A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 115

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 115

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at Newport, where he was in active practice till in 1894. the year of his death. He was surgeon in charge at the Newport Barracks for several years. It may be said of him that he dearly loved the practice of medicine and de- voted himself to it most generously to the exclusion of almost every other interest. Po- litically he was a Democrat, in religion he was a communicant of the Episcopal church, in his home organization of which he was long a vestryman. Socially he affiliated with the Ma- sons and with the Odd Fellows. His widow has now reached the venerable age of seventy- four years. She is a daughter of Colonel Ed- mund and Margaret (Southgate) Taylor, of old and prominent Colonial and Kentuckian families. Dr. Phythian's grandfather in the paternal line was Dr. Charles Glover Phythian, who was born, reared and educated in Eng- land, finishing his medical studies at the Royal Hospital of Surgeons, London. Emigrating to the United States, he practiced his profes- sion at Johnstown, Pennsylvania, several years and married there. Thence he removed to Frankfort, Kentucky, where he was active as a medical practitioner until the end of his life.

Dr. John Linton Phythian is the youngest of four children of Dr. John Linton and Mary Belle (Taylor) Phythian. One died in in- fancy. A daughter is the wife of N. F. Pettis, of Newport. Charles Taylor Phythian was educated at the United States Naval Academy . at Annapolis, Maryland, and at the Ohio Med- ical College and was an associate of the famous surgeon Dr. W. W. Dawson and became emi- nent at Cincinnati as a practitioner, especially of surgery. He died of tetanus in early man- hood, when he evidently had a most promising career before him as a leader in his profession in the Middle West, leaving a widow, Laura Bishop (Stephens) Phythian, and a daughter, Miss Laura Phythian.

John Linton Phythian, Jr., the immediate subject of this notice, was reared and well ed- ucated at Frankfort, was graduated from the Miami University with the B. S. degree, studied for his profession one year at the Ohio Med- ical College and was graduated with the degree of M. D. from the Kentucky School of Med- icine in 1891. Later he took a post-graduate course at the Columbia University and New York Post-graduate School. Locating at New- port, he has made a specialty of surgery in which he excels. He is a member of the Cin- cinnati Academy of Medicine, of the Kenton and Campbell County Medical Society he is president, and he is a member of the Kentucky State Medical Society and of the American Medical . Association. He was health officer at Newport from 1893 to 1897 and president of the Kentucky Association of Railway Sur-

geons in 1909; was president of the board of trustees of Spee's Memorial Hospital at Day- ton from 1900 to 1905, and has held the chair of surgery and has been a member of the board of trustees since 1900; and is surgeon for the Louisville and Nashville Railway and for the South Covington and Cincinnati Street Railway Companies. Politically he advocates the principles of the Democratic party. He is a Mason, a Knight of Pythias and an Elk.

In 1890 Dr. Pythian married Miss Mary Beatrice Ankeny, born near Xenia, Ohio, a daughter of Albert and Alice (Stoddard) An- keny. Her father is a successful farmer and stockraiser. She has borne her husband two children. Their son John Ankeny Phythian died in 1893, aged ten months. Their daugh- ter, Margaret Taylor Phythian, was fifteen years old in 1910. Dr. and Mrs. Phythian are communicants of the Protestant Episcopal church. The citizens of Newport know them as eminently charitable and helpful, and Dr. Phythian is so innately public spirited that he has a hand in about every good work in the town.

WILLIAM McMURTRY .- A practical and skillful farmer, William McMurtry is actively identified with the agricultural interests of Harrison county, his farm, pleasantly located on the Robinson Station pike, not far from Poindexter, containing as good land as can be found in this vicinnty, and as finely improved. Here he has erected a tasteful and convenient residence, a substantial barn and other out- buildings, and has supplied himself with all the machinery and appliances required by a progressive, modern agriculturist. A native of this country, he was born November 3, 1840, in Cynthiana, a son of the late Pinckney Mc- Murtry.

James McMurtry, his paternal grandfather, was born near Harrodsburg, Mercer county, Kentucky, January 14, 1793, of pioneer stock. During his earlier life he was a tavern keeper in Harrodsburg, but subsequently moved with his family to Fayette county, from there com- ing to Harrison county and locating near Trickum, where his death occurred in 1854. He married Mary Bryan, a daughter of Sam- uel Bryan, who was born January 25, 1776, and was a kinsman of Daniel Boone's wife, whose name before marriage was Bryan.

Pinckney McMurtry was born at Russell Cave, Fayette county, Kentucky, in 1808, and died in Grant county, Kentucky, in July, 1880. Coming to Harrison county with his parents when a boy, he grew to manhood on the farm near Trickum. Although he had but meagre educational advantages, he was a fine mathe- matician, and was everywhere recognized as an upright, honest man, one whose word was

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as good as his bond. Removing to Cynthiana in 1837, he established a tan yard which he operated for ten years, when he sold out and settled in Colemansville, Harrison county, where he built another tan yard, which he managed for two years. Disposing of that yard, he purchased land in Grant county, and was there engaged in general farming the re- mainder of his days. He was a Whig in pol- itics until after the Civil war, when he became identified with the Democratic party. Active in public affairs, he held various offices of im- portance in Harrison county, fulfilling the du- ties devolving upon him faithfully and effi- ciently. He married Nancy McMurtry, who was born in Harrison county, near Trickum, in 1808, and died August 30, 1885. Four chil- dren were born to them, two of whom are now living, as follows: William, the subject of this sketch; and Joseph, who lives with William.

Brought up in Cynthiana, William McMur- try attended the winter terms of school until fourteen years old, when the family moved to Grant county, where he assisted on the farm during seed time and harvest, continuing his studies in the district schools in the winter sea- son. In September, 1862, Mr. McMurtry, with William McGinniss, raised, in Grant coun- ty, a company of cavalry for service in the Civil war. Mr. McGinniss went to Lexington to have the company accepted, but not knowing exactly what to do had some trouble and came back to Grant county believing that the regi- ments were all full. Messrs. McMurtry and McGinniss raised a part of a company of in- fantry, which was later organized as an ar- tillery company and sent to Richmond, Vir- ginia, where, under Captain Pete Everitt, it formed a part of the command under Marshall and served until the close of the war, in 1865. Mr. McMurtry was under fire in the battle of Chickamauga and at Missionary Ridge, in all taking an active part in twenty-three battles and skirmishes, and although holes were shot in his clothing, he was never wounded.

After receiving his honorable discharge from the army, Mr. McMurtry returned to his home in Grant county, and there remained until his marriage. He then rented a farm in Jessamine county, where he lived for a year. Going back then to Grant county, he assumed charge of his father's farm, which he managed successfully until 1884. Coming in that year to Harrison county, he purchased his present farm of one hundred and eighty acres, near Poindexter, and has since devoted his energies to its improvement, each year substantially adding to its value and attractiveness. He is a general farmer and a most successful grain and stock raiser and tobacco grower, reaping abundant crops. He is a stanch Democrat in

his political affiliations, but has never been an aspirant for public office.

In September, 1869, Mr. McMurtry was united in marriage with Sallie Van Deren, who was born in Owen county, Kentucky, January 21, 1849. Her father, Josephus Van Deren, was born in Harrison county, Kentucky, in 1818, and in early life removed to Owen coun- ty, Kentucky, where he was engaged in agri- cultural pursuits until his death, which oc- curred in 1902, near New Liberty. Mr. Van Deren married Mary Elizabeth Allmitt, who was born in Owen county, Kentucky, and they became the parents of five children, of whom three survive, as follows: Mrs. Huldah J. Souther, a widow, living in Owen county ; Mrs. Victoria Thompson, a widow residing in Owen county ; and Mrs. McMurtry. Mr. and Mrs. McMurtry have seven children, namely: Jo- sephus and James, engaged in the livery busi- ness at Cynthiana; Effie, wife of Frank Mc- Kee, of Harrison county ; William, of Cynthi- ana; Robert, cashier of a bank in Dayton, Kentucky; Daniel C .; and Alfred.

JOSEPH JOHNSON is one of the veteran agri- culturists of Montgomery county, Kentucky, and a citizen whose declining years are. crowned with honor and respect. A long life of activity has only served to keep him alert and enthusiastic and he is a factor of influ- ence in the many-sided life of the community. He was born in Mt. Sterling June 15, 1825, the son of Moore and Margaret ( Ringo) John- son. The former, a native of North Carolina, cast his fortunes with the Blue Grass state and died at Mt. Sterling, at the age of eighty-nine years. The mother was a native of Mont- gomery county, and she departed this life Oc- tober 3, 1825, leaving three children, the sub- ject being the youngest of these, a babe only a few months old. Of the trio left mother- less he is now the only one living. Some time later the father married for his second wife Eliza Marshall, by whom he had four chil- dren, and all of these are deceased.

The maternal grandfather, Joseph Ringo, was born March 12, 1763, in Washington county, New Jersey, and he came to Montgom- ery county, Kentucky, about 1797. On both sides Mr. Johnson comes of long lived races, this ancestor having lived until February 6, 1852. The father left his home in North Car- olina when a. boy and made several trips to Kentucky, helping to drive horses and mules through to the newer state. He eventually located in Mt. Sterling, where he learned the tailor's trade. His first marriage was about 1820, and when his first wife died and left him with three children their future was indeed a problem. As he was poor he had no other

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resource than to place them in good families to be properly reared. Joseph was taken by John Clark, an early pioneer of Montgomery county, and as they had no children he soon occupied the place of a son in their affections. When he reached years of understanding he was told by his foster father that if he stayed with him and was industrious and faithful he would make him his heir. As was the usual case in those days he was put at work when very young, and the habits of industry and principles of honesty and fairness instilled in his youthful mind by the good man who had taken him he has never lost. During the win- ter months he was sent to school and thus ac- quired a common school education. Foster father and foster son lived up to their con- tract, and in time it was the pleasure of Mr. Johnson to repay some of the kindness he had received, for he provided a home for his fos- ter parents until their demise, that of the father occurring in 1896, at the age of eighty years, and that of the mother in 1900.

Mr. Johnson's land is situated in Montgom- ery county and is a valuable tract. In ad- dition to general farming, which he has pur- sued with great success, he also engages ex- tensively in the raising of cattle, horses and mules. The management of the farm has in recent years fallen to some extent into the hands of the sons. He is the champion of good education and has held the office of school treasurer, and he keeps informed of public issues and has always voted the Demo- cratic ticket. He is an earnest and consistent church member, is a deacon of the Somerset Christian church and was for fifteen years an elder.

Mr. Johnson established a household of his own in 1849, when he was married to Frances Amanda Priest, a native of Montgomery county, Kentucky, and the daughter of Daniel and Mildred (Kemper) Priest. Mrs. John- son was born in 1825. also the year which wit- nessed the nativity of her husband, and her untimely demise was an event of 1856. Three children blessed this union. Margaret, widow of G. W. Kemper, resides in Mt. Sterling. Sarah F. is the wife of Lucian D. Green, of Mt. Sterling. Mildred is the wife of Dunlap Gay, of Montgomery county. Mr. Johnson's second marriage was with Sarah Keller, of Missouri, who died in February, 1910, at the age of sixty-eight years. Their five children are as follows: J. G., of Montgomery county, Kentucky ; Dr. Keller Johnson, of Montgom- ery county; Eliza, wife of John Harritt, of Oklahoma City; Addie, wife of a Mr. Halley, of Montgomery county; and Alice, wife of James Gay, of Montgomery county. The sub-

ject's father served for a short time in the war of 1812.

FRANK R. JOHNSON .- One of the progres- sive, practical and popular business men of Covington is Frank R. Johnson, who is a na- tive of this city and who is here engaged in the wallpaper and house-decorating business as senior member of the firm of Johnson & Davidson, whose well equipped establishment is located on Scott street. Mr. Jolinson was born in Covington, on the 15th of November, 1859, and is a son of Jeremiah and Louisiana (McNabb) Johnson, the former of whom was born in Virginia, and the latter in Paducah, Kentucky. Jeremiah Johnson came with his parents to Kenton county, Kentucky, in the year 1840 and the family located on a home- stead farm a. short distance from Covington, on the Covington pike. Several members of the Johnson family became prominently iden- tified with navigation interests on the Ohio river and one of this number was Jeremiah, father of the subject of this sketch. He finally removed, in 1880, to Memphis, Tennessee, where he continued to be identified with nav- igation affairs until his death, in 1905, at the age of seventy-five years. His brother, Cap- tain James T. Johnson, retired from the river business several years ago and engaged in the wholesale coal trade in the city of Cincinnati, where he died in 1910, at the patriarchal age of ninety-five years. The wife of Jeremiah Johnson survived him and passed the closing years of her life at the home of the subject of this sketch, in Covington, where she died in 1908, her remains being interred beside those of her husband, in Memphis, Tennessee. Of the nine children the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth and of the number four are now living.

Frank R. Johnson was reared to maturity in Covington, to whose public schools he is indebted for his early educational training. When but thirteen years of age he entered upon an apprenticeship to the trade of glass blower, in Cincinnati, and he devoted his attention to this line of work for six years, after which he learned the trade of interior decorator, with which he has since been actively identified, covering a period of more than thirty years. In 1900 he entered into partnership with Charles B. Davidson and opened a store for the sale of wallpaper and decorations. Their es- tablishment has met with unmistakable pop- ular favor and through fair and honorable dealings they have gained a large and repre- sentative patronage.

In politics Mr. Johnson is a stanch advocate of the Democratic party and he is at the pres- ent time a member of the board of aldermen

Vol. III-36

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of his native city, a position to which he was first elected in 1906 and to which he was re- elected as his own successor in November, 1908, for a term of two years. He has a vital and loyal interest in all that has touched the welfare of his home city and has done all in his power to further good government and conserve economy in the administration of municipal affairs. In 1902 he was elected a member of the board of education and was the only Democrat elected to the board at that time. He held this office for two years. He and his wife are members of the Christian church and he is affiliated with the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Order of Ben Hur.

In 1881 was solemnized his marriage to Miss Emma W. Hall, who was born and reared at Whitewater, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have no children of their own but they have one adopted daughter, Louise Vir- ginia, who was born on the 14th of February, 1906. .

WILLIAM LIST .- The present efficient and popular mayor of Bellevue, Campbell county, is one of the representative citizens of this place and no further voucher for the confi- dence reposed in him by the community is demanded than that afforded in the fact that he has been called to his present official po- sition.

Mr. List was born in Prussia, on the 9th of September, 1848, and is a son of Gottlieb and Dorothea (Rothenburg) List, both of whom passed their entire lives in that section of Prussia, where the father followed the trade of shoemaker for many years; he also served the regular three years' term in the Prussian army under the regime of Emperor Frederick William IV. He and his wife be- came the parents of two sons and three daugh- ters, and of the number one son and two daughters are now living,-the latter being residents of Berlin, Germany, so that the sub- ject of this review is the only representative of the immediate family in the United States.

William List was reared to adult age in his fatherland to whose excellent schools he is indebted for his early educational training. He was a boy at the time of his father's death and when fifteen years of age he entered upon an apprenticeship to the shoemaker's trade, under the direction of his paternal uncle. He thus served for three years and he became a skilled workman. At the expiration of the period noted he went to the city of Berlin, where he found employment in his trade and where he also attended the Berlin Mechan- ical Institute, in which he availed himself of the night courses of study for two and a half years, within which he gained an excellent knowledge of English and French, as well as

of single and double entry bookkeeping. In this institution he was also a member of the Turners' Society. In 1869, shortly after at- taining to his legal majority, Mr. List severed the ties that bound him to his native land and set forth to seek his fortune in America. After a voyage of two weeks he landed in the port of New York City and from the Na- tional metropolis he made his way to Cincin- nati, Ohio, where he arrived on the 18th of November of that year. There he secured work at his trade and there also he maintained his residence for a period of about eight years, at the expiration of which he estab- lished his home across the Ohio river, in Newport, Kentucky, where he remained nine years, since which time he has maintained his home in Bellevue. He continued to be ac- tively engaged in the work of his trade in Cin- cinnati during the long intervening years until 1910, since which time he has lived vir- tually retired. Through his consecutive and well applied industry he has gained a compe- tency and the same constitutes a just recom- pense for the former years of earnest toil and endeavor. For thirty-one years Mr. List was foreman in the well known shoe manufactory of F. P. Haldy, of Cincinnati, and this fact indicates the appreciative estimate placed upon him by the concern with which he was so long identified.

Mr. List has taken an intelligent and loyal interest in public affairs and has kept well informed in connection with the questions and issues of the day. He is aligned as a stalwart supporter of the cause of the Republican party and for a number of years was an active worker in its ranks. He served six consecu- tive years as a member of the city council of Bellevue and in November, 1909, there came a pleasing mark of popular esteem when he was elected to the office of mayor of the city for a term of four years. His administration has been characterized by zealous devotion to the best interests of Bellevue and also by pro- gressiveness and well directed municipal pol- icies. Mr. List is affiliated with the lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, at Newport, and the Tribe of Ben Hur in his home city.

In the year 1873 was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. List to Miss Elizabeth Flick, who was born and reared in Newport, Kentucky, and who is a daughter of George Flick. Her father, who was a pattern-maker by trade and vocation, passed the closing years of his life at Oldenburg, Indiana, as did also his wife. Mr. and Mrs. List have four children, -William George, Dora, Stella and Walter. Dr. William G. List, the elder son, is engaged in the practice of medicine in the city of Cin-

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cinnati; Dora is a stenographer and type- writer; Stella is a teacher in the public schools of Bellevue; and Walter, who is likewise a graduate physician and surgeon, is now as- sistant physician in Longview Hospital, in the city of Cincinnati.

JAMES M. TODD .- The representative of a Kentucky family of note, and of the sixth generation in continuous descent to bear the name, James M. Todd holds a prominent po- sition among the respected and esteemed citi- zens of Shelbyville, where he is now living, re- tired from the activities of business, having acquired wealth and distincton in his former occupaton of breeding and raising the finest horses in the Blue Grass state. A son of James M. Todd, Sr., he was born on a farm in Shelby county, July 2, 1835, of pioneer stock.

James M. Todd, Sr., was born in Nashville, Tennessee, in a fort, on the night following a terrific siege made on the fort by the Indians, his mother taking an active part in its de- fense, moulding bullets for the brave men who fought the redskins. He was a first cousin of James Buchanan, the fifteenth president of the United States, his mother having been a sister of the president's father. He was brought up and educated in Xenia, Ohio, and as a young man came to Kentucky, locating in the northern part of Shelby county, on the Smithfield pike. He became an extensive land owner and a successful farmer. In con- nection with his line of industry he developed a great love for horses, and bred and raised many noted race horses, one of which, Lady Franklin, won several hurdle races, and was sold in Canada. He was the owner of many slaves, all of whom he voluntarily freed long before the Civil war. They remained with him, however, and assisted him in the care of his large plantation. In his political affilia- tions he was a Whig, and earnestly supported all beneficial enterprises, advocating the building of railroads and the establishment of all progressive movements.

James M. Todd, Sr., was a man of much culture, well informed on all subjects of im- portance, and had one of the finest libraries in the county. A good campaign speaker, and a delightful teller of stories, he was promi- nent in public meetings and a welcome guest at all social gatherings. He was a very strict, old-school Presbyterian and a typical Puritan observer of the Sabbath. At the family wor- ship every night and morning a whole chapter from the Bible was read, no matter how long it might be, and long, sincere prayers were offered. His house was headquarters for all minister's of his denomination, so guests were

frequent and numerous. A rigorous observa- tion of the Sabbath was demanded by him, no newspapers being allowed in the hands of the inmates of his house; no meals cooked; no axe could be used, wood having to be pre- pared in advance; all fodder for the cattle must be hauled the day before; the piano was kept closed; no singing was allowed, not even of religious hymns ; while no rooster was per- mitted to crow near the house. Visiting on that day was prohibited, the young men not being allowed to call on the young ladies, Sun- day being devoted to the worship of the Lord, and the study of the catechism.

Of the marriage of James M. Todd, Sr., and Mary Porter, nine children were born, seven of whom grew to years of maturity, as follows: Mary Jane, who married W. C. Cal- laway, and neither of whom are now living; Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of the late W. D. Callaway ; James M., the subject of this sketch; John Buchanan, of Lexington, a well- known horse breeder and turfman; Orrin Derby, M. D., who died at the age of fifty- seven years, was graduated from the Phila- delphia Medical College, and was afterwards one of the leading physicians of Eminence, Kentucky; Beatrice, wife of W. T. King, a well-to-do farmer of Henry county, living near Smithfield; and Alvin, a farmer in Shelby county, died unmarried. The father of these children attained the age of eighty- two years, while the mother lived to be eighty- one years old.

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A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 115

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