Henderson County, Kentucky - Chapter 23, 1887 (part 7 of 9)

At a meeting held August 4th, 1862, the death of Companion Andrew Clark was announced. Owing to the war there were no more meetings held until January 17th, 1866. On the seventeenth day of January of that year a meeting was called and the following officers were present: E. G. Hall, H. P.; William Soaper, King; W. H. Sandefur, Scribe ; F. B. Cromwell, C. of H.; J. Woodbridge, P. S.; L. F. Jones, R. A. C; S. H. Lambert, G. M., Third Vail; B. M. Winston, G. M., Second Vail; William Payne, G. M., First Vail; F. B. Cromwell, Secretary ; K. Geibel, Guard. High Priest Hall stated the object of the meeting to be the reorganization of the Chapter and the election of officers. The following were then duly elected : E. G. Hall, High Priest; P. Thompson, King; W. H. Sandefur, Scribe. June 24th, 1867, the regular election was held, and the following named were chosen : S. K. Sneed, High Priest; E. L. Starling, King, and George Gayle, Scribe, These officers were installed publicly by Grand High Priest Joseph H. Brahman, at the Presbyterian Church, and a lecture on Chapter Masonry delivered by Companion Rev. J. Woodbridge.

June 24th, 1809, B. M. Winston was elected High Priest, George Gayle, King, and William Soaper, Jr., Scribe. This was a sort of dead year, the Chapter doing nothing, and when election day, June 4th, 1870, came, all of the offices were filled pro tern. No election was held. No meetings had been held since July l9th, 1869, and a resolution was passed exempting all the members from paying dues for the year 1869.

February, 1871, a meeting was held and steps taken to revive the Chapter. Jerusalem Lodge came to the rescue and granted the Chapter the use of its Lodge room for one year free of charge. On the twenty-fourth day of June, 1871, the following were elected : William Soaper, Jr., High Priest; James F. Clay, King; P. H. King, Scribe; G. H. Johnson, C. H.; J. B. Cook, P. S.; E H. Branson, R. A. C; J. F. Mayer, G. M., Third Vail; ]. G. Adams, G. M., Second Vail; J. P. loor, G. M., First Vail; S. K. Sneed, Treasurer; A. W. Overton, Secretary; J. P. Wigal, Sentinel.

On the evening of June twenty-ninth the foregoing officers were publicly installed at the Baptist Church, Past Grand High Priest Joseph H. Branham officiating. Companion Rev. Dr. Talbird delivered the address. The Chapter had now taken on new life, and has had no backsets from any cause. In looking over the list of those who have been exalted I find the same distinguishing features that marked old Jerusalem No. 9. Men of prominence are those who make up the majority, yet I find that from every station, the mechanic, the lawyer, the physician, the merchant, the ministers, and the politician, all are there, and, once inside the Masonic door, all are alike and equal.

On the twentieth day of October, 1885, at a meeting of the Grand Chapter of Kentucky, held in the City of Louisville, the exalted position of "Grand High Priest" was conferred upon B. G. Witt, of Henderson Chapter. Thus, it will be observed, that Mr. Witt was, in October, 1885, elected both " Grand Worshipful Master" and ''Grand High Priest," the first and only time, perhaps, the two Grand offices were ever conferred upon one person during the same year.

This Commandery was instituted in Henderson, under dispensation, on the twenty-sixth day of December, 1871. [The credit of its institution was due almost ^entirely to the indefatigable work of Past Grand Master Campbell H. Johnson. It is more than probable that but for his liberality and effort there would have been no Commandery here.] - Ed.

There were but few Knights Templar here and they were old and rusty in the work. Rev. Dr. Talbird, of the Baptist Church, William Davis, Hon. H. F. Turner, H. W. Fulton and Andrew J. Flanagan constituted the number. In order to institute an asylum names had to be borrowed from Owensboro, yet there was no Commnndery at that place. It required nine names to the petition, and those nine were secured under difficulties. However, the petition received the requisite number of signatures, and in the course of time a dispensation was received and notice from William C. Munger, the then Grand Recorder, that as proxy of the Grand Commander, he would visit Henderson on the twenty-sixth of December, with such assistance as he could procure in Louisville, for the purpose of setting Henderson Commandery, U. D., to work. In order to have a sufficient number present to open a Commandery an invitation was sent to Evansville, Ind., and in response thereto Sir Knights James K. Minor, William E. Hollingsworth, and George H. Fish, came down. A (Commandery was then opened at 8:30 o'clock P. M., December 26th, 1871. There were present William C. Munger, E. C; H. W. Fulton, Generalissimo; William H. Parvin, C. G.; Henry Talbird, Prelate ; James K. Minor, S. W.; William S. Hollingsworth, J. W ; A. J. Flanagan, Warden ; George H. Fish, Recorder.

The order of Red Cross was conferred that evening upon several candidates and next day following, the Knights Templar order was conferred. Thus this little body of workers proceeded until Henderson Commanders was able to stand alone without the aid of outside help. From that time to this Henderson Commandery has had an uninterrupted career of prosperity. In May, 1879, she entertained the Grand Commandery of Kentucky and visiting Commanderies from Evansville and Terre Haute, Ind., in a manner that gave her a reputation for true hospitality that has spread both far and near, and each succeeding year the Commanderies in other parts of the State have said : " We only wish to come up to Henderson, No. 14, in our entertainment - we know we can't surpass her." Notwithstanding the large amount of expense attending such an entertainment, yet the treasury of the Commandery was not depleted, but, on the other hand, after the work was all done, the entertainment committee returned to the Treasury about ninety dollars. This branch of Masonry, as stated, has never ceased to prosper, and during the year 1882, at a large expense, fitted up very handsome, convenient and spacious apartments, where the orders of knighthood can now be conferred with ease, comfort and imposing effect.

Henderson Commandery has initiated into the mysteries of knighthood over one hundred Companion Royal Arch Masons. Alida Commandery, DeKoven, Ky., o1ie of the best and strongest in Southern Kentucky, sprang from Henderson, yea, more. La Vallette, Evansville, owes a great portion of its success to Henderson.

List Of Officers From Institution

On the twenty-third of May, 1884, this Commandery was greatly honored in the election of Sir Bernard G. Witt to the position of Grand Eminent Commander of the State of Kentucky. The honor was conferred at Bowling Green at the annual conclave of the Grand Commandery. Upon Sir Knight Witt's return home he was received at the depot by Henderson Commandery, with Warren's Band in the lead, and escorted to his residence. During the evening an elegant banquet was given him in the Asylum. A number of addresses were made, inspiriting music graced the occasion, and all was joy and gladness.

Odd Fellows

In the year 1842 a few members of that ancient and honorable order, who had, ownig to a force of circumstances, been denied the pleasure of its social meetings, and desirous of establishing a Lodge, and extending its benefits to those who wished to embrace its beautiful theories, as well as partake of its charitable work, determined to petition the Grand Lodge of the State of Kentucky, for the organization of a subordinate Lodge in Henderson. At that time there was not much material here of which it could be expected to build a grand organization, but there was enough to begin the good work, so a peti tion was forwarded, and on the fifteenth day of October, 1842, the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, by authority of the Grand Lodge of the United States, granted a warrant, or dispensation, to Mark M. Jeffries. William L. Stone, J. M. Stockwell, W. G. Allin and Barak Brashaer, to constitute a Lodge to be hailed by the title of "Strangers' Rest" Lodge, No, 13, to be held in Henderson. This warrant was signed by Jessee VanSickles, M. W. G. M.; J. S. Lithgow, R. W. D. G. M.; A. R. W. Harris, R. W. G. S.; (J. W. Taylor, R. W. G. W.; Jas Metcalf, R. W. G. T.

On the twenty-second evening of October, 1842, Jessee Van- Sickle, Grand Master of the State, and Charles Woodford, both of Louisville, visited Henderson, and with the assistance of the charter members living in the town, and to whom the charter had been granted, organized a Lodge, using the second story room over the brick building on the West side of Second Street, and now occupied by James Mullin, as a saloon. In this room the Lodge continued to meet until the year 1845.

During the early part of 1845 the Trustees of the town determined to build a market house, with a brick calaboose of small capacity at one end of it, this house, or skeleton, was to be built on square brick pillars at equal distance, and a frame roof placed thereon. Before their plans had been fully matured, the Odd Fellows, whose order had grown to be an important one for those times, proposed to the Town Trustees to build in conjunction with the market house and calaboose, a Lodge Room, the town to build the brick pillars and prison, and the Lodge to build a frame Lodge Room the whole length overhead ; the proposition was accepted and the house was soon after built and ready for occupancy. The next thing then was to have a grand parade and the dedicatory festivities.

At the July meeting of the County Court, held in 1845, the following order was passed : " Ordered that the Independent Order of Odd Fellows have leave to use^he Court House on the twenty-ninth day of August next in performing their ceremonies in the dedication of their hall in the town of Henderson." On this day and night the new hall was dedicated with all the solemnity and eclat which usually attaches to such occasions. A grand parade and banquet feast was held, and at which many members of the order from Evansville and other places participated. It was a great day, and each particular member felt and exhibited a creditable amount of Lodge enthusiasm. The paraphenalia and effects of the order were removed to the new Lodge Room, and the work of the order carried on there until the year 1852, when through the infamy of an incendiary, the Lodge Room with all its books and effects, was totally destroyed by fire. This unfortunate circumstance cast a gloom over the order, and for a time they hardly knew what to do. Reviving their past energies, they rented the third story room of the building erected in 1853 by F. Millet, and now occupied and owned by A. S. Winstead, on the east side of Second Street, where they continued to meet until 1862. On the twenty-second day of April, very soon after the great battle of Shiloh, or Pittsburg Landing, their Lodge R6om was taken possession of by the United States authorities and converted into a hospital forsick and wounded soldiers. Immediately all of the effects of the Lodge were removed to the second story of R. G. Beverley's store house on Main Street, now the corner house of the Soaper Block, and no meetings were held until the seventh day of June, 1862, when a meeting was called to pay the last sad rites of the order to W. E. Lambert, a departed member. Subsequent to that time, business meetings of the Lodge were held in that room until 1864, when the Lodge property was removed to the third story room in the building on Main, two doors from the corner of Third Street. While located in this room the work of the order was revived and many candidates were initiated into the mysteries of the craft. It was here preliminary steps were taken to utilize a valuable piece of ground they had purchased from Dr. Owen Glass on March 18th, 1852.

During the spring meeting of 1873 of the Legislature, an act was passed and approved, authorizing the Lodge to issue bonds to the amount of fifteen thousand dollars to use in the building of a Hall and Lodge Room. Soon thereafter the bonds were issued and placed in the keeping of E. W. Worsham for sale. A building committee was appointed with power to secure plans and specifications. May

20th, 1873, the plans and specifications having been reported to the Lodge, and by it adopted, the building committee was instructed to proceed to let the building to the lowest bidder, provided the bid did not exceed the sum of $15,000, and the sale of the bonds could be effected at not less than their face value. May 26th the contract for building a hall according to the plans and specifications adopted, was let to Tribble and Kennedy at and for the sum of $14,575, the bonds having all been disposed of at their face value. Digman & Kyle did the brick work; Holloway, loor & Co., the iron front and other iron work; Henry Kerr, the plastering; W. H. Barnard & Co., the roofing, and Tribble & Kennedy, the carpenter work. George R. Ellis and Asa F. Parker, by order of the Lodge, superintended the work. This building is situated upon the east side of Second Street, between Main and Elm, and is beyond question, one of the most imposing buildings to be found - certainly the handsomest in Henderson. It is a double building, open fronts, three stories, with mansard roof, forty feet by one hundred, with two handsome store rooms on first floor, offices and rooms in the second story, and two magnificant halls in the third storv, one of which is used bv the builders as a Lodo:e Room. This hall was dedicated the sefenteenth day of December, 1873, Brother Scott, of Portland Lodge ofiftciating. It was then placed in the hands of S. A. Young, G. M. Vogel and Fred Kleiderer, constituted a property committee. It is a fitting monument to the liberality and enterprise of its builders and an ornament to the city. It was built during the term of S. A. Young, Noble Grand, and its corner stone was laid with imposing ceremonies conducted by that ofificer. Strangers' Rest Lodge has never failed to dispense charity when that sweet comforter has been needed; she has been cautious of her worthy members and has never failed to watch beside the bed of the sick and dying. She was among the first to send a handsome contribution to the afflicted yellow fever sufferers in 1879. Many of our dead who were leaders in life, and esteemed for all the characteristics of genuine manhood, were active members of this Lodge.

E. Lambert^ Robert B. Lambert, George Lyne, Samuel W. Langley, Andrew Mackay, Peter Mullin,^*John Melvin, A. J. Morrison, R. J. McMullen, E. D. McBride, Hugh W. Nunn, James T. Norment, Alfred Oliver, Lazarus W. Powell, C. M, Pennell, James Rouse, H. E. Rouse, W. G. Redman, C. T. Sandefur, William L. Stone, John C. Stapp, Thebo SchaejfTer, Thomas E. Sniith, James Taylor, John F, Toy, William F. Tornberry, D. H. Unselt, William B. Vansandt, Stephen R. Wilson, Hudson P. Wilson, Drury L. White, E. W. Worsham, Robert Watson, James R. Wright, D. N. Walden. Sixty-six all told. The war affected the growth of the Lodge seriously, as for instance, in 1861, there were only two initiations in 1862 and '63, one each year, and in 1864 none at all. Since the war the Lodge has grown rapidly. In 1865 there were twenty-five initiations, and in 1866 there were twenty-one. In latter years the growth has not been so great In 1880 and '81 there were only two initiations both years.

D. W. Cummings, N. G., Geo. H. Hartman, V. G., George M. Vogel, Treasurer, R. E. Cook, Per. Secretary, O. H. J. Petty, Recording Secretary, were duly installed by Deputy District Grand Master, E. W, Worsham. It was through the instrumentality of Strangers' Rest Lodge that a Lodge was instituted at Shawneetown, Illinois, in 1845, and at Morganfield in 1847. On both of these occasions the following officers of the Strangers' Rest officiated : B. Brashaer, Hector Green, Jacob Held, James Rouse, Peter Mullen and W. H, Brown.

A higher branch of Odd Fellowship was instituted in this city June 12th, 1848, under dispensation. November 4th, 1848, it was chartered, the following being its charter members : William H. Cunningham, Dr. Wm. S. Read, Barak Brashaer, W. Hubbell, Samuel Lister, Willis J. Hughes, Charles Woolford, C. Little and William Wandell. The encampment was instituted by Deputy G. O. P.; John B. Hinkle, who was deputized by R. T. W. G. P., David P. Watson. The first meeting was held in *' Strangers' Rest " Lodge Room, over the market house, June 12th, 1848. The following petitions for membership were received : John T. Berry, S. D. Delaney, T. Wolflin, Isham Bridges, Robert Alvey, P. H. Hodge, W. David, Charles B. B. Nailer, P. L. Johnson, all of Morganfield, Union County. Joseph Adams, William H. Brown, L. W. Brown, James Rouse and Peter Mullin, of Henderson. The Lodge met next day for the purpose of initiating the petitioners, and holding an election for officers. The following were elected : W. H. Cunningham, C. P.; J. P. Lister, H. P.; William S. Read, S. W.; Barak Brashaer, Jr. W.; Peter Mullin, Scribe; W. H. Brown, Sentinel, W. G. Hughes, Guide. The dues of the Lodge were then fixed at three dollars, and have never been changed from that day to this. Charles Woolford and C. Little were from Louisville, and came down for the purpose of assisting in instituting the encampment. The encampment was for some reason suspended January 3d, 1857, but resumed active work again October 4th, 1859. On the night the Market House and Lodge Room were burned there had been a meeting of the encampment. It was a bitter cold night, and a rousing fire had been kept in the stove. Upon adjournment the fire was extinguished, yet David N. Walden, who was scribe in charge of the books, felt that it was best to carry the records of the Lodge to his home. He did so, although it had been the custom to let the books remain in the Lodge Room, from this precautionary move on his part, the records of the encampment were saved, while those of the Strangers* Rest Lodge were all burned. It is gratifying to know that No. 17 is still in a flourishing condition.

On the evening of July 5th, 1887, the following officers were installed by Deputy District Grand Patriarch, E. W. Worsham : Wm. E. McGraw, Chief Patriarch ; George H. Hartman, Senior Warden; William Klee, High Priest, and John Mundo, Junior Warden.

Knights Of Pythias Ivy Lodge, No. 21

Ivy Lodge was organized under dispensation prior to receiving its charter. Its first meetings were held in the third story rooms corner Main and First Streets. T. M. Jenkins was elected First Chancellor Commander, J. Ed. Rankin, Vice Chancellor.

This Lodge, from its beginning, grew more rapidly, perhaps, than any other charitable society ever organized in the town or city. The Lodge is composed of many of the representative men of the city and at this time numbers one hundred and nineteen members. At the meeting of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, held in Henderson, September, 1879, W. W. Blackwell, a member of Ivy Lodge, was unanimously elected Grand Chancellor of the State. At tlie same meeting a most sumptuous banquet was given the Grand Lodge by Ivy Lodge, and the very heavy expense attending it was borne by

On December, 1886, the Endowment Rank and insurance feature of the Lodge was chartered, the following named composing the charter members : W. W. Blackwell, J. B. Johnston, Gustave Starr, Edward Starr, E. T. Robards, S. Heilbronner, W. H. Bailey, F. B. Stains, J. D. Hicks, P. C. Kyle, E. M. Pollack, W. A. Dechamp, John C. Thomasson, E. D. Bennett, and Edward Atkinson. This charter was signed by Howard Douglas, Supreme Chancellor ; R. E. Cowan, Supreme Keeper Records and Seals ; Halver Nelson, Supreme Secretary Endowment Rank, and is recognized as Section 779, of which John C. Thomasson is Secretary. The Endowment Rank is purely a mutual life insurance organization, issuing policies in amounts varying from three hundred to one thousand dollars, according to age of applicant.

Ivy Lodge has the honor of claiming among its membership two Past Grand Chancellors, W. W. Blackwell and Edward Atkinson, the latter elected at Paris, Ky., in 1885. At the Grand Lodge meeting held at Owensboro several years ago, Ivy Lodge Drill Corps won the prize banner and yet holds it.

Upon the election of Edward Atkinson to the office of Grand Chancellor Commander, Ivy Lodge extended him on his return home a delightful banquet at City Hall, where hundreds of friends and invited guests were given a most enjoyable treat.

Independent Order Of Good Templars

On the twenty-third day of January, 1886, this order whose principles are " Abstinence and Prohibition ; Our Mission to Save and Redeem," a Lodge was chartered in Henderson by C. C. Nisbet, G. W. S. ; R. S. Chevis, G. W. C. T., and B. F. Parked, R. W. G. S. The following officers were elected : Thomas E. Ward, W. C. T.; Mrs. Emma Hart, N. V. T. ; Rev. R. D. Smith, W. Chaplain ; A. J. Miller, W. Secretary ; James F. Cheatham, W. A. S. ; T. F. Hart, W. F. S. ; Miss Lydia Katterjohn, W. Treasurer ; C. H. Miller, W. M. ; Miss Mabel kail, W. D. M. ; Miss Hebe Marsh, W. L G. ; W. G. Bell, W. O. D. ; Miss Annie Young, W. R. H. S. ; Miss Maggie Stone, W. L. H. S. ; S. W. Roll, P. VV.C. T. A juvenile Temple was instituted the following February.

Order Of Iron Hall

This Order, whose aim is Union, Protection and Forbearance, was chartered in Henderson, December 11th, 1885. Its number is ^96, and there were twenty-six charter members. William Canning was its first Chief Officer, Ed. Hoffman, Secretary. It embodies the usual insurance features.

Grand Army Republic

John Holloway, Jr., Post, No. 46, was chartered August 19th, 1886. There were twenty-six charter members, and the Post now numbers about eighty comrades. Dr. Ben. Letcher was elected first Commander ; A. C. Myrick, Adjutant.

Order Of Harugari

Schiller Lodge, No. 185, was instituted in Henderson in 1868. It is a charitable organization and numbers about twenty-five members. Its present officers are William Schildrod, O. B. ; John Youngbecker, U. B. ; Charles Greiks, Secretary; George Klauder, Treasurer.

Henderson Enterprises

Water Works. - On the seventeenth day of September, 1872, a petition, liberally signed, was filed with the Council, praying that body to establish a system of water supply. Upon the reading of this petition, a resolution was passed, directing City Council Advisor Judge Charles Eaves to draft and report a bill incorporating the Henderson Waters Works Company. The bill was drawn, adopted and passed by the Legislature, winter term 1872, '73. On the twelfth day of March, 1878, the act was reported to the Council. The incorporators, Joseph Adams, John C. Stap, John H. Barrett, T. M. Jenkins, David Clark, L. C. Dallam, E. L. Starling, Jacob Held, Ben Harrison, F. W. Reutlinger and V. M. Mayer, soon found that a private company could not be organized and thereupon the City Council determined to embrace the benefit of franchises, powers and privileges granted the city under the act.

On the twentieth day of May an ordinance was passed, directing an election to be held to ascertain the sense of the qualified voters as to the propriety of the city issuing her bonds in the sum of one hundred thousand dollars for Water Works purposes. On the twenty-first day of June, 1873, this election was held and resulted in a large majority for the proposition. July 15th, a committee consisting of G. M. Alves, T. M. Jenkins, E. L. Starling and F. W. Reutlinger, was appointed to investigate the general subject of Water Works and to report a plan that, in their opinion, would meet the wants of this people. The com- mittee visited several cities and made a thorough examination of the different systems. August 4th, a report was made to the Council, which, together with the following resolution offered by Councilman L. C. Dallam, was approved :

" Resolved, That the special committee on the subject of Water Works, whose report on that subject has been read and adopted at this meeting, are entitled to the thanks of this Council for their able report on that subject, and that an allowance to cover their expenses be made them,"

On the twenty-lifth day of June, 1874, an ordinance to build *' Water Works " was passed and directed one hundred thousand dollars of city bonds to be issued. In the meantime, a plan and specifications had been submitted by Thos. P. Whitman, of St. Louis, who had been employed for that purpose. These were adopted, and a committee directed to advertise for sealed proposals for doing the work. August 18th, the bonds were reported and on August 21st an elaborate report was filed by Thomas P. Whitman, Consulting, and G. M. Alves, Resident Engineers. This report was unanimously adopted and the following bids awarded :

174,666 20 The Mayor was then directed to have issued seventy-five bonds of $1,000 each, and fifty bonds of $500, and Mayor Held, Col. L. H. Lyne and A. S. Nunn authorized to negotiate the same. August 29th, purchased the present Water Works grounds of John H. and W. T. Barret, executors of A. B. Barret, for the sum. of $7,438 cash. September 17th, 1875, Hon. John C. Atkinson qualified as Mayor, and upon his inauguration, the Water Committee of the previous administration, made the following report :

During the fall and winter of 1875 and winter and spring of 1876, the engine, pumps and boilers were placed in position, attachments made and steam raised. April 18th, 1876, an ordinance establishing water rates was passed. June 6th, John Haffey completed his contract for pipe-laying, and the pipes were submitted to a test of seventy-five pounds to the square inch and found water-tight. July 1st, 1876, the water was turned into the pipes, and this was the beginning of the first term of water service. June 20th, 1877, a final test, as agreed, was made of the machinery. The pumps threw over 8,000,000 gallons of water, as required by the contract, in forty-eight hours, and thereupon the committee reported, recommending their acceptance. This report was approved and the works turned over to the Commissioners appomtedby the Council, to-wit : L. H. Lyne, Thos. L. Norris, P. B. Matthews, Thos. S. Knight and John Reichert. The total cost of the works, including street mams and interest paid, amounted to $115,500. Since the first water rent term, the semiannual receipts have continued to show a gratifying increase, for instance :

The total receipts of these Works to July, 1887, amounts to $64,296.99, an annual average of $5,358.09i4;. Number of hydrants, 68; number of valves, 58; number of service, 750; number of consumers, 1,500 ; miles of pipe, 3 to 12 inches, 12^. Stand pipe pressure, 75 pounds to square inch. Reservoir pressure, 40 pounds to square inch. Pumping capacity, 1,500,000 gallons per twenty-four hours. Capacity of reservoir, 3,000,000 gallons.

Five years ago, the pumps were run not exceeding one day out of seven. At the present time they are engaged six days out of the seven. To guard against accidents, the Commissioners have seen proper to purchase another large and expensive engine, and should the water service increase, as there is every right to believe it will, it will not be many years before another reservoir will have to be built.

The water mains are now laid under all of the principal streets and very many others sparsely settled. By far the greater portion of the city is under the influence of the works, and as a medium in case of fire is unequaled. The reservoir is located upon a high elevation, reservoir pressure capable of throwing an inch stream above the roof of any house in the city. In addition to this, the stand pipe pressure,

The works to-day are worfti $150,000. This property, belonging solely to the city, of course the price charged for water is far below that of other cities, where the works are owned by private companies or corporations. G. M. Alves, City Engineer, is entitled to great credit for the intelligence and faithful 'applicatichi exercised in the building and successful completion of these works.

The present officers are : Jacob F. Mayer, President ; Fred. Kleiderer, Secretary and Treasurer; James P. Wigal, Superintendent. Commissioners, Jacob F, Mayer, Fred. Kleiderer, J. B. Johnston, W. J. Marshall and George Delker.

Henderson Bridge. - Was incorporated on the ninth day of February, 1872, the following names comprising the incorporators: Archibald Dixon, John H. Barrett, Joseph Adams, L. C. Dallam, S. B. Vance, James F. Clay, E. L. Starling, Thomas A. Scott, E. G. Sebree, E. F. Winslow, Robert Dixon, Jackson McClain and L. H. Lyne.

This act of the Legislature gave the right to bridge the Ohio River at Henderson, and invested the company to be organized, with all the authority incident to such corporations.

Nothing was done looking to the building of the bridge until September 21st, 1880, when the first meeting of the incorporators was called for organization. The following incorporators answered to their names : S. B. Vance, John H. Barrett, Jackson McClain, Leonard H. Lyne, Joseph Adams, Robert Dixon, James F. Clay, L. C. Dallam and E. L. Starling. James F. Clay was made chairman and E. L. Starling Secretary. Seven Directors were elected in accordance with the provisions of the act, to-wit : S. B. Vance, L. C. Dallam, James F. Clay, Leonard H. Lyne, John H. Barrett, Jackson McClain and E. L. Starling, and then the meeting adjourned.

The Directors then organized, by electing L. C. Dallam President and E. L. Starling Secretary. L. C. Dallam and L. H. Lyne were appointed a committee to open books and receive subscriptions to the capital stock of the company, and then the Board adjourned. Nothing more was then done until April 14th, 1881. At a meeting of the Directors, L. C. Dallam, James F. Clay and John H. Barrett resigned. Jackson McClain was then chosen temporary Chairman ; E. P. Alexander, A. M. Quarrier and H. W. Bruce, of Louisville, elected Directors ; thereupon E. P. Alexander was unanimously

During the spring and summer of 1882 preliminary surveys were made to ascertain distances, soundings, courses and rapidity of current. At the same time T. M. Jenkins, of Henderson, was employed to make borings for foundation. Early in 1883 a contract was entered into with O'Conner & McDonald, of Louisville, to do all required masonry work, and to build all caissons. Work was soon begun, and continued until April 7th, 1884, when the contract was taken from O'Conner & McDonald, and the completion of the great structure undertaken by the company.

Work progressed much more rapidly under the new management, and in July, 1885, the first locomotive passed over the bridge. This immense iron and steel bridge cost near two million dollars. It is 3,686 feet in length, single track, with sixteen spans, and three smaller or supplemental ones. The channel span, built entirely of steel, is five hundred and twenty-five feet in length - said to be five feet longer than any other iron or steel span in the world. The entire iron and steel work was done by the Key Stone Bridge Company, of Pittsburgh, Pa. There are fifteen stone piers, nine of which rest upon immense wooden caissons, sunk to a rock foundation, and filled compactly with concrete.

During the building of the bridge there were onlv six or eight lives lost, and in every instance the loss of life was owing entirely to the recklessness of the unfortunate person. Mr. William Reardon, of New York, who superintended the sinking and placing of the caissons, told the writer that it was the first instance known where such work was so successfully done. Prior to the building of the Henderson bridge, there had never been a pneumatic pier sunk without the loss of life. Five were sunk here, and not a life lost. He gave it as his opinion that the Henderson bridge has the best foundation of any similar structure in the world.

On the sixth day of August, 1885, an immense banquet was given by the city and citizens of Henderson in honor of the opening for travel of the bridge. This banquet was spread in Marshall & Co.'s large warehouse, and was certainly one of the most abundantly supplied and elegant affairs ever witnessed in the West. Thousands of people were in Henderson on that long to be remembered day, from all parts of this great United States. It was estimated that there were twenty thousand people present?- At night, from barges in the river at the foot of the wharf, there was given an unsurpassed display of fireworks. At the banquet speeches were made by General Basil Duke, Judge H. W. Bruce, General Manager L. & N.; E. B. Stahlman, of Louisville ; Judge S. B. Vance, Evansville ; Judge John L. T. Sneed, of Memphis, Tenn., and Hons. John Young Brown and J. H. Powell, of Henderson. An elegant speech tendering the hospitalities of the city was made by Mayor C. C. Ball.

Notwithstanding the elegance and appropriateness of this cele bration, many citizens became dissatisfied, and on September 1st gave an immense barbecue in honor of the bridge opening.

The city subscribed ten shares, of fifty dollars each, to the capital stock, and payed the subscription by deeding to the company the ground upon which the works were built. Wm. Miller, who professed to be an expert in the art of gas manufacture, was employed as Superintendent, and placed in charge with directions to furnish plans and specifications. This he did, and some months thereafter completed the works, but upon a cheap and insignificant scale. On the seventeenth day of May, 1859, an ordinance was passed, granting the company the right to lay gas mains in the streets. March 10th, 1860, the streets were lighted for the first time. The pipes used, or the greater part of them, were cast at a little foundery then in Henderson, on the cor ner of Fourth and Main Streets, and were very imperfectly made. The leakage was immense, and this, coupled with the imperfection of the works, and the war coming on, caused a suspension of any further attempt to manufacture gas. November 24th, 1860, Hugh Kerr brought suit to foreclose a mortgage which was held for the sum of $784.00 and interest. On the eighth day of April, 1864, Samuel P. Spaulding, as assignee for Peter Semonin, sued to foreclose a mortgage for the sum of $835.25. Judgment in both cases were taken, and on the twenty-fifth day of April, 1864, the works exposed to sale by D. N. Walden, Sheriff. At the sale J. C. Allin became the purchaser for the city, but the sale was set aside by the Court of Appeals and a second sale ordered. January 22d, 1866, the works were again sold by George A. Sugg, Sheriff, and Robert G. Rouse became the purchaser, and at the sum of $1,991.35. This bid was transferred to the city, the sale was confirmed, and a deed made.

The works remained idle until December 6th, 1866. when they were leased to William O'Bryan, an irresponsible character who was compelled to throw up the contract six months after. On the seventeenth day of July, 1869, the Council determined to place the works in complete repair, and to that end appropriated seven thousand dollars, and entered into contract with T. M. Jenkins, as Superintendent, for the term of fifteen years. At the expiration of his term of office in July, 1884, William Canning, the present incumbant, was elected Superintendent.

The Henderson Gas Works belong wholly to the city of Henderson, and in completeness is unsurpassed by any works of that character to be found in the West.

The brilliancy of its production, under the superior management of Superintendent William Cannings, has attained the highest standard. The streets of the city are largely lighted, and by this means the wayfaring man is greatly assisted in his night travels. All of the manufactories, including tobacco stemmeries, and a large majority of residences along the line of mains are consumers, so that for many years past these works have proven a handsome paying investment, and today as is being furnished consumers for the moderate sum of one dollar and seventy-five cents per thousand feet, meter measure. The city at this time has over four hundred consumers. The present capacity of the works is 50,000 feet per twenty-four hours. Recently a large addition of machinery has been made to the works, and thus the capacity will be greatly increased.

Henderson Cotton Mills. - This company was organized in 1883, with a capital stock of $400,000, paid in. A large amount of this stock is owned in the East, notably Lowell and Hopdale, Mass.

In 1883 the contract for building this immense mill was awarded the Holtzclaw Brothers, of Washington City, and very soon thereafter work was begun under the superintendance of W. A. Johnson. The main building is 324 feet in length, 95 feet in width, and is three stories in height. In addition to this, there is a boiler house, 40x60 feet, engine room, 30x60 feet, and a picker room, 60x40 feet. The basement underneath the entire main building is used for power, first floor, for weaving; second floor, for spinning; third floor, for carding. The power consists of seven tubular boilers, 16 feet by 5 feet diameter, steel throughout ; fifty-four four-inch flues, with brick stack 142 feet high and five foot flue ; one pair Reynolds' Corliss engines. The capacity of the mill is 600 looms, 2,200 spindles. It is lighted by electricity, Edison's incandescent, and has in each story fire hydrants and ample hose, supplied from the water mains which have been laid down to the mill.

The engines that move all of this vast machinery are unsurpassed in strength and finish. The entire system of machinery is of the latest and most improved known to the manufacturing world. This mill, one of the largest in the West, was completed during the winter of 1883, '84, and commenced work September, 1885. Two hundred men, women and boys are employed, and weekly 160,000 yards of fine sheetings are manufactured and turned out in bales. So popular have become the brands of sheetings made by this mill, the management have found it beyond their limit to supply the demand made upon them by the jobbers of the country. Their goods are sought for from Cincinnati to San Francisco, and North and Northwest.

In addition to the mill, the Company owns fourteen acres of land lying on both sides of Washington Street, and thirty-two double twostory brick tenement houses, built at a cost of $30,000, with water service in each, strictly for the use of operatives.

Four thousand, five hundred bales of cotton are consumed annually, and their pay-roll for help aggregates $2,650 per week. By Eastern men,who have long engaged in the manufacture of cotton goods, this mill is regarded equal to the best in the United States, and for this satisfactory result the greatest credit is due W. W. Cumnock, Superintendent.

The present officers are : James E. Rankin, President , John H Barret, Vice President ; Paul J. Marrs, Secretary and Treasurer, and W. W. Cumnock, Superintendent. Directors : James E. Rankin j John H. Barret, R. C. Soaper, Paul J. Marrs and John H. Hodge, of Henderson, A. G. Cumnock, Lowell, and General William L. Draper, of Hopdale, Mass. As an evidence of the value of this mill's products, the company has declared semi-annual dividends of four per cent.

Henderson Woollen Mills. - This Company filed articles of incorporation May 2d, 1882. The company, however, was organized April 15th, 1882. The original officers were : James R. Barret, President; M. Yeaman, Vice President; Joe. B. Alves, Secretary and Treasurer; James Gates, Superintendent.

The main mill building is a large brick, three-stories, basement and roomy attic, making it about equal to a four-story building, height of ceiling considered. In addition to the main building, there is a picker room, 35x35, and a dye house, 30x40. Separate from the main building is a dry room, 18x20, and a wareroom, 70x20. These buildings were completed during the winter of 1882, '83, and soon thereafter stocked with the finest machinery purchasable.

The power to move the machines is furnished by an automatic cut-off engine of large capacity and power, and a 60 inch boiler, 14 feet long. This mill runs 60 looms, 1,700 spindles and two sets 60 cards. One hundred and forty operatives are employed in making " Kentucky Jeans" of the best quality.

In September, 1886, a pants making department was added and a large force of women and girls are employed in making pants for the jobbing trade. Forty-two sewing machines run by power are enr ployed, and twenty dozen pairs pants are turned out daily. Fifty persons are employed in this department. The company is a heavy buyer of foreign as well as domestic wools. June, 1886, the capital stock was increased and now aggregates $70,000. The regular pay-roll amounts to $750. The first floor or basement is used by the sewing department ; second floor, weaving or finishing ; third, carding and spinning ; fourth, stock.

The Company enjoys a patronage equal to the capacity of the mill, distributed over the South and West. Present oflficers are : Jas. R. Barret, President; S. K. Sneed, Vice President; Joe. B. Alves, Secretary and Treasurer ; James Morning, Superintendent ; Samuel Ofner, Manager Cutting Department.

Henderson Coal and Mining Company. - This companv was organized in October, 1875, the first meeting being held October 15th. On the thirteenth day of March, 1875, articles of incorporation were filed. The following named gentleman were elected officers for the first year: W. S. Johnson, President; James S. Alves, Secretary and General Superintendent; D.Banks, Jr., Treasurer. Directors: W. S. Johnson, Joe. B. Alves, Thomas Soaper, V. M. Mayer and Jacob Peters. The stock of the company was capitalized at $12,000. Work in sinking a shaft was commenced October 8th, 1875, and No. 9 vein was reached at a depth of one hundred and eighty-four feet, in May, 1876. On the twenty-seventh day of April, 1882, the name, "Henderson Coal and Mining Company " was annulled, and substituted in lieu thereof "The Henderson Mining and Manufacturing Company." The capital stock was then increased to $36,000, and the building of an Ice Factory immediately begun upon the grounds of the company adjoining thg coal mines. The capacity of this factory was six and one-half tons per day, large enough tor 1882, but falling short of the demand made upon it at this time, and as a consequence, the company in addition to their own manufacture, deal heavily in lake ice.

The present officers of the Mining and Manufacturing Company are, Thomas Soaper, President; James S. Alves, Superintendent; G. M. Alves, Secretary and Treasurer. Directors : Thomas Soaper, John H. Barret, Jr., J. Ed. Rankin, Geo. G. Ellis and Henry Bauldoff

Fire Department. - Henderson has a fire department of which she is justly proud. These self-sacrificing men serve without pay, and no company has ever been more successful in keeping under control and finally subduing fires than has the Hender-son department. They have two large hose reels, hook and ladder wagon, with buckets, hooks and ladders, and three splendid horses to pull them rapidily at the sounding of an alarm. In addition to this they have an abundance of hose to reach any fire within the limits of the water mains. The fire service in Henderson is the best and most successful to be had. ,

The Water Works, with its great pressure and abundance of water, is called in aid at a moment's notice, and in the shortest time possible a perfect flood of water can be used. There is no breaking of machinery, no giving out of water as is so frequently the case in other cities. On the contrary, there can be thrown two steady, unceasing, strong pressure streams as long as needed. The success of this department in suppressing fires in the past has been remarkable. The following named compose the company : William Cannings, Chief; John Kriel, Captain ; Hector Kohl, Secretary ; Robert AJly, Abe Melton, William Labrey, Newton Shaw, Pat. Moran, William McConnell, Pat Byrnes, John Powers, Jim Gorman and Alex Fen\/ick.

Banks. - The Farmers' Bank was organized on March 2d, 1850, and commenced business in October, 1850, in the building now occupied by the Henderson National Bank. Dr. Owen Glass was elected President, D. Banks, Cashier, and Henry Lyne, Clerk, or Bookkeeper. The capital stock of the bank was fixed at $150,000, and Wednesday of each week appointed, stated Board meetings. Dr. Glass, who owned the building, was allowed $250 rent per annum.

The business of the bank increased so rapidly it was determined by the Board to erect a banking house better suited to the times. Ta this end, therefore, on the 21st day of July, 1855, a lot 60x194 feet, lying on the North East corner of Elm and Second Cross Streets, was purchased of Dr. Glass for the sum of three thousand dollars. April, 1856, a contract was entered into with W. B. Vandzant and J. E. Fa^-an to erect the new building. The house was completed in the early part of 1857, and the archives removed therein.

The Directors at that time were Owen Glass, George Atkinson, Samuel Stites, John G. Holloway, James E. Rankin and David R. Burbank. Dr. Glass died December 29th, 1859, and John G Holloway was elected President. In February D. Banks resigned the Cashiership, and on March 8th, 1860, Thomas D. Tilford assumed charge as Cashier. May, 1860, John G. Holloway resigned the Presidency, and Joseph Adams was elected. September 1st, 1860, Henry Lyne resigned the Clerkship, and then the office of Teller was created, and Leonard H. Lyne unanimously elected to that position. September 1st, 1861, Thomas D. Tilford resigned the Cashiership, and Leonard H. Lyne was elected, and John C. Herndon appointed Clerk. On the 12th day of July, 1866, a new Banking House, more centrally located, was determined upon, and the now handsome stone front building, a picture of which will be seen in this volume, was erected and occupied in 1867. The building on the northeast corner of Elm and Second Cross Streets was sold to the Presbyterian Church. In January, 1878, Joseph Adams resigned the Presidency, and J. E. McCallister was elected. S. K. Skneed", A. W. Overton, John C. Adams and William S. Lyne served their time as bookkeepers.

October 30th, 1867, Charles T. Starling was elected Bookkeeper and subsequently Teller. September 25th, 1881, Col. L. H. Lyne, Cashier, departed this life, and on the 27th, Charles T. Starling was elected to fill the vacancy occasioned by his death. On the second day of August, 1882, Col. Jackson McClain was elected President in place of John E. McCallister. Edward Atkinson was elected Teller, and E. L. Starling, Jr., Bookkeeper; in place of A. Shelby Rudy, resigned, Spalding Trafton, Clerk, The present officers are, Jackson McClain, President; Charles T. Starling, Cashier; Edward Atkinson, Teller ; Edmund L. Starling, Jr., Bookkeeper and Spaulding Trafton, Clerk. Directors : Hon. H. F. Turner, W. J. Marshall, David Clark*, W. W. Shelby, Martin Schlamp, Jackson McClain and A. T. Dudley.

This old reliable institution, under the splendid management of Col. L. H. Lyne, was ever one of the most successful financial corporations in the State. During the war it continued to accommodate its -patrons, nevertheless it was at all times threatened by prowling bands of guerrillas and thieves. Col. Lyne, by prudence and constant and - untiring watchfulness, succeeded in bringing his bank through the war with only one robbery, and to him all honor is due.

Mr. Starling, present Cashier, has succeeded eminently in sustaining the former high standard of the bank, and has very materially increased its business. It is, as it has always been, the leading bank

Farmers' Bank

This bank has regularly declared 5 per cent, dividend in January and July of each year since it commenced business, and two extra dividends, one of 12}4 pei" cent, and one of 15 per cent. Its present surplus, including premiums on its 4 per cent. U. S. bonds, amounts to $120,000. The stock cannot be had at less than 165, and none offered at that price. No bank stock in Southern Kentucky, or in this section of the West, ranks so high or commands such a premium.

The average capital of this bank, since its organization, is 173,000. It has paid in dividends $400,000, has a surplus fund and undivided profits of $105,000, besides the premium on its government bonds stand on its books at par. Its officers and stockholders regard with just pride its exceptional success, and in its list of stockholders are to be found a large number of the wealthiest and staunchest business men of this community, noted as well for their enterprise as their conservative and practical mode of doing business. One of the most prominent features of its success is the small amount of losses it has sustained, and perhaps no bank in this or any other city has brought so few suits in the twenty-one years of its existence or done more to encourage and promote all worthy enterprises and assist worthy business men. Its present Board of Directors is composed of L. C. Dallam, R. H. Soaper, John H. Barret, Jr., James R. Barret, Malcolm Yeaman, Thomas Soaper and S. K. Sneed. L. C. Dallam is President, S. K. Sneed, Cashier ; B. G. Witt, Assistant Cashier, and Wm. H. Stites and Arthur Katterjohn, bookkeepers. Its deposits average about $200,000.

Planters' National Bank. - This bank was established in 1888, with a capitalized stock of $60,000. Hon. Montgomery Merritt was elected President ; David Banks, Jr., Cashier, and A. Shelby Rudy, bookkeeper. Its stock is chiefly held by leading and influential men of capital and business. It is gratifying to know that under its efficient management the stock has been increased to $150,000, and the gradual increase in its business has fully justified the increase. This bank has a good reserve fund and a large deposit. Its stock is largely beyond par, and is becomming more and more valuable year by year. Its officers are accommodating gentlemen, and are active in aiding, not alone all worthy enterprises, but all worthy borrowers. The bank building owned by the bank, is one of the handsomest and centrally located. The present officers of this bank are Hon. Montgomery Merritt, President ; David Banks, Jr., Cashier ; A. Shelby Rudy, and Ingram Crocket,Bookkeepers. Directors: Montgomery Merritt, John O. Byrne, James S. Alves, N. A. Kitchell, J. D. Robards and E. G. Sebree, Jr.

Railroads. - Henderson is the northern terminal of' the Henderson and Nashville Division of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, and the Ohio Valley Railroad, now working its way into the South. It is here the great iron bridge spans the Ohio, connecting, by rapid transit, the northern and southern systems of railways. It is confidently predicted that by August, 1888, the river road from Henderson to Louisville will be completed ; thus, then, Henderson will be recognized as a leading railway center.

Of the Louisville & Nashville I have spoken elsewhere in this volume. The first dirt was broken on the line of the Ohio Valley road in October, 1885, and the services attending upon that happy occasion were intensely interesting. By invitation, a large number of citizens in the city were present at the designated point upon the lands of John H. Barrett, a half mile beyond the intersection of the Madisonville and Knoblick roads to witness the ceremony. A team of four mules hitched to an immense plow, stood waiting. The engineers had driven the stakes, twenty five or thirty colored laborers with bright, shining spades awaited the word. Speeches were made by Hon. James F. Clay, Dr. P. G. Kelsey, President of the road, Matthew Henning and George L. Dixon, of Evansville, Col. A. S. Winstead and others. Mr. John H. Barrett, by invitation, held the plow, while President Kelsey,with lines and whip, gave the word and the roadbed of the Ohio Valley was thus begun. It was a joyous afternoon and no one contributed more to the enhancement of the spirit of the crowd than did Col. Winstead, When the plow had been brought to a stand-still, each citizen threw several shovels of earth to the center and then surrendered the work to hardy manhood and returned to the city. The Ohio Valley sweeps through a splendid agricultural territory "and from its evenness of surface offered every advantage to the road builders. The work of sub-contractors was both rapid and satisfactory, and on the twelfth day of March, 1886, although a severe winter had intervened, the first locomotive entered Corydon, a distance of ten or eleven miles from Henderson. The road in four, teen months from its beginning, was completed and trains running to Marion, county seat of Crittenden County. President Kelsey and his Chief Marshal, Jordan Giles, Secretary and Treasurer, have proven their ability as railroad builders by their work. The Ohio Valley, although incompleted, is regarded by very many citizens of more value to Henderson than the old established Louisville & Nashville.

Telegraph AND Telephone. - The . Western Union and Baltimore & Ohio Telegraph Companies have each an office in Henderson, Frank L. Adams, manager of the first, D. W. C. Worsham of the latter. The Great Southern Telephone and Telegraph Company was incorporated June 8th, 1883. Its annual elections are held in Henderson, and Captain Paul J. Marrs is one of its largest stockholders and most active and influential members. Thus it will be seen that Henderson has immediate connection with the world wherever the service of these companies have been extended.

River Facilities. - Henderson being situated upon the Ohio River, enjoys all of the benefits afforded by water transit, to-wit : a line of steamers plying between Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Louisville to St. Louis, Memphis and New Orleans. A daily line of boats to Louisville, another to Cairo, and a tri-daily packet to Evansville.

Tobacco INTEREST. - Henderson is undoubtedly the largest strip market in the United States. By strips is meant the leaf after the stem has been taken from it. There are seventeen stemmeries in the city and eighteen in the county outside of the city. The following is a list, together with the estimated capacity of each house :

In addition to this, fully fifteen hundred hogsheads of leaf are handled. This immense business gives employment to fully fifteen hundred operatives. One hogshead of strips represents about one hundred and fifty dollars, so it will be seen when the stemmers do a full business it requires the outlay- of two millions or more of dollars.

Tobacco Manufacturers. - On January 22d, 1883, Messrs. J. D. Robards and N, A. Kitchell, under the firm name of the " Robards- Kitchell Manufacturing Company," filed their articles of incorporation. This, then, was the first manufactory ever organized in Henderson. The business was begun and carried on for a short time in the present John H. Hodge stemmery, but was subsequently removed to Mr. Robards' stemmery, on the corner of Second and Adam Streets, where it is at this time. Within the past three months. Dr. Kitchell sold his interest and the firm is now J. D. Robards & Co., being composed of J. D. and E. T. Robards. The finest chewing and smoking tobaccos are manufactured, and none but the best material is used. The celebrated Greenville brand of chewing tobacco is made. The firm has ample capacity and means to push the work to any desired extent. Between fifteen hundred and two thousand pounds of tobacco are handled daily. Their trade is mostly South. Between twenty-five and thirty persons are employed.

Thos. Hodge'S Tobacco Factory

Streets. This is by far the largest and most complete manufactory in the State, outside of the City of Louisville. The building is a laro-e one and contains every conv^iience. It is supplied with the best machinery, and new additions, to facilitate work, are constantly being made. A large force of experts are employed and the best brands of chewing tobaccos known to the trade are turned out in large quantities. Between fifty and sixty operatives find employment in the factory, and between two thousand five hundred and three thousand pounds of tobacco is manufactured daily.

Distilling. - The first distillery of which anything is known was a little kettle concern for manufacturing apple and peach brandy, operated by Mr. Melton. He, perhaps, made as much as twenty-five gallons per year. There were others in early times, but the introduction by merchants of cheaper goods eventuated in pretty much breaking up the little stills in the county. Mr. Melton held on until the beginning of the war, when, by reason of the stringency of the revenue laws and the taxes, he suspended operations. The first whisky distillery known in the county was built by D. R. Burbank, in the Town of Henderson, in 1867-'8. This "was a large house and made several large crops of whisky, which found a ready market. The next distillery built was that of Starling & McClain, in 1872. A few years subsequent to this another was built opposite Evansville, and shortly after burned. The first two ceased operations and have long since been torn down.

During the summer and fall of 1880 Messrs. A. S. Winstead and N. B. Hill, under the firm name of Hill & Winstead, who, havinopurchased the buildings and grounds of the Henderson Car Works, formed a copartnership under the firm name of Hill & Winstead for the purpose of distilling. The buildings were remodeled and arranged for the purpose, and the first whisky made during the winter of that year. The capacity of this house is twenty barrels per twentyfour hours, but it has, owing to the over supply of whiskies on the market, never been run beyond half capacity. They manufacture the renowned " Silk Velvet " sour mash, and meet with ready sales. Large numbers of cattle and swine are fed from the offal.

E. W. WoRSHAM & Co. - During the summer of 1881 E. W. Worsham and J. B. Johnston, under the firm name of E. W. Worsham & Co., purchased ground and commenced the building of the present distillery, situated between the line of the L. & N. R, R, and Canoe Creek, fronting Center Street. This house was completed and fully

Stocked with all the machinery and necessary apparatus for manufacturing the finest quality of sour mash whisky, and commenced operations during the winter of 1881. Its original making capacity was twenty barrels per twenty-fours hours, but subsequently cut down, and has never been taxed at over eight bairels per day. Twenty-seven hundred and sixty-seven barrels of the favorite "Peerless" have been made, and there is but little of it that has not found a ready market. January 1st, 1887, Mr. Worsham assumed sole charge of the distillery and associated with himself in the wholesale house his two sons, Andrew J. and D. W. C. Worsham.

Withers, Dade & Co. - During the summer of 1881, Messrs. J. E. Withers, H. F. Dade, and Captain Charles G. Perkins, under the firm name of Withers, Dade & Co., purchased the necessary ground upon the Evansville road, two miles from the Court House, and built a ten barrel house. They have made three crops, a total of over three thousand barrels, of superior sour mash, and found ready buyers for their make. This is one of the most complete houses in the State, and its make of whisky ranks with the best known to the trade.

Brewery. - The Henderson Brewery was established many years ago by Reutlinger & Klauder. Some time after the firm was changed to Reutlinger & Isefelder, and so remained to September 16th, 1885, when, by a boiler explosion, the machinery was rendered inoperative, and the firm suspended operations.

From that time, and up to May, 1887, the brewery remained idle. It was then sold to George H. Delvin & Co., and in a short time placed in complete repair and once again resumed operations. This brewery is one of large capacity and is supplied with all of the latest and most valuable machinery, including an ice machine, with engines, pumps, pipes, and other necessary appendages, costing the original owners near twenty thousand dollars.

Hominy AND Flouring Mills, Etc. - The Henderson Hominy Mill was established in 1882, Messrs. W. W. Shelby, William Soaper and F. L. Turner constituting the firm. A large mill, completely equipped with machinery for doing first class work, was soon after ready and commenced work, its capacity ranging in the neighborhood of three hundred barrels per day. In 1884 Mr. Turner withdrew from the firm and since that time the firm has been Shelby & Soaper. Mr. Shelby has given his entire time to it.« management and a brilliant success has crowned his efforts. They are very heavy purchasers of corn, confining their purchases not alone to Henderson County, but above and below on the Ohio and Wabash Rivers. They run a number of barges and a steamboat for towing. They manufacture the finest flint hominy, grits,^Dearl meal and feed meal, for which they find a ready market. This mill runs day and night in order to keep up with the demand made upon it.

In 1884 the Pearl and Grit Mills was built by F. L. Turner and W. J. Marshall, Jr. Its capacity is not so large as the Henderson Mill, but it is in every way a first class manufactory. It suspended operations several months since and is yet idle.

Flouring Mills. - Henderson has three flouring mills, finely equipped for turning out the best brands of flour. They are also producers of meal of a superior quality. In addition to these, Webster Gate owns and operates a grist mill that supplies a large local terri tory. There is also a fine flour and grist mill at Gorydon, Gairo and Zion, in the county, besides several grist mills of small capacity. Steam has taken the place of the old-fashioned sweep and tread, and the latest machinery is alone used.

Buggies, Garriages, Etc. - The Henderson Buggy Go. was organized in November, 1882, with a paid up capital of $50,000. Its officers were, and are at this time, with the exception of Superintendent, Gap* tain G. G. Perkins, President; John H. Barret, Jr., Vice President ; Bernard G. Witt, Secretary and Treasurer, and George Delker, Superintendent. Two years since Mr. Delker withdrew from the company. A- Tonnini is now Superintendent. This company employs during the busy season from fifty to sixty operatives, and their manufacture of buggies, phaetons, etc., are unsurpassed by any manufactory in the country. They enjoy a large trade and turn out from three to five hundred vehicles annually.

Wood Work and* Blacksmithing. - Delvin & Holloway, corner Elm and Fourth Streets ; R. G. Blackwell, east side Elm ; R. S. Smith & Bro., Willey Bros., Mike Brown, First Street, between Elm and Ingram ; William Wagner, corner Fifth and Green.

Foundry and Machine Shops. - Delvin & Hollaway, corner Elm and Fourth Streets. All kinds of castings and machine work done on short notice and guaranteed.

Broom and Mattress. - Messrs. W. G. Neal & Bro. have recently established a broom and niattress factory at the corner of Fourth and Adams Streets,

Building and Loan Association. - The success attending the management of the Henderson Building and Loan Association is somewhat phenomenal. While the Association, in its inception, was not intended as a scheme of pure philanthropy, its results have come fully up to the hopes of its founders in this respect, as is attested by the hundreds of happy homes, bought and paid for through its instrumentality. The Association opened its books to receive dues on March 1st, 1874. The first series had subscribed to its capital stock at the end of the first six months 784 shares. But by the time this series was paid up, which was in September, 1878, the capital stock had been reduced, by withdrawals, to 304 shares. The series immediately succeeding this were small, in comparison with the first, none of them reaching a subscribed capital of more than 100 shares, until the tenth series was opened, since when the Directors have been compelled to refuse to receive numbers of subscriptions at the opening of each series. Sixteen series have been paid off. The Association, since its organization, has made 370 loans, amounting in the aggregate to $277,500. About 250 of these loans were made for the purpose of building homes for the borrowers, fifty of which have been paid off, leaving them in possession in fee simple of their own homes, at very little greater cost to them than their rents would have amounted to. Non-discounting stockholders, who held their stock until paid up, have been paid $114,000. In addition to this the Association has purchased stock before^it matured for which it paid $39,000 in cash,^ making the total amount paid to non-borrowing stockholders $193,600. The following are the officers of this corporation : VV. S. Johnson, President; B. G.Witt, Secretary and Treasurer; Directors, W. S. Johnson, J. W. Allen, Peter Geibel, F. P. Geibel, T. M. Jenkins, R. C. Blackwell, Lsaac Mann, H. S. Rudy and B. G. Witt.

People's Homestead and Saving Association. - On the fourteenth day of April, 1877 this Association was incorporated. It is similar in its aims and purposes to the Building and Loan. Three series of stock have been sold, ranging from one hundred to two hundred shares of one hundred dollars each. The' officers of the Association are : John O'Byrne, President ; G, M. Alves, Secretary and Treasurer ; Directors, John O'Byrne, G. M. Alves, Ed. Oberdorfer, Maurice Bauldoff and D. Banks, Jr.

Coal Mines and Coal Agents. - The People's Mines, worked by P. J. McNamarra & Co., is situated two miles from the city on the Knoblick road. These mines supply a large quantity of superior coal to the city, and an equal amount to the country around and be-

St. Bernard Mines. - TlTis great company, located in Hopkins County, does through its agent, Hon. John C. Atkinson, .tu immense business in the city and county. The coal is of a superior quality for steam, grate or cooking purposes.

Ohio Valley Coal. - This coal, recently introduced into this market, and controlled by S. H. Lambert, Agent, is said to be the equal of Pittsburg coal for all purposes save gas.

There is no danger of a coal famine and no danger of coal being placed at an exorbitant price. Indeed, when Louisville and other cities, during extreme cold winters, are obliged to pay dearly for their coal, and limited in quantity at that, Henderson is abundantly supplied, and at a very moderate cost. Competition is too great here even to admit of a combination raising the price.

Saw Mills. - In 1856 Joseph Clore built the frame work of his present mill at the foot of Sixth Street, and commenced business with the old-fashioned upright saw. Since that time wonderful changes have been introduced. The circular saw has taken the pla:e of the upright, and machinery, wonderful in labor saving, has been invented. The capacity of the mill at the present time is 40,000 feet per day, running one saw. Henderson, and the entire country around, for many years past, has been supplied from this mill. For several years it has been operated under the firm name of Joseph Clore & Sons. In connection with the saw mill is a planing mill of very large capacity, fitted throughout with the latest and most expensive machines for doing all manner of first class wood work. The firm builds and completes houses, as well as furnish contractors with all articles necessary in house building. In addition to a heavy local demand, they are large shippers of lumber and building materials to points beyond the State. Every article made of wood for office or house building. from an ordinary window frame to the finest office furniture, is manufactured on short notice by this firm. Over seven acres of land is largely stacked with lumber, and in this it is their endeavor to always keep a large supply on hand. No better manufacturers are to be found in the West. Eighty men are given employment.

County Roads. - There are no better roads to be found in any country than those of Henderson County, in fact, the writer was told by a very distinguished traveled gentleman, a short time since, that he had never seen their equal. It is not only the case as regards the main arteries, but those tributary are equally as good. A history of the gravel roads will be found elsewhere in this volume.

Henderson Lands. - For the growth of corn, tobacco, wheat, oats, rye, melons, and all the grasses, the lands of this county are unsurpassed. Rents are cheap, taxes low, educational and church advantages superior, and society good. What more could be offered .'' All of these are to the credit of Henderson.

Henderson Fair Company. - This company was incorporated in March, 1865, and has held annual fairs, with a more or less degree of success. The grounds of the company are located one mile from the Court House on the Morganfield gravel road, and are as handsome as any to be found in Kentucky, or elsewhere. The premiums offered are liberal.

Hotels. Henderson prides herself in her excellent hotels There are eight hotels and fifteen boarding houses, the Barret House, Williams House, Clegg's, Commercial and Duncan's leading in the lisL.

Barret House. - This hotel, formerly the Hord House, was rebuilt and greatly enlarged by its present , owner, John H. Barret, in 1885. It is one of the handsomest buildings west of Louisville and is notably first class in all of its appointments. Messrs Sugg & Cannon, proprietors, are universally popular and deservedly enjoy the high reputation they have earned by close application to business and the comfort of their guests. The house is elegantly furnished and supplied with all modern conveniences.

Brick Yards. - Kleymeyer & Klute are the manufacturers of the very best article of building brick. They operate two large kilns and one smaller one, and are thus not only able to supply the local demand but frequently ship hundreds of thousands out of the county. In addition to their brick manufacturing, this firm manufactures on a large scale tiling for underground drainage. In both instances, none but the best soil and best modes of burning are employed.

Sketch Of Big And Little Harpe

T^EADERS of this article wiH recaU the blood-curdling stories told X them of the Harpes, who, in the early settlement of Henderson County, were the terror of the pioneer. Many persons in this and adjoining counties remember how, in their childhood, these stories awakened the keenest sense of fear, and were the occasion of almost agonizing sensations as they passed along the wilderness roads, ever on the lookout to be accosted by these terrible men. Their deeds of daring and desperate designs placed them at the head of all early desperadoes. Their history in this portion of Kentucky has long ago and repeatedly found its way into the histories of Kentucky and other States, in pamphlets and the newspapers of the country, and at one time even dramatized for the American stage. But it was so desperate and appalling to all rational sensibilities that it was abandoned by the drama.

In giving a history of these desperately wicked men, I shall be as brief as possible, knowing full well that only a faint idea can be given in the brief space allotted. The Harpes, consisting of "Big" Harpe and his two wives, Sally Harpe and Betsy Roberts, and " Little " Harpe and Susanna, his wife, came into Kentucky from East Tennessee in the year 1798. They had lived in Tennessee, and at one time were confined in the Knoxville jail on suspicion of crime, when they were innocent. Upon being released they declared war against all mankind, and determined to rob and murder until they themselves were killed. Their appearance was wild and rude in the extreme. Big Harpe was above the ordinary stature, bony and muscular, his clothes dirty and shabby, distinguishing him as a man wholly unused to the courtesies of civilized life. His countenance was so repulsive that every indication of villainy was plainly marked thereon. He wore no covering on his head, so the natural protection of thick, coarse hair, of a fiery red, uncombed and matted, gave evidence of the rudest exposure. He was armed with a rifle, knife and tomahawk. He was a veritable outlaw, destitute of every touch of human nature, and prepared, at all points, for assault and defense.

Little Harpe was a smaller man, but, in other respects, the counterpart of his co-worker in crime, and with him frequently engaged in riotous drunkenness and debauchery. Their travel through the wilderness roads of Kentucky was marked by human blood. They were captured and confined in the jail at Danville, but soon after made their escape, and started en route for the mouth of Green River, marking their path by robberies and murders of the most horrible and brutal character. The district they traveled was wild and thinly populated, and for this reason their outrages went unpunished. They seemed inspired with the deadliest hatred against the whole human race, and such was their implacable misanthropy that they were known to kill where there was no temptation to rob. One of their victims was a little girl, found at some distance from her home, whose tender age, and helplessness, would have been a protection against any but incarnate fiends. Every human met by them prior to their arrival at Green River became a victim to their implacable thirst for blood. The Harpe women had preceded their husbands to Henderson County, and had settled about six miles from the town, in the direction of Madison ville, where they lived during the winter of 1798, '99, and passed themselves as widows. Micajah, or Big Harpe, and Wiley, or Little Harpe, pushed their way on into Henderson County, where they soon after rejoined their wives, and started in the direction of Tennessee. They remained some time in what is now known as Hopkins County. This county, at that time, was a wilderness, with but a few scattered settlers. The Harpes rode good horses, and at that time dressed well, in the clothes of their murdered victims. They werp all the time heavily armed, and the condition of the country was their apology for such equipments. The following is a condensed history of their devilish deeds done in Henderson County, as narrated by Mr. John B. Ruby to Judge Underwood, many years ago :

While passing along the road, presumably en route South, the Harpes stopped for dinner at the house of a settler named James Tompkins, near Steuben's Lick-jE.and while there passed themselves for Methodist preachers, and one of them actually said grace at the table.

The conversation turned on the general character of the country. One of them asked Mr. Tompkins if he hunted much, who replied that he did when he had the ammunition, but for some time he had been without powder and notwithstanding deer was so plenty, he never had any venison to eat. Thereupon the Harpes, with affected generosity, made a liberal division of their stock of powder with Mr. Tompkins. It will be seen in the sequel, that by a most singular providence, Big Harpe was mortally wounded by his own powder thus given to Mr. Tompkins.

After dinner they resumed their journey. The first cabin passed was that of Moses Stigall, then occupied by his wife and little child, Stigall being from home. This cabin was five miles from Tompkins, The next settlement was Peter Ruby's, eleven miles from Stigall's. John B. Ruby was at Peter Ruby's and saw the Harpes pass. They camped for the night a few miles from Stigall's, who, it is claimed, owed one of the Harpe women a dollar. Stigall met the party in the fiats of Deer Creek as he was going to Robinson's Lick for salt and was told of the owing dollar. He told the Harpe woman to call upon his wife in passing, giving explicit directions where his wife could find the money. The women went to Mrs. Stigalls and told her what her husband had said. She found his purse, containing about $40.00 in silver, out of which she paid the claimed dollar. The wives then told their husbands how much money Mrs. Stigall seemed to have, and this led to the perpetration during the following night of the last dreadful act of barbarity in the long list of horrible tragedies of which the Harpers were guilty.

Mrs. Stigall was a young woman with only one child. A man by the nanie of Love was staying that night at the house. The two Harpes left their camp, and went to the house of Stigall, got the money, murdered his wife and child and Mr. Love, then set fire to the house of Stigall and burnt up the murdered bodies and all that was in the house. Two men named Hudgens and Gillmore, were returning from the lick with their packs of salt and camped for the night not far from Stigall's. About daylight the Harpes went to their camp and arrested them under pretense that they had committed robbery,murder and arson at the house of Stigall. They shot Gillmore, who died on the spot. Hud-

News of these murders spread through the scattered population with rapidity. Stigall returned to find no wife to welcome him, no home to receive him. Distracted with grief and rage he turned his horse's head from the smouldering ruins and repaired to the house of Captain John Leeper, who was one of the most powerful men of his day, and as fearless as powerful. Alarm and excitement pervaded every heart, men assembled at the call of Stigall and Leeper to consult and to act. The conclusion was universal that these crimes were the deeds of the Harpes. Large rewards for their heads, dead or alive, had been publicly offered, and the pioneers of the wilderness were determined upon their capture. A company was formed, consisting of John Leeper, James Tompkins, Silas Magby, Neville Lindsey, Matthew Christian, Robert Robertson and the infuriated Moses Stigall. If there were any others, their names have been forgotten. These men, armed with rifles, got on the the trail of the Harpes and overtook them at their camp upon the waters of Pond River.

About a quarter of a mile from camp, the pursuing party saw Little Harpe and a man named Smith, who had been hunting horses in the range, conversing near a branch of water. Little Harpe charged Smith with being a horse thief, and blew in his charger, (a small instrument with which the hunter measures his powder in loading his gun). The shrill sound, their usual signal for danger, soon brought Big Harpe to see what was the matter. The pursuing party and Big Harpe arrived at the branch in opposite directions, at nearly the same time. Big Harpe came mounted on a fine gray mare, the property of the murdered Love, which he had appropriated. The pursuers, not doubting the guilt of those whom they had overtaken, without warning fired upon them, badly wounding Smith, but not hitting either of the Harpes. Big Harpe was in the act of shooting Smith as those in front among the pursuers fired. He had already cocked his gun and told Smith he must die. But surprised by the volley and by the rushing up of the persons, he reserved his fire, whirled Love's mare around and galloped off to his camp. Little Harpe ran off on foot to a thicket and was not seen afterwards.

On reaching Smith, the pursuers were detained listening to his explanation. He was regarded as an accomplice of the Harpes, but soon demonstrated his innocence and his life was spared. The pursuers hastened towards the camp and saw Big Harpe hastily saddling the horses and preparing to take the women off with him. Seeing their rapid approach, he mounted Love's mare, armed with rifle and pistols, and darted off, leaving the women and children to provide for themselves. They were made prisoners, and Magby, a large, fat man, unfitted for the chase, and one other were left to guard them. Love's mare was large and strong and carried the two-hundred weight of her rider, Big Harpe, with much ease, and he seemed to call on her to expend all her strength in his behalf. Tompkins, rather a small man, rode a thorough-bred, full-blooded bay mare of the best Virginia stock, and led in the pursuit. He had chased thieves before, and the only account he gave of one of them was " that he would never steal another horse." Nance, his mare, exhibited both speed and bottom in this race of life or death. The other horses were nothing like equal to Nance or to the Love mare, and their riders being large men. Big Harpe might entertain hopes of escape.

In the first two or three miles, he kept far ah ad, no one trailing in sight except Tompkins. There was no difficulty in following through the rich, mellow soil of the wilderness, the tracks made by the horses of Harpe and Tompkins. Leeper was second in the chase and the others followed as rapidly as possible. As the race progressed. Big Harpe drove into a thick forest of large trees upon a creek bottom. Here he was overhauled by Tompkins. Each reined up his^foaming steed and stopped. Neither attempted to fire. Tompkins told Harpe that escape was impossible and he had better surrender. " Never ! " was the quick reply. At that moment Leeper was in sight. Harpe again dashed off at full speed, while Tompkins tarried for Leeper. As soon as he came up he said, " Why didn't you shoot ? " Tompkins replied that his mare was so fiery he could not make a safe shot upon her and he would not fire unless he was sure of execution. Leeper had fired upon the Harpes and Smith at the branch, and finding that his ramrod could not be withdrawn in consequence of its having got wet, told Tompkins he could not reload, that his horse was fast failing, and that Harpe would escape unless " Nance " could catch him. Tompkins replied, " that she could run over Harpe's mare on any part of the ground." Leeper said, "Let's exchange horses and give me your gun and shot pouch and I'll bring him down if I can overtake him." They dismounted and exchanged horses and arms and Leeper dashed forward after Big Harpe. The noble mare proved her ability to " run over him upon any part of the ground."

Leeper crossed the creek and after passing through the thick, tall trees in the bottom, came in sight of the fleeing Harpe as he reached higher ground with its prairie grass and scattered trees. The gray mare (not) the better horse, Nance gradually gained upon her. When Leeper got up within thirty yards, Harpe warned him " to stand off or he would kill him. " Leeper replied, " One of us has to die, and the hardest fend off."

As the woods became more open and interposed fewer obstructions, Leeper thought he had a good chance. Suddenly putting " Nance" to her full speed, he rushed up within ten steps of Harpe, threw his leg over the mane, and the bridle over Nance's head and jumped to the ground, took aim and fired. Harpe reined up, turned, presented his gun, and it snapped - all without dismounting. Leeper afterwards said : " If Harpcs' gun had not snapped, the ball would not have passed within twenty yards of me, so badly was it aimed." Harpe then threw the gun down, wheeled the gray mare and pushed on his course. From these circumstances Leeper knew he had hit him. He caught and remounted Nance and soon overtook Harpe, who told him to keep off or he would shoot him with a pistol. In a few seconds Harpe ceased to urge the gray mare forward and put both his hands to the pommel of the saddle to hold on. Leeper rushed alongside and threw him to the ground. Two balls had entered near the back bone and came out near the breast bone, Harpe begged that he might be taken to justice and not be jjut to instant death. Leeper told him that his request was useless ; that his wound was fatal and he must soon die.

He then asked for a drink of water. Leeper walked away to a branch close by, and, taking off one of his shoes, filled it with water and started on his return to the wounded outlaw. At this time James Tompkins, Stigall, and others, dashed up, and, without ceremony, Stigall dismounted, drew his knife, and severed Big Harpe's head from the body; and thus perished the most brutal of all brutal monsters. A tall young tree, growing by the side of the trail, or road, was selected, and trimmed of its lateral branches to the top, and then pointed. On this point the head was fastened, the skull and jaw bones remaining there for many years, after all else had mingled with the dust. Near by stood a large tree in which was plainly cut the initials of the dead outlaw, *'U. H.," which were plainly visible up to a few years since. The place where this tree grew is in the present County of Webster, at the intersection of the Henderson and Morganfield and Madisonville roads.

It will be remembered that the three Harpe women were left at the camp, prisoners, in charge of two of the Leeper party. Immediately after the killing of Big Harpe the women, with their children (each woman had a young child), were brought to the town of Henderson and confined in the little log dungeon, then located on the river bank, near the present bridge.

On the fourth day of September, 1799, a Court of Quarter Sessions was called for the examination of Susanna and Sally Harpe and Betsey Roberts, committed as parties to the murder of Mrs. Stigall, James Stigall, an infant, and William Love, a school teacher, on the twentieth day of August. The trial was held by Justices Samuel Hopkins and Abram Landers. They were found guilty and remanded to jail. Subsequently the women were taken, under order of the Court, by Andrew Rowan, Sheriff, and Amos Kuykendall, John Standley, Green Massey, Nevil Lindsay and Gibson Harden, to Russellville, Ky., there to await the action of the Grand Jury. They were tried at Russellville and cleared.

Nothing is known of the after life of Big Harpe's two wives, but the wife of Little Harpe, who was represented as being a young woman of great beauty, married a highly respectable man in Tennessee, and raised a large family of children, all esteemed for sobriety, honesty and industry. The name of the gentleman has ever been withheld, because a silly world might take occasion to reflect upon the children, in consequence of the mother's connection with the Harpes. Little Harpe escaped to Mississippi and was there hung for his devilment.

Moses Stigallwhose wife was killed by the Harpes, turned out to be himself a bad man. In less than one year after the murder of his wife and child he was married to Ellen Vane, and a short time after was himself killed for aiding Joshua Fleehart in running away with a Miss Maddox. Peak Fletcher and a brother of the young woman pursued the runaways and overtook them in the Territory of Illinois. They were found at night in a log cabin, which was cautiously and silently approached, and at a given signal Fletcher and Maddox fired through the chinks of the cabin and killed both Fleehart and Stigall. Miss Maddox was sitting at the time in the lap of her lover, with an arm around his neck.

On December 16th, 1799, by an Act of the Legislature of Kentucky, the reward of $300, offered by the Governor for the capture of the Harpes, was allowed to John Leeper, and thus ends the brief history of two of the boldest and most noted freebooters who have ever cursed America. -

Henderson'S Steamboat Interests

The Louisville and Henderson Packet Company was organized in 1848 by the Lodwick Brothers. The Gallant, a medium sized side-wheeler, with single engines, one hundred and fifty feet long, being the first boat in the trade. It was in the employ of this company, and on this boat Captain W. W. Huston, of this city, commenced his river life. This steamer was soon followed by the Fawn, a very fast, single engine boat. Captain Huston served in ihe office of this boat. The Fawn burned a short time after. The Mavflower was then placed in the trade, Capt. George W. Wick, now a large tobacco dealer of Louisville, Commander. She was followed by the James Pitcher, a small, double engined side-wheeler. The Pitcher was burned. In 1846, Capt. Paxton placed the Meteor in the trade, and she was followed in 1847 by the Hibernia. He then purchased the Atlantis and ran her in connection with the Hibernia. These boats were taken out of the trade and the Clipper, a side-wheel, double-engine steamer, substituted. She was commanded by Capt. Joe Bunce, of Henderson, with Captain Huston in the office. She was followed by the Swallow, then the Cornelia, until 1848, when the Atlantis was brought back again. This boat was withdrawn and the Mary Stevens took her place until 1850, when another Clipper took her place. The Herman took the place of the Clipper, and on one of her trips was run into by the Ironton just around the upper bend, and was badly crippled. Hon. John C. Atkinson, Wm. T. Barret and James Wilson were passengers on the Herman at that time. -The Van Leer took the place of the Herman and sunk in her second trip at the mouth of Salt River, proving a total loss. The Farmer was then chartered until the New Fawn was completed. She took her place in the Henderson trade and continued for some time. In 1854, the owners of the Fawn contracted for the building of the Rainbow. This steamer was noted for her speed. She measured horns with the largest and best boats and was. never defeated. She entered the trade in the fall of 1854. In 1856 she entered the New Orleans trade and was burned on the twenty-second day of November, 1857, at Alexander's woodyard, ten miles above Napoleon, Arkansas, with great loss of life and property. She made the run from Henderson to Evansville in fifty-two minutes, the fastest, perhaps, on record, with the exception of the famous Robt. E. Lee. Since that time the Little Grey Eagle, Big Grey Eagle, Tishomingo, Sciota and Eugene have run in the Henderson trade. During the early part of the war, the Tarascon and Morning Star were built. The present James Guthrie took the place of the Tarascon, then the Grey Eagle. There are three^tboats in the line at this time : James Guthrie, Rainbow and City of Owensboro.