The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1878-03-06
FRAGMENTS OF The EARLY HISTORY
OF OHIO COUNTY.
BY II. u TAYLOR.
CHAPTER XLIlI

Few of the younger readers OF thu
present day can form any conception o
the excitement of former times, cs-
pccially during the ola ani New Cour
aud jackson and Adams times The
beet wits and political writers Of the
lay being about equally divided
(ilcaven born) Amos Kendall As be was
called, aud Blair being the leaders on on,
side, and the Marshals, Chiffon Allen
and others on the other side Each
party started campaign paper The
Patriot represented the New, and the
Spirit OF TO- the Oh Court, and were
each nick-namei 10y the opposite party.
The Patriot was spelled and called PA
Riot, as representa-. a Nles-. riotns
lrishman, AMI the Spirit % e was il
Ike manner written anl called IT. Ny'r'
Of 90, 10 Indicate the grssp.nL aud TX,
.oriionatc disposition of the creditor
class, iry Ia. t.. exact seyen shlilIngS and
-'Npeuoe ou the dollar. 81 Of the lcL;or
class Their pare,s weekly tecmrd wi'h
Wit argument aud ,ituperajian.
Among the warriors witlIci-n tia; were
spread broadcast. was one pvrpetra'ci
10y Holm IL M'Iicary, thea a citizen O.
Hartford. ani Commonwealth Attorney
tor this district Judge Haggin, one ol
The new court Judges, had at some time
-htered into "A written contract with Il
lady, in regard to the payment of a GER
tain sam Of money, respecting the pay
ment OF which was the following resyr
vation: But in the payment OF which
sum of money said llagrin is net to Toe
hasteued Thfs clause was seized upon
10y the Old Court party, and became a by
word Now 1t 80 happened that Me-
Henry was a much better judge of Law
than horse flesh, and some horse jockey
had palmed upon him the most villain
Gus, lazy, sluggish horse in the country,
and Mcllenry. good humorediy, called
him he sad Hdg3ia, because he was not
to be FASTENED with whip or spur or even
c'ass cords but would gang his o,cH gate
with the patience of martyr Whilst a
Jolly company Of lawyers were on their
way from one court TO another, brother
of one OF the New Court judges who had
imbibed enough to render him very sen>
siIiye aud quite dictaiori ! in manner
aud who had fallen in with the company.
having heard them speak of the
name Of Mcllcury's horse, rode up to
hm and said wi,h a dignifie'l AR: Mr.
McIleury. do you mean the name of
your horse As reflection on the New
Court, ;sir?" Oh. Ny no means, Mr..
R, Ionly mean it as a reflection on
my horse" was MclIenry's ready reply,
which was greeted with such roars OF
laughter THAI Mr.. R even relapsed
into a grim smile aud made no further
attempt to vindicate the dignity OF the
New Court.
The elections were always very exciting
in Ohio coaGty, where the parties were
nearly equally divided, and the elections
then lasting for three days The result
depended more on the skill and mana:e
ment Of the party leaders than the poIit-
zeal sentiments of large portion OF
voters that is to say, there was always
a floating vote that could be swayed 10y
personal influence and whisky, aud other
means, for although direct bribery was
then held in utter adherence, yet to treat
voter until he would love you like a
brother, and then lead him TO the polls
and vote him, was thought all right and
honorable. This system of eieetioneer-
ing lead to many amusing incidents
Some times a man would be made so
drunk that his attendants would lead
him up to the polls, thinking he was all
right, and holding him up he would
prove all wrong. and vote for the other
party. This would be greeted by curses
aud abuse on one side, and shouts and
laughter on the other Some regular
topers would come 10 town early on
Monday morning, and remain all three
days OF the election, enjoying the hosp;-
talities Of both parties. and slip off the
last evening without yoting FIR ary one
There was at one time Two (old salts as
they we're cailed) whom The boys on each
tide of the political question concluded to