USA > Kentucky > Biographical cyclopedia of the commonwealth of Kentucky > Part 75
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In this chosen land he found at last perfection,
and here he planted himself, and built the monu- ment of his life, which still remains, and will re- main for generations yet unborn-the Lexing- ton Cemetery. In this his best thought has found expression, and the earth showeth forth his handi- work.
This country suited him; its fertile soil and blue skies incited him to faithful labor in this world, and firmer faith in a better world to come. He had roved enough, and while pruning the grape vines at "Duncanan," or watching the full clusters ripen into purple beauty, the strong young heart felt its warm blood stirred by the angel Love. He was young and impulsive, yet cautious, as his people are. Love with him meant an eternal union of two hearts; it meant the home, the hearthstone, the family, the frugal, honest life, the serene old age, the peaceful death. So he curbed his strong impulses, and labored on in silence for nearly two more years, his loneliness increasing all the time. Then when his future was assured his home was chosen and he ceased to be a wanderer, for the wedding day came quickly, and he was made happy by the hand of one who was to be a faithful friend, a wise counselor, a devoted mother, a loving, tender helpmate in all things, until death should part. Time has made good the wisdom of his choice, and death has made of that pure wife a blessed memory.
With his marriage the real life of the man be- gan. Hitherto he had been a wanderer-an ap- prentice of destiny. Now, having chosen an abiding place, a home, his constructive nature began to assert itself. First he established a nursery of his own, where with his young wife he could begin to enjoy existence for the first time under his own vine and fig tree. But the capacity for work, the genius and skill for designing and executing was too great in him to be hidden in a private station. While his modest tastes and frugal habits made a quiet home life his ideal, yet there was a higher need for him, a broader sphere for his abilities. He was called in 1848 to the superintendency of his lifework,
THE LEXINGTON CEMETERY.
This beautiful place of rest had just been pur- chased by a company, and consisted of about
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forty acres of beautiful, undulating land on the outskirts of the city, which was then covered with virgin grass and shaded with mighty forest trees, most of them remaining. The area was increased from time to time, until now it comprises one hundred and six acres, the whole being a beauti- ful monument to the exquisite taste, the far-reach- ing thoughtfulness and the broad executive abil- ity of this one man.
Nature had been not niggardly in her gifts to the favored spot, but the genius of Charles Stew- art Bell has supplemented Nature, and builded beauty upon what was already beautiful. Every obstacle of unsightliness has been transformed into lines of grace, and the very defects of the situation and the soil have been made the hand- maids of its perfection. Exuberant undergrowth has been cleared away, the long grass trimmed into a velvet sward, the native trees thinned so that sunlight may enter through their interspaces, depressions have been terraced, or transformed into crystal lakes, hills turned into gentle slopes, broad winding roads constructed so as to give access to every portion of the grounds, foreign trees, flowers, shrubbery, evergreens have been added to the perspective, until in all the land there is nowhere a more beautiful city of the dead. All this has been done by an humble, unobtrusive Scotchman, who has claimed no credit except that he has loved his work and been faithful to those who trusted him.
It is not given to all men thus to have written their life history, as it were, upon the face of Nature. It is true, the battlefield remains a me- mento of the conqueror, and the fortress a mon- ument to the engineer, but it is sweeter far and better far to be remembered by the well trimmed hedge, the robust trees, the banks of violets, the roadway winding through the shadows, and the dell where the spring bubbles and the sunbeam loves to play at noon. This man has written upon God's footstool the serious depths and the happy hillocks of his earthly years, the meditations of his mind, the gentle graciousness of his heart. Longer than a granite tomb his work will last, for the lines of beauty upon Nature's face with- stand the touch of Time. For centuries the Lex- ington Cemetery will be looked upon as the
crowning work of Charles Stewart Bell, and its accurate conformity to every graceful attribute of landscape gardening will make of it a model to be striven for by his successors in the art. Cared for as tenderly as if it were an only child, with not a vagrant weed to mar its velvet sward, and not a twig nor fallen leaf to cumber up its winding paths or float upon the surface of its lakes, he will leave this lovely spot a sacred heritage to his succes- sor, without spot or blemish on it. His talent has not been hidden in a napkin, but has been in- creased an hundredfold, and his reward shall be as great.
Blessed as he has been in the success of all his earthly undertakings, he has been equally as fortunate in his children. Of his son-in-law, T. Volney Munson, he has given a sketch more complete than this writer could pen. Mr. Mun- son is a man of rare ability in literature, both in and out of his chosen profession, and having mar- ried the only daughter and pet of the family it is natural that Mr. Bell should take pride in his achievements. To see his daughter well married and provided for must be indeed a solace to his declining years, the more so that her children have begun to follow in the forceful footsteps of their ancestors.
Each of the boys has carved out for himself an honorable niche in the community. Upright, honorable, their fidelity to every principle of jus- tice has made them worthy of the good old stock from which they sprung, and the responsible po- sitions which they fill. Each one has his home and hearthstone, and finds his delight there rather than in the mad rush of ambition, or the mael- strom of swirling politics. All are good citizens, and exercise their privileges at the polls with con- science for a guide and the best interests of all the people as a purpose. Yet from the wrangling of ward meetings they stand aloof, and of brib- ery and corruption and trickery they know noth- ing. The darker side of life, the weakness or venality of public men are to them, and will be ever, a sealed book.
The eldest, George Keatley Bell, attended the city schools of Lexington, and was also for two years a student of Transylvania University, at the same place. After leaving college he went
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into business in the grocery store of his uncle, Thomas M. Bell, where he remained as clerk, and partner for about ten years. On June 6, 1872, he entered the office of the Adams Express Com- pany at Lexington as clerk, and in June 19, 1882, became agent, which position he continues to hold. On June 5, 1873, he was married to Miss Endora Smith, daughter of John M. Smith of Versailles, Kentucky. She died August 19 of the same year. On December 14, 1880, he was mar- ried to Miss Laura Stone, daughter of David Stone of Lexington. By her he became the father of three children, all now living: Walter Stone Bell, born August 17, 1882; Arthur Hampton Bell, born July 10, 1885; George Scott Bell, born November 22, 1887.
His second wife was born October 26, 1854. Her mother, Harriet N. Hampton, was married to David Stone (his second wife) February 22, 1840, and died June 15, 1855. David Stone was born February 14, 1807, married three times and died November 13, 1873. Mr. Bell and his wife are members of Central Christian Church.
John Moffat Bell, the second son, received the same education as his elder brother, except that he spent three years at Transylvania. Leaving college he entered the banking house of David A. Saye, where he remained until November, 1866, when he became individual bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Lexington, Kentucky. June, 1869, he was made teller and in July, 1887, was promoted to cashier, having been assistant cashier for several years previous. March 19, 1872, he married Mary H. Erd, daughter of Frank I. Erd of Lexington. Mr. Erd was a German by birth, but came to America at an early age, and was a prosperous furniture dealer in Lexington. She was born in Lexington, Kentucky, July 8, 1848, and educated at the celebrated private school of Mrs. Rhoten in that city. To them were born three children: Frank Charles Bell, born Novem- ber 30, 1872, now bookkeeper in First National Bank; Lawrence E. Bell, born March 30, 1874, now with E. J. Curley & Company, Lexington office; John Lambert Bell, born August 25, 1875, and educated at the Kentucky State College at Lexington.
Mr. Bell and wife are not connected with any
congregation, one being Presbyterian the other Christian in faith.
William Smith Bell, born November 9, 1852, is, like his father, a florist and nurseryman, and his success has placed him in the front rank of flor- ists in Kentucky. He received only a common school education, and in 1868 entered business life with his father as florist. Their partnership con- tinued until 1881, since which time he has been in business for himself. In 1871-72, however, he was with Scott & Son, prominent florists of Phil- adelphia. Since returning to Lexington he has become the fashionable florist of the city, and also ships his goods to all parts of the state, and to other states ..
He was married October 12, 1875, to Miss Addie Lancaster, daughter of Henry Lancaster, a contractor and builder of Lexington, who died in 1876. His wife was born October 20, 1852. To them six children were born: Emily Scott Bell, October 4, 1877; Nellie Munson Bell, March 19, 1880; W. S. Bell, Jr., November 19, 1882; Ade- laide Lancaster Bell, March 9, 1885; Flora Bun- yan Bell, January 26, 1890; Charles Stewart Bell, April 7, 1893.
Mr. Bell is a member of the M. E. Church, South, and of several secret societies.
Charles Stewart Bell, Jr., is the youngest of the five children, having been born January 15, 1855. He was educated in the public schools and Transylvania University. After leaving school he was for a short time deputy county clerk and afterward clerk in Adams Express Company. He then went into the fruit business, first by retail, but since 1875 in the wholesale and commission fruit and vegetable trade, and is now one of the largest dealers of the state in both foreign and native lines. He also owns a wholesale and re- tail store in Frankfort, Ky., but resides in Lex- ington. On November 16, 1876, he was married to Miss Luella Keith, daughter of Dr. Marvel Lewis Keith, formerly of Greenville, South Car- olina. Her mother was Miss Susannah Ball of Lexington. Mrs. Bell was born June 20, 1854, and is a graduate of Sayre Female Institute. Both are members of First Presbyterian Church of Lexington. They have three children living, the eldest having died at an early age. The living
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are: Margaret Elizabeth Bell, Lewis Keith Bell and Virginia Wickliffe Bell.
The sons of Mr. Bell, senior, are all Demo- crats in politics, and steady, church-going people. Of his daughter it can well be said, as of her mother, that she is indeed a helpmeet for her hus- band, and a guardian angel to her children.
And thus we come to the closing chapter to this successful life, for in the course of nature the last page in the precious volume must soon be turned. To such a life, however, death can have no terrors, and the tired body can sweetly sleep in the home which his hands have made so beautiful by the side of the wife whom he loved so well; and every tear which drops upon the sod above him will be as pure as the violets he taught to bloom upon the sunny slopes. He will die full of years and honors, with children and grand- children about him and unsullied memories to speak his name when he has gone. Upon his monument it could be carved
"The earth has lost a man Whom Heaven has claimed."
This sketch of the Bell family was written by J. Soule Smith, of Lexington.
W ILLIAM J. DALMAZZO of Bardstown, Clerk of Nelson County Court, son of James Dalmazzo and Ann E. Price, was born in Vevay, Switzerland County, Indiana, December 7, 1844. His father was a native of Turin, Italy, who came to America when he was sixteen years of age for the purpose of completing his educa- tion. He became a citizen of Vevay and made his home there until the time of his death, which occurred in 1845, in the fifty-third year of his age. He was a very prosperous merchant and a highly respected citizen.
Ann E. Price (mother) was born in Nelson County, December 18, 1822, and is now a resi- dent of Bardstown. After the death of Mr. Dal- mazzo she married Francis Smith of Nelson County. There were four children by her first marriage, only one of whom, the subject of this sketch, reached maturity.
Ignatius Price (maternal grandfather) was a native of Nelson County, whose parents were
from Maryland. He was an industrious black- smith and wagonmaker in Bardstown in the days of the old stage coach and did a very thriving business. He died in 1840 in the forty-fifth year of his age.
W. J. Dalmazzo's mother returned to Bards- town after the death of his father and he was edu- cated in St. Joseph's College. After leaving school, well advanced in the English branches, he found employment as a clerk in a dry goods es- tablishment for some time, and in 1864 was ap- pointed Deputy County Clerk by Edwin Turner, in which capacity he served for several years and was deputy in that office and in the Circuit Clerk's office and postoffice at different times until No- vember, 1886, when he was appointed to his pres- ent position as County Clerk and expects to serve out his term-which expires January 1, 1898- when he proposes to retire, having acquired a con- siderable estate.
Mr. Dalmazzo has taken quite an active part in local politics and has held a number of minor offices in Bardstown, where he is one of the most popular citizens, and was Assistant Postmaster for three years, when not engaged in the Clerk's office. He has never married, but is living with his aged mother, for whom he has provided the comforts of a happy home. They are devout members of the Catholic Church and are highly respected by the people of Bardstown and of Nelson County.
W ILLIAM P. THORNE, distinguished criminal lawyer and politician of Eminence, son of William Kimberland and Mary K. (Moody) Thorne, was born in Henry County, Kentucky, March 5, 1845.
William K. Thorne (father) was born in Shelby County, April 13, 1813; was educated in the common schools and applied himself to farming and raising fine stock, removing to Henry Coun- ty in 1839, where he died August 1, 1889. He was a man of great force of character, but did not seek prominence; a Democrat in politics ; a faithful member of the Christian Church and one of the best citizens of Henry County. He mar- ried the widow Ireland, whose maiden name was Moody, and who was the mother of five children
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by her first husband, including John Crit Ireland, who was a captain in the Confederate army and afterward for many years proprietor of the Euclid livery stable in Louisville, and Dr. J. W. Ireland, a prominent physician.
The children of William K. Thorne and Mary (Ireland) Thorne were Andrew J., William P. and Shelby T. Thorne.
John Thorne (grandfather) was a native of Virginia, who came with his father (John) to Shelby County when he was a child. His sister and two cousins (boys) were killed by the In- dians. They had been sent out of the fort on an errand and were surprised and pursued by the Indians, and ran into Clear Creek for refuge at a particularly deep place, which has been known ever since as Thorne's Pool. For some time the children evaded the shots of the redskins by diving, but they could not remain long under water, and as they arose in the water they were struck by the Indians' arrows until all three were killed. W. P. Thorne has presented one of the arrows taken from the girl's body to the Filson Club, of which he is a member.
John Thorne (grandfather) married Elizabeth Kimberland (grandmother), a native of Virginia, and their children were: Levisa, who married Peter Laswell; Nancy, wife of W. Morrison; Ann, wife of William N. Perkins; William K. and J. J.
John Thorne (great-grandfather) came to Ken- tucky from Virginia; was one of the pioneers of Shelby County, and lived in the fort mentioned in the above tragic incident.
William P. Thorne graduated from Eminence College in 1865, under the able instruction of Pro- fessor Giltner; studied law with Judge George C. Drane, now of Frankfort and at that time a partner of Chief Justice Pryor; was admitted to the bar of Henry County in 1868, and at once be- gan the practice of his profession, in which he has steadily risen until he is one of the most celebrated lawyers in the state.
In 1874 he was elected county attorney, serving until 1878; has frequently been chosen to the position of circuit judge and that of common- wealth attorney in the absence of those officials; and while serving as prosecuting attorney he suc-
ceeded in holding over the four men of the notori- ous Simmons' gang who were hung by a mob; and this brought him into notice all over the state as a fearless and capable prosecutor. He also prosecuted Alsop for the murder of Harrison in Jefferson County; defended Stivers, who killed Colonel Veal of Fayette County; with Colonel Wadsworth defended Shire, who was charged with poisoning his father-in-law, Colonel M. Glea- son, of Grant County; defended Foreman in Montgomery County, who was charged with the murder of Cravens, which case was three times taken to the Court of Appeals; prosecuted Doome for killing Hughes at Bardstown; defend- ed Mattox, who killed Jameson at Lakeland; and there has not been an important criminal case in Henry County since Mr. Thorne became a lawyer in which he has not taken an active part; and he has been employed in many important civil cases; was local attorney for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company for many years, and is attorney for the Farmers & Drovers' Bank of Eminence.
He has taken a lively interest in Democratic politics and is serving his county for the third time in the Legislature; has been assistant Dem- ocratic Presidential elector in four campaigns, and was a delegate to the National Convention in New York (1868), which nominated Seymour and Blair, and was an alternate delegate to the National Convention that nominated Cleveland the second tiine.
Mr. Thorne was united in marriage March 27, 1866, with Anna Dickerson, and their children are: Agnes Pearl, wife of Lindsey T. Crabb, son of W. L. Crabb, whose sketch will be found in this volume; Mary Bernice, wife of James E. Waugh of Pembroke, and William P. Thorne, Jr.
Mrs. Thorne's father, Richard A. Dickerson, was born in Grant County June, 1825, and was a prominent farmer and distinguished citizen of his native county; active and influential in the Dem- ocratic party; exerting great power over the minds and actions of others and enjoying the good will and confidence of all men. He was a son of Archibald and Harriet (Dictum) Dicker- son; and his mother was a daughter of Captain
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Richard Dictum, whose wife was a Miss Mc- Bride, whose two brothers fell at the battle of Brandywine, one of whom was General McBride.
Agnes Collins Dickerson, Mrs. Thorne's mother, was a daughter of Richard Collins and a niece of Lewis Collins, the historian of Kentucky. Richard Collins married Lucy Wilson, daughter of James and Agnes (Pickett) Wilson. James Wilson was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, as is shown by a land grant allotted to him Janu- ary 31, 1786, and signed by Patrick Henry. Agnes Pickett belonged to a distinguished Vir- ginia family, and was present at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis.
Mrs. Thorne has three brothers: R. T. Dicker- son; Worth W. Dickerson, ex-congressman, of Williamstown, and Jefferson D. Dickerson, de- ceased.
OHN SAMUEL OWSLEY, farmer of Stan- J ford, Lincoln County, son of Samuel Owsley and Eliza W. Stephenson, was born in Walnut Flat, Lincoln County, Kentucky, October 3, 1840; attended Stanford Seminary for several years, and in 1855 entered Center College, Danville, where he pursued his studies for two years; returned to his father's farm and engaged in farming, stock raising and trading; was married October 15, 1861, to S. Malinda Miller, daughter of Thomas W. and Mary J. (Hocker) Miller of Madison County. She was one of the most cultured ladies in all that section of the state; a graduate (in 1859) of Mrs. Tevis' Science Hill Academy at Shelbyville; was a remarkably fine musician; a lady of very superior intellect and a devout mem- ber of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. She died October 15, 1888, and is buried in Buffalo Cemetery at Stanford. She was the mother of eight children, all of whom are living: Mary E., wife of J. W. Manier of Nashville, Tennessee; John Samuel, Jr., commonwealth attorney of Stanford; Mattie H., wife of W. P. Walton, editor and proprietor of the Stanford Interior Journal; Maggie S., Linda, Thomas Miller, attorney at law of Bowling Green; Emma McGee, Michael, in school at Danville.
Maggie S., Linda and Emma McGee are at home with their father. All of their children are
members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and the voters are Democratic in politics.
After the death of his wife Mr. Owsley removed to Stanford, where he lived for four years, at the same time giving his attention to his farm, to which he has since returned. He was a mem- ber of the Legislature from Lincoln County in 1877-8, contemporary with Hon. James B. Mc- Creary, who was Governor at that time; is a di- rector in the Farmers' Bank & Trust Company, and is interested in other business enterprises, aside from his farming operations, which demand his first attention.
Samuel Owsley (father) was born in Virginia; came to Kentucky in 1781 with his parents, when he was about four years of age; was educated in the common schools near Crab Orchard; was a farmer by occupation; married Eliza W. Stephen- son, daughter of George Stephenson, in 1839, and had one child, John Samuel, the principal subject of this sketch. He (father) died September, 1851, and is buried at the old homestead, now the home of his son. His wife died May, 1874, and is buried by his side. 1
William Owsley (grandfather) was a Virginian; came to Kentucky in 1781, and married Mary Bolin, and was a farmer in Lincoln County.
John Samuel Owsley, Jr., son of John Samuel and Melinda Miller Owsley, was born in Lincoln County, Kentucky, January 20, 1867. Is a grad- uate of the literary and law departments of Cum- berland University. He commenced the practice of law in Stanford in the spring of 1889, and was elected Commonwealth Attorney by the people in the Thirteenth Judicial District in 1892, when he was only twenty-six years of age. He is asso- ciated in the practice of law with Judge Softly, and is one of the leading young lawyers practic- ing at the Lincoln County bar. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church; a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias and the K. U. T. M .; a Democrat in political affiliations and quite active and influential in party affairs.
He was married April 26, 1894, to Ella McEl- wain of Franklin, Simpson County, and lias one child, James M. Owsley, born February 1, 1895.
The genealogy of the Owsley family is given as follows:
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Reverend John Owsley (great-great-great- great-grandfather) born in 1663, married Ann Glaston of Virginia.
Captain Thomas Owsley (great-great-great- grandfather) was a native of Virginia.
Thomas Owsley (great-great-grandfather), married Ann West. Lived in Virginia.
Thomas Owsley (great-grandfather), born in 1731, married Mary Middleton.
William Owsley (grandfather), born in 1749, married Catherine Bolin.
Samuel Owsley (father), born February 2, 1778, married Eliza W. Stephenson.
John Samuel Owsley, born October 3, 1840, married S. Malinda Miller.
John Samuel Owsley, Jr., born January 20, 1867, married Ella McElwain.
James M. Owsley, born February 1, 1895.
D AVID L. EVANS, County Clerk, Cynthi- ana, son of Green D. and Emaline (Davis) Evans, was born in Harrison County, November II, 1864. His father was born in the same county on the same farm, April 10, 1826. He was an ac- tive farmer until 1893, when he retired and re- moved to Cynthiana.
David Evans (grandfather) was a native of Vir- ginia, who came to Harrison County when a boy with his father, Walter Evans, who purchased the farm now owned by Green D. Evans. The Evanses are of Welsh descent.
Emaline Evans (mother) was born in Hanover County in 1838. She and her husband and son, David L., are members of the Christian Church, the latter being clerk of the congregation in Cyn- thiana.
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