Cloverport History 1816-1828

Cloverport History 1816-1828. . , In the autumn of 1816, the family of Thomas Lincoln pulled in to Joeville, seeking to cross the Ohio River into Indiana. Among the family was young Abe Lincoln. Previously the ferry transported only goods, but was now rebuilt to also carry wagons. Thomas Lincoln and his family stayed with Colonel Murray at his home. , Although the earliest history of the west side of the creek is not yet clear, in 1812 construction began on the first road paid for by Kentucky taxpayers which stretched from the west side of the creek to Bowling Green. A wagon pulled by white horses would arrive from Bowling Green near the creek to bring news and gossip. , Due to the dense clover growing on it banks, the West Side of the creek earned the name Cloverport. Cloverport apparently developed independently of Joeville, which resulted in a competitive air between the communities. It is known that in 1820 a wooden bridge built with pegs was constructed across Clover Creek, connecting the two towns. This bridge may have been the second to connect the towns, the first being a covered bridge further up the creek., The Cloverport side of the creek contained the barrel slave factory, the button factory (which used mussels from the river), a flourmill, tobacco warehouses, blacksmiths, and various mercantile stores. The Joeville side contained wharves, saloons, hotels, stores, and the post office. The post office began on October 16, 1828, with the first postmaster George LaHeist. This was a very prosperous time for both towns, boats loaded with various forms of merchandise arrived daily to load and unload at different wharves. Merchandise was shipped overland to Bowling Green, Hardinsburg, and beyond.