Riverside, The Farnsley-Moremen Landing
Encyclopedia
Riverside, The Farnsley-Moremen Landing is a historic 300 acre (1.2 km²) farm and house in Southwest Louisville, Kentucky
along the banks of the Ohio River
. The house, a red brick I-house
with a two-story Greek Revival portico
, was built in 1837 by Gabriel Farnsley.
Farnsley died in 1849 without a will, and after a dozen years of legal wrangling over his estate, the ownership of the house transferred to the Moremen family in 1862. Alanson and Rachel Stith Moremen increased the size of the farm to 1500 acres (6 km²), making it into one of the largest farms in Jefferson County
before it was divided up amongst heirs in the 1880s.
From around 1820 to 1890, the property served as a river transportation hub. A riverboat
landing on the property allowed people traveling by river to stop to trade goods, pick up boiler wood for fuel, or rest. The Moremen family nicknamed the landing "Soap Landing", as they sold lye soap and other household and agricultural products there. In addition, a ferry
carried people and goods back and forth between the landing and Indiana.
Like many other structures along the Ohio River, the house was damaged by the Ohio River flood of 1937
. The house was left unrepaired for decades.
The Moremen family held on to the property until 1988, when they sold it to Jefferson County Fiscal Court for purposes of restoration and preservation. On October 10, 1993, the restored house was debuted to the public.
A visitors center situated on the property houses an auditorium, museum exhibits and a store.
Around 1,000 to 500 A.D., these prehistoric Native American groups had become more sedentary and began to establish longer term camps. They began some agriculture in the area as a result of relying more heavily on cultivated plants and maize, in particular. This period was the introduction of pottery, the bow and arrow and larger emphasis on ritual activities.
Evidence found by archaeologist include stone tools, pottery, fire pits, storage pits, and postholes from houses. Archaeologist identified a prehistoric cemetery on the property. Which shows that people continually lived and died on the property for thousands of years.
Some of these Native American groups made contact with the first European explorers and settlers to conduct trade. By the early-nineteenth century, native peoples had all but disappeared from what is now Kentucky.
A structure does appear on the 1821 Ohio River navigation map, but it is unclear where this structure was in relation to the current historical house. Christopher owned the property for only four years and farmed until his death in 1826. He died in debt and the bank took over ownership of his estate.
to Joseph Reed for $1,600. Reed owned the property for only a few months before he sold it to a southwest Jefferson County resident named Gabriel Farnsley and business partner Ebenezer Williams in 1828. In 1831, Farnsley bought out Williams share to become its sole owner.
It is believed that Farnsley built the house for his bride-to-be as a wedding gift. But as luck would have it, he was stood up at the altar. He would never marry nor have any offspring.
in early 1850. However, the ultimate settlement of Farnsley's estate took almost a dozen years. Soon after his death, his siblings, nieces and nephews became embroiled in litigation over the estate. The complex series of cases involved twenty-on parties.
Alanson and Rachel Moremen moved upriver from Brandenburg, Kentucky bringing seven children to the fine brick house built by Gabriel Farnsley. The Moremens rented their new farm for two years, from Megowan, before they completed the purchase of the house and 200 acres (0.8 km²) for $15,000 cash in 1862. Their connection to the farm would last for over 125 years.
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
along the banks of the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
. The house, a red brick I-house
I-house
The I-house is a vernacular house type, popular in the United States from the colonial period onward. The I-house was so named in the 1930s by Fred Kniffen, a specialist in folk architecture who identified and analyzed the type in his 1936 study of Louisiana house types...
with a two-story Greek Revival portico
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
, was built in 1837 by Gabriel Farnsley.
Farnsley died in 1849 without a will, and after a dozen years of legal wrangling over his estate, the ownership of the house transferred to the Moremen family in 1862. Alanson and Rachel Stith Moremen increased the size of the farm to 1500 acres (6 km²), making it into one of the largest farms in Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 693,604 people, 287,012 households, and 183,113 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 305,835 housing units at an average density of...
before it was divided up amongst heirs in the 1880s.
From around 1820 to 1890, the property served as a river transportation hub. A riverboat
Riverboat
A riverboat is a ship built boat designed for inland navigation on lakes, rivers, and artificial waterways. They are generally equipped and outfitted as work boats in one of the carrying trades, for freight or people transport, including luxury units constructed for entertainment enterprises, such...
landing on the property allowed people traveling by river to stop to trade goods, pick up boiler wood for fuel, or rest. The Moremen family nicknamed the landing "Soap Landing", as they sold lye soap and other household and agricultural products there. In addition, a ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
carried people and goods back and forth between the landing and Indiana.
Like many other structures along the Ohio River, the house was damaged by the Ohio River flood of 1937
Ohio River flood of 1937
The Ohio River flood of 1937 took place in late January and February 1937. With damage stretching from Pittsburgh to Cairo, Illinois, one million persons were left homeless, with 385 dead and property losses reaching $500 million...
. The house was left unrepaired for decades.
The Moremen family held on to the property until 1988, when they sold it to Jefferson County Fiscal Court for purposes of restoration and preservation. On October 10, 1993, the restored house was debuted to the public.
A visitors center situated on the property houses an auditorium, museum exhibits and a store.
10,000 B.C. - 1700 A.D. Prehistoric Native Americans: The first settlers of Riverside
Native American hunters and gathers lived in the Ohio Valley as early as 10,000 B.C. Some of these people may have camped or hunted near what is today Riverside. About 6,000 B.C., groups of hunters and gathers established base camps. They began to take advantage of the abundant resources of the river valley such as mussels, fish, plants and larger animals in the area.Around 1,000 to 500 A.D., these prehistoric Native American groups had become more sedentary and began to establish longer term camps. They began some agriculture in the area as a result of relying more heavily on cultivated plants and maize, in particular. This period was the introduction of pottery, the bow and arrow and larger emphasis on ritual activities.
Evidence found by archaeologist include stone tools, pottery, fire pits, storage pits, and postholes from houses. Archaeologist identified a prehistoric cemetery on the property. Which shows that people continually lived and died on the property for thousands of years.
Some of these Native American groups made contact with the first European explorers and settlers to conduct trade. By the early-nineteenth century, native peoples had all but disappeared from what is now Kentucky.
1822-1826 First European Settler: Ebenezer Christopher
Ebenezer Christopher was the first owner of the property now known as Riverside. In 1822, Christopher purchased 200 acres (0.8 km²) thirteen miles (19 km) southwest of Louisville on the Ohio River for $2,000. He bought the land from absentee owners James D. Breckenridge and Thomas D. Carneal. Who were both residents of Dinwiddle County, Virginia. Records indicate, Ebenezer, his wife Polly and their six children were already living on the farm at the time of purchase.A structure does appear on the 1821 Ohio River navigation map, but it is unclear where this structure was in relation to the current historical house. Christopher owned the property for only four years and farmed until his death in 1826. He died in debt and the bank took over ownership of his estate.
1828-1831 Gabriel Farnsley
Soon after the death of Ebenezer Christopher. The 200 acre (0.8 km²) Riverside tract was sold at public auctionPublic auction
A public auction is an auction held on behalf of a government in which the property to be auctioned is either property owned by the government, or property which is sold under the authority of a court of law or a government agency with similar authority....
to Joseph Reed for $1,600. Reed owned the property for only a few months before he sold it to a southwest Jefferson County resident named Gabriel Farnsley and business partner Ebenezer Williams in 1828. In 1831, Farnsley bought out Williams share to become its sole owner.
1837: Building a brick house
An increase in the amount of taxes paid by Gabriel Farnsley between 1837 and 1839 indicates his impressive brick Kentucky "I" house with Greek Revival portico was constructed around this time. There is solid evidence that Farnsley was involved in the home's construction, because a brick inscribed with his signature was recovered during the renovation of the structure.It is believed that Farnsley built the house for his bride-to-be as a wedding gift. But as luck would have it, he was stood up at the altar. He would never marry nor have any offspring.
1849 End of the Farnsley Era
Gabriel Farnsley died in June 1849. He had left no will. Most Farnsley property was sold at public auctionPublic auction
A public auction is an auction held on behalf of a government in which the property to be auctioned is either property owned by the government, or property which is sold under the authority of a court of law or a government agency with similar authority....
in early 1850. However, the ultimate settlement of Farnsley's estate took almost a dozen years. Soon after his death, his siblings, nieces and nephews became embroiled in litigation over the estate. The complex series of cases involved twenty-on parties.
1860-1862 The Moremen Era begins
By 1860, the long running court battle among Farnsley's heirs was settled and the Moremen family put down roots at this farm site. The property was owned with clear title by a farmer named Megowan in 1858.Alanson and Rachel Moremen moved upriver from Brandenburg, Kentucky bringing seven children to the fine brick house built by Gabriel Farnsley. The Moremens rented their new farm for two years, from Megowan, before they completed the purchase of the house and 200 acres (0.8 km²) for $15,000 cash in 1862. Their connection to the farm would last for over 125 years.
1870 Riverside farm thrives
Agriculture records from 1870 show Alanson and Rachel Moremen created a thriving and diverse farming venture on the Ohio River. In 1870, Moremen owned 1,000 acres (4 km²) of land. Three hundred acres (1.2 km²) wooded while seven hundred acres (2.8 km²) were described as improved. His livestock holding included: nine horses, eight mules, seven dairy cows, three oxen, twenty cattle, forty sheep and 170 swine. Moremen crops and farm products were valued at $19,000 in 1870. Products included winter wheat, rye, corn, oats, barley, potatoes, sweet potatoes, wine, butter, hay, beeswax and honey.1886 Second Generation: Israel and Nannie Moremen
The farm at Riverside passed into the hands of the second generation of Moremens in 1886. The youngest of Alanson and Rachel's children, Israel Putnam Moremen and his new wife Nannie Storts Moremen were deeded the house and 200 acres (0.8 km²) of land. Israel Moremen's family continued to farm on the property. They kept chickens and hogs and ran a dairy. Orchards produced apples and pears. The family cultivated crops of corn, pole beams, alfalfa, soy beans, potatoes and pasture grasses. Israel, in addition, worked for eight years as the Valley Station Post Master.1890-1930s Changing relationship to the River
The riverboat landing on the farm apparently remained operational through the first decade of the twentieth century. However, the development of the railroad, streetcar and automobile turned the focus away from the river. Soon the Moremen family began using the original Grand Entrance as a back door to the house. In spite of this movement away from the river, it remains an important presence in the family. The riverbank was the site for picnics, family gatherings and swimming expeditions.1937 The Great Flood
In 1937, the farm experienced the damaging power of the river. After days of rain, Jefferson County saw the worst flooding in recorded history. Widowed Israel was still living in the house with daughter Marjorie Collett and her family at the time. Approximately, six feet of muddy Ohio River water entered the house. This was the only time the house was flooded. Fortunately, the family were able to move most of their possessions upstairs.See also
- Farmington Historic Plantation
- Historic Locust GroveHistoric Locust GroveHistoric Locust Grove is a 55-acre 18th century farm site and National Historic Landmark situated in eastern Jefferson County, Kentucky . The site is presently owned by the Louisville Metro government, and operated as a historic interpretive site by Historic Locust Grove, Inc.The main feature on...
- List of attractions and events in Louisville, Kentucky
- List of parks in Louisville, Kentucky
- Oxmoor FarmOxmoor Farm-External links:*Oxmoor Farm is the location of the Food literacy project. They are a non-profit education agency partnering with a working farm to teach the Louisville community about the processes and products of organic and local agriculture...
— larger historical farm in the Louisville area