USA > Kentucky > Henderson County > History of Henderson County, Kentucky > Part 59
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FOLLER GEN
GEORGE ATKINSON.
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
In the year 1819 he married Miss Mary Dixon, a daughter of Capt. Wynn Dixon, and a sister of the late Governor Archibald Dixon. By this marriage he had seven children, only two of whom survived him, viz: John C. Atkinson, who has twice been Mayor of Henderson, and has taken a conspicuous part in the progress and development of the city, and Mrs. Blanton Duncan, of Louisville.
His first wife having died in the year 1842, in 1844 he married Mrs. Lucy A. Gayle, a daughter of Major John Holloway, and sister of John G. and Wm. S. Holloway and of Mrs. Rebecca Stites. By his latter marriage, he left surviving him only one child. Edward is now an officer of the Farmers' Bank in Henderson. His second wife died in 1872. Mr. Atkinson was a man of great decision and force of character, frankly and without reserve expressing his views on all subjects of importance as occasion required, or his inclination prompt- ed. He retired from active business during the late war between the States, and in 1864, with his wife, daughter and youngest son, made a trip to Europe, visiting Great Britain and Ireland and the principal points of interest on the Continent, passing the winter of 1864-'65 in Rome.
Mr. Atkinson was for many years identified with the Episcopal Church, being a member of the first vestry of St. Paul's Parish at its organization in 1832, and, although not a communicant, continuing in that body until the year 1867, when he joined the Presbyterian Church, of which his wife had for many years been a zealous member.
He was always liberal in his support of the church, and of every project or institution for the betterment of his fellowmen. His hos-
pitality was proverbial, and his charity, while wholly unostentatious, was lavish and bounded by no sect, nationality nor· condition. Courteous, brave, upright in all transactions, with a keen sense of honor, from which no threat nor advantage could swerve him, through a long life he passed in and out among his fellowmen, making his presence felt, setting an example which followed, would be a benefac- tion to the world, and dying left a name and memory unblotted by any unworthy deed. He died in Henderson on June 24th, 1877, in his eighty-fifth year.
WILLIAM DICKSON ALLISON, son of Samuel Allison and Margaret Dickson, his wife, pioneers from North Carolina, was born in Logan County, on the fifteenth day of February, 1798.
When quite young his father removed to Muhlenburg County and settled upon a piece of land near Greenville. He lived with his father, working upon the farm during the summer months and study-
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ing at odd times during the winter months, until he had grown to be a good sized lad, when he entered as clerk in a dry goods store owned by Judge Alney McLean, in the town of Greenville. He remained in this store but a short time, when he was placed in the County and Circuit Court Clerk's office, of Muhlenburg County, under Charles F. Wing, then not only an officer of superior business qualifications, but a gentleman of high, social culture. The boyhood of Mr. Allison was furnished with few of those facilities for obtaining a literary educa- tion, which are now acces able to almost all.
His great, natural mind was left to develop its powers as best it could without the aid of books or competent instructions, and his boyish attainments consisted of the common elements taught in a country school of the most humble pretentions. Even these slender advantages were but sparingly enjoyed, for, as before said, he was compelled to devote a great portion of his time to manuel labor in the field. It is more than probable that this early familiarity with the sternest realities of life, contributed to give to his mind that strong, practical bias which subsequently distinguished his career as an offi- cial of matchless qualification and citizen of unsurpassed social grandeur. While in the office of Mr. Wing, he attracted the atten- tion of Judge McLean, who, being most favorably impressed by his amiable deportment, uniform habits of industry and striking displays of intelligence, honored him with his friendship and unrestrained interest. It was through the advice of Judge McLean that he came to Henderson County in the year 1822 and accepted a deputyship under Horace Grigsby, then Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts of this County. He remained faithful to his post, until the death of Mr. Grigsby, in the year 1824. At his death, Mr. Allison was appointed Clerk of the two Courts, which two offices he held from that time to the time of his death, March 5th, 1860, thirty-six years. In Decem- ber, 1823, he married · Miss Elizabeth Hamilton, daughter of Dr. James M. Hamilton, one of the earliest settlers and one of the first physicians of the new county. The mother of Mrs. Allison was Mary Hopkins Davis, a niece of General Samuel Hopkins, who es- tablished and settled the town of Henderson. A short time after his marriage, Mr. Allison purchased the old Ambrose Barbour homestead, on the corner of Third and Water streets, where he lived to the day of his death. The fruits of this marriage was eight children, only two of whom are now living-Mrs. Mary H. Starling, widow of Lyne Star- ling, deceased, and Miss Lucy H. Allison. In November, 1843, Mr. Allison was sorely bereaved in the death of his wife, to whom he was
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devotedly attached, and hardly had he recovered from the irreparable loss, when he was called upon to mourn the loss of his only son, Alney, a young man of brilliant intellect and promise, and in whom his whole life had centered. This son was lost in the unfortunate collision of the steamers Major Barbour and Paul Jones, in the Ohio, near Can- nelton, on the morning of the third of February, 1848. Only a short time after this, he was again called upon to give up a daughter, whose personal and social qualities had won for her the esteem of the entire community. All of these sad and heartrending bereavements, coming one after the other, and in such close proximity of time, unnerved his naturally joyous spirit, yet he bore them all with heroic, yet terribly wounded courage. In 1845, the old log house in which he had lived for twenty years, was caused to be torn away and the large two-story frame yet standing, was erected in its stead. Mr. Allison, ever after his marriage, was a great student, his broad and comprehensive mind, quick as thought and accurate in its convictions, readily grasped every subject he undertook and easily and quickly mastered it. He was a great believer in the thorough study of English grammar, and studied it for years after his marriage, attending at one time for several months, a night school, taught by a professor, in whose ability for explaining and imparting information, he had confidence. He was the eldest of five sons, all of whom were noted for the originality of their jokes and great fondness for perpetrating them. The subject of this sketch, while a great believer in this pleasantry, was never a perpetrator of practical jokes, yet it is more than probable that his master mind furnished the detail by which his brothers and others were guided. In early times, the Allisons were noted throughout Kentucky for their spirit and humor, for at times they were unmerciful in the application of their jokes ; in this, though, Mr. William Allison was not known as a leading spirit. He was a man, while full of wit and humor and as fond of a joke as any living man, was yet dignified and never permitted that graceful characteristic to forsake him. This ungovernable disposition attaching to each one of the five boys, was inherited from the father, for it is told of the old man, that the last act of his life was to frighten a timid old neighbor, who was sitting up with him at the time, and then surrender up his spirit to Him who gave it. Mr. Allison held many offices of trust, by appointment. He was Clerk of the Board of Trustees of the town for years, Master Commissioner in Chancery, Trustee of the Jury Fund, Agent by the State in the settlement of old land Taxes, and for the sale of land under the internal improvement act, and other offices of
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honor, the duties of all which he performed to the entire satisfaction of all parties concerned.
It is a remarkable fact that, after having held the two offices of Circuit and County Clerk for twenty-seven years consecutively, by ap- pointment, he was elected at the first election in 1851, after the adop- tion of the new constitution, and continued to hold both offices up to his death, in 1860, without ever having been opposed by any man of either political party. He never studied law with a view to its practice, but it is a positive fact that he gave more legal advice than all of the lawyers practicing at the bar, and settled hundreds of what were evi- dently sure to be vexatious lawsuits by his good Counsel.
No man has ever enjoyed to a greater extent the unlimited con- fidence of the whole people who knew him; on the contrary, men seemed to regard it a privilege to serve him, and in political matters it was impossible to draw the party lines so as to proscribe him. He was scrupulously particular in all of his dealings, and in his official capacity was as systematic and conservative as it was possible for human to be. He was the very life of the social circle and was a most welcomed guest in any household. He was a person of com- manding figure and peculiarly graceful in all the phases of life. He was remarkably fond of children and took delight in teaching his own in their youthful days. He was passionately fond of music, and in his younger days occasionally played the violin for the amusement of his own houshold. This he continued to do, until (as he said himself) he read in a Boston paper where a man had been hung for being a common fiddler, when he laid his cremona down and never afterwards picked it up. Mr. Allison was rather diffident than otherwise, and for years was known to travel a comparatively unused street in going from his residence to his office. Punctuality was a characteristic of his, and it is a fact that for many years prior to his death he did not vary five minutes any day in going to and returning from his office. He disliked street conversations and was seldom seen on Main or any other much traveled thoroughfare. His disease, though a heart trouble, took a very remarkable course in manifesting itself. Five or six months anterior to his death, he was annoyed with a dull neuralgic pain in his right wrist. Applications were used, but to no good pur- pose. The pain increased, gradually extending its way to his shoulder, until he was forced to take his room and bed, where he remained, under the best medical treatment, until his earthly life succombed to the inevitable.
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
During his illness, and while crazed from fever, he arose from his bed and approached a table which had sat for years in the center of his room, and busied himself re arranging his books and papers. He appeared to be worried, until, recognizing Judge Wm. Rankin, who was attending him at the time, said to him, he wanted a marriage blank filled out. The Judge, knowing his condition, and in order to gratify him, procured a slip of paper and seated himself to write.
Mr. Allison then gave him two ficticious names and general directions as to how the blank should be filled out. Having completed it as directed, Judge Rankin arose, and said, " Now, all that is needed to make this legal, is your signature." "No ! No !" replied the crazed man, " I can't do that; I can't sign my official signature to that paper," showing conclusively that, while he was disposed to indulge a humor, he was too particular to affix his signature to any paper not legally authorized. One of the prettiest incidents in his whole life, and one in which there is a grand lesson taught all mankind, is told by Col. John T. Bunch, who had called to see him for the last time. He was now beyond recovery ; he knew it, and had consented to see a clergy- man. As Col. Bunch entered the front door of the residence, he was met by Miss Lucie and was told of this fact.
A few moments after being ushered into the room, the Rev. D. H. De con, of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, came in. Mr. Allison looked at him, and then spoke to him: " Well, Mr. Deacon, I am like a badly managed lawsuit-have had ample time for preparation, and now the case is called and I am not ready for trial." What a grand lesson indeed, there is in this wonderful thought. A few days there- after, on the fifth day of March, 1860, this great and good man died. He had never, during his life, attached himself to any religious de- nomination, nevertheless, he was a great student of the Bible and a firm believer in the faith once delivered to the saints.
His remains were buried on the 6th, from St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Rev. D. H. Deacon officiating. The occasion was a sad and solemn one, and was attended by a great number of county, as well as city people.
JOHN ENEAS MCCALLISTER was born in. Henderson County October 14th, 1805. His ancestors were of Scottish origin, and remarkable for their personal courage. His father, Eneas McCallister, was a native of Pennsylvania ; his mother, whose maiden name was Kinkead, was also from the same State. His great-grand- father, Samuel Kinkead, prior to Braddock's defeat, was tomahawked by the Indians on the Potomac River, in Virginia, and his wife, two
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
sons and a daughter, captured and carried away to the territory of Ohio. Samuel Kinkead, the oldest son, then about fourteen years of age, effected his escape and afterwards joined Washington's army. Mrs. Kinkead was separated from her children, some time after their capture, and taken by the Indians to the territory of Illinois, near the Mississippi River. During this time a treaty had been effected between the government and the Indians, and a large number of them came into Pittsburg. With the Indians were the two Kinkead boys and their sister, who had, during her captivity, become the wife of one of the chiefs. A short time after their arrival, the three were discovered by their brother Sam, who was then a Captain in the American army. He persuaded the two boys to desert the Indians, but failed in all his efforts to reclaim his sister, she refusing to give up her wild Indian life and return among the whites. The mother, who was a captive, as before stated, in the Illinois territory, had often been importuned to marry one of the chiefs, and had as often positively declined. She offended one of the chiefs in some way not known, and, for this reason, was ordered to be burned at the stake. The French, who then occupied the Missouri territory, and had built the town of Kaskaskia on the opposite side of the Mississippi, were on friendly terms and carried on a large trade with the Indians. A French merchant of Kaskaskia, named Larsh, was over among the Indians, and, discovering a white woman packing fagots and sticks, involuntarily made inquiries concerning her. He soon learned her history, and also that she was packing wood, whose leaping flames were that very night to burn her mortal frame and waft her spirit into eternity. Horrified beyond measure, this Frenchman determined to thwart the decree of the heartles monster and at the risk of his own life effect her escape. He met Mrs. Kinkead, and by signs and se- cret whispers, warned her of her approaching fate, and begged that she fly with him. This she consented readily to do, and as good for- tune would have it, the two succeeded in reaching Kaskaskia. Larsch was a man of considerable means and unmarried. Owing, perhaps, to the exciting and dangerous incidents through which the two had passed, a mutual attachment sprung up between them which ulti- mately resulted in their marriage according to the rites and forms of the Catholic church. Mrs. Kinkead had been raised a Protestant, and, even after her marriage to Larsh, held to that faith. By some means, she managed throughout her entire captivity to save to herself a Protestant Bible, which she read day by day.
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
Kaskaskia was a Catholic settlement. and Larsh, her husband, was a devoted member of the church ; yet she held firm to her Bible and would read it whenever an opportunity offered. One day, while she was thus engaged, a priest happened in, and, discovering her with the book, seized hold of it, and, wrenching it from her hands, turned and threw it in the fire. Her husband was absent at the time, but, upon his return, she told him what had happened. The story so enraged him that upon the return of the priest, he rushed upon him and, denouncing him, said : " I do you as you do my wife's book ; " with this he seized the priest and threw him in the fire. Larsh, know- ing the penalty that would be visited upon him and his wife when this fact became known, seized a mattress from off of one of the beds and with her retreated hurriedly to the river, where he improvised a raft, upon which he placed the mattress, and the two made the perilous journey across the Mississippi River, where they claimed the protec. tion of General Clarke's army of Kentuckians, which had arrived in pursuit of the Indians. Larsh, as before stated, was a man of considerable means, but, after his flight, and the discovery of what he had done, became known, every vestige of property to which he. set claim was confiscated by the French. Captain Samuel Kinkead, of the American army, then stationed at Pittsburgh, hearing of his sister's escape from the Indians and subsequent escape from Kaskas- kia, to General Clarke's army, obtained a leave of absence and, in a canoe, paddled down the Ohio to Cairo and thence up the Mississippi to Clarke's army, where he found his sister. After relieving his fatigued limbs, he, with his sister and Larsh, her husband, took passage in the canoe and paddled down the Mississippi and up the Ohio to Pittsburgh, and, although both banks of the Ohio at frequent places were occupied by Indians, they made the journey successfully without encountering a single Indian or meeting with any serious obstacle. Larsh and his wife afterwards removed to Ohio, where they raised a family of children who proved worthy of their brave and noble parentage. The Larsh boys became, in after years, immensely wealthy, and one grandson died a leading man of Cincin- nati commercial and local circles.
Captain Samuel Kinkead, who had braved all dangers for the relief of his sister, whom he loved better than he did his own life, remained in the American army until its disbandment, when he returned to Virginia and married. In the year 1794 or '95, he immi- grated with his family to Lexington, Kentucky, where he remained about five years, then removing to Livingston County, settling in that
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY KY.
part of it which fell to Caldwell in the formation of that county. In the year 1804, Miss Jane, daughter of Captain Samuel Kinkead, and Eneas McCallister, Jr., the father of the subject of this sketch, met at one of those great religious camp meetings, so frequently held in early times, and, at first sight, became victims to that incomprehensible of all incomprehensibilities, " love." Shortly thereafter they were mar- ried and settled for life in Henderson County.
As to the paternal ancestors of John E. McCallister, his grand- father, Eneas McCallister, who was a wealthy man in the city of Pittsburgh, and not only wealthy himself, but of close affinity with others of great wealth, hearing glowing stories of the riches of the Cumberland River country, determined to go hence and establish a mechanical village, he himself being an expert blacksmith. With that end in view, he loaded a keel-boat and, with his family, embarked on the placid Ohio for the mouth of the Cumberland River. Reaching the mouth, he poled up to the point where Clarksville is now situated, and there disembarked. In 1809, he served as Treasurer of the County of Montgomery, Tenn. The Indian wars coming on, and other reverses pressing hard upon him, he was forced to surrender to the inevitable, after losing all that he had in the world. Friends and relations whom he left behind at Pittsburgh, urged him to return, and, after having lived ten years in that wild country, he concluded to do so. He therefore procured him a large sized boat called a Perote, a boat made of the largest sized tree, by digging out the center and rounding off its ends, and in this he embarked with his wife and sons, John, Eneas, Jesse, Archibald, Clark and Joseph, and daughters, Catharine, Polly, Betsy, and Sally. His boat he propelled with oars and poles. The trip was not only a dangerous one, but from the na- ture of circumstances, an exceedingly fatiguing and worrysome one. After weeks of hard work from the mouth of the Cumberland, in stem- ming the current of the Ohio, the party succeeded in reaching the " Red Banks," now Henderson, where they were met by heavy floating ice and compelled to take the bank. Here he secured a vacant log house on the river front and set to work to make himself and family comfor- table for the winter. At the time of Mr. McCallister's arrival at the Red Banks, there were but few settlers, among the number being John Hus- bands, John Kuykendall, John Haussman and Jake Sprinkle. Mr. Mc- Callister was a man of great piety and very strict in his family concern- ing the proper observance of the Sabbath. He would not associate himself nor permit his family to associate with any of the settlers on this day. As a consequence, Kuykendall and some of his friends, who
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had no faith except that in accord with the devil and his works, de- termined to run the old man off, and, on a certain night secretly approached his cabin and fired a volley into it. They had mistaken their game, for their fire was returned and they were forced to retreat. During the winter, Eneas, Jr., the father of John E. McCallister, Esq., and his brother, Jesse, kept the family well supplied with wild meat, frequently, when in search for buffalo and bear, extending their hunt twenty miles out. It was on one of these excursions that they dis- covered a lick upon the bank of Highland Creek, and this being reported to the father, determined him to give up his return to Pitts- burgh, and to remove in the spring with his family to that spot for the purpose of opening a well for the manufacture of salt. Mr. McCallister did settle there, and for years manufactured salt at a great profit. During the time he located, entered and had patented large tracts of land for himself and sons.
Eneas McCallister, Jr., upon his marriage, settled the William C. Green farm, one mile this side of Rock Spring, and two and a half miles from Cairo, where the subject of this sketch, John E. McCal- lister, was born October 14th, 1805. Mr. McCallister raised seven children : John E., Samuel, Eliza (who married Furna Cannon), Lor- raine (who married Evans Barnett), Orinda (who married Benjamin Talbott), William M. and Joseph. John E. and William M., who now live in Owensboro, are the only surviving children.
Eneas McCallister, Sr., as before stated, was a devoted church- man and for years was an Elder in the Rev. James McGready's church. In 1810 he was appointed one of the Territorial Judges for the Indiana Territory, and, removing there, held the first court for the counties of Vanderburg and Warrick, in the town of Boonville.
John Eneas McCallister was ambitious during his youth to obtain a thorough education, but met with many obstacles in endeavoring to gratify his early aspirations for knowledge. He attended the common schools of his home until he had mastered all the branches taught in the country schools of those early days. His father could not furnish him the means to enjoy the advantages of a course in the more ad- vanced colleges of the country, but contrived to raise funds sufficient to enable him to obtain tuition in the High School at Bowling Green, Ky. Here our subject made rapid progress in his learning, giving particular attention to the study of Latin. Having for a long time entertained a desire to become a lawyer, he was at last enabled to begin the study of his chosen profession, in 1826, in the office of George Morris, at Henderson, Kentucky. After passing two years in
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the preliminary study, he was duly admitted to the bar, and, in 1828 went South to establish himself in his profession, but, after a short absence, he was taken sick and obliged to return to his home. Upon his recovery, he was reluctantly compelled to abandon his profession of the law, and thereafter engaged in occupations more conducive to the enjoyment of physical vigor. About this time his father died, and a large family was left in destitute circumstances. He at once went to the assistance of his widowed mother, who was left struggling with adversity ; and, by his indefatigable efforts, and the help of his broth- ers, the family soon rapidly advanced in prosperity. He embarked in the business of a flatboat trader in produce, along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and remained in this business for about seven years with great success. Upon giving up flatboating on the rivers, he purchased a large tract of land, and entered upon its cultivation, and soon became the leading farmer of his vicinity. His great ability and numerous excellent qualities gained for him the highest respect of all his neighbors ; and such was the confidence reposed in his judg- ment and sagacity, he was constantly called upon to discharge the du- ties of some responsible trust, in which his management always met with the unqualified approval of all parties concerned. He possessed considerable knowledge of medicine, having devoted considerable time to the study of this science, and thus was enabled to act as the physician for his locality. He was the largest landholder of his re- gion of the county, and all of his farms were models of excellence, and conducted upon the most approved methods of agriculture. He was freely consulted by the neighboring farmers in regard to the planting and then the disposal of their crops in the best markets, and his coun- sel was invariably followed. With his acquaintance of the law, many accomplishments, unquestioned integrity and rare judgment, he be- came the confidential advisor of the citizens for a large area of coun- try surrounding his home, and the utmost reliance was placed in his decisions. His high standing in the community and his eminent abil- ity well fitted him for a seat in the councils of the State, and he, therefore, was accordingly selected by his fellow-citizens to represent them in the State Legislature, being chosen to that body in 1846. He was for a number of years a Director in the Farmers' Bank, and, upon the resignation of Joseph Adams, was elected President, serving with great credit to himself and benefit to the bank up to the fall of 1882. He served as Magistrate under the old Constitution from 1835 to 1851 inclusive. He was married in 1832 to Miss Elizabeth Scott, a native of Wilmington, Delaware, but suffered the misfortune of losing
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