USA > Kentucky > Hardin County > Elizabethtown > A history of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and its surroundings > Part 14
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CHAPTER XLI
DR. BRYAN R. YOUNG
is a brother of the late Dr. W. S. Young, named in the last number. He was also born in Nelson county, Kentucky, where he was also educated. He came to Elizabethtown in 1818, and studied medicine with his brother ; after graduating with honor, he was partner in practice up to the time of his brother's death, in 1827, and then continued the practice alone. He was a very successful practitioner, and had a large field to operate in, and is also a very skillful surgeon. The Doctor's skill in medicine and the healing art, and his moderate bills, made him very popular, and consequently in almost every part of the county can be found children and youths called by his name; indeed, so numerous are they, that had the Doctor thought it a duty to bestow a suit of clothes on each name-sake, it would have been a strong pull at his purse-strings. In the year 1845 the Doctor was elected to Congress, and served two sessions; and was also elected to the Legislature of Kentucky in the year 1858-59, and in 1861-62 and 1863-64, in which various positions the Doctor acquitted himself with much credit.
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The Doctor is also an enthusiastic pomologist and horticulturist, and purchased a farm on Muldraugh's Hill, in Hardin county. But he has lately retired from his farm, and again has taken up his residence in Elizabethtown, and continues his practice only in special cases.
DOCTOR HARVEY SLAUGHTER
born in Nelson county, on Cedar Creek, is the son of the late Judge Slaughter, who was one of the finest specimens of an old Virginia gentleman. He resided within four miles of Bardstown, a place justly celebrated for its educational institutions, and the home of some of the most eminent lawyers in Kentucky-Judge Rowan, Hon. Ben Hardin, Hon. Charles A. Wickliffe, Hon. Benj. Chapeze, Philip Quinton, Hon. James Guthrie, and the celebrated orator, John Hays, and many others. Dr. Slaughter received his early education in Bards- town, and graduated at Transylvania University, in Lexington. He then studied medicine in the same town, under the celebrated Dr. Burr Harrison. He made his first attempt at practice at Big Spring, in 1828. But by the persuasions of our late fellow citizen, Horatio G. Winter- smith, he removed to Elizabethtown in the year 1829, and has remained here ever since and enjoyed a lucrative practice. It was the custom in this town when any man was given up by the resident doctors, to send to Bardstown for Dr. Harrison. He became tired of being sent for only to see a man die, and remarked publicly, that if Dr. Slaughter could not cure them, it was useless to send for him.
The Doctor is a man of fine education and refinement, and eminent in his profession ; has a fine appreciation of the poets, and is a good public speaker. He has also for a few years been engaged in horti- culture, and can show as fine grapes and apples as any man in the State. In a few numbers back I have spoken of the Doctor's taste in improving his residence, rendered classic by the distinguished men who have occupied it since 1798.
THOMAS S. CRUTCHER
may be considered one of the oldest residents of Elizabethtown, now living, except myself. He was born in Bardstown, Kentucky, on the 28th day of August, 1798, just fourteen days after I was born in Elizabethtown.
His father, the late Major James Crutcher, soon after came with his
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family to Elizabethtown, and up to the time of his death acted a prominent part as merchant, tavern-keeper, Justice of the Peace, Judge of the Quarter Session Court, trustee of the town, trustee of the Academy, and Representative and Senator in the Kentucky Legisla- ture. The same Thomas S. Crutcher of whom we now speak, received his early education in the same schools as myself and Thomas W. Nicholson, Rev. Ben Ogden, and Samuel Stevenson, but completed his education at Nashville, under Dr. Priestly, and boarded with Mr. Hume and roomed with John Bell and Ephraim Foster. After his collegiate course, he went as a volunteer on Gen. Hopkin's campaign on the Wabash, about Tippecanoe. He afterwards merchandised in Bowling Green, Ky., but has been for many years retired to private life, except a short period, during which he was clerk of the Hardin County Court.
HON. A. H. CHURCHILL,
another old citizen, was born near Louisville, on the 19th day of October, 1796, was educated at a school in the neighborhood, except about four months in the year 1807, in Elizabethtown, under Samuel Stevenson. In 1813 he entered Transylvania University, at Lexington, and remained there two years ; settled in Elizabethtown as a law prac- titioner in 1818. He was elected to the Senate of Kentucky in 1832, served only one session, and receiving the appointment of Circuit Judge in 1833, which office he held with great credit to himself, and satis- factory to the community. In 1847, to the regret of his friends, he resigned that office and retired to private life.
During the time he was Judge of Hardin Circuit Court, I was clerk of the same court, and during those fourteen years I had a fair oppor- tunity of witnessing the impartial hand with which he dealt out justice. Regardless of the state or standing of parties, he struck for law and justice. He is a man fond of the comforts of home, and the family circle, and has been married four times. He is not only a moral, but a religious man and devotes much of his time to the interest of the Epis- copal Church, to which he belongs, and of which in a certain sense he is the sum and substance, as far as it concerns that body in Elizabethtown.
REV. DR. WILLIAM W. LAMBUTH
But few men have passed through more trying and difficult scenes
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than Dr. Lambuth. He was born near Gallatin, Tennessee, on the 9th day of February, 1832. His parents immigrated to Kentucky in 1847. Being a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he having been set apart to the ministry, joined the Louisville Annual Conference, at Greenville, Ky., in 1855, and traveled as an itinerant preacher until 1861. He was married to Miss Myra E. Matthis, in this town in 1858, and finding responsibilities resting upon him, he located, in 1861, and in the fall of 1862 commenced merchandising with his father-in-law, Mr. David Matthis, of this place, and continued two years, when he com- menced studying medicine, which course he completed in 1866, and was graduated in both the Kentucky School of Medicine and the Uni- versity of Louisville ; since which time he has regularly practiced his profession, but has never given up preaching. He has also for some years been keeping a drugstore in company with Judge Cofer. The Doctor was without patrimony, and had to struggle for the means of sustenance. His time in study and the expense of attending two courses of medical lectures, were severe upon him; and yet the full trial of his faith had not come-but it did come. His aged father and mother were residing in Arkansas during the late war-the horrors of which will be long remembered. These good old people were burned out of house and home, turned out of doors, with two daughters, upon the cold charity of the world, and such was the desolation around that there were none to help but God, and they devoutly looked to Him for help, and help did come. The news of their calamity reached the ears of their son, the Doctor of whom I now write. The Doctor and his good lady thought themselves pressed hard enough already, but upon the news of their parents' disaster reaching them their hearts were enlarged, and the Doctor sped his way to the bereaved ones, and he brought the father and mother and two young sisters to his Kentucky home, and there in the bosom of his little family, they have shared to- gether the proceeds of their joint labor to this day-except the father, who passed away in April last.
During the war the churches were all closed one winter, being oc- cupied by soldiers, as I have heretofore remarked. It was a solemn time, no thrilling sound of the church bell was heard, to gladden the Christian's heart.
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For some months Dr. Lambuth with Rev. Samuel Williams, at my wife's special request, kept up a regular prayer meeting at my house every Thursday night. However boisterous or unpleasant the night, those two men of God were certain to be on hand. These exercises were the more pleasant because of the surrounding gloom. Long will they be remembered by the family. He now speaks of joining the Conference again in the traveling connection as an itinerant preacher.
XLII
REV. WILLIAM C. JONES
Rev. William C. Jones, a Baptist minister, was born in Spencer county, Kentucky, in the year 1831. Educated at Georgetown College, where he graduated in 1858, he came to Elizabethtown in December, 1859, and connected himself with the Baptist Church and was ordained to the ministry in January, 1860, by a Presbytery composed of Dr. William Vaughan and Elders W. L. Morris and J. Toll Miller, and served the church at Elizabethtown four years, when he resigned the charge. He left Elizabethtown in 1864 and has for some time resided at LaGrange, Oldham county, Kentucky. He is now doing the work of an evangelist. Elder Jones has become an able preacher, stands high in his denomination and has scores of friends in this town.
Col. Charles D. Poston was born in Hardin county on the 20th day of April, 1825, and remained on a farm until at the age of seven years, when his father removed to Elizabethtown and conducted a newspaper, The Western Sentinel.
The young lad was printer's devil and news carrier in his father's office for several years, during which time he attended the school of Robert Hewitt and obtained the meagre rudiments of an English edu- cation.
In January, 1837, he entered the office of the writer and served as deputy clerk for six years. By application he soon became an expert penman and an excellent clerk. At the expiration of his term (in 1843) he went to Nashville, Tennessee, and was employed as a deputy clerk in the office of the Supreme Court. In September, 1848, Mr. Poston was married to Margaret J. Haycraft, third daughter of the writer, in whose family he had been partly raised.
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For some years he was engaged in commercial enterprises with his brother, Sanford J. Poston, in Elizabethtown. These enterprises hav- ing proved unfortunate, he emigrated to California in 1850 and was employed as chief clerk in the Custom House at San Francisco for three years.
The adventurous spirit engendered by a residence on the Pacific coast, and the pressure of unliquidated debts at home, induced Mr. Poston to undertake a daring expedition into the silver mining region of Northern Mexico about the time of Gadsden's purchase, which con- sumed the year of 1854. The year 1855 was passed in the seclusion of his early home with his family.
In the year 1856 he started to explore the mineral regions of Arizona in the interest of the Southern Pacific Railroad, passing through the country of the Lipans, Comanches and Apaches, the most fierce and powerful Indian tribes upon the continent.
It would be difficult to find in the brilliant history of our frontier experience a more daring enterprise than this. The mining business had scarcely been inaugurated when the late war commenced. By an order from the Government the forts were burned and food of the enemy taken between California and Texas, following which the troops abandoned the country. The Mexicans and Indians caught the infec- tion of carnage and the mining establishments were broken up amid scenes of indescribable horror. The young brother of Mr. Poston, a noble young man just arrived at manhood, was foully murdered, and nearly all the companions and employes of Mr. Poston were killed in a shocking manner. Indeed, Professor Punpelly was the only surviving companion he had left, and with him was undertaken an escape from the scenes they passed through, and the hairbreadth escapes they made in their long wilderness travel is almost incredible to relate, but by dint of cool courage and skillful maneuvering, and enduring fatigue and toil and nearly driven to starvation, they reached San Francisco in the autumn of 1861. A year or two afterward upon, the organiza- tion of civil government in the territory which he had pioneered, Presi- dent Lincoln appointed Colonel Poston superintendent of Indian affairs. At the termination of this service he was elected first delegate to Con- gress from Arizona and served in the Thirty-eighth Congress.
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In the summer of 1867, Mr. Poston made the tour of Europe. In December of the same year, at the residence of the writer, to a company of select ladies and gentlemen, his old friends and relations, he read a lecture, describing his tour and the nations he visited, in which he dis- played fine descriptive powers, and at the conclusion the thanks of the company was returned through the Rev. Samuel Williams and a printed copy of the lecture was ordered. The consequence was a neat and interesting little volume was issued, entitled "Europe in the Summer Time," by C. D. Poston.
In the winter after his return he engaged for a time in the practice of law in Washington with Judge Betts, of California.
Upon the arrival of the Chinese Embassy in the United States, Colonel Poston took a lively interest in the increasing relations with that country and was appointed by the Government as special commis- sioner to the different countries of Asia. In this mission he was ac- companied by his old friend, Ross Brown, then Minister to China.
After leaving China, where he was treated with distinguished honors by the Government, as commissioner he visited the Indian Archipelago and thence went to British India, where he was treated with dis- tinguished consideration and furnished with every facility for traveling through that interesting country.
In the spring of 1869 Colonel Poston found himself steaming up the Red Sea under the shadow of Mount Sini and anchored over the spot where Moses led the children of Israel over the Red Sea. He remained a short time in Egypt, examining the modern wonder, the Suez Canal, and the ancient wonders, the pyramids of Egypt. He spent the summer in Europe. After having circumnavigated the globe and visited the principal capitals of Asia, he returned to New York, his tem- porary home, in October, 1869.
Taking a short retrospect of the life of Colonel Poston, having crossed the plains to California on two occasions and once by water, thence his escape from Arizona, after which his travels around the world and among strange nations, some of which were hardly civilized, and the number of his companions in Arizona who were murdered, we are compelled to come to the conclusion that he wore a charmed life.
MRS. WILLIAM D. VERTREES (In.)
Among those who have left an impression upon Elizabethtown and
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its people and one of those who stands out most distinctly was Mrs. William D. Vertress, or "Miss Eliza" as she was known to all of the children and most of the adults. Her maiden name was Eliza Ann Haynes. Her father was Dr. John Haynes, of Virginia, who was a graduate of medicine of either Harvard or Yale Medical School, and her mother was Martha Ann Campbell, of Massachusetts. They were married in Virginia and came across the mountains to Kentucky and settled at Big Spring. Eliza Haynes was born at Big Spring, October 3, 1824. In November, 1854, she married William D. Vertress, a Mexican War veteran and later county judge of Hardin county. She was the first graduate of Bethlehem Academy. Mrs. Vertress was an active, highly intelligent, educated woman, a skillful musician, and unusually well read in the best literature. She was a Christian woman who was interested in everything for the good of the town and its people. Because of her unusual mental and personal qualities she was one of the town's most beloved characters. Nearly all persons in Eliza- bethtown, in middle life or beyond, who know anything of music got their grounding under "Miss Eliza" and have her among their fond recollections.
Mr. and Mrs. Vertress had four children-Haynes, Martha, Charles and Catherine. Mrs. Vertress survived her husband and three of her children, and died at the home of her daughter, Catherine V. Young, at Oakmont, Pennsylvania, on January 30, 19II.
CHAPTER XLIII
It has been suggested by some, that I have failed in my history to point out the bad characters who have figured upon the stage of action in and around Elizabethtown, and have mostly confined myself to men of good character. That to a certain extent is true. There were bad men, and some of them who suffered capital punishment have been spoken of, and there might have been named also Simon Lundry, who killed his wife in a drunken fit, and was hung for it. He resided about ten miles from town and when sober was a kind husband. Also John Coyle, who passed for an Irishman, but was really a Swiss. He was a Greek scholar, but the roughest man of education I ever knew. He was suspected of killing his wife, and was hung for killing Stephens.
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He professed to be a Catholic, and availed himself of the services of more than one priest. On one occasion he was visited by a citizen to whom Coyle remarked, "On this day week (being the time fixed for his execution) I will be in Abraham's bosom, and then hope to see all my enemies brought up before God and punished." His visitor said, "Mr. Coyle, if you indulge in malice in your heart, can you expect to see God in peace? You must forgive your enemies." Coyle reflected a moment and then remarked, "Well, I forgive them for they are a damn trifling pack, and not worth hating." Notwithstanding the absolution he received, he died a perfect heathen.
After the verdict was found against him, and sentence was about being pronounced the Judge asked him if he had anything further to say, why sentence of death should not be pronounced. Coyle arose, pulled off his coat and vest and rolled up his sleeves and took off his shoes. The Judge remarked, "You need not strip." Coyle said he was warm. All this time he kept his eye on a large iron poker that was leaning against the stove. I saw that it was evidently his inten- tion to seize the poker and fight his way out. I removed the poker. Coyle then commenced a speech, in which he reflected upon the Judge and Mr. Hardin, who prosecuted, then upon all the witnesses, denounc- ing them as liars, that he was only guilty of manslaughter and not mur- der. He warned the Judge that he would visit him in his bed-chamber, and that as soon as his spirit was released from his body, he would choke Mr. Hardin to death and that each of the jurymen should receive a visit. The sheriff, standing by, requested that he might have a call, and Coyle promised to accommodate him.
So might also be mentioned Spencer, who was hung for killing his step-son, and two negroes for committing outrages upon females, and another negro for chopping off his mistress's head with an axe while she lay asleep; Wm. Hardin, who was sent to the penitentiary for killing Matthias Brandenburg; another for stealing sugar, and various other kinds of lighter crimes, and some lashed at the whipping-post. But be it remembered that none of those offenders were actually resi- dents of Elizabethtown.
Candor also compels me to acknowledge that many of these persons of whom I have highly spoken, had some private foibles such as are common to the natural depraved nature of the human family, and
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against which men and women of the highest culture, the brightest intellects and purest in morals, have had to contend and to grapple as with a giant. But time, long time, has woven itself into a mantle of charity and their good deeds are only remembered. I do not feel will- ing to adopt the sentiment of Mark Antony in his speech over Caesar's body that, "The evil that men do, lives after them, the good is often buried with their bones," but would rather adopt the language of the poet, who sang :
" 'Tis distance gives enchantment to the view, And lends the mount its azure hue."
Under the head of
DOCTORS
I discovered that I omitted to mention Doctor James Middleton, from Scotland, his native home, where he graduated, and settled in this town many years since, date not now remembered. He was a skillful physician and enjoyed a good practice. He married a Miss Briscoe, built a house and was a citizen with us for several years. The remains of the Doctor and his wife now rest in our town cemetery, but without a stone to mark the spot, and it is more than likely that no man beside myself could point out their graves.
PREACHERS AGAIN
A number of years since George Rogers, who was a wheelwright and chair maker, settled in Elizabethtown, owned property and carried on his trade. He was a worthy member of the Methodist church and became a minister in that denomination. I do not remember that he ever joined the traveling connection of that church. But after removal the Rev. Benjamin Ogden was nearly alone in the town as a cross bearer of his church and had much to contend with almost single handed. But notwithstanding the odds against which he had to contend he maintained his integrity so as to cause even his enemy to respect and like him, an instance of which I have heretofore given in speaking of the late John Morris who, in his young days, although not on speak- ing terms with Rogers, thrashed a man severely for cursing the preacher in the street.
Mr. Rogers came to Elizabethtown when a young man and resided here many years, then removed to Bullitt county, where he still resides,
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and is now an old man. If it is an offense to say so, George, I beg pardon.
JACOB ELIOT, ESQ.
also was once a citizen of Elizabethtown and played such a conspicuous part as to deserve special notice.
He was born on the second day of September, 1803, in Otsego county, New York, where he received his early education, which was but limited as his father died when he was very young. He came to Kentucky in the year 1818 and in 1828 settled in Elizabethtown and published a newspaper called the "Kentucky Statesman." He resided in Elizabethtown nine years-was part of the time jailer of Hardin county.
Some political question got him into a street difficulty with Mr. George Roberts, an attorney, on which occasion he shot Roberts in the back with a pistol for which he was tried but triumphantly acquitted. During his stay he was an active, useful citizen and became a useful member of the Baptist church. His house was a preacher's home and he was otherwise a liberal entertainer. In the year 1837 he removed to Louisville and became a partner of the late Shadrack Penn in pub- lishing the "Louisville Advertiser," a Democratic paper that for many years measured arms with the late George D. Prentice of the "Louis- ville Journal."
In the year 1842 he was employed by a company largely interested in Texas lands to go to that state and attend to their interests in per- fecting their title and ascertaining its value. Mr. Eliot was admirably qualified for his business, having a clear head and discriminating mind and withal a man of unflinching courage, and that last qualifica- tion was necessary on account of the dangers from Indians and other enemies incident to a new country far from the center of civilization. He went as high as the Cross Timbers in Peter's Colony, now Dallas county. Here he dug out a kind of boat and descended the Trinity river to Buffalo Bayou and perhaps was the first white man that explored that river. He afterward made out a report of the river and the country through which it ran and published it in a London paper.
He became largely interested in these lands and in the year 1849 removed to Texas and settled in Corsicana, Navarro county, no incon- siderable place, where he yet resides. He was mainly active and instru-
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mental in settling that portion of the state, has undoubted influence and is now United States commissioner by appointment. His life has been an eventful one and much checkered, and this short sketch gives but a very imperfect account as his long residence in Texas, and for many years almost inaccessible, forbids the idea of giving a correct account of him, such as might perhaps fill a volume.
CHAPTER XLIV
JACOB ELIOT AGAIN
.
My attention has been drawn to my version of Eliot shooting George Roberts. It was stated in a careless manner and in such a way as to compromise the living and the dead. I simply said that Eliot shot Roberts in the back. On that occasion both individuals displayed true courage. Roberts attacked Eliot with a club or heavy walking stick, striking him across the bridge of his nose, knocking it quite flat. In the meantime Roberts lost his cane and ran to pick up a rock to throw at Eliot. Several persons were attempting to hold Eliot, who had drawn his pistol. Eliot, by extra exertion, threw off those who were attempting to hold him and fired at Roberts, who was some twenty-five or thirty feet off, in a stooping position picking up a rock. The ball struck Roberts on the side, ranging on the back. Then they were separated, both showing good pluck.
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