A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 73

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 73

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Mr. Falconer was united in marriage to Miss Louise Goodloe, who was born and reared in Lexington and who is a daughter of the late Colonel William Cassius Goodloe, a distinguished and honored citizen of Lexing- ton. There are two children: Mary Eliza- beth and Louise Gray, both at home.

RICHARD P. STOLL .- The late Richard Pin- dell Stoll was one of the most honored and influential citizens of Lexington, which city represented his home during practically his entire life, and he was not only prominent in public affairs, in which he was well qualified for leadership, but he was also a dominating factor in connection with business and indus- trial enterprises of wide scope and impor- tance. None who have contributed to the civic and material advancement of the fine old city of Lexington is more worthy of a tribute of respect and honor in this publication than he whose name initiates this memoir.

Hon. Richard Pindell Stoll was born in Lexington, Kentucky, on the 21st of January,

(Scrugham) Stoll. George Stoll was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1819, and was a son of Gallus Stoll, who was a native of Wurtemburg, Germany, where both he and his wife were reared and edu- cated and where their marriage was solemn- ized. In 1818 Gallus Stoll immigrated with his family to America and after residing for several years in Pennsylvania he came to Kentucky and established his home in Lex- ington, where both he and his wife passed the residue of their lives. Their names merit en- during place on the roster of the worthy pio- neers of the city and state. George Stoll was a youth at the time of the family removal to Lexington and here he was engaged in the furniture business for a number of years, after which he turned his attention to the in- surance business, with which he long contin- ued to be identified. He was a man of ster- ling attributes of character and ever com- manded the unqualified confidence and es- teem of the community in which he continued to reside until his death, as did also his wife. Mrs. Mary J. (Scrugham) Stoll was a repre- sentative of one of the staunch old families of Kentucky. She was born in Lexington, this state, April 12, 1824, and was a daughter of Joseph Scrugham, who was born in Spottsyl- vania county, Virginia, in 1777, and who es- tablished his residence in Lexington, Ken- tucky, when he was a young man. Here he passed the remainder of his life. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Vallandingham and she was a daughter of Richard and Peggy (Frier) Vallandingham, the latter of whom was a daughter of Robert and Jane Frier, who immigrated to America from Yorkshire, England, and first located in the colony of Virginia, whence they came to Kentucky in the pioneer epoch of the history of this commonwealth. Robert Frier was actively identified with the organization of Fayette county and was one of its first trustees. He also served as sheriff of the county and was a delegate to the first constitutional convention of the state.

Richard P. Stoll was afforded the advan- tages of the public schools of Lexington, where he also attended the University of Kentucky. For several years during his earlier career he was an attache of the inter- nal-revenue service of the United States, in which he served as collector for his district, and later he engaged in the distilling business in his native city, where he finally became president of the Commonwealth Distilling Company. He continued as chief executive of this important corporation until its prop-

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erty and business were sold to the syndicate controlling so much of the whiskey manufac- turing in Kentucky. After this transfer Mr. Stoll became head of Stoll & Hamilton, en- gaged in the wholesale whiskey trade, and of this concern he continued president until his death. At the time of his death he was also president of the Lexington City National Bank and of the Lexington Gas Company, besides which he was treasurer of the Lexing- ton Railway Company. No citizen has done more to further the material and civic ad- vancement and prosperity of Lexington than did Mr. Stoll, and his course was ever guided by the highest principles of integrity and honor, so that he well merited the confidence and esteem reposed in him by the people of the community.

In politics Mr. Stoll gave an unswerving allegiance to the cause of the Republican party and he was one of its leaders in Ken- tucky. In 1875 he was elected to represent Fayette county in the state legislature, and nearly a quarter of a century later, in 1897, he was again elected to the lower house of the legislature. When Judge Walter Evans was made the Republican nominee for governor of the state Mr. Stoll was nominated for the office of state treasurer, but met defeat with the rest of the party ticket. He was fre- quently a delegate to the state conventions of his party and in 1880 he was a delegate to the Republican national convention, in which he was a member of the famous "old guard" of three hundred and six delegates that voted continuously for the nomination of General Grant, of whom he was a great admirer. In 1900 he was the candidate of his party for representative in congress from the Lexing- ton district, but was, as he expected, unable to overcome the large and normal Democratic majority. At the time of his demise he was president of the board of trustees of the East- ern Kentucky Asylum for the Insane. He was deeply interested in the breeding of fine horses and served for some time as president of the Kentucky Trotting Horse Breeders' Association. Mr. Stoll was summoned to the life eternal on the IIth of March, 1903, and his memory is held in affectionate regard in the city that represented his home during his entire life and to whose upbuilding he contrib- uted ir, generous measure.

In the year 1875 was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Stoll to Miss Elvina Stoll, who was born in the city of Louisville, this state, and who is the daughter of John G. Stoll, a grandson of Gallus Stoll, previously men- tioned in this context. Mrs. Stoll survives ler honored husband and still maintains her

home in Lexington, where she has long been a prominent and popular factor in connection wtih the best social activities of the commu- nity. Mr. and Mrs. Stoll became the parents of two sons, Richard C. and John G., both of whom are individually mentioned on other pages of this publication, and the latter of whom has continued to be identified with the business activities with which his father was concerned.

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RICHARD C. STOLL, who is engaged in the practice of his profession in his native city of Lexington, is not only one of the representa- tive members of the bar of the state but is also a scion of one of the old and honored families of Lexington. In a memoir dedi- cated to his father, the late Hon. Richard P. Stoll, on other pages of this work, are given adequate data concerning the family history and a repetition of the subject-matter is therefore not demanded in the present connec- tion. Mr. Stoll is recognized as a potent force in connection with public affairs and his marked success and prestige afford ample voucher for his distinctive ability in connec- tion with the work of his chosen profession.

He is the elder of the two sons of Richard P. and Elvina (Stoll) Stoll, and was born in the city of Lexington, Kentucky, on the 21st of March, 1876, and after due preliminary discipline he was matriculated in the Ken- tucky State College, now the State University in Lexington, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1895 and from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He forthwith entered the law school of his- toric old Yale University, in which he com- pleted the prescribed technical course and was graduated in 1897, with the degree of Bach- elor of Laws. Upon his return to Lexington he was duly admitted to the bar of his native state and initiated the active practice of the profession for which he had so admirably for- tified himself. He has built up in Lexington a large and representative law business and his clientage is of important order, marking objective appreciation of his ability as an ad- vocate and counselor. He is general counsel of Kentucky Traction and Terminal Com- pany and of Lexington Utilities Company ; is a member of the board of trustees of his alma mater, Kentucky State University, and is a chairman of the board of control of the Ken- tucky agricultural experiment station, besides which he has the distinction of being president of the Kentucky Trotting Horse Breeders' Association, through the influence of whichi the state has continued to maintain its high prestige in connection with the breeding of fine horses.

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In politics Mr. Stoll is found arrayed as a staunch advocate of the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands spon- sor and he has given effective service in behalf of its cause. In 1898 he became a member of the military staff of Governor Bradley, and he continued incumbent of this office, with the rank of colonel during the administration of that popular executive. He is affiliated with Lexington Lodge, No. I, Free & Accepted Masons; Lexington Chapter, No. 1, Royal Arch Masons; Webb Commandery, No. 2, Knights Templars; and with Oleka Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Both he and his wife are prominent in connection with the leading social activities of Lexington, where their circle of friends is coincident with that of their acquaintances. Mr. Stoll is a member of the Presbyterian church and Mrs. Stoll of the Episcopal.

On the 14th of November, 1900, was sol- emnized the marriage of Richard C. Stoll to Miss Josie Thrall, who was born at Cincin- nati, Ohio, and who is a daughter of William R. and Hannah G. Thrall, well known citizens of that place, where her father is a repre- sentative business man and influential citizen.

DR. JOHN C. CRAIG .- In all generations, Kentucky has had just reason for pride in her professional men and on the roll of her great physicians and surgeons, the name of Dr. John C. Craig is written large. It is many years since the day of his usefulness and en-

lightened addition to medical lore, his death . but his career likewise was lamentably short, occurring almost co-incident with the close of the Civil war,-in 1865,-when this gifted Dr. Edwin Alcorn, son of Dr. David Al- corn, of Hustonville and Stanford, was a col- laborator in medicine and surgery with Dr .: Hawkins Brown and Dr. Alexander Camp- bell and they worked zealously for the success and advancement of the profession in Ken- tucky. Dr. Edwin Alcorn was a leader in the Central Kentucky Medical Society and also in the State Medical Society. man was in the prime of life. When prepar- ing for his career he had the supreme advan- tage of being a student of Professor Samuel D. Gross, Sr., the great surgeon and consult- ing surgeon of Central Kentucky and when later years had manifested the ability of the pupil of previous days, Dr. Gross said of him : "He was the greatest surgeon I ever saw on Kentucky soil."

Dr. Craig's field was in the less congested districts, in village and country homes, and his associates were Drs. Ephraim McDowell. Gross and Miller. He was a constant student and original investigator and secured the best aids to his work, no matter what the cost, his instruments having been especially made for him in Paris, and including an amputation case, which is now in the possession of Dr. J. G. Carpenter, of Stanford, who is also heir to many other interesting mementos of the cele- brated surgeon, whose memory the state still holds in admiring and grateful regard. While the mortality following the surgical opera-

tions of Drs. Craig and McDowell was not as low as that following the work of certain famous surgeons such as John B. Deaver, of Philadelphia, Dr. Oschner, of Chicago, and the Mayos, of Rochester, Minnesota, it was far less than the average. Among other fac- tors contributing to this much desired end was Dr. Craig's insistence upon eliminating from his hospital all rugs, hangings and other dust accumulators, and the use of the old style lye soap. Such precautions for the greatest pos- sible cleanliness are now generally made.

Dr. Carpenter, disciple of Dr. Craig and Dr. McDowell, is the present owner of the lat- ter's old home and office and of many interest- ing photographs which he had collected. The office of Dr. McDowell, who is mentioned on other pages of this work, was the scene of the operation upon Mrs. Crawford for ovarian tumor in 1841, when a mob collected about the house believing that this surgeon, who was really an innovator and ahead of his day, had murderous intent. The operation, it is grat- ifying to record, was successful. Dr. Thomas P. Craig was likewise a noted physician and surgeon and gave additional lustre to the name which hinted of Scotch ancestry. He was educated in Paris, France, graduating in 1862, but his untimely death from typhoid fever cut short a remarkably promising career.

Dr. Craig's genius was transmitted to his son, Samuel P., who was graduated in 1868 from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, his demise occurring in 1882.

CAPT. THOMAS TODD .- The late Captain Todd was one of Kentucky's most widely known and highly regarded citizens. A son of Col. Chas. S. Todd and grandson of Gov. Isaac Shelby and Judge Thomas Todd, all celebrated in the annals of the state, he was the heir of noble blood and high traditions. He was a man of great and varied usefulness and possessed one of those rich and whole- souled natures capable of fostering many in- terests and enthusiasms. Among the facts which at first glance appear in his career is that of his being an officer in the Mexican war, that he was prominent in local politics and that he was for sixty-seven years a Mason.

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In his later years he was indeed the "Grand Old Man" of Shelbyville, and his span of life was longer than the most, his years numbering eighty-nine when he passed on to the Undis- covered Country on April 29, 1909.

Capt. Thomas Todd was born December 20, 1820, in Lincoln county, Kentucky, at Travel- ers Rest, the old home of Governor Shelby, interesting with many associations of the Old South. His mother, Letitia, was the youngest daughter of Governor Shelby. His father, Col. Charles Stewart Todd had served on the staff of General Harrison in the War of 1812 and lie was aide-de-camp of General William Henry Harrison, Sr., his career as a civilian being that of a lawyer. Colonel Todd was the son of Judge Thomas Todd, who served on the United States supreme bench and was one of the best known lawyers and judges of his day. His second wife, Lucy Payne, was a sister of Dolly Madison and they were the first couple to be married in the White House. Colonel C. S. Todd was at first located in Lexington, Kentucky, but subsequently removed to Frankfort. In Captain Todd was married a second time in 1852, Miss Susie H. Jacob, daughter of John A. Jacob, first president of the Deaf and Dumb Institute at Danville, becoming his wife. She was reared and educated at the institute. This young woman died some eighteen months after her marriage, leaving no issue. The subject was married a third time to Elizabeth D. Bonney, of Yazoo county, Mississippi, Miss Bonney having come to Shelbyville to be edu- 1826 he came to Shelby county and took up his residence upon land bequeathed to his wife by her father, Governor Shelby. It was wild forest and the old home he established in the wilderness adjoins the present home of the widow of the subject. The house which is standing now was built in 1833. He remained upon his farm until 1858, meanwhile being sent as the first minister to Bogota and mak- ing his residence at Quito for four years. . cated. Her father was Dr. C. D. Bonney who When William Henry Harrison ran for the resided at different times in Virginia and Mis- sissippi, and who owned a plantation in Yazoo county of the latter state. This gentleman lost his life while en route to Mississippi on Febru- ary 2, 1865, the fatality occurring on the Mis- sissippi river, twenty-five miles above Vicks- burg. His widow remained in Shelbyville for the remainder of her life. Her maiden name was Catherine Hall, and although born in Tennessee, she was reared in Mississippi. Five children were born to the third union of Cap- tain Todd, three of whom are living in 1911. Katherine Shelby Todd is in the service of the Internal Revenue at Washington, D. C .; C. D. Bonney Todd, operates the home farm; and Bessie V. Todd is at home. The deceased children were Charles Stewart Todd, who died August 22, 1908 (at the age of forty-five years) ; and Letitia Shelby Todd, who died June 8, 1908. presidency, Colonel Todd was campaign man- ager, and President Tyler, recognizing his ability, sent him to Russia as minister, or envoy extraordinary, he having been given his choice between Russia and England. His stay at St. Petersburg was of four years dura- tion, including the period between 1841 and 1845. He visited the interior of Russia and attended the great fair at Nizhni-Novgorod and afterward wrote an interesting description of his journey. He enjoyed the regard and confidence of the czar. In 1848 he was urged to become a candidate for the presidency, but declined, and in 1850 he was appointed a mem- ber of a commission to treat with the Indians over the question of the Mexican border, he making the report of said commission. This report urged the building of a railroad across the country to the Pacific. As before men- tioned Colonel Todd left the farm in 1858 and went to Owensboro, where his son, Dr. Charles II. Todd is now engaged in the practice of medicine. In 1911 Dr. Todd is the only sur- vivor of eight children of the honored Colonel

and he and Edmund Shelby, of Lexington, are the only surviving grandsons of Governor Shelby.

Capt. Thomas Todd spent his early days upon the farm and received his education at Danville. At the age of twenty years he was married to Miss Jane Smith of Shelby county, whose family had come from Virginia to this state in' 1804. Thomas and his brother, Shelby, operated their mother's old farm "Stockdale," and in 1858 he bought out the interest of his brothers and sisters in two hundred acres of the original tract given to his mother by her father. Some time previous to that, in 1852, his brother had erected the residence which still adorns it. In addition to general agricul- ture he engaged extensively in stock raising. His first wife lived but five years and left at her death two sons: Charles S. Todd, a Union soldier at the time of the Civil war, who was killed at the battle of Stony River at the age of twenty-one years; and Henry S. who met an untimely death at the age of thirty-two, in Lyons county by the kick of a cross mule.

In glancing at the record of Captain Todd's military career we find that in 1847 he was commissioned captain by Governor Owsley and from the brave citizens of Shelby county raised Company I of the Third Kentucky

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Regiment, which participated in the Mexican war. Proctor Knott, ex-governor of Ken- tucky, was his great friend and helped him to raise the company. The regiment advanced to Mexico City and remained there during its occupation, their stay in Mexico being of nine months duration.

Captain Todd was twice elected to the state legislature, General Leslie, Judge Joseph Lewis and Proctor Knott being fellow members of the state's assembly with him. He was a Whig and a Republican upon the organization of the latter party, but when Proctor Knott, a Democrat, ran for the governorship he voted and worked for him for old friendship's sake. He was active in state convention work and was a delegate to national conventions and ever kept in touch with all public issues. He knew personally all the governors of Kentucky but six, in his long lifetime, and was present at the bedside of Governor Shelby when he died, being a child of six years at the time. In 1886 he ran the race for Congress against Governor McCreary and when past eighty-four years of age he was a candidate for the state legislature. For fifty years he served as chair- man of the Shelby County Republican Com- mittee. He was trustee of the state university under Governor Bradley and he was always identified with some public work.

In the early days the Todds were slave holders and his father, Colonel Todd, owned a colored man Jim, whose father was killed by a white man, the murderer being the first white man to be hanged in Kentucky for such a crime.

Captain Todd possessed one of the most remarkable Masonic records of any man in the United States. It has been summed up as follows': He was initiated in Solomon's Lodge No. 5, F. & A. M., of Shelbyville, Kentucky, March II, 1842, and was a member until his death in 1909. He filled every office in the gift of the lodge except secretary and treas- urer ; was elected master in June, 1846, and was elected and served fifteen terms thereafter, the last in 1905. He attended Grand Lodge in 1846 and every meeting of the Grand Lodge after that time. He was appointed Grand Marshal in 1846; was elected Grand Master and served a term as such in 1853 and was a member of the various committees of the Grand Lodge.

Captain Todd was a member of the com- mittee appointed by the Grand Lodge of Ken- tucky to represent it at the centennial cere- monies that were held at the tomb of George Washington at Mt. Vernon, Virginia, Decem- ber 14, 1899, and was present at said cere- monies, in which almost all the Grand Lodges

of the United States of America and many Grand Lodges of other parts of the world, to- gether with thousands of brethren, partici- pated. He was made a Royal Arch Mason in Shelbyville Royal Arch Chapter No. 2, in May, 1846, and he filled all the various offices of the chapter. He was elected High Priest in 1858 and served as such many times. He attended Grand Chapter in 1846 and was present at every session since. He was elected Grand High Priest in 1859 and served the term. He was appointed High Priest in Grand Council of that order in 1858, filled nearly all of the offices, was elected Grand President in 1866, was re-elected at every subsequent meeting, and at the last meeting he attended was elected for life. He was made a Royal and Select Master in a council at Frankfort in 1849, filled many offices in the Grand Council and was elected Grand Master in 1871-2. He was dubbed a Knight Templar in Frankfort Com- mandery in 1849 and filled many offices, in- cluding Generalissimo. He attended Grand Encampments of the United States of Amer- ica in Lexington in 1853; in Chicago, Illinois, in 1880; in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1901; and in 1907, and 1908. This venerable and beloved Mason was guest of honor at a com- plimentary dinner given by Solomon's Lodge of Shelbyville, on March II, 1907, to cele- brate the sixty-fifth anniversary of his initia- tion into Masonry. This was held at the Crescent Theatre and was one of the most interesting events in the history of the local lodge. While in Mexico during the war Captain Todd worked under dispensation of France and at his death he was the oldest Past Grand Master in the world. It was his pleasure to confer the degrees of the Blue Lodge and Chapter upon his son, C. D. Bonney Todd. Masonry was one of the dearest in- terests of this revered man and in his life he exemplified the high principles for which he time-honored order stands.

GEORGE B. NELSON is a native of this sec- tion of the Blue Grass state, having been born on Boone's creek January 4, 1850. A glance at his antecedents develops the fact that on both sides of the family lie is of Virginian origin. His father, James Nelson, was born in Culpeper county, Virginia, October 20, 1779, and died in 1864. The mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Bush, was born in Clark county April 27, 1813, and died in March, 1903, as is obvious, coming within a decade of completing the century. She was a daughter of John V. Bush, of Virginia, who served his country as captain of Kentucky Volunteers in the war of 1812. Mr. Nelson was one of a family of ten children, four of

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whom are living at the present time, he being the eldest of these four. Henry B. resides in Muskogee, Oklahoma; W. Bush is a citizen of Lexington ; and Fannie became the wife of C. F. Spencer and resides at Fort Worth.

James Nelson removed with his parents to Fayette county in 1807, the father locating on a branch of Boone's creek, where he grew to manhood and acquired his education. As was frequently the case with young men of more than average education he began his career by teaching school. In 1825 he married Theo- dosia Bush and in 1826 he removed to Clark county, where he acquired land and began farmning for himself. His first wife bore him four children, all of whom are deceased, as is also the mother. His second marriage, which was with the mother of him whose name initiates this review, was solemnized in 1836. James Nelson was a self-made man and attained to unusual success. He stood for all that was good and was a consistent member of the Christian church.

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A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 73

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