USA > Kentucky > Henderson County > History of Henderson County, Kentucky > Part 77
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Mr. Ward's great-grandfather on the maternal side, Captain Thomas McCoy, had held the rank of Captain in the British Army, and had participated in the French and Indian wars prior to the Revolution. At the close of those wars, he sold his commission and settled in South Carolina. He, also, was from Ireland. When the Revolutionary War broke out, he joined the patriots, raised a company and served under General Marion, and was sent by that officer with
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recruits to General Sumpter, who was defeated, and Captain McCoy and his son made prisoners. They were carried to Augusta, Georgia, where one Colonel Brown was commanding. Brown had served with McCoy and recognized him. A court martial was immediately sum- moned and Captain McCoy was tried for treason, condemned and hung on the same day. His son, a youth of sixteen, a prisoner, was executed at the same time. Mrs. McCoy, having heard of the capture of her husband and son, set out immediately for Augusta to see them. She arrived while they were still hanging, and had them taken down, put in rude coffins, placed them in her wagon, and carried and buried
them. Three months afterwards, Thomas McCoy, the maternal grandfather of our sketch, was born. He remained in Carolina until 1800, when he moved to Breckenridge County, Ky., where he settled and lived until his death, in 1862. Elizabeth McCoy was the sixth child born of this marriage, and was married to Rev. Ezra Ward on the sixteenth day of January, 1839. They settled in Hardin County, where they lived up to their death, she dying October 17th, 1855. There were seven children born of this marriage, of which Thomas E was the third. His childhood was passed on his father's farm, near Stephensburg, in Hardin County, where he enjoyed the usual chances of securing an education at a country school taught three months in a year. The ups and downs of life were his, and. through multipled trials, gained his education. So anxious was he upon this point, he hired himself to Rev. James Vinson, of Wolf Springs, Hardin County, to work during mornings and evenings and on Saturdays, during ten months, for his board and tuition. This school was broken up by the war, and, soon thereafter, young Ward enlisted as a private in the Forty-eighth Kentucky Federal Regiment, infantry, commanded by Colonel Burge, a Methodist clergyman. He remained in the service four months, mostly on detached duty, when, on a final organization, his Captain was left out, and he, with others, declined to be mustered in. He then returned to Hardin County, and again entered Rev. Vinson's school, upon the previous terms, and there remained for seven months, up to June, 1864. Carrying away the honors of the class of thirty-four,he returned to farming, where he remained until January, 1865, when he took charge of a school at Longgrove, Hardin County, and taught three months. He quit teaching, and, in November, 1865, en- tered the employ(as man of all work) of Hon. W. L. Conklin, at Litch- field. He commenced the study of law and so applied himself that, upon his examination in May,1866, he received the compliments of the exam-
50
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ining judges, and a license to practice. He prosecuted his studies to 1867, when he entered into partnership, in Grayson County, with Judge Martin H.Cofer and continued with him to his election as Circuit Judge, Mr. Ward continued to practice in Grayson until November, 1872, with great success. Having married Miss Isabel Stapp, of Hender- son, in June, 1872, he closed his business in Grayson with a view of removing to Wichita, Kansas, but abandoned the idea on account of his wife's objection of going into a new country so far from home and friends. January 1st, 1873, he came to Henderson, and, without influential friends, money, or acquaintances, he went quietly to work, and has succeeded as few young lawyers would or could have done.
COLONEL CHARLES MYNN TAYLOR was born at Mt. Zion, on the Shenandoah River, near Winchester, Virginia, in the year 1799. His father, Major Edmund H. Taylor, was an officer of the Regular Army, and at one time was in command of Harper's Ferry, an important military post. He was actively engaged during the Indian Wars, of the Northwest, was present at St. Clair's defeat, and in a number of engagements under Generals Wayne and Harrison. At the close of the war he was called to service in many appointments under the government. He gave up army life when he married, and moved to Louisville, Kentucky, in 1800, where he possessed large landed interests. He was a man of wealth, large influence, elegant address, generous to friends, gentle to dependents and servants, and much beloved by old and young. He was a first cousin of President Madison, and a warm and intimate friend of General Harrison, and Governor Posey, who made his home with him while in Kentucky. Mrs. Taylor was Eloise Thruston, daughter of Colonel Charles Mynn Thruston, a descendant of the old English cavaliers, of North Wales, England. He was a Minister of the Church of England, but, when the war broke out, he laid aside the gown, raised a regiment, and joined the army and lost his right arm in the service. Colonel Thrus- ton was twice married, and, during a visit to England, his first wife, who was a Miss Buckner, died. By this marriage there were three children born, Charles, John and Buckner. His second wife was Ann Alexander, of Scotch descent ; she had eight children, six daughters and two sons. Mrs. Powell, the mother of Admiral Powell, of Wash- ington, and Mrs. Taylor, being two of them. Colonel Thruston was a man of considerable wealth. In 1807 he left Virginia and moved to Louisiana, with nine hundred negroes. At Natchez he lost over one hundred from sickness.
The battle of New Orleans was fought on his plantation, and it is
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mentioned as a historical fact that not a single paling was knocked from around his grave. Colonel Charles Mynn Taylor, the subject of this sketch, was a man of fine appearance, classically educated, quiet and reserved in his manner. His early life was spent in Jefferson and Oldham Counties, and, being an active Whig, was one of George D. Prentice's warmest supporters. He married Miss Ann M. Barbour in 1822, and removed to Henderson in 1837; purchased the Beverly farm known as the Taylor field, in the Third Ward of the city. In the fall of 1839, his house was destroyed by fire, and he then pur- chased and removed to the Colonel Cabell farm twelve miles below the city, on the Mt. Vernon road. His life was devoted to his books, farming, and then hunting, a sport to which he was passionately at- tached. His name was synonimous with hospitality and the joy of his life was in entertaining his friends, which included all who knew him. For years it was the custom of a party of gentlemen from Hen- derson and Louisville to meet during the early fall at his home and hunt for three or four weeks. He had no taste for official life, pre- ferring to live quietly upon his farm and enjoy the pleasures of the wild woods. He was a man of social power, and exercised great influence in his neighborhood. Colonel Taylor died in 1867, and on- ly two children survive him, Dr. Thomas W. Taylor, and Mrs. F. M. Burbank. He had two sons born in Henderson, Captain James N. Taylor, a distinguished officer in the Confederate Army, a man of splendid appearance, strong minded and universally popular. Captain Taylor was for thirteen years a great sufferer, confined to his bed from rheumatism, contracted while confined in prison. Alfred was a young man of superior intellect and fine business capacity. He died in Cadiz, Kentucky, after a short illness. Dr. T. W. Taylor is a highly educated physician, and successful practitioner. He has been twice married, his last wife being Miss Louisa McDonald, a brilliant lady and highly connected. Dr. Taylor has four living children by his first wife, Charles, a dashing, successful man of business, Elizabeth, Fannie and Sallie. Fannie married Captain William Colmesnil, a practical railroader, associated with the Ohio Valley, and Sallie married Mr. Posey Marshal, a leading tobacconist of Henderson and Union Counties. Mis. Mary F. Burbank, widow of D. R. Burbank, has four living children, Misses Annie and Mary, and Charles and Brecken- ridge. Mrs. B. inherited her husband's large estate, and, with her children, spends the greater portion of her time in Europe, where they were highly educated.
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
RICHARD HENDERSON, for whom Henderson County, and the City of Henderson are named, was born in Hanover County, Vir- ginia, April 20th, 1735. His father was Colonel Samuel Henderson, of Scotch, and his mother, Elizabeth Williams, of Welsh descent. The family emigrated in 1756 to the presest home of the descendants, Gran- ville County, North Carolina. His parents were poor, and hence his education neglected. It is said, but the authority for it is not given, that he grew to maturity before he had learned to read and write. Certainly, after he was of age, he improved his opportunities with won- derful energy. The first position that opened up to him a new view of life, was that of constable ; followed soon after by that of under-sheriff to his father, who had been made sheriff. These duties educated him largely in that practical knowledge of men and things for which he became distinguished in after life. He read law for twelve months with his cousin, Judge John Williams. He then applied for license to Charles Berry, Chief Justice of the Colony, whose duty it was to ex- amine applicants, and on whose certificate the Governor issued a license to practice. " He was asked how long he had read and what books ? When the limited time was stated, and the number and names of books he had read, the Judge remarked that it was useless to go into any examination, as no living man could have read and digested those works in so short a time. With great promptness and firmness, Hen- derson replied that it was his privilege to apply for a license, and the Judge's duty to examine him, and if he was not qualified, to reject him ; if qualified, to grant the certificate. The Judge, struck with his sensible and spirited reply, proceeded to a most scorching examina- tion. So well did the young man sustain himself, that the certificate was granted, with encomiums upon his industry, acquirements and talents."
Such energy and spirit knew no rest. He soon rose to the high- est ranks of his profession, and honors and wealth followed. Under the law of 1767, providing for a Chief Justice and two associates for the province, Governor Tryon, about 1768, appointed Mr. Henderson one of the associate justices. While holding the Superior Court at Hillsboro, Orange County, Monday September 24th, 1770, the " Regu- lators " (those who first resisted the aggressions and extortions of the crown officers) "assembled in the court yard, insulted some of the gentlemen of the bar, and in a riotous manner went into the Court House and forcibly carried out some of the attorneys, and, in a cruel manner, beat them." Judge Henderson, finding it impossible to hold court, left Hillsboro in the night. At the battle of Alamance, near
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the Alamance River, not many miles distant, on May 16th, 1771, was the first blood spilled in resistance to exactions and oppressions of English officers in the name of the crown. The troubled times shut up the courts of justice. He died January 30th, 1785.
JAMES P. WIGAL was born on the twelfth day of August, 1831, in the County of Oldham, Kentucky, one half mile north of Pewee Valley. When at the age of five years, his father removed from Kentucky to a point thirty miles southwest of Indianapolis, Indiana, in Morgan County. He lived and worked with his father, who was engaged in the gunsmith trade, until he arrived at the age of twenty years. He then learned the art of daguerreotyping. He found at the end of two years that the profession of picture making was not as congenial to his taste as the handling of machinery, so he commenced working with engines, and soon became a proficient engineer and machinist. In 1857 he came to Henderson, and, for many years, was employed with Joseph Clore, in running the engine at his large saw mill. During the war he served eight months in the One Hundred and Seventeenth Indiana Regiment, most of the time in East Ten- nessee and Virginia, on what may be called galloping service. At the end of this term of service he returned to Henderson. There is no man, considering his educational advantages, who has contributed so much to the scientific world as has Mr. Wigal. On the eighth day of May, 1860, he was granted a patent for a saw dust feeder, an invention of his, which is now used in every saw mill of importance in the coun- try. This machine catches the dust as it falls from the saw and carries it direct to the furnace, doing the work of a fireman. On the twen- tieth day of June, 1865, he was granted a patent for a "steam gauge," which, for simplicity and accuracy, has never been excelled. It is re- garded as the best gauge now in use. Other inventions of his are well known and highly regarded for their material worth, particularly, among the number is an "animal trap," for which a patent was granted January 14th, 1868. On the fourteenth day of February, 1874, Mr. Wigal married Miss Rodman, of this city. In February, 1881, he was elected Superintendent of the Henderson Water Works, in charge of all the machinery, and has the gratification of knowing that under his administration every department is moving with an ease and certainty, entirely satisfactory to his employers.
DR. ADAM RANKIN was born in the State of Pennsylvania, and was among the first comers to Henderson. On the first day of November, 1792, he married Elizabeth, daughter of James and Mary Speed, of Danville, Ky. By this marriage there were six children,
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Mary Huston, William, Elizabeth Speed, James Speed, Juliet Spen- cer and Adam Rankin. William, the first son, married in Henderson on July 25th, 1832, Sarah Frances Gwatkin ; they had two children, Adam and Gwatkin Rankin. Adam Rankin married Miss Mary T. Kelly on the twenty-fifth day of December, 1866, and they have one daughter, Elizabeth Powell. Gwatkin, although beyond the meridian of life, is still unmarried. William Rankin was the first County Judge of Henderson after the adoption of the New Constitution, and served for a number of years. He was one of the most popular men of his day, being universally esteemed by all who knew him. He was an intimate friend of John J. Audubon, and frequently accompanied him upon his bird hunting expeditions. He died near Spottsville, January 22d, 1871. Adam, son of Wm. Rankin, was, for a number of years, Clerk of the Circuit Court, and so popular was he, no one could have defeated him had he chosen to stand for election or re-election. Owing to impaired health, Mr. Rankin gave up the office. Gwatkin Rankin is one of the most successful farmers in the county, and, being well off financially, takes the world easy.
Juliet Spencer, the youngest daughter, and next youngest child of Dr. Adam and Elizabeth Speed Rankin, married in Henderson on the fifteenth day of February, 1827, Dr. Thomas J. Johnson, from Franklin County. They had six children, Benjamin, Elizabeth Speed, Adam Rankin, Thomas J., William Stapleton and Campbell Hauss- man. Elizabeth Speed married Peter G. Rives, and she has three children, Mary, Thomas J. and Lucie ; Mary married Dr. Willard Redman, and they have one bright little son. General Adam Rankin Johnson, of whom mention has been made elsewhere, married Miss Josephine Eastland, of Burnett, Texas, January 1st, 1861. They have seven children, Bettie Johnson, Robert E., Juliet, Adam R., William C., Ethel, and Mary Redman. William Stapleton Johnson was born in Henderson on the twenty-fourth day of February, 1840, and during his entire life has been ·an active, intelligent, influential man. He was chiefly instrumental in the organization of the Henderson Building and Loan Association, and has been its President from its organization. He was also instrumental in the establishment of the Henderson Mining Company, and during the sinking of the coal shaft, and for some time subsequent, was the President. He is a Mason and an active member of the Methodist church. He is a large dealer in drugs, medicines, &c., and manufactures largely several very valuable cures of his own-notably, his eye salve, said to be the best known to this country.
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
Mr. Johnson is also interested with his brother, General A. R. Johnson of Texas, James R. Barrett and Adam Rankin, of this city, in a cattle ranch in Texas. He is one of Henderson's thriftiest and most far seeing business men. On the twentieth day of May, 1863, he married Miss Bettie Robertson, a most excellent lady, and unto them have been born eight children, seven of whom are living, Juliet, Adam Rankin, William Stapleton, Sophie, Howell R., Thomas J.Rives. Camp- bell Haussman Johnson (see sketch). Elizabeth Speed Rankin died on the fifteenth day of August, 1803, and Dr. Rankin married his second wife, Miss Ann Gamble, on the twenty-third day of October, 1804. They had one son, John David Rankin, who married Miss Sallie Alexander, of Meade County, Kentucky. They had three children, Adam, Sallie and Juliet. Adam and Sallie are both dead. Juliet married Captain Paul J. Marrs, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Ann Gamble Rankin died August 14th, 1806, and on the third day of September, 1807, in Henderson, Dr. Rankin married his third and last wife, Susan Anderson. There were six children by this marriage, Nathaniel Alexander, James Edwin, Lucy, Archibald, Susan Daniel and Weston. James Edwin married in Henderson, on the third day of November, 1832, Miss Ann E. Wardlow, and unto them have been born eight children, Samuel, James Edwin, Alexander, Nannie, Sallie, Wardlow, Alice and Fannie. Of that number only two are living in Henderson, J. Edwin and Ward- low, and only one has married. J. Edwin married Miss Fannie Grinter, daughter of Judge Thomas C. Grinter, of Cadiz, Kentucky, and they have a charming, bright family of six children, Mary G., Annie W., Eddie, Thomas G., Chester A., the youngest not named.
CHARLES W. JOHNSON came to Hebardsville in 1869, and engaged in merchandising in partnership with his father. For thirteen years he occupied a rented house, and one of insufficient capacity to do the business that had grown to such large proportions. In 1882 he built his present handsome and roomy storeroom, 25x70 feet, and, immediately upon its completion, removed his stock and then added largely to it. In 1881 Mr. Johnson married Miss Emma A. Hatchitt, an accomplished daughter of Rev. A. Hatchitt, of Hebardsville, and unto them have been born two children,
In addition to his large mercantile interest, our subject handles perhaps two hundred thousand pounds of tobacco annually, and farms it upon a small, but paying scale, raising corn and tobacco. He has proven one of the most successful of merchants and business men, and from a moneyless condition in life, he has arisen to that of monied
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influence, being now the possessor of ample property to successfully carry out any enterprise he may undertake. He is hard working, far seeing, and of the soundest judgment. Politically he is a Democrat of the Jackson type, and is one of the most influential workers in his district. He is highly esteemed by all of his neighbors and friends, and, by honesty of purpose and fair dealing, enjoys a very large patronage. There are no better men in Henderson than Charles W. Johnson.
F. H. DALLAM came to Henderson in 1852, and engaged in the practice of law. He was a profound lawyer and exceptionably successful. I can pay him no higher tribute than by reproducing what was said of him some years ago by one who knew him intimately :
" When he chose-as he sometimes did, to the admiration of his friends-to give wings to his glowing, imaginative powers, his was ever an eagle's flight, impetuous, rushing and heavenward. A superior judge of law, his opinions were always held in the highest estimation. A skillful draughtsman-his declarations, pleas, and other legal papers, were unsurpassed in power, comprehensiveness, beauty and finish. As an advisor, he was much sought; and his opinions were distin- guished by acumen and sound judgment, and by a conscientious regard for the interests of his client. But it was in the social circle that Mr. Dallam exhibited his fine powers to the best advantage. Well informed upon all topics of general interest ; conversant with the best authors, and singularly discriminative of their peculiar excel- lence, learned in the lore of the philosophers, and in the spirit and text of the poetry 'for which men strive and die, and maidens love and mourn ;' his colloquial powers were of the rarest and best, and charmed all who came within the magic circle of his influence. A geniality of temperament which knew no limit to its benign out- givings ; a kindliness of heart which ever sought to palliate the offenses of his friends against propriety and good taste ; a disposi- tion willingly to impart to others the selected fruits of his fine cul- tivation and assured judgment ; and a sparkling vivacity of manner which pervaded even his more serious utterances, secured to him at once the affection, the respect, the gratitude and the admiration of those who were thrown into familiar association with him. Of acute sensitiveness, he readily granted to others that which he would not allow to be withheld from himself-the consideration which is due to honest and conscientious expression and action, and the cour- tesy which dignifies, and is inseparable from true, gentlemanly address and intercourse. Honest, and of a high sense of honor, he 'rendered
AUDUBON'S MILL.
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unto Cæser the things that were Caeser's,' and scorned to do aught which would not bear the severest scrutiny and the sternest criticism."
Mr. Dallam left a widow and two daughters, Miss Camilla Bar- bour, who married, June 25th, 1867, Judge A. T. Dudley, and Miss Florence, who married April 7th, 1869 Mr. Samuel J. Alves. Henry Dallam, an only son, is living in Texas, unmarried.
MARTIN P. RUCKER. - The subject of this sketch is the youngest son of Nancy Burks and Tinsley Rucker, of Virginia, who, in early life, was a prominent tobacco dealer in Richmond. Many years ago, Mr. Rucker removed to Henderson from Jefferson County, and engaged in business ; of latter years, he has led a farmer's life. Unto him and his wife (Miss Kate Funk), there have been born six children, four of whom are now living, Thomas G., John F., Laura H., and Martin P. Thomas G. married Miss Belle Brown, of Daviess County, and they have five children, Mary, Lulie, Charley, James and Lee. Laura H. married William Rudy, of McLean County, and they have seven children, Harry, William, Mary, Kate, Rosa, Bessie and Martin. John F. and Martin are unmarried. The subject of this sketch is a man of noble impulses, a good neighbor and friend. His wife is the embodiment of womanly goodness.
JOHN JAMES AUDUBON .- The renowned man of whom this sketch treats, was born in the State of Louisiana, on the fourth day of May, 1780, and was of French parentage. He early exhibited natural tastes for art pursuits, and was from earliest childhood devoted to the feathered race. In 1797, after an extended visit to Europe, he returned to America and settled in Pennsylvania. About 1807, he floated in a canoe down the Ohio to Louisville, where he remained for some time, and where he was married to Miss Louisa Bakewell. Dur- ing the year 1810, he removed to Henderson and commenced merchan- dising, his store house being a small log one-story affair, that stood on the southeast corner of Main and First Streets. His residence was equally as insignificant, and was situated on the same square and in the rear of the present Odd Fellows building. Immediately opposite his house, on the west side of Second Street, was his pond, where he raised turtles for family use, being passionately fond of turtle soup. Mr. Audubon was a warm hearted, liberal man, and for this reason, if for none other, was greatly esteemed. He was rather reserved, yet devotedly attached to his friends, and his unsuccessful life in Hen- derson, is attributable to his over-confidence and big heartedness. He was by no means a close or exacting business man, but, on the con-
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trary, let his business take care of itself, while he indulged his con- trolling passion for bird hunting. Men took advantage of him, and, from this, he was continually pressed for means and met with frequent reverses. On the sixteenth day of March, 1816, he and Thomas W. Bakewell, under the firm name of Audubon & Bakewell, made appli- cation to the Town Trustees for a ninety-five year lease upon a portion of the river front, between First and Second Streets, for the purpose of erecting a grist and saw mill. Prior to this time, December 22d, 1813, he purchased of General Samuel Hopkins, lots Nos. 95 and 96, on Third Street, between Green and Elm, and on the third day of Sep- tember, 1814, lots Nos. 91 and 92, on Second Street, between Green and Elm. The Town Trustees granted the petition of Audubon & Bakewell, and soon thereafter they commenced the building of a mill suitable for the times. The mill was completed during the year 1817, and is yet standing, being the far end section of Clark's factory. It is a curiosity for these times, and the weather boarding, whip-sawed, out of yellow poplar is still intact on three sides. The joists are of un- hewn logs, many of them considerably over a foot in diameter, and raggedly rough. The foundation walls are built of pieces of flat and broken rock and are four and a half feet thick. Mr. Audubon oper- ated his mill on a large scale for those early times. His grist mill was a great convenience, and furnished a ready market for all of the over- plus of wheat raised in the surrounding country. His saw mill also was a wonderful convenience, doing the sawing for the entire country. The timber and lumber used in building the old Kerr, Clark & Co. building, on Main Street, was sawed by his mill.
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