A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 78

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 78

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At Memphis, Tennessee, on the 23d of April, 1879, was solemnized the marriage of Judge Savage to Miss Frances Dow, who was born and reared in that state and who is now residing at Ashland. To this union were born eight children, namely: Harlow, Carrie (de- ceased ), Patty, Virginia (deceased), Frances, Elizabeth, Sarah and Samuel Summerfield, Jr., the latter of whom died in infancy.

Judge Savage was summoned to the life eternal on the 5th of October, 1903, and con- cerning him the following extracts from an article which appeared at the time of his de- mise will be here reproduced, with but slight paraphrase.

"He did every kind of work that a boy, youth or man could lay hands to, from driving a coal wagon to being president and chief stockholder of the Ashland Fire Brick Com- pany. He was school teacher, police judge, county judge, and a candidate for Congress, but failed to secure the nomination. The re- sult was the Ninth district was represented by G. M. Thomas, a Republican.

"In the early 'zos, he identified himself more closely with the people of Ashland by locating there; and Ashland people knew his worth. His influence in that city was unbounded. Be- ing an enthusiastic leader in every public en- terprise, the imprint of his hand and mind will be seen and felt by coming generations . not only in Ashland, but throughout entire eastern Kentucky. He was a fine business man; loved to make money; loved to spend for his family, for the good of the public, for

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the benefit of the poor and needy. He was a great reader, and stored his mind with rich treasures from the fields of literature, which made his resources unlimited. He was equally as popular throughout the state as he was in eastern Kentucky. He was, without a doubt, the most ready, charming, and fascinating speaker in the state, not excepting the Mar- shalls, Menifees and Breckinridges. He de- lighted, charmed and inspired his hearers; not on one theme alone, or on one occasion, but on any theme, on any occasion, whenever called upon.

"Upon complimenting him on one of his best efforts, he answered: 'When you write the history of the East Kentucky Normal School, be sure and state that I acted as jani- tor to pay my board and tuition.' He was heard to say not long since: 'I have not an enemy in the world; at least, I am not an enemy to any man.' When not absorbed in business he was exceedingly fond of the so- ciety of his friends, and was always genial and happy in their company, contributing the lion's share to their entertainment, no matter what the occasion might be. He was full of good humor and good fellowship; there was not an element of malice in anything he did or said. He was never envious or jealous of his associates in private or public life ; his loy- alty to his friends was beautiful."

For many years Judge Savage was recog- nized as one of the well known, progressive citizens of Kentucky in the active support of all measures projected for upbuilding and he was particularly loyal to his home city and county. He was appointed and served on the state tax commission. was a member of the Louisville Commercial Club and of the Filson Historical Club of that city.

NOBLE F. NASH, M. D .- One of the best- known and most faithful physicians of Shelby county, Noble F. Nash, M. D., has been act- ively engaged in the practice of his profession at Clay Village for nearly four decades, dur- ing which time he has built up a large and lucrative practice in this vicinity. A son of Ilarmon Nash, he was born September 2, 1831, on the home farm in Bagdad. His grandfather, Noble Nash, a native of Mary- land, emigrated to Kentucky in pioneer days, locating in Shelby county, where he took up land and was subsequently engaged in tilling the soil until his death, at the age of four score years.

Harmon Nash was born on the home farm in Shelby county in 1803 and spent his entire life of ninety-six years on the farm where his birth occurred. He married Sarah Gates, who spent her sixty years of life in Shelby county.

She was a daughter of Rev. Elijah Gates, a Baptist clergyman, who was born and bred in Georgia. Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Harmon Nash eight grew to years of maturity, as follows: Louisa, who married Allen Barnett, died in Shelby county ; Noble F., the special subject of this brief biographi- cal sketch; Warren E., a retired physician of Carroll county, Kentucky; Cynthia, deceased, was the wife of Robert Owen, of Henry county ; Ann E., wife of Captain Isaac N. Johnson, of Pleasureville, Kentucky, who served in the Union Army during the Civil war, being captain of a company; Leathea, who died in Henry county, was the wife of John Martin; Elliot, of Pleasureville, Ken- tucky; and Thomas, who died at the age of twelve years.

Laying a good foundation for his future education in the district schools, Noble F. Nash determined while yet a boy to enter upon a professional career and studied with that purpose in view. Going to Louisville in 1848, he entered the medical department of the State University of Kentucky, from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1852. Immediately locating in Henry county, Kentucky, Dr. Nash remained there for twelve years, meeting with gratifying suc -. cess. Coming from there to Clay Village in 1864, he has continued here since, by his ability and professional skill winning an ex- tensive practice, for many years being the only physician of the place. The Doctor is affiliated with various medical organizations, belonging to the Shelby County Medical So- ciety, to the Kentucky State Medical Society and to the American Medical Association. He is a sound Democrat in politics and has been a member of the Baptist church since early manhood.

Dr. Nash married first, in 1856, Jennie Phillips, who was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, a daughter of James Phillips, who came from Virginia to Kentucky in pioneer days, locating in Shelby county. She died in Henry county in 1864, leaving three children, namely : Lulu, widow of M. W. Huss; Kate, widow of T. M. Waddy ; and W. N., a farmer in Shelby county. The Doctor married in 1866 Emma Guthrie, a daughter of Thomas Church Guthrie, an early settler of Shelby county. She died in 1909, at the age of sixty- three years.

SAMUEL VANNATTA SLEADD .- The agricul- tural interests of Shelby county find a worthy representative in Samuel V. Sleadd, who owns and operates a fine homestead farm of two hundred and forty-four acres, which yield him an abundant return for his modern and

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enlightened methods. He belongs to one of the old families of this section, his grand- father, Seaton Sleadd, having come like so many of his neighbors from the Old Domin- ion to found his home here in the early days of Kentucky's statehood. The name of Sleadd is synonymous for good citizenship and its present prominent bearer upholds its prestige.

The subject was born in Shelby county, which still claims his residence, November 23, 1865, and here on December 15, 1823. his father also was born. As mentioned before, Seaton Sleadd of the preceding generation SAMUEL D. NEWTON is the owner and op- erator of one of those fertile and well-con- nected farms which are the pride of the Blue Grass state. His splendid tract of two hun- dred and twenty-nine acres is located in Shelby county and is the scene of successful and up-to-date activities in the line of his chosen vocation. He is a native of the very section in which his interests are now centered and his birth date was November 8, 1860. His father, Thomas S. Newton, was born in Shelby county November 27, 1823, and his grandfather, Samttel Newton, was a native of the state of Virginia. The maiden name of the mother was Martha E. McWilliams, and she, likewise, was born in Shelby county, her birth date being July 23, 1822. Mr. Newton's father, who was a prominent and estimable was a Virginian, who after making location in Shelby county found it sufficiently desirable to make it his residence for the remainder of his life. His views on the matter were shared by his son William, who was living in Shelby- ville when summoned to the Great Beyond February II, IQII. He was one of the lead- ing farmers of this section, took a decided in- terest in all questions of the hour and stood ready to lend his shoulder to all causes des- tined to advance the good of the whole com- munity. The mother was Sophie Vannatta before her marriage, and she was a daughter of Samuel Vannatta and a native of this county. Her father was a Virginian who spent all his life following his arrival in the state as a loyal citizen and who was removed from a life of great usefulness at an advanced . citizen, was called from the scene of a useful

age. Mrs. Sleadd was born in 1826 and died November 21, 1900, and she, as well as her husband, was zealous in the good works of the Bethel Baptist church. Mr. Sleadd was one of a family of nine children, concerning whom the following data are entered : Lucin- da, the eldest, is the wife of Logan Ratcliffe and resides in Shelby ; Minerva, deceased, was the wife of Willis Williams; Fannie married John Money and makes her home at Finch- ville; Virginia married A. F. Money and re- sides at Simpsonville; Sarah Thomas, de- ceased, was the wife of James S. Scearce; William is deceased; Gertrude, deceased, mar- ried M. F. Perry; Edgar resides in Shelby- ville ; and Samuel V., the subject, is the young- est in order of birth.

Born and bred in Shelby county, Mr. Sleadd elected to make this the scene of his life and here he has met with material success and en- joys the possession of hosts of friends. It is small wonder that he finds much loyalty to this favored spot in his heart. He was mar- ried here February 28, 1889, Miss Maggie B. Newton becoming his beloved partner in the varying fortunes of life. She was born in Clay Village on May 9, 1866, the daughter of Thomas S. and Martha E. McWilliam New-

ton, her father's history being sketched on other pages of this work devoted to repre- sentative Kentuckians. Mr. and Mrs. Sleadd have two daughters-Martha T., born August 2, 1890, and Evelyn, born June 22, 1892. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sleadd are active and willing workers in the Missionary Baptist church, to which they give material assistance and sym- pathy, and the former stands as one of those remarkably public-spirited citizens whom Shelby county is fortunate enough to possess in great numbers. He is a Republican in his political convictions.

life December 23, 1898; and he was but a short time preceded to the hereafter by his wife, whose demise occurred January 3, 1895, when in her seventy-third year. Seven chil- dren were born to Thomas Newton and his worthy wife, Mary E., became the wife of F. H. Barriger, and resides at Shelbyville. Sallie E. is the widow of Thomas Vannatta, and makes her home in Shelby county. An- nie married R. C. Thompson and lives in Shelby county. Susie is the wife of W. J. Montgomery, of Louisville. Samuel D. is next in order of birth. George T. resides in Louisville. Maggie B. is the wife of Samuel Sleadd of Shelby county.

The school days and youth of Samuel D. Newton were passed in Shelby county, where he has in fact spent his entire life. He early concluded to follow in the paternal footsteps in the matter of a life work and has always engaged in agriculture. Upon the occasion of his marriage he located in Clay Village, where he has ever since resided and where he and his wife are leading factors in all the best in- terests of the place. It was on January 27, 1887, that he laid the foundation of a happy life companionship and independent house- Fold by his marriage to Miss Mattie L. Card-

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well, who was born in Shelby county July 21, 1865. Mrs. Newton's father was George Cardwell, a well known Shelby county citizen, who died when about seventy years of age. The maiden name of her mother was Eliza- beth Threlkeld, who was born in Shelby county and who was summoned to the Great Beyond in 1882, when in her sixty-second year. They were the parents of a dozen children, Mrs. Newton being youngest in order of birth. The following is an enumeration : James, Thomas, Mary, Susan, William, Harrison, Elizabeth, George, Bettie, Samuel, Lillie and Mattie L. The union of the subject and his wife has been blessed by the birth of a quar- tet of young citizens, whose names are Beulah L., Mary E., Bernice and Samuel D., Jr. They have also lost two children-Alma T., who died when past eight years of age, and a son who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Newton are members of the Baptist church and zealous workers for its good causes.

THOMAS PICKETT TAYLOR, of Louisville, was born in Jefferson county, Kentucky, Feb- ruary 20, 1858, the son of E. G. Taylor and Mildred (Hord) Taylor. On both sides of the house he is a direct descendant of the noted Taylor family of Virginia which fur- nished ten sons to the Continental Army and many in the war of the Revolution. His pa- ternal great-grandfather was one of the ten, Jonathan Taylor, a lieutenant in the Virginia . one of their father's stores. Mr. Taylor, of Convention Guards. His maternal grand- father, another of the ten brothers, was Major William Taylor, who entered the army as a lieutenant, was promoted to captain and, on December 7, 1779, was promoted to major of the Ninth Virginia Regiment. Mr. Taylor's grandfather, Dr. Francis Taylor, the son of Jonathan Taylor, married his first cousin, Ann Elizabeth Taylor, daughter of Major William Taylor.

T. P. Taylor, as he is widely known in the business world, received his education in the primary schools of Jefferson county and in those of Louisville, to which city he was brought by his father while still a youth. On leaving school, he made the choice of a bus- iness pursuit which was to lead to great finan- cial success. Entering a drug store while yet a boy, he soon mastered the minor details of the business but this was not enough-he must know the theory and practice as well. To this end, he attended the regular course at the Louisville College of Pharmacy, from which he graduated with credit. Then he struck out for himself, buying a small drug store in Portland. Soon the desire to branch out led to the purchase of another small store and thus when he was but little past his ma-

jority, he was the proprietor of two drug stores. Still he was not satisfied; these stores were too small for his restless energies. He sold them and, in connection with a step- brother, bought a larger store at the corner of Third and Jefferson streets in Louisville, the best location in the city for a druggist. Here his success began. The "cut-rate" idea in the drug business was coming into notice. A store of that kind opened in the city but without marked success. Mr. Taylor, thinking he could make it pay, bought it. The result is that he now owns and operates the three larg- est and most profitable wholesale and retail drug stores in the city and is a full partner in a fourth operated under the management of a nephew trained to the business under Mr. Taylor's watchful eye. Mr. Taylor has been at all times successful in business and besides the four stores noted, is a large holder of Louisville real estate. He is a director in the Commercial Bank and Trust Company of Louisville and is also a director in the United Drug Company of Boston, Massachusetts, an organization of much importance in the drug trade.

Mr. Taylor was married to Miss Achsah Miller at Owensboro, Kentucky, January 18, 1883. They have two sons, Horace and- Thomas P., Jr., both now grown to manhood, and each of them at the managerial helm of

course, keeps a watchful eye on all of his stores, but to prove to his boys that he is not afraid to trust them with the full responsibil- ity of management, he runs away to Europe whenever he feels like it leaving them to hoe their own rows without his advice or assist- ance. The success of Mr. Taylor in every- thing that he has attempted is another proof that the country boy is the salt of the earth and that if he never left the country for the city, there would soon be no business worth having in the latter.

MÍRS. POLLY FULTON LAWSON .- A pleasant and congenial woman, Mrs. Polly Fulton Lawson has been a resident of Shelby county, Kentucky, since the day of her birth, which was April 10, 1836. She comes of honored Virginian stock, her father, David Fulton Middleton, and her paternal grandfather, Adam Middleton, having been natives of the Old Dominion.

Adam Middleton, born in Virginia August 2, 1770, came to Shelby county, Kentucky, with his family in the early part of the nine- teenth century, and on the farm which he re- deemed from the wilderness spent his re- maining days, passing away July 20. 1834.

David Fulton Middleton was born January

2. 2. Taylor

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14, 1796, in Virginia, and as a lad came with his parents to Kentucky. He was reared on the "Cross Keys" farm, and assisted his father in its improvement. He married, April 18, 1831, Elizabeth Y. Beattie, who was born in 1802, in Virginia, the place of birth of her · parents, James and Hetty Beattie. After mar- riage he located with his bride on the farm now owned and occupied by Mrs. Lawson, and there they both spent their remaining days, her death occurring October 11, 1856, after a happy wedded life of twenty-five years. He survived his wife many years, passing away in January, 1889, at the venerable age of eighty-three years. Four children were born of their union, namely : James A .; Hetty, who married Alvin Hughes and died in Shelby county in 1888; Polly, now Mrs. Law- son ; and John Anthony.

Polly Fulton Lawson was brought up on the parental homestead and educated in the Science Hill Seminary at Shelbyville. At home she was well trained in the domestic arts, becoming well fitted when young to pre- side over a household. On October 4, 1866, she was united in marriage with William H. Lawson, a son of Charles W. Lawson, who came to Shelby county, Kentucky, from North Carolina, his native state, and here resided until his death, at the comparatively early age of fifty-three years.

Mr. William H. Lawson was born Febru- ary 22, 1836, in Shelby county, and has here been engaged in agricultural pursuits during his active career, now managing most success- fully one hundred and fifty acres of the old Middleton estate, the farm belonging to Mrs. Lawson, who inherited it from her father. Mr. and Mrs. Lawson are the parents of five children, namely: David M., a prominent physician of Oklahoma ; Ernest L., a prosper- ous farmer of Shelby county ; Eugene B., en- gaged in the practice of law in Oklahoma ; William G., engaged in farming in Shelby county ; and Bessie B., living with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Lawson are members of the Methodist church and are active in its work.

SAMUEL MONROE LONG, actively identified with milling and banking interests at Shelby- ville, Kentucky, is a native son of the fine old Blue Grass commonwealth. He is deeply in- terested in community affairs and his efforts have also been a potent element in the busi- ness progress of Shelby county. He has with ready recognition of opportunity directed his labors into various fields wherein he has achieved success and at the same time he has ever manifested a genuine interest in all move- ments projected for the general welfare.

Concerning the history of the Long family

data are taken from the publication known under the unique title, "A Short History of the Long Family," which was written and compiled by J. L. Long, father of him to whom this sketch is dedicated and which ap- peared in the year 1898. The above book is of decided interest, and at this juncture is incorporated the author's introduction: "At the entreaties of friends I have written this book. I am the eldest representative of the Long family, being almost eighty-seven years of age. I shall not attempt any eulogy upon any but shall state plain facts for the infor- mation of my descendants, and would fain hope to say some things that may be beneficial to all who may peruse this short production."

The original progenitor of the Long family in America traced his ancestry back to stanch Scotch-Irish extraction. In the year 1790 William Long, great-grandfather of the sub- ject of this review, left his native state of Pennsylvania and emigrated to Fayette county, Kentucky, locating some eight miles west of the present city of Lexington. His family consisted of a wife, whose maiden name was Culbertson, and eight children, five sons and three daughters, namely : Samuel, Robert, Re- becca, William, Isaac, Hester, Elizabeth and Alexander. Alexander Long, the youngest in order of birth of the above-mentioned chil- dren, was born in the old Keystone state of the Union, the date of his nativity being the 6th of March, 1788. He was a child of but two years of age at the time of his parents' removal to Kentucky, as previously noted. He was united in marriage to Miss Annie Lem- mon, a daughter of James Lemmon, the cere- mony having been performed on the 20th of April, 1809. After living for a short time at Georgetown, Kentucky, Alexander and Annie Long moved to a farm in Scott county, this state, where they continued to reside until the year 1827, at which time they removed to a farm in Woodford county, where the remain- ing, except one, of their children were born. They were the parents of eleven children, whose names are here entered in respective order of birth: Nancy, James, William, Thomas, Amelia, Samuel, Eliza, Mary, Alex- ander, Josephine and Angeline.

In the year 1829 Alexander Long, whose household had then increased to some twenty persons, including the slaves, decided to take up a tract of government land in Missouri, whither a colony of forty persons emigrated on the 8th of October, 1829. Conditions in Missouri, however, were not as roseate as they had been pictured and after a year's sojourn there most of the company returned to Ken- tucky. The Long family then established its

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home in Shelby county, on a farm some eight miles distant from Shelbyville, and there the parents passed the residue of their lives, the former having died on the 23d of February, 1852, and the latter on the 17th of October, 1879.

James Lemmon Long, father of Samuel M., of this notice, was born in Scott county, Ken- tucky, on the 30th of December, 1811. He was educated in the schools of the locality and period and as a youth was apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade, at which he and his brother were employed for a time in the city of Louisville. Subsequently returning to Shelby county, he became interested in the doctrines set forth by the Christian church, of which he became a devout member in the year 1838. On the 5th of April of that same year was solemnized his marriage to Mis Kezia Maddox, who was a daughter of Davi .: Maddox, of Shelby county. Mr. and Mrs. Long, in January, 1839, settled on a farm eight miles west of Shelbyville, and he be- came decidedly successful as an agriculturist. owning as much as five hundred acres of most arable land. The first child born to this union was Lemuel, who was a gallant and faithful soldier in the Confederate army during th war between the states. He was with General Lee when the latter surrendered and when peace had again been established he returned to his home in Kentucky, where he became ill as a result of the many hardships and ex- posure endured during the war, and where he died in September. 1869. The second child, born the 4th of October, 1841, was Mary Jane, who became the wife of John E. Bryan and who now maintains her home in Jefferson county, Kentucky. They have three children, Annie, Rosa and James. James Alexander, born in Shelby county the Ist of October, 1843, was called to the life eternal when in his tenth year. David Thomas, whose birth occurred in Shelby county, March 26, 1845, married Ellen Warford, and he died Decem- ber 27, 1880, at the comparatively young age of thirty-six years. Annie, the fifth child, was born in Shelby county, on the 5th of April, 1847. She married Oswald Thomas and died on the 20th of November, 1882, sur- vived by three children, James, Lillie and Mat- tie. Lillie married Rev. Howard T. Cree, of Kentucky, now of Augusta, Georgia, an emi- nent divine of the Christian church of that place. Mattie married Clarence C. Hieatt, of of the firm of Johnson & Hieatt, attorneys-at- law and real estate men of Louisville, Ken- tucky. William, who was born in Shelby county on the 4th of March, 1849, married Nannie Glasscock and at the time of his death,

in 1894, was survived by a widow and three children, all of whom live in Louisville, Ken- tucky. Samuel Monroe, the seventh child, is the immediate subject of this review. Nannie, born the 5th of April, 1853, died in infancy. A. Campbell, born in Shelby county on the 30th of December, 1854, married Carrie John- son and is now secretary and treasurer of the Shelby County Trust & Banking Company, at Shelbyville. He served as sheriff of Shelby county for one term a short time after the death of his brother, David T. Long, who likewise served in that capacity. Josephine, the tenth child of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Long, was born on the ist of February, 1857, and she wedded Oscar Stewart, by whom she had three children, Carlisle, Campbell and Kezia. She passed into the Great Beyond on the 18th of February, 1893. Mattie, born on the 20th of January, 1859, is unmarried and she maintains her home at Shelbyville. Lena R., the twelfth and youngest child, was born on the 25th of November, 1860, and she passed away on the 2d of October, 1884.

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A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 78

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