A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 19

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 19

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He has ever given a most loyal and public- spirited support to all measures and enter- prises tending to conserve the general welfare of the community. He is an appreciative member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he is affiliated with Coeur de Lion Commandery, No. 26, Knights Templars, of which he is past commander. He also holds membership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and in connection with his profession he is a member of the Bourbon County Medical So- ciety, the Kentucky State Medical Society, the American Medical Association and the Ken- tucky State Medical Association of Railroad Surgeons. Both he and his wife are devout members of the Presbyterian church.

In 1896 was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Fithian to Miss Mason White, who was born

in Paris, Kentucky, and who is a daughter of George G. White. Dr. and Mrs. Fithian are the parents of three children-George White, Josephine, and Emily Owen, all of whom re- main at the parental home.

WILLIAM S. JONES .- Bourbon county has been the home of William S. Jones from the time of his nativity and he is a scion of the third generation to be actively identified with agricultural pursuits within the borders of this favored section of the Blue Grass common- wealth. He has wrought out a very intelligent success through the persistent application of his energies and abilities in connection with the great basic art of agriculture and is recog- nized as one of the representative farmers and stock-growers of his native county, where he is well upholding the prestige of the honored name which he bears.

William S. Jones was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, on the 7th of July, 1845, and is a son of John W. and Amanda (Tal- bott) Jones, both of whom were likewise na- tives of Bourbon county, where the former was born on the 15th of June, 1820, and the latter on the 2d of October, 1823; their mar- riage was solemnized in this county on the 20th of October, 1840. John W. Jones was a son of William S. and Nancy ( Ashurst ) Jones, who established their home in North Middle- town precinct, Bourbon county, in the pioneer days and who here continued to reside until their death. William S. Jones, the founder of the family in Bourbon county, became a suc- cessful farmer and was the founder of a large and well improved landed estate at the time of his death. He was a man of sterling char- acter, did well his part in connection with the industrial and social development of the coun- ty and here commanded the uniform esteem of all who knew him. William S. and Nancy (Ashurst) Jones became the parents of five children-John W., Benjamin F., Josiah A., Rebecca and William S. The last mentioned died in infancy and the other four children at- tained to maturity and reared families.

John W. Jones, father of him whose name initiates this review, was reared and educated in Bourbon county and soon after his mar- riage, in the year 1840, he settled on a farm about two miles north of North Middletown, on the North Middletown and Cane Bridge turnpike. There he developed a valuable property, made excellent improvements on his farm and on this homestead he continued to reside until his death. His first wife was summoned to the life eternal on the 10th of May, 1850, and on the 14th of May, 1851, was solemnized his marriage to Miss Sarah Red- mon, who was born in Bourbon county, on the

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30th of January, 1823, and who was a daugh- ter of George L. Redmon, a representative pioneer of the county. Of the first union were born five children, concerning whom the fol- lowing brief record is entered-Susan A. was born on the 8th of October, 1841, and died on the 17th of January, 1908; Mary C., who was born on the 9th of August, 1843, died on the Ioth of October, 1851; William S., the sub- ject of this sketch, was the next in order of birth; Daniel R., who was born on the 11th of July, 1847, died on the 12th of October, 1851; and John W., who was born May 12, 1849, died on the 22d of the following Octo- ber. 'The children of the second marriage were two in number-Sallie B., who was born on the 21st of September, 1856, died on the 4th of February, 1906; and the other child, a daughter, died in infancy, unnamed. John W. Jones died on the 4th of March, 1889, and his second wife passed to the life eternal on the 15th of January, 1897.

John W. Jones was a man of prominence and influence in his county, was progressive in his ideas and methods and was loyal and liberal in his civic attitude. He won success by very appreciable merits, was kindly and tol- erant in his judgment of others and was ever ready to aid those "in any way afflicted or dis- tressed in mind, body, or estate." He accumu- lated a large tract of land and in the work and management of the same brought to bear such progressive ideas that his success was of very distinct and definite order. He was a stanch Democrat in his political proclivities and while never ambitious for public office his aid and influence were ever given in support of all measures and enterprises tending to conserve the best intersts of the community. He was a sincere and devoted member of the Chris- tian church, as were also his first and second wives, and he served as an elder in the same for many years. He commanded a secure place in the confidence and esteem of all who knew him and his life course was ordered upon the highest plane of integrity and honor.

William S. Jones, whose name introduces this article, was reared to maturity on the home farm and he has never found it expedi- ent to withdraw his allegiance from the great basic industry under whose influences he was reared. He was afforded the advantages of Clay Seminary, at North Middletown, an in- stitution that is now known as the Kentucky Classical & Business College. He was mar- ried in the year 1883 and then established his home on a farm one mile south of North Mid- dletown, on the Thatcher's Mills turnpike, but three years later he removed to his present finely improved homestead which is located on

the North Middletown and Cane Ridge turn- pike, one mile north of Middletown, where he owns 575 acres of well improved and highly cultivated land. In addition to raising the various crops best suited to the soil and cli- mate he is also a successful grower of live stock of excellent grades and his work as a farmer has been characterized by indefatig- able energy and progressive methods, through which he has gained precedence as one of the essentially representative agriculturists of his native county. He is liberal and loyal as a citizen and gives his support to all public en- terprises that make for the well being of the community. He and his family are zealous members of the Christian church, in whose faith he was reared and in the same he has served as an elder for the past fifteen years.

On the Ioth of October, 1883, was solem- nized the marriage of Mr. Jones to Miss Em- ma Collins, who was born in Bourbon county, on the 16th of October, 1860, and who is a daughter of William and Sallie (Trimble) Collins. (See her brother John T. Collins' sketch on other pages for her family history.) Concerning the children of this felicitous un- ion the following brief data are given-John W., who was born November 24, 1884, is now incumbent of the office of cashier of the North Middletown Deposit Bank, in which his fa- ther is a stockholder; Sarah A., who was born on the 29th of October, 1889, is the wife of Walter S. Meng, who is engaged in farming in this county; and Robert G., who was born on the 18th of June, 1894, remains at the par- ental home and assists his father in the work and management of the farm. The attractive home is a recognized center of gracious hos- pitality and the family is one that enjoys un- qualified popularity in connection with the best social activities of the community.

MITCHELL W. THOMAS .- Since 1891 Mitchell W. Thomas has maintained his home at Ashland, Kentucky, where he has extensive lumber and property interests and where he has won wide repute as a man of enormous energy and unusual business acumen. In 1908 he retired from active participation in the lumber industry and is now devoting his entire time and attention to his various finan- cial interests, which are of good proportions.

Mr. Thomas was born in Smith county, Vir- ginia, on the 5th of January, 1850, and is a son of Abijah and Priscilla Cavinett (Scott) Thomas, both of whom were likewise born and reared in Smith county, Virginia. The father was of Welsh descent and the mother of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Abijah was identi- fied with agricultural pursuits during the early part of his business career and later he was

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a manufacturer. He built the first woolen mill in southwestern Virginia, the same being located six miles distant from Marion, the county seat of Smith county. It was con- structed in the days prior to the Civil war and was successfully operated before the incep- tion of the war and a part of the time during that conflict. Mr. Thomas also owned a large iron furnace, which was destroyed during the raid of General Stoneman, in December, 1864. He was active in developing the natural re- sources of the country in which he lived and during the war operated both his mill and his furnace, disposing of his entire output to the Confederate government. He was summoned to eternal rest in Smith county in 1876, at the age of sixty-three years. His wife, who sur- vived him for nine years, died on the same day of the month as her husband-December, 9. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas became the parents of twelve children, eight of whom are living in 1911, Mitchell W., of this review, being the seventh in order of birth.

Mitchell W. Thomas was reared to adult age in his native place. His educational train- ing was of meager order, the war and its rav- ages militating against any consistent system of schooling. He worked on the home farm during his boyhood days, having charge of the same while his father and brothers were employed at the factories. When twenty- three years of age he engaged in the lumber business, establishing a factory, together with a retail and wholesale trade, near Glade Spring, Washington county, Virginia. He had a large portable mill and moved the same later to adjoining counties, continuing to be identified with the lumber industry for a num- ber of years, during which time he organized the M. W. and A. P. Thomas Lumber Com- pany, his partners being two of his brothers. In 1889 Mr. Thomas of this review sold his interest in the above lumber company and came to Kentucky, where he was identified with the Thomas Lumber Company at Cat- lettsburg for about two years, at the expira- tion of which he removed to Ashland, where he purchased a small saw mill, which he sub- sequently enlarged and which he operated with increasing success for several years. The latter concern eventually grew into the Ash- land Lumber Company, which was organized in 1898 and which is still doing a thriving business. For a number of years after its or- ganization Mr. Thomas was president and active head of the company. Operations were begun at Ashland with fourteen rafts of logs purchased on the Ohio river, this being the beginning of successful lumber operations at Ashland, as prior to that time none of the

mills had been able to carry on a successful and lucrative business. After thus building up several large enterprises in the lumber in- dustry Mr. Thomas retired from active par- ticipation therein in 1908, since which year his whole time has been devoted to his extensive property interests in Ashland. With that keen foresight which is a natural instinct with the big business man and capitalist Mr. Thomas has invested in local real estate and improved the property.

In 1906 was begun the construction of one of the finest modern business and office build- ings in the city, the same being known as the Thomas Block. It was completed in January, 1907, and is fifty by one hundred feet in lat- eral dimensions and three stories in height. The material used for construction was fire- burned brick with the outside walls of con- crete, and the top floor of the buidling is de- voted to the exclusive use of the Park City Club. Mr. Thomas was one of the organizers of the Citizens' Bank & Trust Company, in which he is a director and stockholder. In politics he accords a staunch allegiance to the cause of the Democratic party in all matters of national import while in local affairs he is non-partisan, giving his support to men and measures meeting with the approval of his judgment. In religious matters he and his wife are devout members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, to whose charities and benevolences they are most liberal con- tributors. Fraternally Mr. Thomas is affil- iated with various local organizations of rep- resentative character and as a citizen his in- trinsic loyalty has been a potent influence in the general progress and development.

In the year 1873 was celebrated the mar- riage of Mr. Thomas to Miss Margaret C. Smith, a native of Washington county, Vir- ginia, and a daughter of Pleasant Smith, who was an extensive land owner in southwestern Virginia, where he passed the latter years of his life. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas became the parents of one daughter, Mary Cavinett, who was summoned to eternal rest at Catletts- burg in 1890, at the age of fourteen years.

JOHN W. JONES .- One of the steadfast and popular financial institutions of Bourbon county is the North Middletown Deposit Bank, and the same is favored in having as one of its executives John W. Jones, who is the effi- cient incumbent of the office of cashier and who is numbered among the essentially repre- sentative citizens and business men of the younger generation in his native county.

Mr. Jones was born on the family home- stead, in North Middletown precinct, Bourbon county, on the 24th of November, 1884, and is a son of William S. and Emma (Collins)

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Jones, concerning whom specific mention is made on other pages of this work, so that a repetition of the data concerning the family genealogy and the noteworthy career of the honored father is not demanded in the pres- ent article. John W. Jones was reared to the invigorating discipline of the farm, and after completing the curriculum of the public schools he entered the Kentucky Classical & Business College, at North Middletown, in which well ordered institution he was gradu- ated as a member of the class of 1903. Soon afterward he assumed the position of book- keeper in the North Middletown Deposit Bank, and after retaining this incumbency for sev- eral months he returned to the home farm, with whose management he continued to be actively associated until November, 1907, when he resumed the position of bookkeeper in the bank. Definite recognition of his abil- ity and effective services was that accorded in January, 1909, when he was advanced to the office of assistant cashier. In this position he manifested marked facility in the directing and handling of the executive details of the busi- ness, and the official estimate of the same was significantly shown in April, 1910, when he was chosen cashier of the institution, an office in which he has amply justified the confidence thus reposed in him and in which he did much to facilitate and expand the business of the bank. He is a young man of progressive ideas and sterling character and he has won to him- self the high regard of those with whom he has come in contact in business and social cir- cles.

Though never an aspirant for public office, Mr. Jones is loyal to all civic duties and re- sponsibilities and his political allegiance is given to the Democratic party. Both he and his wife are active and valued members of the Christian church in North Middletown and . they are prominent in connection with the best social affairs of the community.

On the 23d of February. 1910, was solem- nized the marriage of Mr. Jones to Miss Beu- lah E. Bridges, who was born in Franklin county, this state, on the 27th of November. 1884, and who is a daughter of Benjamin F. and Sarah R. ( Moreland) Bridges, now resi- dents of Georgetown, Scott county.

JUDGE HENRY CLAY SMIT11 .- One of the foremost of American poets and authors, Oliver Wendell Holmes, many years ago penned the lines,

"There was a young fellow of excellent pith, Fate tried to obscure him by naming him Smith."

And in the case of Judge Henry Clay Smith, as in that of the subject of the ode, Fate has

been worsted in her nefarious designs. In every walk of life, in law and in agricultural operations of the most enlightened character, as a worthy and representative citizen of Bourbon county, he is well-known and hon- ored.

Judge Henry Clay Smith was born in North Middletown Precinct, Bourbon county, June 16, 1848. His parents, Algernon S. and Amanda F. (Thomas) Smith, were both of them not only natives of the Blue Grass state, but the father was also a native of Bourbon county where his eyes first opened to the light of day, May 16, 1809, the year which gave to America a bevy of her greatest men. The birth of the mother occurred in Montgomery county, December 27, 1828. Her grandfather, William Thomas, came from Culpeper county, Virginia, and a more extended account of the family is given in the sketch of Hon. Claude M. Thomas on other pages of this work. Al- gernon S. Smith was a son of Weathers Smith, who was a native of Fairfax county, Vir- ginia, and when a young man (in 1785), he immigrated to Bourbon county where he made his home until his demise. He married a young woman of the same name, Miss Lydia Smith, a daughter of Withers Smith, who was an early settler of Bourbon county. To Weathers Smith and Lydia Smith one child was born, namely Algernon S., who was the father of Judge Smith, the subject of this re- view.

Algernon S. Smith and Amanda F. Thomas were married in Montgomery county, Ken- tucky, October 1, 1846, after which they set- tled on Strodes Creek, about three miles west of North Middletown, and there made their home until their death, both dying with Asiatic cholera, he on September 28, 1852, and his wife October 2 of the same year. They were the parents of two children,-Henry Clay, the eldest ; and Algernon S., who was born March 20, 1850, and died September 10, 1872.

Judge Henry Clay Smith received his liter- ary education at the Stony Point Academy under Professor John W. Fox and later ma- triculated in the Kentucky University at Lex- ington, now known as Transylvania Univer- sity. After finishing his education he returned to farming and has ever since continued in that vocation. He was married in Clark county, Kentucky, October 21, 1869, to Miss Nannie C. Rice, who was born in Bourbon county, March 24, 1850, the daughter of Harvey W. and Lodusca (Wright) Rice, early settlers and among the prominent people of their county. To the union of Judge Smith and his wife were born two children, Allie Dee, born Jan- uary 26, 1873. widow of R. H. Dickson, makes

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her home with her father. She has one child, Stanley Smith Dickson, born July 30, 1897. Judge Smith's son, Henry S., born September 14. 1878, died February 23, 1895.

In August 1882, Judge Smithi was elected justice of the peace of North Middletown precinct and served until he was elected county judge in May, 1899, to fill the unexpired term of Judge William Purnell and in the regular election in November, 1901, he was elected to the same office and served until January I, 1906. During the time he was in office the new court house was built at a cost of $165,- 000. Since his retirement he has devoted his time and capabilities to farming and stock- raising. He owns a fine farm of six hundred acres with a beautiful modern home, located on the North Middletown and Thatcher's Mills turnpike, and about two and one-half miles south of North Middletown. His homestead is known as "Oakland" and is considered the best farm in the precinct and one of the best in the county. In connection with general farming and the feeding of export cattle, Judge Smith breeds to some extent thorough- bred saddle horses.

Judge Smith and his wife are members of the Christian church and he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Washington Lodge, No. 79, of North Middletown and of North Middletown Chapter, No. 26, while he like- · wise holds membership in the Coeur de Lion Commandery, No. 26, of Paris, Kentucky. He is affiliated also with the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, Paris Lodge, No. 373.

Judge Smith and his household are to be numbered among the best and most highly re- spected citizens of the county. They are pub- lic spirited and altruistic, ever ready to give their support to any measure likely to result in the greatest good to the greatest number.

WILLIAM V. HUFFMAN, M. D .- Many of the native sons of Kentucky have here attained to distinctive success in the various professions, and among the number is Dr. Huffman, who has gained precedence as one of the repre- sentative physicians and surgeons of Bourbon county and who is established in the general practice of his profession in the thriving little city of Millersburg. His precedence in his ex- acting vocation is based alike upon his fine technical ability and his sterling character, and he holds unassailable position in the confidence and esteem of the community in which he has elected to establish his home and to render self- abnegating service in behalf of suffering hu- manity. He has shown a high appreciation of the dignity and responsibility of his profession, and has kept in close touch with the advances made in both medicine and surgery, so that he

finds himself amply fortified as a diagnostician and in the employment of the most efficacious remedial agents.

Dr. Huffman was born in Harrison county, Kentucky, on the 3rd of July, 1858, and is a son of George W. and Lucinda (Jones) Huff- man, the former of whom was born in Har- rison county, this state, on the 20th of Febru- ary, 1826, and the latter in Bourbon county, on the 15th of September, 1829. These dates indicate that the respective families were founded in Kentucky in the pioneer days, and the names of both have been worthily asso- ciated with the material and social develop- ment of the fine old Blue Grass commonwealth. George W. Huffman became one of the repre- sentative agriculturists and influential citizens of Harrison county, where he continued to re- side, honored by all who knew him, until his death which, occurred in August, 1904. His cherished and devoted wife, a woman of most gracious personality, was summoned to the life eternal in October, 1909, and of their six chil- dren four are living,-Dr. Lucius D, who is a leading physician and surgeon of the city of Covington, this state; Dr. William V., whose name initiates this sketch; Warder W., who is a representative farmer of Harrison county ; and Mary, who is the wife of Benjamin Harp, a prosperous agriculturist of the same county.

Dr. William V. Huffman was reared to the sturdy and invigorating discipline of the farm, and under its beneficent influences was quick- ened his ambition for a wider sphere of en- deavor. He was afforded the advantages of the public schools of his native county, as well as those of a well conducted private school, and in 1883 he began the work of preparing himself for his chosen profession. He took up the study of medicine under the effective pre- ceptorship of Dr. J. T. Stuart and of his brother, Dr. Lucius D. Huffman, both of whom were at that time successful practitioners in Harrison county, and in 1885 he was matricu- lated in the celebrated Jefferson Medical Col- lege, in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in which he completed the prescribed course and in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1887, receiving from this fine old institution the degree of Doctor of Medi- cine. Dr. Huffman served his professional novitiate by engaging in practice in Corinth, Grant county, Kentucky, where he remained for a short time, and in March, 1889, he es- tablished his residence in Millersburg, where he has since continued in the active work of his profession, in which his success has been on a parity with his recognized ability and un- equivocal devotion. He is one of the leading representatives of his profession in this section .

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of the state and as a citizen he is distinctively loyal and public-spirited, taking lively inter- est in all that tends to conserve the social and material welfare of the community and com- manding as his own the uniform confidence and regard of its people. He and his wife are prominent in connection with the best social activities of their home city and at their at- tractive residence is dispensed a gracious hos- pitality. Subordinating all else to the demands of his profession, Dr. Huffman has had naught of desire for political office, though he accords staunch support to the cause of the Democratic party. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Christian church and are active in its work.

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A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 19

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