are substantially built of brick. with stone trim mings. The smoke stack is seventy-five feet high.
Aug. 11, 1880, a boiler exploded, half ruining the water works Cause unknown.
The present officers are: Deunis Long, Pre-klent: 11. II. Hutchi- son, Secretary and Treasurer, both residents of Louisville. The Gen- eral Manager is Samuel A. Miller, and Henry P. Martin, Super- intendent, succeeding .J. M. Carson, December, 1582. The average amount of water consumed per week is about 2,000.000 gallons;
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but when all the distilleries are running, as high as 2,500,000 gallons have been raised by the works.
Brush Electric Light and Power Company .- This also is an incorp. rated stock company, organized in October, 1882. W. F. Reinhardt, President; Joseph Lee, Treasurer, and J. W. Porter, Secretary and Manager. The other incorporators are John Rein- hardt, Geo. W. Jolly, T. J. Higgins. Capital, $5,000, in shares at $100, all taken. The company start out by using a sixteen-light dynamo, each light of 2,000 candle-power. The engine-power is rented of J. G. Delker. Up to date about $4,000 have been ex- pended in the enterprise, and at present there are thirteen sub- scribers.
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