Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 96

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 96

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Gen. Collins was married in 1823 to Mary Ann Armstrong, eldest daughter of John Armstrong, one of the pioneer merchants of Maysville, whom he sur- vived 18 years. (For sketch of their son JOHN A., see below.)

JOHN ARMSTRONG COLLINS, eldest son of Gen. Richard Collins above named, and grandson of John Armstrong, one of the earliest and most successful merchants of Maysville, was born in Hillsborough, Ohio, April 13, 1824, and died in New Orleans, June 10, 1850, aged 26 years. He was raised and edu- cated in Maysville until 1839; graduated in 1841 at Miami University, Ohio, with high honors; studied law with Gov. Thos. Corwin, settled in practice at Cincinnati and immediately took rank with the ablest members of that bar ; removed in 1849 to Lake Providence, Louisiana, and entered upon a lucrative practice, which he was spared but fourteen months to increase and enjoy. Sergeant S. Prentiss, himself one of the noblest, most gifted, and distinguished sons of the South, said of him: " No man possessed in a higher degree the qualities we most love and admire; his heart was as simple and ingenuous as that of a child, yet stuffed full of kind sentiments, generous impulses, high aspirations, and noble resolves ; his head was worthy of his heart-it was the abode of genius, the temple of wit, the chosen home of a family of brilliant, sparkling, and varied talents." Among all the brilliant young men of Ken- tucky, called home while yet upon the threshold of life's earnest work, not one more quickly won nor more surely possessed the high consideration of the gifted, the cultivated, and the great. His judgment and taste were stand- ards in literature and every elegant art. The eloquence of his pen, even more than his lips, was singularly fascinating and effective-alike in rich- ness and profundity, in brilliancy and strength. Sought out and courted by the rare and highly gifted, he was often the most accomplished and gifted of them all.

589

MASON COUNTY.

... Gov. JOHN CHAMBERS, one of the most solid of the public men of Mason county, was born in New Jersey, Oet. 6, 1780, and died at Paris, Ky., Sept. 21, 1852, aged nearly 72. He was brought to Washington, in 1794; educa- ted partly at Transylvania Seminary, Lexington ; deputy clerk of the district court, 1797-1800, during which time he studied law, and began a sueeessful practice, 1800; was a soldier in the war of 1812, and at the battle of the Thames aid to Gen. Harrison, with rank of major; representative from Mason county in the legislature, 1812, '15, 30, and '31 (his elder brother James was representative in 1808, '09, and '11, and senator, 1815-19); repre- sentative in congress, 1828-29, and 1835-39, five years; was tendered by Gov. Metcalfe a seat on the court of appeals beneh, 1832, but declined ; Feb. 23, 1835, was nominated by Gov. James T. Morehead to the same position, and unanimously confirmed, but, Mareh 21st, resigned on account of ill health ; was commonwealth's attorney for several years, between 1815 and 1828; governor of the territory of Iowa, 1841-45, during which time, and also in 1849, he negotiated successful treaties with the Sac and Fox, and Sioux, Indians for the purchase of lands.

Judge WALKER REID settled at Washington, Mason co., early in this cen- tury, and soon attained a successful praetiee at the bar; was representative in the Kentucky legislature, 1810, '11, '13, '17; was appointed judge of the circuit court, about 1832, under the " life tenure " system, but legislated out of office under the third constitution of the state, 1851. Knowing that the prejudiee against that system had mainly contributed to the change of eon- stitution, he for some time persistently declined all invitations to become a candidate for election to the judgeship-but yielded at last, and was elected for six years by a tremendous majority, the two counties of his former dis- triet, Mason and Bracken, regardless of polities, giving him very large majori- ties; he served as an elected judge about one year, and died of cholera, June 21, 1852, while absent from home, holding court at Alexandria, in Campbell county ; his age was about 67. His widow survived to nearly 80, which great age did not save her from repeated indignities and imprisonment in Missouri, because of her devotion to the cause of the South, in whose army her only surviving son, JOHN, was a colonel. Their oldest son, WALKER, lost his life as a captain in the war for Texan independence. Their other children all died before middle age; the two sons, JOSEPH B. and WM. TEBBS, were lawyers, and the three daughters married lawyers.

Judge ADAM BEATTY was born in Hagerstown, Md., May 10, 1777, and died on his farm near Washington, Mason co., Ky., in 1858, aged 81 years. His father dying before he was grown, young Beatty's means of education were limited but well improved. He immigrated to Lexington, in 1800; studied law in the office of James Brown, afterwards U. S. minister to France (see sketch under Franklin county), and was a member of the debating club im- mortalized by Geo. D. Prentice in his life of Henry Clay ; he then formed an intimaey with " the great Commoner," which lasted for life, over fifty years. In 1802, he settled at Washington in the practice of law; was com- missioned by Gov. Chas. Scott a circuit judge in July, 1811, when 34 years old-resigning after 12 years, and removing to his farm, which then became his home and his chief occupation for 35 years. He represented Mason county in the legislature-in the house in 1809, '27, and '28, and in the senate, 1836-39; was twice defeated for congress-in 1829, by Nicholas D. Coleman (still living, Dec., 1873, in Louisiana), by less than 20 votes, owing to the division caused by a third candidate, and in 1831, by the late chief- justice Thos. A. Marshall; was a presidential elector in 1840, easting the vote of Kentucky for Harrison and Tyler. Judge B. was active with his pen; wrote much for the county newspapers, especially in every local con- troversy, and for agricultural, historical, and religious periodicals elsewhere ; he always wrote sensibly and well, although sometimes tedious. His work on Agriculture, 12mo., 1844, is full of able and practical essays-an exceed- ingly valuable record of rich agricultural experience and scientific obser- vation.

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590

MASON COUNTY.

ALBERT SIDNEY JOHNSTON was born February 2, 1802, in Washington, Mason county, Kentucky. His father, Dr. John Johnston, moved to that town from Salisbury, Connecticut, in 1785; and is remembered by the old inhabitants as the favorite physician of his neighborhood-a man of talents, acquirements, and integrity. His eldest son, Josiah Stoddard Johnston, an infant when he was brought to Kentucky, graduated at Transylvania University, studied law, removed, in 1805, to Alexandria, Louisiana, becaine distinguished as a lawyer, a leading man in the Legislature, judge of the United States District Court, represented the State in Congress from 1821 to 1823, and in the U. S. Senate from 1824 until his death, May 19, 1833, caused by the explosion of gunpow- der on board the steamboat Lioness, on Red river. Another son, Amos (father of the talented Col. J. Stoddard Johnston, editor of the Frankfort Yeo- man) was one of the most intelligent and influential planters of Louisiana. His other sons were all prominent and useful men. Of his daughters, Eliza was married to Rev. John A. McClung, D.D., a writer, lawyer, and clergyman of great power and genius-most widely known as the author of "Sketches of Western Adventure" (see his portrait in the frontispiece of this work); an- other daughter was married to Col. James Byers, a highly intelligent and prac- tical farmer, who represented Mason county in both branches of the Kentucky Legislature, and was the writer of some sketches of thrilling interest.

Albert Sidney was the youngest son. In boyhood he was noted for courage, enterprise, and generosity, and was liked by old and young. While a student at Transylvania University, a school-inate says "he was conspicuous for always knowing his lesson." In 1822 he was appointed a cadet at West Point by his brother, Josiah Stoddard Johnston, then a Member of Congress, as above men- tioned. He graduated, in 1826, seventh in his class, though standing second in mathematics. Declining a tempting position on the staff of Maj .- Gen. Win- field Scott, he selected the infantry, and the frontier as his field of service, his ambition being to win his way by deeds. It is noteworthy that he did not again visit Washington City for a quarter of a century.

He first joined the 2d Infantry, but was soon transferred to the 6th Reg't, of which he became adjutant-in which capacity he served through the Black Hawk war, in 1832, and was complimented for his conduct at the battle of the Bad Axe. He also received from the Governor of Illinois a commission as colonel of the Illinois State Line. Jefferson Davis and Abraham Lincoln were both engaged in this campaign.

In 1828, Lieut. Johnston married Henrietta Preston, eldest daughter of Maj. William Preston, of Louisville, Kentucky. His wife's declining health induced him to resign his army commission in 1835. Her death, in 1836, releasing him from family ties, his sympathies and his services were enlisted for Texas in her struggle for independence. Entering her ariny as a private, in February, 1837, he rose, in less than a year, to the chief command. During his eventful life he filled every grade of military rank known in America, except Lieutenant-Col- onel. This rapid promotion involved him in a duel, in which he was danger- ously wounded by Gen. Felix Huston, who, however, regretted his own action, and became the friend of Gen. Johnston-speaking of him freely as the bravest man he ever knew. In 1839, Pres't Lamar appointed Gen. Johnston Secretary of War of the Republic of Texas. In this position, and as general-in-chief, his prudence, foresight, and vigor averted Mexican invasion, and crushed in battle the Cherokee Indians, who had been stirred up by Mexico to attack Texas. He was present in person at the battle of the Neches, which closed the war; and Gen. Burleson, the gallant commander, freely acknowledged his obligations to his official chief.

Gen. Johnston was a strenuous supporter of Annexation to the United States. Having, about this time, married Miss Eliza Griffin, who survives him, and hav- ing greatly impaired his fortune in his service of the Republic, Gen. Johnston undertook to plant cotton in Brazoria county. with a few hands. At the break- 'ing out of hostilities between the United States and Mexico, by invitation of Gen. Taylor, he hurried to the front, and was elected colonel of the Ist Texas Infantry. This regiment was disbanded at the end of three months, and Gen. Taylor assigned him as inspector-general of Butler's division. At the battle of Monterey, when Mitchell's Ohio regiment, on account of the loss of its field-

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ALBERT SIDNEY JOHNSTON.

officers, fell into confusion, Gen. Johnston rallied and re-formed its line, and thus repulsed a charge of Mexican lancers. Conspicuous on horseback, he passed unharmed where seven deadly cross-fires mowed down hundreds of gal- lant soldiers. Generals Thomas L. Hamer, William O. Butler, and Zachary Taylor all recommended his promotion to the rank of brigadier-general. But political influences prevented his further employment, and disappointed but un- complaining, he retired to his plantation to listen in solitude to the echoes of the glory won by American valor.

In 1849, President Taylor appointed him a paymaster in the army, which office he filled for five years on the frontier of Texas. In 1854, President Pierce appointed him colonel of the 2d cavalry, then first organized, of which Robert E. Lee (afterward general) was made lieutenant-colonel. He com- manded the department of Texas, until he was selected to lead the expedition to Utah. By forced marches he reached the United States troops in time to rescue them from threatening disasters, wintered at Fort Bridger, and, before spring, the moral and physical superiority of his position brought the Mormons to terms. His conduct won the approval of the government and people.

He was then assigned to the command of the department of California, dur- ing which service, the secession of the Southern States occurred. Gen. John- ston was not a secessionist, but he felt it his paramount duty to stand with his State and his people. When Texas seceded, he sent his resignation to the Government at Washington City-keeping his action concealed from his most intimate friends, lest some daring spirit, misinterpreting his purpose, might be prompted to make a revolutionary attempt in his department. He determined to restore unimpaired his trust to the hands from which he had received it. He was relieved by Col. Sumner, and his resignation accepted. He then passed by a perilous route through Arizona, on horseback to Texas. He found the sections at war; and reaching Richmond in September, 1861, learned for the first time the duty expected of him.

To Gen. Johnston was assigned the command of all the territory west of the Atlantic States-a region imperial in resources and extent, but unorganized and unprepared for the storm about to burst upon it. An army had already been levied, and immense preparations made for an onward movement by the United States. An apathy, as fatal as it was incomprehensible, had succeeded in the South to the first triumph at Manassas; and Gen. Johnston's utmost en- deavors assembled an army that at no time exceeded 22,000 effective men, to 'efend the line from Cumberland Gap to the Mississippi river. His main ob- ject was delay; to this end he impressed the enemy with the belief that he led ., powerful army. But he did not receive the support he had a right to; and he winter and high water proved efficient allies of the North.

The disaster at Fishing Creek, and the victory at Belmont, were followed by the loss of Forts Henry and Donelson, and the skillful retreat through Ten- nessee of the remnant of the Confederate army.

Against the retreating general, the wrath and indignation of a people left open to the invader, was poured out, and an unparalleled clamor arose; Presi- dent Davis, however, nobly supported him, and from the people an unavailing but generous regret followed, when the truth was learned after his death. Unshaken by the tumult, he made his rapid circuitous movement, and concen- trated all the available troops of his department at Corinth, Mississippi. He formed his plans with confidence in their ultimate success, intending to fol- low them up by aggressive warfare. He reorganized his troops, inspired them with his own enthusiasm, and on the sixth of April, 1862, attacked the Fed- eral army under Gen. Grant, at Shiloh. The outposts were surprised. Fierce and rapid were the Confederate assaults. The gallant troops of the North- west stubbornly resisted, but were steadily pressed back. The larger army learned to its cost what it was to be constantly outnumbered at each point of attack. The Confederates were successful in every conflict. The broken Fed- erals were crowded back to the bank of the Tennessee river. At 13 o'clock, at a critical point and moment, the Confederate line faltered. It became nec- essary for Gen. Johnston to lead the charge. He fell at the head of his men, in the moment of victory, on the afternoon of the first day's fight. But for his death, Shiloh would have continued a decisive victory for the Confederates.

592

MASON COUNTY.

Gen. Johnston, though sixty years old at the time, still preserved the robust form, the kindling eye, and the martial bearing of mature manhood. He had some of the highest qualities of a general: he was wary and sagacious in coun- cil, enterprising in the field, tenacious and composed in disaster, impetuous in assault, and unrelenting in pursuit. His military training was excellent, and his experience large; yet not these, but his genius for war, gave him his pre- eminence. His manners were frank, kindly, and winning. His features were somewhat stern, and his presence striking and soldierly; but love and confi- dence naturally followed him. Simple in his tastes and habits, respectful and subordinate to his superiors, he was generous to his subordinates, and mag- nanimous to his enemies. To women and children, to the weak, the unfortu- nate, and the vanquished, he was gentle, sympathizing, and liberal. In all relations loyal, faithful, and unselfish, he was the soul of truth and honor-a - man of heroic mold.

The inscription on his tomb, at New Orleans, is as follows :

Behind this stone is laid, For a season,

ALBERT SIDNEY JOHNSTON, A General in the army of the Confederate States, Who fell at Shiloh, Tennessee, On the 6th day of April, A. D. 1862: A man tried in many high offices And critical enterprises, And found faithful in all. His life was one long sacrifice of interest to conscience ; And even that life, on a woful Sabbath,

Did he yield as a holocaust at his country's need. Not wholly understood was he while he lived; But, in his death, his greatness stands Confessed in a people's tears.

Resolute, moderate, clear of envy, yet not

Wanting in that finer ambition which makes Men great and pure. In his honor-impregnable ; In his simplicity-sublime ; No country e'er had a truer son-no cause a nobler champion- No people a bolder defender-no principle a purer victim- Than the dead soldier Who sleeps here. The cause for which he perished is lost- The people for whom he fought are crushed- The hopes in which he trusted are shattered- The Flag which he loved guides no more The charging lines ; But his fame, consigned to keeping of that time which, Happily, is not so much the tomb of Virtue as its shrine, Shall, in the years to come, fire modest worth to noble ends. In honor, now, our great Captain rests- A bereaved people mourn him; Three Commonwealths proudly claim him-

Among those choicer spirits, who, holding their conscience unmixed with blame, Have been, in all conjectures, true to themselves, their country, and their God.

GEORGE MASON, the distinguished statesman of Virginia, after whom Mason county was named, was born in now Fairfax co., Va., in 1726; died at his seat, Gunston hall, on the Potomac, in 1792, aged 66. In 1769, before he be- came a member, he drew up the non-importation resolutions which were pre- sented by George Washington in the assembly of Virginia and unanimously adopted ; they included one not to import or purchase any imported slaves after Nov. Ist, 1769. In 1775, the Virginia convention desired to elect him

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593

MCCRACKEN COUNTY.

a delegate to congress ; but the recent death of his wife, leaving a large family of children, made him decline. He drafted, in 1776, the declaration of rights and the constitution of Virginia, which were adopted by a unanimous vote. He was the author of the act legalizing all modes of worship, and releasing dissenters from taxation to support the established church (of England) ; was elected to the continental congress, 1777; and to the Federal convention to frame the constitution of the United States, in which he took a leading part

as a democratic member. He failed in engrafting on it several of his favorite ideas-among them, one to make the president elective by the people only once, and for 7 years. Afterward, in the Virginia convention which ratified the U. S. constitution, 1788, lie and Patrick Henry led the opposition, insist- ing at least on its ratification subject to certain amendments.

Even then, it- would have failed but for the support of the 14 members from the seven new counties, in the district (now the state) of Kentucky. Several of his proposed amendments were afterwards adopted. He was elected the first U. S. senator from Virginia, but declined to accept. President Madison pronounced him the ablest man in debate that he had ever seen; and President Jefferson said of him: " He was a man of the first order of wisdom, of expansive mind, profound judgment, cogent in argument, learned in the lore of our former constitution, and earnest for the republican change on democratic principles." His statue stands with those of Jefferson, Henry, and other illustrious Vir- ginians, at the base of Crawford's colossal statue of Washington, in front of the capitol at Richmond.

MCCRACKEN COUNTY.

MCCRACKEN county-in the extreme w. part of the state, one of the earliest counties of the territory known as Jackson's Pur- chase (see Volume I)-was established out of part of Hickman county in 1824, and named in honor of Capt. Virgil MeCracken. It was the 78th formed in the state, was organized Jan. 17, 1825, and contains 237 square miles. It is bounded N. by the Ohio river, N. E. by the Tennessee river, which separates it from Liv- ingston county, s. E. by Marshall for 8 miles, s. by Graves for 18 miles, and w. by Ballard county. Besides the rivers named, it is watered by Clark's river and Island creek, tributaries of the Tennessee, Mayfield creek, of the Mississippi, and Massac, Wil- low, Newton's, and Perkins' creeks, and Spring Bayou, which empty into the Ohio. The country is level, and with but little of any thing like stone; the soil of medium quality, except the river bottoms which are very productive. Tobacco is the great staple.

Towns .- Paducah, the county seat, is the 5th city in the state in population and importance ; is situated on the Ohio, immedi- ately below the mouth of the Tennessee river, in latitude 37° 05' and longitude 11º 35' ; is 47 miles above Cairo, at the mouth of the Ohio, 12 miles below Smithland, 137 below Evansville, 322 below Louisville, and 454 below Cincinnati ; contains 12 churches (3 Methodist, 2 Baptist, Presbyterian, Cumberland Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Reformed or Christian, and Lutheran, and a Jewish synagogue), a large court house, with two court rooms and offices, a city court house, a male college, a female seminary, many private and public schools, 1 newspaper and 3

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594

MCCRACKEN COUNTY.

job printing offices, 25 lawyers, 15 doctors, 50 stores, 3 banks, and 3 brokers, 5 wagon factories, 3 shoe factories, 1 woolen goods factory, 1 furniture factory, 2 saw and 2 planing mills, 25 me- chanics' shops, 3 hotels, 3 tobacco warehouses, 1 tobacco stemmery, 1 pork packing house, and 2 large flouring mills ; is the terminus of the Paducah and Gulf, and the Elizabethtown and Paducah railroads, with several other railroads in progress or contem- plated-making it an important railroad center ; population in 1870, 6,866, and on Aug. 1, 1873, about 10,000; was laid out in - 1827, by Gen. Clark, of St. Louis, and named after the celebrated - Indian chief, Paducah, who was buried on the bank of the Ten- nessee river now in the city; incorporated as a town Jan. 11, 1830, and as a city March 10, 1856. The other towns, railroad stations, and post offices, all small, are - Wilmington, the former county seat, about 8 miles w. of Paducah and 3 miles s. of Ohio river ; Belgrade, on the Ohio, 6 miles below Paducah ; Jersey City and Norton's Bluff, on the Tennessee river ; Woodville, 16 miles from Paducah, population 68 in 1870; Gum Springs, 8 miles s. w. of Paducah ; Florence and Bond's, stations on the P. & G. railroad.

STATISTICS OF MCCRACKEN COUNTY.

When formed See page 26 | Tobacco, hay, corn, wheat ... .pp. 266, 268 Population, from 1830 to 1870 .p. 258 Horses, mules, cattle, hogs .p. 268

whites and colored. .P. 260 Taxable property in 1846 and 1870 ... p. 270

towns. .p. 262 Land-No. of acres, and value of .... p. 270

white males over 21. .p. 266 Latitude and longitude. .. p. 257

children bet. 6 and 20 yrs. p. 266

Distinguished citizens. see Index.

MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE FROM MCCRACKEN COUNTY.

Senate .- Jas. Campbell, 1829-32 ; John Q. A. King, 1855-59 ; Dr. John M. Johnson, 1859-63, expelled Feb. 15, 1862 (for " leaving his seat and taking position in the rebel army "); W. T. Chiles, 1863-67, resigned 1866, succeeded by J. M. Bigger, 1866-67.

House of Representatives .- Gustavus A. Flournoy, 1835; Chas. C. Russell, 1839; Robert Fletcher, 1841 ; Jas. Campbell, 1842, '43; John W. Crockett, 1846; Geo. H. Morrow, 1850 ; Lawrence S. Trimble, 1851-53 ; L. D. Husbands, 1859-61 ; John Q. A. King, 1861-63, expelled Dec. 21, 1861 (for " giving aid and comfort to the Confed- erate army,") succeeded by J. W. Boone, 1862-63 ; T. J. Birchett, 1863-65 ; John W. Ogilvie, 1865-69, '71-73 ; Thos. E. Moss, 1869-71. From MeCracken and Calioway counties-John Irvine, 1833. [See Graves and Hickman counties.] B. G. Bidwell, 1873-75.

Newspapers .- The Whig, Democrat, Pennant, Union and American, Herald, and Kentuckian (the latter still published, 1873), besides several others not recollected, have been published in Paducah.

The First Settlements were about the center of the county, and around Wil- mington, the old county seat. As late as 1840, wolves, wild cats, deer, and other wild animals abounded.

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Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 96

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