Daviess County, Kentucky - Curd3ville Precinct, 1883

Curd3ville Precinct

This precinct was thus bounded in 1867: Beginning at corner of Daviess and McLean counties on Green River, thence with Mc- Lean County line to Mrs. Tanner's old place, thence to Adam Young's, thence to Lyddan's bridge, thence down Panther Creek to Glenn's bridge, thence with Glenn's bridge and Owensboro road to the north end of the Pearce farm, including same, thence a line to Green River, excluding I. Hazlewood and the Windsor farm, thence up said river to the beginning. Sorghotown Precinct has since been cut off.

In 1872 West Louisville voting place was established for voters within the following boundaries: Beginning in the Curdsville and Calhoon road where the county line between Daviess and McLean crosses said road, thence along the middle of said road toward Curdsville to where the Owensboro and Delaware road crosses the Curdsville and Calhoon road, thence along the middle of the Owensboro and Delaware road toward Owensboro to East Knob Lick Creek at Hardesty's bridge, thence down said creek to Panther Creek, then up Panther Creek to Ljddan's bridge, thence -with the line between Yanover and Curdsville precincts to the place of beginning.

Curdsville was named after H. T. Curd, of the firm of H. T. -Curd & Co., Louisville, who gave A. Spray a barrel of rectified whisky to call the precinct by that name in honor of himself. It is situated in the extreme southwest portion of the county, and lies mostly south of Panther Creek, but a portion extends north of that stream. The soil is very productive; generally undulating and hilly; some hills are high. Some places along the water-coul-ses are occasionally overflowed and in consequence have not been settled very rapidly. There are not less than 3,000 or 4,000 acres of coal in this precinct. This coal is of excellent quality, and four to four and one third feet thick.

Baelt Settlbment

Oardsville Precinct was first settled by William Glenn, of Nelson County, in 1797, on the north side of Panther Creek, and three miles above its mouth, by a large spring of fresh water. This spring furnishes sufiicient water, if utilized, to turn a mill. It flows as freely and as strong as it did eighty-five years ago when Mr. Glenn first settled there; at present, the honse of Chapman Boswell stands within 200 yards of it. Mr. Glenn raised a family of nine children, five girls and four boys, most of whom settled around him. Two of his sons, Duke and James, afterward went to Texas. Mr. Glenn was a celebrated Indian fighter and had many very narrow escapes; but he always carried off his prize, which was the scalp of the red skin. His son William was Colonel of militia, a Representative in the Legislature, and Sheriff of this county. Mr. Glenn died in 1820 on the old homestead.

John Galloway, William Faith and Mr. Travis came very soon after Mr. Glenn. Mr. Galloway settled on the farm now occupied by the Traverse family, one and a half miles south of the Catholic church. He raised a large' family, and lived to a good old age. Mr. Faith settled near Mr. Galloway, and also lived to be very old, and died in this precinct, leaving five children. Mr. Travis died many years ago. Some of his grandchildren still live here.

Next came Adam Jorden and Rev. Joseph Hobbs; the latter was a Baptist minister, and settled near Mr. Faith. Mr. Jorden killed fifty-two buffalo the first year after his coming. The last bear he killed was on a black-oak tree then standing on the edge of the Calhoon road.

Thomas Downs was the first man who lived in the vicinity of Alphonsus' Catholic Church. He built a house on the hill half a mile south of the church and directly opposite the place subsequently occupied by Dr. Blincoe.

John Wright

As this gentleman is the oldest living resident of Curdsville Precinct, he deserves more extended notice. He was born in Green (now Taylor) County, Ky., April 8, 1804. His father, William Wright, was born near Culpeper Court-Hou8e,Ya., June ]0, 1776. His mother, Betsey (Brents) Wright, was born in Nelson County, Ky. Her father, Captain John Brents, joined General George Rogers Clark at Louisville when Governor Dinwiddle sent the latter out to take possession of Ohio Yalley. Captain Brents helped build the first fort, and made the first settlement where Louisville now stands; he was drowned at Ohio Falls while passing over the rapids in a boat with his company, the boat havinpj foundered on a rock, and capsized. John Wright was brought to McLean (then Ohio) County by his parents in 1807, who settled at Beech Grove. There were then only three families in the neighborhood. There were eleven children iu his father's family, John being the second. "^He has one sister living - Elizabeth, who married a man named Joseph Wright, but not a relative. John settled where he now resides in 1841. When twenty-one years of age he commenced running flat-boats on the river to New Orleans, and kept it up for nearly twenty years. Mr. Wright says that in pioneer days a quart of whisky would roll logs for a man all day, but now it takes two gallons. He used to pack salt on a horse from Saline, near Shawneetown, HI., a distance of sixty miles, for which he paid one dollar a bushel, and could get only three bushe s for each family. He remembers when John Dicken, a Methodist preacher, killed Lem. White, about 1810 or 1815. White was trying to get into Dieken's house to kill him; Dicken, having no bullets, broke the handle from a pewter spoon, rammed it down his gun, and shot White through a crack in the wall. He immediately gave himself up, but was acquitted.

The early settlers were very hospitable. There were very few pistols can-ied, fighting being usually done with the fist. Sometimes two meii would fight, then drink, aud become friends before the blood ceased to flow from their wounds.

Pleasant Hill (Knob Lick) Cumberland Presbyterian Church, was oraranized by C . C. Boswell in the fall of 1840, at the house aS. Stephen S. Winstead, on north side of Panther Creek. Most of their people lived on the south side of the creek, and for a time services were held, alternately, on both sides, in private houses. For a few yeSrs they occupied the Knob Lick school-house, on Knob Lick Creek, from which it was nicknamed. In 1846 they built a log house, 26 x 20 feet, near where the present church stands, on two acres of land donated by a gentleman from Indiana. The present strncture was built in 1865. It is a frame building, 56 x40 feet. The present membership is 111. Services every alternate Sunday by Elder Willis Smith, of Owensboro. Eev. C. C. Boswell, the first pastor, lives near Mattingly's bridge, north of Panther Creek. The Baptists also hold services in this church; services the first Sunday in each month by Rev. Benjamin Bracket, of McLean County.

St. RaphaeVs Catholic Church, situated three miles east of West Louisville, was established in 1832 by Father Derbin, of Union County, Ky. There were only six families in the congregation, and they worshiped in private houses until 1842, when they erected a hewed log house of worship under the direction of Father Schacht, the communicants performing the labor. Esquire J. T. Blanford and Urbin Hayden sawed all the lumber with a whip saw. The size of the building was 24x40 feet. In 1850 this church was burned, and the congregation united with the St. Alphonsus congregation in building the present church where the latter worship. In 1864 they rebuilt at the old place. This building was of hewed logs, 50 x 40 feet, with the addition of a sacrista 20 x 16 feet; since the erection of the present edifice, it has been used as a tobacco house. The magnificent structure where they now worship, was built in 18Y9 by Father G. A. Vantroostenburg, pastor. It is built of brick, is 90 x 42 feet, with a steeple 96 feet high, containing an 800-pound bell. The entire cost of the building was f 5,500, exclusive of the pews, which will cost nearly $1,000. One hundred families worship here.

St. Alphonsua^ Catholic Church was built in 1854 by Rev. Walter Coombs, on land donated by John Rodman. Mr. Coombs was a very zealous clergyman, and at that time the only priest in the county. Mass was first offered up by Rev. John Boyle, who was stationed at St. Raphael's Church, and served at St. Alphonsns' Church once a month for two years. After he left Rev. Eugene O'Callaghan officiated. He was a good and zealous man, never failing to fill his appointments. He served this church once a month for four years, being at that time stationed at Owensboro. In 1861 the Rev. Ivo Schacht was sent to St. Alphonsus' by Rev. Martin Spalding as the first resident pastor. He enlarged the old church building, which ,had become too small, and purchased a lot from James Glenn and built St. Joseph's Female Academy, which was occupied by the Sisters of Loretto, of Marion County, Ky. It was a frame building, and was accidentally burned in 1870. Mr. Schacht was succeeded by Rev. Charles Eggermont, and during his admin- istration the old frame church was burned. He immediately made arrangements to build the present brick church, but before its completion he was called to fill a professorship at St. Joseph's College, at Bardstown, Kentucky. Rev. Paul Yolk, the present pastor, took his place. He finished the church building, and rebuilt St. Joseph's Academy, which is now occupied by the Ursuline nuns. The church is 84 x 45 feet, and has a graceful spire. It is situated fifteen miles southwest of Owensboro, and there is a membership of about 1,200. A beautiful cemetery adjoins the church. This part of Daviess County is settled almost entirely by Catholics, and it is a remarkable fact that during a period of more than twelve years not a murder has been committed by a member of this church.

The following is a list of all the priests that have served this church : Revs. E. J. Durbin, from 1825 to 1831 ; John Wathen, 1831 to 1837; Walter Coombs, 183Ttol846; Athanasius And, 1846 to 1848 ; John Boyle, 1848 to 1850 ; Eugene Callaghan, 1850 to 1861; Ivo Schacht, 1861 to 1864; Charles Eggermont, 1864 to 1870; Paul Yolk, 1870 to the present time; Rev. Michael Coghlan, of Ireland, 1848 to 1871. From 1846 to the present time there have been from two to seven priests within the county.

The members belonging to St. Alphousus' Church are all Americans, coming chiefly from Marion, Nelson and Washington counties, whose ancestors came from Maryland. The baptismal registers show that from 1861 to 1881, 900 infants have been baptized in this congregation. Children all receive a good Christian education in the district school.

This institution is in charge of the Ursuline nuns, from Louisville, Ky., and was founded in 1862 by the late Rev. Ivo Schacht. The building was formerly occupied by the Loretto sisters, of Marion County, but was burned down. It was rebuilt by the Ursuline nuns, and is beautifully situated on a hill adjoining St. Alphonsus' Church. The building is a four-story brick, 78 x 35 feet. In 1882 a convent building was added, which is also of brick, and is three stories high. It is seventy-two feet long by twenty-five wide, with a fine exhibition hall on the ground floor. The third story is used for a chapel, and the second story is occupied by the nuns. The institution was chartered Feb. 19, 1S80, with power to confer academic honors, diplomas, etc. There is a full corps of teachers; the school is designed for the education of young ladies.

H0Hsb-Mill8

There was a horse-mill erected some years ago, about a mile south of West Louisville, on the land now belonging to J. E. Clark. It is still used for grinding corn.

One was also erected over twenty-five years ago by the late John Crabtree; it still stands on the farm by the old homestead, but has not been used for several years.

Cubdsville Feeby

This ferry was established across Green River in 1855, by Madison Priest, of Henderson County, Ky., and was first run by Woodson Owen, who leased it two years, then one Mr. Hnsk ran it two years. In 1859 it was sold to Oldham and Hallmark; but the title proved to be poor, and Hallniark went into bankruptcy. Oldham secured a good title for the Henderson County side in 1869, and has retained possession ever since. He secured a title to the Daviess County side in 1879. It has cost Mr. Oldham over $2,000 besides the first purchase, which was $1,400.

The Pioneer School-House

This ancient relic of great antiquity still stands in Curdsville Precinct, just as it was used in 1820. The chimney is in the center of the room instead of one end. There is a puncheon floor and a clapboard roof. A log is out for a window, almost the entire length of the building. The window has a single sash, with sixty panes of glass in it. It is the oldest school-house in Daviess County.

This tjiriving little village is situated on Green River, immediately above the mouth of Panther Creek, and about fourteen miles southwest of Owensboro. The first settler was George Husk, who came in 1818, and built a small cabin where H. Webb now lives. John Eads came in 1822, and cleared four acres of land. His wife died soon after, and Mr. Eads broke up house- keeping. John Traverse bought the place, and died there in 1833.

Aquilla Spray settled here in 1842, and built a log cabin. He kept a dram shop several years; also kept the first store in Curdsville. Brown & Allen biiilt a house under the hill in 1862, and kept the second store; they became bankrupt about 1858. Calvin Bennett built a blacksmith shop in 1852.

Curdsville Peecinct

Cardeville postoffice was first established about tweiiU- years ago, anil Aquilla Spray was the first Postmaster. Prior to 1871 mail was carried by private individuals, and nothing was jiaid to the postmaster.

Ourdsville now contains one general store, one grocery, glass, queen's-ware and hardware store, one drug store, two whisky shops, one blacksmith shop, two livery stables, three tobacco factories, one mill, one physician, one shoe shop, one lawyer, one undertaker, one police judge, one town marshal, five trustees and a calaboose.

CurdsviUe Methodist Episcopal Cliurch was organized in 1865, by Rev. H. J. ilamey. Worship was first held in the house built as a union house, but was purchased by this society soon after the organization. Services every third Saturday and Sunday of each month, by Rev. E. A. Davis. The trustees are T. P. Bethel, Alfred McCain, and James T. Cummings. There are now eleven members.

Methodist Episcopal Church, South was organized in 1859, by Rev. Mr. Reed; Rev. Mr. Seeley was Presiding Elder. Soon after the organization, the society commenced to build a house of worship; but the war breaking out about that time, the work was suspended. The building was afterward completed by the people, for a union house, but has since been purchased by the Methodist Episcopal church. The "South" church continue to occupy it, however. The Pastors that have served this church are, Revs. Harwell, Widney, Campbell, G. W. Lyon, "Wilson Williams, Thomas Fallon, L. B. Davidson, Brandon, and Thurman, the present pastor. Services e<*ery fourth Saturday and Sunday of each mouth.

Oreen River Baptist Church. - This church was organized in 1870, bj Rev. Daniel Yizer, who was also the first pastor, and remained with them five or six years. This society also worshiped in the building previously spoken of as "union" house. The present Clerk is Columbus McDonald, and the Deacons are H. H. McCain and Robert Good. There are about fifty communicants.

Delaware

southwest part of the count}', and stands on the bank of Green River, twenty-one miles from Owensboro. It takes its name from Delaware Creek, which flows into Green River, a short distance above the town.

The first settler was Colonel Samuel C. Harralson, who came to Kentucky in 1816 from North Carolina, and to this county in 1835. He kept store in Delaware a few years. He married Ellen Allen, and they had nine children. Mr. Harralson was murdered and robbed on the road between Delaware and Calhoon, in August, 1859.

The first store was kept by Henry Fleming, in 1844; second store was kept by S. C. Harralson, in 1849, and the third in 1858, by H. C. Cosby, who sold to A. M. Allen in the fall of 1859. Mr. Allen continued the business for several years. The first blacksmith shop was built by Colonel Harralson,. who hired a smith to work in it. Colonel H. also built the first school-house; it has now rotted down. Dr. B. F. Harralson was the first physician ;h came in 1861, and is a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, Pa. The postoflice was established iu 1862, and the first Postmaster was A. M. Allen. He held the office until 1872. The present Postmaster is Joseph Carico.

Mills And Faotoeies

The first mill in Delaware was built by Hall, Moore & Eurkhart, in 1868. It was a saw-mill and corn-cracker. They sawed for the penitentiary at Jeffersonville, Ky., three years, when the firm failed. It was subsequently purchased by A. M. Allen, who sold in 1876 to W. J. Lumpkin, of Owensboro. The latter gentleman added aflouring mill in 1 877. It is run by steam, forty horse-power, and saws hard lumber and building, material, grinds wheat and corn; has a capacity of sixty barrels of flour a day. It is first-class flour and is fast gaining a reputation. The second grade looks almost as well as the first grade. They make an excellent quality of bolted meal; use the Eureka separator and emutter, a popular improvement. The mill is run by J. R. Lambert.

Delaware Handle Factory was built in the fall of 1881, by Turner, Day & Co., of Louisville, Ky., and was run by Nathan Brumfield; twenty to fifty men were employed. It was burned Nov. 17, 1882.

Oubdsvillb Preoinot

This ferry was established over forty years ago by S. 0. Harraison. It was a private enterprise before roads were made; since that time it has been used for public benefit. It has been run by several different parties since Colonel Harralson's death, and is now owned by his son, Robert A. Harralson.

Delaware now contains one dry-goods store, one general store, one drug store, two groceries and saloons combined, two churches, one blacksmith shop, one flouring and saw mill, owned by W. J. Lumpkin, and two physicians.

Delaware Christian Church was organized Oct. 21, 1877, by Elder Jeffres, of Union County, Ky., with thirty members. The first Deacons were John H. Davis, A. H. Landefer and P. H. Wells. Elder David Pickens held services here a few years previous to its organization. The first pastor was Elder Simpson Kearn, who is the present pastor. The house is a neat frame, built io 1864 by the Christians, long before they organized themselves into a body. It is 60 X 40 feet. B. F. Harralson is Clerk.

Methodist Episcopal Church, South. - This church was organized in 1871 by Eev. Thomas Fallen. The society worshiped in private houses and tobacco factories until 1875, when they built a church 52 x 34 feet. It is a neat frame building, fourteen feet high. Services are held once a month by Eev. Mr. Clarkson. The Trustees are H. K. Wilson, A. M. Allen and N". B. Cook, dumber of communicants, twenty-five. There is a Sabbath-school in connection with this church.

West Louisville

This enterprising little village was named by James A. Sivers, who built the first log cabin at this point, and kept the first whisky shop; also built and kept the first grocery in 1864. He continued this business several years, then sold to Henry Ehenart, The latter built a house, and rebuilt a frame story on top of Mr. Sivers' house.

The first dry -goods store was kept by Stowers & Bosley in 1866. They ran it two years and sold to James W. Stowers, who took Eobert Williams in as partner. The first drug store was kept by N. M. Stowers about 1875. The first blacksmith shop was kept by

John Clements as earlj' as 1853, which was the second house built at this place. The first physician, Dr. Y. Orsboru, located in 1865, and is still practicing here. Dr. T. W. Blanfbrd came in 1876, and Dr. 11. K. Orsborn in 1880. The first school-house was built in 1875 by a stock company, and was first used as a private school, but was afterward purchased by the district.

West Louisville contains about seventy- five inhabitants, one grocery, one drug store, one restaurant, two blacksmith shops, two hotels, one tobacco factory, one livery stable, one barber shop, one saddle and harness sliop, one undertaker, three physicians, one magistrate, one constable, one cabinet maker, who is also a painter and paper-hanger. The postofEce was established in 1862 and N. M. Stowers was the first Postmaster. The mail was thei*. carried by the citizens. The regular mail route was established in 1875. J. E. Thompson is the present Postmaster. It is the second postoffice only to Oweneboro in the county.

Possum Teot

in Curdsville Precinct, two and a half miles west of Blue Eiver, was named by J. P. Waltrip, who said that the narrow hollov/s surrounding that ridge was full of 'possums. There are two dwelling houses and one small grocery.

EJUed hy Lightning. - June 1, 1881, in the afternoon, Cyril Thompson and his son John were out in an open field near West Louisville replanting corn during a violent thunder-storm, when they were both struck by lightning, and the latter killed. Another son, William, had been killed during the war by an act of retaliation upon guerrillas generally, although he himself was confessedly innocent. These two events in one family more than doubled, if possible, the indescribable affliction which they were called upon to suffer.