USA > Kentucky > Franklin County > The history of Franklin County, Ky. > Part 3
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THE HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
of lock number four. This factory is known as the Kentucky River Mills; the large manufacturing interests which have centered there, have necessarily built many residences and tenement houses in that locality.
From the formation of the ground, to the east and north of Frankfort, extending out the Owenton road and along this valley to Leestown there are many evidences that the Kentucky river, at some early period in its history, ran around to the east and north of Fort Hill in the place of being on the west side as it now runs. In the year 1883 the back-water from the Ken- tucky river extended up the Leestown branch to the baek-water which ran up back of the Penitentiary, thus making an island of Fort Hill and its contiguous territory of several hundred acres. The time is not distant, when all of that section inelud- ing Leestown, Thorn Hill, Fort Hill and the Noel farm will be included and become a part of Frankfort ; many residents of that section are now clamoring to become a part of the city in order that they may enjoy the benefits of the city schools, the water, the gas, sidewalks and other advantages of the city.
The act of the Virginia Legislature establishing the town of Frankfort was entitled, "An act for establishing a town on the lands of James Wilkinson, in Fayette county, and a ferry across Kentucky river." The act was passed in 1786 and it pro- vided, "That one hundred acres of land in the county of Fayette, the property of James Wilkinson, which have been laid off into lots and streets, shall be vested in Caleb Wallace, Thomas Marshall, Joseph Crockett, John Fowler, Jr., John Craig, Robert Johnson and Benjamin Roberts, Gentleman, trustees, and shall be established a town by the name of Frank- fort. The said trustees or a majority of them shall within six months after passing of this act, sell at public auction all the Jois within the said town which have not been heretofore disposed of by the said James Wilkinson, advertising the time and place of sale at the court house of the said county of Fayette, on two successive court days. The purchaser shall hold the said lots respectively subject to the condition of building on each. a. dwelling house sixteen feet square with a brick or stone chimney, to be furnished fit for habitation within two years
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THIE HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
from the date of sale." The same act provides that a public ferry shall be constantly kept across the Kentucky river from the lands of James Wilkinson in the town of Frankfort to the opposite shore, and fixed the rate or toll for men, horses, vehicles, etc.
The sale of lots, evidently did not meet the expectation of General Wilkinson, as he went back before the Legislature and had the above act amended, November 27, 1787, by providing that the further time of three years shall be allowed the said trustees to sell the lots in the said town. The records of the County Court of Fayette county, where the deeds to these lots were recorded, were destroyed by fire in the carly part of the last century, and the destruction of these records destroyed all evidence as to whom the sale of these lots were made, but it is evident that nearly all of the lots were sold to the officers and soldiers of the standing army or to those whose time of en- listment had expired, a large majority of whom had served with General Wilkinson in the revolution. Nearly all, and perhaps all of the first trustees whose names were mentioned in the act establishing the town had been in the revolution and had served for several years under General Wilkinson. In the Kentucky Gazette of August 9, 1789, the following advertise- ment appears: "Whereas, General Wilkinson, in the month of June, gave notice in the Kentucky Gazette that Major Dun would receive bonds from the purchasers of lots at Frankfort. and that Captain Daniel Gano would, on Major Dunn's certi- ficate, execute the conveyances agreeable to sale; this is there- fore, to give notice to the purchasers of said lots that Capt. John Fowler will take the bonds and give the necessary certificates for the conveyance to Capt. Gano who will execute the deeds agreeable to the term of sale.
By Harry Innis, His Atty. in Fact.
James Wilkinson.
In the year 1791, the following act was passed : "Be it enacted by the General Assembly (of Virginia) that an inspection of tobacco shall be and the same is hereby established on the lands of James Wilkinson, at Frankfort, in the county of Woodford
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THE HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
to be called and known by the name of Frankfort Warehouse, the proprietor whereof shall build the same at his own ex- pense."
2. "There shall be allowed and paid annually to each of the inspectors at the said warehouse the sum of twenty-five pounds for their salary."
The streets of Frankfort which were laid off by the first trustees of the town and named by them, were nearly all named for Generals who had taken a prominent part in the Revolution- ary war.
Wilkinson street which runs parallel with the river and adjacent thereto, was named for General Wilkinson, who had the town established and who was at that time Commander-in- Chief of the Western Division of the United States army. General James Wilkinson was born in Maryland in 1757; he was thirty years old when Frankfort was established; he had been a revolutionary soldier under Washington; he was with Arnold and Burr, and held the position of Captain, on their expedition to Canada in the latter part of 1775 and the first part of 1776; he was afterwards on the staff of General Gates; in 1796, he became the Commander-in-Chief of the United States army. In 1805, he was made Governor of Louisiana; ' in 1811, he was court-martialed and charged with treason, in connection with Aaron Burr, but he was acquitted. Evidence was afterwards brought to light which would have convicted him. It has been shown that for several years prior to 1800 he received a pension from the Spanish Government; he was discharged from the United States army. In 1815 he went to Mexico, where he had made large investments and died there in the year 1825. General Wilkinson, not only established Frankfort but he also did a great deal towards reclaiming the lower portions of the town from the swampy condition it was then in. The lower part of the town extending up some dis- tance beyond the penitentiary was very low and swampy and was in such unhealthy condition that it was not habitable. He drained all of this section, with the labor of soldiers then under his command, during the years of 1795 and 1796. In view of what General Wilkinson had done for Frankfort the trustees
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THE HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
doubtless thought it was proper to name what was proposed to be the chief resident street, for the man who had established the town.
The next street parallel to Wilkinson, is Washington, which was named for General George Washington with whom General Wilkinson was on very intimate terms and under whom he and several members of the board of trustees had served during the revolutionary war. The next street parallel to Washington, is St. Clair, which was named for General Arthur St. Clair, who was born in Scotland in 1734; he served as Lieutenant under General Wolf, at Quebec, in 1759. On the plains of Abraham he seized the colors which had fallen from the hands of a dying soldier and bore them until victory had been won by the British; he was, again, on the plains of Abraham, but with the American forces, in 1776; he was an intimate friend of General Washington and was one of his most loved and trusted generals during the Revolution. He died in the year 1818.
The next and last street laid off parallel to St. Clair street running from the river to the hill was Ann Street, which was named for Mrs. Ann Wilkinson, the wife of General James Wilkinson, who was not only a very beautiful woman but who was also attractive, "she was more popular with the officers and soldiers, than was her distinguished husband." There is a short street parallel to St. Clair, located on the west of the old State House, which is called Madison, in honor of James Madi- son, fourth president of the United States.
Wapping street runs cast and west, and though it too is parallel with the river, it is at right angles to Wilkinson street, the river makes a bend almost at right angles, nearly opposite the intersection of Wilkinson and Wapping streets.
The name Wapping was suggested by an Englishman who was visiting and prospecting at Lexington and Frankfort at that time and was so named for Wapping street, London, which was then known as the most beautiful residence street in the world.
The next street parallel to Wapping, is Montgomery,
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THE HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
which is now generally known as Main. Montgomery was named for General Richard Montgomery who was born in Ire- land in 1736; he was commissioned an officer in the English Army but resigned his commission and came to America in 1773; he was appointed brigadier general by the Continental Congress in 1775, and was in command of the American forces, and fell in the attack on Quebec, December 31, 1775; his last words were "men of New York, you will not fear to follow where your general leads."
The next street parallel to Montgomery or Main, is Broad- way or Market; it is the widest street in the town and it was known in the early history of the town as Market street; the first market house was built in the middle of the street near the intersection with Ann, and was directly in front of what is now the Elk or Merriwether hotel.
The next street parallel to Broadway is Clinton, which was named for General George Clinton, who was the first Governor of New York, and was Vice President of the United States; he was a general in the Continental army and was recognized as one of the staunchest of patriots and was one of the greatest men of that age.
The next street was called Mero, properly spelt Miro. This was the last street that was laid off at that time, and was named in honor of the Governor-general of the Spanish territory in America; at that time the gulf states and the Mississippi river were under the control and belonged to the Spanish govern- ment; Miro was in charge, and he granted to General Wilkin- son some privileges of trade and the free use of the Mississippi river for the transportation of freight. Some twenty-five years later, General Wilkinson and other prominent Frankfort peo- ple were accused of entering into a conspiracy to transfer the territory of Kentucky over to Miro and the Spanish control.
The above named are the only streets which were laid off at the time the town was established; since then the city limits have been extended several times and other streets have been opened and named, the chief of which are High, Hill and Holmes streets all of which were named for local reasons. Cen- ter street or alley was named by the first trustees of the town,
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THE HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
evidently for the reason that it was at that time the center of the residence and business portion of the town running from South to North; this street or alley is also called Long Lane Avenue, Petticoat Alley and Gas-house Alley, all of which names have been applied for local reasons.
Prior to 1800 there were no sidewalks in the town, and the streets were in bad condition. They were not macadamized for several years after that period, and there were but few carriages or other vehicles except log wagons. On November 28, 1799, there was a long article in the Palladium in reference to the improvement of the Kentucky river to its mouth; it was esti- mated that by an expense of $950,00 the river could be made navigable at all seasons, for boats drawing not more than fifteen inches. Prior to the improvement of the river, there was a large island in the river nearly opposite the mouth of Benson creek, which was known as "Fish Trap" island. It was nine hundred yards long; the descent in this distance was sixty inches. The falls in the river between the mouth of Devil's Hollow and the point where lock number four is located was nearly seven feet. The main channel was on the west side of the island; a grist and saw mill was located on the east side near the lower end of the island. Mr. Zadoc Cramer described this mill as being, "a saw and grist mill one mile below the town of Frankfort, in the river, which in low water, does a good deal of business, but it is not uncommon to see it completely covered by floods of the river, to withstand which it has no roof, is open on all sides, and is heavily loaded down on the corners and in the middle of the frame at top, with piles of stone."
On the 16th of November, 1739. Samuel & Lafou an- nounced in the Gazette the opening of "an elegant livery stable in Frankfort; in addition to feeding horses they also take in horses to cure of almost all the ailments prevalent in the coun- try, nick their tails," etc.
The Palladium, a literary and political paper was pub- lished in Frankfort in 1798 by Hunter & Beaumont. There are copies of this paper on file in the State Library commeric- ing October 23, 1798, and continuing down to and including a copy of date Feb. 17, 1803. Humphrey Marshall also pub-
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THE HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
lished a paper in Frankfort at that time which was known as "The Spirit of 1776." The following are some of the adver- tisements from the Palladium: "Isaac E. Gano, has just ar- rived from Philadelphia with a large and general assortment of fresh and genuine medicine which is now opened at his shop in Frankfort, and will be sold cheap for cash; a generous allowance will be made to physicians purchasing a quantity. I continue as usual to practice physic."
Frankfort, September 1st, 1798.
I. E. G.
"Wanted to engage a number of hands to conduct boats to New Orleans. Apply to Daniel Weiseger."
"William Porter, at his tanyard, one mile from Frank- fort, pays cash for green and dry hides; he also wants an ap- prentice. Those to whom it is more convenient can sell hides, intended for the Frankfort tanyard to H. Mellvane, in Lexing- ton."
In 1799, some enterprising citizens of Frankfort had un- der consideration the question of building a bridge across the Kentucky river as will appear from the following notice of De- cember the 19th, 1799: "The share holders in the Frankfort Bridge Company are hereby notified, that the election for chusing seven Directors agreeable to the act of incorporation will be held at the house of Daniel Weiseger in the town of Frankfort on Thursday the 2d day of January next."
C. GREENUP,
D. WEISEGER,
W. TRIGG.
"Whereas, the repose and convenience of many of the citizens of the town of Frankfort, are extremely interrupted by the disorderly behavior of certain immoral persons, who, keep- ing very late hours walking up and down the town, breaking the windows and doors of moral and orderly citizens thereof; Be it therefore resolved, that if any such person or persons arc known or discovered to roam about the town after the hour
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THE HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
of ten o'clock at night making a noise or other disturbance, shall pay a fine not exceeding $5.00.
By order of the Board.
MURRAY FORBES, Clerk. JOHN LOGAN, Chairman."
"The trustees of the Frankfort Academy have the pleas- ure to inform their fellow citizens that it is now open for the reception of scholars under the direction of able and experi- enced masters."
THOMAS TODD, President.
"The members of the Frankfort Hiram Lodge are re- quested to meet at the lodge room on the 24th day of June, 1799, it being the anniversary of St. John the Baptist. By Isaac E. Gano, Sect."
"On February 3, 1800, Haden Edwards advertised for sale one half of his mills on South Elkhorn about one mile below the junction and about four and a half miles from Frankfort, consisting of a water grist mill calculated for four pair of stones, two pair of which are now in motion; the house 58x46, three stories high, all of stone." George Fields offered at public sale, in the town of Frankfort "that valuable, cle- gant and handsomely situated, new, three story brick house, and the lot of ground on which it is erected now occupied as an Inn by Dr. Gano, together with the improvements consist- ing of a two story brick kitchen, a small smoke house," etc.
In the year 1799, Harry Innis and John Logan were elected delegates to represent Franklin County in the Consti- tutional Convention, and Anthony Crockett and John Smith were elected to represent the County in the House of Repre- sentatives. "In consequence of the seat of Mr. John Smith being vacated by a resolution of the House of Representatives" another election was held on Tuesday, November 21, 1799, in the town of Frankfort, and Mr. Smith was re-elected by a large majority.
In the early history of this county, when a person could be imprisoned for debt, it meant something to go on the bond
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THE HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
of a defendant either in a civil or criminal action as will ap- pear from the bond executed in the Franklin County Court of Quarter session July 18, 1798.
Richard Allen-
Against *** In Covenant John Arnold.
James Arnold came into the court and undertook for the defendant that in case he shall be cast in this action he shall satisfy and pay the condemnation of the Court to render his body to prison in execution for the same or in failure thereof that he, the said James Arnold will do it for him.
The following is the report of the Franklin County Grand jury made the 17th day of May, 1796. "We present James Gayle for swearing one profane oath, to-wit, by God, on the 16th instant at the house of Simon Hancock, by information of Simon Hancock.
We, of the jury present Theoderick Boler for selling brandy by retail at the race ground at George Blackburn's on the 16th day of September, by information of Anthony Bart- lett.
We also present William Hawkins, overseer of the road from South Fork of Elkhorn to the two mile tree, for not hav- ing the same in repair on the 12th of October. We present William Porter overseer of the road from the top of the hill above Frankfort to the two mile tree for not having the same in repair the 12th of October; also for not having a sign board at the two mile tree. By the information of Samuel Mosley."
"NATHI. RICHARDSON, Foreman."
In Fordham's Personal Narrative, (pp. 160-61) we find the following about Frankfort, 1818, "Jan 31." Started for Frankfort, passed through a fine rolling country; cleared enough to present something like views, though none of them of any extent.
Frankfort is a smart little town on the Kentucky river. It is the seat of Government and the Legislature is now sit- ting. It was Sunday and a few smartly dressed young men were picking their way through the half frozen mud in the
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THE HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
streets. Like others it is hidden in a mud hole with fine com- manding sections around it. They have begun to pave the main street-in a way that would make a London Paviour laugh."
Note: Cuming visited (Frankfort) in 1807 and found a town of ninety houses, including a state-house, a jail, a Court house, a State penitentiary, a market-house, a government house, and four Inns which in size, accommodations and busi- ness he deelares were not surpassed in the United States. (Early Western Travels IV. pp. 191-196.)
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THE HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
CHAPTER V.
Course of Events from 1800 to 1810.
The population of Franklin County in the year 1800 was 5,078 of that number 628 lived in the town of Frankfort.
On Tuesday the 26th day of August of that year, James Roberts was appointed jailer of the county; the appointment or selection, was made by the Court of Quarter Session. On the 23rd of September, the following orders were entered: "It is ordered that Stephen Arnold and John Price, Gentlemen, they being the oldest Justices commissioned for said county, as fit persons to fill the office of a sheriff of the County for the next term of two years, be recommended to the Governor." "It is ordered that Stephen Arnold, Robert Blackwell, Anthony Crockett and William Payne or any three of them be appointed to receive the warehouse, for the reception of tobacco in South Frankfort; provided, the same be completed agreeable to law."
Otho Beaty was elected to represent the County in the House of Representatives in the year 1800. In the election for Lieu- tenant Governor for that year, Franklin County gave Henry Clay only three votes.
Daniel Bradford was postmaster at Frankfort in 1800; John Smith was elected to represent the County in the Lower House in 1801, and Baker Ewing in 1802.
The following news item is copied from the Palladium: "Frankfort, May 29, 1800 .- Married in town, on Sunday evening last, Dr. Lewis Marshall of Woodford, to the amiable and accomplished Miss A. Smith of this place."
On Tuesday, November 25, 1800, the following order was entered on the order book in the County Clerk's office : "It is ordered that the sheriff do bring immediately before this Court, Nancy Hutton to answer the contempt offered this Court by leaving a young infant on the clerk's table." The sheriff returned and reported that said Nancy Hutton could not be found," and it was thereupon ordered, "that Samuel
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THE HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
Hutton be summoned to appear before the next Court to show cause, if any he could, why he should not support the infant left by the said Samuel's wife on the clerk's table."
In the year 1798 a ferry was established at the "rope walks" one mile above Frankfort across the Kentucky river, from the lands of Elijah Craig, and an inspection of hemp and flour was established at the said ferry "which shall be called and known by the name of East Frankfort." This ferry crossed the river only a short distance above Cochran's distillery.
The Frankfort Bridge Company was incorporated Decem- ber 21, 1799, Christopher Greenup, Daniel Weiseger and Wil- liam Trigg were the incorporators; the right was given to erect the bridge from the south end of Ann street to the south side. In 1805 the act incorporating the Frankfort Bridge Company was repealed and an act passed authorizing John Pope to erect a bridge across the Kentucky river from the end of Annie (Ann) street to South Frankfort and fixed the rate of toll, etc. At the same term of the Legislature there was an act authoriz- ing Thomas Tuntstall to erect a bridge across the Kentucky river from the west end of Montgomery (Main) street to his land on the opposite side of the river, "subject to the same rules, regulations, penalties and emoluments as Jolin Pope." At the same term of the Legislature and on the same condi- tions, John Brown was authorized to erect a bridge across the Kentucky river "from his land above High street on the North side of the river." There was an act to incorporate the Frank- fort Bridge Company, approved January 25, 1810, for the pur- pose of erecting a bridge across the Kentucky river from the south end of St. Clair street, Thomas V. Loofburrow and Wil- liam Trigg were authorized to raise by subscription, by stock not to exceed thirty thousand dollars to be composed of shares of one hundred dollars each-"provided said bridge shall not contain more than one pier in the channel of the river, and which pier shall not be less than sixty feet high from its foundation. The act also provided, if the said bridge was not completed within two years, the said company was to forfeit all rights which had been granted by the Legislature.
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THE HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
There was an act approved January 18th, 1812, extending the time of completing the bridge, until 1st day of February, 1816; this was the first permanent bridge which crossed the river at Frankfort. It was built on the plan of Judge Finley's chain bridge and it cost $25,000.00; it was 3341/2 feet long. It had one pier in the middle 65 feet high; the entire length, with the approaches, was 700 feet and the width was 18 feet. The two chains for the bridge were made at Pittsburg; they were of one and one half inch square bar iron and weighed about six tons each. There was much difficulty in securing a foundation for the south abutment, because of the quicksand found there; the water would rush in at the bottom upon the workmen as fast as they discharged it at the top with pumps and buckets, working day and night. During the time the bridge was under construction, there was a floating bridge across the Kentucky river from the south end of Ann street, similar to a pontoon bridge; it was constructed of anchored flat boats covered with plank for the road way and with railing on each side for protection. Another bridge of the same kind was used at the ferry near the foot of Wilkinson street across to the mouth of Benson Creek; this ferry had been established by act of the Legislature in the year 1801.
On June 23rd, 1801, "Stephen Arnold, Gentleman,"' pre- sented to the Court of Quarter Session a commission from James Garrard, Governor of Kentucky, appointing him sheriff of the county, whereupon he took the oath required by law and entered into bond with Daniel Weiseger and Christopher Greenup as his securities. At the same time Daniel Weiseger was appointed clerk of the County Court. On the same date an item of news from the Palladium, reads as follows: "We are requested to inform the inhabitants of Frankfort and its vicinity, that on Saturday the 4th of July, several of the stu- dents of both sexes under the tuition of Gabriel Nourse will have an entertainment at the State House. In order that the exhibition may not interfere with other commemorations of the day the bell will begin to ring at eight o'clock in the morn- ing and speaking commence in the State House at half past nine." Murray's spring was the usual place for Fourth of July
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