USA > Kentucky > Henderson County > History of Henderson County, Kentucky > Part 28
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"I charge him with improperly threatening the Council and saying he would give them trouble when he got the tax books. I charge him with re- fusing to obey and execute the ordinances of the city according to the true spirit and obvious import of the same. I charge him with interfering with the Council, in endeavoring to initiate business, in trying to get ordinances passed in such shape as would suit his own views. I charge him with insubordinate conduct toward the Council, in his insolent and unbecoming refusal to give additional security to his bond when required to do so by order of the Coun- cil."
Upon the filing of the Mayor's charges, Nestler was summoned to appear before the Council on some day to hear the decision of that body. On the thirty-first day of August he appeared and was put upon his trial, and after a patient hearing of the testimony, and arguments of the Council both for and against, he was removed from his office by a unanimous vote. Thereupon an election was or- dained to be held on September 12 to fill the vacancy, and, strange as it may appear, it is nevertheless true, the people refused to sustain the action of their Council by re-electing Nestler, and thereupon the Mayor and three or more of the Council resigned their offices. In November of this year, two landings were made, one at the foot of upper eighth cross street, and one at second lower cross street. They
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cost a large amount of money, and both washed into the river in a very few years after their completion. An exhibit of the amount of money squandered in pretending to protect the river front between the years 1823 and 1867 would astound the oldest inhabitant. In November the Courier Company were elected the first city printers of the town, having been awarded the contract on the first ballot over the Reporter. During the latter part of this year, the Ionian Debating Society was organized, and composed of a number of the most prom- ising youths of the city, many of whom have made brilliant lights in both commercial and political circles. This society was governed upon the strictest rules adopted by parlimentarians, and was the means no doubt, of bringing into active life, the untrained powers of strong native intellects. Among its members who have distinguished them- selves in life I am pleased to notice Hon. James F. Clay, ex-member of Congress, from this Congressional District, a man of great native and acquired ability, Hon. J. Henry Powell, a litery lecturer of na- tional fame, and now the unsurpassed attorney for the Commonwealth in this judicial district, Judge L. W. Trafton, now deceased, but who during life represented this county in the Legislature, and served his county as Judge, a strong lawyer and able reasoner, Josephus Cheaney, the renowned temperance lecturer, William S. Johnson, John H. and James R. Barret, whose splendid business achievements have made them the pier of any in the land, and Stephen K. Sneed, cashier of the Henderson National Bank, whose reputation for ability through- out the banking circles of the county is recognized and acknowledged. These gentlemen, with many others, look with pride to the days of this society, and love to revel in the old memories which yet cluster around its most interesting life,
In the early part of 1854, James Alves additions to the city com- monly known as " Pultyle" and " Hardscrabble," were by act of the Legislature made a part of the city, These were then clover fields ; they are to-day compactly built. This was the year the young city, not only stood alone for the first time, but commenced walking with ease, The Mayor notified the County Court that she was amply able to take care of her own paupers and streets, and asked to be released from county poll tax. He asked that the apron strings hitherto bind- ing her, be now unloosed, and she turned loose npon the world to work her way to rank with other cities of the country. The order was granted, and from 1854, then a small place, she has gradually grown, until to-day she presents a bold front, and a growth absolutely com- manding the attention of capital from all parts of this great land.
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
1855.
The Assessors books for 1855 showed a total valuation of prop. erty $1,191,210 and a total of polls three hundred and eleven. The tax levy was fixed at one dollar and fifty cents on each and every white male over twenty one years of age, each free colored above the age of sixteen, and fifty cents on each and every one hundred dollars worth of property listed to the Assessor. The following specific taxes were levied :
STEMMERIES.
Adams & Rudy, $20.00; Burbank, $35.00; Kerr & Co., $40.00 ; Barret & Bro. $45.00 ; Clark & Co., $35.00 ; Soaper, $35.00.
GROCERIES.
Millet & Co., $30.00; P. Semonin, $30.00; B. W. Powell, $30.00 ; P. F Somonin, $10.00; J. E. Rankin, $10.00; Jacob Held, $30.00; Spalding Unselt & Co., $30.00 ; William Brewster, $15.00; L. Reigh- ler, $15.00.
TAVERNS.
Taylor House, $35.00 ; Mrs Eastin, $35.00; Jacob Held, $35.00; B. R. Curry, $35.00.
COMMISSION MERCHANTS.
Wm. E. Lambert, $15.00; P. B. Bryce, $10.00; B. R. Curry & Co., $15.00.
BOARDING HOUSES.
Dr. Thomas Johnson, $25.00; James Rouse, $25.00 ; Mrs. Allin, $10.00 ; Dr. Redman, $10.00; John Rudy, $10.00.
STORES.
John C. Atkinson, $40.00 ; Andrw Mackay, $15.00.
At the instance of Robert G. Beverley, a contract was entered into by and between the City Council, and William B. Vandzandt, at and for the sum of one thousand and seventy dollars, to fill the pond or ravine, which had engulfed the whole of the intersection at Lower First and Main crossing, and fully one-fifth of the northwest corner of the Public Square. This contract was made on the third day of July, and soon thereafter work was begun. An idea may be formed of the immense amount of earth necessary to fill up this great hole, when the reader is reminded that it required all of the dirt, then in the hill extending from Lower First Street to the center of the square, and that in the hill, which extended across First Street, near the corner of
20
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
Green, running at a rapid decline across the street from the summit of Mrs. Burbank's property, corner Washington and Green Streets to the ground level of St. Paul's Episcopal Church lot. During the month of July, a contract was made with W. B. Vandzandt, to ex- hume all unknown graves, to be found in the old cemetary, on the corner of Fourth and Elm Streets, and remove what remains there were to be found, to the new burial ground on the Madisonville road, now known as "Fernwood." Mr. Vandzandt was actively engaged at this work, but it was deemed best for the public health, to defer fur- ther removals until the fall of the year, at which time the contract was completed. This sacred square of ground lot No. 58, now belongs to the city, and if the writer is not mistaken, the title to the old Cumber- land Church should be vested likewise,
The great Floating Palace, with her chime of bells, and magnifi- cent circus, a new feature in the show business, delighted the citizens of Henderson on the afternoon and evening of the sixth day of July.
The low land and pond around the intersection of First Upper and and Elm streets was filled up by order of the Common Council during the months of July, August and September. This fill included the lot back of the Court House, upon which is situated the City Building, First Street and lots bordering thereon, particularly the Quinn corner, now Robert Dixon's, and the Lawrey corner, now occupied by the storehouse diagonally across from Dixon's. The fill on First Street was made from three to three and one half feet above the pavements laid down at that time. Robert S. Eastin did this work under the di- rection of Henry J. Eastin, City Engineer. This pond, from the ear- liest recollection of the town, had proved an eye sore and nuisance, as well as an interminable expense. As before stated concerning the river front and its tunnels, so in this case, an exhibit of the amount of money expended in draining this pond, would astound the oldest inhabitant. It claimed the attention of several Boards of Trustees, to the exclusion of almost every other subject. The outbreak of chol- era along First Street during 1853, was attributed to the low, wet and filthy condition of the street and lots. There were several fatal cases on the square, between Elm and Green. Robert Lawrey, a very prom- ising young son of David Lawrey, who lived on the corner directly. opposite the market house on Elm Street, being one of the number.
During the summer of this year, the " Henderson Coal Company" sunk a coal shaft near Upper Twelfth and Water Streets. This com- pany bored a large hole with a small and dissatisfied auger, struck coal at last, commenced business with bright hopes. and finally a few
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
years thereafter, wound up with the largest suit perhaps ever filed in the Circuit Clerk's office. The experience and end of this company however, did not keep others from undertaking a similar enterprise as will be seen as this work progresses.
October 2, a brick sidewalk, ten feet wide, was ordered laid down and the street graded from First Upper to Lower Second cross street.
The city prison, built under the market house, having been burned and a great necessity for another experienced, a calaboose thirty feet long was ordered built, and was built upon the spot of ground now oc- cupied by the City Council Building. Mention has heretofore been made of the difficulties pending between the city and James Alves and others, concerning the title to that portion of the Public Square, deeded away by the citizens in 1824. The city gained the river front and suit was pending concerning the square. In September, a com- mittee of citizens approached the Council with an offer of compromise. The Council appointed a committee to confer in regard to such set- tlement. October 2, the committee on the part of the property hold- ers came before the Council and submitted a proposition in writing offering one thousand dollars, as a compromise to adjust the difficul- ties in the suit. This proposition was rejected, and then the Council submitted a proposition to accept fifteen hundred dollars, and to per- fect the title so far as it was in their power to the property. This proposition was accepted by Robert H. Alves and William Brewster, and that, to all intent and purposes, was an end of the Public Square suit.
On the sixth day of November, an order was passed permitting Messrs. Schraeder and Clore to build a saw mill on the river front be- low seventh upper cross street.
On the thirteenth day of November, an ordinance was passed directing the grading, graveling, guttering, curbing and paving of second and third upper cross streets from Water to Green, accord- ing to the plan of improvement established by Henry J. Eastin, En- gineer. This work was all completed, save the graveling of the square between Elm and Green on Second Street. In compliance with a petition of the property owners, the Council at a meeting held on the fourth day of December, ordered a street forty feet wide to be made on the river front, from First above the Public Square to Sec- ond below. To do this it necessitated a fill on Water or Front Street across the ravine landing in First Street below the square. This fill was made, and that improvement has ever since been known as Water Street, and has proven a blessing to the city.
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
At an election held in the city on the seventeenth day of No- vember, to take the sense of the qualified voters as to the propriety of the city issuing her bonds in the sum of $50,000, for the purpose of aiding in building the Henderson & Nashville Railroad. One hundred and seventv-two votes were polled for the proposition, and this being a large majority, it was ordered by the Council that the subscription be made upon condition the railroad company would ob- ligate themselves that " Henderson " should be and remain the north - ern terminus of the road.
Up to the year 1856 none of the cross streets, running out from the river, extended beyond Green or Back Streets. From Center up to the Third Street, out to the line of James Alves' " Pultyte " En- largement or addition, was owned by Mrs. Jane Ingram and the heirs of Wiatt H. Ingram, deceased. The addition made by Mr. Alves ne- cessitated an outlet through the Ingram field, which was at that time fenced up in one body, and to secure this the Mayor of the town was directed to call on Mrs. Jane C. Ingram and request her to open Sec- ond Street through her grounds to the corporation lines, and in case of her failure or refusal, to take the necessary legal steps for opening and extending the street as required. The Mayor called upon Mrs. Ingram, and she, without hesitation, positively refused to open the street, unless compelled to do so by law. Suit was then instituted, and the street condemned and opened one hundred feet wide. Dur- ing the same year First Street was ordered to be graded, graveled, guttered and paved from Water to Green.
In December a liberal lease was made to D. R. Burbank for a portion of the river front near his coal mine and salt wells. Mr. Bur- bank commenced boring an artesian salt well, and, in 1857, succeeded at a depth of over 1,600 feet, in striking a four to six inch stream of salt water. This stream flows out of the surface, and can, it is said, be carried to the highest part of the city in pipes. The strength of the water is said to be eighty gallons to the bushel. At the depth of one hundred and sixty feet below the surface is a rock sixty-three feet through, which it is said would afford the whole country an abundance of the best of fresh water. At the depth of two hundred feet a stratum of porcelain clay was passed, pronounced by some to be the finest yet discovered in the United States.
The following from Prof. D. D. Owens to Mr. Burbank shows the relative value of this water for salt-making purposes :
" D. R. Burbank:
" DEAR SIR-The approximate examination which I made in Lexing- ton, in Dr. Peters' labratory, of the sample of salt you handed me, obtained
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
by boiling down in a hasty and rude way from brine obtained in your borings for salt in Henderson, gave the following comparative result with salt of commerce, supposed to be Kanawha :
SALT OF COMMERCE-KANAWHA. HENDERSON CO .- BURBANK SALT. Selica. 0.000 Same 0.140
Carbonate of lime .0.635
Same 0.583
Chloride of magnesia or bitter salt .... 0.200
Almost inappreciabl in Burbank's sall.
" This shows it is a very pure salt, since this examination must inevita- bly show a larger amount of impurity in your salt than could be in the salt of commerce prepared by crystalization ; it is in fact purer than the Kanawha salt.
D. D. OWENS, Geologist of Kentucky."
Shortly after the discovery of this vien of water Mr. Burbank ex- pended a large amount of money in the purchase of machinery and building of vats for the purpose of making salt, but, owing to some defect in the apparatus for boiling and evaporating, or else some opposite quantity in the water, the enterprise was soon abandoned. From that day to this the well has continued to flow ad libitum, furnishing during the spring, summer and early fall months the most health-giving bathing to be found anywhere in the country.
During this summer (1883) Mrs. Burbank has caused to be erected a swimming pool near the well, where the citizens go in great numbers to enjoy the health-giving qualities of the water. It is un- doubtedly a superior water for invalids of all kinds, and is said to be a dead shot to chills and fevers, many wonderful cures having been effected by the use of it.
Prior to the boring made by Mr. Burbank, a similar artesian well had been bored by Mr. John G. Holloway on his farm, some five miles out from the city. It was the object of Mr. Holloway, at the begin- ning, to secure, if possible, a flowing stream of fresh water, but he, too, struck a vein of strong salt, and in endeavoring to go further, got one of his augers fastened in the tube, and abandoned the enter- prise. The water was permitted to flow through the farm. Sixty or more sheep were killed from drinking it and the well was plugged up. At an elevation of 155 feet above low water and to the depth of 1,0241/2 feet his borings developed ten beds of coal : at 60 feet, one of 10 inches ; at 13612 feet, over 3 feet of block shale, with some coal ; at 16012 feet, a vein of 412 feet ; at 262 feet, one of 21/2 feet ; at 447 feet, one of 11/2 feet ; at 467 feet, one of 512 feet ; at 572 feet, one of 20 inches, and at 861 feet, one of 61/2 feet.
The coal shaft sunk by Mr. Burbank was intended more for his own convenience than for the public supply. He had expected to operate his salt works, but when that enterprise exploded, he then
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
turned his attention to raising coal for public sale. He continued to work his mines up to 1862, when, in the month of November, he leased them to Mr. A. H. Talbott. This gentleman operated the mines for one or two years, when they were again delivered up to the original owner.
Mr. Burbank was heavily engaged in tobacco stemming and farming, besides other important enterprises, attracting a good por- tion of his time and attention, and for this reason he abandoned the shaft and thus permitted it to fill up.
1856.
On the second of January a contract was entered into for the per- manent improvement, by grading, graveling, guttering, curbing and im- proving Main Street from Third to Upper Sixth Street. This contract was made with Stapp & Ackerly at the following prices : For excava- tions, 22 cents per cubic yard ; embankment, 1212 cents per cubic yard ; guttering, $3.50 per perch of 25 feet ; $1 per cubic yard for paving with gravel ; sandstone curbing, 25 cents per foot; limestone curbing, 50 cents per foot, lineal measure ; paving sidewalk with good hard brick, $1. 10 per foot, lineal measure. Upon all of the streets order ed to be improved, it was stipulated that the gravel used should be taken from the conglomerate mine above the city. The value of this gravel as a lasting roadbed will be appreciated when it is considered that all of the principal streets of the city were laid over twenty-seven years ago, and have never been relaid except in spots as necessity demanded.
By ordinance, passed April 25, Back Street was called and named, and to be hereafter known as Green Street.
On the third day of May, on motion of C. W. Hutchen, a con- tract was entered into with B. Brashear to grade and fence the Public Square, plant in it 270 trees and sow it down in blue grass, for the sum of eight hundred dollars.
On July 22 the Mayor preferred charges against Henry Clay Bard, who had recently been elected City Judge, for mal and misfeasance in office. On the twenty-eighth day of August the charges were tried and resulted in a resolution requesting or rather advising Judge Bard to resign.
During the summer and fall of this year Messrs. Paul F. Semonin and Robert G. Rouse, Jr., built the steamboat Governor Powell. She was 125 feet long and carrying capacity of 400 tons. She was a neat little craft, but, from some cause, never succeeded in
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
making a fortune for her owners, but, on the contrary, at the June term, 1859, of the Henderson Circuit Court, in the case of Peter Semonin & Co., a decree was rendered directing the sale of the boat to satisfy numerous debts and claims against her.
On the evening of the twenty-fourth of March, 1856, the re- nowned reader and actress, Mrs. McCready, accompanied by M'lle Camille Urso, a little prodigy of musical science, at that time only sixteen years of age, delighted a large audience of Henderson peo- ple, using the dining-room of the Hancock House, because there was no public hall in the city. M'lle Urso, then a wonder, is yet living and enjoying a reputation as a violinist equal to that of Ole Bull. This charming little performer was assisted by Prof. C. F. Artes, the great musician, lately deceased.
On Sunday morning, October 12, the large pork house of Wood- ruff & Funk, located in the lower end of the city near the ste 'm mill, was set fire to by an incendiary and burned to the ground. The loss was a heavy one to the firm and a serious blow to the commercial in- terest of the county.
1857.
The lease for a part of the river front, petitioned for by Messrs. Shrader & Clore, for the purpose of building a steam saw mill, was executed May 2 for a term of thirty years. The mill was built and has been for a number of years operated by Joseph Clore. On the first day of January, 1884, the firm name was changed to that of Joseph Clore & Sons, and is one of the largest and most successfully man- aged mills in the State.
The first steam ferryboat, under command of Captain James W. Anthony, was introduced this year.
In July a terrific wind storm passed over the city, unroofing many houses and rasing to the ground a magnificent five-story brick, two hundred feet in length, the property of D. R. Burbank, fronting on third upper cross, between Main and Water Streets. This house was rebuilt upon the same foundation, but only four stories high. In its crushing fall it demolished an adjoining brick stable, the property of William S. Holloway, and killed forever and anon, " Old Bally," one of the finest specimens of equine flesh ever owned in this place.
The Farmers' Bank building on the corner of Elm and Second Street, was completed in August.
The Hancock House was given a thorough overhauling, among other things plastered on the outside with a rough coat in imitation of stone. Henderson improved rapidly this year.
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
The Reporter of September 17 said : "We have never witnessed a more healthy and vigorous manifestation of the spirit of improve- ment than now prevails throughout this city. Business and dwelling houses are in process of erection in almost every direction. Streets are being graded, pavements laid and all other species of im- provements are going ahead with rapid strides. There is more work than the present force of mechanics can manage."
During the month of October, a society of young men known as the " Thespian Society," a dramatic literary association, was organ- ized, and during the fall and winter of 1858 gave entertainments in " Woodruff Hall" to large and delighted audiences. This society undertook such pieces as "Ingomar," "Lady of Lyons," "Still Water Runs Deep," "Faint Heart Never Won Fair Lady," and others of a difficult and popular cast, and, contrary to the predictions of the most sanguine friends of the players, the several renditions were not only creditable but positively meritorious. L. W. Danforth, a most humorous young man, possessed a happy and peculiar faculty of fun and wit, proved himself the equal in his line of comedy and farce of any trained actor who had preceded him on a Henderson stage.
1858.
On the fifteenth day of July a compromise of the suit of the city vs. Robert Clark & Co. and John B. Burke, for that part of the river front lying between First and Second Upper Streets, was filed and ordered to be made a part of the decree to be rendered in the Circuit Court. This compromise stipulated that Clark & Co. and Burke be permitted to remain in peaceable possession of the ground during the remainder of the unexpired term of the lease from the town to Au- dubon & Bakewell, made by the Trustees of the town on the six- teenth day of March, 1816, and to run ninety-nine years from that date, upon the said Clark & Co. and Burke executing and accepting a lease from the city for the unexpired term of said lease, to-wit : the fifteenth day of March, 1915, and paying such annual taxes upon said property as may from year to year be assessed against it by the city authorities.
The first billiard table ever seen in the city was introduced this year by Martin S. Hancock.
The second market house was built during the months of Octo- ber and November and cost twelve hundred dollars.
This year, like its predecessor, witnessed a rapid growth of the city, streets were improved and old contracts finished, more impor-
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
tant still, all owners of property encroaching upon the line of the streets as established by the Henry J. Eastin survey and ratified by a majority voté of the people, were notified to draw in their fences and thus conform to the survey. In many instances this was done, but in no instance where the ground was held by right of possession was the order obeyed. Be it said to the credit of the Council, in many very important cases and equally unimportant ones, this timely step was taken.
On the sixth day of April, Mrs. Betsy Sprinkle, relict of Michael Sprinkle, one of the pioneers, died. She was a devoted Christian woman. Once upon a time, her husband, in his old age, was ap- proached upon the matter of religious preparation, when he replied in all earnestness : " My vife, Petsy, has got it, Judge Knox has got it, and I am getting too old to enjoy it."
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