USA > Kentucky > Memorial record of western Kentucky, Volume II > Part 3
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born to the parents, namely : Thomas R. ; Mary M., deceased, married W. J. Jackson; Edna O., who married J. M. Henderson; Henry B., (leceased; Sarah N., who married N. B. Elliott; Virginia, deceased.
Thomas R. Stone was reared and educated in his native county. He has always followed farming, and now owns a fine farm of sixty acres in Hickman county, Kentucky. His start in life was a small one, but he and his wife economized and contrived and are now well pro- vided for. In politics, like his father, he is a Democrat, and is a Meth- odist.
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In 1888 he was married to Miss Eudora Phillips, who was born in Carroll county, Tennessee. Her parents moved to Fulton county, Kentucky, when she was quite small, and she gained her education in the public schools there. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stone, namely : Henry, deceased; Mary, Ruth, James E., John R., Clarence, Mattie B., Frances. Both Mr. and Mrs. Stone are noted for their many excellent qualities, and their devotion to each other and their children.
GEORGE W. REEVES.
The true measure of success is determined by what one has accom- plished, and, as taken in contradistinction to the old adage that a prophet is never without honor save in his own country, there is particular in- terest attaching to the career of the subject of this review, since he is a native son of the county where he has passed most of his active life, and so directed his ability and efforts as to gain recognition as one of the representative citizens of Ballard county. He is now successfully practicing law in Wickliffe, where he has resided since 1897, and previ- ously he was a legal practitioner at Blandville.
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Mr. Reeves was born in Ballard county, February 10, 1847, and is descended from an old Virginia family. His paternal grandfather, George Reeves, was born and reared in Virginia, and after his mar- riage brought his family to Kentucky, spending his remaining days in Warren county, this state His son, Colonel William H. Reeves, the father of George W. Reeves, was born in Virginia, and with his parents went to Warren county in his early boyhood. In 1828 he removed to the district of the state known as Jackson Purchase, now Ballard county, becoming one of the pioneer settlers of the locality. By occupation he was a farmer, and throughout the locality was known as Colonel Reeves, being an influential and prominent citizen, who largely aided in molding public thought and action. He married Nellie B. White, a daughter of Rev. Willis White, a prominent early preacher of Kentucky and the father of Hon. James Dempsey White, ex-judge of the appellate court of Kentucky. To the parents of our subject were born the following children : Mary E., who is the wife of Dr. Charles Hinkle, of Hinkle- ville, Kentucky; George Willis; Susan J., now the wife of Hon. W. J. Puckett, of Colorado; William T., of Pocatello, Idaho; Martha H., deceased, was the wife of Rev. W. W. Morris, of Paducah, Kentucky ; Fannie B., the wife of Thomas Miller, of Denver, Colorado; and Robert L., who is the president of the First National Bank of Paducah, Ken- tucky. The father died in 1889, at the age of seventy-five years, and the mother died in 1880, when fifty-eight years of age.
Upon the home farm George Willis Reeves remained until seven- teen years of age, and in the meantime acquired a good literary education in the common schools and in Woodside Seminary. He then took up the study of law and at the age of twenty years was admitted to the bar, and has been engaged in active practice continuously since. He
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resided and practiced in Blandville until 1879, and was then elected to represent the second senatorial district of Kentucky in the state senate, where he served for four years. He afterward filled the position of assistant clerk of the senate during one session. In 1884 he removed from Kentucky to Missoula, Montana, where he was twice elected judge of the probate court of the county, defeating a Republican candidate of marked popularity and prominence. In 1897 he returned to his native state, taking up his abode in Wickliffe, which in the meantime had be- come the county seat of Ballard county, and here he has since practiced with excellent success, his business constantly increasing in volume and importance. The favorable judgment which the world passed upon him in his early years has never been set aside or in any degree modi- fied. It has, on the contrary, been emphasized by his careful conduct of important litigation, his candor and fairness in the presentation of cases, his zeal and earnestness as an advocate, and the general commendation he has received from his contemporaries.
In 1870 Mr. Reeves wedded Miss Mary E., daughter of Judge Charles S. Marshall, of Paducah, Kentucky. She died in 1889, leaving three living children : Emily M., who is the wife of Arthur Mckeon, of Bonner, Montana; Alice, the wife of Henry A. Stuart, of Missoula, Montana; and Katie. In 1895 Mr. Reeves married Mrs. Alice F. Jen- kins, a daughter of Henry Lacy, of Lafayette, Kentucky.
The Judge is quite prominent in civil societies, being a popular and active representative of various organizations which have for their object mutual helpfulness and brotherly kindness as well as sociability. He has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite in Masonry, belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order
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of United Workmen and the Independent Order of Foresters, and is also connected with the Knights of the Maccabees. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian church.
CHRISTOPHER C. JACKSON.
Christopher C. Jackson, one of the prosperous farmers of Hickman county, Kentucky, was born in Hickman county, Kentucky, December 8, 1837, a son of William S. and Mary (Farmer) Jackson. The parents were born in South Carolina, and the paternal grandfather, Nathan Jackson, came of English ancestry. The maternal grandfather was Absolom Farmer, and he was born in South Carolina. William Jackson was a farmer, and from boyhood lived in Hickman county, having been one of the first settlers of this county. During his long life there he underwent all the sufferings and privations incident to the life of a pioneer. He died about 1867, aged sixty-five years, a stanch Democrat and a member of the Baptist church. The mother died in 1893, aged seventy-three years. Sixteen children were born to them, namely : Christopher C., John, Henry, Thomas J., Benjamin J., Eliza- beth and an infant, deceased; Owen, Willis, Thomas, Harriet and five infants, all deceased.
Christopher C. Jackson grew up in his native county, and had but few opportunities of securing an education. Still, by close application he has been enabled to raise himself in the world and to become one of the leading farmers of his locality. At present he owns and operates one hundred and three acres of land, having recently sold fifty acres, and his farm is pleasantly situated on the Clinton and Mayfield road, not far from Clinton. Here he has resided for fifty-two years, and naturally
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is very much attached to his home. He started out in life with one horse, and acquired his present property through industry and good management. Like his father he is both a Democrat and a Baptist.
He married Miss Rosana J. Bugg, who was born in Hick- man county, Kentucky, of an excellent family. Her death occurred August 1, 1896, when she was fifty-five years of age. The children of this marriage were as follows: William S., John H., deceased, James E., George B., deceased, Thomas W., Martha, now Mrs. W. H. Biasie, Mary L., now Mrs. Samuel Berry, Eugenia, now Mrs. Willard Parrott, Rosa B., now Mrs. William Greer.
GEORGE C. WALLACE.
There is no business man of Paducah better known or more closely identified with business and industrial affairs than is George C. Wallace, whose name forms the caption of this article.
Mr. Wallace was born in the city of Paducah, April 23, 1860, and is a son of Philip H. and Fannie ( Woolfolk) Wallace, his father born in Christian county, Kentucky, and his mother in Shelbyville, Ken- tucky. Philip II. Wallace was prepared for the profession of law at the law school of Louisville, Kentucky, and practiced law till the close of the war between the states; however, during four years of the fierce and dark conflict he served in the Confederate army. In 1861 he en- listed in Company H, Leigh's Kentucky Regiment. He was made captain on enlistment and held the rank of major at the close of his services. Subsequent to the war he was interested in farming several years, but many years in later life he spent in retirement. He was a stanch Democrat, and served one term as county clerk. He was a
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member of the Episcopal church, while his wife, who survives, has long been a member of the Christian church. He died in 1901, aged sixty- seven years. His widow makes her home with our subject, who is her only living child.
George C. Wallace grew to manhood in Paducah, and in private and public schools gained a fair literary education. His first business experience was with the Paducah Furniture Manufacturing Company, with which concern he was identified for a period of four years. For three years thereafter he was secretary and treasurer of the Paducah Milling Company. He next engaged in the manufacture of vinegar, but in 1897 he became manager of the Paducah City Railway Company, a position he has since held. Mr. Wallace has diversified interests, being connected with numerous enterprises of Paducah. Of many of these industrial and business concerns he has been a promoter and organizer. In this wise he has materially contributed to the upbuilding of his native city; in the welfare of which he takes active and just pride.
October 5, 1883, Mr. Wallace married Miss May Wisdom, daugh- ter of the late B. H. Wisdom, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Wallace's mother bore the maiden name of Belle Saf- farans, and she was a native of Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Wallace five children have been born, namely: Robert W., Frances, George C., Benjamin Hugh and Philip H. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wallace are con- sistent and active members of the Christian church, and are numbered among members of the better circles of society in Paducah. He is a Knight Templar Mason, also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and Ancient Order of United Workmen; and is one of Paducah's most popular citizens.
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B. HI. WISDOM.
In the Paducah Daily Register, dated October 29, 1896, appeared the following obituary of the subject of this sketch :
Mr. B. H. Wisdom died at 5:30 last night at his home on Jefferson street after a brief illness. He was on the streets last Saturday. On Sunday he complained of not feeling well, and on Monday he took to his bed. Dangerous symptoms did not develop, however, until yester- day morning, when he was seized with a severe rigor and became un- conscious, sinking rapidly until the end.
His death was due to a general breaking down of the system, inci- dent to old age, he being in his seventy-eighth year. He had been in bad health for a year or two, but rallied during the summer, and hence his death came at the present time as an unexpected shock to his" family and friends.
Mr. Wisdom was born January 19, 1819, near Bowling Green, in Caroline county, Virginia. His father moved to Kentucky about 1827, settling near Trenton, in Todd county. Before he was of age, Mr. Wisdom went to Trenton and became a clerk in a store, and showed such business sagacity that in a few years he was admitted to partner- ship with his employer, Stakely Wagner. The firm was eminently suc- cessful and soon ventured into the buying of tobacco for the English market. In this Mr. Wisdom, though still a very young man, displayed remarkable judgment, and thus began the foundation for his large for- tune. For many years past lie has been reputed the wealthiest man in Kentucky, and through all his career he was noted for his close attention to business, honesty, strict integrity and fair dealing.
Mr. Wisdom had a remarkable business career. After continued
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success in the tobacco trade at Trenton, he was called to the cashiership of the Bank of Tennessee, at Clarksville, in which position he continued until the breaking out of the Civil war. About that time he invested largely in tobacco, which he stored in New Orleans and sold afterward at an enormous profit. During the war he took up his residence in New York, where he was engaged in the brokerage business, being a member of the firm of Norton, Slaughter & Company. This was a profitable venture also, and when he left New York in 1866 he was worth over a quarter of a million dollars. He came to Paducah in that year and engaged in banking with Mr. William Norton, the firm being Norton, Wisdom & Company. For many years this was one of the noted finan- cial institutions of the state. In addition to the banking business, Mr. Wisdom engaged extensively in the purchase of tobacco, and, being a man of shrewd judgment and large resources, managed to make many . fortunate investments in Kentucky's staple product. He also made large investments in real estate, both here and elsewhere. In some of these, subsequent developments showed that he had foresight little less than marvelous. Until the city of Duluth, Minnesota, began to grow and be- came a city of vast importance, even his most intimate friends did not know that years before he had bought large bodies of land in that vicinity at a very small price. When the city sprang up almost as if by magic, Mr. Wisdom's property came into demand, and he sold much of it at figures that seem fabulous. A little later on a new town sprang up at the mouth of Brazos river, in Texas, where enterprising individ- uals had made a deep water harbor on the gulf coast without asking the aid of the government. Mr. Wisdom had years before bought much land there, which was thus thrown on the market and increased his 26
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fortune. He made many other real estate investments, and much of his wealth is now represented in lands.
He maintained sole management of his affairs until about a year ago, when his health broke down. Not many years ago he made thirty thousand dollars in one year in tobacco, purchasing over a thousand hogsheads and holding for an unprecedented advance.
Mr. Wisdom leaves three daughters, Mrs. George C. Wallace, Mrs. Rev. W. E. Cave and Miss Belle Wisdom, of this city. His wife died about fourteen years ago. His only son, Norton Wisdom, died about eight years ago, leaving one child, Henry, now aged twelve, and residing at Fourney, Texas. He also leaves two sisters, Mrs. George G. Mimms and Mrs. Agnes Ohhnan, both of Hampton, Tennessee.
Mr. Wisdom was not a church member, nor did he hold relations with any of the secret societies. He was a man who was upright in . his dealings with his fellow man. Though seeking few friendships, and of a retiring disposition, he was courteous to all. He will be greatly missed in Paducah.
JAMES THOMAS POTTER.
James Thomas Potter, one of the substantial and representative citizens of MeCracken county, Kentucky, a large landowner and a suc- cessful farmer, was born November 11, 1837, in McCracken county. He is a son of James and Mary Anna (Curby) Potter, the former of whom was born in Warren county and was a son of William Potter. William Potter was a native of North Carolina, who, in 1829, settled in MeCracken county, Kentucky, near Gum Springs, where he became a well known farmer. James Potter died in 1882. In politics he was a Whig in early life, but later became a Democrat. Both he and wife
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were consistent members of the Baptist church. She died in 1887. The children born to James Potter and wife were: William, of MeCracken county ; Nancy Mary, Lizzie Jane, Susan Emma, Virginia Anna and Pauline are all deceased; Samuel is a farmer of MeCracken county; John H. is a resident of Tennessee; Joseph D. resides in Paducah ; Laura is the wife of O. H. Oldham, a farmer of Ballard county, Ken- tucky ; and Monroe A. is a well known farmer of MeCracken county.
James Thomas Potter, who completes the family, was reared and educated in his native county. In 1861 he enlisted for service during the Civil war, and continued to serve until 1865. After its close he engaged in farming for five years in Warren county, and then returned to McCracken county, where he has become one of the largest farmers and most prominent citizens. Mr. Potter owns a fine estate of five Inin- dred acres. When he started out in life it was as a poor man, and he has accumulated a large property through his own efforts, being a self- made man in every sense of the term.
In 1861 Mr. Potter married Sarah Jane Keith, who was born in Tennessee. The children born to this union are: Lee D., who is the present very efficient sheriff of MeCracken county; Mary Duke, who is the wife of Edgar Sublette, a farmer in Hickman county, Kentucky ; and James J. and Lena T., who reside in MeCracken county. In poli- tics our subject is a Democrat. He is a member of the Baptist church at Olivet.
JAMES HAWKINS WRAY.
James Hawkins Wray was a representative resident and farmer of Hickman county, Kentucky. He was born in Wilson county, Ten- nessee, September 4, 180g, and was a son of Jonathan and Nancy
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( Rodgers) Wray, both born in West Virginia. His paternal grand- father, Thomas Wray, served in the Revolutionary war. His maternal grandfather, Stephen Rodgers, was born in Virginia.
The father of our subject was a farmer and made his home in Tennessee, and lived and died a Democrat. His death occurred when he was seventy years of age, and the mother's when she was eighty- three years. The following children were born to them, namely : Stephen, Archibald, Thomas, Jonathan, Simpson, Sallie, William, Pollie and Lucinda.
James H. Wray was reared and educated in Tennessee. After learning the trade of a brickmason, Mr. Wray began farming, and soon acquired an excellent farm. He was a Democrat in politics, and joined the Christian church early in life. His fraternal affiliations were with the Masonic order.
Mr. Wray was married to Mary Graham in Tennessee and she died a year after the marriage. Subsequently he removed to Calloway county, Kentucky, where he married Celia Horn Ward, who was born in Henry county, Tennessee, February 12, 1824. Eleven children were born to them, namely: Mary L., deceased; Nancy A., deceased; Fannie J., deceased : William W. ; John A .; Thomas H .; James M .; Mary E .; Keron Ella : Zada A .; and Virginia E.
In 1850 he settled in Hickman county, and here bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, a small portion of which was under cultivation, but by hard work upon it and at his trade he made a business success of life, and when he died, January 13, 1880, he left a good estate. His wife still survives, is in excellent health, and resides upon the old home- stead. In life he was a kind neighbor, a good citizen and excellent Christian man, highly respected by those who knew him.
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JOHN LLOYD DORSEY.
John Lloyd Dorsey was born December 17, 1853, in Henderson county, Kentucky. His father, John N. Dorsey, M. D., was a physician of superior merit, whose reputation enabled him to command an ex- tensive practice. He was born in Jefferson county, Kentucky, and was a representative of an honored pioneer family of this state that came from Maryland and located on the frontier. He wedded Miss Patsey R. Atkinson, who also belonged to an old family whose identification with the history of Kentucky covers a period from 1815 down to the present time. The ancestry were of Scotch-Irish origin, and the first of the name to cross the Atlantic to America became a resident of Vir- ginia in 1790. Since that time many members of the family have be- come distinguished at the bar and in the council chambers of the nation.
Mr. Dorsey acquired his education in Bethel College, of Russell- ville, Kentucky, and after pursuing a course of law study in the office of Malcolm Yeaman, of Henderson, he was admitted to the bar in December, 1876. He at once located in the city of Henderson, which is still his home, and immediately entered upon the practice of his chosen profession, and has demonstrated his legal lore and his ability to handle successfully the intricate problems of the law by many successes at the bar, where he has met in forensic combat many of the most gifted representatives of his calling in this section of the state. In 1879 he was elected to represent his district in the general assembly, where he served for two years,-the youngest member of the legislature at that time. He was made chairman of the committee on county and city courts and was a member of the committees on judiciary and codes of practice. A close student of the questions and issues of the day and
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of the policy of the different factions who advocated measures, he brought to bear upon all matters that came up for decision, calm deliberation and sound reasoning and his representation of Henderson and the adjoin- ing territory was at once satisfactory to his constituents and beneficial to the state. He filled the office of council advisor to the city of Hen- derson for seven years-from 1886 to 1893-and was a candidate for the position of circuit judge of the fifth judicial district in 1892. There were then no party nominations and Mr. Dorsey polled a very com- plimentary vote; for his opponent, Judge M. C. Given, then the in- cumbent of the office, received a majority of only twenty-one, and the total number of votes cast was nearly nine thousand. He has the re- spect of the entire bar, and its members have the fullest confidence in his ability.
Mr. Dorsey has been interested in many of the most important cases that have come up for trial in Henderson since he was licensed to practice. As city counselor he was connected with the tax questions involving the right of the city of Henderson to tax the great railroad bridge crossing the Ohio river within the limits of the city, the most important of these coming up for hearing under the name of the Hen- derson Bridge Company versus the City of Henderson and Atkin versus the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company. Mr. Dorsey was also engaged as counsel in the preliminary examination of what was known as the Delaney cases, involving a conspiracy to commit murder, these being the most celebrated cases in western Kentucky.
On the 10th of December, 1885, Mr. Dorsey was united in marriage to Miss Nannie Dixon, a daughter of Robert Dixon and Alice ( Young) Dixon. Mr. and Mrs. Dorsey have three children-Alice Young, John Lloyd and Nannie Dixon Dorsey.
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Mr. Dorsey is an active participant in political affairs and espouses the cause of the Democracy. He has been a frequent representative of his county in the state conventions and has done effective service in the interest of the principles of Democracy by his earnest, eloquent and logical addresses in campaigns. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and of the Masonic and Knights of Pythias fraternities. Mr. Dorsey is a man of strong will and indefatigable industry, quick at retort, fertile in resources in the trial of a case, and his extensive knowl- edge of the law and his ready application of it to the points in con- troversy have made him a successful practitioner.
JOHN BONE.
John Bone, one of the oldest citizens of Hickman county, Ken- tucky, was born in Tennessee, February 10, 1818, and is a son of John and Patsie (Overstreet ) Bone. The father was born in Tennessee and the mother in Virginia. Mr. Bone's paternal grandfather was John Bone, a veteran of the Revolution. The family came to Hickman county in 1826, where the father engaged in farming and lived the rest of his life. During the war of 1812 he was a soldier in the second con- Nict with Great Britain. In politics he was first a Whig and then a Democrat. All of his mauhood days he was a member of the Methodist church, and died as he lived, a Christian gentleman, at the age of sev- enty-five years. His wife survived him about twelve years, dying at the age of ninety years. They had seven children as follows: William, who died aged seventy-seven years; Charity, who died aged seventy years; Herbert, who did in infancy; John; Nancy, now aged seventy- seven years; Minerva, who died at the age of sixty-four years; Susan, who died at the age of forty-five years.
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John Bone was reared in Hickman county and received a very limited education. As he inherited seventeen acres of land, he began farming upon the land, increasing his farm from time to time until he low owns over two hundred acres, nearly all under cultivation. In politics he is a Democrat, and has been a member of the Methodist church for nearly sixty-five years. His marriage occurred in 1837 to Millie Trafford, and three children were born to them, namely : Wesley E., James R. W. and William L. Mrs. Bone died, and later Mr. Bone married Mary C. Guyn, born in Henry county, Tennessee, and died September 4, 1903, at the age of seventy-five years. She bore her hus- band seven children, named as follows: Josephine, Harry M., Nancy S., Edward C., Elizabeth F., Mary A. and Luther.
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