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Bourbon County, Kentucky
History & Genealogy



 

HISTORY

Source:
History of Bourbon, Scott, Harrison & Nicholas Counties
KENTUCKY.

with an outline sketch of
The Blue Grass Region,
By Robert Peter, M. D.

Edited by William Henry Perrin.
ILLUSTRATED
Published
Chicago:
O. L. Baskin & Co., Historical Publishers, Lakeside Building.
1882

CHAPTER VIII. 
- CITY OF PARIS
Pg. 112
  - Educational History
 - The Bourbon Academy
 - Public and Private City Schools
 - The Garth Fund
 - A Sketch of Mr. Garth
 - Catholic Institutions
 - Colored Schools and Societies
 - Some Manufacturing and Miscellaneous Notions
 

 

 

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     If at the expiration of one year from the date of this advertisement the conditions therein are not complied with on the part of the citizens of Bourbon County, then I direct my executor to pay over such before-mentioned balance of my estate in his hands to the Treasurer of the Court of Bourbon County, to be by the Bourbon County Court, a majority of all the Justices being present, safely invested in such manner as they may deem best, and the interest on such investment they are to apply to the education of such poor, worthy and sprightly young men of Bourbon County, as they may think most conducive to the public good, and in the distribution of such interest as above divided, the court may pay for tuition, board, books and clothing any one or all, as in their opinion may be deemed best.
     I further direct, that if any one or more of the beneficiaries of the will should not be living, or any child of such beneficiary, when it is presented to the court for record, that his, her or their legacies must be appropriated by my executor to the cause of education in precisely the same manner as the before-mentioned balance of my estate was directed to be applied.
     To enable my executor to carry this, my will, into effect, I authorize him to sell publicly my entire estate, the land in three payments, one, one-third cash, one, one-third in one year, and the balance of the property on six months' time.
     In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this the 22d day of August, 1859.
                             
WILLIAM GARTH [SEAL]

     Colored Schools. - The colored city school is under the charge of the Board of Education.  J. C. Graves is the Principal; Mrs. Lucy Fraser, Assistant.  Average attendance about fifty pupils.  Rev. James M. Thomas conducts a select school of about thirty pupils in the Baptist Church.  Reuben Butler also teaches a select school in the Methodist Church with thirty pupils.
     Such are the educational institutions of Paris, which will compare favorably with those of other institutes in the State.  They are ample to meet all the educational requirements of the times, and no one who desires an education but can avail himself of its advantages.

     Hiram Lodge, No. 5, Masons (colored), organized in 1867.  Officers - Thomas Kelly, W. M.; A. N. Smoot, S. W.; J. M. Porter, J. W.; George Watson, Treas.; E. J. Smoot, Sec.; Henry Craig, J. W.; Frank Thompson, Tiler.

     Knights Templar (colored), organized in 1878.  A. N. Smoot, E. C; Thomas Kelly, G. W; J. M. Porter, C. G; J. W. Hatton, P.; E. J. Smoot, S. W; Richard Kelly, J. W.; Henry Craig, W; Frank Jones, S. B; John Spears, S. B; Alfred Bedford, G

     United Brothers of Friendship Lodge, No. 36.  H. C. Smith, W. M.; Robert Claxton, D. M.; W. G. Smoot, Treas.; James Arnold, Sec.

     Knights of Friendship - A. N. Smoot, K. C.; J. M. Porter, S. K.; William Smoot, Treas.; H. C. Smith, Sec.

     Bourbon Star Lodge, No. 1,697, I. O. O. F. (colored), organized in 1869 - George Wilkes, N. G.; Stephen Conway, V. G.; Morris Forsten, Treas.; Thomas Kelly, Sec.; Harry Hawes, R. S. to N. G.; Alfred Jackson, L. S.; Peter Mason, N. F.; A. N. Smoot, P. N. F.; Henry Howard, P. N. G.; Moses Murphy, W.

     The following is the present municipal government of Paris, together with its material resources: A. J. Lovely, Mayor; James Paton, Sr., Clerk City Council; James Mernaugh, City Marshal; Hugh Henry, Deputy Marshal and Collector; W. O. Hite, City Janitor.
     Councilmen - First Ward, Henry Turney, Henry Butler, Ben Perry; Second Ward, Mike Dowd, Bush Hart, W. F. Spears; Third Ward, Mike Dowd, Bush Hart, W. F. Spears; Third Ward, Charles V. Higgins.
     The receipts from all sources for the year ending April 10, 1882, are as follows:

From Collector $10,708.61  
Same, for license 249.54  
Same, for fines 243.90  
From fines 395.00  
Same, for license 403.00  
From James Paton, Clerk 1,463.89  
James M. Thomas, for tuition 12.00  
W. H. Lockhart, State School tax 981.12  
John T. Hinton, M. & L. Turnpike dividend 120.00  
A. Shire, gas dividend 920.00  
  $15,497.06  
Cash on hand April 7, 1881 -    
City Fund $210.03  
School Fund 506.35  
Gas Fund 314.16  
    $1,030.54
    $16,527.60
Amount transferred from City to School Fund.   $1,000.00
     Total   $17,627.60
Amounts paid during year ending Apr. 10, 1882 -    
From City Fund $8,995.08  
School Fund 5,094.69  
Gas Fund 1,944.25  
    $16,034.02
Balance cash on hand Apr. 10, 1882 -    
City Fund $182.17  
School Fund 879.45  
Gas Fund 431.96  
    $1,493.58
     Total   $17,527.60

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RESOURCES OF CITY -

  Estimated
Value
Cost.
Real Estate $10,500 $15,000
Fire engine and apparatus 7,500 12,500
115 shares gas stock 12,650 11,500
     Total $30,650 $39,000

LIABILITIES OF CITY -

Balance of note due Northern Bank   $900.00
Interest on above note   $50.00
1 Engine note due Jan. 10, 1883   775.00
1 Engine note due Jan. 10, 1884   725.00
     Total   $2,450.00
Less cash in hands of Treasurer   1,493.58
     Total debt   $956.42

     To show the importance of Paris as a shipping-point, there was shipped during the year 1881, 1,200 car loads of stock.
     At an early day, there were a number of manufactories in Paris, which were kept busy supplying the wants of the people - for at that time the cost of wagoning goods was so great that it was cheaper to manufacture them at home than to buy them in distant places and bring them here.
     Samuel Pike was a leading manufacturer of the early times.  He was a native of England, and came here about 1810.  He had but small means, and was himself a practical wool manufacturer.  He was the first man who carded wool in Paris.  He also made rope, bagging, etc., which he shipped South, and brought back cotton. and manufactured it.  In 1815, he built a cotton factory or mill where L. Price & Co.'s store is now situated, and continued the business until 1825.  Another factory was built by him in 1822-23, on the ground east of the present Christian Church.  The factory built in 1815 was merged into this in the fall of 1825, and continued in existence until 1837.  It had a capacity of 720 spindles.
     Mr. Pike also had a hemp factory at the upper end of Pleasant street, built about 1818, which he carried on until his death in 1837.  He was succeeded in the business by Henry T. Duncan.  It was run until 1840.
     A cotton factory was built on the site of White's distillery about 1830, by Philip Adams & Co.; capacity about seven hundred and twenty spindles.  It afterward passed into the hands of Kelly & Wilson, by whom it was run until 1851.  A market was found at home for the most of their goods; the surplus was shipped to Louisville.
     A cotton mill was built some time between 1820 and 1830, by Charles Ainsworth, of 240 spindles, on the corner above where Mrs. Ogden now lives.  About 1835, a factory was built on the site of the Jones Block, on Main street.  Its capacity was 240 spindles. It was run for a number of years.
     The Paris Flouring Mill, which still exists, antedates all of these.  The first flour mill, a frame structure, was built in 1800.  It was owned by Thomas Jones.  It passed through several hands, and was bought in 1859 by William Shaw, who still owns it.  Across from where Mr. Shaw's warehouse stands, Mr. Jones built a fulling-mill, which was successfully carried on until 1854-55.  Mr. Shaw's flouring-mill is one of the institutions of Paris.  The flour manufactured is known and sought after in all directions.  It is even shipped in large quantities to England.  The mill is always taxed to its utmost capacity, frequently being run night and day to supply the demands of its customers.  Mr. Shaw takes much pride in it, and is always improving and beautifying its surroundings.
     The completion of the Kentucky Central Railroad in in 1854, placed Paris in easy connection with Covington, Cincinnati and other manufacturing cities, and the result was that articles which had before that time been manufactured here, could be brought by rail and sold here for less than our manufacturers could make them, and they could not compete with the manufacturers in more favored localities; the market here was not so large; the facilities for manufacturing were not so great; coal was much higher, and so the manufactories were all abandoned, and our people became and still remain dependent upon the manufactories of other cities.  And so, from that time to the present no effort has been made to revive manufactures.  With high-priced fuel here, there could have been no successful competition with other points.  But it is not improbable that the long-expected and long-wished for time, when Paris will become a manufacturing town, will soon dawn.  The mountains, rich in mineral resources and timber, are being penetrated with railroads; coal will soon become cheap; and, then, with cheap fuel and fine water-power combined, Paris ought to become an important manufacturing city.  Capital in plenty is here.  It needs only confidence and enterprise to bring about a result so desirable.
     During the present year the Kentucky Central will be extended from this place to Richmond, and soon thereafter direct connection will be made with Knoxville, opening up the trade of the entire South.  The building of other roads is also contemplated.  The repair-shops of the Kentucky Central are to be located here, and with roads diverging in every direction, Paris will offer advantages as a manufacturing point which cannot fail to attract capital.
     The planing-mill of Capt. James M. Thomas, the flouring-mill of William Shaw, and the large distillery of
Messrs.

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White & Ferguson, constitute now the manufacturing interests of Paris.  The time, it is believed, however, is not far distant when other industries will spring into being, and a new life be infused into our community. — McChesney.
      {NOTE. - The following article on Turnpike Roads, by Frank Kennedy, Esq., is given in conclusion of the history of Paris.  Although some of the facts embraced in it are given in the chapter on Internal Improvements in Bourbon County, yet it is of sufficient interest, to appear complete - ED.]
     One of the most valuable improvements in Bourbon County is its system of turnpike roads.  Every road that leads to its county seat is graded to an elevation of about three degrees, and paved with broken rock, on the Macadam plan, to a depth of twelve to fourteen inches in the center, thinning off to six or eight inches on the sides.  The first macadamized road in Kentucky was constructed through Bourbon County in the years from 1830 to 1835, under the charter of the Maysville, Washington, Paris & Lexington Turnpike Road Company.  It is also the best road of the sort built in the State.  It has the broadest and lowest graded road-bed, few of its elevations exceeding two degrees, while its wooden bridges are monuments to the fidelity and skill of Mr. Wernwag, their builder, whose name - the "Wernwag bridges" - have made historical.  In 1847-48 and '49, the roads leading from Paris severally to Georgetown, Winchester, North Middletown and Flat Rock, were granted corporate privileges by the Legislature, and shortly afterward converted into turnpikes.  Since then, road after road has been taken in hand and improved until the turnpikes are more than forty in number, and extend 215 miles within the limits of the county.  To all of these the county, through its magistrates, subscribed stock, and is by far the largest stockholder in the county.  These turnpikes have cost on an average about $2,300 per mile, except the first one, which, as before stated, cost nearly $6,000.  More than half a million dollars have been expended in their construction.  The county, in its corporate capacity, has paid $190,000, averaging about $900 per mile, while individuals have subscribed and paid more than $300,000.
     It is estimated that the yearly expense of repairs on the roads and toll-houses, falls little short of $75 per mile on an average.  These are paid out of the tolls collected at the gates from passers over the road.
     After defraying expenses, dividends are paid to stockholders, if there be anything left to divide.  Very few of them are so successful as to be able to declare dividends, and they necessarily small, except to persons who have purchased depreciated stock at very low rates.
     Estimating stock at par value, the roads mentioned be- ow, since they commenced operations, have paid in dividends as follows:

     The Maysville & Lexington, in forty-five years, have paid 82 ⁶⁵/₁₀₀ cents on the dollar's worth of stock; that is an average of 1 ⁸³/₁₀₀ per cent per annum.
     The Paris & Winchester have returned, in twenty-four years, 60 cents on the dollar, or 2½ per cent per annum.
     The Paris & Middletown have returned, in twenty-four years, 80 cents on the dollar, or 3⅓ per cent per annum.
     The Paris & Georgetown have returned, in twenty-four years, 85 cents on the dollar, or 3 ⁵⁴/₁₀₀ per cent per annum.
     The Paris & Clintonville, in sixteen years, have returned 25 cents on the dollar, or 1 ⁵⁶/₁₀₀ per cent per annum.
     The Millersburg & Indian Creek, in sixteen years, have returned 24½ cents on the dollar, or 1  ⁵³/₁₀₀ per cent per annum.
     These are the best returns made by any of the forty-three roads in the county.  Of the whole number, less than one-fourth declare dividends.
     It is easy to see that, as moneyed investments, they are not generally profitable, but as conveniences - public and private - their value is inestimable.  In short, they are indispensable.  The farmer who is ten miles away from town, on a good turnpike, is about as near in point of time, as the one who is three miles out; and is nearer in time, convenience and comfort than the man who lives one mile from market on a dirt road.
     The half million dollars expended in turnpike roads in the county has added to its general wealth $2,000,000 at a low estimate.  If they were suddenly annihilated and mud roads re-adopted, the lands of the county would fall to one-half of the prices they now command.  There remain only about a half dozen public roads which are not macadamized, and these have lost their importance as public highways, and are useful only as neighborhood necessities.  As the work of improvement is still in active progress, it is almost certain that in ten years more there will not be a public road in the county but will be of easy and secure travel at all seasons, in darkness as well as day-light.
     The wisdom and liberality of the fathers who pioneered the system, have been nobly sustained by their sons, except that the latter have fallen into the error of constructing the roads too cheaply.  That "the best is the cheapest," is eminently illustrated in the building of turnpike roads.  A reduction of one degree would have added comparatively little to the cost of construction, and the saving would be fourfold in cost of repairs.
     The county stock is represented by an officer called

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"Commissioner of Turnpikes," who is elected by the Magistrates, and whose duty is to attend all meetings of the stockholders, and vote the county stock, supervise the general interests of the roads, give legal advice to their managers, collect dividends on county stock, and report annually to the Court of Claims.
     We are indebted to Mr. P. Kennedy, the present Commissioner, for details of facts and figures on this subject:
     Mr. Kennedy is an attorney at law in Paris, and has very full and elaborate statistics of the receipts, expenditures and dividends of the roads from their beginning.  He has prepared also an index of charters and their various amendments of the roads in the county, the whole work filling a large book and involving a great deal of careful and patient labor, which is both convenient and valuable for reference.

END OF CHAPTER XII - Click Here to go to CHAPTER XIII - Page 121 - MILLERSBURG PRECINCT

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