USA > Kentucky > Christian County > County of Christian, Kentucky : historical and biographical > Part 3
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whom seven are now living in the county. She died August 5, 1883. James O. Cooper was educated in the schools of Christian County, and in the Cadiz school of Trigg County, Ky. In 1870 he went to Cadiz, and there engaged in hotel and livery business until 1876, when he removed to Hopkinsville, and opened the Cooper House, which burned in 1882. In December of 1878 he became proprietor of the Phenix Hotel, which he ably managed until retiring in January, 1884, when his son, W. T. Cooper, succeeded him. Mr. Cooper was married in this county, May 9, 1860, to Miss Hattie Summers, daughter of William and Harrict A. (Anthony) Summers. She was born in this (Christian) county, Septem- ber 30, 1841. They have had four children, viz .: William T., Ida S., Ella B. (deceased) and James E. Cooper. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Cooper is a member of the Hop- kinsville Lodge, No. 37, A. F. & A. M., Oriental Chapter, No. 14, R. A. M., Commandery No. 6, and Royal Arcanum, also of the Knights of Pythias and Knights of Honor.
MAJ. SAMUEL R. CRUMBAUGH. [See sketch in history of South Kentucky College.]
M. C. DAVIS, a native of Christian County, Ky., was born July 3, 1829, and is the fourth child born to Clement and Henrietta (Wriston) Davis, the latter a native of Virginia, and the former of South Carolina, from which State he came with his mother when about eight years of age, to Kentucky. They settled in Christian County, where he lived until his death, December 3, 1845. He first bought a farm in the north part of this county, which he owned for several years. In 1831 he bought the farm now owned by his sons. He was twice married, his first wife being a Miss Teague, of Virginia, to whom was born one child, William C., who died, leaving a family, a few years ago. To his second wife were born seven children, five of whom are living. She died February 28, 1860. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and participated in the bat- tle of New Orleans. M. C. Davis, the subject, received a good practical education. He remained at home until May 17, 1855, when he married Caroline Tinsley, of Christian County. He then, with two brothers, bought the interest of the remaining heirs in the homestead, and divided it equally among them. Mr. Davis has added to his share until he now has about 220 acres. Mrs. Caroline Davis died April 13, 1882, leaving
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two children : Lucy A. and Edward C. Mr. Davis was next married, January 15, 1884, to Elizabeth A., daughter of John Campbell, of this county.
PROF. CHARLES II. DIETRICH. [See sketeli in chapter on Hopkinsville public schools.]
CHARLES W. DUCKER was born in Christian County, Ky., Octo- ber 25, 1849. His father, John J., and mother, Caroline E. (Lakin) Ducker, were both born in Christian County, and were inarried in 1848. The date of his father's birth was February 8, 1824; that of his mother was March 15, 1830. His father died in Pulaski, Tenn., in 1865; his mother still lives. His maternal grandfather was born in Boston, Mass., and married a lady of Irish extraction named Campbell. After the death of his father, Charles W. Ducker settled down in 1865, in Hop- kinsville. He was engaged in various businesses until 1869, when he be- gan with Poindexter & Baker, the trade of carriage-making. He has ever since conducted it successfully, here and in Fairfield, Ill., where he was joined in business by F. R. Dryer, and again in Hopkinsville, after a nine months' stay at Fairfield. On their return here, the partners suc- ceeded to the trade of Poindexter & Baker. Their work is exclu- sively upon spring vehicles. Mr. C. W. Ducker is 'a worthy member of the I. O. O. F., and of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. IIe was married October 20, 1881, in Pittsfield, Ill., to Miss Annie E., daughter of Orin and Belinda (Sanford) Green. She was born October 19, 1850. Mrs. Ducker is a consistent member of the Christian Church. They have one son-John Orin Ducker.
WILLIAM ELLIS was born in Harford County, Maryland, July, 1810. When a mere boy his parents, John and Jemima Ellis, removed to the city of Baltimore, where he grew to manhood. His father was a native of Maryland, but of Irish parentage, and his mother, also a na- tive of Maryland, descended from Scotch ancestry. To them were born six children, subject being the fifth. He in carly life decided to learn a trade, and chose that of a tailor, at which he worked in various cities prior to coming to Hopkinsville, which he did in December of 1840. From that time until 1861 he was chiefly employed in the merchant tailoring business, in which he was successful. The time intervening from 1861 to 1874 was passed principally in mercantile pursuits, and in
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1874 he purchased the half interest in the Hopkinsville Mills owned by John T. Edmunds; he is now a member of the firm of F. L. Ellis & Co. He was married in Hopkinsville in 1844, to Miss Ann F. Harrison, a native of Kentucky. They have a family of four children, viz .: Mary E., wife of M. . D. Bowles ; F. L. Ellis, Lee Ellis and Dr. Clifton Ellis, of Emporia, Kas. F. L. Ellis, of the firm of Ellis & Co., is a young man of excellent business qualities, the second of four children of William Ellis, and was born in Hopkinsville, January 29, 1851; he was chiefly educated in the South Kentucky College, and in 1872 engaged in the hardware business (buying the stock of Thompson & Coleman), which he prosecuted with flattering success until 1876, when he sold to Mr. Thompson, a former owner, and purchased an interest in the Hopkinsville Mills. He was married, in 1878, to Miss Lucy Jagoe, daughter of Ben- jamin Jagoe, who while living was a very prominent farmer in Hopkins County, Ky., where Mrs. E. was born on the 8th day of October, 1860. They have two interesting children-Edna and Lewis Ellis.
JAMES O. ELLIS (deceased) was born near Hopkinsville, in Chris- tian County, Ky., January 22, 1832, and was the sixth of eight children born to Nicholas Ellis and Mary Ellis (nee Gunn). These parents came from Virginia, settling in this county in 1831. Nicholas Ellis died in Christian County about 1848, and his widow, who was born in 1800 in North Carolina, is still living and a member of the family of her daugh- ter, Mrs. G. V. Thompson. Of the eight children born to them the fol- lowing are now living-Allen W., Mrs. Fannie Gowen, Emily Rice, of Kansas City, Mo .; Mrs. Ann McCarrol, and Mrs. G. V. Thompson. James O. Ellis grew to manhood in Christian and Trigg Counties, in the latter of which he was chiefly educated. In 1853, in Hopkinsville, Ky., he was married to Miss Robert Catherine Bradley, who was born in Allen County, Kentucky, March 14, 1833. For three years after marriage Mr. Ellis resided in Hopkinsville employed in mercantile labor, and in 1856 removed to Pettis County, Mo., where he was engaged in farming until 1862. In the early history of the war he sustained a total loss of his property by raiding soldiers, and soon after returned to Hopkinsville, where he obtained a position as book-keeper for the firm of McGowan & MeReynolds. After two years in their service he was appointed Deputy Sheriff of the county, and for several years had charge of the principal
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business of that office ; he was finally elected to the office of Sheriff; then to the office of Judge of the Christian County Court, which position he filled with credit for four years. In the last years of his life he served as Auditor and City Treasurer and Deputy County Clerk. He was an honored member of the Masonic fraternity, Knights of Honor and Knights of Pythias. He died November 22, 1880, leaving five children, viz., Nannie, wife of L. H. McKee; John G. Ellis, Mary Ellis, Richard D., of Louisville, Ky., and Jimmie Ellis. John G. is a member of the `Knights of Pythias, and at present engaged in the coal trade, but for several years has engaged in mercantile pursuits. Mrs. R. C. Ellis is still living, and is an honored mem ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
ROBERT M. FAIRLEIGH, M. D., was born in Brandenburg, Meade Co., Ky., January 17, 1840; his father, William Fairleigh, was Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts of that county for thirty-five years, nearly up to the time of his death in 1865, an old-fashioned gentleman of great personal popularity and a most efficient and faithful public officer. His mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Enlow, a woman of sterling sense and great strength of character, was his tutor until he entered Brandenburg Academy under the direction of Prof. D. C. Cully; he studied medicine with Dr. H. K. Pusey at Garnettsville, Ky., and grad- uated in his profession at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in the eventful year 1860; he practiced medicine at Brandenburg until the autumn of 1861. The State shook with the fierce throes of civil discord, and the heart of the youthful physician going forth in all its ardor to the old flag he was appointed Assistant Surgeon in the United States Army, and assigned to duty with the gallant Col. James S. Jackson's Third Ken- tucky Cavalry. In June following he was promoted to the rank of Sur- geon, and soon after took charge of the medical department of the brig- ade commanded by the boy General, Eli H. Murray, at the present time Governor of Utah Territory. This position he held with signal ability until the termination of hostilities, when he was appointed Medical Director of the Western Department of Kentucky, with headquarters at Bowling Green. Although only in his twenty-sixth year, so closely had he studied his profession, so diligently had he discharged his official duties, and so humanely and generously had he exercised his authority that he was so widely popular with both parties, with civilians as well as with the
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military, that few surgeons of greater age and experience were so highly esteemed ; he was no carpet knight, but toiled incessantly and most suc- . cessfully, displaying rare talents as an executive officer. An ardent and uncompromising Unionist, the sunshine of his nature was never over- shadowed by the spirit of vengeance; and to the extent of his power to every needy foe he was the good physician, the generous friend, acting faithfully with the motto inscribed on the sword presented to Zachary Taylor : " Bis vincit qui se vincit in victoria "-" twice does he conquer who conquers himself in the hour of victory." While stationed at " Bowling Green he married, May 17, 1865, Miss Anna Slaughter, a lady noted for her graces of mind and person, the daughter of W. II. Slaugh- ter, of Larue County. In July, 1865, he left the service, and early in the fall of that year removed to Hopkinsville, where he has labored ever since in his profession with eminent success, winning " golden opinions from all sorts of people," and giving his influence zealously at all times to improve and elevate the noble calling to which he has devoted his life. Nowhere are his talents more heartily recognized than among his profes- sional brethren. Although devoted to the practice of his profession, Dr. Fairleigh takes a lively interest in the discussion of all the various social questions which necessarily arise in all intelligent communities. In the great Masonic order he is a bright and shining light. He was initiated into the Entered Apprentice degree in Hopkinsville Lodge, No. 37, in 1865; he became Junior Warden in 1866, and was chosen Master from 1867 to 1872. In 1872 he was appointed Grand Junior Deacon of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky ; in 1873, Grand Marshal; in 1874 he was elected Grand Junior Warden of the Grand Lodge; in 1875, Grand Senior Warden; in 1876, Deputy Grand Master, and in 1877, Grand Master. He has been High Priest of Oriental Chapter, No. 14, Royal Arch Masons, and Eminent Commander of Moore Commandery, No. 6, Knights Templar, in 1881. During his services as Grand Master in 1877-78 the Grand Lodge was disturbed by the great debt question of the Widows' and Orphans' Home, and it was largely owing to his inde- fatigable labors, tact and energy, that the controversy was creditably and satisfactorily settled. His views on various Masonie questions, officially set forth, are quoted approvingly in the lodges of the country, as their author is recognized as a positive philanthropist, who desires that his
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order shall be a powerful motive in the elevation of society. In 1883 he was elected Grand High Priest of Royal Arch Masons in Kentucky, and at this writing he is their presiding officer. From 1869 to 1879 Dr. Fairleigh was an active member of the Board of Councilmen of the city of Hopkinsville, and its Chairman for three years. In that capacity he advocated the purchase of and embellishment by a skillful land- scape engineer the beautiful addition to the city cemetery and the appoint- ment of a civil engineer to prepare a good map of the city ; both meas-
.. ures are of great advantage, and have met with general approval. The most important question which was agitated soon after his retirement from the Board of Councilmen, and which has since given a powerful impulse to the progress and prosperity of Hopkinsville, was the establishment of public graded schools. Of this great work Dr. Fairleigh was among the originators and chief promoters. He put all his energies into the hotly- contested struggle, for many excellent citizens, unfamiliar with the prac- tical workings of the system, believed that the agitation of the subject was ill-timed and injudicious, and that the expense involved in the adop- tion of the measure would seriously embarrass the municipal finances. During this discussion he worked untiringly with tongue and pen, fully assured of the merits of the proposed system, and seeking to persuade his fellow-citizens that public schools were the " one thing needful " for the beloved city of his adoption; and that even the success of the colleges already established there was to a large degree dependent upon providing free primary education for the masses, from whose ranks a large proportion of their pupils must be recruited. The measure was carried, a commodi- ous and handsome building erected and well furnished, and an efficient Principal and corps of teachers provided, and the public schools of Hop- kinsville, now in their fourth year, with 632 pupils, rank with the most efficient in the country. They have contributed largely to the remarkable growth of Hopkinsville since their inception. It will be a red letter day for the State when every county-seat and every community shall emulate the admirable public school system of Hopkinsville, established by the labors of Dr. Fairleigh and his coadjutors. Experience has proved that far from being a burden they invite a thrifty and intelligent population, add largely to the municipal revennes, and even pave the way for the introduction of extensive manufacturing establishments as in the neigh-
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boring city of Henderson. No one wields a larger influence than a pro- fessional man who, possessing acknowledged merit in his special sphere, is also a citizen at once liberal and positive, courteous and firm, charitable, but outspoken on all questions which in his judgment concern the welfare of humanity: Such a man never stops to ask whether his opposition to or advocacy of a particular measure will lose him a client, a patient or a parishioner. He prefers to do his duty and risk the consequences. It is probable that fortune, who favors the bold, is quite as propitious to coura- geous spirits eventually as to the over-cautious, who seal their lips for fear of offending old friends. Nothing is sadder than to see a professional man imprisoned in the iron cage of his specialty, separated by choice from all participation in the social struggles in which his fellows are involved; like the French physician who, after devoting his life to his specialty, plaintively asked his friends to write on bis tomb: " Born a man; died a physician." How much better, a man as well as a physician. Such a specialist is not Dr. Fairleigh, who, still in the prime of robust manhood and in the sunshine of a successful practice, throws his whole . soul actively into every contest in which is involved the welfare of his fellow-citizens. There are five living children in the family, seniority in age as named: Margaret Fairleigh, Thomas B. Fairleigh, Jr., Fanny Slaughter Fairleigh, Letticia Wilson Fairleigh and Robert M. Fairleigh, Jr. Two children have died, both young-Anna and Cornelia Wallace. A portrait of Dr. Fairleighi will be found on another page.
HON. JOHN FELAND was born December 23, 1837, in Barren County, Ky .; his father was a native of Virginia and of Scotch descent ; was long a farmer in Christian County ; for ten years Postmaster at Hop- kinsville, and one of the substantial and valuable men of the community. The subject of this sketch received a liberal education, completing his studies at Center College at Danville. In 1858 he began the study of the law with Col. James F. Buckner, now of Louisville ; he had barely commenced practice when the war broke out in 1861; he entered the army as Quartermaster of the Third Kentucky (Federal) Cavalry, and remained with that regiment until the battle of Shiloh ; he was then Quartermaster of the Eighth Kentucky Cavalry, with which he served until 1863, when he left the army, returned home, and resumed the prac- tice of law at Hopkinsville. In the following year he formed a law part-
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nership with Gen. Benjamin H. Bristow, which continued until Gen. Bristow's removal to Louisville two years later ; he then associated with Col. Walter Evans for nine years, and then with S. O. Graves, and at present is associated with Hunter Wood in the law practice. In 1875 he became a candidate for the Legislature, and was elected over his oppo- nent, Hon. James A. Mckenzie ; was re-elected in 1877 and in 1879 ; he was Presidential Elector for the State at large on the Republican ticket in 1876. In the spring of that year he was appointed by the : State Legislature in connection with Judge Joshua F. Bullitt, of Louis- ville, to edit and publish the new code of practice adopted by that body, and to take effect January 1, 1877. He is a man of sound practical abil- ity, a good speaker, a careful, thrifty and successful lawyer ; a man of great independence of character, espousing a cause and maintaining it at all hazards ; is a man of fine appearance and agreeable manners, and stands deservedly high in the community of which he is an active and useful member. Mr. Feland was married February 12, 1863, to Miss Sallie Kennedy, danghter of the late S. W. Kennedy, of Todd County, Ky.
J. S. FORREY'S father, Strickler Forrey, was of German descent and a native of Pennsylvania ; he died in Chicago, Ill .; his wife, and mother of our subject, was Mary B. Randolph, a native of Pennsylvania ; she died in 1834 ; he next married Mary Sharpless, of Pennsylvania ; who bore him five children, of whom three are now living. J. S. Forrey was born in Fayette County, Penn., February 9, 1833. When he was three years of age he was brought to Wayne County, Ind., by his father, and was there reared and educated, and learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked in his younger days. In 1855 he moved to Minnesota, and en- gaged in farming for five years. In 1869 he came to Hopkinsville from Dayton, Ohio, and worked at his trade for Brownell, Miller & Orr, and in 1881 succeeded Mr. Brownell in the business. In 1856, in Wayne County, Ind., he married Miss Caroline Allbright, a native of Indiana, born in 1836. Mr. and Mrs. Forrey are members of the First Presby- terian Church, and lie is an active member of the orders K. of H. and K. of P.
REV. JOSEPHI FOULKS, deceased, was born August 30, 1786, in Monmouth County, N. J .; his parents were from Wales. When in his
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seventeenth year he made a profession of religion and joined the Method- ist Church, in which he was licensed to preach in 1811, soon after which he came to Kentucky, and for two years traveled the Henderson and Hartford Circuits. On account of loss of health, he located in 1815, set- tling a few miles from Russellville in Logan County, where on the 25th of September, 1816, he married Miss Sallie Marshall, a woman noted for her amiability and piety. They remained in Kentucky until 1820, mov- ing then to St. Clair County, Ill., where until 1825 he labored as a local minister, but in the year 1825 joined the Conference and traveled for some years, and until his health compelled him to locate. In September, 1837, he returned to Kentucky and settled in Logan County, where the remainder of his life was spent; he died on the 3d of May, 1863, his last hours being peculiarly characterized by that peace which he had so long and faithfully preached ; his widow died in McLean County, Ky., in 1879. Their family consisted of ten children, of whom six sons grew to manhood, viz .: Evan G., Dennis M., Ezra L., Samuel M., Joseph W. and James G. Foulks. Ezra L. Foulks was born near Belleville, St. Clair Co., Ill., January 12, 1823; he was educated chiefly in the McKendree College, of Lebanon, Ill., and in 1852, in Logan County, Ky., was married to Miss Sarah A. Browder, daughter of Rev. Thomas and Sarah (Claywell) Browder. She was born March 6, 1826, in Logan County. Since 1858 they have resided in Hopkinsville, Ky. They have a family of four children : Ellen L., wife of G. B. Underwood ; Thomas M. Foulks ; William Ernest, married to Fannie Coleman, and father of one son, named Walter E. Foulks ; Sallie B., the wife of W. H. Peace, of Hopkinsville-they have one child-Laura U. Mr. Foulks, associated with his son, William E., is engaged in the coal trade and the sale of pumps, and Frye's combination fence, which they are man- ufacturing. Mr. Foulks is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
MOSES FRANKEL is among the tried and true men of business who have, first and last, been connected with the mercantile interests of Hopkinsville. He was born in the year 1819, in the Kingdom of Bava- ria, Germany, where he grew to mature years, coming to the United States when a young man. Mr. Frankel inherited the principle of scrupulous honesty, and remarkable business energy, which are so char-
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acteristic of his nationality. These distinctive traits of character have ever marked the business record of Mr. Frankel, during his long con- nection with the people of IHopkinsville, Christian Co. Ilis first busi- ness venture was in the State of Mississippi, where, however, he remained only about three years, when he removed to Shelbyville, Ind. From the latter place he came to Hopkinsville, Ky., in 1862, and there established the "Old Reliable " business house, which is still conducted by his son Joseph M. Frankel. Mr. Frankel removed from Hopkinsville to Cinein- nati, Ohio, in 1883, where he now resides with his family, and where, in 1856, he married Miss Dorothea Aischberg, who is also a native of Bava- ria, Germany. Their family consisted of seven children : Ilenry, now a merchant of Princeton, Ky .; Joseph M .; David A., who died in 1883; Rosa, Fannie, Samuel and Sadie Frankel. Joseph M. Frankel was married, September 7, 1881, to Miss Esther, daughter of Joseph and Caroline Slaughter, of Louisville, Ky., where she was born in 1860.
WILLIAM I. FRASER'S grandfather, John Fraser, came from Vir- ginia in 1822, and settled in Stewart County, Tenn., near the State line, and there remained to the time of his death; his wife, Martha (Brown) Fraser, was a native of Virginia, and a sister to ex-Governor Aaron Brown, of Tennessee. They had eleven children, of whom was John W. Fraser, the father of our subjeet. He was born in Virginia in 1818, and when he was four years of age was brought to Tennessee by his parents, who located, as we have mentioned, in Stewart County. There John W. Fraser was reared and educated, and when a young man studied medi- cine. In 1842 he graduated from the Louisville Medical College, and engaged in the practice of his profession in Tennessee. In 1844 he came to Christian County, and located in the village of Lafayette, where he remained engaged in the practice of his profession to the time of his death, which occurred June 13, 1877. In 1843 he married Miss Mary Brig- ham, a native of Tennessee, born in 1822. Dr. Fraser was a warm- hearted man, and sympathetic in his nature, endearing himself to a vast circle of friends; his practice among the poor, without charge, often rid- ing many miles without hope of remuneration, other than the conscious- ness that he had done his duty, alone made him popular; his nature was genial as sunshine, and always humorous, full of jokes, and fond of the society of the young; his office was a general resort of his friends. In
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