The History of Louisville, from the Earliest Settlement till the Year 1852

This present volume gives a historical detail of the rise, progress, and present position of the city of Louisville, instead of following the course which has been pursued by most writers of local history. It is no part of the design of this volume to eulogize Louisville beyond its deserts. In this book, Casseday cites sources who lived in early Louisville, such as Henry Bradshaw Fearon, an Englishman in his twenties who stayed here in the fall of 1817. Fearon's description of mealtimes at early taverns (such as the Indian Queen) helps the reader understand how the rough-and-tumble early Louisvillians appeared to be a stiff and proper Englishman. The book also tells the story of Mike Fink, the riverboat captain, and his run-in with the law in Louisville. A lover of Louisville's history will enjoy this book.