A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 108

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 108

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

John Moore married, in 1814, Polly Grant, who was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, in 1790, a daughter of William Grant, who was born in Virginia in 1761. Polly Grant's grand- father, William Grant, Sr., married Elizabeth Boone, who was born in Virginia in 1733, while his birth occurred in the same state in 1726. Elizabeth Boone was a daughter of Squire and Sarah (Morgan) Boone and a sis- ter of Daniel Boone, the far-famed American trapper and frontiersman, who was one of the first to explore the wilds of Kentucky. Their son, William Moore, Jr., married Sarah Banks McConnell, who was a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Clarkson) McConnell. She was a granddaughter on the paternal side of William McConnell, who, according to Collin's History of Kentucky, came from his native state, Penn- sylvania, to Kentucky with an exploring party in 1775, and built a log cabin in, or near, the present site of the city of Lexington, while her maternal grandfather, Julius Clarkson, was likewise, a pioneer of Fayette county, Kentucky, coming here from Charlotte, Vir- ginia, at an early day.

Two children were born of the union of Colonel and Mrs. Boswell, namely: Eleanor Reece and Mary. A man of strict religious views, Colonel Boswell was reared in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which for many years he was a faithful and loyal mem- ber. Mrs. Boswell, a sincere and devoted Christian, is a member of the Episcopal church.

THOMAS A. PRICE .- For its splendid rural estates and for its gracious hospitality Ken- tucky has a reputation peculiarly its own, and in no section can there be found a more per- fect exemplification of the benignant social re- lations of the delightful old Southern regime. There are many other scores on which the old Blue Grass commonwealth may justly pride

itself, but in this one phase noted lies its great- est charm, for the country home yet remains the ideal American home, and the Kentucky country home is the apotheosis of this ideal. These statements are specially apropos in con- nection with the conditions and influences that compass Thomas A. Price, who is a native son of Shelby county, Kentucky, and who is one of the representative exponents of the agricultural and live-stock industries in this favored section of the state. Peace and plenty, generous hospitality and definite refinement de- note his beautiful homestead, which is eligibly located one-half mile distant from the village of Chestnut Grove, Shelby county, and his fine landed estate of three hundred and fifty acres gives evidence of thrift and prosperity on every side. He finds that his "lines are cast in pleasant places," and none is more appre- ciative of the advantages and attractions of this favored section of the state than is he, the while none is more loyal and progressive as a citizen. Securely entrenched in the confidence and high regard of the people of his native county, Mr. Price is one of its sterling citi- zens and is eminently entitled to recognition in this "History of Kentucky and Kentuckians."

Thomas A. Price was born on the old home- stead farm of his father, near Shelbyville, Shelby county, Kentucky, and the date of his nativity was November 6, 1850. He is a son of James C. and Mary C. (Thompson) Price, the former of whom was born in Union coun- ty, this state, and the latter in Shelby county. James C. Price was reared to maturity in Shelby county and here he eventually became a prosperous farmer and stock-grower, in con- nection with which he owned and operated a large and valuable landed estate. He was a man of impregnable integrity and honor in all the relations of life and ever commanded the unqualified esteem of his fellow men. He was ever ready to lend his aid in the promotion of measures and enterprises for the general good of the community, was a staunch Republican in his political proclivities, and both he and his wife held membership in the Douer Baptist church. They were representatives of sterling pioneer families of Kentucky and within its gracious borders their entire lives were passed. James C. Price continued to reside on his home farm until his death, which occurred in Sep- tember, 1900, and his cherished and devoted wife did not long survive him, as she was sum- moned to the life eternal in 1904. They are survived by nine children, concerning whom the following brief record is entered: Mary P. is the wife of Samuel P. Sanford, of Old- ham county, this state; Thomas A. is the im-

1672

HISTORY OF KENTUCKY AND KENTUCKIANS

mediate subject of this review; James W. is likewise one of the prosperous farmers of Shelby county, as is also Napoleon T .; Sally B. is the wife of Thomas D. Hyatt, of Shelby- ville; Susan K. is the wife of Adam Hanna, a representative farmer of Shelby county ; Net- tie is the wife of Luther Kocknell, of Chestnut Grove, this county; Minnie A. is the wife of Charles Woods, a farmer of the same county ; and Helen L. is the wife of Henry T. Wise, of Chestnut Grove. All of the number resid- ing in Shelby county are members of the same church and regularly attend its services.

Thomas A. Price was reared to the sturdy discipline of the farm and was afforded in his youth the advantages of the excellent schools of his native county, the while he duly assisted in the work and management of the home farm. He has never severed his allegiance to the great industry of agriculture and through his alliance with the same has found ample scope for effective and productive effort. He has resided upon his present homestead since 1877, has made the best of improvements on the place and here devotes his attention to di- versified agriculture and to the raising and shipping of live stock of the best grades. En- ergy, circumspection and careful methods have brought to him large and definite success and have given him precedence as one of the essen- tially representative farmers and stock-growers of his native county.

In politics Mr. Price is found aligned as a supporter of honest men and gives his co-ope- ration to all worthy projects and measures ad- vanced for the good of the community along both social and material lines. He is identified with various fraternal and social organizations of a representative order and both he and his wife are zealous and consistent members of the Baptist church, in the various departments of whose work they take an active part. They are identified with the church at Douer, as is also their son, and the brothers and sisters of Mr. Price likewise are members of this church, as has already been intimated in this context.

On the 18th of September, 1873, in Shelby county, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Price to Miss Margaret Hanna, who was born and reared in this county and who is a daugh- ter of Robert and Jane (Neal) Hanna, both of whom are now deceased, the father having

long been one of the prosperous farmers and honored citizens of the county. Mrs. Price is the eldest of a family of five children. Her brothers, Adam and William, reside on the old Hanna homestead, which is about one mile dis- tant from the home of Mr. Price; and her sis- ter Anna is the wife of Chester H. Atchison. residing on a farm about three miles distant

from the Price homestead. It will thus be seen that the representatives of the Price and Hanna families reside in the same neighbor- hood, and all attend the same church. Mr. and Mrs. Price have one son, Robert Hanna Price, who was born on the 2d of March, 1889. He was afforded the advantages of the public schools of Shelbyville, after which he attended Georgetown College, and after leaving this lat- ter institution he entered the University of Kentucky, at Lexington, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1908. He is now associated with his father in the management of the home farm and is one of the popular young men of his native county. Besides farming they are interested in one of the best flour mills in Kentucky, located at Smithfield and also have other interests.

MRS. SALLIE E. (TAYLOR ) CUNNINGHAM,- Distinguished for the honored Colonial stock from which she is descended, Mrs. Sallie E. Cunningham, of Clark county, Kentucky, be- longs to the well-known Virginia family of Taylors which has furnished our country with three presidents, James Madison, Zachary Taylor and Harrison, the emigrant ancestor having been James Taylor, of Carlisle, Eng- land.

Mrs. Cunningham is a descendant in the seventh generation from this English ancestor, her lineage being thus traced: James, James, George, Jonathan, George, Robert Stuart, and Sallie. James Taylor (1) came from Carlisle, England, to America as early as 1658, and set- tled in what is now Carlisle county, Virginia, where he spent the remainder of his days, dy- ing May 2, 1698, at a ripe old age. James Taylor (2), born in Virginia in 1675, studied civil engineering, and subsequently did much of the surveying in the wilds of Virginia. Settling in Orange county, Virginia, in 1722, he acquired title to ten thousand acres of land, and was there a resident until his death, in 1729. He married, in 1699, Martha Thomp- son, who was born in Virginia, the daughter of Colonel William Thompson, an officer in the English army. She survived him many years, passing away in 1762. Their son, Col- onel George Taylor, born in 1711, served as an officer in the Revolutionary war and died in 1792, having spent his entire life in Vir- ginia. He was twice married, his first wife, whose maiden name was Rachel Gibson, was born in 1717 and died in 1761. He reared by his two marriages a large family of children. and ten of his sons were commissioned officers in the Revolutionary war, serving on land and sea, while several other of his sons bore com- missions in the Home Guards.

Jonathan Taylor was a lieutenant in the

1673

HISTORY OF KENTUCKY AND KENTUCKIANS

Virginia Convention Guards from 1779 until 1781. Migrating to Kentucky in 1789, he be- came a pioneer of Clark county, settling at "Old Basin Spring," on land that had been granted to his ancestors. The greater part of Kentucky was at that time unexplored, wild game of all kinds being abundant, while the Indians for many years thereafter were both numerous and troublesome. With true pioneer courage, he cleared and improved a farm, and was there engaged in tilling the soil until his death, in 1803. He married Ann Berry in 1776. She was born in 1749, of English an- cestry, and died in 1809, leaving a large fam- ily of children. George Taylor, born in Vir- ginia in 1779, was ten years of age when he accompanied his parents to Clark county, Kentucky. Inheriting a part of the parental homestead at "Old Basin Spring," he was there engaged in general farming the re- mainder of his life, passing away in 1827. He married, in 1806, Sarah Fishback, who was born in 1787 and died in 1846. Nine children were born of their union, as follows: James, William, Jonathan, Phoebe, Robert Stuart, Francis, Dorothy, Thomas and Jesse.

Robert Stuart Taylor, the father of Mrs. Cunningham, was born in Clark county, Ken- tucky, in 1820. He attended the common schools as a boy, later continuing his studies at Center College. Inheriting a portion of the parental acres, he carried on general farm- ing on an extensive scale, making a specialty of raising Durham cattle and fine horses. Eminently successful in his undertakings, he purchased other tracts of land, and continued his agricultural operations until his death, in 1886. He was twice married. He married first Elizabeth Huston, who was born in Fay- ette county, Kentucky, a daughter of John Huston, a native of Virginia. Her grand- father, James Huston, who married Nancy McCreary, a member of an old Virginia fam- ily of prominence, came from Virginia to Ken- tucky with his family, locating in Chilesburg, Fayette county, where he improved a farm and spent his remaining years. The mother of Nancy McCreary was the Countess Nancy Crawford of Dublin, Ireland. Coming with his parents to Fayette county, John Huston succeeded to the occupation to which he was reared, and continued as a farmer during his entire life. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Holladay, belonged to the dis- tinguished Virginia family of that name. Mrs. Elizabeth Huston Taylor died at a com- paratively early age, and her husband married for his second wife, Betty B. Thompson, who was born in Mercer county, Kentucky, where her father, George C. Thompson, settled on

coming from Virginia to Kentucky. By his first marriage Robert Stuart Taylor had two children, namely : Mrs. Sallie Cunningham and Mrs. Annie Tevis, wife of Squire Tevis, of Clark county, Kentucky. By his second marriage he became the father of six children, as follows: Robert Stuart, a farmer, married Etta Gordon Jones ; Thompson James, a prac- tising physician and surgeon, married Mary Quinn ; Bettie M., wife of Joseph Lyle; Mary W., wife of Rev. Barbee Betts ; George W., a lawyer, married Mary McCord; and Jessie, wife of Rev. J. V. Lyon, Jr.

Sallie Taylor, who married the late Captain Robert Cunningham, a Confederate veteran, owns a part of the original tract of the old home at "Old Basin Spring" which was granted to her great-great-grandfather prior to 1789, the year in which Jonathan Taylor, her great-grandfather, assumed its possession. It is owned by the heirs of her father, Robert Stuart Taylor. Mrs. Cunningham is a woman of talent and accomplishments, and holds a place of prominence in literary and social circles. Educated at the Shelbyville Fe- male College, she has since devoted much of her time to music and literature, and has won far more than local fame as a poet. She has traveled extensively throughout the United States, visiting all of the larger cities and the more important places of interest, and is a most interesting conversationalist. Mrs. Cun- ningham is a member of the Woman's Liter- ary Club of Central Kentucky ; of Winchester Chapter; U. D. C., and of Lexington Chapter, D. A. R. She is a Presbyterian of the old type, and the religion of her ancestors is Epis- copalian and Presbyterian.

The Taylors of Kentucky have embraced the professions of medicine and law, especially that of medicine. The ancestors were mem- bers of the House of Burgesses, and they in- termarried with members of the oldest and most distinguished families of Colonial days.

THOMAS C. BRADLEY .- A man of unques- tioned ability and integrity, Thomas C. Brad- ley, now serving as county assessor of Fay- ette county, is a worthy representative of the native born citizens of Lexington, where his birth occurred on June 17, 1871, and where his father, Oliver Lee Bradley, was also born.

Thomas Bradley, Mr. Bradley's grand- father, was born in Madison county, Ken- tucky, in June, 1811. When fifteen years old he began an apprenticeship of three years at the blacksmith's trade, and at the age of eigh- teen years, having mastered his trade, he be- gan the struggle of life on his own account. Making his way on foot to Fayette county, he

1674

HISTORY OF KENTUCKY AND KENTUCKIANS

arrived in Lexington with empty pockets, but with strong hands, a willing heart and cour- age for anything. Finding employment, he worked as a journeyman blacksmith three years, and on attaining his majority invested his savings in a shop and was prosperously engaged in blacksmithing for a number of years. In 1845 he opened a hardware store, and met with such good success in his mer- cantile operations that he was soon enabled to add a stock of general merchandise. In 1865 he formed a partnership with James A. Grimstead, and with him was engaged in the banking business during the remainder of his life, his death occurring in April, 1883. He made wise investments of his money, among other investments having purchased five hun- dred acres of land, a part of which were within the city limits. He made extensive and valuable improvements upon his estate, and made a specialty of breeding fine horses and cattle. After occupying his farm for about fifteen years, he built a spacious, modern res- idence in the city of Lexington, and there lived during the closing years of his life.

Thomas Bradley married first, in 1836, Isabel Beard. Her father, Colonel Henry Beard, served as a soldier in the war of 1812. At the River Raisin he was captured by the Indians, but escaped, and was honorably dis- charged at Niagara. Mrs. Isabel Bradley died in 1858, leaving three children. Thomas Bradley married second Annie B. Clark, a daughter of Esquire William Clark, of Frank- lin, Indiana, and of that union two children were born.

Oliver Lee Bradley had scholarly ambitions when young, and after attending Transylvania College was graduated from Center College, in Danville. Subsequently entering Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, he was graduated from its law department. Very soon after his return to Lexington, the Civil war broke out, and he enlisted and served un- der the command of Colonel Roger Hanson, who lost his life at the battle of Murfrees- boro. Returning again to Lexington at the close of the conflict, he was subsequently here actively engaged in the banking business until his death, in April, 1909. The maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Hayes. She was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, a daughter of Robert Hayes, an extensive trader, planter and stock-raiser, carrying on his agricultural labors with the assistance of slaves. She sur- vived him, and still resides in Lexington. Six children were born of their union, namely: Clarence, Mary Raily, Thomas C., Alice Bur- rell, Ernest B. and Charles W.

Attending first the public schools of Lex-

ington and completing his early studies at Transylvania University, Thomas C. Bradley began life for himself as clerk in a furniture store. He was subsequently made deputy county clerk under Claude Chinn, and in 1900 was appointed deputy state insurance commis- sioner, a position which he held four years. In 1905 Mr. Bradley, in partnership with J. J. Graddy, opened a gentlemen's furnishing store and established a substantial business, the firm name being Graddy & Bradley. On January 1, 1908, Mr. Bradley was appointed police and fire commissioner, which office he held until elected to his present office. In 1909 he was elected to his present office of county assessor, having the distinction of be- ing the only man who had any opposition to be elected on the Democratic ticket, a record showing his popularity with all political par- ties.

Mr. Bradley has been twice married. He married first, in 1898, Emily Hazelrigg, who was born in Montgomery county, Kentucky, a daughter of Chief Justice J. H. and Mattie (Laudaman) Hazelrigg. She died in Janu- ary, 1902, in early womanhood. Mr. Bradley married second, April 16, 1910, Jane Tracy, a. daughter of Captain Buford Tracy, of Win- chester, Kentucky. Politically Mr. Bradley is a steadfast Democrat, supporting the prin- ciples of his party by voice and vote. Frater- nally he belongs to Lexington Lodge, No. 89, B. P. O. E., of which he is exalted ruler ; to Phoenix Lodge, No. 25, K. of P .; and to Friendship Lodge, No. 5, I. O. O. F.

MATHEW WALTON .- Engaged in the gen- eral practice of his profession in the city of Lexington, Mr. Walton has gained distinctive prestige and success as one of the represen- tative members of the bar of his native state and he is a citizen who holds secure vantage ground in popular confidence and esteem. Mr. Walton was born in Mason county, Kentucky, on the 16th of February, 1852, and is a son of John Hervey and Susan Isabella (Frazee) Walton, the former of whom was born in Boone county, this state, and the latter in Ma- son county, she having been a granddaughter of Samuel Frazee, who, in company with General Simon Kenton and others, made one of the first settlements in Kentucky. The Walton family, of staunch English lineage, was founded in Virginia in the Colonial epoch of our national history and from the Old Do- minion commonwealth came the original rep- resentatives of the name in Kentucky.

Mathew Walton is indebted to the public schools of his native county for his early edu- cational discipline, which was supplemented by a thorough course in the Kentucky Uni-

1675

HISTORY OF KENTUCKY AND KENTUCKIANS

versity, in which he was graduated as a mem- ber ot the class of 1873, and from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Shortly afterward he assumed the position of deputy in the office of the circuit court at Lancaster, Kentucky, and while thus engaged he began the study of law, under the able preceptorship of Judge H. M. Owsley and B. M. Burdett. He made rapid and substantial advancement in his accumulation and assim- ilation of the science of jurisprudence and in 1874 he was admitted to the bar. He forth- with initiated the practice of his profession at Lancaster and his earnest devotion to his work, as coupled with his unmistakable abil- ity, soon gained to him distinctive precedence. He there held the office of master commis- sioner of the circuit court for three years, at the expiration of which, in 1881, he resigned the office and removed to the city of Lexing- ton for the purpose of securing a wider field of professional endeavor. In August, 1885, he was elected judge of the recorder's court of Lexington, to fill an unexpired term, and thereafter he was twice elected to this office without opposition, serving two full terms and retiring from office in 1890, when he declined to become a candidate for re-election. Since that time Judge Walton has given his uin- divided attention to the general practice of his profession, in which his secure status and definite success best indicate his fine attain- ments as an advocate and counselor. He has been identified with much important litigation in both the state and federal courts and he , has been attorney for the Phoenix National Bank, the Ashland Building & Savings Asso- ciation, the Security Trust & Safety Vault Company, and other important corporations of Lexington. For many years he served as president of the Lexington Charity Organiza- tion and he was also a member of the board of commissioners of the eastern Kentucky Asylum of the Insane, of which body he was president for two years. He is a staunch sup- porter of the principles and policies of the Democratic party and is recognized as an able and effective exponent of its cause. Judge Walton is affiliated with Merrick Lodge, In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, in his home city, and here both he and his wife hold mem- bership in the Christian church.

Judge Walton was married to Miss Caroline F. Farra, daughter of Benjamin F. Farra, of Jessamine county, Kentucky.

HENRY S. LETTON .- One of the finely im- proved estates in Nicholas county is that owned and operated by Henry S. Letton, who was born and reared in Bourbon county, Ken- tucky, but who now resides on his farm. of

five hundred and eighty-five acres eligibly lo- cated on Pleasant Spring pike in Nicholas county. He is a son of Hervie W. and Nancy J. ( Parker) Letton and the date of his birth is September 4, 1846. The father was born on the old Letton estate in Bourbon county on the 6th of May, 1809, and it is interesting to note that he passed his entire life on the place of his birth, where he was engaged in agri- cultural pursuits during the major portion of his active business career and where his death occurred in 1888, at the age of seventy- nine years. His wife was likewise born and reared in Bourbon county and she was sum- moned to eternal rest in 1870. They became the parents of twelve children, four of whom are now living :- Levina is the wife of Jeffer- son Virnout, of Millersburg, this state; Henry S. is the immediate subject of this review ; James H. is a resident of Texas ; and Nancy J. is the wife of Benjamin Patton, of Bourbon county. The paternal grandparents of Henry S. Letton were Caleb and Mary (Wilcoxen) Letton, natives of Maryland, whence they came to Bourbon county, Kentucky, in the year 1795, entering a large tract of land in that section. The maternal grandparents were Lemuel and Levina (Hill) Parker, of Mary- land, and they came to the Blue Grass com- monwealth about the same time as did Caleb and Mary Letton. Hervie W. Letton was a most successful farmer in his day and he owned as much as seven hundred acres of most arable land in Bourbon county. In the ante-bellum days he was aligned as a stanch supporter of the principles and policies of the Whigs and in later years he became a Demo- crat. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and his wife held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, South.

Henry S. Letton was reared to the invigor- ating discipline of the old homestead farm, in the work and management of which he early became associated with his father. He re- ceived his education in the district schools of his native county and on the 4th of Septem- ber, 1862, at which time he was a youth of but sixteen years of age, he entered the Confeder- ate army, at Lexington, Kentucky, as a mem- ber of Company C, Ninth Kentucky Cavalry, under Colonel W. C. P. Breckinridge, in Mor- gan's command. He was captured on an island in the Ohio river, near Brandenburg, on the 19th of June, 1863, and was sent to Louisville, where he was held in duress for two weeks, at the expiration of which he was sent to Fort Delaware, near Philadelphia, where he was kept until June 10, 1865, when he was paroled. He immediately returned home and went to work on his father's farm.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 108

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