A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 55

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 55

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Hugh Calvin Poage was born June 16, 1829, in what was then Greenup county, on the site of where Ashland is now built, and he was one of the pioneer citizens. He was the son of Thomas Hoge Poage and grandson of Captain George Poage, who was in the Revo-

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lution with General Washington's staff. He was a great-grandson of General John Poage, who was prominent in official circles in the days of the Revolution, while another ancestor was Captain James Allen, of the Revolution- ary war, and a relative of John Allen, one of the framers of the constitution of the United States. His ancestors were all from Virginia. They founded the Presbyterian church of Ashland, but Mr. Poage himself was a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. He was also a Mason, belonging to Poage Lodge, No. 325.

On the 27th of April, 1853, Hugh Calvin Poage was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Davenport, who was born and reared in the town named for her grandfather, Jones- ville, in Lee county, Virginia. She belonged to a family noted for their brilliancy and is a cultured woman. As Miss Davenport she was a celebrated beauty and is so still, even in her great age, being seventy-eight years the 2d of January, 1911, and she takes an interest in all things about her. At the time of Mr. Poage's death, J. M. Miller, editor of the Ash- land Daily News and a personal friend of Mr. Poage, had the following to say of him.

"Mr. Poage was the first person the writer became acquainted with in Ashland. We have known him intimately for many years and in all that time found him to be the same kind and true courteous gentleman he was the first day we met him. It was through his son, Judge William Poage, we were induced to cast our lot in Ashland and he seemed to take double interest in our welfare for that reason. His kind and encouraging words at times, when the way seemed dark, will always be fondly remembered. 'Kit,' the name everyone knew him by, was a friend to everyone. He had a kind word and a pleasant smile for the aged and the young. He lived to see his family grow up to be noble men and women and when he gave up this life he laid it down in exchange for a better one in the great beyond."

Mr. and Mrs. Poage became the parents of ten children, eight of whom are living in 1911. Judge William Poage, who died a few years ago, was at the time of his demise serv- ing his second term of judge of the Boyd county courts, having been elected on the Re- publican ticket by an overwhelming majority in a county then Democratic; Nannie Rebecca died at the age of six months; Minnie is the wife of J. H. Eba and resides at Ashland; Margaret Annie is doing newspaper work, be- ing connected with the leading dailies as ad- vertisement writer for the past ten years ; Thomas Hoge is a druggist in the city of Chi-

cago, Illinois; James H. is an attorney in the same city; Virginia is the wife of F. R. Hen- derson, a wholesale grocer at Ashland; Kath- erine is the wife of E. H. Townsend, of Cler- mont county, Ohio; Louise is a popular and successful teacher in the public schools of Boyd county, Kentucky ; and Robert H. main- tains his home at Los Angeles, California.

SAMUEL J. BOLDRICK .- Nearly twenty years have passed since Samuel James Boldrick be- came identified with the interests of Louis- ville, Kentucky, and during all this period he has been recognized as one of its leading law practitioners. Time has but brightened his reputation in professional circles and among the leading men of the city has given him a prestige that is indeed enviable. He stands to-day prominent among the leading members of the bar of the state, a position to which he has attained through marked ability.

Judge Boldrick was born in Marion county, Kentucky, January 9, 1870, the son of George D. and Caroline Elizabeth (Spalding) Bold- rick, the former born in Boyle county and the latter a native of Marion county, Kentucky, On the paternal side the Irish ancestry is pre- eminent, the paternal grandfather, who was James Boldrick, being a native of Donegal,. Ireland, from whence he came to America in 1817. He first settled in Canada, but only stayed there a short time, coming to Kentucky and settling in Boyle county. Here he married Miss Mary Doneghy, who was a country- woman of his, being also a native of Donegal, Ireland. The maternal grandfather was Sam- uel Spalding, who was born in Rolling Fork, Marion county (then Washington county ), in 1812, of Maryland stock, the son of Joseph Spalding, who came to Kentucky from Mary- land in 1790. He was the son of Benedict, of Maryland, the father and son coming to Ken- tucky together. The progenitor of this family. came over to America with Lord Baltimore. Samuel Spalding, the grandfather of our sub- ject, married Isabella Lancaster, of Taylors- ville, Kentucky, the daughter of Ralph Lan- caster, who was the son of John Lancaster an historical character who was captured by the Indians. Ralph Lancaster was the first county clerk of Spencer county Kentucky, and Sam- uel Spalding, his son-in-law, was the first county clerk of Marion county, Kentucky. George D. Boldrick, the father of our subject, served in the Union army under General George H. Thomas, being at the head of the commissary department under General Thomas. After the war he engaged in the drug business, first in Louisville and later in I.ebanon, where he carried on the drug busi- ness and also was interested in the distilling

Inthing Middelton

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business at that place. He died in 1904, aged sixty-three years. The mother died in 1875, at the age of twenty-five years; both she and her husband were members of the Catholic church.

Judge Boldrick was reared in Marion county, Kentucky, and his literary education was acquired at St. Mary's College and supple- mented with a course at Georgetown Univer- sity, D. C. Having determined to study law with the purpose of making it a life business, he matriculated in the law department of Georgetown University, from which he grad- uated with the class of 1892, and was admitted to the bar in Marion county, Kentucky, in 1893. Having received his professional equip- ment Judge Boldrick in the winter of 1892-3 located in Louisville and entered the practice of law. In 1904 he formed a partnership with Herman Gocke, under the firm name of Bold- rick & Gocke. In November, 1909, he was elected judge of the city court of Louisville for a term of four years.

The Judge is a member of the Louisville Bar Association and a member of the Knights of Columbus. In 1900 he married Miss Mary E. Shelton, of Louisville, the daughter of the late Lucius Shelton. To this union the follow- ing children have been born: Mary Philips and Caroline Elizabeth. Judge Boldrick and family are members of St. Louis Bertrand church. His practice is of general character. The zeal with which he has devoted his gen- eral energies to his profession, the careful re- gard evinced for the interest of his clients and an assiduous and unrelaxing attention to all the details of his cases have brought him a large business and.made him successful in its con- duct. His ability is acknowledged and the generous commendation he has received from his contemporaries unite in bearing testimony as to his high character.

MRS. BETTIE ( MIDDLETON ) RICE .- A life- long resident of Shelby county and one of its most estimable and highly respected women, Mrs. Bettie Rice was born on the farm where she now lives November 7. 1847, it being the homestead where her father, the late Anthony Middleton, spent his entire life, his birth oc- curring March 27, 1808, and his death August 16. 1879. Her paternal grandfather, Adam Middleton, was born August 2, 1770, in Vir- ginia, and died July 20, 1834, in Shelby county, Kentucky. Brought up and educated in his native state, he there married, July 27, 1794. Mary Fulton, who was born February 20, 1775. In 1800 he came with his family to Shelby county, Kentucky, and located five miles west of Shelbyville, on the state pike, which was then a rough dirt road. He was a

blacksmith by trade, and followed that occu- pation principally through his active career. He erected a tavern, which in those early days became famous for its hospitality and very popular with the travelers through the coun- try. He made the two keys, which are crossed, and by which the hostelry was subsequently known, and the farm, now owned chiefly by his grandsons, William R. Middleton and Wal- lace B. Middleton, is called the "Cross Keys Stock Farm."

Anthony Middleton was born and raised on the Cross Keys farm, but owned and lived on his farm, which joins the Cross Keys. He carried on general farming during his entire life. He married Madeline Mason, who was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, August 6, 1816, and died August 22, 1870. Her father, Peter Mason, a Virginian by birth and breed- ing, came to Shelby county at an early day, and was here engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, in 1848, at an advanced age. Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Middleton reared four children, namely: Adam M., born December 21, 1836, served under General John H. Mor- gan in the Confederate army, was taken pris- oner, and died at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois, August 28, 1864; Georgia, born Sep- tember 2, 1838, married Robert Tribble, and died June 22, 1866; William P., born January 16, 1842, died October 5, 1849; and Bettie, now Mrs. Rice.

Mrs. Bettie ( Middleton) Rice, the sole sur- viving member of her father's family, was brought up on the farm which she now occu- pies, and is the owner of three hundred and twenty-five acres of rich farming land. She married, in Louisville, Kentucky, November 9, 1866, Captain James H. Rice. Mr. Rice was born May 23, 1838, in Tennessee. Enlisting as a soldier at the breaking out of the Civil war, he was made captain of a company and served in the Confederate army until the close of the conflict. Five children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Rice, namely : Madeline S., born August 6, 1871, is the wife of Edmund A. Neff; Georgia B., born November 12, 1873, married J. B. Wakefield; Masson, born No- vember 21, 1876, is the wife of B. B. Cozene ; Pearl M., born November 1, 1878, died May 26, 1899 ; and Jimmie L., born March 26, 1880, is the wife of Louis C. Smith. Mrs. Rice is held in high esteem throughout the community, and is a valued member of the Christian church.

B. B. COZINE .- The editor of a good, clean- cut, local newspaper if he be earnest and sin- cere in his efforts to advance the general wel- fare can wield a marvelous influence in public affairs and through the medium of his paper

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can accomplish wondrous and far-reaching re- stilts. As editor and publisher of the Shelby Vers B. B. Cozine is just such a man of prom- inence and influence in Shelby county, Ken- tucky. He maintains his home and business headquarters at Shelbyville and there com- mands the high regard of his fellow men.

The News was established in the year 1886 by John P. Cozine, who conducted it until his death, which occurred in January, 1897. John P. Cozine, father of him to whom this sketch is dedicated, was born in Mercer county, Ken- tucky, on the 3d of May, 1843, and he was a son of Harry and Mary (Snyder) Cozine, the former of whom was a native of Virginia. whence he came to Kentucky about 1820. Set- tlement was first made in Shelby county and later he removed to Mercer county. In the Civil war John P. Cozine was a valiant and faithful soldier as a member of Company I, First Indiana Heavy Artillery. After the close of the war he established a paper at Salem, Indiana, and subsequently he was similarly en- gaged in Leavenworth, Indiana. He also re- sided for a time at Cloverport, Kentucky, whence he went to Louisville and later to Shel- byville, locating in the latter place in the year 1873. As previously noted, he founded the News in 1886 and continued its able and popular editor and publisher until the time of his demise, in 1897, at which time his son, B. B., took up the reins and has since managed the publication. John P. Cozine was married, on the 25th of December, 1869, to Nannie C. Bell, of Leavenworth, Indiana. She survives her honored husband and now maintains her home in the city of Louisville, Kentucky. John P. Cozine was prominent in public affairs in Shelby county and was affiliated with vari- ous representative social and fraternal organi- zations.

Mr. Cozine of this review was born in Shel- byville, Shelby county, Kentucky, on the 21st of June, 1877, and he was educated in the pub- lic schools of this place. He early became as- sociated with his father in the newspaper busi- ness and thus familiarized himself with the de- tails connected with the publication of an up- to-date paper. In 1909 he erected a new build- ing, in which is located his modern, well- equipped printing plant. To quote others : "The Shelby News is a clean-cut, eight-page, six-column, home-made newspaper." Politi- cally Mr. Cozine endorses the cause of the Democratic party and he is an active worker in the local councils of the same. He is a man of broad mind, splendid business ability and public-spirited loyalty, all of which qualities go far in making up a typical American man.

He is a member of the Masonic, Knights of Pythias and Odd Fellows lodges.

On the 23d of May, 1901, was recorded the marriage of Mr. Cozine to Miss Mason Rice, who was born and reared in Shelby county and who is a daughter of Captain James H. Rice. She is a granddaughter of Anthony Middle- town, a pioneer of Shelby county, whither he came with six brothers in an early day. Mr. and Mrs. Cozine have no children. They are prominent and popular factors in the best so- cial activities of Shelbyville and their spacious and attractive home is the center of most gra- cious hospitality.

JOHN T. BALLARD .- The name of Ballard has for years been one well and favorably known in Kentucky and it is borne with great honor at the present time by John T. Bal- lard, a lawyer by training, but since 1870, en- gaged in the real estate business. He is a life-long Republican, active in party affairs and identified with public life almost since boyhood, when he served as deputy county clerk in Oldham county. Both the Ballards and his mother's family, the Raileys, have re- sided in Kentucky since the early days of its statehood and their loyalty to its interests and its traditions is unimpeachable.

John T. Ballard, of Shelbyville, was born in Oldham county, Kentucky, January 6, 1834, a son of Camden M. and Lavina H. (Railey) Ballard. The father was a Virginian, born near Fredericksburg of the Old Dominion, the son of one James Ballard, a Revolution- ary soldier and also a participant in the war of 1812. The mother was born in Oldham county and was the daughter of Joseph and Nancy (Mayo) Railey, her stock being one which provided to the state numerous good citizens. Her cousin, Joseph Mayo, was mayor of Richmond, Virginia, and built the bridge over the James river at Manchester, Virginia. He did this independently when disappointed and disgusted with a legislature which wouldn't appropriate funds for what he considered a crying need. Joseph Railey came to Kentucky about 1796 and lived the rest of his life in Oldham county, where his days ended. Camden M. Ballard, father of our subject, came to Kentucky about 1800. He was a leader among the men of his day; invested largely in real estate; and was active in politics in Oldham county where he located. He was state senator from Oldham, Henry and Trimble counties for eighteen or twenty years. He died February 3, 1853. when in the prime of his activities, his age being fifty- three. He left behind him a good record as a statesman and a citizen, and he left to his sons

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a legacy of inherited energy and public-spirit. His widow survived him until 1878, the de- mise of this worthy lady occurring in Old- ham county. They had four children to reach maturity, all of them sons. The eldest son, Joseplı J., went west to Texas, where he was killed shortly before the breaking out of the Civil war. He was Union in sentiment and it was as a result of his too-freely uttered con- victions that he met his death. J. T. was the second in order of birth. A. C. resides in La- Grange, Kentucky, where he is retired. Quite well-to-do, he has been a gentleman of leisure and has been interested actively in politics. William J., the youngest son, makes his home at Decatur, Illinois. He is a veteran of the Civil war, having served throughout the strug- gle as a member of the Fifteenth Kentucky Regiment, the youngest man in his company.

John T. Ballard passed his boyhood and early youth in Oldham county and at a very early age assumed the office of deputy county clerk, subsequently serving in the same ca- pacity in Trimble county, until 1850. In Sep- tember of that year he came to Shelbyville to practice law, for which profession he had prepared under Mr. John Rodman, of La- Grange, who afterward moved to Frankfort, Kentucky and became attorney general of this state. In 1857 Mr. Ballard was made deputy sheriff under John Robinson, sheriff, and in the following year was elected to the county clerkship,-unmistakable commentary upon the high standing the young fellow enjoyed in the community. In the latter office he served faithfully and well for twelve years, or for three terms of four years, which included the troublous Civil war period. From the begin- ning Mr. Ballard strongly advocated the Union cause and he was a member of the Home Guards, whom he assisted to form into companies. The principal function of the guards was to watch over the town at night. In 1870 Mr. Ballard embarked in the real es- tate business, in which he has a general agency. He has contributed in no small meas- ure to the growth and upbuilding of the town and he laid out the Ballard addition to Shelby- ville in 1882. In addition to his other inter- ests he has also managed farms at various times. Nationally Mr. Ballard has always been a Republican and all his life he has been an important factor in the political affairs of the communities in which he has resided. In local matters he can always be depended upon to give his support to any measure which in his opinion will be for the general good. In 1888 he attended as an alternate the national convention in Chicago which nominated Har- rison for the presidency. He is very promi-

nent and popular in lodge circles, being past worshipful master, representative of the Blue Lodge, and for six years high priest of the Shelbyville Royal Arch Chapter, No. 5. It is his distinction to have been a member of the time-honored order for fifty years or more.

Mr. Ballard was married September 7, 1854, to Miss Effie Winlock, daughter of Judge Fielding Winlock and niece of Dr. Rob- ert B. Winlock. The family is one of no small note in Kentucky. Judge Fielding Win- lock was a son of General Joseph and Effie Winlock, the former a major general in the Revolutionary war and aide-de-camp to Washington. He came from his native state, Virginia, to Kentucky about the year 1790 and was one of the committee to lay out Shelbyville. His old home on Bullskin Creek is about six miles southwest of Shelbyville and there he died in old age. His son, Mrs. Ballard's father, combined the callings of a lawyer and merchant and was assistant sec- retary of state under Governor Clark. He was also police judge for years and passed an active and useful life. He died about 1874, at the age of eighty-seven years. His wife, Nancy Peyton, was a sister of Hon. Samuel Peyton, member of Congress from the district including Ohio county. She preceded him to the other life by a great many years, her de- mise occurring in July, 1850. Mrs. Ballard's uncle, Dr. Robert Beall Winlock, was a well- known physician, but later in life devoted his energies to agriculture, locating on the old P. S. Loughboro estate, where he died sub- sequent to the death of the Judge. He mar- ried a Miss Adams.

The children of Mr. John T. Ballard are five in number. Camden Winlock resides at Shelbyville, where he is engaged in the real estate and insurance business; Nancy Peyton is unmarried; Lavinia H. married George Robert Blakemore and resides in Oldham county ; Fielding Montague is identified witlı the First National Bank, of Cincinnati, mak- ing his residence at Covington, Kentucky ; Florence E. is unmarried and resides at home.

Mr. Ballard is a great lover of outdoor sports and is a particularly fine wing shot. The Ballard home is widely known for its hospitality and attractiveness.

SAMUEL HOLMES .- Noteworthy among the influential members of the Kentucky bar is Samuel Holmes, of Carlisle, who has gained high distinction in his profession, his versa- tility of talent, exactness, and thoroughness commanding success. A son of the late Luther C. Holmes, lie was born in Robertson county, Kentucky, May 21, 1861, and there spent his early life.

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A native of Allegany county, New York, Luther C. Holmes grew to manhood in the Empire state, acquiring his rudimentary edu- cation in the common schools. Attaining his majority, he began the study of medicine in Cincinnati, Ohio, obtaining the money to de- fray his expenses by teaching school a part of each year in Harrison county, Kentucky. After receiving his degree of M. D., in 1854, he began the practice of his profession in that county, his initial experience in the field of medicine proving successful. Locating then at Mount Olivet, Robertson county, Ken- tucky, he was there numbered among the lead- ing physicians of the city until his death in July, 1894, at the age of sixty-four years, his birth year having been 1830. A man of dis- tinctive energy and ability, he was identified with other lines of business, having for a num- ber of years operated a farm, dealt in tobacco, and likewise in general merchandise, being act- ive and prominent in both professional and in- dustrial circles. During the Civil war the doctor, on account of his Northern birth, was looked upon by the Kentuckians as a Union man, and at times had quite a little trouble. At his former home in New York state, however, which he visited during the war, he was thought to be a Southern sympathizer, and would have been arrested as a spy had not a friend vouched for his loyalty to the Union. After the war was well over one of his good Kentucky friends told Dr. Holmes how very near he came to losing his life during that con- flict. Starting out from Mount Olivet one day to make some professional calls, he was seen to pass the home of this friend, who im- mediately took his rifle in his hand and awaited in a fence corner his return. Dr. Holmes re- turned by another route, and this friend in telling of the occurrence said that he had noth- ing personal against the Doctor, but he sus- pected him of being in sympathy with the North.

Dr. Holmes married Mary M. Throck- morton, who was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, in 1840, came to Kentucky with her parents at the age of twelve years, and is now residing at Mount Olivet, Kentucky. Three children were born of their union, John W., of Mount Olivet; Samuel, the subject of this sketch; and a child that died in infancy. The Doctor was a Republican in politics, and a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

Having completed the course of study in the Mount Olivet public schools, Samuel Holmes attended the Lebanon, Ohio, Normal School, after which he was for two years a student at the State University in Lexington, Kentucky.

In 1887 he was graduated from the Cincin- nati Law School, and the ensuing three years was engaged in the practice of law at Mount Olivet. Locating in Maysville, Kentucky, in 1890, he remained there a year, and then re- sumed his practice at Mount Olivet, remaining there a resident ten years. Coming to Car- lisle, Nicholas county, in 1901, Mr. Holmes was here engaged in law practice alone for four years, when, in 1905, he formed a partner- ship with Mr. Ross and became. senior mem- ber of the present well-known and prosperous law firm of Holmes & Ross. He is largely in- terested in the Carlisle Electric Light and Power Company, of which he is vice president and one of the directorate. He has always taken an active interest in public affairs, and while living at Mount Olivet was for two terms superintendent of the Robertson county schools. Since coming to Carlisle he has served for two and one-half years as special judge, a position to which he was appointed by the Governor, his jurisdiction while in the office extending all over the state.

On February 25, 1884, Mr. Holmes was united in marriage with Sudie E. Pollitt, who was born May 15, 1865, in Mason county, Ken- tucky, which was likewise the birthplace of her parents, R. H. and Annie (Howard) Pol- litt. Her mother passed to the higher life in July, 1892, and her father resides in Mays- ville, Kentucky. They reared seven children, of whom six are living, namely: Clarence C., of Erie, Pennsylvania; James H., of Mays- ville; R. C., of Pikesville, Tennessee; Mrs. Holmes; Margaret, wife of E. L. White, of Maysville; and Beatrice, wife of T. M. Rus- sell, also of Maysville, Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Holmes have no children of their own, but have brought up since she was two years of age the daughter of Mrs. Holmes' brother, Elizabeth Johnson Pollitt.

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A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 55

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