xt7pvm42rz6f https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7pvm42rz6f/data/mets.xml 192 books b92-272-32007020 English Bardstown Chamber of Commerce ; Standard Printing, : [Bardstown, Ky.] : Louisville : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Bardstown (Ky.) History.Foster, Stephen Collins, 1826-1864. Historic Bardstown and my old Kentucky home text Historic Bardstown and my old Kentucky home 192 2002 true xt7pvm42rz6f section xt7pvm42rz6f
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HISTORIC BARDSTOWN
AND
MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME
Printed and published under he auspices of the
BARDSTOWN CHAMBER of COMMERCE
STADAR . RNT . -AY .LOUISVILLE. I ...
0ly P OM Rentuthp some
The sun shines bright in the old Kentucky home,
'Tis summer, the darkies are gay;
The corn-top's ripe and the meadow's in the bloom,
While the birds make music all the day;
The young folks roll on the little cabin floor,
All merry, all happy and bright;
By'n by hard times comes a-knocking at the door,
Then my old Kentucky home, good night!
The bead must bow and the back will have to bend,
Wherever the darky may go;
A few more days and the trouble all will end,
In the field where the sugar canes grow;
A few more days for to tote the weary load,
No matter. 'twill never be light;
A few more days till we totter on the road,
Then my old Kentucky home, good night!
They hunt no more for the possum and the coon,
On the meadow, the bill and the shore;
They sing no more by the glimmer of the moon,
On the bench by the old cabin door;
The day goes by like a shadow o'er the heart,
With sorrow where all was delight;
The time has come when the darkies have to part,
Then my old Kentucky home, good night!
Chors..
Weep no mere, my la - dy, O weep no more tn I dn
/;V;
sing one sng for the od Kentack-y home, Mr the old Kent 'k-y home, far a - way.
_ _ _ - - I0,
Eg1 1 1 tj CHE W Ip is r w tut
MAIN STREET, BARDSTOWN, KY.
[ 3 ]
HISTORIC BARDSTOWN
ISTORIC Old Bardstown, a beautiful and thriving city of about three thousand people, is the metropolis
and county-seat of Nelson County, which was the first county established in Kentucky after the three
original counties of Jefferson, Fayette and Lincoln.
Bardstown is situated on a gently sloping plateau overlooking the scenic valley to the east, upon
whose waters floated the miniature model of Captain John Fitch, the inventor of the steamboat. Being
possessed of all modern conveniences and ideally located on the Jackson Highway only thirty-nine
miles from Louisville and also conveniently served by a line of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad,
easily make Bardstown one of the most desirable and attractive residence towns of the State. The
municipality owns its own water and electric lighting plants. The water supply of the city is abundant and the two
large reservoirs are fed by never-failing springs. The water is filtered through the most modern filtering system and
is perfectly pure and clear as crystal. The modern hotels of this prosperous, up-to-date city are commodious, con-
venient, well lighted and heated and are supplied with baths and running water. The progressive spirit of the people
and their hearty handshake and royal welcome and genuine hospitality destine Bardstown to become the Mecca and
rendezvous of hosts of tourists sojourning to feast upon the natural scenery, historic riches, thrilling legend and stirring
reminiscence, which cluster around Bardstown and Nelson County and have made them famous for more than a century.
It was here that Stephen Collins Foster wrote the immortal song, "My Old Kentucky Home," and here in a seat of
learning, culture and refinement and in a genius-inspiring atmosphere that John Fitch, a hero of the Revolutionary
War, and the first to apply the principles of steam power to navigation, which revolutionized transportation by water,
spent his last years in further perfecting his great inventions; and here that Louis Philippe, the exiled King of France,
sought refuge from the revolutionary tempests of the European Continent, and presented St. Joseph's Church with
priceless gems of art.
Numberless are the historic treasures of Bardstown and these brief pages can chronicle only a few of them.
The virgin forests were felled and the town was settled in September, 1775, by emigrants from Virginia and
Pennsylvania, and was first called "Salem." The name was changed to "Bairdstown" in 1782 in honor of David Baird,
son of William Baird, and later changed to Bardstown, the present name of the second town in Kentucky. On
September 30, 1785, two acres of ground were deeded for the erection of a courthouse, jail and other public buildings
and the deed was signed "Wm. Bard," which was the correct name of the Bard family.
[ 4 ]
ST. JOSEPH'S
Hlere we find the first cathedral built west of the klleghienie.s and containing the famous paintings sent
lby Francis, father-in-law to Louis Philippe. Thes-e painting, are a. follows:
(1 Mlain Altar. (Vanbree.) (3) St. Nlark. who wrote one of the gopels.
(2) St. Peter. with the keys. representing his (Also pointed by Van Dyke.)
spiritual power; the cock crowing recalls hi. weak- (t) Represents the Blessed Virgin crowned in
ness. The contrast between this power and weak- Hlea ven. (Miurillo.)
ness is represented by the artist. (Van Dyke. i (51 Martyrdornof St. Bartholomnew. (Rubens.)
The finest picture in the church.
5 1
The early settlements of Bardstown and Nelson County were attended by privations, hardships and danger
of massacre by the bands of savage Indians, who made frequent raids into Kentucky.
Cox's Station was the first fort built in Nelson County in the spring of 1775 by Isaac Cox and other emigrants
from V irginia and Pennsylvania and was located on Cox's Creek about four miles east of the Jackson Highwav. Polk's
Station was the second fort of the county and was established by Benjamin Polk, and others eight miles east of Bards-
town and about one mile south of the Bardstown and Bloomfield State Road. The inhabitants of this fort were nearly
all massacred by the Indians in 1782. Then followed the erection of Fort Goodwin below New Haven. settlements
on Pottinger's Creek and many other pioneer settlements.
The old brick residence and home of the famous Ben Hardin, at one time the greatest legal mind of the State,
stands unharmed by age at the south end of Fifth Street.
"Wickland," the historic home of the Wickliffes and the Beckhams for several generations, is situated on a
beautiful eminence about half a mile east of Bardstown.
The home of the late Governor William Johnson, which has been in the family for nearly a century, and many
other homes add historic interest. One of the most unique buildings of the city is the old "Bardstown Tavern."' where
travelers were entertained and made comfortable in the "Stage Coach" days. This interesting old building is con-
structed of brick and is located near the east end of Market Street and has recently been remodeled and restored to a
place of beauty and attractiveness.
Overlooking the valley on the east side of the city is "Lover's Leap," made famous by the fatal leap from the
top of the perpendicular stone cliff to instantaneous death below by an Indian princess, when abandoned by her faithless
lover.
Only a few feet distant from "Lover's Leap" is the entrance to a cave, which enters the cliff on the east side of
Bardstown and extends westward under Bardstown and under the courthouse square and has its exit beyond the western
boundary of the city. The opening is so small in many places that the cave is traversed with great difficulty. There
is a legend that in the early years of Bardstown a young man entered this cave to explore it and took his violin with
him to call others to his aid, should trouble overtake him, and that he never returned. In after years on rainy nights it
is said the youths and the more superstitious would gather in the court square and with ear to the ground would catch
distinctly the sweet strains of wonderful violin music and listen to the weird chantings of a troubled spirit.
The phenomenal achievements of the town and community and the noble and distinguished men and women
contributed to Kentucky and other states, are attributable almost entirely to the splendid churches, efficient schools
and good roads, which have always been supported so liberally and loyally by a progressive people.
161
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Erected in 1827
[I _I
CHURCHES
Many of the first settlers of Bardstown were Presbyterians and the first church was probably of that denomina-
tion. Rev. Joshua Wilson was one of the pioneer Presbyterian preachers and remained in Bardstown preaching and
teaching until 1808. Rev. Joseph Lapsley was another pioneer preacher, whose residence was located on grounds
now owned by Nazareth Academy. The present Presbyterian church was erected in 1827 and is a commodious and
attractive brick structure on Second and Broadway.
The first Catholic church was a log building erected about the middle of St. Joseph's Cemetery probably in 1798.
St. Joseph's Cathedral was the first west of the Allegheny Mountains and was built in 1816. This handsome structure
is a place of unusual interest and beauty. The famous old paintings, statuary, magnificent decorations and solid
walnut woodwork make St. Joseph's Cathedral one of the most attractive and oft-visited spots in Bardstown. Right
Rev. Benedict Joseph Flaget was the first resident Bishop, and later Bishop Spalding. They were the most eloquent
and noted Catholic clergymen of their day.
In 1812 a Union church was built on Second Street, where the Presbyterian, Baptist and Methodist people
held services.
Bishop H. H. Kavanaugh was one of the early Methodist ministers in this community and in the beginning of
his ministry was instrumental in establishing the first Methodist church in Bardstown. The present Methodist
church was built in 1852 on Second and Arch Streets and has since been remodeled.
The first Baptist church in Nelson County was built of logs in July, 1781, on Cedar Creek, and its pastor was
Rev. Joseph Barnett. This was the second Baptist church in Kentucky. The present Baptist church is an elegant
stone structure on Third and Chestnut Streets and was erected in 1892. The first Baptist church built in Bardstown
was torn away more than seventy-five years ago.
The present Christian church was built in 1893 and is a brick building on Third Street between Broadway and
Arch Street. The first church of the Disciples or Christian church was erected many years before the present
church and its pastor was Judge Samuel Carpenter, for many years circuit judge and at the same time an ordained
minister and pastor of this church, and served his congregation faithfully.
SCHOOLS
The early educational institutions of Bardstown were noted and famous throughout the country. Salem
Academy was the first school, which attracted wide attention, and after several years' operation this institution was
incorporated by act of the Legislature of Virginia in 1788. The distinguished founder of this academy was Rev.
James Priestly, a Presbyterian minister, and pupils attended this splendid educational institution from many other
states.
181
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH
Erected in 1852
191
Nazareth Academy was founded in 1812 at St. Thomas, and in 1822 was removed to its present site, which
embraces about thirteen hundred acres of land. The buildings cover several acres of ground and are models of archi-
tecture, and the grounds are artistic and beautiful. This institution is nation-wide in its reputation and its graduates
for several generations have numbered talented and cultured women in religious, educational and social walks of life
in every state of the Union.
St. Joseph's College was established in Bardstown in 1819 by Right Rev. Joseph Flaget, and at one time was
the most celebrated educational institution for young men west of the Alleghenies. The college sent out many famous
men of the nation and flourished for a long period of years. It was discontinued for a time, but has reopened its doors
and is now doing splendid work under the direction of the Xaverian Brothers.
The Presbyterian Academy at Third and Beall Streets was one of the historic educational institutions of
Bardstown. This noted academy was established about 1830 by Dr. Nathan Rice and was most successfully operated
by Rev. Jouett Vernon Cosby from 1849 for many years and was suspended in 1895. From its classical walls were
graduated many of the best-educated and leading women of the country, and the good fruits of this academy are still
visible in the community.
The Methodist Academy at Third and Duke Streets flourished for years under the management of Rev. John
Atkinson. Later the academy grounds and buildings were purchased by the Baptist people and continued to do
excellent work until a few years ago. This academy was coeducational much of the time and here many men and
women were educated. who have aided materially in state and nation building for several decades. Although rich
in historic educational institutions in the past, Bardstown is richer still today in her facilities for teaching and training
the minds of her boys and girls.
The Bardstown Graded and High School, with its strong corps of teachers, is second to no institution of its
kind in the State in the character and thoroughness of mind training and basic education. Here the boys and girls
of the community have an opportunity to remain in their own homes under parental care and without any added expense
acquire an education, which will make them worthy competitors of the strongest men and women in both the social
and business worlds, and from which they may enter the more advanced colleges and universities of the country.
Bethlehem Academy. conducted by the Sisters, is doing excellent work in educating the children of the com-
munity, while Nazareth Academy and St. Joseph's College are as vigorous in an educational way and in the thorough-
ness of their mental and moral training as at any period in their history, and St. Monica's School for the colored children
is doing a wonderful work for the uplift of the colored race. Parents desiring to educate their children under the
parental roof can find no place superior to Bardstown for this purpose and they are given a hearty welcome to come
and establish their homes with us.
110 I
BAPTIST CHURCH
Erected in 1892
1 111
GOOD ROADS
Bardstown was early known as the "Athens of the West" on account of her superior educational training and
opportunities, yet for nearly a century this community has thought and planned and labored for a system of good roads
and better highways. Almost a hundred years ago the Hardins, the Rowans, and other famous statesmen and law-
makers of this community were largely instrumental in the granting of State aid to roads and in the building of several
trunk-line highways by the State of the old Telford or paved type as early as 1828, and the town being centrally located.
three of these old paved State roads centered in Bardstown, extending northwest to Louisville, northeast to Lexington
and Maysville, and south to Nashville, Tennessee. The progressive road sentiment and liberal spirit of the citizens
of Nelson County have wrought marvelous improvement in its road system in recent years. The county has nearly
three hundred miles of hard-surfaced roads, and the ardor and enthusiasm for better roads is daily in the public mind
and unabated, and Bardstown is on the "Jackson Highway."
Bardstown and Nelson County are great home centers. Everybody there is made to feel at home. When
visitors come once they always come again; the native residents never desire to move away, and if they go for greater
commercial opportunities, they always long to return. This progressive city has many beautiful building sites and is
linked with Louisville by a continuous asphalt and concrete highway, and the residents of this community will
have all the luxuries and benefits of country life combined with the easily accessible privilege of the State's metropolis.
Beautiful level lands surround Bardstown. Here the heart s desire is attainable in this modern "Garden of Eden."
"The latchstring hangs on the outside.' We bid you Welcome! Welcome! Thrice Welcome!
w; -k Cw: :y At,; , Q
112 1
CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Erected in 1893
13 1
TIHE OLD KENTUCKY HOME
Not far from the center of the town is Federal Hill, whose original name has long since been laid aside
for that of the Old Kentucky Home, this being the place where Stephen Foster wrote the song whose plaintive
beauty is irresistible and immortal.
"MY OLD KENTUCKY HOMEE"
S EDERAL HILL, the home of "NMy Old Kentucky Home," is just outside Bardstown on the old Lexing-
S t 1Kton Pike. The mansion was erected in 1795 by Judge John Rowan and was originally a large brick
structure of three stories, but the third story was destroyed by fire many years ago and was never
replaced. The Rowan home was the familiar stopping place of distinguished men of the State and
nation. The illustrious Henry Clay, President James Monroe, President James Buchanan, Humphrey
Marshall, President James K. Polk, General LaFayette and United States senators, governors,
congressmen and famous lawyers and literary men, were entertained most graciously and hospitably
by their genial and accomplished host. The home was made constantly joyous and festive with the
wit, humor and mirth of these noted personages of national reputation. still fate and fortune were yet to smile on a
native of Pennsylvania and an adopted son of Kentucky. A child was born in Pittsburgh, July Fourth. 1826, at noon,
the same day that John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died, whose fame should not only be nation-wide but world-
wide. His magic name, by whose melodies the multitudes are charmed. was Stephen Collins Foster, who was a cousin
of the Rowans and frequently visited in their home. The surroundings served as an inspiration. The sunshine, the
trees, the flowers, the song of the birds, the gentle zephyrs, the lowing of the herds on the farm, the music of the
banjo and the merry-making of the little negro pickannies, all lent enchantment and brought the richly imaginative
mind of Foster into sweet communion with nature's best and brightest stores.
It was in this state of ecstacy and delight and deeply inspired that Stephen Collins Foster composed and set to
music the lines of the immortal and ever immortal song, "Mly Old Kentucky Home." This inspired writer of song
l15 I
composed the well-known musical production, "Old Black Joe," "Old Folks at Home," "Massa's in de Cold, Cold
Ground," "Old Dog Tray," "Nellie Bly," "Nellie Was a Lady," and many others of wide repute, yet the marvelous
production, "My Old Kentucky Home," was the ladder by which Foster ascended to eternal fame, and was a fitting
climax to his unusual and extraordinary career. Wherever the tread of civilization has marked progress this famous
song is sung. The pulsating chords of the human heart are touched and deeply moved by its magic musical strains
and tender sentiment, and the rugged places in the path of everyday life are made smoother and easier for the way-
worn traveler.
The Rowan homestead includes 236 acres of land, and the great and universal popularity of the song created
an overwhelming sentiment throughout Kentucky and elsewhere for the preservation of the entire property as both
a state and national shrine. A large sum of money was raised by popular subscription and the General Assembly
of Kentucky of 1922 supplemented these funds with an appropriation and the handsome old Rowan homestead was
purchased and is now a state park, and will be preserved as nearly as can be in its original condition. The song was
composed in 1852 and all furniture placed in the mansion since that date has been removed. The matchless old
furniture and curios remaining are so extensive that it is said, "Old Kentucky Home" contains more antiques than
"Mt. Vernon" or "The Hermitage." The furniture is beautiful cherry, rosewood and mahogany, the portraits are
exquisite works of art and the volumes of the library are quite rare, dating as long ago as 1696. An attempt to
describe the home and its contents, as well as the park, would be unsatisfactory. It is necessary to visit and feast
the eyes upon these luxuries of nature and art in order to appreciate fully their genuine worth and to most thoroughly
enjoy the well-spent hours of inspection.
1 16 ]
BARDSTOWN HI1(11 SCHOOL BARDSTOWN GRADED SCHOOL
[ 17 1
FITCHI"S 'STa'AMlAT OF ' '1X
a lingf emus4ngeN for hin tIetw` I hiKuladelphuiaue and Burhlinton
omin the oltladaare Ilder (iring le mieiner of tle -wnw war
JOHN FITCH
HE world-renowned subject of this sketch,
John Fitch. who was the first in the world's
history to invent and apply steam success-
fully to the propulsion of vessels through
water, was born in South Windsor, Conn,,
January 21. 1743. and closed a most event
fuil life in Bardstown, Ky., July 2, 1798, where his re-
mains now repose in the old cemetery with those of ----
other heroes of the Revolution. FITctH MONUMdENT-EBEcTEiD 1927,
This towering genius and mighty intellect was so far in advance of his generation that he was called a dreamer
of dreams. He early exhibited an unusual taste for mathematics and a decided talent for mechanical operations.
At the outbreak of the War of the Revolut ion John Fitch enlisted in the American army as lieutenant of a Tren-
ton company and served with distinction and great bravery under General Washington at Trenton, Valley Forge and else-
where. His services as a gunsmith were invaluable to the American army.
[ 18 1
In 1780 he came to Kentucky with eleven boat loads of emigrants from Virginia and Pennsylvania and made
extensive surveys, returning to Virginia in 1781 to have his surveys recorded. On a subsequent voyage from Piuts-
burgh, March 21, 1782, Fitch and his companions were captured by the Indians and many of his comrades were put
to death, but he was spared on account of trinkets he invented for the savages, who delivered him to the British. and
he was imprisoned at Prison Island near the Canadian border and a month later was exchanged by the British at New
York and released. The years of 1783 and 1784 were consumed in surveying 250,000 acres of western land for a land
company formed in Warminster, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
This quest of fortune was never successful, yet with John Fitch it was decreed by fate that fame, rather than
financial fortune, should crown his remarkable career, and that wl:rld history would some day vindicate his unques-
tionable claims and title as the inventor of the first successful steamboat.
The careful and unbiased student of history searches in vain for a competitor of John Fitch in the first field
of successful steam navigation. The boat experiments of Garey, in 1343, prove to be man-power vessels. Marquis
(Ie Jouffroy attempted steam navigation of the Saone in 1782, but was unsuccessful for want of power; Jonathan Huls
wrote a pamphlet on the subject of steam navigation in 1736 yet nothing further resulted from it; on October It, 1788,
Mr. Miller, of Scotland, made some trials of a steamboat but failed of success and abandoned his project, and in 1803
William Symington constructed the tug Charlotte Dundas and steamed up the Forth and Clyde canal with some
degree of success, but this boat was discontinued because it washed down the banks of the canal.
The whole research resolves itself into a decision between the claims of Fitch, Symington and Fulton. and it
can Le said to the credit of Robert Fulton that he never claimed to be the inventor of the first successful steamboat.
John Fitch first directed his attention to the invention of a steamboat in April, 1783, and he exhibited a practical
model of a steamboat August 20, 1785; he was granted patent rights for fourteen years by the states of New Jersey,
March 18, 1786; Delaware, February 3, 1787; New York, March 19, 1787; Pennsylvania, March 28, 1787; Virginia.
November 7. 1787, and by the Congress of the United States, August 26, 1791, and no other steamboat patents were
granted until after Fitch's death in 1798.
The inventive genius of John Fitch was marvelously great, and calling to his aid a blacksmith and brass work-
man. he invented a successful steam engine and installed it in a boat, which steamed on the Delaware River from
Philadelphia to Burlington, a distance of twenty miles, on July 26, 1788, and was the longest trip ever made by a steam-
boat to that time. The boat steamed between these cities on October 12, 1788, and carried thirty passengers at the
19 I
rate of six and one-half miles an hour, and in April. 1790, a larger steamboat was launched by Fitch and carried
passengers for hire regularly during the summer of 1790 on the Delaware River, developing a speed of eight miles an
hour and traveling 3,000 miles.
In 1793 Fitch went to France at the solicitation of Consul Aaron Vail and desiring to visit England while the
French Revolution was threatening he deposited with Mr. Vail for safety his papers and steamboat plans. That
same year Robe rt Fulton called upon Mr. Vail and borrowed from him the steamboat plans, drawings and specifications
left by Fitch and kept them for several months and shortly thereafter wrote a treatise on steam navigation. Several
years later, in 1803, Robert Fulton visited the tug Charlotte Dundas and made drawings of the machinery and other
construction of this boat of William Symington. There is no historic suggestion that Robert Fulton ever had a thought
of steam navigation until he had studied Fitch's papers several years after Fitch's boat had steamed successfully on
the Delaware River and carried passengers at six and one-half miles an hour in 1788, and eight miles per hour in 1790,
and nearly twenty years before Livingston and Fulton constructed the "Clermont." which steamed up the Hudson
River at a speed of four and one-half miles per hour only. Thus it will be seen that John Fitch preceded William
Symington by fifteen years, and William Symington preceded Livingston and Fulton by four years in the construction
of a successful steamboat.
Mr. Robert B. Livingston, of New York, was traveling in France about 1803 and discovered Robert Fulton
in a Paris prison, due to business failure and debt, and he paid off the debt of Fulton and purchased a twenty horse-
power Boulton & Watt engine and sent Fulton back to New York with this engine with instructions to build a steam-
boat. A year later Mr. Livingston returned to New York and was disappointed to find that Fulton had made no
progress on the steamboat, and he then directed his attention to the construction of a steamboat with the aid of Fulton
under the patent right secured by him for himself and Fulton from the State of New York after Fitch's death in 1798,
but the later patents of Livingston and Fulton were annulled as in conflict with the Federal jurisdiction over patent
rights.
These indisputable facts of history and official records thoroughly established the claims and title of John
Fitch as the inventor of the first successful steamboat by at least fifteen years. If Fitch had not invented and operated
his steamboats in 1788 and 1790 the honors of this world invention would have gone most likely to William Symington
in 1803, when he constructed the tug Charlotte Dundas, and not to Robert Fulton in 1807.
The inventive genius of John Fitch and his wonderful accomplishments stand out pre-eminent above all others.
Fitch invented his own engine while Symington and Fulton used engines made by others. The Fitch engine propelled
a steamboat at the rate of eight miles an hour while Livingston's and Fulton's "Clermont" only traveled four and one-
[ 20 1
half miles an hour with a Boulton & Watt engine: Robert Fulton copied the plans and machinery of both Fitch and
Symington; Fitch invented and constructed both the engine and other parts of his boats from the recesses of his genuinely
inventive mind, while Robert R. Livingston and Robert Fulton borrowed their engine and motive power from Boulton
& Watt, and their plans of construction were copied principally fr-m Fitch and Symington and thus equipped with
the inventions of others they constructed a reasonably successful steamboat fourteen years after Robert Fulton had
borrowed from Mr. Vail and studied the proven plans of Fitch, and about twenty years after John Fitch had success-
fully operated his steamboat on the Delaware.
While in the city of New York in 1796, Fitch constructed a successful steamboat, which was driven by a screw
propeller and was the first boat of this kind ever constructed. Upon his return to Bardstown, Ky., in 1796
and 1797, Fitch continued his studies of steamboat construction and here designed a model boat, which he tried out
successfully on the Beech Fork River near Bardstown. The machinery of this boat was made of brass and the paddle
wheels, very similar to modern construction, were made of wood. Many other miniature models were floated on the
creek east of Bardstown and on a small pond southeast of the courthouse square.
The grave of this inventive genius and hero of the American Revolution, has been appropriately marked and a
handsome monument has been erected to his memory; history will repent of her severe injustice to John Fitch and
will rightfully record him as the inventor of the first successful steamboat, and the grave of this world benefactor will
soon become one of the shrines of the Nation.
NAZARETH
HIE SocietN of the Si.ters of Charity of Nazareth was founded in 1812, bh the Right Reverend John Baptist David at St. Thonias,
Ky. The first Mother Superior as Sister Catherine Spalding, of a family conspicuous in the American Church.
After some time des-ted to the formation of the Sisters in the religious life and in the art of teaching t