On 26 Jan 1838, Rufus K. Summers sold part of Shepherdsville lots 23 and 24 to Thomas Shain. Then on 14 Oct 1840, Shain sold an undivided half of his part of Shepherdsville lots 23 and 24 to Robert F. Samuels. Then in April 1841, Shain mortgaged his remaining share of these lots to Samuels, along with other property, as shown below.
Also, when the owners of the southern part of Shepherdsville lot #57, namely Charles Jones' heirs, John Beckwith's heirs, Richard P. Simmons and Thomas W. Riley, refused to pay their share of the cost of paving next to their property, it was seized for payment, and purchased at auction by Thomas Shain, as described below. Shain received his deed to the lower 50 feet of the lot on 7 Jun 1840. He then mortgaged it to Robert F. Samuels in 1841.
It appears that James Shanks was the original purchaser of Shepherdsville lot 49, but that following his death and a court suit it was sold by the trustees to Thomas Shain. Shain mortgaged it to his business partner Robert F. Samuels in 1841. Then, following Shain's death and according to his will, it was to go to Samuels.
In 1845, to satisfy a debt, the parts of lots 23 and 24 were sold at auction to John Alexander of Louisville, as shown below. Then the next year Alexander sold the house and ground to Henry F. Kalfus.
Bullitt County Deed Book K, Pages 404-406
This indenture made this fourth day of August in the year of our Lord 1845 by and between John Graham, late sheriff of Bullitt County and state of Kentucky of the first part and John Alexander of the city of Louisville and state aforesaid of the second part.
Witnesseth that whereas on the 17th day of October 1843, there issued from the clerk's office of the Shelby circuit court a writ of fieri facias in the name of Welby & Alexander against Robert F. Samuels, surviving partner of the firm of Samuels & Shain for the sum of $194.08 with interest thereon at the rate of 6% per annum from the 22nd day of September 1843 until paid. Also $30.02 costs returnable on the Saturday succeeding the third Monday in December 1843 according to the rule day of said court. The aforesaid writ of fieri facias was directed to the sheriff of Bullitt County, and whilst in full force came to the hands of W. B. Hamilton, deputy sheriff for John Graham, sheriff of Bullitt County, that on the 20th day of November 1843 the said deputy sheriff W. B. Hamilton by virtue of the said writ fieri facias levied the same on parts of lots No. 23 and 24 in the new plan of the town of Shepherdsville, the same on which the house now stands, occupied by H. F. Kalfus as a saddler shop, adjoining the house heretofore occupied by R. F. Samuels as a tavern stand, being 59 feet front on Main Street and 120 feet back to the stable of R. F. Samuels belonging to said tavern house, the same as conveyed to Thomas Shain by Rufus K. Summers on the 6th day of January 1838, which deed is recorded in the Bullitt County Court clerk's office, and the said deputy W. B. Hamilton legally advertised and made known the day of sale of said parts of lots and appurtenances according to the law of said state, and previous to offering the same for sale Matthew Wilson and Frederick Travis, two housekeepers in Bullitt County not in any wise related to any of the parties were chosen according the statue in such cases made and provide, to fix the value of said parts of lots and appurtenances named in said writ of fieri facias, and said Wilson and Travis after first duly sworn made the following written valuation.
"We the undersigned have been called to value the house and parts of lots Nos. 23 and 24 in the town of Shepherdsville levied on by virtue of execution, the name of Welby & Alexander against Samuels and Shain, value the same at $500. Witness our hands this 15th day of January 1844." (signed) M. Wilson, Fred Travis; Witness: W. B. Hamilton, deputy sheriff for John Graham, S.B.C.
And the said deputy sheriff W. B. Hamilton did on the 15th day of January 1844 at the courthouse door in Shepherdsville, it being County Court Day, offer for sale to the highest bidder the aforesaid parts of lots and house and fixtures and appurtenances, and all the right, title and claim that the said R. F. Samuels had in and to the same, and John Alexander then and there bid for the same the sum of $239.37, no other person bidding more, after crying the same for a considerable length of time, the said parts of lots No. 23 and 24 together with all the fixtures and appurtenances in due manner and form were openly struck off to John Alexander, one of the firm of Welby and Alexander who became the purchaser for the sum aforesaid; the said sale of said parts of lots and appurtenances having been made by the said deputy sheriff W. B. Hamilton, and the term of office for which the said John Graham was sheriff of Bullitt County having expired, in order to comply wit the law in such cases made and provided and to confirm the said sale and purchase, said parts of lots and appurtenances to the said John Alexander, this conveyance witnesseth.
That for and in consideration of the premises, the said John Graham, late sheriff of Bullitt County, has this day bargained and sold, and by these presents do bargain, sell and convey to the said John Alexander, the parts of lots numbers 23 and 24 and appurtenances before described in the premises. To have and to hold all the right, title and claim of the said R. F. Samuels in and to the said parts of lots and appurtenances to the said John Alexander and his heirs and assigns and to their only proper use and behoof forever in as full and ample a manner as the said John Graham, late sheriff of Bullitt County can by virtue of the power and authority invested in him by law in such cases made and provided, without incurring individual responsibility. Witness the hand and seal of the said John Graham, late sheriff of Bullitt County, the day and date above written. (signed) John Graham
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The Bullitt County History Museum, a service of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is located in the county courthouse at 300 South Buckman Street (Highway 61) in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. The museum, along with its research room, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday appointments are available by calling 502-921-0161 during our regular weekday hours. Admission is free. The museum, as part of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization and is classified as a 509(a)2 public charity. Contributions and bequests are deductible under section 2055, 2106, or 2522 of the Internal Revenue Code. Page last modified: 23 Oct 2025 . Page URL: bullittcountyhistory.org/bchistory/samuels-alexander23-24.html
