Henderson, Kentucky - History (part 1 of 2)

History

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.

Henderson and Evansville. - During the year 1868, Captains C. G. Perkins and S. H. Lambert purchased the little steamboat Newsboy, a speedy, little stern-wheeler, and ran her between this city and Evansville, making daily trips. Prior to that time there had been other boats, and during- the days of the Newsboy there was opposition, but it finally succumbed to the inevitable. Captain Perkins soon became sole owner, and finding the trade increasing and demanding a larger and better boat, he .purchased the sidewheel steamer, Mollie Norton. A short time after her purchase, a partnership was formed between Captains A. O. Durland "and C. G. Perkins, under the name of Durland & Perkins. A short time subsequent to this partnership a contract was entered into by and between Durland & Perkins and the St. Louis and Southeastern Railroad for transferring freight and passenger cars by water from Henderson to Evansville and vice versa. The Norton was then sold,and the towboat Leclaire No. 2 and one or two railway barges were purchased, and by this means the cars were transferred. Notwithstanding the pecuniary success attending this enterprise, Durland & Perkins seemed singularly fated. In 1869 the LeClaire was cut down by the ice and proved a loss. The Maggie Smith was then purchased and was employed in the line until the winter of 1882, when she was lost in the ice. The Belmont was purchased and ran until that illfated day in August, 1884, a day that cast more gloom over Henderson than had ever been known before, or has been known since. It was on Thursday, the 29th day of August, a terrific hurricane swept over Henderson, unroofing houses and tearing up by their roots trees as though they were tinder wood. At the head of the Upper Island, and in view of the city, the storm was even greater, and when at its full height, caught the Belmont with barge in tow, capsizing her near midriver. There were a number of passengers in the cabin of the boat, as well as in the cars on the ba'rge. All of the passengers, with perhaps one or two exceptions, who were in the cabin became victims to the merciless waters, Mrs. Lyon and two daughters, of Evansville, Mrs. Murray and infant child, and her sister, and Captain John Smith among the number. The railway barge drifted to the Kentucky shore and the passengers were all soon ashore. The Jennie Camp, bell and Iron Cliff were purchased and both ran in the trade up to the completion of the bridge, when the contract with Durland & Per kins expired. The Jennie Campbell since that time has continued to make tri-daily trips between the two cities and is a great convenience. Notwithstanding the heavy losses sustained by the packet firm, they have amassed a handsome fortune.

Sinking of the Major Barbour. - The Barbour was a small but very fast side-wheel boat running in the Louisville, Henderson & Bowling Green Packet trade. The greater part of her stock was owned in Henderson, and three Henderson gentlemen, namely Captain Harry I Spotts, Commander, Henry Lyne, First Clerk, and Alney M. Allison, Second Clerk, were the officers in charge. In going up the river before daylight on the third day of February, 1848, she was run into by the steamer Paul Jones and sunk. There were no whistles in \hose days, and the signals for passing were given by a certain number of bell taps. On this fated morning the Barbour in rounding out from Cannelton, through a mistake in the signals was struck broadside by the Jones. The Barbour had coaled at Cannelton and this great wei2;ht was piled on the forecastle of the boat. When struck, the water rushed in and the weight caused the boat to careen. Mr. George Lyne and Miss Lucie Allison, of Henderson, were passengers en route to Louisville. Alney Allison, when the shock came, rushed to his sister's room and with her ran to the front of the boat and jumped to the lower deck, and swam with his sister to the Jones, assisted by Henry Lyne, He returned to the Barbour and was drawn by the current through the hatch into the hull of the boat and was lost. Capt. Spotts and George Lyne swam through the cold water to the nearest shore. When it was discovered that young Alney Allison was lost, the distress manifested was truly painful. He was a son of William D. Allison and one of the most promising young men of his day. His death cast a gloom over the town never equaled prior to that time. His remains were recovered and buried in the Henderson Cemetery. The heroic gallantry of Henry Lyne was the subject of comment for many years after the sad occurrence.

The year 1852, it seems, was fraught with suicides. Reuben Denton hung himself, June 9th. On the seventeenth day of August, the Misses Harriet Ann and Martha Carson Mintner, suicided by drowning in the Ohio River, near the foot of Fifth Street. This was one of the saddest determinations ever known to the town.

These young ladies were sisters, devotedly attached to each other, and lived in a log house, near the present residence of Colonel Jackson McClain. The story^ as told at the time, was about as follows : One of the girls was desperately in love with a young man of the town, and believed that her love was reciprocated. Time passed on, and she found, to her sorrow, that the one in whom she had confided was no more than a volatile deceiver. With a broken heart she determined upon the destruction of her life. She persuaded her sister to accompany her to the river, ostensibly for amusement, but, in fact, to commit suicide. Out from the shore several feet was a stump, whose surface protruded above the water some six inches, and near the water's edge was a long plank. At the suggestion of the desperate girl, the plank was extended from the shore to the stump, and the two walked out to the stump. While standing there, the crazed girl suggested to her sister that they tie their hands together and then plunge into the water. To this proposition the sister readily assented, and in a few moments more the hands of the two were safely bound by a handkerchief. After being tied, the awful reality became manifest, and the silly young girl who had' submitted to the entreaties of a crazed sister, begged piteously to be released; but no, the suicide leaped, taking her sister with her, and in but a moment more both lay at the river's bottom, dead, dead. Parties on the bank witnessed this, but never once dreamed of its being a reality until too late. Messrs. John C. Stapp and John McBride, who were expert swimmers, hearing of the sad catastrophe, ran to the place, and, by diving, soon recovered the bodies.

Dr. A. J. Morrison suicided on June 19th, 1859, while a prisoner in the county jail. This was a most distressing instance of the depravity of man. Dr. Morrison, for a number of years, was highly esteemed as a gentleman and practitioner, his practice aggregating, perhaps, double that of. any of his compeers. In addition to this, he had married into one of the leading and influential families of 'the town. In social life, as in professional, he was everywhere welcomed. He was more of a leader than otherwise, and his credit and veracity stood unimpeached. Now, then, we come to the downfall and suicide of one who, prior to his unfortunate step, was regarded in every way the equal of any citizen of the place. It is a horrible story to be told, and I shall be as brief as possible. Eight months or more prior to his death, Mr. Barak Brgshear caused the indictment and arrest of

Dr. Morrison upon the charge of having fraudulently raised a note due him by Morrison. The two had had a settlement, leaving a balance due Morrison for which Brashear gave his note. This note was raised to a higher sum, and, when presented for payment, the fraud was quickly and easily detected. Morrison was arrested and gave bond. At the meeting of the next Circuit Court, John E. Arnold, of Madisonville, then Commonwealths Attorney, came to Henderson and put up at the Hancock House. Morrison, in a fit of insanity, as very many believed at the time, imagined that if he could make away with Arnold his liberty would be assured. To this end, therefore, he concocted a plan to poison Arnold. He employed, as he thought, a servant waiter at the hotel to carry out his hellish work, but, unfortunately for Morrison, the servant formerly belonged to Arnold, and was devotedly attached to him. Relying upon this boy, Morrison gave him a poisonous powder, with directions to drop it into Arnold's cup of coffee. The boy consented and Morrison watched with keen eyes the hoped for fatal result. Arnold drank his coffee, and, having been posted by the servant, feigned sickness, but was not enough so to satisfy his would-be slayer. On the afternoon of the same day he determined to administer a double dose and to bring to his service a more deadly poison. He procured the ingredients and went to his room in the hotel to prepare a dose for his victim. During this time the matter was kept a profound secret by Arnold, no one knowing anything of it save himself, the negro boy, and Captain William Quinn, who had been employed as a detective.

When Morrison had gone for the medicine, Quinn took an adjoining room, and, cutting a hole through the ceiling, was soon over Morrison's roqm ; he then, by means of a sharp instrument, pierced a small opening through which he could see into Morrison's room. In the meantime, the negro boy had been notified to attend the doctor and do as bid by him. This the negro did to perfection. Soon after Quinn had secreted himself the doctor entered his room, and upon the bottom of a wash bowl mixed his powders, which he gave to the negro with instructions how to use them. Quinn not only witnessed his movements but heard his conversation. He then returned from his hiding place to his room and awaited the coming of the negro. Soon he arrived and was arrested - as it was understood - his body searched, and the powders found. Upon this, then, there were no more secrets, and Morrison's bondsmen surrendered him to the authorities. He was immediately arrested and placed in the county jail. Finding his plot discovered, and that the evidence was positive against him, he seemed to go raving mad. He became violent and very offensive in the use of his language. His trial was to have taken place on the following Monday, but it did not. On Sunday morning, June 19th, 1859, a bright, beautiful morning, when Jailer Brown entered the room in which he slept the night before, there lay the unfortunate man, apparently lifeless, his face pale and eyes sunken. Underneath his cot was a great pool of blood, and, upon examination, it was discovered that, by the use of a piece of glass broken from a small mirror in the room, he had severed the main artery of his leg and had bled beyond recovery. He soon after died. Harrison, the negro boy, who had proven faithful to his former master, was handsomely rewarded, and thus terminated a tragedy which at the time almost paralyzed the town.

J. Elmus Denton.-^During the official term as Jailer of Mr. Denton, in December, 1875, the inmates of the jail effected their escape, and this so preyed upon his mind that he shot himself. A sketch of this suicide will be found in the County History.

There have been other, in fact, many suicides in this county, but none of them, of which I know, were attended by such exciting surroundings as to entitle them to historical mention.

Murder Of Lemuel Cheaney By Charles C. Carr

1818. On the fourteenth day of December, 1818, Charles C. Carr, or Stephen Grimes, shot and killed Lemuel Cheane}', while riding through the silent, solemn woods, near Colonel Elias Powell's meadow farm. It is not known to this day which one of the two did the shooting, although Carr was hung and Grimes cleared. Of one thing, however, there is a certainty, and that is, that no incident in the history of Henderson County, from the beginning up to that time, had ever created such a profound feeling of indignation, and such a determination to crack the neck of the murderer, should he be found. This was the first murder since that of Mrs. Stegall and family, by Big and Little Harpe, in 1799, and, from its surroundings, was equally as horrible. Suspicion had pointed to Carr and Grimes, and when, perhaps, they were least expecting it, an officer of the law presented himself where they were quietly domiciled and made them prisoners. They were brought to the county jail and there confined to awaic the action of the Grand Jury. At the March term, 1819, of the Circuit Court, the following Grand Jurors were empaneled ; Daniel McBride, foreman,

Jacob Hopkins, Nathaniel Dozerne, John R. Bently, Samuel Burks, Laurence Robertson, Rowland Starks, Thomas Jones, Daniel Smith, Furney Cannon, Martin Friley, Thomas Hart, Jr., Elijah King, John Williams, Mark M. Yeargin, George Higginson, Daniel Lockwell, Simon Sugg, Thomas H. Herndon and Alfred Williams. These gentlemen, after a thorough examination of the testimony, returned to the Court an indictment charging Charles C. Carr, a laborer of the County and Circuit of Union, with feloniously, willfully, and of 'his malice aforethought, shooting Lemuel Cheaney from his horse, while riding along a by-path of Henderson County.

At the June term, following, the case was called, and both parties announced themselves ready for trial. The following jurors were then sworn to try the issue : Jonathan Fellows, Aaron Wilson, John Wilson, Samuel W. Hammond, Gabriel Holmes, Robert A. Cobbs. Thomas Ladd, William Carter, William Robards, William Miller, Christian Smedley and Jonathan Anthony, who, after hearing the evidence, returned the following verdict : " We, of the jury, find the defendant guilty of the murder in the indictment charged against him."

At the same term Carr was brought into court, in custody of the jailer, and it being demanded of him whether he had anything to say why the Court should not give judgment against him, declined to speak a word in his own defense. He was thereupon ordered to be again committed to jail until Monday, the twenty-sixth day of July, on which day, between the hours of eleven and twelve, he should be taken bv the Sheriff of the County to some suitable place on the Public Square, in the Town of Henderson, and there hung by his neck until he should be pronounced dead.- Why he should have been hung on Monday, and on an empty stomach, the records signally fail to explain, and yet such was the case.

From the depositions of James Townsend, Jeremiah Riddle, James Holloway and Carr, the murderer, the following facts concerning the killing have been gleaned :

Lemuel Cheaney was a trader by profession, from the upper part of the State. He had taken a raft of lumber to Cairo, Illinois, and was en route on his return over land, when he was seized with chills and fever while passing through Union County. He halted at Morganfield, where he remained some weeks. During this time Charles C. Carr lived near the town of Morganfield, and became, to all intents and purposes, on intimate terms of association with Cheaney. The two were frequently seen together, and on the ^morning of the twelfth day of December, 1818, both men went to the house of James Townsend, in Morganfield, where an exchange of money took place between Cheaney and a man by the nam of Paxon. Townsend counted the money, and remenibered two five dollar bills, one on the Bank of Utica, the other on the Bank of Niagara, New York ; also, a twenty dollar bill on the Bank of Vincennes, Indiana.

Next morning Cheaney told Townsend that he had a lot of plank which Carr wanted to buy, but hadn't the money to make the purchase. This conversation, as well as the exchange of money, took place while Carr was present. On the same day Carr and Cheaney left, as Carr stated, for Henderson. On the way up, and when in sight of Colonel Robert Smith's house, near Smith's Mills Postoffice, the two met Stephen Grimes, who rode along with them. At this point, Cheaney complained of being very sick, and was really shivering with a hard chill. Grimes advised him to go on to Colonel Smith's and there remain until the ague was off, and then to come on to a certain point on the road nearer Henderson, where he would await their coming and have them come over and spend the night with him. Cheaney and Carr remained at Colonel Smith's one hour and a half, or more, when they remounted and proceeded on to the designated point where they were to be joined by Grimes. When they arrived at this place Grimes was found sitting on a log waiting, as he had promised. The three then started on the road to Henderson, and after riding awhile they came to a log lying across the road, at which place there was a bush cut down. This, Grimes told them, was cut down by one of hi*s sons, as a turning out place for a nearer route to his home.

This place was a short distance from Colonel Elias Powell's meadow farm, and here they turned and proceeded about a half mile, when Cheaney was killed. As to who killed him, no one has ever positively known, many persons believing that Carr was the murderer, while as many believed it to be Grimes.

Cheaney had a large amount of money on his person, and this was taken and divided between the two. It was a well-known fact that Carr had no money and was unable to pay his smallest indebtedness, yet, after the shooting of Cheaney, he was seen with several hundred dollars. This, coupled with other circumstances, created heavy suspicion, and when James Holloway and James Townsend were shown some of the money passed by Carr, they recognized the same bills they had counted for Cheaney only a short time before. Townsend

Old Grimes, as he was called, turned State's evidence, and Carr would have done the same thing, but Grimes was too quick for him. Carr's deposition is on file in the indictment, and, if one-half of it be true, old Grimes was the murderer, and ought to have been hung. Carr protested his innocence, and openly charged Grimes with the outrage. He did not deny sharing the money after the death of Cheaney, but declared that he stubbornly opposed the killing even up to the time the fatal gun was fired. Carr had had his trial, had been found guilty, and sentenced to be hung on Monday, the twentysixth day of July, 1819. The few life's moments left him were now flittering away as rapidly as the melting snow before the rise of a burning sun. He confessed his sins, yet protested his innocence of Cheaney's murder. Old Griipes had done the deed for which his life was to pay the penalty. James M. Hamilton, Henderson's leading blacksmith, had forged the iron anklets which bound his legs together. Moses Morgan had builded the wooden casket which was to become the home of his mortal frame. Fayette Posey had builded the gallows beneath whose beam his lifeless body, in motionless horror, was to hang, as a propitiation for the sins of Grimes. He also, had prepared the sepulchre, whose funeral pile awaited to inclose him forever. The day had arrived, and, with its coming, thousands of anxious people.

In that great crowd stood Old Grimes, to witness the execution of a man who was dying, as he protested, while facing death for the sins of this old sinner. For the space of an hour before the awful moment, Carr sat in his silent prison buried in deep thought ; nor was this monologue of the wret . led prisoner very strange or wonderful. He had nerved himself to meet disgrace, to meet the scorn and taunts of his fellow men, and to meet with serenity, even death itself. The clock had struck eleven, and as the last echoes died away, Peter D. Green, special bailiff, and his attendants, made their appearance and bade him prepare for execution.

Quickly dashing away the briny evidence of his late weakness, and with a mighty effort of will he stilled the beating of his heart, and resumed once more his careless manner. Turning to the Sheriff he said :

*' I have been waiting, and am ready. Do your duty." A few minutes sufficed to remove his fetters, and the Sheriff waited a moment that he might -arrange some of his apparel, quietly and without a word either of reproach or pity, led him forth from his dungeon. Carr followed the footsteps of his conductor with a firm, bold tread, evincing neither alarm nor hesitation, until he was lifted into the wagon and commanded to take his seat. Then, indeed, he started back with a slight exclamation of horror, for the seat mentioned was the dread tenement he was so soon to fill, a dungeon far more dark, gloomy and contracted than the one he had just left. Yes, it was his own coffin.

The mournful cortege moved slowly away from the prison door, and with funeral tread, for it was the funeral of the living dead. Carr sat upon his coffin, guarded by the special bailiff and his assistants, and sadly and solemnly did the actors in this bloody, but legal, drama move along to the foot of the gallows. The terrifying structure and judicial instrument of death was erected on the Public Square, directly in front of the two-story brick now occupied by Captain Charles G. Perkins as a family residence, and tradition tells that the large locust tree now standing in his front yard was one of the posts sunk in the ground which supported the beam, or cross bar, underneath which Carr hung. Carr sat in the wagon gazing around upon the sea of upturned, unsympathizing faces, with apparent unconcern. Yet he felt more than his manner indicated. At the command of the bailiff, he stood alone in the wagon, and immediately beneath the beam, from which a rope dangled, swaying gently to and fro under the mild influence of a soft southern breeze. Folding his arms tightly across his breast, as if to keep down the tumultuous beating within, and giving one look to the broad, bright heavens, and another to the frightful rope, he at last fixed his keen gaze intently upon the human mass below him, but his eye rolled too rapidly from man to man, and his look was too eager and intent, to be the mere result of curiosity or listless indifference. His look was that of a man rapidly scanning the faces of others in search of some familiar countenance, or of some one he had reason to believe was then and there present. For several minutes, as his eye turned from face to face, his pale, rigid features exhibited no emotion, or, if any, only that of disappointment. But, all at once, the object of his search met his gaze. The doomed man's face lost its pale indifference, a rush of color passed rapidly into his countenance, and that there was some disturbing emotion those who stood near were well satisfied.

In a moment more his eyes were scornfully fixed upon a heartless old wretch who stood prominent in that great assembly of curious spectators. The eyes of the multitude followed the eyes of the condemned. Voracious curiosity now centered upon the individual at whom Carr was so intently gazing, yet he could not be seen. The multitude moved in shapeless confusion, wedging in here and there, that one glance might be gained of the object of Carr's scornful and unremitting ocular penetration. Then it was that he raised his arm and pointing his index finger with unerring precision, said, with unmistakable emphasis :

A wild shout went up and a rush was made for the dastardly old scoundrel who stood in unblushing indifference to witness the hanging of the one he had basely betrayed.

Grimes could not stand the accusation, but ran for his life, pursued by many men, and was not seen again that da3^ As for the general mass, the contest going on was, with them, equal to a gladiatorial combat, and for the entire time their interest continued undiminished, and their numbers were only increased until the close of this judicial tragedy.

The dread hour of parting was now over with Carr. He busied himself making bare his throat for the fatal rope. A slight shudder passed over his person as the cord touched his naked neck, but, beyond this, he showed no signs of trepidation. He stood alone upon the trap of the wagon ; a moment of breathless silence, followed by a quick, heavy blow of the bailiff's axe, and he stood no longer upon plank, or earth, or solid rock, but hung a dangling, struggling, horrible spectacle in the air. A few convulsive movements of the limbs, a quick heaving of the breast, a trembling shudder throughout the body, and all was over. Carr was dead. His fate was no longer a thing of doubt. The rope and death had torn away all darkness, and his dreams were dreams no more. His body was cut down and sepulchred a few steps away, where it reposed and mouldered from Monday, July 26th, 1819, until exhumed by the foundation diggers twenty years ago.

After the death and burial of Carr, public sentiment bore down upon Grimes. It was evident that his life was not safe in the neighborhood in which he lived, but of this feeling he seemingly knew nothing, and continued to pursue his daily avocation. Finally, pent up, yea, outraged society, could stand it no longer. The belief grew

Stronger and stronger, day by day, that the gallows had been defrauded of its legitimate and most guilty subject, and that the least guilty, alone had paid the penalt-i'. A company was formed with the determination of ridding the county of Old Grimes, and, to this end, they cautiously approached his home, where he was found, taken out, and most unmercifully thrashed. This terrible scourging, it was thought, would terminate his earthly career, and he was thus left. But not so. Next morning found him gone, and from that day to this has never put foot in Henderson County.

Second Military Execution -Tom Forrest And Five Comrades Shot To Death

During the early part of November, 1864. six armed highwaymen were frequently seen prowling on foot through the country, engaged in promiscuous robbery. They were known to have come from Indiana, for they had crossed the river at Newburg only a short time prior to their discovery. They had the temerity to pay a visit to and rob Mr. Curtis, the ferryman, opposite Jh^vansville. They had visited a Mrs. Randolph, widow of a Methodist divine, from whom they stole ^50, a cloak, two fine dresses, her night robes, etc. They halted at the residence of Mrs. Edmund Robinson, where they called for supper, and during this time, gave to William S. Johnson a brief history of their military lives. In this conversation they stated that they were members of Captain Ollie Steele's command, had been captured and were at that time making their way back to him. Ranging around on their nefarious career, they committed frequent thefts in the neighborhood of Diamond Island Bend, and when not on a raid, confined themselves within a dense canebrake. The citizens determined to rid the neighborhood of their pestiferous presence, feeling fully assured that they were not soldiers of either army, but a clan organized for petty thievery. To this end, therefore, B. F. Martin, William J. Alves, A. J. Anderson, James Lilly, and several other citizens armed and equipped, and went out in search for them.

They were traced to the cane, and upon entering its tangled and violently matted territory, the pursuers, when least expecting it, came suddenly upon the thieves in camp. Without hesitation or resistance the whole] six surrendered and asked to be turned over to the civil authorities. Upon taking an invoice, they were found to have in their possession, four fine new revolvers and a double-barrelled shotgun, the last having been stolen from William Vickers, and several coats and pants which they had pressed - not as tailors - but as a military necessity. They were brought by a guard of citizens to the city on Thursday evening, November 10th, 1864, and placed in the county jail. On Friday afternoon they underwent a preliminary examination before Judge C. W. Hutchen. At this examination they denied belonging to any military command, and plead guilty to larceny, but the evidence of William S. Johnson, who had heard their story several days previous, settled the question to the satisfaction of the court, who held them severally in a bond of $5,000 to appear at the ensuing term of the Circuit Court. Failing to furnish bail, the six were sent to jail. On the date prefixed, General Stephen G. Burbridge, commanding the Military Department of Kentucky, issued the following

General Order No. 8. The irregular bands of armed men disconnected from the rebel army, who prowl through the country and subsist by depredation upon the property of citizens and of the government, are guerrillas and will hereafter be treated as such. They are without any idea of occupancy or without a reasonable hope (.f seriously injuring our communications They form no part of the organized army of the rebellion, and if captured arc not entitled to the treatment prescribed for regular soldiers, but by tlie laws of war, have forfeited their lives. Frequent robberies and murders committed by these outlaws, demand that the laws of war be stringently meted out to them Hereafter no guerrillas will be received as prisoners, and any officer who may capture such and extend to them the courtesies due to prisoners of war, wili be held accountable for disobedience of orders. By command Major General,

In view of this mandatory order, Col. John Glenn, then in command of the Henderson Post, demanded and was given possession of the six prisoners. Deeming it his imperative duty to enforce the order of Burbridge, he accordingly informed the men on Saturday that they had only a short time to live, but that on Sunday afternoon they would be taken hence and shot in compliance with orders. They were also told that every facility would be afforded them to meet their Maker.

On Saturday night the Revs. J. Woodbridge, of the Presbyterian Church, and H. M. Ford, of the Methodist Church, called to converse with the doomed men. Five of them expressed a preference for the ministration of the Methodist divine, and Rev. Ford passed much of Saturday night with them, and was with them nearly the whole time until they were ushered before the Almighty. The other, Forrest, obtained the servj^ces of a Catholic divine from Evans" ville. The above and following facts are taken from the News, of November, 1864 :

" After being put in jail, the three men who had given their names as John Williams and D. and W. Riley, admitted to their spiritual advisor that their true name was Horton, and that their moLaer, Mrs. Elizabeth Horton, as also' two of their wives, were residing in Evansville. Forrest, or Young, a Canadian, asserted that he was a Confederate soldier, belonging to Captain Steele's command, and had relatives residing in -Iowa. The real name ot Jamieson is John Fry, and he has a wife and two children at Evansville. Moore is from Nashville, where his mother now resides.

*' Mr, Curtis, the Evansville ferryman, who had been robbed on the night of the seventeenth ult., went with us to the jaii to ascertain if any of the prisoners had belonged to a party of four who had forcibly entered his house opposite Evansville, on the night of October 17th. Two of them admitted that three Horton brothers were in the party, another, Pritchett, was at large. They had robbed Mr. Curtis of near $300 in greenbacks and a large amount of family clothing. These four, the Horton brothers and Pritchett, had been arrested by the military authorities at Evansville and placed in the guardhouse, but before their cases were acted upon, they succeeded in cutting out of prison and escaping.

" At three o'clock, Sunday afternoon, a guard of sixty negro infantry were drawn up in front of the jail, from whence they escorted the six doomed men to the place of execution, which had been selected upon the bank of the river, above the city, near the old coal shaft, where a large grave, capable ot holding all the rough coffins had been prepared. A large concourse of our citizens accompanied the cortege to the fatal ground. Arriving at the selected spot, the prisoners were allowed to hold brief converse with some of their acquaintances and the ministers of religion. Their arms and persons were free from irons or any pinions. After the detailed guard had taken position, the prisoners were called from the midst of the troops and placed in line, whfn Col. Glenn read Burbridge's ' Order No 8,' above published, and informed the trembling victims that the office of an executioner was not a pleasant one, but that the order was a mandatory upon him, and that they obviously came under its provisions. The Colonel then bandaged their eyes, (their arms and legs being left unfettered) and led each one to his coffin where they were seated. Their lips were moving in prayer, imploring the Father of Mercies to pity them and forgive their manifold sins. The three Horton brothers sat side by side, in full vigor of youthtul manhood, soon to become cold and rigid in death. The sable executioners were formed in two lines, thirty in each rank, and stood facing the victims, fifteen steps. The front line had been severally instructed what man to aim at The fatal order was distinctly given : ' Make ready ; take aim ; shoot low ; fire ! " and the death-dealing volley went forth. Instantly five ot the unfortunate fell over their coffins without a groan or struggle, stone dead ; the sixth, Forrest, fell forward from his shell to the green sward, and after a few spasmodic quivers, lay still. Most of them were shot in the head, and the large conical balls had scattered their warm brains about, while purple streams deluged the coffins. After becoming satisfied that the vital spark had fled. Col. Glenn detailed some of the negro troops to put the corpses in their coffins and commit them to the grave - the name of each being attached to his coffin so as to enable their relatives or friends to identify and remove the remains."

Shooting Of Ben. O'Neal And Thomas Risley

The history of the subjects of this sketch furnishes another evidence of the fool-hardiness of men, and the utter recklessness which oftentimes characterizes inveterate violators of the law. It shows, too, how innocent men suffer for the misdeeds of others, for in this in" stance Risley was guilty of the violation of law prior to the time of the shooting, but was endeavoring to cheat the law of a violator whose capture had been determined upon. In the year 1845, Ben. O'Neal, a native of Union, but a resident of Henderson County, was suspected of belonging to a gang of horse speculators, whose main object seems to have been to relieve stables at night, and run the animals to Illinois, where they found a ready market. William Crenshaw had lost a fine horse and his brother Joe. was not the least timid in charging the theft to O'Neal, who hearing of it determined upon revenge, and that of the blackest kind. He carried in his pocket for months, a bowlder or rock, symetrically shaped and about the size of a goose egg, with which he practiced at a target until he had learned to throw it with absolute precision. It is said he could hit his mark at sixty feet with almost as great certainty as the rifleman could wfth his unerring gun.- On the first day of Januray, 1845 - always a great day in town prior to the war - O'Neal came to town, and shortly afterwards saw Joe. Crenshaw walking upon the street. A large crowd had congregated on Main Street, in front ot where George Lyne's drug store now stands to witness the sale and hireing of slaves, and in this crowd Crenshaw was standing. O'Neal approached a friend and soon secured his services in getting Crenshaw to walk out of the crowd, pretentiously for the purpose of engaging him in conversation, but ostensibly for the purpose of killing him with the rock which he carried in his pocket. The friend asked Crenshaw off, and while he was talking, O'Neal drew his rock and let drive at his head, luckily, however, just as he threw the stone, Crenshaw turned his head enough to catch the hck on his cheek bone, instead of the vital spot at which it was aimed. The lick, though not dangerouSy*A'as enough to knock Crenshaw to the ground. O'Neal then endeavored to plunge a bowie knife into his victim, but Crenshaw had arisen and proved to powerful for him. O'Neal then effected his escape and was never more seen in the town of Henderson. At the June term of the Circuit Court, O'Neal was indicted for maliciously, and with malice aforethought, throwing a rock and striking Thomas Crenshaw, with the intent to kill. A bench warrant was ordered out and placed in the hands of the Sheriff, but the would-be murderer could not be found. His home was now in the State of Illinois. Several times after this, he came to the county and most generally sent word to the Sheriff that he was here, and to come and take him. He traveled with a shot-gun, and wasl^known to be a man who would use it whenever the occasion demanded, therefore, lie was greatly feared.

On the second day of June, 1846, William D. Nunn, acting Sheriff of the county, received a message from him stating that he was in the county, and to come out and take him. Sheriff Nunn, contrary to O'Neal's expectation, summoned a posse of men to discover his whereabouts, and on the evening of June 1st, 1846, left Henderson for the residence of Mr. Crenshaw, in the neighborhood of the farm on which it was believed O'Neal was staying. He arrived at Crenshaw's in the night, and his posse now consisted of Thomas F. Cheaney, William Crenshaw, Joe. Crenshaw, David Stone and Marshal] Tillotson. It was believed that O'Neal was at one of two places, and for the purpose of securing his capture, provided this was true, the Sheriff divided the squad, sending Cheaney and William Crenshaw to the house of Claiborn Collier, whose daughter O'Neal had married, while he with the others went to the other house in the neighborhood. Cheaney and Crenshaw arrived at the Collier homestead about daylight, and took position behind a smoke house standing in front of the house, and only a few feet off in the yard. The house was a log building with two rooms and a hallway, with doors leading into the hall, and a door from each end of the building into the yard. Mr. Cheaney was stationed at a corner of the smoke house commanding one window and the end door, while William Crenshaw was stationed so as to command the hallway. There was no rear window, so escape was impossible. A short time after the arrival of the guard, Cheaney saw- O'Neal through the window, and looked him full in the face. He then went around to where Crenshaw was standing and told him he had seen the gentleman, and that he was dressing himself. Cheaney had nothing but a single-barreled pistol, while Crenshaw had a doublebarreled shot-gun and two pistols. Thinking it best to notify Sheriff Nunn of the discovery, Cheaney took one of Crenshaw's pistols and fired it into the air. This report Nunn and his party heard, and knowing its meaning hurried forward and were soon on the ground. Nunn, at the head of two or three men approached the house and went to the door of the room O'Neal was in. He was called to open the door and surrender, but refused to answer to his name, or to answer to a single question. Cheaney insisted upon breaking the door in and bringing him out, but from his knowledge of the man Sheriff Nunn declined. Finding that O'Neal was surrounded, with no possible means of escape, the Sheriff concluded to come to Henderson and get instruction from Judge Shackelford, who was then holding the regular term of the Circuit Court. He had left his horse at William Crenshaw's, and while enroute to that place found David Fowlkes hunting in the woods, and immediately summoned him to reinforce the guard then at Collier's. Fowlkes went to the house and took position with Cheaney. About that time friends of O'Neal began to come up, and whisperings overheard, led the guard to believe that bloody work was contemplated. Finally Thomas Risley, a brother-in-law by marriage of O'Neal's, came out of the end door of the house leading into the garden, and endeavored to aid O'Neal's escape, by keeping his body between O'Neal and the guard. The command halt and surrender, was repeatedly given, but to no purpose. O'Neal saw the two Crenshaw's, and at a certain signal Risley stepped to one side in order that he might fire. He took deliberate aim and pulled trigger, but his gun snapped; at this David Fowlkes, who was in the back yard, raised his gun to fire upon O'Neal, but one of the Colliers interfered by seizing the muzzle of his gun ; no sooner had he done this than Cheaney leveled his pistol on Collier and commanded him to let go, which he did and skipped the fence. Fowlkes then fired,his whole load of squirrel shot taking effect in O'Neal's hip and thigh. Fowlkes' gun had hardly gone off, when the two Crenshaw's fired, and both O'Neal and Risley, who was endeavoring to shjeld him, fell to the ground mortally wounded, and died in a few minutes. At this, O'Neal's friends retired from the premises, and the scene which followed was heartrending indeed. It was not the object of any man to shoot Risley, and no one knows who did shoot him. He was unfortunately situated when O'Neal was fired upon, and caught some of the shot in- tended for O'Neal. Mrs. Risley, who was in the house, rushed to her dving husband, and wept bitterly. Her screams and lamentations were more than the guards could bea'r up under, but they consoled themselves with the consciousness of having done a duty, even though the finale was so unfortunate and distressing. Mounting their horses, the o-uard returned to the town about noon of the same day, when it was found out that some of O'Neal's friends had arrived with^ the news, and the Coroner was about ready to proceed with a jury to the fatal spot. They were given time to take their dinner, and then directed to return with the Coroner, which they did tjie same afternoon. After hearing the evidence, the guards were exhonorated from any blame, and there the matter rested until brought before the Grand Jury. The Sheriff and his posse reported to Judge Shackelford, who publicly endorsed their actions. No indictments were found, and there the matter rested from that day to this.

Murder Of James E. Rankin

Of all the horrors of the war, there was no one occurence more terrible, more frightful, or more atrocious than the history of the one to follow : On the eleventh day of July, 1864, a beautiful Monday afternoon, while the sun was shining in all its glory, and a rainfall, as gentle and brilliant as the sparkling dewdrops, was gladdening the parched earth, a company of desperate outlaws, as if with wings, flew into the city and soon claimed control of every principal street. The o-rand entree was made in First Street, and in the twinkling of an eye the instrument of the Henderson & Evansvilie Telegraph Company, located in the second story of the old South Kentuckian' building, then standing on the corner of Main and First Streets, was completely battered to pieces. After this had been done, a system of thievery was indulged, and never before or since that time has such a reign of terror been witnessed in the city. Desperadoes, most fiendish and horridly uniformed, to add to their natural repulsive appearance, galloped over the streets with pistols in hand and commanded men as they chose, at the mouth of five-shooters cocked and of easy trigger. These devils came unauthorized, for they belonged to neither army. They were robbers and murderers and cared not whose house they entered or whose carcass they punctured with leaden messengers of death. Near on to twilight, four or five of them, headed, as it was said at the time, by one Edmunds, of Hopkins County, who had for years prior to the war, been engaged in hauling tobacco from that county to this city, entered the storehouse of Mr. James E. Rankin, on the corner of Main and Second Streets, and immediately commenced robbing the shelves of silks, ribbons, velvets and many other valuable goods. Not satisfied with this, they took from his cash drawer what small change there was in it. The iron safe was in the office at the rear end of the second story, and this was securely locked and could only be opened by the use of a combination key. This key, as was the custom of Mr. Rankin after locking his safe for the night had been taken to pieces and the parts placed in a box kept in the cash drawer down stairs in the storeroom. In robbing the drawer, the rings of the key were also taken by the robbers. About this time, a villain, who claimed to exercise command, came into the store and peremptorily ordered the men out, and without a murmur, they left the house, mounted their horses and rode away.

Mr. Rankin, thinking perhaps they might return, and not wishing to hold any further communication with them, went to a room in the rear end of the third story. Hardly had he succeeded in shutting the door before the same scoundrel, who had a few minutes before ordered the men out of the storeroom, returned with three or four men - Edmunds one of the number - and called for Mr Rankin. Mr. John Allin, who was clerking for him at the time, protested his ignorance of his whereabouts, but this was of no avail. One of the gang said, " I know where he is ; follow me." He then started to the second story and from that he ascended the third flight of steps, and soon found his way to the door of the room in which Mr. Rankin was sitting. Finding him, he was ordered forthwith to proceed below. This he did, of course, and when arriving at his office was ordered to unlock the safe.. This he declared impossible unless he could regain the key which he had left in his cash drawer below, but which had been taken away by the first squad who had robbed his house. He then proposed to go down to the drawer and see if the key could be found, and as he started and had descended not more than three steps, one of the men without a word of warning fired, the ball striking him in the back of the neck and ranging down in the region of the throat. Not satisfied with this, he followed him and several times hit him over the head and shoulders with the butt of his pistol. Mr. Rankin ran as fast as he could out of the front of his house and into an adjoining store of HoUoway & Hopkins, still pursued by this man and his comrade. He halted at the showcase and was leaning with his arm upon it, when the two murderers entered with pistols cocked and pointed at him. At this juncture, William H. Lewis, who was clerking for Holloway & Hopkins and was the only person in charge, rushed be- tween the men and Mr. Rankin, and knocking the pistol aside, begged them for God's sake, if they were Confederate soldiers and valiant men, not to shoot a man who was then dying from the effects of the first shot. At this,, both pistoU'were lowered and the two men walked out. A physician was summoned, and in as short time as possible Mr. Rankin was removed to the storehouse of B. B. Williams, where he remained until the murderers left town, when he was taken to his own residence on Upper Main Street.

In the safe was a large amount of money belonging to Hugh Tate, and of this the guerrillas knew, for they mentioned the fact. They secured Mr. Rankin's watch and what money there was in the cash drawer, but failed to get into the safe.' After the shooting, the robbers plied their avocation with a reckless indifference, loading their horses with beaver cloths, silks, velvets, ribbons, boots, shoes, blankets, and any other articles attracting their attention. While this squad was robbing Mr. Rankin, others were taking horses and other items of value, and having abundantly supplied themselves, all left the town.

A short time after their departure, a United States gunboat patrolled the river front and threw several shells in the direction taken by the guerrillas, but without doing any damage.

No man then felt safe, for if as pure, noble and good man as James E Rankin was shot down in cold blood, others felt that they were in greater danger. Excitement became intense, and nothing but the want of a few guns (which could not be had) saved the lives of that squad of inhuman outlaws. To add additional lustre to the memory of Hon. R. T. Glass, be it said that he, of all the men standing around on the streets, was the only one to openly denounce the outlaws. This he did to two of them in person and unhesitatingly announced his willingness to lead or assist in shooting the last one of them from their horses before escape could be possible.

A Sad Retribution

From the News, A^ovemberl^, 1864 : - " On Wednesday night, the twentieth inst.. Lieutenant Headington, in command of one hundred and fifty troops, (134th Indiana Infantry, one hundred-day men), landed in our city, from Louisville, and immediately threw out pickets around the town, who permitted no one to leave the place without a pass.

"jThese troops brought with them, four Confederate soldiers, two of whom had ventured on their steamer (the Palestine) at Rock Haven and were secured ; the other two, Thompson and Powell, by name, had been captured. On the twelfth da}^ of July, 1864, five miles from Owensboro on what was known as the plank road, their company being in Daviess County recruiting, and had that morning fnet some regular soldiers, ( Federal ) and some one hundred home guards on Ruff Creek, killing eleven and routing the balance. They were returning when Thompson and Powell were cut off from the main body and captured. Thompson and Powell belonged to the command of Captain Dick Yates, a commissioned Confederate ofificer, who was recently killed in a skirmish near that town. Lieut. Headington had received orders to publicly execute these last two prisoners in our citv in retaliation for the atrocious attempt of a gang of guerrilla scoundrels and marauders (but a short time since) to murder in cold blood, Mr. Jas. E. Rankin, one of our most estimable citizens, and for other outrages perpetrated of late in Henderson and vicinity. These two men were selected by Gen. Burbridge to be shot at twelve o'clock on last Thursday, but through the urgent solicitations of many of our prominent Union citizens, the execution was delayed until three o'clock, in order to give time to send to Evansville for a Catholic priest, who could administer religious consolation, both of the doomed ones being Catholics. Mr. John Pernet, of our city, went for and returned with the priest. Hon. Archibald Dixon and Mayor Banks also hastened to Evansville and telegraphed to Gen. Ewing, at Louis\ille, representing that the act of shooting these two men threatened to ultimate in the destruction of the City of Henderson by bands of guerrillas who now swarm in our vicinity, and urging a request from the leading Union citizens of the towm, not to enforce said execution, as it was furthermore averred by some that the tw^o condemned men were regular sworn Confederate soldiers. Whereupon Gen. Ewing promptly telegraphed to Evansville, ordering a suspension of the execution until he could hear from General Burbridge. A military courier was instantly dispatched from Evansville to our city with these instructions. This was a cheering respite for the doomed young men, who had made every preparation to meet their bitter fate. They had called in an artist and had their portraits taken to send to their relatives. One of them (John P. Powell, aged 23), bore up like a man of nerve, but the younger (Wm. Thompson, aged 18), shed many tears over the near approach of death, both persistently contending that they were no robbers or marauders, but regularly sworn Confederate soldiers.

the recent guerrilla or robber raids into Henderson, and to assess the full amount pro rata from reputed secession sympathizers among us. In conformity to these orders, he held an interview with Mr. C. M. Fennel, the U S. Deputy Assessor of our city, and asked his assistance. Mr. P. truthfully informed Lieut. H. that the citizens of all political parties in Henderson were living in friendly, social intercourse and harmony, and had no disposition to harass or defraud one another - that all, irrespective of their political convictions, condemned the villainies recentlv committed by outlaws, without authority from either belligerent force, and that he ( P. ) being merely a civil officer, would prefer not to assess his neighbors who happened to entertain different politics from himself, as to the best course to be pursued in our national calamities. In short, that he would not point out men to be assessed for the committal of robberies which they could not avoid, and did not countenance. Lieut. H. said his orders were imperative, yet, from what he saw and heard, the people of Henderson had been most grievously maligned by ignorant, designing, or unscrupulous individuals, wherein it had gone forth that they had aided and abetted the inroads and plunderings of the various marauding bands, who have infested this vicinity. But he was an officer of the army, and had no discretionary power in the case - his orders were explicit and must be obeyed. Another Union man was then called m consultation, and it was agreed to select three fair representative Southern Rights men, who should themselves make the assessment on certain citizens, whom they should designate, after computing the amount necessary to cover all the losses incurred by our merchants. On inquiry it was found that $2,700 included all losses, and the assessment was made out, and the parties called upon very promptly gave their checks for the money. These checks were then paid over to those who had been robbed, who, to their honor be it said, universally to a man refunded the sums to their neighbors and friends, whom they knew to be innocent of any complicity with the robbers. The deceased Mr. Rankin, in this way promptly returned (through one of his sons) $1,000, which ha'^ been assessed in his favor.

" In connection with the name of an amiable gentleman and true Christian, and in order to preclude any suspicion that that lamented citizen had a hand in, or desired, '' retaliation " on innocent men, we herewith append a note written by his son and signed by himself, which he forwarded to the commander of the Federal force in our city -

'-Dp:ar Sir : - I have just heard that two guerrillas were to be shot here to-day (Friday), in retaliation for outrages committed by guerrilla bands in this place. It has pained me greatly to learn this fact, and I would earnestly plead witli you to spare the lives of these men. If what the guerrillas have done to nic has had any influence in causing this order to be made. I pray vou, if possible, to abandon your intention and permit them to live