A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 37

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 37

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Vol. III-12

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now resides in the vicinity of Kansas City, Missouri. He married Alice W. Buchanan of Louisville, Kentucky, and they became the parents of four children, Rowen B., Eliza- beth, Douglas B. and Edyth. Thomas Park- er Wornall married Kate Spears, of Paris, Kentucky, and had one son, William Pugh to whom this sketch is dedicated. Susan Rion, youngest child of Thomas and Susan Worn- all, married Francis Povall Clay, a brother of Samuel (Graybeard) Clay, who married her sister, Nancy Tucker Wornall, as already noted. To this union were born four chil- dren who grew to maturity. Of these, the oldest, William Henry, married Emma Spears, sister of Kate P. Wornall, and they have two sons living, Matt, of South Omaha, Nebraska, and Roby, of Lexington, Kentucky; Francis P., Jr., the next child of Susan and Francis P. Clay, married Emily Miller and has two sons, Horace Miller and Francis Depew ; the third child, Nannie, wedded Walker Buckner and they have four children-Walker Jr., Woodford, Susan C. and William; Oliver Perry, the youngest child of Susan R. W. Clay and Francis P. Clay, married Willie Kearns, and they have one child, Eleanor.

The original seat of the Wornall family in Kentucky was the home of Thomas and Susan (Rion) Wornall, the same having been locat- ed in Clark county, six miles north of Win- chester, near the Paris and Winchester pike. Of their children three, Perry, Nancy and Susan, removed to Bourbon county, near Paris, this state. One son, Richard, went to Missouri but later returned to Kentucky, where his death occurred about the year 1862, near Winchester, in Clark county. His son, John B., has numerous descendants near Kan- sas City, Missouri, where he once resided. Samuel E. Wornall, son of Perry, and his children also reside near Kansas City, Mis- souri. Thomas Wornall, Jr., son of Thomas and Susan Wornall, removed to Harrison county, Kentucky, where his grandson, John T. (Tom) Wornall, lives, at Lair Station. His family and that of William P. Wornall, of near Paris, Kentucky (son of Thomas Parker Wornall), are the only representatives of the Wornall family in Kentucky that bear the name.

The foregoing genealogical data includes many of the best families in Kentucky, nu- merous of the descendants being mentioned individually on other pages of this work. Following is a brief sketch of William Pugh Wornall, whose name introduces this article. Further data are inserted here tracing his direct descent.

William Pugh Wornall was born in Bour-

bon county on the 2nd of March, 1879, and is a son of Thomas P. and Catherine ( Kate) K. (Spears) Wornall, both of whom were like- wise natives of this county, where the former was born on the 13th of November, 1847, and the latter on the 2nd of August, 1852. Their marriage was solemnized on the 27th of Oc- tober, 1875. Thomas P. Wornall was a son of Perry and Elizabeth (Ewalt) Wornall, both of whom were natives of Kentucky and the former of whom was a son of Roby and Susan (Rion) Wornall. Thomas W. was a son of Roby and Edith Wornall, who were numbered among the sterling pioneers of the old Blue Grass state. After his marriage Thomas P. Wornall resided upon and oper- ated the fine old homestead farm of his father, five miles west of Paris, until 1884, when he purchased land and established his home upon the farm now owned by his son, William P., the subject of this review. This well im- proved farmstead comprises three hundred and ninety acres and is eligibly located five miles east of Paris, on the Steele turnpike. Here the father continued to maintain his home until his death, which occurred on the 23rd of November, 1891. He was a man of impregnable integrity in all the relations of life and was one of the highly esteemed and representative citizens of his native county, where he conducted agricultural operations and stock-growing upon an extensive scale and where he also built up a successful enter- prise in the buying and shipping of live stock. On the 23d of January, 1900, his widow be- came the wife of J. William Bedford and they now reside about eight miles east of Paris, where Mr. Bedford has a valuable farm. Thomas P. and Catherine K. (Spears) Worn- all became the parents of only one child, Wil- liam P., to whom this sketch is dedicated.

William P. Wornall was reared to the stur- dy discipline of the home farm and after availing himself of the advantages of the academy, conducted by William L. Yerkes, at Paris, he continued his studies in the Univer- sity of Kentucky, at Lexington. He was but twelve years of age at the time of his father's death and while a mere boy he assumed much responsibility in connection with the home farm, upon which he has continued to reside until the present time and upon which he has conducted most successful operations as a general agriculturist and stock-grower. His industry and good management are on a par- ity with his progressive methods and he is one of the able and popular business men of his home county. His political allegiance is given to the Democratic party; he is affiliated with Paris Lodge, No. 373, Benevolent & Pro-

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tective Order of Elks; and he is a devout member of the Christian church. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian church and she also is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

On the IIth of April, 1901, Mr. Wornall was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth B. Woodford, who was born in Bourbon county on the Ist of July, 1880, and who is a daugh- ter of Benjamin and Alice ( Brooks) Wood- ford. Mr. and Mrs. Wornall became the parents of four children, two of whom died in infancy, unnamed; William P., Jr., was born on the 24th of June, 1904; and B. Woodford was born on the 13th of June, 1909.

WILLIAM J. RICE .- In the thriving village of Ghent, Carroll county, Mr. Rice is found numbered among the representative citizens and most progressive and popular merchants of his native place, and he is a scion of the third generation of the family in Kentucky, where his paternal grandfather established his home in the pioneer days.

William Johnston Rice was born at Ghent, Carroll county, on the 17th of March, 1865, and is a son of David R. and Elizabeth ( John- ston) Rice, the former of whom was born in Montgomery county, this state, and the latter at Aurora, Dearborn county, Indiana. The lineage of the Rice family is traced back to staunch German origin and family tradition gives ample authority for the statement that the early representatives of the name in America settled in the city of Philadelphia in the colonial epoch of our national history. Da- vid Rice, grandfather of him whose name in- troduces this article, was born and reared in the old Keystone state and he figures as the founder of the family in Kentucky. He made the overland journey from Philadelphia with team and wagon and numbered himself among the pioneers of Montgomery county, Ken- tucky, where he later removed to Carroll county, where he continued to be identified with agricultural pursuits until his death. Da- vid R. Rice was a child at the time of the family removal from Montgomery county to Carroll county, in which latter he was reared to manhood, in the meanwhile receiving such advantages as were afforded in the common schools of the locality and period. He gained prestige as one of the energetic, progressive and successful agriculturists and stock-grow- ers of the county and with these lines of in- dustry he continued to be actively concerned for many years. He passed the closing days of his life in the village of Ghent and was fifty-two years of age at the time of his de- mise. His .devoted wife survived him by a number of years and was sixty-one years of

age at the time when she was summoned to the life eternal. She was a daughter of Rev. William Johnston, who was a pioneer clergy- man of the Baptist church and who was well known throughout northern Kentucky and southern Indiana, throughout which section he long labored with all of zeal and consecra- tion in the work of his chosen vocation. He was born in Ireland and was reared in the faith of the Catholic church. His father was a suc- cessful manufacturer of linen in the Emerald Isle, but at the age of seventeen years young Johnston ran away from home and finally em- igrated to America. He was a man of alert mentality and for a time he was engaged in the practice of law, a profession which he soon abandoned to enter the ministry of the Baptist church, in connection with the work of which he traveled extensively throughout the northern part of Kentucky, as well as in the southern counties of Indiana. He passed the closing years of his life at LaPlata, Ma- con county, Missouri. He was twice married and the maiden name of his second wife (the mother of Mrs. Elizabeth Rice) was Cobb. David R. and Elizabeth (Johnston) Rice were both earnest and consistent members of the Baptist church, and his political support was given to the Democratic party. The only child is he to whom this sketch is dedicated.

William J. Rice passed his boyhood and youth in Ghent and was afforded the advan- tages of an excellent private school and this discipline was supplemented by higher aca- demic training in Georgetown College, at Georgetown, this state. As a young man he went to the city of Louisville, where he was associated with John A. Stratton in the real- estate business for a period of eight years. He then returned to Ghent and engaged in the general merchandise business, in which he has since continued most successfully, under the firm name of W. J. Rice & Company. He ini- tiated operation upon a modest scale and as rapidly as circumstances justified he expanded the scope of the enterprise until the establish- ment now under his control is recognized as the leading department store of Ghent. Care- ful and honorable business methods have gained to the firm a large and appreciative pat- ronage, and the same is drawn from the fine section of country normally tributary to the thriving village of Ghent. where Mr. Rice has ever held the unqualified confidence and re- gard of all who know him,-and it may well be said that in this section of his native county not to know William J. Rice is practically to argue oneself unknown. Mr. Rice is intrin- sically loyal and progressive as a citizen and is an exponent of high civic ideals, as shown

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in the earnest support given by him to all measures tending to advance the general weal of the community. In politics he is found aligned as a staunch and intelligent supporter of the cause of the Republican party; he is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, includ- ing DeMolay Commandery, Knights Templar, and Kosair Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, in the city of Louisville; and in his native vil- lage he holds membership in the lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. While a resident of Louisville he also was actively identified with the local lodge of the Benevo- lent & Protective Order of Elks, of which he was treasurer for four years. He and his wife are zealous members of the Baptist church in Ghent, and he has served as its treasurer for several years past.

On the 7th of January, 1903, Mr. Rice was united in marriage to Miss Ella Stucy, who was born and reared in the village of Ghent and who is a daughter of Frederick Stucy. a well known resident of Carroll county and a prominent tobacco dealer of this section of the state.

NORBOURN ARTERBURN .- One of the most extensive land holders and most honored and influential citizens of Jefferson county is Nor- bourn Arterburn, who resides on his splendid country estate in the village of St. Matthews. He is a scion of one of the sterling pioneer families of this county and is well upholding the prestige of the name which he bears,-a name that has been closely identified with the civic and material upbuilding of Jefferson county.

Mr. Arterburn was born on the old family homestead on Beargrass creek, Jefferson county, on the 26th of February, 1857. The original representatives of the family in Ken- tucky were William and Rachel (Smoot) Ar- terburn, who removed from Shenandoah county, in the beautiful Shenandoah valley of Virginia, to Kentucky in the pioneer days. They made the voyage down the Ohio river on flat boats and landed at the mouth of Goose Creek, from which point they proceeded over- land to Beargrass creek, where they made per- manent settlement. Here William A. secured a large tract of wild land and instituted the re- clamation of the same. In the family were nine sons, all of whom were born in Ken- tucky except the eldest, and their names are here entered in order of birth,-Harrison, Burrus, Branham, Dennis, Norbourn, William C., Jordan, Tarlton and Covington. William Arterburn, the founder of the Kentucky branch of the family, continued to reside on

his homestead until his death, in the prime of life, and upon his widow devolved the re- sponsibility of rearing the nine sons. Well did she perform her task and her reward was ample, as in later years she was cared for by her children with the utmost filial solicitude. She attained to the venerable age of ninety- five years and her death occurred on the farm now occupied by her grandson, Norbourn Ar- terburn, whose name initiates this review.

William C. Arterburn, the sixth son of William and Rachel Arterburn, was born on the old homestead on Beargrass creek, Jeffer- son county, in the year 1816, and his entire life was passed in his native county, where he died in 1901. He was reared under the conditions and influence of the pioneer days and contributed his quota to the arduous work of reclaiming the old homestead farm. He eventually became one of the most successful agriculturists and stock-growers of Jefferson county and he was equally prominent as a trader and general business man. He was en- dowed with strong mentality and mature judg- ment and was thus able to direct his various enterprises in a most successful way, the while his course was governed by the highest prin- ciples of integrity and honor, so that he was not denied the fullest measure of popular con- fidence and esteem in the county which rep- resented his home throughout his long and use- ful life. He became a stockholder in many banking institutions and at the time of his death he was the owner of about eight hun- dred acres of farm land, besides much valuable real estate in the city of Louisville. He was well equipped for leadership in thought and action and was not only regarded as one of the ablest financiers of his day in Jefferson county but also was known as a citizen of utmost loy- alty and progressiveness,-one who was ever ready to lend his influence and co-operation in support of all measures tending to advance the general welfare of the community. Will- iam C. Arterburn was twice married, his first union having been with Miss Cynthia Parks, who died when a young woman and who left no children. For his second wife he married Miss Sarah Rudy, who was born and reared in Jefferson county and who was a daughter of George Rudy, who was born in Pennsyl- vania, of German lineage, and who became one of the early settlers of. Jefferson county, Kentucky, where he continued to reside until his death. Mrs. Sarah (Rudy) Arterburn was summoned to the life eternal in July, 1893, and she became the mother of two chil- dren, of whom the subject of this review is the elder and the one surviving; Kate be-

Norbi arterburn.

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came the wife of James McBurney, of Louis- ville, where her death occurred, and she is sur- vived by three children.

Norbourn Arterburn gained his early educa- tional discipline in private schools in Jefferson county and supplemented this by a course in the public schools of the city of Louisville, where he completed the curriculum of the high school and where he also continued his studies for some time in the Rugby School. As he was the only son, he became associated with his father in the management of the home farm and other business interests after he left school and finally he assumed virtually the en- tire charge of his father's multifarious busi- ness affairs, thus continuing until his honored sire had been summoned from the scene of life's mortal endeavors. He succeeded to the ownership of the major portion of his father's property and as an evidence that he has him- self shown the same excellent business qual- ifications that brought success to his father it may be stated that he has increased his landed estate from eight hundred acres to one thousand acres, besides which he has amplified the other interests of the estate. He is a director of the United States Trust Company of Louisville, in which city he is also a large stockholder in the Louisville Trust Company, the Columbia Trust Company and . the Southern National Bank. He is a pro- gressive and public-spirited citizen and while he has never sought or desired political office he accords a stanch allegiance to the cause of the Democratic party.

In the year 1882 Mr. Arterburn was united in marriage to Miss Susan M. Hall, who was born at Shelbyville, Kentucky and who is a daughter of William C. and Emma (Ramsey) Hall. Concerning the children of this union the following brief record is entered. Will- iam Norbourn, who was graduated in Yale University, is the executive head of the firm of Wood, Stubbs & Company, extensive seed merchants in the city of Louisville. He mar- ried Miss Ruth Herr and they have two chil- dren,-William Norbourn, Jr., and Elizabeth Adair. Frank Braham Arterburn, the sec- ond son, was graduated in the Kentucky Mil- itary Institute, is a bachelor and is associated in the work and management of the home- stead farm. Burton Hall Arterburn, who like- wise was graduated in the Kentucky Military Institute, is now engaged in the insurance bus- iness at Louisville, Kentucky. He married Miss Hazel Straffer, of Louisville. Kate, who was afforded the advantages of Hamilton College, ať Lexington, this state, is now the wife of H. A. Collins, of O'Bannon Station, Jefferson county, and they have one daughter,

-Sarah Louise. Crawford Arterburn at- tended the Kentucky Military Institute and a manual training school and commercial col- lege in the city of Louisville, and he is now at the parental home. Paul Rudy Arterburn, the youngest of the children, is a member of the class of 1912 in the Kentucky Military In- stitute.

TILFORD T. METCALF, M. D .- There is al- ways room at the top for the man who takes life earnestly and endeavors with determina- tion, in spite of every disadvantageous sur- rounding, to work his way to a position in which he will be the peer of any man, and to such a man we have a particular pleasure in introducing our reader. Tilford T. Metcalf has fulfilled all the dreams of a youthful am- bition and a resume of his life will not only be interesting but instructive.

Dr. Metcalf, of Independence, Kentucky, was born in Grant county, Kentucky, July 29, 1860, the son of Tilford and Matilda (Loom- is) Metcalf, who were also natives of Grant county. His father was a merchant in Grant county for many years and died there in 1871, his wife preceding him in death in the year 1867. They were the parents of two children, both of whom are living, our subject and Min- nie, wife of P. Vallandigham, of Crittenden, Kentucky. The father had been previously married to a Miss Mann, a native of Pendleton county, Kentucky, by whom he had nine chil- dren, six living at the present time. His third marriage was to Anna Newman, a native of Cincinnati, and of this marriage there was one child, now deceased.

Dr. Metcalf was the younger of the two children resulting from the second marriage, his mother dying when he was seven years old. He was reared in Grant county, receiv- ing a common-school education, and is in every way a self made man and educated by his own efforts. Until he was nineteen years old he lived and worked on a farm at home. But his ambition was not content with what seemed to him a mediocre sort of living, and with a definite end in view he began the study of medicine with Dr. J. M. Chambers, of In- dependence, Kentucky, for whom he had worked as a boy and later entered the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, graduating in 1883, at which time he was five hundred dol- lars in debt for his medical education. But he now had the adequate preliminaries and started in fearlessly to work out his destiny. in life. He began to practice in Independence with his preceptor, with whom he remained for a year and since then has continued alone, building up a large and paying business. He has been successful in more ways than this

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alone. In connection with his practice he car- ried on farming and has gradually accumu- lated land until he now owns three farms, all under cultivation and aggregating about four hundred and seventy-five acres. Dr. Metcalf has also made a specialty of stock, raising high grade cattle and tobacco extensively. The home farm of two hundred and forty-five acres adjoins Independence. In politics Dr. Metcalf has taken an active part, being a stanch Democrat and for the past sixteen years has served as county treasurer of Ken- ton county. He is a member of the Elks at Covington, also the Knights of Pythias, in which latter he has passed the chairs and been a representative at the Grand Lodge. Dr. Metcalf has taken an important part in the organization of several companies; he was one of the organizers of the Latonia Deposit Bank and served as director two years ; helped organize the Equitable Bank and Trust Com- pany at Walton, Kentucky, and has been a director since the first; helped organize the People's Savings Bank and Trust Company, Covington, Kentucky, and is now a director, and also helped organize the Central Savings Bank and Trust Company at Covington.

Dr. Metcalf in 1889 married Anna Belle Stephens, a native of Kenton county, Ken- tucky, and a daughter of Thomas Stephens, a farmer and pioneer who resides in Coving- ton. Dr. Metcalf and wife have two children, Nellie K. and Helen L.

WILLIAM A. PRICE .- Few residents of Er- langer have been more actively connected with its upbuilding and progress than William A. Price, president of that substantial and conservative institution, the Erlanger Deposit Bank. The executive ability of Mr. Price and his gift of making ideas splendid realities was never more fully demonstrated than in the active part he played in the organization of the bank. It was incorporated in 1892 with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, Mr. Price being one of the first directors as well as organizers.

The officers who first commanded the destinies of the new concern were W. H. Baker, president, and F. A. Utz, vice-president. The present officers are as follows: Mr. Price, president ; E. H. Blank- enbeker, vice-president; L. P. Aylor, J. T. Cravens, W. P. Baemon, James A. Huey, Jos- eph A. Graves, F. A. Utz and O. M. Rogers, directors.

Mr. Price was born in Boone county Feb- ruary 24, 1850, and is a son of Albert and Frances (Sonther) Price. the former a native of Woodford county and the latter of Boone county. The Prices are an old and honored Kentucky family and settled in Woodford county at an early day, later locating in Boone

county. Albert Price was a pioneer and one of those who brought the splendid untamed acres to productiveness. He passed to the Great Beyond while living on the homestead in Boone county, his years numbering fifty- three. His wife died there many years after- ward, at the age of seventy-seven. They gave four children to the state, the subject being the third in order of birth.

William A. Price passed his early years upon his father's country estate and received his education in the public and private schools of the locality, finishing his educational dis- cipline at an academy in Virginia. His early career was devoted to agriculture, for a good many years carrying on operations in this line in Boone county. In 1894 he made a radical change and one which has proved satisfactory in the extreme, by locating in Erlanger and, as before described, engaging in the banking business.

Mr. Price is Democratic in his political pro- clivities and is one of Erlanger's public spir- ited citizens, keeping well informed as to is- sues of the day and giving his support to such measures as in his opinion will result in gen- eral advancement and well being. He and his wife are members of the Christian church and are active and liberal in its good works.

In 1871, Mr. Price was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Graves, a native of Kenton county. She is a daughter of Milton Graves, a Kenton county farmer who subsequently re- moved to Boone county, where he died. To the subject and his wife have been born three children -- Milton Carl, Alonzo B. and Warren Albert, the latter of whom died at six months. !

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A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 37

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