PART FOUR: A MEMOIR OF LEXINGTON AND ITS VICINITY

With Some Notice of Many Prominent Citizens and Its
Institutions of Education and Religion

By WILLM. A. LEAVY

Continued from the October 1942 Register

Source: Register, Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 41, Number 134, January 1943, pages 44-62. This is the fourth of eight Register articles containing a transcription of a photocopy of the original William Leavy manuscript located in Special Collections, Transylvania University, Lexington, Fayette, Kentucky. 

NOTE: Page numbers and headings of the manuscript appear in parentheses as in original copy. Pages 1-23 are in Part 1. Pages 24 - 37 are in Part Two., 38 - 62 in Part Three, 63-82 in Part Four, 83-113 in Part Five, 114-123 in Part Six, 124-163 in Part Seven, and 164-208 in Part Eight.

(63) TRANSYLVANIA UNIVERSITY
It is with the fondness of early love that I now turn to this interesting literary institution where with grateful feelings I remember with high respect the Professors under whose varied instructions I sat for eight years, of the halcyon days of my life from summer of 1803 to 1811 in October and the very many fellow students with whom I shared these instructions, and where with generous rivalry and youthful ambition we severally sought the honour which comes from study and excellence.

To Col. John Todd was mainly owing the passage of an act by the Virginia Legislature establishing Transylvania Seminary in the year 1780 which consisted principally in their grant of Eight thousand acres of Land confiscated out of the Lands surveyed under the British authority and of those who adhered to it in the Revolutionary struggle. He was materially aided in his work it may be presumed from the statement of Dr. Bishop in his Memoirs of Rice, page 96, by Judge Caleb Wallace, also a representative from the Kentucky District—but Dr. Bishop is doubtless wrong in attributing the whole work to Judge Wallace. Col. Todd's name alone is mentioned in this connection by Mr. Butler and by Jas. T. Morehead in his Boonesborough Address. Many of these lands were near Lexington, and in the rich region around us. To the praise of that enlightened Legislature the language of the Act may well be repeated, "Whereas it is represented to this General Assembly that there are certain lands within the County of Kentucky, formerly belonging to British Subjects, not yet sold under the law of escheats and forfeitures, which might at a future day be a valuable fund for the maintenance and education of youth, and it being in the interest of this Commonwealth always to promote and encourage every design which may tend to the improvement of the mind, and the diffusion of useful knowledge, even among its remote citizens, whose situation in a barbarous neighborhood, and a savage intercourse might otherwise render unfriendly to Science—and it was further enacted that eight thousand acres of Land, within the said County of Kentucky, late the property of those British subjects should be vested in Trustees as a free donation from this Commonwealth for the purpose of a public school, or Seminary of Learning to be erected within

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the said County, as soon as its circumstances and the state of its funds will permit." The first Trustees, rev'd David Rice Chairman, met at John Crowe's station in Lincoln county 2d Monday in November 1783, and the first Grammar School connected with it by order of the Board in November 1784 was taught by rev. D. Rice; and the Board met for the first time in Lexington October 13^th 1788. The Kentucky Academy was incorporated by the legislature 1794, and having obtained donations and subscriptions to the amount of 1,000 pounds the buildings were located at Pisgah in Woodford County. The last meeting of the Kentucky Academy was in October 1798 when they passed a resolution to unite with Transylvania Seminary. The two boards, were accordingly united together at the subsequent meeting of the legislature and styled the "Trustees of Transylvania University."

For the procuring a permanent situation for the Seminary or University in Lexington a few citizens, six or eight, of which my father Wm Leavy was one, subscribed for and bought at I think the sum of Ten pounds each for that purpose the handsome lot upon which the College was built between 2d and 3d streets and between Market and Mill streets. This was I think about the year 1793 I think from recollection of the fact my father. This building when I first entered it in Grammar School summer 1803 answered the double purpose of a residence for President Blythe and his family.

The uncle of Col. John Todd with whom he was educated Rev. John Todd of Virginia presented the University his large and valuable library of Scientific, literary and religious works forming the nucleus or staple of a Library which contributed greatly to the improvement and instruction of the many hundreds of students here taught from this and other states for the many years since its first foundation.

Transylvania Library formed by Subscription of citizens of Lexington in 1796 was meant by its founders to be in part tributary to the College, and the books four hundred in number, kept there, but was subsequently removed from it to a more convenient and central location and after constituted the Lexington Library. In the year 1803—When

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I first entered the walls of Transylvania the number of students was about two hundred the building a large plain brick of two stories had an old appearance. The west half, except the apartment over the entrance hall, which was the Library room, was occupied by the family of Dr. Blythe and when he built his residence on 3d street back on 1807 it was occupied by a Mr. Stephens who took care of the property. The east end of the College a solid wall, was used as a ball alley for playing fives by the boys and the building being placed near 3d Street all the front part of the Lot was used as a play ground jumping and wrestling, playing foot ball and bandy &c. Mill and Market Streets were not opened, a post and rail fence in front and rear, 2d & 3d Streets, a large rope walk with hemp houses in front on each side of the Lot, extending to or nearly to 3d Street, the one on the West or Mill Street belonging to Thos January, the other on Market St. to James Kerns.

The faculty then consisted of President James Blythe, Professor Mathematics Natural Philosophy Chemistry and Astronomy, with the use of Globes.

Rev. Robert H. Bishop, Professor of Logick and Moral Philosophy, Teacher of Belles Letters and Composition and some time of History.

1^st Mr James Hamilton, Teacher of Languages, was a modest amiable man and good teacher of a Grammar School.

2d Mr Ebenezer Sharpe Professor of Language & Teacher of Latin & Greek, from the year 1804.

Mr Le Duc was early a Teacher of French a polished and educated Frenchman and subsequently 1809 to 11 Mr Bertrand Guerin was Teacher of the French Language, closed I think as Teacher in 1811.

The whole of the Philosophical Apparatus, which was considered very superior, was placed in the small room containing the Library over the front part of the entry to the College. The residence of Professor Bishop and Sharpe were from one to two miles from town and I think placed on part of the lands escheated by the College, out on, or near Nicholasville road. The number of the students was well kept up at about 200 more or less during all my stay at College to October 1811. I have been exercising my memory and refreshing agreeable recollections by trying to make a list or Roll of the Students in the College proper and Grammar school which I am the better able to recollect I presume from having occasionally, by rotation, kept and called the Roll at the assemblage of the Scholars every morning and I shall subjoin it to my account of the University.

(66) DR. BLYTHE
Rev. Dr. Blythe was born in North Carolina on __________, and had his collegiate education there but graduated for the Presbyterian ministry at Hampden Sidney college, Virginia, came to Kentucky in the year ____ and his long and principal work in the ministry was at Pisgah Church Woodford County and part of his time at Clear Creek Jessamine Co. He preached one Sunday in four at the 1^st. Presbyterian Church in Lexington. He was a powerful and strenuous advocate for the Bible & Missionary Societies connected with the Presbyterian Ch. assisted in forming the various Bible societies which were so successfully established in Lexington from the year ____. He established and edited the Evangelical Record in Lexington published monthly in the year 1812, and was a large contributor to its pages. He furnished to Dr. Bishop's Life of Rice & Memoirs of the Church in Kentucky an excellent article on the life of Rev. Daniel Smith. He edited and published in Lexington the Christian Magazine 1 year June 1822 to June 1823. His labours in the pulpit and in writing were incessant. His zeal was ardent in the promotion of Religion here, in these early days of the history of the Church in Kentucky, and it seemed to me never to know abatement: he was constant and spirited in the family and prayer, meetings, as well as in the church. He was ever active, and no one could think of formality in relation to any of his services. He was at times severe and dictatorial, if nor arrogant, in his manner to students. He acted in this manner not only from his constitutional temper but because he thought it necessary to assume it to maintain his authority. He seemed sometimes to be harsh, but under a rough exterior he carried the kindest heart and the most tender feelings. These peculiarities of temper and manner rendered him exceedingly unpopular with the young men,—however high their estimation of him as a Teacher, who had perhaps few equals in those branches of Science which he taught. The fine illustrations of his subjects which he was enabled to give from his excellent Apparatus as well as his oral instruction rendered his class room particularly attractive. His labours in his Professorship in College were unremitted for a great many years. Afterwards as Profr. of Chemistry in the Medical College from ____

After leaving Transylvania Dr. Blythe had charge of Hanover College Indiana and was successful as President of that Institution.

(67) DR. BISHOP
Remitting his labours there in part owing to his increasing years his time was occasionally given to his ministerial labour. Rev. Robert Hamilton Bishop, came to Kentucky partly in consequence of the visit to Scotland and England in the year 1801 of Rev. Dr. John M. Mason of the Associate Reformed Church of New York from the consideration of the inviting field it held out to Missionary labour in the Associate Reformed Church to which he belonged. In 1801 or 2 Dr. Bishop laboured in various churches in the Northern part of Kentucky and being invited to fill a Professorship in Transylvania which his regular course in one of the Colleges of Scotland and special studies well qualified him for in the year 1803 or 1804 he came to assume his duties, and now having a family to care for quit the feeble churches in the country where his labours had been almost if not entirely without pecuniary reward. He published a volume of Sermons in the year 1809, plain but excellent. Mr. Bishop in his person was tall and exceedingly awkward in his manners and address; was a great reader and diligent student, and took every means to qualify himself for imparting the best knowledge and instruction to his classes; and, from time to time examined the students on their reading, whether of history, biography or miscellaneous knowledge. It seemed to us that there was scarcely a subject or an author that he was not familiar with. He was benignant and affectionate, and he often tenderly regretted the necessity which he was occasionally under of shewing any passion or displeasure to an irregular or dull scholar: his manner was inviting to confidence, and his amiable nature would shew itself; he was simple and easy in his manner of communication, and from his subjects and the manner of treating them and his manner of examining his classes from year to year. The young men carried away from the College the kindliest and most respectful regard for their teacher of Logic, Moral Philosophy and Belles Letters. Each of the students seemed to be particularly endeared to him.—He took a great interest in seeing a 2d Presbyterian Church established in Lexington to give immediate employment to ministerial talents of rev. James McChord, and was greatly instrumental in it, costing him in a pecuniary point of view a comfortable large sum, and

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after his death for years laboring as Pastor with scarcely any remuneration for his services; and for the benefit of the family of the deceased minister jointly with revd. John McFarland editing and superintending the publication of a second volume of his sermons. I have noticed Mr. Bishop's devoted labors in Lexington both in and out of the church for many years and I do not think I have ever witnessed so much self denial and affectionate labor for the cause of his Master in any other individual.—I have great satisfaction in looking back to our long acquaintance and intimacy and the many proofs I have of his respect and attachment. On one occasion in a short visit to Lexington in a casual meeting near the edge of town I can never forget his very brief and earnest personal appeal to me on the subject of religion,—he had just been to see one of his former flock, the manner and terms of his appeal were such as to make the deepest impression. Several letters passed between us after his removal to Oxford. I sent my brother John to his University at Oxford commending him to his special favor and oversight in the year—He presented me several of his printed publications his Biblical Philosophy, work on Logick, 1830, Baccalauriate Addresses and Sermons, and had the degree of A.M. conferred upon me by his College at one of the Commencements. He endeavored to allay the Spirit of Party in the Presbyterian Church by publishing a monthly periodical entitled "The Peace-Maker" in the year, 1839. He was called from the Presidency of the Miami University at Oxford, Ohio to take charge of the Farmers' College, near Cincinnati. Ohio and died in the year ____ after a long laborious and successful life devoted to the education of youth and the Christian Ministry.—No Professor in Kentucky ever stood higher in the estimation of his classes than Dr. Bishop.

Ebenezer Sharpe, Professor of the Latin & Greek Languages, in Transylvania had charge as Principal of an Academy in Lexington from about 1801 to 1804. He was enthusiastic lover of the Languages and taught them well. He delighted with the orerotunds to recite certain lines and passages from the Latin and Greek authors, and would dwell on their beauty while hearing his classes. He was a most amiable and genial gentleman, and a warm hearted and sincere Christian. Being inclined to corpulency he would between, and after school hours, go out in the Street back of the College Lot, 3d street, and exercise himself at long bullets, with the view of improving his health and lessening the tendency of becoming fat. He joined as well Mr. Bishop in get-

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ting up a Second presbyterian church to establish James McChord as its pastor. Mr. Sharpe and Mr. Wm. Henry married sisters presbyterian ladies daughters of Mrs. Lake an old resident of Lexington.

Mr. Sharpe removed from Lexington to the state of Indiana in the year ____. After having had several transient Professors of the French Language Mr. Bertrand Guerin was chosen by the Trustees to fill that Professorship, which he did for at least two years in a satisfactory manner. Having some fondness for the language I was most commonly distinguished in it, and bore off the prizes in it in 1810 & 1811 John McCalla was my nearest competitor—a parchment inscription with latin motto accompanied the volume with the autograph, subscriptions, of the names of the President & Professors.—Mr. Guerin married the daughter of an esteemed Catholic citizen, Mr. Simon Hickey, father of the Judge. He established a Newspaper under the name of the Impartial Observer in 1811 or 12 in some of the early numbers of which he professed to give an account of some of Bonaparte's battles, which he saw, among others he published "An exact account of the Battle of Marengo, by an eye-witness," that witness he told his acquaintances was himself. I happened about the same time to read the same account in Walker's Hibernian Magazine, published in Dublin year 1802 some odd numbers of which I had met with but a short time before. It was verbatim et literatem the same, In the same magazine I saw a beautiful prose essay of Henry Kirk White, entitled Happiness, a fragment. The distinguished early poetical genius was then but 16 years of age, and sent his occasional essays to the popular magazines with his signature as in this instance—This piece was not published in "Southey's Remains."

________________________

In my list of the Students I think probably I have omitted some names, the whole is only recently made out, I have attempted to place then in Alphabetical order, and there are some names inserted later than my time, seventy years is a long period to preserve so many names with accuracy in the memory. I have written before the names when pretty certain of it, the year I knew the Students to be in college. There are three hundred names inserted in my list and all from memory.

(70) ROLL OF STUDENTS OF TRANSYLVANIA UNIVERSITY
Mostly During My Stay from Summer of 1803 to October 1811

(77) KENTUCKY INSURANCE COMPANY
The Kentucky Insurance Company, by application of citizens of Lexington was incorporated by the State Legislature in the year 1802—its charter to expire in January 1818 was the first Banking Institution established in Kentucky and in Lexington—and from the name for the purposes of Insurance—yet having a clause authorizing banking powers is stigmatised by the historian Butler from this circumstance as begun in fraud—a most unjust inference and fraud. I have placed a copy of this charter as printed at the time in the Lexington Library with other interesting Kentucky pamphlets in the summer of the present year 1874. The most if not all of the stockholders in this Company were men of the most irreproachable character, and of the best standing in the Community for integrity and means, and conducted its business to nearly the close of its charter in the most enexceptionable and honourable manner. Among its most prominent directors and stockholders among the Merchants were William Morton its President, James Morrison, Alexr. Parker, Charles Wilkins, William Leavy, James Weir, John Jordan Jr., Thomas Wallace and others and Thomas Lewis and other of the wealth and respectable farmers of the vicinity scarcely any of the number were speculative men, but those who were remarkable for their sound business qualifications integrity and wealth. Willm. Morton and Alexr. Parker were at different times its President; their names among its merchants beside those above mentioned and in as high estimation were from time to time the Directors. Its cashiers were Abm. S. Barton, John Postlethwaite and John L. Martin. Its Clerks were Wm. Macbean, Peter J. Robert and John L. Martin. These names in any community to which they might belong were sufficient for their standing, qualifications, and character to give the Institution to which they were attached a standing of no doubtful character. These were the best pledges for the honourable and faithful management of the Institution. I believe it was at first attempted to do something in the Insurance business, but it was mainly a Banking establishment, from the first opening of their office in the month of April or May 1803. In a legitimate banking business it greatly facilitated in those early times the commerce of our growing community, and was always held in high esteem by the public. It was managed so as all the time to pay a fair dividend to Stockholders until nearly the close of its charter, when the individual Stockholders were one by one bought out by a dashing New England speculator James Prentis who had for some years prev-

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iously handled and scattered in the community a great deal of money, as was pretty generally believed from the Capital of James DeWolfe, Jr., and others of Rhode Island, having established a Woolen Manufactury and Paper Mill on Town fork lower part of town at large cost, bought farms and brought Merino Sheep to the vicinity &c. seeming to be possessed of unlimited means—appropriating the Capital and credit of the institution to himself and his partners. It was in this manner that the explosion of the bank came at the close of the charter. The buyer of the Stock had paid according to my recollection some months before its close $120 to 125$ for each share 100$ considered about a full price or nearly so by the best informed Stockholders; and had nearly accomplished his object of a monopoly of the Stock before any suspicion of it by the Board of Directors; and if fraud was ultimately perpetrated on the public at the close of the Kentucky Insurance Co. in 1818 the original founders and partners in the Company had no hand whatever in it. If the notes were not at all redeemed by the specie in its vaults the cause was in a new comer to Ky. whose first appearance in Lexington was in 1812 and from none of its original founders or projectors.

For the character of Lexington and its early business men and as part of its history I have felt this statement, which I give from personal knowledge, to be due only as a faithful record of the truth. Mr. Ranck makes the mistake in speaking of this 1^st Kentucky Bank to call it "the Lexington Insurance Co." p. 222. and that its first President was John W. Hunt page 346 (the mistakes corrected by me on the margin in pencil). The edifice was a handsome one for a Bank, and cost the Directors for the plan alone of a Washington City or Baltimore Architect Latrobe two or three hundred dollars. The winding up of the Bank. Those who directed its concerns after the expiration of its charter 1818—I find from copy of my letter July 1-1818 in reply to a friend who sent a 100$ note of the Bank for me to collect, hearing that the bank had made arrangements to pay their notes within one month, I wrote him the report was without foundation, and I did not think there was any probability of their ever redeeming them for the full amount; it was opened on the 1^st Monday in February, and redeemed a number of its notes, and perhaps during part of the 1^st Monday in March, but never since.—Sebree & Johnson, a Domestic house, is the only house buying—they offer ten dollars on the hundred in such things as they have, Domestic woolens, &c but from the price the Banking house brought some time last month Twenty one thousand dollars in their own paper

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we think the offer too little—the Bank building may be considered fairly worth at present the sum of ten thousand dollars.—I wrote two other correspondents to the same purpose returning their enclosures of notes, and referring to the sale of the Bank &c. This building and property engaged in 1823 was bought, Apl. 1824 of Jas. Haggin Esqr. by the Lexington Library Co. for the sum of Three Thousand dollars (I think Mr. Haggin had been the purchaser in June 1878) and sold by the Library Company to J.S. Hilton March 1841, at the same, there being a great depression in property at the time.

Cost, and kind of payment, of Saml. Trotter's Residence, lately Judge Robertsons. A ridiculous or Munchausen Story has been going the rounds for a number of years that Mr. Trotter has his house built by Sam. Long for two or three Merino Sheep. Under the head of 'Sheep excitement' and the date of 1809 Mr. Ranck seems to give some colour to this strange story p. 288. In saying "the extent of the Speculation may be inferred from the tradition that a master mechanic actually received, three Merino sheep from Mr. Saml. Trotter as payment for building for him the residence now owned by Judge Robertson and situated at the corner of Hill and Mill Streets."—

I have now before me the original contract and agreement between Saml. Trotter and Saml. Leavy & Laws signed by the parties, very particularly drawn out, dated May 13-1813, with a rough plan of the building. S. Long engages to put up the building and complete the work including out buildings and enclosures for seven thousand two hundred dollars, which is paid in part by S. Trotter's part of a Merino Flock, $2500: (—the number of the Sheep not mentioned but probably no more than three, as at this time Merino Sheep often brought a $1000 a piece as may be seen by reference to the periodicals of the day—) and part being paid in Cash, and Merchandise, charged on the books of S. Trotter and S. & G. Trotter. Their accounts with each other were very large, including other brick buildings, one three story house on Main Street, 2 on Mill Street, Warehouses and other buildings on his farm—the buildings all put up by Contract, and finally settled mutually by reference to Mathew Kennedy & David Megowan two other Master Mechanics of Lexington as Arbitrators in 1816, who reported certain additions to the Contract, for extra work ordered by T. on the building proper of $910.50, and deductions for failure to execute it as per agreement $407.25. The 3 story house $2925, extra work on same $281.98, deduction for failure on same $346.30. Warehouse $2554.03, and additional building to same $2000. The nett amount of this work of Long and his partners not less than $15735.36. It would seem that in taking S.T.'s share in Merino speculation $2500 off his hands would be a small matter in transactions so large.

(79) S. TROTTER'S DWELLING &c.
Mr. Trotter's Account made out against Long and his partners at the time of this Arbitration amounted to over Eighteen thousand dollars. The remainder was probably paid in work. The cost of the Dwelling House and appurtenances after deductions and additions are made on the same paid Long amounted to ..........$7703.25.

Cost of the Lot 197 feet on High Street and 407 on Mill Street bot. of James Masterson fro Thos. Bodley in 1805 $1300.00 making the house & Lot in all $9003.25—exclusive of considerable additions to Nichs. Headington, and others subsequently made.

Mr. Long at that day was one of the most energetic and extensive builders in Lexington, most of the 3 story Stores on Main Street from one door above Mill Street to the dwelling and store of George Trotter Senr. nearly opposite the Court House were built by him.

Some wag gave a partial statement of the fact to a Boston editor, who made a lively paragraph on it some years after—'That an enterprising mechanic of Lexington built an elegant residence on a spacious lot for one of the Money Kings of Kentucky, agreeing to take pay for his work in a few Merino sheep, and finding it an unprofitable investment, and one of his sheep yet on hand, being a social fellow, invited to his workmen & friends to come and share it with him in a mutton feast, to which he made them welcome saying he did not care a ducat for his loss'.—I sold the property, as Executor, to Judge Robertson Jan. 30, 1835 for the sum of Eight thousand dollars. Real estate was at that time, the year after the Cholera, very much depressed in Lexington and its vicinity S.T.'s farm of 205 acres 2 miles from town called his powder mill farm, was sold to T. Smith 28h Octor. 1833 at 35$ pr acre, which he bought of their heirs of Wm. McConnell. Toward the history of Lexington I have already named several prominent merchants who by their energy and success contributed much to its consequence and improvement. I shall now revert to and render more complete the enumeration, together with several other departments of business, without which the account would be incomplete of much of that contributed to the growth and prosperity of the place from its village beginning to its palatial splendor.

First of other merchants—

Hugh McIlvaine, an esteemed citizen and merchant commenced the mercantile business in Lexington at least as early as 1787 and continued it until about 1804 or 5 on Main Street,

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but removed with his family to Paris I knew very well and esteemed his oldest son William, about my own age, and a very handsome young man, also his younger brother John. Wm. married in Paris continued business and has been deceased a number of years. John pursued business very successfully in Louisville.

Captn William West, a native of Ireland and a very estimable gentleman came to Lexington about the beginning of this century or a little before it and established himself in the Mercantile business on Main Street between Mill & Upper. His residence a two story brick built by himself and is yet standing, 1874, is the S.W. corner of Main and Spring Streets. He invested most of his means on quitting business in a farm two or three miles from town on the Winchester Road. Gentle, bland and simple in his manners he was universally esteemed, and was much esteemed as a City Magistrate for many years to about 1824. His son Capt. Wm. West was a handsome and popular man, became the Capt. of the Uniform Light Infantry Co. in Lexington, and married the handsome and attractive daughter of Mrs. Williams, (McConnell) and removed with his mother-in-law and his brother Frank McConnell to Arkansas: the remainder of the family of his father died of consumption before reaching the 30^th year.

John & Saml. Postlethwait, came from Carlisle Pa. to Lexn. as early as 1790 and were highly esteemed as Merchants. see also the notice of them on page 17 in speaking also as John as an Inn Keeper.

John Tilford, from about 1800 engaged in the Mercantile business in Lexington was successful and popular as a man of business came from Mercer County was a partner first with James Maccoun from the same county under the style of Maccoun & Tilford, afterwards in his own name, then with his father-in-law Geo. Trotter Senr. & others Tilford Scott & Trotter, and Tilford Trotter & Co. He at length retired from the business became the President of the United States Branch Bank in Lexn. for a number of years, and in the formation of the Northern Bank of Kentucky was its president with great acceptance from its commencement in 1835 to his death in 1851. As a Bank President he was an able and very popular officer and widely and favorably known both abroad and at home. I was a Director on both Banks for some years during his Presidency of them. Major Tilford will be long remembered for the kindness and blandness of his manners. No citizen in Lexn. has been more esteemed. One of his sons, John B. Tilford, has been very successful in business, as a Grocer, and Banker in Lexington, and as a Banker at present in the City of New York. Majr. Tilford left but a moderate estate at his death. Our intimacy was always of the most friendly character. Though a personal friend of Rev. James McChord and one of

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the original founders of his church he only united himself to the church as a Member a short time before his death about the year 1851. Majr. T. handed me a few years before his death a long letter to him from Rev. Jas. McChord with details of an unpleasant difficulty with the joint pastor Mr. Henry & his letters as Trustee of T.U. He presented the Lexington Library, in its early history, a valuable set of books, Rapin's Acta Regia, in 4 vols. 1726, London.

Elisha J. Winter was an active merchant and citizen for some years, he was here in early times but removed to Batavia New York and was a politician there becoming a member of congress from the district in which he lived—returned to Ky. about 1812 built a 3 story brick house for dwelling and store next door to the corner of Mill Street in Main on the S. Side. He rendered himself conspicuous by starting the Lexington & Ohio Rail Road—became its President and was instrumental mainly in having the foundation of the Road to Frankfort laid with Limestone rocks for the Rails to run on, a large cost, and found at length to be money thrown away. The investments of all the Stockholders in Lexington a considerable amount proved a perfect and entire loss. From the sanguine and enthusiastic temper of Mr. Winter I suppose he must have lost a large sum. His store proved also a losing concern although principally managed by a much esteemed citizen Mr. Leonard Wheeler, with whom he had difference & a law suit. In this Mr. Wheeler had the sympathy of his friends & the public. Mr. Winr. with almost a misanthropical sourness closed his remarkable career in the year. My own loss in this Railroad, my father and myself having been subscribers to it a short time before his death 1831, amounted to Twenty five hundred dollars.

James Maccoun came to Lexn. from Mercer co. and established himself as a Merchant in the year 1794. He was highly esteemed and successful doing an active business here for a number of years. The business was carried on for some years before his failure in the name of James & David Maccoun. In a portion of this time their business combining the wholesale with the Retail was very large falling short in amount only to that of Saml. & George Trotter. He built a very large Store and Dwelling on Main Street about 1811 where he resided and carried on his store and not long after the large brick Warehouse on Water Street the other end of the same lot. Their difficulties began I think with the year 1815 probably from large importations. It was a very destructive year to all who imported, largely. Their failure I think was entirely in 1817. I do not remember to have heard any comment or reflection on their failure—though with many individuals the loss must have been entire, as it was with my father, who loaned them the

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sum of Six hundred a short time before and never received any thing of the amount. They were esteemed members of the Presbyterian church. James Maccoun was the first to establish and carry on with very little help at the start the first Sunday School established in the Church to which he belonged the 1^st. Presbyterian as early as 1806. Mr. Maccouns Store and dwelling erected by himself was the one large building on Main St. opposite County house owned now by F.K. Hunt Esq. or one of their heirs of his father J.W. Hunt.

Abm. S. Barton and Elijah W. Craig commenced business as partners Barton & Craig in the year 1812 and continued it a successful business for a number of years. Mr. B. was an expert clerk and talented man and had some experience in various employments before and on the establishment of a branch of the United State Bank in Lexington was appointed one of the Directors and I think E.W. Craig had begun business a short time before in his own name. They made money together, Barton married Miss ________ Merrill, his health declined and he died of consumption. Mr. Craig at length married Miss Almira Grosvenor who came to Lexington from Connecticut with Col. Josiah Dunham and (his sister Laura who afterwards married G.W. Sutton). Mr. Craig after a few years made the business of loaning money and discounting notes the main occupation. Mr. Craig sold his father Rev. Joseph Craig's little farm of about 100 acres or more about 4 miles from town to Capt. Geo. H. Bowman about the year 1815-19 for the trifling sum of Nineteen dollars pr acre because I presume he thought he could do better with the money. The business of selling goods was a slower way too of getting along than that of Money king. During his partnership with Barton he was the purchaser of the goods and passed much of his time in Philadelphia for this purpose.—I subjoin a copy of a written memdr. of Mr. Craig when he came to take a Clerkship with my father.—This day agreed with Willm, Leavy at forty pounds per year he is to find me washing, lodging &c. and, whatever Goods, I may want under that amount, I am to have them at the Cost and difference of Currency. Commencing Decr. 12^th 1798.—E. Craig"

(This agreement written by him in one of the Account books of W.L.)

If Mr. Craig obtained in this early Clerkship and training the maxims and habits of business which led to his brilliant success in life he had good reason to remember the commencement.—Mr. Craig's beginnings were modest, his zeal and attention to business unremitted, and attended with judgment and skill. The most of his fortune was made after quitting business—by discounting Notes, & loaning money, behold the fruit—he died in the year _____ leaving as I am well informed, the sum of at least Three hundred thousand dollars to his children.

(To be continued).

Transcribed December 2001 by pb

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