Russell, Kentucky, Was Once Known as Carnersville and Riverview.
Researched by Sharon M. Kouns and Martha J. Martin
The river played a vital role in the development of our country. Before trains, automobiles, and airplanes, the river was the only link to water-divided areas. Land grants were given to men who served in the Revolutionary War, and the Northwest Territories opened up new territory for settlement in Ohio and Kentucky.
These early pioneers would frequently settle near the banks of a river. Often, families would make their new homes near the river opposite each other. The river is their only link for communication and supplies. As the settlements grew and the population increased, these small communities became towns or cities.
Many settlements took the name of the first pioneer along with the term “landing,” “place,” or “grove.” Russell, Kentucky, was founded many years after Kentucky became a state and was first known as Carnersville, named for riverboat captain A. W. Carner.
Russell, Kentucky, is located directly across the river from Ironton, Ohio, and approximately 3 miles downriver from Ashland, Boyd County, Kentucky. Long before the Ironton-Russell Bridge was built, rivercraft was the only means to reach the either shore.
Capt. Anthony Wayne Carner was born in Olean, New York, in 1827. When he arrived in Ironton is not certain, but his marriage was recorded in the Ironton Register newspaper on Aug. 17, 1854: Married. – On the 10th inst., by Rev. S. P. Cummins, at the residence of Col. Wm. Burke, in Scioto Co., Capt. A. W. Carner, of Ironton, and Miss Henrietta Kittle, of the former place.
From his obituary Ironton Register Feb. 16, 1893: “When a young man, he was a shipping clerk at the Pine Creek landing (Wheelersburg) for furnaces in the region, and later came to Ironton to serve in the same capacity. About 1860, he became associated with Uri Scott in the steamboat business, and they built and owned the Victors and other boats until Capt. Carner bought Boynton Bros., the Ironton ferry, in about 1865.
This he operated for many years until then sold to H. A. Mead. He ran the steamer, Jessie, for a while, went to Washington Territory and California for a year or two, and returned, re-purchased, with Capt. Kirker, the Ironton ferry, which they operated till they sold out to the C. & O [railroad].
As the ferryman for so many years, Capt. Carner was one of the best-known men in this section of the country, and as a citizen and businessman, he was universally esteemed. He was a man of good social qualities and warm friendships. His numerous acquaintances all around will long remember his kindly greetings. For the last few years, he had retired from active pursuits and had built himself a comfortable home on a beautiful spot overlooking the river and Ironton to rest the balance of his days.”
Following are some of the actual newspaper accounts relating to Capt. Carner and the naming of Russell, Kentucky
IR = Ironton Register
IJ = Ironton Journal
IR Nov. 16, 1865 – RIVER NEWS. — The river continues to recede but is still in a fair boating stage. The weather remains beautiful. Captain Carner’s ferry boat sunk last Saturday while ferrying cattle – the cattle ran over to one side, careering the boat so that she took water while out some distance in the river. She was turned towards the shore but sank before she fairly reached it. The Captain raised her again and will soon have her in running order.
IJ Mar. 25, 1868 – Latest River News. —The Ellwood continues to make a trip every half hour from Ironton to Carnersville. This was the first mention of Carnersville. The Ellwood was the name of Capt. Carner’s first ferryboat. Later he built the Eva.
IR Jul. 30, 1868 – No ferryman that ever plied a boat between this point and the Kentucky shore gave more satisfaction than Capt. Wayne Carner, the present proprietor of the ferry, does.
IR Apr. 22, 1869 – NEW FERRY BOAT. Capt. Carner is building a new Ferry Boat. It will be 70 feet long by 30 wide. The boat will have one wheel in the stern, placed in a recess, and the boat’s guards surrounding it. We saw the draft and thought that Capt. Carner will have an excellent craft for the accommodation of his customers.
IJ May 5, 1869 – Messrs. Alex. Frazier & Sons, of Hanging Rock, are building the hull of A. W. Carner’s new ferryboat. It will be ready to launch in a few weeks.
IR Jul. 22, 1869 – CITY COUNCIL. – Capt. Carner was granted ferry privileges at East Ironton. Geo. Keye asked permission to put in another wharf boat; his petition was referred. The subject of wharfage on steamboats is again before the Council.
IR Jul. 22, 1869 – LAUNCHED. – Yesterday, at 4 o’clock, the hull of Capt. Carner’s new ferry boat was launched at Hanging Rock. It is 76 feet long. Capt. Carner has ferry privileges up to and including East Ironton, and in return for this favor granted him by the City Council, he proposes to use a No. 1 boat.
IJ Aug. 18, 1869. Latest River News. The river is getting low. – Capt. A. W. Carner has his new hull at our wharf and is removing the machinery from the old ferry boat to the new one.
IJ Aug. 25, 1869 – Latest River News. – The weather at this writing is so hot as almost to discourage speaking about the past five days – 98,99,100, and 100 1/2 is what the thermometer has shown during the past four days in the shade. Meantime the river has gradually dried up until 3 1/2 feet is sounding on the shoal’s places.
All the large boats have been laid up, and numerous small crafts are trying to supply the public want with transportation. – Capt. Carner’s new Ferryboat will soon be ready. She is prettier than the old one and will suit the trade to a T.
IR Sep. 2, 1869 – Captain Carner has the old and new ferry boat side by side, transferring the machinery from the former to the latter.
IJ Sept. 15, 1869 – Latest River News. The River has been up and is going down again. – Capt. Carner has his new Ferryboat, Eva, running between Humboldt, Ky., and Ironton every fifteen minutes. She performs nicely and rides the waves gracefully. P.S. Humboldt is a new town just below where there is to be another opposite Ironton. Here is mention of another town, Humbolt, that no longer exists by that name. At this writing, we are not certain exactly where or what the name of this town is today.
IR Sep. 16, 1869 – On the Wave – Capt. Carner’s new Ferry boat Eva is now plying between this point and the Kentucky shore. It’s a success.
IJ Oct. 6, 1869 – Latest River News. Capt Carner’s new ferry runs better than at first, making regular trips triangularly.
IR May 12, 1870 – Round Trip on the Ferry Boat. The town clock and Capt. Carner’s ferry boat can be equally depended on. They move regularly and constantly. Every thirty-five minutes, Eva leaves the lower wharf and strikes straight across the river, then up to a point opposite Kelly’s furnace and down to the place of beginning.
We took a round trip the other [day] and found it delightful. It was almost like sailing upon “clear, placid Leman,” so quiet was everything. One is unaware of the disgusting appendages of steamboats while sitting out on the “forecastle” of the Eva, watching the waters broken into ripples by the prow. Between the landing places on the other side is about a third of a mile.
The ride is pleasant, for there is but little current. Opposite lies Ironton, brighter and cleaner looking than usual…The Scott brothers, Perry and Uriah B. were the first to build a residence in Riverview, Kentucky. Several Ironton citizens would soon follow.
IR Jun. 23, 1870 – Our townsman, Perry Scott, will build a residence across the river, where town lots are cheap, taxes low, and prospect delightful.
IR Oct. 13, 1870 – Uriah Scott is putting up a neat-looking residence opposite this place in Kentucky. Others will follow soon. Undoubtedly, a young town will be visible opposite before many years. The tract is divided into building lots.
The first mention of the settlement as Riverview
IR Nov. 24, 1870 – Mr. Perry Scott’s residence across the river sits on the headland like a bright gem. Other buildings will soon arise over there. We understand the settlement will be called Riverview.
IR Dec. 1, 1870 – GOOD WORK. – The residence of Capt. Scott across the river displays the most excellent workmanship and speaks well for the artisans who had the contract. The painting was done by James Savage, indicating good taste and skillful hand.
By the way, James is doing some wonderful good jobs nowadays, as we were convinced by observing Mrs. Ward’s house. The carpenter works on Capt. Allen Brattin executed Scott’s cottage, which reflects great credit upon him.
IR Mar. 2, 1871 – BUILDING – Henry McKnight is building at Riverview, across from this place. He is beginning on the wings of his house and will, during the Summer, attend to the main part.
IR Mar. 16, 1871 – Capt. Carner’s ferry landing across the river has been moved some distance above his residence. He has made a convenient and substantial-looking grade.
IR Jun. 8, 1871 – Carner’s ferry landing, on the opposite side of the river, has a stockyard to accommodate drovers and others.
IR Sep. 28, 1871 – Ferrymen say that they take in $100 when there is a Fair in over Kentucky and $10 when the fair is in Ohio.
IR Nov. 2, 1871 – The river has swollen slightly. Riverview town lots are going up cause there’s going to be a railroad over there pretty soon to connect Cincinnati and New York.
IR Nov. 9, 1871 – Latest River News. Mails up the river are twice a week, Tuesdays and Saturdays. Horrible, this river service. The Eva gave way to the J. W. Dillon in the ferry line while the former was being repaired.
IJ Jan. 17, 1872 – Latest River News. Capt. Carner of the ferryboat Eva is paving the landing on the Kentucky side.
IJ Jan. 24, 1872 – Latest River News. The packets continue regularly and are doing a fair business. There is no more regular packet on the river than the Eva., Capt. A. W. Carner. She comes from Kentucky and returns as regularly as a clock. Capt. C. deserves great credit for his enterprise in providing a good landing directly opposite the wharf boat and in fitting up his beautiful grove for the accommodation of picnics.
IJ Jan. 31, 1872 – Latest River News. The river closed Monday night completely. The little ferryboat, Eva, which up till that time had been the only craft running, is caught on this side.
IJ Aug. 28, 1872 – Latest River News. Capt. Carner has invested $2,000 in Riverview lots. He has faith in its future.
IR Aug. 29, 1872 – Married. – McKnight-Golden. Aug. 13th, at the residence of Capt. U.B. Scott, in Riverview, Ky., by Rev. Moore of Ashland, Ky., Mr. C. T. McKnight of Millersport, Ohio, and Miss Laura C. Golden, of Ashland, Ky. [Laura is the daughter of U.B. Scott’s little sister Maria and Fletcher Golden]
IR Sep. 12, 1872 – Riverview Items. Allen T. Brattin is just finishing his residence immediately below Capt.U. B. Scott’s. Captain Carner’s “grove” is taking the shape of a town with his ingenious ideas of encouraging new businesses to locate there.
IR Sep. 26, 1872 – Chips From Riverview. Mr. Spanganberg has commenced his house. – When completed, it will be the prettiest in the place. Mr. Long has finished his residence and will move in this week. Mr. Callahan has started a shoe shop, and Capt. Carner offers ground free of rent for three years to any blacksmith who will locate.
H. Grimshaw and P. Wilder have bought lots and will build, also Mr. Conlin. Allen Brattin, the pioneer carpenter of Riverview, is the contractor. Thus far, ten homes have been erected, and there is strong talk of incorporating to create a little debt to keep up appearances.
Name changes from Riverview to Russell, Kentucky on December 4, 1872
IJ Dec. 11, 1872 – Russell, Kentucky Dec. 9th, 1872. – Ed. Journal. – At a meeting on December 4th, 1872, of the property holders of the village heretofore known as Riverview, Ky., to give the place a suitable name, J. H. Morris was chosen chairman, and H. C. McKnight, secretary. In honor of Mr. John Russell of Belfonte Furnace, who laid out the village, the name of Russell was taken up and unanimously adopted. – Adjourned. J. H. Morris, Chairman, H. C. McKnight, Secretary.
IR Dec. 12, 1872 – The citizens of Riverview met in solemn conclave on board the Eva one night last week and, after a three-hour debate, decided to name the new city Russell, Kentucky – after the former owner of the land. At the next session of the Legislature, a petition will be presented to have the village incorporated. Already a movement is being made to have a post office, while the voice for a “Squire” is clamorous. How would Squire McKnight sound, we wonder?
IJ Jan. 1, 1873 – Dots. If Russell, Kentucky succeeds in getting a post office, her mail must come by the river route. Then she will be in a worse fix than at present. – People who live at South Point, Frampton’s, Burlington, and the upriver country generally appreciate their semi-occasional mail as they never did before. They begin to see how nice a railroad would be.
During this era, mail grumblings were quite frequent. The railroad was not yet completed in many areas. The river and overland routes were the only means of communication. Steamboat captains who held the mail contracts could not keep the mail regular due to low water, flooding, or ice in the river. Many riverboat captains would leave the mail behind to take on more passengers because they made more money from passengers.
Russell gets a Post Office
Mr. F. A. Long becomes the first postmaster
IJ Jan. 15, 1873 – Russell, Kentucky improved and waxeth ambitions. She has just been made a Post Office, and Mr. F. A. Long has received his commission as “P. M.” Mr. Long has opened a store where he will sell groceries and drugs and peacefully officiate meanwhile, to the great convenience of many people compelled to go to Ashland or Ironton for their mail matter.
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