The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 128

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 128

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swimming the Ohio river, after Morgan's surrender, at Cheshire. After reaching the Confederate lines, he com- manded a brigade of cavalry, and performed gallant service on the retreat of Gen. Joseph Johnston from Dalton, Georgia. He was subsequently appointed in- spector-general of all the cavalry in Johnston's com- mand, which position he held until the close of the war, when he returned to Kentucky and lived in retirement with his family, at Traveler's Rest-his estate in Lin- coln County - until about three years ago, when he located at Danville and engaged in the practice of law. Gen. Grigsby was tendered the Democratic nomination for a seat in the Lower House, in the present Kentucky Legislature, was elected, and was a member of that body at the time of his death, which occurred January 12, 1877, at Lexington.

RATT, CLIFTON JONATHAN, Lawyer, was born February 10, 1845, in Woodford County, Illinois. His father, W. S. Pratt, was a native of Virginia, and emigrated from that State, at an early day, to Illinois, where he followed the occupations of a farmer and mechanic. He re- moved to Kentucky in the year 1849. His mother was a member of the Collins family, and a sister of Elder O. Collins, a talented divine of the Christian Church. Clifton J. Pratt was liberally educated, attending the best schools to be found in his neighborhood, being long a pupil of Prof. H. Boring, at Madisonville, Ken- tucky. Upon completing his studies, he chose the law as his profession, and immediately began its study. In 1866, he entered the office of O. Waddill, the leading lawyer of Madisonville, Kentucky. He was duly ad- mitted to the bar in 1867, and at once began the prac- tice of his profession. His legal ability and learning soon placed him among the most successful advocates at the bar of his county, securing a large practice. He has been engaged in some of the most prominent cases tried in his county, and has always acquitted himself in a manner indicating the possession of fine ability as a pleader. During the rebellion, he was a staunch friend of the Union, and gave his services to the cause of his country. He entered the Union army, joining the Third Kentucky Cavalry, Company E, and participated in some of the prominent battles of the war. He took an active part in the siege of Knoxville, Tennessee, and was in a number of engagements in the eastern portion of that State; he was with Gen. Sherman in his famous march to the sea, and in his celebrated campaign through the Carolinas. At the close of the war, he re- turned, with an honorable record, to resume the duties of the peaceful citizen, and recommenced his profes- sional practice, in which he has been since engaged. In 1875, he was earnestly solicited, by his numerous friends,

to become a candidate for the State Legislature upon the Republican ticket. The contest was close, and, al- though he fell behind his opponent a few votes, he ran largely ahead of the Republican State ticket. He has considerable merit as a writer, and is a frequent con- tributor to the public press. He was married, in Jan- uary, 1870, to Miss Sally M. Waddill, daughter of O. Waddill, a lawyer of prominence at Madisonville, Ken- tucky. Mr. Pratt is an active member of the Christian Church, and takes a deep interest in its affairs.

OISSEAU, PATRICK HENRY, Lawyer, was born November 18, 1800, in Chester County, Virginia. As will be perceived by the name, he is of French extraction, a descendant of a distinguished family, which achieved renown both in this country and the old. His grand- father, John Boisseau, came to this country with the celebrated Marquis de Lafayette. He was with Lafay- ette at the battle of Yorktown, and during that battle was severely wounded. Patrick Henry Boisseau came, with his parents, from Virginia to Kentucky, at an early period of its history ; his father settling on a farm in Barren County, where the son passed the early part of his life. He received a liberal education. At the age of twenty years, he was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Warren County, under Atwood Hobson, and held this position for two years. He decided to enter the profes- sion of the law, and at once began its study. When he had passed through the necessary preliminary prepara- tion for the profession, he was admitted to the bar, in 1826. He shortly afterwards opened an office in Glasgow, Kentucky, and soon established an exten- sive and lucrative practice. He remained in this place but a short time, however. He took up his resi- dence in the town of Franklin, where he resumed his practice and soon rose to distinction. In 1835, he was appointed Clerk of the County and Circuit Courts, and held the position for many years. When the new State Constitution was put in force, one of the provisions provided for the transfer of the appoint- ing power, which had control of his office, from the magistrates to the choice of the people. At the en- suing election he was again placed in the office he had so long and faithfully filled. After the service of one term he resigned, his locality about this time being in a state of great commotion, owing to the near approach of the war. Beginning to feel the in- firmities of old age, he was constrained to remain in- active during the progress of the rebellion, saving the management of his own affairs. He was endowed with an extraordinary memory, which was an exceedingly valuable faculty to him in his business, and the constant

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source of wonder and admiration of all his friends and | Circuit Judges to grant him license to practice, on acquaintances, some of his feats of memory seeming alike astonishing and incredible. He was a profound classical scholar, being almost as familiar with the dead languages as those of the present day. In all matters of local history and affairs connected with his office, he was looked upon as an indubitable authority ; and he was frequently called upon to settle matters in dispute by citizens; and even judges on the bench often found occasion for submitting to him the solution of some point in controversy. He was able, after perusing a book, to lay it aside and repeat page after page of its contents, such was the prodigious power of his mind in this direction. His library was well filled with a choice collection of books, and was considered the finest pri- vate library in his section. He was an eloquent and polished conversationalist, having great flow of language and command of numberless themes of discourse; and his genial, social disposition, with his varied accomplish- ments, made his home the scene of many a pleasant social gathering. He was married, in 1828, to Miss Harriet Stevenson, the daughter of Hugh Stevenson, of Russellville, Kentucky ; and a sister of V. K. Stevenson, who, at one time, was the President of the Tennessee Railroad. Soon after the war, he suffered the loss of his estimable wife, by death. He was sorely troubled by this great affliction ; and, from this time, never re- gained his accustomed spirits, but steadily declined, in both bodily and mental vigor, until his death, which took place shortly after that of his estimable wife, in 1866. Mr. Boisseau was a man of uncommon natural traits ; and his memory will long be cherished as one of the most remarkable men of his day.

RADLEY, WILLIAM O'CONNELL, Lawyer and Politician, was born March 18, 1847, near Lancaster, Kentucky, and is the youngest child and only son of R. M. and Ellen Bradley. He is of Irish ancestry, as his name indicates, his paternal great-grandmother being a relative · of the Irish patriot and agitator, Daniel O'Connell. His parents are both Kentuckians by birth; and his father, Robert M. Bradley, one of the oldest and ablest lawyers of Kentucky. When he was quite young, his parents removed to Somerset, where they lived until the initiation of the civil war; he then quit school, and entered the Union army, first as a recruiting officer in Pulaski County, and afterwards, at Louisville, as a private soldier; remained in the service but a short time; returned home, and commenced reading law with his father, at Lancaster; and was prepared for practice long before the legal age for admission to the bar. The Legislature then passed an act authorizing any two

the recognition of his competency; this being the first special act of the kind ever passed in the State, the general law requiring the applicant to be twenty-one years of age. Immediately after the passage of the act, he was admitted to the bar, and at once entered on the practice of his profession, associated with his father, at Lancaster. In 1867, July II, he was married to Margaret Robertson Duncan, daughter of Dr. B. F. Duncan, of Lancaster, and grand-niece of Chief-Justice Robertson; in 1870, made a brilliant race for prose- cuting attorney, and was elected; served with credit to himself and acceptably to the people; was nomi- nated, by the Louisville Convention of 1872, as Grant and Wilson Elector for the Eighth District; made the race that year as the Republican candidate for Congress, in his district, and reduced the Democratic Congressional majority of over two thousand, in 1870, to six hundred and fifty; in the Winter of 1875, he was nominated, in the Legislature, for United States Senator, and received the vote of his party in that body ; and, in the Fall of 1876, made the race as the Republican candidate for Congress, but was defeated, receiving, however, nearly three thousand more votes than ever were polled before for any candidate of his party. Mr. Bradley is a lawyer of rare ability, and already stands in the front rank at the bar; is a man of fine executive ability, personal daring, and unflinching adherence to his principles ; and, although not disposed to be aggressive in his social habits, is a man who would make his mark in any great social or political movement. At the age of fifteen, he started out as a recruiting officer in the Federal army, and has made an admirable record. He was admitted to the bar when eighteen years of age; made his first race for Congress at the age of twenty-five; and received the votes of his party, in the Legislature, for United States Senator, before twenty-nine years of age.

NEAD, JOHN S., Merchant and Banker, was born in 1784, in Accomack County, Virginia, and was the only child of Thomas and Eliza- beth Snead. He received a limited education ; came to Kentucky early in this century, locat- ing at Winchester. In 1818, he removed to Lexington and engaged in general mercantile business, engaging largely in the tobacco trade, which was then in its infancy in the State. He subsequently moved to Louisville, forming a partnership with James Anderson, under the name of Snead & Anderson. In 1828, Cole- man Duncan was admitted to the partnership, the firm taking the name of Anderson, Duncan & Company, dealing in groceries and queen's-ware, at wholesale, which they carried on with great success during the

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early days of the city. The business of the house was finally separated, the grocery department going into the hands of T. G. Rowland & Co., and the queen's-ware to Bruce & Casseday, Mr. Snead still remaining a part- ner. In 1835, he dissolved his connection with these houses, forming a partnership with Thomas J. Martin & Co., combining with their heavy grocery trade a dry- goods business. In connection with Robert Graham, James Anderson, and Stephen Duncan, he built and op- erated successfully for some time, a cotton factory in Louisville. After disposing of his interest in that enter- prise, he again entered the grocery trade. On the organ- ization of the Bank of Louisville, he was made its first president, filling the position with great credit to him- self and satisfaction to the stockholders until his death. He died in 1840. He was a man of uncommon business capacity, great energy, and fine judgment ; was largely concerned in the early growth of the city ; built quite a number of its business houses, and was one of its most enterprising and valuable citizens. Mr. Snead was mar- ried, in 1817, to Miss Martha A. Postlewaite, who sur- vived him eight years. He left seven children-Thomas, Charles S., Samuel P., John S., Mary S., Sarah E., and Martha A. Snead.

ONES, JAMES B., President of Harrodsburg Female College, was born April 30, 1844, in Jessamine County, Kentucky. His father, J. D. Jones, was a native of Fayette County, and his mother a native of Jessamine County, and of English and Scotch extraction. He received a liberal education, mainly in the academy of Nicholas- ville. He studied medicine with Dr. W. O. Sweeney, of Lexington, Kentucky; and, in 1867 and 1868, took a course of lectures at Bellevue College, New York, and practiced medicine one year in Lawrenceburg, Anderson County, Kentucky. In 1870, he commenced teaching in Antioch, Garrard County; subsequently spent three years in that capacity at Irvine, Estill County; in 1875, located at Harrodsburg, and established the old Har- rodsburg Female College, which had flourished twenty years before, under the Rev. John Montgomery. The institution, conducted on a thorough collegiate plan, is again taking its place among the valuable schools of the State. In 1877, Kentucky Wesleyan College, at Mil- lersburg, conferred on him the degree of A. M. He is a man of fine ability, is a thorough scholar, is fully up with the most advanced methods of education, is ear- nestly devoted to his profession, and justly ranks among the most earnest, energetic, and able teachers of the country. He is a member of the Methodist Church, and takes an active part in the local affairs of his de- nomination, and is an exemplary and valuable man in

his community. Mr. Jones was married, August 20, 1873, to Miss Belle Overstreet, daughter of William F. Overstreet, a prominent farmer and stock-trader of Gar- rard County, Kentucky. She is an assistant in the in- stitution, and is a graduate of the famous Tevis or Science Hill School, at Shelbyville, and is a lady of ex- cellent qualities of mind and heart.

ILGUS, JOHN B., Merchant and Banker, was born March 22, 1824, within three miles of Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky; and is the fifth child of William Wilgus, a farmer of that county, who died in 1836, leaving his wife (who was a daughter of Gerrard Davis, also of Fayette County), and five daughters and two sons. He was twelve years old at the time of his father's death, and his limited means gave him little oppor- tunity for acquiring a liberal education. The care of his mother's family fell largely upon him, and he early learned the lessons of hardship and poverty. His am- bition and manly efforts were not unnoticed, and among his early friends, whom he remembers with great kind- ness, was John W. Hunt, one of Lexington's best men. Through his instrumentality he obtained a position as clerk in a store. He applied his earnings to the sup- port of his mother's family, and after several years spent as a clerk, mainly in the house of John J. Dudley and John Carty, he was enabled to start business for him- self, principally through the friendship of his former employers. He met with such marked success that, in course of three years, with the net capital of eight thousand dollars, he formed a partnership with B. G. Bruce, now editor of the "Live-stock Record," contin- uing the partnership with success until 1856. He after- wards carried on his business under the name of John B. Wilgus & Company, until 1866, when he retired from active mercantile pursuits, having acquired a consider- able fortune, and gained a reputation of being one of the most successful and upright business men of the community. When the war broke out, he owned largely in slave property, which did not in the least weaken his attachment to the cause of the Union. Sixty days after the first gun was fired at Fort Sumter, he freed all his slaves, and generously provided for their wants, and at once took strong grounds in support of the Gov- ernment, using all his influence toward giving Ken- tucky her proper position in the great conflict. When Secretary Chase visited Kentucky, to consult with lead- ing Republicans as to the status of the State in the war, he was chosen, with the Rev. R. J. Breckinridge, to meet that gentleman at Lexington. He was largely instrumental in raising a company for service in the army, and, although surrounded by dangers and social

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oppositions, he maintained his principles to the end, and was greatly beneficial to the cause which he sup- ported with such personal disadvantage. In 1865, he was elected Vice-President of the Lexington City National Bank, holding that position for five consecu- tive years; was then elected its president, serving in that capacity for two years; and, in 1872, organized the banking-house of John B. Wilgus & Co., which he still continues. He took a leading interest in the Big Sandy Railroad, thirty or forty miles of which have been finished, and made valuable to Lexington. He has favored every movement looking to the growth and prosperity of Lexington and the country at large; and has long been one of the influential men of his commu- nity. In 1846, he organized the People's Gas Company, of Lexington, receiving a charter from the Legislature, designing to bring about a reasonable reduction in the price of gas to the people, on the expiration of the chartered privileges of the old company, in 1877. He is a man of fine business and executive qualities ; readily grasps every question of importance brought to his view; has ready at all times a great fund of experience and common sense ; is able at all times to give a reason for the faith within him; is unaggressive in his manners; avoids display and is unpretending; is above committing an act that would not be regarded as manly and just ; has been broad and liberal in the use of his means, support- ing freely every good cause in the community, in which he has long been numbered as one of the most successful and useful members. Mr. Wilgus was married, in 1847, to Miss Lucy T. Cox, of Mt. Sterling, Kentucky.

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LLEN, COL. ROBERT DICKINSON, Super- intendent of the Kentucky Military Institute, at Farmdale, near Frankfort, Kentucky, was born January 19, 1836, at Washington, Dis- trict of Columbia. His father is Col. R. T. P. Allen, who founded the Military Institute, in 1845, and was, for a quarter of a century, its first su- perintendent. The Allen family was of Irish ancestry, who had settled in Maryland early in the eighteenth century. The mother of the subject of this sketch was Julia Ann Dickinson, of Tennessse, who was related to Gen. Andrew Jackson. The early education of Robert D. Allen was obtained under his father, in the same institute, where, after a thorough course, he graduated, in 1852. After finishing his literary education, he began the study of medicine; attended lectures under the celebrated Dr. Delamater, of Cleveland, Ohio, and finished his medical preparation at the Louisville Uni- versity, from which he graduated, in 1856. He studied with the view of teaching medicine in the Military In- stitute; but, in 1857, he engaged in the Bastrop Military

Institute, in the State of Texas. In 1861, he entered the Confederate army, as Captain of Company A, Seven- teenth Texas Infantry; was afterwards promoted major, in which rank he served until 1864, when, after the fall of Vicksburg, he was honorably discharged, on account of ill health. He returned to Bastrop Institute, and, in 1866, took charge of the Kentucky Military Institute, where he has since been engaged in its management. Col. Allen is the author of a work on moral science, which has excited much favorable comment from the advanced thinkers of the country. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, has always taken a leading part in the Church, and has contributed largely to the denominational press. In 1859, he was married to Laura Sims, of Bastrop, Texas, and by this union has three children. Col. Allen is now in the prime of manhood, and especially as a successful educator is prominent among the people of his State, and now ably carries on the institution long conducted by his father, who was also an officer in the Confederate army, and now resides in Franklin County, Kentucky.

MALL, GEORGE W., Merchant, was born in 1815, in Jefferson County, Kentucky, near Louisville. His father, Richard Small, was a native of Maryland; settled in Kentucky at a very early day; was a farmer, and afterwards a merchant in Louisville; and, in his store, his sons received their first lessons in business. George W. Small obtained a good Englishi education, which he largely increased through an industrious and active business life. After spending some time as a clerk in his father's store, he started for himself as a carpet merchant, in connection with his brother-in-law, Capt. William Hite, under the firm name of Hite & Small. By great perseverance they succeeded in establishing a fine business; and this house became the first in that trade, in its day, in Louisville; and he took position as one of the most reliable, energetic, upright, public- spirited, and useful citizens of that city. During the days of the old volunteer fire department, he was Cap- tain of the Mechanics' Company; and, in every way throughout his life, took an active interest in the wel- fare of the community. He was a man of fine, mus- cular, attractive physique, being perfectly erect, and nearly six feet in height; and was attractive, courteous, and graceful in manners. He was an active member of the Methodist Church, and died when on a business trip to New York City, in 1863. Mr. Small was twice married ; first, to Miss Eliza Ann Hite, and by their union had three children, two of whom are still living. His second marriage was to Miss Phoebe J. Athy, who still survives.

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RM, JOHN, Mechanic and Inventor, was born February 15, 1822, in Hardy County, Virginia, where his father, Joseph Orm, was a farmer. He received a limited early education, but, by close application in after life, acquired a fair knowledge of the practical sciences. His par- ents died while he was yet a child, making his first efforts a struggle for existence. After reaching the age of twenty, he learned the business of steamboat carpen- ter, in which he continued successfully for eight or ten years. He subsequently engaged in the management of a saw-mill in Hardin County, Tennessee; afterwards, in connection with a planing-mill, carried on that business in Kentucky, Missouri, and Illinois. In 1858, he located at Paducah, Kentucky, where he has since remained, act- ively associated with the firm of Langstaff, Orm & Co., now one of the most extensive lumber, sash, door, and blind manufacturers on the Ohio river. He is the in- ventor of "Orm's Patent Eccentric Saw Swage," of "Orm's Automatic Trucks," also of "Orm's Steam Cyl- inder Log Canter." These inventions he has applied with great success in the operation of his own mills, and by his skill has made his mill one of the most complete and successful establishments of its kind in the country. Mr. Orm was married, in 1849, to Miss Elizabeth Brown, a daughter of the late Samuel Brown, a noted saw-mill man of Mt. Holly, New Jersey.

AYS, HON. RANDALL GREEN, Lawyer and Merchant, was born January 1, 1823, in Har- din County, Kentucky; and is the son of Her- cules Hays, who was also a native of the same county; was a farmer by pursuit; was many years justice of the peace, and was at one time high sheriff of the county. R. G. Hays received a thor- ough English education, and acquired a good knowledge of Latin, mainly at the seminary in Elizabethtown, un- der Robert Hewitt, a teacher of great popularity in his time. He chose the profession of the law, and studied under his brother, Hon. James W. Hays, and the late Gov. John L. Helm. In 1850, he was elected, from Hardin County, to the Lower House of the Legislature, and served one term in that body, when his brother and law partner represented the county in the Senate. He practiced his profession successfully until 1856, when, on account of ill health, he abandoned the law ; and, in 1866, removed to Louisville, where he engaged in mer- cantile pursuits, which he still pursues, with moderate success. During the first years of his professional life, he was elected for two terms as attorney for Hardin County. At the regular Fall election of 1875, he was chosen, without opposition, to the State Senate, from the Thirty-seventh Senatorial District, embracing the

Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Wards of Lou- isville; and is now a member of that body. In person, he is six feet high, and is powerfully and admirably built; is strongly devoted to his convictions and princi- ples ; is thoroughly and well informed on the topics of the day ; has a vigorous and active mind; is a man of fine ability, and should make himself felt in any legis- lative or social capacity.

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The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 128

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