USA > Kentucky > Biographical cyclopedia of the commonwealth of Kentucky > Part 106
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JOHN M. BROOKS, President and Resident J Manager of the Middlesborough Town and Lands Company, son of Joseph A. Brooks and Margaret McMillan, was born near Knoxville, Tennessee, October 28, 1840. His father was born, lived and died in the same house, covering a period of seventy-eight years; was a farmer, a general in the State Militia, and an elder in the Presbyterian Church; a man of strong character- istics and of influence; a Christian gentleman and a distinguished citizen. His older brothers were in the Indian wars, and they all endured many privations incident to pioneer times.
Moses Brooks (grandfather), a native of Rock- bridge County, Virginia, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, in Campbell's Virginia Reg- iment, and at the close of that war removed to Abington, Virginia, and soon after settled in Tennessee, near Knoxville, where his son, Gen. Joseph A. Brooks, and his grandson, Captain John M. Brooks, were born.
John Brooks (great-grandfather), a native of
the north of Ireland, of Scotch-Irish parentage, came to the United States and located first in Pennsylvania, next in Rockbridge County, Vir- ginia, and finally in Washington County, Ten- nessee, when that was a part of North Carolina.
Margaret McMillan Brooks (mother), now a resident of Knoxville, was born in Knox County, in 1808, and the history of her father and grand- father was almost identical with that of her hus- band's people.
John McMillan, grandfather of Capt. Brooks, was a farmer in Knox County, Tennessee, where he died in 1841.
·Alexander McMillan (great-grandfather), a na- tive of the north of Ireland, of Scotch-Irish de- scent, came over with John Brooks and was with them in their removals and neighbors in their homes. The McMillan family belonged to the most intelligent class of people in that part of Ireland, which was noted for educational advan- tages and the pure, moral and religions charac- ter of the citizens. They were Presbyterians of the strictest sect; and many of them who came to America were known as Reformed Presbyteri- ans or Covenanters. Undoubtedly Captain Brook's ancestors on both sides of the house be- longed to those old Scotch Covenanters, than whom no better people ever lived.
Captain Brooks had the usual experience of the farmer's son, working more than going to school. After the country schools, he attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, and before graduating enlisted as a private in the Confederate army, Company I, Second Tennessee Infantry, known as Asby's Regiment; was soon promoted to aide-de-camp, with the rank of cap- tain, on Colonel Scott's staff-who was in com- mand of a brigade-serving in that capacity dur- ing the war; was three times wounded and par- ticipated in many hard fought battles.
Following the close of the war, he was for sev- eral years engaged in the drug business in Knox- ville; his store was destroyed by fire and he then engaged in the real estate and insurance business in that city until April, 1889, when he joined the stampede for Middlesborough; be- came interested in Middlesborough Town Com- pany and in July was made president and resi-
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dent manager of that company, which position he occupies to-day, the name of the company having been changed, however, to the Middlesborough Town and Lands Company. This corporate company has expended nearly five millions of dollars, English money, in developing the town, and Captain Brooks has had the entire manage- ment of the work, and the disbursement of the money. Further remarks as to his business abil- ity or his integrity, honesty and faithfulness are unnecessary. He has accomplished a grand work, the history of which would make a volume.
Captain Brooks was married (first) in 1868 to Sopha Park, daughter of Rev. James Park, D. D., of the First Presbyterian Church, Knoxville. Mrs. Brooks died in 1886, leaving three sons and one daughter: James Park; Alma, wife of John Wasson of Fayette County, Kentucky; John M. and Robert C. Brooks.
Captain Brooks was married (second) in 1892 to Amelia McDowell, daughter of Joseph Mc- Dowell, formerly of Danville, now of Perryville, Kentucky. They are members of the Presby- terian Church.
G EORGE MOSBY DAVISON of Stanford, I Judge of Lincoln County, was born in Stanford, Kentucky, March 23, 1855, and is the son of Edward M. Davison of Washington County, Virginia, and Martha (Vaughan) Dav- ison of Lincoln County, Kentucky. Edward M. Davison was the son of Mosby Davison of Bed- ford County, Virginia, and Dorothy Tankersley of Caroline County, Virginia. Mosby Davison was the son of Davison and Sarah Mosby of Bedford County, Virginia. Dorothy Tankers- ley was the daughter of George Tankersley and Dorothy Roy of Caroline County, Virginia. George Tankersley was the son of George Tank- ersley, Sr., and Mary Long of King George County, Virginia, and George Tankersley, Sr., was the son of John Tankersley and Ann Beverly of King George County. The Beverlys, Mosbys, Longs, Tankersleys and Roys are ancient famil- ies of Virginia. The Tankersleys came from about Yorkshire, England, to Caroline County, Virginia, about the year 1715. (See Bishop Meade's History of Old Families of Virginia.)
Martha Vaughan Davison, mother of Judge Davison, is the daughter of Zachariah Vaughan of Culpeper County, Virginia, and Harriet Ball of Garrard County, Kentucky. Zachariah Vaughan was of Scotch-Irish extraction and the son of Joseph Vaughan and Elizabeth Weaver of Culpeper County, Virginia. Harriet Ball was the daughter of Rev. John Ball and Margaret John- son of Garrard County, Kentucky. Margaret Johnson Ball was the daughter of Rev. Job Johnson and Sarah Mosby of Virginia. As to Revs. John Ball and Job Johnson see A. H. Redford's History of Early Methodism in Ken- tucky. Rev .. Job Johnson and John Ball came from Rockingham or Buckingham County, Vir- ginia, to Garrard County, Kentucky, about 1785.
Judge Davison was educated in the common schools and Stanford Academy, and in the pri- vate school of Prof. J. B. Myers, an eminent and successful educator; read law in the office of J. S. & R. W. Hocker and obtained license to practice April 26, 1880, and began practicing in January, 1881, at Stanford; was appointed to a position in the internal revenue service under the late Col. A. M. Swope of the Lexington District, which he filled till August, 1883, when he was transferred to the Seventh District under the late General W. J. Landrom, and resigned in October, 1885, and resumed the practice of law at Stanford. During his four years in the internal revenue service he filled many important and difficult assignments and gained the reputation of being a most effi- cient, valuable and painstaking officer; and was highly esteemed by his superior officers and the business public; in 1885 he again began the prac- tice of law at Stanford; in June, 1886, he was unanimously selected chairman of the Lincoln County Republican Committee, which position he has continuously filled by unanimous elections. In September, 1886, he was appointed Master Commissioner of the Lincoln Circuit Court by Judge T. Z. Morrow, which position he held until March 5, 1893. At the August election, 1887, Judge Davison was elected to the Legislature from Lincoln County, as a Republican, defeating Dr. J. D. Pettus, the Democratic nominee, being the first Republican elected to the Legislature from Lincoln County; in the Legislature of 1887-
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88 he was placed on important committees of the house, and was one of the Republican leaders of that session; in 1888 he was unanimously chosen as the Republican elector for the Eighth Dis- trict and again in 1892, and in both of the Harri- son campaigns. He was a valuable organizer and speaker in both the Eighth and Tenth Districts. Judge Davison was one of the charter members of the Republican League of Kentucky. In every campaign since 1883 he has been prominent in Republican politics. As an organizer he has no superior, perhaps, in the state, and his services are always in demand, though he is modest and unassuming and has never pushed himself to the front. In 1893 he declined the nomination for State Senator in this Republican District and again in 1894 he declined the nomination for Con- gress, preferring to give all of his time to his law practice, but the Republicans of Lincoln County in 1894 unanimously nominated him for County Judge. After a bitter contest he was elected over his clever and popular opponent, J. Walker Givins-the Democratic nominee-by a majority of one hundred and sixty, overcoming a Democratic majority of four hundred and re- ceiving more votes than any person on either ticket. His popularity is fully attested by his election to the Legislature and County Judge in a county usually four hundred Democratic. Al- though Judge Davison has given much time and labor to politics in the past ten years, he has re- tained a fair law practice and has been engaged in many important cases.
JOHN R. SIMPSON, attorney for the Mid- dlesborough Town and Land Company, and leading lawyer of that city, son of Judge William Simpson and Virginia Gilpin, was born in Glas- gow, Kentucky, April 26, 1852. His father was born in Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1818; was educated in Jefferson College, Washington Coun- ty, in that state; came to Kentucky in 1836; was engaged in teaching in Jefferson County near the present site of Lakeland Asylum for the Insane, for five years; was a writer in the office of the Clerk of the Court of Appeals for two years; was admitted to the bar and went to Burksville and practiced law until 1850, when he removed to
Glasgow, and entering politics, was presidential elector in 1860 on the Bell and Everett ticket; was elected to the State Senate in 1863, and before completing his term of office was appointed in 1865 by Governor Bramlette to fill the unex- pired term of Judge Joshua F. Bullitt, in the Court of Appeals. At the ensuing August elec- tion he was elected to succeed himself, and served as Chief Justice until his death, February 21, 1866.
George Simpson (grandfather) was a native of Scotland, and was a cabinetmaker in Washing- ton County, Pennsylvania, where he died, having reached a good old age.
Virginia Gilpin (mother) was a native of King William County, Virginia; was married to Wil- liam Simpson in 1848 and died in Glasgow in 1864, aged thirty-nine years. She and Judge Simpson were members of the Presbyterian Church and she especially was known for her piety and lovely Christian character.
Jolın R. Simpson, left an orphan at an early age, was educated in Louisville; graduated from the law department of the University of Louis- ville in 1872 and practiced law in that city until 1876, when he removed to Columbia, Adair County, where he practiced his profession; was elected County Attorney in 1878, and after com- pleting his term of office removed, in 1884, to Williamsburg, Whitley County, and was soon recognized as one of the leading lawyers of that section; was Democratic Elector in the presi- dential campaign of 1888; and in 1889 was em- ployed by the companies then engaged in devel- oping a section of country in and around Cum- berland Gap, and especially in building the city of Middlesborough. He began at the very in- ception of this great enterprise, taking charge of the legal business of the capitalists who were interested in the development of the resources of the section, and before there was any town on the present site of Middlesborough; and while he has since become a resident of the city among the hills and has been engaged in the general practice of law there, he has continued in charge of the legal business of the original company, now changed to the Middlesborough Town and Lands Company, the K. C. & G. L. and Belt
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Railroads and other companies and corporations that are identified with the city and its improve- ment.
In this stupendous enterprise he has found ample scope for his talent and ability as an attor- ney, and the work of his department performed under his direction has given great satisfaction to the various companies interested. These duties have been varied and in many instances difficult, requiring a high order of legal ability, and he has proven himself equal to the task.
Mr. Simpson was married in 1880 to Bettie Cravens, daughter of Timolean Cravens, a promi- nent attorney of Columbia, Kentucky. They have three sons and one daughter: William, John E., Reid J. and Mary V. Mr. Simpson is a Royal Arch and Scottish Rite Mason, is deacon in the Baptist Church and was Sunday school super- intendent for eighteen years.
W JACKSON HISSEM of Newport, attor- . ney-at-law and State Senator from Campbell County, was born in Tyler County, West Virginia, March 12, 1863. He is a de- scendant of ancestry who were active soldiers of the Revolutionary War, and the War of 1812. He has some of the blood in his veins of the old Pennsylvania Dutch stock, from which state his grandparents moved in the beginning of this century to the wilds of West Virginia. When the subject of this sketch was seven years of age he moved with his parents to Campbell County, this state, where his father engaged actively in agri- cultural and mercantile pursuits. Young Hissem was of great service to his father, both behind the counter and upon the farm, where he worked with might and main during the spring, summer and autumn, attending the public school during the winter. He later attended a business college in Cincinnati, where he more firmly laid the foundation for a business career; engaged in mer- cantile business for himself, when he reached his majority ; often served in local offices, where he was chosen by his fellow citizens.
In 1891 he was nominated by the Republicans to make the race for the Legislature; was elected and served during the Long Parliament, as that
session is known. At the end of that session he was nominated by acclamation in the convention of his party for the State Senate, and elected, de- feating an eminent lawyer and jurist. He was the youngest member of that body, and having drawn the short term, was re-elected in Novem- ber, 1895, by the largest majority ever accorded a candidate in the county.
After a course of law covering a considerable period, Mr. Hissem was admitted to practice be- fore the Court of Appeals in 1894, since which time he has practiced his profession at his home in Newport. He has never been defeated for any office to which he aspired. He has always been active in the councils of the Republican party.
He was married in 1887 to Nettie M. Pickens, daughter of Robert P. Pickens of Campbell Coun- ty. They have two daughters as the fruit of that union: Leva, aged seven, and Ethel, aged five.
His father, Levi Hissem, was a native of West- moreland County, Pennsylvania, and removed with his father to what is now Tyler County, West Virginia, when four years of age, and lived there until 1870, when he came to Campbell County. While in West Virginia he was a farm- er and largely interested in the woolen, flour and lumber business. He was a Democrat prior to the Civil War, but since that time he has been an enthusiastic and consistent Republican. While deeply interested in political questions, he has never been a politician. His father, Jesse His- sem, was a native of Maryland, who removed to Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania; and lived there a number of years before locating in Tyler County, West Virginia. Before his death, in 1872, he removed to Meigs County, Ohio. His ancestors, as far as known, were Americans, having been among the first settlers in the United States. W. J. Hissem's great-grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war.
Elizabeth Morgan Hissem (mother) was born in Virginia in 1820, and is living with her husband in Campbell County. They are members of the Methodist Church, and have been identified with the church work for over a half century.
Joseph Morgan (maternal grandfather) was born in Monongalia County (now) West Vir- ginia, in 1792, and died in Tyler County, West Vir-
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ginia, in 1884, aged ninety-two years. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was a relative of Morgan, the Indian fighter, mentioned in his- tory. He was a farmer, a large dealer in cattle and a very successful business man.
H ENRY KIRBY BOURNE, lawyer, of New Castle, Kentucky, son of Thomas J. Bourne and Sallie Pryor Beard, was born in Shel- by County, Kentucky, September 2, 1862. He graduated from Center College, in Danville, Ken- tucky, in 1884, and from 1884 to 1886 taught Latin and Greek in the Henry Male and Female Academy. In 1886 he entered the law depart- ment of the University of Virginia, graduating in 1887, and immediately began the practice of law in Henry and adjoining counties.
He is also somewhat interested in farming. Mr. Bourne is a man of fine natural ability and was a close student, as his high standing at col- lege will testify. He was valedictorian of his class at college and was class orator in the twenty- second of February exercises. He also won the Sophomore prizes in English literature and in Latin. Mr. Bourne is a Mason and a member of the Christian Church and his political affiliations are with the democracy.
Thomas J. Bourne (father) was born in Henry County, Kentucky, July 24, 1830, and after his education in the common schools became a farmer and stockraiser. He commenced flatboat- ing in 1852, making thirteen trips to New Orleans between 1852 and 1858, carrying all kinds of pro- duce, and at the same time shipping stock to the Southern markets.
In 1850 he removed to Carroll County, where he remained until 1861, when he returned to Shel- by County, but in 1863 he again changed his loca- tion to Henry County, where he is now living. He is a Democrat in politics and a member of the Christian Church. He was married (first) in 1861 to Sally Pryor Beard, who was born in Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky, June, 1834, and died December, 1870. She was educated in the private schools of Fayette County and was the mother of two children: Thomas Pryor, who was born July 9, 1866, and died May 21, 1878, and Henry K. Bourne, the subject of this sketch.
Mr. Bourne was married (second) to Bettie Beazley, who was born in Henry County in 1838. She was the daughter of Augustus and Sallie (Webb) Beazley. Mr. Bourne is of English an- cestry. He is a Mason and a man of sterling qualities; a highly respected and prominent agri- culturist.
Ben H. Bourne (grandfather) a native of Cul- peper County, Virginia, came to Kentucky when very young with his parents; was a school teacher in early life, but afterwards was a farmer and was greatly interested in fine stock; removed from Henry to Carroll County in 1850; was a Whig in politics, and in religion a member of the Christian Church. He married, in 1828, Julia Waters, daughter of William Waters, and a native of Hen- ry County, Kentucky. She died in Henry County in 1883. Ben H. Bourne died in Carroll County in 1852.
Joseph M. Beard (maternal grandfather) was born in Fayette County, Kentucky, and edu- cated in Lexington; was a farmer by occupation; removed to Oldham County and engaged in farming and merchandising at Beards Station; was a Democrat and a Catholic; married Sally Foree, a native of Shelby County, Kentucky, daughter of William P. Foree and Elizabeth Major Foree. Their children are all deceased, except Dr. William F. Beard of Shelbyville, Dr. E. F. Beard of Shelby County, and Mrs. Thresa Gregory (Addie Beard) of Shelby County.
G EORGE B. EASTIN, Attorney-at-Law of Louisville, enjoys the distinction of repre- senting the dignity of his profession in an un- usual degree. His appointment by Governor Brown to fill a vacancy in the Court of Appeals, February 22, 1895, called forth expressions of approval from the members of the bar all over the state. The Louisville attorneys were espe- cially hearty and sincere in their congratulations, for they knew the man and were able to judge of his fitness for the office to which he had been called, as if by inspiration. Gov. Brown could not have chosen a man of higher qualifications and it could not be said that there was in any sense a political significance in an appointment which had not been sought, and which would not
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have been made if the advice of politicians had been considered. Judge Eastin's friends were taken by surprise, if he was not himself, and the congratulations he received were of more value to him than the office. It was an honor which came as a recognition of true worth and ability, in one whose highest ambition had been to make a good name as a thorough gentleman in the practice of law, and having established himself in the estimation of bench, bar and public, he would have been content to remain; but the call to a higher place was accepted as a compliment to his dignified modesty and as a recognition of those qualities which count for little in a bluster- ing electioneering campaign, but which make the capable lawyer and a faithful judge. His former teacher, Judge Muir, one of the senior members of the Louisville bar, expressed the sentiments of the professional brethren of Judge Eastin in these words: "This appointment gives me in- expressible pleasure. I have known Major East- in ever since he was admitted to the bar. He was one of my pupils when I was a professor in the law department of the University of Louis- ville. He was a good student and had a fine legal mind. I predicted then what has since proved to be true, that he would attain eminence at the bar. He is a gentleman of courage and robust integrity and will prove himself an effi- cient and most admirable judge. In my opinion Gov. Brown has made an excellent selection." Judge Eastin filled the short term on the Appel- late bench with honor to himself and the people whom he represented, showing that he was not only a man of a high order of intelligence, but possessed a legal mind that would adorn any court in the country. A few months of faithful service closed his official career, and he resumed his work at the bar in January, 1896, with the same quiet indifference to public recognition and hon- or that had characterized his professional career prior to his elevation to the bench.
Judge Eastin was a gallant soldier on the losing side in the war of the '60's, and came out of the strife, like a good many other young men, with- out means and out of a job. He served in Gen. Morgan's command as a captain, and the military title of major, by which he is familiarly known,
was given him by courtesy. He found his way to Louisville, after the war, at the age of about twenty years, and in 1867 was graduated from the Louisville Law School; began the practice of his profession, and soon made his way to a position in the front rank of the Louisville bar, where his record is spotless, and where he is known as a man of sterling integrity. He mar- ried Fanny Castleman, a sister of Gen. John B. Castleman, with whom he is now traveling in Europe.
M ARQUIS R. LOCKHART, Common- wealth Attorney of Campbell County and a leading member of the Newport bar, son of Sarah (Richardson) and Henry Lockhart, was born in Lexington, Kentucky, November 13, 1846.
His father, Henry Lockhart, was born in the northern part of Ireland and came to the United States with his parents when he was twelve years of age. They located on a farm in New York, and Henry remained there until he was of age, and then came to Lexington and engaged in stock trading, going South every year to sell horses and mules, which he bought in Kentucky. He owned a farm near Lexington, upon which he lived until 1861, and after the close of the Civil War he went to Paris and lived with his son until his death, which occurred in 1893, in the ninety- second year of his age. He was raised a Pres- byterian, but connected himself with the Christian denomination after coming to Kentucky.
Sarah Richardson Lockhart (mother) was a native of Montgomery County; was a member of the Christian Church, and died at the age of sixty years. Her father, Marquis Richardson, was born in Clark County, Kentucky, but spent the most of his life on his farm in Montgomery Coun- ty, six miles from Mt. Sterling, where he died, aged eighty years.
Marquis R. Lockhart attended the public schools in Lexington, the Kentucky University at Harrodsburg before the war, and was one year in the University of Lexington after the close of the war.
In May, 1862, he enlisted as a private soldier in the Confederate army, and served until his command was surrendered at Washington,
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Georgia, in April, 1865. He was with General Basil Duke's regiment in Morgan's Indiana and Ohio raid; was wounded in the battle at Bull's Gap, East Tennessee, and saw some sharp fight- ing on many other occasions.
He was not quite twenty-one when he returned to Lexington, and attended the university one year to pick up some of the lost threads of his education. He then began civil life as an edu- cator; taught in the public schools of Mt. Sterling for one year; turned aside for one year and ac- quired valuable experience as editor of the Mt. Sterling Sentinel; taught in the academy at Sharpsburg for one year; was principal of the Bethel Academy for Boys at Nicholasville for three years, and, in 1878, having read law while engaged in teaching, he was admitted to the bar and began the practice of his profession in Owingsville, Bath County. He remained there for two years and then removed to Covington, where he gained a large and lucrative practice, remaining in that city for six or seven years, and then removed to Newport, where he has given his best efforts to the requirements of his voca- tion and with most gratifying results to himself and his friends.
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