USA > Ohio > History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 6
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
serving as pilot and commander of different vessels. When only nineteen years of age he was commander of the Matamora. He married, December 31, 1839, Miss Catherine R. White. She was born in this county February 10, 1821. They had but one child, Emma, who died in her twenty-first year. Captain Goslee met his death in a frightful manner, being killed by a railroad train. The old mansion where Mrs. Goslee re- sides has been in possession of her family for three generations. The place was settled by her maternal grandfather, Martin Brengman, about the year 1794. Her father, Minor White, was born in this county in 1795.
John N. McMichael was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, December 25, 1800. His parents, James and Eleanor (Dunbar) McMichael, moved to Louisville in 1802. John N. is the oldest of three children, and the only survivor. The others were named Mary Ann and Adeline. His father died in 1805, and his mother in the sixty- third year of her age. J. N. McMichael was ap- pointed a constable in 1827, served four years, and then was sheriff for six years. He was next city marshal for two years. With C. Miller he started the first coal office in Louisville. He was quite extensively engaged in this business for five years. At the end of this time he moved to the country and has since devoted himself to agriculture. Mr. McMichael has served as mag- istrate six years, also as police judge at Anchor- age two or three years. He and his wife belong to the Baptist church. He married Miss Nancy C. Hargin, of this county, in 1832. They have eight children living, viz: John W., Thomas H., George C., Charles C., James G., Nellie (married William B. Rogers, New Orleans), Nancy C., and Mollie.
A. Hausman, proprietor of the Star grocery at Anchorage, was born in Germany in 1842, and came to this country at the age of seventeen. He was brought up a mechanic; afterwards worked at stone masonry and boot and shoe making. In 1859 he came to Kentucky, and in 1862 to Louisville, where he made boots and shoes until 1866, when he moved to Anchorage, continuing in the same business, to which he added the duties of a country store keeper. Mr. Hausman was the first merchant in Anchorage, and still continues the only one. He is a self- made man. Starting in business with only $25
capital he has prospered well, and is now doing a good business. The loss of his wife, Annie (Linnig) Hausman, in March, 1881, was a severe blow to him. They had lived together happily for seventeen years and brought up a large fam- ily of children.
SPRINGDALE PRECINCT.
This precinct received its name in honor of one of the finest springs in the county, having an even temperature the year round of fifty-four degrees Fahrenheit. There is one spring at Dorsey's camp ground which has an even tem- perature of fifty degrees. The spring above mentioned is under the dwelling house of the old homestead of James Young, who settled here very early on a large tract of land, com- prising in all some eight hundred acres; but up to the year 1860 this precinct was a part of Harrod's Creek.
Mr. Young, upon coming to this part of the county, decided to build him a dwelling house. His son, also financially interested, concurred in the same, but each party decided on grounds or knolls on the either side of the spot finally chosen, and not agreeing one with the other, they com- promised by each meeting the other half way, where they found rather marshy ground. After excavating sufficiently for a cellar, they discov- ered this spring, which has given them since that time a pure, cold and limpid stream of water. The house was built in 1828, and is still stand- ing. The land was purchased by Young from John Dorothy, who secured it by patent from the Government.
Among the distinguished settlers of this pre- cinct was the well known William White, who was born in Virginia in 1763. He came to Mid- dletown, which place was surveyed and laid out under his direction, and was a member of the State Legislature. His son, Miner White, was born in the year 1795. He cleared the lands and also settled upon a tract in Spring- dale; built mills on Goose creek, near this little place, being the first of the kind in the county. One was a saw-mill, to which was after- ward added a grist-mill. Still later the lower mill, farther down the creek was built, to which was added a distillery. These mills have long
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
since gone down, but served the day for which they were built right well, doing custom work wholly.
Goose creek is a short, lively stream, having its headwaters in springs and small streams but a few miles from its mouth, and furnishes an abundance of water ten months in the year. A number of good mill sites are found on this stream, but, strange to say, no mills are operated at this time. A man by the name of Allison built a mill quite early, and run it for many years, but a score of years and more ago it was used as a school-house.
Edmund Taylor owned a large tract of land between the branches of this stream. Dabney Taylor, a grandson of Hancock Taylor, who was a brother of Zachary Taylor, is a wealthy, well- to-do farmer at Worthington, this precinct.
Patrick Bell also settled in Springdale on a large tract of land, afterwards owned by Dr. Bar- bour. A Mr. Mayo afterwards owned it.
Lawrence Young, of Caroline county, Vir- ginia, born in 1793, was a prominent man of this precinct. He came with his father, James Young, settled here on a large tract of land, and became a noted horticulturist, and edited the Southern Agriculturist many years before he died. He also had a green-house, and cultivated flowers, as well as the various kinds of trees and fruits. He was a noted teacher, and taught at Middletown such men as Mr. E. D. Hobbs and L. L. Dorsey, being his pupils. He studied law in Transylvania college, where he took the full collegiate course, but was not successful in the profession, and abandoned it for the school- room. He was known by pomologists as an au- thority in that science also. He was married in 1823, and died in 1872. His son, 'Squire Wil- liam Young, a well-to-do young farmer now re- siding at Springdale, became the first magistrate in the precinct when it was organized in 1868. It was simply a voting precinct in 1860, but was not, by an act of the Legislature, made a magis- terial peecinct until the year 1868.
There are at present no mills, and but one church, and but school in the precinct. The church is a missionary one, lately established, and is Presbyterian. The school-houseis in one corner of the precinct.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
William W. Young, an old resident of Jeffer- son county, was born June 24, 1828, near Mid- dletown. When very young he came to Spring- dale in company with his parents, and settled upon the fine farm where we now find him. His father and mother came from Virginia in an early day. Mr. Young was married November 23, 1853, to Miss Ann A. Chamberlain, of Jefferson county. They have had six children, five of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Young are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church.
Benjamin L. Young, brother of W. W. Young, was born July 27, 1840, in Jefferson county, Kentucky. He has always been engaged in farming, and has a farm of one hundred acres. Mr. Young was married in 1869 to Miss Clara Stone, of Louisville, daughter of E. M. Stone. They have four children. Mr. and Mrs. Young are members of the Methodist church.
Philip D. Barbour, one of the oldest and well- known residents of Jefferson county, was born January 18, 1818, in Orange county, Virginia, and when an infant came to Kentucky with his parents, who settled in Fayette county. They lived here but a short time, when they went to Oldham county. Mr. Barbour, the subject of this sketch, resided here twenty-five or thirty years, and then came to Jefferson county, Springdale precinct, where he is now living on a fine farm of six or seven hundred acres. Mr. Barbour was married in 1841 to Miss Comfort Ann Dorsey, of Jefferson county. This marriage was blessed with three children. Mrs. Barbour died in 1847. Mr. Barbour was married a second time, in 1851, to Miss Fannie Butler, of Orange county, Virginia. They have had eight children. Mr. and Mrs. Barbour are members of the Christian church.
William L. Harbold, M. D., was born August 13, 1819, in Jefferson county, Kentucky. Mr. Harbold studied medicine in the Kentucky School of Medicine, and graduated in 1852. He has practiced ever since, though he has given some attention to farming. He was married in 1846 to Miss Fannie Close, of Oldham county. They have had nine children, five of whom are living. Mrs. Harbold died in November, 1878. Mr. Harbold is a member of the Baptist church, as was Mrs. Harbold before her death. Mrs. Judith S. Harbold, his aged mother, is now liv-
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
ing with her son William. She was born in Madison county, Virginia, in 1799, and came to Kentucky in 1805.
James S. Kalfus was born July 14, 1843, in Louisville, where he lived till 1870, with the ex- ception of a short time in Texas. Since 1870 he has resided in Springdale precinct, Jefferson county. He was married in October, 1869, to Miss Cornelia Warren, of Boyle county. J. W. Kalfus, his father, was in business a long time in Louisville, and was well known in the business circles of the city.
Elijah T. Yager was born May 6, 1841, in Jefferson county, Kentucky, and has ever re- sided in the State. His father, Joel, was a na- tive of Virginia; also his mother. Mr. Yager married Miss Lydia Mount, January 21, 1864. She was born in Oldham county, September 8, 1844. They have four children. Mr. and Mrs. Yager are members of the Christian church.
Hugh McLaughry was born October 17, 1815, in Delaware county, New York, and lived here during his boyhood. When about twenty years of age he went to Chicago and Milwaukee, and lived in these places three years. He then came to Kentucky, and located in Louisville, where he was engaged in mechanical business for eight years. He then went to Oldham county, where he resided about eighteen years upon a farm. He then came to Jefferson county where we now find him. He married Miss Nancy Cameron, of Clark county, Indiana. They have had four children-only one living.
John Simcoe was born February 13, 1841, in Jefferson county, Kentucky. His father, Jerry M. Simcoe, came from Virginia in about 1810, and settled upon what is now known as the Clark farm. Mr. Simcoe has always followed farming as an occupation. He was married in 1877 to Miss Annie White, of Jefferson county. They have one child. Mr. and Mrs. Simcoe are members of the Reformed church.
W. D. S. Taylor, a prominent and well known citizen of Jefferson county, was born July 8, 1806, in what is now called Oldham county. His parents came from Virginia in a very early day. His father was a brother of President Taylor, also of General Joe Taylor. He was married August 18, 1827, to Miss Jane Pollock Barbour, daughter of Philip C. S. Barbour, of Oldham county. Mrs. Taylor was born Nov-
ember 14, 1812, in Virginia. They have had eight children, five of whom are living: Elizabeth S., born September 21, 1830; William P., born January 6, 1833; Margaret A., born March 14, 1835; Hancock, born March 2, 1838; Manlius, born October 14, 1840; Alice H., born July 28, 1844; Dabney Strother, born August 20, 1851; Willis H., born in 1846. William, Margaret and Willis are deceased.
Hancock Taylor was born March 2, 1838, in Jefferson county, Kentucky. In 1860 he went to Phillips county, Arkansas, and remained there till April, 1861, when he enlisted in the Fifteenth Arkansas regiment. After the war he returned to Crittenden county, Kentucky, where he lived three years and a half. He then came back to Jefferson, where he has since resided. He was married October 12, 1865, to Miss Mary H. Wallace, of Louisville. They have had seven children-six living at the present time. Mr. Taylor is a Master Mason. He represented Jefferson county in the Legislature in the years 1877 and 1878.
CANE RUN PRECINCT.
The history of this precinct is that of a few individuals who were prominently identified in the history of Louisville and the county. Of these prominent persons may be men - tioned William Merriwether, his son Jacob, and his grandson William Merriwether, Major John Hughes, Judge John Miller, Benjamin Pollard, and Samuel Garr. Mr. William Merriwether emigrated from Virginia as early as 1805, and settled upon a large tract of land consisting of about eight hundred acres. He was a captain in the Revolutionary war, and was wounded at the battle of Monmouth, and after coming here assisted in building the fort at Louisville. He settled in the south part of Cane Run, and raised a family of four sons and one daughter. He died in 1843.
His son, Jacob Merriwether, now member of the lower house in the State Legislature of Kentucky, was born in 1800, in Virginia; came with his parents to Kentucky, in 1805, remained upon his father's farm until eighteen years of age, when he went to St. Louis and performed clerical duties in the county clerk's office under General
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
O'Fallen. At this time St. Louis was far in the interior, and a good trading place with the In- dians. There he remained, visiting the various Indian posts throughout the Northwest, going up the Missouri river on the first steamboat that ran on those waters. He remained in the fur trade with the Indians until 1823, when he re- turned to Kentucky and married, that year, Miss Sarah A. Leonard, and settled where he now lives. He was elected to the lower house of the State Legislature of Kentucky in 1835; was re-elected and held the position until 1840, when he was defeated for Congress in the hard cider campaign, and was again defeated for the same office in 1848. In 1844 he was one of the Presidential electors. In 1849 he was elected to draft the new constitution for the State of Ken- tucky, which position he held until the death of Henry Clay, in 1853, and was then elected to the United States Senate. In 1853 he was ap- pointed by President Pierce as Governor of New Mexico. In 1857 he resigned, and in 1859 was elected to the State Legislature, and became speaker of the House of Representatives in 1861. He was again defeated for Congress by John Harney, after which he retired to private life until 1879 when he was again taken up by the citizens of his county and elected to the Legislature.
His life has been an eventful one. He is now an active man eighty two years of age; has ever been regarded by his constituents as an able, efficient, and truscy representative of their in- terests. He has raised a family of four children, now living.
His son, William H. Merriwether, born in 1825, was reared on the farm, and married in 1857 to Miss Lydia Morselle, and lives on part of the farm purchased by his grandfather in 1805. He was appointed deputy marshal in 1861, and re-appointed in 1862 and 1863. In 1864 he was appointed marshal by President Lincoln, which position he held in 1868. In 1870 he was appointed clerk of the United States court, and held that position until 1876, when he became interested in a real estate agency, which business he still pursues. He was origin- ally a Democrat, but since 1860 has been a Re- publican.
Major John Hughes, a prominent man of this precinct, served in the Revolutionary war, and
was a settler on the Ohio river six miles below Louisville, where he had purchased a tract of a thousand acres of land.
Judge Miller had settled on the upper end, about four miles from the county court-house, on a large tract of land.
Benjamin Pollard settled in the southern part.
The citizens of this precinct never had a church until the year 1863, when St. James' was built, about four miles below Louisville, by the Episcopalians. The society is and has been small, the membership now being about forty. Mr. William Cornwall has been the leading and most active man, probably, in this organization.
FISHERVILLE PRECINCT.
The land in this precinct is generally good. Along the valley of Floyd's fork it is rich and well adapted to grain raising. The high lands are better adapted to the raising of stock.
The capital town of this country is Fisherville, a neat, white-washed little place on Floyd's fork, which sometimes in its forgetful and excited con- dition overflows the whole place. The town was named in honor of Robert Fisher some forty years ago, and is in point of appearance above the average modern village. There are not only good houses here, but a thrifty looking class of dwelling habitations are dotted over the entire precinct, and especially in the valley of Floyd's fork. The Raglins, Gillands, Beards, Driskils, and many others might be mentioned. In short, many of the houses are elegant.
The Louisville, Fisherville and Taylorsville turnpike winds its length through the precinct and the town ; also pikes of shorter length made for the convenience of neighbors are found here and there.
The Gillands were early settlers of this place, and became wealthy. John Henry Gilland, one of the first magistrates, came early and settled near Boston when Fisherville and Boston were together. Dr. Reid's father, Matthew, was an old settler. His wife was a Gilland ; also Mike and Billie Throat, Billie Parns, Allen Rose, who became quite wealthy, Adam Shake, father, and the Carrithers and Seatons were among the early settlers of this place.
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
The Shroats were German Baptists from Penn- sylvania, and preached long before the church was brought to Fisherville from Floyd's fork. This church was moved about 1852, and is a frame, two stories in height, the Masons occupy- ing the second floor. Rev. William Barnett was one of the early preachers in the old brick church before it was removed. Following him were Rev. William Hobbs, Worl, Hunter, Cole- man, and Fountain. Rev. W. E. Powers is the present pastor. The church is numerically weak. The officers are Edwin Shouse, moderator ; John Davis clerk; John Scearce and A. J. Conn, deacons.
The Reformed Church is one-half mile east of Fisherville, and is a good, respectable building, erected at a probable cost of twenty-five hun- dred dollars, in 1881. This organization is an outgrowth of the old Baptist organization, and like other churches of its kind had its origin some time after Campbell made his visit to this part of the State. The principal actors identi- fied in the pros and cons of that day on this question were Calvert, a "hard-shell " Baptist, James Rose, Joseph Sweeney, and some others. Rev. Mr. Taylor preaches for this people at this time twice a month. Robert Taylor, Higley, and La Master are the elders. William Driskill and R. Sando Carpenter and Tyler Carpenter are the deacons, and Stephen Taylor clerk.
MILLS. .
Robert Fisher is the owner of the present mills in Fisherville. His father owned the origi- nal mill in this place.
The abundance of water in the creek during all the months of the year, and the reputation of the mills throughout the county, brings much custom to this little place.
EAST CEDAR HILL INSTITUTE
is located twenty miles east of Louisville, and two miles east of Fisherville, on the Fisherville and Buck Creek turnpike, in a community whose people are remarkable for their intelli- gence and morality. It is in a healthy section of country, and where there is fine natural scenery.
The institution was founded in 1869 by Mrs. Cleo F. C. Coon, a highly educated lady, and of marked refinement and culture. She is the daughter of R. R. Clarke, a relative of George
Rogers Clarke. Her grandfather came to the county as early as 1782, and her father was born in 1811, in Nelson county, came here in 1835, and settled on four hundred and fifty acres of land. Mrs. Cleo F. C. Coon received her education in Shelbyville, Kentucky, in the select school of Miss Julia Tevis, graduating from that institution in 1851. She taught at different places, until, in the year 1869, in her father's house, a large commodious farm dwelling, she opened a school with about fifty pupils, and her success in the work has been increasing from year to year since that time. The government exercised in the management of the school; her course of study, scientific and classical; the so- cieties and social circles under the guidance of a marked intellectuality; the low rates of tuition; the large list of pupils graduated from the insti- tution, together with the religious features of the school, compare favorably with similar enter- prises. Mrs. Coon has, from time to time, been erectings such building and making such addi- tions as were found necessary. Her corps of teachers is competent and experienced. The names are:
Literary Department-Mrs. Cleo F. C. Coon, principal, and teacher of higher mathematics and English branches; Professor H. N. Reuhelt, teacher of languages, mental and moral science; Miss Mollie E. Grubbs, teacher of algebra, read- ing, English grammer, and writing; Miss Emma A. Rose, M. E. L., teacher of higher arithmetic, and intermediate classes.
Musical Department-Miss Alice M. Bailey, principal teacher; Miss Katie M. Reubelt, M. E. L., assistant teacher.
Ornamental Department-Miss Lulie M. Myers, teacher of drawing, painting, wax, and worsted work, and lace.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
John B. Sceares was born May 24, 1812, in Woodford county, Kentucky. His father, Robert Sceares, was a native of Pennsylvania and came to Kentucky in an early day, being one of the pioneers of the State. Mr. Sceares has followed farming for several years, though he was formerly engaged in milling. He was mar- ried in 1834 to Miss Permelia Sale, of Woodford county. They had one child. His second marriage occurred in 1839, to Miss Permelia
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
Shouse, of Henry county. He had five chil- dren by this marriage. His third marriage took place in 1857, to Miss Juliette Jones, of Scott county. This union was blessed with eleven children, four of whom are living. Mr. Sceares is a member of the Baptist church, also a Free Mason.
John H. Gilliland was born December 24, 1838, in Jefferson county, Kentucky, where he has ever resided. He is at the present time en- gaged in farming, has about three hundred and fifty acres of excellent land, and a beautiful home. He married Miss Sally F. Crutcher of Spencer county, October 12, 1865. They have had three children, two now living-Thomas B., Alice C., Mattie K. Mattie is deceased. Mr. Gilliland is a Free Mason.
Thomas Gilliland was born June 24, 1813, in Shelby county, Kentucky, and came when very young to Jefferson county with his parents. His father, Thomas Gilliland, was a native of Ireland and came to America about the year 1800. Thomas Gilliland, Jr., was married in 1840 to Miss Margaret Blankenbaker of Shelby county, daughter of Lewis Blankenbaker. He was mar- ried in 1876 to Miss Lizzie Townsend of Fisher- ville precinct. They have one child, Thomas Hampton, who was born September 12, 1877. Mr. Gilliland is a Free Mason.
James Robison was born . May r1, 1835, in Jefferson county, and has ever resided upon the old homestead in Fisherville precinct. His father, William Robison, was born in Pennsyl- vania in 1791, and moved to Kentucky when eight years of age, with his parents, and settled in Spencer county. In 1833 William Robison moved into Jefferson county, where he died June 11, 1876. Mr. James Robison has fol- lowed farming the greater part of his life, and has a good farm of two hundred and fifty acres. He was married January 12, 1860, to Miss Ruth C. Moore, daughter of Simeon Moore, of Jeffer- son county. Mr. Robison is a member of the Presbyterian church ; Mrs. Robison a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Robison is mas- ter of the lodge of Free Masons at Fisherville.
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William Carrithers was born October 22, 1807, in Spencer county, Kentucky." His father was a native of Pennsylvania and came to Kentucky in an early day. His grandfather, as also his grand- mother on his father's side, came from Ireland. 6
Mr. Carrithers is engaged in general farming, and has about one hundred and eighty acres of land. He was married January 12, 1830, to Miss Hannah Y. Davis, of Spencer county. Of this union one child was born. His second marriage was to Miss Elvira Fredrick, April 12, 1832. They had eleven children, six living at the present time. His third marriage was November 13. 1878, to Mrs. S. E. Burton, of Boyle county, Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Carri- thers are members of the Presbyterian church.
Elisha Walters, an old and substantial citizen, was born in Lincoln county, Kentucky, December I, 1814, where he resided till 1836, when he went to Spencer county, living there till 1841, then came to Jefferson county. His father, Thomas Walters, came from Virginia, as did his grand-parents, in early times. Mr. Walters was married January 6, 1842, to Miss Rebecca Rhea, of Jefferson county. They have had twelve chil- dren, ten of whom are living. Mrs. Walters died February 19, 1881. She was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Mr. Walters is a church member, also a Free Mason.
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