History of Henderson County, Kentucky, Part 49

Author: Starling, Edmund Lyne, 1864- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Henderson, Ky.
Number of Pages: 892

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Corydon .- John R. Wilson, 450 hogsheads ; G. W. Pritchett and Fred. Powell, 150 hogsheads each. Total, 750 hogsheads.

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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.

Cairo .- W. E. Royster & Co., 250 hogsheads; W. T. Cotting- ham and N. Royster & Co., 200 hogsheads each ; D. A. Denton and F. A. Fisher, 100 hogsheads each. Total, 850 hogsheads.

Pool's Mills .- M. D. Thornberry and Cruse & Parker, 150 hogs- heads each. Total, 300 hogsheads.

Robards' Station .- J. D. Robards & Co., 400 hogsheads. Total, 400 hogsheads.

Niagara .- J. W. Porter, 200 hogsheads. Total, 200 hogsheads. Zion .- Smith & Baskett, 75 hogsheads. Total, 75 hogsheads.

Hebardsville .- J. T. Hust & Co., 150 hogsheads ; Charles W. Johnson, 50 hogsheads. Total, 200 hogsheads.

Scuffletown .- John S. McCormick, 300 hogsheads. Total, 300 hogsheads.

Smith's Mills .- W. E. Royster & Co., 200 hogsheads. Total, 200 hogsheads.

Making a total for city and county of thirteen thousand, two hun- dred and twenty-five hogsheads.

In addition to this, fully fifteen hundred hogsheads of leaf are handled. This immense business gives employment to fully fifteen hundred operatives. One hogshead of strips represents about one hundred and fifty dollars, so it will be seen when the stemmers do a full business it requires the outlay of two millions or more of dollars.

TOBACCO MANUFACTURERS .- On January 22d, 1883, Messrs. J. D. Robards and N. A. Kitchell, under the firm name of the " Robards- Kitchell Manufacturing Company," filed their articles of incorpora- tion. This, then, was the first manufactory ever organized in Henderson. The business was begun and carried on for a short time in the present John H. Hodge stemmery, but was subsequently removed to Mr. Robards' stemmery, on the corner of Second and Adam Streets, where it is at this time. Within the past three months, Dr. Kitchell sold his interest and the firm is now J. D. Robards & Co., being com- posed of J. D. and E. T. Robards. The finest chewing and smoking tobaccos are manufactured, and none but the best material is used. The celebrated Greenville brand of chewing tobacco is made. The . firm has ample capacity and means to push the work to any desired extent. Between fifteen hundred and two thousand pounds of to- bacco are handled daily. Their trade is mostly South. Between twenty-five and thirty persons are employed.

Thomas B. Hodge, in 1884, established the celebrated Hodge Tobacco Manufactory on Lower Main, between Dixon and Jefferson

THOMAS: HODGE TOBACCO MANUFACTURER

THOS. HODGE'S TOBACCO FACTORY.

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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.

Streets. This is by far the largest and most complete manufactory in the State, outside of the City of Louisville. The building is a large one and contains every convenience. It is supplied with the best machinery, and new additions, to facilitate work, are constantly being made. A large force of experts are employed and the best brands of chewing tobaccos known to the trade are turned out in large quan- tities. Between fifty and sixty operatives find employment in the factory, and between two thousand five hundred and three thousand pounds of tobacco is manufactured daily.

DISTILLING .- The first distillery of which anything is known was a little kettle concern for manufacturing apple and peach brandy, operated by Mr. Melton. He, perhaps, made as much as twenty-five gallons per year. There were others in early times, but the introduc- tion by merchants of cheaper goods eventuated in pretty much break- ing up the little stills in the county. Mr. Melton held on until the beginning of the war, when, by reason of the stringency of the reve- nue laws and the taxes, he suspended operations. The first whisky distillery known in the county was built by D. R. Burbank, in the Town of Henderson, in 1867-'8. This was a large house and made several large crops of whisky, which found a ready market. The next distillery bullt was that of Starling & McClain, in 1872. A few years subsequent to this another was built opposite Evansville, and shortly after burned. The first two ceased operations and have long since been torn down.

During the summer and fall of 1880 Messrs. A. S. Winstead and N. B. Hill, under the firm name of Hill & Winstead, who, having purchased the buildings and grounds of the Henderson Car Works, formed a copartnership under the firm name of Hill & Winstead for the purpose of distilling. The buildings were remodeled and ar- ranged for the purpose, and the first whisky made during the winter of that year. The capacity of this house is twenty barrels per twenty- four hours, but it has, owing to the over supply of whiskies on the market, never been run beyond half capacity. They manufacture the renowned "Silk Velvet " sour mash, and meet with ready sales. Large numbers of cattle and swine are fed from the offal.

E. W. WORSHAM & Co .- During the summer of 1881 E. W. Wor- sham and J. B. Johnston, under the firm name of E. W. Worsham & Co., purchased ground and commenced the building of the present distillery, situated between the line of the L. & N. R. R, and Canoe Creek, fronting Center Street. This house was completed and fully

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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.

stocked with all the machinery and necessary apparatus for manufac- turing the finest quality of sour mash whisky, and commenced opera- tions during the winter of 1881. Its original making capacity was twenty barrels per twenty-fours hours, but subsequently cut down, and has never been taxed at over eight barrels per day. Twenty-seven hundred and sixty-seven barrels of the favorite "Peerless " have been made, and there is but little of it that has not found a ready market. January 1st, 1887, Mr. Worsham assumed sole charge of the distil- lery and associated with himself in the wholesale house his two sons, Andrew J. and D. W. C. Worsham.

WITHERS, DADE & Co .- During the summer of 1881, Messrs. J. E. Withers, H. F. Dade, and Captain Charles G. Perkins, under the firm name of Withers, Dade & Co., purchased the necessary ground upon the Evansville road, two miles from the Court House, and built a ten barrel house. They have made three crops, a total of over three thousand barrels, of superior sour mash, and found ready buyers for their make. This is one of the most complete houses in the State, and its make of whisky ranks with the best known to the trade.

BREWERY .- The Henderson Brewery was established many years ago by Reutlinger & Klauder. Some time after the firm was changed to Reutlinger & Isefelder, and so remained to September 16th, 1885, when, by a boiler explosion, the machinery was rendered inoperative, and the firm suspended operations.

From that time, and up to May, 1887, the brewery remained idle. It was then sold to George H. Delvin & Co., and in a short time placed in complete repair and once again resumed operations. This brewery is one of large capacity and is supplied with all of the latest and most valuable machinery, including an ice machine, with engines, pumps, pipes, and other necessary appendages, costing the original owners near twenty thousand dollars.

HOMINY AND FLOURING MILLS, ETC .- The Henderson Hominy Mill was established in 1882, Messrs. W. W. Shelby, William Soaper and F. L. Turner constituting the firm. A large mill, completely equipped with machinery for doing first class work, was soon after ready and commenced work, its capacity ranging in the neighborhood of three hundred barrels per day. In 1884 Mr. Turner withdrew from the firm and since that time the firm has been Shelby & Soaper. Mr. Shelby has given his entire time to its management and a brilli- ant success has crowned his efforts. They are very heavy purchasers of corn, confining their purchases not alone to Henderson County,

FOLGER EIN

SHELBY & SOAPER'S HOMINY MILL.

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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.

but above and below on the Ohio and Wabash Rivers. They run a number of barges and a steamboat for towing. They manufacture the finest flint hominy, grits, pearl meal and feed meal, for which they find a ready market. This mill runs day and night in order to keep up with the demand made upon it.

In 1884 the Pearl and Grit Mills was built by F. L. Turner and W. J. Marshall, Jr. Its capacity is not so large as the Henderson Mill, but it is in every way a first class manufactory. It suspended operations several months since and is yet idle.

FLOURING MILLS .- Henderson has three flouring mills, finely equipped for turning out the best brands of flour. They are also pro- ducers of meal of a superior quality. In addition to these, Webster Cate owns and operates a grist mill that supplies a large local terri. tory. There is also a fine flour and grist mill at Corydon, Cairo and Zion, in the county, besides several grist mills of, small capacity. Steam has taken the place of the old-fashioned sweep and tread, and the latest machinery is alone used.

BUGGIES, CARRIAGES, ETC .- The Henderson Buggy Co. was organ- ized in November, 1882, with a paid up capital of $50,000. Its officers were, and are at this time, with the exception of Superintendent, Cap- tain C. G. Perkins, President; John H. Barret, Jr., Vice President ; Bernard G. Witt, Secretary and Treasurer, and George Delker, Super- intendent. Two years since Mr. Delker withdrew from the company. A. Tonnini is now Superintendent. This company employs during the busy season from fifty to sixty operatives, and their manufacture of buggies, phaetons, etc., are unsurpassed by any manufactory in the country. They enjoy a large trade and turn out from three to five hundred vehicles annually.

George Delker & Co., manufacturers and dealers in buggies, carriages and phaetons, do first class work.

WOOD WORK AND BLACKSMITHING .- Delvin & Holloway, corner Elm and Fourth Streets; R. C. Blackwell, east side Elm; R. S. Smith & Bro., Willey Bros., Mike Brown, First Street, between Elm and In- gram ; William Wagner, corner Fifth and Green.

FOUNDRY AND MACHINE SHOPS .- Delvin & Hollaway, corner Elm and Fourth Streets. All kinds of castings and machine work done on short notice and guaranteed.

BROOM AND MATTRESS .- Messrs. W. C. Neal & Bro. have re- cently established a broom and mattress factory at the corner of Fourth and Adams Streets,

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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.

BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION. - The success attending the management of the Henderson Building and Loan Association is somewhat phenomenal. While the Association, in its inception, was not intended as a scheme of pure philanthropy, its results have come fully up to the hopes of its founders in this respect, as is attested by the hundreds of happy homes, bought and paid for through its instru- mentality. The Association opened its books to receive dues on March 1st, 1874. The first series had subscribed to its capital stock at the end of the first six months 784 shares. But by the time this series was paid up, which was in September, 1878, the capital stock had been reduced, by withdrawals, to 304 shares. The series imme- diately succeeding this were small, in comparison with the first, none of them reaching a subscribed capital of more than 100 shares, until the tenth series was opened, since when the Directors have been compelled to refuse to receive numbers of subscriptions at the opening of each series. Sixteen series have been paid off. The Association, since its organization, has made 370 loans, amounting in the aggre- gate to $277,500. About 250 of these loans were made for the pur- pose of building homes for the borrowers, fifty of which have been paid off, leaving them in possession in fee simple of their own homes, at very little greater cost to them than their rents would have amounted to. Non-discounting stockholders, who held their stock until paid up, have been paid $114,000. In addition to this the Association has purchased stock before it matured for which it paid $39,000 in cash,. making the total amount paid to non-borrowing stockholders $193,600. The following are the officers of this corporation : W. S. Johnson, President ; B. G. Witt, Secretary and Treasurer ; Directors, W. S. Johnson, J. W. Allen, Peter Geibel, F. P. Geibel, T. M. Jenkins, R. C. Blackwell, Isaac Mann, H. S. Rudy and B. G. Witt.

PEOPLE'S HOMESTEAD AND SAVING ASSOCIATION .- On the four- teenth day of April, 1877 this Association was incorporated. It is similar in its aims and purposes to the Building and Loan. Three series of stock have been sold, ranging from one hundred to two hundred shares of one hundred dollars each. The officers of the Association are : John O'Byrne, President ; G. M. Alves, Secretary and Treasurer ; Directors, John O'Byrne, G. M. Alves, Ed. Oberdor- fer, Maurice Bauldoff and D. Banks, Jr.

COAL MINES AND COAL AGENTS .- The People's Mines, worked by P. J. McNamarra & Co., is situated two miles from the city on the Knoblick road. These mines supply a large quantity of superior coal to the city, and an equal amount to the country around and be-

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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.

yond the mines. As a coal market Henderson has no superior, for quality, quantity and cheapness.

ST. BERNARD MINES .- This great company, located in Hopkins County, does through its agent, Hon. John C. Atkinson, an immense business in the city and county. The coal is of a superior quality for steam, grate or cooking purposes.

OHIO VALLEY COAL .- This coal, recently introduced into this market, and controlled by S. H. Lambert, Agent, is said to be the equal of Pittsburg coal for all purposes save gas.

There is no danger of a coal famine and no danger of coal be- ing placed at an exorbitant price. Indeed, when Louisville and other cities, during extreme cold winters, are obliged to pay dearly for their coal, and limited in quantity at that, Henderson is abundantly sup- plied, and at a very moderate cost. Competition is too great here · even to admit of a combination raising the price.

SAW MILLS .- In 1856 Joseph Clore built the frame work of his present mill at the foot of Sixth Street, and commenced business with the old-fashioned upright saw. Since that time wonderful changes have been introduced. The circular saw has taken the place of the upright, and machinery, wonderful in labor saving, has been invented. The capacity of the mill at the present time is 40,000 feet per day, running one saw. Henderson, and the entire country around, for many years past, has been supplied from this mill. For several years it has been operated under the firm name of Joseph Clore & Sons. In connection with the saw mill is a planing mill of very large capa- city, fitted throughout with the latest and most expensive machines for doing all manner of first class wood work. The firm builds and completes houses, as well as furnish contractors with all articles ne- cessary in house building. In addition to a heavy local demand, they are large shippers of lumber and building materials to points beyond the State. Every article made of wood for office or house building, from an ordinary window frame to the finest office furniture, is man- ufactured on short notice by this firm. Over seven acres of land is largely stacked with lumber, and in this it is their endeavor to always keep a large supply on hand. No better manufacturers are to be found in the West. Eighty men are given employment.

R. H. Clayton, several months since, purchased what is known as the Old Fruit Mill, remodeled it, and is engaged in sawing for the trade.

Portable Mills .- There are several of these mills engaged in the county. Among the number, Judge Gillams

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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.

COUNTY ROADS .- There are no better roads to be found in any country than those of Henderson County, in fact, the writer was told by a very distinguished traveled gentleman, a short time since, that he had never seen their equal. It is not only the case as regards the main arteries, but those tributary are equally as good. A history of the gravel roads will be found elsewhere in this volume.

HENDERSON LANDS .- For the growth of corn, tobacco, wheat, oats, rye, melons, and all the grasses, the lands of this county are unsurpassed. Rents are cheap, taxes low, educational and church advantages superior, and society good. What more could be offered ? All of these are to the credit of Henderson.

HENDERSON FAIR COMPANY .- This company was incorporated in March, 1865, and has held annual fairs, with a more or less degree of success. The grounds of the company are located one mile from the Court House on the Morganfield gravel road, and are as hand- some as any to be found in Kentucky, or elsewhere. The premiums offered are liberal.

INCORPORATIONS .- Kentucky Land Improvement Company, Oc- tober 14th, 1886.

Cumberland Land and Iron Company, January 6th, 1887.

Henderson Real Estate and Improvement Association, April 14th, 1887.

Rock, Natural Gas, Mining and Manufacturing Company, May 30th, 1887.

Brand's Perfection Hames Company, May 30th, 1887.

Congregation Adas Israel, June 8th, 1887.

Cairo High School, July 12th 1887.

HOTELS. Henderson prides herself in her excellent hotels There are eight hotels and fifteen boarding houses, the Barret House, Williams House, Clegg's, Commercial and Duncan's leading in the list.

BARRET HOUSE. - This hotel, formerly the Hord House, was re- built and greatly enlarged by its present owner, John H. Barret, in 1885. It is one of the handsomest buildings west of Louisville and is notably first class in all of its appointments. Messrs Sugg & Can- non, proprietors, are universally popular and deservedly enjoy the high reputation they have earned by close application to business and the comfort of their guests. The house is elegantly furnished and supplied with all modern conveniences.

BRICK YARDS .- Kleymeyer & Klute are the manufacturers of the very best article of building brick. They operate two large kilns and one smaller one, and are thus not only able to supply the local demand but frequently ship hundreds of thousands out of the county. In addition to their brick manufacturing, this firm manufactures on a large scale tiling for underground drainage. In both instances, none but the best soil and best modes of burning are employed.

At Rankin Station, several miles out on the L. & N. R. R., is another tile factory that supplies a large territory of country.

FOLGER CIN

With

BARRET HOUSE.

SKETCHES AND RECOLLECTIONS.

Incidents in the History of the People, Sad, Humorous and Interesting.

A BLOODY LEGEND.

SKETCH OF BIG AND LITTLE HARPE.

EADERS of this article will recall the blood-curdling stories told them of the Harpes, who, in the early settlement of Henderson County, were the terror of the pioneer. Many persons in this and adjoining counties remember how, in their childhood, these stories awakened the keenest sense of fear, and were the occasion of almost agonizing sensations as they passed along the wilderness roads, ever on the lookout to be accosted by these terrible men. Their deeds of daring and desperate designs placed them at the head of all early desperadoes. Their history in this portion of Kentucky has long ago and repeatedly found its way into the histories of Kentucky and other States, in pamphlets and the newspapers of the country, and at one time even dramatized for the American stage. But it was so des- perate and appalling to all rational sensibilities that it was abandoned by the drama.

In giving a history of these desperately wicked men, I shall be as brief as possible, knowing full well that only a faint idea can be given in the brief space allotted. The Harpes, consisting of "Big " Harpe and his two wives, Sally Harpe and Betsy Roberts, and "Little " Harpe and Susanna, his wife, came into Kentucky from East Tennes- see in the year 1798. They had lived in Tennessee, and at one time were confined in the Knoxville jail on suspicion of crime, when they

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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.

were innocent. Upon being released they declared war against all mankind, and determined to rob and murder until they themselves were killed. Their appearance was wild and rude in the extreme. . Big Harpe was above the ordinary stature, bony and muscular, his clothes dirty and shabby, distinguishing him as a man wholly unused to the courtesies of civilized life. His countenance was so repulsive that every indication of villainy was plainly marked thereon. He wore no covering on his head, so the natural protection of thick, coarse hair, of a fiery red, uncombed and matted, gave evidence of the rudest exposure. He was armed with a rifle, knife and tomahawk. He was a veritable outlaw, destitute of every touch of human nature, and prepared, at all points, for assault and defense.

Little Harpe was a smaller man, but, in other respects, the coun- terpart of his co-worker in crime, and with him frequently engaged in riotous drunkenness and debauchery. Their travel through the wil- derness roads of Kentucky was marked by human blood. They were captured and confined in the jail at Danville, but soon after made their escape, and started en route for the mouth of Green River, mark- ing their path by robberies and murders of the most horrible and brutal character. The district they traveled was wild and thinly pop- ulated, and for this reason their outrages went unpunished. They seemed inspired with the deadliest hatred against the whole human race, and such was their implacable misanthropy that they were known to kill where there was no temptation to rob. One of their victims was a little girl, found at some distance from her home, whose tender age, and helplessness, would have been a protection against any but incarnate fiends. Every human met by them prior to their arrival at Green River became a victim to their implacable thirst for blood. The Harpe women had preceded their husbands to Henderson County, and had settled about six miles from the town, in the direction of Madisonville, where they lived during the winter of 1798, '99, and passed themselves as widows. Micajah, or Big Harpe, and Wiley, or Little Harpe, pushed their way on into Henderson County, where they soon after rejoined their wives, and started in the direction of Ten- nessee. They remained some time in what is now known as Hopkins County. This county, at that time, was a wilderness, with but a few scattered settlers. The Harpes rode good horses, and at that time dressed well, in the clothes of their murdered victims. They were all the time heavily armed, and the condition of the country was their apology for such equipments. The following is a condensed history of their devilish deeds done in Henderson County, as narrated by Mr. John B. Ruby to Judge Underwood, many years ago :

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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.

While passing along the road, presumably en route South, the Harpes stopped for dinner at the house of a settler named James Tompkins, near Steuben's Lickzand while there passed themselves for Methodist preachers, and one of them actually said grace at the table.

The conversation turned on the general character of the country. One of them asked Mr. Tompkins if he hunted much, who replied that he did when he had the ammunition, but for some time he had been without powder and notwithstanding deer was so plenty, he never had any venison to eat. Thereupon the Harpes, with affected generosity, made a liberal division of their stock of powder with Mr. Tompkins. It will be seen in the sequel, that by a most singular providence, Big Harpe was mortally wounded by his own powder thus given to Mr. Tompkins.

After dinner they resumed their journey. The first cabin passed was that of Moses Stigall, then occupied by his wife and little child, Stigall being from home. This cabin was five miles from Tompkins, The next settlement was Peter Ruby's, eleven miles from Stigall's. John B. Ruby was at Peter Ruby's and saw the Harpes pass. They camped for the night a few miles from Stigall's, who, it is claimed, owed one of the Harpe women a dollar. Stigall met the party in the flats of Deer Creek as he was going to Robinson's Lick for salt and was told of the owing dollar. He told the Harpe woman to call upon his wife in passing, giving explicit directions where his wife could find the money. The women went to Mrs. Stigalls and told her what her husband had said. She found his purse, containing about $40.00 in silver, out of which she paid the claimed dollar. The wives then told their husbands how much money Mrs. Stigall seemed to have, and this led to the perpetration during the following night of the last dreadful act of barbarity in the long list of horrible tragedies of which the Harpers were guilty.

Mrs. Stigall was a young woman with only one child. A man by the name of Love was staying that night at the house. The two Harpes left their camp, and went to the house of Stigall, got the money, murdered his wife and child and Mr. Love, then set fire to the house of Stigall and burnt up the murdered bodies and all that was in the house. Two men named Hudgens and Gillmore, were returning from the lick with their packs of salt and camped for the night not far from Stigall's. About daylight the Harpes went to their camp and arrested them under pretense that they had committed robbery, murder and arson at the house of Stigall. They shot Gillmore, who died on the spot. Hud-

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History of Henderson County, Kentucky, Part 49

Author: Starling, Edmund Lyne, 1864- [from old catalog] Publication date: 1887 Publisher: Henderson, Ky. Number of Pages: 892

Author: Starling, Edmund Lyne, 1864- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Henderson, Ky.
Number of Pages: 892