USA > Kentucky > Henderson County > History of Henderson County, Kentucky > Part 72
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
REV. A. HATCHITT is a son of Rev. Wm. Hatchitt ; he was born in Lunenburg County, Virginia, on the twenty-third day of July, 1817, and came with his parents to Kentucky in 1828. His father settled in Henderson County, on the road leading from Henderson to Owensboro, about eight miles from Henderson. His father and mother being earnest Christian people, Mr. Hatchitt had most excel- lent moral training in his early raising, but he grew out from under parental control, and became wild, and loved to associate with the " fast young men " of the day. But, becoming deeply impressed on the subject of religion, he at once quit his wild ways, and became a devoted Christian man. He was baptized by Rev. R. G. Garnett, and became a member of Grave Creek Church in 1838. Soon after this he procured a letter from that church, and joined Bethel Church, where he has remained an honored member ever since.
He began preaching in the year 1844, and was ordained at Bethel Church September 7th, 1845, Elders K. G. Hay, Wm. Whayne and Joseph Board, officiating. He has been Pastor of Bethel, Zion, Cash Creek, Grave Creek and Cherry Hill Churches. He has been a very successful preacher, both as pastor and evangelist. The matter of his preaching has always been good. His modesty has prevented him from being more widely known, and he never sought to be noticed. We are indebted for these notes to a friend of his. He has done more preaching for less pay, so far as this world's goods are concerned, than any other minister in Henderson County. He has, perhaps, mar- ried twice as many people as any preacher now living in the county. Several years ago, he had the misfortune to lose the wife of his early manhood, since which time his life has seemed lonely ; but his labors have not abated, and with a life of "good work " behind him, he is ready for the reward just before him, and there are none to doubt that the reward will be full.
WILKINS N. ROYSTER was born in Henderson County, twelve miles south of Henderson and one mile and a half west of Robards Station, on the twenty-eighth day of April, 1830. His father, T. W. Royster, was one of the earlier settlers of that section of the county, and, with him, young Wilkins toiled until he was twen. ty-one years of age. During his youthful days, he attended the first school at George Rudy's old school house, and, by industry and hard study, managed to provide himself with a respectable understanding of the primary and some of the intermediate branches of study. Ar- riving at the age of twenty-one, he pursued his studies and added
47
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
greatly to what he had learned while attending the neighborhood school. In the year 1851, he purchased himself a little home of one hundred acres, one mile south of his father's, and settled down in the woods to hard work, clearing his land and arranging for crop raising.
On the twenty-fourth day of February, 1853, he married Miss Jane Spencer, eldest daughter of Enoch Spencer, who has proven a faithful helpmate. Since his marriage, Mr. Royster, by economy, excellent judgment and unceasing labor, has accumulated, until his farm numbers now three hundred and forty acres of the finest farming land in Henderson County, and is in a most excellent state of cultiva- tion. He has raised a family of four boys and two girls, and is regarded as one of the most substantial men, and certainly one oi, if not the best, growers of tobacco in the county. In 1861 he was made a Mason, a member of Cairo Lodge, and, though living a great distance away, has faithfully served his lodge in the capacity of Senior Deacon and Senior Warden. He is justly held in high esteem for his many shin- ing traits of social and religious worth, and, though often importuned,, has steadfastly refused political preferment.
LARKIN WHITE, JR., was born on the twenty-ninth day of September, 1820, on the Pamphlin place near Zion. He attended the Zion school, and at that time there was no other building at Zion, which was taught first by Rev. William Hatchett and then by Henry Poole. This school, unlike most of the educational institutions of the county, was taught throughout the whole year, and from this he gained a good English education. At the age of twenty he came to Henderson and entered into the employ of A. B. Barret, with whom he lived and con- tinued to do business for eighteen years. In the year of 1857 he pur- chased of Dr. H. H Farmer the farm on which he now lives, and from that time to this has been actively engaged in agricultural pursuits. On the seventeenth day of March, 1856, Mr. White and Mrs. Lucy Watson were married. On the twenty-first day of June, 1863, this union was broken by the death of his wife. On the twenty-sixth day of September, 1865, he married his second wife, Miss Lucy Hicks, daugh- ter of old Uncle Ben Hicks, of Hebardsville, with whom he lived in marital felicity until the twenty-third day of January, 1883, when she died. By this marriage Mr. White has four children living, one daughter and three sons. His daughter, Miss Larkie, bids fair to be- come a most brilliant woman, while his young sons are bright and promising. Mr. White has never held a political office and never was a candidate for one. Since the organization of the Henderson Fair Company in 1857, he has been one of its most active supporters, a
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
greater part of the time serving as director. During the year 1868, '69, '70 and '71 he was a Trustee of the old Seminary fund. No man has ever lived in Henderson County more respected than the subject of this sketch, starting life possessed of a very limited capital, by hard work and the exercise of fine mental faculties, he has justly won a place among the recognized monied men of the county. There is but little of the demonstrative about Mr. White, but there is an abundance of the milk of human kindness, of which those who know him best in the business walks of life can truthfully testify. He is a man of warm impulses, and as true as steel, truthful, honest, courageous. He is one of the best farmers in the county and deservedly influential.
Since the foregoing was written, Miss Larkie married Robert Mallory, of Henderson, and has one son.
JOHN O'BYRNE, the subject of this sketch, is a son of Thos. O'Byrne, a native of Ireland, and was born in the City of Buffalo, New York, on the twenty-second day of March, 1834. He traveled the country with his father, living first here and there until he arrived at an age that justified him in learning a trade for himself. He had re- ceived a good English education, and was blessed with a mind capable of embracing with ease any amount of information. He learned the trade of a brick mason under his father, and by the time he was ready to launch out upon the great sea of life on his own account, had gained a knowledge of the profession unsurpassed by any western mechanic. He was a frequent visitor to Henderson, and claimed Henderson and Evansville alternately as his home. He made frequent visits to the lower Mississippi River during the winter months, up to the breaking out of the war. In the summer of 1856 he came to Henderson and worked with Captain W. B. Vanzandt, who was engaged at that time in building the Farmers' Bank, now the Presbyterian Parsonage, on the corner of Elm and Second streets. Since 1861 Mr. O'Byrne has made this place his permanent home. He has been married twice, first in the Town of Carlisle, Indiana, secondly in the City of Evans- ville. Starting on a pittance of this life's goods, he has, by industry, economy and fine business tact, secured himself and family a beautiful home and a competency outside to comfort and cheer them in their old age. Mr. O'Byrne enjoys the high prerogative of being the head of a family consisting of a devoted and accomplished wife and three handsome children, two daughters and one son. In the year 1875 he formed a co-partnership with Joseph Hicks, under the firm name of O'Byrne & Hicks, and ever since recognized as one of the leading firms of the West. He has served his ward in the City Council and
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
could do so again, but persistently declines the honor. He has fre- quently received the appointment of Supervisor of Tax Books, a com- pliment gracefully accorded his honesty and superior judgment. Upon the organization of the Building and Loan Association, he was elected a director and has so continued to this day. Upon the recent organ- ization of the Planters' Bank, he was elected a Director.
JOHN G. HOLLOWAY was the eldest son of John Holloway, of Virginia, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, and who, subsequent to that time, removed to Henderson County, where he owned a large body of fine land. Mr. Holloway was a large grower of tobacco, and for many years up to 1820 was a successful grower of cotton. He married in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, Anne, eldest daughter of William Starling and Susanna Lyne. Mrs. Holloway was a woman distinguished for her great prudence and excellent sense. At the death of her husband, she was left with a large family and an en- cumbered estate, but, by her energy and fine management, she freed the estate and became flourishing and prosperous. She directed all things until John G., the subject of this sketch, was enabled to relieve her of such cares. It is said of Mrs. Holloway, that no woman ever . lived or died in Henderson County more universally loved and re- spected.
John G. Holloway was born on the second day of September, 1802, and was educated in Transylvania University at Lexington, Ky. In early life he took an active interest in political affairs, and was a popular and effective speaker; but he preferred the peaceful field of agriculture to the turbulent pool of politics, and, therefore, turned his attention to the management and improvement of an extensive landed estate, and becoming a very large slave owner, was a successful planter and thrifty farmer. While in politics, however, he represented his county several times in the Lower House of the Legislature and his district in the Senate. He was a man of strong convictions, yet one of the noblest hearted of the human kind. During the Rebellion he was a pronounced Union man and become so obnoxious to the rebels and guerrillas that his life was frequently threatened. He was a heavy looser by the war, yet he maintained his adherence to the Union-a man of decided views and positive character, weilding great influence in his county, and, in fact, wherever known. He was greatly respected for his integrity of character, and was always sought after for places of trust and responsibility-such as trustee of funds and guardian of estates, requiring honesty, judgment and capacity. Mr. Holloway was twice married, first, to Miss Sarah R. Terry, on April 1st, 1830; she
CIN
JOHN G. HOLLOWAY.
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
died February 10th, 1831, without issue. September 4th, 1838, he. married Miss Laura M. Smith; unto them have been born eleven children, seven of whom are living. Peter Smith, William Starling, Nannie R., Edmund Starling, Louisa Anderson, Mary Turpen, and Robert Anderson. William Starling married Miss Mary Williams, a bright, handsome woman of fine domestic traits of character ; Nannie R. married F. B. Cromwell, and has a large family of children ; Ed- mund Starling married Miss Mollie Mayo, of Daviess County, a lady of rare domestic qualities and greatly beloved by all who know her. They have four children. Louisa Anderson married Judge L. P. Little, of the Owensboro Circuit, a lawyer of ability and man of strong mind ; she has children. Mary Turpin married Judge Joe McCarroll, of Hopkinsville, a man of fine business character, and has children. The other children are yet unmarried. John, Jr., was a distinguished officer in the Union Army, and one of the brightest men of his age ever born in the county. He died at Russellville after his return from the Morgan raid in September, 1863. Mrs. Holloway is one of the most lovable of women. Her life has been as pure as an angel's whisper, and her noble, true, good heart, has been continuously wrapped up in her jewels, her children. Mr. Holloway died suddenly of heart disease on the evening of the eighteenth of January 1871, leaving a very large estate. Of his life, a friend who knew him intimately, has furnished the following tribute:
"John G. Holloway was fortunate in his parentage. His father was of robust integrity, firm adherence to correct principles, indepen- dent spirit and inflexible in his views of right. These qualities did not protect him from the exhibition of a spirit that may be called arbitrary on occasion, but preserved him clean from the temptation of immorality.
"Of his mother I can hardly write and escape the use of language that may be deemed extravagant panegyric. She was a modest wo man. Her modest, unpretending disposition, and all her womanly vir- tues were balanced by her spirit of independence and devotion to duty. She was industrious and frugal, yet these qualities were crowned by a gentle and bountiful charity. There is no doubt her son, John, for the most part owed his success and position in life to her counsel and example. When Major Holloway died she found herself with a large farm and a number of slaves to manage. John was young, and as his school days had left but little time for farm work, was wholly inexperi- enced. But with the help, encouragement and advice of his mother. he conducted the business successfully, and the Holloway residence
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was noted for order, hospitality and good living. He continued on the old farm all his life, never engaged in dangerous speculation, kept up the reputation of the old home, and it is noted to day, long after his death, under the management of his widow and her children, for the same order, hospitality and good living.
As John Holloway was of fair education for his time and place, possessed a clear and vigorous mind, it was natural that a man of his position would take interest in public affairs. Identified with the Whigs, he became a force in the Whig party, and contributed to its pop- ularity and success in Henderson, until it was shattered in the impend- ing conflict on the slavery question. He represented Henderson in the Legislature and the district, of which Henderson was a part, in the State Senate. He acted well his part in both positions and never lost the confidence and respect of his constituents. In the presidential contest preceding the Rebellion, he supported Bell and Everett, as he considered this the safest and most conservative ticket, in the troubled and exciting times immediately before the bloody revolution, which few foresaw, but which was stirring then in the heated, social and po- litical elements. At the opening of the Rebellion, he espoused the cause of the Union, and gave his strong mind and will for the preserva- ation of the nation in its grand integrity, and gave his blessing to one of his boys who enlisted under the stars and stripes. That he may have opposed and severely criticized many things done in the conduct of the war for the Union the writer of this will admit, but the honor, which will never grow dim, may be claimed for him, that he was a brave Union man. He died suddenly, and, as we hope, a painless death, and, by his prudence and fostering care, left ample provision for his faithful wife and children. While it may be said all men have their imperfections, yet it may be said that the dominant qualities in the character of John G. Holloway, only tend to good society and pro- mote the public welfare. "
Since the foregoing sketch of Mr. Holloway was written, Mrs. Louisa Little has departed this life, leaving a devoted husband and five children to mourn her loss. She was a noble woman, possessed of many marked traits of character, and very much beloved by her friends as well as family.
COLONEL, JAMES HILLYER HOLLOWAY .- The subject of this brief biographical sketch, so well known in Henderson County, and so universally esteemed for his purity of character and many social qualities, was born in the then town of Henderson the first day of February, 1835, His eyes first beheld the light of the world in the
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old frame building yet standing on the corner of Fourth and Main streets. At the time of his birth his father, William S. Holloway, was associated with Samuel Stites as merchant in the general dry goods business. When at the age of two years his father purchased what is now known as the Adams farm, one mile west of the Owens- boro road, and adjoining the farms of William S. and Samuel Elam. While on this farm, and before he was large enough, or old enough to do labor. it became a part of his daily duties to martial the young negroes, and, with them, drive a large flock of turkeys to the tobacco field, for the purpose of destroying the army of worms which prey with such wanton gluttonness upon the broad leaves of that valuable plant. It was here, while marching and counter-marching the little negroes, and moving the turkeys by the right and left flank, charging the worms in one section of the field, and then in another, that he first inherited a taste to command This taste grew upon him, as we shall see, until it eventuated in producing a most worthy and brave commander in defense of his country during the war between the North and the South. While a small boy upon his father's farm, he first learned the value of the alphabet and multiplication table. His aunt, Miss Eliza Hillyer, who possessed a strong taste for teaching and a peculiar charm of imparting knowledge to the young, organized a country school in a rude log cabin upon this farm, and was patronized by the surrounding neighborhood, numbering at that time only three or four families. He continued under the educational guidance of his aunt for a year. when his father, observing his rapid progress, brought him into the town that he might receive advantages beyond those offered at a small country school. He was placed to board at the residence of his aunt, Mrs. Lucy Ann Gayle, then living in the old two-story log building on the corner of Elm and Third streets, known as Blackberry Hall, where he remained during the school week, going home Friday evenings and returning to town Monday mornings. At Mrs. Gayle's he roomed with John and William J. Marshall and William and Charles T. Starling, all boys, his senior in years. His education was placed under the supervising care of Rev. John McCullagh, who was at that time teaching in the old town Seminary, a small one and one- half story brick building, located on the Seminary lot, opposite the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, on Fourth street. After boarding in town for a year, his father concluded to test his power of guiding a mule, so he placed at his disposal a favorite animal, which he was appointed to ride into town each morning and to return in the even- ing. Many a time the young soldier was dumped on the roadside,
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
and almost as frequently thrown into a mud-puddle ; fortunately, at no time, however, was he ever disabled. He, like almost all boys, was fond at times of riding fast, and, upon more than two or three occa- sions, while in a sweeping gallop, his mule was known to stop, hump his back and stand to witness young Holloway's passage through mid air and final lodgment upon terra firma. Young Holloway continued to live with his father upon the farm until he had arrived at the age of thirteen years, riding to town during school days and working on Saturday in the tobacco patch.
Mr. Samuel Stites, his father's former partner, having been a most successful merchant, and having amassed a large fortune for those days, sold his entire interest in the dry goods business to the father of young Holloway. Mr. Holloway then sold his farm and removed to town, taking charge of his new purchase. He continued his son at school until he was eighteen years of age, when he was taken as a clerk in the firm now composed of Thomas Evans and Wm. S. Hol- loway, under the firm name of Evans & Holloway. He continued to clerk for this firm for five years, when he resigned to accept a similar position in the book and stationary business with his uncle, Philo H. Hillyer. January, 1860, the firm of Evans & Holloway was dissolved, Thomas Evans retiring. Mr. Holloway thereupon proffered Wm. A. Hopkins, a young man of splendid business capacity and high moral culture, and who had been in the employ of the old firm for several years, and his son, James, the subject of this sketch, a partnership. The proposition was accepted, and the new firm organized under the name and style of Wm. S. Holloway & Co. In 1860, under and by the authority of an Act of the Kentucky Legislature, a State Guard or military organization was established in Kentucky, to be under the command of General Simon Boliver Buckner. Just why this organi- zation was brought to life at that time, what were the necessities for it, and what the objects to be obtained, is a matter of historical con- jecture. It is enough to know, that, that inflated military ardour and love for brass buttons and gold lace, which so attracts the variety of young men, broke out with violence of a prairie fire in many places in the State, and none more so than Henderson. January 15th of this year, a company of State Guards was organized in Henderson, with Wm. P. Fisher, an old soldier of the Mexican War, and a man of handsome appearance and military bearing, Captain ; Hon. Ed. G. Hall, First Lieutenant, and Hon. Robert T. Glass, Second Lieuten- ant. Colonel Holloway, who was now twenty five years of age, found his first opportunity to indulge his military taste, and was one among
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the first to enroll his name as member of this company. In a very short time the company was regularly equipped with splendid guns and accoutrements and uniformed in cadet gray.
In the fall of 1860, owing to some irregularity, Captain W. P. Fisher resigned his office, whereupon at a company meeting First Lieutenent Ed. G. Hall was promoted to Captain, Second Lieutenant Robert T. Glass promoted to First Lieutenant, and the subject of this sketch elected Second Lieutenant. From the beginning there was a secret dissatisfaction manifest in the company and, ultimately, and not a very long time after its organization, upon the second election, a large number of the men in line resigned. In the early spring of 1861 it was apparent to all thinking men, that the breach between the North and South could not be healed, and that war was to be the in- evitable result. Then it was that a division of opinion manifested itself on unmistakable utterances in the rank and file of the Hender- son company. Some denied the right of the Federal Government to call upon Kentucky for her enrolled soldiery to aid in suppressing the rebellion brought on by the Confederate States, while others accorded to the Government that right. Lieutenant Holloway was among the latter number who believed in the Government's right to suppress the Rebellion, and if necessary to that end, to call upon Kentucky for her enrolled militia, in order to hold the Union of States in tact. He be- lieved the South should seek redress for her grievances ( if she had any) in the Union and not out of it by the force of arms. This divis- ion of sentiment grew stronger day by day, when a number of those who held loyalty to the Government finding themselves outnumbered, withdrew from the company. Lieutenant Holloway tendered his resig- nation as third officer of the company, and, on the eleventh day of June, 1861, the same was accepted by General Simon Bolivar Buck- ner. Immediately upon the reception of his resignation, Lieutenant Holloway commenced recruiting what was then styled a " Home Guard" company, and so successful was he that, on the twenty-fourth day of June, only thirteen days, a company with a full complement of men was organized, with James H. Holloway as Captain ; Louis W. Danforth, First Lieutenant ; Willi im R. Lancaster, Second Lieuten- ant, and Andy Rowdin, Third Lieutenant.
At that time there was great difficulty in procuring arms from the State. A great many people of Kentucky believed that there was a secret determination on the part of the Governor and other Kentucky officials to place the arms in possession of the State in some way, so that they could be seized at the proper time by the Confederates, and
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not let them cut to what was vulgarly styled the " Home Guards," a recognized Union organization. Be this as it may, the writer was de - tailed, and appointed to visit the Governor, not in the interest of Cap- tain Holloway's company particularly, but to secure arms for a com- pany organized prior to Holloway's. Arriving at Frankfort, an early interview was had with his excellency and others, and the matter brought to their attention. Ludicrous as it may seem, this delegate was informed that in order to protect the arms of the State from seiz- ure by the Confederate authorities, they had all been safely packed and shipped to Paducah for safe keeping ; but, if there was a suffic- iency to equip two companies, and no requisitions held precedence, then the arms would be issued to the Henderson companies. Subse- quently a requisition was issued to the officer in charge at Paducah, to deliver what arms Henderson had applied for, and as soon as possible after this, Mr. William S. Johnson, a member of the company organ- ized prior to the one commanded by Captain Holloway, was detailed to go to Paducah, present the requisition and return with the arms. Upon his arrival, he found to his astonishment that the State arms had been removed to Mayfield, in the interior of the State, and the heart of rebeldom " for safe keeping." He proceeded to May- field, and there learned that only a few days before Kentucky's arms sent for safe keeping had simply passed through the town on to Dix- ie's land. It was the day of the first battle of " Bull Run," and this place selected too, as a safe repository for the arms of the State, was politically as hot as a pepper box with all of the heat on the sunny side. It was so warm that a "Home Guard " took his medicine with ice in it, and thus kept cool. Mr. Johnson returned without any arms. Captain Holloway determined not to be outdone, and, through his in- domitable energy, a full complement of guns and accoutrements were obtained from General Lovell H. Rouseau, then recruiting a regiment for the Government service at Jeffersonville, Indiana. Captain Hol- loway drilled his company on the streets of Henderson night after night. His men being un-uniformed, presented a sorry appearance to the glittering epauletted squad of the Buckner State Guards. September 20th, 1861, he received, through General James S. Jackson, who was then recruiting a regiment of cavalry at Owensboro, from the State Military Board at Frankfort, an order to proceed with fifty men to lock and dam No. 1 at Spottsville, on Green River, and protect the same, the order stating that lock Nos. 3 and 4 had been destroyed, and Nos. 1 and 2 were threatened. In obedience to this order he, with a detail of about forty men of his own company, and Company
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