A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 101

Author: Johnson, E. Polk, 1844-; Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 860

USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III > Part 101

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The paternal grandfather of our subject and his wife were Francis and Lydia (Givens) Gray, he, a native of Virginia and his wife of Harrison county, Kentucky. He came to Ken- tucky, located in Harrison county, married and began farming where our subject's father was born. The maternal grandfather was Francis Brown, a Virginian, who married Polly Baxter and she after his death married a Mr. J. Lail.

James Harvey Gray, the father of our sub- ject, grew to manhood on the farm, obtained a common-school education and in 1851 married and started for himself on a small tract of land now operated by our subject. The father built the house and buildings and also built and for a number of years operated a distillery on his farm. He was a breeder and raiser of thoroughbred Short-horn cattle and was great- ly interested in breeding Cotswold sheep and imported some of his sires. Our subject has in his possession silver cups and plates his father won as prizes on his sheep. He was a successful man and owned three hundred and thirty acres of land at his death. He aspired to no political office, although a life-long Dem- ocrat.

James Lee Gray was reared on the farm and received his education at the country schools. His father died when he was but thirteen years old and he began work on the farm. In 1885 he left home and went to western Texas, where until the spring of 1895 he worked on the plains with cattle. He then returned home and became engaged with farming on the farm where he was born. He now owns one hun- dred and seventy-three acres of fine land, on which he is raising grain, stock and tobacco. He stands in high estimation among all who know him, having the respect of all and the sincere friendship of many of his intimates. He is a Democrat, and he and his wife are

members of the Broadwell Presbyterian church.

On February 4, 1903, Mr. Gray married Myrtle Old, born at Logansport, Indiana, a daughter of William A. Old, born at Rich- mond, Indiana, March 3, 1839, and still living, a retired engineer, and making his home in Cynthiana, Kentucky. His wife was Susan Asbury, who was born near Colmanville, Har- rison county, Kentucky, November 30, 1844, and still living, also making her home in Cyn- thiana. She is a daughter of Virtner S. and Sallie W. (Ingles) Asbury, he born near Claysville, Harrison county, September 20, 1816, and died at Cynthiana in June, 1900. She was born in Harrison county, Kentucky, March 24, 1823, and died May 8, 1898, a daughter of John Ingles, who was born in Harrison county, Kentucky. He married Susan Stern, who was born near Falmouth, Pendleton county, Kentucky. John Ingles was a son of Joseph Ingles, a native of North Carolina, who married Mary Bryan, daughter of Daniel Boone's sister. They came to Ken- tucky and settled near Boyd in Harrison county, Kentucky, and here he owned a thou- sand acres of land.

Mrs. Gray is one of three children: Wil- liam A., in Tennessee; Harry V., in Indian- apolis, Indiana; and Mrs. Gray. To Mr. and Mrs. Gray one daughter has been born, Mary Margaret.

JOHN W. HENDRICKS .- As president of the Hendricks, Moore, Young Company of Lex- ington, John W. Hendricks is actively identi- fied with one of the leading industries of the city, and is a contractor and builder and as a large lumber manufacturer and dealer is carry- ing on a substantial business. He was born in this city April 4, 1864, a son of John H. Hendricks and grandson of Cambridge F. Hendricks, who was born in Harrison county, Kentucky, in 1799.

Absalom Hendricks, the great-grandfather of John W., was born in Virginia, of Scotch ancestry. For seven years he served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, as did two of his brothers, one of whom lost his life on the battlefield, while the other was killed by the Indians at Blue Lick, Kentucky. Another brother, William Hendricks, the father of Thomas A. Hendricks, a former vice-president of the United States, came to Kentucky when young, but afterward removed to Indiana and spent his last years in Shelbyville. Coming to Harrison county, Kentucky, soon after the close of the Revolutionary war, Absalom Hen- dricks located near Lairs Station, on the grant of land that he had received for his military

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services, and was there engaged in general farming the remainder of his life. He mar- ried and reared two sons, William and Cam- bridge F., both of whom served in the war of 1812. William subsequently migrated to Fair- field, Iowa, making that his permanent home.

Born in Harrison county, Kentucky, in 1799, Cambridge F. Hendricks settled in Woodford county, Kentucky, soon after his marriage, and was there overseer of a plantation for five years. Crossing the line then to Franklin county, he bought land, and after living there a few seasons sold out and purchased a farm in Harrison county, where he spent the re- mainder of his sixty-five years of earthly life, being successfully engaged in general farming. The maiden name of his wife was Sarah Faul- coner. She was born in Harrison county, Ken- tucky, a daughter of William and Sarah (Haw- kins ) Faulconer, whose parents were among the first settlers of Scott county. She attained the advanced age of eighty-two years, and of her nine children all, with the exception of one who died at the age of seventy-four years, are now living, the oldest being eighty-six years of age.

John H. Hendricks was born March 2, 1830, on a farm in Woodford county. At the age of eighteen years he began the study of archi- tecture and carpentry, and served an appren- ticeship at the carpenter's trade and one year at stair building in Lexington. He subse- quently did journeyman work for a while, and was afterward a contractor and builder for several years, and even now, at the age of four score years, is hale and hearty and quite active. He married, in 1857, Sarah Elizabeth Hunt, a native of Henry county, Kentucky. Her father, Colonel Silas Hunt, the son of a pioneer Bap- tist preacher, was born in Fayette county, Ken- tucky. He was a member of the State Militia, and drilled all of the Kentucky soldiers that took part in the Mexican war. He served as colonel of a regiment in the Federal army dur- ing the Civil war, while two of his sons, Thomas B. and Robert, served in the Confed- erate army. The children were born to John H. Hendricks and his wife were four in num- ber, namely: Mary K., John W., Percy and Thomas A.

Having obtained a practical education in the public schools of Lexington and, Cynthiana, John W. Hendricks began when young to learn the carpenter's trade, working under the instructions of his father. At the age of twenty years he embarked in business as a contractor and builder on his own account, and has continued until the present time. For a while his brother Thomas was associated with him, the firm name being Hendricks

Brothers. Taking in a partner, the firm name was changed to Hendricks Brothers & Com- pany, and continued as such until 1908, when the Hendricks, Moore, Young Company was incorporated, Mr. Hendricks becoming presi- dent of the organization. This firm is carry- ing on an extensive general business in con- tracting and building, and is a large manufac- turer of lumber, his mill being well equipped with the latest modern machinery.

Mr. Hendricks married, in 1887, Lavinia Nutter, who was born in Fayette county, a daughter of David and Sarah (Hearst) Nut- ter.

CAPTAIN HENRY BANNISTER GRANT .- One of the most incontrovertible proofs of advanc- ing civilization is the growth of fraternal so- cieties, which are founded upon the brother- hood of man and inculcate the spirit of mutual kindliness, helpfulness and charity. Chief among the organizations of this character is the honorable order of Masons, the most an- cient secret society in existence, constantly growing in its numerical strength and develop- ing in the breadth and scope of its purpose. This is due to the men of master minds who are at the head of the society-men of marked executive ability, keen discrimination and high ideals-among whom is numbered Captain Henry Bannister Grant, one of the best known Masons in Kentucky and one of the noted Ma- sons in the United States.

Captain Grant, who is a distinguished Ma- son, being grand secretary of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, was born in Auburn, New York, March 12, 1837, the son of Rev. Loring Grant, publisher of the Auburn Banner at the time. His grandfather, Dr. Isaac Grant (descendant of Matthew Grant, surveyor, who came to America in 1630, and the great-great-great- grandfather of General U. S. Grant), was six years a soldier of the Revolution, participating in a number of battles, notably the storming of Stony Point, and enduring the privations of Valley Forge and horrors of the old Jersey Prison Ship. His grandmother was Hannah Tracy, descendant of Lieutenant Thomas Tracy, a soldier of the Colonial wars, who returned to America in 1636, son of Governor William Tracy, who landed with his colony in Virginia, (1620), a descendant of the Saxon kings, and Baron Sire de Tracie, an officer in the army of William the Conqueror. His mother was Betsey Keeney-Grant, daughter of Capt. Joshua Keeney and Phoebe Sturdevant- Keeney, wealthy families of the Wyoming Val- ley, Pennsylvania.

Captain Grant attended the seminary, now college, at Albion, Michigan, and completed his studies in the Polytechnic School at Frank-

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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY AND KENTUCKIANS

fort, Kentucky, 1854. He was in the state auditor's office for six years; became an of- ficer in a bank in Louisville in 1860, was cap- tain in the Twenty-seventh Kentucky Infant- ry, U. S. Volunteers, from 1861 to 1865- twice declined promotion to major and once declined a proffered commission as colonel, of which evidence is on file in the war depart- ment. After the battles of Perryville and Stone River he was assigned to duty as assist- ant inspector general. Numerous responsible position to which he was especially detailed brought written compliments from his col- onel, thanks in orders from his generals, and notice in the message of Kentucky's governor. He was twice elected treasurer of Parkland, Kentucky, highly complimented by the expert accountant and the council, and settled a num- ber of estates as executor and administrator ; served in every position in Louisville banks excepting porter and president, and on retir- ing from the cashiership was presented with a silver service. He has taken part in many competitive military drills as participant, judge and manager.

Captain Grant was initiated in Hiram Lodge, No. 4, Frankfort, Kentucky, in 1859, and singly established Louisville Lodge, No. 400. He received the Royal Arch degree in King Solomon Chapter, Louisville, 1863; admitted to the ninth arch in Louisville Council; knighted in Louisville Commandery, No. I, was one of two who organized DeMolay Commandery, No. 12; received the Scottish Rite degrees to the thirty-second degree in Louisville, being also Knight Commander of the Court of Honor. He served as presiding officer of his lodge, chapter (two terms) and council; as grand high priest and grand mas- ter of the Grand Council; assistant grand sec- retary of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, 1877- 1887, as its grand secretary from 1887 to present date; grand secretary of the Grand Chapter from 1891 to present date, and grand recorder of the Grand Council from July I, 1903. He was a delegate to the Masonic Con- gress in Chicago, 1893, of which he was vice- president, and for which he prepared the topics for consideration; also representative to the Washington Centennial, 1899; organ- ized and was president of the Masonic Vet- erans of Kentucky, 1893-1899; organized and is now president of the Grand Secretaries' Guild. He prepared the manual and tactics for Knights Templars now in general use ; tactics of the Patriarchs Militant, the Digest, Book of Constitutions and Code of Trials for the Kentucky Grand Chapter and Grand Lodge; wrote the constitutions of the Grand Chapter and Grand Council; the History of

DeMolay Commandery, history of Freema- sonry in Louisville, and "Doings of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky;" a "Vest-Pocket Trestle-Board" Monitor ; model (approved) by-laws for lodges and chapter and other man- uals. He did practically all the work in pre- paring the rituals for chapter, council and commandery; was one of the custodians of the work for the Grand Lodge, and editor of the Masonic Home Journal, 1883-1890. He was one of the incorporators of the Masonic Widows and Orphans Home; planned and superintended a celebration of St. John's Day for its benefit that netted over nine thousand dollars in cash; a director in the Methodist Orphans Home; of the Kentucky Children's Home Society (non-sectarian) and of the Lo- cal Home Board of that Society; also a di- rector of the Old Mason's Home of Kentucky. He has been active in church work as Sunday- school teacher and superintendent, steward, class-leader and trustee, and originated and helped to establish the most wealthy and in- fluential Methodist church in Louisville.

He married, in 1863, Miss Maria Louise Richardson, whose mother was a descendant of Governor Thomas Bradford, of Plymouth Colony, 1621. The fruits of this union are : Rebecca Grant-Tippett (her daughter Louise and son Loring) ; Ella Grant-Richart (de- ceased) and her son Duncan Grant Richart, an officer in the United States army; Henry Rivers Grant, (and daughters Margaret and Elizabeth) ; and William Louis Grant. The sons are engaged in the American National Bank, Louisville, Kentucky.

Captain Grant is imbued with that fraternal spirit which constitutes the basic element of the craft and which has been a most potent force in the civilization of the world through inculcating principles of mutual helpfulness, brotherly kindness and forbearance. He brings to his duties keen perception, a method- ical and systematic spirit and unwavering de- votion, and his Masonic service therefore receives the endorsement of all the represent- atives of the order.

DAVID BELL ALLEN .- With the exception of a short period spent in the government employ at Louisville, David Bell Allen has resided in Shelby county during his entire life, devoting himself to the care of his family, the improve- ment of his estate, the cultivation of his farm, the duties of citizenship and the promotion of morality and religion in his home community. When the last item has been entered to the credit of the best type of American, what more can be said than is contained in the above out- line of Mr. Allen's personality ?

Mr. Allen is a native of Shelby county, Ken-

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tucky, where he was born on the 4th of June, 1864. His grandfather, also David Bell Allen, was long a prominent business man of Louis- ville, whose first pork packing establishment he founded, and he passed his last years in that city. James Bradshaw Allen, the father, was a native of Kentucky, born September 30, 1831, and in early manhood married Miss Mar- garet Smith, of Shelby county, where he had but just established himself as an independent farmer. The mother was born at Hempridge, that county, in November, 1843, and was a daughter of George and Melinda (Ball) Smith. The father passed away in April, 1897, and the mother, Margaret Smith Allen, is now living in Plainview, Texas. Mr. and Mrs. James B. Allen were the parents of nine children, three of whom reached manhood and womanhood. David Bell is the subject of this biography; Melinda is the wife of Edmund Thompson ; and Rev. Louis C. Allen is a Pres- byterian clergyman.

David B. Allen was reared in Shelby county, and received his higher education at Central College (now Central University), Danville, Kentucky. He spent six years in Louisville as a gauger in the United State internal revenue service, but with that exception has made Shelby county his home and the scene of his agricultural pursuits. His farm and home- stead of one hundred and fifty acres make a comfortable, attractive and valuable country place, the kind which has given Kentucky its deserved reputation as a state of good homes, solid comfort and domestic happiness. Mr. Allen is connected with his college days through his membership with Beta Phi Pi; is a Mason in good standing, identified with Solo- man lodge, and is an earnest and a stable mem- ber of the Presbyterian church, in which he has been a leading elder for a number of years.

On May 15, 1888, Mr. Allen was united in marriage to Miss Zena Harcourt, a native of Kansas City, Missouri, born April 23, 1869, and a daughter of Edgar and Mollie (Elliott) Harcourt, both of Scott county, Kentucky. Her father died in Kansas City in the fall of 1869, and the mother in Shelby county, in March, 1875. The three of the five children to reach mature years were Nolie, who is now the wife of Charles Freeman, Frank and Zena (Mrs. Allen). Mr. and Mrs. Allen are the parents of Marguerite E., Freeman E., Frank H. and E. Willson Allen. The mother, as also the father of this family, is earnest and promi- nent in the work of the Presbyterian church.

GRAHAM BROWN .- It is but consonant that in this history of the lives of prominent and public-spirited Kentuckians appear a sketch of the career of Graham Brown, who, in addition

to being a native son of the fine old Blue Grass state, has here passed practically his entire life thus far. Born in the city of Louisville, he there resided until 1899, in which year he married and removed to Shelby county, Ken- tucky, where he is now engaged in agricultural pursuits on a fine estate of one hundred acres.

Graham Brown is a son of John T. S. Brown and the date of his nativity is Novem- ber 21, 1857. The father was born and reared at Munfordville, Hart county, Kentucky, and he was a son of J. T. S. Brown, whose birth occurred in Hanover county, Virginia, in 1792. J. T. S. Brown, Sr., immigrated to Kentucky from his native state, in company with his father, in the year 1796. Location was made in Hardin county, in the section now known as LaRue county, where the great-grandfather of the subject of this review, by name William Brown, was summoned to eternal rest at an advanced age. The grandfather of Graham Brown died in Munfordville in 1875, at the age of eighty-three years. John T. S. Brown was reared at Munfordville, as previously noted, and as a young man he established his home in the city of Louisville, where he passed away in 1905, in his seventy-sixth year. He. was engaged in the distillery business during the major portion of his active career and he was a public-spirited man who contributed in generous measure to all projects tending to advance the civic and material welfare of the city and state at large. On the 23d of Sep- tember, 1856, was solemnized his marriage to Miss Emily Graham, a daughter of Andrew and Martha (Parker) Graham, the former of whom was born in Tyrone county, Ireland, on the 17th of August, 1813, and the latter of whom claimed Kentucky as the place of her birth. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born seven children, of whom Graham is the eldest. The others are: Carrie, Davis, Creel, Emily. John T. S. and Hewett, all of Louisville. All of the sons are members of the firm of J. T. S. Brown & Sons at Louisville, the same being a large distilling business.

In the city of Louisville Graham Brown grew to man's estate and to the excellent schools of that place he is indebted for his preliminary educational training. He was as- sociated with his father and brothers in busi- ness until 1899, in which year he purchased a farm of one hundred acres in Shelby county, on which he has resided to the present time. He is engaged in diversified agriculture and the raising of high-grade stock and is recog- nized as a representative farmer and decidedly capable business man in this county. In his political convictions he endorses the cause of the Democratic party and while he has never been a recipient of political preferment of any

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description he is on the alert and enthusiastic- ally in sympathy with all movements tending to increase the general prosperity. He is affili- ated with various social organizations of repre- sentative character and in his religious faith he is Presbyterian. He is a man of chari- able tendencies, is warm-hearted and hospit- able and holds a secure place in the confi- dence and esteem of his fellow citizens.

He was married in Woodford county, Ken- tucky, in the year 1899, to Mrs. Elizabeth Ar- nold Neal, who was born and reared in Wood- ford county and who is a daughter of John W. Arnold and Catherine Garnett Arnold, Wood- ford county, the former of whom died in 1910

THOMAS B. TUCKER .- Distinguished not only as a native-born citizen of Shelby county, but for his own good life and works, Thomas B. Tucker, late of Shelbyville, was a man of integrity and worth, and his death was a loss to the community. He was identified with the agricultural interests of this section of the state for a number of years, and enjoyed to a high degree the esteem and confidence of his neighbors and many friends. He was born June 2, 1838, at Harrington's Mill, on the Fox river, about four miles from Shelbyville, and was there bred and educated. His father, Asa Tucker, the descendant of a Virginia family, married Ann Fullenweider, whose father was born in Pennsylvania, of German ancestry.

Brought up on a farm, Thomas B. Tucker began life as an agriculturist, and for many years was engaged in farming and stock rais- ing in Shelby county, subsequently becoming associated with his brother-in-law, Robert A. Long, in the lumber trade in Kansas City, where he remained seventeen years, acting as bookkeeper for the firm. Returning then to Kentucky, he spent his last years in Shelby- ville, dying in this city May 24, 1910.

On September 8, 1858, Mr. Tucker was united in marriage with Martha Mildred Long, a daughter of Samuel Malley Long. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Tucker, namely: Susie, wife of Edward C. Woods, a prominent agriculturist of Shelby county, liv- ing on the Smithfield pike, has three children ; and Kate, wife of H. B. Williams, also a suc- cessful farmer, has six children and ten grand- children. Mrs. Tucker, a most estimable wo- man, who was a loving companion and a true helpmate to her husband, still lives in Shelby- ville.

Samuel Malley Long, Mrs. Tucker's father, was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, in No- vember, 1810, and died October 1, 1885, on his farm, which was located three miles north of Simpsonville. He assumed possession of his farm at the time of his marriage, and in its

management took genuine pleasure and found much profit, his operations uniformly proving successful. Prior to his marriage Mr. Long went to Kansas with his parents, Isaac and Martha Malley Long, but returned the follow- ing year, in 1830, to Shelby county.

Mr. Long married, in 1836, Margaret White, of Versailles, Kentucky, who was first cousin to Hon. Joseph Blackburn, at one time United States senator from Kentucky, her mother hav- ing been a sister of Senator Blackburn's father. She was but seventeen years old at the time of her marriage, while her husband was nine years her senior. She survived him several years, and died in Kansas City, Missouri, at the home of her son Robert, passing away at the age of eighty-eight years. Mr. Long was an earnest and popular speaker in political campaigns, active and influential in party work, and for his services in the local militia when young was known as Captain Sam Long. Of the children born of the union of Captain and Mrs. Long, the following-named are living : Mildred M., widow of Thomas B. Tucker, the special subject of this sketch; Samuel E., of Simpsonville ; Robert A., of Kansas City, Mis- souri; Mollie, wife of P. R. Slater, of Shelby- ville, and Lewis W., also of Shelbyville.

Robert A. Long, the second son of the par- ental household, was born on the home farm in November, 1840, and received his education in the Shelbyville public schools. Going to Co- lumbus, Kansas, when twenty-three years of age, he soon embarked in the lumber trade, his decision to engage in that industry having been the result of a serious conflagration. He had at first handled hay in large quantities, but a severe storm destroyed his hay, and he subse- quently sold his hay sheds at such a profit that he turned his attention to the buying and sell- ing of lumber. In 1889, wishing to enlarge his operations, he moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where he has since built up an extensive and lucrative business. He has acquired property of value in that place, and in addition to own- ing the R. A. Long business block has recently erected one of the finest residences in the city. He is a lover of fine horses and an exhibitor at all the leading horse shows of his own and ad- joining cities. He married, at Columbus, Kan- sas, Miss Eda Wilson, and they have two daughters, namely: Sally, wife of Lieutenant Hayne Ellis, a naval officer, and Lulu.

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A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 101

Author: Johnson, E. Polk, 1844-; Lewis Publishing Company Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 860

Author: Johnson, E. Polk, 1844-; Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 860