USA > Kentucky > Franklin County > The history of Franklin County, Ky. > Part 14
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carried to the place where the crime was committed and hung. The results of this hanging created a great deal of excitement. The United States Court at that time had jurisdiction of such cases. Warrants were sworn out against some of the most sub- stantial citizens of Frankfort, charged with being implicated in the hanging The United States Marshal arrested Michael Parker, John Owens, James Welch, Edward Cummins, Michael Buckley, Pat Sullivan, Mike Callahan, Dan Callahan, Pat Newman, Thomas Newman, Dennis Griffin, Ed Burns and 1 .. Tobin and took them before the Commissioner of the United States Court for examining trial. Col. John Mason Brown prosecuted them and Judge G. W. Craddock, Judge P. U. Major and Major D. W. Carpenter defended. On motion of Col. Brown, Mr. L. Tobin was discharged, there being no evidence to implicate him. After a full hearing all of the defendants were discharged, except Michael Callahan, Daniel Callahan, Jim Welch, Edward Cummins and M. Parker. There was serious complaint against the manner in which Commissioner Vance conducted the trial of the accused parties; contrary to the advice of Col. Brown, he proceeded in a way which con- vinced the public that he was neither a lawyer nor an honest man.
Father Lambert Young, the Catholic priest, w ho was in charge of the Catholic Church at Frankfort, was subpoenaed as a witness against the defendants. but he refused to tell what had been told to him by reason of the fact that he was a Chris- tian priest, and the court thereupon committed him to jail for contempt of court. The defendants were released on bail, but Father Young remained in jail until the 28th of July; after his release he wrote a card thanking his many friends for their kindness to him and in which he said, "None of these good citizens, I feel sure, are possessed with the idea that my refusing to testify on the trial of the Frankfort prisoners arose from any disposition to contemn the law, the Grand Jury or the Hon. Court. I truly revere the law and I respect its offi- cers, and had it been possible for me to act otherwise than I did without doing outrage to my conscience as a Christian priest, and to my sense of honor as a man, I should certainly
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have promptly given the evidence demanded and thus have saved myself the misery of confinement in the county jail." Perhaps no man ever lived in Frankfort who was more uni- versally honored and respected by Catholics, Protestants and the people generally than was Father Lambert Young.
In February, 1866, J. Swigert resigned as County Judge, and the Magistrates elected Judge Lysander Hord and at the following August election he was elected by the people; at that time A. H. Rennick was elected County Clerk; Eugene P. Moore, County Attorney; W. J. Chinn, Sheriff; E. II. Tole, Coroner ; R. Hutchinson, Jailer; J. S. Hawkins, Surveyor, and Peter Jett, Assessor.
In October of that year Dr. James G. Hatchitt was ap- pointed postmaster at Frankfort, in the place of William A. Gaines, resigned.
Hon. Mason Brown died at his home in Frankfort, on January 27, 1867, at the age of 68 years. He was the son of John Brown, the first Congressman from the Western Country. Mason Brown was a graduate of Yale College; after his gradu- ation he entered the law office of John J. Crittenden, and sub- sequently graduated in the law school at Lexington. He formed a partnership with Hon. Ben Mills and subsequently with Governor Chas. S. Morehead and in conjunction they compiled a work of great value to the legal profession, known as "Morehead & Brown's Digest." He was known as one of the great lawyers of Kentucky. He was Commonwealth's At- torney for several years and was afterwards elected Judge of the Circuit Court and as such Judge he gained the distinction of being one of the greatest jurists in the country. He was Secretary of State during the administration of Governor C. S. Morehead, and he was United States District Attorney for the district in which he lived for several years, prior to his death.
In 1860, the Kentucky Legislature passed a resolution authorizing and directing the Governor of Kentucky to pro- cure suitable gold medals, appropriately inscribed, to be pre- sented to the surviving officers and soldiers of the Kentucky Volunteers, who were present and participated in the engage-
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ment between the Americans and British on Lake Erie on the 10th of September, 1813.
The Governor directed Mr. B. F. Meek of Frankfort, to design and make these medals. The medal was beautifully executed, of the purest virgin gold. Its circumference was four and seven-eighths inches and its weight thirty-one penny- weights. The obverse of the medal represented a naval en- gagement, executed with the minutest fidelity of detail. The rigging, smoke, battle flags and waves were graphically de- pieted, surrounding the design was the legend, "We have met the enemy and they are ours."-the memorable dispatch of the immortal Perry-with the date, "Lake Erie, Sept. 10th, 1813."
The reverse of the medal bore the inscription, "To ... By Resolution of the Kentucky Legislature, February, 1860," and inelosed by wreaths of oak leaves and laurel. At the time this medal was offered there were supposed to be only four Kentuckians living, viz .: Dr. William Talliaferro, James Artus, John Norris and John Tucker. but in 1866 two addi- tional medals were ordered, one for Ezra Youngblood and one for Samnel Hatfield of Floyd County.
B. F. Meek was the owner of a jewelry store on Main street, where he did a successful business for a great many years. He was one of the makers of the Meek & Milam fish- ing reel, which became one of the most noted productions ever supplied to the sporting world. He took an active part in the business and political affairs of Frankfort. He was a man of integrity and was honored and respected by all who knew him.
On February 14, 1867, Benson Creek overflowed its banks and did a great deal of damage to that section of the county. Conway's mill, located at the falls of Benson Creek, about four miles from Frankfort, was washed away and totally de- stroyed; two spans of the county bridge, known as "Ganey's bridge." about one mile from the city were carried off by the flood; a man by the name of Alexander lost his stable, and a great deal of fencing was lost. At a court held in the follow- ing May $1,000 was appropriated with which to rebuild the
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Ganey bridge; at the same session of the court $1,000 was appropriated for rebuilding the bridge over Main Elkhorn on the Owenton road; also a thousand dollars for building a bridge at the mouth of Benson, and $250 for building one over Lees- town branch. The action of the commissioners in selling the upper stories, over the County and Circuit Court Clerk's offices was approved and confirmed.
In 1867 there were only thirty-six men in Franklin County whose income exceeded one thousand dollars per year, and only fourteen whose income exceeded two thousand dollars, and only nine whose incomes exceeded three thousand, and only five whose income exceeded four thousand dollars per year.
Franklin County lost by death more of its illustrious citi- zens during the decade from 1860 to 1870 than during any other like period of its history. To the long list of great men who died during this decade is added the names of Theodore O'Hara and Charles S. Morehead. While neither of them were actual residents of the county at the time of their death, yet the main part of their lives were spent in Franklin County, and the literary work which made them famous was done while they lived in Frankfort.
In the summer of 1867 the trustees of the Frankfort pub- lie school purchased a lot in South Frankfort, from Judge Geo. C. Drane, upon which to erect a public school building. During the following year Mr. John Haly, contractor, com- pleted the building. It was a three story brick building with teachers' room, hat and cloak rooms, Superintendent's office, etc.
On November 12, 1867. Col. J. Stoddard Johnston became the editor of the Frankfort Yeoman. Prior to that time Col. S. I. M. Major had been editor and publisher. Col. Johnston was recognized as one of the best writers in the State. His strong editorials soon established the Yeoman as the leading journal of the State and as the organ of the Democratic Party.
P. R. Pattie was appointed Jailer in 1867. and Robert Lawler was elected Jailer in 1868 to fill out an unexpired term : Joseph Robertson was elected Sheriff in 1869.
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In 1868 the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company placed a floor for pedestrians on the railroad bridge. The floor was only five feet wide but it was of great convenience to the people of Bellepoint and the northwest section of the county. The completion of the bridge across the mouth of Benson that year gave the people of that section of the county easy access to the city of Frankfort. Prior to the completion of these con- veniences the people in that section of the county were often prevented from reaching their County Seat for weeks and some times months, on account of high water and bad roads.
The annual Methodist Conference was held in Frankfort in 1868. It was presided over by Bishop Lovick Pierce. The Rev. H. A. M. Henderson was returned to the Frankfort sta- tion. The Rev. J. L. T. Holland was called to the Christian Church during the same year. The other preachers located in Frankfort at that time were Rev. J. N. Norton, in charge of the Episcopal Church : Rev. J. S. Hays, of the Presbyterian, and Rev. W. L. Jermane, of the Baptist. The ceremony of laying the corner stone of "St. John's in the Wilderness" took place on St. John's Day, June 24, 1867. It was witnessed by a large number of persons from that section of the county and from Frankfort. For quite a number of years after these buildings were constructed, the mission at that place was in a most flourishing condition, it embraced an orphans' home, a Sunday School and a place for public worship. It was located about five miles from Frankfort on the St. John's road.
At the January term, 1869, of the Franklin County Fiscal Court, $75,000 was appropriated to the Kentucky river im- provement, and $10.000 for the bridges of the county, and in order to raise the amounts appropriated county bonds were is- sued.
Major Hall, so named in honor of Mayor S. I. M. Major, was completed in that year. It was located on Main Street where the City Hall now stands. fronting 66 feet and running back 138 feet. The first floor contained on one side of the main entrance a good restaurant and on the other a store room which was used for furniture. The upper story contained a large room which was used for a billiard room and an elegant
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suit of club rooms besides the hall. The size of the auditorium was 82x56. The seating capacity was 1,500. The drop cur- tain was a very superior painting representing the ruins of ancient Rome. The building was burned November 11, 1882.
On the night of the 19th of February, the upper portion of the center pier of the St. Clair street bridge fell. The passage of the bridge was closed for several months. The work to restore the pier was commenced at once, but on account of the high water at that season of the year, slow progress was made. It was late in the summer before it was again opened for vehicles.
The only death ever recorded in Franklin County fron hydrophobia was that of Mr. John D. Sargent which occurred at his home in the country, March 22, 1869. About three months prior to his death he received a bite from a small dog, which attracted no attention and created no alarm because the wound was seemingly cured in a short time. Three days prior to his death he felt so unwell that he sent for a physician, who after a careful examination could not determine the character of his disease. A few hours later the disease developed such symptoms which rendered the mistaking it for any thing else, impossible. At every effort to gratify his extreme thirst he was seized with contraction of the throat and fearful spasms, re- quiring the assistance of several persons to hold him, until at last the dread of swallowing made him refuse everything offered to him. During the continuance of the attacks he made no ef- fort to injure any of the many persons who were with him. It was a distressing and painful sight. The terror indicated in his face, the brilliant and protruding eyes, the agonizing con- vulsions and his loud cries for help impressed those present with the idea that his death was the most horrible one a man could die.
On the night of April 2nd, the whiskey warehouse situated on the north bank of the Kentucky river near the end of the St. Clair street bridge was burned with 3,500 barrels of. whiskey, the estimated loss of which was $350.000. The ware- house belonged to George B. Macklin, and the whiskey was owned, to a great extent, by castern parties, on which they had
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considerable insurance. The burning whiskey ran from the building on to the river in a broad stream, which burned with a bluish flame and which spread itself far out in the river and for a considerable distance up and down the river. The river on fire presented a most spectacular appearance. For several hours the bridge was in imminent danger. It caught fire sev- cral times but each time the flames were extinguished without materiał damage.
Capt. John A. Holton died at the homestead on which he was raised, near the Forks of Elkhorn, on the 13th of June. About 1804 he made his first trip on a flat boat, ladened with produce, from Frankfort to New Orleans. Prior to 1812 he made several other trips as captain of such boats, returning, as was the custom in that day, on foot, through the Indian country of Mississippi and Tennessee. He was one of the first to join Capt. Paschal Hickman's company in the War of 1812, and was one of the few survivors of that company at the mas- sacre of the River Raisen. In this action Capt. Holton was wounded in the ankle and was taken prisoner. He was about the only man from Franklin County who after being wounded and captured escaped the massacre which followed the surren- der of those brave men. After his return from the war he re- sumed his former occupation on the river and after the intro- duction of steam he became captain of a boat, first on the Ohio and Mississippi and later on the Kentucky river. He was a very popular and successful officer. In 1848 he represented Franklin County in the Kentucky Legislature.
On the 16th of June, General Peter Dudley died at his home in the city of Frankfort. He was First Lieutenant in Capt. Hickman's company, and was with him at the River Raisen, but he escaped capture and returned to Frankfort and raised another company. Gen. Peter Dudley held many posi- tions of honor and trust, both civil and military. He was one of the very strong characters of the day in which he lived. IIc was eighty years of age at the time of his death. He was buried in the Frankfort cemetery with military honors. The funeral discourse was delivered by Rev. L. W. Seeley ; the pro- cession was in charge of Col. J. Stoddard Johnston, with Gen.
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D. W. Lindsey and Major John B. Castleman as assistants. The military was composed of soldiers of the rebellion, irre- spective of the armies in which they served. Federal and Confederate soldiers marched side by side, without uniforms, but equipped with muskets and other accoutrements.
Capt. John W. Russell died August 1st. He was born in Virginia in 1794 and brought to Kentucky while an infant. He was apprenticed to a blacksmith, but before his time ex- pired he became a soldier in the War of 1812 and gained dis- tinction before he became of age. After the war he was em- ployed in the transportation of products to New Orleans. The unsettled and unsafe condition of the Western Country was such that no man without great physical courage would engage in that business. When steamboats were placed in the trade Captain Russell was given command of one of the first boats. His adventures on the river and in the river towns, which were overrun with gamblers and robbers, sounds like fiction. When the steamer "General Brown" was lost by an explosion in 1838, Capt. Russell's presence of mind and heroism saved the lives of six men. His fight with the robber band of Lafitte in New Orleans, established his reputation as a man of courage.
President Harrison appointed him commander of a fleet of "snag boats" and he remained in the service of the United States for several years and accumulated considerable property. Later he became a successful farmer. He built a steam flour mill, the first of the kind ever built in the county. This mill was located on Benson Creek. He was a member of the State Senate in 1850 and was largely instrumental in building the State Arsenal, which was erected in that year. Capt. Russell was the father of Mrs. Mary Brown Russell Day, who was elected and served two terms as State Librarian for the Com- monwealth of Kentucky.
A total eclipse of the sun took place August 7th. At the time there was not a cloud to be seen and the atmospherical conditions for accurate and satisfactory observations were per- fect. The stars were as clear and bright as they are at night. The chickens went, hurriedly, to roost, and about the time they got well settled the sun came out clear and bright. Some peo-
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ple through the county who were not informed in reference to the event, thought that the judgment day had come.
The Frankfort Cotton Mills had on exhibition at a fair for textile fabries held at Cincinnati in 1869, some of its manu- factured goods. The mill at Frankfort was awarded a premium for the best yarn. The specimen exhibited was taken from the stock made every day and competed successfully with yarns manufactured especially for exhibition. There were a great many competitors. These mills were successfully operated until about 1880.
Judge J. M. Hewitt died in November, 1869. He was born in Virginia in 1793. Ile was commissioned Lieutenant in the regular army in 1815. He was licensed to practice law in 1816. Hle was appointed Judge of 5th Judicial District of Kentucky in 1833. In 1836 he located in Frankfort and re- sumed the practice of law. Judge Hewitt was married twice: he was the father of twenty children, six by his first and four- teen by his last wife. Ile became identified with all the in- terests of Frankfort and Franklin County and was prominent in the political, business and social affairs of the city and county. He was prominent as one of the framers of the con- stitution of 1849. Hle represented Franklin County in the Kentucky Legislature in 1855.
The statistics of Franklin County for the fiscal year end- ing October 10, 1869, gives the following:
Total valuation of property $4,829.693 00
State revenue at 30 cents on the $100 14,489 08
The total tax chargeable to the Sheriff was. . 15,517 30
The following is the valuation of each item of taxation :
119,634 acres of land, value. $2,401,588 00 557 town lots, vahie 1,118,030 00
3,668 horses, value 208,595 00
626 mules, value. 35,815 00
Amount forward
$3,764,028 00
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Amount brought forward $3,764,028 00
17 jennets, value 390 00
4,263 cattle, value. 81,573 00
114 stores, value 220,550 00
Value under the equalization law 681,934 00
Value of pleasure carriages, barouches, buggies, stage coaches, gigs, omnibuses and other vehicles for passengers 27,739 00
Value of watches and clocks 25,892 00
Gold and silver plate. 14,327 00
Pianos 18,260 00
Total $4,829,693 00
White males over 21 years of age 2,081
Enrolled militia 1,494
Children between 6 and 20 years. 2,504
Number of hogs over six months old.
Pounds of tobacco 2,920
Pounds of hemp 77,980
189,220
Tons of hay 967
Bushels of corn 450,533
Bushels of wheat. 32,298
Negroes over 18 years of age 730
Negro children between 6 and 18 418
Those who represented the county in the Kentucky Legis- lature from 1860 to 1912 are as follows: R. C. Anderson, 1861- 63; H. M. Bedford, 1863-65; Jas. Harlan, Jr., 1865-67 ; Samuel I. M. Major, 1867-69; Daniel M. Bowen 1869-71; Harry I. Todd, 1871-73; Dr. Ben F. Duvall, 1873-75, Geo. W. Crad- dock, 1875-77; T. W. Scott, 1877-79; L. Hord. 1879-80: Tra Julian, 1881-2-3-4; J. A. Scott, 1885-6; Scott Brown, 1887-8; S. I. M. Major, 1889-90; E. H. Taylor, Jr., 1891-2; Len Cox. 1894-5; J. A. Violett, 1896-7; South Trimble, 1898-9-1900-1 ; Dr. Owen Robertson, 1902-3; L. F. Johnson, 1904-5-6-7: James T. Buford, 1908-9-10-11; Elwood Hamilton. 1912-13.
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THE HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
CHAPTER XII.
From 1870 to 1880.
The people of Franklin County were much excited over the assassination of Ben Farmer, which occurred at his home near Faridale, about six miles from Frankfort. He was a citizen of the county and had been a resident of that neighbor- hood for many years. The assassination was on Saturday night, March 5th, 1870. Mr. Farmer was asleep on a sofa, his head being near a window which opened out on a porch. Thomas J. Mayhall and William Wright were in the room with him at the time the shot was fired; they went to the door but could see no one. When they attempted to awake him they found he was dead, with a wound in the head which had pene- trated to the neck. A negro man named Charles Holmes was arrested on suspicion but the evidence at the examining trial was not sufficient to hold him. Some time after that circum- stances led to the arrest of William Hawkins and Charles Polk. Hawkins was indicted and tried by a jury but he was acquitted. The impression has deepened as time passed, that the man who planned and possibly who carried into execution the as- sassination of Mart South, which occurred some years later, also had something to do with the death of Ben Farmer. Both of them were butchers by trade and the tragedies were so much alike in many respects that it seems probable that the same party planned both of them. It was on the morning of April 1.st, 1876, that Martin V. South was assassinated at the market house in Frankfort. Walker Stephens, Robert G. Shields, Hick Kersey and Thos. H. Holder were charged with the mur- der. Great excitement prevailed, the court house was crowded during the examing trial. Walker Stephens was held without bail. Ile afterwards secured a change of venue and the final trial was held in Henry County, where he was acquitted.
At the election of county officers in 1870, R. A. Thomp- son was elected Judge. Ira Julian, Attorney ; James G. Crockett, Clerk; Joseph Roberson, Sheriff; Robert Lawler, Jailer: J. C.
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Coleman, Coroner; E. A. W. Roberts, Surveyor, and Peter Jett, Assessor. John B. Major was elected Police Judge of Frankfort, and HI. H. Hyde, City Marshal. All the officers for both county and city were Democrats.
The bridge across Benson Creek, near its mouth, was com- pleted in 1870, the Baldknob turnpike road was also built dur- ing that year and a floor was placed on the railroad bridge for the passage of vehicles and general travel. There was also a bridge built across Flat Creek near the mouth. These improve- ments were of great benefit and convenience to the people in the northwest section of the county. Prior to that time it was difficult and sometimes impossible for the citizens in that sec- tion of the county to reach the county seat for days and even weeks at a time on account of high water.
The aurora borealis of 1870 was the finest exhibition of that phenomena which had been seen from the location of Frankfort since 1837.
On the night of November the second there was a very destructive fire. It commenced on St. Clair street, and the half square bounded by St. Clair, Market and Lewis streets was consumed. The fires of 1853 and 1870 destroyed the entire square. The loss at this time was $113,150, with insurance amounting to $66,950. The Odd Fellows Hall valued at $11,- 500 and the Christian Church valued at $5,000 and several store rooms with stock, were consumed.
The kuklux became active in Franklin County during the year. Out of forty-five colored voters in the Baldknob precinct all of them were driven away except Abe Dodson. He was the only negro voter in that section of the county for more than a quarter of a century.
On December 6th, 1870, the kuklux visited the house of Harrison Blanton in search of a negro named Freeman Garrett, but failing to find him they shot two other negroes who were living on the Blanton place. They continued their raids in different sections of the county for several months. In 1872 they visited Mr. John R. Gay's place and whipped some of his servants. John Triplett, John Willson and Charles McDaniel
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