USA > Kentucky > Memorial record of western Kentucky, Volume II > Part 9
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railway company of Hot Springs, Arkansas. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson are justly numbered among the leading people of Paducah, and enjoy the confidence and esteem of the community.
PHILIP D. YEISER.
Philip D. Yeiser, deceased, was a native of Lancaster, Kentucky, where he was born in November, 1817, and was reared in Danville, where in early life he followed contracting and building, and also operated a foundry. He then prepared for the profession of law, and practiced first at Eddyville, Kentucky. In 1861 he located in Paducah, and practiced law until his death, which occurred in 1886. He was com- monwealth attorney one term and about a year prior to his death was elected city judge of Paducah, an office he held when he died. In poli- tics he was a Republican, while fraternally he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In religious belief he lived and died a Presbyterian.
Judge Yeiser was several times married, his first wife, Ellen Deer- ham, a native of Boyle county, Kentucky, and she became the mother of David .A. Yeiser, now mayor of Paducah.
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HON. DAVID A. YEISER.
Hon. David A. Yeiser was born in Danville, Kentucky, October 13. 18.45, and in 1862 went into the drug business at Paducah, in which he continued for thirty-six years. In 19ot he sold his store. He was four times elected a member of the city council, and as a candidate of the Democratic party was elected mayor of Paducah. He is a Royal Arch
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Mason, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. In religious views he is a Presbyterian.
His first wife was Miss Arrabella Cole, to whom he was united in 1871, and by whom he had one child, Joseph. She died soon after the latter's birth. In 1876 Mr. Yeiser married Mary Coleman, by whom he has four children, namely : Anna, Florence, Mary and David. Mr. Yeiser is a director in the Commercial Club, and is a very enterprising and progressive business man and important political factor in Paducah.
MRS. REUBEN LOEB.
Mrs. Reuben Loeb, widow of the late Reuben Loeb, who for many years was identified with the best interests of Paducah, Kentucky, and who died in March, 1902, is a lady who enjoys the deepest respect of her neighbors and friends in Paducah, and is now living in that city, sur- rounded by many of the comforts of life supplied by her husband's foresight and love.
Reuben Loeb was born in Germany, December 12, 1829, and came to America when only seventeen years of age. The first eight years of his life in America were spent in different parts of the country, and in 1854 he located in Paducah, where he embarked in a wholesale liquor business, and at the time of his death was a member of the firm of Loeb, Bloom & Company, and his interests in that concern are now held by his widow and children. At one time Mr. Loeb was also en- gaged in a dry-goods business in that city, and interested in the Western District Tobacco warehouse, one of Paducah's substantial institutions. lle also owned much valuable realty in different portions of the city, and was one of the most important factors in the financial life of Pa-
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ducah. His estate was so large that his family are left in very com- fortable circumstances.
Mr. Loeb was married in 1877, in Galveston, Texas, and these children were born: Sidney H., who travels for Loeb, Bloom & Com- pany ; Jessie B., who is the bookkeeper for the same firm; Florence M., who is at home; and three now deceased. Socially Mr. Loch was a member of the Masonic fraternity of Paducah, in which he was very prominent, and he bore his part in all public improvements and all move- ments calculated to prove of benefit to the community at large. Mr. Loeb was a man who made and retained friends, and at the time of his death was sincerely mourned by many outside his own family, who knew and appreciated his many excellent qualities of mind and heart.
SAMUEL C. MOLLOY.
Samuel C. Molloy, who is now serving for the second term as county attorney of Lyon county and makes his home in Kuttawa, is accounted one of the most enterprising young men and successful law- yers of this part of Kentucky. His laudable ambition, strong determi- nation and unfaltering diligence are marked characteristics of his profes- sional career, and have already gained him. high standing among his professional brethren.
A native of Caldwell county, Kentucky, Samuel C. Molloy first opened his eyes to the light of day on his father's farm, August 3, 1860, his parents being William P. and Mary (Cash) Molloy, both of whom were also natives of Caldwell county. The father was a physician, mak- ing the practice of medicine his life work. In the public schools Samuel C. Molloy acquired his literary education, and then, determining to
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make the practice of law his life work, studied under the direction of T. T. Watkins, being admitted to the bar in Eddyville in 1892. Ilis ad -. vancement has been continuous since that time, and he now occupies a position among the leading lawyers of the city and county. Ilis de- votion to his clients' interests, combined with his knowledge of the law and his careful preparation of cases, soon won him a large clientage and made him a power in the courtroom, while the ablest lawyers of the bar found in him an opponent and adversary worthy of their steel. He has engaged in many forensic combats, in which he has usually come off conqueror.
When Mr. Molloy had been in active practice for three years he received the Democratic nomination for the position of county attorney, to which office he was elected in 1897. His course in this position has been most commendable and has won him favorable criticism from all law-abiding citizens. During his first term he instituted and prosecuted successfully more suits for the reclamation of taxes than had been be- fore instituted in a quarter of a century. The fiscal business of the county was the feature of his administration. He reclaimed for the taxpayers many times the amount of his official salary. On his in- duction into office Mr. Molloy found that it required from four to five days in the circuit court to try the minor criminal cases. This business was immediately transferred to the inferior courts, where it properly belongs, resulting in a saving to the county of from two hun- dred and fifty to three hundred dollars annually. He was one of the five county attorneys of the state to institute proceedings against the various railroad companies for the payment of franchise taxes. This suit was successfully prosecuted, and the counties through which the lines of road pass were awarded a judgment amounting to several hun-
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dred thousand dollars. Such substantial services on the part of Mr. Molloy have attracted the attention of the entire judicial district, and his re-election was the public testimonial of the confidence and trust reposed in him by the voters of the county. In connection with his legal interests Mr. Molloy is the vice-president of the Citizens' Bank of Kuttawa, but his attention is given chiefly to the duties of his office and of his private practice. He is now attorney for the Hillman Land & Iron Company, for the Ayer & Lord Tie Company, of Chicago, and other corporations.
In 1883 occurred the marriage of Samuel C. Molloy and Miss Annie Coleman, of Smithland, Kentucky, and they occupy a pleasant and attractive home on Oak avenue in Kuttawa. They now have three bright and interesting children, two sons and a daughter, Coleman, . Mary and Samuel. Their friends in this part of the state are many, and the hospitality of the best homes is extended to them. Mr. Molloy has always been a stanch Democrat, and is recognized as one of the leaders of his party in western Kentucky. Wide awake, alert and enterprising, he well deserves classification with the representative citizens of Lyon county.
JOHN P. PROWSE. -
John P. Prowse, county clerk of Christian county, Kentucky, is a native of this state and dates his birth in Muhlenberg county, Ken- tucky, December 29, 1844. America has been the home of the Prowses for a number of generations. Their original nationality is not known. It is supposed, however, that the progenitor of the family in this country came here from England. Thomas and Colonel George O. Prowse, the grandfather and the father of John P., were born in North Carolina and
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passed their lives as farmers. When George O. was two years old the family came to Kentucky, where he was reared. He was an old-line Whig and then a Republican, and when the Civil war broke out he showed his colors as a Union man. He was a colonel in the state militia and was a recruiting officer. He died February 24, 1862. His wife was Miss Mary J. Wells. She was a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of Francis Wells, who came from North Carolina to Ken- tucky at an carly day and settled in Muhlenberg county, where he en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. The Wells family traced its origin to England. Colonel George O. and Mary J. Prowse became the pa- rents of fifteen children, thirteen of whom reached adult age, and of that number only three are now living, namely: Mark L., ex-sheriff of Muhlenberg county, Kentucky; I. S., a farmer of Muhlenberg county ; and John P.
John P. Prowse was the twelfth in order of birth in this family. Ile was reared on the home farm, receiving a common school educa- tion, and remained with his mother until his twenty-fourth year, having charge of the farming operations after his father's death. Then he left the home place, married and settled on another farm. He con- tinued farming in Muhlenberg county until 1873, when he sold his farm, came to Christian county and turned his attention to merchandising. He opened a country store, which was known as Johnson's Postoffice, and dealt in general merchandise and tobacco, making a specialty of the latter. He continued in business at this point until 1885, when, in order to give his children better educational advantages, he moved to Hop- kinsville. Hle served one year as deputy collector, under John Feland, and in 1890 he was elected county clerk, in which official capacity he is still serving, having been re-elected four times.
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Mr. Prowse was married January 13, 1870, to Miss T. J. Atkin- son, who was born in Henderson county, Kentucky, but reared in Christian county, daughter of S. C. and Theodosia ( Baily ) Atkinson, who came to Kentucky from North Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Prowse had four children, two of whom are living. The eldest son, Frank O., died at Columbus, Georgia, June 11, 1899, while a soklier in the Span- ish-American war. Their next son, Charlie, is a prominent attorney of Hopkinsville. Nonia A. died February 24, 1901. John P., Jr., is deputy clerk in his father's office.
Mrs. Prowse died September 20, 1903, at Battle Creek, Michigan. In both religion and politics Mr. Prowse has followed in the footsteps of his worthy father, being a Republican and a member of the Uni- versalist church.
JOHN W. LITTLE.
John W. Little, a wide-awake and successful young business man of Paducah, Kentucky, was born in Weakley county, Tennessee, No- vember 2, 1867, a son of Thomas 1. and Sarah Lee ( Roberts) Little, both of whom were natives of Tennessee. The father was at one time a dry-goods merchant at Dukedom, Tennessee, and while yet a young man was elected county engineer of Weakley county, Tennessee, and held that position for eight years. He was also elected county clerk of the court for three terms of four years each. The first time he was a candidate for the latter office he was defeated by one vote, there being six thousand votes cast. The second time he defeated his former opponent by one vote, the same number cast. Thomas I. Little is now a prominent banker at Dresden, Tennessee.
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John W. Little obtained his early education in the Dresden schools, and at the age of sixteen entered a store as a clerk, but it was when he was twenty that his business career really began. At that age he em- barked in a spoke manufacturing business at Dresden, Tennessee. From the establishment of the business in 1888, until 1895, he pursued this line very successfully, but at the latter date he disposed of his interests to his brother and located at Paducah, and, buying sixty acres of land in the southeastern part of the city, established a spoke factory in that place. This property is well fitted for his purpose, being located at the junction of the N. C. and Illinois Central, and was cut off from the city proper by a ravine. Through his untiring efforts Mr. Little secured a street across the chasm from the city, the municipality furnishing half the requisite money and Mr. Little and two other private individuals the remainder. When the Illinois Central Railroad built a station upon the land its value was greatly enhanced, and Mr. Little, who is a man to grasp every opportunity, platted the surrounding property, which is known as Littlesville. From time to time he added to his plant, and now has the largest concern of its kind south of the Ohio river, and perhaps the largest in the entire country. In addition to other interests, Mr. Little owns thirty houses in Littlesville, in whose growth and prosperity he will always take a deep interest as its founder. This flour- ishing little community boasts a union depot, one of the largest brick kilns in Paducah and the largest stave plant in the country, known as the Hiram Plow Stave Company, the Little spoke factory, a large saw- mill, fifty houses, electric lights, water works, a street car line and other conveniences of a city, all of which have been located here through the untiring industry of Mr. Little. Ilis own factory has increased mar- velously from an initial capacity of five thousand daily to the present
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output of fifteen thousand, and employment is given to one hundred men, who live in Littlesville and are interested in securing its prosperity and advancing its interests. So orderly are all the people living there that although a special policeman has been assigned to the addition, he has never made an arrest.
In .1901 Mr. Little was married to Mabel Gertrude Rossiter, a native of Illinois, and a most accomplished lady. Both Mr. and Mrs. Little are members of the Broadway Methodist church, in which he is a steward. He is a member of the orders of Elks, Maccabees and the Hoo Hoo lodge. In politics he is a Democrat, and takes a great interest in local affairs. There are few men in this locality who have ac- complished so much in so short a period, and perhaps the secret of Mr. Little's wonderful success lies in the fact that he builds for the future, looking ahead to ultimate results, and keeps the welfare of others in mind instead of simply promoting his own interests. Paducah is to be congratulated upon its possession of a man of such a broad gauge, untir- ing energy, great capacity for effecting results, and liberal spirit, and much of its material prosperity to-day is the direct consequence of Mr. Little's public-spirited endeavors.
ISAAC N. TRIMBLE.
Isaac Newton Trimble is widely known in business circles and honored and respected by all, and there is no man who occupies a more enviable position as a representative of financial interests of Wick- liffe than does the subject of this review, who is now the president of the First National Bank of Wickliffe. His success in all his under- takings has been so marked that his methods are of interest to the
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business world. He has based his business principles and actions upon strict adherence to the rules which govern industry, economy and un- swerving integrity. His enterprise and progressive spirit have made him a typical American in every sense of the word, and he well deserves mention in the history of western Kentucky. What he is to-day he has made himself, for he began in the world with nothing save his own energy and willing hands to aid him. By constant exertion, associated with good judgment, he has raised himself to the prominent position which he now holds, having the friendship of many and the respect of all who know him.
Mr. Trimble was born on a farm in Livingston county, Kentucky, February 14, 1862, and is a son of James A. and Eliza (Davis) Trim- ble. The father was born in Livingston county and spent his entire life there with the exception of a brief period of four years passed in California, at the time of the gold excitement on the Pacific coast. He has always carried on farming, and is now following that pursuit at the age of sixty-two years. He represents one of the pioneer families of Livingston county, the grandfather of our subject having there located at an early day. James A. Trimble was united in marriage to Eliza Davis, a native of Ballard county, Kentucky, and a daughter of Joseph Davis, who settled in that county when it was a frontier region. Mrs. Trimble died in 1875, when about thirty-eight years of age. She had become the mother of eight children, but only three are now living.
Isaac N. Trimble is the only representative of the family in Ballard county. He was reared in Livingston county until he reached the age of seventeen years, and during that time acquired a fair common school education. Upon leaving the home lie went to Blandville, then the county seat of Ballard county. His uncle, W. H. Davis, was then
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serving as sheriff of that county, and Mr. Trimble became deputy sheriff, in which capacity he served for seven years, under his uncle and his successors. There was a brief interval, however, during his service, for in 1882 he went to Paducah, where he engaged as a clerk in a mercantile house, carrying dry-goods, boots and shoes, and owned by George T. Irvin & Company. He occupied that position for eight months and then returned to Ballard county, where he again became deputy sheriff. Later Mr. Trimble engaged in farming for three years near Hazelwood, Kentucky, and in 1895 came to Wickliffe, where he has since been a prominent representative of financial interests. His name figures conspicuously in the history of banking business of this place. On locating here he was made president of the Bank of Wickliffe and later became the president of the Bank of Western Kentucky .. On the organization of the First National Bank he was chosen as the chief officer of the institution, and under his guidance this enter- prise has become one of the strong financial concerns of the county. For a short time Mr. Trimble also conducted a private bank in Wickliffe, but discontinued this on the organization of the Bank of Western Ken- tucky.
In 1887 Mr. Trimble was united in marriage to Miss Joanna Davis, of Ballard county, and they have three children. Exerting his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Democracy, Mr. Trimble has always been found as an unfaltering supporter of the party. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and has been deeply interested in whatever pertains to the growth of the county along material, social and intellectual and moral lines. In business affairs he is energetic, prompt and notably reliable, and while he has
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gained prosperity it has not been alone the goal for which he has striven, for he belongs to that class of representative American citizens who promote the general welfare while advancing individual interests.
JOHN A. WASHAM.
John A. Washam, a prosperous farmer near Mayfield, Graves county, Kentucky, is a representative citizen of the county and state. He is a native Kentuckian, and has lived in the state all his life. Be- ginning his career with an abundance of nothing but strength of body and purpose to succeed, he has progressed with the years, and can now claim a fair and creditable amount of success in his special line of endeavor. He has lived consistently with his ideas of right, and has given his best efforts to the accomplishment of his ideals and the duties which came to his lot. Family, home, his farm, citizenship and religious, educational and social affairs have each received their due share of attention and effort, and the result is a well rounded individual and a man esteemed wherever known.
Mr. Washam's grandfather, Peter Washam, was born in the state of Virginia, whence he removed to Marshall county, Kentucky, where his son Isaac was born, and where the latter has made his home all his life, being a substantial and well known farmer of that vicinity. For sixteen years he was a magistrate in the eighth district of Marshall county, and was also deputy clerk of the county. During the Civil war he espoused the side of the Union, and in 1862 enlisted in the Fifteenth Kentucky Cavalry and served during the remainder of the war. He was once taken prisoner, and was confined in Fort Hyman. He has been a Republican in politics, and he and his wife
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are members of the Methodist church. He married Mary P. Ray, who was also born in Marshall county, and was a daughter of Hix J. Ray, a native of North Carolina and of English descent. She is de- ceased, but her husband still enjoys fair health at the age.of sixty-five years. They had a family of twelve children: Willis A .; William O .; Luella M., wife of John Mathewsis; John A .; James B .; Thomas K .; Benjamin C .; Fayett H .; Mary F., deceased, wife of D. Reed; Annie E., wife of Nelson Owens; and twins that died in infancy.
John A. Washam was born in Marshall county, Kentucky, August 3. 1862, and after his early training and schooling he started out to make farming his life work. He has been steadily engaged in this line of enterprise all his life, and from nothing, through his good man- agement, hard work and thrift, has become the owner of a fine farm of eighty-six acres on the Wadeborough road, two and a half miles from Mayfield.
Mr. Washam is a Republican in politics, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist church. October 21, 1885, he married Miss Susan Smith, who was born in Marshall county, Kentucky, and is a daughter of James K. P. and Elizabeth (Lyles) Smith, who were both born in Marshall county, and are still living, in Graves county, the former aged fifty-eight years and the latter fifty-nine. Martin Lyles was the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Washam, and Rachael Wyatt Lyles, her paternal grandmother, was born in North Carolina, and at the age of six years moved to Marshall county, and is still living at the age of seventy-three, making her home with her son. Mrs. Washam is one of thirteen children, as follows : John W., Susan C., Thomas W., Nancy A., Mary E., Tina E., Ellwood A. (deceased), Henry E., Nina 11. (deceased), Hardin L. and Mont E. (twins), Kirk (deceased),
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and Early L. Mr. and Mrs. Washam have had the following children : Weslie C. (deceased), Carrie M., Clemie A., James C., Omer E. and Ransom B.
GEORGE ADAM FINCH.
George Adam Finch, deceased, was born in Fulton county, Ken- tucky, February 2, 1854, and died at his home in Hickman county, Ken- tucky, May 3, 1887. He was a farmer by occupation, and everything promised a successful career for him, when he met death as a result of a horse's kick, being only past thirty-three years of age.
In 1874 he married Miss Elizabeth Jane Conley, a daughter of Owen and Martha ( Plummer) Conley, who were natives of Tennessee, coming to Fulton county, Kentucky, when Mrs. Finch was a child. The father died here a few years later, and the mother passed away in . death about 1872. These parents had but three children, two daughters and one son. The son, Hilary Plummer Conley, was a farmer of Hick- man county, but died very early in life, when twenty-two years of age. One daughter, Anna, died when only thirteen, so Mrs. Finch is the only survivor of the three children. She was born in Pontotoc county, Mis- sissippi, July 31, 1849. She was principally reared in Fulton county, Kentucky, and was married in 1874. Her husband was a son of John and Sallie Nicie (Cook) Finch. To her marriage four children were born, who, together with herself, reside on a well-improved farm in Hickman county about three miles north of Fulton. Her children are John Anderson Finch, a farmer and a respected man, and the daughters are Lurena Ellen, Martha Amanda and Pearl. Mrs. Finch is a mem- ber of the Christian church, and enjoys the confidence and respect of her children and a wide circle of acquaintances.
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HON. THOMAS J. ELMORE.
Hon. Thomas J. Elmore was born in Holmes county, Mississippi, May 22, 1836, and was reared in his native county and educated in Madison College, of that state. He embarked very early in the voca- tion of school teaching, and continued it until the late Civil war be- tween the north and south broke out, when, in the freshness of young manhood, he raised a company known as Company G. Fourth Missis- sippi Infantry, Baldwin's Brigade and Stewart's Corps, and continued in service till the Confederacy surrendered, engaging in all of the im- portant battles in the Mississippi and Tennessee departments. He was a prisoner of war three times, viz .: Fort Donelson, sieges of Blakely and Vicksburg; was offered promotion to a colonelcy for gallantry at the latter siege. He was an efficient officer, a faithful soldier, dis- charging every duty so as to win the respect of his men and the com- mendation of his superiors. When the war closed he returned to Mis- sissippi, where he was engaged in farming until 1869, when he moved to Mayfield, Kentucky, and has continued the agricultural pursuits in this state until the present time. For a period of seven years he was engaged in the grocery business under the firm of Watts & Elmore; subsequently in the dry-goods business under the firm name of Hale & Elmore. He has been successful in his principal lines of endeavor, and is a representative of the best class of Graves county citizens.
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