USA > Kentucky > Memorial record of western Kentucky, Volume I > Part 20
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25
James I. Moss, of Clinton, is one of the extensively and favorably known citizens of Hickman county. He was born in Green county, Kentucky, April 15, 1847. His parents were George B. and Elizabeth (Marshall) Moss, both natives of the same county and state.
James I. Moss was reared principally by his maternal grandfather, Beverly Marshall, and was given a fair education. In 1870, when a young man of twenty-three years, Mr. Moss became deputy circuit and county clerk, and for years thereafter was a public official of Hickman county. The last office held was that of county clerk, from which he retired. He was elected to this office in 1882, and held it two terms. For years he was a member of the firm of L. C. & J. L. Moss, dealers in farm machinery.
Mr. Moss was married in August, 1882, to Miss Love Beeler, daughter of the late Dr. George Beeler, of Clinton. Mrs. Moss re- cently passed away in death.
A. J. CONANT.
To Adoniram Judson Conant belongs the distinction of having the first house in Kuttawa, Kentucky, and of being the first business man of the town. Mr. Conant is. of New England birth and parentage, and has in his make-up many of the sterling characteristics which belonged to his worthy ancestry. He was born in New Ipswich, New Hamp- shire, April 30, 1831, son of Andrew Conant, a native of the same place. Andrew Conant was by occupation a farmer, in religion a Baptist and politically a Democrat; occupied a representative place
١
-
Af Conant
315
WESTERN KENTUCKY.
among the people of his locality, serving them in various local offices; moved to Massachusetts in 1840, and in that state passed the closing years of his life, dying there at the ripe old age of eighty-four. His father was a native of Massachusetts and was descended from English ancestry, who were among the early colonial settlers. Rodger Conant, a member of this family was the first governor of Massachusetts under King George III. The mother of A. J. Conant is supposed to have been of German origin. She was by maiden name Miss Emily Farns- worth, was born in New England ( Massachusetts or New Hampshire), and died at the age of eighty-four years. Andrew and Emily Conant were the parents of twelve children, seven sons and five daughters, and with one exception all reached adult age, and seven are still living.
Of this large family A. J. is the sixth in order of birth and the fifth son. He was about nine years old at the time the family moved from New Hampshire to Massachusetts, and he received his educa- tion in the common schools of those states, remaining a member of the home circle until he was twenty. At that age he started out in life for himself, as a farmer, working by the month, and was thus occupied one season. The next two years he worked in a sawmill. California at this time was offering many flattering inducements to the young men of the east to seek their fortunes on the Pacific coast, and among those who went in 1854 was A. J. Conant. He made the journey by way of Nicaragua to San Francisco, spent nearly seven years in California, engaged in mining, and returned to New York city via Panama. Returning to his old home in Massachusetts, he soon engaged in milling, at Leominster, where for four years he was in partnership with his brother. In the meantime civil war had been declared, and he entered the army and served one year, 1862-63, as
3
316
MEMORIAL RECORD OF
a member of Company C, Fifty-third Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. In 1864 Mr. Conant sold out and went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he entered the employ of the Roye Wheel Company, with which he remained about three years. He came to Kentucky in April, 1868, remaining in the northern part of the state until October and then coming to his present location at Kuttawa. Here he was in partner- ship with his brother, in a grist mill, six years, at the end of which time he purchased his brother's interest and continued the business alone until 1889, when he sold out and retired, after having rounded out a period of twenty-one years in the milling business. He has also had various interests aside from the milling business. His whole life here has been characterized by an effort to advance the welfare of the town, and he has been recognized as one of its leading men of affairs. Mr. Conant was made president of the Citizens' Bank at the time it was organized in 1894 and continued as such until 1903, when he was succeeded by W. B. Smith. At present he is a director and one of the largest stockholders in this bank. He was identified with the Kut- tawa Cooperage Company at the time of its organization, as one of its directors.
Mr. Conant has been twice married. In 1864 he married Miss Roxanna Cromwell, by whom he had four children, three dying in infancy. The surviving member of the family is Ada E., wife of Evert B. Richardson. Mrs. Conant died in 1876, and in 1877 Mr. Conant married Miss Katy Varnell. There are no children by this marriage.
Mr. Conant is a stanch Republican, has always taken an interest in local politics, and has been honored with official positions, such as member of the school board and town council. At this writing he is
1
317
WESTERN KENTUCKY.
treasurer of the board of trustees of Kuttawa. Religiously he is a Presbyterian, and is an elder and an active worker in the church. Fraternally he affiliates with the Masonic order, having membership in Suawanee Lodge, No. 190, A. F. & A. M., the chapter at Eddyville and the commandery at Paducah.
GEORGE W. FISHER.
The name of Fisher is closely associated with agricultural interests in Carlisle county, for through many years representatives of the family have been carrying on general farming and stock-raising interests here. George W. Fisher follows the calling which has been the work of most of the members of the family, and is now prospering in his undertak- ings, owning and operating one hundred acres of land. He is a native son of Carlisle county, his birth having occurred near Bardwell on the 16th of June, 1845. His father, John Fisher, was born in White county, Tennessee, and after arriving at years of maturity was there married to Miss Narcissa Hutson, also a native of that locality. On coming to Kentucky they settled upon a farm south of Bardwell in Carlisle county, and there the father carried on agricultural pursuits throughout his remaining days. He and his wife held membership in the Methodist church, and their lives were in consistent harmony with their Christian faith. They reared a large family of children as follows: William B .; Matthew H .; Jolin, who was a soldier of the Confederate army and was drowned at Columbus, Kentucky, while in the service; James, who served throughout the war in the Confederate army and died in 1899; Ann, deceased; George W .; Thomas, who has also passed away; Alfred C., a resident farmer of Carlisle county ;
£
318
MEMORIAL RECORD OF
Mary; Norbin, who is located in Arkansas; Fountain P. and Read, who are agriculturists of Carlisle county.
George Washington Fisher has always made his home in this county, where his parents located only a short time prior to his birth. Under the parental roof he was reared, and, although his school privi- leges were somewhat limited, he has gained a practical education through experience, observation and reading. He remained with his father until twenty-six years of age, and was then married and started out in life on his own account. It was on the ist of April, 1871, that he was joined in wedlock to Miss Jennie Raburn, a daughter of William Raburn, of Owen county, Kentucky. It was in Owen county that Mrs. Fisher was reared, and there she became a successful teacher, following that profession for nine years. At the end of that time, on account of failing health, she came to Carlisle county, hoping that she might be benefited by the change, and here she met and married Mr. Fisher. To them have been born five children: John, who follows farming in Carlisle county ; Walter, who is connected with the same pursuit; Essie, who is the wife of William Hutson, a farmer of Carlisle county; Robert, who assists his father in the operation of the home farm; and Arie, also under the parental roof.
At the time of his marriage Mr. Fisher purchased fifty acres of land, which was uncleared. Hewing the logs, he built a log house and set to work to further improve and develop the property. Here he has since carried on agricultural pursuits, and now rich fields of grain are seen where once stood the dense forest trees. He has also added to his property until within the borders of his farm is comprised a tract of one hundred acres. Everything about the place now indicates the owner to be one of the substantial and successful citizens of the com-
WESTERN KENTUCKY. 319
munity. They began life, however, in very limited financial circum- stances, and that he has prospered is due to his own labor and carefully directed energies. Mr. Fisher and his wife are identified with the Methodist church through membership relations, and take an active interest in its work. They have many friends, who esteem them highly because of their many excellent traits of character. Mr. Fisher was reared amid the pioneer scenes and has witnessed much of the improve- ment and development of this part of the state. He has seen its forests cleared away, giving place to splendid farms, has seen thriving towns and villages grow up and all the evidences of an advanced civilization introduced, until now Carlisle county takes rank with the leading coun- ties of this great commonwealth.
HON. N. P. MOSS.
Conspicuous among the lawyers of western Kentucky is Hon. N. P. Moss, of Clinton. He is a native of Tennessee, born in Wilson county, February 15, 1835. His parents were John and Susan (Mur- ray) Moss, both natives of Halifax county, Virginia. The father was born in the year 1798 and died in 1867; and the mother was born in the year 1802 and died in 1873. They were married in 1822, and in 1843 removed to Hickman county, Kentucky. The father was a farmer by occupation.
On the farm N. P. Moss was reared. After attending Clinton Seminary, he entered Bethel College, Tennessee, and there completed a liberal literary education. Predilection led him to the study of law. Colonel E. Crossland was his preceptor in the law. In 1858 he was admitted to the bar, and going to Texas was there engaged in the prac-
8
1
320
MEMORIAL RECORD OF
tice of law till 1861, when he enlisted in Company C, Fifth Texas Infan- try, Confederate army. He served till the battle of Gettysburg, when he was taken prisoner and confined at Fort Donelson till the close of the war. He then returned to Clinton, Kentucky, and resumed the practice of law. In 1871 he was married to Miss Ada M. Semple, of Clinton, now deceased. She bore him two daughters, Mary and Nellie, and one son, Harry.
Mr. Moss has always been a Democrat in politics, and besides hold- ing other minor offices has held the position of circuit judge one term. As a lawyer and jurist he has long held high rank. As a citizen he has ever been public-spirited and in sympathy with all measures tending to advance the public good.
THOMAS DAWSON BUGG, M. D.
Thomas Dawson Bugg, M. D., a successful physician of Bardwell, Kentucky, was born in Hickman county, the same state, on a farm, February 23, 1870. He is a son of William Eli and Ida Andora (Hill) Bugg; the former was born in Hickman county, Kentucky, where he now resides, being about sixty-seven years of age; he has been very successful as a farmer. His father was known as Uncle Isaac Bugg, born in Virginia, and one of the early settlers of Hickman county. The mother of our subject was born in Graves county, Kentucky. Three children were born to the parents of Dr. Bugg.
Dr. Bugg was reared upon the parental farm and educated first in the public schools and then at Marion College, Clinton, Kentucky. Hle then went to Douglasville College, in Georgia, and finally took up a scientific course in the Agricultural College at Lexington, Kentucky.
321
WESTERN KENTUCKY.
In the meanwhile, during some six years, he taught school very suc- cessfully, and entered the medical department of the Nashville Uni- versity, from which he was graduated with his degree. Immediately thereafter he located at Gibson, Tennessee, and for two years practiced his profession, then removed to Bardwell, Kentucky, where he has since remained. Dr. Bugg is a member of the West Tennessee Medical So- ciety, the Kentucky State Medical Association, the Carlisle County Medi- cal Society and the Southwestern Kentucky Medical Society. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Odd Fellows, in politics is a Democrat, while religiously he is connected with the Methodist church.
In 1893 he married Mattie B. Graham, daughter of J. R. Graham, of Clinton, Kentucky, in which city she was born. Three children have come of this union, namely : Leland, Graham and Hilliard. Dr. Bugg has many friends throughout the county, where he is regarded as a lead- ing representative of his profession.
E. P. CAMPBELL.
Edward Peter Campbell was born in Caldwell county, Kentucky, on the 21st of October, 1832, and died in Hopkinsville, June 30, 1896. His parents, Samuel and Lucy ( Wilcox) Campbell were of Scotch-Irish parentage. The father removed to Christian county, Kentucky, when about seventeen years old-a young man without friends, influence or wealth to aid him on the journey of life, but the possibilities which lie before every individual he utilized and steadily worked his way up to a position of affluence.
Mr. Campbell, whose name begins this sketch, acquired a liberal
322
MEMORIAL RECORD OF
education in the schools of Christian county and of Cumberland College, and in 1855 began the study of law with Judge George B. Cook, of Princeton. After his admission to the bar he began practice in Prince- ton, and in 1865 removed to Hopkinsville, where he soon won dis- tinction as one of the most able practitioners in that section of the state. He was remarkably successful, his mind being peculiarly adapted to the handling of the intricate questions of jurisprudence, which require the most careful analysis, the closest reasoning and clearest presentation. In 1860 Mr. Campbell was elected commonwealth's attorney for the twenty-fifth judicial district and served eight years. In 1871 he was elected to the state senate, but resigned the following year in order to give his undivided attention to his profession. He was a man of honor and integrity and a public spirited citizen. It was said of him that he was one of the oldest and best known and most accomplished members of the bar, a lawyer of great ability and high attainments, ever faithful to the interest of his clients. The bar of his county passed resolutions of respect at the time of his death and the entire community mourned his loss. He was elected president of the Bank of Hopkinsville and de- voted his time to the banking business for several years prior to his death.
In 1858 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Campbell and Miss Caroline E. Taylor, daughter of Dr. William Dabney Taylor, a man of high culture. He graduated at a medical college at Philadelphia and in Cincinnati, and attained a high degree of success as a practitioner in Jefferson county, Kentucky, where he followed his profession until his death at the comparatively early age of forty-five. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are Edward, of the American Central Insurance Com- pany, of St. Louis; Walter, who is engaged in the insurance business ;
---
١
WESTERN KENTUCKY. 323
Charles, who is attending school in Louisville; Hugh, a reporter for the Independent of Hopkinsville; and Flavius, in Hopkinsville.
Mr. Campbell was a stanch advocate of the principles of the Re- publican party but was not an active participant in the strife for office, which . he never sought and frequently declined. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity and for years was an active member of the Baptist church. He gave his hearty co-operation to all enterprises calculated to prove of public benefit, and was ever thoughtful of the interests of others, while to young men just starting out in the legal profession he was especially helpful.
JAMES W. HENRY.
James W. Henry, superintendent of schools for Hickman county, Kentucky, was born on a farm in this county, June 19, 1871, son of Joseph G. and Mary E. (Handley) Henry. His paternal grandparents were Alexander and Sarah D. (Oliver) Henry, the former a native of North Carolina, born in 1796; the latter of Virginia. It was in Graves county, Kentucky, that Alexander Henry and wife were married, cach having emigrated in early life from their native states to Kentucky. Some time after their marriage they moved to Hickman county, this state, where they passed the rest of their lives and died, his age at death being eighty-one years, hers ninety-three years. He was a soldier in the Mexican war, and by reason of his service in that war his aged widow drew a pension up to the time of her death, in 1895.
Joseph G. Henry was born in Graves county, and passed his life as a farmer in Kentucky. He died in Hickman county, in 1901, at the age of sixty-seven years. Politically, he was a Democrat, and, religiously,
19
£
324
MEMORIAL RECORD OF
was a member of the Methodist church, of which his wife also is a con- sistent member. She is still living in Hickman county. Like her worthy husband, she is a native of Kentucky. She was born at Elkton, Todd county, and when young was left an orphan. Following are the names of her children: Sidney J., a farmer of Graves county; Rosa, wife of John H. Humphreys, of Hickman county, Kentucky; William D., a practicing physician of Crutchfield, Kentucky; James W .; Ada, wife of D. B. Horn, of Hickman county ; and Augusta E., wife of Frank Pierson, of Graves county.
James W. Henry grew up as a farmer boy, attending the country schools. By the time he was eighteen he had acquired sufficient knowl- edge to enable him to teach a public school, and by teaching he worked his way to a higher education. He was for some time a student in Marvin College, at Clinton, Kentucky, after which he entered Douglas- ville (Georgia) College, where he graduated in 1893. When not in college Mr. Henry was engaged in teaching up to the time of his election to the office of county superintendent of schools, in November, 1897. His re-election to this office in 1901, by a large majority, is evidence of his popularity and his fitness for the position. Mr. Henry is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is a Democrat and a Knight of Pythias.
THAD. M. COLLINS.
Thad. M. Collins, county attorney of Carlisle county, Kentucky, and a prominent resident of Bardwell, was born on a farm one mile from Arlington, Kentucky, October 10, 1866. He is a son of Jesse Lewis and Louise (McDaniel) Collins, born in Hickman county, Kentucky.
WESTERN KENTUCKY. 325
The father was born in 1826, and died in Carlisle, Kentucky, in 1893. He was a son of William Collins, who in turn was born in South Caro- lina and was a pioneer settler of Hickman county, where he lived and died. He was a farmer by occupation and a worthy good man. The mother was born about 1828, and died in Carlisle county about 1872. She bore her husband the following children: Georgia, who married W. F. Cheery, a farmer and lives near Arlington ; Joseph H., a Methodist preacher, an evangelist ; Jesse Lewis, a farmer of Arkansas; and Thad. M. The father was a successful man and a Democrat in politics. He and his wife were Methodists and reared their children in that faith.
Thad. M. Collins was reared in his native county and educated at Marvin College, Clinton, Kentucky, and for three years taught school. In 1884 he went to California and remained until 1887, teaching school for two years of that time, after which he returned to Kentucky and entered college, where he spent two years. He then taught for a year, and was the Democratic candidate for county superintendent in 1890, and was elected by a handsome majority. For the following four years he served in that office, and in the meanwhile was studying law, and was admitted to the bar in 1895, since which time he has practiced in Bardwell, with several interruptions. From 1896 to 1898 he published and edited the Bardwell Star, which he sold and then resumed his practice. In 1901 he was elected county attorney, and still ably fills that important office. Fraternally he is a Master Mason.
In 1893 he was married to Miss Belle Shelbourne, daughter of Robert L. Shelbourne, of Blandville, and they have four children living and one deceased. 11
1
١
326
MEMORIAL RECORD OF
JUDGE SAMUEL J. MOORE.
One of the most prominent and influential residents of Ballard county is Judge Samuel Jenkins Moore, who is now serving for the second term as county judge. His business interests, too, are varied and extensive, and he is now following agricultural pursuits, is deal- ing in lumber and has valuable realty holdings. It is always a pleasure to see true merit suitably rewarded and to behold the prosperity of those who eminently deserve it, as does the subject of this review. At an early age he learned one of the great lessons of life, that there is no royal road to wealth, and therefore he toiled industriously until he has gained not only a snug little fortune but also the esteem and confidence of the people with whom he has been associated for many years.
Judge Moore was born in Ballard county, September 22, 1859, and is a son of John D. and Lucy (Semple) Moore. The father was born upon a farm near Hopkinsville, Christian county, Kentucky, and died in Ballard county in 1878, during the early boyhood of the judge. The grandparents were Captain Jackson and Amelia ( Elliott) Moore. Captain Moore was a native of Virginia and was married there, after which he came to Kentucky, becoming one of the early settlers of Chris- tian county. About 1844 he came to Ballard county, where he spent his remaining days. He was a farmer by occupation, following that pursuit throughout his entire career. The mother of our subject was born in Brandenberg, Meade county, Kentucky, and was a daughter of Isaac Semple, one of the early settlers of Ballard county, while her mother belonged to the prominent old family of Brandenbergs. Mr. and Mrs. John D. Moore became the parents of four children, who are yet living, namely : Samuel J .; Carrie E., who is the wife of Luther
-
1
WESTERN KENTUCKY. 327
Morris, of Clinton county ; Robert S., a farmer and lumberman of Car- lisle county, Kentucky; and Minnie, who is the wife of Robert M. Ray, of Florida. In order to provide for his family Mr. Moore engaged in the tilling of the soil and was a prosperous farmer of Ballard county. Both he and his wife held membership in the Baptist church. His death occurred in 1878, while she passed away in 1879. Their lives were up- right and honorable, and they won the high regard which is ever ac- corded to sterling worth.
Judge Moore obtained a common school education in his youth. When he was about twenty years of age his parents died, and he started out in life for himself. In connection with his brother he engaged in the erection of a grist mill and saw mill at Blandville and at other places in Ballard and Carlisle counties. He also carried on merchandis- ing in Wickliffe for about three years. At the end of that time his store was destroyed by fire.' In 1890 he was elected county clerk, which position he filled for two terms, one of three years and one of four years' duration, and in 1897 he was chosen for the office of county judge, wherein he served so acceptably that he was re-elected in 1901, and is the incumbent at the present time. In politics he is an active Democrat, having always given his support to the party, whose prin- ciples he endorses, while he labors earnestly for their adoption. A man of resourceful business ability, of keen discrimination and marked enterprise, he has carried forward to successful completion whatever he has undertaken. His efforts have not been confined alone to the business interests before mentioned, for at the present time he is carry- ing on farming, and is also dealing in lumber and in real estate.
In 1897 Judge Moore was united in marriage to Miss Maude A. Nichols, a daughter of James W. Nichols, of Ballard county, Kentucky.
-
١
328
MEMORIAL RECORD OF
. They have one child, Minnie. Judge and Mrs. Moore belong to the Baptist church, and he holds membership relations with the Masonic fraternity. In every relation in life in which he has been found he has always been true to the trust reposed in him, and in public office he has made an enviable reputation, for over the record of his official career there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil.
THOMAS M. DICKEY.
The reputation which Thomas Mirax Dickey has won in business and financial circles ranks him as one of the leading men of Wickliffe, where he is now cashier of the First National Bank. He was born in Barren county, Kentucky, on the 2d of June, 1831, and is a son of .
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.