The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 102

Author: Armstrong, J. M., & company, pub
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Cincinnati, J. M. Armstrong
Number of Pages: 946

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cKNIGHT, WILLIAM HENRY, Merchant, was born August 4, 1828, on a farm near Bed- ford, Lawrence County, Indiana. His father, Samuel Stuart McKnight, was engaged in the tanning and currying business, in Baltimore, until 1826, when, being reduced in circumstan- ces, as too often happens, by indorsing for business and other friends, he moved to Indiana, and, by farming, teaching school, and surveying, was enabled to support a large family. He died at New Albany, in 1851. His mother's maiden name was Miss Sallie Lowrey, and he was the youngest in a family of eight children. Re- maining at home until he was fourteen years old, he received an English education in the schools of the neighborhood. The two following years were spent at Bedford Seminary. In 1844, he commenced business as a clerk in a dry-goods house in New Albany, and, after continuing in that capacity for eight years, he opened a house of his own, in the same line, in partnership with H. B. Webber, and, in 1857, they added the carpet trade to their business; in 1863, he removed to Louis- ville, and, in connection with his partner, opened an ex- clusive carpet house, on Main Street. In October of that year, he purchased the interest of his partner, and has continued the business in his own name ever since. In 1866, the growth of his trade compelled him to seek more commodious quarters, and, after two or three re- movals, he was forced to have a house built, with all the modern improvements, adapted to his business, and has been exceptionally successful throughout, having main- tained a high standard of commercial integrity through all the financially depressed conditions of business dur- ing the last twenty-four years; and is now recognized not only as one of the largest and most successful men of his line, but also as one of the most substantial, far-seeing, and upright business men of Louisville. He is a man of fine social qualities; has an even and admirable tem- per, displaying him to advantage in mercantile connec- tions ; has a high sense of business and social honor, and occupies a fine position in the commercial world. Mr. McKnight was married, in 1869, to Miss Attia Porter, daughter of Judge William A. Porter, of Cory- don, Indiana.

ULLIGAN, DENNIS, Merchant, was born March 12, 1817, in Claurath, Parish of Culin- kill, County Longford, Ircland. His father, James Mulligan, was a farmer; his mother was Catharine Rielly, daughter of Sir Edward Rielly, who lived in the town-land of Crott, the two families having lived within three miles of each other for over three hundred years. Both parents died in the same month of the year 1821, leaving him an orphan of only four years. He found a home with a relative till

Eng & Pt' by Homer Lee & Co. N.Y.

Le R. Culbertson

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his seventeenth year, when he emigrated to America; went immediately to Jamaica, Long Island, where he obtained employment from the Mayor of the city; in the Fall of 1835, engaged with Moses W. Scott, Chief En- gineer of the Long Island Railroad; and, in 1836, the survey of that road being completed, went with a corps of engineers, under Moses Scott, to Charleston, South Carolina, to survey railroad lines then in contemplation to Cincinnati; in 1837, they arrived at Lexington, where the maps and charts were prepared, in which he assisted; soon after, severed his connection with this company, and, during two Winters following, attended night school at the Phoenix Hotel, where he acquired a good practi- cal business education. He soon formed a partnership with J. Rielly, in the clothing business, in Lexington, in which he continued two years; then went into the grocery business, which he has carried on to the present time with great success. His diligence and attention to business soon gained him the good-will and confidence of his fellow-citizens, and, in 1866, he was elected to the City Council, being still a member of that body. He is an upright, honorable man in all his dealings; is promi- nent in every movement for the improvement of the city; not hasty in his decisions, but firm when he has taken a stand; kind and benevolent in disposition; and is an earnest member of the Catholic Church. Dennis Mulligan is a man of mark in Lexington, being greatly valued for his strong, vigorous traits of mind and char- acter and sterling integrity, his fine business ability, his public spirit, his broad, open-handed charity, his great perseverance in overcoming the difficulties of his own life, and his vigorous and manly aid in any public or social need. In his business habits, he is cautious and exact, upright and frank; is a man of fine taste, and ad- mirable moral and social principles; and is one of the really valuable and useful citizens of Lexington. He was married, in 1843, to Miss Ellen A. McCoy, daughter of N. McCoy, of Lexington. His only son, James H. Mulligan, received a liberal education; spent some time in France; studied law, on his return, with Huston & Downey, of Lexington, and has since resided in that city. He was elected Judge of the Recorder's Court for three successive terms, of three years each, and is a young man of great promise. He married Miss Nancy Jackson, daughter of Samuel Jackson, of Fayette County.

ONES, CHRISTOPHER L., M. D., was born in 1800, in Mercer County, Kentucky. His father, David Jones, a native of North Caro- lina, was one of the early settlers of Mercer County. Dr. Joncs received a common En- glish education, but, by industrious effort in after life, became a fine scholar. He graduated in

medicine in 1825, at Transylvania University, under Dr. Benjamin W. Dudley. He soon after located in Harrodsburg, where he pursued his profession with great success for forty years; had few superiors as a general practitioner, and was greatly beloved by all classes of citizens, to whom he showed no distinction in his professional services. He was held in high esteem by members of his profession; and, at the time of his death, was serving as Vice-President of the State Medi- cal Society. As a citizen, he participated in every thing looking to the advancement of the community in which he long lived ; was public-spirited; a man of rare judg- ment, of fine business ability, and was universally es- teemed ; and, at his death, great respect was shown his memory. He died July 10, 1867, at his residence in Harrodsburg. Dr. Jones was married to Miss Lucy B. May, daughter of David May, of Virginia; and his widow, at the age of ninety, survives him. Their only child, Augustus Jones, graduated in medicine at the University of New York, but has never practiced that profession.

ULBERTSON, HON KENNEDY RUSSELL, Iron Manufacturer and Soldier, son of Samuel and Sarah A. (Kennedy) Culbertson, was born May 12, 1840, in Knightstown, Indiana. His father was a merchant and manufacturer; was a native of Pennsylvania; became prominently identified with the iron interests of Ohio and Kentucky ; and was one of the thorough-going, upright business men of the country, and was distinguished for his social, religious, and moral worth. He died in Ohio, in 1865. Mary A. Kennedy, his mother, was a daughter of a Quaker merchant of Philadelphia. The Culbertsons and Kennedys were of Scotch origin, some of the ancestors of the families emigrating to this country in the latter part of the sixteenth century. Kennedy Russell Culbert- son lived with his parents for several years in Iowa, In- diana, and Kentucky, and, after the age of twelve, in Ohio. He received his education chiefly of private tutors, and, before the age of eighteen, commenced business as store-keeper at Ohio Furnace, in Scioto County, Ohio, where his brother, Capt. W. Wirt Culbertson, was then book-keeper. He afterwards became book-keeper, and then manager at Ohio Furnace, and was greatly instru- mental in remodeling and placing it in a working con- dition vastly superior to its former capacity. This was, indeed, the inauguration of a new era among the furnaces of the Ohio, which was so successfully continued by him- self and his brother, and which has very materially and favorably changed and influenced the iron business of that region. In 1862, the war having closed the furnaces, he received a captain's commission, and recruited Com- pany "F" of the Ninety-first Ohio Infantry, and as its

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commander served under Gen. Cox in the Kanawha Val- ley campaign, in 1862; was afterwards with Gen. Crook, and took part in the battle of Cloyd Mountain; was in all the actions under Gen. Hunter, attending his advance to, and retreat from, Lynchburg ; in the Shenandoah Val- ley, was in the battles of Winchester and Berryville, and was engaged in Early's defeat, at the battle of Stras- burg. He served with credit in the army as a soldier, and does not regret the time and hardship spent in the cause of the country ; and, returning to private life, he threw away the animosities of the war; and few men have been more ready to look with a broad char- ity upon those who opposed him in arms. In the Fall of 1864, his health failing, he returned home, and, in connection with his brother, Capt. W. W. Cul- bertson, took charge of Buena Vista Furnace, Boyd County, Kentucky. It was at once remodeled at an outlay of twenty or thirty thousand dollars to them- selves; and under his management was advanced to its most successful state, the productions arising to greater proportions than at any period in its existence, and sur- passing in amount and quality any other furnace in the Kentucky Hanging Rock region. He is still its manager and one of its proprietors, under the style of Culbertson, Means & Culbertson. He is now manager of the new furnace, "The Princess," just built by him- self and his brother, and located on the Lexington and Big Sandy Railroad, ten miles from Ashland, Kentucky. This is also owned by Culbertson, Means & Culbertson. " The Princess" is built for the use of stone coal, and in it it is designed to employ no foreign ores, a radical de- parture from the former methods of manufacture in the Ohio iron region. He is one of the owners of the Cher- okee Iron Works in Alabama; is one of the most skill- ful and successful iron men in the country; and has been largely concerned, with his brother and others, in bring- ing about many valuable changes in iron manufacture. In 1875, ten days before time for the election, he be- came the nominee of the Republican party for the Legis- lature, and, although the Democracy had had Lawrence County substituted for Carter-since the closely contested and doubtlessly successful race made by his brother for the same branch of the Legislature-he now defeated their candidate, Dr. Allen Pritchard, brother of Hon. K. F. Pritchard, who was the year before defeated by W. W. Culbertson for the State Senate. His election, by a majority of eleven votes, was sustained by the Legis- lative Committee, although contested by Dr. Pritchard. His term expires in 1877. Capt. Culbertson is a man without a trace of political or social narrowness; of great liberality toward men of all classes and creeds; and is one of the most energetic, able, and successful business men in the country. He is six feet in height, weighs one hundred and seventy pounds, and is of admirable personal appearance. He has never been married.

ONTGOMERY, THOMAS BELL, M. D., was born October 17, 1817, in Stanford, Lincoln County, Kentucky; and is the son of Judge Thomas Montgomery, a native of Virginia, who served in the Lower House of Congress, from Kentucky, from 1813 to 1815, and again from 1821 to 1823; was also Circuit Judge in the Stan- ford Circuit; and was one of the ablest lawyers of his day. He died April 2, 1828. His grandfather, Will- iam Montgomery, was a member of the first Constitu- tional Convention of 1792, from Lincoln County ; and was a brother-in-law of Gen. Ben. Logan. Dr. Mont- gomery received a literary education, mainly at Centre College, Danville, Kentucky, from 1833 to 1837, while that institution was under the presidency of the dis- tinguished Dr. John C. Young. He studied medicine, and graduated at Transylvania University in 1841, at once entering upon the practice of his profession at Stanford, continuing with great success until 1860, since which time he has been largely and prosperously en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. He has taken an active part in political affairs; and, in 1873, was elected to represent his county in the Legislature. He has also been actively identified with the various movements of interest to his county, and has long been one of its most valuable citizens. Dr. Montgomery has been three times married ; his last wife, to whom he was married in 1876, being the daughter of Joseph Chenault, of Lin- coln County, Kentucky. His first wives were grand- daughters of Col. Wm. Whitley, who was killed in the famous battle of the Thames.

ILKINSON, GENERAL JAMES, Soldier, Mer- chant, and Politician, was born in 1757, in Maryland. He entered the army at the com- mencement of the war of the Revolution ; was a captain at the age of eighteen; served under Benedict Arnold; as lieutenant-colonel, was on the staff of Gen. Gates ; was brevetted brigadier-general, in 1777; was present at the surrender of Burgoyne; was greatly favored and advanced by Gen. Gates; and, al- though he rose to considerable distinction during the Revolution, he did not maintain his reputation during the war of 1812. He was educated for a physician, and began his medical career in 1775, but, having a military ambition, soon after entered the army ; served in the Legislature of Pennsylvania ; came to Lexington, Ken- tucky, soon after the close of the Revolution, represent- ing a trading company of Philadelphia; became one of the most influential leaders in the civil and military conflicts of Kentucky and the West; in 1784, made a great speech in Lexington, favoring the separation from Virginia, and became the acknowledged leader of the

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anti-Court party, against Col. Thomas Marshall, the leader of the Court faction ; was several times a member, from Fayette County, to the conventions at Danville, looking to a separation from the State of Virginia; originated, and opened trade between Lexington and New Orleans, in 1787, and was joint commissioner with Gov. Claiborne, to receive Louisiana from the French ; commanded various expeditions against the Indians ; was made a brigadier-general of regular infantry; com- manded the right-wing of Wayne's army, at the battle of the Maumee; was elevated to the command-in-chief of the army of the North-west, in 1813; but, through jeal- ousy between himself and Gen. Hampton, and jealousy toward the Secretary of War, as well as fear and incom- petency, his campaign, admirably planned by the War Department of the Government, proved an utter and disreputable failure, and, on the establishment of peace, he was quietly and justly omitted from the army; was appointed Governor of the Territory of Louisiana, in 1806; was at that time charged with favoring Burr's conspiracy, but was cleared in an investigation de- manded by himself; and, in 1816, wrote his volume of " Memoirs," which contained personal prejudice, but was very valuable. He was a man of great enterprise ; reflected some honor on Kentucky, and was the most eminent man whose name is found in the early history of Lexington. He was a man of intelligent, vigorous, and open countenance; was hardly tall enough to be elegant, but largely compensated for height by his great symmetry of person; was firm and manly in gait; was polite, gracious, and inviting in manners, always displaying great ease and cordiality, and was exceed- ingly popular. He had a large estate in Mexico, and died in that country, December 28, 1825, and his body was buried in the parish of St. Miguel, near the City of Mexico.

ULLITT, HON. JOSHUA FRY, Lawyer, was born February 22, 1822, in Jefferson County, Kentucky. His father, William C. Bullitt, a farmer of that county, now resides in Louis- ville. Until his thirteenth year, he attended a private school, of which Robert M. Smith was

master. Soon after this, he began clerking in a whole- sale grocery in Louisville, whichi position he occupied for five years. He then attended Centre College, at Danville, Kentucky, for one year; then the University of Virginia, at Charlottesville, Virginia, for a year; he then returned home, studied law two years, and was ad- mitted to the bar at Louisville, in 1844. From 1845 to 1847, he had, as his partners, F. Fairthorne, formerly of Philadelphia; subsequently, they took into the firm J. C. Bullitt; was afterwards associated with Ballard Smith- then with S. B. Smith; still later, he and Ex-Judge

Henry Stites were in partnership; and, at the present date, he has as his partners, his brother, Thomas W. Bul- litt, and W. O. Harris. Mr. Bullitt was a member of the Board of Aldermen of the city of Louisville, for two years. From 1851 to 1853, he represented the city of Louisville in the State Legislature. In 1861, he was elected to the bench of the Court of Appeals; and, from August, 1864, to July, 1865, was Chief-Justice of that court. On the 5th of July, 1863, on the pretense that certain persons were conspiring to invite the Confeder- ates into the State, and so bring about civil war, the Government authorities, without warrant or proof, caused the arrest of Judge Bullitt, of the Court of Appeals, Lieutenant-Governor Richard T. Jacob, and other prominent citizens, who were either sent to prison or banished from the State. In 1871, Judge Bullitt was appointed one of the Commissioners to revise the Code of Practice in Kentucky; in 1876, he was appointed one of the editors of the Civil Code. Prior to 1855, he was a Whig, when he became a Douglas Democrat, and stumped the State for Mr. Douglas, in 1860. He was married, December 6, 1846, to Elizabeth B., daughter of Dr. George W. Smith, of Louisville; they have three children, issue of this union. As a lawyer, Judge Bul- litt is concise and concentrating in his arguments and briefs; he is fond of writing and study, and is a man of force and success in his profession. He was engaged in the litigation of the "boot and shoe" contracts of John Stevers, which were sued upon in 1838, and settled in 1872, after thirty-four years pending. After Hamilton Smith had tried the case, in 1850, Judge Bullitt took charge of it, and finally settled it by a compromise for thirty-seven thousand dollars, although the claim had ac- cumulated to sixty thousand dollars; and collected the full amount for which it was compromised. He ranks among the most profound lawyers of the State.

NDERSON, COLONEL THOMAS, Merchant, son of George and Rhoda (Oliver) Anderson, was born July 16, 1795, in Lexington, Ken- tucky. His father was born at Inniskillen, Ire- land; and came to this country in 1783, set- tling at Lexington, Kentucky, as a merchant, in 1790, where he died, in 1814. His mother, Rhoda Oliver, was a native of Goochland County, Virginia. At the commencement of the war of 1812, Thomas An- derson entered the volunteer service, as a member of Captain Hart's company, with which he continued until its time of service expired, when he engaged in mercan- tile business at his native place. In January, 1826, hc removed to Louisville, where he soon became a leading business man, and an influential member of the commu- nity. He was President of the Chamber of Commerce ;

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, of the branch of the Northern Bank of Kentucky; of the Firemen's Insurance Company ; and of the Union Fire Company. He organized the " Louisville Guards," an old military company composed of prominent young men of the town, and, after the formation of the " Lou- isville Legion," he was chosen its colonel, continuing in that position for several years. In 1826, he established the old auction and commission house, which still con- tinues with much of its former reputation, under the style of T. Anderson & Company, and of which his son, W. G. Anderson, is now senior partner. He gave his attention to every measure looking to the development of the mercantile and other interests of Louisville; and won the reputation of being not only one of the most successful business men, but also one of the most public- spirited, enterprising, useful, and upright members of his community. He was a man of decided traits of character; had fine executive qualities, and powers to command; possessed a fine clear voice, which often brought him into requisition, and made him popular in public assemblages ; displayed many magnanimous traits; was broad in his charities, pleasing in his man- ners, unshowy and plain in his habits, and universally respected. He was an earnest Whig, although taking little part in politics, and never accepted political office. When the civil war broke out, he took the side of the National Government, and never believed that its au- thority would not be restored over the whole country. But he did not live to see the end. He died August 26, 1861. Colonel Anderson was married, March II, 1818, to Miss Sydney Boyd, in Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania.

UCKOLS, COL. JOSEPH PREYER, Quarter- master-General of Kentucky, was born at Glas- gow, Kentucky, April 28, 1828; his father, H. P. Nuckols, and his mother (née Susan Foster) were both Virginians, having emigrated from that State in 1806. He attended the common- schools of Glasgow till the age of seventeen, when the spirit of adventure led him to the far West -first to Texas, then to California, where he engaged in gold- mining successfully; returned to Kentucky in 1856, and engaged in the study of the law, and entered upon the practice of his profession at Glasgow. He organized a company of State Guards, with which, when the war broke out, in 1861, he joined the Confederate army, as Company A, Fourth Kentucky Regiment, he being its captain; took part in the battle of Shiloh, where he greatly distinguished himself, and where he was wounded; was again wounded at Murfreesboro, and pro- moted to the rank of major; was promoted lieutenant- colonel, December 18; shortly after was made colonel of his regiment, on the death of Col. Trabue; commanding

it during the engagement at Chickamauga, where he received a wound so severe as to compel him to retire from active service. He was elected County Clerk of Barren County in 1866, afterwards re-elected for two terms; resigned in 1876, and was appointed Quarter- master-General under Gov. McCreary, which position he still holds. Col. Nuckols has been married twice: in 1859, to Miss Linda Carr; and, after her death, in 1870, to Miss C. Donaldson, daughter of Judge J. M. Don- aldson, of Bowling Green. His intercourse with his military associates was marked by generous courtesy and unselfishness; he was greatly devoted to the cause for which he risked his life and honor, and was a brave and efficient officer; is a man of great force of character; is broad and generous in his views and actions; is warm in his friendships, and, by his fine manners and many admirable traits, has greatly endeared himself to the people of his section.

EYMOUR, GEORGE S., M. D., D. D. S., Physician and Dentist, son of Seth Seymour, a farmer of English descent, was born June 21, 1836, near Sandersfield, Berkshire County, Mas- sachusetts. He received his early education in the schools of that county, and for a short time at Yale College; but, in 1857, he left school, bought his time of his father, and began clerking in a dry- goods and grocery store at Winstead, and afterwards at Plainville, Connecticut, in order to pay for his time. He meanwhile studied medicine and dentistry of nights, for about five years, finishing his dental studies by a three years' course under Dr. Tomlinson, of Brooklyn, New York; then attended the Medical Institute at Richmond, Virginia, graduating in 1860. Going to Stew- art County, Georgia, he practiced medicine till 1861, when he joined the Second Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment, as a private, being appointed, twelve months later, Assistant Surgeon on hospital duty, at Richmond, and continued in that position till the Autumn of 1864. He was then sent to Augusta, Georgia, remaining two months; was then assigned to duty at Fort Valley, for a month; and then to Lauderdale Springs, Mississippi, on special duty as dental surgeon, until the close of the war; in April, 1865, returned to Georgia, locating at Macon, and practicing dentistry until 1868, when he came to Louisville, Kentucky. Forming a partnership with Dr. E. W. Mason, he followed the practice of his profession till the death of Dr. Mason, in 1872. Since then he has continued in the practice with great success and popularity. He united with the Episcopal Church while at college, in Connecticut, and now holds his membership in Calvary Church, at Louisville, taking es- pecial interest in the choir and Sunday-school. In 1869,

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The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 102

Author: Armstrong, J. M., & company, pub Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Cincinnati, J. M. Armstrong Number of Pages: 946

Author: Armstrong, J. M., & company, pub
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Cincinnati, J. M. Armstrong
Number of Pages: 946