Henderson County KyArchives History - Books .....Chapter XXII Colonel Glenn And His Colored Troops 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 24, 2007, 4:19 pm Book Title: History Of Henderson County, KY CHAPTER XXII. COLONEL GLENN AND HIS COLORED TROOPS -A DANCE AND DISGRACEFUL PROCEDURE- HAM G. WILLIAMS ARRESTED-RESULTS OF THE WAR AT ITS CLOSE-1865. SATURDAY, January 15, Captain Sam Allen, of the Kentucky State troops, encountered a squad of Major Walker Taylor's men a few miles from the city, killing two of the Piper boys and capturing another soldier by the name of Brown. Colonel Glenn, who was recruiting colored troops in the country, accompanied a Louisville police detective to the residence of Mr. Samuel Williams, three miles out in the country, where they arrested Ham G. Williams. This arrest comes among the interesting incidents in life. The Louisville detective had for a long time been in search of a character who had committed a crime in New York, for which he was wanted. A photograph likeness of him was secured, and with this likeness the detectives set to work to effect his capture. Ham Williams was somewhere seen by one of these secret service men and shadowed until located at his home in this county. It is said the picture was a correct likeness of him, and hence his arrest. The young man was brought to the city and in a short while released, because he had never even visited the State in which the crime was committed. He was amused at his arrest, while the detective was disgusted at the wonderful similarity of faces of men born and reared so many miles apart. A DISGRACEFUL PROCEDURE. On the evening of January 24, the young men of Henderson gave a charming dance in the dining room of the Hancock House. About twelve o'clock, when all who could were engaged in the beautiful turns of the waltz, the roar of musketry and the boom of cannon were heard coming from the direction of Court Hill. Soon after, bullets were whistling over the roof of the hotel, while others penetrated its walls and windows. This so alarmed the dancers that many of them, in fact all who could, congregated on the back porch seeking shelter behind the walls of the house. Some of the more gallant of the men rushed to the front to discover the cause, but soon rushed back to escape the flying bullets. This firing was kept up for ten minutes or more, when it ceased, and then it was told around that guerrillas were in the city, but the truth was, the young men had refused to invite Col. John Glenn and his Captains and Lieutenants, commanding the negro troops, then quartered in the Court House and on the hill. This disgraceful proceeding on the part of the soldiery so enraged the union men of the town, that Col. Glenn's subsequent residence in Henderson was anything but pleasant to him. During the attack on the hotel no one was injured but Glenn, he was shot in the neck, after ten or more attacks upon the bar room, and fell gloriously shouting with his martial cloak around him. It was no uncommon thing during those trying times for a citizen to be awakened in the dead hour of the night by bullets whistling through their windows, breaking glass and tearing plastering in their reckless course. No citizen felt safe either upon the streets after twilight or in his residence. As a general thing, a more unmitigated unscrupulous set of ruffians and uncultured scamps were never known to disgrace a Federal uniform. On the seventh day of February a great number of country gentlemen came to town, some on business and some to hear the news. During the forenoon this same Col. Glenn, under the pretense of driving off a band of guerillas of whom he claimed to have knowledge, ostensibly for the purpose of driving the colored men off of several adjoining farms into his camp, sent out a company of soldiers and pressed every horse to be found in the town. In a very short time afterwards the streets were filled with soldiers galloping here and there on citizens' horses, cursing and threatening at a most furious rate. On the ninth day of February Captain Ollie Steele came to the fair grounds with thirty men, and was pursued by Captain Sam Allen, of the State troops, a few hundred yards below where the greater part of his men laid in ambush waiting for Allen to pass by. Below this place they had built a fence across the road where Allen was forced to halt, then taking him in the rear, they held him at a serious discount, and before he could extricate himself, Steele's men had captured seven of his men, and had the others fleeing in every possible direction. February 28, an act of the Legislature was approved, authorizing the County Court to employ fifty men as a police patrol and guard, for protection against guerrillas and outlaws, and to levy an ad valorum tax for their payment. If this law was complied with the records fail to show it. March 1, a new majesterial and voting precinct was established, to-wit: "That all that part of Henderson County embraced within the following boundary, viz: Beginning at the White Lick on Highland Creek, thence down the said creek to the bridge near Todisman farm, thence on a straight line to the Beaver Dam bridge on the Madisonville and Mt. Vernon Road, thence on a straight line to Mrs Sarah Brooks', including her farm, thence east to the line of the Henderson & Nashville Railroad, thence with the said railroad to the line between Henderson and Webster Counties, and thence to the beginning, be and the same is laid off and constituted a district for the election of Magistrates, and a voting precinct. The voting place to be at Mrs. P. C. Sutton's, and the election to be held May following, for two Magistrates and one Constable." On the second day of March, a portable engine engaged in driving a saw mill upon the farm of Governor Archibald Dixon, two and one-half miles above the city, exploded its boiler, killing Alex. Dorsett and a negro boy, throwing Joseph C. Dixon with great violence some twenty-five yards, scalding his face, and badly scalding and otherwise injuring and wounding Robert A. Alves. March 3, Elder William Steele's residence was entered under the the pretense of looking for Captain O. B. Steele, and robbed of every valuable to be found in it by Captain Partridge, a military incompetent, and a company of negro soldiers of Col. Glenn's regiment. During this month an act was passed by the Legislature and approved by the Governor, incorporating the "Henderson Petroleum, Mining and Manufacturing Company," composed of Richard Stites, William A. Hopkins, Charles F. Hopkins, James B. Lyne and James H. Holloway, with power to open salt and oil wells, and coal, iron and other mineral mines in the counties of Henderson, Webster and Union, and any other parts of the State where they might acquire territory. If this company ever struck oil, they have steadfastly kept that greasy fact a secret. At this time the oil craze had absolutely seized the State, numerous borings were started in Henderson and Union, and so far as is now known a smell was secured once or twice, but never enough oil to grease the spindles of a bicycle. A BRUTAL OUTRAGE. On Sunday afternoon, March 12, one of the most willful and horrible murders ever perpetrated in the State was the shooting of John N. Wathan by a squad of Colonel Glenn's negro troops. A few days prior to the shooting, Martin L. Daley, a loyal citizen of Union County, the home of Wathan, was requested by him to come to Henderson and ascertain if he would be allowed to take the oath and renounce his allegiance to the Confederacy. Mr. Daley visited Henderson, as requested, and called upon Major Shook, Post Commandant, Thomas F. Cheaney, Military Provost Marshal, being confined to his bed at the time. Major Shook gave Mr. Daley a safe passport for Wathan and agreed to meet him on Sunday, the twelfth instant. In accordance with this safe passport, the citizen and soldier came to Henderson the twelfth, accompanied by William H. Wathan, a brother of the soldier, who wished to surrender and take the oath. They called, as agreed, upon Major Shook, who sent an escort with them to the residence of Provost Marshal Cheaney. After hearing the case, Mr. Cheaney administered the oath to Wathan and gave him a printed safe conduct, with his signature attached. This was about four o'clock in the afternoon. The three then returned to the hotel to prepare for their return to Union County. About six o'clock the two Wathans and Daley started, and while riding along the road near the residence of Hon. H. F. Turner, in the lower end of the city, were halted by a squad of Colonel Glenn's negro troops, coming down the road in a sweeping double quick. The three men halted and waited the approach of the troops. Upon coming up they immediately ordered the two Wathans to dismount, which they did. Then they took William Wathan aside to shoot him, when one of the negroes announced that he was not the man. They then stood John N. Wathan in the road, about ten paces off, and notwithstanding he exhibited his safe conduct from the Provost Marshal, at the command of one of the negroes, several shots were fired at him, and strange to say he was unscathed. He then turned and ran in the direction of the river. Daley ran his horse alongside of the doomed man, endeavoring to protect him, while William Wathan ran in the opposite direction. Wathan attempted to mount Daley's horse, but failed, so closely was he pursued by the fiends in Federal uniforms. Finding that he was soon to be overtaken, he ran around Daley's horse toward a fence, but before he could mount it, the devils had surrounded him, when one of them approached and felled him to the ground with the butt of his gun. After falling, a volley was fired into his body, and the poor, unfortunate man lay a mangled, gasping spectacle before his murderers. One of the men then ran up to Daley and fired at his head, but, missing him, broke the stock of his gun on the hip of the horse. Daley escaped and returned to the Hancock House. This villainous procedure, perpetrated on the Sabbath, rekindled the outraged feelings of the populace, and Colonel Glenn and his understrappers were severely criticised. It will be remembered that in a previous part of this chapter, mention has been made of the hanging of a negro, left with the smallpox by Glenn's troops, at the cross-roads, on their return from a raid to Corydon. The negroes who did this foul deed, claimed that they knew Wathan, and that he was one of the men engaged in that hanging, and for that they took revenge. Of this, however, the truth was never known. Colonel Glenn promised to hold a rigid investigation, but this one, like all of his other promises, went by default. The body of young Wathan was brought to the city, where it was neatly coffined and next day taken by his friends to his home in Union County. It was said that his mother (Mrs. Nettie Wathen) became, for a time at least, deranged from grief. The citizens of Henderson had borne under the outrages of the Federal brute, who commanded the negro soldiers, just as long as they could afford, and something had to be done. He was a drunken outlaw, and not the equal of a man of his command. No one respected him, and nothing less than an honest desire to keep the peace, and submit to the authority of the Government, even though it be administered by drunken tyrants, kept them from administering to him the same dose his cowardly soldiers gave to poor Wathan. A short time prior to this last outrage, General Eli H. Murray, a Kentuckian, a most gallant officer and cultured man, had been assigned to the command of this Department, with headquarters at Russellville. The writer, who had been associated with General Murray in the early part of the war, took upon himself the task of writing that distinguished commander a full and detailed account of the course of Glenn and his men, and begging that he make a short visit to Henderson and investigate for himself. In answer to that letter, General Murray reported in person at the writer's house on Sunday morning, March 19. After bathing and changing his dress, he went to the Hancock House, registered his name, and established temporary headquarters in one of the rooms in the frame part of the building. During the day he was visited in the parlor by very many citizens, including Governor Dixon, W. B. Woodruff, Ben Harrison, D. Banks and W. S. Holloway, all of whom had but one and the same story to tell. The General evidenced considerable chagrin towards Glenn and his captains, and was not mealy mouthed in so stating to his visitors. He repaired to his room, donned his uniform, and sent for Glenn to report immediately. The meeting between the two will long be remembered, for the excoriation that Glenn received from his superior was-withering in the extreme. The cowardly poltroon was never so humble, and when disrobed of the paraphernalia of office, he became an object of pity. He stood in one corner of the room trembling in his glossy-legged boots, drawn over his pants, his belt, sash, sword and side arms taken from him, the very picture of guilt and infamy, in durance vile. General Murray's words pierced him through and through, and when told that he would be sent to Louisville a prisoner to be there tried by Court Martial, his wicked heart seemed to sink within him. Nor was Captain Wright, at whose instance poor Wathan had been murdered, treated with any more leniency. Both men were sent away to Louisville, Wright in chains. One, the Colonel, was dismissed from the service, while the other would have been hung had he not made his escape from custody. The regiment was ordered to leave the city and go in camp at the Fair Grounds, and the officers notified what was expected of them. A short time after General Murray's return to Russellville, and at his instance, the whole command was ordered out of Henderson County, to the delight of every citizen, Union or otherwise. On April 7, Captain B. Watson, of Major Shook's Kentucky command, attacked Jake Bennett's guerrillas, said to have outnumbered him three to one, at King's Mills, wounding three horses, one man, and capturing a Lieutenant Hickerson, who, it was said, was with the squad that murdered Mr. Rankin. On the ninth day of April, General Robert E. Lee surrendered his army in Virginia, and then pardons were wanted by the wagon load. A great many Confederates came in voluntarily and surrendered, among the number, Captain O. B. Steele, and many of his men. On Saturday, April 16, the news of the assassination of President Lincoln was received, and thereupon Mayor Banks issued his proclamation, directing all stores to be closed from ten o'clock, for the remainder of the day, and at ten o'clock for all of the bells of the city to be tolled, in respect to the memory of the departed President. Many merchants, although strongly opposed to Mr. Lincoln politically, draped their store fronts in mourning. Colonel William P. Grayson, who had been captured and put under bond of twenty thousand dollars, was re-arrested for an alleged violation of his parole, and suit instituted on his bond. The following Confederate soldiers had come in and reported to Major Shook and Provost Marshal Cheaney, for surrender and parole: George Green, John W. Arnett, John W. Frazier, Edward G. Powell, William Young Watson, John A. Gaines, James M. Lewis, Mitchell D. Denton, John H. French, Orlando F. Walker, John D. Gobin, George H. Rankin, Paul J. Marrs, William Lockett, Jr., J. A. Denton, G. B. Spencer, John R. Dixon, Pressly Pritchett, A. H. Posey, George Gibson, George Robertson, David L. Boswell, Ambrose McBride, Horace McBride, Joseph F. King, John R. Bailey, O. B. Steele, W. P. Grayson, George Robinson, Thomas Pritchett, George Gibson and John Walker. Lieutenant Colonel Tom Campbell, of the Seventeenth Kentucky Cavalry, came to Henderson and established a Horse Pound, in which he soon had every horse of value to be found in Henderson, and its immediate surroundings. Many of these horses were returned free of charge, while some of them were bought back. Some of them were never returned. He organized an Illinois raid, having learned of an established band of horse and mule thieves, whose ramifications extended throughout Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. Through the treachery of one or more of the clan, Colonel Campbell became cognizant of their villainy. A young man, who had been induced to join them, piloted Campbell to their rendezvous, and pointed out members of the organization. Captain Goard and Lieutenant Hampton, passing from Madisonville, through Webster County, shot old man Browning and his two sons. At Shawneetown, Illinois, two more were shot. At Saline, three more were shot. Three Quinns and one Davison, of Webster, were shot. At Mt. Carmel, Illinois, five more were shot. Among these were a son of the Carlisles, of Webster County, and some other relatives and friends. The Carlisles swore vengeance against Campbell and his men, and after the war, as it is well known by many readers, the Carlisles and one Dr. Davison, did murder Lieutenant Hampton opposite Owensboro, and were subsequently captured and sent to the penitentiary for life, but some years afterwards pardoned. During the month of July the notorious Colonel Sam Johnson, with his command of Federals, entered Henderson, and were but a short time in making themselves obnoxious. His first step was to suppress, for a time, the Henderson News, a paper which had done more, perhaps, to suppress the guerrillas than Johnson and all of his men, for, be it it said to his credit, Mr. Harrison, editor of the News, was unflinching in his devotion to good government, and a terror to both sides who departed from that rule. He had no mercy upon guerrilla bands, who plundered and stole, and the only wonder now is that he had not been butchered by some of the very men with whom he was accused, by Johnson, of being in sympathy. The August election coming on, Johnson's next step was to arrest leading Democrats, solely for the purpose of frightening others more timid away from the polls. Hon. John Y. Brown was arrested and placed on parole by this distinguished chieftain, but released immediately after the election. The News, early in August, announced that not over a quarter crop of tobacco would be raised in the county owing to the drouth in May, and excessive wet weather after that time. The price of tobacco ranged then from twelve dollars and fifteen cents to seventeen dollars and fifty cents. August 23, the mustering officer and paymaster of the Kentucky troops arrived in Henderson, for the purpose of paying off and mustering out of service Major Shook and his command. This was the first time this little company of patriots had ever been paid, yet they faithfully performed their duty, and had never, during their long stay in Henderson, given any of the citizens cause to complain of them. The war was over now, and the people of the south had acknowledged the supremacy of the national arms, and expressed their desire to be restored to their original rights, under the laws and constitution of the country. The vanquished "Sons of the Sun" had shown their devotion to the cause which they espoused upon many a weary march, and through all the trials incident to the condition of well and long sustained warfare. They had illustrated their lineage and their genious in the camp, on the march, in battle, and wherever the shiftings and perilous scenes of their brief but diversified career carried them. The boys in blue had done the same, and were now ready to lay aside the sword and gun, and meet their brothers of the South on hospitable ground, drink to the health of a restored union, and forever bury all past differences; but the programme was made out, and the first actor made the grand entree in the person of the before-mentioned Col. Samuel Johnson, a broken down divine of small consequence. He came clad in the unstained and untorn uniform of his country, with a guard of U. S. soldiers armed with pistols and sabers. He made a great speech, in which he left the field of legitimate discussion, to denounce personally, citizens of the county who stood high in public esteem, because they opposed the radical teachings of the party in power. He anathematised the conservative party, and heaped abuse upon its advocates. He ruled the Hon. R. T. Glass off the track for the Legislature, and did many other unwarranted acts before he was called away. A few days before the election, the One-Hundred and Fifty-third Indiana Regiment landed, and with the exception of a small guard, encamped at the Fair Grounds. Hon. John Y. Brown, as before stated, was placed under guard just as he was going to the country to fill an appointment. In the city, officers and soldiers were present at the polls, detectives were busy upon the streets, applying their infamous avocations, cannons were stationed in the streets, and at intervals during the day belched forth their threatening thunder. One piece of artillery was stationed at the corner of the street nearest the voting place, the people unheeding the military demonstrations and the illegal oath which was offered, and which they were obliged to take before depositing their votes, thronged to the polls. The cannon was removed to the other corner of the square, in sight of and commanding the voting place. The people still pressed forward to.vote, every means short of actual violence being employed to paralyze the will of the people. But all was in vain, while hundreds were deterred from voting, from fear of arrest, subsequent annoyence and ill treatment, there were enough brave and determined men in the county to carry the election for the conservatives by over seven hundred majority. Now our scarred and gallant veterans were returned to the walks of private life, our rent and battle-stained flags were given over to a nation's keeping, but our poor old Court House, a towering temple of which we were all proud, was a dilapidated, miserable skeleton of a concern. The exigencies of "Military Necessity" had converted it into a prison for rebels and citizens of the county. Next the colored troops took possession, and at last it became the barracks of the Kentucky volunteer force. It was built for a temple of justice, but its brick walls, once bright red, paled at the scenes of tyranny and injustice which transpired within and around them. Its ceilings and chambers, once almost classical from the associations and memories of former times, had become disfigured and defaced by a rude soldiery. In these chambers had rung the eloquence of John J. Crittenden, Richard Thompson, of Indiana, Humphrey Marshall, Thos. L. Jones, John W. Stevenson, Thos. C. McCreary, Josh Bell, Governors Magoffin, Dixon and Powell, Crockett, Dallam, Turner, Hughes, Cissell, Cook, McHenry, Jackson, Yeaman, Brown, Vance, Glass, Kinney, and other gifted members of the bar, but since the sounds of eloquence had died away in the old temple, its walls had echoed ribald blasphemy, and the billingsgate of reckless men and prostitutes. Wanton destructions had torn and dismantled it, and the protecting fold of the star spangled banner, which had long floated over its rotunda had at last been removed, and lo! the result of the protection,-all of the fencing around the grounds had been destroyed, the shrubbery worse than mutilated, and inside the building, the benches, stairs, window frames, sash, partitions, etc., all demolished, something had to be done. December 18, 1865, an act was passed and approved, authorizing the County Court to levy and collect ten cents additional upon the one hundred dollars for building and repairing the Court House, and paying the indebtedness of the county. In due time the dilapidated old building was again made as good as new. At a meeting of the citizens of Henderson County, held in the city on December 29, to consider the subject of labor, John G. Holloway was appointed Chairman, and George M. Priest, Secretary. The following resolutions were reported by John H. Barrett, Isom Johnson, James D. Hatchitt, F. Cunningham and S. J. Alves, and endorsed by the meeting: "WHEREAS, The subject of labor is one of vital importance to the people of our community, now, in order that our views on this question may be rightly understood, we state without fear of contradiction, that for the last year, labor has commanded higher prices here than in any part of the United States. This meeting is not intended to do the laborer any injustice, for we are willing to pay full compensation for all that is done for us, but prices heretofore paid being most unreasonable, we feel that it would be to our interest to do without labor, rather than pay most exhorbant rates for it. Such farmers and tobacconists as have paid the past high prices, have been losers thereby. The wages should be fair and reasonable between the contracting parties, and uniform throughout the community. Resolved, That we are willing to pay prices equal to the highest rates paid anywhere where the same kind of labor is used, and for the same purpose, and while we do not propose to establish prices, nor bind any person by our action, to conform to our views upon the subject, yet at the present prices of the products of the farm, and with the certainty of still lower prices, we are of opinion that one hundred and seventy-five dollars per annum for men, and seventy-five dollars per annum for women, (without incumbrance), for year round work, and proportional prices for boys and girls for farm labor, and corresponding prices for other kinds of labor, is as much as we can afford to pay, the hirer to furnish good, wholesome provisions, fuel and quarters, and the laborer to pay for necessary medical attention, furnish his own clothing, and deduct for loss of time. And we pledge ourselves to a faithful and honest compliance with any agreement we may make with the laborer, and we will duly respect and protect his interests and rights while in our employ." 1866. Much of the history of the war omitted in the preceeding pages will be found in the sketch of General Adam R. Johnson, Captain Ollie B. Steele, and Colonel James H. Holloway, while under the head of "Sketches and Recollections" several incidents, both painful and interesting, will be found. THE WAR OVER. This year dawned upon a peaceful country, and a people determined, by honesty, industry and frugality, to regain their pecuniary losses. The war had scourged them, indeed it had robbed many men of their means of subsistence. They had borne patiently with thieves and scoundrels and foraging parties of both armies, and thanked God that their lives had been spared. Society had greatly changed; a great deal of that old-fashioned hospitality, for which Kentuckians had been so proverbial, had now to give way to hard business, hard work and scrutinizing economy. Old-time friends had become estranged during the wicked strife, a love for money had taken the place of unrestrained sociability, a Northern idea of living possessed the greater part of the people. Slaves were now as free as the winds, and homes which were once presided over by the mistress, with her half-dozen servants to answer every call, now presented altogether a different scene, for the immediate members of the family were compelled to do that which a few years before, they had ordered done. People learned to live hard and close, and after many years of this great change of life, it is safe to say Henderson County is in a better condition to-day than ever before. It is due to the colored people to say that, under the circumstances attending the radical change from slavery to freedom, the great change of becoming their own masters, and toiling for their own support, in place of having the cares of life to devolve upon masters, their behavior surprised their most sanguine friends, who had viewed the situation with anxious solicitude. They came into this new life as though they had been drilled and tutored for months; they accepted the situation with a becoming grace, and while some few were disposed to behave unruly, the great majority behaved like men of sense and character, settling down to the realities of life, and going to work to build up themselves and growing families January 25, a branch of the Freedman's Bureau had been established in Henderson, and Thomas F. Cheaney appointed Superintendent. This institution was a sort of. a stand between the colored man and his employer. Contracts were made for labor, and one of the duties of the Superintendent was to see justice done both parties. Organized at the time it was, and honestly and judiciously managed as it was in Henderson, the system was more of a blessing than otherwise. Worthless colored people were controlled, and vagrant negroes forced to seek and obtain employment. EXPLOSION OF THE MISSOURI. On the thirtieth day of January, the magnificent steamboat "Missouri," while racing with the "Silver Moon," blew up in the county a few miles above Evansville and when near the mouth of Green River, completely demolishing the frame work of the boat, and killing many of her passengers and crew. This accident happened about ten or eleven o'clock at night, and during most of the day following, pieces of the wreck were seen floating by the wharf. A large sheet of one of the boilers was blown several hundred yards into the woods on the Henderson County side. An act was passed directing the Circuit Court to be held on the first Mondays in March and September, and to continue for thirty days each. February 12, Col. John W. Crockett was arrested and taken to Louisville, on the charge of treason, but was soon released. March 15, an organized band of robbers appeared in the county and raided several farms for the purpose of robbing returned colored soldiers. They were successful in several instances, but were finally driven out by officers of the law. June 7, the Henderson and Union Petroleum Company struck oil at their well on the head waters of Highland Creek, at a depth of four hundred and fifty feet, but from the best information to be had the unloosed gas rushed out with such force, it blew all of the oil out of the well, and the company collapsed. September 20, Elder William Steele reported having joined in marriage, within the last twenty years, three hundred and thirty couples, ten of this number married at his office, five at his residence, and two on the bank of the Ohio, standing under an umbrella. In three instances he married the same party twice. He married four couples in one day. His fees ran from thanky to twenty dollars, and in one case he married a gentleman said to be worth eight or ten thousand dollars, who declined paying him anything, because, he said "Sall is sickly, and I can't afford it." The Elder also reported that one-fourth of the number were dead at that time. September 20, "Neptune" was on a bender, to the serious detriment of the river bottom farmers. The river was out of its banks, and tobacco and corn in the low lands were greatly damaged, in many instances totally destroyed. The Fair Company having been re-organized, the first fair for many years was held, commencing Tuesday, October 2. Necessary preparations for this fair were rapidly made, and under many disadvantages, yet the success which attended the meeting was very gratifying to the new company. On the thirteenth, Saturday morning, eight prisoners broke the jail and effected their escape. Two escapades had been effected prior to this time, notwithstanding the jail was a new one. 1867. The proposition to build the Henderson & Nashville Railroad, which had agitated the people along its line for many years prior to the war, was again revived. Under the old management an agent of the company had proved unfaithful to the trust imposed in him, in this: He was sent to Europe for the purpose of negotiating a loan by the use of many thousands of the company's bonds. About the time he arrived in Europe the war between Russia and Turkey broke out, and a short time afterwards the terrible storming of Sebastopol occurred. This agent viewed the situation, and seeing, as he thought, a great harvest of profit to be reaped from an investment in Irish potatoes, onions, etc., purchased him a ship, and then the potatoes and onions, and started for the Crimea. It has never been known whether he adopted this plan for the purpose of placing the bonds for the benefit of the company, or whether he intended pocketing for himself the principal and profits of his huge speculation. His ship went out upon the high seas and rode the waves in majestic splendor, but a landing place for his fresh provisions could not be found. After so long a time rocking and rolling with the waves, a loud aroma came up from the hull of the vessel, when it was discovered that his cargo had decayed and become worthless. The bonds were gone for a mere song, and the potatoes and onions for nothing. These bonds were held by English capitalists, and were good against the road. It was necessary that something should be done to recover them either by compromise or purchase. So, in 1866, General Jerry T. Boyle, representing a syndicate, sailed for Europe, and succeeded in securing enough of the "potato and onion" bonds to give those whom he represented a controlling influence. Returning to the United States with his bonds, suit was immediately instituted in the Christian County Circuit Court, by E. G. Sebree and others, against the Henderson & Nashville Railroad Company, to foreclose the mortgage and to subject the road and its franchises to sale. At the January term, 1867, a decree directing the sale of the road to take place on the twenty-third day of February, 1867, in the city of Hopkinsville, was rendered by the Chancellor. In accordance with this decree, Hon. John Feeland, Special Commissioner, advertised the sale, and on the day appointed a large number of interested parties assembled at Hopkinsville. H. B. Hanson, of New York, became the purchaser of the road at and for the small sum of twenty thousand dollars. Hanson that day, or a few days afterwards, for a consideration, transferred his purchase to a company of gentlemen, no doubt organized at the time of sale. An act was then secured incorporating the Evansville, Henderson & Nashville Railroad Company, and the purchase transferred to that company. General Jerry T. Boyle was elected President. Jerry T, Boyle, John P. Campbell, E. G. Sebree, George M. Priest, and Dabney O. Day, Directors. The new company set to work to build the road in the stereotyped way, soliciting donations and subscriptions of stock. Henderson became wild over the outlook. Many of her people were willing to tax themselves beyond redemption, for the privilege of listening to the toot of one whistle, or the lattle of one set of car trucks. "A railroad, my kingdom for a railroad," was the cry. An act was passed by the Legislature authorizing counties, cities and towns along the line of this road to tax themselves by petitions, signed. Petitions were circulated in Henderson, and the necessary majority soon secured. General Boyle was in a great hurry, and so were the people; but the City Council chose to go slow. Difficulties existing between the company and the city were adjusted, and soon thereafter one hundred thousand dollars of eight per cent. bonds, and two hundred thousand dollars of seven per cent, bonds were directed to be printed, signed and delivered to the custodian appointed by the city, as Henderson's "donation" to the building of this great enterprise. As an inducement, or bait, Henderson was to get, for her three hundred thousand dollars in bonds, three hundred and sixty thousand dollars in common stock, and, as a greater inducement, the taxpayer was to receive twenty per cent, additional on the face of his tax receipts in stock. After hard work the bonds were placed at a price making them equal to a ten per cent, security, and very soon thereafter, the money all spent and more wanted. Henderson County was approached and enticing bait offered, but the magisterial fish refused to bite. It was evident that something had to be done. There was no money to pay interest on the bonds of the company for which the road had been mortgaged, and finally, after triggering around, a company called the American "Contract Company," organized under the laws of the State of Pensylvania, came along and took a lease for a certain number of years, and, in the course of time, completed the road. March, 1869, the iron was laid to Madisonville, and one consignment to a Henderson merchant was twelve hundred dozen eggs. May 20, a grand barbecue and festival was given by the city and citizens to the people along the line, at the Fair Grounds, in honor of the completion of the road to Madisonville. Several years after the completion of the road, by a majority vote of the stockholders, at a meeting held in Hopkinsville, a consolidation was effected with the St. Louis & Southeastern Road, running from Evansville to St. Louis. The line was then known as the St. Louis & Southeastern, consolidated. Several years ago the St. Louis & Southeastern consolidated became, by purchase, the property of the Louisville, Nashville & Great Southern, and, since that time, has been known as the Henderson & Nashville Division of that corporation. This division has increased its business under the new management, until now it is known and regarded as one of the most important roads in the country. January 29, an act of the Legislature was passed creating John Funk, George M. Priest, W. C. Howard, William M. Lockett; John S. McCormick, John Rudy, John N. Lyle and H. F. Turner, a body corporate under the name and style of the Henderson Fair Company. February 5, an act was passed and approved, establishing in this Judicial District a Court of Justice, to be known as the Court of Common Pleas, to hold annual sessions in January and July, of eighteen judicial days each. In August, Caswell D. Bennett, of Smithland, Livingston County, was elected Judge Common Pleas, and held the first court the following January. During the early part of February the citizens of Henderson were furnished coal, in small installments, as a great favor, for the moderate sum of fifty cents per bushel. A bill to re-apportion the State into Senatorial Districts was reported in the Legislature and passed. The Fifth District under the act was composed of the counties of Henderson, Union and Webster. February 27, an act was passed making the provision of the mechanics' lien law, passed February 17, 1856, apply to Henderson County. On the same day an act was passed authorizing the County Court of Henderson County to levy an ad valorem tax of twenty cents on the one hundred dollars, and a capitation tax of two dollars, and also to borrow the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars for the purpose of repairing and rebuilding the public buildings, made untenable by the ravages of the war. This act repealed the act of December, 1865. The Ohio River at this time only lacked a few inches of being as high as it was in 1848. The News of February 26 said of the high water: "The classic village of Shawneetown is totally submerged, Uniontown is metamorphosed into a miniature Venice, and two peeping spires mark the spot where Caseyville ought to be." March 9, an act was passed authorizing the County Court to elect a General Superintendent of the Roads, "who shall hold his office for the term of two years." March 14, a daily river mail between Louisville and Henderson was established. During this year a Board of Southern Relief was established, and through their instrumentality, great quantities of supplies were sent South. Taxable property this year for the county, $6,740,162; white males over twenty-one years of age, 2,201; children between six and twenty years of age, 2,988; pounds of tobacco raised in 1866, 6,067,180; tons of hay, 10,583; bushels corn, 591,980; bushels wheat, 17,600. August 1, the steamboat "Cora S" sunk at the bar below the city. Her cargo was brought to the city. September 23, a new submarine cable was laid across the Ohio by the Henderson & Evansville Telegraph Company, Jacob Held President and Superintendent; E. L. Starling, Secretary. Every dollar of the stock of this company was owned in Henderson. The annual fair this year was quite a success, and in recognition of President John Funk's services, he was presented at its close with a handsome silver service by the directors. Hon. John Young Brown delivered the presentation address. On the twenty-first day of November the Owensboro & Henderson Telegraph Company was completed, and a few weeks thereafter was consolidated with the Henderson and Evansville line. November 27, Rev. W. G. Allen, a noted Presbyterian divine, and former pastor of the Henderson Church, was killed at Morganfield, by his horse falling upon him. November 31, Engineer F. H. Crosby ascertained by actual measurement, the difference between the high and low water mark to be forty-three feet. The assessment for U. S. Internal Revenue this year was $8, 745.36. 1868. February 5, an act was passed and approved, authorizing William McClain's great land sale by lottery. The Commissioners created under the act were David Banks, Grant Green, William S. Holloway, E. L. Starling, William S. Elam and Robert T. Glass. February 5, an act was passed, dividing the State into four Appelate Districts, under this act Henderson became a part of the Fourth District. March 6, the State was divided into sixteen judicial districts. Under this appointment Henderson, Livingston, Union, Webster, and McLean formed the Third District. March 6, A. H. Major, John H. Stanley, Harbison Butler, Francis E. Walker, William McClain, George Atkinson, Archibald Dixon, John K. Smith, Hugh Tate, A. B. Barrett and Andrew Circles, were incorporated under the name and style of the "Horse Shoe Bend Fence Company." March 9, an act was passed changing the term of the Common Pleas Court, directing them to be held in June and December of each year, twenty-four, in place of eighteen days each. At the same session the time of holding the Circuit Courts was changed to March and November, and thirty days allotted to each term. At the same term fifteen hundred dollars was appropriated for the purpose of erecting a monument over the grave of the lamented Governor L. W. Powell, the amount to be expended by his excellency, Governor John W. Stevenson. On the same day an act was passed incorporating the "Henderson Running Park Association," and authorizing subscription books to be opened by Jackson McClain, William M. Lockett, James Alves, G. L. Compton, S. K. Sneed, N. C. Howard and Samuel W. Rankin. On the same day an act was passed incorporating the Green and Barren River Navigation Company. By the terms of this act, those great commercial thoroughfares were given to that company for a mere song, and from six months after that day to this, the shippers and people along the two rivers have found just cause to complain. 1869. March 9, an act was passed authorizing the County Court to appoint additional processioners, not exceeding two in each voting precinct of the county. March 15, an act was passed incorporating the Henderson & Hartford Railroad Company, and granting George M. Priest, Robert G. Beverley and R. T. Glass, of Henderson, together with others along the proposed line, all the power and authority incident to such corporations. 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/chapterx330gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/kyfiles/