The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 112

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

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1852, to the National Convention, at the same place, in the interest of Millard Fillmore; and was also a delegate to the Convention at Cincinnati, in 1872, which nomi- nated Horace Greeley. He voted for Charles Francis Adams on every ballot. Before the war he belonged to the old Whig party of the State; during the entire war of the rebellion, he was an ardent Union man; now, he is a Democrat. He was brought up in the Associate Re- formed Church (Presbyterian), and, although not being directly connected with any Church, has always been a man of exceptionally fine habits ; of fine social standing, genial manners, great executive ability, and integrity of character; and is one of the first and most valuable men of the community in which he has been so long a mem- ber. Mr. Botts has never been married.

OLMESNIL, JOHN D., was born July 31, 1787, in Hayti, where his father then resided, near St. Mark's. His father was an extensive cotton, sugar, indigo, and coffee planter, and owned nearly three thousand slaves, with which he carried on his large planting interests. At the time of the insurrection, a fortification, built on one of his plantations, was attacked by the blacks and taken ; and all who did not escape were massacred-his mother, three sisters, and two brothers being among those cruelly murdered. His father and himself, the only remaining members of the family, were saved through the friendship of old servants of the family. At St. Mark's, his father chartered a vessel, which he loaded with coffee, sugar, and indigo, and sailed to Philadel- phia-a considerable number of his servants choosing to follow him to the United States. Louis Gabriel de Col- mesnil, his father, was a Frenchman; his family belong- ing to the nobility of France. He settled, with his infant son and his servants, near Trenton, New Jersey, where he remained until 1800; when he moved to Geor- gia, settling near Savannah, where he died; and by his will provided that his slaves should be freed, giving to each a small sum of money. His son worked the plan- tation one year, to raise means in order to carry out his father's will in reference to the slaves; which he did by sending them to New York and Philadelphia, as, by the laws of Georgia, they could not be freed in that State. John D. Colmesnil received a grammar-school education, after which he went into business as a clerk in a shipping-house at Savannah ; subsequently, made three trips to the West Indies, as a supercargo; visited his native place, where he recovered a large amount of silver-ware, which he lost in transferring it through the country. On one of these trips to Havana, through some misconduct of his agent there in avoid- ing customs, he was arrested and confined in Moro

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Castle, but was subsequently released by Don Vivas, the Captain-General, who had been an intimate friend and college companion of his father. In 1801, he first visited Louisville, Kentucky. In the following year, he made a very prosperous trip to New Orleans; and afterwards returned to Louisville, where he engaged actively in business, but mainly confined his attention to trading on the river from that city to New Orleans. After engaging several years with Stewart, Tyler & Co., he was engaged with I. A. Honore. But, in 1817, he again returned to the river business; and, after the days of steamboats began, he owned the "Grecian," "Hun- tress," " Louisiana," "Peruvian," "Java," and "Ho- mer," with which he did a profitable business. He afterwards became greatly involved through the failure of a house in New Orleans, and others whom he favored by his credit, but subsequently paid the large indebted- ness brought upon him in that way, maintaining his credit as one of the most determined and upright busi- ness men that Louisville ever had. He finally became dissatisfied with trade, and purchased a beautiful home in Shepherdsville, in Bullitt County, where he hoped to spend the remainder of his life .. But, during the civil war, his home was shorn of much of its beauty and comfort ; and, in the Spring of 1871, he again moved to Louisville, where he died, on the thirtieth day of July in that year. Mr. Colmesnil was twice married ; first, to Miss Honore; and, after her death, to the daughter of Edmund Taylor, about 1826. His wife survived him, as did their children: Lodiska, wife of Col. H. M. McCarty; Courtney, wife of William Mur- phy ; and James G., Charles C., and William T. Col- mesnil, all residents of Louisville.

ARTIN, CAPT. JOHN M., was born in the State of Missouri, in 1812; was the son of James Martin, a musician of some distinction in this country. He received a limited early education, to which, by his naturally fine mind, he added greatly in after life. He began busi- ness as a clerk in a dry-goods store. He was afterwards very successful in the mercantile business, in which he continued for several years. He subsequently engaged in steamboating on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and for forty years was so occupied; and, although meeting the usual reverses of that life, was mainly successful, making a valuable record in connection with the history of the river trade, as well as accumulating a considera- ble fortune. In 1868, he made the race for Sheriff of Jefferson County, Kentucky, and, being elected by a large majority, filled the office, with much satisfaction to the community, for four years, after which he mainly retired from active business. He was long a resident of

Louisville, and, besides being one of its most successful business men, was one of its most public-spirited and valuable citizens ; was liberal in the use of his means for the benefit of society; was upright in all his dealings ; was warm in his friendships; was kind and tolerant in his disposition ; possessed admirable domestic qualities, and stood very high in the estimation of the commu- nity, and his large circle of personal acquaintances. He died in 1874. Mr. Martin was married, in 1835, to Miss Elizabeth Folwell, of Jefferson County, Kentucky, and had seven children. Their son John M. Martin, Jr., is a business man of Louisville; and their son Prof. Wm. Martin is a principal of one of the public-schools of that city.

ERBERT, GEORGE W., Manufacturer, was born at King's Mills, Leicestershire, England, on the first day of January, 1808. He was the son of a highly respected miller of that place. After obtaining a good education, and a thor- ough knowledge of the milling business, he emigrated to this country, in the year 1832, landing at New York with only an English penny in his pocket, but with a determination to make his fortune in the New World. He often said that his cash capital when he landed in the States was so meagre that he deter- mined no money was better than so small an amount; and, as he was leaving the vessel which had conveyed him to our shores, he threw the only penny he had into the ocean, and started on his new life in America absolutely penniless. He camc to Louisville, Kentucky, in the year 1835, and entered into the mill furnishing business, with a Mr. Frazee, as clerk and general stock-keeper. After three years' service in this capacity, Mr. Frazee sold out his stock to him. Pursuing the business with strict economy and increasing his trade, and, from that date until his death, his establishment stood at the head of the manufacturing houses of the city, for commercial sound- ness. In 1861, he was elected by the people of his ward to represent them in the Upper Board of the City Council; in that body, on its organization, unanimously elected Chairman of the Finance Committee. After- wards, he was, without his solicitation, selected by the people of his ward a member of the Board to frame the present City Charter. He was also a director for many years of the Mechanics' Bank. In disposition and man- ners, he was kind and considerate to all, respecting the opinions of those who differed from him, but holding his own convictions with firmness, and in all relations of of life they were generally correct. He was deeply thoughtful, introspective, as well as keenly observant of outward things. His remarks, with an occasional touch of satiric humor, were, in their general spirit, genial and benevolent. He was a devoted husband, and a fond,

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indulgent, and tender parent. Having come to this country and to Louisville to make it his home, he never returned to his native land; but, after a busy life of thirty-seven years in the city, faithfully attended to up to the time of his last illness, having carefully put his house in order, he departed this life, Sunday, Septem- ber 8, 1872. His remains were interred at Cave Hill Cemetery.

WEENEY, HON. WILLIAM N., Lawyer, was born May 5, 1832, in Casey County, Kentucky. His father, Joel Sweeney, was educated as a lawyer, but was, throughout his life, Clerk for Casey County. The family moved from Vir- ginia to Kentucky at a very early day. His mother, Obedience Edwards, was a Kentuckian, and daughter of Jesse Edwards, a farmer of Greene County. William N. Sweeney received a good education, which he finished at Bethany College; read law, under his father and McDowell Fogle; was admitted to the bar; served as deputy clerk, under his father, until his twenty- first year, when he removed to Owensboro, and com- menced the practice of the law, in connection with his preceptor, Mr. Fogle. He afterwards formed a business connection with R. H. Taylor, also with John Pope and Judge Stewart, and is now associated with his son, James J. Sweeney. In 1854, he was elected county at- torney; served four years; in 1868, was elected to Con- gress, and, serving one term, declined re-election. In politics, he has always been a Democrat; and, in 1860, was candidate for Presidential Elector, on the Breckin- ridge ticket. He has been, for many years, a Director in the Deposit Bank of Owensboro, and has been promi- nently identified with all the leading interests of his community. He is a good writer, a fine conversation- alist, a ready and fluent speaker; has devoted himself with great persistence to his profession, and is one of the most successful and influential lawyers in his part of the State. Mr. Sweeney was married, in 1854, to Miss Lizzie Rogers. They have three sons and one daughter. His oldest son is his law partner.

PAULDING, DANIEL, JR., Tobacco Mer- chant, was born in January, 1814, near Hali- fax, Nova Scotia. His father, Daniel Spauld- ing, a gentleman of Scotch descent, came to Kentucky in 1815; and, from 1824 to 1835, carried on a tobacco manufactory, at Mays- ville. Up to his thirteenth year, Danicl Spaulding, Jr., attended the schools of Maysville, when he commenced working in his father's factory; and, seven years later, in 1834, with his older brother, bought out his father,

who retired from active business, his sons carrying on the factory till November, 1849. In 1837, he engaged in the grocery business at Mt. Vernon, Indiana ; but, after one year's work, and but little profit in the enter- prise, he gave it up to return to his business at Mays- ville. In 1849, he located at Louisville, commenced the manufacture of tobacco, and continued in business, on Main Street, till 1860, when he moved to his present location on Chapel Street. He has been quite successful in business, and especially so during the war. From 1862 up to 1875, he either was Councilman or Alder- man from his ward each year; from 1865 to 1868, he was President of the Common Council; was, for one year, President of the Board of Aldermen; has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Louisville Uni- versity since 1866; was President of the Board of Man- agers of the Louisville House of Refuge in 1865. Polit- ically, he was a Henry Clay Whig; in 1854, was an active member of the Know-Nothing party, but, since 1860, has been identified with the Democratic party. Mr. Spaulding was connected with the Sons of Temperance from 1846 up to the decline of that order in the State. He united with the Christian Church in 1840; has long been a deacon in that Church, and is a member of the Fourth and Walnut Street Christian Church, of Louisville. He was married, September 19, 1830, to Matilda, daughter of William Campbell, and has nine children, eight of whom are now living. In his busi- ness life, Mr. Spaulding has experienced several reverses by losses by fire, and by being security for the obliga- tions of others; but has, nevertheless, accumulated wealth. He is a warm-hearted and liberal Christian, and one of the first business men of Louisville.

WSLEY, ERASMUS BOYLE, Pork-packer and Provision Dealer, was born February 5, 1811, near Lancaster, Garrard County, Kentucky. His parents were William and Elizabeth (Gill) Owsley. His maternal grandfather, Capt. Sam- uel Gill, served through the Revolution, under Washington. His father, William Owsley, was of the genuine Kentucky stock; a lawyer of fine ability; Judge on the bench of the Court of Appeals; and, from 1844 to 1848, Governor of the State of Kentucky. Gov. Owsley had five children, four of whom were daugh- ters; one marrying Col. Clifton Rhodes, President of the Central National Bank of Danville, Kentucky ; an- other marrying the Hon. S. H. Anderson, member of Congress in 1840; another marrying Judge W. C. Good- loe, of Lexington, Kentucky; and the fourth marrying Chas. H. Talbot, Esq., lawyer of Lexington, Kentucky. (See sketch of Gov. Owsley.) Erasmus B. Owsley rc- ccived his early cducation at home, and at the seminary

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at Richmond, Kentucky; afterwards, was a short time at Centre College, at Danville, Kentucky, and finally at Transylvania University, at Lexington. Soon after leaving school, he began trading, afterwards farmed, and finally began pork-packing and dealing in provis- ions, in which latter business he has engaged for more than a quarter of a century. While upon his farm, he was unfortunate by the burning up of his dwelling; but, like many other business reverses, his energy and ability soon recovered all that he had lost. Mr. Owsley served in the Legislature in 1841-42. Since 1870, he has served on the Board of Public Charities, being chairman of the board. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church of the Southern General Assembly ; and is a Trustee of the Second Presbyterian Church of Louisville, of which the Rev. Stewart Robinson is pastor. Mr. Owsley was married, in 1831, to Caroline E. Talbot, but lost his wife and his only child; on the 24th of May, 1842, he married Elizabeth, daughter of the late Gen. Thomas Bodley, of Lexington, Kentucky; by this marriage, he has three daughters, all married; and one son, just at his majority. Of medium stature, dark brown eyes, and compact frame, Mr. Owsley is genial, warm-hearted, and most hospitable; clear-headed, and strictly just in all his dealings, and strongly attached to home and friends.

LEAVER, WILLIAM WELLS, M. D., Phy- sician and Surgeon, was born March 15, 1827, in Marion County, Kentucky. His parents were David and Lucy (Kirk) Cleaver, both natives of the same county; the latter, daughter of

James Kirk, from Stafford County, Virginia. His father was a farmer and trader, and son of David Cleaver, who came to this State about the beginning of the century, from Maryland. He was educated liberally in the best private schools of the country; in 1846, com- menced reading medicine at Lebanon, in the office of Dr. M. S. Shuck; attended medical lectures, and grad- uated at the University of Louisville, in 1850; began the practice of his profession that year at Lebanon; from 1853 to 1855, practiced in Louisville; in 1855, returned to Marion County, and continued his profession with great success; in 1862, recruited Company K, Eight Kentucky Confederate Cavalry; in the same year, was made as- sistant surgeon of that regiment; was in Gen. Morgan's raid through Ohio; and participated in the great battle of Perryville, and in numerous less important engage- ments. At the close of the war, he resumed the prac- tice of his profession at Lebanon, and has devoted to it his entire attention and energy. At the Presidential election of 1860, he voted for Bell and Everett, the so- called Union candidates. He belongs to the Democratic party. Religiously, he is associated with the Presby-

terian Church. Dr. Cleaver was married, July 9, 1850, to Miss Joanna Grundy, a native of Marion County, Kentucky, and daughter of Felix B. Grundy, a lawyer and farmer of that county.

YLAND, REV. ROBERT, was born March 14, 1805, in King and Queen County, Virginia. His father, Joseph Ryland, was a native of the same county; was descended from the Ry- lands of England; followed agricultural pur- suits mainly; was a man of high moral and social standing; devoted much care to the education and training of his children; and died in Virginia, at the age of eighty-four. Robert Ryland, his third son, after spending five years in the study of the Greek and Latin classics, entered Columbian College, District of Columbia, from which he graduated, in 1826. He was soon after ordained, and entered on his first ministerial charge at the weak Baptist Church at Lynchburg, Vir- ginia. For five years he remained as pastor of that Church, which in that time, from the membership of nineteen, had grown into a large and prosperous con- gregation. In 1832, he took charge of the newly organ- ized manual-labor school at Richmond, under the au- spices of his Church, and designed for the education of ministers of the Gospel. That enterprise soon developed into Richmond College, with him as its president, with a regularly organized faculty, and a considerable endow- ment fund, and was successfully carried on until the com- mencement of the war, when the buildings and grounds belonging to the institution were appropriated to mili- tary purposes, the organization completely broken up, and, during the progress of the war, the property and fund were to a great extent rendered unavailable for future use, although the institution was revived, subse- quently to the war, under a new management. During the great conflict, he devoted himself almost incessantly to the care of the sick and imprisoned soldiers, minis- tering alike to the spiritual and temporal wants of the soldiers of both contending armies. For twenty-five years preceding the close of the civil war, in connection with his duties at the college, he acted as pastor of the First African Church of Richmond, devoting himself, with great singleness of purpose, to the advancement of the spiritual welfare of the colored race. And when the time came, after the close of the war, when they could be presided over by a minister of their own race, he resigned his charge of the Church, amidst many pleasant memories of a long and useful ministerial career. Although the conditions of admitting the colored people into the Church were necessarily strict, he actually baptized and introduced over thirty-eight hundred members during his pastoral charge over the Church. Shortly after the

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close of the war, he removed to Shelbyville, Kentucky. where he took charge of a female college, and more than maintained his former reputation as an able teacher. In 1871, he became president and proprietor of the Lexington Female College, over which he now presides, assisted by his son, daughters, and other able teachers. His active engagements throughout his long life, gave him little opportunity for using his pen, yet he has contributed somewhat to the literature of the Church, and published a small volume, entitled "Lec- tures on the Apocalypse." Many years ago he received the degree of D. D., but placed no stress upon its application to him. He now devotes his attention to the institution over which he has charge, and also min- isters, on the Sabbath, to the Churches of Hardinsville, South Benson, Pleasant Grove, La Grange, Cynthiana, Carlisle, and Bryant Station ; and, at his advanced age, is one of the most laborious and active men in his Church, as well as ranking among the oldest and most thorough scholars and educators of the country. Mr. Ryland was married, May 27, 1830, to Miss Josephine Norvell, of Richmond, Virginia, who died, October 28, 1846, leaving four children. He was again married, June 8, 1848, to Miss Betty P. Thornton, of Caroline County, Virginia, who, with her threc children, is still living.

AIDE, EDWIN F., Lawyer and Merchant, was born February 20, 1822, near Louisville, Kentucky; and is the youngest son of David Waide, a Virginian, who came to Kentucky, and became one of the first " falls pilots," at Louisville. His mother's maiden name was Nancy M. Hughes. She was a daughter of Major John Hughes, of Jefferson County, Kentucky. His father died when he was three years old; and, when he had reached his thirteenth year, his mother died, leaving him without means to shift for himself in the world. He apprenticed himself, for a term of four years, to learn the brick-layer trade; and, by his skill and faith- fulness, gave such satisfaction to his employer that he was given the fourth year of his apprenticeship. By strict economy in working at his trade the next two years, he accumulated some means; and, in 1841, com- menced the study of the law, under Judge Wm. D. Mitchell, of Oldham County, and, in due time, was licensed to practice by Judges J. J. Marshall and James Pryor. He at once entered into partnership with Will- iam T. Barbour, Jr., then practicing in Oldham and ad- joining counties; and, before reaching his twenty-first year, had attained an enviable position in the legal pro- fession. His change from mechanical to professional pursuits, and his great industry and application to busi- ncss, operated seriously on his health, and so compelled

him to abandon the profession, in which he was highly successful, and to which he was greatly attached. He entered into mercantile business at La Grange, which he continued with success for seven years, when failing health compelled him to engage in farming. For five years, he successfully carried on a farm on Harrod's Creek, a few miles from La Grange. In 1860, he em- barked in the wholesale dry-goods business, under the name of Smith & Waide, at Louisville, which he car- ried on successfully for seven years. He then estab- lished the queen's-ware house of Waide, Gaines & Co., in that city, which he managed with success until 1871. In that year, he was elected to the Legislature from the Third Louisville District, consisting of the fourth and fifth wards, by a handsome majority, and without effort on his own part. He acquitted himself with honor in that body, his labors being so favorably received by his constituency as to lead them to urge him to accept a nomination for Representative to Congress, for the Lou- isville district; but, believing himself incompetent to represent that people in Congress, he declined to ac- cept. He was soon after induced to visit Colorado, to look after large mining interests held by the citizens of Louisville, discharging the trust with great satisfaction to those concerned. In the Fall of 1872, the health of his family induced him to settle at Eminence, Henry County, where, shortly afterwards, he engaged in busi- ness as a merchant. Mr. Waide was married, in 1843, to Miss Elizabeth Smith, daughter of Thomas and Eliza- beth Smith, of Henry County, Kentucky; and, from the marriage, has three living children. In 1864, he lost his first wife, who was an earnest Christian woman; and, in the following year, was married to his present wife, Miss Mary J. Bamhill, daughter of William Bam- hill, of Oldham County; and by this marriage has one living child.

ITE, ABRAHAM, Merchant, was born Novem- ber 18, 1799, at his father's house, in Jefferson County, Kentucky, and came of one of the early families from Virginia, who became dis- tinguished among the pioneer settlers of Ken- tucky. His father, Abraham Hite, settled in Jefferson County, in 1782. Abraham Hite acquired a fair education, and, at an early age, began business as a clerk in the house of Robert Ormsby, in Louisville. In 1828, he went in business for himself, in connection with William Fellowes; in 1830, in connection with Ormsby Hite, he opened the wholesale dry-goods house of Ormsby Hite & Co., which connection continued pros- perously for twelve ycars; afterwards re-embarked in the same business with D. B. Lcight, and, in 1855, he temporarily retired. IIc soon after found inactive life unsuited to his inclination, and accepted the Secretary-

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ship of the Franklin Insurance Company, of Louisiana, and continued his connection with that institution for a number of years, with great credit to himself, and with the highest degree of success and satisfaction to the com- pany. He was a man of wide and liberal views; possessed pleasing and attractive manners; was broad in his chari- ties, especially being the friend of the deserving poor; was opposed to fraud and insincerity of every descrip- tion ; was possessed of high moral traits; was an early supporter of the Christian religion; and was one of the most worthy and noted of the old business men of Louisville.

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The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 112

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