The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 111

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 111

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counties of Kentucky which had been already applied to in behalf of the enterprise. It was a meeting har- monious in spirit, earnest in its action, and most favor- able in its results. 'Thus far,' said Mr. Bowman, as reported in the published minutes of the meeting, 'have we progressed in the work up to the present time, averaging about one thousand dollars for each day that we have been engaged. We have, by this effort, par- tially laid the pecuniary basis for an institution, which, we liope, is destined to become the support of the Church and the ornament of the State, and which will meet the highest expectations of those who have so liberally contributed to it. We beg leave, however, to say, that we regard this as but the beginning of a work, which, with the Divine blessing, we intend to prosecute until perfected. In reference to the plan of organization, I would merely remark, in general, that there are some features in our present collegiate system that should be discarded. The spirit of the age, and the present state of society, call for colleges for young men, rather than for boys. The natural sciences, in their application to the useful arts and to agriculture, should receive more attention. A higher grade of schol- arship should be established, as a condition both of ma- triculation and graduation. And, generally, we need a more modern, American, and Christian basis for every department of our proposed institution.' During the fol- lowing Winter, the Legislature granted a liberal char- ter, incorporating a board of thirty, under the name of the Curators of Kentucky University, giving them full power, for the purpose of promoting the cause of edu- cation in all its branches, and of extending the sphere of science and Christian morality, to establish and en- dow fully, in said University, any departments and pro- fessorships they may deem necessary to carry out their objects. By the same organic instrument, the Trustees of Bacon College consenting, the property of that de- funct institution was transferred to the new board, and Bacon College ceased to exist, in name as well as in fact. When he had obtained one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, the general expression was that he had enough ; that it was already a magnificent endowment; and many of the friends of the enterprise seemed to be satisfied. But this view of the matter seriously embar- rassed his operations in two ways: First, it made any further appeals for money seem like extravagant and unreasonable demands. Second, it led to an urgent request, which, at last, amounted almost to clamor, that the institution should be opened forthwith. Mr. Bowman, and others, saw that a premature opening of the College would be ruinous; and yet the pop- ular demand must be satisfied. It was accordingly agreed that a preparatory school should be opened temporarily in the old Bacon College building; and, in September, 1858, this school went into operation,

under the name of the Taylor Academy, with nearly one hundred students in attendance. At the same time, it was agreed that in September, 1859, a Col- lege of Science and Arts be opened, under the presi- dency of R. Milligan, assisted by the proper number of professors. In the mean time, in order to present the plan of a university more plainly to the people, on whom he relied for the material aid, Mr. Bowman began to discuss earnestly the great question of collegiate and professional education, and to insist that he needed not less than one half a million of dollars in order to lay the foundation of his enterprise, and sought, persever- ingly, to impress this necessity on the minds of the people; and it was gratifying to see that his appeals found a ready response in the hearts of many. The College of Science and Arts was opened, according to promise, in the Autumn of 1859, with nearly two hun- dred students in attendance. At once the institution was in need of an extensive chemical and philosophical apparatus. The interest on the endowment fund was already pledged to the professors, and the College had no other resources. Mr. Bowman appealed once more to the citizens of the county, and in a few days, having raised five thousand dollars, he was able to buy the apparatus that was wanted. But the most serious want that had been created by the premature opening of this college, was that of adequate buildings. The old edifice of Bacon College had been repaired ; but it was found to be insufficient for the wants of a single college then in session. In the midst of his labors for the University endowment, therefore, he found himself called on to provide all the necessary buildings, not only for the College of Arts, but, in anticipation, for the University, with all its contemplated schools and colleges. The funds already raised could not be used for this purpose, and the amount required would necessarily be large. To this part of the work he now addressed himself with energy. One of the most beautiful and healthful sites for an institution of learning in the State of Kentucky was the famous Harrodsburg Springs, for many years one of the most popular resorts in the West. These grounds, with their elegant and extensive buildings, had been purchased by the United States Government as the site of the Western Military Asylum; but they were now abandoned, and fire had consumed the edifice. This place, containing about two hundred acres of land, Mr. Bowman determined, if possible, to secure. After repeated visits to Washington City, he finally obtained the passage of a bill ordering it to be sold at public sale. In anticipation of the day of sale, he went to work and raised the sum of fifty thousand dollars, for the specific purpose of buying it. But, through the interference of parties who desired to secure the prop- erty as a fashionable Summer resort, his efforts to pur- chase it were defeated, and the notes of the subscribers

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were surrendered. He thus had the mortification to see the spacious, eligible grounds and buildings, on which he had long set his heart as the site of a great uni- versity, pass, by means of an opposing and inferior interest, forever from his hands. To increase his em- barrassments as the founder and financier of the Uni- versity, the war, with all its social and commercial distractions, came on. The work of increasing the endowment was necessarily suspended ; but his labors as treasurer were more delicate and onerous. He con- tinued to collect and invest the funds subscribed; he received and disbursed the interest thereon, and kept all the accounts of the institution. He watched with a vigilant eye every pecuniary interest through all the crushing storm of the war. Not a dollar was lost, and not a week's suspension of college exercises occurred, during this period, although opposing armies were encamped around, and the buildings were finally taken as hospitals for the sick and the wounded. It is proper to add, that all this labor was performed by him, as, indeed, all other labor, from the begin- ning, not only without charge, but at the sacrifice of his pecuniary interests. But the necessity for build- ings grew daily more and more urgent. The failure to obtain those at Harrodsburg created a. lively sym- pathy abroad, and all the necessary grounds and build- ings were offered, if the institution could be removed. But it was suggested that the old edifice of Bacon College could be repaired and enlarged, and made to meet all the reasonable wants of the University. This idea the friends of Harrodsburg generally favored, when a spark from a defective flue fell on the roof of the building, and, fanned by a February gale, it soon wrapped the pile in flames, and all that remained of the building, apparatus, and library, was a heap of smol- dering ruins. This disaster pressed upon the Board of Curators the necessity for immediate action. They were forthwith convened, and all eyes were turned to Mr. Bowman. The Trustees of Transylvania University, at Lexington, at this juncture, intimated a willingness to convey the grounds and buildings of that institution to the Curators of Kentucky University, on the condition of its removal to Lexington. Citizens of Louisville and Covington also manifested a desire to have the institu- tion located in those cities. The Board, however, not agreeing in this exigency, resolved to leave the whole question of removal and location to a Committee, of which Mr. Bowman was chairman. It was ordered, that if the Committee should locate the institution at any other point than Harrodsburg, an act authorizing the removal should be first passed by the Legislature, that every thing might be done legally. The Board, in the mean time, expressed it as a judgment, that the institu- tion should be removed from Harrodsburg. Accord- ingly, Mr. Bowman called the Committee to meet at

Frankfort, in January, 1865; but an unexpected d'enoue- ment followed. While there, the proposition of Con- gress, to donate to Kentucky three hundred and thirty thousand acres of land, for the purpose of agricultural and mechanical education, came up for consideration. The State was not prepared to accept the grant with the conditions imposed, and the munificent provision of Congress seemed likely to be lost to the State. He pro- posed to make the State Agricultural College a depart- ment of Kentucky University, and to consolidate into the great institution the Universities of Harrodsburg and Transylvania and the Agricultural College, and the whole to be located at Lexington. He proposed, fur- ther, if this should be done, to provide an experimental farm, and all the requisite buildings, and to give gratui- tous instruction to three hundred students, to be se- lected by the State; and he furthermore pledged, that the Board of Curators would carry out, in the Agricul- tural Department, the spirit and intent of the act of Congress, encouraging the education of the industrial classes. A bill to this effect was accordingly drawn up, and, after a long and animated discussion in the Gen- eral Assembly, it was passed by a large majority, and Kentucky University was removed from Harrodsburg, the grounds, buildings, and endowment of Transylvania were transferred, and the State Agricultural College was made a part of the University, with an aggregate capi- tal of more than one-half a million of dollars. Thus he accomplished, by one act, what he had allowed himself many years to bring about. But he had obliged him- self, by this scheme, to raise ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, with which to purchase an experimental farm, and a site for all the buildings requisite for the colleges of the University. He at once removed to Lexington, and began his work, and, before the Legislature ad- journed, he reported to that body that he had secured, from the citizens of Lexington, over one hundred thou- sand dollars. In June following, the Curators formally ratified his action, and ordered that Kentucky Univer- sity be opened, in Lexington, in October following; and three colleges, to wit, that of Law, that of the Bible, and of the Arts and Sciences, went into operation ac- cordingly. It was further resolved by the Board, on the recommendation of Mr. Bowman, that, as soon as prac- ticable, a College of Medicine, a Normal College, and an Agricultural College be added, making, in all, six distinct departments, each under its own faculty of in- structors and tutors. In October, nearly three hundred students assembled, from several different States, and were admitted to the several colleges, so far as they had been organized; and the institution has been, thus far, prosperous. During the present year, 1866, Mr. Bow- man has purchased. for the use of the Agricultural College, the splendid home of the departed statesman, HENRY CLAY. 'Ashland' is now the property of the

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Kentucky University. But, in addition to this, he has added a highly cultivated farm adjoining-some four hundred and fifty acres in all-so that the Agricultural College of Kentucky University may be ready, early, for the reception of students, on the most splendid farm in Kentucky. On reporting these purchases to the General Assembly, at its late session, they at once voted an appropriation of twenty thousand dollars, to aid in securing the opening of the College the next Fall; and Mr. Bowman is now bending every energy to the work of putting the institution into full operation. A Committee of Conference was appointed, with Mr. Bowman as chairman, and, in accordance with his lib- eral and comprehensive views of a great university, and after a careful examination of the best institutions of the country, they submitted a Plan of Organization and Code of General Statutes, which, in some of the details of government and study, are peculiar to this institution, and which, after a thorough discussion by the Board of Curators, was unanimously adopted as the permanent scheme of the University. Under this regime it now enters upon its career of usefulness with greatly increased facilities, and with the assurance that its founder, now the Regent of the University, will labor on for the full development and perfection of his ultimate plans. It is confidently believed, that, with its superior advantages of location, with its splendid basis in the way of endow- ment and real estate, and with its moral and social sur- roundings, it is destined to exert a mighty influence upon the educational interests of the great Mississippi Valley."

INGLETON, RICHARD H., M. D., was born May 9, 1844, in Canton, Mississippi; and is the son of Hon. Otho R. Singleton, a native of Jessa. mine County, Kentucky. His father graduated at St. Joseph's College, Bardstown; adopted the law as a profession; was two years in the Lower House of the Mississippi Legislature; six years in the State Senate; Presidential Elector in 1852; was elected a Representative to the Thirty-third Congress; was re-elected to the Thirty-fifth Congress; and also to the Thirty-sixth, serving on several important commit- tees; and, in 1861, joined his fortunes with the great rebellion. Dr. Singleton's great-grandfather, Louis Sin- gleton, was also a prominent man in the early history of Kentucky, being at one time Sheriff of Jessamine County, and also a member of the State Senate. The family came from England, and settled in Virginia and North Carolina, onc branch finally coming to the West. The other more distinguished members of the family are Generals Singleton of South Carolina and Illinois. Dr. Singleton received a liberal education, chiefly ob- tained at Georgetown College, in the District of Colum-

bia. At the commencement of the civil war, he entered the Confederate army ; served in Northern Virginia and in the West, participating in many of the great battles, including the Seven Pines, the battles around Rich- mond, at Leesburg, around Atlanta; and was finally paroled at Grenada, Mississippi, while serving under Gen. Forrest. He began the study of medicine at Louisville, Kentucky, and graduated in the Spring of 1866, from the medical department of the Louisville University, and at once entered upon the practice of his profession in that city. Four years subsequently, he was elected Professor of Anatomy in the Evansville Medical College, Indiana, and, after filling that position for one year, removed to Canton, Mississippi; but, owing to the political disturbance of the country, in 1875, again resumed the practice in Louisville. He has been, for several years, member of the hospital staff of the Louisville City Hospital, and has been a member of the Indiana, Mississippi, and Kentucky State Medical Societies; is a man of fine ability, great energy and activity, of admirable personal appearance and attractive manners, and has already taken a high position in his profession. Religiously, he is connected with the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, South. Dr. Singleton was mar- ried, in 1870, to Rhoda C. Peter, daughter of Arthur Peter, the well-known druggist, of Louisville, and niece of the distinguished Professor Robert Peter, of Lexington.

AYNE, JUDGE WILLIAM HENRY, Law- yer, was born August 23, 1817, in Fairfax County, Virginia. His father, Edmund Payne, was a farmer. His ancestors came from Scot- land, early in the history of this country. His mother was of English descent. Judge Payne received a good English education, and, after teaching in a country school for a year or two, began the study of the law, under Grider and Loving, prominent lawyers of Bowling Green, and, at the age of twenty-one, entered upon the practice of his profession in that town. After engaging in the practice of the law for a few years, fail- ing health induced him to engage in more active pursuits, until in 1861, when he again resumed the practice of his profession. In 1851, he became judge of his county, and held the position until the commencement of the civil war. In i867, he was elected to the State Senate, serving a regular term of four years. Politically, he is a Democrat, and, during the war, was a Union man. lle is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and is prom- inent in some society orders, and stands high profession- ally and as a citizen. Ile was married, in IS40, to Lucy A. Loving, sister of Judge Loving; and, after her death, was again married, in 1846, to E. T. Stubbins, daugli- ter of Samuel Stubbins.

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UNCAN, WILLIAM McKEE, Lawyer, was born May 19, 1849, at Lancaster, Kentucky. Dr. Benj. F. Duncan, his father, was a native of Lincoln County ; practiced his profession the greater part of his life at Lancaster, and was the son of Benj. F. Duncan, who came from Virginia at an early day, and became prominently identified with the growth and prosperity of Lincoln County, representing it for a number of years in both branches of the State Legislature. His parents were both of Scotch ancestry. His mother was Jane Logan (McKee) Duncan, a native of Garrard County, and daughter of Hon. Samuel McKee, a Virginian, who be- came a prominent lawyer and politician of Garrard County, Kentucky; and was, for a long time, Circuit Judge, and, for a number of years, Congressman from this State. William McKee Duncan graduated at Cen- tre College, in 1870; in that year, ran on the Repub- lican ticket for Clerk of Garrard County Court, but was defeated by seventeen votes; was admitted to the bar in 1871; in the following year, was elected Police Judge of Lancaster, and held the position two years; and, in 1874, was elected County Judge of Garrard County, and is one of the youngest lawyers in the State holding an office of the kind. He is a Republican in politics, and cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. U. S. Grant. Religiously, he is a Presbyterian ; is a lawyer of fine ability ; has fine personal and business habits, and unapproachable integrity of character. Mr. Duncan was married, December 17, 1874, to Miss Alice Simmons, a native of Nelson County, and daughter of Greenbury Simmons, a farmer of that county.

ANO, STEPHEN FRANKLIN, M. D., Phy- sician and Surgeon, was born April 2, 1807, in Georgetown, Kentucky. His ancestors were Huguenots, and were driven from France under the edict of Nantes, some of them settling, first, near New Rochelle, New Jersey. Rev. John Gano, his grandfather, was a native of New Jersey ; was the first Baptist minister who ever preached in Philadelphia, and became one of the most eminent clergymen of his day. He spent many years as an itinerant, traveling from New England to the South ; and was, for twenty-five years, stationed in New York City. Two of his sons were engaged in the war of the Revolution ; and he was a chaplain in the Continental army ; and, by his prayers and great influence, did much to strengthen the American cause. He came to Ken- tucky as early as 1788. He reared a large family of children, all of whom were men of distinction. (See sketch of Capt. Daniel Gano, one of his sons.) His son Stephen was, for thirty-seven years, pastor of the

Roger Williams Church, Rhode Island; and his son Gen. Richard M. Gano was one of the prominent actors in the early history of Kentucky. Gen. Rich- ard M. Gano married Elizabeth Ewing, a native of Bedford County, Virginia, and a member of the dis- tinguished family of that name in that State and Kentucky. They had seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the youngest. Dr. Gano received a thorough education, the best that could be obtained in the State, mainly in his native town. In his nineteenth year, he began the study of med- icine, under Dr. Ewing, of Georgetown, and Dr. Dan- iel Drake, of Cincinnati ; and, in the Spring of 1828, graduated in the Medical Department of Transylvania University. He at once entered upon the practice of his profession in his native town, in connection with his brother-in-law, Dr. Ewing, soon succeeding to a large business, and taking rank among the most valuable men of his profession in Central Kentucky. For a half cent- ury, he has been engaged in successful and laborious practice; and yet he has found time to devote to public affairs, being identified with nearly every movement of interest to his community throughout his long and ac- tive life. In 1837, he was elected to the Legislature, as a Whig; again, in 1847; and, in 1862, was again induced to serve the people in that body, without ref- erence to party. He received a commission from Presi- dent Lincoln as lieutenant-colonel, and acted as sur- geon of the Seventh District of Kentucky, performing the duties of that position during the civil war, and finally received an honorable discharge from Mr. Lin- coln. He was elected Chairman of the Executive Com- mittee of the Kentucky State Grange, without his knowledge, and has discharged its duties for three years, and has taken a prominent part in forwarding the prin- ciples and benefits of that organization. For thirty years he has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Georgetown College, and has long been Secretary of the Board, and always one of its most active and efficient workers. For over thirty years, he has been an earnest member of the Baptist Church, and one of the leaders in all of its good works. He is a man of scholarly at- tainments and habits; is possessed of high literary cul- ture and refined taste; is broad and open-handed in his charities; is liberal and magnanimous in his treatment of others; has been distinguished throughout his life by the highest display of Christian character; and is one of the most valuable, highly esteemed, and popular men in Scott County. Dr. Gano was married, in 1831, to Miss Mary J. Herndon, a lady of many admirable and valuable qualities, who has contributed greatly to his usefulness and success, who has herself been of great worth to the community, and who is still living, a pil- lar of strength by his side. They have four living chil- dren-three daughters and one son.

of A Grano

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OWARD, JOHN, one of the early settlers of Kentucky, was born in Virginia; served in the. Revolutionary War, and received five wounds at the battle of Guilford. He received a fine education, and was, for a time, President of Princeton College. He first appeared at Boones- borough, Kentucky, in 1775, and subsequently made this State his home. He was, for eighty years, a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church. He outlived all of his family except one daughter, and, at the time of his death-which occurred at the residence of Major Wooley, at Lexington-he was one hundred and three years old. Benjamin Howard, once Governor of Missouri, who died at St. Louis in 1814, was his only son.

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OTTS, HON. WILLIAM SCOTT, Lawyer and Politician, son of George Washington and Ann (Scott) Botts, was born February 18, 1810, in Flemingsburg, Kentucky. His father was a native of Stafford County, Virginia; was a merchant and trader; came to Kentucky in 1793, and located in Lewis County, then a part of Mason ; he was lieutenant, captain, and brevet major in the war of 1812; and died on the 20th of March, 1827, at Flemingsburg, where he had resided for a num- ber of years. Ann Scott, his mother, was a Pennsyl- vanian by birth, and daughter of William Scott, an early settler in Fayette County, Kentucky. The subject of this sketch received a liberal education at Transylvania University, Kentucky, and at the University of Vir- ginia, at Charlottesville, Virginia. On leaving the Uni- versity, in 1829, he entered on the study of the law, under Judge John Boyle, of Boyle County, a distin- guished Chief-Justice of the Court of Appeals. For three years he studied and attended law lectures at Transyl- vania University, where he graduated, in 1831. From this time till 1842, he was engaged in trading and specu- lating. But, in 1842, he concluded to enter upon the profession for which he had prepared, and, accordingly, opened his office at Flemingsburg, where he has since resided; made a large and valuable practice; been ex- tensively connected with the business and politics of the country, and taken a position among the leading men of the State. In 1841, he was elected to the Lower House of the State Legislature; in 1846, was re-elected to the same House; in 1862, was again elected to the House of Representatives; and, in 1863, was elected to the State Senate, and served four years. In 1850, he was elected the first County Judge of Fleming County, under the provisions of the new Constitution, then just come into effect. This office he held four years. He was a delegate to the National Convention, hield at Baltimore, in the interest of Gen. Harrison, in 1840; and again, in

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The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 111

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