USA > Kentucky > Biographical cyclopedia of the commonwealth of Kentucky > Part 52
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Dr. Rodman, after leaving his brother's office, attended the medical department of the Univer- sity of Louisville, and was graduated from that institution in the class of 1849, before he was twenty years of age. He was fortunate in hav- ing the oversight in his studies of such men as Dr. L. P. Yandell, Sr., who was then dean of the faculty, as well as Drs. S. D. Gross, Daniel Drake and others, among the most eminent phy- sicians and surgeons and able instructors in the profession.
After receiving his diploma Dr. Rodman be- gan the practice of his calling in Hopkinsville, where he remained three years, and then returned to his native county; and from there he went to Frankfort, where, in 1860, he erected the first building for the Feeble Minded Institute. After three years of labor in behalf of this institution, he was made superintendent of the Western Ken- tucky Lunatic Asylum, and returned to Hopkins- ville. He remained in charge of this asylum until April 20, 1889, since which time he has been re- tired, acting only as consulting physician, and in this capacity only in exceptional cases.
During his long term of service in the asylum, he saw it grow from small dimensions, accommo- dating only one hundred patients, to a magnifi-
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cent institution, thoroughly equipped, with nearly six hundred inmates. It is no flattery to Dr. Rodman to say that the Western Kentucky Asy- lum was among the best institutions in the coun- try, under his management. He was urged by the governor of Kentucky to remain in charge, but declined a reappointment, feeling that he had earned a much needed respite from his labors.
James Rodman was married in 1853 to Hen- rietta Thomasson, daughter of Captain Joseph M. Thomasson of Henry County, Kentucky. She was a worthy and efficient helpmate in all of the work to which Dr. Rodman devoted his life, and her death on December 20, 1894, was lamented by a host of relatives, friends and acquaintances.
Dr. Rodman has one son, Thomas, and one daughter, Mary, who married Lieutenant W. H. H. Southerland of the United States Navy, on August 1, 1877, who is now residing in Wash- ington.
E DWARD O. LEIGH, late Assistant Secre- tary of State, and a representative of the young Democracy of Kentucky, is a native of Shelby County, Tennessee, where he was born June 23, 1859. His parents were Rev. William H. and Mary (Brooks) Leigh.
Rev. William H. Leigh was born in Virginia, December 28, 1826, and for forty-five years was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for thirty years of that time he was presid- ing elder, preaching in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and other states. He was a man of wonderful force of character and of great execu- tive ability. He was self-educated, and at the age of twenty commenced preaching the gospel, and soon became one of the leading lights of his church; a man of earnest convictions, whose repu- tation as a minister was confined to no one state. In 1879 he removed to Paducah, Kentucky, where he labored in the church until a short time before his death, which occurred in March, 1880.
Dr. James Walker Leigh (grandfather) was a native of Virginia, and died of the cholera at Eddyville, Kentucky.
Ferdinand Leigh (great-grandfather), son of William B. Leigh, was born in Virginia, and was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. James
Brooks (maternal grandfather) was a native of North Carolina, of English descent, who subse- quently settled in Tennessee, where he died. The maternal great-grandfather of Edward Leigh's mother was a Polk and a first cousin of James K. Polk.
Edward O. Leigh received his certificate of graduation from Odd Fellows College, Hum- boldt, Tennessee, at the age of sixteen years, at which time he commenced business on his own account, associating himself with his brother, Robert W., who bought out the Humboldt Jour- nal. They published this paper for about two years, when he sold his interest to his brother and went to Memphis. At that place he worked at proof reading for a short time, and in 1884 re- moved to Paducah and founded the Daily Stand- ard. He was the editor and publisher of this paper until the close of the year 1889, when he sold out to Dilday and Van Senden and went to Frankfort, June, 1890, where he afterward ac- cepted the position of assistant clerk in the state senate. At the close of the session he was ap- pointed by Governor Buckner as assistant secre- tary of state, and re-appointed by Governor Brown, in which position he served until the close of Governor Brown's administration.
S AMUEL W. BEDFORD, special agent of the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York and a popular citizen of Owensboro, was born in Washington County, Kentucky, Decem- ber 7, 1861, and is a son of Dr. Thompson Ware Bedford and Mildred (Houtchens) Bedford.
His father was born in Bourbon County, Ken- tucky, November 27, 1836; graduated from the medical department of the University of Louis- ville in March, 1861; began the practice of medi- cine in Washington County, in April, 1861, since which time he has devoted his whole time to his profession, practicing in Daviess County, in Louisville and in Nelson County, being at present located at Chaplin in that county. He is an elder in the Christian Church, a scholarly gentleman, and a man of high Christian character. He was married in October, 1860, to Mildred Houtchens. They have five children: Samuel W., Ella S., William K., Hattie O. and Henry W.
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Asa Kentucky Lewis Bedford (grandfather) was born in Bourbon County, December 14, 181I, and died June 7, 1847. He was a farmer in his native county; a man of very pronounced char- acter, who had the courage of his convictions and yet, with his strong force of character, an amiable man and highly esteemed by his neighbors.
Archibald Bedford (grandfather) was a native of Bourbon County, who married a Miss Clay, a member of the prominent family in that county.
Samuel W. Bedford's paternal grandmother, wife of Asa Kentucky Lewis Bedford, was Davidella Ware, daughter of Colonel Thompson and Sallie Ware of Bourbon County. She was born February 18, 1812, and died June 22, 1875.
A member of the Bedford family in Boston has traced the genealogy of the family to England and sent it to England in order to obtain a legacy that was said to belong to the Bedford heirs in the United States.
Colonel Thompson Ware (great-grandfather) was a son of James Ware and married Sallie Conn. William E. Houtchens (maternal grand- father) was a farmer in Nelson County, whose first wife was a daughter of Bishop Medley, and his second wife a daughter of Colonel Wood of Bloomfield, Nelson County.
Samuel W. Bedford was educated in the com- mon schools of Daviess County and Owensboro, his parents having removed to that county when he was seven years of age. At the age of twelve years he left school, but continued his studies while clerking in a store.
He left Owensboro and went to Louisville, where he was employed a short time before going to Fulton, Kentucky, where he engaged in the clothing business. He became quite popular in that city and was elected mayor of Fulton, May 7, 1892. After serving one year he resigned his office and disposed of his clothing business to accept the agency for a life insurance company, and in 1893 he resigned that agency to accept a better position as special agent in Kentucky and Tennessee for the Mutual Life Insurance Com- pany of New York, with headquarters at Owens- boro, a business in which he has been very suc- cessful and is still engaged. He is a member of the Christian Church, an Odd Fellow and is
popular among a host of friends and acquaint- ances.
Mr. Bedford was married in 1889 to Winefred M. Bowden, daughter of 'Squire Turner Bowden of Weakley County, Tennessee. She is a gradu- ate of Gallatin College, class of 1888, and is a lady of fine accomplishments. Their only child, Kernan Ware Bedford, was born in August, 1890.
A DAM S. ADAMS, a successful farmer of Mercer County, son of John W. and Eliza- beth (Sharp) Adams, was born in Mercer County, December 26, 1823. His father was born in the same county, April 29, 1792; was educated in the county schools; enlisted for the War of 1812, but was not called into active service; was a farmer in his native county, where he died September 15, 1855. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and a man of most exemplary character. He was married January 30, 1823, to Elizabeth Sharp, of the same county, who was born Octo- ber 29, 1793; educated in the schools of Mercer County and was a devout member of the Presby- terian Church. She died January 13, 1831. The four children of John W. Adams and Elizabeth Sharp, his wife, were: Adam S., born December 26, 1823; David Adams, born June 24, 1827, mar- ried Emma Crawford, May 24, 1870; Precilla, born December 24, 1828, and married Simon Stagg, October 5, 1848; Martha E., born Novem- ber 10, 1830, married George Vanarsdale, No- vember 17, 1853.
Mr. Adams' second wife, to whom he was mar- ried January 29, 1835, whose maiden name was Jane Adams, was born October 8, 1804, died Au- gust 16, 1864. She was the mother of six chil- dren: Ebenezer, born September 14, 1837, mar- ried Sallie Vananarsdall, December 10, 1863; Thomas, born December 14, 1835, married Sadie Adams, March 13, 1867; John W., born July 7, 1839, married Jane Thompson, January 2, 1865; Caleb, born October 8, 1841, married Lettie Ter- hune, January 10, 1888; Joshua, born September 7, 1843, and married Nannie Leachman, Novem- ber 5, 1868; William J., born November 8, 1845, married Mary Smith, October 13, 1869.
David Adams (grandfather) was born in Vir-
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ginia in 1754; was reared and educated in his na- tive county; came to Kentucky in 1775 and set- tled in Mercer County, on land granted him by the state of Virginia, upon which his grandson, Adam S. Adams, is now living. He died January 19, 1823. His wife was Elizabeth Wood of Vir- ginia, who was born in 1756, and died in Mer- cer County, April 24, 1840. Great-grandmother Sharp was slain by Indians. The children of David and Elizabeth Wood Adams (grandpar- ents) were: Mary, born December 1, 1778, mar- ried Josiah J. Mann; Margaret, born March 21, 1781, married David McCamy; Martha, born July 16, 1783, married William Bard; Archibald, born September 25, 1786, married Pheba Cald- well; Elizabeth, born June 4, 1788, married Sam- uel Irvine; William, born November 15, 1790, married Percilla Armstrong; John Wood, born April 29, 1792, married Elizabeth Sharp; Ann, born September 7, 1795, married Cornelius Vanice; James, born July 18, 1798, married Rebecca Rose.
Adam S. Adams' educational opportunities were limited, as there were no schools that he could attend, except a subscription school, which was taught during the winter months. He learned the carpenter trade in his youth and fol- lowed that occupation industriously for fourteen years. In the fall of 1855 he removed to Parke County, Indiana, and engaged in farming and in buying horses and mules for the southern mar- ket. At the beginning of the war he lost all he had made and resumed his occupation as carpen- ter and builder, and followed it successfully for three years; was drafted in 1864, but furnished a substitute and was released from service.
After his father's death he purchased a part of the homestead farm, to which he subsequently removed, and upon which he is now living.
During the past six years Mr. Adams has been a director in the Mercer National Bank. He was a member of the fiscal court from 1875 to 1879, but has neither held nor sought any other office. He was a Whig until 1856, since which time he has voted with the Democratic party. He is a member of, and a deacon in the Presbyterian Church, and is one of the most honored and sub- stantial citizens of Mercer County.
Mr. Adams was married March II, 1863, to Martha Ann Watson, daughter of Wesley and Miranda (Burford) Watson, then of Parke County, Indiana. She was born September 30, 1836. They have no children.
Wesley Watson was a Virginian by birth; came to Kentucky with his parents when quite young; married Miranda Burford and removed to Parke County, Indiana, in 1832.
JOHN L. CASSELL, cashier of the Mercer J National Bank, Harrodsburg, son of Thomas J. and Susan M. (Daniel) Cassell, was born in Jessamine County, Kentucky, October 7, 1834.
Thomas J. Cassell was born in Fayette County, Kentucky, in 1802; studied under private tutors and was one of the most thoroughly educated men in the state; read medicine under Dr. Satterwhite of Lexington, but his health failing he never practiced his profession; was a druggist for many years, but retired some ten years before his death, in 1867. In religion he was a Methodist; in poli- tics a Whig.
Abram Cassell (grandfather), the son of Henry Cassell, who came to the United States from Hesse Cassel, Germany, the early part of the seventeenth century, was born near Fredericks- burg, Maryland; was a lieutenant in the Revo- lutionary war; came to Kentucky and settled in (now) Jessamine County, on land for which he received a patent from the state of Virginia. This land is still owned by some of his descendants. He drew a pension from the government for mili- tary services until his death in 1845, at the ad- vanced age of ninety-two years. His wife was Catherine Lingenfelder of Frederick, Maryland, who also reached the age of ninety-two years, and died in 1847. They were Presbyterians. Her father came from Germany and settled in Mary- land. The sword used by Abram Cassell in the Revolutionary war and part of the continental money paid him is now in the possession of his grandson, J. L. Cassell, the principal subject of this sketch.
Susan M. Daniel Cassell (mother), a native of Pendleton County, was reared and educated near Lexington; died in 1867. She was a member of the Methodist Church.
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Enos Daniel (maternal grandfather) was a son of Charles Daniel and Sarah Tate of Louisa County, Virginia. Charles Daniel was the son of John Daniel, the grandfather of Peter Daniel, one of the judges of the Supreme Court of the United States. The family came from England about 1750. Under the old constitution Enos Daniel was high sheriff of Pendleton County, Kentucky, for many years, and was a pioneer planter of that county; he died in Jeffersontown, Kentucky, at the home of his son-in-law, Dr. W. W. Senteny, June 6, 1857. He was married April 4, 1779, to Mary Nelson, the grandmother of John L. Cas- sell.
The children of Thomas J. and Susan M. (Daniels) Cassell are: William H. of Canton, Mississippi; John L. of Harrodsburg; Albert G. of Vicksburg, Mississippi; Thomas J. of Lexing- ton; James D. of Lampasas, Texas, and Lizzie, wife of John Nicholas of Georgetown. Benjamin F. Cassell, the third son, was colonel of the Eight- eenth Mississippi Regiment, Confederate army, Barksdale brigade, and fell at the front of that brigade, on Cemetery Hill, in the battle of Gettys- burg.
John L. Cassell was educated in Nicholasville, in the excellent school then known as Bethel Academy; went to Lexington, Kentucky, in 1850, and was a clerk in the dry goods store of Allen & Plunkett for four years; then engaged in the same business in Lexington with James H. Shrop- shire, under the firm name of Shropshire & Cas- sell, until 1860, when he visited Mississippi with the view of purchasing a cotton plantation. But the war coming on returned to Kentucky and en- gaged in farming in Fayette County until 1872, when, in company with Messrs. Shropshire and Berkley, he established a wholesale grocery in Lexington, which business was conducted with few changes until 1879, when he purchased Avon- dale and removed to Mercer County and engaged in planting; was a director in and vice-president of the Mercer National Bank (capital $100,000), of which he was elected cashier in 1891, and to which business he has given his best attention until the present time. Has interests in other corporations and owns farms in Mercer and Jessa- mine Counties.
He is a member of the Christian Church, and in politics is a Democratic voter, but is not a politician.
Mr. Cassell was married (first) December 13, 1858, to Phoebe Elizabeth Bryan, daughter of Thomas Bryan of Fayette County, Kentucky. She died April 1I, 1880, leaving six children: Robert, educated at the University of Virginia, married Gertrude Johnson of Michigan, now practicing law in Harriman, Tennessee; Henry B., hemp and grain dealer and postmaster of Burgin, Kentucky; Joseph, now studying medi- cine in the University of Louisville; Albert, now a student in the college at Harriman, Tennessee; Thomas B. Cassell died in Lampasas, Texas, aged twenty-nine years; Dr. John B. Cassell died in San Antonio, Texas, aged twenty-eight years.
Mr. Cassell was married (second time) Septem- ber 14, 1882, to Virginia Bowman, daughter of Dudley and Virginia Smith Bowman of Mercer County, who is the mother of three children: Vir- ginia and Susan, who are being educated at Daughters' College, and Carrie, who is at home.
The family residence is on Lynden street, Har- rodsburg, Kentucky.
W ILLIAM CARROLL, Judge of the Cir- cuit Court of the Twelfth district, a resi- dent of New Castle, was born in Arkansas, No- vember 9, 1836.
His father, Owen Carroll, was born in Parish Killmallock, Ireland; came to New York, where he met and married Ellen Kirk; came to Ken- tucky in 1837, and located in Louisville. He was a railroad and turnpike contractor, and built por- tions of the Louisville, Frankfort & Lexington Railroad; also built the Muldraugh Hill turnpike, and other public roads. He removed from Louis- ville to Frankfort some time previous to his death, which occurred at Simpsonville, Shelby County, in 1842. He and his wife were members of the Catholic Church. Their two children were Judge Carroll and his sister Mary, wife of John W. Hall.
Judge Carroll's early education was obtained in Anderson College, New Albany, Indiana. After leaving school at the age of sixteen, he fol- lowed civil engineering for a time and then taught
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school in Kentucky for five years. While teach- ing he was an active member of a debating so- ciety in the neighborhood, and a friend who was also a member of the society advised him to study law, assuring him that he had unusual talent for argument. This turned his attention to the legal profession, and he began to read law-indiffer- ently and in a desultory way, at first-but soon became intensely interested and then he knew that he had found the profession in which he could hope to be successful, and determined to prepare himself for the practice of law; a deci- sion which he has had no occasion to regret, and the wisdom of which has never been questioned.
At the age of twenty-four he entered the law office of Judge DeHaven of LaGrange (whom he succeeded in the office of circuit judge), re- maining with him for eight months, when he was admitted to the bar of Oldham County. After practicing one year he was elected county attor- ney in 1862. This office he resigned in 1864 to enter the Federal army as captain of Company E, Fifty-fourth Regiment Kentucky Volunteer In- fantry; was in the army but a short time when matters of importance demanded his attention at home, and returning to LaGrange he continued in the practice of law at that place until 1873, when he removed to his present home in New Castle.
In 1871 he formed a partnership with Judge DeHaven, which continued until the election of the latter as circuit judge. In 1877 he formed a partnership with Judge Barbour, and was asso- ciated with him until 1884, when Mr. Barbour was elevated to the bench of the Superior Court.
In November, 1892, he was elected judge of the Circuit Court for the Twelfth Judicial District, composed of the Counties of Anderson, Shelby, Spencer, Oldham, Trimble and Henry, and in this capacity he has proven one of the ablest jur- ists in the state. With commendable firmness and decision of character, self-poised and self- reliant, yet modest and unassuming, of pleasing and courteous address, he is highly respected by the members of the bar.
Judge Carroll is a Democrat, and was quite active and prominent in local and state politics before his elevation to the bench.
Although not a member of any church, he be-
lieves in the tenets of the Christian religion, and has a high regard for the church as a great moral agent in society.
Judge Carroll was married in 1870 to Mrs. Mary J. Jackson, whose maiden name was Mary Smart, daughter of Benjamin P. Smart, a native of Mer- cer County. She was born in Louisville, and was educated there. Her first husband was William Jackson, by whom she has one son, William O. Jackson.
The children of Judge and Mrs. Carroll are Dr. Owen Carroll, a graduate of the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louisville, and Benjamin, a farmer, of Henry County, and Louise, who is now a pupil in Dr. Poynter's Science Hill Acad- emy at Shelbyville.
W ILLIAM L. CRABB, President of the Fible & Crabb Distilling Company of Eminence, son of Stephen D. and Nancy B. (Poston) Crabb, was born in Henry County, Ken- tucky, August 17, 1844.
His father, Stephen D. Crabb, was born in Shelby County, April, 1802, and received an or- dinary education in the schools of his day; and was a farmer and stock raiser in Henry County nearly all his life. He was quite prominent in his sphere; an ardent Democrat, but never held or sought any public position; was a member of the Baptist Church, in which he was even more interested than he was in politics, and was well known for his uprightness and integrity. He was married in 1823 to Nancy B. Poston, and raised a family of eight children, whose names in the order of their birth were: John P., Ellen, Susan M., James M., Edward D., Emily C., Stephen T. and William L.
Nancy B. Poston Crabb (mother) was born in Clark County, February, 1802, and died May 7, 1888. She was a devout member of the Baptist Church, and a noble Christian mother. She was a daughter of John Poston, a farmer of Henry County, whose wife was a Miss Yates of Shelby County.
Jeremiah Crabb (grandfather) was born in Frederick County, Maryland, September 17, 1769, and died March 21, 1840. Coming down the Ohio River with others in canoes in 1800, they
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landed at the present site of Louisville, and from there he "drifted" out into the country and finally settled in Shelby County. However, before leav- ing his native state, he had done what he could in the war of the Revolution; being too young to bear arms, he was assigned to duty-with those who were too old, or, like himself, too young, for active warfare-as a guard for the prisoners of war. He married Eleanor Compton, a native of Virginia, and was the father of seven children, viz .: Stephen D. (father), Ralph, Jeremiah, Pris- cilla, Elizabeth, Samuel and Alexander C.
He was quite prosperous and accumulated con- siderable property, including a number of valu- able slaves, whom he bequeathed to his wife; and, before her death, she gave all of the slaves who were over twenty-one years of age their freedom, and provided that the younger ones should be made free upon reaching their ma- jority.
The Crabb family originally came from Eng- land. In the life of John Wesley, he tells of his great-grandfather attending a certain college in .England of which John Crabb was the dean. Various branches of the family appear to have settled in Norfolk, England, and at different sea- ports along the coast of Suffolk; and history tells us that a pilot of great experience named Crabb of Walton, was consulted in reference to the voy- age of Edward III. before the battle of Crecy, which was fought in the year 1346.
George Crabb was a philologist of distinction and author of a book of English synonyms. He was born in 1778 and died in 1851, and some of his writings, especially his synonyms, are stand- ard authority at the present time.
John Compton, Sr. (great-grandfather), was born February 28, 1747; died January 10, 1803. Elizabeth, his wife, died November 4, 1809. Their children were: Phillip Brisco Compton, born April 27, 1772; Elenor Williamson Compton (grandmother), born September 4, 1774, died De- cember 26, 1851; Alexander Compton, born July 10, 1777, died March 5, 1796; John Compton, Jr., born June 20, 1779, died September 18, 1855; Leonard Brisco Compton, born September 3, 1781, died February 5, 1841; Samuel Compton, born February 2, 1789, died June 1, 1826.
The children of Jeremiah Crabb (grandfather) and Elenor W. Compton, were: Elizabeth Comp- ton Crabb, married James Carter, December 21, 1815; Stephen Drane Crabb (father), married Nancy Poston, December II, 1823; Jeremiah Crabb, Jr., married first Emily Poston, second Lucy Dawson, third Miss Boker; Samuel Comp- ton Crabb, married Hemia Thompson; Priscilla Spigg Crabb, married Richard Young; Alexander Compton Crabb, married first Sarah Barnett, Au- gust 23, 1842, second Lucy B. Rees, April 8, 1857.
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