USA > Kentucky > Henderson County > History of Henderson County, Kentucky > Part 76
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Mr. Soaper, in political faith, was raised a Whig, but since the war has affiliated with the Democratic party. He was never an office · holder and never a candidate for one. In church doctrine, he is an Episcopalian, and for twenty-five years has served his church as ves- tryman. For several years he has held the office of Treasurer of the church, and so well has he performed the duties of the office, the ves- try refuse to give him up by re-electing him annually. To find a man of indomitable will and unquestioned courage, sincere in his convic- tions, a warm and generous friend of the noblest impulses, of the high est business character, is to lay your eye and hand upon William Soaper.
HARRY SOAPER, the fourth son of William Soaper and Susan Fannie Henderson, was born in Henderson County on the seventh day of August, 1844, and educated from the best schools of the town and county, and the University of Toronto, Canada, where he would have graduated but for the effects of the war. In 1867, after his return from college, he took charge of his brother Richard's tobacco stemmery at Uniontown, and lived there during the stemming season of each year up to 1881, the year of his father's death. Since that time he has had charge of the home farm (where all of the chil- dren were born), near the city. He still retains one-fourth interest in the stemming business at Uniontown, In addition to his interest at
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that place, and the home farm, he operates his lower bend place, con- sisting of one hundred and seventy-five acres of magnificent Henderson County river bottom land. All of this bottom land is alluvial, and, therefore, highly productive. As is the case with his brothers, of whom we have written, he is a most successful business man, and satisfactorily requires every turn to count in his interest. He has given a great deal of attention to the raising of fine stock, and, to that end, and to better provide food for winter feeding, he thoroughly investigated the Silo system, as adopted by cattle raisers in many States of the country, and is, perhaps, the first farmer in Kentucky to introduce one into this State. At a large expense he has caused one to be built at the home farm, and is highly pleased with it. This, then, goes to show that our subject is a wide awake farmer, looking ahead, keeping ahead. He is not the kind to await the coming of events, but he thinks for himself, and his plans are always intelligently founded, and, most generally, result as he would have them.
Mr. Soaper has never married ; there is very little poetry about him. He is rather a recluse, inclined more to enjoy a quiet, bachelor life, than hugging to his bosom what he regards a fancied vision.
It may be said of him, however, that he is not selfish-on the contrary, there is no one more open hearted. He is fond of society but his natural diffidence is constantly speaking to him, and he continually listening to it. He is a man of benevolence, devoting . a portion of his ample means to every good cause presenting itself in the community. He makes no display of his good deeds, is large hearted, exceedingly open and frank in all of his dealings and stands deservedly high as a gentleman and business man. Mr. Soaper was raised in the Episcopal Church faith, but has never connected himself with the church. He never believed in secret societies, therefore has never joined a lodge or secret order of any character whatever. He was raised a Whig. At this time he claims to belong to no party, but the prerogative to vote when and as he pleases.
JOHN D. ANDERSON was born in Virginia and came to Hen- derson in very early times. His father, Turner Anderson, and his wife, Susan Roan Daniel, were both natives of Louisa County, Vir- ginia. Turner Anderson had two sisters, one of whom married Wm. H. Crawford, of Georgia, and was burned in a theater. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson immigrated to Kentucky in the year 1805, bringing with them their six children, Nathan, Nelson, Susan, Nathaniel, John,
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Mary and Weston. A paper Mr. Anderson brought with him, and one in which he took great pride, was a certificate from Day Lodge, No. 58, Masonic, certifying to his having been elected and installed Master of that Lodge. Among the members of Day Lodge were George Washington, Lafayette and Rev. R. S. Barrett, lately of Hen- derson ; Nathan Anderson married Miss Milly Bell, and had two chil- dren, Richard and Susan ; Richard married Miss Kara Alexander, an aunt of Dr. J. B. Alexander, formerly of this city. They had six chil- dren, Dr. Turner Anderson, a distinguished physician, now of Louis- ville, being one of them.
Susan Anderson was the second wife of Dr. Adam Rankin, of Henderson, and the grandmother of John H., James R. Barret and Samuel, J. Ed., Alex and Wardlow Rankin. Nathaniel Spottswood Anderson was killed in a duel on the twenty-third day of May, 1806, by Thomas Yateman, at Nashville, Tenn. John D. Anderson, the subject of this sketch, married on the ninth day of May, 1833, Miss Tabitha C. Marshall, and unto them was born only one child, Susan Daniel, who married February 12th, 1854, Walter A. Towles, son of Judge Thomas Towles. They have had seven children, Elizabeth Alves, Sue Starling, Walter Alves, Thomas, Lillia, Marie Lucie and Therrit Rankin. Weston Anderson married Miss Christy, and unto · them were born two children, the late Mrs. Peter D. Green, of Union County, and the late Weston Anderson, of Henderson. Mary Ander- son first married Miller Flemming, of Glasgow, Scotland, who, together with his brother-in-law, the subject of this sketch, exported cotton to his native place ; they had one child, the late Mrs. Mary F. Alves, wife of Walter Alves. John D. Anderson was a man of fine business character, and accumulated a handsome estate. He was one of the first Directors of the Farmers' Bank, one of the organizers of the Episcopal Church, and instrumental in many other worthy enterprises. He was universally popular, and his opinion upon all matters of busi- ness · much sought after. He was, for many years prior to his death, a member of the Masonic fraternity.
DR. JOHN N. DORSEY was born in Jefferson County, Ken- tucky, on the thirty-first day of December, 1811, and, at the age of seven years, came with his father, Noah Dorsey, to Henderson Coun- ty, and settled on what is known as the Strong Water farm, then owned by General Samuel Hopkins. Three months after he removed three miles below the present site of Corydon, and there remained until he arrived at the age of thirteen or fourteen. He then returned to Jefferson County and was there educated. In 1834 he went to
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Hardin County and did business for an uncle, at the same time apply- ing his leisure moments to the study of medicine. Not long after this he graduated from the Louisville Medical Institute, and went to West Point to practice his profession. The Doctor tarried but a short time at West Point, and then removed to Daviess County, where he resided for seven years. He then came to Henderson and located at Corydon, where he has continued to reside to the present time. In the month of April, 1841, in Daviess County, Doctor Dorsey married Miss Patsy R. Atcherson, and unto them seven children were born, five of whom are now living, Bettie, Belle, Emma, Anna and John L. Bettie mar- ried Dr. J. N. Powell; Belle married Dr. Wesley Powell; Emma mar- ried Walter Cannon, proprietor of the Barret House, Henderson, and John L. married Miss Nannie Dixon. John L. Dorsey, the only son, represented his countv one term in the Kentucky Legislature; is now Council Advisor of the city, a prominent Knight of Pythias and Odd Fellow, and a leading attorney at the bar. Dr. Dorsey was the first Postmaster at Corydon, and his wife had the honor of giving the office and village its name. He built, in 1848, the first house, a log cabin; also, in connection with his brother, established the first store at the place. The territory that the Doctor then practiced over has now fourteen or fifteen physicians, and all of them claiming a liberal prac- tice. Dr. Dorsey's first wife having died many years ago, he again married, selecting for his second wife Mrs. Isabella Phillips, of this county. He is in comfortable circumstances, and takes life easy in his old age, greatly beloved by all who know him.
WILLIAM W. BLACKWELL was born in Henderson on the fifth day of April, 1849, and was educated at the best private schools in the town. In early life he engaged, with his father, in merchandis- ing, and soon displayed remarkable business capacity. There are few men his superior in business intelligence and far seeing judgment, Several years ago he was given a partnership with his father in the hardware business, and the success of the firm testifies to his eminent qualifications as a cool, clear headed, calculating man.
Shortly after the institution of Ivy Lodge, No. 21, Knights of Pythias, in 1873, Mr. Blackwell became a member, and, from his initiation, evinced a great interest in the order. By a close study of its laws and mystic aims,he soon became one of the best posted members and his opinion was regarded as reliable upon all matters concerning the order. As an evidence how studiously he applied himself, he first entered the Grand Lodge as a Representative of Ivy Lodge (after having presided in his own lodge) in September, 1877, at its session
W. W. BLACKWELL, P. G. C. Supreme Representative of Kentucky .. Henderson Ky. IVY LODGE, NO. 21 K. OF P.
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held in the City of Covington, and was, by that body, elected Grand Master of Exchequer for the term following. At the session of the Grand Lodge, held in Lexington in 1878. he was advanced to the position of Grand Vice Chancellor on the first ballot over five com- petitors. At the session held in Henderson, September, 1879, he was unanimously chosen Grand Chancellor of the State for the term following. At the September session, 1880, at Louisville, he received the honorable rank of Past Grand Chancellor for services rendered as Grand Chancellor. At the session of 1881, held at Maysville, he was elected Supreme Representative for four years, from January 1st, 1881, to December 31st, 1885, to represent the Grand Lodge of Ken- tucky in the Supreme Lodge of the world. Since that time this commis- sion has been extended six year's election, to 1889. He represented Ken- tucky at the Supreme meeting, held at Detroit, Michigan, in August, 1882, and there received the Supreme Lodge Degree, the highest honor in the order. He also represented the Grand Lodge at the Supreme meeting held in New Orleans in April, 1884, and at Toronto, Canada, in July, 1886, and will, nothing preventing, represent Ken- tucky at the Supreme meeting to be held in Cincinnati, in 1888. Mr. Blackwell is the youngest Knight who has ever passed the executive chair of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, being only thirty years of age when elected Grand Chancellor. He is the only Supreme Represen- tative ever elected south of the Ohio River. As another evidence of his worth, he was presented, at the session of 1880, held in Louisville, with a handsomely engrossed resolution of thanks for services rendered as Grand Chancellor. This was done by a unanimous vote, and is the first and only time the honor has ever been paid a Grand Chancellor. Mr. Blackwell is a member of the Supreme Lodge Finance Committee, composed of five members, and ranks second in the list. He has twice visited Washington City for the purpose of auditing the books of the Endowment Rank. By authority of the Supreme Chancellor of the world, Howard Douglass, on the twenty- fourth day of December, 1886, Mr. Blackwell was appointed aide-de- camp with the rank of Colonel, on the staff of Major General James R Carnahan, Commander in Chief of the Uniform Rank, the grand- est body of disciplined soldiers in the world. There are now over five hundred divisions, forty thousand Knights in uniform. It is pre- dicted the grand pageant in Cincinnati, in 1888, will surpass any dis- play of military, ever witnessed on this Continent. Mr. Blackwell has just completed the compilation of the revised Constitutions of the Grand and Subordinate Lodges, a duty assigned him by the Grand
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Lodge. His report is a masterly one and has been attended by a multitude of perplexing surroundings. In honor of his distinguished services as a Knight, and high character as a man, on Friday evening, September 9th, 1887, at Marion Ky., Blackwell Lodge, No. 57, was instituted, named in his honor, and composed of the best men of the town and surrounding country. As a speaker, Mr. Blackwell has few superiors, and upon several occasions, has won the plaudits of his fellow Sir Knights, by his sound reasoning, interspersed by wit and humor. The time is not far distant, when he will be exalted to the distinguished position of Supreme Chancellor of the world, a position he is so eminently qualified and fitted for .. On Tuesday, October 5th, 1869, at the residence of his wife's parents, in Evansville Indiana, Mr. Blackwell married Miss Marcia A. Stinson, and unto them has been born one son, Ernest, a bright young man, a chip of the old block. As Gas Commissioner, Mr. Blackwell has served the city with sat- isfaction. . He is a leading Odd Fellow. On the twenty-fourth day of September, 1887, Mr. Blackwell was tendered the Supreme Secreta- ryship of the Endowment Rank, K. of P., at a salary of $3,000, but declined it.
GREEN W. PRITCHETT, tobacconist, strip and leaf dealer, was born near Corydon, in the year 1842. His father, Pressley Pritchett, was one of the early settlers of that part of the county, and was a farmer of influence, and held the office of Constable under the old Constitution. His mother, Annie Powell, was a woman noted for her fine sense and domestic character. Both father and mother died. aged about forty-seven years. Green W. was educated at Princeton Academy, Princeton, Indiana, and returned to Corydon and engaged in merchandising. In 1869 he married Miss Belle Powell, a lady of high character, and greatly respected for her social and do- mestic qualities. They have three children, two girls and one boy. Mr. Pritchett has served his district as Magistrate several terms, and has also served as Trustee of the town of Corydon and of the Public Schools at that place. In each instance he has brought to bear a conservative sound judgment, that has ever been characteristic of the man, and has placed him foremost among the men of intelligence in his county. During his life he has evidenced a decided interest in all matters of public moment, and has been mainly instrumental in organizing several enterprises of value to the county, notably, the Corydon Coal and Mining Company, Corydon Public Schools, Hen- derson and Corydon Gravel Road Company, the Henderson Weekly Journal, in all of which he has served as Trustee and Director. In
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politics he is a Democrat, thoroughly posted and influential. He is a heavy purchaser of tobacco, which he prepares for the European mar- ket. He has been a successful man of business, and all of this is ow- ing to an intelligence he brings to bear, gained from close reading and observation. As a writer, Mr. Pritchett knows few superiors. He wields a graceful, and when he chooses, a caustic pen.
DR. H. H. FARMER, was born in Lunenburg County, Virginia, in 1825, and immigrated with his father to Kentucky, Henderson County, in the autumn of 1829. In 1833 his father was accidentally shot, and two years thereafter young Farmer returned to his relations in Virginia, where he remained until 1846, but always claiming Hen- derson County as his home. He was educated mostly in Virginia, and graduated in medicine, at the Jefferson Medical College in 1846. In June of that year he commenced the practice of his profession in Henderson County, but, three, years after, abandoned it for the more pleasing life of a farmer. Dr. Farmer has served his county as a Magistrate, Assessor and County School Commissioner, in all of which positions his eminent fitness won him the plaudits of his people. From early manhood he was a Democrat in politics. In 1860 he was a warm Southern sympathiser, but opposed secession which he believed would end in nothing short of disaster to the Southern people. He took no part in the war, but remained with his family at his quiet, happy home in the county. Dr. Farmer cast his lot with the Demo- cratic party until about 1881, when he gave up, in a great measure, politics, and does not now claim to belong to any political organiza- tion. In 1843 he joined the Baptist Church, and has, from that time to this, proven himself an active, consistent, working member.
JUDGE THOMAS TOWLES was born in Spottsylvania County, Virginia, on June 1st, 1784. His father, Stokeley Towles, was born in Lancaster, Virginia, February 21st, 1750, and died May, 23d, 1800. His mother, Mary Smith, was born September 8th, 1755, and died May 6th, 1813. Judge Towles immigrated to Henderson County in 1805, and resided here to the date of his death, December 12th, 1850. He first married Miss Hopkins, daughter of General Samuel Hopkins, in 1809. She died, leaving one son, Thomas, Jr., who was known as the brightest mind ever born in the county-a lawyer of wonderful memory and marked ability. Judge Towles then married Elizabeth Alves, daughter of Walter Alves, one of the signers of the Henderson Grant, and Amelia Johnston, whose father was William Johnston, one of the Richard Henderson & Co., to whom the grant was made. Mrs.
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Towles survived her husband two years, she dying June 28th, 1852.
By his last marriage there were three children, Dr. John J. Towles, Mrs. Bettie T. Barret and Walter A. Towles, all married and have children. Judge Towles was a lawyer of large practice, and held the unrestrained confidence of the people of his town and county. He was the head and front of every enterprise, and no man gave more liberally of his time and means. On the sixteenth day of January, 1816, he was commissioned by President Madison, one of the judges for the territory of Illinois. Much history associated with his life will be found elsewhere in this volume. He was a warm, personal friend of the renowned John J. Audubon.
J. W. PORTER was born in Donegal, Ireland, in the year 1835. In his young manhood, Mr. Porter immigrated to America, and for quite a number of years followed peddling on foot for a living. He traveled mostly throughout the Southern States, and dealt largely in such goods as Irish linens, embroideries and silks. After his first year's experience in thus merchandising, he employed seven or eight men and kept them constantly on the road. At the outbreaking of the War of the Rebellion, he was at Holly Springs, Mississippi, where he lost some fifteen hundred dollars worth of goods. He then started across the plains, and, arriving at Hot Springs Arkansas, sold his en- tire stock to the men then in his employ. During the year 1855, Mr. Porter visited Todd County, Kentucky, and while sleeping in the second story of a country house, a terrible tornado swept over that part of the county, demolishing the building in which he was sleeping. Strange, as it may seem, his vest was torn half in two, and he blown one hundred yards, to find himself unhurt. In 1853 he first came to Henderson County, and, in 1858, purchased of James Bottoms, two hundred acres of land lying in the Niagara Precinct, for which he paid fifteen hundred dollars in gold, cash down. He returned to New York, and there opened a grocery house, but owing to his strong Democratic proclivities, was unsuccessful and returned to Henderson and settled upon the land bought of Bottom. In 1867 he purchased of George S. Morris ten acres of land, and built his present residence. In 1870 he built his tobacco stemmery, and engaged in merchandising and the stemming of tobacco, in which business he is yet engaged. His busi ness life has proven successful, and, by industry and prudence, Mr. Porter enjoys a handsome estate. He has been three times married, first, to Miss McLaughlin, of New York ; then to Miss Nunn, daughter of Hugh Nunn, of Henderson County, and lastly, to Mrs. Triplett, widow of Robert Triplett. He is the father of eight children, four of whom are living.
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
R. W. AGNEW was born in Henderson County, in the year 1836. Robert Agnew, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born on Rock Creek, waters of the Alamance, Guilford County, North Carolina, on .the sixth day of May, 1776. His father, Doctor Robert Agnew, was born in County Down, Ireland, on January 31st, 1734. He married Euphenia Shaw in the year 1763, and immigrated to America in the year 1771, and settled in Guilford County, where he died October 18th, 1793. Robert Agnew was the fifth child, and his mother died when he was not six months old. He was then given to Ann Shaw, of Christian County, Kentucky, his mother's first cousin, who cared for him until her death, three years afterwards. His father having married his second wife, young Robert was taken back to North Carolina, where he lived with his step-mother, a most estimable woman, until arriving at nineteen years of age. He then went to his sis- ter Sally, in Sumner County, Tennessee. This trip was over five hun- dred miles through the wilderness, inhabited by Indians and wild animals, and seven days of the journey young Agnew was alone. He remained a year or more in Sumner County, and then returned to his native home in North Carolina, where he attended school for a short time. Being of a restless disposition, he determined to go back to Tennessee, so on the twenty-second day of December, 1796, in ex- treme cold weather, he set out on his second journey, and on the twentieth day of January, 1797, arrived at his sister's in Sumner County. He was still unsatisfied, he wanted to see more of the coun- try ; therefore, in company with two friends, on the twenty-eighth day of January, 1797, he came to Henderson County, and being well pleased, determined to settle here. He returned to Tennessee, and the following is taken from a diary kept by himself : “ Returning to Ten nessee, I thought I would quit my rambles and settle myself. So it happened that on the first day of June I married Elizabeth White Har- din, of Robertson County. We then concluded to come and live in this country, my wife having a sister living here that was married to Jacob Landers, a pioneer. On Tuesday November 21st, 1797, we arrived in Henderson County, having brought but a small share of property with us. It consisted of two horses, two cows and one calf, two sheep, one bed, etc., and one flax wheel and other small articles to commence work with, but without one cent of money or provisions. However, we went to work, and have never suffered to this time, 1839, for the necessaries of life. Before two years had roll'd away our horses were all dead of the 'Yellow Water,' which prevailed in the world at that time ; our sheep were all gone, but our cows did well."
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Robert Agnew raised eleven children, seven males and four fe- males. The males were : John married Miss Asbby, of Hopkins County ; Wiley married Miss Armstrong ; Andrew married Elizabeth Walker; Whitfield married Elizabeth H. Nunn, all of Henderson County. The father of our subject was Whitefield Agnew, who died in 1845, at the age of thirty-seven years, leaving his son, R W. Ag- new, a youth of nine years, with his mother and five sisters dependent upon their own exertions for a livelihood. His early privations pre- vented his education, yet he applied himself at leisure times, and by this means gained a knowledge that has proved of incalculable benefit to him, At the age of twenty-five years, Mr. Agnew married Mrs. M. J. Tillotson, widow of Marshall Tillotson, and daughter of John and Nancy Reeder, and unto them have been born five children, Robert L., Dora, Edna E., and William W. all living. By his industry and economy, Mr. Agnew has accumulated a snug little estate, and al- though a hard worker, enjoys his pleasures. In politics he is a strong Democrat and worker, whose influence is felt in times of excited elec- tions. He and his entire family are members of the Baptist Church. Dr. R. L. Agnew, a promising physician of Sebree, is his eldest son and child.
THOMAS E. WARD was born in Hardin County, Kentucky, on the fifteenth day of July, 1844. His great-grandfather settled in Maryland prior to the Revolution, and he and four of his sons were members of the famous Maryland line during the struggle for inde- pendence. After the war, his grandfather, Edward Ward, married Miss Elizabeth Soaper, and, in 1789, removed to Kentucky and finally settled in Ohio County, where he died in January, 1856, at the advanced age of ninety-seven years, having raised a large family. His eighth child, the Rev. Ezra Ward, the father of the subject of our sketch, was born in Ohio County, February 8th, 1808, and, when about eighteen years old, joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, was soon after licensed to preach, and, until his death, July 10th, 1864, no man was more widely or favorably known in connection with the ministry of that church.
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