USA > Kentucky > Henderson County > History of Henderson County, Kentucky > Part 78
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During all of this time Mr. Audubon continued his study of birds, and, it is said, that the walls of his mill presented the appearance of a picture gallery, every smooth space presenting to the view the paint- ing of some one or more birds. In 1817 Mr. Audubon built at Hen- derson, a small steamboat, for what purpose it is not known-more, perhaps, to gratify his erratic inclination than for any other reason. The Captain of the vessel ran her out of the Ohio into the Mississippi River, and was followed by her owner in a rowboat to New Orleans, where the little craft was recaptured and sold. In 1818 Constantine S. Rafinisque, a native of Galato, near Constantinople, Turkey, and a naturalist of great reputation, descended the Ohio in an ark, as it was called, and remained with Mr. Audubon for a number of weeks. The two-to use an ordinary expression-had a picnic bird hunting. Birds were far more plentiful and of a greater variety in those days than they have ever been since the woodsman commenced clearing the
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country. During Mr. Audubon's entire life in Henderson, he was an untiring student of ornithology, frequently going into the woods and remaining for two months. Upon one occasion he was known to fol- low a hawk, peculiar to this country for three days, in fact, until he succeeded in killing it. He was never known to change his course on account of creeks or water courses-those he would swim if neces- sary to keep up a trail. At one time he had watched a "flicker" or " yellow hammer," and finally saw it go into a hole in a dead tree. So anxious was he to catch the bird, he immediately commenced to climb, and in a short time found himself opposite the hole. No sooner said than done, he ran his hand in, and, to his horror, pulled out a snake, see- ing which, he let go and fell with the snake to the ground, fortunately, without injury to himself. Mr. Audubon used to tell this story with a good deal of humor to his friends, who wondered at the risks he would take in pursuit of his favorite study. Mr. Audubon was a great swimmer, and was very fond of the sport. Upon the landing of the first steamboat at Henderson, a great crowd congregated at the bank to take a look at the wonderful thing. It was a sort of holiday, and one of the amusements indulged in by many men, was that of diving rom the sides of the boat into the river. Mr. Audubon put in an ap- pearance and paralyzed the audience by diving from the bow end of the boat and coming up at the stern end after having passed entirely under the bottom. It has been told by those who knew Mr. Audubon well, that his wife was also an expert swimmer, that she used a swim_ ming suit, and frequently swam the river for amusement. This story, however, has been contradicted by a granddaughter of Mrs. Audubon; nevertheless, old time residents, now dead, have declared to having seen her swim the river time and again. Mr. Audubon continued to reside in Henderson, happily, as all supposed, until the year 1823, when it was discovered that the green eyed monster had domiciled itself within his home. He became jealous of his wife, a beautiful woman, and from that time life was a burden to him. The two got along badly, and finally Mrs. Audubon determined to return to her home in Louisville. Mr. Ben. Talbott, father of the late Ben Talbott, deceased, tendered her the use of his carriage and driver, which she accepted, and thus she was driven overland to her father's home. There were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Audubon two children, both boys. Subsequent to his wife's departure, Mr. Audubon became embarassed and determined to dispose of his effects and remove from the wilds of Henderson. In 1824 he went to Philadelphia, and from thence to Europe, where he succeeded in having " Ornithological Biographies,"
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and " Birds of America " published. He returned some years after- wards and settled in New York, where he died on the twenty-seventh day of January, 1851, aged seventy-one years.
GENERAL SAMUEL HOPKINS, who, as agent and attorney, in fact for Richard Henderson & Company, located and caused to be surveyed the Town of Henderson, and for whom Hopkins County is named, was a native of Albermarle County, Virginia. He was an officer of the Revolution, and bore a conspicuous part in that great struggle for freedom. He fought at the battles of Princeton, Trenton, Monmouth, Brandywine and Germantown, in the last of which he commanded a battalion of light infantry, and was severely wounded, after the almost entire loss of his command in killed and wounded. He was Lieutenant Colonel of the Tenth Regiment, Virginia, at the siege of Charleston and commanded that regiment after Colonel Par- ker was killed. At the surrender of Charleston, May 20th, 1780, he was made a prisoner. In 1797 General Hopkins came West and settled at the Red Banks, now Henderson. In October, 1812, he led a corps of two thousand mounted men against the Kickapoo villages, upon the Illinois River, but being misled by the guides, after wander- ing over the prairies for some days to no purpose, the party returned to the Capital of Indiana. Chagrined at this result, in the succeeding November, General Hopkins led a band of infantry up the Wabash and succeeded in destroying several Indian villages. His wily enemy declining a combat, and the cold proving severe, he was forced again to retire to Vincennes, where his troops were disbanded. At the close of this campaign, the General returned to Henderson, and settled down upon the old Spring Garden farm, one and a half or two miles out on the Owensboro Road, where he died in 1819. General Hop- kins served several terms in the Kentucky Legislature and represented the Henderson District, 1813 to 1815, in Congress. He was commis- sioned a Major General, during the War of 1812-'15, by President . Madison, who was his second cousin. General Hopkins was a double second cousin of Patrick Henry, their mothers being double first cousins. He was also a second cousin of Stephen Hopkins, who signed the Declaration of Independence, and second cousin of Colonel Taylor, father of President Zachary Taylor. He was the father of Captain Sam. Goode Hopkins, of the Forty-second Regiment United States Dragoons, in the War of 1812-'15. He was also grand- father of Thomas Towles, Jr., and Mrs, R. G. Beverly and Mrs. Col- onel John T, Bunch,
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REV. JOEL LAMBERT was born August 25th, 1796, in Meck- lenburg County, Virginia. His father, Joel Lambert, was of English descent, and a farmer by pursuit. His mother, Miss Bennett, was a native of Virginia. His parents-removed to Kentucky during his early childhood, and settled permanently in Henderson County. He re- ceived a limited education, but the best afforded at that early day in Kentucky. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and served six months in the New Orleans campaign, under General Jackson. After the restoration of peace, he returned home, and for several years clerked in a dry goods store where he acquired a reputation for ster- ling worth and honesty, and was trusted with what was called " inter- changing "-transferring money from merchants between different points in the country. This business carried him largely through the unsettled portions of the State to Frankfort, Lexington, Russellville and other centers of trade, and was a position of great responsibility and danger. Mr. Lambert was never appointed Sheriff of the county because he was never a magistrate, and, under the old constitution, the senior magistrate was always entitled to the office of Sheriff, and was with one exception, so appointed. It was also the custom of Magis- trates appointed to the sheriffalty to farm out the office, that is to say, sell it to the highest and best bidder. Under this arrangement Mr. Lambert served from 1818 to 1832, either as principal or deputy, with great credit to himself and general satisfaction to the county. Dur- ing his term of office it fell to his lot to officiate at several hangings, and to escort several criminals overland on horseback to the peniten tiary of the State.
When Charles C. Carr was hung, Mr. Lambert was acting Sheriff, but his young spirit was too tender to strike the fatal blow, which was to send into eternity the soul of one who had done him no wrong. Yet he recognized his duty and made all preparations for the hanging. Doak Pruitt, a somewhat noted character at that time, was employed and broke the neck of the unfortunate Carr for the sum of five dol- lars. Mr. Lambert officiated at the hanging of Calvin Sugg and Wil- liam Wurnell, both desperate bad characters. Between the years 1832 and '35, Mr Lambert connected himself with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and prepared himself to enter the ministry. For several years he was pastor of the Madisonville Church, for a number of years in charge of the Hebardsville Church, and for ten years connected with various charges, and, up to the day of his death, held missionary and irregular connection with his church. He was ever an earnest and faithful worker in the church, and filled many import-
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ant offices and appointments, being a member of its general assembly. For many years anterior to his death, Mr. Lambert was largely en- gaged in farming and other business pursuits, and was always success- ful, even at his advanced age he gave his daily attention to his farm- ing interests, and was as exact in his habits as during his early man- hood. In all of the multiplied phases of the Henderson & Nashville Railroad, there was no one man who did so much as Mr. Lambert towards its completion. From the beginning, he took an active part, and, throughout all of its ramifications, his hand was to be plainly seen. He contributed liberally of his means, and of his time-in fact, for many years occupied most of his time in endeavoring to bring the road to a successful completion. Throughout his long and successful bus iness life, he never for a moment separated his religion from his sec- ular interests, and has been noted for his charity, his devotion to good works, and his support of every charitable interest in the com- munity, while he was unflinching in his adherence to his own church, he yet was possessed of broad and liberal views, characterized by great charitableness towards others. On the third day of September, 1818, he was wedded to Miss Polly Husbands, daughter of John Hus- bands, who was one of the very first settlers of Henderson, and served as Magistrate in the first court after the formation of the. county. Harmon Husbands, grandfather of Mrs. Lambert, died while impris- oned at Philadelphia for his opposition to the British Government.
On the third day of September, 1868, Mr. and Mrs. Lambert cele- brated their golden wedding by entertaining a host of friends, and, again in the presence of God and those assembled, renewing those pledges which had been so safely guarded throughout their long mar ried life. There was never a happier twain. Of their thirteen chil- dren, only three are now living, Mrs. George M. Priest, Samuel Hus- band and Mrs. Manuel Kimmel. Mr. Lambert was noted for his pro- bity of character, and was universally esteemed and honored in the community where he so long lived. He died on the twenty-sixth day of June, 1878. His faithful wife still survives him.
HON. JAMES F. CLAY, was born in Henderson, on the twenty- ninth day of October, 1840. His father, James W. Clay, and mother, Clarissa Berry, were among the first settlers of Henderson. Of the early youth of James F. Clay, little can be said, except that he devel- oped an unusual taste for books, a good memory and a decided apt- ness in acquiring knowledge. He attended the best private schools in Henderson, and had the advantage of strict, moral and intellectual training at the hands of his parents. He was sent to Georgetown
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College, and graduated in 1860. His uncommon mental strength early distinguished him among his fellows, and, at the same time, attracted to him the attention and friendship of leading citizens, who yet take great pride in his success. Upon his return home from college, he began the study of law in the office of Governor Dixon, and, in 1862, was licensed to practice. Few men of the country have a greater command of language, and the ability to use it with more force as a popular speaker. He is a man of strong convictions ; is his own leader, and, as a lawyer, displays great power in the court ; is unsurpassed be- fore a jury, and is one of the most thoroughly read, eloquent and able lawyers in the State. Mr. Clay was married in McLean County, Ky., October 29th, 1868, to Miss Bessie Eaves, second daughter of Judge Sanders Eaves. They have seven living children, Maggie, Charles, Leslie, James W., Irene, Addison Young and Sanders. In 1871 he was elected to the State Senate and served one term. In 1882 he was elected to Congress and served one term. In both of these positions he distinguished himself as a legislator, and won the admiration and esteem of his older colleagues. As an evidence of his ability, during the days of the St. Louis & Southeastern Railway Company, Consoli- dated, Mr. Clay was the retained attorney for the Company, and since the formation of the Ohio Valley Railway Company, he has been re- tained attorney for that road. He served four years as attorney for the city, and has held other minor offices.
JOHN H. STEWART was born in the Town of Henderson, on the fifth day of August, 1851. His father, William Stewart, came from Scotland at an early age, and settled in New Albany, Indiana. On the twenty-fifth day of April, 1848, he married Miss Sarah Eversol, and, in 1850, removed to Henderson. Sarah Eversol was born June 15th, 1826. William Stewart, a tailor by profession, was a man of staunch character, and of the utmost probity and honesty. He died in 1853. Mrs. Stewart died June 21st, 1878. She was a woman re- markable for her christian piety, and domestic character. When she was thirteen years of age she attached herself to the Methodist Church, and was ever a devoted member, letting nothing but sickness prevent her from attending worship. At her death a friend wrote the following :
"In 1853 she was left a widow, with the care of three small chil- dren ; to bring them up she struggled hard-as only a mother can strug- gle for her children. They have been the care of her life, and in her last illness, they were not forgotten. On one occasion, after praying with
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and for her, I was so absorbed with her state that I forgot to make special mention of her children. At the close of the prayer she took me by the hand and said, 'pray for my poor children, that they may become christians.' "
She was a long sufferer, but her last end was peace, her faith firm, her sun set in a cloudless sky, and arose amid the glories of an eter- nal day. The subject of this sketch married, October 31st, 1878, at Lexington, Kentucky, Miss A. B. Brady, and they have two children. Mr. Stewart has been twice elected, by the City Council, Cemetery Sexton, and is yet serving in that capacity. He is a staunch and working Democrat.
CAPTAIN JOSEPH ALLEN DUNCAN was born in Vander- burgh County, Indiana, on the ninth day of April, 1837, and, at the age of seven years, came with his parents to Henderson. He was educated in the private schools of Henderson. At the age of twenty, on the eighteenth day of April, 1857, Mr. Duncan set upon life's journey for himself, and some months thereafter, found himself in California, where he resided until August, 1876. During his residence in the Golden State, he was variously engaged, principally in hoteling, steamboating and mining for gold. On the twelfth day of July, 1860, he married Miss Kate Driscoll, of Sacramento, and unto them have been born three children, Harriet Ellen, Mary Josephine, and John George. The eldest daughter married Thomas Trusty, who, after a few years, departed this life. She again married Thomas L. Myers. Mary Josephine died just as she had attained to womanhood. John George is engaged in business with his father. The father of our sub- ject, John Duncan, was born near Fairfax, C. H., Virginia, in the year 1787; the mother, Harriet Stroud, was born in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, April 16th, 1809. They were married November 16th, 1835. In early life, John Duncan immigrated from Virginia to Pittsburgh, Penn., and was engaged in flatboating to New Orleans until 1840, a portion of the time teaching school. Colonel Stroud, as he was known, the maternal grandfather of Captain Duncan, fought with the flatboatmen in the rifle brigade under General Jackson at the battle of New Orleans. In 1831 he commenced farming in the bayou, opposite Henderson, and died September 1st, 1844.
On the first day of September, 1876, Captain Duncan returned from California to Henderson and engaged in the hotel business. In 1878 he purchased his present hotel and has continued to provide for his guests in a bountiful way. Captain Duncan is a member of the I. O. O. F., and of the encampment of the order of "Red Men" of the
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A. O. U. W., and of the Select Knights of the same. In 1863 he was a member of the California Volunteer Cavalry Service, Co. F. He also served for thirteen months as First Lieutenant of the California State Guard, doing provost dutyand Indian fighting. In politics he has ever been a Republican. He has lately been appointed, by the City Council, a member of the Board of Health.
SAMUEL STITES, the subject of this sketch, was a son of Richard Stites, (who was a Sea Captain,) and was born in Philadel- phia, March 22d, 1792. During the summer of 1819 he immigrated to Henderson and engaged in mercantile pursuits.
For many years he controlled the large landed interest of Mr. Lyne Starling, of Columbus, Ohio, located in Henderson County. and by his promptness and efficient business capacity, won the confidence and highest esteem of that gentleman. On the twentieth day of Feb- ruary, 1823, Mr. Stites married Miss Rebecca Holloway, daughter of Major John Holloway, of this county, and unto them were born four children, namely: Mary Cameron married Edmund L. Davidson, of Springfield, Kentucky, and died, leaving one child, now Mrs. Susan Ray, of Louisville; Richard married Miss Ann Mary Hopkins, and died a few years since, leaving five children, Samuel, William, Camilla, Richard and Hamilton. Samuel and Camilla are married, Rebecca married Colonel Wm. S. Elam. She has three children, Lucie, Annie and William. Lucie married James R. Barret; she has two children, Henry Pendleton and Susie Rankin. Mr. Stites, after having lived a most exemplary and successful life, died on the fifth day of April, 1862. His good wife, one of the strongest minded and most charitable of her generation, followed some years after.
JAMES ALVES was born in Orange County, North Carolina, on the sixth day of March, 1793, and, in early life, came to Henderson with his father, Walter Alves, one of the signers of the Richard Hen- derson & Co. ordinance, establishing the Town of Henderson. In 1815 he married Miss Maria Davis, daughter of General Thomas Davis, of North Carolina, and raised a large family of children, three of whom are now living, namely : James, twice married, first, to Miss Bettie H. and secondly to Miss Emily Sneed, daughters of Dr. Richard Sneed, of North Carolina; Maria D., wife of James P. Breckenridge, and John W., who married Miss Juliet Holloway. Each of these have children. Mrs. Arabella Alves, widow of Thomas, the eldest son, is living and has five children, all married; James S., Superintendent Henderson Mining & Manufacturing Company; Maria, wife of Thomas L. Norris,
51
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of Kansas; Joseph B., Secretary and Treasurer Henderson Woolen Mills; Gaston M , Secretary and Treasurer Henderson Mining and Manufacturing Company, and Eliza, wife of Honorable M. Merritt. Mrs. Alves, wife of James Alves, was born in the month of September, 1795, and, at the age of nineteen, married in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and came with her husband to this county, where she de- parted this life, many years after, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Breckenridge, having arrived at a ripe old age. She was a most noble woman, possessing every grace requisite to adorn life. Her husband, during life, was a man of extended influence, greatly beloved and universally esteemed. He died suddenly, on the thirtieth day of July, 1853, leaving to his children a large, and very valuable landed estate.
PROF. CASPER FREDERICK ARTES was born at Merken Saxe, Meiningen, Germany, March 29th, 1816. He was recognized as a youth of remarkable talent, and at the University which he attended in his native town, his wonderful talents won for him the sobriquet of Little Mozart. During the Revolution of 1848, '49, in which he participated, he became dissatisfied, and determined to immigrate to America. In 1851 he came, bringing letters of recommendation to leading persons in New York. He married at his native home Miss Catharine Bier- schenk, and she and four daughters and one son accompanied him across the sea. After his arrival, owing to his limited means, he was at a loss what to do, but, chancing upon a morning paper, he read an advertisement, signed Charles F. Lehman, Henderson, Kentucky, Principal of the Female Academy, wanting a teacher of music ; there- upon he determined to come West and seek his fortune. Entering into correspondence with Mr. Lehman, whom he found to have been a Colonel in the German army, he engaged to come to Henderson. Leaving his family in New York, he set out on his journey, and, in clue course of time, landed in Henderson. He accepted the position tendered him by Mr. Lehman, and returned to New York for his family, whom he soon brought to this place, then the far West, where there were few of his people to be found.
The father of Prof. Artes was Burgomaster of his native place, and at one time during the winter the Duke of Saxony visited his town, and, in recognition of his visit, the Burgomaster caused the streets to be cleaned of snow, the town decorated, and all the cordiali ties of a municipality accorded him. In recognition of this attention, the Duke dined with the Burgomaster, and, during his stay, requested young Artes to go to the church and play the organ for him. With this request he complied, and in return was granted a royal recognition. It
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is said that whenever there was to be a royal or ecclesiastical festival, Casper F. Artes was invariably called upon to preside at the organ. A few years after his arrival in Henderson, Prof. Artes was employed as organist of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, and, as remarkable as it may seem, he performed that irksome duty for nearly thirty years, without missing one single Sunday service from any cause. On the twentieth day of November, 1886, in the city of Evansville, Prof. Artes departed this life, leaving a devoted wife and large family of children to mourn his death. He was a master of the organ, a master of music and a man of profound intelligence upon all matters requiring study. He was a man of strong impulses, devoted to his friends, and yet diffident and deferential. Mr. Charles F. Artes, Evansville's leading and most successful jeweler, and a gentleman of the highest character, is the eldest son of Prof. C. F. Artes.
ALEXANDER BUCHANAN BARRET was born in Louisa County, Virginia, on the eighteenth day of March, 1811, and proved to be, in after-life, one of the most successful and notable business men of America. He, with a limited education at the age of four- teen years, left home and found employment in the office of his uncle in Richmond, Virginia, who carried on a large tobacco trade in this country and Europe. In 1833 he was given a partnership, and sent by his uncle to Henderson to take charge of his tobacco interests in that locality. A few years after, this firm was dissolved, Mr. Barret remaining and retaining the business and reputation of the old firm. In 1852 he joined with him his younger brother, John H. Barret, and, in this association, the business continued until his death. He estab- lished branch stemmeries at Henderson, Louisville, Owensboro, Clo- verport and other points in Kentucky, at Clarksville and in Missouri, and was, in his time without doubt, the most extensive tobacco mer- chant in the world, controlling annually many thousands of hogsheads in the markets of England. He was the largest planter in Hender- son County, and invested largely and successfully in cotton, and ranked as one of the largest land owners and real estate holders in the whole country. Honor and uprightness were the leading principles by which he ruled his life, and it seems to have been his highest ambition to prove to the world, that they were the surest, as well as the best, means to financial prosperity. At the age of fifty, in New York City, he died June 15th, 1861. His remains were removed to Henderson, where his memory will long live in the hearts of the people. He died the wealth- iest citizen Kentucky has ever claimed. He was twice married. His first wife was Miss Juliana Harris, of Louisa County, Virginia,
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