Johnson County Historical
and Genealogical Society

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by the original submitter and the Highland Echo.

Ferries and Taverns

Highway construction in 1850 and '60 was a good deal simpler than it is today. A wagon road might involve only the clearing of timber and removal of larger rocks. Streams were no problem although bridges were almost unknown. Even before the road boom and while traffic was still on foot and horseback, ferries had been established at strategic locations along all streams too deep to ford. The county simply adopted the ferry as part of the road that led to it.

August term 1857, Johnson County Fiscal Court:
On motion of Daniel hager, it is ordered that the road leading from Main Street of the town of Paintsville, commencing at the corner of Wm. P. Hager, leading through the millyard to the Ferry, be established a public highway and that Daniel Hager, ferry Keeper, keep the same in repair to a highway marker.

This generally rebounded to the financial benefit of the ferry keeper, but in any event, he was in poor position to complain because he was required by law to obtain a license from the Fiscal Court and that body fixed the rates he could charge.

October Term, 1856, Johnson County Fiscal Court:
On motion of Henry Sherman and it appearing that he is the owner of the land on both sides of the river of Hells Gate and that he has complied with the law in such cases, it is ordered that a ferry be estabished at such location in the name and for the use of Henry Sherman who shall continuously provide a good and substanial ferry boat not to be less than 35 feet long nor less than 8 feet wide and he shall be allowed to charge the following rates:

footman 5c.
wagons 10c. to 15c.
each head of hog or sheep 1c.
man and horse 10c.
each head of cattle 3c.

To make the ferries pay, most ferry keepers also operated taverns. These were combination hostelries and livery stables. This occupation was also licensed and rates established by the court.

September Term 1854, Johnson County Fiscal Court: Ordered that the following be the rates to be charged by Tavern Keepers of this county and that they receive the amount that is affixed to each and no more:

Dieting - per meal 18c.
Lodging, per night - 12c.
Stabling and roughage for horse, 24 hrs. - 12c.
Pasturage, 24 hrs - 3 1/2c.
Whiskey
1/2 pint - 6 1/2c.
Quart - 18c.
Gallon - 31c.

Peach Brandy, Apple Brandy, same as Whiskey. French Brandy:

1/2 pint - 12c.
Pint - 12c.
Quart - 37c.

Rum and Wine, same as French Brandy

Among the Ferry Keepers of the day were:

George W. Auxier - Johns Creek
James Browning - Johns Creek
Daniel Hager - Paint Creek
Shadrich Ward - Toms Creek
Samuel Porter - Sandy River
Ralph Stafford - Paint Creek
Rueben Lessinger - Sandy River
Henry Sherman - Sandy River
- Included among the licensed Tavern Keepers were:
  - George I. Ward
  - William Meek
  - Shadrach Ward
  - John Franklin
  - James W. turner
  - George W. Auxier
  - Daniel Remy
  - William Ward
  - Benjamin Slayers
  - Daniel Hager
  - Robert Borders
  - George W. Johnson
  - Edward Lavender
  Taken from A Short History of Paintsville and Johnson County
  Written by: J. K. Wells
  As appeared in the Highland Echo Volume 1 September 1983 No. 2
  
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