USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III > Part 100
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SAMUEL JUDSON ROBERTS .- One of the prominent figures in newspaper affairs in Ken- tucky is Samuel Judson Roberts, editor and publisher of the Lexington Leader, which is recognized as one of the leading Republican papers of the state, as well as an effective expo- nent of local interests. Mr. Roberts claims the old Buckeye state as the place of his nativity, and he was born at Pomeroy, Meigs county, Ohio, on the 11th day of February, 1858. He is a son of Rev. Edward Roberts, who was born in Wales and who was there prepared for his chosen vocation by a course of study in the Pontypool Baptist Seminary, after his gradua- tion in which he was duly ordained to the min- istry of the Baptist church. In 1855 he came to America and first located at Ithaca, New York, whence he later removed to Ohio, where he continued in the successful work of the min- istry until his death, which occurred in 1860.
Before coming to this country he married Miss Caroline Matilda Kelly, who likewise was a native of Wales and who now resides at Can- ton, Stark county, Ohio, the wife of Caleb K. Roberts, a brother of her first husband. Grant L. Roberts, a son by the second marriage re- sides at Frankfort, Kentucky, where he is dep- uty collector of internal revenue for the Sev- enth district.
Samuel J. Roberts is indebted to the public schools of Canton, Ohio, for his early educa- tional training, which was there supplemented by a course in the old Canton Academy. He began newspaper work in 1879 on the repor- torial staff of the Cleveland, Ohio, Leader, and a year later became telegraph editor of the Cleveland Herald, afterward absorbed by the Leader. In 1882 he returned to Canton, where for the ensuing six years he was concerned more especially with the business affairs of newspaper and publishing enterprises, a part of the time as circulation manager of the Can- ton Repository. He was elected a member of the city council of Canton in 1885 and served in this capacity for several years. In 1887 he was the Republican nominee for mayor of Canton, but was defeated.
In 1888 Mr. Roberts removed to Kentucky and founded the Lexington Leader, naming it in honor of the paper in Cleveland on which he had served his novitiate in the field of journal- ism. Since coming to Kentucky he has been recognized as a leader in the ranks of the Re- publican party and he had the management of the campaign in this state to secure delegates committed to the support of President McKin- ley in the Republican National convention in 1896, besides which he served as chairman of the Republican campaign committee of Ken- tucky in the ensuing campaign which brought the state into line for Mckinley. On the 28th of July, 1897, President Mckinley appointed Mr. Roberts collector of internal revenue for the Seventh Kentucky district and he assumed the duties of this office on the first of October of that year. He continued this incumbency until September 1, 1910, a period of thirteen consecutive years less one month, notable as the longest term ever served by a collector of internal revenue in this state and one of the longest in the history of the entire department.
In the year 1888, shortly after locating in Kentucky, Mr. Roberts was married to Miss Anna Trout, a daughter of Joseph and Caro- line Meyer Trout, of Canton, Ohio, in which city she was born and reared, and they have since made their home in Lexington.
LEONIDAS WEBB .- A life-long resident of Shelby county, Leonidas Webb has been an important factor in aiding its development and
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growth, whether relating to its agricultural, commercial or financial interests, and is widely known not only as a prominent and progressive farmer, but as president of the Bank of Simp- sonville. He was born November 15, 1852, two and one-half miles northwest of Simpson- ville, on the farm adjoining the one he now owns and occupies and on which his mother was born. He is a son of the late A. T. Webb, and comes of honored pioneer stock, his grand- father, James Webb, having been an early set- tler of Shelby county.
James Webb, born in Virginia in 1784, near Richmond, there grew to man's estate. With much the same restless spirit characteristic of the later generation of young Americans, he forced his way westward, about 1804, coming to Shelby county, Kentucky, and settling in the Wilderness. He bought land in the vicinity of what is now Simpsonville and began the pioneer task of redeeming a farm from its original wildness. In 1833, at the age of forty- nine years, he died of cholera. His wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Puddaugh, sur- vived him, passing away in 1875, at a very ad- vanced age.
A. T. Webb, born in Shelby county, near Simpsonville, March 22, 1808, was reared on the home farm, as a boy and a youth helping his father in clearing a portion of land. He succeeded to the ownership of a portion of the parental homestead, and was so successful in his agricultural operations that he became quite an extensive landholder, owning about four hundred and eighty acres. In 1858 he built the fine brick house which is now standing on the place, and occupied it until his death, July 29, 1879. He was ever interested in the education of the young people, and for twelve years was proprietor of Woodland Seminary, which was established for the benefit of those in the neigh- borhood desiring an advanced course of study. Two or three well educated teachers, usually from New England, were employed as instruct- ors, and was considered one of the best schools of the kind in Kentucky. It was established through the efforts of Mr. A. T. Webb, who, though not himself a scholar, perceived the need of such an institution and erected the building known as the Woodland Seminary. At the outbreak of the Civil war the school was closed, twenty-one boys, under the in- struction of an able teacher, John McNeil, en- listing for service in the conflict, some enlist- ing the Union army, and others joining the Confederacy.
The maiden name of the wife of A. T. Webb was Phoebe Pemberton. She was born not far from Simpsonville, as mentioned above, her birth occurring August 4. 1820.
She was a daughter of William and Jane Pemberton, who came to Shelby county from Woodford county in the earlier part of the nineteenth century. She lived to the venera- ble age of eighty-six years, passing away June 30, 1906, and being buried in the family ceme- tery, on the farm, where the bodies of her parents were laid to rest. Of their family of nine children six grew to years of maturity, namely: Georgette, formerly a teacher in the old seminary, died at the age of thirty years; Elvira still lives on the old homestead; Serelda died at the age of eighteen years; Leondias, the subject of this sketch; Leslie, on the old farm; and Eugene, owning and occupying a part of his father's estate.
Leonidas Webb completed his early educa- tion in the Woodland Seminary, in the mean- time being well drilled in the various branches common to life on a farm. At the death of his father he was appointed administrator of his estate, and remained at home until affairs were settled, managing the farm about ten years in all. He received as his share ninety acres of the old home farm, and bought from Benjamin Shouse two hundred and twenty- eight acres of the land now included in his present farm, making his home estate a farm of three hundred and eighteen acres. He also owns another farm, which contains one hun- dred acres, and has title to other land of value, his real estate holdings being large and valu- able. Mr. Webb is a general farmer, inter- ested in all branches of agriculture, but makes a specialty of stock raising and breeding. The house which he occupies was built of brick in 1839 by Rev. John Dale, a Baptist minister, who became the second husband of Mrs. William Pemberton and step-father of Phoebe Pemberton Webb, Mr. Webb's mother. Mr. Webb is a Democrat in politics, but not an office seeker. He is president of the Simpson- ville Bank, of which he has been a director since its organization, in 1902. For a quarter of a century Mr. Webb has been a practical surveyor, operating extensively in this part of the state, among other surveys of importance having definitely located from old records the original Boone trace for a long distance in Shelby county.
On June 20, 1889, Mr. Webb was united in marriage with Nellie Williams, who was born in Harrison county, Indiana, a daughter of B. F. and Dorothy (Peyton) Williams. Her father was born in Floyd county, Indi- ana, a son of David Williams, who moved from Kentucky to Indiana and was engaged in farming the greater part of his life. He married a daughter of Nelson Peyton, (son of Lewis Peyton of Virginia,) who was born in
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Bullitt county, Kentucky, in 1801. Mr. and Mrs. Webb have one child, Stella, wife of James Dixon. Mr. Webb and his family are members of the Baptist church.
DANIEL W. LINDSEY is one of the best known and most highly honored of Kentucky's citizens, not only as a lawyer of unusual abil- ity, but as one who has borne a prominent part in the military history of the state. Some one has summed him up as a good lawyer and financier, a fine soldier, a splendid citizen and a gentleman, and no greater panegyric could be offered. Mr. Lindsey, who is one of that splendid legal coterie of Frankfort, was born in the capital city on October 4, 1835. Both of his parents were likewise natives of the Blue Grass state, their names being Thomas Noble Lindsey and Isabella P. (Weisiger) Lindsey, both names of honor and conse- quence. The father was born near Newport and the mother in Frankfort. The paternal grandfather was John B. Lindsey and the paternal grandmother previous to her mar- riage was a Miss Noble and a relative of Gov- ernor Noble of Indiana. She was born in Pennsylvania and was of Scotch-Irish an- cestry. The mother of the subject, Isabella P. (Weisiger) Lindsey, was the daughter of Daniel Weisiger, after whom her son was named. Daniel Weisiger and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Lucy Price, came from Virginia to Kentucky, and were pioneers of Frankfort.
Thomas Noble Lindsey, the father, was a lawyer by profession and for many years practiced successfully at the Frankfort bar. He enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the community and held many positions of honor and trust. He served as commonwealth's at- torney in both branches of the General As- sembly of Kentucky and also as a member of the Kentucky State Constitutional Convention, in 1849-50. He lived to be sixty-nine years of age. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, of whom four were sons and three daughters, Daniel W. being the eldest.
Daniel W. Lindsey was reared in Frankfort, and in the excellent private schools of the city secured the foundation of that splendid edu- cation of which he is now the possessor. In 1853 he was graduated from the Kentucky Military Institute, which in after years con- ferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts. He did not at once determine upon his career in life but for a short time after his gradua- tion he was engaged in the coal mining bus- iness. He entered the Louisville Law School in the winter of 1856-7, and was graduated from that institution. In the spring of 1858 he hung out his shingle at Frankfort and was
practicing law when the Civil war came on. Mr. Lindsey resigned as captain of a company of state guards in May of 1861 and when General William Nelson opened a recruiting station for Federal troops Mr. Lindsey be- came a drill master for the recruits. When General Thomas L. Crittenden became in- spector general, Mr. Lindsey became assistant adjutant general on the staff and when Gen- eral Crittenden was commissioned general in the United States army, General Lind- sey was commissioned to raise a regiment. This he accomplished with energy and ex- pedition, and the regiment became the Twenty- second Kentucky Volunteer Infantry and as such was mustered into the United States Army service, with Mr. Lindsey as colonel.
Thereupon began for him a varied and ad- venturous career and one of great usefulness to his country. He served with General Gar- field's expedition up the Sandy River, par- ticipated in the taking of Cumberland Gap, in the expedition up the Kenawah Valley, and was later ordered to Memphis, Tennessee. In the latter place the troops were reorganized and he was placed in command of a brigade .. After the Vicksburg campaign he was with' his command ordered to New Orleans in the Department of the Gulf, and remained in that department until the latter part of 1863, when he tendered his resignation to become inspector general, and later adjutant general of Kcn- tucky, which position he held until the fall of 1867. During that time he accomplished a great and extremely important work, none other than the compilation of the Adjutant General's report, 1861-1866, of Kentucky, a two volume publication which contained the military history of every officer and soldier in the Civil war. This has been an authentic and much referred to work, a complete mil- itary history of the state up to the date of its issue.
In January, 1868, General Lindsey began upon his interrupted legal career. entering into partnership with his father, which part- nership continued until the death of his father. Since that time he and his brother. John B. Lindsey, have been associated in the practice of the profession and the Lindsey name is one indissolubly associated with the history of the Frankfort bar. The interests of General Lindsey, as befitting one of his ability, have not been confined to his profession. Since 1868 he has been a director of the Branch Bank of Kentucky, which became the National Branch Bank of Kentucky and of which he was elected president in 1880. He gave ef- ficient service in this high office until the bank's relation to the Kentucky National Bank of
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Louisville was severed and it was nationalized. He at first declined the presidency of the re- organized institution, but three years ago, upon the death of the president of the bank, he was again elected president and accepted, and this position he now holds.
In the early days a Whig, he has since the organization of the Republican party given his heart and hand to the men and measures sanctioned by it and his influence politically is of weight. He and his family are mem- bers of the Episcopal church. General Lind- sey is very prominent and popular in lodge circles. He is a Mason and is eligible to wear the gallant white plume of the Knight Templar. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows ; to the Benevolent and Protective Or- der of Elks; and manifests his interest in the comrades of other days by membership in the Grand Army of the Republic.
General Lindsey assumed marital relations in January of 1864, the lady to become his wife being Miss Catherine McIlvain Fitch. Their union has been blessed by the birth of the following children: Antoinette, deceased ; Thomas Noble, an attorney in the office of his father; Henry F., cashier of the Branch National Bank of Kentucky ; Daniel W., an at- torney of Frankfort; and Catherine, wife of Wade H. Negus, of Greeneville, Mississippi, a banker of that place.
ROBERT A. BRIGGS .- This well-known and highly esteemed citizen of Shelby county is the owner of a well improved, landed estate located one mile northwest of Shelbyville, and he is recognized as one of the representative agriculturists and stock-growers of this section of his native state, while he has long been prominent in connection with public affairs. He has been called upon to serve in various offices of trust and has shown himself admira- bly fitted for leadership in thought and action as a broadminded and loyal citizen. He was a valiant soldier of the Confederacy in the Civil war and in all the relations of life his course has been guided and governed by those principles of integrity and honor that ever con- serve popular confidence and approbation.
Robert A. Briggs was born near the town of Bloomfield, Nelson county, Kentucky, on the 6th of October, 1842, and is a son of Andrew and Sarah (Ferguson) Briggs. The father was a native of Scotland and the mother of Kentucky, the latter's family having been founded in the Blue Grass state at an early day. The elder Mr. Briggs established his home in Nelson county, where he became a successful agriculturist and the owner of a landed estate of very considerable area. Though he was a blacksmith by trade, the ma-
jor part of his active career was one of close identification with the basic industry. He was a man of strong and sterling character and commanded the esteem of all who knew him. He was married twice and became the father of twelve children, seven by the first wife and five by the second.
He whose name initiates this review was reared to the age of twelve years upon the old homestead farm and was afforded the advan- tages of the schools of the locality and period. When he was twelve years of age the father died and the family was scattered, at the out- break of the Civil war, when his loyalty to the South caused him soon to tender his aid in defense of the cause of the Confederacy. In June, 1862, at the age of nineteen years. Mr. Briggs became a private in Morgan's body- guard and was afforded opportunity to gain his full quota of experience in connection with the progress of the great conflict. He partici- pated in many engagements and had the dis- tinction of being for some time with the fa- mous raider. He continued in active service until the close of the war and was granted his final parole in 1865.
At the close of his long and arduous service as a soldier of the Confederacy this youthful son of Mars returned to his home in Nelson county and on May 30, 1865, he was married. He then engaged in farming on a portion of his father's estate, where he continued to live until December, 1869, when he moved to Washington county. In 1876 he returned to his native county and engaged in the hotel business at Bardstown. In the spring of 1883 he sold the hotel and removed to Shelby coun- ty, where he has ever since maintained his home and where he has become the owner of a fine landed estate, eligibly situated and admira- bly improved. Thrift and prosperity are in evidence on every side and he is known as one of the progressive and enterprising representa- tives of the agricultural industry in this sec- tion. He also breeds high grade live stock.
From his youth to the present time Mr. Briggs has been staunchly arrayed as an advo- cate of the general principles and policies for which the Democratic party has ever stood sponsor and he has given effective service in its cause. He has shown much discrimination in the directing of local political forces and has been a valued factor in the councils of his party. In the early '70's, while a resident of Washington county, he was elected to repre- sent his district in the state senate, in which he served one term and later he was elected to serve out an unexpired term in the lower house of the legislature, as a representative from Nelson county. Mr. Briggs served four
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years as sheriff of Shelby county, was deputy sheriff for a similar period, and for two or three years he held the position of magistrate, besides which he has served in minor public offices. He has been influential in local affairs and has ever been ready to lend his aid in the promotion of measures and enterprises tend- ing to conserve the best interests of the com- munity. He is affiliated with the Masonic fra- ternity and with John H. Waller Camp, United Confederate Veterans' Association. His wife holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church.
On the 30th of May, 1865, Mr. Briggs was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Wycoff, who was born and reared in Washington coun- ty, this state, and who is a daughter of Addi- son and Jane (Gray) Wycoff, who passed the closing years of their lives at Mackville, that county. In conclusion of this review are en- tered brief data concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Briggs: Jennie Gray is the wife of Joseph McDowell, Jr., and they reside in Boyle county, Kentucky ; Emma H. is the wife of John Goeghegan of this county; Adeline is the wife of Rev. William T. Overstreet, a clergyman of the Presbyterian church and now incumbent of a pastoral charge at Perryville ; Lettie O. is the wife of Stanley Lawson, of New Mexico; R. Walter, who married Miss Bertha Catlett, deals extensively in horses and makes his residence at Shelbyville, and Wil- son Warren remains at the parental home.
HENRY T. WISE .- A prominent and influ- ential business man in Shelby county, Ken- tucky, is Henry T. Wise, who has been en- gaged in the general merchandise business at Chestnut Grove since 1894. He is a man of unusual energy and decided executive ability and through his own well directed endeavors he has made of success not an accident but a logical result. At the present time, in 1911, he is giving most efficient service as magistrate and he has ever manifested a deep and sincere interest in Democratic politics, taking an act- ive part in the local councils thereof and doing all in his power to advance the general welfare of the community.
Mr. Wise was born at the old "Twelve Mile House" in Jefferson county, Kentucky, the date of his nativity being the 19th of October, 1864. He is a son of Thomas Henderson Wise, who was born in Bourbon county, this state, as was also his mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Henderson. Thomas H. Wise married Miss Rebecca Wise, and they settled in Jefferson county, where they con- ducted the hotel known as the "Twelve Mile House." In 1865 they removed to Shelby
county and settled in the vicinity of Chestnut Grove, where he was long engaged in agricul- tural pursuits and where he continued to re- side until his death, which occurred in 1884, at the age of sixty-five years. The mother, who survives her honored husband, has at- tained to an advanced age and she is now liv- ing, at sixty-six years. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas H. Wise were born three children,- Ella, who is the wife of R. J. Shipman, of Shelby county, Kentucky; Henry T., the im- mediate subject of this review, and William S., who is engaged in farming in Oldham county, Kentucky.
An infant of but one year of age at the time of his parents' removal to Shelby county, Mr. Wise has passed practically his entire life thus far in the vicinity of Chestnut Grove. He early availed himself of the advantages af- forded in the public schools and after reach- ing man's estate he turned his attention to the great basic industry of agriculture, continuing to be identified with that line of enterprise for some four or five years after his father's death. He then came to Chestnut Grove, where he has been engaged in the mercantile business since 1894. In connection with his business he has built up a large and lucrative patronage and he caters to a most fastidious trade. In politics he accords a stalwart allegi- ance to the cause of the Democratic party and he has ever taken a deep and earnest interest in all matters projected for the good of the community. He has served most creditably as postmaster of Chestnut Grove and in No- vember, 1909, he was honored by his fellow citi- zens with election to the office of magistrate, in discharging the duties of which important position he is acquitting himself with honor and distinction. He and his wife are devout members of the Baptist church and in a fra- ternal way he is affiliated with Solomon Lodge, No. 5 Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is past master.
In Shelby county, on the 22d of October, 1891, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Wise to Miss Helen L. Price, whose birth occurred in this county on the 29tli of September, 1867, and who is a daughter of James C. and Cath- erine (Thompson) Price, representative citi- zens of Shelby county. Mr. and Mrs. Wise are the parents of one daughter,-Catherine Thompson Wise, who was born on the 27th day of June, 1909.
JAMES LEE GRAY is one of those strong per- sonalities that advance straight forward to success. He commenced very young to do for himself and has demonstrated that his charac- ter was strong and self reliant, that he placed
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a goal in front of him and never rested until he had reached it and it is to such characters that the strong of the earth are made.
Mr. Gray was born on the farm where he now lives, June 12, 1865, the son of James Harvey and Mary Hester (Brown) Gray. The father was born on the same pike, in December, 1828, and died February 14, 1878. The mother was born in Harrison county, Kentucky, August 22, 1836, and is now living in Texas. They were the parents of eight children, seven of whom are living: Dr. Frank, an oculist, living at Ft. Worth, Texas; George G., living at Midland, Texas; Thomas, at Midland, Texas; James Lee, our subject ; Mary G., wife of A. Ashbrook, at Newark, Texas ; Dr. J. B., an oculist at El Paso, Texas ; and H. W., at Kansas City, Missouri.
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