A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 39

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 39

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John W. Burns was a child of but four years of age at the time of his mother's death, after which sad event he was taken into the home of his maternal grandfather, William Duckworth, where he was reared and educa- ted. William Duckworth was born in Charles- ton, South Carolina, whence he came to Mont- gomery county, Kentucky. He married Susan Liggett, a native of Montgomery county and they established their home in 'Harrison county, where they purchased a farm some ten miles north of Cynthiana. It was on this

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fine old estate that the child John W. was nurtured and his early educational training was received in the country schools of Harri- son county, this discipline being later effect- ively supplemented by attendance in the Au- gusta graded schools. In September, 1880, he was matriculated in the Ohio Medical Col- lege, at Cincinnati, and in this excellent insti- tution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1883, duly receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Immediately after his graduation he came to Nicholas county, look- ing for a location. His worldly possessions at that time consisted of a horse and saddlebags. After examining the field at Bethel and Moorefield he decided to locate at East Un- ion, where he entered upon the practice of his profession. He was young and enthusiastic about his work and in a short time succeeded in building up a large and lucrative patronage, his skill and ability being on a parity with his wonderful energy. He rapidly gained recog- nition as an able physician and surgeon and he continued in active practice in Nicholas county until 1906, in which year he was compelled to retire on account of ill health.

While actively identified with agricultural pursuits Dr. Burns believed in the raising of thorough-bred stock and he made a specialty of short-horn cattle and Shropshire sheep. His wife was most successful in the breeding of bronze turkeys and Wyandott chickens.

On the 23d of April, 1889, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Burns to Miss Nannie L. Knox, who was born at East Union, this state, on the 26th of April, 1863. She is a daughter of George D. Knox, who was a na- tive of Bourbon county, Kentucky, the date of his birth being September 29, 1831. He was a son of David and Rebecca ( Baxter) Knox, the former of whom was likewise a na- tive of Bourbon county, where his birth oc- curred February 13, 1804, and where he died on the 27th of September, 1879. He was a son of Samuel and Margaret (Donnell ) Knox, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania. Samuel Knox was a preacher by vocation and he was born in 1775 and died in 1865, being a son of David and Hannah ( Warson) Knox. natives of Dublin, Ireland. The mother of George D. Knox, father of Mrs. Burns, was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, on the 13th of February 1804, and was a daughter of Edward and Rebecca (Davis) Baxter, the former of whom was born in Maryland, De- cember 5. 1750, and died April 2, 1826, and the latter of whom was born July 12, 1767, and died Januarv 10, 1818. George D. Knox was the oldest child in a family of seven children and he was educated in the common schools

of Nicholas county, where he initiated opera- tions as a farmer. On the 5th of November, 1856, he was united in marriage to Miss Amanda Boardman, who was born in Nicholas county, September 12, 1831, and who passed from this life in 1889. Her husband died in 1899. Mrs. George D. Knox was a daughter of Abner and Mary (Cross) Boardman. Ab- ner Boardman was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, April 16, 1801, and died in Nich- olas county, on the 29th of August, 1875, and his wife, who was likewise a native of Bour- bon county was born on the 3d of January 1806, and died on the 30th of January, 1878. Mr. and Mrs. George D. Knox became the parents of five children, of which number Mrs. Burns is the only one now living.

Though never a seeker of political prefer- ment Dr. Burns has ever accorded a staunch allegiance to the principles and policies for which the Democratic party stands sponsor and he has contributed in generous measure to all matters projected for the general welfare of the community. He is a loyal and public- spirited citizen and is held in high esteem by his fellow men. He and his wife are devout members of the Christian church, to whose charities and benevolences he has given most generously.

FRANK FEHR .- The great empire of Ger- many has contributed a most valuable element to the cosmopolitan social fabric of our Amer- ican republic, which has had much to gain and nothing to lose from this source. Among those of German birth and ancestry who have attained to success and precedence in con- nection with business affairs in the city of Louisville was the late Frank Fehr, who was a citizen of sterling character, honored by all who knew him and influential in both civic and industrial affairs in the city that so long represented his home and in which his death occurred on the 15th of March, 1891.

Frank Fehr was born at Zinsweiler, Ger- many, in the year 1841, and in his native land was reared to maturity, there receiving the advantages of the excellent common schools and also learning the brewery business under most favorable conditions. Dependent upon his own resources, he determined to establish his home in America, where he felt assured he could find better opportunities for the win- ning of success and independence through his individual efforts. As a young man he emi- grated to the United States and he landed in the city of Baltimore. He passed some time in various eastern cities and then made his way to Chicago, where he was employed for a period. He next went to Cincinnati and from that city he removed to Madison, In-

Frank Sehr

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diana, to assume charge of a brewery. In 1868 Mr. Fehr came to Louisville, Kentucky, where he took the practical management of the plant of the Phoenix Brewing Company. In October, 1872, he leased the old Otto brew- ery for a term of fifteen years, and through his excellent management of the business, with the unvarying excellence of the products of the plant, he built up a most successful enter- prise and developed one of the best brewing plants in this section of the country. When the brewery was destroyed by fire, in 1876, he purchased the site of the old plant, borrowing money for this purpose, and there erected a thoroughly well equipped and substantial plant that has since been known as the Fehr brewery. He made of success not an accident but a logical result, and he became one of the substantial capitalists of the city. He was a man of insuperable integrity of purpose, and his word was ever as good as his bond. He built up the business of his brewery until it took precedence of other enterprises of the kind in the city and he retained virtually sole control of the same until a consolidation of brewing interests was effected under the title of the Consumers' Company, of which the Fehr brewery is the main plant and of which Frank Fehr, Jr., son of the original owner is now the president, having held this office since 1908, and being numbered among the repre- sentative business men of the city. The presi- dent of the company is also its general mana- ger, and both as a citizen and as a progressive business man he is well upholding the high prestige of the honored name which he bears.

The subject of this memoir was a man of fine mentality and cultured tastes. He was a student of scientific subjects and took special interest in mechanics and the fine arts. He was ever appreciative of his stewardship as a successful business man, and his heart was so attuned to human sympathy that he was ever ready to lend his aid in the support of worthy charities and benevolences of a general order, the while his private benefaction, invariably unostentatious, were extended with liberality and earnestness. He was in the most signifi- cant sense the architect of his own fortunes, his life was one of consecutive industry and generous accomplishment, and he so lived as to merit and enjoy the high regard of all with whom he came in contact. No shadow of wrong or injustice touches any period of his long and useful career and he won success through normal and legitimate avenues of en- terprise. At the time of his death he was rec- ognized as one of the most substantial capi- talists of Louisville. He was a Democrat in his political adherence, was liberal and public-

spirited as a citizen and enjoyed marked pop- ularity in both business and social circles in his home city. He attained to the thirty- second degree of the Ancient Accepted Scot- tish Rite of the Masonic fraternity, was affil- iated with the local organizations of the Knights of Pythias and Knights of Honor. was identified with the Firemen's Benevolent Association and held membership in other civic organizations of representative character.

On April 23, 1867, Mr. Fehr was united in marriage to Miss Katherine Stegner, of Cin- cinnati, who survives him, as do also two sons and one daughter. The elder son, Frank, is president and general manager of the Con- sumers' Company, as has already been noted in this context; Andrew Fehr is engaged in the same business in Louisville, being the as- sistant general manager; and Elizabeth, the only daughter, is the wife of Mr. George W. Kremer, treasurer of the Central Consumers Company.

SAMUEL K. VEACH .- A prominent merchant at Carlisle, Nicholas county, Kentucky, is Samuel K. Veach, who here conducts one of the most up-to-date haberdasheries in the en- tire county. He is interested financially in various large business concerns in this section of the state and is a man whose loyalty and public spirit are of the most insistent order. He was born in Augusta, Bracken county, Kentucky, on the 27th of August, 1852, a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Keene) Veach, the former of whom was born in Harrison county, this state, on the Ioth of April, 1820, and the latter at Augusta, Bracken county, in 1824. Elizabeth Keene was a daughter of Samuel Keene, who was born at Georgetown, Ken- tucky, and who married Minerva Hamilton, a native of Bracken county. The maternal grandfather of Elizabeth Keene was John Hamilton, a sergeant in the Revolutionary war and one of the early pioneer settlers of Bracken county. Samuel Veach, father of Pe- ter Veach and grandfather of him whose name initiates this review, was born in Harrison county, Kentucky, in 1791, and he was sum- moned to the life eternal in 1867, at the age of seventy-six years. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Diltz, was likewise a native of Harrison county, where her birth occurred in 1794, and she was seventy-six years of age at the time of her death, in 1880. She was a daughter of David Diltz, of Pennsylvania, who wedded Elizabeth Marr, a daughter of the Earl of Marr who, on account of religious views, emigrated from Scotland to America and settled in the old Keystone state of the Union. Samuel Veach was a son of John Veach and Jane (Huff) Veach, both natives

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of Pennsylvania, where was solemnized their marriage and whence they came to Harrison county, Kentucky, establishing their home three miles east of Cynthiana some time be- tween 1776 and 1780. Jane (Huff) Veach was an exceedingly well educated woman for those days. She died in 1835. A time after his advent in Kentucky John Veach made a trip to Virginia in order to obtain the gold with which to pay for his land in Harrison county, carrying the money back in saddle bags. This land was later owned respectively by the son and grandson of John and a por- tion of it is still in the possession of some mem- bers of the Veach family. The Veach family are of Welsh descent and Jeremiah Veach, father of John, was the founder of the family in America. Samuel Veach, grandfather of Samuel K., of this sketch, was a Methodist Episcopal preacher by vocation and was a cir- cuit rider in central Kentucky in the early days. His son Peter was reared and educated in Harrison county and before his marriage he removed to Bracken county, where he pur- chased land and became a most successful farmer. In 1891 he retired from active par- ticipation in business life and resided in Car- lisle during the residue of his life, his death having occurred in May, 1908. His cherished and devoted wife was summoned to the life eternal in 1872. They were the parents of seven children, concerning whom the following brief record is here incorporated-Mrs. Mary Frank is a widow and resides at Augusta, Kentucky; Samuel K. is the immediate sub- ject of this review; Mrs. Kitty Patterson is a widow and maintains her home in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana; Richard S. resides in Grant county, Kentucky; William lives in Ohio; Mrs. Julia Shrout resides in California ; and Henry is a minister in the Christian church in Pittsfield, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Veach were members of the Methodist Epis- copal church and in politics he accorded a staunch allegiance to the cause of the Demo- cratic party.

Samuel K. Veach was reared to maturity at Augusta, Kentucky, to whose public schools he is indebted for his early educational train- ing. When fifteen years of age he began his business career as a clerk in a dry-goods store at Augusta and in 1874 he went to Portsmouth, Ohio, where he was employed as a clerk for two years. In 1878 he established his home in Carlisle, where he was employed as a clerk until January 1, 1882, in which year the firm of Smith & Veach was formed, this concern conducting a general clothing store. In 1901, when Mr. Smith retired from the business, Mr. Veach purchased his interest in the same and

now conducts the clothing, shoe and furnishing store of Carlisle. On the Ioth of February, 1883, Mr. Veach was instrumental in the or- ganization of the Nicholas County Building & Savings Association, of which substantial financial institution he was elected secretary and of which office he is still incumbent. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Bank of Car- lisle and has served for three terms on the city council. For sixteen years he has been a member of the school board of Nicholas county, serving part of the time as chairman of the board. His political support is given to the Democratic party. and in a fraternal way he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythais, having become aligned with the same in 1878, and he is a valued member of the Masonic or- der, holding membership in the Ancient Ara- bic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, in Olaka Temple at Lexington, Ken- tucky. In the latter organization Mr. Veach has filled all the chairs in the state Grand Lodge and he is past grand master of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, he being one of the most prominent Masons in central Kentucky. He is a loyal member of the Methodist Episcopal „church and his wife affiliates with the Chris- tian church.

On the 19th of April, 1881, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Veach to Miss Molly E. Fisher, who was born at Carlisle, Kentucky, on the 29th of April, 1855, she being a daugh- ter of A. R. and Susan F. (Rogers) Fisher. both of whom are now dead. Mr. and Mrs. Veach have three children-Howard K., who is associated with his father in the work and management of the store; and Frances L. and Elizabeth, both of whoin are students at Mount Holyoke College. in Massachusetts. Mr. Veach is a man of broad intelligence and un- questioned integrity. He has done much to advance the general welfare of the community in which he has elected to maintain his home and he holds a secure place in popular confi- dence and esteem.

INNES B. Ross .- A distinguished attorney of Carlisle, Nicholas county, Kentucky, and a citizen who has given most efficient service in various public offices of local order is Innes B. Ross, who is a native of this city, where his birth occurred on the 29th of July, 1871. He is a son of the late William Parks Ross, who was a prominent lawyer and banker of Carlisle during his life time. He was a son of Green- berry and Martha (Parks) Ross and he was born at Carlisle on the IIth of August, 1825. Greenberry Ross was a native of Bourbon county. Kentucky, whence he removed to Nicholas county, about 1818, continuing to re- side here until his death, March 29, 1856. He

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was a tailor by trade and subsequently devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. The grandfather of William P. Ross was Samuel Ross, a Marylander of English extraction who settled in Bourbon county, Kentucky, in the pioneer days. William Parks Ross was reared to the sturdy discipline of the home farm and availed himself of the best educa- tional advantages afforded in the county. When twenty-one years of age he turned his attention to teaching, although his father wished to make a tailor of him. In 1846 he be- gan reading law, under the able preceptorship of Fitch Munger, an able .lawyer at Carlisle. He made rapid progress in the assimilation of the science of jurisprudence and was admit- ted to the bar of the state in 1848, at which time he entered upon the practice of his pro- fession at Carlisle, this place continuing to represent his home until his death. He soon built up a large and representative clientage, taking a foremost position at the bar and be- coming one of the most prominent lawyers in the county. In 1851 he was elected the first judge of Nicholas county, under the workings of the new constitution, and he also held the office of master commoner for a number of years, though he was never incumbent of a political office, strictly speaking. He devoted himself most assiduously to the demands of his profession but still had time to give atten- tion to various business affairs which came to liis notice. He was a stockholder in and was one of the organizers of the Deposit Bank of Carlisle, of which he was president from 1870 until a short time prior to his death, having re- signed on account of ill health.

In politics Judge Ross was originally an old- line Whig and after the dissolution of that party he maintained an independent attitude, giving his support to men and measures meet- ing with the approval of his judgment. Dur- ing the Civil war he was an ardent Union man. being violently opposed to secession. His re- ligious views coincided with the tenets of the Presbyterian church, in the various depart- ments of whose work he was deeply inter- ested. He was a man of fine professional, per- sonal and social habits, a man of impregnable integrity of character, and he was one of the most substantial and useful men in Carlisle.

Judge Ross was twice married, his first union being to Miss Columbia Neal, a daughter of John Neal, of Nicholas county. The wedding ceremony was performed in February, 1853. and the young wife was summoned to the life eternal on the 29th of January. 1857. She was survived by one son, John N., who is now cashier of. the Deposit Bank of Carlisle. In 1862 was solemnized his marriage to Miss

Elizabetlı Davis, born in Woodford county, in 1835, and died on the 18th of July, 1910, at Carlisle. To this union were born six chil- dren, namely-Columbia, who was the wife of F. B. Lindsay, of Nicholas county, Kentucky ; Henry E. and Mamie, twins, the former an attorney at Lexington and the latter a resi- dent of Millersburg, Kentucky, she having married E. M. Ingles; William P., who is a merchant at Carlisle ; Martha, who is the wife of G. F. Templeman, of Carlisle ; and Innes B., the immediate subject of this sketch.

Judge Ross was summoned to the Great Beyond on the 29th of December, 1900. and concerning the estimate placed upon him as a man and citizen a few extracts taken from an article written by the pastor of his church at the time of his death are here incorporated. This article appeared in a current number of the Carlisle Mercury under date of January 10, 1901.

Judge William P. Ross realized in his life that which is the ideal of many but a realty with but few, to-wit: The satisfaction of pass- ing his days without being assailed by goading criticism. He represented the unusual specta- cle of a man living nearly seventy-five years in the place of his birth and occupying a con- spicuous position through fifty-two years of his life as a public man, without having pointed at him the shafts of detraction or awakening annoying resentments. It was his well poised mind and his equanimity of temper which thus shielded him from what has ruthlessly as- sailed others. He was far from being a perfect man, for there is no perfection in human char- acter, yet he came as near to the most attract- ive ideal of such perfection as any man who has gathered about him the affection and ad- miration of his fellow men. He was free from a censorious spirit, and the writer of this, who has known him for many years, never heard him utter an unkind criticism of any one. His convictions were as solid as adamant, and nei- ther fear nor favor could shake them from him, yet he tried to estimate human conduct in the light of that charity which "hopeth all things, which beareth all things, which is not easily provoked, which thinketh no evil."

He exercised a commanding influence over men, not as the result of a conscious ambition or a studied purpose, but rather from an in- stinctive homage the world awards men of ex- alted character and uncorruptible principles. Possibly if he had cherished more personal ambition he would have filled a broader place than that which he occupied. For in the re- quisites of mental gifts and wide attainments and high moral conceptions he had few supe- riors and was fitted to adorn any place within

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the gift of his fellow citizens. But he chose a tion. He is also trustee of the Carlisle graded sphere more congenial with his tastes than schools, and holds other positions of trust and honor. dizzy elevation would have been.

Judge Ross was a man swayed by a con- science enlightened by the truth and spirit of God. His ambition to be right and do right was the paramount incentive, and he counted not the cost in the attainment of so noble an end. *

But his most sterling and shining quality was his religious character. He united with the Presbyterian church in this city February 5, 1871, and was elected and ordained ruling elder March 19, 1876. He was a careful student of the doctrines and history of the great denomi- nation to which he belonged, and tried as best he could to glorify Christ through the love and devotion of his individual life. . * His * *

place in the home and in the church is vacant, but a mansion has been filled in Heaven.

Innes B. Ross was reared to maturity at Carlisle and after completing the curriculum of the common schools of that place he was matriculated in the Kentucky Wesleyan Col- lege, at Millersburg, Kentucky. When twenty years of age he entered his father's law office and was there engaged in study and reading until 1892, in August of which year he was admitted to the bar. He entered upon active practice as a partner of his father, this mu- tually agreeable alliance continuing until the latter's death. In 1905 the firm of Holmes & Ross was established, this being now one of the best known law firms in the state. In pol- itics Mr. Ross is aligned as a stalwart sup- porter of the cause of the Democratic party and he has done much to advance the general welfare of the county. He has been incum- bent of the position of city attorney for the past ten years and he holds secure vantage ground in popular confidence and esteem. In a fraternal way he is a member of the time- honored Masonic order. Quite a coincident in facts and dates is as follows: Greenbury Ross was master of Daugherty Lodge, F. & A. M., in 1825, at Carlisle, Kentucky, when William Parks Ross was born; and William Parks Ross was master of the same Lodge in 1871 when Innes B. Ross was born. Innes B. Ross is master of this same lodge at this time; thus three generations being master of the same lodge. Innes B. Ross is also a member of the other Masonic bodies, and is a valued and ap- preciative member of the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of the Maccabees. He is a devont member of the Presbyterian church and his wife holds membership in the. Christian church. Mr. Ross is a director in the Deposit Bank of Carlisle and is also a director in the Nicholas County Building & Savings Associa-

On the 15th of June, 1897, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Ross to Miss Sallie Par- ker, who was born in Bourbon county on the 15th of June, 1873, and who is a daughter of William T. and Jane (Smith) Parker, natives of Bourbon county, where the father is a large land owner and is actively identified with ag- ricultural pursuits. Mr. and Mrs. Ross have one son, John Parker Ross, born on the 15th of October, 1900. Mr. Ross is a man of keen perception and extraordinary executive abil- ity and is widely known for his fair and hon- orable business methods and unquestioned in- tegrity.

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A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 39

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