Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 31

Author: Collins, Lewis, 1797-1870. cn; Collins, Richard H., 1824-1889. cn
Publication date: 1874
Publisher: Covington, Ky., Collins & Co.
Number of Pages: 1654

USA > Kentucky > Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II > Part 31

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The premature and lamented death of his father in 1806, had, for a time, inter- rupted his studies, and called him to Kentucky, to become, in his boyhood, the head of a large family, and to prepare for the chief labor in managing an extensive and complicated estate. The responsibilities of this new position, gave him even at this early period, a certain prudence and grave maturity of character which accompanied him through life; and the duties it involved, were faithfully and ably performed.

Upon his return to Kentucky, Mr. Breckinridge devoted himself to the various duties thrown upon him by the death of his father, and to the study of the law. But before he completed his profession, the troubles on the north-western frontier called forth the gallantry and patriotism of Kentucky, and among inany other brave men, he volunteered his services to his country, and served one campaign as aid-de-camp to General Samuel Hopkins. Soon afterwards he was admitted to the bar, and commenced the practice of law in Lexington.

He had been but a short time before the public, when he began to attract, in a remarkable degree, its notice and regard. His engaging manners and exalted character, irresistibly drew to him the respect and affection of his fellow men. He was a stranger to deceit in every form ; no one ever suspected him of dupli- city ; he was open, frank, and true ; generous and confiding, perhaps to a fault ;

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and possessed the unbounded confidence of all who knew him. Such qualities naturally fitted him for public life ; and, accordingly, at a very early age, he was elected to the legislature from Fayette county, by the largest majority ever given there. His legislative career was highly honorable to himself and useful to the State. The urbanity of his manners, united to his vigorous talents, and high, steady character, gave him uncommon power and influence. He filled the chair of speaker of the house, with an impartiality and dignity that commanded the approbation of all parties.

Though as far as possible removed from the brawling partisan, and without one quality of the demagogue in his character, Mr. Breckinridge always took a deep interest in public affairs, and his hereditary principles were those of the republican party of '98, which brought Mr. Jefferson into power. The national theatre. in his day, presented comparatively a quiet scene ; for the greater part of his public life was passed in what was called the " era of good feeling"-during the adminis- tration of Mr. Monroe-that interval of peace between the violent party contests of our earlier and later history. In the politics of his own State, it was the rare good fortune of Mr. Breckinridge to command the confidence of both parties ; and when Gen. Adair was elected governor of Kentucky, the voice of the public, and of the governor himself, designated him for the office of secretary of state. He accepted the appointment, and removed to Frankfort with his family in the spring of 1821, where he continued to reside, attending to his lucrative practice and the duties of his office, until the fall of 1823, when he was seized with a malignant fever then raging in the town, which baffled the skill of his physicians, and of which he died on the Ist of September.

Thus was lost to his family, his friends, and his country, at the early age of thirty-five years, Joseph Cabell Breckinridge-a man who, from his first appear- ance on the theatre of affairs, had been steadily growing in the affection and gratitude of his countrymen-whose life had given a sure guarantee of true greatness-and whose noble character and genuine talents promised. in any sphere, to reflect honor on his state. At the bar, his eloquence, which was of a high and persuasive order, united to his extensive professional attainments. placed him in the front rank. The few compositions and published speeches which the pressure of his other avocations allowed him to throw off, show remarkable pu- rity and force of style. Perhaps, in his day, he had no superior as a writer in the west. His mind was of that long maturing kind, which is late in attaining the utmost force and cultivation to which it is susceptible; and at his death, his powers were expanding into greater strength, and he seemed but upon the thresh- hold of his fame. In social intercourse, his influence on those around him was remarkable. There was a certain individuality about him, not to be forgotten, even by a casual observer-which arose, in part, from his extraordinary personal advantages, but chiefly from a lofty tone of character, which impressed itself on all his conduct. At his death, his position was fixed ; no dispute arose concern- ing it ; the public sentiment was settled and unanimous. And when his coun- trymen were called to mourn his loss, all joined their according testimony to the perfect nobility of his nature, and the steadfast uprightness of his life.

In person, Mr. Breckinridge was somewhat above the middle height, with a form of remarkable symmetry. His complexion was fair. his eyes and hair dark. His whole appearance was strikingly graceful and manly, and he was esteemed one of the most accomplished gentlemen of his day.

For a number of years before his death, he was a professor of religion, and was one of the founders and ruling elders of the second Presbyterian church in Lex- ington. He carried his religious character wherever he went, and died as he had lived, a christian gentleman. His life is worthy of study, and his example of imitation. He left a numerous family. [See sketch of his only son, Gen. JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE, on page 202.]

ROBERT WICKLIFFE, eldest son of Charles Wickliffe and Lydia Hardin, was born Jan. 16, 1775, at Redstone " Old Fort," in Pennsylvania-in removing from the county of Prince William, Va., to Kentucky. The family came from England about 1748-his ancestor. Elijah Wickliffe, settling near Dum- fries. Charles Wickliffe emigrated to Ky., and, with his kindred, the Har- dina, settled in Nelson county. His son Robert studied law under the

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celebrated George Nicholas, and soon obtained a large and lucrative practice. He shunned, as far as he well could, political honors; vet was one of the representatives of Fayette county in 1819, 1823, and 1824, and one of her state senators for eight years, 1825-33. During this time, occurred the great and bitter contest between the Old Court and New Court parties in Kentucky- in which Mr. Wickliffe distinguished himself as one of the Old Court leaders, in co-operation with such able men as John J. Crittenden, Ben. Mills, and Geo. Robertson, and in antagonism to such powerful adversaries as John Rowan, Geo. M. Bibb, and Wm. T. Barry. The Old Court party finally triumphed. Mr. Wickliffe attained a reputation as one of the very ablest-cer- tainly the most successful-real estate lawyers of his time ; and in the course of fifty years practice amassed the largest fortune ever acquired by any lawyer in Ky. He was a man of lofty stature, noble presence, and courtly manners- from which circumstances both friends and foes gave him the sobriquet of the "Old Duke.". His temper was frank and ardent, giving him great influ- ence over his associates and making his friends adhere to him with constaney ; while it made him, among those he defeated at the bar, some most uncom- promising enemies. He was an earnest member of the Episcopal church. He died Sept. 1, 1859, in his S5th year. Mr. W. was twice married ; when a young man, to Margaret Preston Howard, daughter of John Howard, of Howard's Grove, Fayette co., and at her death, to Mrs. Mary O. Russell, only child of Col. John Todd, who fell in command at the battle of the Blue Licks, Aug. 19, 1782; by her he left no issue.

WILLIAM SMITH WALLER was born at Craig's Station, on Gilbert's Creek, a few miles east of where the town of Lancaster is now situated, in Garrard co., Ky., on April 6th, 1785. He was the youngest of five sons of Rev. Wm. E. Waller, an eminent Baptist preacher, who, in 1781, moved from Spottsylvania county, Va .. to Kentucky, in company with a large party of emigrants, chiefly Baptists. The family was of English descent, their ancestors having come over to this country about the beginning of the reign of Charles II.

In 1797, his father having returned to Virginia, the son was placed in the office of Maj. Wm. Trigg, then clerk of the court of quarter sessions, at Frankfort. At the age of 17, he received a certificate of qualification as clerk, from the judges of the court of appeals, Muter, Sebastian, and Wallace. In 1803, he was appointed clerk in the auditor's office, then filled by Maj. Geo. Madison, afterwards governor of the state, whose confidence and friend- ship he retained through life. He devoted his leisure hours to study, under the direction of James Priestly, one of the most celebrated teachers of his day in Kentucky. At this period, he was distinguished for correct deportment, aptitude and industry, for accuracy in business, and for application to study. His amiable, social, genial nature, the vivacity of his spirits, and the ardor of his friendships, made him a great favorite in society.

In 1807, the first Bank of Kentucky was chartered, with a capital of $2,000,000. He was chosen first clerk, and Matthew 'T. Scott, second clerk, by a board of directors consisting of Robert Alexander, President, and George Madison, John Brown, John Allen, Daniel Weisiger, Achilles Sneed, and others, directors. These gentlemen ranked amongst the most eminent men of the state of that day.

In 1809, he was elected cashier, which office he filled with great credit to himself and advantage to the institution during its entire subsequent exist- ence-a period of twenty-six years. Such was the ability and integrity of its management, that the bank always stood as one of the soundest and most popular in the country.

He was married Jan. 17th, 1810, to Miss Catharine Breckinridge, at the country seat of Nathaniel Hart, near Versailles, Woodford county. The fruits of this marriage were four sons and three daughters -- all still living, except a daughter who died in infancy.

In 1835, he became cashier of the Lexington branch of the present Bank of Kentucky. The Schuylkill Bank, in Philadelphia, had been, for several years, the agent of the Bank of Kentucky, for the transfer of stock in the eastern states ; and, in the administration of that important trust, had issued a

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large amount of spurious certificates of stock. This fraud compromitted the Bank of Kentucky to the extent of over $1,000,000; and was a heavy blow at its credit and usefulness. It had been so cunningly devised and dexterously executed, that it was not discovered for several years; and then, it was feared that the spurious could not be discriminated from the genuine stock, so as to fix the liability of the Schuylkill Bank.

At a full meeting of the stockholders of the Bank of Kentucky, Mr. Waller was unanimously chosen as their agent to proceed to Philadelphia, in 1840, to investigate thoroughly this fraudulent transaction, and ascertain and identify the false stock. This was accomplished successfully in ten months, after most incessant application. The work ran through many heavy registers, and exhibited with perfect accuracy the successive transfers of every share of legitimate and spurious stock. It demonstrated the rights and liabil- ities of all parties, and thus formed the only reliable basis of legal adjudication.

The distinguished legal advisers of the Bank, Hons. Horace Binney, John Sergeant, and Jos. R. Ingersoll, united in presenting him, upon his leaving Philadelphia, a testimonial of their appreciation of his services, in which they say : "In our opinion the great labor of this performance has been directed by a very high degree of intelligence ; and the rule you have adopted in separating the genuine from the spurious stock, in those cases in which they became united in the same proprietor, and were afterwards transferred by him, appears to be the true one."

On the presentation of his report, the board of directors unanimously resolved, " That the thanks of this board and of the stockholders are due to William S. Waller, for the able and successful manner in which he has per- formed the arduous and difficult task assigned him." The stockholders sub- sequently passed a similar resolution.

The gradual inroads of a cruel disease-cancer in the face-compelled him to withdraw from all official cares, in July, 1852. The president and directors of the Lexington Branch Bank, unanimously adopted resolutions that were remarkable for their strong terms of regret, sympathy, and high appreciation,

Thus honorably closing an official career of forty-five years, he retired to the more quiet scenes and occupations of a rural home, with tastes as simple, and a spirit as cheerful, as if he had known no other life, and was suffering from no depressing sorrow. He had been for many years a member of the Presbyterian church; and in perfect submission to his great affliction, in tones of deep emotion, he said, a short time before his death-" It is all right, it is all right, I am ready and willing to die." Thus he passed away, June 15th, 1855, in his 71st year ; a citizen of eminent standing and irre- proachable character, a man of faith, hope, and charity.

CONSTANTINE S. RAFINESQUE, an American naturalist, was born in Galata, a suburb of Constantinople, in 1784. His father, G. F. Rafinesque, was a merchant in the Levant, and his house a branch of one in Marseilles; his mother, M. Schmaltz, a Grecian born, but of a German family from Saxony. The son was taken when seven years of age to Marseilles, thence to Italy, and after residing in various cities in that country, came to America in 1802. Having collected a large number of botanical specimens, he returned to Europe in 1805, and spent ten years in Sicily. There he employed a part of his time in collecting plants, minerals, and fossils, as well as fishes, molusca, shells, sea-plants, &c .; and in writing numerous essays. In 1815 he pub- lished, in French, his " Analysis of Nature." The same year he sailed for America, but the ship was wrecked on Long Island, and he lost all his ac- cumulations except "some scattered funds, and the insurance ordered in England for one-third the value of his goods." Reaching New York, partly by stage and partly on foot, he accepted a position as teacher in a private family, for some montlis. Even there he projected new travels. While in Philadelphia on business, a friend, John D. Clifford, then settled in Kentucky, induced him to visit the western states in the spring of ISIS-a trip or tour which extended over two thousand miles. He traveled through Pennsylvania on foot, for the purpose of botanizing. At Pittsburgh, he with others bought an ark or covered flat-boat, and floated down the river, stopping to botanize

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at pleasure. At Louisville he remained two weeks, studying, and making drawings of, the fishes and shells of the river. He continued down the Ohio, and at Henderson, Ky., spent some days with John J. Audubon, the great ornithologist, who showed him his fine collection of colored drawings, after- wards published in England in many volumes. After returning to Shipping- port at the falls of the Ohio, where were the mills of his friends, the brothers Tarascon (through whom he sent to Pittsburgh his fishes, fossils, shells, and plants), he went to Lexington to visit his friend Clifford, and his fine museum of fossils and antiquities-traveling part of the way in a wagon (coach, he called it) of a peddler of wooden clocks, whose enterprise even at that early day found a harvest in Kentucky. Clifford persuaded Rafinesque to settle in Lexington, promising to procure for him a professorship in the University, and to travel with him in vacations, to make collections of fossils and plants. He returned to Philadelphia to arrange for his final departure for the west. Near Chillicothe, Ohio, he " first saw the great monuments and pyramids or altars of the ancient nations of America; they struck him with astonish- ment and induced him to study them." In 1819 he returned to Kentucky and remained nearly seven years, as professor of natural sciences, etc., in Transylvania University, at Lexington. He also taught the French, Italian, and Spanish languages, and continued to write for journals upon natural history. In 1822 he induced others to join him in a botanic garden, incor- porated by act of legislature, but this pet idea came to naught ; he says, " I had to forsake it at last, and make again my garden of the woods and mount- ains." In 1823-4, he gave his first course of medical botany to the Transyl- vania medical students, by the exhibition of specimens, and began the collection of materials for " Tellus, or the History of the Earth and Mankind, chiefly in America, which in ten years he increased to nearly one hundred books of manuscript containing 5,000 pages and 500 maps or figures." The first fruit of this labor was, in IS24, a remarkable essay, entitled " Ancient History, or Annals of Kentucky," published as an introduction to Marshall's History of Kentucky, and also in a thin octavo volume. In June, 1825, Rafinesque left Kentucky, and spent years in traveling, and in writing

various works, chiefly upon botany. In 1836 he published his "Life of Travels and Researches in North America and South Europe, from 1802 to 1835." He finally settled in Philadelphia, where he died Sept. 18th, 1840.

The whole history of educated minds does not furnish a more remarkable man, in certain respects, than Professor Rafinesque. His acquaintance with scientific and learned men was scarcely, if ever equaled. It may not be too strong to call him a visionary "of the first water," yet his versatility of talents and of professions was perfectly unparalleled. He stated in 1836, as a positive fact-and our somewhat extended examination of his curious labors convinces us that it was true-" that in knowledge he had been a botanist, naturalist, conchologist, geologist, geographer, ethinographer, philologist, his- torian, antiquary, poet, philosopher, economist, and philanthropist; and, by profession, a traveler, merchant, manufacturer, collector, improver. professor, teacher, surveyor, draftsman, architect, engineer, pulmist, author, editor, bookseller, librarian, secretary, chancellor; and he hardly knew what he might not become, since he never failed to succeed in whatever he applied himself to, if it depended on him alone, unless impeded and prevented by lack of means or by the hostility of the foes of mankind."

Gen. JOHN CABELL BRECKENRIDGE-only son of Joseph Cabell Breckinridge, a distinguished lawyer and politician who, at 29, was twice speaker of the Kentucky house of representatives, and secretary of state for three years before his death at the early age of 35-and grandson of John Breckinridge, who before his death, at 45, had twice been speaker of the Kentucky house of representatives, United States senator, and attorney general of the United States, in the cabinet of President Thomas Jefferson-was born in Lexington, Ky., January 15, 1821 ; graduated at Centre college, Danville, September, 1839; adopted the profession of law; practiced for awhile at Burlington, lowa, but returned to Lexington ; was major of 3d regiment Kentucky volun- teers in the Mexican war, Sept. 1847-48; represented Fayette county in the

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legislature of Kentucky, 1849. This was his introduction into political life. He rose rapidly. In 1851 he was elected to the Federal congress from the Ashland district after an exciting contest over Gen. Leslie Combs. The dis- triet was Whig, and General Combs the devoted friend of Henry Clay. Breckinridge's chances were deemed hopeless; but his talent, his winning manners, together with his vigorous canvass, overcame all obstacles. He was triumphantly elected. He was re-elected in 1853, defeating ex-Gov. Robert P. Leteher, whom the opposition had put forward as their strongest man. The struggle in this canvass was even more protracted and violent than in the first race, but with precisely the same result. He retired from public life in 1855, having previously been tendered by President Pierce the mission to Spain, which he declined. In 1856 he was elected Vice President, in conjunction with Mr. Buchanan as President, and before the expiration of his term of service the Kentucky legislature elected him U. S. senator, to succeed Mr. Crittenden for six years from March 4, 1861.

Civil war was even then impending. While he presided in the senate, he had seen not alone the withdrawal of the senators from the cotton states, but the determined purpose of the Northern senators to defeat every plan for conciliation and peace. Maj. Breckinridge was the avowed friend of the South. But impressed with the magnitude of the bitter struggle which would ensue if all were submitted to the arbitrament of the sword, he strove most earnestly to secure by peaceable means the rights denied to that section. He labored in the senate and among his own people to avert the disasters of war. As long as there was a hope of peace with honor he bent his energies to secure it. As long as it was a political question he treated it as a political question. But when it became evident that the North could be satisfied only by the subjugation of the South, he quitted the senate and took up the sword.

But even this was not done until he was forced to flee from Kentucky, to avoid arrest and imprisonment in a Federal bastile.

Arriving at Bowling Green, he issued an address on Oct. 8, 1861, in which he reviewed the events which had culminated in the condition of things then existing. He announced his purpose of appealing to the sword, resigned his commission as U. S. senator to the people of Kentucky-refusing to recognize a legislature overawed by bayonets-and called on the Kentuckians to make common cause with the South. He was appointed brigadier general, and at once placed, by Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, in command of a brigade at Bowling Green. When the army fell back, Gen. Breckinridge's command formed part of the forces which made that wonderful retreat to Corinth, Miss. At Shiloh, in the critical charge where was lost the life of that great soldier Albert Sidney Johnston, Gen. Breckinridge was there ani- mating his untried troops to deeds of daring and valor. Again he was called upon to cover the retreat of the army, a duty which was skillfully and effi- ciently executed. And the same service was repeated when the Confederates evacuated Corinth.

Breckinridge had now been promoted major general, and commanded a division. In June, 1862, he was ordered to Vicksburg, and with his com- mand successfully resisted the memorable bombardment of that important point, which was kept up during the month of July. The enemy, foiled in the attempt to capture Vicksburg. retired. Gen. Breckinridge was next ordered to take Baton Rouge, which was then occupied by the Federals. Although greatly outnumbered, he drove the enemy from his camps, which he destroyed and forced them to take shelter under cover of their gunboats. The Confederate ram Arkansas was to co-operate in this attack, but the disaster which destroyed it rendered further operations by the land forces impracticable, and the Confederates retired unmolested.

On August 17, 1862, Gen. Breckinridge took possession of Port Hudson, and discovering its military strength, urged its defense as very important to the policy of holding the Mississippi river. Acting upon positive orders, Gen. Breckinridge, with his gallant Kentucky brigade ( which followed his banner throughout the war), and some Tennessee troops, marched with alacrity to the succor of Gen. Bragy, who was then in Kentucky; but before reaching

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Cumberland Gap a communication from Gen. Bragg announced his abandon- ment of Kentucky. At the battle of Murfreesboro, or Stone River, Jan. 2d following, Gen. Breckinridge, by orders, led his division "into the jaws of death." He assailed an impregnable position of the enemy, losing 1,700 men out of less than 7,000. It was a fearful sacrifice, for which Breckinridge was in no measure whatever responsible. Nevertheless, upon his command again involved the arduous duty of covering the retreat of Bragg's broken army.

He continued with the army of the Tennessee until May 25, 1863, when he was ordered to join Gen. Jos. Johnston in Mississippi. It was his com- mand which gallantly repelled the assault of the enemy on Jackson, Miss., July 17, 1863. Shortly afterwards he again returned to Bragg's command, participated in the battle of Chickamauga, and commanded a corps at the battle of Missionary Ridge, which was fought Nov. 25, 1863.

After consultation with the President, he was ordered to south-west" Vir- ginia, and assumed command, March 3, 1864. While engaged in duty in his department, he was suddenly called upon by Gen. Lee to march, with all his available force, to Staunton and the Shenandoah Valley to check the move- ments of Gen. Franz Sigel. On May 15th, he attacked that general at New Market, and routed him, after a brilliant engagement. The Federal general was driven in full retreat to Winchester, but rendered pursuit impossible by burning the bridges in his rear. Gen. Lee sent Breckinridge a congratula- tory dispatch, and an order to join him forthwith at Hanover Junction. The order was promptly obeyed, and Gen. Breckinridge's forces protected the rear of Lee's army and his line of communication when Sheridan made his great raid. He remained with Gen. Lee's army and bore a conspicuous part in the battle of Cold Harbor, fought June 2, 1864, when the Federal army was repulsed with fearful slaughter. Subsequently, in conjunction with Gen. Jubal Early, he foiled Gen. David Hunter in his attempt to capture Lynchburg, and pursued that officer into the mountains.

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Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 31

Author: Collins, Lewis, 1797-1870. cn; Collins, Richard H., 1824-1889. cn Publication date: 1874 Publisher: Covington, Ky., Collins & Co. Number of Pages: 1654

Author: Collins, Lewis, 1797-1870. cn; Collins, Richard H., 1824-1889. cn
Publication date: 1874
Publisher: Covington, Ky., Collins & Co.
Number of Pages: 1654