USA > Kentucky > Lewis County > History of Lewis County, Kentucky > Part 21
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"In 1862 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Stamper to Miss Sophia W. Stafford, a native of Carter County, and a daughter of Sylvester Stafford, a farmer who served in the Union Army in the Civil War and who died in service. Mr. and Mrs. Stamper have eight children, namely-Rebecca, Cinda, William J., James E., Cora Mae, Julia, Bessie L., and Marie, all of whom were born in Lewis County and all of whom were afforded excellent educa- tions."
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History of Lewis County, Kentucky
SAMUEL POLLITT was born at Tollesboro, this county, in 1862, and spent his early life on the farm. At the age of seventeen he com- menced to drive teams, and has been associated with the horse business ever since. At the age of twenty he commenced to drive an omnibus
SAMUEL POLLITT.
between Tollesboro and Maysville, which occu- pation he followed for fifteen years, having been in the same business between Germantown and Maysville for three years of this time. While in this business Mr. Pollitt made hundreds of friends, who will forget him only after they have answered the last roll call. In 1898 he
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History of Lewis County, Kentucky
came to Vanceburg and has since been closely identified with its business interests, and has conducted his business in such a manner that he enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him. Since coming to Vanceburg he has
A. J. STEIN.
been honoréd by election as school trustee and city councilman, and many other offices in the gift of the people of Vanceburg.
MR. A. J. STEIN was born and educated in Germany, coming to this country in 1877 and locating at Catlettsburg, where he learned the tanner's trade and became associated with his
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History of Lewis County, Kentucky
father in that business there, conducting suc- cessfully the largest plant in Catlettsburg for sixteen years. He came to Vanceburg in 1893 and took charge of the Buckhorn Tannery, and has built up a large circle of friends and an ever- increasing business. He is the principal stock- holder in our local telephone system, and the various telephone systems over the county, and the public can thank him alone for being instrumental in the development of that great convenience in our city and county.
That he is respected and honored by our people is shown by the fact that he was twice elected to the office of city council, in which office he showed so much ability in the manage- ment of municipal affairs that he has since been elected mayor of our city.
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and has attained the Mystic Shriner Degree. He is director in the Deposit Bank, and is a prime mover in every movement which is made to benefit the business interests of Vanceburg.
J. LOUIS ROWSEY, the subject of this sketch, was born November 19, 1864, at Cedar Grove, Rockbridge County, Va. His work was in a construction crew on a railroad, and he worked in that capacity in several different sections of the country, being employed at one time on
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History of Lewis County, Kentucky
the C. & O., between Augusta and Wellsburg. He came to Vanceburg from Georgetown, Ky., on February 23, 1894, and was working life in- surance at that time. He continued in the in- surance business for about a year after he came to Vanceburg, and then opened a photograph gallery in the Alden Building, on the corner of Third and Market Streets. He moved his gallery to his present quarters, two doors north, in 1903, and now has one of the nicest arranged and best-equipped studios in the State. Mr. Rowsey is a first-class artist in his line, and has taken several freak pictures that have gained the attention of the large city daily papers. There is no class of work in the way of photography which he is not prepared to do and do well. He enjoys a fine business and has hard work keeping up with his orders.
W. T. COOPER was born September 27, 1857, on Kinniconnick. His early life was spent on the farm and in teaming. In 1890 he went to Osgood, Ind., and engaged in the livery business. He remained there about five months and then returned to Vanceburg. He then went into the business of logging for J. K. Valley, and then hauling lumber and merchandise for Houghton & Sweet and lumber and logs for John Bidell, hauling one log for him from Salt Lick sixty
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History of Lewis County, Kentucky
feet long and thirty inches at top with ten mules. After that he went into the livery business in the old Front Street stable, which was destroyed by fire several years ago. He is director in the Lewis County Fair Association, and is ever ready to take part in an undertaking for the betterment of Vanceburg.
DR. J. M. WELLS is one of twelve children born to Wm. W. and Matilda Wells, in Nicholas County, Ky., near the town of Mt. Olivet. There were two boys by a former marriage, which, added to the other twelve, makes four- teen children in all-seven boys and seven girls. Of the boys three became physicians and two ministers of the gospel. Dr. Wells received his education in Nicholas County, Ky., and Cler- mont County, O. He graduated from the Eclectic Medical Institute, of Cincinnati, Feb- ruary 23, 1877, and was married March 8, 1877. He located at Milford, Bracken County, Ky., where he practiced his profession for two and one-half years. Upon solicitation he moved to Vanceburg on November 10, 1879, and is to-day one of our most prosperous and successful physicians. He has always been prominent in Church and social circles, and enjoys the confi- dence of a host of friends. He is an elder of the Church of Christ, and has been a Christian
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History of Lewis County, Kentucky
for many years. He is a member of the Ken- tucky Medical Association, the Cincinnati Ec- lectic Medical Society, the Alumni of the Ec- lectic Medical Institute, the National Eclectic Medical Association, and honorary member of
J. M. WELLS.
the Wisconsin State Eclectic Medical Associa- tion, and secretary of the Board of Pensions of Lewis County, and is coroner of Lewis County at present.
He has contributed numerous articles to the various medical journals which have given him a national reputation among Eclectic phy-
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History of Lewis County, Kentucky
sicians. It is said of Dr. Wells that "he is a man of strong convictions and stands firm for that he believes is right."
R. C. POLLITT was born at Rectorville, Mason County, Ky., May 10, 1869. He was raised on a farm until he reached the age of twenty, when he went into the music business in Maysville. After staying there six months he went to Ripley, O., and followed the same business for three years. He then ivent to Muncie, Ind., and remained the same length of time before coming to Vanceburg, in 1894. He has since made his headquarters here, and has sold a large number of pianos and organs in Lewis County and adjoining counties.
WIN PARKER BOWMAN, of Vanceburg, Ky., was born at Tollesboro, Lewis County, Ky., June 7, 1876. His father and mother, Dr. Wil- liam Bowman and Maggie J. Bowman, both came from Brown County, O.
Win Bowman was educated at the common schools of Tollesboro, and at fifteen years of age was employed in the United States Con- sular Service, at Tientsen, China. Returned to Kentucky in 1893. He taught in the public schools of Lewis County till 1901, when he went to New York and served as a nurse in Bellevue
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History of Lewis County, Kentucky
Hospital, but gave up the nursing business as too confining and returned to Lewis County, in 1902. Later he was employed by the Pru- dential Life Insurance Co., at Dayton, O. In June of 1904 he again located in Lewis County
WIN PARKER BOWMAN.
at Vanceburg, here he established an insurance office. He has put large energy into his work, and now enjoys the income of an extensive in- surance business.
Mr. Bowman is not only a successful busi- ness man, but a Church man as well, holding
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History of Lewis County, Kentucky
the position of local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church, doing earnest, honest service in the Church of his choice. His membership is in First Methodist Episcopal Church, Vance- burg, Ky.
ELLSWORTH REGENSTEIN .- Among the sons of Lewis County who in early manhood. have risen to distinction is Ellsworth Regenstein, formerly State Superintendent of Public In- struction. He was born at Mckenzie, near the Mason County line, December 4, 1874. He is the youngest of four brothers. His father, John H. Regenstein, was the only son of John H. Regenstein, Sr., who was of German blood, but was born in London, England, in 1785, and came to America with his parents in 1789. The family settled in Virginia, near Mt. Vernon, the home of Washington. At the age of twenty- one John H. Regenstein, Sr., moved to Ken- tucky, and settled at Limestone, now Mays- ville. A few years later he moved to Lewis County, purchased land and built the handsome old country home where John H. Regenstein, Jr., and his children were born, and which is still in the possession of the family. John H. Regen- stein, Jr., was married in 1860, to Miss Susanna Belle Moffett, a neighbor girl, who became the mother of the subject of this sketch. She
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History of Lewis County, Kentucky
was the daughter of a Virginia family of English blood, that crossed the Alleghenies in pioneer days and settled near Ripley, Brown County, O., but soon moved to Kentucky, the haven then for Virginia settlers. , Of the six children
ELLSWORTH REGENSTEIN.
born to this couple, Henry L., Omar M., and Maurice E. are prosperous Lewis County farm- ers; Anna B. is a teacher in the schools at Ft. Thomas, Ky., and Clara, another daughter, died in her sixth year.
When Ellsworth was fourteen years of age his father died, and while the farm yielded a
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History of Lewis County, Kentucky
comfortable living for the family, there was not sufficient income to give the children an education beyond the country school. But in his boyhood Ellsworth determined on a pro- fessional career, and by means of the training he received at the little country school and by home study, he prepared himself to pass a teacher's examination, and at eighteen years of age taught his first school at Pence's Station, near Concord. He taught three years in Lewis County, and was then elected principal of the school at Helena, in Mason County. Within three more years he had established such a reputation as a teacher in Mason that the board of education of Maysville elected him principal of the first district school of that city. He held this position for three years with such success that the board promoted him to the principalship of the high school. He held this position two years, and was then elected to the principalship of the Newport high school. After serving two years in this capacity, the Newport board promoted him to the superintendency, which position he held four years. While he was superintendent of the Newport schools, State Superintendent of Public Instruction J. G. Crabbe appointed him to the State Board of Examiners, which position he filled during Superintendent Crabbe's term of office. At the
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History of Lewis County, Kentucky
close of the second year of his term, Superin- tendent Crabbe resigned to accept the presi- dency of the Eastern Kentucky Normal School, and Governor Willson appointed Mr. Regen- stein to fill the office for the two years of the unexpired term.
By his own efforts Mr. Regenstein acquired the education which enabled him to fill the position which he has held. The money earned while teaching in the Lewis County schools was spent at the close of each five months' term in attending the County Normal School, at Vance- burg, and the State College, at Lexington. While teaching in Mason County and in Mays- ville he spent the summer months at the North- ern Indiana Normal, the Northern Ohio Uni- versity, and the University of Chicago. In
1903 the Northern Ohio University conferred on him the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and in 1905 this institution made him a Master of Arts. He passed a successful examination in 1899 for a State certificate, and in 1906 for a State diploma. At the annual Commencement, in June, 1911, the State University, at Lexington, conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Laws.
Although an eminently successful schoolman, Mr. Regenstein's great ambition from boyhood was to practice law. While a teacher in the country schools he purchased Blackstone and
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History of Lewis County, Kentucky
read both volumes through several times. While a teacher in Maysville he read law with L. W. Galbreath, a brilliant young attorney, who died in 1906. After locating in Newport he entered the McDonald Night Law School, took the complete course, and graduated with the de- gree of Bachelor of Laws. He was admitted to the bar in 1907. On retiring from the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction, he engaged in the practice of law at Newport, and is one of the leading attorneys at the Campbell County bar.
In 1904, before leaving Maysville, Mr. Regenstein was married to Miss Marian Worm- ald, an attractive daughter of one of Mason County's oldest and best known families. She is a great-granddaughter of Judge Lewis Collins, the Kentucky historian. The couple im- mediately took up their residence in Newport. They have two children, Elizabeth and Ells- worth, Jr.
Mr. Regenstein is a vestryman in St. Paul's Episcopal Church, of Newport, and is a prom- inent member of the leading business and social organizations of his city. In politics he is a Republican, but liberal in his political views. As State Superintendent he appointed a non- partisan board of examiners, and did much in many ways to remove the schools from politics.
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He is a skillful debater, and has a State-wide reputation as a public speaker. While his father was a man of strong character and of high standing in his community, Mr. Regen- stein attributes his success in life chiefly to the
JOHN S. MAVITY.
influence of his mother, a woman of high ideals, who gave careful attention to the rearing of her children.
MAVITY .- John S. Mavity, the subject of this sketch, was born in Bryantsburg, Ind., July 9, 1844. His father moved to Lewis County, Ky., when John Mavity was one year old. He settled on the hill between Petersville,
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History of Lewis County, Kentucky
on Kinniconnick Creek, and Mud Lick. His early training was received on the farm and in the public schools of that day. Later he became a teacher in the county, having fitted himself at State University, at Lexington, Ky. At the age of seventeen he joined the army, in the War of the Rebellion, enlisting November 8, 1861, in Company G, 24th Regiment Ken- tucky Volunteer Infantry, serving three years and eight months.
Mr. Mavity has been editor, teacher, and county servant in other capacities all the years since the war, and has ever proven himself a true citizen and business man, as he proved himself a soldier in the rebellion.
Mr. Mavity has been of invaluable service to us in the accumulation of facts for this work, due to his extensive knowledge of the county records and people .- [THE AUTHOR.]
McCANN .- John H. McCann was born Jan- uary 31, 1855. He is of a family of twelve chil- dren-six boys and six girls. His father, Ed- ward B. McCann, and his wife, Elizabeth Burriss McCann, bought a farm and settled on Nevill's Branch, a tributary to Quick's Run, in 1852. At this time Nevill's Branch was an al- most unbroken wilderness. So the subject of this sketch early learned the use of the maul and
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History of Lewis County, Kentucky
wedge, the ax and the hoe. In fact, girls and boys alike, in this family, worked in the fields and woods to win a home from the forest and keep the wolf from the door.
Mr. McCann, like many another of our older citizens, obtained his larger education from "Red Brush College." However, he had ad- vantage of the best school facilities his com- munity afforded; the regular three months' term of public school in the old log schoolhouse accommodated, with split saplin seats, and he walked two miles and a half to get this ad- vantage.
His parents were stanch Methodists, and trained their children in this faith.
John McCann was united in marriage to Miss Flora Marshall, daughter of Humphrey Marshall. To this union were born nine chil- dren, three of whom are now dead. On the sixth day of April, 1908, Mr. McCann buried his wife. He now lives on his farm, near Martin, Lewis County, Ky. His children are all single, and some of them live with him in the old home.
Mr. McCann has for thirty years been a close student of history, especially local history.
It was through Mr. McCann's solicitation that the author undertook this work, and many and generous have been the kindnesses of this man to us in this capacity .- [THE AUTHOR.]
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History of Lewis County, Kentucky
PLUMMER, LOUIS P., was born near Mt. Carmel, Fleming County, Ky., December 15, 1815, being the first born to his father's second marriage. William Plummer, the father of
LOUIS P. PLUMMER.
Louis Plummer, came from Pennsylvania early in the century and settled at Mt. Carmel.
In the year 1828 the Plummer family moved to Lewis County, near the town of Burtonville. It was in this neighborhood Louis Plummer
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History of Lewis County, Kentucky
courted and married Sarah Luman. To this union were born fourteen children, six girls and eight boys, of which number three girls and six boys survive, as follows: H. F. Plummer, San Jose, Cal .; W. A. Plummer, Portsmouth, O .; Almedia Rourk, L. P. Plummer, M. L. Plum- mer, L. K. Plummer, A. M. Plummer, Cordelia Plummer, and Jennie Adams, of Vanceburg.
In 1865 Louis Plummer moved with his family to Vanceburg, and in 1870 was elected jailer of the county, filling this position during his encumbency with credit to himself and the county.
The descendants of Louis Plummer are hon- orable citizens of the county and stand for progress and purity of government, and take such active part in political affairs as will insure the betterment of the community.
PUGH .- Samuel Johnson Pugh was born in Greenup County, Ky., January 28, 1850. His father, Samuel B. Pugh, and his mother, Mary A. Pugh, moved to Lewis County in 1852, and the son has been a resident of the county ever since. He was educated in the common schools, Chandler's School of Vanceburg, for over five years a pupil of Rand's Select School, and finally graduated at Center College, Danville, Kentucky.
He studied law for about three years with
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History of Lewis County, Kentucky
459
SAMUEL JOHNSON PUGH.
Judge George M. Thomas, and was admitted to practice in 1872, in which year, November 6, he was united in marriage with Mary R. Minta Thomas, only daughter of Judge Thomas. To this union were born three daughters and one son-Bessie H., now wife of Dr. F. A. Fitch,
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History of Lewis County, Kentucky
of Huntington, W. Va .; Nellie May, now wife of H. G. Hanford, of Washington, D. C .; Beulah L., now wife of Elder D. M. Walker, of Stanford, Ky .; and Bruce T. Pugh, now of Washington, D. C.
Judge S. J. Pugh served our State with credit to himself and his constituency in the State Senate of 1894-95. Judge Pugh has ever proven himself not only a stanch supporter of the political party he represents, but is alive with religious forces of his community under the direction of the Christian, or Disciples, Church. Mr. Pugh, among other offices tendered him in the gift of the people, now occupies the po- sition as city attorney of Vanceburg. Mr. Pugh is not only interested in pure politics, but is a gentleman in his own community, honored and respected by all.
FULTZ, CHARLES H., M. D., was born near Wesleyville, Ky., March 3, 1876, and lived on a farm until fourteen years of age. At this time his mother died and his father, John' Fultz, moved to Olive Hill, Ky. A few months later the subject of this sketch went to the country to work on the farm for an uncle, and never lived as a member of his father's family after- wards. However, after missing two full school years he managed to spend ten months in school,
CHARLES H. FULTZ.
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History of Lewis County, Kentucky
and at the close of this term secured a first-class teacher's certificate in Carter County, Ky. Two years later he came to Lewis County and was here granted a first-class teacher's certificate. He taught three schools in this county and studied medicine in the intervals at St. Louis, Mo., and Louisville, Ky., graduating in Louis- ville, June, 1901. He then located at Garrison, Ky. Shortly after which he was married to Anna Cooper, daughter of James and Julia Cooper, of Ruggles, Ky.
After having practiced his profession at Gar- rison for four years he attended one term in medical college, Cincinnati, and then located in Vanceburg, November, 1905. He remained here ten months, then took a course of eight months' training at the College of Physicians and Sur- geons at Baltimore, Md., graduating there June 3, 1907. He then returned to Vanceburg to resume his practice.
In the early fall of 1910 Dr. Fultz buried his wife. Mrs. Fultz was a true wife, and in- tensely interested in her husband's success.
Dr. Fultz occupies a place of distinction of being one of the most prominent physicians in his section of the State to-day. He is loved and honored by all who know him.
CHAPTER IX
WEALTH OF THE COUNTY-POPULATION: CENSUS OF 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890, 1900, 1910- AREA - OCCUPATIONS: AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, MINING, MANUFACTURING-SOIL- CLIMATE-SOCIETY-CHURCHES-SUNDAY SCHOOLS -SECRET SOCIETIES-WATER TRANSPORTATIONS- RAILROADS - POLITICAL PARTIES - NEWSPAPERS - PUBLIC DEBT-CAPITATION AND PROPERTY TAXES- DIVISION OF COUNTY FUND-MAGISTERIAL DIS- TRICTS AND VOTING PLACES-MAP.
WEALTH OF COUNTY FROM 1876 TO 1911 .- The wealth of the county, as assessed by its officers, embraces the lands, stones, animals, and all other taxable property.
RATES
State
County
1876
$.45
$.90
$2,439,473
1880
.45
.75
1,964,700
1885
$1.2712
1,871,494
1890
1.75
2,315,522
J. C. Willim, O. P. Pollitt.
1895
.
. . .
2,239,215
O. P. Pollitt, Ed. Willim.
1900
3,174,325
O. P. Pollitt. M. Bertram.
Thos. A. Mitchell, H. I. Mitchell. Thos. C. Wilson, R. D. Wilson. S. L. Hall, F. A. Mitchell.
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History of Lewis County, Kentucky
RATES
State
County
1905
.
·
. ..
T. M. Bowman, O. P. Pollitt.
1909
. 2,406,803
M. Bertram.
O. P. Pollitt.
1910 (3501 voters)
4,613,787 Geo. Lykins.
POPULATION .- The population of the county, as given by the census reports, are as follows: 1810, 2,357; 1820, 8,977; 1830, 5,229; 1840, 6,306; 1850, 7,292; 1860, 8,361; 1870, 9,115; 1880, 12,407; 1890, 14,803; 1900, 17,868; 1910, 16,887. There are about 200 colored people in the county.
AREA .- The county is about forty miles along the Ohio River front and about an average of twenty miles width, which would make it cover an area of four hundred square miles. But its shape is so irregular that without an actual survey it is hard to determine its exact area.
OCCUPATION .- Most all the people are en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, though of late years horticulture and market gardening have been receiving a share of attention. Mining has become one of the lost arts in Lewis County, though some little effort has been made of late years to locate zinc and lead mines that used to be worked, and if we are to believe the very creditable story of Mr. Battey, silver was, at
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History of Lewis County, Kentucky
one time, plentiful on Kinny Creek, and mined by French and Indians, and also by others.
There have been, in times past, some manu- factories in Lewis, but lately there is nothing except skiff oars, cooperage, railroad ties, flour, buttons, canned vegetables, and leather prod- ucts. At one time Vanceburg boasted ten cooper shops, a hub and spoke factory, a planing mill, a furniture factory, and several other things.
SOIL .- The soil of the county consists of almost every variety known to the United States. The western portion of the county is limestone, the valley of Quick's Run red rock or bastard limestone, and the remaining portion off the river is of sandstone formation. The river bottom lands are either sandy loam or limestone.
CLIMATE .- The climate is in general health- ful, though of recent years the winters have been quite variable, changing from heat to extreme cold very suddenly.
SOCIETY .- Lewis County, like every other place on earth, presents a stratum of society in which men and women of all stations in life may find their "kind;" but quite a large major- ity of her citizens are civilized and enlightened, are members of some religious body, and are endeavoring to educate their children.
CHURCHES .- The Methodist, Baptist, Chris-
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History of Lewis County, Kentucky
tian, Presbyterian, and perhaps several branches of these, are the Church organizations of the county.
SUNDAY SCHOOLS .- There were thirty-three Sunday schools reported last year. Vanceburg has four schools which have an enrollment of over three hundred and fifty pupils. The Chris- tian Sunday school and the Methodist Epis- copal Church, the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and the Presbyterian.
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