USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III > Part 41
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in law. His scholarly attainments were of such character that he passed the examina- tions in his Junior year and was admitted to the bar in June, 1905.
His education and preparation for his life work finished Mr. Swinford came to Carlisle and began the practice of his profession with his father in the law firm of Swinford & Swin- ford. He began upon his public career when at the February term of court in the year 1910 he was appointed master commissioner of Nicholas county by Judge L. P. Freyer, and he has already had opportunity to give proof of his ability and trustworthiness in an im- portant public capacity.
Mr. Swinford assumed marital relations when on April 27, 1910, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary Sandford Carpenter, born in Nicholas county in 1882, the daughter of J. H. and Lilly (Worthington) Carpenter. Both Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter reside in Nicholas county, the father being sixty years of age and the mother fifty-one.
Mr. Swinford is a prominent Mason, his membership extending to Daugherty Lodge No. 65, and to the Chapter and Commandery. Both he and his wife belong to the Christian church and in the matter of political allegiance he is a staunch Democrat, since his earliest voting days having given his allegiance to the men and measures presented by the party which has won "The Solid South."
JOHN F. SUGG .- Nicholas county is indeed fortunate in possessing among her younger generation citizens of the type of John F. Sugg, clean, straight and honest, and, as is the natural sequence of these excellent attri- butes, possessing the confidence and respect of all those with whom he comes in contact. He is the recently elected county clerk, his pre- vious career having been for the most part devoted to the work of an educator and as county assessor. He is a native son of Nicho- las county, his nativity having occurred near Blue Lick Springs on December 16, 1879, and his parents being Samuel and Malinda (Fee- back) Sugg. Samuel Sugg was born near Paris, Bourbon county, Kentucky, January 17, 1844. His wife's birthplace was near Blue Lick Springs, where on December 14. 1844, she first made her entrance upon this mundane sphere. Both of these worthy people are liv- ing and make their home on a farm in the county. They are the parents of nine chil- dren, six of whom are living, as follows: Phil- lip E., engaged in farming in Nicholas county ; Ida. wife of George Sampson, of Blue Lick Springs ; May, wife of Jesse Linville, of Nich- olas county; William G., also residing here; the subject : and Otta, of Moberly, Missouri.
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A glance at Mr. Sugg's ancestry cannot but be interesting. Going back but a little ways the origin of the family is discovered in Eng- land, the grandfather, William Sugg, having been born in 1804 in "the right little, tight lit- tle island," as was also his wife, whose sur- name was Ashpaw. In 1812, when a small lad, he came to the United States with his par- ents and located in the state of Virginia, and after a ten years' residence in the Old Do- minion. (in 1822) he came on to Bourbon county, Kentucky, and located near Paris, where he played a useful part in the life of the community as a shoe maker and farmer. His removal to Nicholas county was in 1850, and there he purchased a farm and remained until his death. The maternal grandparents, Gil- bert and - (Dewitt) Feeback, were both Nicholas county natives and engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. The subject's mother had three brothers, Silas, Harrison and Franklin, in the Federal army at the time of the Civil war and all three of them died in service. Samuel Sugg grew to manhood in Nicholas county, married and reared his family within its borders and he is now actively farming on the same property which witnessed his maiden efforts as an agriculturist.
The early years of John F. Sugg were passed upon his father's farm. He is indebted to the public schools for his preliminary edu- cation, which included the Carlisle high school, He subsequently took a two years' course in the Kentucky University at Lexington, and two years at the Central Normal College at Danville, Indiana, finishing his education in 1903 and beginning life with an unusually good equipment. His education was self-acquired, for he made the necessary means to pursue his studies at these several institutions as a school teacher in Nicholas county. Mr. Sugg's first service of a public nature was in 1906, when he was elected county assessor and served for four years in this capacity. A mark of approval of his previous efforts and evi- dence of the strong hold he had gained upon the popular esteem was given in his election to the county clerkship in the fall of 1909. He assumed the duties of this important trust on the first day of 1910, and has already given Nicholas county a "taste of his quality." He is in many respects a self-made man; he is of that rare species of public man who holds the welfare of his constituents above personal ag- grandisement ; and it is believed by those who know him hest and realize his depth of char- acter and honesty of purpose that a brilliant future lies before him. He is, indeed, one of the most popular young men in this section.
Mr. Sugg was married on December 28,
1909, the young woman to become his wife and congenial life companion being Miss Ida B. Tobin, whose birth occurred in Elkton, Kentucky, January 23, 1880. She is a daugh- ter of Nicholas and Mila A. (Lawrence) To- bin, the father being a native of Ireland. He is now deceased. The mother, who was born in Nicholas county, Kentucky, now resides in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. They became the parents of six children, four of them now liv- ing, as follows: J. N., who is a citizen of Denver, Colorado; John, who makes his home in Hopkinsville; Mrs. Sugg; and Anna, who is with her mother. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sugg, Anna Tobin Sugg.
Mr. Sugg is a loyal and aggressive Demo- crat and one of the strong men of the party. His loyalty is not limited to words, but he is ever willing to do anything, to go anywhere to advance its interests. He is a member of the Christian church and his wife is of the Catho- lic faith.
WILLIAM WAKEFIELD DENNIS .- As one of the representative men of Louisville, where he has maintained his home for over forty years, contributing in no small measure to its devel- opment and material prosperity through his well directed enterprise and public spirit, there are many points which render particularly consonant a specific and prominent mention of Mr. Dennis in this compilation, and it is a work of satisfaction to thus perpetuate a rec- ord of a worthy and useful life.
William Wakefield Dennis is one of the prominent insurance men of Louisville, being the head of the firm of W. W. Dennis & Com- pany, general agents of the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company, of Newark, New Jersey. He is a native of the old Buckeye state, being born in Cincinnati, on August 20, 1854, the son of Jacob J. and Margaret (Wakefield) Dennis. Both families came originally from England. The paternal grand- father was Jacob J. Dennis, a native of Ohio, and the maternal grandfather was William Wakefield, born in Ohio, February I, 1795, both families coming direct from England to Ohio. Jacob J., the father of William W., was born in 1826 in Ohio and was a well- known lawyer, his death coming only a few hours after having delivered a political speech in October, 1861. The mother of our subject died in August, 1861, at the age of thirty- three years.
W. W. Dennis was reared in his home town of Cincinnati, Ohio, and attended the public schools of that city. In 1869 he came to Louisville and entered the insurance office of his uncle, Kilbourn W. Smith, who was the agent for the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance
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Company, Newark, New Jersey. Later on our subject became a partner with his uncle, and in 1904 he became the general agent of the company for western Kentucky, his uncle having died. For forty years W. W. Dennis has been continuously representing the Mutual Benefit Life and is the only man who has been with the company in Kentucky for that length of time. He is a man of excellent busi- ness and executive ability and the company which he represents finds him a valued factor in the control of their business in this district. His is the record of a conscientious man who by his upright life has won the confidence of all with whom he has come in contact.
He is an active and valued member of the Masonic fraternity, being a past master of Louisville Lodge, No. 400, F. & A. M., is a member of King Solomon Chapter, No. 5, R. A. M., De Molay Commandery, Knights Templar, the Grand Consistory of Kentucky of the Scottish Rite and of Kosair Temple, An- cient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Mr. Dennis is a thirty-third degree Mason of the Scottish Rite and is treasurer of the Grand Consistory of that Rite in Kentucky.
Mr. Dennis married Miss Bettie Foree, daughter of Samuel J. and Minnie (Elliott) Foree, both of old Kentucky families. From this union there are two children, Foree who graduated from Yale, class of 1909, and is now in business with his father, and Kilbourn Smith, of Yale university and also in business with his father. The members of the family belong to the Fourth Avenue Presbyterian church. Regarded as a citizen and in his so- cial relations, he belongs to that public-spirited useful and helpful class of men whose am- bitions and desires are centered and directed in those channels through which flow the greatest and most permanent good to the greatest number. His life has been an upright and straightforward one, his success has been achieved along the lines of legitimate activity and unfaltering energy and he has well earned the uniform regard that is extended to him by the business men of the state.
SAMUEL HOWE DALZELL .- Among those citizens of Nicholas county who are held in high esteem by those who know them best and whose success has ever been of that whole- some sort which has contributed in its own measure to the material prosperity of the whole community must be numbered Samuel Howe Dalzell. Mr. Dalzell is a retired farmer, his farm of two hundred and forty acres of fine Blue Grass land being one of the finest estates within the borders of the county, Be- sides having made a success of his chosen
profession, and entirely through his own ef- forts, he has other claims to distinction, being a veteran of the Civil war, through which he served, giving valliant defense of the cause he believed to be just. He is also a thor- ough Kentuckian, his grandparents on both the paternal and maternal sides having been pioneers of the state. Mr. Dalzell was born in the southern part of Nicholas county May I, 1837, the son of Robert and Catherine (Roberts) Dalzell. The father was born in Nicholas county in 1798 and lived here throughout the course of a long life, being gathered to his fathers at the age of eighty- four years. The mother, likewise, was long- lived. She was born in Montgomery county in 1810 and lived to pass her eighty-second birthday. This worthy couple were the par- ents of eight children, half of this number surviving at the present day. James resides in Kansas; Joseph is a citizen of Carlisle; and Frank is located in Lexington, Kentucky. The paternal grandfather, Thomas Dalzell, was born in Maryland, as was also his wife, Lucretia DePue. They came to Nicholas county among the earliest of the pioneers and settled in the southern part of this county, where they purchased a farm. The maternal grandparents, William and Providence (Young) Roberts, were Montgomery county pioneers. The father was destined to spend his entire life upon the farm which was the scene of his birth and subsequent activities. He was a successful farmer and a man who enjoyed the respect of his fellowmen. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and his wife was of the Christian faith.
Mr. Dalzell, now retired and in the enjoy- ment of leisure to enjoy the fruits of his previous industry and thrift, can look back over a busy and well-spent life. He passed his boyhood and youth upon his father's farm and under the direction of the elder man was initiated into all the secrets of successful farm- ing. The only time he could get for school- ing was a little while during the winter months. When he reached manhood he mar- ried and began upon an independent career. His youth, like that of his associates, had been disturbed by the approach of the war, and in October, 1862, he enlisted, joining Com- pany D of the Ninth Kentucky Cavalry, of which William Breckinridge was colonel. He served under General Morgan until he started upon his Ohio raid, when Mr. Dalzell was sent south to join the campaign in defiance of General Sherman on his march to the sea. He was at Washington, Georgia, at the close of the war, and after the surrender he returned home and went to work on the farm. He
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started in a modest, even humble way, on rented land, but his own untiring efforts, to- gether with those of his devoted wife, re- sulted in success and he was eventually able to purchase two hundred and forty acres of fine Blue Grass land in Nicholas county. This he operated until October, 1909, when he re- moved to Carlisle. Mr. Dalzell devoted his whole time and attention to farming, being up at daylight and working until dark.
He was married on November 27, 1860, the lady of his choice being Miss Laura Wasson, who was born in the southern part of Nicholas county on May 10, 1844. She was the daugh- ter of William and Harriet (Stokes) Wasson. Her father, having been born near Cane Ridge, Kentucky, May 6, 1804, died January 2, 1853 ; and the mother, born on Hinkston Creek, Nicholas county, January 29, 1820, passed on to her reward in the year 1882. They were the parents of four children, three of whom are living at the present day, namely: Mrs. Dalzell; Joseph, who resides in Nicholas county ; and Iro, who is the wife of W. M. Burrows, of Crawfordsville, Indiana. Her grandfather, Charles Wasson, was born in Maryland, as was also his wife, Jane Ray- born. He was a youth of seventeen years when he cast his fortunes with the newer state of Kentucky, where he married and took up the occupation of farming. He was thus en- gaged throughout his entire life and became a large land owner, holding one thousand acres. Mrs. Dalzell's maternal grandfather, Benjamin Stokes, and his wife, Micha Sparks, were from the east and were of the agricultural class.
To Mr. and Mrs. Dalzell twelve children have been born, ten of whom survive at the present day. Catherine, is the wife of Alvin Fishback and resides in Indiana; Clifton H. is in Bourbon county, Kentucky; Robert is a Nicholas county citizen ; Benjamin lives in Bourbon county; Hollis, now in Nicholas county, enlisted at Indianapolis, Indiana, at the time of the Spanish-American war, in the Fourth United States Infantry; Joseph is at home, as is also Otis; Anna is the wife of F. Martin, of Owingsville, Kentucky; Jessie is at home; and Etta is the wife of Jason Tune, of Cleveland, Ohio. The sons have inherited the fine ideals of citizenship of the father, and the daughters have emulated the worthy ex- ample of their mother.
Since Mr. Dalzell has been old enough to cast a ballot it has gone to support the Dem- ocratic cause, in whose men and measures he has unfaltering trust. Both he and his wife are consistent members of the Christian
church, to whose campaign for righteousness they give their heart and hand. They re- cently celebrated their fiftieth year of happy married life by a golden wedding, of which their children were the chief ornament. Mr. Dalzell, who is one of Carlisle's most highly honored gentlemen, is a member of Peter Brannlett Post, Confederate Soldiers of Amer- ica.
FRANK HUFFSTETTER .- One of the popular and well esteemed citizens of Nicholas county is Frank Huffstetter, the newly elected circuit clerk. He is of the best type of citizenship and one to whom the interests of the general public are well entrusted, and for many years he has been engaged in general stock raising and agriculture. Mr. Huffstetter is a native son of the county, having been born in its southern part August 18, 1848. His parents were James and Elvira (Sparks) Huffstetter, the father's birth having occurred in the same house in Nicholas county as that which wit- nessed his own nativity. The elder man was born January 21. 1826, and died November 22, 1904, while the dates bounding the life of his devoted wife and life companion were November, 1821, and April 17, 1879. Seven sons and daughters came to bless their home, only two of the number surviving at the pres- ent day. William, a Confederate veteran of the Civil war, makes his home with Mr. Huff- stetter.
The Huffstetters, like so many of the well- known Kentucky families, were originally of Virginia. The paternal grandfather, John. was born in the Old Dominion a number of years before the battle of Bunker Hill. He came on to Nicholas county in 1820 and died in June, 1848, having attained to the age of eighty-two years. His wife, Mary Crouch, was born in Virginia, and lived almost to reach the century mark, her demise occur- ring in 1866, at the age of ninety-eight years, her interesting memories including three great American wars and many crucial events of American history. The subject's father was the eldest in a family of three boys and two girls, and he like all other members of that branch of the family was an agricultur- ist. They were all, likewise, loyal to the cause of the Democratic party and unanimous in their allegiance to the Christian church. Both of the maternal grandparents, William and Catherine (Knox) Sparks, were natives of Nicholas county, Kentucky, the former be- ing summoned to the life eternal in 1860, at the age of seventy-eight years.
James Huffstetter was reared to manhood upon the place of his nativity, was married in
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the year 1843, and early in life came into pos- session of the farm which he operated until his demise.
Frank Huffstetter, the immediate subject of this review, was reared upon the family estate and owing to force of circumstances received but a limited public-school education. In 1875 he left home and began an independent career as a farmer on rented land. In 1884 through the exercise of industry and thrift, he found himself in a position to purchase land of his own, the property he acquired being situated three miles south of Carlisle, Kentucky, on the Plum Lick pike, and this he operates at the present day. He is a stanch Democrat, whose loyalty consists in deeds as much as in words, for he is ever ready to do anything, to go any- where to advance the interests of the party he believes to be wisest in principle. In 1900 he ran for the office of county clerk, but was defeated, and in the fall of 1909 he became the candidate for circuit clerk of Nicholas county. This time success perched upon his standards, and he took office January 3, 1910, his achievements having already proved him a public servant of the most trust-worthy and enlightened type. Like the others of his fam- ily he is a consistent member of the Christian church and one ever ready to assist in its campaign for the attainment of better condi- tions.
Mr. Huffstetter was married February 20, 1877, Miss Jennie Spencer, a native of Nich- olas county, becoming his wife and the mis- tress of his household. Mrs. Huffstetter was born October 18, 1856, and is the daughter of James and Elizabeth (Chevis) Spencer. The father was a native of Clarke county, Kentucky, and the mother was a Virginian. The birth of two children has blessed this un- ion. Vena became the wife of Bruce Hud- dleson, of Paris, Kentucky; and Daisy mar- ried Benjamin Huddleson, of Nicholas county. The subject, who deserves to be counted among those self-made men who have every right to be proud of their achievement, is very successful in his agricultural pursuits as well as in his public services.
JOHN T. WOODFORD, present proprietor of the Woodford stock farm at Mount Sterling, Kentucky, is a scion of old pioneer families in this state and he has well upheld the prestige of the honored name which he bears, the while he has, like his father and grandfather, con- tributed his quota to the civic and industrial progress and upbuilding of this section of the state. Mr. Woodford was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, on the 12th of August, 1847, and is a son of John T. and Elizabeth Hawes (Buckner) Woodford. John T. Wood-
ford, Sr., was a native of Virginia, the date of his birth being August 21, 1812, and he was summoned to eternal rest at his home in Paris, Kentucky, in 1892, at which time he was in the eightieth year of his age. The paternal grandparents of him whose name introduces this article were William T. and Maria (Ar- cher) Woodford, both of whom were born in Virginia, whence they came to Clark county, Kentucky, in 1827. At the time of the death of William T. Woodford, his widow removed with her children to Montgomery county, where with the aid of her sons she managed to eke out a fair livelihood for her- self and family. Afterwards John T., Sr., initiated his independent career by clerking in a store at North Middletown, Bourbon county. In 1839 was solemnized his marriage to Eliz- abeth Hawes Buckner and he then became identified with agricultural pursuits. In this line of enterprise his success was of unquali- fied order and at one time he owned and op- erated a farm of nine hundred acres located five miles south of Paris. His finely improved land was devoted to diversified crops and he was also largely interested in stock-raising, handling cattle, hogs and sheep. His life in every connection was eminently successful and he gained and retained to himself the high re- gard of his fellow citizens. Politically he was a staunch adherent of the Democratic party. Mrs. Woodford was born in Bourbon county, this state, in 1821, and she was a daughter of William T. and Sallie (Clay) Buckner, both of which families have long been prominent in connection with public affairs in the Blue Grass state. She was summoned to her eter- nal rest in 1903, at the age of eighty-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Woodford became the parents of nine children, and of the number seven are now living, namely,-Sallie, who is the widow of E. F. Spears, resides at Paris, Kentucky; Buckner also maintains his home at Paris; John T., of this sketch, is the next in order of birth ; Catesby is a prominent race- horse breeder of Bourbon county; Henry M. is a resident of Montgomery county ; Benja- min resides in Bourbon county ; and Maria L. is the wife of W. L. Yerkes, of Paris.
John T. Woodford, Jr., was reared to the sturdy discipline of the home farm and after due attendance in the schools of his native county he attended the Kentucky University at Lexington. In 1874, in Montgomery county, he initiated farming operations on his own account. To-day his landed estate con- sists of five hundred acres of land in Mont- gomery county and two hundred acres in Bourbon county. The fine farm on which he resides is modern in every particular, from
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the magnificent, spacious residence to the large, comfortable barns. For the past thirty- five years Mr. Woodford has been success- fully engaged in the breeding and training of fancy saddle horses and it may be stated with authority that he has bred more saddle horses than any other one man in Kentucky. Mr. Woodford's reputation as a horse breeder and as a man of his word is widespread. His fair and honorable methods and sterling integrity have ever accrued to his credit and he is rec- ognized as a loyal and public-spirited citizen whose contributions to progress and develop- ment have been of distinctive order. He keeps on hand an average of seventy-five head of fancy saddle horses and he has a herd of reg- istered Jersey cows which he retains for his own use.
Mr. Woodford is a Democrat in his politi- cal proclivities and is ever alert and enthusi- astically in sympathy with all measures and enterprises advanced for the general welfare of the community. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Christian church.
On the 13th of February, 1872, Mr. Wood- ford was united in marriage to Miss Nannie Chenault, who was born in Madison county, Kentucky, on the 20th of August, 1853, and who is a daughter of Anderson and Margaret K. (Oldham) Chenault. Anderson Chenault was likewise born in Madison county, the date of his birth being January 8, 1812, and he died on the 27th of March, 1884. Mrs. Chenault was a native of the same county and her birth occurred on the 15th of October, 1829. She is still living on the Chenault farm, located two miles south of Mount Sterling. Residing with her is her son William O. and family. AIr. and Mrs. Chenault became the parents of seven children and of the number five are liv- ing-Nannie, who is the wife of Mr. Wood- ford, of this sketch, as already noted; William O., who resides. with his mother; Mollie W., who is the wife of J. S. Bogie, of Montgomery county ; Margaret, who married W. J. Dear- ing, an attorney for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, with headquarters at Louisville, Kentucky ; and Lucy C., who wedded Bishop Clay, of Lexington, Kentucky. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Woodford were Rever- end David and Mary (Tribble) Chenault, na- tives of Virginia, whence they came to Ken- tucky about 1780 and purchased four thou- sand acres of land in Madison county. He was a devout minister of the Baptist faith and after many years' service in behalf of the spiritual welfare of his fellow men he passed to his reward in 1851. His devoted helpmeer and companion died in 1862, in her eighty- fourth year. Anderson Chenault was reared
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