Henderson County KyArchives History - Books .....Chapter XIX New Constitution 1887
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Book Title: History Of Henderson County, KY

CHAPTER XIX.

NEW CONSTITUTION-INCREASE IN POPULATION-SUSPENSION BRIDGES-COUNTY POOR
HOUSE-HENDERSON ASSUMES THE CARE OF HER STREETS AND PAUPERS-OHIO RIVER FROZEN
FOR FIFTY-THREE DAYS-FINE CROPS-STATE AGRICULTURAL MEETING, ETC.-1850.

THREE thousand six hundred and twenty-six tithables were reported this year, and
the county levy fixed at, one dollar and fifty cents. Of this number sixteen
hundred and thirty-four were whites, and nineteen hundred and ninety-two were
blacks.

    The Convention to revise the Constitution of the State had completed its
work, having been in session from the first day of October to December 21, 1849.

    In March, an act was approved, submitting the question of changing the
constitution to the people for their adoption or rejection. May 7, 1850, the new
Constitution was adopted by a large popular majority, and on June 3, the
convention again assembled and adopted several amendments, and June 11,
adjourned after proclaiming the present or third constitution.

    The great underlying cause of dissatisfaction with the second constitution,
was the life term of judges, and clerks of courts, justices of the peace, and
some other offices, which led to the radical change of making nearly all offices
eligible directly by the people. After thirty-three years of experience, it is
still an open question with many whether the change in this regard has subserved
the public interest or the cause of justice, or improved the public morals.
Henderson County opposed the change. A majority of the most interested business
and most intelligent of her citizens voted against the change.

    The official count for this year gave Henderson County a population of
twelve thousand one hundred and seventy-one souls, an increase of two thousand
five hundred and twenty-three since the census of 1840. Of this number seven
thousand six hundred and fifty-one were whites, four thousand three hundred and
ninety-seven were blacks, and one hundred twenty-three free colored.

    The cholera appeared again this year, but was by no means so severe as in
previous years.

    The earthquake was an unwelcome visitor again. It came with a single sharp
shock, at five minutes past eight o'clock on the evening of April 4. No damage,
worse than fright, was done.

    February 9, the provisions of the Mechanics' Lien Law were made to apply to
Henderson, as well as other cities and towns in the State.

NEW BRIDGES.

    During the summer and fall of the year, the first suspension and covered
bridges were built by Samuel Caruthers. The bridge over Canoe Creek, at the
Madisonville crossing, was built at a cost of one thousand nine hundred and
ninety-two dollars, while the abutments and approaches cost five hundred and
forty-nine dollars. The bridge over Canoe Creek, at the Morganfield crossing,
cost, all told, three thousand nine hundred and fifty dollars. Prior to 1850,
the bridges at the main public crossings, had been a continual expense to the
county, and no bridges had been built to last longer than five or six years.
Very little money has been expended on the bridges built by Mr. Caruthers, and
they are in the most excellent condition to this day.

1851.

    Three thousand seven hundred and ninety-two tithables were reported this
year, and the county levy fixed at one dollar and fifty cents. Of this number,
sixteen hundred and eighty-three were whites, and two thousand one hundred and
nine were blacks. The new constitution was now in full force, and also the laws,
as far as written. The acts of the Legislature had been revised and amended to
conform to that document.

COUNTY OFFICIALS QUALIFIED.

    At the January term of the County Court, the old Magistrates and other
officers retired, and at a special session for the purpose of qualifying all
officers elected, under the new constitution and laws, William Rankin, County
Judge; William D. Allison, County and Circuit Clerk; J. M. Stone, Sheriff; James
Rouse, Coroner; D. N. Walden, Surveyor; Thomas J. Lockett, Assessor, and L. W.
Brown, Jailer, took the oaths required and were qualified. There were six
districts in the county, and elections for magistrates and constables having
been held, the following appeared and were qualified:

    MAGISTRATES.-Robert Dixon, John T. Moore, James H. King, James Thomas, Joel
E. Gibson, Russell K. Thornberry, Ben. Talbott, John F. Grider, William E.
Bennett, Isom Johnson, H. L. Cheaney, William S. Hicks, L. Weaver and Isaac M.
Freels-two justices to each district,

    CONSTABLES.-District No. 1, B. F. Martin; No. 2, Harbert A. Powell; No, 3,
George A. Long; No. 4, Achilles H. Norment; No. 5, Hansford E. Rouse; No. 6,
Joseph Priest. A few weeks after Mr. Priest resigned, and Edward T. Hazelwood
was appointed in his stead.

    Election districts and voting places were established as follows: District
No. 1, Gibson's; No. 2, Corydon; No. 3, Randolph Orsburn's; No. 4, Achilles
Norment's; No. 5, Henderson; No. 6, Ed. D. Bennett's.

    Under the old constitution the Magistrates received no pay. Under the new,
they were allowed two dollars per day, and since 1850, the pay has been
increased to three dollars per day for every day they are called to meet.

FRUIT KILLED.

    The spring of 1851 was the coldest and most severe known since 1834. On the
first day of May, there was a heavy black frost, destroying all kinds of fruit
and many tender trees. Fires and overcoats were indispensible, while the
thermometer registered 20° above zero.

POWELL AND DIXON.

    In this year the Democratic party, for the first time in many years,
succeeded in electing their candidate for Governor. This gentleman was a
distinguished son of Henderson County, Lazarus W. Powell. The defeated Whig
candidate was also a distinguished resident of Henderson, Archibald Dixon. The
excitement in the county was intense, of course, but no matter which of the two,
the county felt itself honored in his election.

    March, 1851, the voting place in District No. 6, was changed from E. D,
Bennett's to Hebardsville. An act was approved, dividing the State into four
Appellate Districts, for election of judges of the Court of Appeals. HENDERSON,
with Fulton, Hickman, Ballard, McCracken, Graves, Calloway, Marshall,
Livingston, Crittenden, Union, Hopkins, Caldwell, Trigg, Todd, Logan, Simpson,
Warren, Allen, Christian Muhlenburg, Daviess, Ohio, Butler, Edmondson, Hancock,
Grayson and Breckenridge, became the Fourth District. An act was approved,
creating twelve Judicial Circuits, and HENDERSON, with Caldwell, Trigg,
Christian, Todd, Hopkins and Union, became the Second District.

1852.

    Three thousand eight hundred an twelve tithables were reported this year,
and one dollar and fifty cents fixed as the county levy. Of this number, sixteen
hundred and eighty-four were whites, and twenty-one hundred and twenty-eight
were blacks.

A COLD WINTER.

    The winter of 1851-52 was a severe cold one. On the night of January 19, the
heaviest snow known for years covered the earth. The Ohio River closed that
night, for the second time during the season, the first instance of the kind
within civilized memory. The thermometer was below zero all day, and at midnight
was reported at 30 degrees below.

LOUIS KOSSUTH,

the great Hungarian patriot, and his party, passed down the Ohio this year, and
hundreds of people of all ages visited the river to get a glimpse of him.

UNCEREMONIOUS BAPTIZING.
    On a Sunday afternoon, during the spring of this year, Old Willis Walker, as
he was called, a noted colored Baptist divine, held a baptizing at the foot of
First Street. The bank, for some distance from the Muff, inclined but little, in
fact, seemed almost on a level with the water. On this sandy plane was
congregated a vast concourse of people, anxious to witness the ordinance
performed. While the multitude gathered at the water's edge, and were engaged in
singing, the great steamboat, "Eclipse," came up the river, running, perhaps,
not exceeding two hundred feet from the shore, and as she passed by, the water
was drawn from its rightful line at least ten feet. To this great power of the
wonderful steamer, the excited, singing multitide appeared oblivious, but
followed the water-line, when as quick as thought, the water returned with a
great swell, and quicker than thought, an hundred or more were freely baptized
up to and above their knees. From this unceremonious ducking, and ruining of
their starched Sunday clothes, it is unnecessary to say the unfortunate, and
those more fortunate, scampered as fast as their pedal extremities would permit.

    During 1852 the Owensboro Road crossed Canoe Creek, about one hundred yards
on a direct line below where the present bridge is located, and ran from thence
over the ground where the railroad roundhouse is situated, thence in the rear of
James P. Breckenridge's residence, and thence to Center Street, on the ground
now occupied by the residences of L. F. Clore and Thomas Gilligan.

    At that time Center Street was not opened beyond Adams Street, but all that
territory, now so handsomely improved, was a woodland, owned by James Alves, and
inclosed by a running plank fence. At Adams Street was a gate, which opened to a
roadway leading to his residence on the hill, now owned and occupied by Hon.
Jno. Young Brown and Major John J. Reeve. Upon petition of Mr. Alves, and
others, an order was passed by the County Court changing this road to the road
coming in Third Street, and then the old road was closed up. In 1852 Samuel
Caruthers built the present covered bridge over Canoe Creek, and, at the October
Court of Claims, moved the court to allow him his contract price, to-wit,
sixteen hundred dollars, and here the first objection to the change of road was
suggested. The motion of Caruthers was overruled, it being claimed that the
bridge was not built at the place lawfully designated and fixed by authority of
the court, and that Caruthers knew it. At the same court James Alves and Joel
Lambert presented a claim for three hundred and sixty dollars, for abutments,
which was also rejected. This unaccountable behavior on the part of the court
continued until the April court, 1854, when the claims were allowed, and a
committee appointed to sell the bridge to the Plank Road Company, for the best
price they could get, in money or Plank Road stock.

    At the August court, 1853, Joseph Borum, John G. Holloway, A. B. Barrett,
John Funk, and James D. Hatchett, who had united as a company, for the purpose
of building a plank road, five miles in length, filed an agreement and
subscription in open court, whereupon, Henry J. Eastin, Willie Sugg, and Edmond
Robertson, were appointed to view a route; the committee did so, and their
report was received, and the road located. Failing to sell the bridge to the
Plank Road Company in 1859, the following order was passed:

    "For sufficient reasons appearing to the Court, the County releases and
transfers to the Plank Road Company, all the interest and claim of the County in
and to the bridge over the town fork of Canoe Creek, on condition that the said
company keep the said bridge in good repair at its own expense."

1853.

    Three thousand eight hundred and twenty tithables were reported this year,
and one dollar and fifty cents was fixed as the county levy. Of this number,
sixteen hundred and seventy-eight were whites, and twenty-one hundred and forty
two were blacks.

    This year Fernwood Cemetery was established. The cholera again visited
Henderson, and in some localities was distressingly fatal, particularly was this
the case along First Street, where the land was low and marshy.

1854.

    Three thousand nine hundred and forty-eight tithables were reported this
year, and one dollar and fifty cents was fixed as the county levy. Of this
number, seventeen hundred and twenty-seven were whites, and twenty-two hundred
and twenty-one were blacks.

    March 10 an act was approved incorporating the Paducah & Henderson Railroad,
with L. W. Powell, Grant Green, Joel Lambert, Alexander B. Barrett, F. H.
Dallam, and C. W. Hutchen, incorporators. It is to be regretted that this road
was never "begun, completed, and ended." It did end in nothing being done.

    The Know Nothing Party had come into existence, and Henderson County was
claimed by that party.

    The Ohio River was lower in September of this year, than at any time since
October, 1838, at which time it was lower than ever before known to the white man.

  A filibustering expedition against Nicaragua was quietly organized in Kentucky
this year, and Henderson furnished her quota of impetuous, misguided youths.
Robert Burbank, a brilliant young man, enlisted and died while in that service.

COUNTY POOR HOUSE.

    Up to this time the county paupers were leased out by the year, but in 1853
the County Court became convinced that it was best to purchase and maintain a
county poor-house, and in accordance with that conviction,

    "Ordered that Jas. M. Stone. Geo M. Priest, D. N. Walden, and Joel Lambert,
be appointed commissioners to select, and report the most suitable tract of
land, and eligible location in the county for a poor house, the said tract to
contain not less than one hundred acres, and not exceeding two hundred acres."

    The court not approving of the report of this committee, William S. Hicks,
Isom Johnson, and R. K. Thornberry, were appointed to select a site. In
December, 1854, the committee reported, and Charies Elliott's land, containing
one hundred and eight acres, lying on the Madisonville Road, eight and a half
miles from the city of Henderson, was purchased for the sum of two thousand
dollars. In the year 1872, it was deemed advisable to sell the Poor House farm,
purchased in 1854, and Ben F. Gibson and C. S. Royster were appointed to report
upon the propriety of selling, and also to select and report a suitable site,
contract for a building of ample size to accommodate the demand made upon the
county, but not to exceed the sum of three thousand dollars.

    The committee reported a sale of the old farm to John M. Whitledge, for the
sum of two thousand three hundred and four dollars and forty cents, and the
purchase of B. P. Green, on the road leading from Corydon to Cairo, of eleven
acres and ten perches, for three thousand dollars. May 12 the report was
adopted, and since that time the county Poor House has remained where then
located, upon one of the prettiest and most cheerful sites of the county.

1855.

    Three thousand eight hundred and thirty tithables were reported this year,
and the county levy fixed at one dollar and fifty cents. Of this number, fifteen
hundred and fifty-eight were whites, and twenty-two hundred and seventy-two were
blacks.

CITY AND COUNTY COMPROMISE.

    Before the levy was made by the Court of Claims, the Mayor of the City of
Henderson, Martin S. Hancock, appeared before the court according to law, and
satisfied that body, that the city was amply able to care for her own streets
and paupers, whereupon, an order was entered of record, releasing the city from
the county levy of one dollar and fifty cents, deducting from the list of
tithables reported, two hundred and ninety-four whites, and two hundred and
twenty-six blacks, the estimated number living within the city limits.

    From this, it will be seen, that the assessed tithable population of the
City of Henderson, in 1855, was five hundred and twenty.

    On the third day of February, the river was closed by ice, and remained
closed for eleven days.

    Political excitement ran high this year, and was intensified by the terrible
riot, on August 6, in the city of Louisville, commonly known as "Bloody Monday."

1856.

    Three thousand two hundred and thirty tithables were reported this year, and
the county levy fixed at one dollar.

    On the fifteenth day of February, an act was approved, apportioning the
State into thirteen Judicial Districts. HENDERSON, with Hopkins, Caldwell,
Trigg, Christian, Todd and Muhlenburg, composed the Second District.

    On the twenty-seventh day of February, the closure of the Ohio River by ice,
for the surprising period of fifty-three days, ceased, and the river broke up.

    Paraffine oil, of great illuminating power, extracted from the cannel coal
found near Cloveiport, Breckenridge County, was first introduced this year, and
aided, as it was, by the ingenious lamp, soon superseded the old tallow candle.

    March 10, an act was approved, directing the Quarterly Courts of Henderson
County to be held on the first Monday in January, April, July and October.

MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY.

    On the same day, an act was approved, incorporating the Kentucky and
Henderson Mutual Insurance Company, John G. Holloway, P. H. Hillyer, George M.
Priest, Joel Lambert, A. J. Anderson, Peter Semonin, M. S. Hancock and Samuel P.
Spalding, incorporators, for the purpose of insuring their respective dwelling
houses, stores, shops, other buildings and household furniture, against loss by
fire. The company was authorized to insure similar property in other parts of
the State. So far as has been ascertained, this company was organized, but never
carried the object of the charter of incorporation into effect.

    During this year steamboats ran only two months, owing to extreme low water
and ice.

    January 31, the river closed by ice, and remained closed until February 28,
when the first steamboat passed down.

    Governor L. W. Powell was elected President of the Henderson & Nashville
Railroad. This was a year of

"ASTRONOMICAL WONDERS."

    There was a total eclipse of the sun, April 5, and an annual eclipse,
September 28. On the twenty-eighth of April and thirteenth of October, there was
a partial eclipse of the moon.

    April 5, the Henderson, Hopkins & Union Agricultural and Mechanical
Association, having organized a few weeks before, purchased of Nestler & Beverly
the beautiful grounds yet owned by the

"HENDERSON FAIR COMPANY."

    At this time A. B. Barrett was President, and Cuthbert Powell, Secretary.

    On the twenty-seventh day of July, a new church at Pleasant Hill, on the
Madisonville Road, eight or nine miles from the city, was dedicated.

    October 21, the first Fair was held. The amphitheater was only half
completed, but the display and attendance was truly gratifying to the directory.
    The crop of this year was the best, perhaps, ever known in the county. There
was more wheat sown and corn planted, and a larger yield than looked for. The
Mt. Vernon, Indiana, "Advocate," speaking of this crop, said:

    " We observe that some of our cotemporaries are boasting of the height of
corn in their respective localities. There is a field of some one hundred acres
lying in Henderson County, just opposite this place, that we will pit against
any in the country of a similar extent. It contains many stalks over sixteen
feet in height, and the general average in the entire field is from fourteen to
fifteen feet."

                       1857. Three thousand five hundred and sixty-seven
tithables were reported this year, and the county levy fixed at one dollar. A
disease, called the "farcy," was quite prevalent among the horses and mules this
year, and many of them died. Money matters were tight, yet the annual exhibition
of the " Kentucky

STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY,"

Held on the grounds of the Henderson Fair Company, commencing October 13, was
largely attended and proved a brilliant success. The "Reporter" of the
twenty-second, said:

    "The Fair was attended by a large number of people hailing from all parts of
Kentucky, and even from neighboring and distant States. Everything in the power
of the managers and citizens generally, was done to render the stay of the
immense crowd in the city and at the Fair Grounds, comfortable and pleasant.

    "At the grounds the display was fine in every department, and from the first
day to the last, nothing of importance occurred to mar the good will among
competitors and the people. The display in the implement hall was very fine The
floral hall, for which the ladies deserve all the credit, was not only pleasant
to the eye, but astonishing to the mind."

    Governor Powell delivered a well prepared address. After a full settlement
of all indebtedness, the State Board had to their credit, in cash, two thousand
four hundred and eighty-eight dollars and eighty cents.

    On the twenty-fourth day of September, the great editor and poet, George D.
Prentice, delivered his lecture to an immense audience, at the Presbyterian Church.

    The river closed again on January 19, and overflowed its banks in the fall.

1858.

    Three thousand six hundred and thirty-eight tithables were reported this
year, and the county levy fixed at one dollar and fifty cents.

    This was a year of Fridays. The year began and ended on Friday; January and
October began and ended on Friday; April and December ended on Friday, and there
were fifty-three Fridays in the year.

    The month of January was an unheard of wet month; corn in river pens
suffered almost total ruin, in many cases the cob wholly, and the grain
partially rotting, rendering the grain unfit for the commonest uses. Too much
heat and water rendered this year more unseasonable than any since 1834:

    January 18, a Henderson letter appeared in the Louisville Courier, from
which the following is taken.

    "Our city is rapidly gaining accessions to its population. Houses, both for
dwelling and business, are scarce, not enough to supply the demand. In view of
this fact, several of our capitalists have projected, and will build quite a
number of stores and residences next spring and summer. Land is high, and the
tendency is to still higher prices; fifty dollars per acre is asked for land
lying three, five, and even eight miles from the city. The fact that a large
amount of the Henderson & Nashville Railroad bonds were recently sold in the
city of New York for cash, caused a happy feeling here, and will tend to keep up
the present high price of land."

    The railroad excitement, as is well known, did more than inspire the
tenacious land-holder with renewed hope, it ruined the prospects of the town, in
the opinion of non-residents. A large majority of the land owners were rejoiced
at the increase in the price of their territory per acre, but determined not to
risk one cent in the building of the road, therefore Henderson stood still for
many years. The great comet, Charles V, was visible in this county during the
fall of this year.

    September 30, the first daily mail Henderson had enjoyed, was established,
an overland route to and from Evansville.

    In the early fall of this year, Nathaniel D. Terry cabled the Ohio at
Evansville, and established and operated the Old Telegraph line successfully.
Prior to that time the wire had crossed on high poles, above Evansville, but was
so interfered with by steamboat chimneys, during high water, that the plan was
abandoned, and the line sold.

    October 14, the temperance prodigy, Josephus Cheaney, a native of Henderson,
and yet very young, lectured in Henderson. This natural orator, by no means
handsome or beautiful, traveled in Europe and over the greater part of the
United States, laboring from the rostrum, in the good cause of temperance, and
yet, it was said, in his young days, that he possessed a keen relish for liquor
straight, and could track a mint julep across the river.

    Prior to the fall of this year, fashion had induced all of the gentle sex to
deform themselves in matter of dress. Hoops were fashionable, and the more
enormous the hoops, the more fashionable the wearer. The nearer the model of a
five gallon demijohn a lady could approach, the nearer she succeeded in reaching
the climax of disfigurement and the demands of fashion.

    In those days there was but one hack in Henderson County, so in times of
parties and swell occasions, young men, who doubted the policy of having their
sweethearts foot it, frequently called into requisition the family buggy.
Although such a vehicle, in these days, would be amply convenient for three
persons, yet, in 1858, when the lady of hoops had seated herself, there was
really no room for the gentleman, and he was therefore compelled to submit to
circumscribed space, ride the horse, or else content himself with the footman's
seat behind. A full dress lady of 1858, seated in one of the Delker Phaeton
Company's modern make of buggies, would be a sight sufficient to frighten a
whole army of timid men. It was a horrid fashion, and thank heavens the French
connosseurs, in the fall of that year, gave to the female world a dress more
modest and becoming. Since that time, with the exception of what is called
trails, female dress has been confined within the bounds of good taste. About
that time, the gentlemen wore large-legged pants, so large, that, I venture, if
a pair of them were suddenly to make their appearance on the streets, the wearer
would be followed by the boys, as though he were a curiosity indeed.

    In February, an act of the Legislature was approved, extending the term of
the Henderson Circuit Court, from twenty-four to thirty-six judicial days.

1859.

    Three thousand seven hundred and seventy-three tithables were reported this
year, and the county levy fixed at one dollar and fifty cents.

    At the August County Court, Judge Grant Green on the bench, Isham
Cottingham, William E. Bennett, Y. E. Allison, Harbert A. Powell, Hugh Moss,
William S. Hicks, and E. T. Hazlewood, justices, answered to their names. Col.
John W. Crockett, representing the Mayor and Council of the City of Henderson,
moved the court to surrender up to the city a certain lot of ground, which was
then under fence, and unlawfully claimed by the county, whereupon the following
order was entered:

    "It is ordered that the Jailer of Henderson County surrender up to the City
of Henderson, all that ground now enclosed as a public square, not embraced in
the deed from Samuel Hopkins for Richard Henderson & Company, dated April I,
1800, to the county. Book A, page 135, the true boundary to be ascertained by D.
N. Walden, and he is directed to return a plat of said survey to this court for
record, and to plant stones at the corners."

    The city agreed to build a good fence, as also to pay for a fill made by
James Manion, to be measured and ascertained by Walden. At the October Court
Walden reported the fill worth one hundred and twenty-six dollars and fifty-five
cents, which the court accepted.

    W. E. Lambert, a member of the Common Council, then on behalf of the city,
presented two accounts against the county, amounting to nine hundred and
thirty-two dollars, for grading, paving, and graveling in front and opposite the
Court House lot, these accounts the court rejected, and refused to levy for
their payment. This imagined bad faith on the part of the city, in asking no
more than she was justly entitled to, incensed the high Court of Justices, and
the next day the following order, in substance, was adopted:

    "Ordered, that the order accepting the report of D. N. Walden be set aside,
and that the order surrendering a part of the Public Square to the city, be
rescinded, and the Jailer directed to hold on to every inch of ground inclosed
around Court House Square, from Main to Elm Streets, and he is authorized to
employ counsel, and take all lawful steps and means to retain and defend the
possession of every part of said inclosed ground."

    To this sweeping order, Colonel Crockett, on behalf of the city, objected,
but this objection was fruitless. This, then of course, was the beginning of a
great law suit, which the city gained. The lot of ground in dispute is now owned
and controlled by the city, and is the lot upon which the market house and City
Hall stands-a full description of the title to this ground will be found in the
history of Henderson.

    In August, 1859, Professors Mariow, Tremelier and Artis, advertised their
Female Academy. Political excitement this year, as for many years anterior, ran
.high. Samuel O. Peyton, Democrat, defeated General James Jackson, opposition;
as an evidence of the great excitement the newspapers published at that time,
the Reporter and Commercial, paid no attention whatever to local news matter. It
is a fact that they denied space to important news, for the purpose of
publishing long-winded political editorials, personal compliments, and scathing
articles against the opposing candidates. This was the year of the great can
vass between Josh Bell and Beriah Magoffin. Magoffin was elected, but Henderson
voted for Bell.

    On the thirty-first day of August, Colonel William S. Elam was shot and
seriously wounded by one Lewis Leonard. At the trial of Leonard, Colonel Elam,
who was a witness, was severely cross-examined by Hal. Barbour, a brilliant
young lawyer and nephew, by marriage, of F. H. Dallam, a leading lawyer at this
bar. Barbour was visiting Henderson at the time, and volunteered to defend
Leonard. In his argument to the jury, Barbour applied the lash to Elam most
unmercifully, and from this it was well known that a personal rencounter would
ensue. Both parties were immediately placed under bond by the Judge, but this
was not enough to soothe the now outraged honor of Elam. It was said that a
challenge passed, and was accepted, that the time and place was agreed upon,
that both parties were determined, but through the interference of Governor
Dixon, Messrs Dallam, Hughes, Cissell and others, a better understanding was
arrived at, and finally peace declared. Hon. Grant Green, having been elected at
the August election, Auditor of Public accounts, resigned his office of County
Judge, and after a hotly contested election, Luke W. Trafton was elected to fill
out his unexpired term.

    On the eighth day of October, the celebrated Paragon Morgan, by long odds
the handsomest horse ever owned in the county, died from overheat in driving him
from Morganfield to Henderson. The Postmaster at Smith's mills, having failed
for three successive quarters, to make his quarterly report to the Post Office
Department at Washington, the office was discontinued until December, when it
was again re-established. On the twenty-eighth day of October, James Tillotson,
a great local politician, and noted county man, and for whom one of the
precincts of the county was called, and yet bears his name, died. The
Spottsville Postmaster resigned his office and recommended a discontinuance of
the same.


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/chapterx327gms.txt

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