Franklin County, Kentucky - Chapter 10, 1912

In the year 1850 the Kentucky river was under the control of the State; there was a resohition by the General Assembly ''That the military monument which had been made under the direction of the committee appointed for that purpose and which is to be erected in memory of the brave officers and soldiers who have fallen in the defense of the honor of their country, be permitted to pass through the locks of the river without payment of toll." This military monument was erected in 1850, the statue of victory on the top of it was raised to its place on July 1st, 1850.

In 1851 the Legislature directed the Governor of Kentucky to purchase from the Frankfort Cemetery Company lots Nos. 131-132-143-144-154 and 155 in which to bury the remains of Kentucky's illustrious dead, the price for same was six hundred dollars;

There was an act in 1851 appropriating eighty dollars with which to bury some Kentuckians who were killed at the Kiver Raisin. In 1848 Col. Edward Brooks, acting under the authorities of the town of Monroe, Mich., delivered the remains of fifteen Kentuckians who fell at the battle of the River Raisin, and by resolution, the Governor of Kentucky was directed to have them buried in the Frankfort Cemetery.

The sum of four hundred dollars was paid by resolution of the General Assembly, to Edward H. Nock, as compensation for painting the portrait of Governor Isaac Shelby. This portrait hung in the Legislative Hall in the Old Capitol building for more than a half century, but when the archives of the State were removed to the new Capitol in 1909 it was })laced in charge of the State Historical Society, where it was given one of the most prominent positions in the Hall of Fame.

The State, by act of the Legislature, appointed Ambrose W. Dudley, E. H. Taylor and Philip Swigert, Commissioners to superintend the erection of an Arsenal, on any ground not less than one-half mile from the Capitol building. The sum of ciii'ht thousand dollars was appropriated and the Connnissioncrs were directed to act '^iccording to such plans and specifications as they may deem best suited for a building for said purpose."

By an amendment, the Commissioners named were authorized to select at their discretion the most suitable place within the town of Frankfort or in its vicinity, as to them may scoiii most eligible for the location of the Arsenal. The building was completed in 1850 and the military equipments of tlie State were removed from a small building on the State House square to the new Arsenal, during that year.

The incorporated towns of South Frankfort and Frankfort (North Frankfort) were consolidated by act of the Legislature approved March 4th, 1850. The most prominent men of South Frankfort in 1818 were Edward S. Coleman, Chairman of the Board of Trustees; David Graham, George Gayle, Larkin Samuels, George W. Graham, Israel Ellis, Hosea Cook, Henry Wingate, John Campbell, George Todd and l^^van Evans; Sam South was chairman of the Board of Trustees in 1823 ; S. I. M. Major in 1825 ; John J. Vest in 1827 ; Rev. S. M. Noel in 1829 ; John J. Vest in 1831 ; Chas. S. Morehead in 1833; Littleberry Batchelor in 1834; 0. G. Gates in 1837; Edward S. Coleman in 1841 and for several years thereafter. In 1845 Coleman's Tan Yard was in operation near Coleman's spring at the south end of Steele street ; the buildings were one story with basements.

During the year 1850 the following incidents are noted: The Farmers' Bank was organized, the largest stockholders and organizers of this bank were James Harlan, John II. Ilanna. J. Swigert, William Tanner, John W. Russell, P. Swigert, A. C. Keenon, A. G. Hodges, John C. Herndon, II. I. Todd and S. Robinson.

On August 8th, the cornerstone of the Episcopal Church was laid, the address was delivered by Rev. Mr. Craik of Louisville, Bishop Smith, Rev. Messrs. Claxton of Madison, Ind.,

The publication of a religious paper known as "The Methodist Monthly" was commenced in October, the Rev. T. N. Ralston was the editor. He was assisted by Rev. G. W. Bush and W. H. Anderson.

Mr. Joseph Belt, who served five years and seven months in the American Army during the War of the Revolution, died, domiciled in Franklin County, September 10th, 1850. He was ninety-nine years old at the time of his death.

Col. Richard M. Johnson, who had Ijeen Vice President of the United States and who had held many offices of trust and who was know^n as one of the greatest men of that time, died in Frankfort and was buried in the Frankfort Cemetery, November 12th, 1850. The funeral services were held in the House of Representatives. An immense crowd of citizens and strangers were in attendance. Rev. Stewart Robinson preach -d the funeral discourse. ''The procession was long and imi-Mising, the Masons and Odd Fellows e.specially making a fine t.ppearance." Minute guns were fired as the procession entered the cemetery and until the ceremonies at the grave were concluded. Obituary addresses concerning Col. Richard M. Johnson were published in pamphlet form. The following Legislature authorized Mason Brown, John M. Huett, Edward H. Taylor and William Tanner, Commissioners Avith authority to contract wiih Robert E. Ivaunitz for the erection of a monument to his lucmory in the Frankfort Cemetery, and for which nine hundred dollars wore appropriated and for this sm.dl sum the Commi.-sioners secured one of the most beautiful and artistic monumental structures that was ever erected on the Western Continent, up to that time.

The first money appropriated by the County Court for the purpose of macadamizing the county roads was placed on the Glenn's Creek road in 1851. The Frankfort and Lawrenceburg turnpike road was built during this year. The county of Franklin owned a large part of the stock in this road when it was completed. At the close of the year ISol there were seventy-four public roads in the county, all of which were under the supervision of County Surveyors and were repaired by warning in the hands assigned to their respective roads.

After the adoption of the Constitution of 1849, the first election held under the new Constitution was in 1851, at which time John C. Herndon became the first County Judge of Franklin county; Alexander H. Rennick was the first clerk elected by the people; William T. Herndon the first Sheriflt; John R. Graham, Coroner; Benjamin Luckett, .Jailer; William M. Bristow, Assessor, and Lysander Hord, for some reason was appointed County Attorney. Samuel I. M. Major was elected Surveyor, but his election was contested by William F. Graham on the grounds that Major was not of age. The Court held that said Major was not twenty-one years of age and consequently could not hold the office, the Constitution having provided that a man was not eligible until he was twenty-one; a new election was ordered. The County Judge's salary was fixed at two hundred and fifty dollars per year. On May 29th, 1851, the first passenger train of cars from Louisville arrived upon the banks of the river opposite Frankfort; this was an important era in the history of Frankfort and Franklin county and the public-spirited citizens of the county celebrated the event. The railroad bridge across the river at that point was completed during that year, the contract price for its construction was originally $27,000, but some changes were made and the amount was increased to $30,000. During this year Joseph Patterson, a civil engineer, surveyed a route for a railroad from Frankfort to Harrodsburg, the distance being thirtytwo miles and one thousand and forty-feet to the railroad junction on the west side of the river. His estimated cost was $26,232 per mile. The proposition as to whether the county of Franklin would vote the appropriation of $225,000 as her part of the expense of building the road failed to receive a majority of the votes.

(lerud all the public business of the State to be suspended and the ollices closed and the buildings to be clothed in mourning. The City Council Avas convened in extraordinary session and resolutions passed; the citizens of Frankfort and vicinity held a mass meeting at which appropriate resolutions were passed.

During this year Mr. David Meriwether built the Meriwether Hotel, on the corner of Broadway and Ann streets. For many years this hotel was the political headquarters for the politicians of the State.

The Frankfort Woolen Mills were incorporated in 1852, J. M. Lancaster, John H. Hanna, Jacob Swigert, Nathaniel Hart, P. Swigert, John Watson, S. Brownwell and William L. Vance were the incorporators. The capital stock was placed at one hundred thousand dollars.

General Winfield Scott, a candidate for President of the United States, visited Frankfort in the month of September; a reception committee met him at the train and escorted him to tlie Capitol building, where he addressed the assembled multitude on the political questions of the day; a public recc})tion was held at which a large number of people met him. At that time Franklin county was nearly evenly divided between the Democrats and Whigs. Pierce, the Democrat, received 759 votes and Scott, the Whig, received 833 votes in the county.

Joshua McQueen, a Revolutionary soldier, died at his home near Frankfort on April ord, 1853, at the age of 106 years. He was appointed sergeant by General Washington, which i)osition he held during the war. He left surviving him a large family of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. On Decemljcr lltli of the same year James Brisco, in his 94th year, also died. He was a soldier and seaman of the Revolution. He was at the siege of Yorktown and the surrender of 'CornAvallis. He served as boatswain \mder Commodore Taylor. At the time of his death, Cornelius Fenwick was the only surviving Revolutionary soldier in Franklin County.

III December of this year the Capital Hotel was opened to the public and for more than half a century it has been one of the leading hotels of the State.

John M. Ilarlan, who has since become one of the Justices of tlie Supreme Court of the United States, was appointed Notary Public in and for the county of Franklin, March 20th, 1854, and during the same year he was elected City Attorney for the city of Frankfort. In 1855 he was one of the Sons of Temperance, and in 1856 he was re-elected City Attorney; in

1859 he made the race for Congress in the Ashland District, but was defeated by a small vote, during the same year 1/3 was appointed Adjutant General of the State of Kentucky, and in 1877 he was appointed Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Ex-President Millard Fillmore visited Frankfort in March, 1854. He was entertained at the Capitol Hotel. Hon. John J. Crittenden presided. Addresses were made by Col. Thomas L. Crittenden, Gov. C. S. Morehead, Governor Powell, Gov. Crittenden, Gov. Letcher and Colonel Brown.

The year 1854 was the most disastrous year ever known to the people of Frankfort and Franklin County. The drought was so severe that practically nothing was raised in the way of fanning ]iroducts, the heat and drought were the severest ever known in Franklin County. The Kentucky river was ten feet lower than it was ever before known. The farmers had to haul water for miles; that period has been known since then, as the year of the great drought, and it has also been known by the people of Frankfort as the year of the great fire. The greatest conflagration ever known to the people of Frankfort occurred on April 29th. The fire commenced near the center of the square on St.. Clair street between Broadway and Main streets. It burned every house up to and including the house on the corner of Main and St. Clair, and extended up Main street to Lewis street and down Lewis, about two-thirds of the square. There were twenty-four houses consumed, seven- teen of which were brick. It was the business portion of the city which burned. A large part of the property was occupied by tenants, most of w^hom lost their entire stock of goods.

The election of county officers for Franklin County in 1854 resulted in the election of J. C. Herndon, County Judge; A. H. Rennick, County Clerk; H. I. Morris, Sheriff; P. U. Major, County Attorney ; R. A. Brawner, Jailer ; J. J. Smither, Assessor; J. R. Graham, Coroner; AV. F. Graham, Surveyor; John W. Pruett, Constable of the Frankfort District, and James Monroe, Police Judge of the City of Frankfort. There were 528 vot^s in favor of a road tax and 847 against it.

The General Assembly of Kentucky by resolution in 1854, directed Gov. L. P. Powell to have th'e remains of Gov. Charles Scott, Major William T. Barry and Captain Bland Ballard and Avife, to be brought to Frankfort and re-interred in the grounds belonging to the State in the Frankfort Cemetery. The Governor named November 8th as the day for the ceremonies.

"The Commonwealth" of November 10th gives the following description of the proceedings: ''Wednesday, the 8th day of November, 1854, was a great day in Frankfort, and one not soon to be forgotten. The last and distinguished honors provided by Kentucky for three men who had served her cause, in the council and in the field, and whose lives had contributed to the glory of her history, were paid with befitting circumstance, in the presence of an immense crowd of Kentucky's sons and daughters. Strangers began to arrive on Tuesday, and on Wednesday morning every avenue leading to our little city poured in a living stream. The public square, streets, sidewalks, hotels and private houses were soon swarming with the crowd. Among those present were a great many of Kentucky's noblest sons - men distinguished upon the field of battle and men distinguished in almost every department of public service and of life - in the Executive chair, in Congress, in the Legislature of the State, upon the bench, at the bar, at the bedside of the sick, in the sacred desk, in the editorial office, in mercantile pursuits, and in the mechanic arts. Kentucky beauty w^as well represented in maiden loveliness and iiialronly grace; and the wliolc blending together formed an immense concourse of just such men and women as would have swelled the hearts of the honored dead with gratitude and joy could their mortal eyes open upon them. The procession formed about 11 o'clock and slowly moved its long length towards the cemetery. In it we noted a numl)cr of the officers and soldiers of the War of 1812, and of the War with Mexico. A delegation of officers from the Louisville Legion, under command of Col. DeKorponay ; a fine volunteer company from Georgetown, commanded by Capt. Grant; the cadets of the Kentucky Military Institute, commanded by Col. Morgan; several lodges of Odd Fellows; several divisions of the Sons of Temperance ; the pupils of Mr. Sayre's High School, and an innumerable throng of citizens and strangers in carriages. Tlie march of the whole was enlivened l)y excellent music from Arboga.st's and Plato's Saxhorn Bands of Louisville, whose performances throughout the day added greatly to the enjoyment of the occasion. Upon the cemetery grounds a platform for the speakers had been erected near the beautiful tomb of the Trabue family, and facing a gentle slope which rose like an amphitheatre around it. Here the exercises were opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. John D. Mathews. Governor Powell then introduced the further proceedings by a brief and appropriate address, and concluded by presenting to the audidence CoU Thomas L. Crittenden, who delivered an oration of classic elegance and marked appropriateness upon the life and character of Governor Charles Scott. After music from the l)and Col. Theodore O'LTara was introduced and delivered a glowing, eloquent and ornate eulogy upon Major William T. Barry. To this succeeded a speech from Col. Humphrey Marshall upon the life and character of Major Bland Ballard - an effort marked by discriminating fidelity to truth, by great propriety and force of diction, and a nervous manly elocution, which won new laurels for the well-known orator. After the close of the .speeches the remains were re-interred in the ground *l)elonging to the State. Rev. Mr. Norton of Frankfort and Rev. Mr. Berkley of Lexington officiating in the clo.«ing re-

The remains of Governor James T. Morehead were brought to Frankfort and placed in a vault January 5th, 1855. A committee of citizens from Frankfort met the committee from Covington at Louisville and under charge of the two committees the remains were brought to Frankfort. The remains were followed by a large number of citizens from the depot to the cemetery. The burial was with a great deal of ceremony on June 13th. General John M. Harlan was chief marshal. Many out of town people wxre present. James T. Morehead was born in Bullitt county May 24th, 1797. He was educated in the village schools and Transylvania University, studied law with John J. Crittenden; was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1832; upon the death of Governor Breathitt in 1834 he became Ex-officio Governor. After his term expired he resumed the practice of law in Frankfort. In 1837 he was elected to represent Franklin county in the Kentucky Legislature. He Avas United States Senator from Kentucky in 1841 to 1847. He was an excellent speaker and conservative statesman. His general information Avas extensive and varied. His library, embracing the largest collection then known of works relating to the history of Kentucky, Avas purchased by the Young Men's Mercantile Association of Cincinnati, O.

The granddaughter of Governor Morehead presented a splendid oil portrait of him to the Kentucky Historical Society. This portrait is said to have been made by Jouett. If it was not made by him, it Avas evidently the work of some other skilled artist.

A. W. Macklin & Co. did a large and lucrative business as pork packers at Frankfort. During the season of 1853-4 they slaughtered 10,042 hogs; during the season of 1854-5 thev killed 10,311; in 1855-6 they' killed 13,833. The largest number slaughtered in any one day was 804.

of the Catholic Church at Frankfort; the Rev. John Theobald was in charge of the Baptist Church ; the licv. J. P. Saffokl was in charge of the Presbyterian; the liev. J, M. Bonnell of the ^lethodist; the Rev. J. N. Norton of the Episcopal, and Rev. P. S. Fall was in charge of the Christian Church.

Judge J. C. Herndon, County Judge of Franklin County, died at his residence in the city of Frankfort on the 18th day of jNIarch, 1856, at the age of 47 j^ears. He was an industrious lawyer of considerable ability. For a time he had been a deputy in the County Clerk's office and had held a like position in the Circuit Clerk's office. He was at one time assistant clerk of the House of Representatives, and at another time he held a like position in the State Senate. He was the first man who ever held the position of County Judge of Franklin Count}', and he was serving his second term in that position at the time of his death.

At the special election held to fill the vacancy of County Judge, Mr. Reuben Brown was elected. He defeated Judge Lysander Hord by 78 votes. James Monroe was elected County Attorney at the same election.

The first bond issue of Franklin County was authorized by act of the Legislature approved March 10th, 185G, by which act the Judge of the Franklin County Court was authorized to issue bonds not to exceed two thousand dollars, to pay off the out.'^tanding debts.

In the year 1857 Thomas M. Green was the editor of The Commonwealth, published at Frankfort, and S. I. M. Major was the editor of the Frankfort Yoeman. The political controversy became so bitter between them that Col. Green sent Col. Major a note dated at Frankfort, ]\Iay 30th, in which he said: "I wish to know what place outside of the State a note from me will reach you." In answer to which Col. Major said he would be in Jcff'crsonville, Ind., on Monday, June 1st, at 8 o'clock p. m., at which time Thomas Buford, as the representative of Col. Green was there with a challenge for a duel. Col. Major selected Mr. .Tohn O. Bullock as his representative, and it was left to him to fix the time, terms and place of meeting. He fixed the time June 11th; place, the State of Vir- ginia at or near the mouth of the Big Sandy river; weapons were to be the ordinary rifle known as the Kentucky or Western rifle carrying a ball not larger than sixty to the pound, the barrel of the gun not to exceed 38 inches in length; distance, ninety yards. Col. Green refused to accept the terms and tlie duel was never fought. During this year Jacob Harrod Holman died at his residence in Frankfort. He had been pu])lic printer for many years. At one time he was editor of tl)e Commentator, and later he was the editor of the "Spirit of '76" and the '^Kentuckian," all of wdiich were published in Frankfort, In the year 1819 Holman fought a duel with Fraiicis Waring, a practical duelist and a brother of the noted John T". Waring, who killed Samuel Q. Richardson in 1835. On tlic 4th of July, 1819, Francis Waring struck Holman's dog with a saber and killed it, following which a rough and tumble fight ensued, and out of which resulted the duel. Dr. Joe Roberts was the bearer of the challenge. William P. Greenup, son of Governor Greenup, acted as the personal friend of Holman They met on the farm of Waring's brother-in-law. Rev. Silas Noel, about one mile and a half from Frankfort, and aboiit one mile from where the original difficulty took place. At the first fire Waring fell shot through the heart. Holman also fell at the same time pierced through his hips, and from the effects of which he was a cripple for life.

The contest between the Democratic party and the American Whig or Know-Nothing party in 1857 was one of the warmest ever held in the State. The center of the political contest was at Frankfort. The two parties were evenly divided in Franklin County, there being only one vote difl'erence in the race for State Treasurer. The contest in Frankfort was exceedingly bitter, rioting commenced in a short time after the polls were opened and continued throughout the day. The Americans undertook to prevent the Irish from voting. .\ mob gathered around the polls and when an Irishman came up to vote some one would call out, ''move him," and immediately a shower of rocks, sticks, brick-bats and bottles would strike him. It was almost worth an Irishman's life for him to undertake to vote without some one, native born, with him.

The first fight of the day was when an Irishman by the name of Griffcn came up to the court house to vote. When he got within about forty feet of the polls, a bully stationed there for the purpose of assaulting any one who was not American born, made an assault on him. A mob immediately gathered around them. Griffen's brother came to his assistance and when in the act of shooting, some member of the mob struck him in the head and seriously wounded him. The Griffons were rescued from the mob by Col. Lewis E. Ilarvie and other Democrats, who beat the mob back. Col. Harvie used his walking stick very freely and in return received several wounds, none of whicli were serious. Later in the day a German came to the polls, and some one called out ''move him," and he moved without further invitation, but not quick enough to prevent him from being struck in the head with a rock by some member of the mob, and from the effect of which he came near dying. That afternoon, Judge Thomas B. Monroe, at that time United States District Judge, took an Irishman with him to the polls and when he started to vote, some member of the mob called out "move him." The Judge immediately drew a large knife, and, facing the mob, he brandished his knife and denounced the Americans as a mob and a set of bullies, and said that he would like to see any one prevent the Irishman from voting. The American party was badly defeated in Kentucky. Thomas M. Green, editor of the Commonwealth, in giving excuses for the defeat said: "The fact is that in this race we have had the whole power of the patronage of the Fcyderal Government, the Roman Catholics, the Dutch and Irish, and the whole gang of those mercenary wretches who fight for those who are aljle to pay best and as might have been expected, we have been defeated by them."

The Bridgeport Female Institute was incorporated in 1858, John ISIayhall, James Terry, Benjamin Exum, S. R. Hieronymus and Andrew Neat were the incorporators. For several years this was a very prosperous school and it did a great deal of good in that section of the county.

the names of the State officials. That record shows that the following Franklin County citizens were in office: Charles S. Morehead, Governor; Mason Brown, Secretary of State; T. P. Atticus Bibb, Assistant Secretary of State ; James Harlan, Attorney General; Thomas S. Page, Auditor; James R. Watson, Assistant Auditor; James H. Garrard, Treasurer; Andrew McKinley. Register; John M. Harlan, Adjutant General; Albert G. Cammack, Quartermaster General ; A. W. Valandingham, State Librarian; A. G. Hodges and John B. Major, Public Printers; J. H. Johnson and Samuel C. Sayre, Assistant Clerks of the House, and Patrick U. Major was Commonwealth's Attorney for the district. Out of the sixteen State officers named by the Public Printer, thirteen of them were citizens of Franklin County. About 50 per cent of the men who have been Governor of Kentucky have been citizens of Frankfort; some of them before and some after their terms of office. Prior to 1860, perhaps 80 per cent of the State officials were citizens and voters of Franklin County. To such an exteni did the politicians of Frankfort dominate and control the politics of the State that it became a difficult matter for a man out in the State to be elected to an office, if Frankfort opposed his election. This state of affairs naturally aroused jealousy and engendered a feeling of bitterness against Frankfort. So acute did this feeling become that the people throughout the State, and especially the politicians, commenced accusing Frankfort of being the source of all their woes, political and otherwise. An article from the Louisville Democrat of March 4th, 1859, gives some idea of the feeling which had been worked up against Frankfort. The article reads: ''The City of Frankfort, the Capital of the renowned Commonwealth of Kentucky, the abiding place of the famous or rather the infamous Hindoo Clique - the abode of political deviltry in general - the nursery of intrigue and corruption - in short the most God forsaken town that has escaped the hands of the destroying angel since the days of Sodom and Gomorrah - is down, is done for, ha.s fallen, l)roke, smashed and assigned. For years the political tricksters have ruled the city with a rod of iron, and applied the lash with an unsparing hand upon all who would not lick the foot that kicked them. In power, they have ground to the dust an honest and unpurchasable handful of Democrats who have maintained their integrity through long and trying years of oppression. They have used the credit of the city, for the promotion of their own unhallowed ends, for the perpetuation of power in their own infamous hands ; but now the day of reconing is come for lo,

''Frankfort has failed - her magnificent hotel, constructed on the credit of the city at a cost of $70,000 - her extensive gas works, producing in the eloquent language of Judge jNIcKcg ^ 'more stink and less light' than any other works of the kind in the world; her excellent w^ater privileges - all have been mortgaged to Col. Hodges to prevent their immediate sale for the liquidation of bills contracted by the Clique, and to atone for the extravagance and folly of her selfish leaders. We sympathize with many of our friends in Frankfort, who may have big hearts and imperishable Democracy burning in their bosoms, may they survive the misfortinie that threatens the city of their abode, and see the day when they shall bask in the sunlight of social and political freedom, a.s for the Clique, the devil has a mortgage upon them and the only wonder is, that he has not foreclosed it long since." This extreme feeling against Frankfort culminated in a joint resolution, appoint- ' ing a committee of five from the House and three from the ; Senate to inquire into the expediency of removing the seat of \ government to Louisville or some other place. The Frankfort people have always been ready to fight each other on any and all propositions except that of Capital removal ; on that one question they have always been a unit, and they have at all times been able to secure enough liclp out in the State to prevent the removal. Henry Clay made a strong and bitter figlit against Frankfort and the Frankfort people never forgave him, and for half a century after his death, the Frankfort people have had no love for Lexington. George D. Prentice, the brilliant editor of the Louisville Journal, made a strong effort in 1843 to remove the Capital to Louisville. The controversy between him and Senator Rodes Garth from ' Whitley county, over the removal question, was the greatest sensational event of that session of the Legislature. Mr. Prentice said in his paper: "It is understood that this functionary (Senator Garth) has sent home for a clean shirt, and actually made arrangements with a servant for the washing of his pocket handkerchief. It is said, not the half, was told by our correspondent concerning this disgusting object." In response, Senator Garth said, on the floor of the Senate: "I pronounce that publication as slanderous and utterly false - a lie from beginning to end, sir. What do honorable Senators on this floor think of this dirty villian charging that I have hired a servant to wash my handkerchief, leaving the impression to go forth to the world that honorable Senators wash their own handkerchiefs, such a sooty, black-hearted calumniator disgraces and would disgrace the veriest brothel in our land and sink into infamy even a negro quarter, and, sir, we are now called upon to remove the seat of government to Louisville, the residence of this infamous journalist who detests virtue, abhors integrity and honor, and who endeavors to reduce reputable Senators and Representatives of the State of Kentucky to his own level of degradation and infamy. Slander, detraction and billingsgate is the proper food his appetite craves and desires to feast upon."

Harry I, Todd was elected Sheriff in 1859 ; James C. Coleman was elected Coroner; James W. Tate, School Commissioner; James Allen, Jailer, and D. W. Lindsey, Cit}^ Attorney of the City of Frankfort. Peter Jett contested the election of William F. Parrent as Assessor. The contest board was composed of John M. Harlan, George W. Guinn and W. E. Ashmore. They decided the contest in favor of Parrent.

There w^ere 180 deaths in Franklin County in the year 1859. During the same year there were 275 children born; there were 51 marriages; the death rate was 1.42; the population of the county in that year was 12,715.