A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 16

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 16

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The widow of John Gano Bryan survives and resides at Newport. Her father, Ezra K. Fish, came to Kentucky when a young man and located in Boone county, where he married and engaged in merchandising. He later be- came a merchant in Kenton county and was a member of the state legislature from there several times. He was also sheriff of Kenton county at one time and was a director in the old Northern Bank at Covington. In 1861 he removed to New Liberty and remained there until his death, which occurred February 12, 1871, his age being seventy-five years. He was a cousin of Hamilton Fish. Two sons, John and Albert Fish, served in the Confed- erate army during the Civil war. Another son, Oliver, was a graduate of West Point and held the office of first lieutenant in the United States army. When the Civil war broke out he resigned as his sympathies were with the South. He tried to join the Con- federate army, but was arrested and required to take the oath of allegiance at Alexandria,

Syman Bryan

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Kentucky. The father accumulated consider- able land and owned many slaves prior to the war. He was the father of fourteen children.

Jolın G. Bryan and his wife were the par- ents of six children, of whom four are living. J. Lyman Bryan, the subject of this biogra- phy, being the eldest in the family. When eleven years of age he came to Campbell county with his mother, the father being dead, attended the public school, and being the eldest, soon went to work to assist the family. He began as cash boy in a store; later drove a dry goods wagon; became clerk in a dry goods store; and when about twenty years old entered the city treasurer's office as clerk for his uncle, James H. Smith, and for four years was practically in charge. When Jo- seph M. Betz was elected county clerk he was made chief deputy, in January, 1898, and for two years served in this capacity. He be- came the candidate for city treasurer and was elected on the Democratic ticket, serving out a four years' term. He became assistant cashier and teller of the Newport National Bank, which position he held for eight years, having taken the same two years before leav- ing the treasurer's office .. In the fall of 1909 Mr. Bryan became a candidate for the county clerkship and was elected by a majority of two hundred and seventy. This was remark- able, owing to the fact that only two Demo- crats were placed in office that election, the Republican majority being six or seven hun- dred. Mr. Bryan succeeded Mr. Betz, whose deputy he had been.

In October, 1894, Mr. Bryan was united in marriage to Miss Nellie May Randall, a native of St. Louis, Missouri. To this union was born one child, Gertrude Lyman, who is now about twelve years old. The mother died June 7, 1902. Mr. Bryan has numerous fraternal affiliations, including the Masons, the Elks and the Knights of Pythias. He be- longs to the Christian church.

An appropriate honor was conferred upon the family in the person of Mr. Bryan's sis- ter, Fannie Belle Bryan, when she was se- lected to unveil the reconstructed monument of Daniel Boone at Frankfort, Kentucky, on May 26, 1910. The ceremonies were under the auspices of the Rebecca Bryan Boone Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution of Newport. Miss Bryan is -a member of that chapter and her appointment to the honor was due to the fact that she is the most direct living female descendant of Daniel Boone, holding membership in that chapter. Several years ago the legislature appropriated funds to restore the monument, which had been defaced by vandals, and as-

sisted by the Rebecca Bryan Boone Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolu- tion, the historic monument now stands re- stored to its former beauty.

WILLIAM A. RABE .- Among those citizens who contribute in very decisive fashion to the strength of Covington and to her civic, so- cial and industrial life, none of them play a more praiseworthy role than William A. Rabe. Mr. Rabe's most important connection is as secretary-treasurer of the Kenton Supply Company, a thriving concern dealing on an extensive scale in builders' supplies and coal, and although this office is one requiring no small amount of energy and thought, he yet finds time and occasion for numerous other interests. Among these may be mentioned his identification as director with the Covington First National Bank and as director and ap- praiser of the Citizens' Perpetual Building and Loan Association.

William A. Rabe was born in Covington, in December, 1874, and belongs to that strong, fine stock, the Teutonic, which has played such a splendid part in the history of the world. His parents, Frank and Bernadine (Von Wahlde) Rabe, were both natives of Germany, and both of them came when young to the United States. They and their friends located in Covington, and it was here that they met and married. The father was for many years a leading contractor and builder in Covington and was a man of influence in the community. He was very active in his day and generation and many churches, building blocks and resi- dences stand to-day as a monument to his memory. He died October 19, 1892, at the age of fifty-one years, but his widow survives and makes her home in Covington. They were the parents of ten children, eight of whom are liv- ing, and he whose name initiates this sketch, is the fourth in order of birth.

Mr. Rabe received the greater part of his education in the parochial schools of Coving- ton, supplementing this with a two years' course of study at St. Mary's Institute in Day- ton, Ohio. Later, not being particularly drawn towards the professions, he took a commercial course, becoming well versed in shorthand and typewriting, and subsequently devoting his at- tention to the study of architectural work. To the latter subject he gave practical application for several years in the employ of Daniel Se- ger of Covington, and he was also engaged for a time as estimator in stone and marble work for Charles McDonald.

In 1898 Mr. Rabe became a more indepen- dent factor in the business world and formed the partnership of Schofield & Rabe, archi- tects, a business which continued for some six

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years. After the dissolution of the foregoing partnership Mr. Rabe assisted in organizing the concern now known as the Kenton Supply Company, which has proved an unqualified suc- cess, and which will be described in greater de- tail in coming paragraphs. His connection with the First National Bank and the Citizens' Per- petual Building & Loan Association (with which latter he has been associated for some half dozen years), has been previously noted, and for several years past he has given valu- able service as treasurer of that splendid elee- mosynary institution, St. John's Orphan Asy- lum. Although predisposed in favor of those principles promulgated by the Democratic party, he is not partisan in local affairs. In 1910 he was appointed a member of that im- portant body, the board of health, and although so short a time has elapsed, his counsel has already proved itself well worth taking. He belongs to several organizations, of which the greater part are outgrowths of the Catholic church, of which he and his family are faithful communicants, the church in which they hold membership being St. Aloysius. Among these organizations are the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Knights of America and St. Aloy- sius Benevolent Society.

On September 14, 1898, Miss Theresa M. Ruh, a native of Covington and a daughter of a well-known citizen, Anton Ruh, became the bride of Mr. Rabe. Their union was blessed by the birth of two sons, Alvin F. and William J., the latter of whom was accidentally drowned at Norwood, a suburb of Cincinnati, while visiting relatives there on August 9, 1910.

The Kenton Supply Company with which Mr. Rabe is connected, is an outgrowth of the partnership formed May 18, 1904, by Joseph and John Carl, George Lubrecht and William A. Rabe, dealers in builders' supplies and coal. The concern soon became more extensive than anticipated, and the following January was in- corporated with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars, the first official board se- lected being the same in personnel as that which at the present day has its destinies in charge. Anton Ruh was president, Joseph Carl, vice-president, and William A. Rabe, sec- retary and treasurer. The new corporation began business February 1, 1905, and has since experienced a sure and steady growth, becom- ing largely extended. Besides the coal and sand yards on Robbins Street, near Licking river, a branch has been established at La- tonia, and the business is one of the most ex- tensive not only in Covington but in this part of the country. The coal and sand in which the company deals is delivered to them by both rail and barges.

HARRY ADOLPH DAVIDSON, B. S., M. D .- During the years which have marked the pe- riod of the professional career of Dr. David- son he has met with gratifying success, and he has won the patronage of many of the leading citizens and families of Louisville. A close and discriminating student, he endeavors to keep abreast with the times in everything re- lating to discoveries in the medical science and treatment thereof.

Dr. Davidson was born in Louisville, Jeffer- son county, Kentucky, on December 23, 1875, the son of the late Joseph Thormeyer David- son, who was born in Fort Hamilton, New York, the son of Captain Joseph Davidson, of the United States army. He came to Louis- ville in 1846, when a boy of only twelve years. and for many years was engaged in business in that city. He served as a member of Louis- ville's old volunteer fire department. He was well-known in Masonic circles as one of the distinguished Masons of Kentucky. Joseph T. Davidson was made a Mason by Clark Lodge, . No. 51, in 1864, but became a member of Abraham Lodge, No. 8, when Lodges 8, 51, 106 and 113 were consolidated. He became a member of Louisville Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, in 1880, and was number 52 on the register of DeMolay Commandery, Knights Templars, and was also a Scottish Rite Mason, having taken the thirty-second degree. He served as grand tyler of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky for over thirty years, having been elected in 1876, was grand sentinel of the Grand Chapter of Kentucky from 1876 to 1905 and of the Grand Council in 1882-83-84. He was for many years superintendent of the old Masonic Temple at Fourth and Jefferson streets. He was 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 brought to his duties keen perception, a me- thodical and systematic spirit and unwavering devotion, and his Masonic service therefore received the endorsement of all the representa- tives of the order. He died June 21, 1906, a inember of Broadway Christian church. His wife, Mary A. Davis, was born in Grant county, Kentucky, the daughter of John W. Davis, a native of Kentucky, whose parents were natives of Virginia. She died in 1894, at the age of forty-eight years.

Dr. Davidson was a member of the first graduating class of the Manual Training School of Louisville, being first honor man of the class of '94. He was graduated from the Kentucky State University, Lexington, class

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of '96, receiving the degree of B. C. E., and then graduated from the Louisville Hospital College of Medicine, class of '99, with the, de- gree of M. D. He supplemented this with a post-graduate course in the schools and hospi- tals of New York city in 1902 and 1907. The Doctor was a professor in the old Hospital Medical College and is now adjunct professor of pediatrics of the medical department of the University of Louisville. Before entering the practice, he was for eight years a teacher of physiology and mathematics at the manual training high school, Louisville.

Dr. Davidson is on the staff of the Kentucky Children's Home, and a director of the Y. M. C. A. He is a member of Phi Chi (medical Greek Letter Society) and of Phi Kappa Alpha (literary Greek Letter Society), and belongs to the Jefferson County Medical So- ciety, Kentucky State Medical Society, the American Medical Association and the Louis- ville Academy of Medicine. He is a deacon of Broadway Christian church.

The Doctor married Virginia Cood Gaggs, a daughter of William Carter Gaggs, who with his wife are natives of Yorkshire, England. Mrs. Davidson was born in Louisville, Ken- tucky, and to this union have been born one child, a son named Harry Carter, aged five years. Dr. Davidson has been prompted by laudable ambition in his profession, and to his earnest purpose and unflagging energy may be attributed the success which he has won in his chosen calling, for although a young man he has won a position and success as a member of the medical profession that many an older physician might well envy.

IRA ROOT .- For many years Ira Root was one of the prominent citizens of Newport, Kentucky, where he held some of the most important elective offices, and in his death the city lost one who had devoted his best ef- forts to the upbuilding of public interests and had achieved an enviable distinction in the different departments of life. He became en- twined with many ties of warm affection and an abundant progeny of generous and kindly deeds dispersed among his fellow-men and growing to a fruitful maturity, a lasting honor to their author and a grateful boon to hu- manity.

Ira Root was born in Piermont, New Hampshire, May 4, 1806, the son of Ephriam and Vashti (Birge) Root, the former a native of Piermont, New Hampshire, and the latter from Hebron, Connecticut. When he was eighteen years of age he went to Cincinnati, where his uncle, the Rev. David Root, a prom- inent Presbyterian clergyman, lived, completed his education at Miami University, and after-

ward was for a time Greek and Latin profes- sor at Augusta College. He then came to Newport and began the study of law with Richard Southgate, a prominent lawyer and pioneer. After being admitted to the bar he practiced law with F. M. Webster for many years under the firm name of Root & Webster, this being the leading firm in those days, and in which he continued until his death in New- port on the 12th of February, 1868. In his early days he was a staunch Democrat, very active in politics and held a number of posi- tions of public trust, but the contest between the states changed his views and, believing in abolition, he became an ardent Union man during the war and upon the organization of the Republican party from that time forth pinned his faith to that party.

Mr. Root was distinguished as a lawyer and orator. He had a clear conception of the force and import of language and discerned all the fine shades of meaning. He was exact in statement and construction, apt in the citation of authorities supporting his theory of a case. Possessing the qualities desired in a public official, he was not permitted to pursue his public life without interruption. He was a number of times elected to the state legislature and as a member distinguished himself in lay- ing the foundation for the state public school system. Mr. Root took a great interest in education and in every way used his influence to promote every measure that would further educate the masses and bring all educational advantages within the reach of all classes. He was president of the school board of Newport for many years and was at the head of every- thing educational. He was a member of the Constitutional convention in 1849. His re- ligious training was with the Methodist Epis- copal church, and he was one of the organizers of Grace Methodist Episcopal church in New- port and was a prominent and devoted worker and member until death, participating in the activities of the church and in the organized charities of the city. He made a point of the amenities of life and never forgot the little proprieties that indicate the well-bred gentle- man. His manner was often forcible but al- ways courteous. He lived in the community long enough to become identified with its wel- fare and prove the value of his citizenship by advocating and supporting every measure for the improvement of conditions and the good of society.

Mr. Root was married on December 25, 1834, to Sarah Ann Perry, a native of New- port, where she passed her entire life, dying at the age of ninety years and six months, with all her faculties intact to the last. Her father,

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Colonel David Perry, was a native of Virginia and when a young man came to Kentucky, locating at Newport among the pioneers, and he died in Newport a few years later, aged thirty-eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Root were the parents of four children : Oliver W., Albert T., James C. and Susan R., the latter the widow of Frank S. Barker. Of the above children all are deceased except the latter, Mrs. Barker. The sons were all lawyers of promise and ability, particularly the eldest one, Oliver W., who was one of the most con- vincing pleaders in the west. He was born in Newport on October 3, 1835, graduated from Miami University in 1858 and taught elocu- tion and languages in that institution for two years, being considered one of the finest elo- cutionists and orators in the west. He was twice a candidate for congress on the Republi- can ticket and delegate to five national Repub- lican conventions. Mr. Oliver W. Root sec- onded the nomination of General Grant in 1868. After the death of his father he con- tinued the latter's business, associated with his brother, Albert T. Root, which continued suc- cessfully for eighteen years. Few of his com- petitors at the bar possessed the same degree of mental strength and culture and few were so indefatigable in their work. He was a leader in thought as well as in action. His carefully matured opinions were expressed in language clear and concise, his argument en- forced with all the power of a skilled logician, and his diction pure, beautiful and elegant. He served also as county attorney several times. Mr. Oliver W. Root never married, and he died on the 3rd day of August, 1904. He accumulated a large fortune and in his will left many bequests to charitable institutions, churches and needy people.

FERDINAND J. RUH .- Mr. Ruh is one of the successful contractors and representative young business men of his native city of Cov- ington, Kenton county, where he was born on the 14th of November, 1883, and he is a son of Anton and Monica Ruh, of whom more detailed mention is made in a sketch dedicated to the father on other pages of this work.

Ferdinand J. Ruh gained his early educa- tional training in the parochial schools of Cov- ington and later was a student in St. Joseph's College, in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, for three years. After leaving school he secured employment in the tile manufactory in Coving- ton, but he was thus engaged only a short time. He then began the study of law, but he soon realized that he had more definite predilection for business pursuits than for the legal profes- sion, and he thus secured a position in the Citizens' National Bank, in which he was em-

ployed for several months. At the age of nine- teen years he went to Colorado in the capacity of secretary to a railroad promotor, and he remained in the west for a period of eighteen months. Upon his return to Covington he be- came interested in the organization of the Ken- ton Supply Company, of which he was one of the incorporators and with which he was act- ively identified for three years, at the expira- tion of which he disposed of his interests therein and engaged in the cement business. In March, 1910, he incorporated the business as the F. J. Ruh Company, with a capital stock of ten thousand dollars, and he has since been president of the company, which shows a large and prosperous business in the contracting line. He is also treasurer of the company and John Exterkamp is secretary. The company does contracting and all kinds of cement work. In 1900 Mr. Ruh also formed a partnership with William C. Kircher, a well-known car- penter and builder, and they have since con- ducted a prosperous business in the erection of houses, which they have placed upon the market. In politics Mr. Ruh is a staunch ad- herent of the Democratic party, and he and his wife are communicants of the Catholic church, holding membership in the parish of St. Pat- rick's church.

On the 12th of September, 1906, was sol- emnized the marriage of Mr. Ruh to Miss Pettus L. Hiles, who was born and reared in Covington and who is a daughter of William C. and Mary (Sommers) Hiles, the former of whom was born in Bracken county, this state, and the latter in Covington, both being repre- sentatives of honored pioneer families of this state. The parents of Mrs. Ruh now reside in Covington, and on the other pages of this work appears a sketch of the career of Mr. Hiles. Mr. and Mrs. Ruh became the parents of three children : Ferdinand J., Jr., who died at the age of thirteen months, and Virginia and Willis.

EDWARD L. WILLIAMS .- The field of in- surance is constantly attracting men of enter- prise, energy and laudable ambition, who find in this scope for their dominant qualities, rec- ognizing that the business offers excellent opportunities for advancement. There has been no greater development in any. line of business than in insurance during the last quar- ter of a century, and at the head of some of the strongest companies of this character stand men of pronounced business ability, with marked capacity to plan and to perform. Among this number is included Edward L. Williams, president of the Southern National Life Insurance Company of Louisville.

Edward L. Williams was born in Glasgow.

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Ed. S. Williams

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Barren county, Kentucky, on May 10, 1866. . He is the son of Dr. W. A. Williams and Mary Jane (Graves) Williams, both natives of Kentucky. The Williams family came to Ken- tucky from Virginia, the Kentucky settler having been Captain Williams, a Revolution- ary soldier, who was great-grandfather of our subject. The maternal grandfather was Bart- lett Graves, a prominent man of Barren and Hart counties, Kentucky, who surveyed all the land in those counties and took up large tracts of land and was at one time the wealthiest man in that section of Kentucky. Dr. Will- iam A. Williams was a graduate of the Louis- ville Medical College and practiced all his life in Glasgow.

Edward L. Williams attended the public schools at Glasgow and the Southern Normal School founded by his brother, J. Thomas Williams, at Bowling Green, Kentucky. At the beginning of his business life, before he knew just the particular groove into which he was destined to fit, he commenced with tak- ing an engagement with the Adams Express Company at Glasgow, and later on was en- gaged with a planing mill and in contracting at the same city. In 1895 he entered into the life insurance business as a solicitor. From that time on each step in his career was one of ad- vance, bringing him a broader outlook and greater opportunities. He did not learn the lessons of business life from experiment, which always involves expensive blunders, but has ever made a close study of conditions and problems before embarking upon any enter- prise and has therefore brought to the solu- tion of every question sound opinions and thorough understanding.

Soon after he started in as a solicitor he was made district manager and then superin- tendent of agents for Kentucky for the Aetna Life Insurance Company. The next step in his progress was as agency instructor for the New York Life Insurance Company working out of Louisville. Finally, in November, 1908, he organized the Southern National Life Insurance Company, of which he was elected president at its organization. Thirteen years' connection with life insurance has made him thoroughly acquainted with the business, its methods of conduct, its management, its ne- cessities and its possibilities and in the impor- tant position which he now occupies he has instituted plans and methods, the value of which are being demonstrated in the success attending them.

Mr. Williams is married to Mary E., the daughter of J. P. Snellings, of Alexandria, Louisiana, and they are the parents of two children : Mary S., and Edward L. Jr.

Mr. Williams has always been a student and hard worker and has worked his way up to prominence, manifesting a fidelity of purpose, an indefatigable enterprise and a fertility of resource that has enabled him to carve his name deeply on the records of insurance in the state of Kentucky.

LAWRENCE J. DROEGE .- One of the leading fire insurance agencies of the city of Coving- ton is that conducted by Mr. Droege, and he is recognized as one of the representative busi- ness men of the younger generation in his na- tive state. He was born in Covington, on the 19th day of October, 1871, and is a son of Lorenz J. and Mary (Moeller) Droege, both of whom were born in Westphalia, Germany, where they were reared and where their mar- riage was solemnized. Immediately after their marriage they emigrated to the United States, and they established their home in Cov- ington about 1854. The father was a wagon maker by trade and to this business he devoted his attention during the greater portion of his active career. He died in Covington in 1891, at the age of sixty-six years. During the Civil war he was located at Atlanta, Georgia, where he was employed by the United States govern- ment in the manufacturing of wagons for the military service. He was a communicant of the Catholic church, as is also his widow, who still resides in Covington. Of their seven children six are living and of the number the subject of this review is the youngest.

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A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 16

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