USA > Kentucky > Jessamine County > A history of Jessamine County, Kentucky, from its earliest settlement to 1898 > Part 20
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Robert Curd, Esq.,
Is one of the Magistrates of the county and resides in the neighborhood of Wilmore station. Successful in business, kind- ly in manner, faithful in his official life, he commands, as he de-
serves, the support and confidence of his district. Whatever is for the best interests of the whole county always has his hearty approval and assistance.
Levi Luther Todd.
The Levi Luther Todd referred to in the minutes of the town of Nicholasville, was born in Lexington, Ky., July 26, 1791. He was educated at Transylvania University, and practiced law several years. He served with distinction in the war of 1812.
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
He removed to Lafayette, Ind., in 1833, and there hield a dis- tinguished judicial position.
In 1867 he came to Lexington and presented to the Masonic Grand Lodge, of Kentucky, then in session there, the sword and belt of Col. Joseph Hamilton Daveiss, which were worn by Col. Daveiss when he was killed, in the battle of Tippecanoe, on the 7th of November, 1811. He died near Indianapolis, in 1867.
Dr. T. R. Welch.
On the one-hundredth anniversary of the existence of Nicho- lasville. Jessamine county is part of the Senatorial district in which are included Woodford and Scott counties. The Senator from this district is Thomas R. Welch, M. D., an able and success- ful homeopathic physician, now residing in Nicholasville, in which place he was born on the 4th of February, 1860.
He was educated at Bethel Academy under Professor Gordon, and is a graduate of the Wesleyan College. He taught in the city schools of Nicholasville and graduated from the Hahnemann Col- lege in 1885, and from that time on has practiced in Jessamine county. He is a member of the Board of Examiners for the schools of the county, of the Nicholasville Board of Education, the State Homeopathic Association and of the American Institute of Homeopathy. He is also a member of the Baptist church and of the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias.
He has been earnest and faithful in the discharge of his duties in his profession. In 1879 the Twenty-second Senatorial district, of which Jessamine was a part, became a political battle-ground. It was the home district of the Hon. J. C. S. Blackburn, and the Hon. Henry L. Martin was nominated on a platform antagonistic to Senator Blackburn's views. Jessamine county, by courtesy, was entitled to name the Democratic candidate, and a strong popular man was required. By a unanimous demand Dr. Welch was called to make the race for Blackburn. His majority in the district was 2,454, an extraordinary manifestation of the confi- dence of the people of the district. Jessamine county gave him an almost unprecedented majority of 977 votes. His conduct in the legislature justified the confidence of his district. He took a prominent part in the deliberations of that historical legislature.
DR. T. R. WELSH.
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
Harrison Daniel.
Harrison Daniel was for many years one of the most promi- nent citizens of Jessamine county. He was the grandson of Col. John Price, and born in 1790. His father, John Daniel, was a native of Orange county, Virginia, and came to Kentucky in the year 1787. He was related to the Daniels in the northern neck of Virginia, and family history says that he served in the army of General Washington at Brandywine, Trenton and Monmouth. He settled on Marble creek and here his son was born. In the early history of Kentucky Mr. Daniel was a useful and important character. He was High Sheriff and represented Jessamine county in the legislature in 1826. He possessed extraordinary mathematical talents. His son, William Daniel, went to the Mexican war in the company of Captain Willis. He had a won- derful faculty for making and keeping friends, and many of his descendants still remain in Jessamine county, whose people their ancestor so faithfully served.
Dr. John C. Welch.
Dr. John C. Welch was born in Jessamine county in 1823. He practiced medicine for forty years in the county, except dur- ing his service for four years as surgeon of the Twentieth Ken- tucky volunteer infantry. In 1863 he was promoted to brigade surgeon. In 1877 and 1879 he represented Jessamine county in the lower house of the legislature. He was a brother of Dr. Thomas R. Welch, the distinguished Presbyterian divine.
George Brown.
George Brown was born in Nicholasville on February 28, 1819, and died October 30, 1897. He first attended school at St. Joseph's, Bardstown, Ky., afterward at Center College, Dan- ville and finally at Transylvania University in Lexington. Upon leaving college he at once engaged in the business of the manu- facture of hemp. His father had been one of the pioneers in hemp manufacture in Lexington and the son acquired a practical
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
knowledge of the business in early life. Owning a large num- ber of slaves, which he used in his business, he made it extremely profitable and he continued in the manufacture of hemp for many years. In the fall of 1853 he moved to a farm on Jessamine creek, about two miles from Nicholasville, and in conjunction with his farm operated a hemp manufactory. He married Ann M. Hemphill in 1843, who proved to him an affectionate, faithful and helpful wife. She was one of the model housekeepers of Jes- samine county and as neighbor and friend had no superior.
Mr. Brown was a man of intense activity; domestic in his taste, he loved his home and added to it those things which made it attractive. He was a model husband and father. When twenty-two years of age, he united with the Nicholasville Presby- terian church, in the faith of which he continued to the end of his life, and at his death he was the oldest living member of the or- ganization. He was converted under the preaching of Rev. David Todd. He was efficient and earnest in his Christian work and was always one of the liberal and helpful members of the con- gregation. He was a pure, good man; long president of the Jessamine County Bible Society, he was not only active but use- ful in the Bible work and has left behind him no enemies and a host of friends.
Gen. Samuel Dickerson Jackman.
Gen. Samuel Dickerson Jackman was a Brigadier-General in the Confederate Army of Missouri. He was born in Nicholas- ville in the brick house on the left hand side of the road leading to Sulphur Well, and opposite the present house of Thos. B. Crutcher, Sept. 18, 1825. He was a courageous soldier, vigorous and active in the field, and was extremely successfuly in his raids on the Federal lines in Missouri during the war. His mother was the daughter of David Dickerson, and he served in the War of 1812. His father, Dr. John Jackman, left Jessamine county and settled in Missouri in 1831. General Jackman removed from Missouri at the close of the war, to Texas, where he died in 1893. He amassed a large fortune and died childless.
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
Judge Wm. H. Phillips.
It is a remarkable fact that every officeholder in Jessamine county, upon the occasion of the centennial of its capital city, was born and reared in the county. Judge. Wm. H. Phillips, who is County Judge, has held that office longer than any man who ever had it. He was born in Jessamine county on the 30th of March, 1838. His education was received at the common schools, and
the early part of his life was passed on a farm. He attended Bethel Academy as a student, coming from his father's home, in Nicholasville. From the time of his earliest manhood to 1874 he was an industrious farmer, and he never sought office but was a faithful and efficient worker for his father. In that year he was nominated for County Judge. The nomination was to some ex-
18
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
tent unexpected by him and unsought. At that time the Demo- cratie nominees were considered the leaders of a forlorn hope; the Republican party was organized and had able leaders, and all the county offices were held by them; but Judge Phillips was elected by a majority of fourteen votes, and the Circuit Court Clerk was chosen by the same majority. The rest of the Demo- cratic ticket was defeated. In 1878 Judge Phillips was again elected, although opposed by the strongest man in the Repub- lican party, and also by an independent Democrat; then his ma- jority was 26 votes. In 1882 he was elected without opposition, and he has held the office of County Judge for 23 years. His an- cestors were Huguenots, who came from the James river, and set- tled in Kentucky about 1790. His official career is unusual and extraordinary, and manifests the high esteem in which he is held by the people of his native county. His official acts have stood the closest scrutiny, and his numerous endorsements by the voters is a testimonial of the highest character ..
Dr. Alexander K. Marshall.
Dr. Alexander K. Marshall was a member of Congress from the Ashland District in 1855. He was the third son of Dr. Louis Marshall, who was the youngest brother of Chief-Justice John Marshall. Louis Marshall lived in Woodford county, at a place called Buck Pond. There Alexander K. Marshall was born the LIth of February, 1808. He studied medicine and at the age of 25 came to Nicholasville and practiced his profession, which he did with marked success. He united with John G. Chiles in 1842, in operating a stage and mail line through the Kentucky mountains to Bean Station, Tenn., and continued in this business for more than 20 years. This, however, did not prevent him from practicing his profession.
He was a man of fine presence and of courage in the state- ment of his convictions. He represented Jessamine county in the Constitutional Convention of 1849, defeating George I. Brown by 80 majority. He was elected to Congress on the Know Nothing ticket, defeating James (). Harrison, a distinguished Lexington lawyer, by over 1.500 majority. He died in Fayette county in 1886.
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
James Willlard Mitchell.
The present County Attorney, James Willard Mitchell, was born in Nicholasville, in 1861. His father, Jas. T. Mitchell, was eldest son of Dr. Geo. W. Mitchell; his mother was the third daughter of the late Thomas Jefferson and Mary Jane Wallace Brown, who was the eldest daughter of Joseph Wallace, son of Capt John Wallace. Captain John Wallace was one of the most
distinguished of the Revolutionary soldiers who came to Jessa- mine. He served with General Washington and General Wayne; he was at the battles of Brandywine, Trenton, Monmouth, Long Island, and was with Washington at Valley Forge.
No man in Jessamine county commands in a higher degree the confidence of his fellow-citizens and no one is capable of arousing more enthusiasm in his party and among his friends. He has
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
great will force, unflinching energy, and has been often compared to Gen. Joseph Wheeler, whom he is not unlike in stature and appearance.
Mr. Mitchell was elected County Attorney by a large and flat- tering majority. The County Attorneyship was the first position to which Mr. Mitchell was elected and he fills it with credit to him- self and to his constituents. He is a man also of fine business capacity, thorough reading and preparation, great punctuality in the discharge of his official and personal business. Few men are more eloquent or effective on the stump. He understands hu- man nature, and is destined if he chooses to follow public life, to become a leader of men.
He married Miss Annie Anderson, daughter of Capt. Samuel M. Anderson, He is thoroughly identified with the people of Jessamine, and they, in turn, feel a just pride in his success and his attainments in his profession.
Francis M. Bristow
Was born in Clark county, Ky., on the IIth of August, 1804. He lived for twenty-six years on the farm now occupied by Mrs. Mary Ann Bourne, three miles east of Nicholasville. He was well educated, studied law, and divided his time between his pro- fession and farm. He early moved to Todd county with his father, who had settled in Jessamine county in the year 1790. In 1830-31 Mr. Bristow was elected to the Kentucky Legislature, in 1846 to the State Senate, and was a member of the State Con- stitutional Convention in 1849. In 1854 he was elected Repre- sentative in Congress to fill the unexpired term of Presley Ewing, and in 1859 was again elected as Representative from Kentucky to the 36th Congress.
His son, Benjamin H. Bristow, served with distinction in the Federal army, afterwards became Solicitor-General, was a can- didate for President before the Republican party, was long a resident of Louisville, but moved from that city to New York, where he has achieved distinction and success in the practice of law.
Frances M. Bristow died at Elkton, Ky., January 10, 1864.
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
Curd Lowry, County Clerk.
Curd Lowry, the present county clerk of Jessamine county, is the third son of the late Judge Melvin T. Lowry, who was county and circuit clerk for twelve years prior to his death, in 1887. He secured the office in opposition to Robt. S. Perry, who had held it for sixteen years and his race in this respect was phenomenal.
He was born November 19, 1862, at the liome of his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Harrison Daniels.
He was for two terms deputy clerk under L. D. Baldwin. In 1887 he moved to Kansas City where he remained two years and then returned to a position in the First National Bank. His great-grandfather on his mother's side was John Daniels, who settled in Fayette county in 1788 and married a sister of Col.
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
John Price. His paternal grandfather settled in Jessamine county long before its organization. He comes of distinguished parentage and lineage and his popularity is the result of his kindly heart and gentlemany manner.
Magistrates of Jessamine County.
In this, 1898, Jessamine county is divided into five magisterial districts. At the last November election, the gentlemen chosen to fill this responsible office were as follows :
ROBERT CLEMMONS.
Mr. Clemmons resides at Brannon on the Cincinnati Southern Railroad near Fayette county line. He is one of the leading
farmers in Jessamine county, and has been elected magistrate for several terms He was born in Fayette county, is about fifty- five years of age, and is honest, clear-headed, and a faithful repre- sentative of the interests which his fellow-citizens entrust to his keeping.
JUDGE A. W. ROBINSON.
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
JAMES T. BARKLEY.
He resides in Nicholasville. He was the son of Mason Bark- ley, who was a large farmer on the Harrodsburg Pike. He was born in 1848, and is engaged in the hardware business in Nicholas- ville. He is a man who is highly esteemed by his fellow-citizens.
ALLEN W. ROBINSON
Resides in the Marble creek neighborhood. He was a grand- son of John Robinson. He is a man who never shrinks from do- ing his duty, and has made a most efficient officer.
WILSON FAIN
Lives in the Hickman neighborhood. He is a son of Larkin Fain, who represented Jessamine county in the Legislature in 1850-55. He enjoys to an unusual degree the confidence and respect of his fellow-citizens in that portion of the county in which he resides.
..
Col. Wm. A. Lewis.
Who commanded a regiment from Kentucky at the battle of the Raisin, in 1812, in which regiment were two companies, Gray's and Price's, from Jessamine county, was long a resident in the county. He was born in Virginia, in 1778, and died in 1835. His exposures in the War of 1812 brought on rheumatism, and the colds he contracted in the northwestern army settled in his eyes and resulted in a total loss of eyesight. He was a gallant soldier and a man respected and loved by all the people of the county. In the terrible battle of Raisin he showed splendid heroism, and a high order of courage, and had his advice been followed, the terrible tragedy of that battle would have been avoided.
Allen L. McAfee
Was long a prominent public man in Jessamine county. He died of cancer of the throat March 16, 1888. He was the second son of Col. Robert McAfee, and was born in McAfee, Mercer county, on the 15th of August, 1825. He was admitted to the bar in
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
Harrodsburg in 1845, and removed to Little Rock, Arkansas, where he commenced the practice of his profession. About this time the war with Mexico broke out, and he volunteered as a pri- vate in Captain Mean's company of cavalry, which was one of the companies in the regiment of Col. Ambrose Yell, who was killed at the battle of Buena Vista. In that battle Colonel McAfee bore a prominent part in the charge of Humphrey Marshall and Col- onel Yell against 6,000 lancers, led by General Mineon, who at- tempted to take the American batteries. In the charge in which McKee, Clay and Willis were lost, Colonel McAfee saw a Mexi- can lancer in the act of killing a wounded soldier. He instantly shot the Mexican. He used what was in those days a celebrated gun known as the Mississippi rifle.
At the close of the Mexican war, Colonel McAfee moved to Nicholasville, and married Miss Elizabeth Shely. In 1857 he was elected a member of the Kentucky legislature. Early in 1861 Colonel McAfee was arrested as a Southern sympathizer ; he was taken from his home at 12 o'clock at night on the 21st of June, and without warrant or charge was carried and lodged in prison in Lexington. A writ of habeas corpus was taken out by Frank Hunt, Esq., and W. C. P. Breckinridge, Esq., in order to get Colonel McAfee before the Federal Court, then in session at Frankfort, but the Federal officers suspended the writ of habeas corpus. On the way to Camp Chase, in Cincinnati, he escaped by walking away from the guards, passed through Central Ken- tucky and reached the South. He was commissioned lieutenant- colonel by James A. Seddon, Confederate Secretary of War. In 1864 he raised a battalion of 300 mounted men, and was with Gen- eral Jones in Western Virginia, and helped to defeat General Av- crill's rail on Harrodsburg in 1864. He was severely wounded in 1862 at Big Creek Gap. He was captured in 1864, and re- mained in Camp Douglas until the close of the war. He was a magnificent looking man in physical appearance, and possessed a high degree of courage.
In 1866 he was elected State Senator, defeating Richard Spurr, of Fayette, by over 500 votes.
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
Andrew McAfee.
Andrew McAfee, who at present worthily represents his ward in the city council, is one of the younger generation of colored men, who by his conduct and character has done much to dis-
sipate the prejudice against the education of his race. He was educated in the local schools for his race, and by his energy and determination has won the confidence and trust of his con- stituents.
5
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
Hon. William R. Welch,
Long Judge of the Appellate Court of Illinois, was the son of Jolın and Eliza Rice Welch, and was born in Jessamine county, one mile south of Nicholasville, in January, IS28. He graduated at Transylvania University, in Lexington, and early in his pro- fessional life was elected County Attorney of Jessamine county. In 1864 he removed to Carlinsville, Ill., where he entered upon the practice of his profession and at once took high rank as a lawyer. Three times he was elected Circuit Judge of the district which comprised his home, and was twice appointed Appellate Judge, which latter position he was filling at the time of his death, in August, ISSS.
A strong partisan, he was always an impartial judge, and it was said of him that he had fewer reversals than any Circuit Judge in this State. He married Miss Annie Corn, a most lovely and charming woman, who also was born in Nicholasville, and resided there at the time of her marriage.
Samuel Thompson Corn
Was born in Nicholasville in 1838. He graduated at Princeton College, N. J. He served on Col. Sanders Bruce's staff during the war, in the Federal Army, and at its close located at Carlins- ville, Ill., to which place his brother-in-law, Judge William R. Welch, had preceded him. He was twice elected Common- wealth's Attorney from his district, and was, in 1884, appointed by Grover Cleveland a District Judge of Wyoming Territory. In 1896 he was elected Chief Justice of the State of Wyoming, and now resides in Cheyenne, that state.
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
Centennial Exercises, 1898.
The centennial of Nicholasville was celebrated by the citizens of the town and Jessamine county, on the 16th day of September, 1898. Both the county and the city made public subscriptions to the fund necessary for the celebration. The event created tin-
B. M. ARNETT, Chairman Executive Committee.
usual enthusiasm among the people of the county, and one of the largest crowds ever seen in Central Kentucky was assembled on this occasion.
The procession, representing the industrial interests of the city and county occupied the morning ; while historical and patriotic addresses took up the afternoon.
CHARLES DEERING.
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
Louisville, Cincinnati, Lexington, Danville, Versailles, Shelby- ville, and other cities and towns sent large delegations to the celebration.
The executive committee, consisting of B. M. Arnett, chair- man ; W. L. Steele, J. D. Hughes, H. H. Lowry, Charles Deering, and J. B. Stears, provided a most interesting program and con- ducted the exercises in the most patriotic and pleasing manner.
GEO B. TAYLOR, Chief Marshal Centennial Celebration.
Committees of ladies from all parts of the county united in completing the arrangements for the great occasion. These committees were as follows :
Hanly-Mrs. Joe Wallace, Mrs. W. J. Wilmore.
Wilmore-Mrs. John B. Chambers, Mrs. James Hawkins.
Keene-Mrs. C. E. Smith, Mrs. James Sallee.
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
Nealton-Mrs. Annie Davis, Mrs. E. J. Young. Brannon-Mrs. Chas. Smith, Mrs. Len Bryant. Logana-Mrs. Chas. Spillman. Ambrose-Mrs. Newton Davis. Little Hickman-Mrs. J. H. Dean.
East Hickman-Mrs. Frank Mitchell, Mrs. Henry Muir.
The following was the program for the occasion :
1798-1898.
Jessamine County and nicholasville Centennial.
10:30 a. m .: Street parade under supervision of Chief Marshal Geo. B. Taylor, and assistants.
12 m .: Dinner on Duncan Heights.
I:30 p. m .: Music by band-" My Country, ' Tis of Thee." Prayer by Dr. L Beecher Todd.
Song, by quartette-"Auld Lang Syne."
Address of welcome, on behalf of Jessamine county-Judge W. H Phillips.
Music by band-" Hail, Columbia! Happy Land."
Address of welcome, in behalf Nicholasville-Maj. W. L. Steele.
Music by band-" Old Kentucky Home."
Address-Col. Bennett H. Young.
Song by quartette-" Star Spangled Banner."
Address-Hon. Evan E. Settle.
Music by band-" Dixie."
INDEX.
PAGE.
PAGE.
Adams Mr.
letter un-
signed .
104
African M. E. Church
198
Argabrite, Rev. E. W. .
190
Arnett, Chairman Board of
Managers Jessamine Cen-
tennial Committee
283
Asbury, Bishop M. E. Church, His Dreams .
169
Asbury, Bishop M. E. Church,
In America
169
Asbury College, founded 1890 171 Allen, Colonel - I28 Artist Price, The Blind, Gen. Samuel Woodson 232-234
Act of County Division
66-67
Arnstiger, Michael
18-19
Academy of Bethel .
169
Barry, William T. .
206-208
Barkley, Jolın .
228-229
Barkley, James T.
279
Baptist Church of Nicholas- ville 156
Baptist Church, Mt. Pleasant,
with picture
170
Bethel Academy, Act Incor-
porating
173
Bethel School Board and Con-
ference of 1797
173-174
Bethany Christian Church Or-
ganization
193
Bishops Coke and Asbury in
1789
169
Biographical Sketches of Emi- nent Citizens . 200-285 Bower, Capt. Gustavus, in
1812 104-120 Boat Horn, The, poem of . 40-41
Bragg, General Braxton, at
Public Well .
168
Brown, Col. George W.
167
Brown, Joshua, Soldier, Land-
lord
167
Bronaugh, John S., Commiis-
siouer of Navigation of Ken-
tucky River
.
. 155
Bridge, Engineering of . 152-153 Bridge at the Mouth of Hick- man Creek . 152-153
Boone, Daniel
12
Brown, William
254
Bronaugh, John Spears
267
Brown, George I. .
254
Brown, George .
271
Bristow, Francis M., Pioneer .
276
Brown, Thomas J., picture, 168, 268
Butler, William O., sketcli .
So
Butler, William O. . .
200
Burnside General -, also
the Ninth Army Corps U. S.
at Public Well
168
Buchanan, Dr. Joseph, his Ca-
pillary Steam Engine . . . 163
Butler, Gen. Percival, sketch
of . .
36-41
Burr, Col. Aaron
25
Butler, General William O.,
37-41, 199-200
Burbridge, Gen. S. G. . . .
185
Butler, General William Or-
lando
37-41
Blue Lick, battle of .
17
Black's Station, early settle-
mient . .
46-47
Bowman, David
230
Butler, John
231
Buena Vista, Soldiers at and
battle of .
235-237
Brown, George, picture .
271, 159
Barkley, James T.
279
Camp Nelson and Gen. Win.
Nelson . . .
I85
Cambry, John, letter to Col.
S. M. Duncan . . . . 219-221
History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
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