Scott County, Kentucky - The whole text, 1905 (part 7 of 10)

Gen. Gano, having read the note, said: "All right, Oliver." Gaines looked at him for the first time and replied: "Why, this is Dr. Gano from Texas." Gano said: "It used to be. but is now Colonel Gano from Texas." Gaines said, "How does it happen you are commanding federal cavalry?" Gano replied: "We are not federals, but what you call rebels." Gaines asked with extended eyes: "What shall I do?" Gano said: " You are a prisoner of war: hitch your horses and go into the parlor, and you will find company." "Well," said Oliver, "if I must, I must," and he joined the parlor company. Gano. after partaking of the fine dinner which Mrs. Payne had prepared, walked into the parlor and remarked: "Gentlemen, it is not to be presumed that I know on this, my first trip to Kentucky during the war, who are Southerners and who are Union. But I shall treat you all alike and keep you as prisoners, unless you will take a certain oath. You must swear that you will not tell who I am, which side I belong to or how many men I have." They replied: "We will take it."

And so he administered the oath, and told them that Georgetown would be in possession of the [Southerners in less than a day, and that death would be the penalty for violation of that oath. Oliver Gaines asked Gen. Gano if he could take his horses and buggy back to Georgetown with him, and being informed that he could he drove otf with Aleck Bong in the buggy with him, and at the toll-gate one mile from town he met Dr. S- F. Gano and Capt. Jackson with their forces to reenforce the supposed federal cavalry.

Dr. Gano said: "Oliver, what command is that out at John F. Payne's?" Oliver moved on without opening his mouth. When Capt- Jackson said, "Oliver, Dr. Gano asked you what Command is that out at John F. Payne's," Oliver pushed on through the troops, but never opened his mouth. Some one in the company Remarked: ''You had better let Oliver alone, he was sworn." Dr- Gano and Capt. Jackson then concluded they had better follow Oliver back to town, arid did so- They informed Oliver Gaines, Sr., that not one word could be gotten out of Oliver. 'Then the old man said: "I cari make him talk," arid said."011ie. Ollie, what command is that out at John F. Payne's." A tear trickled down Oliver's cheek, but not a word did he speak, proving most conclusively that Oliver Gaines,' Jr , could keep his oath against all odds.

Col. R. M. Gano moved with his command from John F. Payne's residence up the Iron Works road, crossing the Lexington pike at Donerail. There he met Henry Moore, who asked him what he was doing in Kentucky, He replied: ''I am leading some Texas cavalry." Moore asked him if he knew that his uncle. Dr. S. F. Gano, and Capt. Jackson were in Georgetown organizing troops to go out and capture him. Gano replied: "Yes, I see them coming up the turnpike now-" - S- F. Ganq.andCapt. Jackson had concluded that they had better be doing something, so they moved' with their commands up Lexington pike toward Donerail and Gano could see the long line of dust that came up the pike about a mjje away.. He said: ("Mr- Moore, l have a message to leave with you for my uncle, Dr. S. F. Gano: tell him that I am his nephew, Richard M. Gano, commanding some Texas cavalry: that I am not hunting a fight with him and that he and Jackson had better turn back to their homes and remain Quiet; but if they follow me one hundred yards from Donerail, that I shall attack them." Gano moved his command across

When they arrived at Donerail Dr- Gano said: ''Henry, what command was that passed here?" Moore replied: "Your nephew. R. M. Gano, commanding some Texas cavalry." Dr- Gano' replied: "I know better." Moore said: "I ought to Irnow him, he went to school to me once. He left a message i with me for you- He said: 'Tell Uncle Steve I am not hunt-! ing a fight with him, and he and Jackson had better go back home and remain quiet, and if they follow me a hundred yards beyond Donerail I shall attack them." Dr. Gano said: ^Captain Jackson, what do you think about it?" Jackson replied: "If they are Texas cavalry they know how to fight; they are well armed and well mounted and we are not: if they attack us half our men will be killed running through these stake-and-ridered fences." Dr. Gano replied: "I think so, too-" And they turned back from Donerail to Georgetown, Gen. Gano watching them from Charley Herndon's woods.

Gen. Gano proceeded to Keizer's Depot, in Bourbon county, and captured a train with several hundred infantry who were paroled and sent back to Cincinnati on foot. Gano then returned to Georgetown and captured it, the soldiers fleeing to Eagle Creek hills, while Dr. Gano went to Lexington-

When the Southern troops came into Georgetown, a number of citizens were prisoners in the second story of the Court House, among whom was Will Webb, a young lawyer, who were guarded by some Union men, among whom was Shepard, a lawyer. Will Webb, seeing the Rebel men in town, turned to his guard, Mr. Shepard, and said: "You hand me that gun." Shepard said: "What do you mean?" Webb replied; "The Southern people have the town, and you are my prisoner." Shepard looked out the window, saw the soldiers in the streets and handed Webb the gun and remarked: "Will, you know I have always been a friend of yours, and now I expect you to protect me."

| Gen. Morgan came into town, and when the forces were 1 camped, Gen. Morgan sent a message to Gen. Gano to know if he could capture Sam Thompson, as he (Gano) knew the a place so well, and he (Morgan) was anxious to get Thompson, ji who was Provost Marshal. Gen. Gano rode out to the residence of Pres and Sid Thompson, w'ho were good Southern j men, thinking that Sam Thompson, being a relative, would seek refuge there. Gen. Gano called out Pres Thompson, and said to him: "I wish to know if Sam Thompson is here. If you say he is you shall have the pleasure of bringing him out to me. if you say he is not here we will search every room and j closet in your house." Pres replied: "He is here," and forth- I* with brought him out and surrendered him to Gano as a pris^ iij oner of war.

Gano placed Thompson under guard of some Texas soldiers, and next morning Mrs. Sam Thompson came into the office where Gen. Gano was (she being a member of the Christian church to which Gano belonged) and said to Gano: | "I have a request to make- My husband, Mr. Sam Thompson j : is under guard of some Texas soldiers-" He said: "Sister h Thompson, I can not grant your request, and you would not i:! ask me to do so if you knew the facts. The Texans have no !;[' prejudice against your husband, and will care for him as 'I directed, while the Kentuckians, who have been mistreated i'f by him, would, if they had a good excuse, like an opportunity !j to punish him." She replied: "Let the Texans keep him, V then."

I Richard M. Gano

General Morgan, with his cavalry, came the day after Col. { Richard Gano left. General Morgan issued a notice to the people of Georgetown and next day saved Cynthiana. The notice he issued is as 'follows:

I come to liberate you from the despotism of a | tyrannical faction and to rescue my native State I from the hand of your oppressors. Everywhere the | cowardly foe has tied from my avenging arms. My brave army is stigmatized as a band of guerrilas and : marauders. Believe it not. I point with pride to J their deeds as a refutation to this foul aspersion.

We come not to molest peaceful individuals or to de- 1 stroy private property, but guarantee absolute protection to all who are not in arms against us. We ask only to meet the hireling legions of Lincoln. The eyes of your brethren of the South are upon you. Your gallant fellow citizens are flocking to our Standard. Our armies are rapidly advancing to your protection. Then greet them with the willing hands of fifty thousand of Kentucky's brave. Their advance is already with you. Then "Strike for the Green Graves of Your Sires!" "Strike for Your Altars and Your Fires! I"

HE following account of Morgan's main force passing £1 through Georgetown to Cynthiana, and there meeting Burbridge, as taken from Collins' history, will he found below:

"On June 10th and 11th, 1864, Morgan's main force, passing through Georgetown reaches Cynthiana about daylight Saturday, June lltli, and after a brisk fight captures the garrison : his troops set tire to several houses from which they had been tired upon, the flames spreading and burning over twenty-five houses, with §200,000 worth of property. Sending a force below Keller's bridge he intercepts a train with General Hobson and 500 Ohio troops and 300 horses, which are captured after a gallant engagement.

"On June 12th, 1861, General Burbridge, with the same force which defeated part of Morgan's troops at Mt. Sterling, overtakes them, about 1,200 strong, at Cynthiana about daylight on Sunday, and immediately attacks. The Confederates, although many areout. of ammunition, fight for an hour with great desperation, but are overpowered and driven out of town in several directions, losing, besides the killed and wounded, over 300 prisoners. Part of Morgan's force escapes through Scott county, while he leads the main force, after paroling some 600 prisoners taken on the 10th, on the Claysville and Augusta road, through Mayslick, Mason county, on same night, and Flemingsburg next morning. His raid has proven decidedly disastrous."

Five thousand guns were received for the Yankees and .sold at SI each. -Two thirds of which were to be distributed in Scott county- Collin's History says:

"May 18, 1861, Lieut. Wm. Nelson, U- S- Navy procures at Washington city 5,000 muskets and bayonets, with a supply of cartridges and caps, to be shipped to Cincinnati for distribution to the 'Home Guards,' and Union men of Kentucky, 'requiring that every man to whom a gun was delivered should pay $1 for it,' to reimburse 'the price of transportation, and some other charges and expenses.' Hon. Garrett Davis has ordered to be distributed to Scott county 200, he says, 'these arms are intended for true, faithful and reliable Union men-'"

Feb. 18, 1863. Senate refuses to further consider a petition from J. A. Bell, of Scott county, "praying permission for certain free negroes of Brown county, Ohio, to return toslavery."

July 22, 1864. Mr. Robinson killed by guerillas at his home on Eagle Creek, Scott county, near Owen county line. July 27. Gen. Burbridge sends a detail of Federal soldiers there, with a captured guerrilla to be shot upon the spot in retaliation.

General Gano Met The Enemy

A buffalo adventure of a gentleman well known throughout Kentucky is made mention of in a Dallas, Texas, exchange, as follows: "Gen. R. M. Gano has returned from a trip beyond the frontier, where lie and his party went prospecting for good lands. They went about eighty miles beyond the white settlements, and during the trip killed seven buffaloes, one antelope and plenty of wild turkeys. The Gen- of Georgetown, and was established in 1793, and lies along the beautiful stream of Elkhorn on the North and West. The tent above is in the turn of the home stretch and where Dry Run empties into Elkhorn, and where the "horse promenade" was made. A long walk just at the turn was made for the purpose of walking and cooling out the horses. The outside of the track is well shaded, and the banks of Elkhorn with its large trees made it one of the most beautiful race courses that could be found in the State. The track is one mile long, and has never been disturbed by the plow. It is owned by Mrs. Spencer Long, the daughter of the late Dr. S. F. Gano. The Doctor was an uncle of General Richard Gano.

It is said that when arrangements were made for Grey Eagle to meet Wagoner, at $10,000 a side in a foureral had his horse killed in a fight with an old buffalo bull, by the accidental discharge of his pistol; he was thrown by the fall of his wounded horse over the horse's head, and went head foremost at the infuriated buffalo. The beast was so astonished that he burned tail and left the General in possession of the field of battle." mile race, three heats out of five, that over 25,000 people attended. Each of the horses had two heats to his credit, when a dispute arose and the fifth heat was never run. Several years later the race was finished in Louisville, when Grey Eagle went lame.

A large amphitheatre or stand stood on this track, but it was either burned or torn down. Some good horses raced over this . track, such horses as Woodpecker, Mollie McCarthy, Grey Eagle and a number of others. The distance then was three and five miles, the heats three out of five. Mr. West was very fond of horses, and at one time it is said he owned over four hundred head, including mares, colts, &c. Mr. West conducted a gunsmith shop on Hamilton street, and his request was that when he died he wanted his grave dug in the floor in the center of the shop and there be buried, which was done, but his remains were afterwards removed to the cemetery.

Dr. S. F. Gano had purchased this land several years prior to the time of the Civil War. He was the Medical Examiner for the Federals. All Federal troops camped on the land about this track when in Georgetown.

In 190-1, Mr. Geo. S. Robinson, son of the late GoV. Robinson, and now Circuit Court Clerk, entertained a number of his friends with a fish fry.

The following article, taken from Mr. Milton Overlev \s unpublished "History of the Christian Church, Flemingsburg, Kentucky," recently published in the Christian Weekly, will be of interest to all Kentuckians. Our well known fellow-townsman, Mr. Gano Ammerman, is a namesake of the General's. Following is the sketch :

Richard M. Gano is the son of John A. Gano, at whose home in Bourbon county he was born, January 17, 1830. Of this Intel - esting event the father thus writes in his diary: "Another son was horn unto us today, and we have named him Richard M. Gano, for his grandfather, Gen. Richard M. Gano, of the war of 1812 ; and my earnest prayer to God is that he may live to become a useful man, and especially a noble Christian, and that he may become very useful to the church of Christ and win many precious souls to Christ." The father's prayer was heard, and it has been granted, and the son, at 75, still lives and labors for the salvation of others. The father was one of the ablest, most active and zealous preachers in the Reformation, and the son is worthy of the sire. John Allen Gano, during his ministry, took into the church nearly ten thousand people. lie preached for the church at Leesburg, Ky., fifty years and for Old Union sixty years.

Till about eleven years of age, the son attended such common schools as the country then afforded, and these were very common, indeed. Ilis father then placed him in Bacon College, where he remained little more than a year. Next he was sent to Bethany (Va.) College. After a stay of two years with Alexander Campbell he left and entered the Medical University at Louisvi le, where he graduated. Soon after he began the practice of his profession, in which he continued for eight years - three years in Kentucky, two years in Baton Rouge, La., and three years in

A Soldier And Minister

Texas. In 1853 he was married to Miss Mattie J. Welch, of Garrard county, and soon after the couple emigrated to the Lone Star State. His health having become somewhat shattered while pursuing his profession in Texas, "Dick" Gano, as his Kentucky friends were wont to call him, gave up the practice of medicine and engaged in stock raising. In the fall of i860 lie was elected a member of the Texas Legislature, but the great Civil War coming on before his term expired as Legislator, he resigned, and was chosen Captain of a company of cavalry that was being organized as scouts for the army of Gen. Albert Sidney Johnson, then at Bowling Green, Ky. After Shiloh, where General Johnson was killed, Captain Gano and men were transferred to the command of Gen. John II. Morgan. Here his gallantry and other splendid soldierly qualities won for him promotion so rapidly that in a few months he was Brigadier-General Gano. commanding a brigade in Morgan's division. In writing about the fight at Snow Hill, Tenn., years after it occurred, Col. W. C. P. Breckinridge, who was s.cond in command on that occasion, said of General Gano's charge on the Fourth United States Regulars during the fight : " 1 his was the last time I ever saw 'Dick'

Gano under fire. Mounted on his thoroughbred bay, with that long black plume in his hat, his beard divided by the wind, his handsome face all aglow with excitement, trying to inspire others with something of his own heroism - finally rallying a handful of men and, with pistol in hand, charging on a flushed and victorious enemy, and driving them before him - he was, indeed, a knightly looking soldier, and the last sight of 'Dick' Gano in batt le is a picture of chivalry I'll carry to my grave."

In the spring of 1863. in consequence of ill health. General Gano was given a furlough and sent home to die, but recovering sufficiently to again take the field, the Secretary of War, at the urgent solicitation of Gen, E Kirby Smith, assigned him to duty in the Trans-Mississippi Department. General Smith, who commanded in this department, and who knew' his worth, gave him a large brigade of cavalry, with which he did splendid service, On one occasion in the I ndian Territory, after hard fighting, he captured an immense train, estimated to be worth one million dollars. For his valuable services in General Smith's department that officer recommended him to the War Department for appointment as Major-General. President Davis ordered the appointment to be made, but before the commission could be issued Richmond fell, the Confederacy collapsed, and Richard M. Gano never got his well earned title, that of Major-General.

The war over, he began to prepare himself for the ministry, having made a solemn promise that if spared through the conflict the remainder of his life should be devoted to the cause of religion. In February, 1866, he was a passenger on the ill-fated steamer, "W. G. Carter," when she was blown up near Vicksburg on the Mississipi river. Of her 200 passengers - men, women and children - 160 were killed outright and others died of their injuries. General Gano was desperately wounded, and for six weeks he lay at the point of death. But He who had shielded him from ball and blade during four years of bloody war, was with him still, and he lived to labor long and successfully in the Master's vineyard. As soon as able to stand upon his feet, he was brought to his old Kentucky home, and at Old Union, in Fayette county, he was ordained to preach the w'ord of the Lord, his father, with others, officiating at the ordination. He has preached in Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Indian Territory and Texas, and he has baptized more than 4,000 converts.

He h as held two very successful protracted meetings at Flemingsburg and of these he writes: ''The memory of these dear friends, gathered into the fold of Christ and started on the road of endless bliss, gives me courage to press on and still labor at the age of 75, and till God shall call me home." Again he says to the writer of this sketch : ''Another happiness tome now is to live over in memory the happy meetings, and again enjoy in memory the hospitality of those Christians whose hearts were warm with the love of Christ, and among the many churches in old Kentucky, none were more so than the church at Flemingshurg." Thus w.ites Richard M. Gano, the soldier-preacher, who was one of the bravest and most daring men in the Confederate service, but the warm-hearted Christian gentleman always.

Incidents From 1862 To 1868 421 He' Stood Morgan Off

1862. Morgan's forces capture Mount Sterling after a stubborn resistance by Oapt. Edward C. Barlow, 40th Kentucky Infantry, with about seventy men; they plunder the citizens freely, obtaining some $80,000 from the Farmers' Branch Bank. Leaving his dismounted men in camp Morgan marches towards Lexington. Captain Barlow was afterwards arrested by orders of General Morgan and for a while, it is said, that such charges would have been preferred against him that he would have been severely dealt with, but as soon as "Papa Cal's" Confederate friends heard of it they called on General Morgan and "Papa Cal" was released under oath ; for sixty days, or, as the old "Confeds" put it, "he was sworn."

August 6- 1866- County Judges, Sheriffs and other officers ?, elected. Judge Alvin Duvall elected Clerk of the Court of: Appeals; Duvall. 95.979 ; Gen. Edward II. Ilobson, 58,035; majority, 37,944. Great excitement and much bad blood around/ the polls in many precincts ; not less than twenty men killed! in the aggregate in the State. M. It. Hardin elected Judge of the Court of Appeals in the Third District over Judge I Thomas A. Marshall. - Collins' History.

October 3, 1866. At the St. Louis Agricultural Fair, the f great premium of $700 awarded to Knight of St. George, a| splendid imported stallion belonging to Keene Richards, of || Scott county, Ky - Collins' History.

April 1, 1868. During the month of March there was dis-j? tilled in Scott, Woodford, Boyle, Lincoln and Jessamine! counties 80,565 gallons ot whisky. - Collins' History.

The famous Liberty bell was rung .1 uly 8, 1776, to proclaim the independence of America. It was cracked on the morn-|j ing of July 8, 1835. while being tolled in memory of Chief H Justice Marshall. ;

1869. The Lexington Observer and Reporter of a recent date mentions this case of filial affection as occurring in that 1 citv: "A little girl of Scott county, by the name of Lucas! who had lost her mother, wanted to place a head and foot}! stone over the grave by her own exertions, so she came to a '< prominent marble worker of Lexington, who promised to put S them up for her at first cost-$12.(0. She 'then saved up all' the little pieces of money given her until she had, as she thought, enough. So she came to town and counting down $11 95 in money, from fifty cents to five cents, she seemed to have a burden lifted olf her when the kind-hearted marble man told her he would put them up for what she had, and she went home happy in the consciousness of a duty performed."

H WRITER in the Carrollton Democrat, referring to the time (in 1828) when the Ohio and Mississipi rivers were full of steamboats, keelboats and "broadhorns," thus refers to "Lexington," a steamer that plied between Louisville and New Orleans:

"The Lexington was a side- wheel steamer with the cabin on the lower deck. She had been built by Elijah Craig, of Georgetown, and was a staunch craft, her hull being built of black, or yellow, locusts. Excepting one pilot, one engineer and one deckhand, the entire crew were kinsfolk."

The boat was one of the best that plied the river at that time and one of the speediest Rev. Craig was supposed to have died in 1809, hut this statement is so repeatedlyy denied that the readers will have to form their own opinion as to the date and year fo his death.

Gold Money In Cellar Gold Money Hid

H LLE the Rebels had raided the Farmers' Bank at Mt. Sterling for $80,000, the Federals had previously, or afterwards of the same year 1862, looted the town and secured $40,000 from this or some other bank of Mt. Sterling. This money secured by the Federals was said to have been gold and placed in four buckskin sacks, each containing ten thousand dollars. The Federals after securing this money came north aud through Georgetown. Their horses and mules were put in and fed at the livery stable in Georgetown, which was conducted by Oliver Gaines, Sr. The stable was located on West Main street and stood on the ground where G. H. Nunnelly now owns and conducts a large hardware, coal and lumber business. The sacks containing this money were said to be in saddle bags and throwed across the mule's back. While the stock was being cared for, the mule was relieved of his burden and there must have been some fire and brimstone when this fact became known. Mr. Gaines could not have had any knowledge of the money or of its removal, because from the moment the Federals struck town up to a short time of their departure, he was wining and dining the officers at his home. So it was an utter impossibility to charge him or even suspicion him in any manner, shape or form of being a party to, directly or indirectly connected with taking the money. There was some doubt as to whether or not the money was not taken or lost before the company or regiment struck Georgetown. This doubt was removed several weeks after by one of the negroes who was either hired or that loafed around the barn, trying to get change for a ten dollar gold piece. To Mr. Gaines' mind there was no longer a shadow of a doubt but what that money was removed from that mule's back.

Through his attorney, Gov. Jas. F. Robinson, an investigation was called for by Mr. Gaines. The investigation was made at Lexington. The decision rendered was that no charge had been prefered, and the party asking a vindication had not been accused and the fact of Gaines having been in company with the officers, from the time they arrived in Georgetown until their departure, was conclusive evidence that he had no knowledge whatsoever of this money.

There can be no boubt but what this money was taken off the mule by one of the hands in the stable at the time and hid in or under the spring house, where it remained for months. He no doubt believing that he was suspicioned by reason of the fact of a negro boy having a ten dollar gold piece and had tried to get it changed. Half of the amount, $10,000, was supposed to have been hid under a large rock in the cellar of the Gaines home. The other half was no doubt taken by the party who had the money in charge. So far as any member of the Gaines family was concerned nothing was ever known about this money from the time it was taken in 1862 until 1879. Between that time, and up to the time the old house was swept away by the flames in 1889, it was owened and occupied by the Gaines family. However, for certain reasons, it is believed that Mrs. Olver Gaines, Sr., was apprised of the fact of the money being in the cellar, but it was at a time when she was on her death bed, and died before her daughter-inlaw, Mrs. Mary Agnes Gaines, for whom she had asked, who had just left, could return. It is believed though that she communicated this message to a friend present. She died in 1875 on the place now fN 1777 the Legislature of Virginia declared slaves as real estate. Six years after Kentucky was admitted to the Uuion as a State, the General Assembly in 1798, passed the same act declaring slaves should be deemed and held as real estate. An act prohibiting slaves going from home without a pass, was also passed by the Legislature. Slaves or Indians were not allowed to carry arms or have knives or ammunition in their possession. If caught with same the punishment was | thirty-nine lashes on his or her bare back, well laid on. The writer is glad to say that his mother owned a number of slaves, each of whom always carried passes and traveled to and from the Gaines home in Georgetown to her place in Bourbon county. She never sold a slave in her life and never allowed one belonging to her to be sold by any member of the family. The slaves she owned were those inherited by her from her grandfather, Col. Peter Moore, who was at one time the largest land owner and the wealthiest man of that dear old county - Bourbon, the county in which that good woman, Mary Agnes Gaines (nee Mary Agnes Collins), first saw the light of day. She was the daughter of James and Elizabeth Collins. Mrs. Gaines died in 1898 at the age of 55 years. Her mother, who is now 100 years old, is still living and resides in California. The descendants of the late Oliver Gaines, Sr., are probably the only ones of a family that owned the oldest and youngest slaves now living, and if there is a spark of womanhood or manhood in those who owned slaves it cannot but make the blood run cold with anger when they read the book or see the play of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," as written by old Harriet Beecher Stowe. A book was never written where imagination has been more overdrawn than this one. Still, with all due respects to this woman, it is hard to believe that such thoughts would have ever originated from even the mind of the worst criminal charged with the worst crime known in the criminal calendar. The contents of the book are thoroughly in accord with the orders and mean things of Steve Burbridge. But the war is over, slavery is a thing of the past, and the waving of the "bloody shirt" is unbecoming to the mingling of "the Blue and the Grey."

The use of coon and mole skins, the old printed shilling, the cutting silver, the old shin-plasters, the Independent bank notes, all used by the pioneers as a money, are things of the past, but makes very interesting reading.

The old spinning wheel having been in constant use for more than a century has long since been cast aside in the woodshed or else broken up for kindling. One is now seldom seen. The flax patch is gone and the old reliable home-spun jeans are no longer made. A likeness of the old printed shilling and the old spinning wheel appears on another page. Also a likeness of the home provided for a slave and which shows the contentment of an old negro woman. Also a likeness of Mariah Wheeler, the oldest negro woman in Scott county, who belonged to James Crawford, the first Jailer of the county.

Now In His 105Th Year

HE above is a likeness of Edward Dorsey, the I ijl old slave of the writer's grandfather, O. W. I_ VJr Gaines. Mr. Gaines was among the first to conduct a rope walk in Georgetown. This walk was on the place adjoining the old Seminary, j and now owned by Mr. James Harvey Moore. The old red brick house on the east side of the Lexington pike, at the corner of the lane leading to the Lemon's i Mill pike, was built by Mr. Gaines and was the home j of "Uncle Ned," as he was familiarly called. "Uncle Ned" was the property of Col. William Nash, one of j the first property owners of Georgetown. "Uncle Ned" was born in Georgetown in a house that stood where the Worstell Block now stands, at the corner of Main and Hamilton streets. He is now 105 years old and a resident of Indianapolis, Ind. While a mere boy he was given to Mrs. Oliver Wallace Gaines (nee Mary Polly Nash), who was the oldest daughter of Colonel Nash. "Uncle Ned" says that his old Marsa, O. W. Gaines, was the first to conduct a stage coach from Lexington to Georgetown and that he made the first trip with the stage. "Uncle Ned" was for sixty-one years a slave, and fifty years of that time was owned by O. W. Gaines, and was never sold nor out of the family. "Uncle Ned," at this extreme old age, is yet a useful man. His age is now tellingon him fast, as the likeness of him shows, and while he is here for but a limited time it is to be hoped by those who love him, by those who are near and dear to him and by those who will try to strengthen him, and by those who will see that his greatest desire - to visit his old home before the closing days of his life come - shall be granted. He was a faithful slave, an obedient servant and a courageous soldier. Below will be found letters from Dr. S. W. Ballard and Hon. J. S. Smith, who were kind enough to visit the old fellow at the writer's request :

The Spinning Wheel

Invented in 1380 and after being in constant use for more than five hundred and forty years has now been laid aside and left only to memory.

Maria Wheeler

The above is a likeness of Maria Wheeler, who was the slave of the first Jailer of Scott county, James Crawford. She was born at the first Jail erected, and says she is over loo years old, and from her picture no one would doubt her age. She is at the County Infirmary. She is a little woman not over five feet high, and will weigh not over 90 pounds-. She is yet active and has use of all her limbs. She walks to town often. The Infirmary is about five miles from town and she walks the distance in less than three hours. This picture was made of her on the County Farm. She is sitting in a rocking chair under a large locust.

Were Happy Before Saw The Old Slave

Dr. J. W. Ballard, a friend of the writer's, spent several months in Indianapolis, Ind., in 1905, and knowing Ned was there we got him to look the old fellow up. The Doctor was kind enough to get this information for us, as his letter following concerning "Uncle" Ned shows :

I found Uncle Ned, a very aged and infirm old man. I was invited in and as soon as I made myself known he brightened up and began to ask questions about Georgetown and many of its older inhabitants. Said he belonged to your grandfather Gaines and worked in his livery stable. Said he left Georgetown in the spring of 1862 and went to Camp Nelson, Kenlucky, ioined the Union army and was mustered into Col. Sedgewicks regiment and served as a soldier until the close of the war, and was mustered out in 18657" He then came to Indianapolis. After being here a number of years he says he was sent to the Soldiers Home, near Marion, Indiana. After being there two years his daughter, Harriette, came and took him to her home, where he now lives with her and her daughter and her grandchildren. He is 108 years old, a bright looking old man with a copper color and resembles the picture you have of him. He talks well and his mental faculties are yet very clear and distinct, and says he would be so glad to go back to see his old home and the people before the end came, especially you and your family. Uncle Ned has five sets of children and grandchildren. His children are Ed, Sam, George, Maria and Oliver. His grandchildren number thirteen, his great-grandchildren, twenty, and his greatgreat-grandchildren now living, seventeen. While the old man was talking, the granddaughter was combing his hair. He said : "Cut a lock of my hair out and send it to little Marsa Oliver." You will find it enclosed, plaited and tied, as she gave it to me. The daughter, Harriette, says she and her brother belonged to your mother, Mrs. Agnes Gaines. After they were freed she went to Indianapolis, where she has since resided.

The lock of hair is nicely plaited, white as snow and as fine as silk. If the old negro lives a few months longer we will bring him back to his old home for a visit. He will be brought to Georgetown by the writer as soon as he is able to make the trip. He is no doubt the oldest slave of Scott county living.

The Youngest Slave James F. Robinson

The above is a likeness of James Robinson, better known as " Turkey Jim," a nickname given him because of his great skill as a picker of feathers from turkeys and who was the property of the late Mrs. Mary Agnes Gaines, wife of the late Oliver W. Gaines, Jr. He is no doubt the youngest ex-slave now living in Scott county. The day, January 1st, 1862, Lincoln issued his emancipation proclamation, leclaring freedom to slaves, "Jim" was about 24 hours Md, having been born on the day before, December 31st, 1861. His mother, Maria, remained with her Mistress, until her death, at which time "Jim" was about ten years old. "Jim" was named after the late Gov. James F. Robinson. While "Jim" is not the best negro in the county, he is not the worse. He works steady and is seldom engaged in difficulties. As long as with his Mistress he aarried his troubles to her, and he was never refused fuel, food or clothes as long as she lived. Whatever work around the house in the way of getting up kindling, coal and carrying water he did. He formed one good habit, if he never had another, and that was - ( voting the Democratic ticket.

; people telling of the brutality in the times of slavery and the I brutal manner in which slaves ttere treated were true, would | the slaves have respected their Masters as they did? Take Edj ward Dorsey, an ex-slave now living in Indianapolis. Ind., - 105 years old - the greatest moment's pleasure of his life is "telling you he was the slave of Marse Oliver Gaines." "Un- ,cle Ned" named his first son after his "old Massa." His daughter with whom he lives belonffed to the late Mary Agnes Gaines, as did James Robinson, who now lives in [Georgetown. There was no human being on earth to whom l "Jim" was more devoted and respected and obeyed than he j did her. And page after pages might be written, but nothing more appropriate could be put in type than the song composed by Stephen C. Foster :

On the following page is the letter written by Hon. John S. Smith, of Indianapolis, Ind., who called on "Uncle Ned" at the request of the writer- rfdj OK more than twelve months, efforts have been made ^ |1 to secure a picture of Edward Dorses', the old slave of the late 0- W. Gaines. "Uncle Ned" is 105 years old and his feeble condition caused the delay in securing his photograph. He resides in Indianapolis, Ind- In January of 1905 the photograph was received. Hon. John S- Smith of Bourbon county who was Commonwealth's Attorney of this district and who now resides in Indianapolis, Ind., where he is practicing law. secured the photograph for this book. The writer being a descendant of a family who owned the oldestand the youngest slaves now living - Edward Dorsey of Indianapolis, and James E. Kobinson, of Georgetown, it is but natural that he would desire their photographs appear in this history.

My Dear B. O. - When I received your letter of the 23rd inst. I went the nex*t day at noon to find your grandfather's old slave, Edward Dorsey. I found the old man at his daughter's house. I said to him, "Are you Edward Dorsey, formerly of Kentucky and once a slave of Mr. Oliver Wallace Gaines?" " I am, sir." "His grandson, B. O. Gaines, of Georgetown, has requested me to call on you." The old man reached up with a trembling hand, took off his hat and extending the other tome said, "1

I sat down in that humble home with the old man and answered as best I could all the questions he asked me. He told we he had not been in Kentucky since the war, and that he was born in 1801, being now in his 105th year. He asked me about many of the old citizens, many of whom had passed over the "Great Divide." Among the many he asked particularly about were Colonel Johnson, "who used to school the Indians." Dr. Keene, Keene Richards, Mr. Betts. Dr. Farnam and "Marse" Billy Graves." Mr. Smith Answered the Roll Called.

As he named each one and I answered, "Dead," the old man's head dropped and as the tears bedimmed his eyes, he said, "All gone, all gone." I could imagine the thoughts that crowded upon his tired brain, the memories that stretched forth their arms across the waste of years and cried aloud to him from the shadows of the past, of the old familiar faces long laid away under Summer's flowers or Autumn's leaves or Winter's snows. Poor old Edward, his mind is filled with the ghosts of long ago and the tragedies of the distant years. He has drunk deep of the water of self sacrifice and affliction and has learned how sublime a thing It is to suffer and be strong.

He has no one to go to Kentucky with, but says if you will come for him in the Spring he will be glad to go back with yon on a visit. As I left him I gave him my address and asked him to come some Sunday and see me, that I would give him a good dinner and a drink of good old "Bourbon." His face lighted up and he said, "I is a coming, Boss, I is a coming." And when becomes he shall have the best we have got and a happy time I will make the old man have if I can. This afternoon he came to my office and I took him to the photographer and had his picture taken and will send it to you as soon as it is finished. It has been a great pleasure to me to render you this little service and may this New Year bring to you good health, good luck, kind friends and the best of cheer is the sincere wish of

Milton And Cinda Leach

T IS very doubtful that if the South was searched, two colored people who were slaves could be found with moreenergyand more happier than ''Uncle Milt" and "Aunt Cinda" Leach, who have lived a married life for more than forty years. ''Uncle Milt" is now in his 88th year, full of energy and a hard worker. He cuts his own wood and walks a distance of two and three miles from his home to the field to shuck corn, but his age is now telling on him fast and he will soon be too feeble to make these walks, but says that if he can ride to the field he will be able to shuck as much corn as ever. He was the slave of the late John Downing,

"Aunt Cinda" is now in her 86th year and does all of her own housework and says she thanks the Lord forbeingable to look after Milton. They have resided in the house which "Uncle Milt" built on a lot which he purchased from old "Uncle" Elley Elgin on Elley's alley forty years ago. The flames have swept away all of the property around their house and the high winds have played havoc, hut theirs has stood them all like the Rock of Gibraltar. "Aunt Cinda" has been twice married* Her children by her first husband are Scipio, Loney and Gus Thomas. Her second marriage was to "Uncle Milt," and they have two children - Henry and Morton. This old couple have a right to be proud of their children, and several of them have learned trades while the others hold good positions. These boys have and we predict that they will continue to conduct themselves as gentlemen. Because of their color there is no reason for them not being gentlemen and as such they have a host of friends, among whom is every white person in Georgetown who knows them- They are polite, gentlemanly and nearly each one has a home of his own. They all see that their parents get what they want. "Uncle Milt" and ''Aunt Cinda" arise from bed every morning about four o'clock.

The Present Generation The Second Generation Of Negroes

HERE are about four distinct classes of negroes in Georgetown and Scott county. Those that constitute the first class - or'rather "The Four Hundred" - are the politicians, ministers, lawyers, doctors and prop- erty owners. The second class - "The Sons of tire Federal Veterans." The third class are the dudes, or rather Ihe "Sawcity" crowd, composed of hotel waiters, barbers, bootblacks, etc- This crowd are great imitators, and enjoy football, baseball and other outdoor exercises. If this class consisted of five hundred in number one could gamble on it that there are not five of them who ever arose at -the hour of four o'clock in the morning. They are too busy attending hops and socials in winter and riding excursion trains and attending picnics and basket meetings in summer to arise at such an early hour in the morning. One of them could not be tied on a farm with a log chain if he had to work in a field. The fourth class consists of "The Old Sports," or rather "The United Brothers of Rest." They lay around the saloons fn the winter and the creeks all summer. They believe they are of the Apostle Peter and are natural born fishermen. They have "an eye like an eagle" for a chicken roost, as well as that for a fish. A member of this order is now and then sold for vagrancy, but this vacancy is readily filled-

The Slave And The Negro Of Today

'I I'1 winter they lay around saloons or else can be seen in | droves with sacks thrown overtheir shoulders, being followed j by a pack of dogs - from the town cur and bench-legged fice I to the greyhound - going out the various roads to some farmj er's meat house or chicken roost, ready to steal anything in

I1' sight that they can get their hands on, under the guise of rabbit hunting, tearing down rock fences and shooting and crip pling stock- This stealing is not confined to negro men only, but even to the little picaninhies, The likeness of the two little picaninnies on the fence watching the farmer go over the hill so they will have the pleasure of getting in the water- | melon patch is a good illustration of the negro race of today. ^ Bloodhounds are kept by the officers more to run down negro J criminals than anything else- From the cradle to thievery and from thievery to murder, from murdering to the scaffold 1 and from the scaffold to the grave, is the ambition of most of " the negroes of today, jf,

Now can be seen bow differently situated are the ji negroes in town and those in the country. Those ! colored men and their families who are willing to do ij honest work as farm hands or other labor have plenty j to eat, they live in comfortable quarters with smokj ing chimneys, and when they are seen in town they are warmly clad and carry some money in their } pockets, too.

The Belle Of The Ball Is Too Busy To Work

White persons needing servants to do housework, washing and ironing can come about as near hiring a negro woman as they could to work grasshoppers for stage horses. The likeness above is a fair illustration of "the Belle of the Ball," whose time has long since been engaged to attend the hop and tip the light fantastic or the festivals or the basket meetings.

They have little to eat, and that little is uncertain; they are poorly clad; they have scant fuel, and the men lounge in scores about the barrooms for the free warmth they can there obtain. It would seem that this contrast would strike the minds of the negro leaders, and that they, at their churches and other places of meeting, would lay the matter plainly before their people.

If the negro could be gotten into the country and kept there, he would do better. He would command respect, become a land owner and lay a good foundation upon which to build his future progress.

But how about their town brothers? With a few remarkable and creditable exceptions, these town negroes who, like the grasshopper "sang the summer away," are now upon tne charity of the very people who offered them work - even persuaded them to work, as if asking a favor.

Treatment Of Negroes Negro Philosopher

A negro philosopher discussing the relations of the races said "You know de turkey, he roost 01 de fence, and de goose he roost on de ground. You pull de turkey ofl de fence and he will git up again. You craps his wings, but somehow or n udder he gwine to get back on de fence. Now you put de goose on de fence an' he will fall oft'; he don't belong dar. De turkey am de white man. He's down now, but is gwine to git up again. De nigger is de goose. He better stay whar he b'longs." The Yankee's Love For The Negro.

The house unanimously, and the senate with a slight amendment, adopted the following resolution : "Whereas it is represented in the public journals Maj. Cen. Clinton B. Fisk, the head of the Freedman's Bureau in Ky., did on the 18 inst., deliver an address in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, in which he made, amongst others, these statements :

"Only the day before yesterday, in Lexington,; thirteen discharged colored soldiers stood in the; streets, in full sight ot Henry Clay's imminent, with their bodies lacerated, their backs bleeding from the cruel lash, their heads cut to the scalp, and one or two of them with their eyes put ( tit! And what for, do you suppose? Simply for going to their former masters and asking for their wives and children.

"And whereas, it is believed that those statements have no foundation in fact, and are calculated to place the people of Ky. in a false light before the country ; therefore, be Resolved, that a committee be appointed, of two from the house and one from the senate, to proceed immediately to Lexington,! and ascertain the truth or falsity of the statements," i Ac. Wm. A. Dudley from the senate, Benj. F. Buckner and John M. Armstrong, from the house,; were appointed the committee. Feb. 15 - The committee reported an outline of the testimony taken,: with the testimony in full, and a letter of Feb. 2 from Gen. Fisk; and came to the conclusion - "that the charges made by Gen Fisk are false and- slanderous; they are but a continuation of the system of misrepres ntation to which the people of this state have been exposed for several years - a system in troduced and preserved in by officeholders of the general government, in order to extend and continue their own proflits and powers; and but too , much encouraged by certain citizens of the state itself, in the hope of receommending themselves thereby to the patronage of the party in power at Washington." Mr. Armstrong filed a minority report - saying "he had not arrived at the conclusion that the alleged statements of Gen. Fisk are false, and slanderous," and arguing in favor of further time for a more full investigation. Gen. Fisk's letter spoke of being denounced as a "liar and slanderer," and said he would "retract before the world if it should appear that he had in the least misrepresented the people" of Ky. On motion of Mr. Armstrong, amended by others, Feb. 17, the committee was directed to sit during the recess and make the investigation at an early day, giving Gen. Fisk notice to attend, cross-examine and introduce witnesses; when finished, to furnish a full report of the testimony, with their decision thereon, to the Governor, who "is hereby directed to furnish the same to the president of the United States."

IN the very earliest of times there were no cold-blooded murders committed in the State. Everything must be equal, no man of courage would have a fight or a shooting unless it was just that way. To be called a liar then meant a duel, but now a cold blooded murder. In those times if there had been, or was likely to be, serious trouble between two men one or the other would issue a challenge for a duel. The place selected for a duel was always on the line of two counties. The time fixed for the duel to take place was always at sunrise. Each participant was entitled to a second and a physician. The duels were conducted almost exactly like prize fights of the present time and under almost the same rules. A piece of coin was tossed up by the seconds. Ten feet was the usual distance decided upon. The participants appear on the battle ground and take their places, right sides together, and facing in opposite directions, each holding his pistol in his rignt hand. The second then gave his first command, "Gentlemen, step your distance." The distance was stepped, the participants standing with their backs turned to each other awaiting the word. The second then asked, "Gentlemen, are you ready?" They made no reply, but simply bowed their heads, meaning that they were. The second then gave the word, "Fire!" They turn quickly around and begin firing during the time the seconds counted "one, two three." The firing had to be done within the time of the count.

There were two duels fought in Scott county. The first one was that between Trotter and Chas. Wickliffe, of which Collins History makes this brief mention :

October 9, 1829. - George James Trotter, editor of the "Kentucky Gazette," at Lexington, kills Chas. Wickliffe in a duel, near the Scott county line; parties fight at eight feet distance.

The second duel fought in Scott county was that of Major Kimbrough and Captain Desha on March 2(>th, 18(50, on the James K. Duke farm. This duel was the topic of conversation for years and is now mentioned quite frequently, owing to the prominence of the two men. On the next page a complete account of this duel is given, having been written by tli e only witness now living that saw it fought, Warren K. Smith.

Oesha-Kiribp.Qugh Duel 435 The Only Living Eye-Witness

Jo Desha and Major Kimbrough in Scott county on the Duke place, now owned by James Lysle and rented to Graddy Williams, on the Lysle turnpike, about three miles from town. Below will be found an account of that duel, which he so kindly contributed to this work :

These two principals were born and raised in Harrison county, near Cynthiana, Ky. Jo Desha was born May 10th, 1832. They attended school together when boys, but were never fond of each other.

In the beginning of the Civil War in 1861 Jo j Desha formed a company of the bravest Harrison j county men and joined the army of the Southern Confederacy. Major Kimbrough served in the United States Army. Both served as gallant soldiers.

Capt. Jo Desha told me that during the war he felt that it was time to forget past annoyances, and as he and Major Kimbrough had never iiad serious trouble with each other he formed the resolution, if both should come home again, he would meet Major j Kimbrough half way. In February of 1866, meeting j Major Kimbrough in the hotel at Cynthiana, he advanced towards him, extending his hand, saying,

Major Kimbrough replied, " How dare you offer to shake hands with me, you scoundrel!" At this juncture Desha picked up a chair and knocked Major Kimbrough down. Gen. Basil Duke was talking to : Captain Desha when Kimbrough entered the hotel. Several men rushed in to separate the Captain and the Major, but General Duke drew his pistol and would not permit interference, saying, "They were equally matched and let them have it out. Captain Desha sprained and bruised his right hand in the melee, and his left arm and shoulder had been disabled from a bullet wound on a hard fought battlefield in Dixie. He got the best of the fight on this occasion. Immediately Major Kimbrough sent Major Long, U. S. A., with a challenge to fight a duel.

Owing to the condition of Desha's right hand, the 1 the duel was postponed until March 26th. Although even at this time he could use his hand very little. He hardly had strength in his fingers to pull a trig- - ger. The line between Scott and Fayette counties in the woodland pasture of Mrs. Mary A. Duke, near a ravine, was selected as the place and the duel to be fought at sunrise, ten steps apart. The duelling pistols used were once the property of Henry Clay. They were smooth-bore pistols made in Sheffield, i Eng., finely finished and silver mounted, changed i from Hint locks to percussion-cap lock.

Major Long was Major Kimbrough's second, j Major Henry McDowell was Captain Desha's second. : Dr. W. B. Kean, of Georgetown, acted surgeon j| for Major Kimbrough. Dr. John Burk, of Lex- i ington, acted surgeon for Captain Desha. Dr. I John R. Desha accompanied his nephew, Captain Desha, to the place of duel from the home of Warren K. Smith, where Captain Desha was visiting at the time. The witnesses were Geo. A. Spake, Geo. W. Downing and Warren K. Smith, the last being the only living survivor of that duel.

The first fire both principals missed. The econd shot Kimbrough fired first, without wounding Desha, whose shot followed so closely that it seemed at the same time, taking effect in Kimbrough's rignt hip, and he fell face downward - not killed, but badly I wounded, and was carried from the field to Governor Robinson's, where he stayed until well enough lo go home. Captain Desha and Major McDowell (Dr. Henry McDowell, of Cynthiana, Ky.) went to Canada. Captain Desha was never proud of the notoriety the fighting of that duel occasioned.

Dr. George Fitzgerald

Dr. George Fitzgerald, the druggist, whose likeness appears above is the oldest business man in Georgetown. He is doing business in the same location now as he was in I8G9, and from all appearances will continue doing business at the same old stand for years yet to come. It is to be hoped so by "his host of natives." Mr. Fitzgerald was schooled in the drug business under the late Thos. J. Barkley, father of "Tom". Dr. Fitzgerald married a Miss Forwood, daughter of the late A. W. Forwood, a pioneer and manufacturer of vehicles. He was a valuable citizens to Georgetown and remained in this busibusiness until his death. Dr- Fitzgerald's home on North Hamilton street was used in early times as the Western Millitary Institute and in more recent years by the Farmers Bank. He has been a truestee, a member of school committee, and even now takes great interest in the improvement of Georgetown.

The oldest firm name now doing business in Georgetown is that of Marks & Ehrlich, In 1867 the late Isaac Marks and his brother-in-law, Joseph Elirliek, engaged in the clothing business where Sneed's drug store now is. In 1868 they purchased their present location and busines now beingconduoted by Joseph Marks, son of the late Isaac Marks, and Wm. Ehrlick, the brother of Joseph Ehrlich.

The population of Georgetown in 1868 as reported in June of that year showed 1,687. It has been constantly increasing ever since. The population in 1906, it is believed, will reach 6.000.

THE most remarkable total eclipse of the sun since 1S06 was on August 7th, 1869. About 4 o'clock in the afternoon, a very warm, sultry day, it began to grow dark and at 4:23 the portion of the United States with Kentucky in the main belt of obscuration, were as dark as night. Stars were visible in eluding the planets Mercury and Venus and '-he fixed stars Arcturus and Vega.

The chickens as well as all other domestic fowls all went to roost and the birds to their perches and the owls hooted, the cows came up to the milking barn. The thermometer fell to 72° and in some portions it rose and fell 14° in one hour. The eclipse ended at 6:21P. M. Dur- : the totality a shower of meteors was observed between the earth and the moon. A premature darkness, unlike that seen at any otlie^ time, gave the earth a more sombre mantle than that of night. The eclipse will long be remembered by those who witnessed it.

Mr. John A. Herring

TT lias only been in recent years that Georgetown * became well protected from the flames with a system of water works and an organized tire department. In these large fires they had nothing more than buckets, public wells and an old pump engine. Mr. John A. Herring was one of the Volunteer member of this department, and was noted for fighting the flames, and at one time almost lost his life. He has kindly prepared an article givinga full account of these fires and the dates they occurred, which will be seen below. Mr. Herring was born in Ballard county in 1854. He married Miss Mollie Bell Barkley in 1879, and lias three sons - George L., who is in business in New York; Harry G. and John A.. Mr. Herring began work early in life without means or influential friends, and by hard work has pushed forward until to-day, when he is a member of one of the largest dry goods firms in Georgetown. A young man receives little or no encouragement in small towns, and, especially Georgetown; but Mr. Herring is a good example to show what a young man can do if he will try. Of the big fires that have occurred in Georgetown, he says :

The Fires From 1867 To 1881

ROM 1830 until 1869 it dragged its slow exjst- -L ence along, being perfectly satisfied to rank simply as an inland town. Its people were dead to what was going on in the outside world. In the language of a celebrated orator, "Peace, tranquility and innocence shed their mingled delights around them." One night in 1869 the dreadful cry of fire awakened the slumbering citizens. The next setting of the sun was upon the blackened ruins of the greater portion of the business houses of the town. When the own ers of the buildings had recovered from the stupor occasioned by the then great magnitute of their losses, they determined that they would erect more substantial and more ornamental buildings on the sites of the old rockeries than formerly occupied them. Again, in 1876, the fire fiend visited the town and the remainder of the business portion of the old town was destroyed. Time and again since these "big fires" lias the little city been visited by fires more or less devastating in their extent. Each time more substantial and more imposing buildings have been erectecl until to-day it bears, and justly so, the proud title of "The Belle of the Blue Grass."

A Member Of The Volunteers The Fires

Dear Sir: - In response to your request to give you a bit of history in regai'cl to the "Great fires of Georgetown," will say that when I came to Georgetown in the tall of 1867, there being only a volunteer fire company, with an old style hand pump and, of course, could do very little in the way of fighting a fire.

The Fire Of 1868

The first fire that I remember was in the business portion of the town on the south-east cornei of Main and Main Cross streets (now Broadway) in 186S. This fire originated in Mr. Mose E. Nichols' hardware store, next to the corner, and burning out L. Maddox & Co, grocers; M. E. Nichols, hardware, and Jeff Shepard, jeweler. The fire wall of the Grissom drugstore prevented tie fire from spreading further east on Main.

The Big Fire Of 1869

The next and the largest fire Georgetown has ever had was in June 29, 1869; this fire destroyed twenty-six houses in the business portion of the town, on both sides of Main street, from Fitzgerald's Alley east to Hamilton street, and a few houses north to Hamilton. The fire Originated in Geo. E. Trimble's drug store on the south side of Main street, where the Racket Store is now located,

The Firms That Suffered A Loss

The firms burned out by this fire were as follows: North side of Main - S. Godey, John Shuter, W. F. Pullen, Jeff. Adams, S. Y. Keene, Deposit Bank. Mat Shepard, John Bell, Mark Polk, J. F. Gasner. On the south side of Main - Buford Kelly C. B. Lewis, T. j. Shepard, Geo. E. Trimble, Wells Bros., W. H. Fitzgerald & Bro., E. Price, J. H. C. Bartlett, Mrs. Sallie Fitzgerald, Fannie Allgiare and others.

Difference In Dates. '

Mr. Herring gives this date as June 29, 1869, while Collins' History says: "June 12, 1869 - A fire at Georgetown, Scott county, destroys about 25 buildings, covering two entire squares east of the Court House, among the buildings the Odd Fellows' Hall, Deposit Bank, and Times printing office; lost $250,000, about $40,000 insurance."

The fire of 1875 I well remember, as Louis C. Ersenschmidt and myselt were badly burned, and came very near losing our lives This fire was on the morning of September 14, 1875, an(i originated in E. C. Barlow's jewelry store on Main street, on the same site of the present store.

Badly Burned By Discharge Of Pistol

By an accidental discharge ot a pistol the ball entered into a four-pound can of gun powder, which exploded within two feet of Ersenschmidt and myself, rendering us both unconscious for quite a while and burning most all the clothing from our bodies; their being quite a lot of flamible material near by, it immediately ignited. This fire destroyed three buildings - Rankins & Webb, E. C. Barlow, jewelry and H. Hecht, clothing stores.

No Insurance

In less than 8 months 'hese buildings were replaced and occupied, notwithstanding Mr. Barlow had no insurance on his building. He made the remark a few weeks before the fire that he had saved hundreds of dollars in the last ten years by not insuring his property, but at last he was caught, and his loss was about $16,000. Moral: "Keep insured." The fire destroyed three buildings on the south side of Main streen west of Fitzgerald's alley, stopping at Soper's store on the last of the Grissom building.

The Fire Of 1876

One year and two weeks later, September, 1876. fire broke out in one of the rooms of the Grissom drug store building occupied by Keene McMeekin. This fire consumed all the buildings west of the present Barlow's Hall to Broadway, also the old Court House and Clerk's office on the north side of Main.

Old Hotel Fire

The building of the old Georgetown Hotel and livery stable west of same occurred in the fall of 1881. At this time we had secured a $5,000 fire engine.

When the cry of fire was given the engineer, in his anxiety to get up steam, started the fire in the engine without adding water and when he reached the fire he found the coil in the engine had melted, and the engine rendered useless.

Now, some may say that we have been fortunate in the past by having so many good fires, as the result is we have all new buildings, If it had not been for the old hand pump and the melting of the coil in the engine probably we would have an old town to-day. J. ft. HERRING,

Old Wells House

HE likeness above is that of the three-story building I fi at the corner (f Main and Hamilton streets, erected by the late Simeon Wells and was first used by Srnalby as a dry goods store. After the fire of 1881, in which the old Georgetown Hotel was burned, Mr. Wells converted this building into a hotel and conducted it as such until the Wellington was built and completed in 1896. The Wells House was opened on August 9, 1882. It was the only hotel in the city at that time.

Erected After The Fire Of 1869 The Gaines Block

HE likeness above is of the building erected by l|L John S. Gaines in 1870 on the north side of Main street, in which he conducted a grocery for thirty-four years, having retired from the business in 1904 and accepted a position as bookkeeper in the Farmers' Bank. Mr. Gaines was a very successful business man and made considerable money. He owns five business houses on Main street ' and a brick livery stable and other property in the town, j He holds the position in the bank simply to have something to do.

The Deposit Bank

f The above is a likeness of the building of the bank erectjed afier the fire of 1869, on the North side of Main street. 'The front has been remodeled, and the style of the bank now ; is " I he Deposit Bank & Trust Co."

The Barlow Block

The above is a likene s of the block of business houses, including the opera house, erected in 1876 by the late E. C. Barlow, after the fire of 1875.

Building

The above building was erected after the fire of 1877 on Main street, opposite the Court House, by the late Robert Soper, who had been a dealer in dry goods for a number of years.

Mr. Soper quit business here in 1887, and moved his family to Denver, Col., where he died. The building is still owned by his widow, and is occupied by McKinney, Baumstark & Co., dealers in dry goods.

Erected After The Fire Of 1876 First National Bank

HIS building was erected by Warren Clayton after the fire of 1876 and was for many years used as a grocery and meat market, but a few years ago purchased and remodeled by the First National Bank.

Torn Away

J?rHE above is a likeness of the old church on South Broadway, erected in I829 by the Presbyterians, and which stood for 74 years, when it was torn away, in 1905, and a two-story brick business house erected by Mr. Louis Pieri. For many years it was used as the Catholic church, and since as a wareroom.

Erected After The Fire Of 1881

HE above is a likeness of the Lancaster Hotel, erectfj IL ed on the lot upon which the old Georgetown Hotel stood, at the corner of West Main street and North Broadway, by the late George Lancaster, of Lexington, at a cost of $25,000. An inducement for Mr. Lancaster erecting such a building at that 'time was that he would be exempted from the payment of town taxes for a period of ten years. A vote on the proposition was submitted to the voters and carried by a good majority, but the Courts decided that the proposition was unconstitutional, and that no tax-payer or property owner could be exempted from taxation other than thiit which the constitution provided, namely: churches, schools, &c., and Mr. Lancaster had to pay the taxes.

Hotel Lancaster The Fire In 1869

The burnt district presents a busy scene. Men, horses and carts are kept moving at a lively rate, and the street in that unfortunate locality is lined with brick, motar and rock. About one hundren men are engaged in hauling away rubbish, digging cellars, mixing mortar and laying foundations. Before cold weather sets in the entire burnt district, with the exception of live lots, will be re-built, and the owners of these lots may very soon conclude to follow the example of their neighbors, or dispose of them to others who will improve them. The following parties have already commenced operations: Elijah Thornberry, Wm. E. Pullen, T. J. Adams, SS. Wells, who has purchased the lot formerly owned by S. Y. Keene, Deposit Bank, Prewitt & Kelly, G. F. Allgaier, Mrs. Mary 0. Daviess, E. (J. Barlow, Dr- John Sutton and W. HFitzgerald & Bros., who have purchased of Dr- Sutton his corner lot Mr. Allgaier will erect a three-story building, the third story to be constructed probably for a public hall- Thornberry, Adams, Wells, Allgaier, Sutton and Mrs Daviess will erect two business rooms. The erection of these buildings will furnish seventeen business rooms, besides a number of offices, etc., in the second story. The buildings will be two and a half storres high, with tin roofs, generally uniform in appearance and of modern finish- The rooms will all be occupied as soon as completed. Whilst the tire proved very disastrous to individuals it will very materially improve the appearance of the town- With less than six months we think we can safely challenge any town in the State to produce a more handsome business street than Main street in Georgetown. The sufferers deserve great praise for their enterprise in this matter, Phoenix like they all seem determined to rise from the ashes, and to push business with an energy not heretofore manifested. Our citizens have caught the progressive spirit, and the location of the Southern railroad through this place, which is confidently expected, would soon treble our population and trade. Let the good work so earnestly begun go bravely on. - June, 1869-

The old stable that stood on West l\Tain street where ; Browning conducts a plumbing establishment, and now owned by G. PI- Nunnelley, was burned on Sunday morning at 1:30 June 23d, 1875, and was thought to be the work of an incendiary- The stable was an old frame hut and burned like tinder, and was soon reduced to ashes. The entire contents, including five horses, several buggies and a lot of harness, was consumed by the flames. Tom Griffith and Kit Carson were conducting it at the time of the tire- The following card concerning the fire was written by some citizen whose name we could not ascertain, but is as follows:

Why is Georgetown so perverse? She is destroying instead of preserving the mementoes of her antiquity. Since the vandal act of moving Uncle Mc's pump from the corner.no catastrophe seems so ruthless as the destruction of Gaines' stable. No relic was more cherished than this old holocaust '' - rendered sacred by the memories of our grandfathers - and ; romantic as the rendezvous of circus horses, spotted mules, and billy goats- Where is the finger post now to tell whether or not the Governor is in towm. W.

The Old Showman, John Robinson

He was really "the only Robinson." When he died the oldfashioned showman of the canvas tent ceased to exist Before he came there were none of his class, and now that he has gone there are none to succeed him. He was first to introduce the wagon circus. He lived in Cincinnati as well as having winter quarters for his animals. Every spring Georgetown was his first place to show , ; and the night before the day of the circus the Cincinnati pike was lined with boys to greet the wagoners and extend a royal welcome, and to see that Old Chief had crossed Elkhorn in safety. Robinson always put his ring horses in this stable as long as our grandfather and father conducted it. How consoling it is for us, and no doubt other young men of the town to gaze upon a picture of the dear old John Robinson and say: ''He contributed more to the pleasures of our forefathers than all of his rivals have . to the succeeding generations - the old-fashioned circus. Those ! who were old enough remember it, for they enjoyed it, but looking back, they see how small a matter it was. It would not have xj made a side show now. There was one of everything except -j horses and monkeys. One ring, one ring-master, one elephant, j one clown, one trick mule and one standard of jokes. The tent, ! when he visited Georgetown, was pitched on the large vacant lot j then which is a quare now on North Broadway, upon which 20 or I more residences are built. Twenty-five years ago only two houses j were on this square, that in which Mrs. Jas. Daviess resides, and ! the other the home of the late Dr. Bryan. Many boys who are j now business men, gained admission by carrying water for the , elephant trom the old Big Spring. Some of the lazier and more j venturesome crawled under the canvas, occasionally with sue- j cess, but more often at the cost of the physical wear and tear, for f which one of the men ol the show was entitled to credit.

On Monday, April i9, i875> County Court day, the elegant mansion of Keene Richards was burned. The mansion stood ! on the hill just above the Big Spring where Mr. H. P. Montgomery's house now stands. The place was then called "Blue Grass Park.'1 The lire was first discovered in the roof from a spark from the kitchen, and in less than an hour nothing was ' left save its bare, black, smoky walls. The contents of the I house, including many rare and valuable paintings, quaint j old silverware and china, and curious articles of ornament ' and use gathered from foreign lands, were generally saved, ; though some of the goods were considerably damaged in rej moval, as is always the case on such exciting occasions. All J of the clothing of the children save what they had on, was j ; burned, and a number of books are missing from the library.

| The house was built in 18O8, and as it was the birth-place of . Mr. Richards, he valued it far above its intrinsic worth. There j was no insurance upon it-

Card Of Thanks

Blue Grass Park, Georgetown, Ky., April 2O, i875. - I de- 1 sire to express my earnest and heartfelt thanks to those citizens of Georgetown, my neighbors and friends, one and all, who with promptness and energy came to my assistance and j secured from the flames while the house was burning, the I valuable pictures, library and furniture- My old mansion . was totally destroyed, but my wife and myself feel that when i we have such friends, we desire to live out our days, even ; though it be in an humble shelter made from the ruins of our 1 old homestead. Your fellow citizen, j Cincinnati, Sept- 15. - At Georgetown, Ky-, yesterday, as l Lewis Ersenschmidt, clerk at Barlow's store, was behind the | counter loading a pistol for a young man named JohnHerj ring, the weapon fired at half cock, discharging in a can of i } gunpowder, which exploded, blowing out the front of the !i store and flooring Ersenschmidt and Herring- The store took fire and was soon entirely consumed- The adjoining stores of |1 Rankin & Webb, Frank Lyon. Morris Davis and H. Hecht j j' were also wholly or in part consumed. The total loss will j f probably reach fifty thousand dollars. Ersenschmidt and : i Herring were very dangerously injured.

The Fire In 1876 Of Business Houses Burned

| a fire was discovered in the cellar of Keene McMeekin's drug ' store, on Main street (in the very heart of the business part of i the town), which spread rapidly east and west, and then if south, and crossing Main street consumed the Court House J before its ravages were checked. The building in which the , fire originated was soon a mass of ruins, together with its j entire contents. Mr. McMeekin, who was sleeping in the , second story of the building, barely had time to swing him- ; self from an upper window- The drug store of W. S- Elgin,

' immediately on the east, and the dry goods store and resii dence of Robert Soper on the west, soon followed. On the j east the building owned by F. A- Lyon and occupied, the i lower part by A. Davis & Son as a clothing and notion store,

| the upper part by Mrs- Priscilla White as a residence and mil- : linery store, was the next to fall- Here the fire was checked j on the east by Barlow's new building, the flames savagely jj licking the heavy wooden cornices of the Hall. Going west ' after the destruction of the Soper building, Ike Mark's clothj ing store was the next to go. This building was owned by E.

1 C. Barlow- In the upper part of the building were the Grange 1 office and the saddlery shop of Henry Moody. Next followed j the corner building, owned by Warren Clayton, and occupied, the lower store by Jeptha Bohahnan as a grocery, the upper rooms by Capt. James E. Cantrill and S. W- Long as law offices, and E. Price and Benj. Chapman, tailors. Turning Main Cross street and turning south, the flames from the rear meanwhile rapidly eating their way in the same direction the building next to go down was owned by Col- R, P- Snell, and occupied by Snell & Penn as a grocery, and then quickly followed the adjoining building owned by Rev. R. M. Dudley, and occupied by C. C. Barbee as a saddlery shop and residence.

Court House Fire

Here the progress of the fire was stopped, the Catholic Church below (separated by a vacant space of ground) showing by numberless scars the narrow escape it made from destruction. Myriads of sparks and cinders, some as large as the open hand, were flying in every direction, and coming down as thick and fast as one ever saw snow fall. When the Lyon building fell, one of these fiery darts was caught up by the wind, carried across the street, and maliciously was sent through a shutter into the very top of the dome of the Court House. At first no larger than the end of one's thumb, the ball of fire that had hid itself, as it were, way above the bell, soon hegan to grow furiously by what it ravenously fed on, and as the hands of the town clock pointed to half past five, they ceased to move, and a few minutes later the remnants of the cupalo fell with a crash, and the old building of historic memories was soon a mass of blackened and smouldering ruins. For a few minutes the entire frame work of the cupalo, stripped of its ornaments and trimmings by the ruthless invader, stood alone, as if skillfully made of timbers of fire, and there was many a one who paused in the midst of the din and destruction to gaze at the grand and unusual sight.

The Georgetown hotel, Pratt's hotel. Hart & McConnell's livery stable and other buildings in that part of town were several times on fire in different places. About four o'clock, when it seemed that the fiery element was to sweep away the, greater part of the town, a messenger was dispatched to Lexington for aid, and three and a half hours later a steam fire engine from that city, under the direction of Chief Conlon.i came down, but the fire had done its work, and the friendly : firemen found but little for them to do, though the friendly efforts were appreciated all the same.

Losses And Insurance

Mr. McMeekin lost everything, even to l#s books. He had an insurance of $3,500 on his stock- The building, belonging . to Dr. James Rawlins, and worth $6,000, was insured for $3,000.

Mr. Elgin succeeded in saving several showcases- With this exception, his entire stock was burned. He had an insurance of $5,000- The building, owned by C. O. Kenney, and worth $9,000, was insured for $5,000- Mr. James Rabb, who slept in Elgin's store, lost all his clothing. Mr. L. T. Moore, of Kansas City, lost about $3,000 worth of books, silverware, clothing, etc., which were stored in the third story of Elgin's building. No insurance-

The Court House was not insured. The building was worth about $15,000. It had recently been repainted at a cost of $1,000. The Clerk's offices, situated upon either side of the Court House, had recently received metal roofs. These build- ; ings were but little damaged and the records of the county and court were not injured.

Whether the fire is the result of accident or design is not known. A fire originated in the same cellar several months ago- At that time it was supposed to be the result of spontaneous combustion-

Within the past four years our devoted little city has been visited by destructive fires- Persons residing at a distance who are familiar with the location of the streets of the town, can form some idea of the extent of the destruction of property within the time named, when we tell them that by the four fires every house on both sides of Main street, from Main Cross to Hamilton, and six or eight on the streets last named, have been swept away. Heretofore, the buildings burned were generally old, and their destruction proved a gain to the town, or larger or better or more commodious houses took their places, but by the fire of last week some of the best business houses were destroyed. Six of the number were new and would have done credit to a more pretentious place than Georgetown. Heretofore the sufferers had but little insurance. In the last case, though some suffer severely, the loss' will not fall so generally on individuals. One year ago we had a fire which commenced where the fire of last week ended ) on the east.

The Lyons building, the only house on the street that ( passed through the preceding fires, succumbed to the last. I It was the first house built on the square on which it was j situated- i The following concerning Blue Grass Park was written by I some citizen of Scott county who knew what he was writing about. This brings back sad recollections to every native citizen of Georgetown. Recollections of the past which will never be forgotten, and the memory of a man that will ever be cherished-

At Blue Grass Park, the home of A. Keene Richards. I found everything quiet. In the drear November day it makes !.' me sad to drive from the training stable near the centre of | Blue Grass Park to the gate which opens on the road at the | mouth of the Royal Spring. First you pass the old studio of Froye, a circular building in which the greatest artist painted some of his finest pictures, but which has been closed for years and over which hangs a pall. The grass has overgrowm the path which led to the door, and rubbish is strewn in every direction. Alas! that Blue Grass Park should be less prosperous now than it was in the bright days before the war. Next we pass a stabe built of brick and with odd gables- It once was the imperial home of Knight of the St. George, and in it 1 old Glencoe passed his last days. It is silent and deserted now, but the wind which sighs through the leafless branches overhead seem freighted with the ghost-like breathings of the mighty dead. A little further on is the ruin of the family mansion. A book might be written of the great men who gathered around the hospital board in the splendid dining hall, and an almost endless story might be told of the treasures which it contained and which were gathered from the four quarters of the globe. The fire which destroyed the mansion, which left nothing but a pile of blackened stones, also destroyed many rare and precious things picked up in foreign travel. Of one g^)ry, however, Blue Grass Park has not and cannot be shown - that is the Royal Spring, which flows from the cliffon the roadside in multitude volume- The flood is as strong and crystal-like to-day as in the days of Boone, and it will continue so, kind reader, long after you and I have ceased to ponder upon mundane affairs. H. B.

Death Of Edward Troye

Edward Troye, the eminent animal painter, died on the morning of the 25th of July, 1874 at Blue Grass Park, near Georgetown, the residence of his friend and patron, A. Keene Richards, Esq., of pneumonia, hastened by heart disease. Edward Troye was born in the year I808, near Geneva, Switzerland, of French parentage, his grandfather having been a French nobleman, and an exile from France for political reasons. Mr. Troye's mother dying when he was an infant, his father took him to England when a child where he was educated in London from a very early age, for an artist. His father was a sculptor of some iminence, and his children thoroughly educated in the fine arts; and | the son Edward executed some pictures of merit at Windsor ' Castle between the age of ten and fourteen.

After painting a number of pictures in Philadelphia, he went through Virginia to South Carolina, where he became the guest of Col. Wade Hampton, Col. Richard Singleton and Gov. Richardson. Gov. Richardson on his death bed gave Mr. Troye a commission to come to Kentucky to paint ; Bertram and other horses. While executing this commission he made the acquaintance of Miss Cornelia Ann Von DeGraff and was married to her July 16 I839.

! About twenty years since Mr. Troye, while painting some portraits at Lexington, made the acquaintance of A. Keene ' Richards, Esq., of this place. At that time he held a professorship in a Jesuit College near Mobile. He gave up j this position to accompany Mr. Richards on an artistic tour to Europe. While on this tour he visited Damascus, where he remained nearly a year, and painted some large pictures. He went from Damascus to the Sea ot Galilee, the River Jordan and the Dead Sea. and painted large pictures in oil of these sacred scenes. He remained on the very shore of the Dead Sea for seventeen days and nights to put on canvas a view of that mysterious lake. This is longer than ; any European ever remained on the shore of that sea, which has been so fatal to scientific explorers and students, of scripture lands. Mr. Troye returned to Europe with these pictures and duplicated them at his brother's studio, who is an eminent artist at Antwerp in Belgium. These duplicates were brought to the United States and presented by Mr. Richards to Bethany College, Virginia. The originals were painted for Mr. Richards, who permitted Mr. Troye to exhibit them in this country and Canada before the war. During the troubles in Kentucky, growing out of the war, between the north and the south, Mr. Troye, fearing that the pictures might be confiscated by Federal authority, went with them to England, and left them there in safe keeping.

A few hours before his death he wrote letters to his friends full ol hope and pleasant thoughts, and desired that his family should not know that he was seriously ill, for he did not wish to give them one moment's unhappiness. He died very suddenly, surrounded by many of his best works.

Troye kept a great many of his fine paintings in a closet in the room he occupied in the Richard home. A week after Troye's death Mr. Sam Keene began sleeping in the room and one night the shelves in the closet gave way and a terrible crash was heard all over the house. Mr. Keene says he rose right up in bed and said : "Well, here I am ;

Groverland, The Home Of Ormward. Silent Brook. W1Lderine

[Blue Grass Park was bought and sold several times after Mr. Richards' death, but was never used as a stock farm until it was purchased by Mr. J. D. Grover. Mr. Grover then sold the place to his sister, Mrs. Montgomery.

fThe above is a likeness of the training stable on the stock farm of Mr. J. D. Grover, on the Payne's Depot pike, about two miles from Georgetown. Groverland is a most ideal place for this purpose, as it is one of the prettiest places in the county. After entering the place at the front gate driving up through the beautiful avenue, which is arched over with the branches of the beautiful maples, shading every foot of the drive- way ; to the right of this is the track; in the center of the track the timer's stand. On the left and at the end of the drive-way is the stable in which some 20 odd horses are being worked, among which are some very promising ones. The great stallion Silent Brook, is the choice of the studs. Mr. Grover has a nice office on the place, a home for the trainers and many other buildings. Mr. Robt. Davis looks after the place and the wants of the trainers, and sees to all repairs.

And Commission Stable

Owned by Warren Dennis and G. G. Herriott. From this stable many fine horses have been sold. It is situated at the corner of Mulberry and College streets. Dick Welles was foaled on Mr. Dennis' place, who owned a half interest in him and who sold him in New York at $300.

Champion Saddle Gelding Judge Cantrill

at the Louisville Horse Show, Monday, October 16th, 1905. The second prize was won by Star McDonald, the property of A. L. Lawless of Scott county. Judge Cantrill is by Kentucky Squirrel, the property of Frank Shropshire- The Courier Journal made this mention of the show :