USA > Kentucky > Biographical cyclopedia of the commonwealth of Kentucky > Part 23
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Elizabeth Morris (mother) was born in Eng- land in 1795. She was a woman of great Chris- tian virtue and a beloved member of the Presby- terian Church. She died in 1860.
George W. Morris received a good English education in Troy, leaving school, however, when only fourteen years of age to clerk in a mercan- tile establishment, in which he remained until he was twenty-three years of age, in the meantime teaching school in the vicinity of Troy. When he came to Louisville he had the usual experience of the young man among strangers, and it was some time before he found employment. He was glad to accept a position as bookkeeper in the tobacco house of E. Holbrook at two hundred dollars a year. He was afterward bookkeeper in the wholesale dry goods house of Emory, Low & Co. for three years before embarking in the wholesale grocery business as a member of the
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firm of Fonda, Moore & Co. (See George H. Moore.) He continued in this for twenty years, conducting the business alone after the with- drawal of his partners, and was notably one of the most successful merchants of Louisville.
In 1867 he disposed of his grocery interests and for seventeen years was a member of the firm of George S. Moore & Co., large iron dealers, controlling the product of twenty-five blast fur- naces. He withdrew from this firm in 1885 when elected to his present position, president of the Louisville Gas Company, to which for ten years past he has given his best attention.
Few men have done more for the public good, without hope of reward or fear of criticism; and if one were to ask one hundred citizens to write the names of ten of the most worthy and popular citizens of Louisville, the name of George W. Morris would be near the top, if not first in every such list. His career has been characterized by great energy, prudence and liberality, controlled by a superior judgment and marked throughout by unquestioned integrity. Notwithstanding his devotion to business pursuits, he has given much attention to letters, acquiring an education, lim- ited in his youth, which places him in rank with the learned men of his day and generation. As an evidence of this, the degree of A. M. was con- ferred upon him in 1865. His interest in public affairs has been as unselfish as it has been ener- getic and unremitting. In 1851 he advocated, before the people and through the press, the necessity for a new city charter; was one of the earliest advocates for loaning the credit of the city to aid in building railroads; was elected a member of the first board of trustees of the uni- versity and public schools of Louisville, under the charter of 1851; contributed largely to the present admirable public school system of the city, being a member of the school board for twelve years and its president for five years, being elected and re-elected without opposition; and as presiding officer of that and other bodies h gained unusual distinction as a parliamentarian. For several years he was a director in the Ken- tucky Mechanics' Institute, and delivered the fifth annual address before that association in 1857. In 1860 he was elected president
of the Board of Trade, serving two years; in 1864 he was a member of the City Council, and in 1866 he was the Democratic nominee for mayor of the city (an office in which it was difficult at that time to place a man of Mr. Morris' standing). In 1870 he represented his ward in the City Charter Convention, and was president of that body. In 1873, on solicitation of the best citizens without reference to party, he became a candidate and was elected by a unani- mous vote to the state legislature, but was com- pelled, on account of pressing business engage- ments, to resign before entering upon the duties of the office.
Mr. Morris was a director in the Bank of Louis- ville for ten years, and for twenty-two years has been and is a director in the Bank of Kentucky, which is acknowledged the most substantial bank- ing institution in the state. He was one of the incorporators of the Mutual Life Insurance Com- pany of Kentucky in 1868, and has remained in its directory until the present time; was a direc- tor in the Franklin Insurance Company of Louis- ville for thirty-five years and was its president for eight years, and has been a director and presi- dent of the Indiana Cotton Mills Company- whose office is in Louisville-for twelve years. He has been grand treasurer of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, and of the Grand Encampment of Kentucky, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, for thirty-seven years-an order of which he has been a zealous member for many years, frequently serving the order in its various offices and other- wise aiding it in its benevolent work. He is, and has been, interested in many other institutions and enterprises too numerous to mention, and even now at his advanced age he is a very active, busy man.
Notwithstanding his many business interests and his labors for the advancement of the city's welfare, he has always been active and zealous in church affairs, being an elder in the Second Pres- byterian Church (formerly Dr. Stuart Robin- son's); he has frequently represented the church in its higher courts. He was tor many years superintendent of the Sabbath school, and his attention to details in all the affairs of the church, his ability and willingness to perform any duty,
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with gentleness of spirit and exemplary Chris- tian demeanor, have won the hearts of the people of the congregation and the children of the Sab- bath school in a measure that is exceedingly gratifying to him as he approaches the close of a busy and useful life.
Mr. Morris was married in 1848 to Caroline, daughter of James and Abigail Wallace of New York State. Mrs. Morris was a lady of superior intelligence and of fine personal attractions. She died in 1894, leaving three children: Carrie, widow of Rowan Boone, a direct descendant of the pioneer, Daniel Boone; John S. Morris and Wal- lace W. Morris, all of Louisville.
OHN C. WILLIS, educator and lecturer, J now residing in Mitchell, Indiana, was born in Anderson County, near Lawrenceburg, Ken- tucky, November 1, 1862, and is a son of James Emmons Willis and Mary Ellen Gordon Willis.
His father, James E. Willis, was also a native of Anderson County. He was a merchant of Lawrenceburg at the outbreak of the war, and was also interested in farming. He enlisted in the Union army and served with distinction through- out the Civil war. He took great interest in politics, being an ardent Republican, and on two occasions was the candidate of his party for the legislature. He was a faithful member and sup- porter of the Christian Church. He died in 1888, at the age of forty-eight years, greatly lamented by his family and by the entire community in which he had lived.
John Gordon (maternal grandfather) was also a native and resident of Anderson County, a prominent and useful citizen, and died in 1862.
John C. Willis' early education was received in the public schools of his native county. He at- tended college in Danville, Indiana, and Lexing- ton, Kentucky. He took his post-graduate course at the University of Wooster (Ohio), and received from this institution the degree of Ph. D.
He began his life-work as an educator in the common schools in Woodford County, and in a short time became principal of an academy at Orr, Anderson County, which position he filled acceptably for two years, in that time building up the largest school ever conducted in that place.
He then was called to the chair of mathematics and civil engineering in Mountain City College, Tennessee; and, while holding this position, he conducted several surveys for railroads around Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain. He was compelled to resign his professorship in this col- lege on account of ill health. One year later he returned to Lawrenceburg and there organized the Kentucky Normal College, an institution which attained remarkable success during the three years of his administration.
He then accepted the presidency of Ashland College, at Shelbyville, which position he held for three years, leaving it in 1894 to accept the presidency of the Indiana Normal College at Mitchell, Indiana, an institution which has flour- ished under his able management and has grown to be one of the great normal schools of the coun- try ; hundreds of students are there enrolled each year.
Mr. Willis has taken high rank as a civil en- gineer, having taught many classes and surveyed many railroads. His executive ability is fully attested by the fact that every institution over which he has presided has had marvelous growth and success. As a teacher he ranks with the best educators in this country, having taught thou- sands of students, coming from all parts of the United States.
For several years he has been a successful in- stitute instructor and lecturer, and during the past two years has lectured before more institutes in Kentucky than any other instructor. Few men have accomplished more for the cause of educa- tion in the state then Professor Willis.
He was married July 10, 1889, to Liccie Milton of Shelbyville, Kentucky. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and an elder in the Christian Church.
O LIVER FRANCIS LEE BECKETTE, a member of the firm of R. H. Vansant & Company, lumber dealers, of Ashland, was born in Cabell County, West Virginia, October I, 1861. He received his education in his native county and at Marshall College, Huntington, West Virginia, graduating from that institution in the class of 1886. He went to Mount Savage in March, 1887, and took charge of the books of
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the Lexington & Carter County Mining Com- pany, remaining there for five years. He was then employed as bookkeeper for the Leon Lumber Company at Leon, Carter County, for a period of two years. On the first of April, 1894, he be- came a member of the well-known lumber estab- lishment of R. H. Vansant & Company, at Ash- land. He is a man of fine business qualifications, upright in his dealings; one of the most popular young business men of Ashland; a Republican voter; a member of the Masonic Order; a Knight Templar, and a steward in the Methodist Episco- pal Church, of which he became a member Janu- ary 26, 1896.
Mr. Beckette was married June 1, 1892, to Samantha Prichard, daughter of Wiley Prichard of Mt. Savage, Kentucky. She was born January 27, 1866, and educated in the best schools of Mt. Sterling, Kentucky.
Andrew L. Beckette (father) was born in Cabell County, now West Virginia, July 25, 1824, where he has been engaged for the greater part of his life in farming. During the recent war he was commissioned captain by Governor Wise, and served three years in the One Hundred and Twentieth Regiment of Virginia Militia. He is postmaster at Fudges' Creek, Cabell County, a position which he has held continuously since 1870, being one of the few Republicans who have not been disturbed by Democratic administra- tions. He is greatly devoted to his home and does not care for political or social distinction.
James Beckette (grandfather) was born in Montgomery County, Virginia, September 18, 1774; served in the infantry arm of the militia in the War of 1812; was engaged in farming in Cabell County before the State of Virginia was divided; married Hannah Lee, who was a first cousin of General Robert E. Lee. His father's name was Richard Beckette, whose ancestors were from England, with a mixture of German blood in their veins.
Hannah Lee Beckette (grandmother) was born in Patrick County, Virginia, September 20, 1788, and died December 16, 1862. She was a daugh- ter of William Lee.
Emily S. (Hatfield) Beckette, mother of Oliver F. L. Beckette, was born in Cabell County, West
Virginia, September 22, 1824. She married An- drew L. Beckette in 1848, and died January 3, 1883. She was well educated and highly cul- tured, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church (Northern branch), and a lady of most exemplary Christian character.
Adam Hatfield (grandfather) was born in Taze- well County, Virginia, October 19, 1774. He was a farmer by occupation; a soldier in the War of 1812, and in General Wayne's war with the In- dians. He died June 18, 1855. He married Mary Williams, who was born in Tazewell County, Vir- ginia, February 12, 1782, and died November 15, 1847. Adam Hatfield's father's name was An- drew Hatfield, whose ancestors were Germans, if he was not a native of Germany himself.
H ENRY ORENDORF, M. D., of Louisville, was born in Breckinridge County, Ken- tucky, October 6, 1841, and is a member of a very old family whose names are found in the early annals of this country, and who were driven from Germany nearly two hundred years ago by Louis XIV. on account of their religious opinions. They fled to England and eventually made their way to the United States, some time prior to the Revo- lutionary war. Some of the members settled in Virginia, some in Pennsylvania and others in Maryland, and, as the tradition goes, a number of the men became good soldiers in the cause of liberty. One of the Orendorfs, of Frederick County, Virginia, "raised" twenty-four children- eighteen sons and six daughters; seven sons served in the same company in the War of 1812, and four of them afterward owned adjoining farms in Virginia and reared eleven children each.
A reunion of the family was held at Blooming- ton, Illinois, in October, 1886, when the fact was developed that there were representatives of the family in thirty-two states and territories. Many interesting legends and reminiscences of the fam- ily were brought to light at this reunion, and the rather peculiar fact was commented upon that not- withstanding they were driven from the "Fader- land" on account of their religion, not one had been found in the vast number of descendants who was a minister of the gospel, and not one of the female members of the family had married a
HENRY ORENDORF, M. D.
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minister. They are, however, moral and religious people, the majority of them being church mem- bers, and they represent nearly all other profes- sions and occupations.
Henry Orendorf is the son of Mexico Orendorf, a native of Fincastle, Virginia, who came to Ken- tucky over sixty years ago and located in Breck- inridge County, where he engaged in farming and trading in live stock until he was forty-two years of age, and died in 1854.
Jesse Orendorf (grandfather) was born in Fred- erick County, Virginia, near Winchester, and re- moved to Fincastle, Virginia, and subsequently to Breckinridge County, Kentucky, with his son, Mexico, and was a farmer in that county, where he lived to be eighty years of age.
Christian Orendorf (great-grandfather) was born in Germany in 1726, and was probably one of those who fled from the Lower Palatinate in the time of Louis XIV. The Orendorfs were descended from noble ancestry. One of the Oren- dorfs left England and went to Canada with Gen- eral Wolfe and later settled in the Mohawk Val- ley.
Mary Kane Orendorf (mother) was born in Salem, Virginia, in 1818, and is now a resident of Louisville. Her father, Thomas Kane, was a native of Virginia and a farmer, who came to Breckinridge County about sixty years ago, where he died of cholera in 1849. The Kanes were of English extraction.
Henry Orendorf grew to manhood in his native county, receiving his education in private schools and in Franklin (Indiana) College, which he at- tended for two years and completed his collegiate course at the Cecilian College in Hardin County. He then attended the Kentucky School of Medi- cine in Louisville, from which he was graduated in 1871. He then was employed as interne in the City Hospital for eighteen months, after which he entered the office of Dr. J. M. Holloway in Louisville and was associated with him for four years, being in the meantime visiting physician at the City Hospital.
In 1876 he went to Savannah, Georgia, as acting assistant surgeon, U. S. A., at that post. He re- mained there three months, and on account of yellow fever was transferred to Blackville, South
Carolina, and two months later was again trans- ferred to Charleston in the same capacity. He returned to Louisville in 1877, since which time he has been engaged in the practice of his pro- fession in that city.
In 1879 he was elected to the chair of materia medica and therapeutics in the Kentucky School of Medicine, a position which he still occupies. He is also clinical lecturer on Genito-Urinary and Diseases of the Skin in the same institution.
Dr. Orendorf has been a member of all the medical societies as they have come and gone, and at present holds his membership in the principal national, state. and city medical societies and as- sociations.
He was united in marriage May 12, 1876, to Mattie Ormsby, youngest daughter of the late Colonel Stephen Ormsby, of Louisville, who com- manded the famous Louisville Legion in the Mex- ican war. She is a granddaughter of Judge Ste- phen Ormsby, who was the first Federal judge of Kentucky. Dr. and Mrs. Orendorf have two daughters and one son: Louisa Orms- by, Marie Ormsby and Stephen Ormsby Oren- dorf.
One of the legends of the Orendorf family, which has been published in many newspapers, is worth repeating here:
Mary Madaline Orendorf, a beautiful young lady of seventeen summers, was present at an entertainment given a number of patriot officers in Baltimore during the Revolutionary war. Gen- eral Horatio Gates, a war-worn veteran, the hero of many battles and the conqueror of Burgoyne, was present, and upon meeting Miss Orendorf surrendered for the first time in his life; and, through her father, made a formal proposal of marriage. General Gates was an accomplished and popular officer and was flushed with the hon- ors conferred upon him for his many conquests. He was possessed of great wealth, and offered to lay at her feet his heart, hand and fortune; but she refused his proposal because he was old enough to be her father. She afterward married a son of Jonathan Hager, founder of historical old Hagerstown. Her husband died in a few years, leaving a handsome young widow with one child and a large estate. Luther Martin, one of the
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most prominent lawyers of Maryland, fell desper- ately in love with her, and after a brief courtship, during which he indited numerous letters (some of which are handed down to posterity as model declarations of love) he was accepted. But the engagement was broken off in a way that the following letter will explain:
"Baltimore, July 26, 1800.
"My Very Dear, Amiable Mrs. Hager:
"I have been told since you left town that on last Sunday week I was at your lodgings." (She was visiting friends in Baltimore.) "Of this I have no recollection. I doubt not I made a foolish figure, but I think it impossible that I should have behaved with rudeness or impropriety. Was that the reason, my dear Mrs. Hager, of the cold- ness and reserve you appeared to me with on Monday morning when I called on you before I went to Annapolis? If so, I will not blame you; but be assured you shall never see me again in a situation that I know not what I do, unless it should proceed from the intoxication of love. In the heat of summer my health requires that I should drink in abundance to supply the amazing waste from perspiration. But having found that I was so unexpectedly affected, as I was, by soda water and brandy, I have determined to mix my waters with less dangerous liquors. Nay, I am not only confining myself to mead, cider, beer, hock, mixed with soda water, but I am accustom- ing myself to drink water alone. Thus, if we live to see each other again you will find me most con- pletely reformed and one of the soberest of the sober."
After writing this letter he was in Richmond, Virginia, arguing a law case. When he returned he found awaiting him a letter which drew out an answer from him, in which he said: "I re- turned much fatigued, but in good health, but, alas! alas! what is health to a poor wretch, who, before you hear from him again will most prob- ably be tucked up, swinging from the limb of some convenient tree. .resemblant of the human shape which some prudent farmers hang up in their corn fields to scare the birds away. Yes, my dearest madam, be not alarmed should you hear that your swain, in a fit of despair, has,
in the French style, given you the slip by sticking his neck in the noose." But he did not destroy his life, and was employed in a legal capacity by Mrs. Hager, who subsequently married Colonel Lawrence of Virginia.
W ILBUR FISK BROWDER, one of the most distinguished lawyers in the state, and a prominent citizen of Russellville, was born in Clarksville, Tennessee, December 12, 1848. His father, David Browder, was born in Dinwid- die County, Virginia, near Petersburg, November II, 1818, and came to Logan County, Kentucky, with his parents in 1819. Hc was educated in what was known as Russellville Academy, in a building which is still standing and now used as a public school. When he had reached his major- ity he became largely interested in buying tobacco and preparing it for the foreign markets. In 1842, having married a second time, he removed to Clarksville, Tennessee, where he continued in the tobacco business in connection with merchan- dising. He had extensive business interests in the city and was one of the leading and most enter- prising citizens of Clarksville. He subsequently removed to Montgomery, Alabama, where he was engaged in merchandising and cotton planting until his death, January 6, 1871.
David Browder was married April 16, 1838, to Mary Evans, who was born in Logan County in July, 1819. She belonged to onc of the oldest and most respectable families in the state. She died in October, 1839, leaving no children. Mr. Brow- der was married again November 8, 1842, to Eliza- beth E. Irvine, daughter of Caleb Irvine, a native of Tennessee. She was born in Robertson County, Tennessec, May 18, 1823, and was edu- cated in the Russellville Female Academy, which is now known as Logan College. She survived her husband about three years, and died in Rus- sellville, July 28, 1874. There were ten children by this marriage: Bettie G., born September 28, 1843, died June 7, 1845; James Thomas, born January 9, 1845, died April 14, 1845; Robert Irvine, born August 30, 1846, died July 19, 1893; Wilbur F., born December 12, 1848; Helen May, born February 21, 1851, died August 5, 1851; David, born September 12, 1852, died November
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24, 1856; Caleb Ewing, born April 22, 1854, died April 25, 1871; Richard D., born June 15, 1856; Edward M., born September 11, 1859; Fannie Irvine, born July 11, 1863.
Richard Browder (grandfather) was born in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, April 1, 1789. He came to Logan County, Kentucky, with his broth- ers, William C. and Robert, in 1819; these three brothers purchased three farms of five hundred acres each, upon which they lived and prospered. Richard Browder was married in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, February 24, 1813, to Elizabeth Anderson, who died in Logan County, June 2, 1858.
David Browder (great-grandfather), a native of Virginia, married Sallie Pegram, also a Virginian, and they lived and died in their native county.
Richard Browder (great-great-grandfather), a Virginian by birth and lifetime resident, had two sons, Charles and John, who were killed in the Revolutionary war.
Caleb Irvine (maternal grandfather) was drowned while attempting to cross Mayfield Creek in Graves County, Kentucky, when he was twenty-four years of age. He married Elizabeth Ewing Mitchell of Robertson County, Tennes- see, who lived to be eighty years of age, and died in 1867. They had three children: Elizabeth E. (mother) and two sons, Robert Green Irvine, who became a distinguished Methodist minister, was a member of the Tennessee Conference when he was twenty-one years of age. He became wide- ly known throughout the state as one of the lead- ing preachers in the Methodist Church. The second son, Caleb Ewing Irvine, enlisted for the Mexican war in 1847, and was engaged with General Winfield Scott in all of his engagements in the war with Mexico and was present at the final surrender of the Mexican army. He was captain of a company and was only twenty-two years of age at the close of the war. He wrote his sister (Wilbur F. Browder's mother) that he did not intend to return to the States, but told her that as long as she received the "Oregonian" newspaper through the mail she would know that he was alive, and when that paper ceased to make its visits she would know that he was dead. The paper came to her for seven years, and then, com-
ing no longer, his friends supposed he was dead. For twenty years they heard nothing of him, but in 1885 the family learned that he was a circuit judge in Montana, residing at Deer Lodge. They learned, further, that the district which he served on the bench was strongly Republican in politics, but he had been frequently elected as a Democrat. After the close of the Mexican war he had been appointed captain in the United States army, but did not accept the commission. This promotion was offered him on account of his bravery and gallantry in battle. He died in 1889, having given no reason for thus isolating himself from his fam- ily.
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