Frankfort, Kentucky

Newspaper Articles

Compiled by:

Sharon Milich Kouns

© 2005

FRAB = Frankfort Roundabout newspaper Roll 78-0234 Ky. History Center

Yeoman = Yeoman newspaper

FC = Frankfort Commonwealth newspaper

[do not have end] = microfilm copy was cut off - the actual articles can be found in the newspaper mentioned.

KHC = Kentucky History Center

SOUTH FRANKFORT

FRAB Jan. 12, 1885

Looking Into the Past. - The Records of the Town of South Frankfort. - Which Existed Half a Century Ago.

Some of the present citizens of Frankfort are not aware that the South Side was at one time a separate corporation from Frankfort, yet such is the case, and we have been kindly loaned by Mr. Landon Taylor an old book containing the records of the proceedings of the meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Town of South Frankfort from September 12th 1818, up to February 12, 1850. It is quite interesting to look over its pages, yellow with age, though the proceedings of many of the meetings are dull, only routine business being transacted, yet one gets acquainted with the names of those who managed the affairs of the town in the early part of the century -names which are not familiar now, their owners having long since passed off the stage of human existence. Of all those who served the town in an official capacity during the period covered by the book not one is now living. Mr. J. J. Quinn, who was a member of the Board of Trustees during the years 1849 and 1850, survived them all, but he too was gathered to the fathers a few weeks ago, and only the old book remains to tell the present generation what took place at the meetings of that body.

The board seems to have had no regular place of meeting and held its sessions at private houses for a number of years - generally at the home of one of its members. The first meeting of which there is any record in the book was held September 12, 1818, at the house of Israel Ellis, and George W. Graham, Hosea Cook and Edward S. Coleman were present, the latter being president of the board. An order was entered selling that portion of Main street lying between Todd street and the town limits to Thomas Todd for one hundred dollars. The ground thus sold is now the property of Mr. John W. Rodman and is included in the grass lot lying between his residence and that of his brother, Mr. Russell Rodman, on Todd street. At the same meeting it was “Ordered that the property holders on so much of Second and Shelby streets as is or may be embraced by the turnpike in front of their respective property ________ shall commence, proceed with and be completed at the same time with said road.” An order the property holders paid no attention to, as no sidewalk has been laid on part of the streets included in the order to the present day.

Messrs. John H. Hanna, Alex. J. Mitchell and Charles S. Todd were appointed a committee to confer with the turnpike company and ascertain the level to be observed in constructing the pavements aforesaid. Accounts of George Todd for $90.50, and of Peter G. Voorhies for $15 were allowed and the collector ordered to proceed immediately to collect the taxes by distress or otherwise.

March 19, 1819 - The board held a called meeting at the house of Israel Ellis and ordered the treasurer to call on the collector for a statement of the amount due for the last years taxes requiring the collector to pay over the same to the Treasurer before the next stated meeting. Edward S. Coleman was appointed assessor and John Campbell collector for the year. Larkin Samuel and David Graham were elected trustees to fill vacancies occasioned by the resignations of Charles S. Todd and John A. Mitchell. Hosea Cook, William Cook, Robinson Bass, and James L. Hickman were appointed patrols for the year - Hosea Cook to be captain of the same.

March 18, 1819 - Larkin Samuel took his seat as a trustee but David Graham refused to serve and George Gayle was appointed in his place. Edward S. Coleman was elected chairman of the board. The property owners on the square lying between Cross, Campbell, Shelby and Steele streets were ordered to open the alley through said square. An order which has never been obeyed to this day. Work was ordered suspended on Steele street and the street on the bank of the river, between Shelby street and the abutment of the bridge. The tax rate for the year was made the same as the year before, but what it was the year before deponent sayeth not.

June 12, 1819 - Ordered that a fine of two dollars and fifty cents be imposed upon any person who shall shoot a firelock within the limits of the town. If the person so offending was under age the parent or guardian was to pay the fine. If a slave, he was to receive not less than five nor more than twenty lashes, providing the master or some other person did not pay the fine for him and exempt him from the lashes. The citizens of the town were given permission to finish the market house, at their own expense, so that the same might be used as a school house. It was ordered that a fine of two dollars and fifty cents be imposed upon anyone who should run or strain a horse within the limits of the town. If the person was under age, the parent or guardian was to be held responsible, and if a slave he was to receive not less than five nor more than twenty lashes, with the same provision as above.

August 7, 1819 - Henry Wingate was ordered to remove no more dirt from Main street and to repair the damage already done to said street. The well in Second street, near Shelby, was appropriated for the use of the town and Larkin Samuel and Hosea Cook were appointed a committee to keep the well and pump in repair.

November 17, 1819 - The business of the year ________ and all accounts allowed.

On the 4th of March, 1820, an election was held at which Edward S. Coleman, George W. Graham, Hosea Cook, Larkin Samuel and David Graham were chosen as trustees. They met on the 11th and organized by electing E. S. Coleman chairman and Henry Wingate clerk. Edward S. Coleman was also appointed assessor.

May 30, 1820 - The tax rate was fixed at 10 cents on the $100 and $1.00 for every tythe. Hosea Cook was appointed collector. The meetings were now being held at the house of Hosea Cook. Several meetings were held during the summer, but little business was transacted.

November 18, 1820 - John H. Hanna was ordered to open the alley running north and south through his square, which he failed to do altho a passing for pedestrians was kept open through it until some fifteen years ago when the alley was opened.

March 10, 1821 - George Todd was elected a member of the board.

July 30 - Met at the house of E. S. Coleman. Robinson Bass, Larkin Samuel, Richard Deaver and Henry Wingate were elected patrols for 12 month. Tax rate fixed at 10 cents on the $100 and $1.00 poll tax.

September 12 - Thos. V. Loughburrough was given permission to inclose Water street, between lots Nos. 25, 26, 27, and 28 and the river, when called to open the same by order of the board he was to have the right to remove the rails, he to pay taxes, &c.

November 17 - Citizens so disposed were given the privilege of paying their taxes by working on Steele street at the rate of $1.00 per day.

January 12, 1822 - Ordered that a fine of $2 be imposed upon any one watering horses at public wells.

February 23 - Eli Smith was authorized to expend the amount of his taxes in improving Cross street. Accounts of Christopher Cammack, for repairing pump, and Kendall & Russell, for printing, allowed.

March 2 - New board composed of Evan Evans, George Todd, George W. Graham, David Graham and Larkin Samuel, elected. Geo. W. Graham made chairman and Henry Wingate clerk. Edward S. Coleman appointed assessor.

March 16 - George Todd and David Graham were appointed a committee to have spring on Dr. Mitchell’s lot, where Mrs. Welch then lived, repaired. Ten dollars and all the stone necessary for the purpose was appropriated. The spring referred to is upon the property at present owned by Mr. T. L. Edelen. Treasurer was ordered to pay George Todd $8.00 for 4th and 5th volumes of Little’s Laws of Kentucky.

June 8 - George Todd and Larkin Samuel resigned as members of the board and David C. Humphries and Edward S. Coleman elected in their stead.

July 13 - Tax rate fixed at 10 cents on $100 and poll tax 50 cents. Evan Evans was requested to view Steele street and ascertain what will be the probable cost of making a good road and culvert in same.

March 19, 1823 - Samuel South elected a member of the board to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Evan Evans.

March 21 - Ordered that no _______ permitted to hire themselves and keep house in the bounds of South Frankfort.

April 23 - Eli Smith ordered to remove obstruction from Murray street, made by fencing across it. Said order suspended at next meeting, at which Francis C. Montgomery was appointed clerk for balance of the year, and required to give $1,000 bond for the faithful performance of his duty. Bond approved.

March 6, 1824 - New board composed of David C. Humphries, Thomas Hampton, George Gayle, Lewis F. Stephens and John J. Vest elected. David C. Humphries made chairman and George Gayle clerk and treasurer, E. S. Coleman appointed assessor and Larkin Samuel collector.

Many of the names which appear in the above are unknown here now, the individuals having moved away and left no descendants while others are only represented by their children or grandchildren in our community. Geo. W. Graham was the grandfather of Prof. Wayland Graham and Mr. A. J. Graham, E. S. Coleman the grandfather of Dr. J. S. and Mr. J. M. Coleman; Thos. Todd was the father and Chas. S. Todd a brother of Mr. James M. Todd. Col. Chas. S. Todd was an aid upon the staff of Gen. Wm. H. Harrison during the war of 1812, who appointed him Minister to Russia when he became President. He also served as Minister to Bagota under a succeeding administration. Mr. John H. Hanna was an uncle of the late J. W. Hunt Reynolds and lived where the Female College is at present. At times there was quite a contest for the position of Trustee and on one occasion Mr. Hanna and Mr. Larkin Samuel were candidates for the position. The race became so close that when Mr. Hanna , late in the evening, voted for Samuel it made the vote a tie, with only Samuel to vote, and when the officers of election asked Mr. Samuel how he would vote said he thought Mr. Hanna a pretty good judge and would vote as he did - for Samuel too - thus electing himself.

George Todd was the father of Mrs. M. J. Lewis and the late Mrs. Agnes H. McClure; David Graham was the father of Mrs. Elizabeth Vallandingham and Mr. W. L. Graham; George Gayle was a brother of the late John Gayle, and a teacher who taught the first school Mr. Jas. M. Todd ever attended in a house which stood where Mr. J. L. Rodman’s residence now stands; Henry Wingate was the father of Mrs. N. J. Sawyier and for many years teller in the Bank of Kentucky; Rev. Eli Smith lived in a house which stood where the residence of Mr. W. J. Hughes now stands and owned Aunt Eddie, the old colored woman whose life the boys of the city made a burden with their gibes for nearly half a century before her death. Evan Evans was the father of the late Humphrey and James Evans, and built the wonderful stairway in the old capitol building; Thomas Hampton was the grandfather of Messrs. Richard and Will S. Morris; Samuel South the father of the late Col. Jerry South and J. J. Vest the father of Hon. Geo. G. Vest, one of the present U. S. Senators from Missouri.

FRAB May 16, 1891

Capt. Todd Dead.

One of the Oldest and Most Respected Citizens Gone. - On Friday evening of last week the colored Odd Fellows of this city were parading upon St. Clair street, the music being furnished by Brady’s bass band, and quite a crowd had assembled at the intersection of Main and St. Clair streets. The horse attached to Mr. George Weitzel’s parcel express wagon, which was standing in front of Weitzel & O’Donnell’s, became restive and started down the street, the driver a mere lad, being unable to hold him. Capt. Harry I. Todd was crossing St. Clair street, on his way home at the time, did not see the wagon coming, and was run into and knocked down by the horse. He was stunned by the fall and was taken up and carried into the drug store of Messrs. Holmes & Halloran, where he soon rallied and was taken to his home on the corner of Washington and Wapping streets. A physician was summoned and upon an examination it was found that the right thigh was broken. The fracture was reduced and he seemed to be doing well until Saturday night, when it became apparent that he had received serious internal injuries. From that time on his physicians feared the worst, gave his family little hope of his recovery, and his children residing elsewhere were summoned to his bedside. He suffered terribly until Tuesday evening at 10:15 o’clock, when death came to his relief. His mind was perfectly clear to the last and when told by his physician that he could not live, calmly inquired how long he could last. When informed that but a few hours remained to him, like the brave, a true man that he was, arranged his worldly affairs and prepared to meet the grim messenger.

Capt. Harry Innes Todd was born in the house at present occupied by his uncle, Mr. James M. Todd, just across Washington street from where he resided at the time of his death, on the 6th of September, 1818; consequently he was in his 73d year. His father was Hon. John H. Todd, a leading citizen in this community in his day, being a member of the Legislature, and his mother was Miss Maria K. Innes, a daughter of Judge Harry Innes, who was one of the first settlers of this county and the first Judge of the United States Court for the District of Kentucky. After the death of Capt. Todd’s father, his mother married the late John J. Crittenden, who was Governor of this State and for several terms U. S. Senator in Kentucky.

In early life Capt. Todd, for many years, ran upon the Kentucky, Ohio and Mississippi rivers, first as a clerk and afterwards as captain of some of the finest steamboats of that day. Later, in partnership with his step-brother, Col. Robert H. Crittenden, he went into the coal business in this city, and the firm operated a coal mine near Beattyville on the headwaters of the Kentucky river the coal being brought down in boats upon the spring tides. In 1859 he was elected sheriff of this county and served one term, and in 1863 was elected by the Legislatures lessee of the Kentucky Penitentiary, which position he continued to fill until 1871, and afterwards served a short time as Warden by appointment of the Governor.

At the August election, 1871, he was elected Representative of this county in the Lower House of the General Assembly, without opposition. He also served many years as a member of the City Council of this city. The duties of all these positions he performed faithfully and conscientiously, making firm friends of all those with who he came in contact by his blunt, straightforward, honest and upright dealing.

A kind-hearted, public-spirited, honorable gentleman, his death is keenly felt by the entire community, and no resident of this city had more true friends throughout the State, who will deplore his loss.

On the 20th of August, 1839, he was married to Miss Jane Davidson, daughter of Col. James Davidson, who survives him, and to them were born fourteen children, four of whom - Lieutenant John H., of the U. S. Army; Miss Annie, James and little Beside - preceded their father to the grave. The surviving children are Lieutenant Commander C. C. Todd, U. S. Navy; Mrs. John W. Pugh, of Philo, Illinois; Mrs. I. N. Cardwell, of Winchester; Mrs. Jas. L. Watson, of Lexington; Messrs. George D. and Crittendon Todd, of Louisville; Mrs. S. B. Holmes and Misses Maria and Julia R. and Mr. Harry I. Todd, jr., of this city, all of whom were at his bedside in his last hours, except Lieutenant C. C. Todd, who is the executive officer of the U. S. man-of-war Charleston, now in pursuit of the Chilian privateer Itata.

The funeral took place Thursday morning from the First Presbyterian Church, and the large number of sorrowing friends which filed the edifice gave evidence of the high estimation in which he was held by the community where he was born and had spent his long and useful life.

The services were conducted by Rev. J. McClusky Blayney, D. D., assisted by Rev. Dr. Rout, of Versailles, and were very brief and impressive. The following gentlemen acted as pall bearers:

Active - Messrs. Jacob Swigert, H. H. Watson, T. J. Todd