A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 33

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 33

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John J. K. Montague was reared in Boyd county, Kentucky, receiving his preliminary literary education in the public school and later attending Powell Academy. When a young man he began the study of law in Judge G. N. Brown's office, Catlettsburg, and was admitted to practice in 1873. He opened an office in Catlettsburg and has been in act- ive practice ever since. Mr. Montague is a member of the Kentucky State Bar Associa- tion. In politics he is a Democrat and an active worker for the party, for many years the chairman of the County Committee. He was county attorney for two terms, from

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1882 to 1890, and in 1893 was appointed postmaster under President Cleveland and served four and one-half years. In Novem- ber, 1897, Mr. Montague was elected mayor and served one term of four years, and in 1909 was again elected to that office, without opposition, for another term of four years.

Mr. Montague is a Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge and Royal Arch Chapter. In 1885, April 21st, he was married to Vir- ginia A. Williams, a native of Missouri, reared and educated in Boyd county, Ken- tucky, a daughter of the late Samuel P. Wil- liams, of an old Kentucky family. They are the parents of three daughters: John Immogene, Mary Mercedes and Grace Anna, the latter a graduate of Oxford College, Oxford, Ohio. Mary M. married Dr. W. S. Gilmer of Pu- laski, Virginia. Mrs. Gilmer formerly taught music at Russell College, Lebanon, Virginia, having received a thorough musical education at Converse College, Spartanburg, South Car- olina. Mr. Montague is a member of the Christian church.

ROBERT MINTER FERGUSON, to whose life history we now direct attention, has by ear- nest endeavor attained a marked success in business affairs, has gained the respect and confidence of men and is recognized as one of the distinctively representative citizens of Louisville. He is the manager of the Travel- er's Insurance Company's branch office at Louisville, Kentucky, for the liability depart- ment, and manager for the Traveler's In- demnity Company with offices in the Paul Jones Building.

Mr. Ferguson was born on the 24th of September, 1872, in Goodson (now Bristol), Virginia. He is the son of Samuel Robert Fer- guson who was a native of Norfolk, Virginia, he being the only child of Samuel Ferguson, who himself was an only child. The mother of our subject was Annette Cornelia Drum- mond, who was a native of Petersburg, Vir- ginia, the daughter of Samuel Drummond, who was a native of France, of Scotch par- entage. The family had lived in France for over one hundred years, having refugeed from Scotland at an early date. Samuel Drum- mond was a special envoy of the Confederate government to France, and died from cold con- tracted when running the blockade on his re- turn to this country. In 1871 the parents re- moved to Bristol, Virginia, the father engag- ing in the hardware business, in which he con- tinued for thirty years. After the death of his wife, in 1904, he removed to Birmingham, Alabama, where he now resides.

Mr. Robert M. Ferguson received his pre- liminary schooling in the public schools, fur-

ther pursuing his studies at King's College, Bristol, and at Emory and Henry College. He became a stenographer, and while active in that line, studied law and was admitted to the bar. He was later made claim agent of the Virginia Iron, Coal and Coke Company. In 1901 he became claim investigator for the United States Casualty Company in New York city. In May, 1902, he became adjuster for the Traveler's Insurance Company at In- dianapolis for Kentucky and Indiana. On the IIth of January, 1903, he came to Louisville to take his present position.

Mr. Ferguson is a Mason in high standing, and in his life exemplifies the teachings of the craft, which is founded upon the principles of the brotherhood of mankind. He is a past master of Shelby Lodge, No. 162, F. & A. M., Bristol, Virginia, past high priest of E. H. Gill Chapter, No. 50, R. A. M., of Bristol, Virginia, past grand high priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Virginia, past emin- ent commander, Johnson Commandery, No. 14, Knights Templars, of Virginia and by affil- iation past commander of Louisville Com- mandery, No. I, K. T., Thirty-second degree Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Grand Con- sistory of Kentucky, and a member of Kosair Temple, N. M. S. He is also grand aide-de- camp of the Grand Consistory of Kentucky, A. A. S. R., and second lieutenant of Kilwin- ning Council, Knights Kadosh, No. I.

Mr. Ferguson married Miss Delle Lockett, the daughter of Captain E. F. Lockett, of Crewe, Nottoway county, Virginia. To them have been born the following children: Lucy Lockett, aged ten years, Robert Minter Jr., and Cornelia Drummond, twins, aged two years. In religion Mr. Ferguson is a Metho- dist and his wife is a Baptist. Mr. Ferguson is a man of excellent business and executive ability and has that keen discrimination and sagacity in business affairs which, when com- bined with energy and industry, leads to suc- cess, and the company which he represents finds him a valued factor in the control of their business in this section.

REV. ZEPHANIAH MEEK .- The life of the Rev. Zepaniah Meek demonstrates that if a man is determined to rise in the world there is nothing that can prevent it, and as an il- lustration of this a sketch of his career will be of use and therefore beneficial to all young men.

Rev. Meek was born in Johnson county, Kentucky, on April 4, 1833, the son of Isaac and Sarah (Ward) Meek, natives of Vir- ginia, the former born August 20, 1810, and died in Johnson county, Kentucky, October 28, 1878, and the latter, born October 1. 18II,

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and died July 9, 1880. Isaac Meek came to Kentucky when young with his parents, who settled in Johnson county and later went to Arkansas, where they made a home, the father of Isaac being William Meek. Isaac grew to manhood in Johnson county, Ken- tucky, married there and settled at the mouth of Greasy Creek, where he made a home for the remainder of his life. His wife was the daughter of Shadrach and Louisa Ward, and was a woman of strong mind and great force of character, of sweet Christian spirit, a model of industry, thrift and economy, rear- ing a large family of sons and daughters.

Amid pioneer surroundings in the hills of northeastern Kentucky, our subject, Zephan- iah Meek, the second son, grew to manhood. He had few opportunities for an education in his boyhood, but he supplemented the lack of high school and academies by reading and studying the best books he could borrow, and by systematic study he was at the age of thirty superior in knowledge and mental cul- ture to almost anyone his age in his native county. His religious independence in early youth was so marked as to cause him to pass the door of the church of his own people to enter communion with one more liberal and broad in doctrine and discipline. In early life he taught school and during those days married Mary Jane Davis, a member of an honorable pioneer family of Sandy Valley. She, by her solid sense, wise counsel and fer- vent piety proved herself a worthy helpmeet all along the road of their married life. He with his young wife after a few years in the country settled in Paintsville, the county seat of Johnson county, where he acted as county and circuit clerk and was for several years engaged in mercantile pursuits, in the mean- time adding to his fund of knowledge by every means possible.

Upon attaining manhood Mr. Meek was licensed to preach in the Methodist Episcopal church, South, the only organization of Methodism above Louisa from the separation in 1844 to the 'war period in 1864, and he was regarded as a strong man in the church. In 1865, soon after the close of the Civil war, Mr. Meek moved to Catlettsburg and made some investments. In the spring of 1867 he started the "Christian Observer," which later became the "Central Methodist," as an organ of his church. This paper soon took a high rank and became the leading paper of the church, and by his able editorial management attained a large circulation and became a prof- itable property. Mr. Meek continued to be editor and publisher until about 1898, when he sold and the plant was removed to Louis-

ville and finally to Lexington, where the pa- per is still published as the "Central Method- ist Advocate." He was the oldest editor in point of continuous service of the religious press in Kentucky.

After retiring from the paper he became manager of the telephone system at Catletts- burg for about two years and then engaged in the feed business, in which he continued with success until his death, which occurred on September 4, 1909, at the age of seventy- six years and six months, after a long, active career, an energetic worker in business and church affairs. He was a traveling elder in his conference but only took such pastoral charges as were within reach, selecting en- tirely new territory to perform ministerial work, his many labors being too pressing to allow constant work in pastorate. He re- ceived the degree of D. D. from the Kentucky Military Institute, Farmdale, Kentucky, in 1885, and was elected leading delegate to the general conference by the Western Vir- ginia Conference in 1885, which met at Rich- mond, Virginia, in May, 1886. Rev. Meek is survived by his widow and children.

Of the latter Rev. Lafayette Meek, the first born, was educated a year at the East Ken- tucky Normal, at Millersburg, Kentucky, but transferred to Vanderbilt University, where he pursued a varied course, and finally fin- ished at the School of Theology. He went into the Tennessee conference and from the commencement was successful in ministry, but being stricken with typhoid fever, was taken to his father's house, accompanied by his young wife with her infant, and he died Oc- tober 2, 1885, at the age of thirty-one.

Davis Meek, the oldest living son of Rev. Zephaniah Meek, was born in Paintsville, Kentucky, November 25, 1858, and came with his parents to Catlettsburg when fourteen years old, where he grew to manhood and has since resided. He attended school and the Eastern Kentucky Normal at Catlettsburg and later attended the Kentucky Military Institute near Frankfort. He was associated with his father in the newspaper work and other busi- ness interests for many years and since the latter's death has continued the feed business which was previously incorporated as "The Z. Meek Company." He married twice, first to Lodema Coates, from which union six children were born, five of whom are living. A twin daughter died at the age of eight months, and the others are Beulah, Lena, Sophia, John Wesley and Ray. Mr. Meek's second marriage was to Mamie Wyatt, by whom there was one daughter, Edith Augusta.

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In politics Mr. Meek is a Democrat. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen and Knights of the Maccabees, he having served several years as record keeper of the latter. He and his wife are members of the Method- ist Episcopal church, South, and he is a mem- ber of the official board.

HENRY CLAY GARTRELL .- For a number of years Henry Clay Gartrell was numbered among the representative and prominent busi- ness citizens of Ashland, Kentucky, and in his death the entire community felt that an irreparable loss had been sustained by the public and the city had lost one who had de- voted his best efforts to the upbuilding of public interests and had achieved an enviable distinction in the different departments of life. He had been intimately associated with several of the leading industries of the local- ity, his genius and indubitable talent as a financier and business manager resulting in the prosperity of these enterprises. His en- tire career was marked by signal integrity, justice and honor, and no word of detraction was ever heard from those who knew him well.

Henry Clay Gartrell was born on a farm near Winchester, Virginia, May 23, 1825, the son of Richard and Maria (Karney) Gar- trell, both natives of Virginia, where they were reared and married and soon afterward came to Kentucky and located near Lexing- ton. A few years later they removed to Missouri, settling near Palmyra, where they secured a large tract of land and owned many slaves. In 1832 a cholera epidemic prevailed and they lost many of their slaves and also members of their family, the mother of Rich- ard Gartrell among the number. She was a widow and accompanied her son and family from Virginia to Kentucky and Missouri. Soon after this epidemic Mr. Gartrell sold out and removed to Dubuque, Iowa, making there a permanent home and becoming extensively interested in lead mining, in which he con- tinued until his death, which occurred in Dubuque.

Our subject was an infant when he was taken west by his parents and he grew to young manhood in Dubuque, Iowa, receiving a good education. He was about twelve years old when his father died, and when he was eighteen he went to St. Louis and entered the large mercantile establishment of Mr. Lisle, a prominent man and an old friend of his father. Here young Gartrell also had advantages both in good schooling and the opportunity of acquiring a thorough knowl- edge of merchandising. A few years later he joined his mother and sister in College Hill,

Ohio, now a suburb of Cincinnati. In part- nership with his brother, C. H. Gartrell, he engaged in the dry-goods trade on Fifth street, Cincinnati, and later sold out and be- came a partner of Moses Crigler and ope- rated successfully in dry goods on lower Market street for many years. He became a very energetic and successful business man and engaged in many enterprises, and with others built and owned steamboats which were operated on the Ohio river. During the Civil war an immense business was trans- acted with the government in transporting soldiers, supplies, etc. After the war he sold out his mercantile and river interests, and all others as well, and retired from active business life.

In the meantime he had located at Ash- land, at the time the town started in 1854, and bought property at the first lot sale, and in consequence became interested in real es- tate speculation, buying and selling much property successfully during the early years of rapid development following the Civil war. His wife owned about seven hundred acres adjoining Ashland along the upper Ohio river, and they built a handsome brick resi -. dence thereon, which is now within the city limits of Ashland, near what is known as the underground crossing of the electric railway and the C. & O. Railway. This house was built in 1855, but during the Civil war they took up their residence in Ashland proper, where Mr. Gartrell lived until his death in 1870. While he was actually retired from active business for several years previous to his death, he was still active in many trades and deals up to the time of his demise. He accumulated a large estate, owning among other properties the ground on which the Norton Iron works were built, which was sold to that company in later years.

In politics Mr. Gartrell was originally a Whig of the old school. He never aspired to nor held an office, his entire interest being given to business, in which he displayed ac- tivity and sagacity. One of his brothers, Charles Harris Gartrell, served for a time in the Union army in the Civil war, but con- tracting a severe cold, lost his eyesight and was brought home by our subject from Cum- berland Gap, which trip required several weeks to accomplish, owing to the difficulty in getting through the lines.

Mr. Gartrell married on October 25, 1853, at Louisa, Kentucky, Miss Eliza J. Pogue, born on the farm where she now lives in Boyd county, Kentucky, March 20, 1835, the daughter of John H. and Sarah A. (Moore) Pogue, the former a native of Mason county,

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Kentucky, and the latter from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a sister to the late Colonel L. T. Moore of Catlettsburg, of whom a sketch is given elsewhere. The Pogue family was among the pioneer families of Kentucky, first settling at what now is Harrodsburg, Ken- tucky, William Pogue being the founder of the family in this state and the grandfather of John H. During pioneer days he was with Daniel Boone and helped build the fort at Harrodsburg. While hunting with a party of companions he was surprised by an Indian attack and although on horseback was shot in the midst of the canebrake and fell from his horse. His companions escaped, but later returned with reinforced numbers, secured the wounded man and took him to the fort, where he died. His wife was Ann Kennedy, who was the mother of three children, two daugh- ters and one son, born in the fort, the oldest daughter, Ann Pogue, being the first white female child born in Kentucky. The son, Robert Pogue, was reared amid frontier scenes at Harrodsburg and when a young man removed to Mason county, Kentucky, when it was a part of Virginia, locating on a farm near Limestone, now Maysville, where he acquired a large landed estate in time and owned many slaves, also built a fine stone mansion and surroundings. For a number of years previous he had followed the profes- sion of surveying, and, visiting many parts of the state in connection with his work, he be- came familiar with the desirable places and his settlement was due to former knowledge. He also served as survevor general of this section when it was part of Virginia. He raised a regiment for the war of 1812 and be- came a colonel. Colonel Pogue was present at the battle Thames and witnessed the death of Tecumseh. One of his sons, John H., served with him during that struggle and was lieutenant of his company.

Prior to the time Robert Pogue enlisted in the war of 1812 the family name was spelled Poage, but this name was spelled Pogue on government records and commis- sions and from that time forward he adopted the latter method, as have also his descend- ants. The family was descended from the old Augusta county, Virginia, Poages. Rob- ert Pogue passed his life on his plantation near May's Lick. He married Jane Hopkins, a native of Augusta county, Virginia, by which union there were four sons and three daughters. Of the above children John H. Pogue was the father of Mrs. H. C. Gartrell. He was the oldest son and removed from the plantation to Mason county, Kentucky. Dur- ing early years he became part owner with his

father and others in the Amanda Charcoal furnaces, one of the early institutions of this kind in the Ohio Valley in Kentucky. Later he disposed of his interest on account of his religious scruples in connection with Sunday work and engaged in farming in Mason coun- ty, but lived but one year, dying from yellow fever at the age of forty-four. His neigh- bors had taken produce to New Orleans by river and contracted the disease. John H. Pogue was an elder in the Presbyterian church, and very devout, and, acting accord- ing to his sense of duty, administered to the victims and thus became afflicted with the disease. His wife also contracted the same, but recovered and finally died at the age of sixty-seven. Her husband died when they had only been married four years, leaving her one child, Eliza J., now the widow of H. C. Gartrell, who resides on a fine estate about midway between Ashland and Catlettsburg. Portions of the seven hundred acres left her from the estate of her grandfather Pogue have of late years became residence proper- ties in the development of this region, thirteen acres having been recently bought by the gov- ernment for dam No. 29 in the Ohio river im- provement.

Mr. Gartrell and wife were the parents of seven children, five of whom are living. They are as follows: Anna G., widow of William Kerr, formerly a banker and hard- ware merchant of Ironton, Ohio; Viola, wid- ow of former Judge M. H. Houston, of Ash- land; Virginia, wife of Judge Thomas Cher- rington, of Ironton, Ohio, recently retired, after serving twenty-six years on the circuit court of that state and many years as superior judge; Harry C., at home; Ethelbert Hop- kins, secretary and general manager of the Ashland Fire Brick Company. He also man- ages his mother's affairs and is largely inter- ested in the company of which he is active head and manager. He is a member of the Presbyterian church at Normal and active in support of the same, being also the superin- tendent of the Sunday-school, for which in fact he is largely responsible in maintenance, as the Gartrell family were actively identified with its organization.

FRANK R. HENDERSON is the secretary and business manager of the firm of Kitchen, Whitt & Company, Ashland, Kentucky, which position indicates something of the scope of his efforts. A man of resourceful business ability, he stands among those whose keen discrimination not only enables them to rec- ognize the opportunities of the present, but also the exigencies of the future, and his work is proving a substantial and important ele-

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ment in the upbuilding and development of the community, as embodied in the carefully conducted business methods of managing a large and important concern.

Mr. Henderson was born in Hanging Rock, Ohio, on June 14, 1865, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Moore) Henderson, the for- mer a native of Maryland and the latter born in Pennsylvania. The father learned the moulder's trade in Baltimore and when seven- teen years old left there, going to Birming- ham, Alabama, but soon afterward went to Hanging Rock, Ohio. He had learned his trade well and was an expert moulder and worked with various furnaces in the Hanging Rock region. In 1837 he moulded the iron water pipes which were the first laid in the city of New Orleans, which were shipped down the river from old Pine Grove furnace near Hanging Rock. As an unknown boy looking for a situation, he secured a job doing the above work after a practical failure by the furnace people to make such castings after sending to the east for experts. Being successful from the first, he soon had entire charge of the work.

In 1844 he started in for himself and formed the firm of Martin Henderson & Company, which conducted a foundry at Hanging Rock for many years and built up a large business. Mr. Henderson sold his in- terests in 1883 and retired to Ashland, where in 1884 he founded a wholesale hardware business and was so engaged until his death, which occurred in 1898, at the age of eighty- two years. His wife died many years previ- ously, having been the mother of six children, five of whom are living, our subject the fifth in order of birth.

Frank R. Henderson was reared at Hang- ing Rock, Ohio, receiving a good education in the public and high schools, the latter be- ing the first in the state. He accompanied his parents to Ashland at the age of seventeen and soon after entered the hardware store with his father, later becoming a salesman for the firm, in which connection he traveled through northeastern Kentucky for eleven years. During the panic of 1893 it became difficult to transact much business in the hard- ware line and he conceived the idea of organ- izing a wholesale grocery store, considering it one of the absolute necessities of life, and therefore organized the present company dur- ing those days, and has made of it a great suc- cess. It started in a small way, but the devel- opment was rapid and in 1904 it had an in- corporated capital stock of one hundred thou- sand dollars, with the following officers from the first and which are serving at the present

time: James H. Kitchen, president, William B. Whitt, vice-president, James B. King, treasurer, and Frank R. Henderson, our sub- ject, secretary and general manager. In 1898 the present large modern building was erected, thirty by one hundred feet, three sto- ries and basement, and ware-rooms, fifty by one hundred feet. Eight salesmen are em- ployed on the road, covering portions of Ken- tucky, Ohio and West Virginia.

In politics Mr. Henderson is a Republican and is interested in the upbuilding of the town and conscientiously performs his share of du- ties as a citizen. Among these services was his membership of the council. He is a Ma- son, belonging to the Blue Lodge, Royal Arch Chapter, Commandery and Shrine, all of Ash- land. In 1887 Mr. Henderson married Vir- ginia Poage, a native of Ashland, a daughter of the late Hugh Calvin Poage, a representa- tive of one of the oldest Kentucky families and of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this history. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson have one son, Thomas Allen, and are members of the Presbyterian church.

THOMAS H. BULLINGTON .- Among the representative citizens and business men at Ashland, Kentucky, whose ultimate success in life is the outcome of their own perseverance and well applied endeavors, Mr. Thomas Henry Bullington holds a foremost place. With absolutely nothing to start life-not even a fair education-he has grappled with the various obstacles and vicissitudes which have encumbered his path and eventually made of success not an accident but a logical result. He was born in Kanawha county, West Virginia, on the 30th of June, 1856, and is a son of David H. and Matilda E. (Rob- erts) Bullington, the former of whom was a native of Spottsylvania county, Virginia, and the latter of Henry county, Virginia. When a lad of sixteen years of age, David H. Bul- lington walked across the Blue Ridge moun- tains, carrying with him as a means of pro- tection an old flint-lock gun given him by his father, this heirloom being now in the posses- sion of him whose name introduces this sketch. After crossing the mountains he lo- cated in what is now Kanawha county, West Virginia, in Kanawha valley, where he se- cured work as a carpenter. This was in the latter '30s, when the early salt industry in the Kanawha valley was developing rapidly. In that region was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Bullington to Miss Matilda E. Roberts and there they engaged in farming. During the Civil war Mr. Bullington's sympathies were with the cause of the Union and for that reason he was compelled to leave his

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A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 33

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