USA > Kentucky > Henderson County > History of Henderson County, Kentucky > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81
It was about two o'clock in the morning when the stars began to shoot, and before daylight such an incessant cross-firing of heavenly bodies had not only never been seen, but had never been heard of. The heavens presented a most gorgeous picture, and yet many of the superstitious believed it to be the beginning of the end, and that soon the trump of Gabriel's horn would announce the coming of " The New Jerusalem." Everybody was up to see it, and closely they scanned the firmament until the grand display was shut out by the light of day.
January 25 an act was approved establishing a precinct in that part of the county known as the " Big Bend " of the Ohio (now known as Walnut Bend), to be called and known as " Big Bend " Precinct, and the elections to be held at the residence of William B. Cannon.
On the second of February the State was divided into thirteen Congressional districts, elections to be held on the first Monday in August. Henderson County, with Christian, Hopkins, Muhlenberg, Butler, Ohio, Daviess and Hancock, formed the Second District. A levy of $500 was made for the purpose of building a poor house, but the project was abandoned, and, in 1836, this amount was placed to the order of the Board of Internal Improvements, to be applied with the additional sum of $1,000, appropriated by the Legislature at their ses- sion of 1835-36, for the improvement of the roads of the county.
1834.
Two thousand one hundred and fifteen tithables were reported this year, and the levy fixed at seventy-five cents. By an act of the Legislature the county was divided into five precincts, one at Hender- son, one at Galloways, now Hebardsville, one at Sellers, now Cairo, and Robard's Station, one at Prewitts, now Scuffleton in the point, and one at Wm. B. Cannon's, now Walnut Bottom.
1835.
Two thousand two hundred and sixty-eight tithables were re- ported this year, and the levy fixed at fifty cents.
169
HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
Owing to its terrible surroundings, Henderson was yet as un- healthy as a place well could be, and as an evidence of it, the follow- ing incident related to the writer by Dr. H. H. Farmer, is here inserted :
" When a boy in 1835. I was going to Virginia in company with my uncle and grandmother. We were traveling in a carriage, and when near Crab Orchard Springs I was taken suddenly ill; my uncle wished to stop at some house on the road, but the people learning we were from Henderson, refused to take us in, fearing some dreadful contageous disease. The very name of Henderson seemed to inspire the mountaineers with terror. My disease was slight, however, aud we suffered no serions inconvenience."
Henderson in early times suffered more from malarial disease than for many years past, The disease at that time was more severe, but the great cause of its fatality was ignorance on the part of the physicians of its proper treatment.
1836.
Two thousand two hundred and sixty-five tithables were reported this year, and the levy fixed at fifty cents. On the twenty-ninth day of February the State was apportioned into thirty-eight Senatorial Districts, Henderson, with Hopkins and Daviess forming the Fifth District. December 23 the election district formerly known as Sel- lars, was changed to William Suttons.
1837.
Two thousand two hundred and eighty-nine tithables were re- ported this year, and the levy fixed at seventy-five cents. February 8 an act was approved incorporating the Henderson & Nashville Railroad. The capital stock fixed at fifteen thousand shares, and Wyatt H. Ingram, George Atkinson, James Rouse, John D. Ander- son, George Gayle, and James Alves were appointed Commissioners to open books for the subscription of stock.
February 27 the town of Steamport, on Green River, was in- corporated upon the plan formed and laid down by Isaac Harman. The Trustees appointed in the act were Isaac Harman, Owen Thomas, John McElroy, James M. Edwards, and James Thomas.
A DIRT TURNPIKE.
. On February 23 an act was approved creating a company for the purpose of building a "dirt turnpike on the Virginia plan," from Henderson to Hopkinsville. Wyatt H. Ingram, George Atkinson, Smith Agnew, and John McMullin were appointed Commissioners for the purpose of carrying out the object of the act. The Commis- sioners were authorized to locate toll-gates, but no two gates were to
170
HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
be nearer together than ten miles. At the next meeting of the Legis- lature the time for opening stock books was extended twelve months, and finally the plan was abandoned entirely.
BANK FAILURES.
On the nineteenth day of April a financial cricis came. The banks all over the State suspended specie payment, and closed their doors. The full force of this blow was sadly felt, confidence fled, and every- thing before so radiant with the springtime of hope and promise, was changed to the sad autumn lines of a fruitless year. Petitions were sent to the Governor to convene the Legislature in extra session, but this he declined to do ; but, when that body met in regular session, it legalized the suspension of the banks in the State, and refused either to compel them to resume specie payment, or to forfeit their charters. The people of Henderson County suffered, as did the people all over the State. Times were extremely pinching, and not for twelve months was any relief experienced, and that when the banks ventured to re- sume specie payments.
AN ISLAND.
It was in the low water of 1837 that the tow-head above the city first made any pretentions to being an island. Prior to that time there had been no island there, and since that time it has become the respect- able body of land it now is.
This year, William Wurnell, the notorious murderer of Abner Jones, was captured and confined in the county jail.
1838.
Two thousand three hundred and seventy-seven tithables were reported this year, and the levy fixed at one dollar and twenty five cents. A glance at this will show, that, in spite of the commercial dif- ficulties of the previous year, the population increased. During this year the county was re-districted, additional school districts being estab- lished.
1839.
Two thousand four hundred and ninety tithables were reported this year, and the levy fixed at one dollar twelve and a half cents.
The first iron steamer on a western river or lake, the "Valley Forge," passed Henderson in the month of December.
October 16, all of the Kentucky banks again suspended specie payment.
This was a great year for old, young and middle-aged people, for the greatest of sights, a circus with an elephant, a trick-mule, and a pony, came to town during the summer. Stickney's Great Circus, with Lou. Lippman and Frank Wilmot, and Ricards, the clown, ex- hibited in the Public Square, and every man, woman and child, who could squeeze inside the tent, was there to witness the show.
CHAPTER XVIII.
SLAVES EMANCIPATED-THE HARRISON CAMPAIGN-ABINADAB'S LET- TERS-CHARLES DICKENS-RUNAWAY SLAVES-RIVER
CLOSED, ETC., ETC .- 1840.
HE official returns for 1840, place the population of Henderson County at nine thousand five hundred and forty-eight, an in- crease, since the census of 1830, of two thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine souls. Of this number, six thousand one hundred and eighty-one were whites, three thousand three hundred and nineteen were slaves, and forty-eight were free blacks.
Two thousand five hundred and ninety-five tithables were reported, and the levy fixed at one dollar and fifty cents.
During the year 1825, Elizabeth D. Gwatkin, grandmother of Adam and Gwatkin Rankin, died. By her will, thirty-eight negroes became the property of Horatio D. Gwatkin, for the term of fifteen years, and at the expiration of that time, they were to be given their freedom according to law. At the June term of the County Court this year, the thirty-eight slaves were brought into court, their names entered of record, and they given their freedom. A poor old man, who had fought throughout the War for American Independence, be- came a pauper upon the county. John Ramsay and wife were allowed the round sum of fifty dollars for his annual support.
In January the voting place, then known as William Sellar's, was changed to Wesley Norman's.
February 17, a town called " LaFayette," was incorporated and
172
HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
established upon the plan of Geo. W. King, proprietor. The trustees of this town were Geo. W. King, Payne Dixon, William P. Grayson, William Y. Nelson and Harbison Butler. The site of "LaFayette " was on the Ohio River above Evansville. This was the year of the " HARRISON CAMPAIGN,"
Forever memorable in the history of American politics. The hero of " Tippecanoe and Tyler Too," received a handsome majority in Hen- derson County, for President of the United States. During the sum- mer an immense barbecue was given in a grove which was located on the river above Powell Street, and in front of the gas works. This was a beautiful grove, and was a great trysting place for lovers and those sentimentally inclined. "Lovers' Grove," as it was called, suc- cumbed to the lashing waves of the Ohio many years ago. There is not a vestige of it to be seen at this day. The Harrison barbecue was largely attended, and many eminent speakers addressed the mul- titude that day. The ladies were largely interested, and wore white aprons with log cabins painted. and printed upon them. The long tables were decorated with imitation log cabins built of stick candy. This was a gala day in Henderson:
1841.
Two thousand six hundred and thirty-one tithables were reported this year, and the county levy fixed at one dollar and fifty cents.
It will be remembered, that in 1837, an act was passed by the Legislature, incorporating the " Henderson & Hopkinsville Dirt Turn- pike Company, on the Virginia plan," and appointing commissioners to open stock books. What the Commissioners did is not known, but it is safe to say nothing was done, for, on the twenty-sixth day of Jan- uary, of this year, Lazarus W. Powell and William Sugg, of Hender- son, and John Ruby and William Bradley, of Hopkins, were ap- pointed commissioners to view and mark out a road to Hopkinsville, to be built as other roads were at that time. This the Commissioners did, and from that time to this, there has been an established road between the two places.
" ABINADAB'S LETTERS." .
In the spring of this year, William R. Abbott, who had displayed considerable newspaper talent, asked, and was granted the right to build a frame printing office on the Public Square in front of, and to the right of the Court House, and immediately across First Street from James McLaughlin's grocery. In this building Mr. Abbott pub- lished the "Columbian," a file of which would this day command a
173
HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
handsome sum of money. It was during the days of the " Columbian " that the inimitable " Abinadab " letters made their appearance. They were written in biblical style, and for caustic wit, have never been sur- passed. Each issue of the paper was as anxiously anticipated as though it was known to contain the only reliable information from the seat of some great battle, in which each inhabitant was personally and deeply interested. " Abinadab " was never known, yet he knew every man in the town, and would select six or more each week, to whom he would address himself in most graceful, but cutting English, to the intense delight of every inhabitant. His pen-pictures of men were so perfect, a mistake in placing the victim was impossible. “ Abina- dab " was the delight, as well as the terror of the town.
A few years afterwards, Mr. Abbott departed this life, and in dis- posing of his effects, Rev. John McCullagh became the purchaser of the printing office, and had it, removed to his lot, where now stands Miss McCullagh's Female Academy. The building was then used as a school house up to about the year 1850, when Mr. McCullagh gave up teaching. This old literary and educational establishment was permitted to remain until a few years ago, when it was torn down.
1842.
Two thousand seven hundred and fifty tithables were reported this year, and one dollar thirty-seven and a half cents fixed as the levy. A voting place was established at Steamport. Joshua Mullin and his wife
"OLD MRS. MULLIN,"
of "ginger cake " notoriety, had come to Henderson and opened a small confectionary and eating house on Mill Street (now Second), in a little frame building, which sat above the street near where M. Laucheim's Grocery now stands. They had taken out what is called a tavern license, or more correctly speaking, a liquor license. During the early part of the year, Mr. Mullin applied to the County Court, then in session, for a renewal of his license, but was refused, as the following amusing order entered of record will show.
" This day Joshua Mullin came in and moved the court to renew his tavern license, there being ten Justices on the bench, a majority of all those in Commission, and mature deliberation being thereupon had, the vote was taken upon said motion, and the result was as follows: Yeas 2, Nays 8, and there- upon the said Mullen silently withdrew from the presence of the court, and with a countenance bitter with anguish and deep indignation, he rushed from the Hall of Justice."
.
174
HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
CHARLES DICKENS.
In the early part of this year, Charles Dickens, the renowned novelist, then best known as " Boz," and quite a young man, was a passenger on the steamboat " Fulton," en route from Louisville to St. Louis. The steamer was detained here, taking freight, and during a great part of the time Mr. Dickens amused himself walking around the town, and viewing the sights, of which there were none more im- portant than the town pump, which stood in the intersection of Main and Second Streets.
1843.
Three thousand and forty-six tithables were reported this year, and the county levy fixed at one dollar and twenty-five cents ; of this number fourteen hundred and seventy-three were whites, and fifteen hundred and seventy-three were blacks. The locks and dam on Green River, at Spottsville, were completed this year, and a toll-gate es- tablished.
May 9, an act of the Legislature was approved, re-apportioning the State into Congressional districts. Henderson, with Christian, Muhlenburg, Daviess, Ohio, Butler, Hancock, Breckenridge, Grayson, Edmondson, and Mead, became the Tenth District. Several shocks of earthquake were felt this year.
1844.
Three thousand and seventy-three tithables were reported this year, and the county levy fixed at seventy-five cents. Of this number fourteen hundred and forty-nine were whites, and sixteen hundred and twenty-four were blacks. Tobacco inspection warehouses were still in vogue, but doing a comparatively small business to what was done many years prior to that time.
1845.
Three thousand one hundred and ninety-seven tithables were re- ported this year, and the county levy fixed at fifty-five cents. Of this number fifteen hundred and eighteen were whites, and sixteen hundred and seventy-nine were blacks. On the tenth day of Febru- ary the voting place was changed from Zachariah Galloway's to the · house of Geo. M. Priest, in the village of Hebardsville.
RUNAWAY SLAVES.
In 1843 began, and in 1844-45 was steadily developing the sys- tematic enticing away, or stealing of slaves from Kentucky, and run- ning them off to Canada by a cordon of posts, or relays, which came
175
HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
to be known as the underground railroad. Few were stolen at first, and occasionally cases of recapture on Ohio soil, and restoration to owners occurred. In several cases, Ohio juries, under the just laws enacted to meet the exigencies, gave judgment for damages, to the reasonable value of the slaves rescued, but in no cases were the judg- ments paid. This semblance of justice continued to grow lax, and men, who, at first, were willing to see stolen, or runaway slaves, re- stored, soon became indifferent, and in a few years, themselves en- couraged this growing interference with the property rights of the people of Kentucky.
On the sixth day of December the Ohio River was closed by ice, for the first time in ten years, so early as this. It remained closed but four days, breaking up on the tenth.
1846.
Three thousand three hundred and thirty-six tithables were re- ported this year, and the county levy fixed at ninety cents. Of this number, fifteen hundred and forty-eight were whites, and seventeen hundred and eighty-eight blacks.
An order was passed in the spring, granting to the Trustees of the town of Henderson a ferry license, from the town to the Indiana shore, and James Rouse appointed keeper. February 19, by an act of the Legislature, Henderson, with Christian, Hopkins, and Union, were constituted into the Seventh Judicial District. During the ses- sion of the Legislature a joke was played upon Samuel Allison, the noted humorist, the greatest of all jokers. A bill, changing his name from that of Allison, to that of Samuel Allison Jones, was quietly slipped through both houses, without his knowledge or consent.
WAR WITH MEXICO.
The struggle with Mexico had now been initiated, and Kentucky had been called upon for her quota of volunteers. However, parties differed as to its justice or policy. The call so struck the popular chord as to enlist thirteen thousand seven hundred volunteers, while the call was for, and only less than five thousand could be accepted. Henderson County responded promptly, but only a few of her volun- teers were accepted.
Major Philip Barbour, one of the most distinguished officers of the war, and who was killed while leading his men, at the storming of the breastworks of the City of Monterey, was from this county. This is the year the renowned wag, " Bill Pew," was arrested and confined in the county jail, charged, with others, with the murder of George Robards, on Green River.
176
HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
1847.
Three thousand four hundred and forty-four tithables were re- ported this year, and the county levy fixed at ninety cents. Of this number fifteen hundred and sixty-one were whites, and eighteen hun- dred and eighty-three were blacks. An act was approved January 12, submitting the question of calling a convention, to revise and amend the second Constitution of Kentucky, which was adopted August 17, 1799. At the August election this act was defeated, in Henderson, but adopted by a large majority in the State.
Another great flood occurred in the Ohio during the month of February, and reached a point within nine inches of the line reached in 1832. The chief reason for this great rise, and almost unprece- dented freshet, was the great rain-fall, the heaviest ever known in Ken- tucky in so short a time. On the nights of the ninth and tenth of December, the smaller Kentucky streams arose with wonderful and alarming rapidity.
1848.
Three thousand four hundred and sixty-eight tithables were re- ported this year, and the county levy fixed at ninety cents. Of this number, fifteen hundred and forty-one were whites, nineteen hundred and twenty-one were blacks. It will be observed that for several years the black tithables had gained in number over the whites. On the twenty-ninth day of February the Legislature re-appointed the Sena torial Districts, constituting Henderson and Daviess the Fifth. ')n the same day an act was approved, changing the voting place from David Sights' to William Sutton's,
The discovery of gold in California caused a vast and unparal- leled emigration to the shores of the Pacific, from every quarter of the globe, and Henderson was not behind in sending her quota ; quite a company, mounted upon mules, left overland from this place, and, after many trials, succeeded in reaching the Golden Gate. Among the number, were Jas. E. Ricketts, David Hart, David Herndon, Moses Foard, James Lyne and David Lockett. In August the question of call- ing a convention to revise and amend the constitution of the State, was again submitted, and carried in the State by an overwhelming majority. Gov. Archibald Dixon was elected a delegate from this county, and was decidedly one of the most active, energetic and intel- ligent members of that great body.
1849.
Three thousand five hundred and twenty-five tithables were re- ported this year, and the county levy fixed at one dollar. Of this
177
HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
number, fifteen hundred and fifty were whites, and nineteen hundred and seventy-five were blacks.
Owing to the increase of population in the lower end of the county, an election precinct was established at the residence of Col. Robert Smith, near the Point, or what is now known as Smith's Mills.
Walter C. Brown entered into contract with the county to build a bridge over Canoe Creek, at the crossing leading to Morganfield, at and for the price of nineteen hundred dollars. The bridge was built, but a very short time after was discovered to be unsafe. The court appointed B. Brashear, A. Olliver, and Wyatt H. Ingram, commis- sioners, to investigate the structure, and after doing so, they reported it unsafe, and incapable of reconstruction, in its condition. There- upon the county appointed James M. Taylor, William Jones, Addison Posey, and E. F. Randolph, commissioners to build another, and di- rected suit to be entered against Brown and his securities. After several trials, and much trouble, the suit was compromised, by the county loosing heavily, as is generally the case.
12
CHAPTER XIX.
NEW CONSTITUTION-INCREASE IN POPULATION-SUSPENSION BRIDGES COUNTY POOR HOUSE-HENDERSON ASSUMES THE CARE OF HER
STREETS AND PAUPERS-OHIO RIVER FROZEN FOR FIF-
TY-THREE DAYS-FINE CROPS-STATE AGRI- CULTURAL MEETING, ETC .- 1850.
HREE thousand six hundred and twenty-six tithables were re- ported this year, and the county levy fixed at one dollar and fifty cents. Of this number sixteen hundred and thirty-four were whites. and nineteen hundred and ninety-two were blacks.
The Convention to revise the Constitution of the State had com- pleted its work, having been in session from the first day of October to December 21, 1849.
In March, an act was approved, submitting the question of chang- ing the constitution to the people for their adoption or rejection. May 7, 1850, the new Constitution was adopted by a large popular majority, and on June 3, the convention again assembled and adopted several amendments, and June 11, adjourned after proclaiming the present or third constitution.
The great underlying cause of dissatisfaction with the second con- stitution, was the life term of judges, and clerks of courts, justices of the peace, and some other offices, which led to the radical change of making nearly all offices eligible directly by the people. After thirty- three years of experience, it is still an open question with many whether the change in this regard has subserved the public interest or the cause of justice, or improved the public morals. Henderson
180
HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
County opposed the change. A majority of the most interested busi- ness and most intelligent of her citizens voted against the change.
The official count for this year gave Henderson County a popu- lation of twelve thousand one hundred and seventy-one souls, an in- crease of two thousand five hundred and twenty-three since the cen- sus of 1840. Of this number seven thousand six hundred and fifty- one were whites, four thousand three hundred and ninety-seven were blacks, and one hundred twenty-three free colored.
The cholera appeared again this year, but was by no means so severe as in previous years.
The earthquake was an unwelcome visitor again. It came with a single sharp shock, at five minutes past eight o'clock on the evening of April 4. No damage, worse than fright, was done.
February 9, the provisions of the Mechanics' Lien Law were made to apply to Henderson, as well as other cities and towns in the State.
NEW BRIDGES.
During the summer and fall of the year, the first suspension and covered bridges were built by Samuel Caruthers. The bridge over Ca- noe Creek, at the Madisonville crossing, was built at a cost of one thou- sand nine hundred and ninety two dollars, while the abutments and ap- proaches cost five hundred and forty-nine dollars. The bridge over Canoe Creek, at the Morganfield crossing, cost, all told, three thou- sand nine hundred and fifty dollars. Prior to 1850, the bridges at the main public crossings, had been a continual expense to the county, and no bridges had been built to last longer than five or six years. Very little money has been expended on the bridges built by Mr. Caruthers, and they are in the most excellent condition to this day.
1851.
Three thousand seven hundred and ninety-two tithables were re- ported this year, and the county levy fixed at one dollar and fifty cents. Of this number, sixteen hundred and eighty-three were whites, and two thousand one hundred and nine were blacks. The new con- stitution was now in full force, and also the laws, as far as written. The acts of the Legislature had been revised and amended to con- form to that document.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.