Henderson County KyArchives History - Books .....Chapter XVIII Slaves Emancipated 1887 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ky/kyfiles.html ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 23, 2007, 7:58 pm Book Title: History Of Henderson County, KY CHAPTER XVIII. SLAVES EMANCIPATED-THE HARRISON CAMPAIGN-ABINADAB'S LETTERS-CHARLES DICKENS-RUNAWAY SLAVES-RIVER CLOSED, ETC., ETC.-1840. THE official returns for 1840, place the population of Henderson County at nine thousand five hundred and forty-eight, an increase, since the census of 1830, of two thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine souls. Of this number, six thousand one hundred and eighty-one were whites, three thousand three hundred and nineteen were slaves, and forty-eight were free blacks. Two thousand five hundred and ninety-five tithables were reported, and the levy fixed at one dollar and fifty cents. During the year 1825, Elizabeth D. Gwatkin, grandmother of Adam and Gwatkin Rankin, died. By her will, thirty-eight negroes became the property of Horatio D. Gwatkin, for the term of fifteen years, and at the expiration of that time, they were to be given their freedom according to law. At the June term of the County Court this year, the thirty-eight slaves were brought into court, their names entered of record, and they given their freedom. A poor old man, who had fought throughout the War for American Independence, became a pauper upon the county. John Ramsay and wife were allowed the round sum of fifty dollars for his annual support. In January the voting place, then known as William Sellar's, was changed to Wesley Norman's. February 17, a town called "LaFayette," was incorporated and established upon the plan of Geo. W. King, proprietor. The trustees of this town were Geo. W. King, Payne Dixon, William P. Grayson, William Y. Nelson and Harbison Butler. The site of "LaFayette" was on the Ohio River above Evansville. This was the year of the "HARRISON CAMPAIGN," Forever memorable in the history of American politics. The hero of "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too," received a handsome majority in Henderson County, for President of the United States. During the summer an immense barbecue was given in a grove which was located on the river above Powell Street, and in front of the gas works. This was a beautiful grove, and was a great trysting place for lovers and those sentimentally inclined. "Lovers' Grove," as it was called, succumbed to the lashing waves of the Ohio many years ago. There is not a vestige of it to be seen at this day. The Harrison barbecue was largely attended, and many eminent speakers addressed the multitude that day. The ladies were largely interested, and wore white aprons with log cabins painted and printed upon them. The long tables were decorated with imitation log cabins built of stick candy. This was a gala day in Henderson. 1841. Two thousand six hundred and thirty-one tithables were reported this year, and the county levy fixed at one dollar and fifty cents. It will be remembered, that in 1837, an act was passed by the Legislature, incorporating the "Henderson & Hopkinsville Dirt Turnpike Company, on the Virginia plan," and appointing commissioners to open stock books. What the Commissioners did is not known, but it is safe to say nothing was done, for, on the twenty-sixth day of January, of this year, Lazarus W. Powell and William Sugg, of Henderson, and John Ruby and William Bradley, of Hopkins, were appointed commissioners to view and mark out a road to Hopkinsville, to be built as other roads were at that time. This the Commissioners did, and from that time to this, there has been an established road between the two places. "ABINADAB'S LETTERS." In the spring of this year, William R. Abbott, who had displayed considerable newspaper talent, asked, and was granted the right to build a frame printing office on the Public Square in front of, and to the right of the Court House, and immediately across First Street from James McLaughlin's grocery. In this building Mr. Abbott published the "Columbian," a file of which would this day command a handsome sum of money. It was during the days of the "Columbian" that the inimitable "Abinadab" letters made their appearance. They were written in biblical style, and for caustic wit, have never been surpassed. Each issue of the paper was as anxiously anticipated as though it was known to contain the only reliable information from the seat of some great battle, in which each inhabitant was personally and deeply interested. "Abinadab" was never known, yet he knew every man in the town, and would select six or more each week, to whom he would address himself in most graceful, but cutting English, to the intense delight of every inhabitant. His pen-pictures of men were so perfect, a mistake in placing the victim was impossible. "Abinadab" was the delight, as well as the terror of the town. A few years afterwards, Mr. Abbott departed this life, and in disposing of his effects, Rev. John McCullagh became the purchaser of the printing office, and had it removed to his lot, where now stands Miss McCullagh's Female Academy. The building was then used as a school house up to about the year 1850, when Mr. McCullagh gave up teaching. This old literary and educational establishment was permitted to remain until a few years ago, when it was torn down. 1842. Two thousand seven hundred and fifty tithables were reported this year, and one dollar thirty-seven and a half cents fixed as the levy. A voting place was established at Steamport. Joshua Mullin and his wife "OLD MRS. MULLIN," of "ginger cake" notoriety, had come to Henderson and opened a small confectionary and eating house on Mill Street (now Second), in a little frame building, which sat above the street near where M. Laucheim's Grocery now stands. They had taken out what is called a tavern license, or more correctly speaking, a liquor license. During the early part of the year, Mr. Mullin applied to the County Court, then in session, for a renewal of his license, but was refused, as the following amusing order entered of record will show. "This day Joshua Mullin came in and moved the court to renew his tavern license, there being ten Justices on the bench, a majority of all those in Commission, and mature deliberation being thereupon had, the vote was taken upon said motion, and the result was as follows: Yeas 2, Nays 8, .and thereupon the said Mullen silently withdrew from the presence of the court, and with a countenance bitter with anguish and deep indignation, he rushed from the Hall of Justice." CHARLES DICKENS. In the early part of this year, Charles Dickens, the renowned novelist, then best known as "Boz," and quite a young man, was a passenger on the steamboat "Fulton," en route from Louisville to St. Louis. The steamer was detained here, taking freight, and during a great part of the time Mr. Dickens amused himself walking around the town, and viewing the sights, of which there were none more important than the town pump, which stood in the intersection of Main and Second Streets. 1843. Three thousand and forty-six tithables were reported this year, and the county levy fixed at one dollar and twenty-five cents; of this number fourteen hundred and seventy-three were whites, and fifteen hundred and seventy-three were blacks. The locks and dam on Green River, at Spottsville, were completed this year, and a toll-gate established. May 9, an act of the Legislature was approved, re-apportioning the State into Congressional districts. Henderson, with Christian, Muhlenburg, Daviess, Ohio, Butler, Hancock, Breckenridge, Grayson, Edmondson, and Mead, became the Tenth District. Several shocks of earthquake were felt this year. 1844. Three thousand and seventy-three tithables were reported this year, and the county levy fixed at seventy-five cents. Of this number fourteen hundred and forty-nine were whites, and sixteen hundred and twenty-four were blacks. Tobacco inspection warehouses were still in vogue, but doing a comparatively small business to what was done many years prior to that time. 1845. Three thousand one hundred and ninety-seven tithables were reported this year, and the county levy fixed at fifty-five cents. Of this number fifteen hundred and eighteen were whites, and sixteen hundred and seventy-nine were blacks. On the tenth day of February the voting place was changed from Zachariah Galloway's to the house of Geo. M. Priest, in the village of Hebardsville. RUNAWAY SLAVES. In 1843 began, and in 1844-45 was steadily developing the systematic enticing away, or stealing of slaves from Kentucky, and running them off to Canada by a cordon of posts, or relays, which came to be known as the underground railroad. Few were stolen at first, and occasionally cases of recapture on Ohio soil, and restoration to owners occurred. In several cases, Ohio juries, under the just laws enacted to meet the exigencies, gave judgment for damages, to the reasonable value of the slaves rescued, but in no cases were the judgments paid. This semblance of justice continued to grow lax, and men, who, at first, were willing to see stolen, or runaway slaves, restored, soon became indifferent, and in a few years, themselves encouraged this growing interference with the property rights of the people of Kentucky. On the sixth day of December the Ohio River was closed by ice, for the first time in ten years, so early as this. It remained closed but four days, breaking up on the tenth. 1846. Three thousand three hundred and thirty-six tithables were reported this year, and the county levy fixed at ninety cents. Of this number, fifteen hundred and forty-eight were whites, and seventeen hundred and eighty-eight blacks. An order was passed in the spring, granting to the Trustees of the town of Henderson a ferry license, from the town to the Indiana shore, and James Rouse appointed keeper. February 19, by an act of the Legislature, Henderson, with Christian, Hopkins, and Union, were constituted into the Seventh Judicial District. During the session of the Legislature a joke was played upon Samuel Allison, the noted humorist, the greatest of all jokers. A bill, changing his name from that of Allison, to that of Samuel Allison Jones, was quietly slipped through both houses, without his knowledge or consent. WAR WITH MEXICO. The struggle with Mexico had now been initiated, and Kentucky had been called upon for her quota of volunteers. However, parties differed as to its justice or policy. The call so struck the popular chord as to enlist thirteen thousand seven hundred volunteers, while the call was for, and only less than five thousand could be accepted. Henderson County responded promptly, but only a few of her volunteers were accepted. Major Philip Barbour, one of the most distinguished officers of the war, and who was killed while leading his men, at the storming of the breastworks of the City of Monterey, was from this county. This is the year the renowned wag, "Bill Pew," was arrested and confined in the county jail, charged, with others, with the murder of George Robards, on Green River. 1847. Three thousand four hundred and forty-four tithables were reported this year, and the county levy fixed at ninety cents. Of this number fifteen hundred and sixty-one were whites, and eighteen hundred and eighty-three were blacks. An act was approved January 12, submitting the question of calling a convention, to revise and amend the second Constitution of Kentucky, which was adopted August 17, 1799. At the August election this act was defeated, in Henderson, but adopted by a large majority in the State. Another great flood occurred in the Ohio during the month of February, and reached a point within nine inches of the line reached in 1832. The chief reason for this great rise, and almost unprecedented freshet, was the great rain-fall, the heaviest ever known in Kentucky in so short a time. On the nights of the ninth and tenth of December, the smaller Kentucky streams arose with wonderful and alarming rapidity. 1848. Three thousand four hundred and sixty-eight tithables were reported this year, and the county levy fixed at ninety cents. Of this number, fifteen hundred and forty-one were whites, nineteen hundred and twenty-one were blacks. It will be observed that for several years the black tithables had gained in number over the whites. On the twenty-ninth day of February the Legislature re-appointed the Senatorial Districts, constituting Henderson and Daviess the Fifth. On the same day an act was approved, changing the voting place from David Sights' to William Sutton's. The discovery of gold in California caused a vast and unparalleled emigration to the shores of the Pacific, from every quarter of the globe, and Henderson was not behind in sending her quota; quite a company, mounted upon mules, left overland from this place, and, after many trials, succeeded in reaching the Golden Gate. Among the number, were Jas. E. Ricketts, David Hart, David Herndon, Moses Foard, James Lyne and David Lockett. In August the question of calling a convention to revise and amend the constitution of the State, was again submitted, and carried in the State by an overwhelming majority. Gov. Archibald Dixon was elected a delegate from this county, and was decidedly one of the most active, energetic and intelligent members of that great body. 1849. Three thousand five hundred and twenty-five tithables were reported this year, and the county levy fixed at one dollar. Of this number, fifteen hundred and fifty were whites, and nineteen hundred and seventy-five were blacks. Owing to the increase of population in the lower end of the county, an election precinct was established at the residence of Col. Robert Smith, near the Point, or what is now known as Smith's Mills. Walter C. Brown entered into contract with the county to build a bridge over Canoe Creek, at the crossing leading to Morganfield, at and for the price of nineteen hundred dollars. The bridge was built, but a very short time after was discovered to be unsafe. The court appointed B. Brashear, A. Olliver, and Wyatt H. Ingram, commissioners, to investigate the structure, and after doing so, they reported it unsafe, and incapable of reconstruction, in its condition. Thereupon the county appointed James M. Taylor, William Jones, Addison Posey, and E. F. Randolph, commissioners to build another, and directed suit to be entered against Brown and his securities. After several trials, and much trouble, the suit was compromised, by the county loosing heavily, as is generally the case. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KENTUCKY, BY EDMUND L. STARLING, COMPRISING HISTORY OF COUNTY AND CITY, PRECINCTS, EDUCATION, CHURCHES, SECRET SOCIETIES, LEADING ENTERPRISES, SKETCHES AND RECOLLECTIONS, AND BIOGRAPHIES OF THE LIVING AND DEAD. ILLUSTRATED. HENDERSON, KY, 1887. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ky/henderson/history/1887/historyo/chapterx326gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/kyfiles/