USA > Kentucky > Biographical cyclopedia of the commonwealth of Kentucky > Part 58
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108
D R. C. M. PAYNTER of Lawrenceburg, one of the most successful and popular physi- cians in Central Kentucky, was born in Washing- ton County, Indiana, December 23, 1854. His father, C. M. Paynter, was a lifetime resident and farmer of Washington County, Indiana. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a good neighbor and a man of the highest in- tegrity.
John Paynter (grandfather) was a Virginian, who belonged to an old and highly respected family in that state, and who became a pioneer in what was then considered the "far west," in Washington County, Indiana.
Margaret Coffman (mother) was born in Wash- ington County, Indiana, and died there January 23, 1855. Her father, M. Coffman, emigrated from Ireland in 1820, and made his home in Washington County, Indiana.
Dr. C. M. Paynter was educated with a view to professional life, and after leaving the country schools attended the graded schools in Salem, and finally graduated from J. G. May's private school in 1874, after taking a four years' course. He taught school one year in Salem before en- tering directly upon the study of medicine with Dr. C. L. Paynter of Salem. After studying in the office one year he went to the Medical Uni- versity of Louisville and took a graded course of three years, graduating with the highest honors, February 25, 1881.
His first work as a practicing physician was
335
KENTUCKY BIOGRAPHIES.
done at Orr, Anderson County, but he remained there only a short time, when he removed to Fox Creek and remained there until March, 1891, and then removed to his present location in Law- renceburg. His skill as a physician has been recognized in every community in which he has practiced, and he is one of the busiest physicians in the county. He is very popular, personally, being of a kindly, sociable disposition; does not meddle in politics except to vote as a Democrat and to do his duty as a citizen; is a member of the Methodist Church and is interested in all matters pertaining to the good of the community in which he lives. He was united in marriage December 28, 1880, to Lelia D. Fiddler of Anderson County, and they have three children: Norah L., Walker B. and Charles A. Paynter.
JAMES WILLIAM RICE, Attorney-at-Law, Louisa, Kentucky, son of ex-Congressman John M. Rice, was born in Louisa, Lawrence County, Kentucky, July 21, 1861. His father, John McConnell Rice, enjoyed limited advan- tages in the way of schooling and was for the most part a self-educated man. He attended the Louisville Law School and after graduating be- gan the practice of law in Pike County. So well had he progressed in his reading and studies he was made superintendent of schools; was elected county attorney and served one term in the Ken- tucky legislature. In 1861 he removed to Louisa, and was again elected to the legislature. In 1869 he was elected to Congress, defeating George H. Thomas, the Republican candidate, by 3,600 ma- jority; and was re-elected in 1871 by 3,900 ma- jority, but Colonel Zeigler, his opponent, con- tested his election. James G. Blaine was speaker of the House and John A. Logan and James A. Garfield were members, and each of them made a speech in favor of Mr. Rice, who received 247 votes, while Colonel Zeigler received 7.
In 1883 he was appointed judge of the Law- rence County Criminal Court by Governor Proc- tor Knott, and in 1884 he was elected to that office by the people without opposition; was re-elected in 1890, defeating J. F. Stewart, the Republican candidate, by a majority of 210 votes, notwith- standing the district had given a Republican ma-
jority of 1,100 votes in the preceding presidential election.
During the past seven years Judge Rice has been an invalid and has visited many of the lead- ing health resorts in the hope of finding relief.
He was married to Sarah Pogue, daughter of William Pogue. His children are: Ida, wife of Judge McConnell of Catlettsburg; Ada, wife of B. F. Thomas, United States engineer in charge of the Big Sandy Railroad; James W. (subject of this sketch); and John M., Jr., a clerk in the auditor's office at Frankfort.
James W. Rice received a good education in the schools of Louisa; studied law in his father's office; was admitted to the bar in 1883, and at once began the practice of his profession in his native city. In 1885 he was elected chairman of the board of trustees of the city of Louisa, and in 1890 was elected police judge. He is quite prominent in local politics, being a leader in the Democratic party, popular as a citizen, and a lawyer of acknowledged ability.
He was married March 18, 1884, to Josie Ab- bott, daughter of James Abbott of Louisa, and has two children living: Carrie Frances, born September 10, 1886; and James William, Jr., born May 18, 1893. One child, Greenway, born July 4, 1888, died December 14, 1891.
L AWSON RENO, Cashier of the Owensboro National Bank, son of Lawson R. and Mary T. (Campbell) Reno, was born in Greenville, Ken- tucky, February, 1849. His father was born near Norfolk, Virginia, and came with his parents to Muhlenberg County when he was about fifteen years of age. He received his education in private schools of Virginia and Kentucky. In 1840 he embarked in the hotel business in Greenville and was proprietor of the Reno House in that place for fifty-five years. He was for a long time a trustee of the Greenville Female Academy, a school which was conducted for many years under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church, and to the support of which Mr. Reno was a liberal con- tributor. Before the war he was a Whig, and after the disruption of that party he became iden- tified with the Republicans and always took a lively interest in the political issues of the day,
336
KENTUCKY BIOGRAPHIES.
caring nothing, however, for office. He was sheriff of Muhlenberg County at one time, but with that exception he has not held or sought any official position. His wife's maiden name was Mary Campbell, a native of Norfolk, Virginia, and is now living in the family homestead in Greenville. Mr. Reno died in 1895. He was the father of seven children: Mary, William, Aman- da, John, R- T., Cordelia and Lawson.
John R. Campbell (maternal grandfather) was an eminent educator of Virginia, his native state.
Lawson Reno was educated at Greenville Col- lege, chiefly under the instruction of Professor E. W. Hall, who was employed by the prominent men of Greenville to impart special instruction to their sons. Mr. Reno was a delicate youth, and while his education was very thorough, there were times when his studies had to be thrown aside, and for this reason he did not leave school until he was twenty years of age.
In 1871, when twenty-two, he went to Owens- boro and was employed in the revenue service as deputy collector under his brother, who was col- lector for the Second district of Kentucky. After the expiration of his brother's term as collector he was re-appointed by William A. Stewart, the incoming collector, but resigned to accept the ap- pointment of postmaster of Owensboro, which office he filled for seven years, discharging its important duties with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the community. He re- signed in 1886 and organized the Owensboro National Bank, accepting the position of cashier, which he has held until the present time.
In all of his business relations with the public, as well as in the wide circle of personal friends, Mr. Reno has enjoyed great popularity, his gen- ial, courteous manner, obliging disposition and natural kindliness towards others winning him a host of friends, while his splendid business quali- fications and methods have won the esteem and confidence of the business community.
Mr. Reno has been twice married; first to Mary Frey, daughter of William H. and Martha (Camp- bell) Frey, of Owensboro. She died in 1883, leaving three children: Cordelia, educated in the Owensboro high school and at Nazareth; Wil- liam, now a student in Center College, Danville,
and Campbell, who is at school in Owensboro. In June, 1894, Mr. Reno married Mrs. Virginia Berry, widow of James I. Berry, of Marion County, Kentucky, who was a son of John B. Berry of that county. Mrs. Reno's maiden name was Wrinn, whose father's name was Paul Wrinn, a wholesale liquor merchant of Baltimore. He married Julia Berry, daughter of Jeremiah Berry of Maryland. Mrs. Reno is a descendant of the Berrys, Miles, Wathens and Snowdowns, families who were prominent in Maryland during and after the colonial times, and is a highly cultivated lady, exceedingly dainty, kind and sweetly sym- pathetic, and has found herself in the midst of a charmed circle of friends in the city to which she recently came as a stranger.
J ERE P. O'MEARA, one of the prominent young lawyers of the Elizabethtown bar, son of the late Thomas O'Meara and Mary (Dooley) O'Meara, was born in Hardin County, Kentucky, near Elizabethtown, July 3, 1867. He was reared on his father's farm, but he had the capacity for an education and his parents gave him every ad- vantage at their command. After passing the usual routine of the district schools, he entered St. Joseph College at Bardstown, and was gradu- ated from there in the class of 1885. He then taught in the public schools of Elizabethtown for a short time, after which he began to read law with J. P. Hobson of Elizabethtown, whose sketch is given in this work.
He made a thorough and careful preparation for the law and was so dilligent and studious that upon his admission to the bar in 1888 his pre- ceptor took him in as a partner, under the firm name of Hobson & O'Meara. This business re- lation continued until the first of May, 1895, when Mr. O'Meara withdrew from the firm and en- gaged in a general civil practice by himself.
Mr. O'Meara was elected to the legislature in 1891 and served during the "long term" until July, 1893. He was chairman of the committee on Court of Appeals and Superior Court and a member of the committee on general statutes, codes of practice and criminal law. His appoint- ment on these important committees was a de- served recognition of his marked legal ability, and
337
KENTUCKY BIOGRAPHIES.
he distinguished himself in the discharge of his duties as one of the brightest young lawyers in the state.
Mr. O'Meara is a very active Democratic poli- tician and a leader in party affairs in his section of the state, and no young man is better known in Hardin County.
His father and mother were born in County Waterford, Ireland, and came to this country in 1862, before their marriage. Mr. O'Meara first located in New York, where he spent a year and came to Kentucky in 1863. He was engaged in railroading for some time, but subsequently bought a farm in Hardin County and was en- gaged in agricultural pursuits until the time of his death, July 3, 1890. His widow is a resident of Hardin County.
R EV. JOHN D. JORDAN, Pastor of the Bap- tist Church, Decatur, Illinois, and one of the most distinguished young ministers in that denomination, was born in Caldwell County, Ken- tucky, February 9, 1861. His parents were of Scotch-Irish descent, and the progenitor of the family in this country settled first in Virginia, subsequently removing to North Carolina, whence his grandfather removed to Kentucky, about the time of his father's birth. Mr. Jordan's father died in 1862, leaving no estate, so that there was small chance for education, as the widowed mother of the boy needed his assistance in keeping the wolf on his own side of the door. Young Jordan worked faithfully for his mother until he was nine- teen years of age, and then started out to educate himself. He could rcad fairly well and "write and cypher" a little, and had a cash capital of four dol- lars. After spending one year in the district school he went to the Princeton High School, working his way while taking a four years' course. At that time it was his purpose and ambition to study law and enter politics.
He taught school for two years in his native county-the two terms covering twenty months- at $40 a month, and during these two years he be- gan to conduct public religious services. The meetings were well attended, and one hundred persons were converted by his preaching during the first few months of his work in that direction.
This determined his course for the future, and he began his studies with a view to the ministry in Bethel College September 1, 1886, and spent four years in that institution, during which time he preached at Leitchfield, Allenville, Madisonville, and other places, in connection with his college work, and thus made money to defray his expen- ses, help his mother and educate his half-brother, Rev. B. F. Hyde, besides assisting many a poor and worthy student. He took the degree of A. B. in June, 1890, and the degree of A. M. in June, 1893. During his last year in college he had charge of the mental and moral science depart- ment. In 1895 he delivered the alumni oration, being the youngest graduate ever honored by that election.
For two years he waspastor of the First Baptist Church of Paducah, and when he resigned that charge, September, 1891, to attend the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary at Louisville, it was against the protest of his congregation. He spent three years in the seminary and graduated in nine of the most important classes of that insti- tution. During these three years he preached in the Elizabethtown and Gilead Baptist Churches.
While a student in the seminary he was elected to the presidency of a college in Texas at a sal- ary of $2,000 a year, but declincd. He was also re- called to the First Church in Paducah and declined that; was offered the pastorate of the First Baptist Church of Evansville, Indiana, but this and other important calls he declined, hoping to complete his studies in the seminary before entering upon stated work; but in the fall of 1894, following the advice of a leading specialist, he gave up his studies on account of an affliction in his eyes. At this time the First Baptist Churches of Oca- la, Florida, and of Decatur, Illinois, were tendered him, and he accepted the call to Decatur, which congregation has a membership of seven hundred and fifty and church property worth $60,000 in a city of 30,000 population. It is one of the best churches in the state. Prof. John P. Fruit, Ph.D., who was in Leipsic, Germany, at the time, writing to a friend in Decatur, said: "I am de- lighted that Mr. Jordan has gone to Decatur. I have known the man thoroughly; have seen him tried and therefore know him to be one of the most
22
1
3,38
KENTUCKY BIOGRAPHIES.
promising young preachers we have ever had at Bethel College. He is a man, every inch of him. There is nothing little in him; no common streak such as you find in many a man." A minister of the gospel could hardly wish for a higher compli- ment than this, but it is only one of many which could be given to show the popularity, high stand- ing and ability of Mr. Jordan as a man and a preacher. In his present field his work has been greatly blessed, as it has been wherever he has labored.
Mr. Jordan is an indefatigable worker, a fine speaker, and a good mixer-genial in manner and kindly considerate for others. His popularity and magnetism as a speaker have led him to enter the lecture field on special occasions, and he has al- ready made an enviable reputation upon the plat- form.
His wife, to whom he was married July 8, 1891, was Ray Griffin of Mississippi.
JOHN P. NEWMAN, a prominent Attorney- at-Law and a well-known and highly popular citizen of Newport, son of John and Catherine (Charde) Newman, was born in the village of . Upton, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Sep- tember 21, 1851.
John Newman (father) was born in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1820; received a good education and taught school in early life. He is now a resi- dent of Boston, Massachusetts, which has been his home and where he has been engaged in com- niercial and manufacturing enterprises for many years. At present he is interested in the Boston Type and Stereotype Foundry. He is a member of the Episcopal Church, a consistent Christian, and stands well in the business community; has reached his seventy-sixth year and is still active and energetic for one of his age. He enlisted in Company G, Twentieth Regiment Massachusetts Infantry, in the Civil war, being elected first lieu- tenant, and was afterward promoted to captain of lis company.
He married Catherine Charde, daughter of Lawrence Charde of Massachusetts. She was born in 1829 and died in 1852. She was descended from Irish ancestry.
Samuel Newman (grandfather) was a native of
the southern part of Ireland, who came to the United States when twenty-five years of age and located, first, in New York City. He afterward removed to Trenton, New Jersey, and thence to Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he died.
John P. Newman received his primary educa- tion in the common schools of Worcester County, and attended the Newtonville Academy in Massa- chusetts, from which he graduated in 1871. At the age of twenty-one years he came west and entered the Cincinnati Law School, and was graduated from that institution in 1878. He at once com- menced the practice of law at the Newport bar, and has given his best attention to his large clien- tele, while serving the public in the various capa- cities to which he has been called from time to time. He has been mayor and president of the City Council of Bellevue; has served five years in the legislature, where he took an active and lead- ing part in behalf of the labor organizations; was tendered the nomination of the Union Labor party for attorney-general of the state, which honor he declined. He is a stanch Democrat, faithful and true to the principles of the party, and while he has always been a friend of and sympathized with the laboring classes he could not go outside of his party, which had frequently honored him by election to office, to accept a nomination by a third party organization.
He is a member of the Knights of Honor, Knights of Pythias, of the Masonic fraternity and of the Benevolent Order of Elks, and in all of these he is a popular and useful member and has received his share of honors at their hands.
Mr. Newman was married in 1877 to Bertha Houser, daughter of Mathias Houser, one of the old pioneers of Cincinnati. They have two chil- dren, Oliver and Stella.
OLONEL WILLIAM M. MOORE of Cynthiana, was born in Harrison County, near Cynthiana, in 1837. His father was also a native of Harrison County, who removed with his family to Lewis County, Missouri, in 1839, where he spent the remainder of his life, and died in 1858 at the age of forty-six years. He was a farmer and a large owner of land in Lewis County, which he cultivated with great care and success, raising
339
KENTUCKY BIOGRAPHIES.
large quantities of wheat, at the same time devot- ing much attention to stock raising.
Moses Moore (grandfather) was born in Rock- bridge County, Virginia, and removed to Harri- son County, Kentucky, in 1808. He was a farmer and a man of unusual intelligence. He died at the early age of thirty years. He belonged to an old and highly respected family of Rockbridge County, Virginia, who were of Scotch-Irish ex- traction.
Colonel Moore's mother, Mary (Magee) Moore, was born in Harrison County in 1813, and died in Missouri in 1890. Her father, William Magee, was a native of Virginia, who settled in Harrison County in 1807, and his farm adjoined that of Moses Moore. When he was a lad of four- teen or fifteen he served as orderly or messen- ger for General Washington in the Revolu- tionary war. The Magees were from Ireland, and were Protestants. The Moores and Magees were Methodists, and as far back as known until the present time they were Democrats.
Colonel William M. Moore was two years old when his father removed to Missouri, which was at that time a new country and on the frontier of civilization, where the educational advantages were nothing to boast of. However, with the aid of his parents, he was prepared for college and was a member of the junior class of the Missouri State University in 1860. When the Civil war broke out he was one of the first to offer his services, and he enlisted as a private soldier in May, 1861. He received his first wound in the battle of Lexing- ton. In December, 1861, he was made adjutant, and in May, 1862, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He resigned in August, 1862; re-enlisted and was made captain of his company, and in the same year was made lieuten- ant-colonel again; and in April, 1863, he was pro- moted to the rank of colonel, and during the last year of the war he commanded a brigade, refus- ing a commission as brigadier-general in order to stay with his men. He was wounded at Helena and again at Jenkin's Ferry; was in the battles of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill; was officer of the day in command of the guards when Shreveport was surrendered to General Canby, whose parole Colonel Moore still has in his possession
July, 1865, Colonel Moore returned to his home in Missouri after four years' service in a cause to which he had sacrificed everything he had, and settled down to the quiet life of the farmer.
He was elected sheriff of Lewis County in 1875, and in 1877 he was elected to the State Legislature. In 1882 Colonel Moore returned to his native county and located near the place of his birth, about six miles north of Cynthiana, where he en- gaged in farming extensively and in raising stock. He owns over seven hundred acres of land, with modern improvements.
He was elected to the Kentucky Legislature in 1889 and again in 1891, and was Speaker of the House of Representatives during the session of 1891-2. His public career has been singularly fortunate, especially in view of his unprofessional life. He is essentially a leader, having a strong will, firm convictions, with courage to assert his views and the intelligence to forcibly present them before the people. He enjoys the confidence of his friends not only in the Democratic party, to which he belongs, but among his neighbors and ac- quaintances.
Colonel Moore married Fannie Garnett in 1870. They have two daughters, Mary L. and Jennie Moore. Mrs. Moore is the daughter of Thomas T. Garnett, a Harrison County farmer, who came from Virginia with his parents when he was one year old.
W ILLIAM CRAWLEY LANG, a well known business man and at present coal oil inspector of Paducah, although seventy-four years of age, is an active and industrious citizen, who has been closely identified with the business interests at Paducah for more than forty years. He was born in Manchester, Virginia, September 15, 1821, and after receiving a fair common school education was a manufacturer of and dealer in tobacco in his native city until 1852.
He removed to Paducah in 1854 and established a tobacco manufactory in that city, in which he continued with remarkable success until 1863, a time in which many fortunes were wrecked, and Mr. Lang, with many others, lost all he had, and was compelled to abandon his business for a time.
In 1865 he retired to a farm and in the course of
340
KENTUCKY BIOGRAPHIES.
ten years had recovered from his embarrassment and gained sufficient capital to resume business in the city.
In 1875 he became associated with Thomas Lyle in the grocery business, and was thus en- gaged until 1893, when he was appointed coal oil inspector, a lucrative position, for which he is well qualified, and to which he was called through the influence of the leading business men of Paducah.
Mr. Lang was married April 5, 1846, to Martha Muse, with whom he lived for nearly half a cen- tury. She was born in Gloucester County, Vir- ginia, in 1825, and died January 9, 1895. She was a member of the Methodist Church for fifty-three years, and a most exemplary Christian woman.
Mr. and Mrs. Lang were the parents of six children: James Maynard, deceased; Mollie, wife of William Allen of Paducah; James Maynard, of whom a brief sketch is given herewith; Wallie Lee, Nellie and Addie.
James Maynard Lang, the third child, and second son of that name, was born in Paducah, July 15, 1857, and was carefully educated in the public schools of the city until he was seventeen years of age, when, in 1874, he was apprenticed to A. B. Kincaid, a druggist of Paducah, for a term of three years. In this capacity he learned the intricacies of chemistry and pharmacy, and by careful study prepared himself for the responsible duties of the modern druggist. After a rigid ex- amination in Louisville, having complied with the regulations of the State Board of Pharmacy, he became a duly registered pharmacist in 1881, and to this work he has applied himself in his native sity without interruption until the present time.
He has been a member of the Board of Educa- tion for three consecutive terms, and in Novem- ber, 1894, he was elected president of the Padu- cah Fair Association, a post to which only the most capable business men of the city are called. He is a Democrat, but not for revenue or office; a member of the Knights and Ladies of Honor and of the Odd Fellows.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.