The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 126

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 126

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LARKE, ASAHEL RAWLINGS, Lawyer, the only child of John and Nancy (Snodgrass) Clarke, was born February 22, 1844, in Har- rison County, Kentucky. His father was a na- tive of Ireland, a teacher by profession ; came to America when quite a young man ; followed his profession several years in New York; in 1840, located in Harrison County, Kentucky, where he mar- ried Nancy Snodgrass, daughter of Joseph Snodgrass ; in 1842, followed his profession until the breaking out of the war with Mexico, in which he held an important position under Gen. Taylor. The subject of this sketch received a liberal education at Wesleyan University, at Millersburg, Kentucky, leaving that institution in 1861, about the beginning of the war. He at once entered the Confederate army, as a member of the Second Ken- tucky Infantry. For a while his company was a part of the Fifth Infantry, afterwards changed to Ninth. He remained in the army until the close of the war, and was engaged in the battles of Shiloh, Vicksburg (siege of 1862), Baton Rouge, Stone river ; and, in the Spring of 1863, was transferred to John Morgan's command ; served with him until the capture of a considerable por- tion of his forces in Ohio; then spent eighteen months as a prisoner at Camp Douglas. He received a contused grape-shot wound in the breast at Baton Rouge, and a slight wound in the head at Shiloh. In 1865, he re- turned to Falmouth, and commenced reading law. In 1868, he was admitted to the bar, and, during the same year, entered upon the practice of his profession at Fal- mouth, where he has since resided, and been actively engaged in the discharge of the business of his profes- sion. 'In the Fall of 1875, he received the appointment of aid-de-camp, with the rank of colonel, on the staff of Gov. McCreary, and, during the Winter of the same year, became Private Secretary to the Governor. . Mr. Clarke was married, in January, 1870, to Miss Anna

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Swoope, a native of Pendleton County, and daughter of Major Samuel F. Swoope, lawyer, and member of Congress.

ETCHUM, CHARLES, Carpet Dealer, was born in Alleghany County, New York, in 1826. His father, Benjamin Ketchum, a farmer, moved to Burton, Ohio, and engaged in the boot and shoe business, about 1831. The son attended the schools at Burton. In his thirteenth year, he began clerking in a dry-goods store at Charleston, Ohio, continuing there two years. In 1843, he went to Louisville, selling goods for a Market Street merchant for a short while; leaving there, he spent a few months at Middletown, Kentucky. For the next three years, he traveled through Henry and Shelby Counties, sell- ing goods on his own account. Emigrating to Jefferson, Texas, he opened a store, but his failing health forced him to return to Louisville. Forming a partnership with Josiah Bridgeman, they opened a store at New Castle; the death of Bridgeman, in 1850, induced him to buy the deceased partner's interest. In 1858, he re- turned to Louisville; and, forming a partnership with J. H. Wright, in fancy goods and notions, remained in ac- tive business till 1862. He then retired till 1864, when he entered into his present business, with Claudius Du- vall as his partner; bought Duvall out in 1869, and has continued alone in the carpet business up to the present time, with much success. He is interested in lead and silver mining in Western Kentucky, and is anxiously la- boring for the development of the mines. Mr. Ketchum is a Master Mason, in Clark Lodge, No. 57. He was married, July 15, 1861, to Mary A., daughter of George McCracklin, of Taylorsville, Kentucky, and has three living and two deceased children. Mr. Ketchum is a quiet, unassuming gentleman, very prepossessing in ap- pearance and courteous in his manners.

TRUCK, ADOLPH NICHOLAS, Architect and Lumber Dealer, son of John Nicholas Struck, was born at Hamburg, in Germany, March 28, 1827, his father being a real estate agent in that city. He graduated from the Hamburg High-school, in 1842, having received a liberal education, embracing the German, French, and English languages. He then spent one year at carpentering, but, in 1845, started on a four years' tour through the great cities of Germany, studying architecture. From 1849 to 1852, he carried on business in his native city for his uncle ; in February of the latter year, he emigrated to the United States, landing at New York, May 4, 1852; went to Columbus, Ohio, Louisville, Kentucky, and

Canada East, but finally located at Louisville. Here he was employed in his profession till 1862, by R. G. Van- Seggern. From 1862 to 1865, he was actively engaged in business with Martin Gast as his partner. He then visited " the old country" to see his venerable mother, returning after a three months' stay. Before his depart- ure, he formed a partnership with Jacob Walker, and established the well-known "Louisville Planing Mill," on Washington, between Hancock and Clay Streets. The mill burning down in September, 1871, the firm re- built, at the corner of Chestnut and Garden Streets, and in March, 1875, Mr. Struck became sole proprietor. The firm made a specialty of taking contracts to build houses entire, from the ground, and has built over three hundred houses in Louisville. Mr. Struck is a member of Herman Lodge, No. 17, I. O. O. F., and has for years been a director of the I. O. O. F. Insurance So- ciety. He was also, for four years, President of the German National Bank. He has been twice married : first, to Miss Maria Heidorn, of Hamburg, whom he married, July 4, 1855, at Louisville ; the second mar- riage was with Miss Louisa Mayer, of Louisville, on the 3d of May, 1866; by her he has one child. Mr. Struck is a pleasant, kind, and polite gentleman, rather brusque in manner, but intimate acquaintance reveals a genial affability in accord with his other qualities.

WENS, WILLIAM, Lawyer, was born May 4, 1773, in Fauquier County, Virginia. In 1783, he came to Kentucky with Simon Kenton, his uncle. He had few advantages for acquiring an education, and was emphatically a self-made man. He possessed strong native talent, an indomitable will, great perseverance; and, although not a learned man, in the common acceptation of that term, yet became one of the most influential and valuable men of his times in the State. He accompanied Gen. Wayne in his campaign against the Indians, as the commander of a company. He studied law, and practiced his pro- fession in Mercer and adjoining' counties, for several years residing at Danville. In 1807, he located at Co- lumbia, Adair County, where he resided the remainder of his life. He represented Green and Adair Counties in the State Senate for several years, serving in that body from 1815 to 1824. In 1826, he was the opponent of Judge R. A. Buckner for Congress, but was defeated by a small majority. He was for many years Common- wealth's Attorney of his district. He was a prominent member of society; filled many important trusts in his community ; was greatly esteemed for his integrity and general great social worth ; possessed great benevolence, and a broad charity, which was felt by the poor and friendless wherever he went. He was prominently iden-

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tified with several popular social orders. He died No- vember 7, 1847. Col. Owens was married, in 1805, to Miss Mary McClain, of Henry County, Kentucky.

ORGAN, GENERAL JOHN HUNT, was born June 1, 1825, at Huntsville, Alabama. His father, Calvin C. Morgan, was a merchant at that place, and a native of Virginia, and his mother was the daughter of John W. Hunt, of Lexington, Kentucky. In 1829, his parents settled on a farm near the latter city, and he was the oldest of six brothers, five of whom devoted themselves and all they had to the cause of the South, in the late civil war. His brother, Calvin C. Morgan, acted as his agent in Kentucky; Col. Richard Morgan was Adjutant- General to A. P. Hill; Major Carlton Morgan and Lieut. Thomas Morgan belonged to his own command. Gen. Morgan went out as a private in the First Ken- tucky Regiment of Cavalry, under the command of Humphrey Marshall, in the Mexican War; fought with his command, as infantry, at the battle of Buena Vista, and was promoted second lieutenant for gallant conduct. He subsequently engaged in the manufacture of jeans, linseys, and bagging, for the Southern market. In 1857, he was made Captain of the Lexington Rifles, a volunteer infantry company, which became a part of the State guard. At the commencement of the rebellion, he joined the South ; collected a band of followers and es- caped from Lexington, joined Buckner at Bowling Green, proceeded to Murfreesboro, and, not being al- lowed to operate as a partisan ranger, determined to do so without authority, and at once entered upon his won- derful career. In 1862, he received, from Gen. A. S. Johnston, his commission as a colonel, having, at that time, organized a regiment of men; and, in the same year, after the battle of Hartsville, Tennessee, was com- missioned brigadier-general. He made celebrated raids through Kentucky, in August, September, and Decem- ber, of 1862, and was captured during his great raid through Indiana and Ohio, July 26, 1863; escaped from the Ohio penitentiary four months afterwards, and was soon again at the head of his command in the South. He was killed at Greenville, Tennessee, September 4, 1864, being betrayed to the Government troops by Mrs. Lucy Williams, sister-in-law of Major Williams of his own staff, and daughter-in-law of Mrs. Williams, in whose house he was lodging. His style of warfare was chiefly that of the dashing ranger, carrying destruction and dismay wherever.he went; but he engaged in quite a number of severe conflicts, in many of which he was victorious; often joined other commands, sometimes covering the retreating armies, but usually operating on his own responsibility, and gathering to his banner,

without trouble, such men as he needed; and, al- though not a great military man, he was a brave, generous, and dashing warrior. He was a man of at- tractive features, rather florid complexion, six feet high, broad-shouldered, and compactly built, and of admirable soldierly bearing. Gen. Morgan was married to Miss Rebecca Bruce, who died at the commencement of the rebellion, and this event largely influenced him in en- gaging in the war. December 4, 1862, at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, he was married to Miss Ready, daughter of Hon. Charles Ready.

AYS, WILL S., American Ballad-writer, Ed- itor, and Composer, was born July 19, 1837, in Louisville, Kentucky; and is the oldest son of Hugh Hays, a Pennsylvanian by birth, but, since 1832, a successful manufacturer of Louis- ville, Kentucky. He received a liberal educa- tion, at the colleges of Hanover, Indiana ; Clarksville, Tennessee; and Georgetown, Kentucky. His father spared no means or pains to give him a fine education, allowing him, however, to follow his own inclinations ; and, although his school life was somewhat erratic, he displayed uncommon ability, and his advancement in letters was such as to warrant him in selecting any course of life. But, long before his literary education was regularly commenced, he began to exhibit the talents which afterwards gave shape to his career, and which have since led to his recognition among the great, successful ballad-writers of the world. From early boyhood, he could play on almost any kind of of musical instrument; and it is quite certain that he never took lessons from any master in music, unless a few weeks spent with the famous violinist, Plato, be taken into account. Instructors in music, as in letters, seemed among the superfluities to him. While in Han- over College, at Hanover, Indiana, in 1856, he wrote his first published ballad-" Little Ones at Home;" and, from that time, he began to write constantly, his ballads often appearing with great frequency, and seem- ingly without much effort on his part. Although "Lit- tle Ones at Home" was his first printed ballad, "Evan- geline" was the first to which he composed the music. "Evangeline" is probably one of his most beautiful and long-lived productions, having already reached a circulation of three hundred thousand copies. As a writer of prose, he has established some reputation ; and, as such, is noted for his wit and satire. At an early age, he acted as amanuensis to George D. Prentice; and was, for a time, one of the editors of the "Louisville Democrat," afterwards writing on the "Journal;" and, for many years, has been connected with the " Courier-Journal," his articles and daily Ma-

Most Morgane

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rine Column being among the attractive features of that paper. Although Mr. Hays is a natural me- chanic, and turns this faculty to advantage in his home, and various interests outside of his literary pur- suits, yet it is as a musical composer and writer of ballads that he will be known to the world, and as such will live until song itself dies. For ten years he was under contract with his publisher, Mr. John L. Peters, of New York, a native of Louisville, Kentucky; but now writes for Oliver Ditson & Company, Boston; and is one among the very few American ballad-writers who compose their own music; and writes under stipulated contract, both in this country and England. The com- bined circulation of his songs is supposed to have ex- ceeded that of any other American author's composi- tions. Nearly four million copies have been printed and sold, of " Mollie, Darling," "Nora O'Neal," " Driven from Home," " Write Me a Letter," "Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane," "Susan Jane," " We Parted by the River-side," "My Southern Sunny Home," " No- body's Darling," " You've been a Friend to Me," and "Shamus O'Brien," etc. In addition to those named above, there may be mentioned among the most beauti- ful and enduring of his hundreds of ballads, "The Wandering Refugee," "Do not Turn Me from your Door," " Good-by, Old Home," "Moon is out to-night, Love," and "Save one Bright Crown for Me." His songs are simple and melodious, and their great popu- larity justly entitles them to be considered as the volks- lieder of America. As a poet, no other Kentuckian has ranked so high, and, as a ballad-writer, probably no man in the world has attained such distinction, and cer- tainly, in America, his songs are more deeply and last- ingly admired and cherished than those of any other author. Mr. Hays is a man of hardly medium stature, fine features; agreeable, easy, unstudied manners; with a Western tendency toward carelessness in dress and gait ; but should, doubtless, be styled decidedly good- looking. He has always resided in his native city, and there, in 1864, was married to Miss Belle Mccullough, a lady of great beauty of mind and person.

OWAN, HON. JOHN, Lawyer and Statesman, was born in 1771, in York, Pennsylvania. His father, William Rowan, a man of superior mind, was one of the most worthy of the early pio- neers, and had filled the office of High Sheriff in Pennsylvania; and, having lost his fortune during the Revolutionary War, came to the West, with a view to bettering his circumstances. In 1783, he came, with his family, to Kentucky, and settled at Vienna Falls, on the Green river, where he built a fort, and resided until the Indians were driven from the coun-

try. He afterwards removed to Bardstown, and there John Rowan received his education, chiefly under Dr. Priestly, a celebrated teacher of his day. After com- pleting his literary education, he studied law; and, in 1795, entered on the practice of his profession, at Eliza- bethtown, and in the courts of the adjoining counties; from his first efforts he was successful, and rose rapidly to be one of the first lawyers in the country. When commencing life, he was exceedingly poor, and labored under great inconveniences; but, his fine qualities hav- ing attracted the attention of old Judge Hill, he quietly proposed to assist Mr. Rowan, and afterwards gave him an interest in his own business. He began public life as a member of the Convention of 1799, which framed the second Constitution of Kentucky. In 1800, he removed to Frankfort, where he practiced extensively in the Court of Appeals, and was Secretary of State under Gov. Greenup. In 1807, he again returned to Bards- town, and was elected to the Lower House of Congress; afterwards, for many years, represented Nelson County in the Legislature. He finally located in Louisville, where he took a distinguished position in his profession, and soon became a member of the Legislature, and took a prominent part in its leading measures, looking to the benefit of the commonwealth. In 1819, he was com- missioned Judge of the Court of Appeals, which posi- tion he resigned at the expiration of one year. In 1823, in connection with Henry Clay, he was appointed a commissioner to defend, before the Supreme Court of the United States, the occupying claimant laws of the State. In 1824, he was elected to the United States Senate, serving six years, as one of the most able men of that body. His last public service was as a commis- sioner, to settle the claims of citizens of the United States against Mexico. On the reorganization of the Kentucky Historical Society, in 1838, he was elected its president, holding the position until his death. In pol- itics, he was a Democrat, but of the more conservative school. He was an earnest supporter of the great doc- trines of Christianity, but was not a member of any or- ganized Church. As a lawyer, few men in the United States were his equals; he came in contact with Clay, Joe Daviess, and Ben Hardin, and was never worsted by the comparison. He was a man of solid abilities; sometimes rose to eloquence in speech; was skillful, thorough, and scrutinizing; was a fine conversationalist, easy and attractive in his manners; and, altogether, was one of the most illustrious and admirable characters ap- pearing in the history of Kentucky. Many of his law pupils, such as John Hays, James Guthrie, Henry Pir- tle, and Judge McKinley, became men of national repi- tation. He was enabled, by his professional success, to maintain in comfortable circumstances his parents in their declining years; accumulated for himself a large fortune; and, every-where surrounded by honors, died

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at a good age, July 13, 1843, at Louisville, Kentucky. Judge Rowan was married to a lady who was herself a model of domestic virtues. They raised a large family, of whom the only living member is the wife of Dr. J. R. Buchanan, a prominent physician and writer of Louisville.

OBERTSON, REV. GEORGE WASHING- TON, Baptist Clergyman and Editor, was born August 4, 1818, in Shelby County, Kentucky, and descended from a line of old Virginians. His father, Archibald Robertson, was a farmer by occupation, and served honorably as a sol- dier in the war of 1812. He received a thorough edu- cation, graduating at Georgetown College, under the presidency of the distinguished Howard Malcom. He also studied theology under that divine; and finished his ministerial education, in 1846, under George D. Peck. In the latter year, he entered the ministry. In 1857, he was publisher of the "Christian Reposi- tory." In 1864, he became publisher and proprietor of the "Western Recorder," and continued as man- ager of that paper for many years. He was also, for some time, proprietor of a book-publishing house con- nected with his Church. In 1865, he located at Bards- town; but, for a number of years, has resided on a farm, dividing his attention between that and his ministerial duties. For over thirty years, he has been prominent in the affairs of his Church in the State; was long one of its most able writers; and, besides exerting great power in his Church, has been of wide-spread social in- fluence, making his whole life a source of substantial benefit to his Church. In 1846, he was married to Miss Sarah Jean, and has six living children.

ARRET, JOHN G., Lawyer and Banker, was born August 29, 1829, at Greensburg, Ken- tucky. His father, John Barret, was of Scotch origin, a Virginian by birth; held the office of clerk of the courts, under the old State system,

for fifty years; and was one of the most prom- inent men of his time. His mother was a daughter of William J. Wood, a gentleman of high standing, well known over the State, and a politician of note, who em- igrated from Virginia to this State at an early day. John G. Barret received a good English education, and, while a youth, entered the clerk's office, where he re- mained until his twentieth year. During this time he engaged in the study of law, and afterwards continued his legal studies under Hon. Henry Pirtle, Hon. William F. Bullock, and Preston S. Longborough, and graduated in the law department of the Louisville University, at

the age of twenty-two. He at once entered upon the practice of his profession in connection with Nathaniel Wolf, of Louisville; but, after a short time, opened an office of his own, and soon established a fine, lucrative practice, in the course of a few years accumulating a considerable fortune. In 1862, he was compelled, by ill health, to retire from the active pursuit of his pro- fession. About this time he accepted the position of Cashier of the Old Southern Bank of Kentucky, at Louisville, which position he held until the winding up of its affairs during the war. For his able management of the interests of the bank, he was highly compli- mented, and began to be looked upon as one of the first financiers of Kentucky. He at once organized the Citizens' Bank, and was made its president. In 1873, it became the Citizens' National Bank, of Louisville, and he has continued to occupy the position of president. He has refused all offers to engage in political turmoil, confining himself, with all his energy, to his own busi- ness interests, and to a lively participation in the busi- ness and social affairs of the city. As a lawyer, he was exceptionally successful; made a fine record, and stood deservedly high at the bar; and, as a skillful and far- discerning business man, he has few equals in Louis- ville. Religiously, he is connected with the Presby- terian Church, and has, since early manhood, been an active worker in its interests. He is prominent in the leading charities of his Church and the community, and is one of Louisville's most enterprising, public-spirited, and valuable men. Mr. Barret was married, May 3, 1855, to Miss Ann E. Rodes, daughter of Clifton Rodes, of Danville, Kentucky.

ARBOUR, RICHARD N., M. D., was born September 12, 1810, in Jefferson County, Kén- tucky. His father, Thomas Barbour, was a native of Virginia, and settled in Jefferson County, Kentucky, in the year 1800. His mother was Mary Taylor, of Virginia, cousin of President Z. Taylor. He was the youngest of eight children, and received his education mainly in the private schools of the country. In 1833, he began the study of medicine, under Dr. William Taylor, of his native county, and graduated in medicine, at the Cin- cinnati Medical College, in 1835. In 1837, he also attended lectures at Jefferson College, Philadelphia, under Pancoast, Robley Dunglison, and other eminent teachers. In 1838, he commenced the practice of his profession in Jefferson County, and soon established a large and lucrative business. In 1873, he removed to Louisville, where he continues actively and successfully engaged in the duties of his profession. He has been greatly devoted to his calling, and has not only been

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successful in his private practice, but also gives con- siderable attention to the general welfare of his profes- sion, attending many of its conventions, and acquitting himself with dignity, as well as, cspecially in the earlier years of his medical career, contributing frequently to the medical journals. For thirty-five years he has been an officer in the Presbyterian Church, and has largely given his means and influence for the spread of every good work. Dr. Barbour has been married three times. First, in 1839, to Miss Mary E. Bowles, daughter of the late J. B. Bowles, of Louisville. His second wife was the daughter of Dr. B. H. McCowen, of Anchorage, Kentucky; and his present wife is M. E. Richards, of Jefferson County, Kentucky.

LATTERMAN, GEORGE WALTER, Drug- gist, was born August 3, 1820, in London, Eng- land. His parents were George Augustus and Maria (Deans) Clements, both natives of Eng- land. When he was three years of age, his uncle, Geo. W. Blatterman, an eminent scholar of Saxony, and an officer in the army of the great Na- poleon, and his wife, whose maiden name was Charlotte Elizabeth Deans, having no children, adopted him and gave him their name. In 1824, through the solicita- tions of Thomas Jefferson, his adopted father came to America, with his family, and accepted the Professor- ship of Modern Languages in the University of Vir- ginia. This position he held with distinction until 1841, when he retired to his farm near Charlottesville. He died in 1850. By these adopted parents the subject of this sketch was liberally educated, graduating at the University of Virginia, in 1838, with the honors of his class. In the following year, he entered on his appren- ticeship as a druggist, at Richmond, Virginia; after spending three years in this way, in 1841, he came to Kentucky; was for five years assistant teacher in the Maysville Seminary; had charge of a female school in Louisville for two years ; in 1848, returned to Maysville, and successfully carried on the book and stationer's busi- ness, until 1867; in that year, he purchased his drug house, which has risen to be the largest establishment of its kind in Maysville, probably having the most exten- sive trade of any drug house in North-eastern Kentucky. He has taken great interest in educational matters; has been constantly and largely identified with movements of interest to the town and county ; is of a most active temperament, quick in his judgments and movements, never idle ; has splendid personal and social habits; and is one of the most energetic, active, and useful men in his community. He is an elder in the Presbyterian Church, and has long been prominent in its affairs. He is a conservative in politics ; was a Whig; voted for Bell

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The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 126

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