USA > Kentucky > Memorial record of western Kentucky, Volume I > Part 24
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In July, 1880, he married Miss Laura Hatchel, born in Graves county, Kentucky, November 21, 1864. Six children have been born to them, namely: Thomas V., who died in infancy; Minnie AL., born November 2, 1883; William Herbert, born May 10, 1886; Mary M., born April 3, 1889; Hla A., born March 22, 1892; Nannie L., born August 13, 1894. The mother died in 1895, and in 1896 Mr. Moore
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married Joan Porter, who was born in Hickman county, February 3, 1870. Two children have been born to them, namely: Lizzie E., born May 17, 1899, and Richmond P., born March 14, 1902. Mr. Moore is one of the leading men of his county, and enjoys the confidence of a wide circle of friends.
ANDREW J. DRISKILL, M. D.
Andrew J. Driskill, M. D., a leading physician of Marion, Ken- tucky, was born on a farm in Livingston county, Kentucky, July 4, 1861, and is a son of Andrew J. and Mattie (Jones) Driskill. The father was born in Todd county, Kentucky, in 1820, while the mother was born in Livingston county. He died in Livingston county, in 1899, while his wife died in 1871, aged forty-eight years. By occupation the father was a farmer, a Republican in politics and a member of the Bap-' tist church. Fourteen children were born to himself and wife.
. Dr. Driskill was reared on his native farm, and educated in the common public schools. Later he taught school, and then, as he couldl, studied medicine, entering Miami Medical College at Cincinnati, where he spent some years. Hle spent a year at Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia. After his graduation he practiced for two years, and then entered Vanderbilt University at Nashville, from which he was gradu- ated in 1889. Until 1898 following this he was at Smithland, and then settled at Grand Rivers, and in February, 1901, he located in Marion. He is a member of Crittenden County Medical Society, Southwestern Kentucky Medical Association, the American Medical Association, the International Railway Surgeons' Association, and is local surgeon for the Illinois Central. Fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias, and is very popular in the order,
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In 1895 Dr. Driskill was married to Sallie Mantz, of Smithland, Kentucky, and four children have been born to them. Mr. and Mrs. Driskill are members of the Baptist Missionary church, and are num- bered among the leading people of Marion.
N. L. ROGERS, M. D.
In a record of those who have been prominently identified with professional interests in Ballard county it is imperative that definite consideration be accorded to Dr. N. L. Rogers, for not only is he prominent among the medical fraternity, but is also a native son of Kentucky, with whose interests he has been identified throughout his entire life, concerned with a calling that has important bearing upon a community, and so ordering his life as to gain and retain the confidence and respect of his fellow men.
Dr. Rogers was born in Trigg county, Kentucky, August 1, 1863. His father, Richard S. Rogers, was born in the same county in 1818, and the grandfather, David Rogers, was a native of North Carolina, and was of Huguenot and Scotch-Irish lineage. In the state of his nativity he married a Miss Summer, and they removed to Trigg county, Ken- tucky, becoming pioneer settlers of that locality about 1817. Since that time representatives of the name have been active in matters of citizenship pertaining to the general good of the Blue Grass state. Reared under the parental roof, Richard S. Rogers grew to manhood in Kentucky, and was here married to Miss Mary J. Carr, whose birth occurred in Missouri in 1819. She was a daughter of John Carr, who was born in Virginia, and came thence to Kentucky, living near Lex- ington for some years. He was a frontiersman of this state, and from
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Kentucky went to Missouri, settling about one hundred miles north- west of St. Louis. It was during his residence in that state that Mrs. Rogers was born. After three years spent in Missouri, however, he returned to Kentucky, taking up his abode in Trigg county, where he died in 1870, at the very advanced age of ninety-six years. The year 1881 witnessed the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Richard S. Rogers, in Wickliffe, and the former died here in 1893, while the latter still makes her home in Wickliffe, having reached an advanced age. This worthy couple were the parents of eleven children, of whom the Doctor is the youngest. Two of the sons were soldiers in the Federal army during the Civil war.
Dr. Rogers was but eighteen years of age when his parents re- moved to Ballard county. His father was a farmer by occupation, and he was reared to farm life, early becoming familiar with the duties of the field and meadow. He pursued his education in Farmington and in Milburn, receiving academic privileges and thus gaining a broad liter- ary education to serve as a foundation upon which to rear the super- structure of his professional learning. At the age of twenty-three years he entered the Hospital Medical College, at Louisville, and was gradu- ated on the 17th of June, 1890, at which time he located in Wickliffe, where he has since continued in active practice. Almost from the be- ginning he enjoyed a lucrative business, which has constantly increased both in volume and importance. He is a member of the Ballard County Medical Society and of the Kentucky State Medical Association, the International Association of Railway Surgeons and the Southern Rail- way Surgeons' Association. He is a local surgeon for both the Illinois Central and the Mississippi & Ohio railroad companies, and is health officer for Ballard county.
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In 1892 occurred the marriage of Dr. Rogers and Miss Cattie Thomas, who was born in Henry county, Kentucky. They now have two interesting little sons, Noyl Boone and Robert Thomas. The parents hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and the doctor is a Master Mason. But while he gives due consideration to social interests and affairs of a public nature, his time and attention are chiefly devoted to his profession, of which he is a most able repre- sentative.
READ FISHER.
A valuable farm of one hundred and fifty acres of fine land, all in one body, is the property of Read Fisher, and upon this tract he makes his home, devoting his energies to general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising. He was born February 10, 1861, upon his father's farm about a mile east of Bardwell, and is a son of John and Narcissa (Hutson) Fisher, who were natives of White county, Tennessee, and thence came to Kentucky. Establishing their home in Carlisle county, they reared their family here, becoming well known and highly re- spected citizens of this community. Extended mention of them is made in connection with the sketch of Mfred C. Fisher, on another page of this work.
At the usual age Read Fisher entered the public schools, therein pursuing his studies until he had mastered the common branches of English learning. He has always followed farming, and he remained with his father until the latter's death, and after that took charge of the home farm and cared for his mother, managing her interests until her demise. He was the youngest member of the family, and to his parents he rendered filial devotion and service. In 1887, one year before his
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mother's death, he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Dale, of Hazelwood, Ballard county, Kentucky, a daughter of Feeland Arnold Dale, one of the well known and honored pioneer settlers of Ballard county. To Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have been born four children : Nan- nie Jane, Mattie Cordie, Katie Lee and Dale. Mr. Fisher gives his support to the Democracy, and in religious faith he and his wife are Methodists, belonging to the Methodist Episcopal church, South. They have a pleasant home on their fine farm, which is pleasantly located not far from Bardwell.
Mr. Fisher is a man of strong purpose, indefatigable energy and unabating diligence, and to these qualities may be attributed his suc- cess, for he started out in life empty-handed. He has worked earnestly as the years have passed, and owing to his capable management has become the owner of an attractive farm of one hundred and fifty acres. This is now very valuable land, owing to the improvements which he lias placed upon it. He is not only engaged in the cultivation of the crops best adapted to soil and climate, but also devotes considerable attention to the raising of sheep, horses, cattle and hogs. In all his farming methods he is progressive, and neatness and thrift characterize his place. He is also known as an enterprising citizen, and one well worthy of representation in the history of his native county.
RICHARD T. PETREE.
Richard T. Petree, of Hopkinsville, was born in Todd county, Kentucky, in 1824. His father, Hazel Petree, a farmer by occupa- tion, was born in South Carolina and came to Christian (now Todd) county, Kentucky, in. 1810. He was accompanied by the grandfather
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of Richard T., who was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and served with the South Carolina troops during the war of the Revolution. The mother, Sarah Mobley Petree, was also born in South Carolina, and their mar- riage was celebrated in that state prior to their emigration to Ken- tucky.
Mr. Petree, whose name introduces this review, was educated in an academy at Elkton, Todd county, and read law under the preceptorship of Captain F. M. Bristow, who afterward served as a member of the constitutional convention of 1849, as a member of the state senate and of congress. He was also the father of Benjamin HI. Bristow, who be- came secretary of the treasury during President Grant's second admin- istration. Mr. Petree is a brother of Hon. HI. G. Petrec, of Elk- ton, Kentucky. He was admitted to the bar in 1848, and the following year removed to Hopkinsville, since which time he has been a leading and influential member of the bar of that section. In 1851 he was elected to the office of county attorney and served for eight years. In 1862 he was elected circuit judge for a term of six years, presiding over the sixth judicial district, comprising Christian, Todd, Muhlenberg, Caldwell, Trigg and Lyon counties. His practice has been general and includes connection with almost every important litigation in both the criminal and civil courts of his district. He was for a short time in partnership with bis preceptor, F. M. Bristow, and in 1857 entered into partnership with Benjamin HI. Bristow, the connection continuing until 1861, when Mr. Bristow entered the federal service as lieutenant- colonel. In 1884 he admitted into partnership his son-in-law, James W. Downer, and the firm of Petree & Downer has an acknowledged lead- ership in the legal profession in this section of Kentucky.
In Hopkinsville, in 1854, was celebrated the marriage of Judge
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Petrec and Miss Mary W. Hubbard, who died in 1882. Three chil- dren of the family are yet living : Thomas N., Luther H. and Mrs. Jolm P. Burnett ; Mollie P., wife of James W. Downer, is now deceased.
During the period of the Civil war Judge Petree was a Unionist, and since that time has voted with the Democracy, but takes no active part in politics. For more than a third of a century he has been a mem- ber of the Baptist church, and is well known for his benevolent and philanthropic spirit. His unswerving fidelity to the interests of his clients, combined with a true appreciation of the dignity of his profes- sion, gives him a power and force in the court room which it is diffi- cult to combat. He is a man of unimpeachable integrity, and among Kentucky lawyers none are more universally esteemed.
JOSEPH A. H. MILLER, M. D.
A prominent member of the medical profession in Caldwell county, Kentucky, is Joseph A. H. Miller, who has been located at Princeton for twenty years. A brief review of Dr. Miller's life gives the following facts :
Joseph A. 11. Miller was born in Trigg county, Kentucky, Decem- ber 15. 1859, and has in his veins a mixture of Scotch-Irish and German blood. However, his ancestors, both paternal and maternal, have been in this country for many years. Joseph Miller, his grandfather, was of Scotch-Irish parentage and was born in one of the Carolinas, whence, when a young man, he went with his parents to Tennessee. In Stewart county, Tennessee, in 1833, his son, Isaac W. Miller, was born. The latter graduated from the Ohio Medical College, and for nearly twenty years was engaged in the practice of medicine in Trigg county, Ken-
Post A. Miller. M.D.
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tucky, where he died in the prime of life, at about the age of forty years. He was twice married, first to Arthelia K. Ledford, a native of Trigg county, her father, Andrew Ledford, having been one of the pioneers of that county. The Ledfords were of German origin. . By this first marriage there was a daughter and son; the latter being the subject of this sketch; the former died in 1883. By his second wife, who was Mary Davis, Dr. I. W. Miller had five children, namely, Hugh, Lelia, Hattie, Troy and Isaac W.
Joseph A. H. Miller at birth lost his mother. Until he was four years old he was cared for by his paternal grandmother, and then, his father having married, he was taken home. When he was fourteen his father's death made another change in homes for him, and he went to live with his maternal grandfather. At sixteen he was thrown upon his own resources. Two years later he took up the study of medicine, at Cadiz, Kentucky, under the tutorship of Dr. J. W. Crenshaw, with whom he remained two years, attending lectures during the winter months, first at the Miami Medical College, Cincinnati, and then at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, St. Louis. Subsequently, in 1889, he pursued a course of study in the University at Louisville, where he graduated. Ile began the practice of his profession under license issued to him by the board of the first judicial district of Kentucky, that being before he was twenty-one. Dr. Miller located in Princeton in 1884, and the good will and confidence of the people which he gained in the early years of his residence here have followed him to the present time. Ile is a constant student, has always taken a pride in keeping himself posted in the advancement made along his professional lines, and is identified with a number of medical organizations, including the American Medical Association, the Kentucky State Medical Asso-
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ciation, the Southwestern Kentucky Medical Society, Caldwell County Medical Society and the Mississippi Valley Medical Association. He has been local surgeon of the Illinois Central Railroad for sixteen years, and health officer for fifteen years. Other fraternal organizations with which he is associated are the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
Dr. Miller has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Alva F. Coleman, of Trigg county, the daughter of A. E. Coleman; by her he has four sons, Fulton C., Hugh MeN., Harry Mc. and Carl P. The eldest son is in railroad business, the second is a druggist and the others are in college. Mrs. Miller died in 1897, and Dr. Miller after- ward married Miss Theodosia McCormick, of Charlestown, Indiana, daughter of Joshua McCormick, deceased. Politically Dr. Miller affil- . iates with the Republican party, to which he first gave his support in 1896; previous to that time he was a Democrat.
JAMES WALLER DOWNER.
James Waller Downer, of Hopkinsville, was born in Todd county, Kentucky, on the 20th day of November, 1853. His grandfather, Benjamin Downer, came from Virginia to Kentucky, in 1811, and lo- cated in that county. His father, who was also named Benjamin Downer, followed farming in Todd county for many years, and was an influential and highly respected citizen of the community in which he lived. Ile married Emily L. Pendleton, whose people also came from Virginia, and located in Christian county, Kentucky, in the year 1812. Her brother, James M. Pendleton, D. D., a minister of thic
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Baptist denomination, became a prominent divine and was the author of a number of works on theological subjects.
Mr. Downer, whose name forms the caption of this article, spent his early boyhood days on the home farm, and attended, at intervals, the neighboring schools. His educational opportunities and privileges were somewhat limited; broad reading, study and observation, how- ever, combined with a retentive memory, have highly enriched his mind, and he is to-day one of the best informed men at the Hopkinsville bar. In 1874, when twenty years of age, he accepted the position of deputy in the office of the clerk of the circuit court of Todd county, and acted in that capacity for three and a half years. In September, 1878, he entered the law department of the Cumberland University, of Leba- non, Tennessee, thus realizing a long cherished wish of preparing him -. self for the legal profession. In June, 1879, he graduated at that insti- tution, was admitted to the bar, and opened an office in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. With the brilliancy of the Kentucky bar of earlier times to inspire them, it is no wonder that so many of her bright young men turn to the law; nor that, with such high ideals before them, they attain to positions of eminence in their chosen vocation.
Love of study, and a desire to carry his investigations into many fields of learning, have also been important factors in Mr. Downer's success. He is not only a close student of the science of jurisprudence, but he is also a man of scholastic tastes and habits; and it is true that no profession or business to which man gives his attention demands a broader range of general information than the law, which involves not only questions of morality and justice, but all the interests and labors to which human effort has been directed.
In July, 1881, Mr. Downer was appointed city attorney of Hop-
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kinsville; was elected to the same office the following December, and was re-elected in December, 1882. In January, 1884, he entered into partnership with Judge R. F. Petree for the practice of law, which connection has continued until the present time. His practice is exten- sive and general in its character. He is now attorney for several corporations, including the Planters' Bank, the City Bank and the First National Bank. all of Hopkinsville, and of the last named he is a director.
In August, 1891, Mr. Downer was elected to the state senate from the sixth district, composed of the counties of Christian and Hopkins; and served through the "long parliament" of 1892-3, the session of the general assembly following the adoption of the constitu- tion of 1890, when the revision and enactment of the statutes were the matters under consideration. He served on the senate judiciary com- mittee, of which Hon. William Lindsay (now United States senator) was chairman; and his knowledge of the law made him a valuable member. As a member of this committee, many of the most impor- tant chapters of the present statutes were referred to him for examin- ation and report. He also served on the committee on the capitol and public buildings. He took a prominent part in the formation of the laws, and introduced and advocated a bill providing that employes of railroad companies who had sustained personal injuries in the discharge of duty should have greater rights in the state of Kentucky than they now possess. This measure was known as the "fellow servant" bill, and, after a long struggle, failed to pass.
In January, 1896, Mr. Downer was appointed one of the commis- sioners of the Western Kentucky Asylum for the Insane, by Governor W. O. Bradley, for a term of six years.
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In October, 1883, Mr. Downer was united in marriage to Mol- lie D. Petree, the accomplished daughter of Judge R. T. Petree, his law partner. She died in December, 1894, leaving one daughter, Louise Hubbard Downer, now twelve years of age. Mr. Downer is a leading member of the Baptist church of Hopkinsville, and for fifteen years has served as its treasurer. He is a man of fine personal qualities, and his straightforward deportment merits and receives the highest esteem.
GENERAL HYLAN B. LYON.
It is most fitting that upon the pages of any work devoted to Ken- tucky biography mention of General Hylan B. Lyon, of Eddyville, should be made. General Lyon is a native of Kentucky, his birth hav- ing occurred in Lyon county on the 22d day of February, 1836. His paternal grandfather, Mathew Lyon, was a native of Ireland, and a man of an interesting career. About 1758, when between eight and nine years of age, he ran away from home and took passage on a sail- ing vessel bound for America. The vessel reaching its destination, its captain sold the youth to a Vermont farmer for a yoke of oxen to pay passage money, which young Lyon soon refunded to the farmer by working at the printer's trade. Later he was twice sent to Congress from Vermont. In 1799 he went to Eddyville, Kentucky. Two years later he returned to Vermont, and brought therefrom a colony to Ken- tucky. With him he brought a printing press, and at Eddyville estab- lished a paper. Later he engaged in building government gunboats and other boats, became interested largely in river navigation, and also operated a nail factory. He soon rose in public consideration, and
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was elected first to the state and then to the national assemblies. From Kentucky he served as a delegate in Congress from 1803 to ISHI. He was then, appointed Indian agent for the Cherokee Indians in Arkansas, and was made the first delegate to Congress from Arkansas, but died en route to Washington, and was buried at Eddyville. His wife was by maiden name Beulah Chittenden, and was a daughter of Governor Chittenden, of Vermont. She bore him seven children, one of whom was Chittenden Lyon, who was elected to Congress, and in whose honor Lyon county, Kentucky, was named.
Another of these seven children was Mathew Lyon, the father of our subject. He came to Kentucky in 1801; was captain of state militia; served in the state senate, and was prominent in business affairs. He died in 1839, and in 1844 occurred the death of his wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Martin She, too, was a native of" Vermont. She bore him eight children, of whom Hylan B. was the youngest, save one.
General Hylan B. Lyon was given splendid educational privi- leges. He attended the Masonic University of Kentucky, at La Grange, the Cumberland University, at Princeton, Kentucky, and at the age of sixteen became a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated in 1856, and was brevetted second lieuten- ant, Second Artillery, and placed on duty at Fort Myers. He served in the Seminole war, at the close of which he was promoted to full rank of second lieutenant of the Third Artillery, and ordered to Fort Huyma, California; a year later to Washington territory, where he again served against the Indians.
When the Civil war came on he was appointed first lieutenant of Company F, Third Kentucky Infantry, Confederate army. In 1862
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he became lieutenant colonel of the Eighth Kentucky Infantry, and later became its colonel.
His military career in the conflict between the states was most brilliant, and detailed mention of the same would be of interest, but limited space forbids such. The war closed, General Lyon returned to his home in Eddyville, and took up the thread of civil life, closing his military career. At that time he assumed charge of his land posses- sions, and since he has in the main been engaged in farming.
He has always taken active interest in public affairs and in poli- tics .. When the Kentucky branch penitentiary was built at Eddyville he was one of the commissioners in charge thereof. He has ever been a stanch Democrat, and in 1899 was elected a member of the lower branch of the general assembly of Kentucky, representing Lyon and Marshall counties. In 1900 he served as a member of the contest board to settle the gubernatorial election contest.
General Lyon has been married three times. In 1861 he married Miss Laura O'Hara, who died in 1865, leaving one son, Hylan F., now deceased. In 1869 the General married Miss Grace Machen. She died in 1873, leaving four children, namely : Grace, widow of Thomas Beeler, of Princeton, Kentucky; Frank, a lieutenant in the United States navy; Hugh, a mechanical engineer ; and Earnest, a bookkeeper, residing at Eddyville. In 1887 General Lyon married a third time, wedding Miss Ruth Wolfe. This marriage has been blessed by the birth of two children that gladden and brighten the home. They are May Belle and Lorraine.
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GEORGE BEELER, M. D.
The late Dr. George Beeler, of Clinton, for years was a well and favorably known physician and surgeon of western Kentucky. He was a native of the grand old state of Kentucky, and among its many sons who have shed luster upon her name. Dr. Beeler deserves more than a passing notice in any compendium of Kentucky biography. He was born in the county of Jefferson, on the 21st day of December, 1830, and died at Clinton, long his home, on the 30th of September, 1899.
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