Article taken from The Portsmouth Times, Saturday, June 5, 1965
Henry Clay, idol of the Southland, visited the small hamlet of Portsmouth in 1820. He was entertained at the Ohio Hotel at an event which was presided over by John G. Peebles.
The hotel was on what is now Front St. and was brilliantly lit with candles for the special guest.
A great reception was held for the Great Commoner of Kentucky and an impromptu torch light parade climaxed the festivities.
This was the first event of its kind. The parade route was around the one main block of the town from Court to Market St.
Clay again visited the town the second time and was on the "Lady Washington" on the Ohio in 1832 and was given a salute of guns by the loyal Portsmouth Democrats.
Article taken from The Ohio Repository, September 18, 1845
Henry Clay passed through Portsmouth Ohio, on Monday last, on his way to Ashland from the Sulphar Springs of Virginia. While at the Springs a public dinner war tendered to him by his personal and political friends, but he declined the honor, as he set out with the determination to avoid any show ro display. Hundreds of the ladies and gentlemen of Portsmouth called to see him.