A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 89

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 89

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Mr. Henderson laid the foundations of a happy and congenial life companionship by his marriage to Ann Eliza Smith, their union being celebrated in Shelby county, December 6, 1864. She was born in Oldham county, Kentucky, in 1838, and died March 13, 1905, in Shelby county, where she had lived since childhood. Her father, John Smith, a native of Oldham county, married Mary Howell, who was born and reared in Shelby county. Five sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Henderson, namely : Thomas H., William S., Emmet S., Oren and Linn. Politically Mr. Henderson has always supported the policies and prin- ciples of the Democratic party by voice and vote. Since 1860 he has been a faithful mem- ber of the Baptist church, to which his wife also belonged. He is respected and admired where best known and is loyal to a marked degree to the interests of the community in which he has found success and to whose success and prestige he has contributed so generously.

WILLIAM G. WIGLESWORTH .- Conspicuous among the highly esteemed and enterprising citizens of Cynthiana is William G. Wigles- worth, a man of talent and culture, widely known, not only as an able and skillful lawyer, but also as manager of the John Poindexter Distillery, of which he is the principal stock- holder. A son of William T. Wiglesworth, lie was born in Woodford county, Kentucky,

November 30, 1869, the descendent of a Vir- ginian family of some note.

His paternal grandfather, John Wigles- worth, was born November 21, 1781, in Vir- ginia, and in the early part of the nineteenth century came with his family to Kentucky, locating in Harrison county. He took up a tract of wild land near Poindexter and the farm which he cleared and improved is still in the possession of the family. He was quite successful in his operations and lived on the old homestead until his death, which occurred on the 6th of May, 1846, his body having been interred on his farm. He married Jane Bush, who was born in Virginia, March 16, 1792, and who died in Harrison county, Kentucky, January 21, 1851. They reared a large family, bringing up their children to habits of industry and thrift. Concerning their children the fol- lowing brief data are here incorporated- Thompson, whose birth occurred on the 16th of September, 1809, was summoned to the life eternal on the 31st of July, 1835; America, born March 14, 1811, died on the 6th of De- cember, 1831; Rhodes, born December 23, 1812, passed away in the spring of 1876; Polly Anne, whose natal day was the 25th of March, 1815, died July 15, 1835; Frances Anne, born March 15, 1817, died June 12, 1837; Louisa, whose birth occurred on the 28th of June, 1819, died April 4, 1882; William T., born March 20, 1822, died December 3, 1893; Elvira, born March 8, 1824, died February 6, 1853; John B., whose birth occurred on the 19th of April, 1826, passed to eternal rest on the 30th of March, 1884; Manda, born August 25, 1828, died in June, 1832; Tandy, born on October 10, 1830, died August 28, 1888; Sarah, born March 1, 1832, died in the same year ; and Thacker, whose natal day was the 17th of December, 1834, passed to his reward on the 7th of November, 1837.

Born in Poindexter, Harrison county, Ken- tucky, on the 20th of March, 1822, William T. Wiglesworth, father of the subject of this re- view, obtained his early education in the dis- trict schools and during the earlier period of his life he was engaged in farming on an estate near his father. In 1858, having married a Woodford county girl, he purchased land in that county and was there successfully en- gaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, December 3. 1893. In 1856, the distillery established at Poindexter by John Poindexter was brought out by Rhodes, John and Tandy Wiglesworth, brothers of William T. Wigles- worth, who later bought an interest in the plant, holding the same until his death, al- though he left its management to his brothers,

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devoting his own time to the care of his home- stead. He was a staunch Democrat in poli- tics but not an office seeker, and, with his wife, belonged to the Baptist church.

The maiden name of the wife of William T. Wiglesworth was Mary Frances Goodloe. She was born in Woodford county, Kentucky, in the year 1837, and died March 30, 1905. They were the parents of eight children, as follows: Lillie, wife of K. M. Woods, of Missouri; Harry R., who died June 7, 1907, was for over twenty years and until his death, manager of the John Poindexter Distillery ; R. L., died January 5, 1911 ; T. G., of Poindexter ; William G., with whom this sketch is chiefly concerned; Leila, wife of John B. Woods, of Missouri; J. M., of Versailles, Kentucky ; and Fannie Lou, wife of S. E. Drake, of Lexing- ton, Kentucky.

Spending the days of his boyhood and youth on the home farm in Woodford county, Wil- liam G. Wiglesworth attended, first, the dis- trict schools and later continued his studies at Georgetown College. Entering the Wash- ington and Lee University, at Lexington, Vir- ginia, in 1890, he was graduated in the law department of that excellent institution as a member of the class of 1892, duly receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He initiated the active practice of his profession at Lexington, Kentucky, and there achieved a most gratifying success. After the death of his father, how- ever, he became interested in the distillery at Poindexter of which his brother, Harry R., who was also a stockholder in the plant, be- came manager. On the death of his brother in 1907, Mr. Wiglesworth assumed the man- agement of the plant, at the same time keeping up his law practice in Lexington. The care of the distillery demanding his entire atten- tion, however, Mr. Wiglesworth gave up his law practice and moved to Cynthiana, in order to devote his entire time and energies to the supervision of the distillery, in which he is the controlling stockholder. This plant, which has a capacity of three hundred bushels a day, is still known as the John Poindexter Distillery.

Mr. Wiglesworth uniformly supports the principles of the Democratic party, and is a member of Cynthiana Lodge, No. 438, Benev- olent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a man of sterling integrity, and during his resi- dence in Cynthiana has gained a high standing in the community as a citizen, the esteem of' a wide circle of warm friends, and the respect of all with whom he has been brought in con- tact.

CAPTAIN RICHARD H. GEORGE .- It should be, and no doubt is, a matter conducive to much pride with all loyal Shelby county citizens

that so many of her native sons have elected to remain permanently within her borders, finding her advantages and attractions superior to those of other sections with which they are familiar. Among such citizens is Captain Richard H. George, of Simpsonville, a vener- able and much esteemed citizen. He received the title by which he is known when a mem- ber and officer of the Kentucky State Guards at the time of the Civil war, and for more than a decade after that struggle he engaged in agriculture, but since 1877 he has been liv- ing in semi-retirement.

Captain George was born in Shelby county August 13, 1833. His father, Lindsay W. George, was likewise a native of the county, and his father, Moses George, like so many of his contemporary emigrants to Kentucky was a native of Virginia. In this state the father lived out the remainder of his days, his death occurring at an advanced age. Lindsay W. died when he was about forty-eight years old, after an active career as an agriculturist. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Young, was born in Shel- by county, the daughter of James Young, a native Virginian, who became attracted by Shelby county and, securing a homestead within its borders, lived here until his death, at an advanced age. Elizabeth (Young) George died in Shelby county August 13, 1860, when fifty-nine years old. She and her hus- band were the parents of four children, two of whom lived to maturity, Margaret, a sister, becoming the wife of William Graves and dying in 1861.

Captain George received his education in the district schools and passed the roseate days of youth amid the rural surroundings of his father's farm, under the tutelage of that gen- tleman becoming trained in the many depart- ments of agriculture. A part of his educa- tion was received in the Kentucky Military Institute, then in the vicinity of Frankfort, Kentucky. For a short time he served in the Kentucky State Guard and was captain of his company. His homestead was located very close to the town and there he pursued farm- ing operations until 1877, when he removed to Simpsonville, and here he has ever since inade his home. He has always taken an active part in public affairs, giving serious consideration to all questions of the hour, and, while he is in sympathy with the men and measures of the Democratic party, he esteems high above mere partisanship the support of the best man.

Captain George was married in Green county, Kentucky, November 10, 1853, his chosen lady being Miss Mollie R. Gaines, who

Vol. III-28

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was born in Green county March 3, 1834, the daughter of Henry Gaines, a Kentuckian. They have no children.

FRANK O'NEALE YOUNG, M. D .- Among the active and skilful physicians of Lexington, Frank O'Neale Young, M. D., holds a position of influence and note, his professional success being the direct result of his knowledge, abil- ity and good judgment. During his thirty and more years of practice in this city he has been busily employed in the care of his many patients, his patronage being exceedingly large and lucrative. He was born November 13, 1850, in Lexington, a son of Richard B. Young and grandson of Ambrose Young, one of the early pioneers of Fayette county. He comes of honored Virginian stock, his great-grand- father, Richard Young, having spent his en- tire life in the Old Dominion.

Ambrose Young, born, reared and married in Virginia, came with his bride to Kentucky, performing the long journey with teams. Pur- chasing a tract of land in Fayette county, eight miles from Lexington, he began the pioneer task of clearing a farm from its original wild- ness and carried on general farming with the help of slaves for many years. He mar- ried a Miss Alcock, and both lived to a good old age, passing away on the homestead.

Richard B. Young was born April 2, 1808, on the farm which his father redeemed from the wilderness, and was there brought up and educated. Learning the tanner's trade, he es- tablished a tannery across the line in Boyle county, and built up an extensive business, the products of his plant being sold in the markets of Philadelphia and Boston. In the meantime he made his home in Lexington, living in this city until his death, June 26, 1873. The maiden name of his wife was Jane O'Neale. She was born November 16, 1816, at Harper's Ferry, Virginia. Her par- ents. Frank and Mary (Ferguson) O'Neale, were both of Scotch ancestry, the birth of her father occurring in Ireland, and that of her mother in Virginia, while their residence after marriage was in Woodford county, Kentucky. Mrs. Richard B. Young survived her husband many years, passing away October 11, 1900. Two children were born of their union, namely: Rear Admiral Lucien Young, of whom a brief sketch appears elsewhere in this work, and Dr. Frank O'Neale Young.

Having completed the course of study in the public shools of Lexington. Frank O'Neale Young entered Beech Grove College, in Ten- nessee, and was there graduated with the class of 1870. Four years later, in 1874, he was graduated from the medical department of the University of Louisville, and began the prac-

tice of medicine at Liberty, Kentucky, where he continued for five years, meeting with en- couraging success in his work. Coming from there to Lexington, Dr. Young has since built up an extensive patronage in this city, his professional knowledge and skill placing him among the leading physicians of this part of the county.

Dr. Young has been twice married. He married first, June 15, 1881, Addie Barkley, who was born in Fayette county, a daughter of William L. and Addie (Lafon) Barkley. She died December 18, 1892, in early woman- hood. The Doctor married for his second wife, June 25, 1896, Effie Hill, who was born in Hartford, Kentucky, a daughter of General Samuel E. and Naomi (Baird) Hill, and they have one child Jane Ewing Young.

Dr. Young was a member of the State Board of Health under Governor Beckham's administration. He served as president of the board of aldermen four years, and was also a member of the board of education of the city of Lexington. He is identified with various organizations, in each of which he takes an active interest. He is a member of the Fay- ette County Medical Society, of the Kentucky . Medical Society, and of the American Medical Association. He belongs to the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, in which he has taken the Knights Templar degree; to the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows; the Knights of Pythias ; and to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Both the Doctor and Mrs. Young are members of the Episcopal church.

REAR ADMIRAL LUCIEN YOUNG .-- Especially fortunate in the eminence and character of her citizens, Kentucky has no more worthy or honored name upon the list of her distin- guished men than that of Rear Admiral Lucien Young, a native of Lexington. Although comparatively few are the men that attain na- tional prominence, he holds distinctive prece- dence as one of the most fearless, brave and efficient officers of the United States Navy, his services on both land and sea having met with recognition from those holding superior rank in military, naval and civil life. He was born in Lexington, Kentucky, March 31. 1852, a son of Richard B. and Jane (O'Neale) Young, and brother of Dr. Frank O'Neale Young, of Lexington, in whose sketch, on an- other page of this volume, further parental and ancestral history may be found.

Entering the United States Naval Academy, to which he had been appointed, June 21, 1869, Lucien Young was there graduated May 31, 1873, and on July 23, the same year, he was ordered aboard the United States steamer "Alaska," then about to start for the European

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station. During the rough passage across the Atlantic he displayed rare courage and pluck by jumping overboard to rescue from a wa- tery grave a disabled seaman who was knocked overboard from aloft, his heroic act being warmly applauded by those who witnessed it and commended in a general order by the sec- retary of the navy, and by the commanding ad- miral of the squadron. At the same time the New York Benevolent and Life Saving Insti- tution awarded him a gold medal of the first class and the Humane Society of Massachu- setts gave him a framed certificate in com- memoration of his bravery. On the same voy- age, while the vessel lay in Lisbon harbor, this young hero won added laurels by going out in a small steam launch at the risk of his own life to rescue five persons from a vessel that had been capsized and was drifting in the rough sea, bottom upward, near the mouth of the Tagus river. Accomplishing his purpose, Mr. Young received the public thanks of the authorities of Lisbon and the King of Por- tugal, while he declined from the Portuguese government a medal suggested as a token of respect and admiration.

Detached from the "Alaska" at Lisbon Au- gust 5, 1875, Lucien Young was ordered on board the United States steamer Hartford, where he remained until October 16, 1875, when he was sent to Annapolis for examina- tion and promotion to ensign, his promotion to date from July 16, 1874. Again, while on board the United States steamer Huron, to which he was ordered February 29, 1876, he showed marked heroism as a life saver, and won national fame for his fearless conduct in time of great peril. On the morning of No- vember 24, 1877, the Huron was wrecked off Nag's Head, on the North Carolina coast, en- dangering the lives of all on board, many per- sons being drowned. In the desperate efforts to save the lives of men, Ensign Young, with- out a thought of danger to himself, bravely swam ashore on the balsa, a perilous feat, tak. ing with him a line, with which thirty-four of the one hundred and thirty-two men and officers of the Huron were saved, while the remaining ninety-eight, including Commodore Ryan, were lost. The press of the country was unstinted in its praise of the Ensign's bravery, and he was in many other ways com- mended and rewarded. The Secretary of the Navy sent Ensign Young a letter of thanks; from the Life Saving Service of the United States he received a gold medal of the first class, under an act of Congress; the state of Kentucky. presented her beloved son with a sword, and the Kentucky legislature, by a resolution unanimously adopted, made him an

honorary member of that body, an honor which had been conferred upon no other man except- ing Henry Clay ; subsequently, under a special act of Congress, he was nominated by the Pres- ident to be advanced to a Master, the act there- to being confirmed by the Senate, the promo- tion to date from November 24, 1877, the date of the wreck of the Huron, that having been the very first time in the history of the Navy when such an honor had been bestowed upon an American sailor in time of peace.

During the Paris Exposition Mr. Young had charge of a detachment of sailors and marines there on duty, and as a testimonial to the high esteem which his faithful perform- ance of duty and his personal deportment evoked the Commissioner general of the Expo- sition sent him a complimentary letter and tendered him the medal of the Loyal Legion of France, the former of which he gracefully received, although he declined the medal. At the close of the Exposition he returned to the United States steamer, the "Portsmouth," which was attached to the Training Squadron, and returned home. He was afterward Aid to the Secretary of the Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting Department of the Navy for two years, later serving on board the Mon- tauk, and on December 5, 1882, was assigned to the Kearsarge, on which he cruised to the West Indies, later joining the training ship Minnesota.

On March 3, 1883, he was appointed lieu- tenant of the junior grade, and served faith- fully in various positions, at Panama, with the Pacific Squadron, and on the store ship On- ward at Callao, Peru, where, on October 17, 1884, he was transferred to the Shenandoah, and entrusted with the duty of protecting American interests during the Peruvian revo- lution of the spring of 1885. In October, 1886, he was ordered to Washington for ex- amination and for promotion, and was commis- sioned full lieutenant to date from May I, 1884, when he was ordered to the Shenandoah.

Ordered to the United States steamer Bos- ton in February, 1890, Lieutenant Young was in the Hawaiian Islands during the revolution which resulted in the overthrow of the Ha- waiian monarchy, having command of the ar- tillery brigade which engaged in the protection of American residents and property in Hono- lulu. In December, 1897, he was ordered to the Alert, and fitted her out for a survey of the western approach to the proposed Nicara- gua canal, but being taken ill at Acapulco, Mexico, was forced to give up the command, and was taken to the Naval Hospital at Mare Island.

During the war with Spain, although still on

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sick leave, the Lieutenant applied for and was given the command of the United States steamer "Hist," and joined Admiral Samp- son's fleet off Santiago, Cuba, where he had command of three steamers, the "Hist," the "Hornet" and the "Wompatauck." On June 30, 1898, this little squadron silenced the forts and land batteries at Nicaro, and sunk one of the enemy's gunboats. The same day this same brave squadron won the battle at Manza- nillo, putting out of commission four forts, two sand batteries and rifle trenches, while several gunboats, armed pontoons and three transports were sunk and destroyed. The Lieutenant's boat was hit eleven times that day by heavy guns. The Lieutenant subsequently had several engagements with the enemy's bat- teries and land forces at Santa Cruz, Jucaro, Trinidad and Casilda, inside the Keys, and along the south corner of Cuba, and with the "Hist" took part in the battle at Santiago, for his efficient services being complimented by the Commander-in-Chief and by the Chief of Staff. He was likewise awarded the highest medal by the Naval Department, with four bars attached, and was advanced in numbers for "extraordinary heroism" in battle, being the only officer so honored.

Subsequently ordered back to Cuba, Lieu- tenant Young was for four years commander of the naval station and captain of the port of Havana, having charge of the entire ma- rine jurisdiction of Cuba. For the ability and high executive qualities which he there dis- played he received commendatory letters from the Governor General and personal congratu- lations from the President of the United States, while from the mayor and city council he received letters expressing commendation and gratitude.

Detached from duty in Cuba, Commander Young was a member of the Naval Board at Washington until March 5, 1902, when he as- sumed charge of the Ninth Lighthouse district, with headquarters at Chicago. In 1904 he was in command of the naval forces on the Isthmus of Panama, and in 1905 had command of the steamer Bennington, and avoided a serious ac- cident in San Diego harbor, California, by his coolness, self-possession and good seamanship, having his vessel beached on a mud flat, this saving lives and property. While in California Commander Young did heroic service in sav- ing life and property during the memorable earthquake and fire that destroyed San Fran- cisco. Relieved from duty at Mare Island December 15, 1909, he returned to Lexington. On February 19. 1910, he was ordered to the Navy Yard in Pensacola. Florida, and there, March 17, 1910. he was promoted to the grade

of Rear Admiral, being next to the youngest officer of that grade.

The naval record of Rear Admiral Young is without blemish, his entire career having been marked by sincerity of purpose and heroic devotion to duty, and is one of honor to him- self and reflects credit not only upon his na- tive city and state, but upon the whole country.

OTIS V. RILEY .- Americans are beginning to realize the moral as well as the historical significance of genealogical foundations. A nation which relies upon the records of its homes for its national character cannot afford to ignore the value of genealogical investiga- tion as one of the truest sources of patriotism. The love of home inspires the love of country. There is a wholesome influence in genealogical research which cannot be over-estimated. Moreover, there is a deep human interest in it. Otis V. Riley, who holds distinctive pres- tige as one of the ablest attorneys in Bell county, Kentucky, maintains his home at Pine- ville, and he is descended from a distinguished and brilliant ancestry, the original progenitor of the name in America having come to this country in the early Colonial era of our na- tional history.

Ninien Riley was born and reared in Eng- land and he was a noted member of the clerical order of that kingdom prior to his emigra- tion to America. He first settled in Maryland, where he lived a pioneer existence and endured the various privations and hardships of life in a new world. Owing to the prevailing re- ligious and social differences existing in that colony, however, and also influenced by the greater prosperity of the Carolinas, he re- moved with his family to North Carolina about 1730. He reared to maturity a large family of children, among whom was Garrard Riley, who married Miss Frances Wright, a daughter of John Wright, who was an early settler in North Carolina. Frances (Wright) Riley had two brothers, James and William Wright, both of whom were valiant soldiers in the War of the Revolution, in which the former was a general. Garrard and Frances Riley became the parents of thirteen children, whose names are here entered in the respective order of birth : Clark, Ninien, John, Elizabeth, Sallie, William, Williams, Amelia, James, Frances, Garrard, Zack and Polly. Of the above chil- dren, Ninien Riley, second in order of birth, was born in Virginia, in December, 1789. After attaining to years of maturity, he entered upon an apprenticeship at the mechanic's trade and when he reached his legal majority he emi- grated to Fayette county, Kentucky, where he was employed at mechanical work, wagon mak- ing and blacksmithing. He wedded Sarah

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Hinds, of Fayette county, a daughter of Sam- uel and Jane (Francis) Hinds, the former of whom was a native of Maryland and a soldier in the great struggle for independence, he hav- ing belonged to the command which received and welcomed General Lafayette when he first landed on the American shore. Samuel Hinds joined in the universal shout that went up at the time from the destitute colonists when they beheld the wheelbarrows of gold being wheeled ashore. He was a farmer by occupation and belonged to the Blue Stocking Presbyterians. His old homestead on the wa- ters of Hickman creek in Fayette county is still in the possession of his lineal descendants. To Ninien and Sarah (Hinds) Riley were born ten children, namely: Sam.el H., Frances, Martha, Clark W., Nancy E., Ninien S., John Marcus, Sarah E. and two who died in infancy. Ninien Riley was a colonel of the Kentucky State Militia from 1824 until the time of his death, in 1840.

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A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 89

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