Daviess County, Kentucky - Chapter 3: Life and Times of Robert Triplett, 1883

Chapter 3: Life and Times of Robert Triplett

The substance of this chapter is extracted from a remarkably interesting and valuable work entitled "fioland Trevor," which is in fact an autobiography of Mr. Triplett; and rs it gives so much early history pertaining to this region of Kentucky, we feel justified in publishing the following extracts in this connection. The first several paragraphs we quote entire, as they embody the maxims of his life, and seem to be as valuable as the noted sayings of "PoorEichard."

"The life of every man contains a lesson to his successor which may be of value if properly written out. It is a chart, showing where the shoals and breakers lie which prodxice failures in his enterprises as well as where the deep and smooth waters are found in the sea of prosperity. There are few who have arrived at the age of fifty and have been prosperous, who could not be more so if they had their lives to pass over again, and quite as few who, having been unfortunate, cannot look back and see the causes to which they owe their misfortunes. A father, then, who has the time, should fiirnish his son with this chart while his mind is yet in that pliant condition which adapts it to receive the lessons of experience; before a dogmatic self-will has impressed him with an idea of his own smartness which makes him deaf to the instruction of others.

" The most important lesson which my experience has taught me is the conviction that the human mind is progressive in all its stages, and that upon no subject has it ever filled the measure of knowledge to be obtained therein. The conceited, therefore, wlio turn from instruction under a belief that they have nothing more to learn upon any subject, only show the shallowness of their understandings. The mind very quickly determines from Ixearing a lecturer whether there is a probability of adding anything to the store of knowledge already possessed on any given subject, and if not, it would be waste of time to listen to him; but one should not, therefore, cease to make inquiries through more intelligent sources.

tain sects have formed their opinions and will hear nothing to shake them. How is it possible that the mind can learn if the book of knowledge is closed ? When I observe a man listening with respect to opinions not in accordance with his own as if he gave due weight to them and wished to ascertain what merit they were entitled to, and what he can gather from them to improve his own stock of knowledge, I consider that he has a well-balanced mind ; one possessed of natural strength, and capable of gathering strength as it goes. There are, indeed, very few minds of this character that are not of the first order. If, after having heard all that is to be said, although dissenting in opinion, a man gives full weight to all the arguments that deserve it, setting them forth in their strongest light, and even adding others in support of the views which have been given as suggested by those of the speaker, but still, in a decorous manner, showing why they fail to convince him, I naturally lean to that man. I am satisfied there is no prejudice about him; that he is in search of light, of truth, of justice, - in a word, a well-bred gentleman; for, whether he come from the cottage or the palace, he is one of nature's noblemen. If schools and parental teaching have not made him a gentleman, nature has. The opinions of such a man are always listened to with respect. They always have great weight, and the author will hold friends wherever he goes; such a man will make proselytes. But, on the contrary, if a man listen with an apparent anxiety to detect you in a false position, in a slip of language, showing that his object is victory in argument and not to elicit truth, refusing to admit selfevident facts or reasonable influences, requiring proof of what a candid mind ought to admit, indeed, leaving an impression on his adversary that he is not inclined to deal fairly, - that man may exhibit his ingenuity, his tact, hrs skill in argument, but he leaves an impression on his adversary of a very unenviable kind, that he is lacking in candor, frankness, honesty, nobleness. There are many grades of all these qualities, and if I had to select a man to transact my business on account of his honesty, and one should be recommended as standing unexceptionably witli the world, who suited me in all other qualifications, if I were to hear him offer unfair arguments I would not employ him, because the honest heart can do notiiing unfair. He wlio will make up an unfair account in argument will do it in dollars and cents whenever a sufficient temptation ofi'ers.

'' Once in conversation with a distinguished politician who aimed to be a leader, I admitted that on a certain point a political oppo- Digitized by Microsoft® nent was right (he and I agreed in politics) ; ' Oh, no, no,' said he, 'you are wrong.' Even-tnallj, however, I satisfied him that I thought I was right, if I failed to convince him. Not being able to convince me, he took me by the hand and said, 'You are a young politician, and some hints may be of service to you. Allow me to suggest that we never ought to concede that our opponents are right when they differ from the received doctrines of our party.' ' Wiiy, sir,' said I, ' that would be a monstrous principle to adrait. Each party then would maintain its gromd from the mere love of opposition. Every member of each would have his opinions molded for him by his leaders; he would be a mere machine, and not an intelligent being. I shall never subscribe to such opinions, sir, and hope our party will not.' From that moment I lost all respect for this man, and he finally forfeited the respect of his party. There is a set of hardened political jockeys who laugh at the idea of political honesty, and view any man's pretention to it as evidence of greenness and simplicity. But for my part I cannot conceive that a man can be morally honest and politically dishonest. If a mau is honest at all, the principle prevails with him throughout. It will not travel with him through morality, and then leave him in politics or religion.

"Honest}' consists in never acting unfairly, whether in trade, politics or religion. Many an honest man has gone to jail for debt fairly contracted, but which unexpected events made it impossible for him to pay; ma"ny a politician has greatly injured his country by misguided opinions fairly entertained; and man}' an honest man has incurred public odium from professing religious opinions which he sincerely believed.

"The mind of the young should be honest; that is, open to light and willing to hear the truth and admit it. Every truth stored in the mind is future mental capital; and as it is said money begets money, growing and compounding in its growth in proportion to its aggregation, so do truths. Every addition to the mass of correct thinking streng*^' ens the mind and adds to its power of collecting new truths, which finally constitute a mind so strong and clear that it has no false view of anything. On the contrary, the man who aims only at controversial victory, and seeks only weapons, fair or unfair, to attain success, accepting the fair and unfair arguments of others wherever they can be found to answer his purpose, ceases from that time to strengthen his mind by accumulating truths; and such a man must always occupy a second-

"The young mind should learn to be cha)'itai3le, and slow to condemn an opponent for dift'ereiice of opinion, or for crime where there is lack of proof. This world is awfully uncharitable, and prone to condemn on the first accusation without investigating the justice of the charges. Hence, mischief-makers in society so often succeed in estranging friends from each other by starting reports in which there is no just foundation. The young heart, while it should not be so credulous as to be imposed upon, should be predisposed to a good opinion of human nature, otherwise its own good feelings will be corroded and hardened. While we allow that there is enough of baseness in the world to put us on our guard and give us reasonable caution, we should also allow that there are virtue and merit enough to open and warm our hearts. Happiness depends much on the sympathy of virtuous hearts. To allow that there is but little virtue in the world would be to leave the virtuous heart desolate indeed. Such is not the fact. There is much to authorize us in giving our confidence and affection, observing a reasonable prudence in doing so. In carrying out this idea I do not mean to say that a man must lend his money or his name foolishly to others. No friend would ask it beyond your ability conveniently to spare it. To that extent a man may be justifiable, but certainly not further. An acquaintance will sometimes present himself with a note or bond, and say: ' I wish you to indorse this for me; it is a mere nominal thing; you will never hear of it again.' The nature of trade renders mutual aid sometimes necessary, and all who need it should, if practicable, make arrangements for reciprocal accommodations, securing each other for doing so.

'< There are, however, friends who, under certain circumstances, are entitled to oui aid, when it would be ungenerous to refuse it; and vvhert- v/e can see that, without dishonesty, we are not very likely to lose we should give it. We are all sometimes so circum- Htance.^ u,T to lendc'i- Euc-h aid necosKary, and even at the hazard of li)-iii];;^ vvu oii'jjit to give it. n^ft never carry this friendship so far thht, is y m HTve to pay 'aV. it will injure you. Many men keep no account of thoir indorsements, and are finally mined when they were not aware that they were liable as sennrity to bnt a small amount. I-et me now impress on you to open a security account the first time you put your name on paper for any man, and make this entry: 'Security Account to Bills Payable,' for this amount due on the day of , by A. B , for whom I have indorsed $ ."

The father of Robert Triplett was a man of great energy and enterprise, and although he met with great reverses of fortune he never became disheartened. Previous to the last war with England he owned coal mines in Virginia, besides a valuable plantation; but the coming on of the war and the blockading of the Chesapeake made bankrupt every coal-miner, himself among the rest. His limited means prevented his giving his son Hobert the education which was customary for the sons of Virginia gentlemen to receive. He was well versed in the English branches and could write French with tolerable ease, but his education was not thoroughly classical. This caused great humiliation to the mind of young Robert. At an early age he was put to live vfitii a merchant in Richmond, a wholesale importer, without wages, but merely to learn business. A friend of this merchant, who was in the habit of calling there, was so well pleased with the manner in which Robert discharged his duties that he solicited his services in his own establishment. As his employer had very little for him to do he offered no objection, Robert readily agreed to make the change and went to work with renewed energy. His new employer was a Scotch importer of salt, china, crockery, queen's-ware, wine, brandj', etc., all of which was sold by the pipe or crate. As he was remarkbaly fond of his ease, he very soon gave his business matters entirely into Robert's hands. As the time of the latter was not wholly occupied with his duties he spent most of his evenings in reading and study. He made it a rule to read at least 200 pages of solid matter every week. He even wrote out an epitome of the histories of Rome and Greece, His genius ran in the line of mathematics.

Mr. Triplett's first speculation was in the coal mines. There was an immense body of coal piled at his father's yard which he could do nothing with, as the English fleet lay in the Chesapeake, and it could not be exported. Robert observed that coal was $1 per bushel in Baltimore, and insurance twenty-five per cent. He asked and gained his father's consent to make an adventure in it.

He shipped 3,000 bushels and cleared about $550. He made one ur two other adventures and was extremely successful. Soon after -Jiis lie left hi--. einplo\'er and went to work for a merchant at Norfoft- at asalarj ..i'$000 per annum. He gave nearly all his earnitigs to iiis frither to relieve his embarrassments.

I.-i l!il7 Mr. Triplett accepted an offer from Judge Bouldin, t tL'v'.uior of the estate of David Ross, to come to Kentuck}' to settle up that estate. There were then no railroads, nor steamboats on the Ohio except one or two that had commenced below the Falls. Horseback was the usual mode of traveling to the West. He made the trip to Frankport in sixteen days. Here he remained for some time ill the discharge of the duties attendant upon his mission.

About the year J 820 Mr. Triplett came to Owensboro in company with an acquaintance. On arriving within twenty-five miles of the town his companion informed him that they had reached the beginning of the great survey of M., B. & Co'., which extended six miles below Owensboro; thirty-one miles in length, and containing 160,000 acres. About three miles above the town they came in sight of the Ohio River which Mr. Triplett now saw for the first time. It was very full, nearly up to its banks on the Indiana side. The court-house had been built in Owensboro, and a number of cabins*; but there were not more than two or three brick chimneys in the town. After his friend had completed bis business they returned to Frankport.

After making a complete digest of his Kentucky business, Mr. Triplett returned to Yirginia, with the intention of joining his brother in business; bat Judge Bouldin was very unwilling to dispense with his services and he was induced to continue. So he departed a second time for Frankport. About this time there was a moneyed crisis in Kentucky, and the " Independent Bank system" was introduced. This was giving a bank to almost every county in the State. Mr. Triplett foresaw a general bankruptcy of tliose institutions, and wrote several essays, under fictitious sigua tares, to endeavor to stay the ruin, but all his efforts were vain, (This subject is treated more fully in the "Outline History of Kentucky.")

After the rising of the Legislature this year Mr. T; .ilarted tor the Yellow Banks, to look into the land there, to seo about i;(rttii)!; possession of it and selling it. His first objeel was to survey out all the interfering claims, and ascertain how much of the land wa.^ clear in title, and what occupants were on it; then to have a'l titat was clear in title sectiouized into tracts of from 200 to 400 acres, with an accurate description attached to each section of the land contained in it, with the probable value thereof, springs, improvements, etc., with the settlors thereon. Having obtained an lionest surveyor for the purpose, he started him on the work. But new diflBcnlties presented themselves which were likelj to give him much trouble. The occupants refused to surrender the land; he had no leases frqm them, and they acknowledged no tenancy; but they denied his right. The number of parties concerned would render a suit very troublesome, and it was important to avoid it if possible. Most of the occupants were reasonable if left to themselves, but an effort was made to create resistance, and many were the "shooting " threats made if Mr. Triplett went on to certtyn lands. But he braved them all and no serious difficulty ensued. He encountered one obstinate fellow who was afterward killed in a streetfight in Owensboro. Mr. T. was successful in his undertaking at this point, and then returned to Frankfort. He proceeded to put in form the materials he had collected at Yellow Banks in regard to the entries of Eoss and May, which he had surveyed. They called to begin at the upper end of the Yellow Banks, about forty miles above Green Eiver, and run to the lower end thereof, and back for quantity. He had had a front profile of the bank taken at the upper and lower end and at various intermediate points; had all neatly painted, and an argument framed lo sustain the entry, which was in litigation. The large entry of May, Bannister & Co. was also in litigation, but with a decision against them. On looking over the record and applying the facts which he knew of, Mr. Triplett saw there was a fatal defect, which had escaped notice. The argument about the Yellow Banks entries was very long and complex. During this fallJudge Bouldin came out to Kentucky, and Mr. Triplett gave him an exhibit of his work. Judge B. iilstructed him to abandon the entry of May, Bannister & Co., and rely on the patent only. Mr. T. showed him the condition of everything at Yellow Banks, with which he seemed pleased; and in consequence of there being a large surplus in the entries of Boss & May, which could not be held against an elder patent, he was advised to go to Washington City to see the Masons and endeavor to compromise with them, givinjg one half for the other. These things being settled, the Judge returned to Yirginia.

thein. Having accomplished the object of his visit he returned to Frankfort, and having obtained the necessary powers, proceeded to Washington, where he met the Masons; but none were authorized to act, so lie failed in making the desired arrangement. He then returned to Frankfort, where he remained until the time for the sale at the Yellow Banks, when he went down. He had a large number of maps prepared of the sectionized land to be sold, with books of surveys, the lots numbered and described, so that with a map anyone could find any lot and examine it, and the sale and transfer by number was very simple and easy. Such land as he did not sell at auction he was ready afterward to sell in his office. A reference to his book of surveys gave him quantity, quality and value. He had contracts all printed, as also deeds, bonds and every necessary paper, with the prices on the face of each tract; and after he would sell a tract of land, have all the papers signed, and the whole transaction closed in thirty minutes.

During his stay at Yellow Banks Mr. Triplett put up at Mrs. Adams's tavern ; and although she had not a brick chimney to her house, she had everything neat and tidy, and her meals were well cooked; indeed, everything as good and comfortable as her means would admit of, and three pretty daughters to set off the whole to advantage.

As long as Mr. Triplett kept his affairs within iiis own control, he went on regularly upward until his income reached $7,000 or $3,000 per annum. But as soon as business expanded until it became necessary to employ agents, although well planned, and upon a basis which in all probability promised success, it then commenced losing, and so continued until a greater portion of what had been previously made was sunk.

The next slop was a speculation in coal. His friend G. came with him to tlio Yellow Banks and was delighted at the prospect. Coal had been discovered in their Bonharbor hills. Tlie coal, for which jio purcliased the property, was only a thin vein at the river, but a hunter, seeing them working this, said he could show them a better voiu in r,hi' hills, which he did, to the depth of four and a liHit' teci. And from this to the Ohio, three quarters of a mile ruey made the first railway, in 1S20, which was made in Kentucky ;ind, yjr'jbiibly, in the West. The next year they commenced coal to stenmboiUs, being the first attempt below the t;i,ils, if tK>{ the iirsL attempt in the West, to use coal as a steamlu)!.^ file!.

About this time (1826 or 1827), Mr. Triplett married Miss Pegram. He first settled in Frankfort, but his presence being very much needed in Haphazard, a place in Daviess County where he had previously purchased land, a portion of which had to be drained to make it of any value, he decided to move there. The firm was losing money by their distilleries; nothing went well with them, and they stopped the largest, still continuing one and the steam-mill. Everything looked discouraging. There was a ray of hope let in from the coal mines. Their first experiment had been profitable, and it was determined that Mr. B., one of the partners, should go to New Orleans to make arrangements to try to get it into use among the planters or sugar-makers. He authorized an agent to act in the business, and returned, and they proceeded to send down coal, oflPering it for fifty cents a barrel. The experiment was eminently successful, every load being sold before it arrived. Fortune sliowered so many favors upon them that they proceeded to make arrangements for the next year's work upon a very large scale.

In February, 1829, a difiiciilty occurred with their distiller. As this event and its results are very interesting, we give the details in Mr. Triplett's own words:

" The vile business seemed to go wrong in every way. I found our distiller had been cheating us and charged him with it. This brought on a fist-fight, the only one I had ever been engaged in since leaving school. He was a powerful man, over six feet high, and would have gotten the better of me had we not been parted. My brother-in-law, Dr. P., being present, interposed, and I left the distillery, and with him went down to our office, pretending to be entirely pacified, and laughing heartily at the occurrence as a good joke; but as soon as I had thrown the Doctor off his guard and got him to leave me, I returned to the distillery with a tomahawk, determined to drive the distiller out. But, fortunately for me, ho had gone, for lie was a desperate character, and with his mash-stick would have been an overmatch for me with my tomahawk. 1 now had the distillery closed and the business stopped. The distillei- threatened to sue me for violation of contract, but we compromised the matter by agreeing to leave it to arbitration. In this arbitration occurred a ditliculty which caused mc circumstantially to relate the above afiair with the distiller, which otherwise would not have been wortli naming. Mr. T. Y., the most prominent lawyer in our district, a inan of naturally good heart but of most ungovernable passion, was my adver!:ary's lawyer, and, in the course of bis speeeli spoke of the - stratagem of Mr. T.' "When the argument was over I remarked to him that he had used an expression which he must withdraw. ' What expression?' said he. I replied that he had accused me of stratagem in my dealings with the distiller. ' I did not allude to j-ou,' he replied, ' I meant your brother's stratagem of argument.' My brotlicr was my lawyer in tlic case. 'Ah, well,' I replied, 'I am glad to hear it.' 'Ibit,' lie rejoined, ' I am always responsible for what 1 say.'

"About six months before this when T. and myself were taking some depositions, he had been needlessly harsh, as 1 thought, on my witness. I took him out to give him a friendly talk about it. His usual mode of proceeding in such cases was harsher than I was disposed to bear with; but he was so accustomed to it that he did not see any harm in it. We were neighbors and I was anxious to keep on friendly terms with him. So I told him, and that to this end more courtesy would be necessary on his part. He took this as a threat and said he would not be threatened by any man. I told him that so far from its being designed as a threat, I designed by it to avoid any cause of quarrel if possible. But, as I had missed my object, and to the public, if we did quarrel, there might be a semblance of my being in the wrong, I did not intend then to let him draw me mto a quarrel; but at any other time when he felt inclined to seek a quarrel with me he should be gratified. Thus we parted, and we were both on the lookout for the slightest provocation. Under other circumstances I should not have deemed his remark sufficiently offensive to require me to call him to account for it, nor he would not have refused to let his explanation stand.

-' Seeing now that I had mistaken him, and although determined not to take the shadow of an insult from him (especially as ho held the whole country in dread, for when in a passion he lost all control of hiuiself), I was still anxious to avoid a quarrel if 1 could do so v/ith credit. When he said; 'I am always responsible for what T say,' I looked him earnestly in the face and replied. 'Mr. T., while I believed you intended to insult me, I intended to call you to account for it. When I perceived ray error I was anxious that the difiiculty should go no farther. Your explanation was satisfactory, and under that explanation tliereis no need for you to hold yourself accountable; there is nothing to be accounted for. Let mti heg of yon now to let this matter stop where it is?' He replied that he- withdrew his explanation. I walked up to him with a view to make a personal attack upoa him, when my brother cried out, 'Good God! Robert, you are not going to strike a lame man.' I halted, and looked at him and said, 'I will not strike you, sir, nor will I challenge you, abhorring duelling as I do, but nevertheless I will accept a challenge from yon, and thatyuu may not be without provocation for one, I tell you that I only now spare you in consideration of your lameness. Now challenge me if you dare.' Our friends jumped in between us, several taking hold of him, and several hold of me. To those who attempted to hold me, I remarked in the language of a man of whom I had read, ' One man can hold me: the balance of you go and hold Mr. T.'

"In due time the challenge came, and was accepted, to light as soon as I could provide myself with arms. I sent to Hardinsburg for a pair of pistols, said to be the best known. But T. had been there before me. One friend then jumped on a steamboat and went to Louisville, where he found a fine pair belonging to Mr. J. D. B. Another went to New Madrid, where he knew there was a pair which Burr had had on the field with Hamilton. Both pairs were obtained, and so good were they that I did not regret failing to obtain those in Hardinsburg. I now fixed the day for the fight, accepting at ten paces back to back, whirl and fire between the words, " fire " and "three," the seconds to count deliberately one, two, three. T. objected to standing back to back, as he was lame and could not turn as quickly as I could. I then, waived that condition and agreed to stand face to face. He having the advantage of me in practice, I took time to make myself even with him, and .soon found that I was a first-rate marksman, and heard that he was the same. The victory then would fall to him who could shoot quickest; therefore my efforts were to learn to shoot quick. During the interim before fighting 1 was daily engaged with B. in settling up our business, and the evening before in making the final arrangements. B. remarked, it was strange to see a man writing his will, and making such arrangements while yet in good health. * * * *

" The next day we were to meet at a designated point on the Indiana shore at eleven o'clock. "When about to embark to cross over. Judge H., one of my seconds ( each had two), asked me how I felt. I replied, ' Strangely indifferent; ' I can hardly realize that I am going to fight a duel.' ' But' said he, ' you must realize it, for there is but little time left now.' I then remarked, ' Before we go over, hang up a tape against that tree and let me try my hand.'

He objected, sajing, 'If joa make a bad shot it will affect yoar spirits.' ' No, ' I replied, ' it will not; hang it up.' It was done; at ten steps I took a shot and cut the tape about half an inch below the black spot. *That will do,' said he.

"(Considering the probable dreadful result, to kill or be killed, many would say it argued great want of feeling to go about such a business so calmly. Butif the reader has ever been engaged in a duel, if he has had time for reflection before it occurred, and his conscience is at rest as to having used every effort to avoid it, he will then see that the thing being inevitable, and his own safety depending on his shooting his adversary, no question arises in his mind wliich [of the two to choose. Persons may say that they would as soon be shot as to shoot an adversary. That was not my case; I very much preferred to shoot my adversary. And it was important to my success in doing so, that the awful responsibility of the act should be shut out from my mind as much as possible. I would not think of it but in one way, that it was necessary to my own safety. 1 had no feeling of revenge to gratify, and when I went upon the ground I had no more animosity against Thompson than against any other man on the ground. When we took our positions and were asked if we were ready, I answerd, 'No.' I wished to see if my nerves were steady and took aim at a lump of snow on a wood-pile. Although there was snow upon the ground, and it was dead of winter, - February, - yet I felt a warm glow and a suppleness of nerve which was extraordinary. If Providence would take part with either party in a matter like this, I should think I had his support, for never was my touch so sensitive, my flesh so pliable, nor my aim so quick and accurate as at this lump of snow. I felt as though I could put my ball just where I pleased; and unfortunately for Thompson there was a grease spot very visible just where I wished to aim.

"Being satisfied witli my aim, I turned to the second, who had asked if we were ready, and said, 'Now I am ready.' Thompson was asked if he wasjeady, and answering 'yes,' the word fire was given. Our fires were almost simultaneous, mine a little first. For a moment Thompson stood erect, and, although ray aim was good, I began to tliink I must have missed him. But presently a black scowl cairie over his countenance, he threw Iiis pistol on the ground befoi-c him and.baid, ' I am a dead man! ' Now, all the feelings which liad been strained up were relaxed, and my first impulse was to go to his aid. But as I advanced, his second, Mr.

Histoey Of Daviess Cotinty

G. called to me to keep my post; that Mr. Thompson might wish another fire. I returned, but in a few moments his other second, Judge C. called out that Mr. Thompson was satisfied; he would be unable to take another fire. My ball had entered just under his right nipple, passed through his body, and lodged in his left arm without breaking the skin except where it entered. It was not supposed he could live twenty-four hours. But he did, and finally recovered; and although at first, for some time, we were not friendly, yet ultimately we made up and were good friends. And what was singular, this shot cured him of a chronic rheumatism of ten years' standing, and of his lameness. He said I was a first-' rate surgeon, though rather a rough operator. Thompson was a singular man, one of violent passions; sorry for it when the passion was over, and used to tell his friends that he could not control himself, and that he was certain he would some day be killed, - a correct prediction, for he was afterward killed in the streets of Owensboro in 1863, by a man whom he had attacked. He was a man of fine talents and fine qualities, away from his ungovernable passions. The man who killed him was a workman for a carpenter, not particularly sensitive; but the event so preyed upon his conscience that he gradually pined away and died in about a year after with no complaint but remorse. "

This put an end to the distilling business. Both distilleries soon went to wreck, and a large sum of money was entirely sunk. Mr. Triplett felt some consolation in the refiection that, if they had been engaged in the abominable business, they had lost enough to punish them for the sin, and that their account with Heaven was nearly balanced; but at that time it was not considered a discreditable business.

They now made arrangements for a tremendous business in coal, and so brilliant seemed the prospect that the loss by the distilleries seemed but a trifie. They turned into building boats at their steammill, turning out one a week, contracted with other mills to build all they could, and various points were all alive building boats for them. They were in high spirits, imagining they were making from $150 to $200 a day. But an event occurred to blast their prospects, as unexpected as would have been an earthquake to sink all their coal mines, namely, a frost, which destroyed the sugarcane after it had ripened - an event that had not occurred before for twenty years.

"When, however, by great efforts the evil caused by this misfortune seemed to be remedied by finding a market among the tow- Digitized by Microsoft® boats, and they again renewed their shipments, a belief that the heat of the coal caused the boilers to burn out induced the towboats to abandon it; and here was a second great disaster which almost prostrated them, and which it was beyond the power of man to foresee. Determined to die with their colors flying, however, and believing that they need not fear another frost, and that the idea of burning out the boilers would be deemed nonsensical by the next season, they made another struggle and shipped a considerable quantity. But the planters would not buy, and captains of ships would not employ tow-boats which burned coal because the smoke blackened their sails. They were now effectually done for and dissolved partnership.

After this Mr. Triplett went to his original business and rapidly recovered the ground he had lost, but the proceeds had to go to pay dues on his own and the firm's lands; ultimately he began to emerge, and with most of the property with which he started.

He next went into a Texas speculation with an apparent profit of over $90,000, which induced him to make a purchase amounting to 20,000 acres; and the Government of Texas, failing to carry out its contract, again involved him in embarrassments from which it took a long time to recover. After a long struggle, however, his prospects began to brighten. Indeed, they seemed so flattering that he ventured to purchase a tract of land alongside of Bonharbor, which he wanted in order to command the whole coal field there. For this he gave $20,000, and cramped himself to make the first payment, confident that he would soon be in ample resources and easy again. But in this he was mistaken. Fortune was not yet tired of her pranks with him. Every thing went wrong with him- He became reckless, and his creditors concluded he was going to ruin. They sued him from all quarters, sold his property, until nearly every lot in Owensboro was gone, and he had owned more than half of the vacant property in the town. According to the laws of Kentucky, if land sold under execution does not bring two thirds its value, it may be redeemed in twelve months by paying ten per cent, per annum interest on the amount of sale. Mr. Triplett managed to redeem the lots which had been sold. At a subsequent period he sold Haphazard for $13,000, 1,000 acres of the best land in the county, on the Ohio Eiver, one and a half miles from Owensboro, the mere buildings on which were worth more than half the money.

coal mines and 2,000 acres of land, beginning about two miles below Owensboro, possessing great advantages for manufacturing. He built a small woolen factory for jeans and linseys, and afterward pnrcliased cotton machinery to manufacture their warps. He attracted the custom of steamboats for his coal and with good success. He owned a vast amount of property in various portions of the State, some of which he sold to advantage, and ultimately reached a point of independence.

Robert Triplett died in Philadelphia, in 1853, with cancer in the face. He had nine children. His oldest daughter, Ann, married J. Andrew White, of Petersburg, Va., and soon afterward died. Emily married Honorable George H. Yeaman, now of New York City. Virginia died a few years ago, unmarried. The oldest son, Eobert, Jr., died at the age of about twenty-one, in January, 1852, of erysipelas.