USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III > Part 22
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Mr. Doolan was born on a farm in Shelby county, Kentucky, on the 22d of January, 1876, and is a son of Professor Thomas J. and Rowena E. (Weakley) Doolan. The father was born in county Cork, Ireland, on the 15th of March, 1841, and he died at his home in Shelby county, Kentucky. on the 13th of March, 1899, only two days prior to the time when he would have celebrated his fifty-eighth birthday. He was a child at the time of the family emigration from the Emerald Isle to America, and he was reared to maturity in Shelby county, Kentucky, where his father located soon after coming to the United States. He came into the world with the heritage of fine physical powers and alert mentality, and his ambition was early quickened to action, as he easily proved his leadership in his classes
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in the schools of Shelbyville, after completing the curriculum of which he entered George- town College, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1860. He forthwith put his scholastic acquirements to practical use by turning his attention to the pedagogic profession, in which he was destined to attain noteworthy success and high reputation. In the autumn of 1860 he began teaching in the Weakley neighborhood, a few miles southeast of Shelbyville, and several months later he opened a select school at Christianburg, in the same county; this he conducted with marked success. In 1861 was solemnized his mar- riage to Miss Rowena Elizabeth Weakley, the only daughter of the late Calvin S. and Mary Weakley, honored citizens of Shelby county. Mrs. Doolan was well fitted, through culture. assidious industry and excellent judgment, to be a true helpmeet to her devoted and honored husband, and their relations were ever of the most idyllic order, characterized by mutual love and sympathy as well as by thorough in- tellectual companionship untouched by intol- erance. She entered the school room with him and for many years they were associated in the conducting of one of the most thorough and profitable schools in Shelby county. Early in his pedagogic career Professor Doolan was prevailed upon to establish a school of high order at Finchville, that coun- ty, and this institution soon became a source of just pride in that section of the state. The splendid intellectual and administrative abil- ity of Professor Doolan and his gracious wife attracted to their school many pupils from dis- tant points in the state, and these were accom- modated in the home of Professor Doolan and those of other families of the community, where the influences and surroundings were of the most beneficent order. Both the pro- fessor and his wife showed remarkable power in arousing and maintaining the interest of the pupils, with the result that the latter made substantial and rapid advancement, according to their instructors, the utmost affection and esteem. Professor Doolan was a most excel- lent teacher, painstaking and loyal in his pro- fession, and mention also may be made of the fact that he and his devoted coadjutor exer- cised in a quiet way a most constant interest in the moral and religious training of their pupils, whose characters were thus moulded and established. Many of the best men and women of Kentucky and many men who have attained prominence in the various vocations of life, received their original inspiration and guidance in the Doolan school. In the latter years of his life Professor Doolan gave up his work as a teacher and devoted his time and
energies to the management of his well im- proved landed estate in Shelby county, where he gained precedence and success as a pro- gressive agriculturist and stock-grower. As the result of his mature judgment and careful administration of his affairs he was duly prospered, thus being able to leave a goodly estate to his family.
In addition to his professional affairs Pro- fessor Doolan was entrusted with much bus- iness extraneous thereto and involving public trust. For four years he was president of the Shelby County Agricultural Society, to whose annual fairs he brought a degree of prosper- ity theretofore attained. He served many years as deputy clerk of Shelby county and was called upon to write many deeds, wills and other official documents. Often he was called upon to examine and give his opinion concerning legal matters and measures touch- ing the general welfare of the community. He was an expert surveyor and in this capac- ity his services were much in demand in lo- cating disputed lines and corners, in dividing landed estates and in general surveying work. His counsel was sought in connection with al- most every subject in which the farmers of his section were interested, and his opinions con- cerning the popular topics and the issues of the day had great weight with his neighbors. He had splendid powers of ratiocination, and viewed all practical matters in their true pro- portions, thus reaching conclusions by safe methods of reasoning.
Early in life Professor Doolan united with the Shelbyville Baptist church, and none had a deeper reverence for the spiritual verities than did he. His life was one of definite con- secration, and for many years prior to his death he had served as deacon and moderator of the Buck Creek Baptist church, besides which he was for nineteen years incumbent of the office of clerk of the Shelby County Baptist Association. He loved the Bible and was a deep student of the same, so that he was able to expound its teachings with surety and reverence. At the time when he was summoned to the life eternal one of his in- timate friends wrote the following sentiments, which are well worthy of perpetuation in this sketch: "He was rich in his experience of grace, as was readily seen from his public prayers-how humbly he confessed human unworthiness, and how earnestly he plead for mercy through the merits of a crucified Sa- viour. It saddens my heart to know that no more will we hear his familiar voice in prayer, no more will we listen to his exposition of Scripture in the Sunday-school, no more will we receive his counsel in the church meeting.
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no more will we greet him in the congregation of the saints. Farewell, beloved brother, un- til we meet in that 'city whose builder and maker is God.'"
The memory of Professor Doolan shall long be held in reverence in the community that so long represented his home and in which his hold upon popular confidence and affec- tion was ever inviolable. His widow still re- sides on the old homestead, which is endeared to her by the gracious memories and associa- tions of the past, and in the loss of her loved companion she finds much of solace in the affectionate regard of her children and of a circle of friends that is limited only by that of her acquaintances. She also is a devout and zealous member of the Baptist church, with which her children likewise are identi- fied, thus showing their appreciation of the precepts and teachings of their devoted par- ents. Professor Doolan is survived by five sons and four daughters, whose names are here given: Esten, John C., Leonard W., William L., Ernest, Elma, Sallie, Lillie and Rowena.
William Lee Doolan, whose name initiates this review, was reared to the discipline of the home farm and was prepared for college in Shelby Academy, the school owned and con- ducted by his father. For two years he was a student in Hardin Collegiate Institute, at Elizabethtown, this state, and he completed his literary education in Washington & Lee University, at Lexington, Virginia. In 1900 he was graduated from the law department of Louisville University, from which he re- ceived the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He was forthwith admitted to the bar of his na- tive state and opened an office in the Kenyon building, in Louisville, where he has since maintained his headquarters, the while he has so demonstrated his powers and his integrity of purpose as to gain success of unequivocal order in his exacting profession. Though never incumbent of political office Mr. Doolan is aligned as a staunch supporter of the cause of the Democratic party, and both he and his wife are active members of the Highland Bap- tist church, in their home city.
On the 16th of June, 1898, Mr. Doolan was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Brown, daughter of Horace G. Brown, of Roarcke, Virginia, and they have two children -William Lee, Jr., born October 27, 1899, and Thomas Jefferson, born September 4, 1901.
JOHN H. ROSEBERRY .- At this point atten- tion is directed to the career of one of the most progressive and extensive farmers and stock dealers in Bourbon county and it may
be said that Mr. Roseberry is not only one of the well known and highly esteemed citi- zens of his native county but that he is also a citizen whose loyalty and public spirit are of the most unequivocal order. He has been in- fluential in the furtherance of the industrial and civic advancement of Bourbon county and here his circle of friends is coincident with that of his acquaintances.
John H. Roseberry was born in Bourbon county on the 20th of May, 1851, and is a son of Hiram M. and Caroline K. (Hildreth) Roseberry, both of whom were likewise na- tives of Bourbon county, where the respective families were founded in the pioneer days. Hiram M. Roseberry was born on the 13th of November, 1824, and his wife was born De- cember 10, 1830; their marriage was here sol- emnized on the 30th of November, 1848, and of the two children, John H., of this sketch, is the younger. Molly F., who was born on the 25th of September, 1849, and who died in January, 1896, became the wife of Nathaniel Rogers on the Ist of October, 1867, and they became the parents of one son, Hiram R., who married Miss Ida Barton; Mr. Rogers is now deceased and his wife and only son, Bar- ton, now reside in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio. Hiram M. Roseberry was a son of Hugh and Mollie ( Parker) Roseberry, the former of whom was born in Virginia, on the 28th of June, 1788, and the latter in Mary- land, on the 23d of January, 1798. Hugh Roseberry came to Kentucky in 1803, at which time he was about sixteen years of age, and his wife was brought by her parents to this state in April, 1798, being about three months old at the time. Mr. Roseberry established his home in Bourbon county, as did also the parents of his wife, and here his marriage to Miss Mollie Parker was solemnized on the 4th of May, 1817. He died on the 14th of November, 1858, and his wife, long surviving him, was summoned to the life eternal on the 23d of May, 1880. They became the parents of six children- Caroline, Henrietta, Hiram M., Mary, Rebecca and a daughter who died in infancy. The only one of the children now living is Rebecca, who is the widow of James M. Hughes and resides in Paris, Kentucky. Hiram M. Roseberry was reared on the old homestead farm and for a number of years after attaining to maturity he continued to be identified with agricultural pursuits. In 1875 he was one of those primarily instrumental in the organization of the Agricultural Bank at Paris, this county, and he served as presi- dent of this institution until his death, which occurred on the 3d of November, 1895. A number of years prior to his demise he re-
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moved from his farm to Paris, where he re- eleven children, namely-Sarah M., Minerva sided until a year before his death. His cher- J., Luvica, Catherine A., William J., Joseph A., Mary E., Caroline K., Bradford, Eliza T. and John F. All of the number are now de- ceased except Joseph A., who resides on Cane Ridge and who is one of the prosperous farmers and stock-growers of Bourbon county. ished and devoted wife here died on the Ist of March, 1891, and in 1894 he became a resident in the home of his son, John H., the subject of this review, where he remained un- til he was summoned from the scene of life's mortal endeavors. He was a man of sterling character and of distinctive business ability. He gained a large and worthy success and so ordered his course as to retain at all times the inviolable confidence and esteem of his fellow men. He was a Democrat in his po- litical proclivities and both he and his wife were zealous members of the Christian church of Paris.
John H. Roseberry passed his boyhood and youth on the farm and he has been continu- ously identified with the great basic art of agriculture to the present time. He was af- forded the advantages of the select school conducted by Professor Thomas J. Dodd, in Paris, and after his school days he continued to be associated in the work and management of the home farm, of which he eventually be- came the owner. He is at the present time the owner of valuable land in Bourbon county and his beautiful home, known as "Ellerslie," is most attractively located at a point five miles east of Paris, on the Paris and Cane Ridge turnpike. In addition to diversified agriculture Mr. Roseberry gives special at- tention to the raising and dealing in of high- grade live stock and he is known as one of the most alert and progressive representa- tives of these lines of industry in his native county. He is essentially loyal and public- spirited as a citizen, always ready to give his influence and aid in support of movements and enterprises for the advancing of the best interests of his home county and state and while he has never been an aspirant for public office he accords a stalwart allegiance to the cause of the Democratic party. He is a con- sistent and valued member of the Cane Ridge Christian church, as was also his wife. It should be noted that the maternal grandpar- ents of Mr. Roseberry were likewise num- bered among the sterling pioneers of Bourbon county. They were John and Marianne ( Fin- ley) Hildreth, both of whom were natives of Virginia, where the former was born on the 26th of June, 1790, and the latter on the 3d of March, 1800. They came to Bourbon county in a very early day and here they passed the residue of their lives, honored by all who knew them. Mr. Hildreth was sim- moned to eternal rest on the 25th of October. 1872, and his wife passed away on the rith of June, 1862. They became the parents of
On the Ioth of November, 1891, was sol- emnized the marriage of Mr. Roseberry to Miss Elizabeth Brent Wilson, who was born in Bourbon county in December, 1868, and who was a daughter of Henry T. and Anna (Young) Wilson. She was a woman of most gracious personality and gained the affection- ate regard of all who came within the sphere of her gentle and kindly influence. She was summoned to the life eternal in April, 1901, and is survived by two children-Caroline K., who was born September 5, 1892, and Hiram M., born November 13, 1894.
WILLIAM T. BUCKNER .- The man best fit- ted to meet the wonderfully changed life of to-day is not a new type of man. He is a man resplendent with the same old sterling qual- ities,-great in his home life, great in his civic and patriotic life and great in his religious life. William T. Buckner is a gentleman of . the old-school regime and he is a descendent of an old English family that was early founded in Virginia, which commonwealth cradled so much of our national history. A most interesting record of the family history of the Buckners will be found elsewhere in this volume, in the biography of Walker Buckner, so that but scant details are con- sidered necessary in this connection.
William T. Buckner was born on the fine old homestead farm which now represents his home and the date of his nativity was March 20tl1, 1848. He is a son of William T., and Lucy A. (Woodford) Buckner, both of whom were born in Virginia, the former on the 9th of February, 1813, and the latter on the 30th of March, 1822. When mere chil- dren they accompanied their parents to the fine old Blue Grass state and they were reared and educated in Bourbon county, where their marriage was solemnized and where they passed their entire lives. William T. Buckner became a successful agriculturist in Bourbon county and he was summoned to eternal rest in 1888. He was a man of prominence and influence in his county and his memory is revered by all who came in contact with his gracious personality. He was a son of William T. Buckner, who was a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Haws) Buckner, both of Virginia. William T. Buckner, (I), was a native of the Old Dominion Commonwealth where he was
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born in 1786, and he immigrated with his fam- ily and brothers to Kentucky, settling near North Middletown, this county, where. his death occurred in 1850, at the age of sixty- four years. He was twice married, his first union being with his cousin, Miss Mary Buck- ner, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Monroe) Buckner. They became the parents of two children, of whom William T., father of him whose name introduces this article, was the eldest. For his second wife William T. Buckner married Sallie Clay, who bore him three children. William T. Buckner ( II) and Lucy A. (Woodford) Buckner had only one son, William T. (III), whose name initiates this review. Mrs. Buckner died December 7, 1910, at her son's home in her eighty-ninth year.
Mr. William T. Buckner was reared to the sturdy discipline of the farm and he has never severed his allegiance to the great basic industry of agriculture, through his association with which he has gained definite and worthy success. He was afforded excellent educational advantages in his youth, including a course of study in the select school conducted by Professor Thomas J. Dodd, at Paris, this state. After his mar- riage Mr. Buckner established his home on his present finely improved farm, which is the old family homestead and which is located seven miles east of Paris. He is one of the large landholders of Bourbon county, being at the present time the owner of about nine- teen hundred acres of most arable land, all of which is well improved, and he devotes his attention to diversified agriculture and the rais- ing of high-grade stock. In politics, while never a seeker of public office, Mr. Buckner is a stanch adherent of the Democratic party and his wife holds membership in the Presby- terian church.
In the year 1875 was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Buckner to Miss Anna Clay Wornall, who was born in Clark county and who is a daughter of James R. and Anna (Moore) Wornall. Mr. and Mrs. Buckner became the parents of six children, of whom three are living: Thomas M., who is in- dividually mentioned on other pages of this work; James M., who still remains at the parental home and is associated in the work and management of the farm; and Lucy W., who is the wife of Clarence Kenney. Mr. and Mrs. Kenney likewise reside on the old home- stead of Mr. Buckner and the family is one of prominence in connection with the best social activities of the community.
THOMAS M. BUCKNER .- A representative of the great basic industry of agriculture in Bourbon county, Kentucky, Thomas M. Buck- ner is a native son of this county and he is a scion of a fine old southern family founded in Virginia in the early colonial days. He was born on the 15th of September, 1881, and is a son of William T. and Anna C. ( Wornall ) Buckner, the former of whom was likewise born in Bourbon county, and the latter is a native of Clark county. Concerning the Buckner family further information is given in the sketch of William T. Buckner, father of Thomas M. and also in the sketch of Walker Buckner, an uncle of the subject of this review, which appears on other pages of this work.
After availing himself of the advantages afforded in the public schools of his native county, Thomas M. Buckner pursued his higher academic training in the W. L. Yerkes Academy, at Paris, Kentucky, and in the Bingham Military School, at Ashe- ville, North Carolina. He was matriculated in the historic old University of Virginia, at Charlottesville, in which he was graduated, and from which he received his degree. After his graduation Mr. Buckner returned to Bour- bon county where he initiated his independent career as a farmer and stock-grower. Shortly after his marriage, in 1904, he established his home on a farm about seven miles northeast of Paris, on the Harrod's Creek pike. He has made the finest of improvements on his place and has brought the same up to a high degree of cultivation. He is a member of the Kappa Alpha college fraternity. Both he and his wife are prominent and popular figures in connection with the best social activities of the community.
On the 28th of April, 1904, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Buckner to Miss Martha Davenport Clay, who is likewise a native of Bourbon county, where she was born on the 4th of October, 1881. She is a daughter of Christopher F. and Mary (Brooks) Clay, representative citizens of this county. Mr.
and Mrs. Buckner have no children.
JUDGE JOHN Q. WARD .- One of the most highly honored representatives of the legal fraternity of Bourbon county was the late Judge John Q. Ward, who, although more than a decade has passed since he was removed by the hand of death from a community in which he had been one of the best loved and most valuable factors in its many-sided life, is still keenly remembered and keenly regretted by hosts of friends and admirers.
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Judge Ward was born in Oxford, Scott county, Kentucky, on the 29th of August, 1838. Of Scotch-Irish ancestry, the domi- nating characteristics of the two nations have been agreeably blended and fused in the Ward family, the versatility and alertness of the latter being combined with the unswerving loyalty to duty and unwavering fidelity of the former. The year 1750 marked the advent of the Ward family in America, Virginia be- ing chosen for permanent location. The great- grandfather, Joseph Ward, figured promi- nently in public affairs in the Old Dominion commonwealth, serving as a member of the state legislature and also as judge of the courts of quarter sessions for several terms. He married Margaret Coalter, a representa- tive of an old Virginia family and they re- moved from Fauquier county, Virginia, to Harrison county, Kentucky about the year 1785. Their son, Cary Aldry Ward, was the father of John Q. Ward, of this sketch, and was born in Harrison county, Kentucky. As he grew to man's estate he learned the printer's trade and at one time edited a paper at Ox- ford, Kentucky. After 1832 he directed his energies to farming and merchandising in Scott county and he became one of the most influential citizens in his section of the state. His wife whose maiden name was Elizabeth Jane Risk, was a daughter of John and Ann (Daugherty) Risk, both of whom were repre- sentatives of pioneer families of Woodford county, Kentucky.
Mr. and Mrs. Cary Aldry Ward became the parents of three children and of this number John Q. Ward was the first in order of birth. He was born in Scott county, Kentucky, Att- gust 29, 1838, and he obtained his education in the public schools of Scott county and in Georgetown College, in which well-ordered in- stitution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1858 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Immediately after his graduation he began the study of law at Georgetown and he made such rapid progress under the able pre- ceptorship of Marcelhuis Polk that he was admitted to the bar in August, 1860. In Sep- tember of the same year he initiated the prac- tice of his profession as a member of the legal fraternity of Cynthiana, Kentucky. Like most young lawyers Judge Ward entered into poli- tics with great enthusiasm. In 1862 he was elected county attorney and he filled this office most acceptedly for four years. He was also common school commissioner and in 1873 was elected to the state legislature. Aside from his official duties his time was given to his practice, which steadily grew in volume and importance, and experience soon tested his
abilities and proved his merit. The legal busi- ness entrusted to his care was of a high char- acter and with consummate skill he handled the intricate problems of the law. His suc- cess was gratifying and he manifested the most painstaking effort in the trial of cases en- trusted to him. As an advocate he was pre- eminent and his fame became widespread. His superior knowledge of the elemental principles of jurisprudence, as well as his accurate com- prehension of the finer shades of meaning which are often found in the law, made him particularly fit for judgeship. In 1884 he was elected to the bench of the Superior court to fill the unexpired term of Judge Reid. In 1886 further mark of popular appreciation was given him in that he was then re-elected, without opposition, for a full term of four years, and in 1890 he declined a re-election. On his retirement from the bench, Judge Ward removed to Paris, Kentucky, where he con- tinued in the private practice of his profession with unqualified success until his death, June 26, 1899.
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