The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 11

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

USA > Kentucky > The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century > Part 11

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ALDWELL, HON. JOHN WILLIAM, Law- yer, was born January 15, 1837, in Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky. His parents were Austin Caldwell and Eliza A. Harrison. His father was for many years a well-known me- chanic of Russellville, and, by parentage, a member of the extensive Caldwell family, who came to Kentucky from the State of Virginia. His mother was the daughter of Peyton Harrison, of Virginia, in which State this family name is wide-spread. The early edu- cation of the subject of our sketch was limited to the common schools of his native place, and a few months' attendance at Bethel College. When thirteen years old, he went to Texas, but soon after returned to Ken- tucky. At Russellville, he began studying law, under William Morton. A year later, he attended law lectures at the Louisville University. In 1858, he was admitted, and entered upon the practice at Russellville, where, ex- cepting the period of the war, he has ever since pur- sued his professional career. When the rebellion broke out, he went South and joined the Confederate army, as captain, in the Ninth Kentucky Regiment; in 1862, he succeeded Col. Thomas Hunt in the command of that regiment. With the regiment he participated in many of the battles in which the army of the Tennes- see was engaged, including Shiloh, the siege of Vicks- burg, Chickamauga, Stone river, Atlanta, and others. When the war closed, he returned to Russellville, and

resumed professional life. In 1866, he was elected Judge of the Logan County Court, and, in 1870, was re-elected to the same bench. In 1876, he was the nominee of the Democratic party to represent the Third Congressional District of Kentucky in Congress, and was elected, by a handsome majority, over two com- petitors-E. L. Motley, of Bowling Green, and B. L. D. Guffy, of Butler County. In politics, he has always been active and popular. He has written many political articles for the local press, which have ever been accepta- ble in his community. He has never been actively con- nected with any religious denomination. He was united in marriage to Sallie, daughter of Hugh Barclay, of Russellville; by this union they have three children. Mr. Caldwell has lived all his life in the community in which he was born, and now, when hardly in his prime, has achieved the highest success, and attained the most worthy honors in the gift of his fellow-citizens.

ELLER, JAMES McDONALD, M. D., Phy- sician and Surgeon, was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama, January 29, 1732. His father, David Keller, was a native of Hagerstown, Maryland, and a merchant and planter. His mother, Mary Fairfax Moore, was a native of Virginia, and a granddaughter of General (afterward Governor) Spotts- wood, who served as a General under His Majesty, George the Third, and who was the first white man to cross the Blue Ridge Mountains, for which feat he was made a Knight, "Knight of the Golden Horseshoe," receiving from his Sovereign, a full sized horseshoe of gold, set with rubies. This trophy is now in the pos- session of the family of the late General R. E. Lee, who was a grandson of Governor Spottswood, the first Colo- nial Governor of Virginia. Dr. Keller received a liberal education in the Academy of Tuscumbia, Alabama, and, at the age of eighteen years, commenced the study of medicine in the office of Drs. W. H. and B. F. New- sum, of that city, and graduated from the University of Louisville, in 1852, under Samuel D. Gross, Daniel S. Drake, Jedediah Cobb, Benjamin Silliman, Jr., Henry Miller, L. P. Jandell, and Lewis Rogers. Immediately after graduating, he married Miss Sallie Phillips, daugh- ter of David B. Phillips, of Jefferson County, Kentucky, and has two sons-James Irwin, who is now Assistant Physician at Anchorage Insane Asylum, and Murray P. Keller, of the firm of Hall, Keller & Co., manufacturers of wagons, plows, etc. After locating for a short time in the vicinity of Louisville, he removed to Memphis, Tennessee, where, until the commencement of the late civil war, he enjoyed a lucrative practice. Immediately after the initiation of the war, he entered the Confed- erate service, as surgeon, and served as medical director

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in several of the departments. Returning to Memphis, after the surrender, he found himself one of sixty citi- zens indicted for high treason, and, declining to take the oath of allegiance, was only relieved by the "gen- eral amnesty." His reason for not taking the oath re- ferred to was, that he was then a prisoner of war, under parole, and relied upon that for protection. He remained in Memphis until 1869, when he was called to the Chair of Surgery in the Louisville Medical College, which po- sition he has since held, together with that of Professor of Surgery in the Kentucky School of Medicine, at Louisville. He is President of the Board of Trustees of the Public-schools of that city, and a member of the American Medical Association, Kentucky State Medical Society, and Medico-chirurgical Society. In 1874, he was elected, at Detroit, and served as Vice-President of the American Medical Association, to which body he has been a delegate since 1858, excepting the period occupied by the war. He has always been a delegate to the State Societies, in the States in which he resided. Dr. Keller makes a specialty of surgery, and has been uniformly successful in his practice, and furnishes many · reports of cases to the journals of the profession. His life has been an active and studious one, of which his wide reputation is the reward, few men occupying a higher position in the profession.

ENNEDY, HON. JESSE, Farmer, was born August 11, 1787, on Kennedy's Creck, Bour- bon County, Kentucky, and was the son of Thomas Kennedy, who settled there in 1785. His father had, as early as 1776, made his first trip to Kentucky, and became somewhat noted in the early history of the State. Jesse Kennedy was a soldier in the war of 1812; served as a constable; was a Justice of the Peace; was elected to represent Bour- bon County in the Legislature, in 1829; was re-elected in 1831; and was again elected in 1841. He spent his life on the farm where he was born, and there died, April 3, 1863, and was one of the most intelligent, useful, and valuable men of Bourbon County.

IRNEY, JAMES G., Lawyer, and first anti- slavery candidate for President of the United States, was born February 4, 1792, in Dan- ville, Kentucky. He received a fine classical education, studied law, settled in Alabama, and was then District Attorney. He returned to Kentucky in 1833; assisted in organizing the Kentucky Colonization Society ; was made its President; was for some time Professor in Centre College; became actively

antislavery in his principles; in 1834, in a public letter, favored immediate emancipation; freed his own slaves ; removed to Cincinnati, and established the "Philan- thropist," a paper advocating most radical antislavery views; was so far in advance of the public, even in Ohio, as to greatly arouse a feeling against him; his press was thrown into the Ohio river, but he re-estab- lished his paper; in 1836, became Secretary of the American Antislavery Society, at New York, and con- tinued earnestly to wage the war for freedom. In 1840, he became the candidate for the Liberty party, for Presi- dent of the United States;"removed to Michigan; in 1844, was again the candidate of his party for the Presidency, and received over sixty-two thousand votes, when, in 1840, he had received less than seven thou- sand. Mr. Birney died, November 25, 1857, at Perth Amboy, New Jersey.

RUMBO, HON. ANDREW, was born Septem- ber 13, 1799, in Montgomery, now Bath County, Kentucky. At the age of fifteen he entered the office of the county clerk ; afterward became clerk himself; studied law, and entered on its practice, in 1824; was Commonwealth's Attor- ney ; served in Congress from 1845 to 1847; was Presiden- tial Elector in 1848, and voted for General Taylor; he died August 11, 1871, in Franklin County, Kentucky.

ALKER, HON. ELIJAH, Lawyer, was born at Hartford, Ohio County, Kentucky, on the 29th of January, 1827, of which place, his father, Richard L. Walker, was a prominent merchant, having also been a soldier in the war of 1812. His mother was Mahala Harris, a native of Bullitt County, Kentucky, and a lady of superior at- tainments and elegance of manners, descended from a distinguished line of ancestors. Elijah Walker had superior advantages, in the way of education, at the best schools of his county; and, at the age of seventeen, went to Independence, Missouri, to read law in the office of Robert G. Smart, an able lawyer and distin- guished politician. After attaining his eighteenth year, he was admitted to the bar in Missouri, and shortly afterward returned to Kentucky, and was licensed to practice in his native State. He has succeeded in ac- quiring a large and lucrative practice, and has achieved distinction as a criminal lawyer; a most gifted and brilliant orator, he is enabled also, by his knowledge of modern and ancient language, history, and a fund of general information, to speak extemporaneously on any subject. Though making the practice of criminal

BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPÆDIA.

law a specialty, he is retained on almost every case of prominence before the courts of his county. In 1857, during the Know-Nothing excitement, he was elected to the State Senate, over a very popular candidate, by a decided majority, though opposed to Know-Nothing- ism. He was the youngest Senator in the body during his term. In 1860, during the Douglas campaign, he was appointed Democratic Elector for the Second Con- gressional District. Though often solicited to accept public office, he has almost invariably declined, having no desire for political distinction, being somewhat re- tiring in disposition. He possesses large tracts of coal lands about Hartford, now being worked by the Render Coal Co., of which he has been President. He uses his wealth freely, in the development of the resources of his county. At the opening of the Louisville and Nash- ville Railroad, he took a prominent part in the ceremo- nies. He is now attorney for the Paducah Railroad. In August, 1857, he was married to Miss Elvira En- glish, daughter of Major Robert English, said to be the most popular man that ever lived in Hardin County. His wife is a lady of superior mind, of a kind and re- fined nature, and a worthy companion. They have five children.

RITTENDEN, JOHN J., Lawyer and States- man, was born September 10, 1786, near Ver- sailles, in Woodford County, Kentucky, and was the son of John Crittenden, an officer in the Revolutionary army, who emigrated to Ken- tucky soon after the establishment of American independence. John J. Crittenden began his literary education in the best schools in Kentucky, under the best teachers of that day, and completed it in Washing- ton Academy, and William and Mary College, Virginia. He studied law under the distinguished George M. Bibb, and began his profession at Russellville, among some of the most brilliant lawyers of the State. He soon dis- tinguished himself as an orator, and rose rapidly into public favor; was elected to the Legislature, from Logan County, in 1811, and was, for six consecutive terms, re-elected; in 1812, he served as a major under Gen. Hopkins, in his expedition into the North-western Territory, and was aid-de-camp to Gov. Shelby, partici- pating in the battle of the Thames; in 1817, became Speaker of the House of Representatives; in that year, was elected United States Senator; in 1819, removed to Frankfort, with a view to practicing in the Federal Court, and the Supreme Court of the State; was three times elected to the Legislature from Franklin County ; again served as Speaker of the House; in 1835, was again elected to the United States Senate; was re- elected, holding that position until 1841, when he was appointed Attorney-General by President Harrison; re-

tired from that position in the Fall of the same year; was elected by the Legislature to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Clay, in the United States Senate; was re-elected, in 1843, for the full term of six years; in 1848, resigned that position to become candi- date of the Whigs, for Governor of the State; was elected, and was one of the best and most able Governors of Kentucky; in 1852, resigned the Governorship to accept the appointment of Attorney-General under Presi- dent Fillmore; was again elected to the United States Senate, in 1853; was elected to the Lower House of Congress, in 1861, and was a member of that body at the time of his death, which occurred at Louisville, July 25, 1863. In the Senate, he became a conspicuous advocate of measures looking to the adjustment of the difficulties between the sections, and was the author of the cele- brated "Crittenden Propositions." He was President of the Border States Convention, at Frankfort, 1861, and although opposed to confiscation, the Proclamation of Emancipation, and the enlistment of negro soldiers, he regarded those as of minor importance, and remained firmly attached to the cause of the National Govern- ment. As an advocate and profound lawyer, he stood almost alone in Kentucky; but, devoting his life mainly to service in the Legislature and in Congress, found poli- tics much more congenial than the pursuit of his pro- fession. He was a man of superior intellect; was broad, magnanimous, generous, and brave, strong in his con- victions, never shrinking from their defense on public questions; was of unquestioned patriotism, and was not only one of the most able and best men of Kentucky, but also ranked among the first of American statesmen. Two of his sons became distinguished during the civil war-one as a Major-General in the Confederate Army, and one as a Brigadier-General in the army of the Union, the latter now being a colonel in the regular army.

ORE, Dr. JOHN WINSTON, Physician and Surgeon, was born in Nelson County, near Bardstown, Kentucky, on the sixteenth day of March, 1821. His father, Henry Gore, was Deputy Sheriff and Sheriff, of Nelson County, for a period of twenty-six years, and repre- sented the county in the State Legislature during two terms, from 1843 to 1846, inclusive. His mother, Ann Glascock, was of Irish descent. His parents both moved from Virginia at an early date, and settled in Nelson County, Kentucky. Dr. Gore received an ordinary English education in Bardstown, Kentucky, and, at the age of nineteen, commenced the study of medicine, in the office of Dr. John D. Winston, a celebrated sur- geon and physician of Columbia, Kentucky; after re- maining here for two years, he went to Hodgenville,

BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPAEDIA.

and completed his studies under Dr. Jesse H. Rodman, one of the best physicians of La Rue County. In 1842, he commenced the practice of his profession in New Haven, Nelson County, where he, for twenty-six years, enjoyed an extensive and lucrative practice. In 1868, he removed to Hodgenville, where he now resides, fol- lowing his chosen profession with most eminent suc- cess, and enjoying the confidence of his patrons. Dur- ing his professional career, he has been particularly successful in the practice of obstetrics and the diseases of women, and, of late years, has made those branches a specialty, performing some of the most difficult opera- tions satisfactorily. In one instance, particularly, he performed what is known to the profession as the "shoulder presentation," in such a manner as to elicit the warmest expressions of approval from the fraternity, and gain for himself a reputation that placed him among the first physicians of the country. During the war, he served for nine months as surgeon in United States Hospital No. 15, in the city of Louisville. In politics, he was connected with the Whig party until 1855, when he associated himself with the Democracy, of which he has since been an active and consistent member. He is a member of the Church of Christ, commonly known as the Campbellite Church, and, for twenty years, has been an elder in that denomination. As a member of the Masonic fraternity, he belongs to the Royal Arch Chapter; having also held a number of the offices of that order. In 1843, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Brown; and, in 1849, to Miss Ellen Brown, daughter of James Brown, a respectable farmer and trader of La Rue County. By each of these mar- riages he had three children, all of whom are now grown, and four are married. His two sons, J. B. and L. M. Gore, assist him in conducting his drug-store, which he opened in April, 1876. J. B. Gore married Miss Laura Rogers, daughter of Jones Rogers, formerly a merchant of Hodgenville, and now a resident of Mis- souri. L. M. married Miss Phoebe Rogers, daughter of the same gentleman. His eldest daughter, Mary A., is married to Dr. William Rodman, son of Dr. Jesse H. Rodman. His son, James H., is the husband of Mary Crady, daughter of Richard Crady, a worthy farmer of La Rue County. Dr. Gore, although past the prime of life, is still active in the pursuit of his profession.

UDUBON, JOHN JAMES, American Ornithol- ogist, was born May 4, 1780, in Louisiana, and was of French parentage. IIe early exhibited natural tastes for art pursuits, and was sent to France to learn drawing and painting, and, while engaged in the studio of David, devoted much of his time to painting birds, and was, from earli-

est childhood, devoted to the feathered race. In 1797, he returned to America, and settled in Pennsylvania; in 1807, he floated down the Ohio river in a canoe, and, landing at Henderson, Kentucky, resided there for sev- eral years; in 1810, he was joined by Wilson, the Scotch ornithologist, and, with him, traversed the forests from Kentucky to the Gulf of Mexico; in 1826, went to Eng- land, to publish his works, most of his subscribers to the "Birds of America" being in England and France; afterwards made other trips to Europe, and published his "Ornithological Biographies," in four volumes of en- gravings, and five of letter-press; in 1844, he published a new edition of his "Birds of America," in seven vol- umes, at New York; and left incomplete a similar work, on "Quadrupeds of America," in the preparation of which he had been assisted by his sons. He died Jan- uary 27, 1851, in New York City.

HARTON, COL. GABRIEL CALDWELL, Lawyer and Soldier, was born June 13, 1839, at Springfield, Kentucky, where his father, John R. Wharton, was a farmer. After receiving his education at Springfield Academy, he began the study of law with R. J. Brown, of Springfield, and then attended and graduated at the University of Louisville, in February, 1860. After practicing law in his native town, from March, 1860, to September, 1861, he enlisted as a private in the Tenth Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry; and when the regiment was mustered in, a few weeks after, at Lebanon, was promoted to major. On the IIth of March, 1863, he was promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy of his regiment, at Mill Springs (Logan Fields). The Tenth was assigned to what was then the Second Brigade, First Division, of the Army of the Ohio. On December 31, 1861, the regiment commenced its march from Lebanon to Mill Springs; being on detached duty, it did not participate in the battle of Mill Springs, but joined the division in time to be the first to enter the rebel fortifications. Re- turning to Louisville, it went by steamboat to Nash- ville, Tennessee, and thence to Pittsburg Landing, and took part in the siege of Corinth. It formed a part of Buell's army, in his pursuit of Bragg into Kentucky ; after which it returned to Gallatin, Tennessee. At Roll- ing Fork, Kentucky, it protected the Louisville and Nashville Railroad from being destroyed, by Gen. John H. Morgan ; after returning to Nashville, the Tenth was sent, with other troops, by General Rosencrans, in pursuit of Forrest and Wheeler, to the Harpeth river, where they suffered terribly from cold and rain. Col. Wharton was in the Summer campaign, from Murfrecs- borough to Chickamauga; participating in actions at Hoover's Gap, Fairfield, Tullahoma, Compton's Creek,

BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPAEDIA.

and Chickamauga, retreating with the army to Chatta- nooga; was under Gen. Thomas at Chickamauga, and took part in the battle of Mission Ridge, pursuing the enemy beyond Georgia. On February 25, 1864, he was at Rock Face Ridge, and took part in nearly every action or movement in that long and eventful campaign, while returning to Ringgold, then the outpost of the army. The flag of the Tenth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry was the first to be planted on the enemy's works, at Jones- borough, Georgia, September 4, 1864, breaking the ene- my's lines, and entering their works, capturing the Sixth and Seventh Arkansas Regiments, and their colors. On the 9th of July, Col. Wharton and his regiment had a severe engagement, on the north bank of the Chatta- hoochee river, engaging, single-handed and alone, and holding in check, a brigade of the enemy, until the ar- rival of re-enforcements. He was engaged in a number of other battles; but, suffice it to say that the Colonel passed through the three years of his. military existence, performing his whole duty, and at all times maintaining the proud reputation of his State, and of himself as a brave and polished officer. He was mustered out of the United States service at Louisville, Kentucky, December 6, 1864. During the whole of his service, he never was wounded ; but remained at his post, firm and active, as a gallant soldier. In 1866, he was appointed District Attorney for Kentucky District, continuing until 1870, when he was appointed United States District Attorney for Louisville District, which office he now holds. In politics, he is a Republican, and is active in the interests of his party. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Quite young, and one of the leaders of society in the city of Louisville, he is popular as a gentleman and a citizen.

ICKLIFFE, HON. ROBERT, Lawyer, was born January 16, 1775, in Pennsylvania, while his parents were on the way from Virginia to Kentucky, and is the oldest son of Charles Wickliffe and his wife, Lydia Hardin. His family came from England, about the middle of the eighteenth century; his father settled in Nelson County, and became one of the noted men in the early history of the State. Robert Wickliffe read law with the distinguished George Nicholas, and soon rose to dis- tinction in his profession. He was elected to the Legis- lature, from Fayette County, in 1819, 1823, and 1825; and, from 1825 to 1833, was a State Senator. He dis- tinguished himself as one of the leaders of the "Old Court Party;" obtained a wide-spread reputation as one of the most skillful and successful real estate lawyers, and probably accumulated a larger fortune than any of his professional contemporaries in the State. He was a man of fine manners and courtly bearing ; possessed an

ardent, open nature; exercised great influence in society, and was an active, zealous member of the Episcopal Church. He died September 1, 1859. Mr. Wickliffe was married to Margaret Preston Howard, daughter of John Howard, of Fayette County, Kentucky; and, after her. death, to Mrs. Mary O. Russell, only child of Col. John Todd, who was killed at the battle of Blue Licks.

OLLADAY, HON. JACOB SHALL, Lawyer, was born in Lebanon, Wilson County, Tennes- see, on the 9th of January, 1825. His father, Isaac Golladay, was a merchant of that place, and of Huguenot descent, the family coming to this country during the persecution, and set- tling in Virginia. Maternally, he is of German descent. His education, received at his native town, comprised a good academic course. After attaining the age of nine- teen years, he commenced business, by entering the wholesale store of Saunders & Martin, where he remained for the space of seven years. Removing to Logan County, Kentucky, he, for two years, followed the pur- suits of merchandising and farming, when, in 1851, he was elected to the Lower House of the Legislature, by the Whig party. In 1852, he was re-elected, and in 1853, was elected to the State Senate, representing the counties of Logan, Simpson, and Butler. In 1861, he was the Bell and Everett Elector, for the Third Con- gressional District, of Kentucky, and, in 1866 and 1868, was elected, by the Democratic party, to Congress. During his Congressional term, the Tennessee reconstruc- tion measure was one of the greatest questions brought before the House, in the discussion of which he took an active part, answering Horace Maynard's speech, and replying to Blaine, on the results of President Grant's election. In 1869, he delivered his famous speech on " Repudiation." Rising into prominence, he soon in- curred that jealousy and consequent ill-will to which all public men of distinction are subject, which, in his case, assumed shape in the form of a charge of selling a cadetship. The charge was referred to the Military Committee of the House, and, after a thorough investi- gation, he was formally and honorably acquitted of the charge, by a Republican Committee of a Republican Congress, the prosecution being shown to be and deemed malicious and for political effect. In 1872, he was again a candidate for Congressional honors, on the Democratic ticket, though opposed to Horace Greeley and the action of his party in that year. For the first time in history, his district went Republican, and he was consequently defeated. Retiring from political life, he took up the practice of law, which he has since followed. Mr. Gol- laday has, for many years, been a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity, and stands high in the order ; true to his

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The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 11

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