A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 95

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 95

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estate of his father-in-law, continuing thus em- ployed until 1873. Locating then in Lexing- ton, Mr. Ambrose conducted a grocery the following three years, but since that time has been successfully engaged in the real estate business, operating extensively in realty.

Mr. Ambrose was united in marriage, in 1865, with Julia F. Robinson. She was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, February 16, 1849. Her father, Dr. John Robinson, was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, while his father, John Robinson, Sr., was born in West Virginia, near Harper's Ferry. Her great- grandfather, William Robinson, married Elea- nor Wright, and both, as far as known, were life-long residents of Virginia. John Robin- son, Sr., was one of the pioneer school teach- ers of Kentucky, and taught nearly all of his active life, having charge of schools in Bath, Fleming and Fayette counties. He died at the home of his son in Fayette county, aged seventy-five years. His wife, whose maiden name was Fanny Hudnut, was born in New Jersey, of French Huguenot ancestry. Dr. John Robinson, Mrs. Ambrose's father, took up the study of medicine as a young man, and after his graduation from a medical college in Columbus, Ohio, settled in Kentucky. He sub- sequently engaged in the practice of his pro- fession in Fayette, Clark and Madison coun- ties, acquiring an excellent reputation as a skil- ful physician. He spent his last years on his farm in Fayette county, passing away in 1863. Dr. Robinson married Mary J. McGee, who was born in Clark county, Kentucky, February 7, 1816. Her father, John McGee, was a na- tive of the same county, while her grand- father, David McGee, was born in Virginia, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and, like his ances- tors, was a strict Presbyterian in religion. One of the earlier settlers of Kentucky, David Mc- Gee bought fourteen hundred acres of land near Boonesboro, built a fort as a protection from the Indians, and, with the help of his slaves, cleared a large tract of land, on which he spent his remaining days. He was enter- prising, and, it is said, raised the first crop of corn grown in that part of Kentucky soil. John McGee, Mrs. Ambrose's maternal grand- father, was reared to agricultural pursuits, but having a natural talent for trading, dealt ex- tensively in live stock, and shipped produce of all kinds down the river to New Orleans. Sub- sequently settling in Boone county, Missouri, Fe embarked in mercantile business, but meet- ing with financial reverses, he took up teach- ing as a profession, and taught school from that time until his death. The maiden name of the wife of John McGee was Polly Bledsoe. She was born in Mason county, Kentucky. in

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September, 1793, a daughter of Benjamin and Isabella ( Thomas) Bledsoe, her mother hav- ing been a sister of the Sarah Thomas that married Samuel Harrison, brother of William Henry Harrison. Polly (Bledsoe) McGee died in Mason county, Kentucky, at the age of twenty-two years. The mother of Mrs. Ambrose died at the age of seventy-two years, leaving four children, namely: Dr. Marshall P. Robinson ; Julia Frances, wife of Mr. Am- brose; Justus A. Robinson, and Hugh Blair Robinson.

Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose have one son, Oscar B. Ambrose, an attorney in Lexington. Oscar B. Ambrose married Catherine McQuaid, and they are the parents of one child, David Mar- shall Ambrose. David Marshall Ambrose mar- ried Margaret A. Moore, and their only child, a son, is named David Teager Ambrose. True to the religious faith in which he was reared, Mr. Ambrose is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, while Mrs. Ambrose belongs to the Christian church.

GARRET DAVIS WILSON .- A man of un- doubted executive and business ability, thor- oughly acquainted with the more modern methods of horse breeding and raising, Garret Davis Wilson, of Lexington, Fayette county, holds high rank among the leading horsemen of the Blue Grass region, his estate, "The Iroquois Stock Farm," being known far and wide. A native Kentuckian, he was born in Bourbon county, the birthplace also of his father, Francis M. Wilson.

Jeremiah Wilson, grandfather of Mr. Wil- son, was born in old Virginia, of English an- cestry. Migrating as a young man to Ken- tucky, then a frontier state, he located in Bourbon county. Bnying timbered land lying about fourteen miles southeast of Paris, he hewed a farm from the forest, and was there engaged in tilling the soil and raising stock the remainder of his days. He married a Miss Trotter, a fair Virginia lassie, who proved a most efficient helpmate.

children, namely : Garret D., Mattie, Henry Clay, Richard E., Amanda D. and Fanny.

Obtaining his elementary education in the common schools of his native district, Garret D. Wilson subsequently attended the high school in Independence, Kentucky, there com- pleting his early studies. When ready to be- gin his active career he came to Lexington, Kentucky, to engage in the livery business, which, seemingly to him, offered great oppor- tunities to a man of energy and enterprise. Succeeding even beyond his expectations, Mr. Wilson soon became an important factor in the business affairs of this part of the country, developing a most profitable industry and be- coming a leading dealer in high-class horses. He is a large owner of cars built for the special purpose of transporting horses, and has shipped standard-bred horses to every civilized country on the globe. The Iroquois Stock Farm is situated on the Versailles Pike, two miles from Lexington, and is finely equipped. Mr. Wilson's stable, three hundred feet long and sixty feet wide, is conveniently arranged, well lighted and kept scrupulously clean. Here he has accommodations for two hundred horses, and ample room for his many vehicles of all kinds.

Mr. Wilson married in 1880 Margaret M. Maguire, who was born in Lexington, a daughter of P. F. and Mary Maguire. (See sketch of Dr. J. D. Maguire for family rec- ord.) Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, namely: Margaret, Louise and Garret D., Jr.

Characterized by the same mental vigor and business aptitude that distinguished his an- cestors, Mr. Wilson holds a foremost position among the citizens of prominence, and is among the more active in the forwarding of enterprises conducive to the general welfare. He is now vice president of the Phoenix Na- tional bank; a director in the Henry Clay Fire Insurance Company, and secretary of the Ken- tucky Horse Breeders' Association. IIe is prominent and active in the Masonic frater- nity, belonging to Lexington Lodge, No. I, A. F. & A. M .; to Lexington Chapter, No. I, R. A. M; to Webb Commandery, No 2, K. T .; and to the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of Phantom Lodge, No. 15,

Reared to agricultural pursuits, Francis M. Wilson inherited a portion of his father's estate, which he managed successfully until 1895. Selling ont in that year, he bought a farm near Cynthiana, Harrison county, Ken- tucky, and was there a resident the remainder of his life, passing away in 1908, in the eighty- . K. of P., and of Lexington Lodge, No. 89, cighth year of his age. His wife, whose B. P. O. E. name before marriage was Eliza Ann Duncan, DAVID HUNT JAMES .- One of the most highly esteemed and respected residents of Fayette county, Kentucky, David Hunt James has been prominently identified with its devel- opment and progress, having, as opportunity occurred, given his influence to encourage the establishment of enterprises conducive to the was born at Mount Sterling, Montgomery county, Kentucky, eighty-six years ago. Her father, Traverse Duncan, a native of Ken- tucky, married Lucy Rogers, who was born in Virginia. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Fran- cis M. Wilson was blessed by the birth of six

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public welfare. He has not only been asso- ciated with the advancement of its agricul- tural prosperity as an extensive agriculturist, but as president for upward of a quarter of a century of the Second National Bank of Lex- ington, has been associated with its financial interests. He was born in Fayette county, near Lexington, a son of the late John Graves James.

His paternal grandfather, Rev. Daniel James, was born and bred in Culpeper county, Virginia, where the larger part of his life was spent. Showing strong religious tendencies from childhood up, he prepared himself for the ministry, and was for many years an active preacher in the Baptist denomination. He was also engaged in agricultural pursuits, and followed the miller's trade, his farm and grist mill being located in Culpeper county, Vir- ginia, near the James City Postoffice. When well advanced in years, he came to Kentucky, and spent his last days in Boone county with his son, Henry Field James. His wife, whose maiden name was Nancy Graves, was born in Virginia, of English ancestry.

One of a large family of children, John Graves James was born and reared in Cul- peper county, Virginia, and there educated. On attaining his majority, he migrated to Mis- sissippi, locating in the town of Rodney, Jef- ferson county, where he was engaged in mer- cantile business until 1842. Coming in that year to Fayette county, Kentucky, he bought a farm lying eight miles southwest of Lexing- ton and engaged in general farming and stock raising on a somewhat extensive scale. Enter- prising and eminently capable as a business man, he subsequently organized and operated the Agricultural and Deposit Bank of Lex- ington, placing the institution on a substantial foundation. He continued his residence, how- ever, on his farm, living there until his death, in 1874, at the age of seventy-seven years.

John Graves James was twice married. He married, first, Anna Skinner, a native of Mis- sissippi and a daughter of Richard Skinner, who was born on the eastern shore of Mary- land, and after his removal to Church Hill, Jefferson county, Mississippi, operated a cotton plantation with slave labor. She died in 1848, in early womanhood. He married for his sec- ond wife Nancy Montgomery Coleman, who spent her entire life in Fayette county, Ken- tucky, her death occurring on the home farm in 1889. By his first marriage he was the father of four children, as follows: Ann Fliza, who died at the age of fourteen years ; Richard Skinner, who died in 1867; David Hunt, the special subject of this brief bio- graphical sketch, and Jane Payne, who married

John S. Phelps. By his second union, one child was born, Robert C. James, M. D., a practicing physician in New York city.

After laying an excellent foundation for his future education in the public schools of Fay- ette county, David Hunt James attended the Kentucky University, then located at Har- rodsburg. At the age of eighteen years he joined the Confederate service, enlisting in Company A, Second Regiment, Kentucky Volunteer Cavalry, which was commanded by General Duke. With his comrades he partici- pated in many engagements of the conflict, and on July 19, 1863, at Buffington's Island he was captured by the enemy and confined in the Federal prison at Camp Morton, later being transferred to the prison at Camp Doug- las. Being paroled in February, 1865, Mr. James was sent to Richmond, Virginia, and was there in the parole camp until the surren- der of the city.

Returning then on foot to Kentucky, Mr. James resumed farming on the old homestead, to the ownership of which he succeeded on the death of his father in 1874. He has been especially successful in his agricultural labors, in addition to general farming paying much at- tention to the breeding of thorough-bred Shorthorn cattle, and to the fattening of stock for export. In 1883 Mr. James, who is an able financier, became one of the organizers of the Second National Bank of Lexington, and was elected its president, a position which he has since filled with distinction, a period of twenty- seven years.

Mr. James married, May 29, 1877, Annie T. Gay, who was born in Woodford county, Kentucky, a daughter of John T. and Sarah ( Branham) Gay. Her paternal grandfather, John Gay, a native of Virginia, was one of the first permanent white settlers of Kentucky, having located in Woodford county as early as 1780, while the Branhams were among the earlier pioneers of Scott county, Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. James are the parents of five children, namely: John Gay, Jennie P., Sarah E., Annie T. and Robert Lee. John Gay James, the first-born, married Mande Met- calf, and they have one child, David Metcalf Tames. Mr. James is a member of John C. Breckinridge Camp, Confederate Veteran As- sociation. He is liberal in his religious views, and a contributor toward the support of the Christian church, to which Mrs. James be- longs.

JOHN T. JACKSON .- Worthy of special men- tion in this work is John T. Jackson, a well- known and prosperous business man of Lex- ington, Fayette countv. A son of James Wil- liam Jackson, he was born December 1I, 1863,

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and was reared in Bullitt county, Kentucky, coming from pioneer stock.

John Jackson, his grandfather, was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, of English an- cestors. At the age of eighteen years, fol- lowing the tide of emigration westward, he came to Kentucky, and for a time resided in Shelby county. He subsequently bought land in Spencer county, but did not stay there very long, not being satisfied with the location. Selling out his possessions in that locality, he purchased a farm lying about two miles from Shepardsville, Bullitt county, and there rounded out a useful life of more than four- score years. His wife, whose maiden name was Lydia Holloway, lived but sixty-five years. She bore him eight children, all of whom were reared to habits of industry and thrift.

James William Jackson was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, and as a boy received a practical training in the various branches of agriculture. When ready to settle in life he bought land in Bullitt county, near the Jeffer- son county line and but thirteen miles from Louisville. Laboring with energy, he cleared and improved a good farm, on which he re- sided until his death, in February, 1910, at the age of eighty years. He married Eliza- beth Holloway, who was born in Spencer county, Kentucky, where her parents, Major and Sarah (Whittaker) Holloway, were pio- neer settlers, moving there from their native state, Virginia. She passed to the higher life at the early age of forty-three years, leaving eight children, namely: Jennie, who married Professor E. A. Herrod, who is now teach- ing in Alva, Oklahoma; Mattie, wife of L. J. Stivers, of Jefferson county ; Alice, deceased, married Marion Stark, of Jefferson county ; Lydia; John T., the subject of this brief sketch ; Emma, wife of J. W. Gilmore, of Jef- ferson county ; Lulu, deceased, married J. W. Kennedy, of Spencer county; and Ollie, who married H. C. Cooper, of Bullitt county.

Having acquired his rudimentary education in the district schools, John T. Jackson com- pleted his early studies at the Transylvania University. When out of school he assisted in the care of the home farm and during his earlier years devoted his energies to farming. In October, 1888, he made a decided change of residence and occupation, coming to Lex- ington and embarking in the lumber business, with which he has since been actively identi- fied, his operations being now extensive and remunerative.

Mr. Jackson has been twice married. He married first. in 1886, Sally Hughes. She was born in Frankfort, Kentucky, a daughter

of William Johnson Hughes and a grand- daughter of Samuel Montgomery Hughes, both native-born Kentuckians. Her great-grand- father, Abijah Hughes, was born in Henry county, Virginia, in 1772, and, with his wife, whose maiden name was Susan Pace, mi- grated to Kentucky, becoming pioneers of Shelby county. Samuel Montgomery Hughes was born in Shelby county, Kentucky. He subsequently removed to Franklin county, and having bought a tract of land on Lawrence- burg Pike, seven miles from Frankfort, was there engaged in tilling the soil the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1862. He married Lucy Ballard, a daughter of Johnson Ballard, of Owen county. She survived him several years, dying at a good old age. Their children were six in number, as follows: Wil- liam J., Benjamin S., James Wyot, John F., Mary and Mildred E. Reared on the parental homestead, William Johnson Hughes began life for himself as a farmer, continuing thus employed a number of years, at the same time being engaged to some extent in the man- ufacture of lumber, having a saw mill on his farm. Subsequently he removed to Frank- fort, Kentucky, where he is now living retired from active pursuits.

William Johnson Hughes married Sarah Thompson, who was born in 1833 in Ken- tucky, a daughter of Lewis Aloyson Thomp- son, who, after his marriage, came from Vir- ginia, his native state, to Kentucky, locating in Lexington, where he spent his remaining days. Her grandfather, Charles Raphael Thompson, and her great-grandfather, Ra- phael Thompson, natives of Maryland, lived for many years in Saint Mary's county, Mary- land, from there removing to Virginia, where their remaining days were passed.

Mrs. Sally (Hughes) Jackson died Novem- ber 4, 1892, leaving two children, William Hughes and John T. Jr. Mr. Jackson married, second, in 1898, Margaret Sellier, who was born in Lexington, Kentucky, a daughter of Julius and Elizabeth (Ramsey) Sellier, and of their union one child has been born, Eliza- beth Jackson. Mr. Jackson is a man of ster- ling integrity, held in high esteem for his manly qualities, and is a faithful member of the Christian church. Mrs. Jackson is a de- vout Christian and a member of the Episcopal church.

NATHANIEL LEWIS BOSWORTH, M. D .- De- voting his energies to the best effort of human endeavor, Nathaniel Lewis Bosworth, M. D., has won prestige in the medical profession, his success being the direct result of the proper utilization of his natural talent and of his forces acquired by education and train-

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ing. Born on a farm in Fayette county, Ken- tucky, April 12, 1869, he is of pioneer descent and comes of honored New England ancestry, being lineally descended from two of the May- flower's passengers, John Alden and Miles Standish. He is in the sixth generation from Salah Bosworth, the first of his paternal an- cestors of whom we have record, the line of descent being Salah, I ; William, 2; Benijah, 3; Nathaniel, 4; Benijah, 5; and Nathan- iel L., 6.

Salah (1) Bosworth, presumably of Connec- ticut, married Rebecca Perkins, who rightfully claimed among her earlier ancestors both Miles Standish and John Alden. They reared five sons, among whom was William (2) Bos- worth.

Benijah (3) Bosworth was born and edu- cated in Connecticut, and there married Sarah Holcombe. Soon after that important event in his life he followed the march of civiliza- tion westward, crossing the Alleghanies at Pittsburg. There building a flatboat, he came in it down the Ohio river to Limestone, now Maysville, Kentucky, arriving there in 1781. Continuing his journey to Lexington, he pur- chased a tract of land and on the present site of the Cincinnati & Southern Railroad depot built a hotel, "The Elephant." Subsequently selling that property, he bought a large tract of land, which included the site of the fort at McConnell's Station. He was well edu- cated, a great reader, strictly temperate and always industrious. He improved a large part of his land, built a still and a grist mill, and though not a doctor, was frequently called upon to extract teeth and set broken bones. being in every capacity a valued and useful citizen. He built the first steamboat that plied the Kentucky river, an extended account of which is given in the history of Fayette county. He was a man of versatile talents, and took the first contract to pave sreets in Louisville. Vigorous of body as well as of mind, he at- tained the advanced age of eiglity-three years.

Born in Fayette county, Kentucky, Nathan- iel (4) Bosworth was reared to agricultural pursuits, and after his marriage located on his father-in-law's estate, and was there engaged in farming the remainder of his life, carry- ing on his work with the help of slaves. The farm is still in the family. The maiden name of his wife was Ann Muldrow. Her father, Colonel Muldrow, one of the first settlers of Fayette county, purchased land near the Ver- sailles Pike, and there spent his remaining days, the estate which he cleared and im- proved being still in the possession of his Bos- worth descendants.

Benijah (5) Bosworth, the Doctor's father,

was born in 1834 in Knoxville, Tennessee, where his parents were then visiting, and was but a few weeks old when they returned to the Muldrow estate, on which he grew to manhood. Subsequently inheriting the old homestead, he carried on general farining and stock raising with the assistance of slaves until they were freed, continuing his residence there until his death, June 10, 1906. Benijah Bosworth mar- ried, in 1857, Mary Cloud, who was born in Lexington, Kentucky, October 30, 1840, a daughter of John Cloud and granddaughter of Dr. Caleb W. Cloud, who was a son of Rev. Robert Cloud, an early pioneer of Lexington. Rev. Robert Cloud was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1755, and was there reared. He served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and while in the army was converted and was subsequently a preacher in the Methodist denomination for half a century, doing faith- ful work in the Master's vineyard. He was presiding elder in Philadelphia in 1790, and in New York city the following year. In 1792 he came to Lexington, Kentucky, and con- tinued his work of forming societies and building churches, his earnest labors being well rewarded. He was a forceful speaker, having a well-trained intellect and a remarkable gift of oratory. He spent his last days in Lex- ington, dying in 1833, his death being fol- lowed, six years later, by that of his wife, whose maiden name was Rachael Matson. Rev. Robert Cloud was a son of Robert, to whom in 1681 William Penn granted his father, William, 500 acres of land.

Dr. Caleb W. Cloud, Dr. Bosworth's ma- ternal great-grandfather, was born in Penn- sylvania and came with the family to Ken- tucky. He received an excellent education, and until his death, in 1849, was one of the leading physicians of Lexington. He was a noted preacher as well as a physician, and for many years filled the pulpit of the church which he erected with his own funds on Main street, between Spring street and Broadway. Warm-hearted and charitable, he did much good, and during the memorable cholora epi- demic gave his services willingly to the afflict- ed, gratis, relieving their sufferings as far as it was possible. He was prominent in Masonic circles, being a thirty-second degree Mason. He married a widow. Mrs. Mary (Wat- son) Plympton, who had by her marriage with Mr. Plympton one daughter, Har- riet Plympton. She was of English an- cestry, the emigrant ancestor of the Wat- son family having emigrated from Eng- land to America in Colonial days. She lived to the age of four-score years. Their son, John Cloud, the Doctor's maternal grand-

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father, spent his brief life of forty years in Fayette county. He married his step-sister, Harriet Plympton, who was born in Lexing- ton, a daughter of Charles and Mary (Wat- son ) Plympton, natives of Wiltshire, England, and residents of Lexington, Kentucky. She survived him, at her death, October 6, 1880, leaving five children, two of whom, Mary, widow of Benijah Bosworth, and John, are living in Lexington. John married Virginia Summers, a daughter of Dr. Summers, of Bath, and they have three children, Llewellyn, Mary and Elizabeth. Of the union of Benijah and Mary (Cloud) Bosworth nine children were born, namely : Henry M., ex-sheriff, ex- state treasurer and a farmer; Cloud, also en- gaged in farming; Joseph, an attorney and senator, Bell county, Kentucky ; Harriet ; Na- thaniel Lewis, an M. D .; Powell, president of the Postal Savings Bank; Clifford, Benijah, and Mary.

The preliminary education which Nathaniel Lewis Bosworth acquired in the public schools was further advanced by study at the Ken- tucky University, in Lexington. He then be- gan the study of medicine with Dr. Evans, and in 1892 was graduated from the medical department of the University of Louisville, in Louisville. Dr. Bosworth immediately located in Lexington, where he met with most en- couraging success as a general practitioner. Keenly alive to the necessity in these days of scientific progress in keeping in touch with all modern medical knowledge and methods, he took special courses in a New York polyclinic in 1898, and in 1900 crossed the Atlantic and studied for a year in London and Vienna. Returning to this country in 1901, the Doctor took up his specialty in dermatology in Lexing- ton, and with the exception of a few months of special work in Chicago hospitals has remained in this city. He has a fine practice, his many patrons having the utmost confidence in his professional skill and ability.

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A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III, Part 95

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