A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 109

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 109

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Vol. III-34

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After his marriage, in 1878, Mr. Letton pur- chased a farm of one hundred acres adjoining his father's land in Bourbon county and there he continued to reside for the ensuing seven years, at which time he removed to his pres- ent farm on Pleasant Spring pike, where he devotes his attention to diversified agriculture.

On the 7th of February, 1878, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Letton to Miss Jane F. Parker, who was born in Nicholas county, Kentucky, in August, 1853, and who is a daughter of William and Barbara Parker, both of whom were likewise natives of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Letton have two chil- dren, namely,-Georgia A., who is the wife of John Marr, of Bourbon county and Harry T., who remains at the parental home.

In addition to his extensive farming inter- ests Mr. Letton is also vice president of the First National Bank of Carlisle, this county. In politics he is aligned as a stalwart sup- porter of the cause of the Democratic party and though he has never been incumbent of any political office, strictly speaking, he gives freely of his aid and influence in support of all measures advanced for the general welfare of the community. He manifests a deep and abiding interest in educational matters and has served for a number of years as school trus- tee. His religious faith is in accordance with the tenets of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and his wife is a devout member of the Christian church at Carlisle.

COLONEL WILLIAM M. MOORE .- One of the citizens of whom Cynthiana has especial rea- son to be proud is Colonel William M. Moore, who first gained distinction above most men by his services as a soldier during the Civil war; later became one of the prominent agri- culturists of the state, and he has also made a record as an efficient public officer.

Colonel Moore was born one mile from Cynthiana, on September 30, 1837, the son of Washington Moore, who was born at the same place as his son on May 2, 1812, and died November 30, 1858. His wife, Mary Magee, was born three miles from Cynthiana, Novem- ber 22, 1813, and died in February, 1892, in Missouri. The grandfather of Colonel Moore was Moses Moore, born in Virginia and came to Kentucky in 1797, making several trips back and forth and there marrying Griz- zella Murphy, a native of North Carolina. He was a large land owner in Harrison county, and the records show that he was selling land in 1797. He was a speculator and died in 1824, aged forty-five years, his wife dying in November, 1858, aged eighty-seven years. She saw George Washington and other noted men of his time.

Moses Moore left an estate of six hundred acres, the deed bearing the date of 1813, this land remaining in the possession of the Moore family until 1905. The father of Colonel Moore was the eldest of a family of five chil- dren. Colonel Moore's maternal grandfather was William Magee, who was born in Cul- peper county, Virginia, and came to Kentucky in 1797, locating in Harrison county, on what is now the Falmouth pike, three miles north of Cynthiana, adjoining the farm owned by the Moores. His first wife was Miss Kate Robinson and his second wife was Miss Love. The Magee estate comprised some eighteen thousand acres at the mouth of Shelby Creek and the Robinson estate also contained eighteen thousand acres adjoining the former, in Pike county, Kentucky.

Colonel Moore's forefathers were all farmers and none have military records or none were ever politicians. His father grew to manhood in Harrison county and married in 1834, and they were the parents of eight children, two of whom are living, our subject and Lewis C., a resident of Missouri. In 1840 Colonel Moore's father removed to Lewis county, Missouri, and purchased a farm for one dollar and twenty-five cents an acre, with some slight improvements on it. He was a slave owner, having ten slaves, and was a very successful farmer, having at the time of his death some eight hundred acres. He was a kind and humane man, and although he lived but twenty-five miles from the Iowa line, he never had any trouble with his slaves run- ning away.

Colonel Moore was reared on the Missouri farm and received his early education in a log cabin country school and later attended the high school at Canton, Missouri, after which he entered the State University at Columbia, Missouri, and was a junior when the Civil war broke out. He, in 1861, enlisted in Colonel Martin E. Green's regiment, and six months later in the Confederate army. From that time on his rise was rapid; he was made adju- tant of his regiment in December, 1861 ; lieu- tenant-colonel, May, 1862 ; resigned in August, 1862, and was then elected captain of same company and later lieutenant-colonel, and in April, 1863, was promoted to colonel and commanded a brigade during the last years of the war, declining a brigadiership from Generals Magruder and E. Kirby Smith in order to stay with his men. He was wounded at Lexington, Missouri, and at Helena and Jenkins Ferry, Arkansas, and was officer of the day in command of the grounds at their surrender at Shreveport, Louisiana, in June, 1865, to General Canby, from whom Colonel

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Moore still has his parole, a piece of his old flag and a copy of the oath.

After these exciting times were over Colonel Moore returned home to his farm duties and he and his brother Lewis operated the farm until 1880, when the Colonel sold his interest and spent the following four years in Texas, Florida and in Arkansas, and in 1884 came to Cynthiana. He purchased a farm at Garrett's Station, Harrison county, where he lived until 1906, when he returned to Cynthiana, but is still actively engaged in operating his farm.

He is not allowed to live a retired life, but has served in more than one office. In 1874 he was elected sheriff of Lewis county, Mis- souri, and served until 1876. In 1876 he was elected to the Legislature, serving until 1878, and in 1889 he was elected to the Legislature from Harrison county, Kentucky. He was elected speaker of the House and served until 1891. This was the long session, as it is known, when the House was in session con- secutively for five hundred and twenty-one days. Colonel Moore has been a member of the City Council since 1904, and was vice- president of the Harrison County National Bank until he resigned some time ago. He is a director of the Citizen's National Life In- surance Company of Anchorage, Kentucky.

Colonel Moore is a member of the Elks at Cynthiana, of the Confederate Veterans Asso- ciation at Lexington and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Baptist church. He was married first to Mary F. Garnett, in May, 1870, who was born on the adjoining farm in Harrison county, Kentucky, in No- vember, 1843, and died in February, 1895, a daughter of Thomas Garnett, who was a na- tive of Culpeper county, Virginia, born in 1806 and came to Harrison county, Kentucky, with his parents in 1807, his wife having been Louisa Wigglesworth, a native of Harrison county, Kentucky. Colonel Moore and his first wife had two children, one deceased, and Louise, who is at home. His second wife he married in May, 1897, her name being Rosa Fry, and she was born at Charlottesville, Vir- ginia, a direct descendant of Reuben Fry, who was colonel of the First Virginia Regiment in 1753, when George Washington was lieuten- ant-colonel. He was killed at Cumberland by accident and George Washington was then made colonel. By this marriage Colonel and Mrs. Moore became the parents of two chil- dren: Francis and Jessie, both of whom are at home.

J. CREPPS WICKLIFFE BECKHAM, thirty- fourth governor of Kentucky, whose career as the state's chief executive was included be-

tween the years 1900 and 1907, is the dis- tinguished scion of a distinguished Southern family, his ancestry including on the ma- ternal side two members who were honored with the same high office which he has filled with such eclat. He was born August 5, 1869, at Wickland, the family homestead near Bardstown, Kentucky, his parents being Wil- liam Netherton and Julia Tevis (Wickliffe) Beckham, the father ( 1832-82) being a lawyer and legislator, noted for his scholarship and ability. The name of his grandfather was William Beckham, and the great-grandfather, Abner Beckham, was the founder of the fam- ily in America. His maternal grandfatlier, Charles A. Wickliffe, was governor of Ken- tucky, and his maternal uncle, Robert C. Wick- liffe, was governor of Louisiana.

The education of ex-Governor Beckham was received in the Roseland Academy of Bardstown, Kentucky, and in the Central Uni- versity of Richmond, Kentucky, in which lat- ter institution he finished in 1886. After leaving its portals he gave his attention to the management of his mother's estate, his father having died several years previously, but in the meantime continued his studies at home and began to read law. He made such

excellent progress that in May, 1889, he was admitted to the bar, but did not open a law of- fice until 1893, in the meantime having ac- cepted the principalship of the Bardstown public schools. On August 5, 1893, his twenty-fourth birthday, and strange to say, the very day upon which he became eligible to such office, he was nominated for the Ken- tucky legislature on the Democratic ticket, rep- resenting Nelson county, and was elected without opposition. Wishing to build up his law practice he declined nomination for the next session. However, in January, 1896, the death of his successor, Isaac Wilson, brought his name to the front, and having been pre- vailed upon to take the nomination, he was elected at the special election, February I, winning over his Republican opponent by a majority of eight hundred. He served through that session and the special session of 1897, and was again renominated and elected, in 1898 being selected as speaker of the house without opposition.

In 1899 Mr. Beckham was nominated for lieutenant governor of the state on the ticket with William Goebel. The election was con- tested and carried before the general Assem- bly and on February 1, 1900, the affair was decided in favor of Goebel and Beckham. Upon the assassination of Governor Goebel two days later, Beckham became governor to serve until the next regular election, but be-

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fore that time was nominated as the Demo- cratic candidate, July 20, 1900, and on No- vember 6 was elected to fill out the term ending December, 1903, defeating Jolin W. Yerkes, the Republican candidate, by a ma- jority of nearly three thousand and seven hundred. His administration was so able and satisfactory that he was nominated without opposition to be the Democratic candidate for governor for the full term of four years, be- ginning December 8, 1903, and his election was a complete tirumph, with a 26,350 ma- jority.

Among the principal accomplishments of his administration of eight years were the restoration of peace and quiet from the tur- bulent and chaotic conditions which existed in the state at the time of Governor Goebel's assassination; the complete rehabilitation of the state's finances and credit and the payment of the entire state debt, one million dollars bonded debt being paid before it was due; the collection of the neglected Civil war and Span- ish war claims against the Federal govern- ment, amounting to about $1,500,000.00; the great improvement in the public institutions of the state and the establishment of new insti- tutions; the advance and progress in the school system and the cause of education, in- cluding the extension of the State University and the establishment of the Normal Schools; the building of the New State Capitol; and the accomplishment of all these and other things without an increase in the tax rate or borrowing a dollar.

In 1906 Governor Beckham was nominated in the Democratic state primary as the can- didate for the United States Senate, but was defeated in the General Assembly of 1908 by W. O. Bradley, the Republican nominee, four Democratic members having bolted and voted for Bradley. He then returned to his law practice in Frankfort, as a member of the firm of McQuown & Beckham, and also in 1909 became the editor of the Kentucky State Jour- nal.

Governor Beckham was married November 21, 1900, to Jean Raphael, Daughter of Joseph A. Fuqua, of Owensboro, Kentucky. Two children have been born to this union, Eleanor, in 1901, and J. Crepps Wickliffe Beckham, Jr., in 1905.

HON. WILLIAM CLINTON GOODLOE .-- Con- spicuous among the men of eminence who have conferred honor upon the legal profes- sion of Kentucky was the late Hon. William Clinton Goodloe, who was recognized as one of the most able and impartial judges who ever graced the bench of the state. For many years he was prominently identified with pub-

lic affairs, both of the state and nation, and he exerted marked influence in political fields. He sat on the Circuit bench for twenty-two consecutive years and was subsequently en- gaged as a practitioner at the bar and as a law professor in Kentucky University up to the time of his demise. This admirable and use- ful gentleman is still vividly remembered by members of the older generation, despite the fact that over forty years have passed since he departed this life.

William Clinton Goodloe was a son of Will- iam Goodloe and was born October 7, 1805, in Madison county, Kentucky, his death oc- curring in Lexington, Kentucky, August 14, 1870. His grandfather, Captain Robert Goodloe, was born of English ancestors in North Carolina and in that state passed his entire life. He was a man of patriotic spirit, as have been those of his blood who came after him, and he served as an officer in the Revolutionary war. Although the father was born in North Carolina, he removed to Ten- nessee in early life and in 1788 he came to Kentucky, settling as a pioneer in Madison county, in the days, as one chronicler has ex- pressed it, "when the red man still claimed this state as his own hunting grounds." He secured title to a large tract of land and there- upon engaged in farming for many years, but after the death of his wife he made his home with a daughter in Richmond. His wife, whose maiden name was Susannah Woods, was a daughter of Archibald Woods, who served as an officer in the Revolutionary army and was afterward a pioneer of Madison county, Kentucky. Of the union of William Goodloe and his wife nine sons and four daughters were born and reared.

On September 2, 1870, shortly after the death of Judge Goodloe, there appeared in the Kentucky Statesman a record of the life, achievements and convictions of this distin- guished man, which it would probably be im- possible to improve in several important de- tails, such as accuracy, and this is herewith in great part incorporated as the most adequate appreciation available.

"The early education of William Clinton Goodloe was procured in the Male Academy at Richmond, Kentucky, and at the age of six- teen he entered the Transylvania University, then flourishing under the presidency of that brilliant, but erratic man, President Holly. He was graduated there when but eighteen years of age, having won distinction in college in the science of mathematics. Returning to Richmond he spent several years in studying law with the Hon. W. H. Caperton, one of the ablest men and finest lawyers who ever prac-

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ticed at a Kentucky bar, and he commenced the practice of the law in Richmond. On Oc- tober 31, 1826, when he was just twenty-one years old, he married. In 1828 the young lawyer was appointed commonwealth's attor- ney for the circuit court district in which he lived and soon, by his thorough knowledge of the law and his energy in dispatching business, won reputation in the profession. In 1841 he removed to Frankfort, Kentucky, to practice his profession. While living there in 1844, he gained his first great success as a political organizer in securing the nomination of his father-in-law, William Owsley, for governor of the state. That year Mr. Clay was a can- didate for president and he and his friends desired the nomination of the Hon. W. J. Graves, of Louisville, but Mr. Clay and his friends were defeated in the nomination. In 1845 Mr. Goodloe removed to his farm near Richmond, Kentucky, and resumed practice in Madison and adjoining counties. He had been but a year there when he, unsolicited and without previous knowledge of the Governor's intention, received from Governor Owsley his commission as judge of that circuit court. Upon the bench his success was rapid. His thorough knowledge of the law in its princi- ples as well as its precepts, his extensive ac- quaintance with the routine of the practice and his wonderful energy soon put him in the front of the very best judges that ever graced the bench of the state. Indeed, when he had been upon the bench but a few years he was pro- nounced by such lawyers as the late Hon. Chil- ton Allen to be the best circuit judge that ever presided in the state. In 1848 he favored the call for a convention to revise the constitution of Kentucky and acted with the Emancipation party in endeavoring to secure such a repre- sentation in that convention as would secure the removal of slavery from the state. He opposed the new constitution, especially upon its intensely pro-slavery clause and its elective judiciary. Under this new constitution he be- came, in 1851, a candidate for circuit judge. His opponents were the Hon. James O. Harri- son, of Fayette, who was supported by Henry Clay, Hon. Sam Hanson, of Clark, and Hon. Thomas A. Lindsay, of Franklin, the former a Democrat and the latter Whigs. Judge Goodloe's plurality in the district was about five hundred. Upon the organization of the Know Nothing party in 1854 he joined it and took an active and leading part in the man- agement of the party, and was tendered by it the nomination for governor in 1855. He at- tended the Philadelphia convention in 1864, in favor of his warm personal friend, the Hon. Garrett Davis, for the nomination for presi-

cent. In 1860-61 commenced his most active political labors. Then the integrity of the country was threatened and all that he consid- ered true and right and just put in jeopardy. He utterly despised the doctrine of state rights as promulgated by Calhoun and interpreted and practiced by his followers. His father be- ing the relative and intimate friend of that eminent leader of the old Federal party, Good- loe Harper, of Maryland, the early political education of his children was in the doctrine of the supremacy of the Government of the United States and the eminent authority of the constitution. To these doctrines Judge Goodloe always strongly leaned. Despising nullification and secession as crimes, believing that slavery was both unjust and an injury to the state, by the whole diameter of his views upon public matters he was separated from the secession party. His efforts for the preserva- tion of the Union and the prevention of the secession of Kentucky were untiring and with what success those who were his associates fully appreciated. During the stirring times of the summer of 1861 an eminent gentleman from a neighboring state came to Kentucky upon a secret mission to learn the exact con- dition of this state. This gentleman upon his return to Washington advised the appointing of a military governor for Kentucky and rec- ommended Judge W. C. Goodloe for that po- sition, but the Union men of Kentucky, Judge Goodloe among them, were satisfied that the state could be saved to the Union without a resort to this policy and they were right. In 1861-2 he warmly supported his old and tried friend, Hon. G. Davis, for the United States Senate with success. In 1862 he removed with his family to Lexington, Kentucky. He continued to act with the Union party until the winter of 1863-4, when he took an active and leading part in the organization of the Republican party. He gave Mr. Lincoln a warm and earnest support for his second term. He presided over the first and second Repub- lican conventions that were held in the state. After the death of Mr. Lincoln he opposed the policies of Mr. Johnson toward the Union men of the South. He sustained generally the measures of Congress in the reconstruc- tion of the Union. The XIII and XIV Amendments he warmly supported and ac- quiesced in the XV Amendment. During the war, while at all times urging the most vigor- ous policy, yet he was at all times the friend of those who were in trouble and never re- fused an appeal for help. After the impeach- ment trial ended he was informed by his friend, Hon. B. F. Wade, that he had been selected for a seat in his cabinet upon the .

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event of the impeachment of Mr. Johnson. In 1868 he retired from the bench, after serving continuously for twenty-two years. Upon the organizations of the law department of Ken- tucky University he was elected to the chair of Constitutional Law and entered upon the duties of his office with his accustomed zeal. His students repeatedly expressed their ap- preciation of his teachings and his interest in their welfare.

"Judge Goodloe devoted almost his entire time to his profession. He loved it and never ceased to study it. His attainments in it were profound. Of politics, rather as a cognate than an independent science, he was fond, but seldom represented its questions to himself in other than legal and moral bear- ings. Slavery he considered unjust and out of harmony with the principles of govern- ment inherited by this people from Magna Charta. It appeared to him as an excrescence fastened upon the inherited liberties of our people and he saw it pass away and the con- stitution rid of any countenance of it with pleasure. Judge Goodloe first connected him- self with the Whig party, and remained to the end of his life a warm friend of a system of internal improvements and a protective fea- ture in our tariff system. His second affilia- tion was with the Know Nothing party. He adopted the general principle that our institu- tions were endangered by the rapidly increas- ing influence of our foreign population. The ignorance and superstition of a part of this population he greatly feared, while he ad- mired the energy, intelligence and thrift of another portion, yet he considered it best for them as for us to guard the nation against their ignorance and want of experience in our affairs. It remains for us to speak in general terms of his social and domestic traits. As a friend he was faithful and sincere, not even the fierce shock of contending factions in our Civil war interrupting his love and service. Of all young men who were at all worthy he was a ready counselor and helper. He hated shams and shallow characters and his con- tempt was profound for that impudence which showed itself forward with no merit to sup- port it. Of his devotion to his family we can- not speak in too high terms. Self-sacrificing all his life in their behalf, sympathizing with them in all of their troubles and sorrows, help- ing them beyond his means, he won their de- voted love, his sons and daughters, sons-in- law and daughters-in-law all loving him deeply. To his fellow men, to improve their condition, to enlighten them, to make them free and happy and better, he devoted his life. To his country he left his labors ; to his fam-

ily an honorable fame and a memory as dear as love can make it. Judge Goodloe's religious views were Calvinistic. He was well read in theology and had a clear and thorough under- standing of the Scriptures. The principles of his life were based upon the morality of the Bible. He was a firm believer in the over- ruling providence of God and recognized his accountability to Him. For a number of years before his death he never failed in his daily, private devotion and he expressed to his family and friends some time before his death confidence in entering upon a state of everlasting rest. His ability was great, his acquirements were large and his labors untir- ing. He was unselfish, loving his country, loving liberty, the friend of the oppressed, a faithful friend, a devoted husband and kind father. His faults were patent, his virtues often hid. His friends, his state and his fam- ily honored and mourned him."

As mentioned in a preceding paragraph, Judge Goodloe was married about the time he attained his majority, his chosen lady be- ing Almira Owsley, daughter of Hon. William and Elizabeth (Gill) Owsley, the former af- terward being governor of Kentucky. Their union was solemnized October 31, 1826, and was blessed by the birth of the following eight children : Maria Elizabeth, who married Will- iam F. Barrett; Susan, who married R. H. Johnson; Amanda, wife of John J. Craig; Sally, who married Dr. Curran J. Smith ; Will- iam Owsley; Goodloe, a Presbyterian minis- ter; Carrie, wife of William L. Neale; Archi- bald H .; and Mary, who married James Ed- gar, of Detroit, Michigan.

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A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 109

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