Editor’s Note: We are republishing excerpts from the 1891 Woodford Sun. The Constitutional Convention of 1890-91, which enacted the constitution which remains intact today with numerous amendments since, began meeting in Sept. 1890, and was presided over by Ambassador Cassius M. Clay of Madison County. The excerpts related to this will be the Clippings focus. For historical purposes, we reprint the Clippings “warts and all,” and so the presence of derogatory and racist stereotypical words are reprinted.

The Woodford Sun

March 12, 1891

[THAT FAIR PROJECT]: I was much in hopes that the project for organizing a Fair Association to be established in Versailles would meet with success, but it appears to have joined a lot of other hoped-for laudable enterprises in the bottom of the soup tureen. It does seem to me that a county which raises as much fine blooded stock and as many fine crops and which has as good transportation facilities as Woodford ought to have a fair of its own. Certain it is that nothing would be more advantageous to the town from a monetary standpoint.

[THE MCLEOD FARM SALE] The Dr. George McLeod Farm of 455 acres was sold by an order of Master Commissioner Barbour at the front door of the courthouse in Versailles at noon last Thursday. The purchaser was Mr. Van B. Nelson of Louisville who paid $103 an acre, or $46,865 for the whole. The sale was made by Auctioneer J.A. Shuttleworth who appeared at his best. The bidding began vigorously at $80 but stalled at $100. The price of $103 is very cheap, and many predicted a winning bid of at least $110.

[GUBERNATORIAL AND AUDITOR ELECTION]: The sentiment of Woodford in the Gubernatorial race seems to be divided between Clay and Brown – with Clay in the lead. The farmers are generally for Clay. Woodford’s Capt. James Blackburn has done very little electioneering in the State, except by letter, but he is bringing in new friends everyday, and his prospects for the Auditorship are very encouraging.]

[CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, WORK OF THE WEEK]: The Convention has completed the Legislative report. The House is to have 100 members and the Senate 30. The votes of 40 will be needed to pass a bill in the lower chamber. The Education Report has now been taken up. There was a spirited debate about continuing the half-cent tax in aid of the A&M College in Lexington, but the friends of the college won out as the convention voted to continue.

[SEN. BLACKBURN RETURNS HOME]: Sen. Blackburn, his wife and children, arrived late in Versailles on Saturday from Washington. “I was never more rejoiced to get home,” Sen. Blackburn said to a Sun reporter who called on him. “And, I don’t want o leave Woodford again until next December.”

[OUR RICH FOLKS]: According to the Assessor’s Book for 1891, there are 152 persons in Woodford who pay taxes on property exceeding $12,000. Mr. A.J. Alexander is the largest taxpayer on $784,485 in property. Then comes Mr. F.B. Harper with $134,750, and Mr. W.H. Graddy with $88,165. We publish below a list of all those paying taxes on property valued over $12,000.