The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 113

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 113

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CLEOD, HON. HENRY CLAY, Lawyer and Soldier, was born June 3, 1833, in Bour- bon County, Kentucky. His father, George McLeod, was a native of Virginia, of Scotch parentage; was brought to Kentucky when nine years old, first settling in Lexington, afterwards removing to Bourbon County. His mother was Cath- erine Miller, and was a native of Bourbon County. He was liberally educated, chiefly at the school of John Russell, at Owingsville, and in the best schools of his native county. At the age of twenty-one, he deter- mined on the profession of law; read a year with Major J. E. Hoskins, of Versailles, and the year following attended the Law School of Transylvania University, at Lexington, when Judge Robertson was a professor, numbering among his classmates Gen. Bazil Duke, Speed S. Goodloe, and a number of others, who became men of note. He graduated in 1857, was admitted to the bar, and immediately entered into partnership and practice with his former preceptor, Major Hoskins, at Versailles, continuing with flattering success till the breaking out of the civil war, in 1861, when he espoused the cause of the National Government, and entered the Sixth Kentucky Federal Infantry, with Colonel, after- wards General, W. C. Whitaker commanding; was afterwards elected captain, which rank he held till 1863, when he resigned on account of ill health. He participated in the battles of Shiloh (where he was wounded), Stone river, Perryville, and many other en- gagements of less importance. As soon as his health permitted, he resumed his law practice in Versailles; and, in 1863, was elected to the Legislature; was a member during the arduous and important sessions of the war, and was prominent in many committees, in- cluding the Statute Revising Committee. In 1861, he was elected County Attorney for Woodford County, and was again elected to the same position in 1865. Since the dissolution of the Whig party, he has been identified with the Democracy, and takes an active interest in the politics of the State and nation. He is an active mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He was

married, in 1864, to Miss Alice Todd Field, daughter of Willis Field, of Woodford County. Capt. McLeod was brave to rashness as a soldier; is a lawyer of ability; is unaggressive and unostentatious in manners; has a high sense of professional and personal honor; and stands deservedly high at the bar, and in the community, of which he is one of its most upright and valuable members.

HORNBERRY, JAMES WARREN, was born May 21, 1840, at Litchfield, Grayson County, Kentucky. His father, W. T. Thornberry, a tobacco dealer, is a prominent citizen of Padu- cah, Kentucky. The family is of English ori- gin. James W. Thornberry received his early education in the best schools of Paducah ; subsequently, after a thorough course of four years, graduated, in 1860, at Georgetown, Kentucky, and attended the Law School at Louisville. But, after finishing his preparatory legal studies, he abandoned his intentions of professional life, and accepted the position of General Contracting Agent of all the railroads centering at Paducah, Kentucky, which position he has since filled with unusual ability and fidelity, and to the fullest satisfaction of his princi- pals. Attentive to every detail of business, prompt in all his engagements, he yearly handles millions of dol- lars. His bills of lading have such high repute that cash can always be had for their value. His method of accounts is so plain and correct that letters come from even England inquiring the name of the agent drawing the bills, and in New York City these same bills of lading are considered the plainest to be found. He was once a Director of the Old Paducah and Gulf Railroad. In 1868, he was the youngest member of the City Council of Paducah. He is identified, politically, with the Democratic party. He was married, in 1861, to Ann T., daughter of Thomas Smarr, of Georgetown, Kentucky, and by this union has two children. James W. Thornberry is a man of much force of character, of fine executive and administrative ability, of high stand- ing in business and social circles ; popular, and a rising man, whose energy, ability, and integrity bid fair to make a future of usefulness and honor.

EWMAN, WILLIAM H., Merchant, was born February 8, 1831, in Monroe County, Kentucky. His father, Josiah Newman, was a native of South Carolina, and of English extraction. His family were among the early settlers of Ken- tucky. His education was obtained in the pri- vate schools of the country, and he was chiefly engaged on his father's farm until his twenty-first year, when

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he went to Louisville, and entered the drug house of Edwin Morris; but soon after engaged in the boot and shoe house of Harvey, Keith & Company, where he re- mained until the breaking out of the war, when he engaged in trading, with great success, on the southern borders of Kentucky, for several years. He returned to Louisville, and, soon after, the house of Johnson, Newman & Company was started, and, through all the financial fluctuations, has not only passed with great safety, but has been one of the most successful firms in the country, its members taking position among the most energetic, enterprising, upright, and substantial business men of Louisville. He has been for a number of years, Director in the Merchants' Insurance Company, of that city, but has devoted himself mainly to the inter- ests of his business, declining public trusts of any kind. In politics, although decided in his views, he avoids noisy contests, and is ranked as a conservative Demo- crat. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and freely gives his influence and means for the furthering of the moral and religious influences of the community. Mr. Newman was married, October 30, 1856, to Miss Bet- tie Howard, daughter of John C. Howard, of Monroe County, Kentucky ; and three children were the result of this union. Their daughter Mary is the wife of Peyton N. Clark, a young business man of Louisville. Their other children' are, Sanford Keith and Bessie Newman.

ORD, JAMES PANNEL, SR., Farmer and Manufacturer, was born February 18, 1807, near Versailles, Woodford County, Kentucky. His father, Absalom Ford, was a Virginian who moved to Kentucky in 1795, settling at the present homestead of the family, in Franklin

County. His mother was Mary Romsdell, also a Vir- ginian. He is one of a family of thirteen children, all of whom are deceased except one brother and himself. He remained on his father's estate till his thirtieth year, when, his father dying, he bought a farm in the neigh- borhood, on which he still lives; and, in addition to his farm interests, has for twenty years, carried on the mill- ing and distilling business. In politics, he has always taken a prominent part ; was of the Whig party till its dissolution, and since has identified himself with the Democrats. For many years, he held the office of magis- trate of his preeinct. On the breaking out of the war, he raised his voice for the Union, taking a firm stand against secession; in 1865, was elected to the Legisla- ture; and again, in 1869, serving two years more in that body. In 1837, he was married to Miss Rust, who died in 1843; in 1845, was married to Miss Elizabeth E. Harper, a relative of John Harper, the celebrated stock- raiser, of Woodford County. They have three living

children, two sons and a daughter, Maria L., who is the wife of W. H. Sellers, a manufacturer of Franklin County. Mr. Ford is a leading member of the Chris- tian Church; takes an active interest in religious matters, and assists, both with sympathy and purse, every move- ment tending to the moral advancement of the com- munity. He is a benevolent, progressive, liberal, and moral man, possesses a sound judgment, and is a useful, popular, and valuable member of his community.

ERKINS, BENJAMIN T., JR., Lawyer, was born September - 12, 1846, in Todd County, Kentucky. The family is of English origin, and was among the early settlers in the Colo- nies from the mother country, taking up their residence in Virginia. They remained in Vir- ginia but a short time, when, following the general drift of the population westward, they soon found themselves in the wilds of Kentucky, exposed to all the dangers of a life on the frontier. His grandfather arrived in Ken- tucky some time prior to the year 1800, and made his abode in a very fertile portion of the State, where he followed the occupation of a farmer. His son, the father of the subject of this sketch, Benjamin T. Perkins, be- came a very prominent and leading citizen of his county ; is a lawyer by profession ; a resident of Todd County. Benjamin Taylor Perkins, Jr., received a liberal educa- tion, though his later studies were somewhat inter- rupted by the war. He chose for his profession the one of which his father was a distinguished member, and commenced diligently to qualify himself for its pur- suit. In the Winter of 1866-67, he became a student in the law department of the University of Virginia ; and, after passing through a course of study at that institu- tion, entered the Law School of Louisville, Kentucky. He continued his studies in that school until the year 1868, when he was awarded his diploma, entitling him · to practice in any of the courts. He now returned to his home, and immediately commenced the practice of his profession; and, by his talents and virtues, rapidly rose in the estimation of the community. After he had been engaged in practice for a period of two years, he was, as a mark of appreciation of his legal ability, chosen to the position of Commonwealth's Attorney, and held this office for four years. In 1874, he entered into partnership with his father, in the practice of his profession ; and has been actively engaged in its pursuit, with but slight interruptions, up to the present time. In 1875, he was appointed aid-de-camp to the Governor of the State, with the rank of colonel. He was ap- pointed, by the State Convention, a delegate from the Third Congressional District, to attend the National Democratie Convention, held at St. Louis, Missouri,

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June 27, 1876. He was married, on the thirty-first day of October, 1867, to Miss Roxie Weathers, daughter of the late Thornton Weathers, a highly respected farmer of Nelson County, Kentucky. Mr. Perkins evinces gen- uine talent as a lawyer; is a man of fine personal ap- pearance, tall, well-proportioned, and dignified in his bearing; has a pleasant and cheerful disposition; and is highly esteemed by a large circle of acquaintances.

ARSHALL, WILLIAM JEFFERSON, Farmer and Tobacco Merchant, was born December 26, 1827, in Henderson County, Kentucky. His ancestors were among the most illustrious fami- lies of American history. His grandfather, Col. William Marshall, was a native of Meck- lenburg County, Virginia, where he followed the occu- pation of a merchant. When the Colonies revolted, to throw off the yoke of Great Britain, and engaged in the conflict which resulted in their supremacy and the es- tablishment of the present great Republic, he was found in the ranks, nobly battling for the cause of liberty. His father, William Marshall, was a farmer of Mecklen- burg County, Virginia, and, being of an adventurous and enterprising spirit, early determined to emigrate to the West, and was one of the early pioneers who set- tled in the fertile Ohio valley. He located in Hender- son County, Kentucky, where he gave his time to agricultural pursuits; and became one of the prominent citizens of his county. His wife was a native of Pow- hatan County, Virginia, and was closely related to the illustrious Thomas Jefferson. William Jefferson Mar- shall received a liberal education, attending the best schools of his native town, and completing his advanced studies in Kenyon College, Ohio, and Centre College, Danville, Kentucky. After finishing his education, he engaged in mercantile pursuits; forming a partnership in business with Samuel Stites, of Henderson. This firm continued in operation from 1843 to 1850; when, his health becoming feeble, he was forced to retire from the business to engage in an occupation more favorable to the restoration of his shattered strength. He accordingly purchased a farm near the town, and entered upon the healthful duties of a farmer's life. He met with success in his new occupation, and was consequently soon in the enjoyment the most vigorous health. IIe remained on the farm until 1865, when he resolved to return to mercantile pursuits. He removed to Henderson, where he commenced in the commission business, but engaged in this only for a short time. In the Fall of 1865, he organized the banking-house of Green, Marshall & Co., which afterwards became the house of W. J. Marshall & Co. This bank continued in operation until the year 1868, when, the firm being dis-

solved, the business was transferred to the Farmers' Bank, of which he was made a director. The house of W. J. Marshall & Co. does an extensive business, doing the shipping for almost every factory in Henderson, and handling from eight to ten thousand hogsheads of to- bacco each year. He is the agent of the large tobacco house of John Stewart Oxley & Co., of London, Eng- land. He has filled many important positions of a pub- lic character, and his service has always been marked by the display of sound judgment and unquestioned integ- rity. He is a member of the Water-works commission of his town, and is also one of the school trustees. He was one of the first Directors of the Evansville, Hen- derson, and Nashville Railroad. He was married, in 1853, to Miss Lucy Frances Posey, daughter of William T. Posey, one of the leading citizens and most success- ful farmers of his county, and grandson of Gen. Thomas Posey, one of the patriots of 1776. Eight children are the issue of this marriage, and live to lighten the cares of his declining years. Mr. Marshall is a gentleman of eminent ability and great moral worth; and his efforts, in the course of his career, have met with unqualified success. Generous and philanthropic in his sympathies, and possessing a pleasant disposition and genial man- ners, he has won the strongest attachment of a host of warm friends; and his great public spirit and services place him high in the estimation of the community. He is a member and elder of the Presbyterian Church, having joined this faith in 1840; and has been, for ten years, superintendent of the Sunday-school of his Church.

ALDEN, ELDER JESSE, Clergyman, was born March 20, 1833, in Putnam County, Indiana. The Waldens trace their origin to the sect of the Waldenses, of Wales, of whom four brothers emigrated to North Carolina, in 1725, finally settling in Virginia. His grand-parents came from that State to Kentucky during its early settlement, and afterwards went to Ohio, where his father, Benjamin Walden, was born. His mother was a Wilson, whose family was of Scotch-Irish descent. He enjoyed supe- rior educational advantages, being first a student of Waveland Academy, at Waveland, Indiana, and then of the North-western Christian University, of Indianap- olis, where he graduated, in 1858. He was, till 1859, a teacher in the Academy at Ladoga, Indiana, when he / removed to Kentucky, and entered upon the work of the Christian ministry, at Nicholasville. In the Fall of 1860, he commenced teaching in the Academy and Orphans' School at Midway, remaining till 1861, when he established a school near Nicholasville, and continued it successfully till 1864, when he discontinued teaching altogether, devoting his time entirely to his clerical du-

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ties; and finally settled in Garrard County. He has contributed articles, both educational and religious, to the press of the country. He has always been a Demo- crat in his political views, and takes an active interest in matters of public welfare, especially such as relate to the growth and encouragement of educational enter- prise ; has long been school examiner for his county ; is an energetic business man, and an earnest, hard worker in the ministry ; progressive in his ideas, and is engaged in much benevolent work among the poor, taking great pleasure and pride in doing good at his own expense, and without the desire for reward or display. He is engaged with his brother, W. P. Walden, in his mercan- tile and mill interests, and is a fine business man, teach- ing in his every-day upright and useful life the truth and virtue of his faith. Elder Walden was married, in 1865, to Mary J. Leavel, daughter of 'Squire T. Leavel, of Garrard County. They have two children.

ENNINGTON, CAPT. AARON, Retired Pilot and Steamboat Captain, was born November 10, 1818, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father, Capt. Samuel Pennington, a native of Philadelphia, was well known as an expert pilot and prudent captain; he made his first visit to Louisville in 1820. His grandfather, Nathan Pennington, was born at Dutch Farm, near Newark, New Jersey; when nineteen, volunteered in the Conti- nental army; was taken prisoner, sent to Quebec; was almost starved to death, and finally, with several others, succeeded in a daring escape. He afterwards served in the army in the Whisky Insurrection. The mother of the subject of this sketch was Mary Rotan, and the family moved to Louisville in 1820. Aaron Pennington attended school till sixteen years old, when he went on the river to become a pilot, and as such and as captain was on the river twenty-one years. He was Captain of the " Mountaineer," about the earliest weekly packet between Louisville and St. Louis; commanded the " Kate Obra" when she collided with the " Cora Bloden," and sunk at Plum Point, on the Mississippi ; was Captain of the "Vicksburg" when she sunk at Red River Cut-off; was also in charge of the "Sum- merville" when she sunk at President's Island, below Memphis, Tennessee. Although in these catastrophes much property was lost, yet there was no loss of life. In 1846, when Col. Martin was recruiting troops for the Mexican War, he was made captain of a company of cavalry. He was at the battle of Buena Vista, where he lost nine men of his company, and was in several skirmishes during the campaign, but returned without a wound. His company was for a time in IIumphrey Marshall's regiment. He retired from the river interests

in 1861, with quite a competency in worldly goods; purchased a farm at Hobb's Station, not far from Louis- ville, where for ten years he led a quiet, independent life. He finally sold his farm, invested his money care- fully, and now lives at the Willard Hotel, in Louisville. He is a Master Mason. He married, September 7, 1848, Elizabeth, daughter of Stephen Chenoweth, of Louisville. His only child died when an infant. Polit- ically, Captain Pennington was formerly a Henry Clay Whig, later a sympathizer with the Southern cause, and now a Democrat. He left the river mainly to avoid serving against his Southern friends. He possesses a high sense of honor, is upright in his dealings, and is a valuable citizen; and, having commenced life penniless, owes his position and fortune to his own efforts.

ILLS, JOHN FULTON, Lawyer, son of Rev. Samuel H. and Rebecca (Loraine) Wills, was born January 14, 1824, in Abingdon, Washing- ton County, Virginia. His father, who was also a Virginian, died in 1855. His mother was a native of Maryland, of French descent, and traced her lineage to Louis Philippe; was an au- thoress, and a lady of distinguished ability. Mr. Wills attended Emory and Henry Colleges, at Washington, Virginia, where he finished his literary education. Then studied law with Samuel Logan, of Abingdon. In 1851, after his return from the expedition to Cuba, under Gen. Lopez, his colonel being Theodore O'Hara, was admitted to the bar in Clarke County, Indiana; but, in 1852, removed to Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, and com- menced the practice of law. In 1861, he was practicing in Marion County; but his sympathy with the Confeder- ate cause obliged him to remove further South. He afterwards returned North, and was actively interested in establishing the order of "Knights of the Golden Circle," at different points in Indiana and Illinois; at the same time filling the position of Clerk of the Circuit Court. After the close of the war, he returned to Ken- tucky, and took the oath of allegiance in Louisville; then went to Lawrenceburg, where he resumed his prac- tice, and has since resided. He has been a leading member of the Democratic party ever since he came to Kentucky, and prominent in every political controversy. His outspoken partisanship has incurred the displeasure of many of opposite views; but his genial good humor prevents any lasting ill-will. He was Examiner and Commissioner of the Circuit Court; also, Police Judge for many years, both in Lawrenceburg and Marion County. Is now United States Commissioner, appointed by the United States Court at Louisville; and has since the war held the position of agent for the Agricultural Department at Washington. Having been opposed to

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the Government during the war, he, of course, was in- cluded in the restrictions of the "Fourteenth Amend- ment," and in 1865, he presented a petition to Con- gress, through the members from his district, J. P. Knott and J. B. Beck, which was expressed in humor- ous rhyme, praying that the "ban " might be removed, and those suffering from it "relieved ;" which was done in his case at once, by unanimous consent of the mem- bers. Mr. Wills is a man of medium height, with a fine head and quite classical features; is independent in thought and act, even to the hinderance of his worldly advancement; and has a keen sense of the ludicrous, as is evinced by some of his fine poetical effusions and his daily life. He was married, October 1, 1857, to Miss Mary Miller, daughter of Umstead Miller, of Anderson County.

RENTICE, GEORGE D., Poet and Editor, was born December 18, 1802, in an old-fashioned cottage in Preston, Connecticut. He exhib- ited an uncommon faculty for learning, and, at the age of three years, could read the Bible ; at fifteen was ready for college ; entered Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, where he became a fine scholar, and graduated in 1823. While in col- lege, he recited from memory, at a single lesson, the twelfth book of the ÆEneid, and performed many other remarkable feats of memory. He studied law, but find- ing it unsuited to his tastes, began life as an editor, on the "Connecticut Mirror," in 1825 ; was connected with John G. Whittier in the publication of the "New Eng- land Weekly Review ;" during the Presidential contest of 1828, came to Kentucky, and wrote the life of Henry Clay ; settled in Louisville, in the Fall of 1830, and, on November 24 of that year, issued the first number of the "Louisville Daily Journal," which he continued to edit until 1868; and, although commencing in Kentucky poor and without friends, he became a great power in the State. In 1868, the "Journal" was united with the "Courier," and, after becoming the "Cour- ier-Journal," he continued as one of its editors until toward his death. His paper was free from clique influ- ence, but became intensely partisan, and was especially the champion of Mr. Clay and his teachings. From 1830 to 1861, his influence, which was direct, positive, and personal, probably became as great as that of any political writer who had lived in this country. He had distinguished himself in his college days by great vigor of thought, beauty and correctness of style, and some of his finest poetical productions were written at that time; and, during his long editorial life, he wrote more and probably better than any journalist who has ever lived in Kentucky, his paper not only acquiring distinc- tion throughout the United States, but even in Europe. I

He was considered among the first of American editors. He published but two works, his " Life of Henry Clay," and his " Prenticeana;" the last work (issued in 1860) being composed chiefly of his humorous and satirical paragraphs, published from time to time in the columns of the "Journal." At the breaking out of the civil war, he espoused the cause of the Government, and, although using his pen with great power against the rebellion and its abettors, he performed many acts of individual kindness to those opposed to him, and did much toward ameliorating the hardships of the times among his neighbors. He was not, strictly speaking, quarrelsome, but brave and aggressive; was ready, at any time, to support his doctrines by muscular strength, as well as by his pen, and was seldom or never worsted ; was witty, powerfully sarcastic, and humor- ous; strong, logical, convincing, withering, daring, and reckless; was the idol of his party; yet at the same time a genial, graceful, cultivated man of the world. Although a poet of great beauty, and more than ordi- nary ability, he cared but little for his poems. Among the best of his poetical writings are, "The Closing Year," "Lines on my Mother's Grave," "Lines to my Son," and "To an Absent Wife." But he wrote many that were good, and hardly any thing that was inferior. He did much for others, and asked little for himself; put hundreds of men into office, but never asked an office for himself; cared little for money, but had what he needed, and was for thirty-five years uninterruptedly successful. Withal, he was somewhat morbid in his tend- encies, and, as he grew older, ambition deserted him ; he withdrew from close intercourse with men; society bored him ; and, although living out nearly the allotted time, his heart became sore, and much of the glad joy of life was gone. After weeks of prostration, he quietly died January 22, 1870, and probably few men were ever fol- lowed to the grave by a more touching demonstration of public interest. He gave bountifully to all men; was physically and mentally afraid of no man, and was an intellectual match for any man. As a great writer and partisan editor, he was second to no man, either in this country or Europe, and, as a poet, few men were his superiors in any country. He was the patron of all de- serving talent, and, to his fostering care, much of the finest poetic and art genius of the West owes its devel- opment. His name stands with that of Clay, Critten- den, and Marshall. Mr. Prentice was married, in 1835, to Miss Henrietta Benham, daughter of Joseph Ben- ham, a distinguished lawyer of Kentucky. He had two sons: William Courtland Prentice, who became a Con- federate soldier, and died while leading his company in the battle of Augusta, Kentucky; and Clarence J. Prentice, who was also a Confederate officer, was thrown from his buggy, near Louisville, and killed, in 1873. His wife died in Louisville, in 1868. Much both of

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The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 113

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