1 3 1 4 7 7 8 i 3 ‘ B R IE R , NARY LAWRENCE SLAVERY IN LOUISVILLE DURING THE ANTEBELLUM PERIODS 1 8 2 0 - 1 8 6 0 . A STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF URBANIZATION ON THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY AS IT EXISTED IN LOUISVILLE* KENTUCKY* UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE* H - A . , 1 9 7 9 University M ia d n m s International 300 n z e e b r o a d , a n n a r b o r , mi « s i o 6 R eproduced with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. PLEASE NOTE: In a ll cases th is m aterial has been filmed in the b est possible way from the av ailab le copy. Problems encountered with th is document have been id e n tifie d here with a check mark 1. Glossy photographs ________ 2. Colored illu s tr a tio n s ________ 3. Photographs with dark background ________ 4. I llu s tra tio n s are poor copy ________ 5. ° r in t shows through as there is te x t on both sides of page _________ 6. I n d is tin c t, broken or small p rin t on several pages throughout 7. 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SLAVERY IN LOUISVILLE DURING THE ANTEBELLUM PERIOD: 1 8 2 0 -1 8 6 0 A S tu d y o f t h e E f f e c t s o f U r b a n iz a tio n on th e I n s t i t u t i o n o f S la v e r y a s i t E x is te d i n L o u i s v i l l e , K en tu ck y By Mary L aw rence O 'B rie n B .A ., S p a ld in g C o lle g e , 1972 A T h e s is S u b m itte d t o t h e F a c ility o f th e G ra d u a te S c h o o l o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f L o u i s v i l l e i n P a r t i a l F u l f i l l m e n t o f t h e R e q u ire m e n ts f o r th e D egree o f M a s te r o f A r ts D e p a rtm en t o f H i s to r y U n i v e r s i t y o f L o u i s v i l l e L o u i s v i l l e , K en tu ck y D ecem ber, 1979 R eproduced with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. SLAVERY IN LOUISVILLE DURING THE ANTEBELLUM PERIOD: 1 8 2 0 -1 8 6 0 A S tu d y o f th e E f f e c t s o f U r b a n iz a tio n on t h e I n s t i t u t i o n o f S la v e r y a s i t E x is te d i n L o u i s v i l l e , K entucky By Mary L aw rence O 'B rie n B .A ., S p a ld in g C o lle g e , 1972 A T h e s is Approved on D ate by th e F o llo w in g R ead in g Com m ittee T h e s is D i r e c t o r f S 2 A / - / 1 L ' J H & u u l - - Q r / ' u ^ / 1 ! i U Dean o r C hairm an R eproduced with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................................... i v ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................... v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................................. v i MAP OF LOUISVILLE ............................................................................................................ v i i CHAPTER I . INTRODUCTION ........................................................ ' . .......................................... 1 I I . LOUISVILLE: THE POPULATION AND PHYSICALSURROUNDINGS 5 I I I . DAILY LIVES OF URBAN SLAVES ........................................................... 18 IV. THE MERCHANDIZING OF SLAVES ............................................................ 40 V. SLAVES AND THE LAW .............................................................................. 58 V I. SLAVES AND FREEDOM .............................................................................. 75 V I I . SLAVE CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS IN ANTEBELLUM LOUISVILLE. 94 V I I I . THE QUIET INSURRECTION ..................................................................... 128 BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................................................................................................................... 132 V IT A ............................................................................................................................................. 146 i i i R eproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF TABLES Page TABLE I . SLAVE PROPORTION OF POPULATION ...................................................... 13 TABLE I I . SEXUAL COMPOSITION OF POPULATION ................................................. 14 TABLE I I I . SEXUAL COMPOSITION OF POPULATION:COMPARISON OF WHITE AND BLACK .......................................................................................... 15 TABLE IV . POPULATION BY WARD-1845 ......................................................................... 16 TABLE V. BLACK MEMBERSHIP IN LOCAL BAPTISTCHURCHES ....................... 108-109 TABLE V I. RACIAL COMPOSITION OF LOCAL METHODIST CHURCHES: 1 8 4 6 -1 8 6 0 ....................................................................................................... 113 TABLE V I I . RACIAL COMPOSITION OF LOCAL METHODIST CHURCHES: 1 8 2 1 -1 8 4 0 114 i v R eproduced with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT An e x p l o r a t i o n o f t h e e f f e c t s o f u r b a n i z a t i o n on t h e i n s t i t u t i o n o f s l a v e r y a s i t e x i s t e d i n L o u i s v i l l e , K e n tu c k y , r e v e a l s s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e s b e tw e e n u r b a n a n d r u r a l s l a v e r y . I n a d d i t i o n , t h e exam i n a t i o n o f s l a v e l i f e i n L o u i s v i l l e r e v e a l s i n f o r m a t io n p e r t a i n i n g t o t h e c o m p o s itio n o f t h e s l a v e w o rk fo rc e and t h e t y p e s o f w ork w h ich s l a v e s p e rf o r m e d , a s w e l l a s d a t a r e l a t i n g t o u r b a n s la v e h o u s in g , fo o d an d c l o t h i n g . The ways i n w h ic h t h e " h i r i n g - o u t ” s y s te m w orked and th e l i b e r a t in g e f f e c t i t h a d o n L o u i s v i l l e s l a v e s a r e e m p h a siz e d i n t h i s s t u d y . I n a d d i t i o n , l o c a l s l a v e law s a n d ex am p les o f t y p i c a l s l a v e i n f r a c t i o n s h a v e b e e n in c lu d e d t o d e m o n s tra te t h e e x t e n t t o w h ich w h ite s a tte m p te d t o c o n t r o l and s u b ju g a t e t h e s la v e p o p u l a t i o n . An i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f t h e d e v e lo p m en t o f l o c a l s l a v e c h u rc h e s an d s c h o o ls i n d i c a t e s t h e e x t e n t t o w h ich s l a v e s u s e d t h i s u r b a n e n v iro n m e n t t o d e v e lo p t h e i r own com m unity, w h ich lo o s e n e d t h e b o n d s o f s l a v e r y . v R eproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Professor Leonard Curry, whose encouragement and practical advice made the research and writing of this thesis considerably easier. The author also wishes to express her thanks to her employer, the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, who granted her a leave of absence for research purposes. Finally, thanks are extended to the author’s friends, John Andris and Edna Letcher for their assistance in the typing and proofreading of this thesis, and to the author’s husband, David O ’Brien, for his encouragement and moral support during the months of research and writing this paper required. vi R eproduced with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. f W s k ; / \ 'V.^„' \*S* ^ . \ v V ■ V '.C'X ' . < * ‘ > * N \ . V n v F W n j » & * <iroij isl ; :;; i L i i i l _ . i l U ± i * l 5 f t 3 SU * A < n s ps r r ? ! £ a * = e i i H t H g U E i f j M i B T r r ” g 1 1 m m m % y .4 W £ y { % & > r t i vd>- % r n m r n T ¥1 ' J A / A n - I s / ' ^ **T ™ 1 / *3*3 3 8 & £ & - . 1 - . R eproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. < » v * « * 4 »» j tf .it * * « //A / a * I'tutrj ,t CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION A num ber o f h i s t o r i a n s h av e d e v o te d t h e i r tim e and s k i l l s t o th e s tu d y o f A m erican s l a v e r y a n d t h e a n te b e llu m S o u th . Such r e s e a r c h i s o f i n c a l c u l a b l e v a lu e to th e m odern s t u d e n t o f A m erican h i s t o r y , a s th e p ro b lem o f s l a v e r y and i t s r e s o l u t i o n i s a c r u c i b l e t h a t h a s s h a p e d m odern A m e ric a. The e r a d i c a t i o n o f p e r p e t u a l bondage a s a l e g a l i n s t i t u t i o n was a c c o m p lis h e d , i n p a r t , by th e E m a n c ip a tio n P r o c la m a tio n o f J a n u a r y 1 , 1863.1 an d i n t o t o by t h e T h i r t e e n t h Amendment t o t h e U n ite d S t a t e s C o n s t i t u t i o n , w h ic h was r a t i f i e d by tw e n ty - s e v e n o f t h e t h i r t y - s i x s t a t e s i n 1865 a n d d e c la r e d i n f o r c e by a p r o c la m a tio n on D ecem ber 1 8 , 1 8 6 5 .2 H ow ever, t h e e r a d i c a t i o n o f r a c i a l p r e j u d i c e and d i s c r i m i n a t i o n , w h ic h a r e t h i s c e n t u r y ’ s v e s t i g e s o f s l a v e r y , I s a p r o c e s s w h ich i s in c o m p le te . I t i s , p e r h a p s , i n c o m b a ttin g t h i s o n g o in g p ro b le m t h a t s t u d i e s o f t h e a n te b e llu m i n s t i t u t i o n o f s l a v e r y s e r v e t h e i r g r e a t e s t p u r p o s e . A lth o u g h c e r t a i n a s p e c t s o f s l a v e r y h a v e b e e n r e s e a r c h e d th o r o u g h ly — i . e . , p l a n t a t i o n and r u r a l s l a v e r y — o t h e r a r e a s a r e s t i l l a w a itin g c l o s e r s c r u t i n y . U rban s l a v e r y h a s b e e n l a r g e l y ig n o r e d by s o u th e r n h i s t o r i a n s . M ost l i k e l y t h i s h a s happened b e c a u s e t h e v a s t m a j o r it y o f th e s o u t h 's s la v e s w ere l o c a t e d i n r u r a l a r e a s , n o t i n t h e e n v iro n m e n t o f a c i t y . *David D onald and J . G. R a n d a ll, The C i v i l War an d R e c o n s tr u c tio n (L e x in g to n , M a s s a c h u s e tts : D. C. H e a th Company, 1 9 6 9 ), p . 3 8 0 . 2I b i d . , p . 3 9 6 . 1 R eproduced with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 2 Y et s o u th e r n u r b a n c e n t e r s p la y e d a v e ry im p o r ta n t r o l e i n t h a t r e g i o n ’ s h i s t o r y , n o t th e l e a s t o f w h ich was th e m u ta tio n o f th e i n s t i t u t i o n o f s l a v e r y e f f e c t e d by u rb a n s l a v e s . R ic h a rd Wade, i n h i s e x c e l l e n t s tu d y o f u r b a n s l a v e r y (o n e o f t h e v e r y few a v a i l a b l e ) n o te d t h a t t h e i n f l u e n c e o f s o u th e r n c i t i e s on t h e r e s t o f t h e S o u th g r e a t l y ex c e e d e d t h e i r n u m b e r.3 The c h a n g e s an d t h e d e c l i n e i n u r b a n s l a v e r y a r e t o p i c s i n t o w h ic h l i t t l e i n q u i r y h a s b e e n m ade. And y e t th e p o t e n t i a l y i e l d o f s u c h i n q u i r i e s i s q u i t e l a r g e . The p u rp o s e o f t h i s s tu d y i s t o d e s c r i b e and e x p l a i n t h e form t h a t s l a v e r y to o k i n one s o u th e r n c i t y , L o u i s v i l l e , K e n tu c k y , d u r in g t h e f o r t y y e a r s o f t h e " a n te b e llu m p e r i o d . " D em ographic d a t a s u c h a s p o p u l a t io n s t a t i s t i c s an d d i s t r i b u t i o n w i l l b e e x a m in e d , a s w e l l a s t h e e f f e c t w h ic h t h e c i t y ' s g ro w th had on th e d e c l i n e o f s l a v e r y i n L o u i s v i l l e . A d e s c r i p t i o n o f th e c i t y th ro u g h t h e u s e o f c o n te m p o ra ry t r a v e l e r s ’ a c c o u n ts w i l l a i d i n g i v in g a c l e a r e r p i c t u r e o f th e p h y s i c a l d e t a i l s o f t h e s l a v e 's l i f e i n a n te b e llu m L o u i s v i l l e . R e s e a rc h in g f a c t o r s s u c h a s s la v e f o o d , c l o t h i n g , h o u s in g , an d em ploym ent h a s p ro d u ce d i n f o r m a tio n w hich may a d d t o th e p o o l o f know ledge a l r e a d y a c c u m u la te d a b o u t t h e s e t o p i c s . The p o p u l a t io n o f s l a v e t r a d e r s i n L o u i s v i l l e to w ard th e end o f th e 1 8 5 0 s, a s w e l l a s th e m e c h a n ic s o f b u y in g , s e l l i n g , and h i r i n g s l a v e s a r e m a t te r s w h ich m ust be e x p lo r e d th o r o u g h ly i f t h e i r c o n n e c tio n w ith u rb a n s l a v e r y and i t s d e c l i n e i s t o b e u n d e r s to o d . L ik e w is e , t h e l i b e r a t i n g a s p e c t s o f a llo w in g s l a v e s t o h i r e t h e i r own tim e w i l l be d i s c u s s e d . The f e e l i n g o f w h ite L o u i s v i l l i a n s d u r in g t h e a n te b e llu m p e r io d 3 R ic h a rd C. Wade, S la v e r y i n t h e C i t i e s ; The S o u th 1820-1860 (L ondon: O xford U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 6 4 ), p . 5 . R eproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 3 to w a rd s l a v e s was a m ix tu r e o f f e a r , ig n o r a n c e , a n d b i g o t r y , f e a r b e in g th e p re d o m in a n t e m o tio n . T h a t a modicum o f common s e n s e a n d e v e n com p a s s i o n w ere a l s o p r e s e n t c a n n o t b e d e n ie d , a s a n e x a m in a tio n o f t h e c i t y ’ s s l a v e code an d th e s t a t e ' s s la v e law s w i l l r e v e a l . The q u e s t i o n o f how a s l a v e c o u ld a t t a i n fre e d o m i s a l s o one w h ic h in v o lv e s t h e r e l a t i o n b e tw e e n t h e b l a c k s l a v e , t h e w h ite ow n er, a n d th e la w . The m ost s i g n i f i c a n t f a c t t h a t r e s e a r c h a b o u t a n te b e llu m L o u i s v i l l e 's s l a v e s r e v e a l s r e l a t e s t o th o s e t h i n g s s l a v e s a c c o m p lis h e d by t h e m s e lv e s , w i t h o u t , a n d o f t e n i n s p i t e o f , w h i t e s . S la v e c h u r c h e s , Sunday s c h o o ls and common s c h o o ls a r e c e r t a i n l y t h e g r e a t e s t e x a m p le s o f s u c h a c c o m p lish m e n t i n L o u i s v i l l e 's e x p e r ie n c e w ith s l a v e r y . T hese w i l l b e d i s c u s s e d i n t h i s s tu d y e v e n th o u g h t h e r e a r e d i s a p p o i n t i n g a n d , in d e e d , i n f u r i a t i n g g a p s i n t h e s o u rc e m a t e r i a l s p e r t a i n i n g t o t h e s e s u b j e c t s . A m erican s l a v e r y c a n be s t u d i e d i n two w ays— q u a n t i t a t i v e l y o r q u a l i t a t i v e l y . P h ra s e d d i f f e r e n t l y , a r e s e a r c h e r c a n w ork " h o r iz o n t a l l y " and c o v e r a s w ide a n a r e a o f s tu d y a s p o s s i b l e w ith o u t g o in g i n t o c o n s i d e r a b l e d e t a i l o r , h e can w ork " v e r t i c a l l y ” by c o n f in in g h i m s e lf to a much s m a l l e r a r e a a n d w r e s ti n g from t h a t a r e a a l l t h e i n f o r m a t io n a v a i l a b l e . D e t a i l i s c r u c i a l t o an y s o r t o f h i s t o r y , b u t m ost p a r t i c u l a r l y t o a n y s u b j e c t t h a t comes w i t h i n th e re a lm o f s o c i a l h i s t o r y a s t h e t o p i c o f u rb a n s l a v e r y d o e s . T h is p a r t i c u l a r s tu d y h a s b e e n c o n c e iv e d and e x e c u te d w ith w h at i s h o p e f u l l y a q u a l i t a t i v e a p p r o a c h . The s o u rc e m a t e r i a l s i n c l u d e f a m i ly d o c u m e n ts , c e n s u s d a t a , c o n te m p o ra ry p e r i o d i c a l s and s t a t i s t i c a l c o m p i la t io n s , e v e r y L o u i s v i l l e c i t y d i r e c t o r y R eproduced with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 4 p u b l is h e d d u r in g t h e f o r t y y e a r s o f t h e s t u d y , c h u rc h r e c o r d s and c o n te m p o ra ry law s and o r d in a n c e s . I n a d d i t i o n , e x t e n s i v e u s e h a s b e e n made o f l o c a l s l a v e n a r r a t i v e s , m ost o f w h ich w ere c o m p ile d by t h e A m erican F re e d m e n 's I n q u i r y C om m ission i n te r v ie w s i n 1863, a n d o f w h ite t r a v e l e r s * a c c o u n ts o f t h e i r jo u r n e y s th ro u g h a n te b e llu m L o u i s v i l l e . T h is s tu d y s h o u ld by no means b e r e g a r d e d a s th e d e f i n i t i v e one on t h i s t o p i c , b u t r a t h e r a s a s t a r t i n g p o i n t f o r f u r t h e r r e s e a r c h i n t o u r b a n s l a v e r y , n o t j u s t a s i t a f f e c t e d to L o u i s v i l l e , b u t t o o t h e r s o u th e r n c i t i e s a s w e l l . Such r e s e a r c h w ould a d d , b i t by b i t , t o t o o u r c u m u la tiv e know ledge and u n d e r s ta n d in g o f t h e c o n t r a d i c t o r y , c o n f u s in g a n d s h a m e fu l i n s t i t u t i o n o f s l a v e r y a n d t h e e f f e c t i t h a s had i n m o ld in g t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e U n ite d S t a t e s . R eproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. CHAPTER I I LOUISVILLE: THE POPULATION AND THE PHYSICAL SURROUNDINGS By t h e 1820s L o u i s v i l l e had d e v e lo p e d i n t o t h e ty p e o f c i t y t h a t v i s i t o r s an d r e s i d e n t s e i t h e r a d m ired o r d e p lo r e d . T r a v e l e r s to L o u i s v i l l e d u r in g t h i s p e r io d w ere a lm o s t n e v e r i n d i f f e r e n t t o th e c i t y . P a u l W ilh e lm , Duke o f W u rttem b u rg , who to u r e d A m erica d u r in g t h e e a r l y 1 8 2 0 s , s a i d o f L o u i s v i l l e : [ I ] was v e r y p l e a s a n t l y s u r p r i s e d a t s e e i n g th e c le a n and w e l l - b u i l t tow n, re m in d in g me o f a w e l l - t o - d o p r o v i n c i a l tow n o f E n g la n d . The h o u s e s a r e b u i l t o f b r i c k s e v e r a l s t o r i e s h i g h , and th e y lo o k g o o d . From e v e r y t a v e r n , and t h e r e i s a l a r g e n um ber, I h e a r d v o i c e s i n v i t i n g th e p a s s e r b y to h av e some r e f r e s h m e n t, a t l e a s t a g l a s s o f g ro g o r a g u lp o f w h isk ey a g a i n s t t h e m orning a i r . * The Duke may h a v e b e e n e i t h e r o v e r l y g e n e ro u s o r to o e a s i l y p l e a s e d , f o r a r e s i d e n t o f E n g la n d , H enry F e a ro n , who v i s i t e d L o u i s v i l l e i n 1 8 1 8 , was much l e s s co m p lim e n to ry a b o u t t h e c i t y and i t s r e s i d e n t s : I do n o t f e e l m y s e lf c o m p e ten t t o c o n fir m o r deny t h e g e n e r a l c la im o f th e K e n tu c k ia n s t o g e n e r o s i t y and w arm th o f c h a r a c t e r ; o f t h e i r h a b i t s I w ould w is h to s p e a k w ith e q u a l d i f f i d e n c e ; t h a t th e y d r in k a g r e a t d e a l , sw e a r a g r e a t d e a l , and gam ble a g r e a t d e a l w i l l b e a p p a r e n t t o a v e ry b r i e f r e s i d e n t . ^ I p a u l W ilh elm , Duke o f W urtem burg, T r a v e ls i n N o rth A m erica 1822-1824 (Norm an, Oklahom a: U n i v e r s i ty o f Oklahoma P r e s s , 1 9 7 3 ), p . 164. ^H enry B. F e a ro n , S k e tc h e s o f A m erica (L ondon: Longman, H u r s t, R e e s , Orme & Brown, 1 8 1 8 ) , P . 2 4 6 . 5 R eproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 6 F e a ro n was e q u a l l y d i s p l e a s e d w ith h i s h o t e l a c co m m o d a tio n s, t h e con s t a n t " s ig a r - s m o k in g " o f h i s L o u i s v i l l e c o m p a n io n s, a n d th e g e n e r a l a i r o f in d o le n c e t h a t p e rv a d e d t h e e n t i r e c i t y . 3 H ow ever, i n a n e f f o r t t o b e f a i r , h e r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e c i t y ' s o v e r a l l h e a l t h was im p ro v in g a l th o u g h f e v e r , a g u e , t y p h u s , rheum atism m an d d y s e n te r y w ere s t i l l "common d i s o r d e r s . M ost o f t h e c i t y ' s h e a l t h p ro b le m s c o u ld p r o b a b ly be t r a c e d t o t h e swampy, m arshy g ro u n d on w h ic h L o u i s v i l l e was l o c a t e d , a s i t u a t i o n w hich was c o r r e c t e d a s s u c h s p o t s w ere f i l l e d i n a n d b u i l t upon a s t h e c i t y e x p a n d e d . M r. a n d M rs. B a s i l H a l l , o f E n g la n d , who v i s i t e d L o u i s v i l l e i n 1828 w e re , i n f a c t , p a r t i c u l a r l y c o m p lim e n ta ry o f L o u i s v i l l e 's p h y s i c a l s e t t i n g . H a l l c a l l e d L o u i s v i l l e " a l a r g e and handsom e to w n ," ^ and s a i d t h a t i t was i n a b e a u t i f u l s p o t by v i r t u e o f i t s t r e e s w hich w ere " in c o m p a ra b ly f i n e r , t h a n any we had s e e n e ls e w h e r e t h e y h ad grow n up w ith s i n g u l a r b e a u ty o f e f f e c t . "6 M rs. H a l l r e f e r r e d t o L o u i s v i l l e a s "a s m a ll town w i t h t h e w o r s t paved s t r e e t s I ** 7 e v e r saw . ' H ow ever, s h e to o was im p re s s e d w ith i t s l o c a t i o n and p l a n t l i f e . 8 As e a r l y a s t h e 1 8 2 0 s , L o u i s v i l l e had a l r e a d y become a m a rk e t 3 l b i d . , p . 16. 4 I b i d . , p 17. ^ B a s ii H a l l , T r a v e l s i n N o rth A m erica (E n d in b u rg h : Cade11 and Company, 1 8 2 9 ), p . 374. 6I b i d . , p . 375. ^ M a rg a re t H u n te r H a l l , The A r i s t o c r a t i c J o u r n e y : The L e t t e r s o f M rs. B a s i l H a l l (L ondon: G. P . P u tn a m 's S o n s, 1 9 3 1 ), p . 2 6 6 . S l b i d . R eproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 7 and m a n u f a c tu r in g to w n , a f a c t t h a t was due i n g r e a t p a r t t o t h e c i t y ' s l o c a t i o n on th e O hio R i v e r . In 1828, a n o th e r E n g lis h m a n , C h a r le s S e a l s f i e l d , p u b lis h e d a n a c c o u n t o f h i s v i s i t t o L o u i s v i l l e i n w h ich h e s t a t e d t h a t L o u i s v i l l e 's " m a n u f a c to r ie s " in c lu d e d d i s t i l l e r i e s , ro p e w a lk s , s o a p , c a n d l e , c o t t o n , g l a s s , p a p e r , an d e n g in e f a c t o r i e s i n a d d i t i o n t o g r i s t m i l l s and sawmills. 9 He a l s o commented on th e s te a m b o a t t r a f f i c b e tw e e n L o u i s v i l l e an d New O r le a n s : Of t h e one h u n d red s te a m b o a ts p ly in g th e M i s s i s s i p p i an d O h io , a t l e a s t f i f t y a r e e n g a g e d , d u r in g s i x m onths i n th e y e a r w ith L o u i s v i l l e . They d e s c e n d t o New O r le a n s i n s i x d a y s , r e t u r n i n g i n d o u b le the time.10 T h a t was n o t b a d , S e a l s f i e l d f e l t , f o r a tow n w ith a b o u t 4500 r e s i d e n t s and 700 d w e l l i n g s . 1* D e s p ite t h i s , h o w e v e r, h e was o f t h e o p in io n t h a t no one w ould w an t t o l i v e i n L o u i s v i l l e b e c a u s e i t s r e s i d e n t s w ere so s a c r i l e g i o u s l y an(j <jraw n f r 0 m th e " lo w e s t c l a s s e s o f p e o p le . L o u i s v i l l e was n o t i n c o r p o r a t e d a s a c i t y u n t i l F e b ru a ry 1 3, 1828, by w h ich tim e th e s e t t l e m e n t above th e F a l l s o f th e O hio was a l r e a d y a b o u t f i f t y y e a r s o l d . 14 The c i t y had a l r e a d y d e v e lo p e d i n t o ^ C h a rle s S e a l s f i e l d , The A m ericans a s They A re (L ondon: H u r s t, C hances an d Company, 1 8 2 8 ), p . 4 6 . lOlbid. H l b i d . , p . 4 5 . 12I b i d . , p . 5 2. l ^ I b i d . , p . 4 7. l^B en C a se d a y , The H i s to r y o f L o u i s v i l l e fro m i t s E a r l i e s t S e ttle m e n t t i l l t h e Y e a r 1852 ( L o u i s v i l l e , K y .: H i l l an d B r o t h e r , 1 8 5 2 ), p p . 3 0 -3 1 . R eproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 8 a m e r c a n t i l e c e n t e r and b e c a u s e o f i t s l o c a t i o n on t h e O hio was d e s t i n e d f o r e v e r g r e a t e r e x p a n s io n th r o u g h o u t th e n e x t t h r e e d e c a d e s . T h ro u g h o u t m ost o f t h e p e r i o d c o v e re d by t h i s s tu d y t h e c i t y was bounded on th e e a s t by t h e s o u th f o r k o f B e a r g ra s s C r e e k , o n th e w e s t by a l i n e w h ich was draw n t o i n c l u d e a s i t s w e s te rn m o s t p o i n t t h e s e t t l e m ent o f P o r t l a n d , o n th e n o r t h by t h e Ohio R i v e r , an d on t h e s o u th by w hat i s to d a y c a l l e d S t . C a th e r in e S t r e e t . H ow ever, t h e p o p u l a t io n i n c r e a s e d d r a m a t i c a l l y . B etw een 1830 and 1840 i t d o u b le d and b etw een 1840 a n d 1850 i t d o u b le d o n ce a g a i n . 15 E l i z a S t e e l e , a B r i t i s h t r a v e l e r who v i s i t e d L o u i s v i l l e i n th e l a t e 1 8 3 0 's , n o te d t h a t th e p r i n c i p l e b u s in e s s s t r e e t was M ain S t r e e t w h ich was l i n e d w ith sh o p s on e i t h e r s i d e f o r m ore t h a n a m i l e . 16 M a n u f a c to r ie s an d m i l l s w ere l o c a t e d i n t h e e a s t e r n s u b u r b s . R iv e r t r a f f i c b r o u g h t a d i v e r s e g ro u p o f t r a v e l e r s t o L o u i s v i l l e , many o f whom r e q u i r e d h c t c l a c co m m o d a tio n s, s i n c e b r i n g i n g s te a m b o a ts a ro u n d th e f a l l s was tim e co n su m in g . Jam es S t u a r t , a S co tsm an who p a s s e d th ro u g h t h e c i t y i n 1 8 3 0 , d e s c r i b e d t h e g ro u p who d ise m b a rk e d fro m t h e s te a m s h ip i n w h ich h e was t r a v e l i n g a s composed o f " g e n tle m e n , l^ M a n u s c rip t r e t u r n s o f t h e F i f t h C ensus o f t h e U n ite d S t a t e s R e e l 3 8 , ( 1 8 3 0 ) , P o p u l a ti o n S c h e d u le s , M ic r o film P u b l i c a t i o n s Number 19, N a t io n a l A r c h iv e s , W a sh in g to n , D. C ., c o p ie s a t L o u i s v i l l e P u b lic L i b r a r y ; M a n u s c rip t r e t u r n s o f t h e S i x th C ensus o f t h e U n ite d S t a t e s ( 1 8 4 0 ) , P o p u l a ti o n S c h e d u le s , M ic r o film P u b l i c a t i o n s Number T -5 , R e e l 3 5 , N a t io n a l A r c h iv e s , W a sh in g to n , D. C . , c o p ie s a t L o u i s v i l l e P u b l ic L i b r a r y ; M a n u s c rip t r e t u r n s o f t h e S e v e n th C ensus o f t h e U n ite d S t a t e s ( 1 8 5 0 ) , P o p u la tio n S c h e d u le s , M ic r o film P u b l i c a t i o n s Number 4 3 2 , R e e ls 2 0 5 -2 0 7 , N a tio n a l A r c h iv e s , W a sh in to n , D. C ., c o p ie s a t L o u i s v i l l e P u b l ic L i b r a r y . l ^ E l i z a R* S t e e l e , A Summer J o u rn e y i n t h e W est (New Y ork: J . S . T a y lo r and Company, 1 8 4 1 ), p . 226. 17lbid. R eproduced with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 9 n i g g e r t r a d e r s , f a r m e r s , c a p t a i n s , g e n e r a l s , a n d j u d g e s ”18 S t u a r t s t a t e d t h a t he was conveyed from S h ip p in g p o r t , w here t h e b o a t d o c k e d , i n t o L o u i s v i l l e v i a a "h ac k n e y c o a ch "1 9 a n d t h a t he p a s s e d a num ber o f b r o t h e l s on t h e w a y .20 T h is prom pted S t u a r t to e x p r e s s t h e o p in io n t h a t m o r a ls i n L o u i s v i l l e w ere much l e s s s t r i c t t h a n e ls e w h e r e i n t h e c o u n tr y b e c a u s e o f t h e h eav y s te a m b o a t t r a f f i c w h ich e n g e n d e re d much i n t e r a c t i o n b e tw e e n L o u i s v i l l e , N a tc h e z , an d New O r l e a n s , w h ich s u r p a s s e d e v e n L o u i s v i l l e i n i m m o r a l it y .21 L o u i s v i l l e * s h o t e l s w ere fam ous f o r t h e good fo o d a n d lu x u r i o u s ac co m m o d atio n s th e y o f f e r e d . 22 Two o f th e m ost renow ned w ere opened i n t h e 1 8 3 0 s — t h e L o u i s v i l l e H o te l i n 1832 and t h e f i r s t G a lt House i n 1 8 3 5 .2 3 gy 1858, t h e p u b l i c b u i ld i n g g u id e on a map o f t h e c i t y l i s t e d s e v e n te e n h o t e l s and r e s t a u r a n t s i n L o u i s v i l l e . Some i d e a o f t h e volum e o f t r a v e l e r s com ing i n t o L o u i s v i l l e d u r in g th e 1830s and 1840s c a n be a r r i v e d a t b y lo o k in g a t t h e num ber o f s te a m b o a ts an d k e e l b o a t s w h ich p a s s e d th r o u g h t h e P o r tla n d C a n a l b e tw e en 1831 a n d 1844. A ccord in g t o t h e 1845-46 c i t y d i r e c t o r y , 1 5 ,2 6 2 s te a m b o a ts a n d 4 ,8 6 9 k e e l b o a t s i 8Jam es S t u a r t , T h re e Y e a rs i n N o rth A m erica ( E d in b u rg h : R. C a d e l l , 1 8 3 3 ), p . 323. 19ibid., p . 32 1 . 20lbid., p . 328. 21lbid., p . 327. 22iSabel M cM eekin, L o u i s v i l l e : The G atew ay C ity (New Y ork: J u l i a n M e s s n e r, I n c . , 1 9 4 6 ), p . 9 2 . 2%ood, The L o u i s v i l l e S t o r y , p . 2 7 . R eproduced with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 10 t h a t p a s s e d th r o u g h t h e c a n a l i n t h a t f o u r t e e n - y e a r p e r i o d . ^ I n a d d i t i o n to com m ercial d e v e lo p m e n t, L o u i s v i l l e a l s o b e g a n to a c q u i r e some o f t h e a c c o u tre m e n ts o f a m odern n i n e t e e n t h c e n tu r y c i t y d u r in g t h e 1830s an d 1 8 4 0 s. D uring th e 1830s L o u i s v i l l e b u i l t a new c o u r th o u s e and a new t h e a t r e . 25 i n 1837 t h e L o u i s v i l l e M e d ic a l I n s t i t u t e was open ed 2 6 and i n 1840 g a s l i g h t i n g was i n t r o d u c e d ; 27 The U n i v e r s i t y o f L o u i s v i l l e Law S c h o o l opened i n 1846 and i n 1848, Cave H i l l C e m e te ry , w h ic h was a l s o a p u b l ic p a r k , w as d e d i c a t e d . 38 I n t h e l a t e 1 8 3 0 s , S i r C h a rle s A ugustus M u rra y , a B r i t i s h t r a v e l e r , fo u n d L o u i s v i l l i a n s to o fo n d o f v i o l e n c e , g a m b lin g , a n d to o p ro n e t o c a r r y i n g " d i r k k n i v e s ," t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n tu r y e q u i v a l e n t o f a s w i tc h b l a d e , f o r h i s t a s t e s . 29 H ow ever, G eorge L e w is, a n o th e r v i s i t o r t o L o u i s v i l l e i n t h e e a r l y 1840s found t h a t t h e c i t y ' s r e s i d e n t s s u p p o r te d tw e n ty -o n e c h u r c h e s .30 Lew is a l s o to o k th e o p p o r tu n i ty to v i s i t some o f t h e many l o c a l f a c t o r i e s and r e p o r t e d t h a t w o rking c o n d i t i o n s w ere f i l t h y , t h a t th e workday l a s t e d t h i r t e e n h o u rs (fro m 2 4 j o h n B. J e g l i , L o u i s v i l l e D i r e c t o r y f o r 1845-46 ( L o u i s v i l l e : L o u i s v i l l e J o u r n a l , 1 8 4 5 ), p . 18. 25stuart, T h re e Years in North America, p . 3 3 0 . 26w ood, The L o u i s v i l l e S t o r y , p . 2 8 . ^^M cM eekin, L o u i s v i l l e : The Gateway C i t y , p . 101. 28wood, The L o u i s v i l l e S t o r y , p . 2 8 . 2 9 s i r C h a r le s A g ustus M u rray , T r a v e ls i n N o rth A m erica i n 1835, 1835 a n d 1836 (L ondon: R. B e n tle y , 1 8 3 9 ), p . 2 2 . ^ G e o r g e L e w is, Im p r e s s io n s o f A m erica and th e A m erican C hurches ( E d in b u rg h : W. R. K ennedy, 1 8 4 5 ), p . 3 02. R eproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 11 5 :3 0 a .m . t o 6 :3 0 p .m .) and t h a t c h i l d l a b o r was u s e d i n th e m .31 The c i t y ' s G e n e ra l C o u n c il d id im p lem en t a m odern p o l ic e d e p a rtm e n t i n 1856 i n L o u i s v i l l e , b u t u n t i l t h a t y e a r t h e c i t y was p a t r o l l e d on a w ard by w ard b a s i s by members o f t h e n i g h t w a tc h .32 gy t h e m id -1 8 5 0 s L o u i s v i l l e d id h a v e two h o s p i t a l s , a n a sy lu m f o r t h e b l i n d , tw o o rp h a n a g e s , and s e v e r a l b e n e v o le n t an d l i t e r a r y i n s t i t u t i o n s . 33 The num ber o f c h u rc h e s had a l s o i n c r e a s e d from a b o u t tw e n ty i n th e m id -184Os t o o v e r t h i r t y i n 1 8 5 4 .3 4 F a c t o r i e s , f o u n a a r i e s , a n d m i l l s c o n tin u e d t o f l o u r i s h , a s w e l l a s a l a r g e p o rk p a c k in g i n d u s t r y 35 in d e e d , by 1850 t h e r e w ere f i v e o r s i x l a r g e m e a t-p a c k in g h o u s e s i n t h e c i t y w h ich w ere p r e s e r v in g and e x p o r t i n g th e m eat o f o v e r 9 8 ,0 0 0 h o g s p e r y e a r . 36 p e rh a p s t h i s i n d u s t r y e x p l a i n s t h e s t r a y p i g s t h a t t r a v e l e r s n o t i c e d roam ing t h e s t r e e t s o f L o u i s v i l l e th ro u g h o u t t h i s p e r i o d 37 I n s h o r t , a s one t r a v e l e r n o t e d , L o u i s v i l l e d u r in g t h i s p e r i o d 31lbid., p . 3 0 4 . 32R0b e r t I . C u s ic k , "The H is to r y o f th e D i v i s i o n o f P o l ic e from t h e F ounding o f t h e C ity t o 1 9 5 5 ," BA t h e s i s , U n i v e r s i t y o f L o u i s v i l l e , 1964; copy I n F i l s o n C lu b . 33 W e llin g to n W illia m s , A p p l e to n 's S o u th e rn an d W e ste rn T r a v e l l e r s ’ G uide (New Y ork: D. A p p le to n and Company, 1 8 5 4 ), p . 27. 34ibid. 3 5 i b i d ^^M arianne F in c h , An E n g lish w o m a n 's E x p e r ie n c e i n A m erica (L ondon: R. B e n tle y , 1 8 5 3 ), p . 3 3 8 . 37McMeekin, Louisville: The Gateway City, p. 106; Robert Everest, A Journey through the U. S . and Part o f Canada (London: John Chapman, 1 8 5 5 ), p. 8 8 . R eproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.