The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1878-01-09
FRAGMENTS OF the EARLY HISTORY
or OHIO COUNTY.
BY II. d. TAYLOR.
CHAPTER XXXVL

CHAPTER AAANL
The first mercantile transaction o
which tradition gives any account, wa
the Yankee with his barrel Of whisky
as related in chapter ~; and next th'
reddler OF which Ralph Ringwood tell
us IN chapter XVI. Now whether
RAlph's peddler was a NTH or not, la
was at least representative character
of the day, aud it was to such lnneran'
merchants or peddlers that the people
looked FOR their supplies, as the peoples
wants were too few, and their means o.
purchasing too scant to justify the per-
manent location of a store in any one
place. aud the itinerant could collect the
furs, skins. &c, in exchange for his
wares aud merchandise.
The first store in Hartford CT which
we have ans authentic account, vas that
Of Nathaniel wicklife. lie seems to
have drawn his supplies from Ba7dstown,
and the old records show a suit which he
brought against William Wallace for
damage done to load OF furs, skins, &c /,
which he (wallacel had contracted 10
haul from Hartford TO Barlstown. The
writer recollects an old bailding which
stood near the corner where the Lyon
House now Glands. Duriag the-SsE- of
1912. the people Of Hartford wert SO pa
triotic they had TO burn an old vacant
house (of which there weS then quite a
number in the place. whenever they
heard of victory. This old Wicklitfe
house had all disappeared except the
frame OF the root, which rested on the
ground, leaving the A shaped garrett all
in tact. A celebrated victory had been
gained-this roof was selected for the
bonfire; being very dry and conbustible,
it was soon covered with fame Palri>
otism aud courage grew with the ire
who would run through the roof-several
performed the feat successfully, but the
effects OF the liquor on the crowd had in-
creased ia at least an equal ratio to the
heat OF the fire, but old Major James
Johnston, then a stout, athletic man,
was not to be outdoue in teats of daring
he started through-stumbled and iell-
rose again, and by desperate effort got
through, but thoroughly exhausted aud
singed.
il is due to say TO the old Majors mem
DRY, that be was by no means an inem-
perate man, but in the early times when
they used the pure essence of corn,
which did not make men mad and vicious,
but inspired them with unbonnded pa
triotism aud benevolence, il was not un-
common for the best OF men TO become
a little fuddled on extraordinary Occa-
sions.
The writer does not recollect the whole
Of the victories thus celebrated by burn
ing old buildings. The old courthouse
and jail we're bTrned to celebrate Perry's
victory another was burned on the lot
now occupied by Mr.. Sanderier, and an
other near the residence OF Mrs. Thomas,
and perhaps several others on places not
but the last and most iinpor>
lant was the old Crow tavern, located %
the lot now occupied by Messrs. Kleius
aud Smalls THIS WAS quite n large |
building; had been vacant for so,a,
time, and much out of repairs, and 5. T.
and D. Morton's store thea occupied tb
ground near where Mr.. z. Wayne 6nl>
fms drug store now stands, and to all
appearances would have been greatly
but the Crow tavern was the
last waste building in the place. The
victory at New Orleans on the Sth of
January was too great an event not TO be
celebrated by bonfire. The torch was
applied to the vast pile, and the country
was Illuminated lsr miles around.
But to return TO the subject OF ner-
chandise. 1t appears that carly in the
century Rose a. FitEhugh had store Of
some celebrity in Hartford, and Samuel
Rose was a very popular man; much
esteemed for his liberality, pleasant
manners and honesty. he was also for a
time clerk of the court Some time pre-
vious 10 the war OF 1912 he removed to
Bardstown, and was soldier under Gen.
Hopkins in his march up the Wabash
river, where he and his friends Murry
and Dun, with Others, were caught in an
ambush, while on a accommodating party
slain and terribly mangled by the sava-
ges. Some OF his Ohio county friends
found Roses body. recognized it and had
il decently buried. The Bardstown Re-
pository Of that period was full Of eulogy
and praise OF the three-Murry, Rose and
Dun-all Of whom were represented as
men Of sterling virtues and worth.
Perhaps the next store in Hartford
was that Of Lewis aud Rogers. This