USA > Kentucky > Daviess County > History of Daviess County, Kentucky, together with sketches of its cities, villages, and townships, educational religious, civil military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, biographies of representative citizens, and an outline history of Kentucky > Part 40
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Wm. T. Aull, Superintendent of City Scales, was born in Knottsville Precinct, March 16,1840. His father, Jamce Aull, was born near Bardstown, Nelson Co, Ky., and when ten or twelve years of age came with his parents to Daviess County, Ky., settling
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in Knottsville Precinct, being among the first to settle in this pre- cinct. He was married here to Charlotte McDaniel. She was born in Nelson County, Ky., and came with her parents to Daviess County abont the same year that her husband came, and their parents' farms joined. Mr. and Mrs. James Aull are both living on the old farm in Knottsville Precinct, and have had a family of five sons and six daughters. Two daughters are deceased. William T., the subject of this sketch, is the eldest. He lived oi. the old homestead farm, in Knottsville Precinct, until the outbreaking of the late war, and in September, 1861, enlisted in Captain Noel's First Kentucky Confederate Cavalry, and remained in the service until the battle at Salt Works, Va., October, 1864, where he lost his right leg by a bullet from a Spencer rifle, while driving the enemy from the field. He was left at a little village called Liberty, in Tazewell County, Va., and remained with the family of Jefferson Hickenbothem nin - til Feb. 19, 1865, when he went to Yorkville, where he was com- pelled to submit to a second operation on his leg; remained there with the family of the Rev. Mr. Anderson, a Presbyterian minis- ter, until July 10, 1865, when he came home to Daviess County, Ky. He then attended the Pleasant Valley Academy two years; then began teaching school, teaching in Daviess, Hancock and Ohio counties four years. He was then elected County Assessor ot Davicss County and held that office four years, when he was elected Constable of Upper Town Precinct for two years. He then kept the Stoneman Hotel in Owensboro until burned out, Jan. 24, 1882, since which he has been Superintendent of the City Scales for the City of Owensboro. Mr. Aull married Mary E. Bruner, Ang. 29, 1879. She was born in Hancock County, Ky., and is a daughter of
W. and Isabella (Head) Bruner. Mr. and Mrs. Aull have had seven children, four now living-Germaner, born Nov. 19, 1871; LeRoy, born Dec. 13, 1873; Maude, born June 26, 1877, and W. Jessie, born Nov. 1, 1882. In politics Mr. Aull is a Democrat. He is of Scotch descent. His grandfather, Benjamin Aull, was in the war of 1812.
Dr. A. O. Ayer was born in 1804; died in 1876. He was a native of Kingston, Tenn., and married Esther Durham John- son, near Knoxville. He moved to Kentucky in 1834. The years of his Kentucky life began with the early history of Owensboro, and extended through the eventful periods of prosperous slave times, disastrous war, and decline of public and private enterprise after the war. He was one of four physicians who in the early his-
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tory of this part of Kentucky practiced in the large stretch of country now embracing the counties of Ohio, Muhlenburg, Mc- Lean, Daviess and part of Henderson counties. He came from Kingston by water, in the latter part of the winter of 1834, thus traversing almost the full length of the Tennessee River, and a large part of the Ohio, which was obstructed to a great extent by floating ice. The trip occupied several weeks, as it was made on a boat made by unskilled hands. One boat bearing his family and slaves, and a raft with stock, household, and farm articles, brought them safe to the new country. There was no place near here where they could get the necessary conveniences of every-day life, so they brought all they could with them. The now wealthy town of Hen- derson, when they floated past it, was known as the landing of "Red Banks," and the county seat of Daviess, as " Yellow Banks." The latter landing was found to be a marshy level, with a few houses on the bank of the river. He re thy disembarked, and after a survey of the surrounding country, they concluded to move further into the interior, to the hills, where there was better water, and less chills and fever. Here, within twenty miles of Owens- boro, a plantation was cleared np, and after a few years a comfort- able and pleasant home was established. His farm was for year one of the places for holding Daviess County elections, under the old dispensation of three days' voting. The different musters were held here also, and magistrate meetings. Dr. Ayer's home wa known far and near for open-hearted hospitality and free welcome to all. During the war, though his four sons were all rebels, he was conservative. He lived to see the sad effects of the war in this part of Kentucky, all around him. The spirit of thrift seemed to have departed from that part of the country, and the condemned marshy land around Yellow Banks came to be the desirable part of the country. McLean was made, and the elections changed to Calhoon, its county seat. The plantation of slavery times came to be the quiet home of an invalid mau, retired from active life. He ended his days in peace with God and man, in 1876, leaving a wife and six children, four sons and two daughters.
Bernhard Baer, son of Isaac and Sarah (Wanberg) Baer, was born in West Prussia, Dec. 22, 1825. He was educated in his na- tive land. When twenty years of age, having lost both his parents, he emigrated to America; landed in New Orleans, and from there went to St. Louis, where he remained a few months; then went to
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Paducah, and remained nine months. In July, 1847, he went to Louisville, and two years later moved to Croft Creek Springs, Ky., where he was in business till 1852; he then removed to Hop- kinsville, and remained till 1861, when he came to Owensboro, and started a dry-goods store. Dec. 16, 1865, he lost all his stock by fire, but started again, and continued till 1868, when he was obliged to close out his store, never having recovered from the effects of the fire. In November, 1868, he started a salcon and restaurant, which he continued six years, when he sold out, and engaged in the grocery business two years. He then went into the dry-goods business again, and was successful. After two years he sold out, and has since that time been dealing extensively in ice. He was married in 1850 to Fannie Kahn, a native of Guttenberg, Ger- many. They have had eight children, only six now living-Isaac, Abel, Louie, Mary, Rosa, and Tilla. Sarah and Benjamin died in infancy. Mr. Baer has been a member of the City Council four terms, the last term acting as Mayor pro tem. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, I. O. O. F., Harigari, and B'nai Brith. Politically he is a Democrat. .. Mr. and Mrs. Baer are both mem- bers of the Jewish Synagogue.
David L. Barnett was born in Ohio County, Ky., Jan. 17, 1821, and resided there, engaged in farming, until 1875, when he came to Owensboro, Daviess County, and has been employed by the Gov. ernment as Store-Keeper. His parents were both natives of Ohio County. His father was killed by the falling of a tree, when David L. was four years old. His mother died when he was twelve years old, leaving three children-Cornelia, Elizabeth and David L. Elizabeth died at the age of fourteen; Cornelia is now the wife of Achilles Webb, and lives near Hartford, Ohio Co., Ky .; David L. was married May 18, 1843, to Sallie A. Baird, a native of Ohio County, born May 7, 1819. To them were born seven children- Rebecca, Sallie Ann, John L., Felix D., James, Clarence, J. A. Mrs. Barnett died Jan. 9, 1879. June 2, 1880, Mr. Barnett mar. ried Catherine Cracroft, a native of Greenup County, Ky., born in 1857. They have one child-Eulala, born April 9, 1882. Mr. Barnett owns seventy-five acres in Ohio County, and a home in Owensboro. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Politically he is a Republican.
Kirtley Y. Berkshire, born Nov. 29, 1849, in Boone County, Ky., is a son of Belfield and Elizabeth (Terril) Berkshire, natives of Boone County, Ky. They had a family of six sons, four now liv-
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ing. His father died in May, 1855. His mother married L. F. Jackson. They have three daughters. When twenty years of age Mr. Berkshire came to Daviess County, and bought a farm of 111} acres in Upper Town; resided there till April, 1879, when he came to Owensboro, and entered the flouring mill of J. C. Terril, where he is still engaged, having liad charge of the mill the greater part of the time. He was married Jan. 15, 1872, to Mollie, daughter of Benjamin Allan. They have four children-Benjamin, Beulah, Elizabeth and Harry. One son, Belfield, died in infancy. Mr. Berkshire has been a member of the Christian church since fifteen years of age. He owns his residence on Lewis street, between Fifth and Sixth.
J. H. Bishop, son of Isaac and Rosa (Burks) Bishop, was born March 11, 1837, in Mercer County, Ky., where he was educated and lived till eighteen years of age. He then learned the watch- maker's trade in Helena, Ark., Franklin, Ind., and Miami, Mo. In 1859 he went to work for himself in Platte City, Mo .; then went to Miami, Mo., Columbus, Ky., Bradenburg, Ky., Osville, Ky., Bed- ford, Ind., Rockport, Ind., Topeka, Kas., and in 1872 came to Owensboro, commencing in Courtney's drug store, and subsequently opening in his present quarters on Main street, near Frederica, where he has a complete stock of diamonds, jewelry, watches and elocks. His establishment is one of the finest in the city. Dec. 19, 1860, he married Annie Sebastian, of Brandenburg, Ky. Five chil- dren have been born to them, three now living-William A., Er- nest V., and James L. Hattie Belle and Henry Horace died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Bishop are members of the Southern Pres- byterian church. Politically Mr. Bishop is a Democrat. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., I. O. O. F., and K. of P. fraterni- ties.
Richard H. Bishop, born March 5, 1835, in Fleming County, Ky., is a son of David and Rebecca (Fergurson) Bishop, natives of Ohio and Kentucky. His father moved to Kentucky when a young man. When Richard was five years old his father moved to Park County, Ind., and lived there till his death in the winter of 1876, at the age of seventy-seven years. His mother died in 1872, aged sixty-two years. They left a family of two sons and five daugh- ters. Richard H. lived at home till he was twenty-one. After his fourteenth year he was obliged to earn his own living and assist his parents. During this time he learned the plasterer's trade. In December, 1863, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Digitized by Microsoft®
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Indiana Infantry and served a year, the regiment bein nustered out in the winter of 1864-'5. In 1865 he came to Daviess County, and lived a year in Murray Precinct. He then came to Owensboro and worked at his trade two years. He;then was employed as clerk in the grocery store of Mitchell Hanley; engaged to work three months and stayed six years and a a half, never losing a day. In the winter of 1875 he was appointed revenue ganger and still holds the position. He has been assigned to every distillery of any size in the Third District of Kentucky. In the winter of 1878 he bought an interest in the grocery of L. D. Cruse, but sold his interest in the winter of 1879. He has been a member of the Odd Fellows for ten years and has filled every chair in the order except that of Noble Grand; was elected to that office, but was unable to serve on account of absence from the city. He was married July 27, 1858, to Vienna, daughter of Thos. W. Salmon, of Daviess County. They have three children-John W., Lena Lillian and Lorena. Their eldest child, Deliahaman, died when eight months old.
J. S. Bottenwiser, son of Saul B. and Fannie (Meyers) Bot- tenwiser, Sept. 16, 1829, near Baden See, Switzerland. When eight years of age he was brought to Richmond, Va., by an uncle, his godfather He attended school at Lexington, Va., tanghit by John P. Letcher and Stonewall Jackson. He graduated when seventeen, and left for New Orleans. Remained there four years in a dry-goods house, and in 1851 went to California via the Gulf of Mexico and Panama. He was employed as messenger for Adams & Co.'s Express, and lost all his money by the collapse of the company. Then left California and returned to Louisville and clerked till 1860, when he engaged in the dry-goods business for him- self. In 1868 he located in Cincinnati, and remained till 1877; He then came to Owensboro,and has been engaged in the dry-goods busi- ness here in partnership with Wm. Sharpe, under the firm name of Wm. Sharpe & Co. He was married June 3, 1860, to Cornelia Stephens, of St. Louis, daughter of Allen Stephens, for twenty- eight years Captain on the Louisville and New Orleans packets. They have one child-Charles H. Mr. Bottenwiser is a member of Blue Lodge Council, R. A. Chapter and K. T. Politically, he is a Republican.
W. W. Boulware, local historian of the Chicago Inter-State Pub. Co., was born near Yelvington, Daviess County, Ky., May 31, 1829. His father, John Boulware, was born near Lexington, Ky., in 1798. John Boulware, father of the subject of our sketch,
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learned the blacksmith's trade in Lexington, and when eighteen or nineteen years of age came to Daviess County, and opened a black- smith shop in Owensboro. He was married here to Elizabeth, danghter of Dabney Sergeant, carpenter and joiner of Owensboro. Mr. and Mrs. Boulware were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They had a family of nine children, three still living-Will- iam, Margaret, wife of William T. Washer, a celebrated contractor and bridge-builder, of Troy, Ind., and Edward H., a carpenter and contractor, of Troy, Ind. William W., the subject of our sketch, moved with his parents to Troy, Ind., in the fall of 1831, where the old gentleman still resides, at the ripe old age of eighty-four. He is one of the oldest blacksmiths in the country, having been engaged in the the business over sixty years. William W. remained in Troy, Ind., until twenty-one, when he engaged in running flat-boats down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans, La., until 1860. During this time he learned the carpenter and mason's trade, and followed carpentering and contracting during the summer season. Jan. 1, 1854, he was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie J. Ax- ton, of Rome, Ind., born June 15, 1835. She was a daughter of Dr. Benjamin F. and Nancy (Claycomb) Axton, natives of Ken- tucky and Indiana. After his marriage, Mr. Boulware located in Grand View, Spericer Co., Ind., where he purchased, laid out and improved lots; at the same time worked at his trade of contractor and bnilder until the spring of 1869, when he sold and moved to Evansville, Ind., where he purchased property and engaged in the real estate business, still working at contracting and building. In 1871 he engaged in the mercantile trade, and opened a dry-goods and millinery store on Main street. In the winter of 1872 he re- moved his store to Flora, Ill., left it in charge of his wife and went to Chicago, and assisted in rebuilding the city ; was one among 50,000 mechanics who were engaged in rebuilding the city after the great fire. In the winter of 1872 returned to Flora, III., and ran his store and engaged in contracting and building until the spring of 1872, when he was employed by the Union Atlas Com- pany, of Chicago, to assist in making the Illinois State atlas; had charge of the men in thirteen counties of this State for one year. In 1876 returned to Flora, Ill., and engaged in contracting and building, until 1879. During this time assisted in building the St. George Hotel in Evansville, Ind. In the fall of 1879 was em- ployed by the Philadelphia Publishing Company, and assisted in inaking county atlases for various counties in Kansas and Missouri.
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In August, 1881, left Wichita, Kas., for Flora, Ill. Soon after went to Springfield, Ill., and was employed in December, 1881, by the Inter-State Publishing Company of Chicago, publishers of State and county histories; is still working for this company. Mr. and Mrs. Boulware have had a family of nine children, five living -Benjamin W., born in Grand View, Ind., Dec. 23, 1858, is em- ployed by the O. & M. Railway; Ullie B., born in Grand View, Ind., is the wife of Richard Field, a carpenter and contractor of Spring- field, Ill .; Louie L., born in Grand View, Ind., Jan. 1, 1866; Mamie P., born in Evansville, Ind., in 1870, Lizzie, born in Flora, Ill., Dec. 11, 1874, at home with their parents.
Benjamin Bransford, retired merchant and tobacco manu- facturer, was born Dec. 1, 1819, in Cumberland County, Va. His family is of English origin, his great-grandfather being the first to emigrate to America, settling, probably, at Jamestown, Va. The family subsequently removed to Buckingham County, where his father, Benjamin Bransford, was born, who after- ward removed to Cumberland County, where he married Miss Lucy Hatcher, daughter of an old Virginian family, and was a planter by occupation. Benjamin and Lucy Bransford raised a large family of children of which the subject of this sketch is the youngest. His ancestors on both sides were long residents in, and respectably connected with the first families of, Virginia. His edu- cation was acquired in the common schools; and, rejecting his fa- ther's offer, to pursue a collegiate course, he left Virginia and came to Kentucky, with the view of engaging in the tobacco business. His cousin, W: H. Bransford, had erected a tobacco factory at Ow- ensboro in the spring of 1838, and there he joined him, bringing from Virginia a number of experienced stemmers. He actively assisted in the management of the establishment until the factory was destroyed by fire, in 1850. He then accepted a salaried posi- tion with H. Kerr & Co., in the same business. In the fall of 1852 he took charge of the factory of J. A. Dunlap & Co., remaining until 1856, when he formed a partnership with Samuel W. Wing, with the purpose of carrying on a general dry-goods and tobacco business, he managing the tobacco interests of the firm. In 1852 he embarked in the tobacco trade on his own account, continuing with energy and success until the year 1873, when he retired to private life. His career as a business man has been one of great credit to himself, and, during his long connection with the tobacco business, he witnessed great development in the trade, there being
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at the time of his arrival in Owensboro but one factory in opera- tion, where there are now nineteen, and in this growth he bore a prominent part. In 1872 he was elected Mayor of Owensboro, dis- charging the duties of that office with great credit and acceptabil- ity. At various time he has served as member of the Town Coun- cil; was instrumental in organizing the Ohio Telegraph Company, and was its only president during its existence; was a member of the first Board of Directors of the Evansville, Owensboro & Nashville Railroad, and in various ways has been conspicuous in developing the growth of Owensboro and surrounding country. At the beginning of the civil war, when the schools of Owensboro were in a sadly demoralized condition, he founded Bransford Fe- male Institute, and, at an expense to himself of about $35,000, built the institution, and kept it in successful operation for six years. In politics he remained with the old Whig party till its final dis- solution, and was actively interested in the election of General Har- rison, in 1840; but after the commencement of the civil war he iden- tified himself with the Democratic party, and, while sympathizing with the Sonth, took no active part in the Rebellion. He is con- nected with the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and has always been prominently interested in all enterprises looking to the sub- stantial benefits of the community. His life has been characterized by great liberality, integrity, and public enterprise, deservedly meriting and receiving the confidence and esteem of the commu- nity of which he has so long been a valuable member. Mr. Brans- ford was married in 1846 to Mary E. Athey, a native of Louisville, whose parents removed to Daviess County in 1844. They have reared a large family of children.
John W. Braun. proprietor of sample room and restaurant, on Second, between St. Anne and Allen streets, was born in Huff Township, near New Boston, Spencer Co, Ind., July 12, 1843, son of John and Caroline (Herring) Brown, natives of Germany. They had a family of thirteen children, John W., being the third- He worked on his father's farm, attending school in Spencer County, Ind., until eighteen. He vr. . m .. .. 1 Feb. 9, 1869, to Catherina Vogel, a native of Spencer C. y, Ind., and a daughter of Ste hen Vogel. In 1870 he came to Daviess County, Ky., and follow farming three years in Upper Town Precinct. In 1873 he engaged in his present business. Mr. and Mrs. Braun are both members of the Lutheran church. They have four children- Emma, Sophia, Edward G. and Arthur. Mr. Braun is a member
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of the Knights of lIono .; , Lodge No. 2,525. In politics he is a Democrat.
Robert Brodie, born March 6, 1847, in Nervelstone, County of Renfrew, Scotland, was a son of Robert and Mary (Fleming) Brodie. Mr. Brodie was educated in Scotland, and came to the United States in 1868; landed at New York, and settled in Owens- boro, Daviess Co. Ky. He engaged in the tobacco business as clerk, with Hugh, Kerr & Co., remaining with them two years. In 1870 he formed a partnership with James Sawyer, and built the large tobacco honse now occupied by them. In 1873 he returned to Scotland, and was married to Margaret Reid, and immediately returned to Owensboro. They have four children, two sons and two daughters. Mr. Brodie has been a member of the First Pres- byterian Church since 1868.
Edwin M. Brooks was born in Ohio County, Ky., April 24, 1844. His father, George Brooks, was a native of Virginia, and came to Kentucky when twenty-one years of age. He was married in Ohio County, to Elizabeth Havnes. He moved to Davie.s Connty in 1874, and settled in Whitesville, where he still resides. They had six children, four of whom grew to maturity-Edwin M., Columbus Estelle, Arretus P. and Demetrus F. (twins). Ed- win M. learned the earpenter's trade, and worked at it eight years, five years of the time under other men. In 1871 he opened a livery stable at Whitesville, and contracted for taking the mail from Whitesville to Owensboro. June 1, 1882, he came to Owens- boro and opened his livery stable, on East Main street. He was married in Feburary, 1878, to Kate Bozarth, of Grayson County, Ky. They have three children-Lois F., Roy G. and Hattie L.
John Brotherton, born near Dayton, O., July, 1824, was, the eldest of two sons of William and Ann (Kennedy) Brotherton, natives of New York. His brother was William Brotherton, long a resident of New Orleans, where he died in 1881. His father died near Dayton, O. His mother married John Doherty, of Louis- ville, Ky. John's early life was therefore spent in Louisville, and he received a fair education in the city schools. He served an ap- prenticeship with Hays & Cooper, practical carriage mannfact- nrers. He then worked as a journeyman a while and carried on a small shop of his own in the eonntry. In 1846 Mr. Brotherton eame to Owensboro and went into partnership with J. J. Bowlds. In 1852 Mr. Bowlds died and Mr. Brotherton bought his interest and took John Mitchell, a blacksmith, as partner. He soon after
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sold out to Mr. Mitchell and went to Louisville, for the purpose of educating his children, as the schools in Owensboro were very deficient at that time. Owning considerable property in Owens- boro, his interests were here, and upon Mr. Mitchell selling out, he returned here and built a large shop where the Planters' Bank now stands. In 1864 he turned his shop into a tobacco factory and bought $30,000 worth of tobacco, the firm being Brotherton, Kearney & Co. The war elosing at this time, they ceased buying and met with a large pecuniary loss. He then sold his property to Murphy & Tolbert. He then went into the blacksmithing and wagon-making business again, nnder the firm name of Brotherton & Sutherland. In 1875 he sold out and bought a farm and remained there two years, when he returned here and bought the property where he is now doing business. His son is in partnership with him. They have a fine stable 45 x 134, with accommodations for fifty horses. He has been a member of the City Council two years. Mr. and Mrs. Brotherton have had nine children; six grew tomaturity-Ann E., married J. S. Lemar; Irene B., married S. K. Cox, of Hartford County, O .; Helen (deceased), married Thomas A. Barr, Mary F., married Tyler Lemar; Wm. A., married Jennie Parish; Fannie F.
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