A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 72

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 72

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THOMAS A. COMBS .- Among the represen- tative citizens of Lexington is Hon. Thomas A. Combs, president of the Combs Lumber Company, former mayor of Lexington and a member of the state senate. He is known as a progressive business man and loyal and public- spirited citizen and has ever maintained secure vantage ground in popular confidence and es-

teem. Mr. Combs was born on a farm near Jackson, Breathitt county, Kentucky, on the 25th of February, 1868, and is a son of Alfred and Esther (Horton) Combs, of whom spe- cial mention is made on other pages of this work.

Thomas A. Combs is indebted to the public schools of Menifee county for his early educa- tional discipline, his parents having removed to that county in 1874, at which time he was about six years of age. When he had attained to the age of fifteen years Mr. Combs assumed a po- sition as clerk in his father's general store at Cornwell, that county, and in 1889 he re- moved to Powell county, where he established a country store and where he also owned and operated a sawmill and engaged in the lumber business. In 1893 he disposed of his interests in Powell county and removed to Lexington, where he became associated with his father and brothers in the organization of the Combs Lumber Company, which was incorporated in 1895 and of which he has been president from the time when the enterprise was established under this title. Later the Combs Lumber Company absorbed, by purchase, the Cruzan Lumber Company, the Spottswood Lumber Company and the Lexington Lumber Com- pany, with the result that the present corpora- tion is the largest lumber concern in Kentucky, outside the city of Louisville. Its business rep- resents one of the largest and most important industries in Lexington and the company con- trols a general lumber and contracting busi- ness, in which connection its operations are of wide scope and importance, the while the en- terprise contributes largely in the material and civic prosperity of the city in which it is es- tablished.

It has been given Mr. Combs to wield a large and beneficient influence in connection with public affairs in his home city and state and his broad-minded and liberal attitude as a citizen has made him a valuable factor in local affairs. His ability and personal popularity have brought about his election to various offices of trust, including that of member of the city council, of which he was incumbent for several years, as was he also of that of member of the board of alderman. In January, 1903, he was made the Democratic nominee for the office of mayor of Lexington and in the fol- lowing November he was elected to this po- sition without opposition, the mere fact that the Republican contingent failed to make a nomination for the office giving unmistakable evidence of the high regard in which he is held in the community. Mr. Combs gave a most admirable and progressive administra- tion of the affairs of the municipal government

Thomston Moore

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and continued incumbent of the office of mayor until 1907, when he resigned, after having been nominated by his party, without opposi- tion, for representative of the 27th district in the state senate. That year a United States senator was to be elected from Kentucky and thus in the campaign Mr. Combs found strong opposing forces against which to com- bat, the Republican party having made a care- ful canvass and campaign, but he was elected by a safe majority and has since served as a valued and zealous member of the state sen- ate. His term of office will expire in Janu- ary, 1912. He has been assigned to important committees in the upper house of the state legislature and has been indefatigable in his efforts to prosecute wise legislation and to fur- ther the interests of the district which he rep- resents. The senator is a member of the board of directors of the Fayette National Bank at Lexington, is identified with the Lexington Club and the Country Club, and in the Masonic fraternity he has attained to the chivalric de- grees, being affiliated with Lexington Com- mandery, Knights Templars and also holding membership in Oleika Temple, of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Lexington. He likewise is a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent & Pro- tective Order of Elks and the Knights of the Maccabees. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and the family is prominent in connection with the best social activities of Lexington.

In the year 1889 was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Combs to Miss Viola Downs, who was born and reared in Menifee county, this state, and who is a daughter of George W. and Mary Downs. Senator and Mrs. Combs became the parents of two children,-Iva Maye, who is now the wife of Thomas New- ton Duff, of Montgomery county, this state; and Ethel Ruth, who died in 1898, at the age of six years.

THORNTON MOORE .- A native-born citizen of Fayette county, the late Thornton Moore was a fine representative of the self-made men of his time, his death on Jan. 28, 1891, at the age of four score and four years, removing from the community one of its most venerated and respected men. He began life for himself with no other assets than willing hands, a courageous heart and an unlimited stock of energy and perseverance, but through his untiring industry and able management he succeeded well in his undertakings, acquiring a fair competency.

Butler . Moore, his father, was born and bred in Virginia, and as a young man fol-

lowed the emigrant trail to Kentucky. Set- tling in Fayette county, he bought land on the Harrodsburg pike, and there spent the remainder of his life as a farmer. His first wife, the mother of the subject of this sketch, was Courtney Webster before marriage. She died in early life, leaving three sons and two daughters. He married for his second wife Mrs. Lewis, a widow, with two sons, and by that marriage two sons were born and reared.

Thornton Moore was brought up and edu- cated in Fayette county, and began life for himself as a farmer. Giving, with character- istic generosity, his entire inheritance to a sister, he commenced his career even with the world. Accumulating a small sum, he bought land on the Bryan Station pike, and after living there a few years sold at an advantage and located near Bethel Church. He there purchased from Mr. Patterson, the original owner, a tract of land and engaged in general farming and the raising of fine cattle, horses and sheep. Meeting with suc- cess from the start, he bought other land from time to time, as his means allowed, becoming owner of upwards of five hundred acres of the richest and most productive land to be found in the Blue Grass region. Here he continued his agricultural operations until his death, being numbered among the leading farmers of the county.

Mr. Moore married first Elizabeth Hurst, who died in early life, leaving no children. He married for his second wife Mrs. Mary E. (Hurst) Ward, who was born near Pal- myra, Missouri, a daughter of John B. Hurst. Her grandfather, John Hurst, who was born in Virginia in 1770, migrated to Kentucky in his youth, locating in Scott county. The land was then in its primitive condition throughout the state, its dense growth of tim- ber being inhabited by wild beasts of all kinds, while the wily red man was so troublesome that the early pioneer had always to be on the alert, the men even being forced to carry their rifles into the corn fields. On the farm which he redeemed from the forest he spent his remaining days, passing away in March, 1840. In 1791 he married Polly Beeler, who was born in Virginia and died in 1845, aged seventy-eight years. Ten children blessed their union.

John B. Hurst, Mrs. Moore's father, was born in Scott county, Kentucky, and was there reared and educated. A few years af- ter his marriage he moved to Missouri with his family, and having bought land in Marion county engaged in farming and continued a resident of that state until his death, Novem- ber 26, 1869. He married, in 1838, Hester

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WV. Bryan, who was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, a daughter of Samuel and Eliza- beth (Higby) Bryan, and a lineal descendant of William and Mary (Boone) Bryan. She died in 1848, at the early age of twenty-seven years, leaving four children, as follows: Al- bert; Mary E., now Mrs. Moore; Ellen, and Bryan.

When in her fourteenth year Mary E. Hurst went to California, and while living in Plumas county met and married Trowbridge Ward, who was born in Vergennes, Vermont, a son of William T. and Harriet (Sherrell) Ward. Ambitious as a youth to try the haz- ard of new fortunes, William Trowbridge Ward migrated from the Green Mountain state to Wisconsin, but not satisfied there pro- ceeded westward to the gold fields of the Pa- cific coast. After spending a short time in the Sacramento valley, he went to Plumas county, where he resided for quite a while. Subsequently going on a prospecting tour to Washington territory, he died while there. Mrs. Ward returned east and settled in Kell- tucky, and subsequently became the wife of Thornton Moore. By her first marriage Mrs. Moore had five children, namely : Frances E., William T., Ella F., John S. and Nora. Frances E., now the wife of William Hamil- ton, has six children : Annie, Frances E .. Rob- ert, Mary and Nora and Ella, twins. William T. married Miss Goode, of Lincoln county. Ella, who married John E. Phelps, died, leav- ing two children, Elizabeth and Ella. John S. married a Miss Eck, of Latonia, and they have one daughter, Elizabeth. Nora is the wife of Victor Dodge. By her second mar- riage Mrs. Moore has two children, Court- ney and Thornton. Courtney Moore married Foster Helm, and has two children, Foster and Elizabeth Thornton. Thornton, who mar- ried Miss Finley, operates the home farm, which he is ably managing. Mrs. Moore is a member of Bryan Station Chapter, D. A. R., and belongs to the Second Presbyterian church, of which Mr. Moore was also a member.

TIMOTHY A. FIELD .- Colonel Field, who is now serving on the military staff of Hon. Au- gustus E. Willson, governor of Kentucky, and who is also United States collector of internal revenue for the Seventh district of Kentucky, with headquarters at Lexington, has main- tained his home in this state for a quarter of a century and he has been prominent in con- nection with industrial enterprises and public affairs, the while he has gained a secure place in the confidence and esteem of the people of this favored commonwealth. Colonel Timothy A. Field was born in the city of Charleston,

West Virginia, on the 30th of July, 1863, and is a son of James L. and Mary M. (Hicks) Field, the former of whom was born near Lynchburg, Virginia, and the latter in West Virginia. James L. Field was a son of John A. Field, who was born in Virginia, as was also George L. Hicks, maternal grandfather of Colonel Field. He whose name initiates this review was afforded the advantages of the public schools of his native state and also re- ceived higher academic training. As a young man he came to Kentucky and located at Soldier, Carter county, in June, 1884. There he initiated his business career by engaging in the handling of timber, this being in the early days of the operation of the line of the ·Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad between Lex- ington and Ashland. He became a member of the firm of Crump & Field, which continued successful operations in connection with the lumbering industry until 1888, when the in- terests of the concern at Soldier were sold and the two interested principals then became as- sociated in the wholesale grocery business at Ashland, this state. The firm of Crump & Field there built up one of the largest and most substantial wholesale grocery houses to be found in the state outside of its largest cities .. Colonel Field was also for a number of years one of the interested principals in a hard- wood lumber company at Ashland and the headquarters of this concern were eventually removed to Cincinnati, Ohio.

Colonel Field has been a most enthusiastic and effective worker in behalf of the cause of the Republican party for a number of years past and he is recognized as one of the party leaders in this section of the state. In 1908 he was manager of the interests of the Fair- banks campaign in Ashland and Boyd coun- ties and he resigned the position of chairman of the Boyd county Republican committee to assume his present office of collector of in- ternal revenue for the Seventh Kentucky dis- trict, an office of whose duties he has been incumbent since September 1, 1910. He is serving on the staff of Governor Willson with the rank of colonel and he is also a prominent and appreciative member of the Masonic fra- ternity in Kentucky. He is past master of Poage Lodge, No. 325, Free & Accepted Ma- sons, at Ashland; is past high priest of Ap- person Chapter, No. 81, Royal Arch Masons, in the same city; and is past eminent com- mander of Ashland Commandery, .No. 28, Knights Templars; besides which he has the distinction of being past potentate of El Hasa Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

In the year 1885 was solemnized the mar-

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riage of Colonel Field to Miss Hattie Crump, daughter of his business partner, Thomas J. Crump. The two children of this union are,- J. Thomas, who is now a student in Prince- ton University, at Princeton, New Jersey ; and Dorothy, who is a student in Hamilton College, at Lexington, Kentucky.

GEORGE SEA SHANKLIN, of Lexington, whose name stands high on the roll of Ken- tucky's eminent lawyers, during a quarter of a century's connection with the bar of the state has won and maintained a reputation for ability that has given him pre-eminence among his professional confreres. In the law as in every other walk of life success is largely the outcome of resolute purpose and unfalter- ing industry,-qualities which have in a large degree gained to Mr. Shanklin precedence as one of Kentucky's leading attorneys.

Mr. Shanklin was born in Jessamine county, Kentucky, on the 14th of August, 1860, and is a son of the late Hon. George Sea Shanklin, who was descended from one of the old and honored families of Virginia, where his grand- father located in 1745. The father was like- wise born in Jessamine county and the date of his birth was December 23, 1807. He was a son of Robert Shanklin, who was a native of Virginia, where he was born on the South Branch of the Potomac river, in what is now West Virginia, in 1754. James Shanklin, the father of Robert and great-grandfather of him whose name initiates this review, was born in Londonderry Ireland, of Scotch-Irish extrac- tion, and he emigrated to America about the year 1745, settling in Virgina, where he became . one of the pioneer surveyors of Fincastle county. Robert Shanklin and his brother John were gallant soldiers in the Continental line in the war of the Revolution and in return for their services they were given land grants in what is now Kentucky. Robert married Mary M. Sea and together they made the arduous journey down the Ohio river to Kentucky as early as 1784. Robert's patent called for land on Bear Grass Creek, a region which is now within the city limits of Louisville, while his brother John's land was located in Jessamine county ; subsequently the brothers exchanged estates, Robert removing to Jessamine county, where his death occurred in the year 1818. George Sea Shanklin, Sr., received his educa- tion in his native county, principally in a pri- vate school conducted by Professor O'Brien, at Nicholasville. This discipline he supple- mented by reading law in the office of William Clark, in the above city, and after his admis- sion to the bar of the state he initiated the practice of his profession at Nicholasville. About 1854 he was appointed comonwealth at-

torney by the governor of Kentucky and dur- ing the Civil war he represented Jessamine county in the "War" legislature, being a Union Democrat. On the McClellan ticket he was made a presidential elector, having previously served as a delegate to the National conven- tion at Philadelphia, and he was elected to Congress for one term, serving from 1865 to 1867. For years he was deeply interested in the internal improvements of Kentucky and he was the prime mover in the project to improve navigation on the Kentucky river by means of lock and dam, through county subscriptions. After leaving Congress he retired to his farm in his native county, where his death occurred on the Ist of April, 1883. Concerning him the following appreciative statements have been made: "He was an active factor in the poli- tics of the state, and his record shows that he was a man of broad mental grasp, who had a comprehensive understanding of the leading questions that divide parties. His legislative work was carefully considered, and, in con- sequence, was efficient ; and at the bar and in the councils of the state and nation he was highly regarded and had the respect of all with whom he came in contact." George Sea Shanklin Sr. was thrice married, his first union being with Miss Martha West, a daughter of Elliott West, of Jessamine county. After her death he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Shelby, in 1854, she being a grand- daughter of Governor Isaac Shelby, the first governor of the Bluegrass common- wealth. On the 30th of September, 1859, he wedded Mrs. Mary (Price) Taylor, a daughter of Daniel B. Price, a native Ken- tuckian who for forty years held the office of circuit and county clerk of Jessamine county. No children were born to the first two unions but to the last marriage were born four child- ren, namely,-George Sea Shanklin, of this sketch ; Elliott West, now deceased; Mattie P. and Mary E., who are residents of the city of Chicago, Illinois.

Mrs. Mary (Price) Shanklin is still living and has attained to the venerable age of eiglity years. Her maternal grandfather was Colonel Joseph Crockett, who served in the Revolu- tionary war and who was an early and influ- ential pioneer of the Bluegrass state. A fairly complete history of this soldier and pioneer is given in a foot-note by Thomas M. Green in his "Spanish Conspiracy."

George Sea Shanklin, the immediate subject of this sketch, received his preliminary edu- cational training in the public schools of Jes- samine county and at Bethel Academy, in Nicholasville. In 1879 he entered the Univer- sity of Kentucky, at Lexington, and in 1880

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he was matriculated in the University of Vir- ginia in the Academic Department and in 1884 in the law department of which celebrated institution he was a member of the class of 1885. In September of the same year he was admitted to the bar of Kentucky and he imme- diately began practice in the city of Lexington. He soon built up a large and representative patronage and gained precedence as one of the leading attorneys in the state. He has figured prominently in much important litigation in the state and federal courts and is well upholding the prestige of the old and honored name which he bears. Aside from the work of his profes- sion Mr. Shanklin is president of the Fayette Home Telephone Company of Lexington, which enterprise he took charge of in 1903, at which time its financial affairs were at a low ebb and its very existence threatened. Under his admirable management the company has be- come one of the successful telephone proper- ties in the state. In politics he accords a stanch allegiance to the cause of the Demo- cratic party and though he has no desire for the honors or emoluments of political office he has given his aid in support of all move- ments projected for the good of the commun- ity. He is affiliated with various fraternal and social organizations of representative character and both he and his wife hold mem- bership in the Presbyterian church.

In the year 1886 was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Shanklin to Miss Lily Shelby, a daughter of Edmund P. Shelby, of Fayette county, Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Shanklin are the parents of the following three children : Shelby Shanklin, mechanical engineer ; George Sea Shanklin Jr., civil engineer; and Arthur Shanklin.

D. GRAY FALCONER .- Associated with his honored father in the practice of law in the city of Lexington, as junior member of the firm of Falconer & Falconer, he whose name initiates this paragraph, merits recognition as one of the representative members of the bar of Fayette county, even as he is one of the well known and popular citizens of his native city. He was born at Lexington on the 20th of October, 1869, and is a son of David Gray Falconer and Martha S. (Thornton) Falconer.

David Gray Falconer, Sr., one of Lexing- ton's most successful and honored lawyers, was born in Scotland on the 14th of Decem- ber, 1837, and is a son of Richard and Joan (Craig) Falconer, both of whom continued to reside in the land of hills and heather until their death. David Gray Falconer gained in the parochial and other schools of his native land his early educational training, which was of liberal order, and in 1856 he came to Amer-

ica. He landed in the port of New York City and he continued to maintain his residence in the national metropolis for a period of five years. In 1861, shortly after the inception of the Civil war, he showed his intrinsic loyalty to the land of his adoption by tendering his services in defense of the Union. He enlisted in the Seventy-ninth New York Infantry, in which he was commissioned second lieutenant of Company B. He proceeded with his regi- ment to the front and continued with the same in active service until September 17, 1863, when he was transferred to the veteran reserve corps, with which he continued to be identified until after the close of the war, having been mustered out on the 20th of July, 1866, and having duly received his honorable discharge at Lexington, Kentucky. He was severely wounded and lost a limb at the Battle of Antie- tam. He has in the later years manifested his continued interest in his old comrades by his membership in the 79th Veteran Association. Mr. Falconer had become sufficiently im- pressed with the attractions of Lexington to determine to here establish his permanent home and he also had the good judgment to begin the work of preparing himself for the profession in which he has achieved so much success. He began reading law under ade- quate preceptorship and finally entered the law department of the Kentucky University, in Lexington, in which he was graduated in February, 1868, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. In the same month he was duly ad- mitted to the bar of the state and he has since continued to be actively engaged in the work of his profession at Lexington, where he has long held prestige as an able trial lawyer and well fortified counselor. During nearly half a century of active work in his profession he has been identified with many important liti- gations in both the state and federal courts and he may now be considered dean of his profession in the city that has so long repre- sented his home. His son, D. Gray Falconer, has been associated with him in practice since 1890. David Gray Falconer, Sr., is a staunch supporter of the principles and policies of the Republican party and both he and his wife are zealous communicants of the Catholic church. In March, 1863, was solemnized his marriage to Miss Martha S. Thornton, who was born and reared in Scotland and who was about twelve or fourteen years of age at the time of the family removal to the United States. She is a daughter of Thomas Thorn- ton, who passed the closing years of his life in Scotland. David G. and Martha S. (Thornton) Falconer became the parents of five children, of whom two sons and one 1

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daughter are now living and two died in in- 1851, and was a son of George and Mary J. fancy.

D. Gray Falconer, who figures as the im- mediate subject of this review, is indebted to the Catholic parochial schools of Lexington for his early educational discipline, which was supplemented by a course in St. Mary's Col- lege, in Marion county, Kentucky. In prep- aration for the work of his chosen profession he was matriculated in the Cincinnati Law College, in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1890, and from which he received his well earned degree of Bachelor of Laws. In the same year he was duly admitted to the bar of his native state and he has since been as- sociated with his father in practice, proving a valuable coadjutor to the Senior member of the firm and having himself established a se- cure vantage ground as a well trained and ver- satile advocate and counselor. He served for a time as judge of the municipal court of Lex- ington and in the campaign of 1909 he was the nominee on the Fusion ticket for the office of county attorney. A spirited campaign fol- lowed and the Fusion ticket was successful at the polls, Mr. Falconer being elected by a most gratifying majority. As public prose- cutor of his native county he has given a most effective administration and added new laurels to his professional reputation. Like his father he is an uncompromising advocate of the cause of the Republican party and he has been a zealous and effective worker in behalf of its cause. He is a communicant of the Cath- olic church and he is identified with various social organizations of representative order.

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A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 72

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