The History of Louisville, from the Earliest Settlement till the Year 1852 Part 7

"Whereas it is represented, that of those engaged in navigating the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, many persons, owing to the fatigue and exposure incident to long voyages, become sick and languish at the town of Louisville, where the commerce in which they are engaged sustains a pause, occasioned by the falls of the Ohio river; that the charity of the citizens of that town and county is no longer able to minister to those poor unfortunate persons, the support and attention which the necessities of the latter, and the humanity of the former would seem to demand and prescribe; that the growing character of Louisville, as a place as well of import as of export, and the growing commerce of this State and of the western country connected with that place threatens to throw an increased ma.s.s of sick upon the citizens of that town and country, to the comfort and support of whom the resources subject to the exactions of charity would be unequal, and applied as individual sympathy might dictate, unavailing; and that it would be wise and humane to incorporate an inst.i.tution at that place, for the relief, sustenance, comfort and restoration of the poor and the afflicted of the description aforesaid: Wherefore, &c." In 1811, the Legislature made a donation of $10,000, and in 1822 a similar gift of $7,500 to this hospital. It is now in the hands of the city, and is used as a clinique by the medical schools here. The original building yet stands, but has been remodeled and improved.

In this year the small-pox made fearful ravages in the town, and, "owing,"

as Dr. McMurtrie says, "to the slothful negligence of the civil authorities, it was impossible to prevent its innoculating the place for several years."

The last incident which will be mentioned in connection with this year was a dinner given on the 27th of April, 1817, to Capt. H. M. Shreve, as a testimony of the consideration in which he was held as a steamboat navigator, and particularly with a view to congratulate him on the very expeditious voyage he had performed from Louisville to New Orleans and back. This voyage was made by the steamer Washington, and, as will be seen by reference to the list of steamboats published in the earlier part of this volume, was performed in the very brief period of _forty-five days_!

Capt. De Hart was also invited to partake of this dinner, the committee a.s.suring him of their highest respect, and that they would have been early to make him public testimonials of this respect but for fear that it would be construed into a countenance of the course the concern to which he was attached, has been, and is pursuing. Reference is here had to the Fulton and Livingston Company, who were still seeking to monopolize the navigation of the western rivers. Mr. Norborn B. Beale was President, and Maj. C. P. Luckett Vice President, on this occasion. The Committee of Invitation consisted of J. Headington, Levi Tyler and Jas. A. Pearce.

Toasts were drunk to several of the Presidents, to the 19 United States, to the Ohio and Mississippi, to the State of Louisiana, to New York, to Fulton, Shreve, De Hart and others. The following toast shows that Louisville had yet some fears of the rivalry of her neighbors: 12th. "_Our Sister-towns of Lexington and Frankfort_--let us have equal privileges in a fair compet.i.tion, that local advantages and individual enterprise may insure pre-eminence." It is said that at this dinner, Mr. Shreve predicted that a trip from New Orleans to Louisville would be effected in ten or twelve days, but this was looked upon rather as the dream of an enthusiast than as the sober calculations of a sagacious man. Mr. Shreve, however, and many of his hosts lived to see the prediction more than fulfilled.

The earliest event in the next year which deserves notice here, was the death of General George Rogers Clarke. The remains of this distinguished man, who was so intimately connected with the earlier history of Louisville, were interred at his residence at Locust Grove on the 15th February, 1818. The members of the bar and a large a.s.semblage of persons attended. Rev. Mr. Banks officiated on the occasion, and John Rowan, Esq., delivered the funeral oration. Minute guns were fired during the ceremony under the direction of Capt. Minor Sturgus, and the whole procession was conducted in a very solemn manner. The members of the bar of the Circuit Court, and the few remaining officers of the revolution in the neighborhood, resolved to wear c.r.a.pe on the left arm for thirty days, as a testimony of respect to the deceased hero. The spot where his remains now rest is yet unmarked by a stone.

We are enabled to present the reader with a price current published during this year. No doc.u.ment could be offered which would give a more definite idea of the state of commerce at this period. It is as follows:

BAGGING--30c.

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected] No demand--scarce.

TEAS--$2 [email protected] 50.

[email protected]

GLa.s.s--8x10, [email protected]

WHITE LEAD--$6.

[email protected]

MOLa.s.sES--$1 50.

TOBACCO--$4 [email protected]

[email protected]

FREIGHTS.

Tobacco, 1c per lb.

Flour, $1 50 per bbl.

Pork and Whisky, $2 per bbl.

Light Freight, 6c per lb.

Heavy Freight, 4-1/2c per lb.

By the a.s.sessment of this year the value of lots in the town is computed at $3,131,463.

About the 24th of November, Louisville boasted another Bank. This was the Commercial Bank of Louisville. Its officers were: Levi Tyler, President; Abijah Bayless, Cashier; J. C. Blair, Clerk. Its paper is said by Dr.

McMurtrie, to have been in as good credit as that of the United States Bank. Its capital is computed by him at $1,000,000. More recent accounts however, do not speak so favorably of its affairs.

On the 1st of July, still of this year, Mr. S. Penn commenced the publication of the Public Advertiser here; a paper which for editorial talent and skill, as well as for political influence, has been equalled by few and exceeded by none in the United States.

In 1819, Dr. McMurtrie, of whom mention has been so often made in these pages, published his Sketches of Louisville. That part of his book which refers directly to the city is comprised in about one hundred pages. The whole book however contains about two hundred and fifty pages, 16mo; it was published by Mr. S. Penn, and is a very creditable specimen of the art of book-making. The greater part of the volume is filled with scientific researches, and in an appendix there is placed an account of the earthquakes by Jared Brooks, Esq. There is also a scientific catalogue of the plants found in the vicinity of the city, and a history of the geological and antiquarian remains of this part of the country. Of the value of this information in a scientific point of view, we are not prepared to speak; the "Sketches" present, doubtless a very correct view of Louisville, as it was in 1819. Notwithstanding this book has been so often drawn upon for isolated facts in the course of this history, it will not be considered unfair to offer the reader still another extract, showing a sort of daguerreotype view of the city as it then was; and this will be the more pardonable as the book itself is no longer "in print."

Dr. McMurtrie says: "There are at this time in Louisville six hundred and seventy dwelling houses, princ.i.p.ally brick ones, some of which would suffer little by being compared with any of the most elegant private edifices of Philadelphia or New York. It was calculated pretty generally that from two hundred and fifty to three hundred brick buildings would have been erected during the last summer, but such was the scarcity of money, that not more than twelve to fourteen were completed; preparations, however, are making to proceed rapidly in the business in the ensuing season, the influx of strangers being so great, that many of them can scarcely find shelter. The population now amounts to 4500 souls; so rapid is the increase of this number that in all probability, it will be trebled in less than ten years.

"Commercial cities of all newly settled countries, whose inhabitants are gathered from every corner of the earth, who have immigrated thither with but one single object in view, that of acquiring money, are stamped with no general character, except that of frugality, attention to business, and an inordinate attachment to money. Absorbed in this great interest of adding dollar upon dollar, no time is devoted to literature or the acquirement of those graceful nothings which, of no value in themselves, still const.i.tute one great charm of polished society. Such is the character of the inhabitants of this place in general, 'ma ogni medaglio ha il suo reverso.' There is a circle, small 'tis true, but within whose magic round abounds every pleasure that wealth, regulated by taste, or urbanity can bestow. There the 'red heel' of Versailles may imagine himself in the emporium of fashion, and whilst leading beauty through the mazes of the dance, forget that he is in the wilds of America. The theater, public and private b.a.l.l.s, a sober game of whist, or the more scientific one of billiards, with an occasional re-union of friends around the festive board, const.i.tute the princ.i.p.al amus.e.m.e.nts; and it is with pleasure I am able to a.s.sert, without fear of contradiction, that gaming forms no part of them. Whatever may have been the case _formerly_, there is hardly at the present day, a vestige to be seen of this ridiculous and disgraceful practice; and if it exists at all, it is only to be found in the secret dens of midnight swindlers, within whose walls once to enter is dishonor, infamy, and ruin."

The prices of lots at this time were about $300 per foot for those occupying the best situations.

The following list if compared with the similar one for 1815, published a few pages earlier, will give the reader a very correct idea of the ratio of progress here for four years. There were at this time in Louisville:

3 Banks, 3 Bookstores, 1 Nail Factory, 2 Hotels, 10 Blacksmiths, 8 Tailors, 3 Watchmakers, 1 Stone Cutter, 4 Turners, 30 Plasterers, 12 Lawyers, 6 Brickyards, 2 Breweries, 1 Music store, 36 Wholesale & Retail Stores, 3 Printing Offices, 28 Groceries, 4 good Taverns, 6 Saddlers, 1 Silver Plater, 10 Cabinetmakers, 1 Upholsterer, 5 Hatters, 6 Shoemakers, 22 Physicians, 1 Air Foundry, 2 Steam Saw Mills, 5 Tobacco Factories, 14 Wholesale & Com'n Stores, 3 Drugstores, 2 Confectioner's Shops, 6 Bakehouses, 2 Carriagemakers, 1 Gunsmith, 3 Chair Factories, 1 Potter, 200 Carpenters, 150 Bricklayers, 1 Bra.s.s Foundry, 1 Steam Engine Factory, 2 Distilleries, 1 Sugar Refinery.

We find by an advertis.e.m.e.nt in the Courier of February 12th, in this year, that J. J. Audubon, the world-renowned ornithologist, was at that time endeavoring to procure a cla.s.s in drawing, and was offering to paint portraits here, which his advertis.e.m.e.nt promises shall be "strong likenesses." This gentleman was for some time a resident of this city. His son was for many years employed as a clerk in the store of Mr. N. Berthoud at Shippingport.

On the 23d of June, 1819, the President of the United States and suite, accompanied by Gen. Jackson and suite, arrived in Louisville, where they remained until the following Sat.u.r.day. A public dinner and a ball was given to these distinguished persons, and general hilarity and good feeling distinguished the occasion.

This chapter, as well as the history of this year will be concluded with a string of rhymes which, though not highly meritorious in themselves, still serve to show the feelings of the people in regard to the much-talked-of apathy of their rulers, and let us into the history of the times as fully as would the graver chroniclers. These versicles are said to be extracts from a letter.

"You know I informed you when I landed here, This town was not handsome, and living darned dear, The streets were all ponds, and I'm told the Trustees Had sooner wade thro' them, quite up to the knees, Than incur the expense to have them drained off.

Complain to their honors, they sneer, laugh or scoff, And say, we've no money; and you very well know, Without this intercessor the mare will not go.

'Tis whispered about, how true I shan't say, The people's oft taxed, and always made pay; And who handles the cash? the Lord only knows, Or what road it travels--for what, it all goes-- Is a mystery to all; no improvements they see, 'Tis sarcastically said, there never will be.

If the great men of fortune don't aid or direct The improvement of town, it will ne'er take effect.

Alas, these poor souls, if they secure their own health, Let us wallow in _mud_, while they're rolling in wealth!

Could you see these _great folks_, I protest you would laugh, And swear on each _body_ stuck the head of a calf.

I'd say you were right--with hearts hard as a stone; When applied to for _alms_ or asked for a _loan_.

Before I left home, one night at aunt Kate's A confab we had concerning new States, I then said what since to my sorrow proved true, When settled in old States never emigrate to new, You called me false prophet, said to Louisville hie, Which for beauty and commerce would with Boston soon vie, And moreover you said a _great man_ I could be, If I'd take for my text: boys, huzza, we're all free.

Dear sir, how you erred, Kentucky's quite changed; If you say here, we're free, folks vow you deranged, For our keen wealthy Yankees located here, Rule the natives by art, it cannot be fear; For I've seen them so rave, curse and swear so uncivil; 'Twould shake '_steady habits_' quite as much as the d----l.

Now you'll own without money man _here_ has less chance Than Don Quixote in combat, deprived of his lance.

CHAPTER VI.

The next ten years of this history do not promise to be as rich in incident for the historian, or as full of practical value to the city, as were the few years just chronicled. A number of causes were operating at this time to r.e.t.a.r.d the prosperity of the town, and but for the vigor with which it was endued, it must have sunk under the misfortunes which surrounded it. Evil reports, prejudicial to its health; garbled accounts from rival cities of the mortality here; a lamentably disordered state of currency, a Board of Trustees whose inefficiency was constantly complained of, were all opposing the growth of the town; and had it not, as has been before said, inherently possessed the elements of its own progress, it must have faded, and might have been entirely destroyed by the pressure of these untoward circ.u.mstances. For about two years the western country had been laboring under the operations of shaving and brokerage; there was not at this time a single bank west of the mountains whose paper could be pa.s.sed at a fair value, except in the immediate neighborhood of the bank itself, and there were not more than three or four that pretended to pay their notes in money. The paper of the Bank of Kentucky was at a discount, and there was no hope of its improving. Tennessee and Ohio were in a similar, if not a worse condition. The paper of the United States Bank was alone merchantable at its value, and upon Louisville, as the great commercial mart of the western country, must these circ.u.mstances weigh most heavily. Despite all these disadvantages, however, the town did progress, not so rapidly as its past course would have promised, but with a rational and steady improvement. One of the drawbacks mentioned above was beginning to be removed. The new Trustees of the town began to prosecute their measures of improvement with some degree of energy. Wells were dug; pavements laid; streets graded; ponds drained; and a general activity prevailed which showed some attention toward making the town more desirable as a residence, both in point of comfort and of health. The removal of the causes o disease, however, could not be instantaneous, and even if they had been it would have required time to convince those disposed to emigrate hither of the fact.

The first act of the Trustees in the year 1820 was to order the purchase of two or three fire-engines. Conflagrations had recently become of not uncommon occurrence, and the means for combating them were so few in number, and so incompetent in character, that this measure had become entirely necessary to the safety of the town. Accordingly, Thomas Prather, Cuthbert Bullitt and Peter B. Orsmby were appointed a committee to purchase suitable fire-engines for the use of the city. This being done, the town was laid off into three wards, and Coleman Daniel, Daniel McAllister and Peter Wolford were appointed, one to each ward, to obtain each 40 members to work these engines. These members were to elect each a Captain of the engine and such other officers as might be necessary, and to adopt rules for their own government. Public cisterns, or other like conveniences for the use of firemen, were then unknown. Each citizen was required to keep two or more leather fire-buckets on his premises, while a larger number of the same were kept at the engine houses. These were taken to the fire, and two lines of men formed from the engine, which was stationed near the fire, to the nearest water. One of these lines was occupied in pa.s.sing buckets filled with water, which, when they arrived at the engine, were poured into it; and the other in pa.s.sing back the empty buckets to be refilled, it was by this tedious process alone that they were enabled successfully to combat a fire.

Although tables of various sorts, showing the progressive increase of the town, have been from time laid before the reader, yet the events of thirteen years have been pa.s.sed over without offering to his inspection that most conclusive of doc.u.mentary evidence, the tax list. It may be remembered that the a.s.sessment of 1807 amounted to $913 50. The following list for 1821 will give a clear idea of the increased value of property since that time.

VALUATION OF GROUND AND IMPROVEMENTS, $1,189,664 00.

a.s.sessed Taxes on same $4,637 68 On 14 1st rate Retail Stores at $30 420 00 24 2d " " " $20 540 00 7 3d " " " $10 70 00 26 Tavern Licenses $10 260 00 70 Carriage Wheels 50c 35 00 2 Billiard Tables $17 34 00 -------- Total $5 996 68

The following is a census of the population, taken at this period:[12]

Free white males to 10 years of age 346 " " 10 to 16 152 " " 16 to 26 498 " " 26 to 45 707 " " 45 and upwards 121 ----1324