USA > Kentucky > Henderson County > History of Henderson County, Kentucky > Part 62
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In 1867 he was elected Teller of the Farmers' Bank, and filled the position with such credit that, at the death of Col. L. H. Lyne, Cashier, in 1881, he was unanimously elected to that important position and is yet serving in that capacity. He has held the impor- tant position of City Treasurer since 1875.
All of the remainder of Col. Edmund L. Starling's children, eight in number, died unmarried. Edmund Lyne Starling, son of Lyne Starling and Miriam P. Dillon, and grandson of Col. Edmund L. Starling, whs born in the town of Henderson on the ninth day of May, 1840. On the sixth day of October, 1863, he married Miss Mollie B. Stewart, of New Orleans, a handsome, intelligent, energetic and most estimable woman. She, at the age of nineteen years, became the mistress of a large household, including the care and management of a large number of slaves, a majority of whom were quite young. Her executive judgment was so marked as to attract the attention of her Grandfather Starling, who, upon all occasions, deemed it a pleasure to speak of her in a most complimentary way. She was born in Louisville March 31st, 1844, educated in the best private schools of that city, and finished her school course with Mrs. W. B. Nold, principal of the "Louisville Female Seminary," a noted educational institution. She also received the highest musical advan- tages offered at that time, being taught by Messrs. Gunther & Brain- ard, eminent instructors.
In the seventeenth century, during the troublous times in Scot- land, two brothers, Patrick and Thomas Stuart, resolved to immigrate to America. They were of Scotch-Irish descent, and although they claimed to be descendants of the Royal family of Stuarts, they mutu- ally agreed, as they were beginning a new life, in a new country, to change the mode of spelling their names from Stuart to Stewart. Patrick settled in New York City, became very wealthy and died a bachelor. His brother Thomas settled in Virginia, where he married. He afterwards removed to Jefferson County, Kentucky. He was a successful farmer, accumulating considerable property, and was noted for his strict integrity and upright life. He was a kind hearted man, careless in preserving important papers and looking closely to busi- ness affairs. In consequence of this he lost the valuable estate of his brother Patrick, which he, in his old age, always claimed his heirs were entitled to. At one time the City of New York advertised for the heirs of one certain Patrick Stewart, who had left much property and died without issue. Nearly every family in the Union by the name of Stewart put in their claim, except the descendants
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of the two brothers. These descendants, like their ancestors, were careless about records and too wise to indulge hope, know- ing they would be required to furnish positive proof, dates, etc., and without which. they could lay no claim to the property. One of Thomas Stewart's sons bore his name. Thomas, this son, on the thirty-first day of August 1815, married Dorothy Longest, of Jef- ferson County, and lived and died in the City of Louisville July 26th, 1836, a leading and highly respected citizen. He was a successful contractor, having built many houses and accumulated considerable property. At the time of his death, he was considered wealthy, but placing too much confidence in mankind, and being too easily imposed upon, his affairs were found to be in an embarassed condition. Three sons survived him, Coleman W., Thomas Jefferson, and Richard Clai- bourne Thomas Jefferson, father of Mrs. Starling, was born in Louis- ville on the seventh day of September, 1818. He grew to his majority a brave, noble-hearted, generous man, full of life and of the happiest disposition. On the twenty-second day of April, 1837, he married Miss Mary T. Rucker, of Louisville, and unto them were born three children, Thomas Coleman, Jefferson and Mary Belle. Jefferson died in infancy.
Thomas Coleman was born April 20th, 1838, and was educated at the Kentucky Military Institute, near Frankfort. He was a very handsome and most excellent young man, a devoted son and brother. He served in the Confederate army throughout the War of the Rebel- lion, enlisting in the City of New Orleans when Beauregard made his call for troops, prior to the battle of Shiloh. He fought at Shiloh and was seriously wounded. After the war he engaged in steamboating on the lower Mississippi, and on September 3d, 1867, died in New Orleans of yellow fever, away from those most dear to him, but at- tended by the best of nurses, and surrounded by many friends. His remains were removed to Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville. Captain Stewart, the greater part of his life was a prominent steamboatman on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. In 1860 he settled with his family in New Orleans and engaged in business very successfully, until bro. ken up by the troubles incident to the war. In 1865, his health failed him, and while traveling through Kentucky, was stricken in Louisville, and died July 13th, 1865, after a few days illness. Edmund L. Starling and Mary B. Stewart, his wife, have had eight children born unto them. Edmund Lyne, Stewart, Ann Maria, Lyne, Mary Stewart, Thomas Stewart, Miriam and Susanna Lyne. Edmund, the eldest, was born July 31st, 1864 and since his seventeenth year has occupied the
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responsible position of bookkeeper in the employ of the Farmer's Bank, with credit to himself and great satisfaction to his superiors. Stewart was born on the ninth day of March, 1866, and since his fif- teenth year, has held a position with Thomas Soaper, in his dry goods emporium, not only to his credit, but to the pleasure and profit of his employer. This young man has shown a talent for oil painting almost, if not quite, equal to that of his Grandmother Starling. Without the aid of a teacher, graced in the art, and simply from a natural talent, he has produced some wonderful specimens. It seems no effort for him to master any subject he undertakes. Both his taste and touch are fully up to the standard of artists of reputation.
Ann Maria, eldest daughter, is an accomplished, high-spirited girl, and possesses a remarkable vocal talent for which she has been highly complimented by eminent judges.
Mary Stuart, Mamie, as she is so called, is a bright, happy hearted, rosy cheeked girl, thoroughly domestic and talented. The three younger children are most lovable and promising.
MALCOLM YEAMAN was born in Hardin County, Kentucky, and became a resident of Henderson in 1863, being then just past his twenty-first year and having recently married and obtained his law license. He at once entered into the practice of law in partnership with his brother, Harvey Yeaman, who soon afterwards removed to Louisville, Kentucky.
Mr. Yeaman has resided in Henderson continuously since 1863, and has devoted his life to the study and practice of his chosen pro- fession. If judged by those things that are usually supposed to con- stitute the best of success in professional life-faithfulness to those who entrust their affairs to his keeping, a steady adherence and increase of clientage, from which exclusively he has accumulated a moderate estate, the confidence and esteem of the community in which he has lived -.- then his career as a lawyer has been an eminent success. Mr. Yeaman has never been tempted by the allurements of wealth to enter into any collateral business or speculation, and, although always identified with the political party having the ascendency in the State, he has never held or sought public office, but has ever been content with the honors and emoluments brought to him by the legitimate pursuit of his pro fession.
His father, Stephen Minor Yeaman, was a gentleman of educa- tion, culture and refinement, but, dying at rather an early age, he left but little estate for the support of a large family of children, the oldest of whom had hardly more than reached manhood. His mother, whose
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maiden name was Lucretia Helm, still survives, approaching her eightieth year, and retaining in a remarkable degree, the full vigor of a bright intellect. Upon her devolved, in a large measure, after the death of her husband, the education and rearing of a family of six sons · and one daughter : John H. Yeaman, who studied for the Baptist minis- try and in a few years died at the house of his brother Malcolm, soon after he settled in Henderson ; George H. Yeaman, who after attain- ing to eminence at the bar in Kentucky, served two terms in Congress, was six years minister to Copenhagen, then settled in New York City, where he is now actively engaged in the practice of law ; William Pope Yeaman, now one of the most influential Baptist Ministers in the State of Missouri; Harvey Yeaman, who practiced law in Henderson, re- moved to Louisville, and afterwards died in Colorado, where he had gone in search of health, and is still affectionately remembered by the people of this county; Malcolm Yeaman, the subject of this notice, and Caldwell Yeaman, who studied law with his brother Malcolm, re- moved to Colorado, where he soon took high rank as a lawyer, en- gaged for several years in a large and lucrative practice, was the effi- cient promoter of some of the most useful and successful enterprizes of his section of the State, and has for several years filled the office of Circuit Judge. Mary Lucretia was the youngest child and only daughter of the family, who, just as she was blooming into young womanhood, died of the same disease as that to which her brother had fallen a victim.
Malcolm Yeaman married Julia Van Pradells Moore, the daugh- ter of Dr. John R. Moore, who was for many years a leading physic- ian in Louisville. Dr. Moore removed to Pettis County, Mo., a short time before the breaking out of the late war, where, amidst the excite- ment and turmoil of the civil strife that characterized that region more than almost any other west of the Alleghanies, Young Yeaman, not yet twenty-one, with his whole estate and prospects represented by a half sheet of paper on which was written his law license, was mar- ried. To the sterling character, excellent judgment, and accom- plishments of Mrs. Yeaman are due in great measure, the success that has blessed her husband.
Under their roof, here in Henderson, have been born unto them five sons and two daughters, John Rochester Yeaman, Marion Van Predells .Yeaman, Lelia Triplett Yeaman, Malcolm Hodge Yeaman, Harvey Yeaman, James Moore Yeaman and Julia Moore Yeaman.
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
PAUL JONES MARRS .- The subject of this sketch, the only son of Samuel R. Marrs, of Virginia, and Rachel Stinson, of Indiana, was born in Posey County, Indiana, on the twenty-eighth day of Feb- ruary, 1838. His father, Samuel R. Marrs, left his place of nativity when quite young to seek a fortune in the far West, as hundreds of pioneers who had preceded him. He traveled by horse and on foot over mountains of rock and valleys of mud, never once looking back to the home of his birth, or trembling beneath the dangers that met him at every turn of an unguarded wild road. Mr. Marrs' journey was as suc- cessful as he could wish under the trying circumstances, and after many days' of travel he found, as he regarded, a suitable camping ground for life, in what is now known as Posey County, Indiana. Here he settled and went to work in earnest. When in his eighteenth year, he married Miss Rachel Stinson, a lady remarkable for her per- sonal beauty, fine physique and domestic character. From the union of these two young loving hearts there came into the world two chil- dren, Paul J. and Mary, who in after life married George M. Barnett, of Henderson County. A short time after the birth of their youngest child, Mr. Marrs died. A few years subsequent to his death, his widow married Captain Payne Dixon, of Henderson County, and with her two children removed to his home in this county. Here at the age of six years young Marrs found a new home, and there he lived unti'l 1850 or '51, when he began life's journey on his own account. His education was exceedingly limited, the only opportunity afforded him being that of county schools in Indiana and Kentucky, but he im- proved every hour's opportunity allowed him. At the age of thirteen or fourteen, young Marrs removed from his country home into the town, and commenced his business life as a clerk in the store house of Wilson & Ingram, at that time one of the leading dry goods firms of the town. He continued with this firm for three years, when he ac cepted a clerkship with Ira Delano, the then leading druggist of the town. At the end of two years he left Delano and accepted a clerk- ship with George Lyne, druggist. We next find him with L. C. Dal- lam, Dallam & Soaper, Allen & Hall, and then in business for himself, under the firm name of Cromwell & Marrs.
At the breaking out of the war Mr. Marrs sold his interest in the drug house of Cromwell & Marrs, and during the latter part of 1861 enlisted as a private under Colonel Adam Johnson, Confederate Army. During his army life Captain Marrs was engaged in many skirmishes and several battles. In 1862, he with others, was cap- tured and sent to prison at Evansville ; from Evansville he was sent
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to Camp Morton, Indiana, where he remained one year, from thence he was sent to Johnson's Island, and a short time thereafter to Fortress Monroe, where, in 1863, he was exchanged and returned to his command. During his term of service, Captain Marrs was pro- moted to the rank of Captain, and was made quarter master of the command. At the close of the war he returned to Henderson, sur- rendered himself to Captain Platter, then in command of the post, took the oath, and from that day to this has remained loyal to the Gov- ernment, and proven one of the most successful of business men.
On the eleventh day of may, 1872, Captain Marrs married Miss Juliet Rankin, granddaughter of Dr. Adam Rankin, one of the early pioneer physicians to this part of Kentucky. They have had three children, William R., Juliet and Mary, all living, bright and promising. After the close of the war he clerked for a time with Holloway & Hopkins, and subsequently associated himself with Green Marshall & Co., in the wharfboat and commission business, including tobacco sales, until 1882. During that time he had charge of the large wharf- boat and transfer of freight to and from the boat and warehouse. In 1882 he sold his interest and invested with one or two others in the telephone enterprise. Under his management this enterprise grew from a small beginning to a corporation of wealth and power. He was one of the organizers of the Great Southern Telegraph and Tele- phone Company, and from 1882 to 1885 was engaged in establishing the service in Nashville, New Orleans and other Southern cities. He is at this time the owner of twenty-five thousand dollars of stock in that company, and is its Vice President. In 1882 he located in Nash- ville, and there remained until 1885; he returned to Henderson, purchased property and settled down. In July 1885, Captain Marrs was elected a Director of the Henderson Cotton Mills, and by the Directory elected Secretary and Treasurer, clothed with full authority to purchase all material for the mill and to sell its produce, a business confidence most worthily bestowed. In conclusion, it is no over-drawn picture to say, that Captain Marrs has proven himself one of the most enterprising and successful business men of his day and age; to use an every day expression, he began life's journey "flat footed and alone," at the age of thirteen or fourteen years, full of vim, pluck and energy, but no money. Undaunted by the frowns of a grasping and crushing world, he has fought his way, till to-day, after thirty-five years of un- tiring industry, faithful application, integrity and honesty, we find him even more spirited and vigorous than when a young man, and pos- sessed of a competency that has given him a reputation far beyond the
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY,
limits of his State. A far-seeing, far-searching mind, coupled with an unlimited will power, and endeavor, has brought him from the hum- blest of life to the front rank of men of capacity and commercial abil- ity. To sum up : a poor boy with few friends, scanty education, and no wealth behind him, by his own exertions has produced a self-made man, worthy of all confidence and credit. Captain Marrs, though. a strong Democrat, has never been an applicant for office. At the in- stance of many of his friends he was elected to his first office, City Councilman, on Monday, August 8th, 1887. He served a number of years as wharfmaster. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, but by no means an active participant in its mystic ceremonies. Though thoroughly moral in all he does, entertaining views akin to social or- der and religious teachings, the Captain is not connected with any church. His bounty in behalf of those near and dear to him has known no limit-very few persons aside from himself know the extent of his benefactions.
GENERAL THOMAS POSEY .- The subject of this brief his- tory was born in Westmoreland County, Va., July 9th, 1750. He removed to Botetourt County in 1769 ; was Quartermaster in Gover- nor Dunmore's army, which made an expedition against the Indians in 1774, and was engaged in the battle at Point Pleasant, October 10th. He enlisted early in 1776 in the Revolution, and received his commission as Captain, March 20th, in the Seventh Virginia Regi- hent, and, during this year, rendered active service against Lord Dunmore at Gwynn's Island. After Dunmore's forces were driven from the Island, he was stationed there until late in September, 1776, and then went into winter quarters at Williamsburg. The next January he was ordered to New Jersey to join the main army under General Washington, and, after some delay, reached Middlebrook on the twelfth of April, and, on the next day, covered (with his command) the retreat of General Lincoln from Boundbrook. Shortly after this, Morgan's rifle regiment was organized, officers and men having been selected from a large portion of the army then encamped between the mountains at Middlebrook. He was selected as one of the Captains of this regiment, and from this time was engaged in the most arduous and dangerous duties of the great struggle. In the engagement at Piscataway, New Jersey, following Cornwallis after his evacuation of New Brunswick, his company bore the brunt of the fight, having been at one time surrounded by the enemy and nearly cut off from his regiment. He at once ordered a well directed fire upon one part of the opposing line, thus opening a passage through which he made
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good his retreat. The rifle regiment was soon after annexed to Gate's command, and was present at the memorable battles of Bemis Heights or Stillwater, on the nineteenth of September and seventh of October, and, ten days later, saw the surrender at Saratoga. He now rejoined the forces under Washington, near Germantown, and did constant duty on the enemy's line until the army quartered at Valley Forge and he stationed at Radnor, nearer Philadelphia. In the spring of 1778, he took command of the rifle regiment during Morgan's absence and was engaged in frequent skirmishes. He was raised to the rank of Major, and, at the battle of Monmouth, acted under La- Fayette, being among the number that led the attack. He next assisted Col. Wm. Butler, of the eleventh Pennsylvania regiment, in relieving the settlement at Cherry Valley and Schoharie, which had been ruthlessly visited by the Indians and Tories. The Indians were driven far back to the lakes and several of their towns burned. On his return he was directed to lead the eleventh Virginia regiment to Middlebrook, where he was given command of all the light infantry then serving against the enemies' lines. At the reduction of Stony Point, his valor shone out conspicuously, he being the first to scale the fort and enter the main work, leading the charge upon a battery of two twenty-four pounders, then playing on our left column and give the watchword, "The fort's our own !" upon which the enemy threw down their arms and cried for mercy, shouting, "Spare us, brave Americans, spare us ! " after which not a man was killed. Gen. Wayne and a gallant French Colonel were awarded medals and swords by Congress, together with a public expression of thanks, and Major Posey was not spoken of until complaint was laid before Gen. Wash- ington ; this led to a second letter from Gen. Wayne, reporting upon the affair, upon which John Marshall, afterwards Chief Justice, com- menting, writes : " Was Gen. Wayne regardless of you ? he ought, I think, to have said more for his own sake. He committed an error in omitting you. This he did not attempt to correct till your com- plaints obliged him to do it, and even then he said nothing which he could possibly avoid." He was present at the siege and surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, and, on being promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, recruited a regiment in Virginia ; then, in the winter of 1781 and 1782, marched to South Carolina to join Green's forces, thence to Georgia to assist Gen. Wayne. Here he had two successful engagements. After the evacuation of Savannah, he returned to South Carolina, and, when the British withdrew from Charleston, was sent into the city to prevent the depredations of the departing troops.
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When peace came in 1783. he returned to Virginia, married and settled in Spottsylvania County. He served as Magistrate and County Lieutenant of that county. After the death of his wife, he was married to Mrs. Thornton (nce Miss Alexander). In 1793 he was commissioned Brigadier General in the U. S. army and served some time under Major General Wayne. After his resignation he removed to the State of Kentucky and settled in Henderson County. Here he served four years as Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the State Senate. In 1808 he received his commission of Major General of Kentucky State Militia. In 1810 he removed a part of his family to the Opelousas country, in the Louisiana territory. In 1812 he was appointed to represent the newly elected State in the United States Senate, in which capacity he served until 1813, when he was commis- sioned Governor of Indiana Territory by President Madison. In 1806, Indiana was made a State, after which Governor Posey was appointed Indian agent and continued in this service until the time of his death, March 18th, 1818. His grave is at Shawneetown, Ill., where he died during a visit to his son-in-law, Gen. Joseph M. Street.
Gen. Posey was a member of the Presbyterian Church and a devoted Mason. During the latter part of his life he became an efficient member of several Bible Societies and much interested in supplying the poor and unfortunate with the Holy Scriptures.
He is said to have been a man of remarkable physique and wonderful strength and agility of the body, singularly handsome, erect, tall and commanding in figure, striking suavity of manners, watchful, patient and diligent in his undertakings, successful in his business. He bequeathed to his children an ample fortune. and to his countrymen an untarnished reputation and a noble example.
Gen. Posey was the father of nine children, as follows : Major Fayette Posey, Lloyd Posey, William Posey, Thornton Posey, Thomas Posey, Maria Posey, Alexander Posey, Washington Posey and Sarah Ann Posey. Gladwell
JOSEPH ADAMS .- The gentleman of whom this brief sketch treats was born on the fifth day of January, 1817, in the town of West Cambridge, Mass., near Boston. After having received a liberal educa- tion for those early times, he was seized with the rheumatism, and, at the advice of his physician, went on a sea voyage, hoping to be bene- fitted thereby. In October, 1838, at the age of nineteen years, he landed at the City of Havana, Cuba, where he remained for several weeks. He left the Island of Cuba and sailed for New Orleans, where he resided until hearing of a gentleman who was indebted to him and
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who it was told to him was then living in Evansville, Indiana. In or- der to effect a settlement with the party, Mr. Adams embarked on board of a steamer and started for that place. Several days after- wards he arrived at Evansville to find that the object of his search was not to be found. He then shipped as clerk on board of the steam boat William Glasgow, and made one or two trips between New Or- leans and St. Louis, and then New Orleans and Pittsburgh. On his last trip from New Orleans to St. Louis, the steamer caught fire and burned to the water line. Our subject was the last person to leave the burning vessel, and it was by dint of the keenest strategy that he succeeded in gaining the shore unharmed. He then returned to Ev nsville, where, unexpectedly, he met Mr. Asa Bement, who had for many years lived a near neighbor to his home in Massachusetts. The two soon became fast friends, and, in after years, transacted a large amount of business mutually agreeable.
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