JOHN W. HUNT'S DUCK FACTORY

N. Upper St., between Mechanic and 3rd
Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
 

The introduction to the "Charless Almanack:" Lexington Directory for 1806, gives a prideful account of the thriving industries here of that early day. "Mr. Hunt's Duck Manufactory," it says, "keeps 40 or 50 hands employed."

Curiosity prompted a long and intensive search for the seat of this pioneer plant, ending with the discovery that it centered around this ancient residence.

The first reference to it was found in a deed of June 1, 1801, of Peyton Short to John Cockey Owings, of the State of Maryland. The deed was for two lots "part of out lots 6 and 7" numbered 17 and 18 in Short's plat—"being the lots on which the Duck Factory stands."

Short (of Woodford County) owned Outlots 7 and 8 (not 6) and after selling Outlot 7 outright to Chas. Wilkins, subdivided and sold Outlot 8 to several buyers. In 1816 he gave the Town Trustees "the continuation of Upper Street" from Second to Third Streets, and "the whole of Mechanics Street as opened at present" from Market to Mulberry Streets. Incidentally, that is the "whole of it" still today.

Thomas Deye Owings, "of Bath County" on October 11, 1814, conveyed the two lots to John W. Hunt for $3,000. The deed said they were the lots "conveyed by Peyton Short to Owings June 1, 1801, on which the duck factory then stood."

John W. Hunt and Thomas Hart, Jr., in May, 1803, had furnished $44,000 to John Cockey and Thomas Deye Owings, taking a mortgage on their vast iron works operations in Bath County, on the Red River and in Western Kentucky and assumed management of them.

Mr. Hunt, immediately upon getting deed to the duck factory lots, sold them and a lot on the Third Street corner to David Dodge, "of Clarke County," for $7,500. There was only one lot between these two properties, mentioned in all adjoining deeds as that "owned by the heirs of Andrew Hare, dec'd." Daniel Bradford had just bought the remaining lot in the block, extending it to the Mechanics Street corner.

In April, 1814, David Dodge advertised a "Factory For Sale." He stated it was "that noted money-making Factory lately owned by John W. Hunt, Esq., fronting on Upper St. about 180 feet and running back 200 feet, on which ground is erected a very large and suitable brick building with all the necessary outhouses for work-hands, etc., and two never-failing wells of water with pumps complete." Included with the factory would be "all the Machinery for carrying on the bagging business extensively." The plant was "calculated for an extensive Cotton Factory, as well as several other branches of business." Prospective purchasers were to apply to "George Norton, Esq., who will hand the keys to those wishing to view the premises."

David Dodge in 1814 sold the two properties for $10,00 to Luke Usher, John Wrigglesworth and Daniel Bradford. He reserved, however, 66 feet "generally known as a part of John W. Hunt's factory lot including a two-story Brick House, Kitchen & well of water," which he sold to Caleb W. Cloud August 23, 1817, for $2,500.

Benjamin Stout, who had bought it for $3,500 from Cloud in 1819, was sued by Elizabeth Lee and in April, 1820, the "Brick Dwelling house with the appurtenances on Upper Street, generally known as a part of John W. Hunt's factory," went under the hammer. Rev. Robert M. Cunningham and wife, Emily, "of Tuscaloosa Co., Alabama," bought it, got the deed to it in 1828 and sold it to Dr. Thos. P. Satterwhite in 1830. He conveyed it in 1832 to Rebecca Lovejoy, as her trustee.

Rev. Robert M. Cunningham came to Lexington in 1807 and was pastor of the First Presbyterian church until 1822, when he removed to Alabama, where he died in 1839.

Rebecca Lovejoy sold "part of the dwelling house" (about 41 feet) to John Holmes, a free man of color, on November 9, 1832, and the other (about 25 feet) to Andrew Moore on March 26, 1836.

John Holmes gave a mortgage on his part of the house July 30, 1849, which was recorded as follows:

"This indenture between John Holmes, freeman of color, and E.W. Warfield and W.H. Brand, consideration that the said Warfield and Brand have this day gave bond to the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the sum of $500 for the appearance of said John Holmes at the first day of the ensuing Fayette September Court to answer the charge of arson." Holmes conveyed to them "that tract on North Upper St. opposite the City Stray Pen and adjoining the residence of Landon Carter on the one side and Matthew Tucker on the other" and a lot "above the City School House near the residence of Thomas H. Waters, opposite the residence of Mrs. W.C. Bell."

Holmes, "a freeman of color being near the point of death in his own house in the City of Lexington in the presence of George W. Brand and Dr. Samuel Letcher" made a nuncupative will in October, 1850, bequeathing his property to his three children and appointing M.C. Johnson administrator. John Holmes, of Franklin County, through M.C. Johnson, sold the house, "adjoining Alexander Moore's house," to William Christie.

William Christie bought Alexander Moore's part and sold "one double house" to W.W. Bruce in 1877. Alexander Moore, who bought considerable property and whose residence is covered in this series , on Market Street, bought the "stray pen lot" mentioned above—the deed book index listed it as the "Old Slave Pen" by error. It was across the street from this house.

Bruce devised the house to Alice Hardin Crew, who sold it to B.F. Ford and B.C. Hagerman. They conveyed it to Obed Cooley, whose name appears in a stone above the door.

Source: Old Houses of Lexington, C. Frank Dunn, typescript, n.d., copy located in the Kentucky Room, Lexington (Kentucky) Public Library.

Transcribed by pb, October 2006