USA > Kentucky > Franklin County > The history of Franklin County, Ky. > Part 17
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E. O. Hawkins was elected Sheriff in 1880. In the month of June, 1882, it was discovered that he was short in his ac- counts with the State, in the sum of $3,859.43 and thereupon J. W. Gaines was placed in charge of the Sheriff's office. In 1883 E. O. Hawkins was re-elected Sheriff notwithstanding his shortage but he was not able to execute the required bond and J. W. Gaines was again appointed until the next election, when W. L. Collins was elected. The election for county officers for
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the year 1882, was as follows: R. A. Thompson, Judge; James A. Violett, Attorney; James G. Crockett, Clerk; Dan Shehan, Jailer: Robert Sanford, Assessor; Alexander McEwan, Cor- oner, and D. M. Woodson, Surveyor.
The Mayor and Board of Councilmen of the city of Frank- fort sold the city gas works to the Southern Gas Co. The com- pany was to pay $40,000 for the gas works property and fran- chise, and for which the city accepted bonds payable in forty years with interest at 6 per cent. per annum. The purchaser engaged to furnish the city and private individual consumers with gas of the best quality at $2.00 per one thousand cubic feet and to light the street lamps on all nights when there was no moon for the sum of $24 per annum per lamp. The city agreed to use not less than one hundred lamps.
Following the sale of the gas works there were several public meetings of the citizens of Frankfort wherein they con- demned in unmeasured terms the Mayor and councilmen for making the sale and especially for the private way in which it was made and also for the terms of the contract.
During the month of June Rev. George O. Barnes con- ducted a revival service in Frankfort. The court house was crowded to overflowing each evening and great interest was exhibited. During the meeting there were 1,253 who made confessions. He was a most eloquent and learned man. The singing and playing by his daughter, Miss Marie, was a great feature of the service. No man ever visited Frankfort who left a stronger impression upon the citizens of the city.
On July 7th Charles Penn was assassinated, near his home, while taking his horse to the pasture. In a few moments after he left his house two shots were fired. Upon investigation the body of Penn was found not far from the bars leading to the pasture. He received the contents of a double barreled shot gun which was loaded with buck shot. The condition of the ground and weeds at the place of the murder disclosed the fact that the assassin had been lying in wait for his victim for some time and that the assassination had been well planned. Sus- picion soon rested on a man by the name of George Games, who was arrested in a short time afterwards and in due course
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of time was tried and convicted and sent to the penitentiary for life. The general supposition was that the wife of Penn was indirectly the cause of his death.
On Sunday night, September 10th, an affray occurred in front of the Frankfort Hotel from the effects of which Jerry Lee, Chief of Police, received a mortal wound. In the early part of the night there had been a difficulty, the participants being Jerry Lee, Adam Kahr and Frank Egbert. Later in the night another trouble arose between Frank Egbert and Stephen Scarce. It was not known whether Egbert was shoot- ing at Scarce or Lee when Lee received a wound in the left side from the effects of which he died. Jerry Lee had served as city Marshal and as Chief of Police. He was a man of marked personal courage and was regarded as an efficient officer. He was a generous, impulsive man, always ready to aid a friend or fight a foe.
On November 11th the City Hall, Buhr's Hotel, the post- office and several private offices and residences were destroyed by fire. The money loss was seventy or eighty thousand dollars. Dr. Hatchitt, the postmaster, succeeded in removing, prac- tilv. everything from the postoffice. Several people were injured during the progress of the fire. Everybody fought fires in those days.
Not in the recollection of the oldest inhabitant of Frank- fort nor in either history or tradition was there any account of the waters of the Kentucky river ever having been so high as in February, 1883. Nearly all the families in the lower part of the city were moved out. All of the section known as "Craw" was completely covered. On Sunday night the 11th of February, a great many Frankfort people remained up all night, expecting to see the St. Clair street bridge washed away. A heavy drift was running and it began to accumulate above the piers. An immense log lodged against the middle pier and there was a rapid accumulation of drift upon it. Houses began to come down, nearly all of which struck the bridge and were broken to pieces. A large new tobacco barn struck the middle pier and its timbers were scattered in every direc- tion. The upper sidewalk of the bridge was greatly damaged,
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the sides and floor for some distance were completely destroyed and much of the sheeting under the roof was torn away.
More than half of the city was under water. All of the prison yard was covered from two to three feet. The back water extended back of the penitentiary to and beyond Wood- land Park so that the water which backed up the Cove Spring or Leestown branch to the same point made an island of Fort Hill. At one point the Owenton road was more than ten feet under water. Every road except the Versailles, which lead to the city, was covered from two to ten feet. The floor of the city school building was reached. Traffic across the St. Clair street bridge was stopped, ropes were stretched across the ends of the bridge. The railroad bridge was considerably damaged by the drift and for some time it looked like it would be im- possible to save it. A long freight train heavily loaded was left standing on it to help hold it. All the houses on Broadway and High streets from the Farmers Hotel, east, were com- pletely surrounded. More than a hundred houses passed under the St. Clair street bridge, nearly all of which were torn to pieces.
The Farmers, or Merriwether, Hotel had about three feet of water in it and all the people who lived on that square had to move upstairs. The O. F. C., Carlisle, Hermitage and Saffell distilleries all had water on the first floor from two to ten feet deep.
The street in front of the court house lacked only two feet of being covered. The gas works were under water and the city was in total darkness. More than two hundred families were without homes. The public buildings of the city, county and State were used for temporary homes and the people were fed at the expense of the city. Many acts of heroic conduct were reported, and those who were charitably inclined had all the work they could do.
W. J. Chinn's sale of registered Jersey cattle was made in July. The vacant lots where Sam Shackleford and Judge T. HI. Paynter's residences now stand were used for display of stock. The sale was attended by representative Jersey breeders throughout the United States and Canada; it was the largest
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and most successful sale of that kind ever held in Kentucky. The herd was a most excellent one, perhaps the best that was ever offered for sale. A large crowd was present. There were purchasers from Canada and nineteen different states of the Union. The proceeds of the sale amounted to over $36,000. The average price paid was $812.
Capt. D. A. Murphy arrived in Frankfort August 2nd, and in a few days thereafter he commenced work on the custom house and postoffice. The corner stone of this building was laid December 15th, 1883. Governor J. Proctor Knott officiated at the ceremonies.
Judge Ira Julian was re-elected to represent the county in the Legislature in 1883.
The dam at lock number four was completed October 6th, 1883. It is 528 feet long at the crown: 21 1-2 feet high and 34 feet wide and it contains about 40,000 lineal feet of timber 12×12 inches, 160,000 feet of sheathing; 5,984 cubic yards of rip-rap stone and about 16,000 pounds of iron spikes and it cost the Government $18,500.
The Kentucky River Mills were burnt October 6th. The loss was $80,000, the insurance was $40,000. These mills were built in 1877-8, the building cost $12.000. the machinery $50,000 and the stock was valued at $25,000.
In the early morning of August 15th, a trusty conviet from the penitentiary rode hastily through the streets of Frankfort, proclaiming that an outbreak had been made at the peniten- tiary. John R. Wolf, a desperate young man, who had been- sent from Scott County for forgery, led the attempted delivery. He had a package which he requested to have sent to George- town and when he came in he struck the guard, Ed Johnson. with a stick on the back of the head and knocked him in- sensible and thereupon eight other convicts made a rush through the open gate and into the room set apart for arms and ammunition. A trusty named Cunningham saved the life of Johnson, but was himself severely stabbed. The convicts secured all the fire arms they wanted and one of them leveled his pistol at Clerk S. D. Holloway who, unhesitatingly, jumped through the window.
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Jerry South, Clay Payne, D. O. Robinson and others took part in the shooting which followed. D. O. Robinson was shot through the leg and was made a cripple for life. A convict named Alsop was shot through the shoulder and Wolf had his thigh shattered. Three of them went out the Owenton road. They met a man in a buggy and made him get out and all three of them got in and drove as fast as they could for several miles when they abandoned the buggy and took to the hills.
A few days afterwards Governor Knott pardoned Cunning- ham for his timely assistance to Johnson.
Col. Ambrose W. Dudley died at his home in Frankfort in September, 1884. He was one of the oldest and most dis- tinguished citizens of Frankfort. For fifteen years he was quartermaster general of the United States and for thirty- seven years was president of the Branch Bank of Kentucky located at Frankfort.
For more than half a century he was identified with the business and social interest of Frankfort and was regarded as one of the most useful and valuable citizens in promoting the general welfare of the city, county and State. In 1824 he mar- ried Miss Eliza Talbott. daughter of Hon. Isham Talbott, and granddaughter of Governor James Garrard.
On May 21st. 1885, Napoleon B. Smith was appointed Clerk of the Franklin County Court to take the place of James G. Crockett, deceased, and who had been Clerk for a number of years prior to that time. At the following August election Napoleon B. Smith was elected to fill out the unexpired term and Col. S. I. M. Major was elected to represent the county in the Legislature.
E. H. Steadman, an old and honorable citizen of Frank- lin County, died in April. 1885. He came to the county in 1835 and he and his brother Samuel built the village known as Steadmantown. For more than thirty years they furnished the State with all the paper used in printing the laws of the State, besides supplying most of the newspapers of the State. In 1852 Samuel Steadman retired from the firm and after that the paper mills were burnt three times and each time without any insurance. In 1861 he filled an order from the Confed-
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erate Government for paper on which to print the notes which were to give life and credit to the South in her struggle for in- dependence. He was a man of superior ability. No man in the State knew more of the general incidents of Kentucky history or could relate them more entertainingly.
On August 10th a destructive fire occurred on the corner of Main and St. Clair streets. The property of P. C. Sower and the building of Sol Harris adjoining it, and the elegant office of Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr., were destroyed. The loss amounted to about sixty thousand dollars. On December 7th the Frankfort public school building was destroyed by fire. entailing a loss of about $30,000. The building was erected in 1868. It was insured for $16,000.
President Cleveland appointed Judge W. L. Jett postoffice inspector, July 23rd, 1886, and Capt. T. C. Jones consul at the port of Funchal, Madeira Island, in April of same year.
Col. S. I. M. Major died on June 21st. Ile was born in Franklin County, September 14th, 1830, and was educated by B. B. Sayre. He was regarded as one of the best educated men in Frankfort. In 1853 he became the editor of the Yeoman which was considered the leading Democratic paper of the State during the time he was editor. An incident in his editorial life , was a challenge to fight a duel in 1857 sent by Thomas MI. Green. Col. Major was public printer for twenty-five years. In 1867 he was elected to the Legislature and in the following year was elected Mayor of Frankfort which position he held for four succeeding terms. In 1885 he was again elected to the Legis lature.
James Francis Leonard, the first practical sound reader of the Morse alphabet. was born in Frankfort, September 18th. 1854, in the old Pascal Hickman house, located near the mouth of the tunnel where the South warehouse is located. He en- tered the telegraph office as messenger boy in 1844, and he learned the art of telegraphy in a short time. He received messages by sound in the Frankfort office in the summer of 1848. He died of typhoid fever in Columbus, Miss., July 29th. 1862.
The old time telegraphers, at their annual meeting in
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New York in 1885, appropriated funds and appointed a com- mittee to bring his remains back to Frankfort and to erect a monument suitably inscribed over them in the Frankfort cemetery.
The county election for the year 1886 resulted as follows: R. A. Thompson, Judge; B. G. Williams, Attorney; N. B. Smith, Clerk: Thomas Hunter, School Commissioner; Lewis Harrod, Assessor; Minus Williams, Jailer: John W. Gaines, Sheriff, and M. II. Phythian, Coroner.
The first meeting, at which initiatory steps were taken for the celebration of the centennial anniversary of Frankfort, was held in the office of Col. John L. Scott on June 10th, 1886. Col. Scott was elected chairman and L. F. Johnson, secretary. At this meeting was inaugurated the work of gathering up and presenting such statistical facts in regard to the origin, growth and standing of all the departments, business interests, churches, societies, courts and other specific interests and feat- ures of Frankfort.
From the start the plan to hold a centennial celebration was a popular one, the subject soon became too large for the few who had it in charge to handle, and thereupon a mass meeting of the citizens was called for the 23rd of August. At which a committee of eight prominent citizens were appointed for the purpose of organizing the "Frankfort Centennial As- sociation." On the 28th of the month the committee reported to an adjourned meeting and in the report it was recommended that Gen. D. W. Lindsey be permanent president and Judge W. HI. Sneed, S. C. Sayre and HI. B. Ware, secretaries. Seventy- two vice presidents were named. This list included some of the most prominent citizens of the city. Col. J. Stoddard John- ston was at the head of the list. There was also appointed a general committee on arrangements and supervision and also the following committees: Invitation, reception, finance, en- tertainment, decorations, procession, music, relies and curiosi- ties. By resolution the citizens of Franklin County were in- vited to co-operate with the citizens of Frankfort.
The centennial celebration was held on October 6th, 1986. One hundred years having passed since the city was established.
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It was doubtless the greatest day in the history of the city. There was a record breaking crowd on the streets, estimated at 25,000. The street parade was divided into five divisions and it was the longest ever seen in Frankfort. It consisted of secret and benevolent orders, Christian organizations, etc. A large part of the State guard, in fact nearly every military com- pany of the State, was present. Knights Templar and other secret orders from all sections of the State and every drum corps and band in the State were in the parade. All the benevolent societies and Christian organizations of Frankfort and the public schools of the city participated. Thirty-six business houses in Frankfort had floats in the parade, advertising their various business interests. The ceremonies took place on the Capitol (old Capitol) square. The speaker's platform was be- tween the two front gates, facing the Capitol grounds with seats extending nearly to the Capitol building. The stand was deco- rated with evergreens, flags and flowers.
The exercises were opened by Mayor E. H. Taylor, Jr., who introduced to the assembled thousands, Judge William Lindsay, who made the welcoming address. Mrs. Eudora South and Mrs. Jennie C. Morton were on the programme, each of whom read an original poem. Major Henry T. Stan- ton, the poet laureate of Kentucky, read a centennial poem which he had prepared for the occasion. Col. W. C. P. Breckenridge delivered a short address and John Mason Brown. the chief orator of the day, discussed "The Political Beginnings of Kentucky."
The ceremonies of the day were closed with a fine display of fireworks on the river front. A large number of papers giving an historical account of many interesting things con- nected with a history of the city were contributed. Mr. Landon A. Thomas, Mrs. T. J. Mayhall and Rev. Philip S. Fall, three of the oldest citizens of Frankfort at that time, each contri- buted an article. Scores of other valuable articles giving a history of the different churches, secret orders, courts, and in fact, almost everything that had happened in Frankfort during the century were prepared and sent in to be filed as a part of the archives of the city, but on account of the gross and almost
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criminal negligence of the city authorities, nearly all of these records were destroyed, about the only thing left was the cen- tennial register which was turned over to the Historical Society and filed with the archives of the society. The loss by the city and county by reason of the destruction of these papers is ines- timable.
The corner stone of the new city school building was laid July 17th. The Mayor and city council were assisted in the ceremonies by the other city officials, Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Honor, Knights Templar, Good Templars, Blue Ribbon Club and a great concourse of citizens. The principal addresses of the day were delivered by the Mayor, E. II. Taylor, Jr., and Rev. George Darsie, pastor of the Christian Church. Major HI. T. Stanton read a poem which he had written for the occasion.
This new structure was opened for occupancy in March, 1887, it cost over $30,000 and it was considered a very hand- some building.
Gen. John Rodman died at his home in Frankfort, Oc- tober 29th. He was about sixty years of age. When he was a young man he tried merchandising but soon gave it up and read law in the office of Judge Nuttell. He commenced the practice at LaGrange, Kentucky. In 1853 he moved to Frank- fort and soon became one of the leading lawyers of Frankfort and for years he was regarded as one of the ablest lawyers of the State. In 1859 he represented Franklin County in the Kentucky Legislature. In 1867 he was elected Attorney Gen- eral of the State and was re-elected in 1871. In 1879 he was elected reporter of the Court of Appeals, which position he held at the time of his death. During his term as reporter he published 78-79-80-81 and 82 Kentucky Reports.
Gen. Rodman was not only a good lawyer but he was also a good politician and a fine speaker. He was quick, aggressive, positive, tactful, sarcastic and humorous, he was especially strong as a jury lawyer.
The 2nd day of May, 1886, was the 55th birthday of James W. Tate. At that time he had been nearly eighteen years State Treasurer. State officials and friends made him a present
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of a cane. In the following January Governor S. B. Buckner sent the Legislature the following: "Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives: It is my painful duty to an- nounce to you the fact that for reasons which appear in the accompanying act of the Governor, Auditor and Attorney General, the State Treasurer of the State has been suspended from the exercises of his official duties. The hasty examination which has been made of his books induces the belief that there is a large deficit in his accounts. This examination was made yesterday and the action reported to you was taken last evening as soon as the deficit appeared. The fact is communicated to you at the earliest moment for your information and action. It is believed that the bond of the Treasurer will fully cover any possible deficit that a more complete investigation may reveal. In the meantime the Auditor and Secretary of State have been directed to take temporary charge of the Treasury. "Respectfully, "S. B. BUCKNER."
The defalcation of James W. Tate was not a complete surprise, rumors of trouble along that line had found their way into the newspapers and the approaching catastrophe had been privately discussed by a few Frankfort citizens for several weeks.
For several days following the flight of Treasurer Tate, all kinds of wild rumors were heard on the streets of Frankfort. It was generally understood that his defalcation would cause a large deficit and the Legislature thought it best not to make any further appropriations until the matter could be thoroughly investigated. A special committee was appointed to consider the subject of removing him from office and the committee recommended "That James W. Tate, Treasurer of the Con- monwealth of Kentucky, be impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors in office," and a committee was appointed to prepare articles of impeachment. The articles of impeachment were presented to the Senate by the House of Representatives on the 24th of March and a committee from the House was appointed to conduct the prosecution before the Senate. At
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twelve o'clock on March 29th the Senate of Kentucky resolved itself into a high court to consider the articles of impeachment. The unusual and novel scene was witnessed by a large con- course of people.
Judge W. S. Pryor, Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals, administered the oath required by the Constitution. After the oath was administered to the Senators the sergent at arms made proclamation that the Senate sitting as a high court was then ready to consider the articles of impeachment against James W. Tate, Treasurer of Kentucky, charging him with high crimes and misdemeanors in office. After the testimony of several witnesses had been heard a vote was taken and thirty- three Senators voted in the affirmative and only one in the negative. The President of the Senate thereupon declared that the Senate of Kentucky sitting as a high court for trial of im- peachment had found James W. Tate, Treasurer of Kentucky, guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors in office, being con- victed thereof by concurrence of two-thirds of the members present and the judgment of the court was "That said James W. Tate be, and he is hereby, removed from the office of Treasurer of Kentucky and disqualified to hold any office of honor, trust or profit under this Commonwealth."
James W. Tate was a native of Franklin County. He served nearly five terms as Treasurer. He was known through- out the State as "Honest Dick Tate." It was never determined the amount of money which he took with him but the supposi- tion was that he only carried with him a small amount.
Several years after he left, his daughter brought suit in the Franklin Circuit Court against a life insurance company for the amount of a policy on her father's life, alleging in the petition that more than seven years had elapsed since he had been heard from. On the witness stand she testified that he had gone to South America and after visiting several sections of that country he went to California and that the last time she heard from him he was arranging to start, that day, to a small mining town in the interior of the State.
On June the 18th, 1887, the remains of Joel T. Hart, Kentucky's greatest sculptor, were buried in the Frankfort
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1
cemetery. A large number of prominent citizens from all sec- tions of the State were present. The remains were taken from a vault in the cemetery where they had been for two years and were taken to their last resting place about one hundred feet south of the Richard M. Johnson monument. The services were opened with prayer by Rev. G. F. Bagby, after which the choir sang "My Country "Tis of Thee." Gov. Knott then in- troduced Robert Burns Wilson, who delivered an oration. After which he introduced the orator of the day, Judge Wm. M. Beckner, who delivered a most excellent eulogy. The crowd present was estimated at 2,500.
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