USA > Kentucky > Henderson County > History of Henderson County, Kentucky > Part 25
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This Public Square has never been put to the use for which it was donated, technically speaking, yet it has cost a considerable sum of money at various times. The old Union Church, the first church ever built in the town, stood upon its graceful hill side, from its build- ing, away back in 1825, to the time of its tearing down. Calvin Sugg, William Wurnell, and a half dozen others, were hung beneath its shades. Hundreds of country horses, teams, etc., have found a pleas- ant hitching place there, and many a circus tent has been pitched upon it, and many a side-splitting laugh indulged at the turn and wit of the clowns, old Dan Rice among the number.
In 1856, this poor, neglected spot received the attention of the city fathers, as a sort of paliative for the negligence of the past. It had been permitted to wash, and wash, until not only the street, but half of the square had washed into the Ohio River; this half, how- ever, had been put to public uses, for during the winter months it was a favorite resort for skatorial enthusiasts, and during the summer for small fish and frog anglers. In 1856 it was filled up, and early in the spring of 1857 fenced, for the first time, with a plank fence. . This evidence of progress and good taste was sufficient to unloose all of the pent up poetry and sentiment of Judge J.Willie Rice, who at that time was a contributor to the columns of the Reporter, over the pe- culiar nom de plume "Squibob." "Squibob" wrote as follows :
" THE PUBLIC SQUARE.
" 'Squibob' rejoices to announce to the belledom, and the buckdom of Henderson, that the Public Square is in process of improvement that the in- tense longings of their hearts are ere long to be realized, that 'neath the soft moonlight of a summer's sky, whilst sweet flowers cast their incense upon the breeze, and pearly dew drops glisten on the leafy branches, they can sit at eventide and tell their vows of eternal love. But, gallant youths and fair maidens, let not the bright scene which imagination would picture, or the de- light with which fancy would invest so romantic a trysting place, repress for the present the feelings that well up in your hearts. The young trees, with all their virginal beauty, possess yet naught of the romance characteristic of love's recesses, while the grassy slopes and graveled walks as yet lend no beauty to that spot which hereafter will be hailed as an 'Elysium on earth.' If Squi- bob's heart were thrilled by the holy passion of love, he would not wait for ' the good time coming,' with its dew drops and moonlight, but would 'work while yet it is day.' Though such scenes, commemorated and embellished by novelists of all times, possess an interest for the romance of his heart, he says
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to his young friends, wait not for the dim future in the bright noonday of the present. Those who are yet in the early spring time of youth can watch the grass as it decorates the 'square' with its verdure, and count each leaf and twig as they add new beauty to the scene. When, within its lovely confines, each one has wooed and won the maiden of his choice, he will raise his heart in thanks to the 'City Fathers' who have provided so sweet a spot. And when hereafter he will pass that grove, with his dear one on his arm, and prattling infancy by his side, he may well exclaim in sweet accents :
". Dost thou remember that place so lonely,
A place for lovers, and lovers only, Where first I told thee all my secret sighs ? When, as the moonbeams that trembled o'er thee, Illumed thy blushes, I knelt before thee, And read my hope's sweet triumph in those eyes. Then, then, while closely heart was drawn to heart, Love bound us never, never more to part."
" Squibob " was evidently a man of taste, and pictured in his poetic way what should have been done, but never was, until this good year, 1887. The surface of the long-neglected ground has echoed the matchless eloquence of early preachers. It has been the scene of sorrow and sadness, as it has been the scene of joy and gladness. It has been a camping ground of the soldiery. It has been hacked and abused, and to-day, after a varied life of eighty- seven years, stands before the eyes of the citizens (owing to their re- cent liberality) a beautiful park, inclosed by a handsome iron fence, a gift from the county through the good taste of its Magistrates. It is otherwise adorned and beautified, and in the course of time will become a lovely spot. Thus, " Squibob's " poetic dream has become an actuality.
UPS AND DOWNS.
From 1810 to 1830, indeed we might say up to 1867, Hender- . son seems to have struggled with perilous travail for a mere existence. All accounts go to show that her progress was rather of the retro- grade and backward nature. The river bank was a source of im- mense annoyance, and all the while the system of engineering was most brutal and suicidal. Ditches were dug down Water Street to First, and in Elm to Main and down Main to Lower First, as a sys- tem of drainage. They were dug down Third to Water, and down Fourth to Water, and in every instance where the oulet was there was a wash made in a short time which it would take thousands of yards of earth to replace. Thus it was that all of the ugly ravines, gradually but slowly working their way into the very heart of the town, were made. Water Street, with the exception of the two
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squares between First and Third Streets, was entirely washed away, and since 1867 has been refilled.
In every instance these ravines have been made by the foolish engineering of the carly trustees and citizens of the town. The ra- vine between Main and Water on Lower First Street, was made in that way, and at one time had swallowed up one-third of the now Public Square. The entire street between Main and Water on Lower Fourth Street, has by this same foolish system been washed away, and is now an immense ravine, which, if ever filled up, will cost an untold amount of money.
The principal items of outlay were for protecting the river front and for ditching and draining the low and unhealthy grounds that lay in and around the town in all directions. The tax duplicate increased but little and every year the delinquent list was alarmingly large.
In these early times the town was populated by a well-to-do class, socially speaking the equal of any in the west, but commer- cially speaking old-foggyish, cynical and selfish. Of course this latter remark is not intended to apply to the community at large, but to a large class who persistently opposed every progressive movement where that movement encroached upon their RIGHTS or pocketbooks. There was seemingly no disposition to shove the struggling town along, but an evident feeling of self-satisfaction at its normal condi- tion, therefore, no public enterprise met with much favor, but was rather given the cold shoulder by what was commonly denominated the " nabobs " of the town. In a deposition of Mr. Samuel Stites, taken in 1853, is the following bit of early history, which is conclusive upon thuis proposition :
Mr. Stites was asked to state what occurred on the occasion of an attempt or negotiation in regard to the erection of glass works many years ago. He answered : "In the year 1817 or 1818, a member of the firm of Page & Bakewell, extensive manufacturers of Pittsburg, visited this place and spoke of establishing a manufactory of glass here, provided they could obtain a suitable lot lying between the river street and the river. Several of our citizens went with him to the bank of the river to view the ground. I was along, and recol- lect distinctly that one of the signers of the ordinance of 1797 was also one of the number. The citizens generally were in favor of accom- modating them, or that the town corporation should do so, believing that it would greatly promote the prosperity of the place. Some thought that the town authorities could make them a title to the ground, others that it would require an act of the Legislature, and I
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recollect distinctly that the 'signers of the ordinance of 1797 ' vio- lently opposed it, alleging that the ground or space between the river street and the river should be kept open. That those who had pur- chased lots on the street did so with the understanding that no ob- struction should ever be placed between them and the river, and that neither the town authorities or State Legislature could deprive them of that right. I recollect too that many of the citizens were a good deal displeased at the opposition shown by this man."
The Pittsburg gentleman, who had come to invest largely in the town, left it thoroughly disgusted. He was satisfied with the sand, the site and all, but the apparent lethargy and grumbling of such men as mentioned by Mr. Stites, settled the matter so far as Henderson was concerned. If the argument advanced by the signers of the or- dinance of 1797 held good in 1817, it most assuredly did not in 1825, when the citizens and lot owners signed a deed, not only to the streets and public grounds, but to the entire river front.
But then the reader must not forget that the two propositions were entirely unlike in their bearings. The proposition of 1817 was to receive an indirect benefit to the entire population, by encouraging the erection and operation of a large glass manufactory, while the proposition of 1825 was to repurchase the lots of a few by deeding away public grounds in which they were only interested as citizens and had no right to convey.
In 1835 or 1837, Samuel Orr, for many years a progressive, lead- ing and influential citizen and capitalist of Evansville, and one who did as much as any one person to build up that flourishing city, came to Henderson from Pittsburg for the purpose of establishing a pork house.
He had ample means at his disposal to buy land and erect build ings, but met with no liberal encouragement. Land was priced to him enormously high, and no disposition to sell even at exhorbitant prices. He left Henderson and went to Evansville, where all of the land he required, and temporary buildings erected thereon, were freely given him without charge or price.
It is a settled fact that the early inhabitants, while hospitable and clever, were yet land sharks, with a confirmed idea of the respecta- bility of a large landed estate, and a determination to hold to or re- ceive four or five times its value. In very many instances to hold, no matter what price might be offered. For that reason, Henderson failed to witness more than a natural increase of population for many years and was left far behind by many of her neighbors. .
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Lot 59 was set apart in the early settlement of the town as a cemetery, and within that one acre were buried the remains of a large majority of those who died from 1800 up to 1849. While there is no deed from General Samuel Hopkins to the Trustees of the town or to the citizens, it is a self-evident fact that the lot was intended for a public burial ground and was so given.
An act of the Legislature was passed incorporating the Cumber- land Presbyterian Church. The church building was erected on the northwest corner of lot No. 58, adjoining the alley, from the fact, per- haps, the land cost nothing, and from the further fact, perhaps, that in those times it was fashionable to have churches near burial grounds or burial grounds near churches.
In 1849 an act was passed incorporating the the Trustees of the " Henderson Cemetery," now known as Fernwood. And several years thereafter most of the remains of those to be found in the old cemetery were removed to the grounds purchased by the new com- pany.
During the 1822 term of the Legislature power was given to the Trustees of the town to levy and collect by taxation a sum not to ex- ceed five hundred dollars. Incorporated in this same act was a sec- tion regulating the tax levied upon the property of non-residents. It was enacted, " That whenever any part of the tax levied upon prop- erty shall be assessed upon lots of non-residents, if not paid when due, the same shall be advertised for three months, and if not paid, the lot or lots shall be forfeited, but may be redeemed in three years by the payment of triple the amount for which such lot was sold and double the tax for every year the lots may remain unredeemed, with legal interest and cost of advertising."
This one-sided law amounted to confiscation, and whether it was ever enforced cannot be determined. John Green was allowed the sum of twenty-two dollars for collecting the June tax for 1822.
1823.
RECORDS OF THE TOWN-DOINGS OF THE YEAR, ETC. - FIRST NEWSPAPER.
With this year the records of the town begin, and on the fifteenth day of September, the following persons were present, and constituted the Board of Trustees: Nathaniel F. Ruggles, Levi Jones, John H. Sublitt, Samuel Stites and James H. Lyne; William D. Allison clerk. Dr. Levi Jones and Nathaniel F. Ruggles were appointed commissioners to have the town resurveyed and laid off, and two hundred dollars
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appropriated for that purpose. The meetings of the Board of Trustees were held monthly, on the first Friday in each month at the Court House. Thomas H. Herndon was appointed Captain of the patrol for the year, and his salary fixed at twenty dollars. He was also al- lowed the sum of four dollars eighty-seven and a half cents for whip- ping slaves by order of the Magistrate The ponds around Court Square had become a source of great annoyance, and the ditches here- tofore dug for the purpose of draining them, had become great ditches with perpendicular sides caving with every rain. A great part of the revenue was used for bridging these ditches and putting a stop to fur- ther encroachments into the roads or streets. Early in the year, the first newspaper was established in Henderson. It was the " Colum- bian," published by William R. Abbott, and printed by Josh Cunning- ham, at that time a practical printer as well as graceful writer. This paper was published for many years, and was finally merged into the " South Kentuckian," under the management of W. R. Abbott and C. W. Pennell.
1824.
The Trustees determined it was necessary to the commercial in- terest of the town, that a landing should be provided, and to this end contracted with Robert Terry and N. C. Horseley, for the building of a thirty foot cut, through the foot of Steam Mill Street as it was then known. This landing was known as Steam Mill Wharf. These names were derived from Audubon & Bakewell's mill, now a part of Clark's tobacco factory. The landing was nothing more than a cut through the river bank, and owing to its being all sand, was a source of con- tinual annoyance from washes. In order to protect it, the Trustees ordered timbers to be sunk in the ground, and lapped or pinned in the middle, running oblique to the top of the bluff bank to protect it against washing. Before the lower tier of timbers had been laid, a heavy rain came, and had it continued much longer, the whole bank, timbers and all, would have been washed into the river ; as it was, great damage was done and most of the work had to be done over anew. Instead of excavating, great fills had to be made. Finally the land- ing was completed and received, and Nathaniel F. Ruggles appointed harbor master at a salary of twenty-five dollars per annum It was a most difficult matter at that time, to determine upon an equitable sys- tem of taxation, and frequent committees were appointed to investi- gate, and suggest the best plan. On February 2, 1824, a committee consisting of Samuel Stites and Nathaniel F. Ruggles, reported a plan as follows : "Having matured the subject, we report as follows : that
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a tax of fifty cents be levied on each white male over twenty-one years and on all blacks over sixteen years, which we estimate will yield sixty dollars, and further, that a tax of twenty-five cents each be levied on one hundred and eleven lots lying in the north section of the town, and on sixty-nine lots lying in the south section. That a tax of one dollar and twenty-five cents be levied on sixty lots; that a tax of three dollars be levied on fifteen lots lying north of the Public Square, and sixteen dollars be levied on eight lots ; that a tax of one dollar and twenty five cents be levied upon each ten-acre lot."
ORDINANCE PASSED.
At this meeting of the Trustees, several ordinances were passed for the better regulation of the revenues of the town. Among the number was an ordinance making it unlawful for any owner, agent, consignee or commander of any boat or craft, to vend any goods, wares or merchandise, by retail at any of the landings of the town, without first procuring a license to do so, the said license being fixed at twenty dollars for three months, and only during the daytime ; also making it unlawful for any peddler or itinerant person to sell without having procured a license, which was fixed at five dollars for one month. Another ordinance was passed, making it unlawful for any person to erect buildings or any obstructions whatever in the streets, and requiring all persons to apply to the Surveyor of the town for cor- rect lines. For a violation of this ordinance, the party offending should, upon conviction, pay a fine of five dollars per day so long as the obstruction was permitted to remain. Another ordinance made it a penalty for any one to take sand from the river front, without first having obtained permission from the "Harbor Master," and for a violation, a penalty of five dollars attached for each and every offense.
James Rouse was appointed collector of the town tax, and re- quired to execute a bond of one thousand dollars, and his salary fixed at twenty-five dollars. The disposition of land grabbers to fence up streets and public highways had been made so manifest, it became necessary for the Trustees to ride over the town every two or three days, in order to keep up with this notoriously greedy class. Charles Buck, who had set claim to a great part of the town was conspicuous among this number of men. The Trustees had passed frequent or- ders in specific cases, but in order to cover all, a general order was passed May, 1824, directing all persons under penalty, to remove their fences from off of the streets by the first day of January, 1825.
The salary of the Town Clerk was fixed at twenty-five dollars, and, whereas, it was found inconvenient to collect the tax on frac-
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tional parts of many of the lots, the Trustees at their July meeting ordered the Collector to collect on all such lots at the rate of four cents per foot, fronting on each street. Robert Speed was granted permission to make brick on the Public Square, on a part of the ground now occupied by the Barrett House, provided he would enter into bond of five hundred dollars penalty to grade first cross street to a level from Main or market, as it was then called, to Water Street. At the August meeting the following ordinance was passed : "Ordered, that from and after this time. no person shall be permitted to bathe in the Ohio River between the steam mill landing and Mrs. Husband's landing, between sunrise and sunset, under the penalty of five dol- lars, if a white person, and fifteen lashes, well laid on, by the Town Sergeant, if a colored person."
Nathaniel F. Ruggles was allowed forty-three dollars and seventy- five cents for work done on the bridge across the ditch, near the steam mill landing. This allowance will give some idea of the immensity of the ditches at that time on the public roads or streets. At this time, there was an immense pond near the seminary lot, and all of that ter- ritory between Elm and Green Streets, and above Upper Third, was a flat, covered with water during most of the year. From Rev. Joel Lambert's residence, then immediately in the rear of David Clark's present home, pedestrians were compelled to foot it to the upper end of the town before a crossing to Main Street could be had Samuel Stites, N. F. Ruggles and George Morris, were appointed commis- sioners to contract for the draining of the pond near the seminary and the flat on back street, and to superintend the work necessary to secure the outlet of the ditch leading from said pond and flat.
Over one hundred dollars was appropriated for building bridges over ditches, during the month of September, and double the amount for draining ponds in various parts of the town. This being true, can it be wondered that Henderson was so unhealthy. From 1822 to 1826 Gobin & Webster and Leonard H. Lyne, had blacksmith shops on the Public Square, and James Rouse, a slaughter house, for the use of which, they paid the town five dollars each.
1825.
A new act concerning the town was passed by the Legislature, and approved by the Governor, November 21. This act has been re- ferred to before as the one in which Buck, Alves and Hart took a lively interest. It is the act which reduced the limits of the town, and turned over to Alves and Hart all of the lots below fourth lower cross street, including streets and river front. It also conferred upon
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the Trustees the power to levy any amount of taxes on said town, not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars. It also provided that when a party owing taxes failed to pay by the appointed time, the Collector should advertise one month and proceed to sell all of the lot or lots, or enough thereof, to cover the taxes, costs and ten per cent. for sell- ing. It also provided for the redemption of the property by payment of the purchase money, with interest thereon at the rate of fifty per cent. per annum. It provided for the laying off of the streets into precincts, and the appointment of surveyors thereof. It required every male, over eighteen years of age, within the bounds, or who was allotted to a surveyor, to labor on said streets any number of days not exceeding six in each year, or two days in any one month, and in case of failure or refusal, a fine of five dollars was to be assessed and collected. It required the Trustees to hold at least three stated meetings in every year, to wit: on the first Saturday in May, July, and October, and assessed a fine of five dollars upon any Trustee for failure to attend.
1826.
On the fourth day of May, Samuel Calvan Sugg was hung in the Public Square for the murder of Elijah Walton.
The old Union Church, the first house built exclusively for reli gious worship, was erected this year on the Public Square, and stood on the hill almost opposite the present residence of Nick Becker, on Lower First, between Main and Elm Streets.
There were but two meetings of the Town Trustees held during this year. From the following record it would seem that the official board of the town, as well as the citizens, were at outs : " Be it re- membered, that a Board of Trustees could not be convened agree- ably to an act of Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, passed at the session of 1825, to pass the necessary ordinances for the bet- ter regulation of the town. The Trustees, however, feeling a dispo- sition to do all that was necessary, when it was practicable to obtain a meeting, did meet on the third day of July, 1826, and passed ordi- nances which, if carried into effect by the united efforts of the citi- zens. would have made all the repairs nscessary for the convenience and good order of the town. But finding their acts were not techni- cally supported by the existing laws, and some of the citizens, through lethargy, idleness, and a want of public spirit, refused to unite their aid in support of measures for their common benefit. Therefore, be it ordained, that the ordinances passed at the said last meeting be and are hereby repealed ; and thereupon Nathaniel F. Ruggles, Sam
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
uel Stites, George Morris and John W. Mosely resigned." There were no more meetings from this day, to wit, July 7, 1826, to May 9, 1827.
1827.
On the fifth day of May an election was held, and Wiatt H. In- gram, Nathaniel F. Ruggles, George Atkinson, John Spidel and Wil- liam D. Allison were duly elected Trustees for the ensuing year.
The Board met May 9, and organized. The streets of the town were then divided into three precincts, and Joel Lambert, Abram Scott and Dr. Owen Glass appointed surveyors.
A general turnout of all the males of the city of legal age with spades, picks, etc., was ordered, as will be seen from the following : "Ordered, that Joel Lambert, Abram Scott and Dr. Owen Glass warn the hands in their respective precincts to meet on Tuesday morning next, the fifteenth, just at sunrise, if fair, if not, on the next day, at the Court House, with hoes and spades, to work on the public streets, as the Trustees may then and there direct, under the penalty prescribed by law, for two days in succession."
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