A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 54

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 54

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Because of the scarcity of population at that early date, Colonel Pickett was almost com- pelled to enter public life. In 1890 he was a member of the lower house of the Eleventh Legislative Assembly from Fremont county. On the admission of Wyoming as a state he again represented Fremont county in the lower house. On the organization of Big Horn county he was elected as its first senator in the state senate of 1895. He has always been prominent in the councils of the Democratic party of Wyoming.

Colonel Pickett has the distinction of being the oldest living member of the American So- ciety of Civil Engineers (his membership dating from July 6, 1853), which embraces in its membership about 6,000 of the prominent engineers of the country. He has also been for years a member of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, the American Association for the Advancement of Science. and the American Geographical Society, and last, though not least, the Boone and Crockett club, an association of sportsmen organized for the protection of game, with headquarters in New York City. He has been for years one of its vice-presidents.

He also has the honor of being a pensioner of the Great Republic under the Mexican war pension act of 1887 and amendments, and at this time is receiving a pension of twenty dollars per month.

WILLIAM H. KLEE .- Henderson county would be incomplete without the record of this representative citizen, whose career has ever been one in which business activity has been blended with unbending honor and unflinch- ing integrity, and his course is well worthy of emulation by those who would justly com- mand the respect of their fellow men.

William H. Klee is a native of Evansville, Indiana, born in 1859, the son of Henry Klee, who was born in Germany, where he received his education and learned the trade of a cab- inet maker and stair builder. He emigrated to the United States and settled in Evansville, Indiana, where he engaged in the cabinet making business, later adding the stair build- ing and still later the undertaking business. Then he dropped the cabinet making business, turning his entire attention to stair building and undertaking, and in the latter built up a large business and in which he continued until his death, in 1892. He married Miss Clara Kratz, a native of Germany, who was brought to the United States when six years old, a daughter of John and Clara Kratz. Her father was an active and enterprising cit- izen and for many years was president of the State Bank of Evansville, Indiana. She died in 1898, in her seventy-first year, having been the mother of five children. The three surviving children are John Klee, of Evans- ville, Indiana, William H., of Henderson ; and Louis C., of Henderson. The deceased are Clara, who died at the age of one and one half years, and Harry J., who died at Posey- ville, Indiana, at the age of twenty-nine.

William H. Klee was educated in the pub- lic and high school at Evansville, Indiana, and upon the conclusion of his schooling learned the undertaking business with his father, be- coming thoroughly acquainted with every de- partment. The business that Mr. Klee started in had already been organized in 1848 by Jacobs and Theobold, who were succeeded by Jacob Schaeffer, and after his death the firm was changed to Jacob Schaeffer & Company. Under this name it was continued until 1879, when the business was purchased by William H. Klee, who has made a great success and added many improvements. He built his fine barn in 1895, one of the first in the northern part of Kentucky. He carries a large stock of caskets, has three hearses, a number of fine hacks and fine horses and it is one of the best equipped concerns in the state. His bus- iness is conducted in the most unostentatious manner, his men are under the strictest di- rections in conduct and caring for the dead and in every way the feelings of his patrons are considered.

In 1879 Mr. Klee married Miss Jessie D. Bird, of Evansville, Indiana, the daughter of John Bird, a prominent citizen of that place. Mr. Klee is a prominent Mason, being a mem- ber of Lodge No. 9. F. & A. M., and a mem- ber of Henderson Chapter, No. 14, R. A. M. He belongs to Henderson Commandery, No. 14, Knights Templars, and to Rizpah Shrine. In 1899 he built his fine residence, a sub-

1408

HISTORY OF KENTUCKY AND KENTUCKIANS

stantial brick, with all modern improvements. To Mr. and Mrs. Klee the following children have been born: Veronica C., wife of John G. Delker, of Henderson, and they have one child living, Mary Louise; Josie M., wife of Frank Kleiderer, of Evansville, Indiana; Louise F., wife of Frank Keck, of Mt. Ver- non, Indiana; Evelyn R., and Katherine, at home.

JOHN EDWARD POLLOCK .- This gentleman is one of the representative men of Greenup, Kentucky, having held the responsible posi- tion of cashier of the First National Bank of Greenup ever since its organization into a nat- ional bank. It was first organized as a state bank in 1891 by J. M. Sowards and so ope- rated until 1893, when it was converted into the position it now holds, with a capital stock of $12,000, which was later increased to $25,- 000, its present capital. The present officers were responsible for its organization and are as follows: W. T. Hood, president; S. G. Bates, vice president; J. E. Pollock, cashier ; and the directors are the above named officers, J. D. Biggs and J. K. Pollock, the latter of Cincinnati. At the close of December 1910, the bank's liabilities were as follows: capital stock, $25,000; surplus and undivided profits, $7,551.35; and deposits, $183,018, thus demonstrating the flourishing condition of its business.

Mr. Pollock was born in Greenup, Ken- tucky, November 30, 1853, the son of Joseph and Sarah ( Kouns) Pollock, the father a na- tive of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and the mother a native of Greenup county, Ken- tucky. The Pollocks are of Scotch-Irish de- scent and came to the United States a short time prior to the Revolution, settling in Wash- ington county, Pennsylvania. John Pollock, grandfather of our subject, was a farmer and passed his life in Pennsylvania. His wife, Ann Donahue, was also of Scotch-Irish par- entage and was a native of Pennsylvania. From this marriage there were nine children, Joseph Pollock, the father of our subject, be- ing the eldest. He was born in 1812 and reared in the place of his birth until he was a young man and in about 1843 came to Ken- tucky and, locating in Greenup, opened a store, which he operated for a number of years. He had the postoffice in his store for many years, including the Civil war period, and was one of the oldest and most success- ful merchants here. After the war he sold out and engaged in the banking business, which he operated until 1885 and then re- tired. He was one of the prominent men of affairs of the time and during a number of years was shipping and receiving agent for several charcoal iron furnaces, which in those

days was one of the principal industries of this section of the country and Greenup was one of the principal shipping points for the same on the Ohio river. Mr. Pollock died in Greenup in 1899, at the age of eighty-seven. His politics were originally Whig and later Republican. He was one of the organizers of the Presbyterian church about 1855, a liberal supporter of the same and active in its work, being an elder for many years. His wife, Sarah Kouns, was born in 1827, in Greenup county, a daughter of Major John C. and Elizabeth (Smith) Kouns, both of pioneer families of Greenup county. Her father's will was probated about 1805, being the first of record in the county. Major Kouns was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and was brought by his parents to Greenup county when a child about the time Kentucky became a state in 1792. He was reared on the farm and followed the same the most of his life, owning a large amount of land and many slaves. He served in the war of 1812 and was a commissioned officer. A sword he captured from an English officer is still doing duty in the Masonic Lodge in Greenup, to which he presented the same many years ago, about 1826, and also an old family Bible rep- resenting one of the first publications of its class. In politics he was a Democrat and in early days served in the state legislature. During the war between the states he was a Union man opposed to secession, but incensed at freeing the slaves. His farm included some of the land upon which Greenup now stands. Major Kouns built the Kouns Hotel, still operated by his granddaughters, about eighty years ago and conducted it for a time, during which it was the scene of the gathering of many prominent people of those days. He was a charter member of Greenup Lodge, No. 89. F. & A. M., and was the first Tyler elected. He used the historical sword cap- tured in the war of 1812 and it has been on duty ever since. He died in 1866, his wife having died the year before. She was born in Greenup countv. the daughter of Martin Smith, a native of Virginia, who was one of the earliest pioneers to Greenup county, about the time the state was organized. They were the grandparents of three children: Elizabeth Kouns, wife of Senator Paynter, of Frank- fort, Kentucky; John Edward, our subject ; and Joseph K., a member of the iron com- mission firm of Rogers, Brown & Company. Cincinnati.

John Edward Pollock was reared in Green- up county and received his education in the common schools. When a young man he be- came a clerk for the Eastern Kentucky Rail- way at Riverton, adjoining Greenup, which

1409

HISTORY OF KENTUCKY AND KENTUCKIANS

position he occupied for seven years. His next venture was to open a hardware store in Greenup, which he operated for fifteen years, when he sold it and has since been engaged in the banking business. In 1898 he with some others bouglit a telephone system, or- ganized a stock company and have since ope- rated. With others Mr. Pollock bought the electric light plant of Greenup in 1900 and still own the same. Altogether he is one of the most active and leading business men and citizens in the community. In politics Mr. Pollock is Republican but not an active par- tisan. He served as county treasurer for six years and at present is a trustee on the jury fund. He is a Mason, a member of the lodge, chapter, commandery and shrine.

In 1882 Mr. Pollock married Laura Van Dyke, a native of Greenup county, a daugh- ter of the late A. C. Van Dyke, one of the pioneers in the iron manufacture, building the Buffalo Furnace prior to the Civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Pollock have two children : Augustus V., teller of the First National Bank at Cincinnati, and Louise, pursuing a musical education in Boston. Mr. Pollock and his family are members of the Presby- terian church, in which he has been engaged in active work for years.

JOHN T. MIDDELTON .- In Shelby county, Kentucky, the name of Middelton is known as are few other names, and favorably as well as widely, be it said. The family has been established here over a century, its founders having arrived in 1798, and since that date Middeltons have played a leading part in its affairs. Of the many descendants of Adam Middelton, who emigrated from Pennsylvania and became the host of the famous Cross Keys public house none are held in greater honor than John T. Middelton, president of the Peo- ples' Bank & Trust Company, who gives to the affairs of that institution an efficient and in- telligent administration which places him among the leading financiers of this section.

As before mentioned the first Middelton to come to Kentucky was Adam, who was accom- panied by his wife, Mary Fulton. Adam was born in Virginia and followed the tide of emi- gration to Shelby county, Kentucky, in 1798. He first located near Shelbyville, but after- ward went to the vicinity of Cross Keys, five miles east of Shelbyville. He became the landlord of the Cross Keys House, a part of which is now incorporated in the present fa- mous tavern. He continued to keep public house for the rest of his life, travel being great at that time and trade brisk. He also operated a blacksmith shop, and the horses of the way- farers received his attention as well as the

comfort of their owners. He owned a large tract of land, five hundred acres or more in extent, and situated on the main road, north and south of the pike which was built in 1833. He was a Democrat in his political convictions, but never played a part in public life or sought office. The demise of this well known man oc- curred in 1834. His family consisted of seven sons and three daughters. Elizabeth became the wife of John Scearce and lived and died in this county. Hester married Price C. Willis, of Shelby county. Julia Ann married a Mr. Johnson and afterward Alfred Herring- ton, and they also were life-long residents of the county. David F. became an agriculturist, his land being located near his father's old homestead. He had two sons and two daugh- ters, the latter being alive at the present. He lived to a ripe old age. His brother, James F., also farmed nearby and spent all his life a good citizen of Shelby county. John, a farmer, pursued his agricultural operations two miles from the old homestead and his family con- sisted of two daughters. Of Anthony it could likewise be said that he was a farmer, pros- perous and a life-long resident of Shelby county. He left three children. Of the brothers next in order of birth more will be said anon. Jonathon eventually removed to Mississippi where he died. His son, Adam M. Middelton, resides near Waddy, Shelby county.

The sons Adam and Robert engaged jointly in the operation of the old farm. To further cement the close relations which existed be- tween them they married sisters,-Mary F. and Letitia Willis becoming the wives of Adam and Robert respectively. They were the daughters of Pierson and Elizabeth Willis, who came from Lincoln county, Kentucky, and located on a farm three miles distant from Cross Keys, in later life removing to a farm nearer Shelbyville, where their lives ended at a good old age. The families of Adam and Robert lived as one, occupying the same house and eating at the same table. Their residence they later rebuilt and kept a public house as long as travel made it profitable. The sign was of two keys crossed and hanging on a great post, this familiar object being cut down at the time of the Civil war. They owned be- tween six hundred and seven hundred acres of land jointly. Inseparable so long in life, the two brothers were not parted long by death, Adam dying in June, 1890, and Robert following him in November, 1891. Both wives survived their husbands, Adam's for six years, and Robert's about the same length of time, the latter being about eighty-five years of age at the time of her demise. They had nineteen

1410

HISTORY OF KENTUCKY AND KENTUCKIANS

children between them,-did Adam and Rob- ert,-the former's numbering eleven and the latter's eight, but it is not recorded that Ad- am's advantage caused any ill feeling. All were like brothers and sisters. All attended the Baptist church, one mile distant, and the departure for divine service was a sight worth seeing.

Of the nineteen children eleven are living in 1911, Adam's five being John T., our sub- ject ; Mary E. Weakley ; James D .; Price C .; and Jennie V., who still resides upon the old homestead. Robert's six are as follows : Emma F. Utterbach, a widow; Martha Thom- asson, a widow; Julia A. Harris ; William W. and Wallace B., residing at the old place ; and Miss Edna, who also lives at the old home- stead. In fact four of Robert's children re- main upon the old homestead, namely William R., Wallace, Edna and Mrs. Utterbach, the first named being a bachelor.

John T. Middelton, born December 23, 1836, received his earlier education in the dis- trict school. He left the farm January I, 1866, and came to Shelbyville, setting out like the proverbial hero of romance to make his fortunes. He secured a position as a clerk in a private bank and later in a state bank, and proving faithful and efficient in small things he was given more and more to do and eventu- ally became cashier of the State Bank. which was established as the Farmers & Traders Bank in 1873. He continued in that capacity for a period of twenty-nine years, or until 1902, and upon the organization of the Peo- ples Bank & Trust Company he was elected its first president, and holds that high office at the present time. He is the oldest in point of service of any member of the banking frater- nity in this county. In politics he is a Demo- crat, but while giving to public matters the consideration of the intelligent voter he has never sought or desired office.

Mr. Middelton laid the foundation of a household of his own when in the month of December, 1868, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Carrie H. Burkhardt, a young widow, whose maiden name was Carrie H. Mckinney. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and is the daughter of a former leading attorney of that city, but her father is now deceased. Their three children are herewith enumerated. Mary W. became the wife of Pope Nicholas, and now makes her home with her father. Elizabeth died in young womanhood, the date of her demise being 1906. Anna V. is the wife of Lowrie Bullock, of Louisville, Kentucky, who is engaged in the lumber business.

With all the best activities of Shelbyville Mr. and Mrs. Middelton are identified and they

are leaders in the social life of the place. Mr. Middelton has been a member of the Baptist church since 1858, and for many years he has held the office of deacon in the same. For a long period of time he has been treasurer of the Shelby County Baptist Association and he was exceedingly active and useful in the re- building of the church some time ago. Mrs. Middelton is a Baptist in denomination. Their home is an attractive and hospitable abode.

HUGH CALVIN POAGE, who died at his home in Ashland, Kentucky, March 26, 1900, was a representative of pioneer Kentuckians and was descended from an old Colonial fam- ily of Revolutionary fame. The Poages were originally natives of Scotland but on account of early religious persecutions members of the family migrated to the north of Ireland, whence Robert Poage emigrated to America with his wife and several children in the year 1740, arriving at Orange Court, in Augusta county, Virginia, on the 22d of May. He. was given a large land grant near Staunton, in the Old Dominion commonwealth, and there became the founder of the family in America. The Poages have ever been devout members of the Presbyterian church and in Virginia they founded that which is known to-day as the "Old Stone Church," the oldest church of that denomination west of the Alle- ghenies. Of the children of Robert Poage, a son, John Poage, who was born in Ireland in 1726, died at the Poage homestead within what are now the corporate limits of Ash- land, Kentucky, in March, 1789. He served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, in which he was promoted to the rank of gen- eral, and he had a son, Colonel George Poage, who was likewise a soldier in the war for independence. Father and son were in ac- tive service at the siege of Yorktown, at the battle of Point Pleasant and in the battle of the Thames, in the war of 1812. General John Poage was appointed high sheriff of Augusta county, Virginia, on the 17th of March, 1778, and on the following day quali- fied as county surveyor. A few years later, accompanied by his wife, children and their families, he made the tedious trip to what is now Boyd county, Kentucky, where settle- ment was made upon a grant of several thou- sand acres of land, the respective homes be- ing made in the vicinity of what is now known as Ashland. It was here that General John Poage died in March, 1789. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Blair and to whom he was married in 1751, died at the old home- stead in 1793. Without a doubt these were the pioneer families of northeastern Ken- tucky, the Poage settlement becoming known

1411

HISTORY OF KENTUCKY AND KENTUCKIANS

far and wide as a place of genuine hospitality and welcome to the later pioneers. These families toiled hard in a wilderness infested by Indians and ferocious wild beasts, endur- ing many hardships and privations in order to reclaim the land to cultivation and estab- lish homes for themselves and their posterity. The civilization of this section and its subse- quent religious and educational development are almost entirely due to the foresight and arduous work of these pioneer settlers. They established the first Presbyterian church in Boyd county and donated the land for it.

In an historical sketch of the Presbyterian church of Ashland, which was published in 1871, appeared the following article by the author, Rev. John C. Bayless, for many years pastor of that church.

"The site of Ashland with its immediate vicinity was settled more than fifty years ago, mainly by the Poage family. They came from Augusta and Greenbrier counties, Vir- ginia, and were all brought up in the Presby- terian faith, a number of them being minis- ters of the church by profession. Finding no organized church in their new home they were not long in establishing a prayer meet- ing, which they held mostly from house to house. This in a short time prepared the way for a definite organization. On June 11, 1819, the parties interested met at the house of Major James Poage, the log dwelling last occupied by the late Richard Jones and family. The ser- vices were conducted by the Rev. Robert Wil- son, pastor of the Presbyterian church of Washington, Kentucky. He received into membership twenty persons and at the same meeting five' ruling elders were elected and inducted into office, namely: George Poage, Sr., George Poage, Jr., Robert Poage, James Poage and Thomas Poage. The new church took the name of Bethesda and was placed un- 'der the care of the Ebenezer Presbytery. The congregation, being without a house of worship, proceeded in a short time to build one of hewn logs, on the ground now known as the old graveyard a mile back of the present town. This was regarded at the time as most central and convenient, the members being scattered widely on hill and bottom. The last vestige of the old log church has disappeared long ago but the spot is hallowed as containing the mor- tal remains of many, both young and old who have fallen asleep in Jesus."

One of the handsomest pioneer homes in northeastern Kentucky was built by Colonel George Poage on the banks of the Ohio river in 1811. The Poage Lodge of Masons No. 325, at Ashland, was named in honor of Gen- eral John Poage, and the Poage Chapter of

the Daughters of the American Revolution was organized at Ashland, in August, 1909, by Katherine Poage Townsend, the great- great-granddaughter of General John Poage, with seventeen charter members, fourteen of whom are descendants of General John and Colonel George Poage. Of the six sons and two daughters born to General John Poage and wife, Colonel George Poage, grandfather of the subject of this review, was the second in order of birth, he having been ushered into the world on the 28th of March, 1754. He was a native of Augusta county, Virginia, where he grew to adult age and where was solemnized his marriage to Miss Ann Allen, of that county. They became the parents of eight children. Colonel George Poage emi- grated with his parents and members of his own family to what is now Ashland, Ken- tucky, in the early '80s, following the Revolu- tion, in which he served with his father, as previously noted. He passed the residue of his life in Ashland, where he was summoned to eternal rest in 1821. He was one of the first ruling elders of the Presbyterian church organized in 1819 in the Poage settlement. He was extensively engaged in farming opera- tions for many years, owned a number of slaves, and, with two brothers, operated the old Clinton furnace, which was one of the first in this section of Kentucky.

Of the eight children born to Colonel and Mrs. George Poage, Thomas Hoge Poage, father of him to whom this article is dedi- cated, was the seventh in order of birth. He was born in 1800 at the old Poage homestead, and when he had reached man's estate he mar- ried Miss Nancy Allen Frame of Augusta county, Virginia. He was long identified with agricultural pursuits near Ashland but in 1840 he disposed of his lands and went to Texas, where he intended to establish a home, but being stricken with Yellow fever he died on the 4th of July, 1840. He had preceded his family to the Lone Star state and his wife and children had started to join him, taking the slaves, household effects, stock, etc., by boat down to the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. On arrival at Memphis, Tennessee, however, they received news of the husband's and father's death and returned to their home in Ken- tucky, the mother and eight children, of whom Hugh Calvin, of this sketch, was the third in order of birth.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 54

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