USA > Kentucky > Henderson County > History of Henderson County, Kentucky > Part 63
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On the twenty-eighth day of November, 1839, he contracted to come to Henderson and enter the store house of Dr. Paul Sears, who was then merchandising in the old frame house known as the " Old Rouse," and yet standing near the corner of Second and Water Streets. He agreed to remain here only two or three weeks, but, at the expiration of the time, he had become favorably impressed with the lo- cation and effected a purchase of the entire stock of Dr. Sears. He then engaged in business in his own name, and was soon drawing a large and profitable trade. He first reduced the price of several lead- ing articles fully fifty per cent. below what they were then being sold by other merchants, and this liberality brought down upon him the maledictions of his neighbor merchants. Nevertheless, he had a head of his own, and conducted his business affairs according to his idea of trade, and, of course, succeeded in drawing to himself in a short time a very large paying patronage. On the twenty-eighth day of November, 1844, in the frame residence now owned and occupied by A. B. Sights, on Center, between Elm and Green Streets, Mr. Adams married Miss Eleanor Smallwood Grayson, a lady of marked personal beauty, and great popularity in social circles. Unto them were born eight children, five sons and three daughters; only four of this number are now living, the others dying when young. Those living are Joseph, William, John and Robert ; Robert, the youngest, married Miss Mattie Elam, and has one child, Baxter Harrison, handsome and intelligent. The other sons are unmarried. . Mr. Adams was devotedly attached to his family, and the writer knows what a terrible blow the death of his last and only daughter was to him. He spoke
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frequently of her, even though she had been dead for years, and it really seemed that the memory of her was continually upon his mind. I have frequently thought that the tenor of his life was completely changed in her death. In 1844 Mr. Adams purchased the old lot on the northeast corner of Main and Second Streets, and built the two-story brick yet standing, and used it for years as a grocery store. At the time of its completion it was the largest store room in the town, and the only one having an open front. In this building he opened the first and only exclusive grocery ever kept in Henderson up to that time. He continued in the grocery trade until the year 1854, at which time he sold out and purchased the tobacco stemmery, situated on Upper Green Street, and built a short time before by David Nunn. To this, a short time after, he built the large addition fronting on Green Street, and in partnership with Colonel John Rudy, engaged largely in the purchase and stemming of tobacco for the foreign mar- kets. This partnership continued to the year 1860, when by mutual consent it was dissolved, Mr. Adams continuing the business. In 1862 Mr. Adams purchased of Colonel Rudy, his magnificent farm, ly- ing one and one-half miles out on the Owensboro Road, and contain- ing seven hundred and five acres. This splendid property constitutes not only one of the most valuable farms in Henderson County, but in the entire State of Kentucky. During this same year he completed and occupied his magnificent residence, on the corner of Washington and Adams Streets, certainly one of the handsomest and most com- plete buildings to be found in the West. Mr, Adams continued in the tobacco trade up to a few years prior to his death, when he retired, and devoted the remainder of his life to his farming interest, which was conducted on a large scale, including the large landed estate of which mention has been made, and Diamond Island.
Like all men of this sublunary sphere, Mr. Adams had his ups and downs, his trials and vexations, yet his entire life was characterized by a becoming modesty, honesty of purpose and a desire to live and let live. During his life he filled many offices of public trust, nota- bly President and Director of the Farmer's Bank for many years, and member of the City Council for several terms. He was averse to office holding, yet he never swerved from a duty his constituents choose to impose upon him, but, on the contrary, accepted and execu- ted the trust with fidelity and unflinching devotion, that made him a successful candidate for every office for which he was named. Mr. Adams died on the night of the nineteenth of July, 1884, leaving to his wife and four sons who survive him a handsome estate.
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JOSEPH OSCAR CLORE was born in Pewee Valley, Oldham County, Kentucky, on the thirteenth day of May, 1844. At an early age he was sent to the Noble Butler school at Louisville, and subse- quently to Hanover College, Indiana. He remained some time at Hanover and was then sent to Centre College, Danville, Kentucky, where he completed his education in 1866, a member of the senior class. On the twelfth day of November, 1879, at the home of her stepfather, Captain Sam Steele, in Franklin County, Kentucky, Mr. Clore married Miss Emma Pilkington, a lineal descendant of the noted McDowell family. One child, Mary McDowell, was born unto them. On January 12th, 1884, Mrs. Clore departed this life.
While at Danville, in 1866, Mr. Clore attached himself to the Presbyterian Church, and has continued a worthy member in this church to this time. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having taken the degrees in both the Blue Lodge and Chapter. He has served his people several terms as a member of the City Council, with credit to himself and to the advancement of the city's interest. He is a Democrat and an active worker when necessity demands it of him.
In 1870 Mr. Clore established a planing mill-the first ever in Henderson-on the corner of Green and Fourth Cross Streets, and at the old frame corner Main and Fourth Cross Streets, where he carried on an extensive business up to 1876. During that year he removed his machinery and mill fixtures to his father's saw mill, on the corner of Sixth and Water Streets, and continued to add new machinery and other appliances until, at this time, he is at the head of one of the finest establishments to be found in the West. He is engaged with his father and brothers in the general lumber business and controls an immense trade.
WILLIAM MCAFEE HANNA, M. D., Physician and Surgeon, was born September 25th, 1837, in Shelby County, Kentucky. His father, John S. Hanna, was a farmer by pursuit and a man of note in his county. His mother was Miss Jane King, of Harrodsburg, Ky., her family being among the early settlers of the place. The Doctor inherits the Scotch-Irish blood, the best blood known to the human race. Dr Hanna received a fine collegiate education, having graduated with honor at Centre College, Danville, in 1858. He began the study of medicine under Dr. A. S. Frederick, at Shelbyville, entered the medical department of University at Louisville, and received the degree of M. D. from that institution in 1862. A short time subsequent, he located in Henderson and began the practice of
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medicine, but the alluring charms of war were too much for him to withstand. Being endowed of a spirited, bold and fearless nature and of warm Southern blood, he soon entered the army and served, both as a soldier and in the medical department, until the close of the war, participating in many of the great battles.
He served under Col. Adam R. Johnson until his capture in November. When exchanged in December following, he was assigned to Col. Basil Duke's regiment, Morgan's brigade, as Assistant Sur geon and accompanied that distinguished cavalryman in most of his adventurous raids. In the fall of 1865, at the close of the war, he returned to Henderson and resumed the duties of his profession, in which he has proven exceptionally successful, having established a fine practice and taken rank among the foremost physicians of the State. Dr. Hanna has served for several years as a member of the City Board of Health, and has been prominent in the Henderson and district medical societies, frequently serving as presiding officer. As a public spirited and valuable citizen, he stands deservedly high. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and has held the office of Elder for eleven or twelve years. He has ever been actively engaged in furthering the best interests of his church and community. He was mainly instrumental in the building of the First Church Chapel,
located on Green Street, in the Third Ward, and is the Superintendent of the Sunday School. He is a member of the Knights Templar, but devotes the greater part of his unoccupied time to the good of his church. He is a man of genial and attractive manners and prepos- sessing person. Dr. Hanna was married in 1865, at Shelbyville, to Miss Mary Matthews, daughter of Rev. W. C. Matthews, a brother of Rev. John Matthews, who, at one time, was in charge of the First church at this place. He has a happy family, a wife of high social accomplishments and unqualifiedly a superior woman in every sense of the word, and three children, Mary, John and Janie.
MAJOR JOHN J. REEVE .- The subject of this sketch, a son of Samuel Reeve and Elizabeth Castrie, was born in Richmond, Vir- ginia, on the twenty-first day of February, 1841. His Grandfather Reeve was a soldier in the War of the Revolution, and his father a soldier in the War of 1812. His maternal ancestors were Scotch and lived in Scotland. Major Reeve was highly educated, having grad- uated from the University of Virginia, one of, if not the most, noted colleges in this great country. Prior to his coming to Henderson, in 1868, he earned a livelihood by teaching in his native State. At the outbreaking of the War of the Rebellion he entered the Confederate
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army, and served with distinction to its surrender. He served in the army of the Tennessee, under Generals Johnson and Hood, first as Captain and assistant Adjutant General, and was afterwards promoted to the rank of Major, and served as Major and assistant Adjutant General. He was in all of the engagements of the army of the Ten- nessee, and was captured with General Pemberton's army at the sur- render of Vicksburg, on the fourth day of July, 1863. Immediately after his arrival in Henderson, he, in partnership with his brother, D. J. Burr Reeve, under the firm name of D. J. Burr Reeve & Co., en- gaged in the purchase and stemming of tobacco. A short time after- ward the firm erected a large stemmery, and have been one of the largest purchasing firms in the city. There is, perhaps, no firm in the city that expends an equal amount annually in the purchase of to- bacco. On the fifteenth day of August, 1871, Major Reeve married Mrs. Sue. B. D. Powell, daughter of Governor Archibald Dixon, a lady whose excellent traits of character and domestic and social in- telligence won to her a host of friends. There were four children born unto them, Margaret C., Mary G., John Burr and Kate Maxwell. Mrs. Reeve died February 28th, 1884. Kate Maxwell Reeve died August 31st, 1884, and John Burr Reeve died October 24th, 1884. Major Reeve has never been an office seeker, but by appointment served one or more terms as a member of the Public and High School Boards of the city. Being highly educated himself, he was emi- nently fitted for the position, and earned an enviable record during his term of service. He is a consistent, firm, and devoted member of the Episcopal Church, and has been for several years an active working member of the vestry. In business matters, Major Reeve is active, prudent, painstaking, generous and noble hearted. He is the embodi- ment of honesty, high character and fearless manhood.
PHILLIP B. MATTHEWS is a native of Prince Edward County, Virginia, and was born on the twenty-seventh day of May, 1804. In his nineteenth year he came to Kentucky, arriving in Henderson in January, 1823. Here he remained for four years, spending most of his time, however, in Hopkins County, teaching school. In December, 1827, he returned to Virginia, and there remained for fourteen years, during which time he made frequent visits to Henderson County, com- ing as often as twice a year. In 1840, he settled in Henderson, en- gaged in business, and has made this his permanent home from that time to this. For a number of years Mr. Matthews was actively en- gaged in the tobacco business with Mr. William Soaper, and when the word actively is used, it is meant in its broadest acceptation. Mr.
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Matthews has all of his life proven himself an indefatigable worker, devoting his whole time and talent to the interest of those with whom he was engaged, and building for himself, by economy and prudence a competency to comfort him in his old age. His life has been charac- terized by honesty of purpose, strict morality, and a profound respect for all Christian and social graces. For fifteen or eighteen years he has engaged as a fiduciary officer, in the management of estates, as administrator, commissioner, trustee, etc., in all of which he has shown marked ability and business aptitude. Mr. Mathews was, for a num- ber of years, a devoted Mason, but his age now prevents him from giv- ing the order that attention he would otherwise love to. He is a mem- ber-and has been for a number of years -of the Presbyterian Church. He has served the city as councilman, and one term, 1867, '68, as Mayor, in both instances, with entire credit to himself and to the building up of the city. Mr. Matthews has twice married, first on the eighteenth day of July, 1852, to Mrs. Frances Craig, and the second to Miss Fanny J. Poyles, on the first day of February, 1876. He is un_ doubtedly the most active man of his age in this county.
HON. MONTGOMERY MERRITT, lawyer and soldier, was born in Todd County, Kentucky, in October, 1845, and received his early education from public and private schools of that county, gradu. ating at Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tennessee, as valedictorian of his class. The father of our subject, Daniel Ross Merritt, a phy- sician and farmer, was born in Williamson County, Tennessee, in the year 1800, and died in 1887. He was married three times. The mother of our subject was born in Russellville. Logan County, Ky., in the year 1811, and died in Todd County in 1885. She was the third wife and married in 1836. In May, 1861, under the huzzas of the South for separation, his hot young blood was kindled into a flame, and, without regard for his tender age, enlisted in the First Kentucky Infantry, Confederate service, for one year. At that time he was only sixteen years of age. He was engaged in many minor contests, and, in the fall of 1861, was discharged from the service on account of physical disability. He returned to his home and remained until the fall of Fort Donnelson, when he rejoined the army, this time with General John H. Morgan. He accompanied Morgan in all of his raids, and, in a sanguinary engagement at Russellville, was shot by a Minie ball in the shoulder. He was with Morgan on his Indiana and Ohio raid and was captured at Buffington's Island, July 21st, 1863. He was sent a prisoner to Camp Douglas, Chicago, and from there, in February, 1865, on to Richmond, Virginia, for exchange. He surrendered at the disbandment in 1865.
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On leaving college, Mr. Merritt immediately entered into the prac- tice of law, and, in 1869, removed to Henderson and formed a co-part- nership with Judge Samuel B. Vance, which continued up to the time of Mr. Vance's removal to Evansville, Indiana, some years afterward. Mr. Merritt has never sought office, but, in 1877, was nominated and elected to represent Henderson County in the Legislature of 1877 and 1878 without any particular effort on his part.
Mr. Merritt has been twice married - first, in 1871, to Miss Mary Field Green, of Lebanon, Tennessee, and, secondly, to Miss Eliza Alves, of Henderson, on the twenty-sixth day of December, 1877. In religion he is a Presbyterian, having been a member of that church for twenty years. He is a member of the order of the Knights of Pythias. He was mainly instrumental in the organization of the Planters' National Bank and has been its President from its begin- ning. Always a close observer of men and things, he has ever been a shrewd calculator of values in business matters, which fact his present happy worldly condition amply attests. A man of excellent social powers, entertaining and instructive, sensible and dignified, he has, by his easy and affable manners, drawn about himself a circle of warm, personal friends, without, in the slightest degree, engender- ing that undue familiarity which is the ever sure attendant of dimin- ished popular appreciation. Courteous, kind and considerate in his bearing towards others, and charitable where charity is deserved, he is, and always has been, in every sense of the word, a worthy, exem- plary citizen. As a practitioner, he stands at the head of the bar, and no better evidence of his legal work can be asked than is attested in his being the advisor and retained attorney for several large and important corporations.
CAMPBELL HAUSSMAN JOHNSON was born in the City of Henderson on the ninth day of February, 1844. He is the youngest child of Dr. Thomas J. Johnson and Juliet S. Rankin, and was named tor Mrs. Campbell Haussman, wife of John Haussman, first clerk of Henderson County. Dr. Johnson, father of the subject of our sketch, was born in Franklin County and came to Henderson in 1819. Juliet S. Rankin, mother of our subject, was a daughter of Dr. Adam Rankin, one of the pioneers to this county. By the marriage of Dr. Johnson, eight children were born-Ben, Bettie, Adam R., Thomas J., William S. and Campbell H. Two died in infancy. The subject of this sketch, in early life, entered the drug store of Ira Delano, where he remained until the breaking out of the war, and, at the age
42
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of seventeen years, enlisted in the Union army, a member of Captain Cooper's battery of artillery. Failing to recruit the necessary number of men, Captain Cooper's company was merged into Colonel Shackelford's Twenty-fifth Kentucky Infantry. Upon' the formation of the regiment, young Johnson was made Commissary of Company "F," and then Orderly Sergeant of Company " D." The Twenty-fifth, after the battle of Shiloh, was consolidated with the Seventeenth Kentucky, Col. John H. McHenry commanding, and young Johnson was made Second Lieutenant of Company " E." About this time he was stricken by partial paralysis of the left side and was sent back to Kentucky. He was placed on detached duty at Park Barracks, Louisville, as Adjutant. He was frequently engaged on special duty in bearing messages and detective service. In August, 1862, finding his health still impaired, he tendered his resignation, and, for several months, filled the position of mail agent on one or the other of the then Louisville and Henderson mailboats. Returning to Henderson he entered the grocery and dry goods store of Semonin & Tisserand, where he remained a short time. He then studied bookkeeping for a time at the Louisville Commercial College. Returning to Henderson again, he entered the drug store of Lyne & Johnson, where he remained until January, 1865. During that month he accepted a position in the prescription drug store of Dr. T. G. Chiles, at St. Louis, where he remained until called home by the illness of his father. On the seventeenth day of July, 1865, he and his brother William formed a copartnership under the firm name of W. S. John son & Bro., and purchased the stock of F. B. Cromwell.
On the sixteenth day of May, 1867, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Fannie Lee Evans, third daughter of Thomas Evans and grand- daughter of Rev. Thomas Evans, a pioneer preacher of the Methodist Church. Six children have been born unto them, three boys and three girls. The eldest son died in infancy. There are now living, Camp- bell H., Evans F., Fannie, Henrietta and Bettie R.
In February, 1880, the firm of W. S. Johnson & Bro. purchased the entire stock of books, stationery, etc., owned by B. C. Redford, and, under the fi.m name of C. H. Johnson & Bro., added largely thereto and commenced business. Subsequently they purchased a complete job printing outfit, and, for several years, carried on an extensive business in that line. On March 18th, 1886, the two brothers exchanged interests, W. S. Johnson taking the drug store and C. H. Johnson the book store.
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Mr. Johnson is a member, and, for seventeen years, a Deacon in the Presbyterian Church, and a zealous Mason. £ He is a working Mason in the best sense of that term. He was initiated into Jerusa- lem Lodge, No. 9, Henderson; in January, 1867, passed in February and raised in March of the same year. He was elected Junior Warden December 27th, 1870 ; elected Worshipful Master December 27th, 1872, and re-elected December, 1873. He served on the Committee on Lodges under dispensation in the Grand Lodge of 1873, and was appointed Grand Marshal at the same meeting ; Junior Grand Warden in 1874 and Senior Grand Warden in October, 1875 ; Deputy Grand Master in October, 1876, and Most Worshipful Grand Master in Oc- tober, 1877. The Grand Lodge, at this meeting, passed a resolution making it the duty of the Grand Master to enforce the payment of the special tax levied upon the subordinate Lodges for the benefit of " The Masonic Widows' and Orphans' Home of Kentucky." In the per- formance of this duty imposed by the Grand Lodge, Grand Master Johnson was forced to deal promptly and severely with a number of Subordinate Lodges, and even arrest their charters; but, by his prompt and decisive action, insubordination was checked in a very short time, and, ere the next meeting of the Grand Lodge, almost all of the rebellious Lodges were induced by him to pay the tax and return to their allegiance to the Grand Lodge. The Board of Direc. tors of "The Home " were so much pleased with this happy termina- tion of affairs that they hurried the completion of " The Home " that Grand Master Johnson should have the pleasure and honor of dedi- cating this noble. charity, which he did on the twenty-third day of October, 1878, in the presence of several thousand citizens and mem- bers of the fraternity. From a New York Masonic paper the follow- ing is taken :
" As Grand Master, he wielded the gavel with a grace and intelligence that dignified the position, magnified the office, expedited the business and gave the craft both pleasure and profit. Notwithstanding he is the youngest man who has ever reached the Grand Master's chair in Kentucky, his admin- istration, tuil of difficult and perplexing work, gave general satisfaction, and he retired from his arduous labors with his cup full to overflowing with con- gratulations upon his successful career as Grand Master. The elegant steel engraving. which is presented with this sketch, was placed in over two thousand copies of the printed proceedings of the Grand Lodge for the year 1878-a compliment never before paid a Grand Master."
After receiving the capitular degrees of Masonry, Mr. Johnson was anxious to attain to the orders of Knighthood, and as there was no commandery of Knights Templar at Henderson and only three or
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four Knights, he, nothing daunted, wrote a petition for a dispensation, secured the signatures of a sufficient number by borrowing names from Owensboro, furnished the means necessary to start a Com- mandery, and, in December, 1871, Henderson Commandery, under dispensation, now No. 14, was instituted, and he was the first Knight dubbed and created therein. He was the first Prelate of this Com- mandery, afterward Eminent Commander, and is now the Prelate. He has also served Henderson R. A. Chapter, No. 65, as High Priest.
In addition to attaining to all the degrees in York Masonry, Mr. Johnson has also attained to all the degrees of the A. and A., Scottish Rite, up to and including the thirty-third and last degree, and is now Special Deputy Inspector General for the Southern jurisdiction of Kentucky. He is also a member of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, a social order whose sacred precinct is only open to Knights Templar or thirty-second degree members of the Scottish Rite. The sum of Past Grand Master Johnson's Masonic history is as follows : Past Master, Past High Priest, Past Eminent Commander, Past Grand Master and Honorary Inspector General of. the Supreme Council, thirty-third degree A. and A., Scottish Rite.
In his business he is diligent-he eats no idle bread. During his administration as Grand Master, a Lodge was established at Pool Town, Ky., and bears his name, " Campbell H. Johnson Lodge, No. 604.''
HENRY E. LEWIS .- A history of Henderson County, Ken- tucky, would be incomplete that did not give a sketch of the ten years citizenship therein of the late Henry E. Lewis.
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