The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 22

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

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elected, by a fair majority, to represent Fayette County and the city of Lexington in the Legislature, and, al- though his party was in the minority in that body, he received its full strength for Speaker of the House. In 1872, he was made delegate at large to the Philadel- phia Convention, and was, by the delegates, elected Chairman of the Kentucky Delegation; and was, at the same time, elected, for four years, as the Kentucky rep- resentative upon the National Republican Committee; and, during the campaign that followed, he "stumped" the States of Kentucky and Indiana in behalf of Grant and Wilson. In 1873, he was elected to the State Sen- ate from one of the wealthiest and most enlightened dis- tricts in the State, composed of Jessamine, Woodford, and Fayette Counties, after one of the most exciting and hotly contested elections; and while in the Senate, served on the committees of Immigration, Education, Railroads, Revised Statutes, and the Judiciary. In 1875, he was nominated, by his party, as candidate for Attor- ney-General, and made a joint eanvass, with his oppo- nent, throughout the State; and the following Winter he was nominated and voted for, on the first ballot, by the entire Republican membership in the Legislature, for United States Senator. In 1876, he was elected delegate at large to the Convention, at Cincinnati, that nominated Hayes and Wheeler, and was appointed on the committee to notify the candidates of their nomina- tion, and, subsequently canvassed Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio in their behalf. At Cincinnati he was elected, by the Kentucky delegation, to represent his State, for the ensuing four years, on the National Committee. He was married, in June, 1865, to Miss Mary E., daugh- ter of the late Samuel Man, of Manville, Rhode Island, grand-niece of Bishop Brownell, of Connecticut, and granddaughter of Jonathan Brownell, of Rhode Island. They have six ehildren.

UBBARD, JOHN STROTHER, was the son of Hon. Thomas Hubbard, a school-teacher, and Sheriff at Bardstown, Kentucky, and a mem- ber of the Legislature. John Hubbard's parents were among the earliest emigrants to Kentucky, and he was born in Nelson County, two miles south-east of Bardstown, in the year 1811. His education was acquired at Bardstown and vicinity, but he was compelled to leave school at the early age of sixteen ; soon after which, he was bound as apprentice to his brother William, in the tanning business, and continued at this occupation until he attained the age of eightcen, when he engaged himself, as clerk, to Mr. M. Miller, proprietor of a dry-goods store at Nelson Furnace, with whom he remained for five years. At the expiration of that time, he removed to Louisville, when he entered

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into a partnership with M. H. Mitchell, in the whole- sale and retail grocery trade, on the north side of Mar- ket Street, between First and Second Streets, continuing until the dissolution of the firm, fourteen years after. Mr. Hubbard then opened a wholesale liquor house, on the corner of Main and Brook Streets, and carried on a very successful business for four or five years. In 1853, he built and opened a large flouring mill on Market, between Brook and Floyd Streets, long afterwards known as "The Fifth Ward Mill," and continued the business until two days before he died, when he sold it. For three years, he represented his ward in the Board of Al- dermen, and was also a member of the City Council for a short time. He was a member of the Baptist Church for twenty-five years, occupying the position of deacon for some time. Mr. Hubbard married Miss Martha Hogan, of New Haven, daughter of Franklin Hogan; but lost her by death twenty-three years ago. Five children sur- vive their parents. A strong Unionist, he was yet the friend of the Confederate in distress. Of a kind, noble and impulsive disposition, he was governed by the prin- ciples of religion and morality. His health was extremely good until 1873, when his constitution began to fail. He died in March, 1876, happy in his religion, and with a fond hope of immortality in a "better land."

3 NDERWOOD, EUGENE, Lawyer, was born April 4, 1818, at Glasgow, Kentucky. He is the son of the late Judge Joseph Rogers Under- wood, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, and great- grandson of Rev. David Rice, a distinguished Presbyterian minister, and the first who came and preached the Gospel in Kentucky, as taught by that denomination. While still quite young, his parents moved to Bowling Green, where he attended school until 1832, when he was sent to Oxford, Ohio, to con- tinue his education at Miami University, under the su- pervision of the Rev. Robert Bishop, D. D. After remaining there until 1835, he went to Centre College, at Danville, Kentucky, from which he graduated with the class of 1838, with J. C. Breckinridge, and other distinguished men. Soon after leaving college, he re- turned to Bowling Green, and entered upon the study of the law, under the direction of his father, who was then a member of Congress. Upon the completion of his studies, he entered into partnership with his father, and practiced in Bowling Green and the surrounding counties, until 1848, when he removed to Nashville, Tennessee. During his fourteen years of practice in that city, he met with eminent success, achieving dis- tinction as an attorney, and acquiring great popularity as a citizen. When the project of building the Louis- ville and Nashville Railroad was first agitated, Mr. Un-

derwood strongly advocated the present route, and its adoption is considered to be, to a large degree, due to his efforts. In October, 1846, he was married to Miss Catherine R. Thompson, daughter of William Thomp- son, a celebrated lawyer of Nashville. Three children blessed this marriage, all of whom still live. In 1861, he removed to Louisville, Kentucky, and married his second wife, Mrs. F. V. Wilder, on January 3Ist. Dur- ing the war, he retired from the practice of his pro- fession, remaining in Louisville until 1864, when, on account of his wife's ill-health, he removed to St. Paul, Minnesota. Here he engaged largely in real estate and other speculations, being also occupied with farming, and traveled from St. Paul to Nashville and Louisville, attending to his estate, until 1874, when he returned to the latter city to make it his future home. He has often been solicited to become a candidate for the Legislature, Mayor of Nashville, judge of leading courts, but has in- variably declined, having no desire to taste the bitter fruits of the politician and office-seeker. In 1840 and 1844, he commanded a volunteer company of infantry, organized during the political campaigns. Some six or eight years ago, he united with the Protestant Episcopal Church, since which time he has served as a vestryman in the Church at St. Paul, Minnesota, and in St. Paul's Church, at Louisville. He is a much-respected member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has taken the high degree of Knight Templar. While in Minnesota, he participated actively in the organization of the Pa- trons of Husbandry, and was a leading member of the National Grange. He has given a large share of his time, talents, and means, to the advancement of the railroad interests of Kentucky and Tennessee, and has served as railroad director and attorney for a number of years. Notwithstanding his busy life, he finds time to devote to literature, of which he is passionately fond, and has made some valuable and interesting contribu- tions to journalism. Mr. Underwood is of prepossessing appearance, six feet in height, muscular, and with a grace and elegance, in movement and self-poise, that mark the gentleman bred.

EWMAN, JUDGE JOHN E., Lawyer, was born in Spencer County, Kentucky, in the year 1819. He received a thorough education, graduating in letters at St. Mary's College, near Lebanon, Kentucky. He studied law with Martin McHenry, at Taylorsville, and commenced the practice of his profession at Smithland, Kentucky, in 1842. In 1857, he removed to Bardstown, forming a partnership with his brother-in-law, William R. Grigsby. In 1862, he was elected Judge of the Fifth Judicial District, serving one term. During the civil war he was

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firmly attached to the National cause, suffering person- ally and pecuniarily by his devotion to the Government. In 1867, he removed to Louisville, and formed a part- nership with John M. Harlan and B. F. Bristow. He won considerable reputation during his professional career in that city; gathered around him many friends, and was looked upon as one of the most worthy mem- bers of the profession. He died, in Louisville, in 1873, soon after the publication of his law work, " Pleading and Practice." Religiously, he was connected with the Catholic Church. He was a man of fine social qualities, upright in his dealings with men; a lawyer of ability, and an earnest, useful citizen. Judge Newman was married, in 1847, to Miss Marian Olive, and had six children, four sons and two daughters.

UTLER, GEN. PERCIVAL, Soldier, Patriot, and First Adjutant-General of Kentucky, son of Thomas Butler and his wife, Eleanor Parker, was born April 4, 1760, at Carlisle, Pennsylva- nia. His father was born in 1720, in the County of Wicklow, Ireland, and his mother was a native of Wexford County, Ireland. Thomas Butler possessed a large estate, which was confiscated, and he exiled, owing to his participancy in the Irish Rebellion. He came to America long before the Rev- olutionary War; five of his sons became conspicuous in the great struggle for independence in this country, and he himself participated. Of this family of brave and patriotic men, Washington and Lafayette hoth spoke in the most familiar and flattering terms. Of the five noted sons of Thomas Butler, three, Richard, William, and Thomas, were born in Ireland; and Edward and Percival, at Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Richard was Lieu- tenant-Colonel of Morgan's rifle regiment, which he commanded under Gen. Wayne at Stony Point; was made General, and was killed at the battle of St. Clair's defeat, November 4, 1791. Thomas and Edward were, also, engaged in that battle, and both died while in the military service of the country; the former with the rank of colonel; the latter, of captain. William arose to the rank of major; and Percival, the subject of this sketch, was a captain in the regular army. He entered the Revolutionary army as lieutenant, at the age of eighteen ; was with Washington at Valley Forge, Mon- mouth, and Yorktown; served under Gen. Lafayette, at the last-named place, and received a sword from the hand of that General; removed to Kentucky about 1785, and first settled in Jessamine County, as a farmer ; but, in 1796, settled permanently at the mouth of tlie Kentucky river, when the present site of Carrollton was a cane-brake. He was the first Adjutant-General of Kentucky, and held the office for eighteen or twenty

years, usually performing its duties while residing at home; and when the law was enacted, requiring the Adjutant-General to live at Frankfort, he resigned. In his capacity as Adjutant-General of the State, he took part in Gen. Hopkins's campaign against the Indians, in the war of 1812. He subsequently became Clerk of Gal- latin County, and held that position until his death, Sep- tember 9, 1821. Gen. Butler was married, after coming to Kentucky, to Miss Mildred Hawkins, and of their large family of children, five are still living. (See sketches of their distinguished sons, Gen. William O. Butler, Major Thomas L. Butler, and Richard P. But- ler.) Their youngest son, Hon. Pierce, or Percival, Butler, was born October 4, 1794; was elected to the Legislature from Fayette County, in 1820; at the expi- ration of his term, was re-elected from Woodford Coun- ty ; moved to Louisville, and represented that city in both branches of the Legislature; and, was an able and influential lawyer. He died at Louisville, in 1850. Their two living daughters are, Mrs. Dr. Urban E. Ew- ing, of Louisville, and Mrs. Judge James Pryor, of Covington. Three of their daughters died after reach- ing middle age.

UTLER, GEN. WILLIAM ORLANDO, Law- yer, Soldier, and Farmer, was born April 19, 1791, in Jessamine County, Kentucky. His father, Capt. Percival Butler, who was long Ad- jutant-General of Kentucky, was one of the five patriotic and brave brothers of whom Gen. La- fayette said, during the Revolution, that, " when he wanted a thing done well, he ordered a Butler to do it." Gen. William O. Butler was the second son of Gen. Percival Butler, and was educated at Transylvania University, where he graduated, in 1812; and at once entered upon the study of the law, under Robert Wick- liffe ; but postponed his law studies to enter the army, as corporal, in Hart's celebrated company, known as the Lexington Light Infantry, and at once marched to the relief of Fort Wayne. In the course of two months, he was appointed ensign in the regular army; in six months, was promoted captain; took part in the two battles of the river Raisin, as ensign, and greatly distin- guished himself for gallantry ; was slightly wounded and taken prisoner in the second engagement, January 22, 1813; was paroled, in the following month, at Fort Ni- agara ; returned, by a perilous march, to Kentucky ; re- cruited a company, with which he joined Gen. Jack- son, and again distinguished himself, in the attack on Pensacola, his company being attached to the Forty- fourth Infantry, under Col. Ross. He took a conspicu- ous part in the battles of New Orleans; and, in the night fight, commanded four companies, constituting the left wing of Gen. Jackson's army; and, in the de-

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cisive battle of January 8, 1815, commanded his own company. For his ability and bravery at New Orleans, he was most flatteringly mentioned by Gen. Jackson ; and, for gallantry in the night battle, was brevetted major. He subsequently became aid-de-camp to Gen. Jackson, in place of his brother, Major Thomas L. Butler, who had resigned. In 1817, greatly against the will of Gen. Jackson, he quit the army, with the rank of major. Gen. Jackson predicted a brilliant career for him as commander of the army, should the country ever need his services ; and his attachment for the hero of New Orleans, which was unbounded from the first acquaint- ance in the army, has increased throughout his life. Soon after returning home, he finished his law studies, and began the practice of his profession at Carrollton, then known as Port William, where he had settled with his father, over twenty years previously. He con- tinued the practice of the law, with great suc- cess, until the opening of the war with Mexico. Without solicitation, he was elected to the Ken- tucky Legislature, in 1817; was re-elected at the close of his term; was again elected in 1821; in 1839, was elected to Congress ; and was re-elected to that body, serving four years. In 1844, he was Democratic candi- date for Governor of the State, and was probably the most able and popular man the Democracy had ever run for that office; and, although defeated by William Ows- ley, he reduced the Whig majority from twenty-eight thousand to less than five thousand. At the beginning of the war with Mexico, he was appointed Major-Gen- eral of Volunteers; was wounded in the battle of Monte- rey, in 1846, and compelled to return home for a time; in the following year, he rejoined Gen. Scott, at the City of Mexico; and, in 1848, succeeded that officer to the chief command of the army, which position he held until the treaty of peace with Mexico. In 1848, he was the Democratic candidate for Vice-President, on the ticket with Gen. Cass, but took no part in the contest. In 1861, he was a delegate to the " Peace Convention " at Washington. After returning from the war with Mexico, he never resumed the law practice, but has mainly de- voted himself to the interests of his farm, to which he had previously given considerable attention. After the close of the Mexican War, he received two beautiful and costly swords; one from the people of Kentucky, and one from the Congress of the United States, bearing the following inscriptions on their massive scabbards: "Pre- sented by the people of Kentucky to Maj .- Gen. William O. Butler, in testimony of his daring gallantry in leading his brave division in the desperate charge against a bat- tery, in the battle of Monterey; " and " Presented by the President of the United States, agreeable to a reso- lution of Congress, to Maj .- Gen. William O. Butler, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of his gallantry and good conduct in storming Monterey.

Resolution approved March 2, 1847." A number of years ago, Gen. Butler connected himself with the Pres- byterian Church; has always been a man of exemplary, exact, and admirable habits; and has given himself, with à warm heart, to the various interests and wants of his friends, and the community which has formed around him through three-quarters of a century. Although he was probably never a brilliant orator, he was a refined, dignified, and able speaker, and a chaste and elegant writer. In his earlier days, especially, he wrote a great deal of poetry of real merit, much of it published in the newspapers of the times. He now resides in Carrollton, in an unpretending one-story house, built in 1819, over- looking the Ohio river; and there it was, long before the days of steamboats, that he wrote,

"O boatman ! wind that horn again,"

in "The Boatman's Song," one of his finest poems. General Butler is a man of singularly military, dignified bearing, six feet in height, slender, but powerfully built; is yet perfectly erect and active in his move- ments ; has attractive and marked features, a massive forehead, in his whole face and appearance, much resembling General Andrew Jackson. He was married, April 17, 1817, to Eliza J. Todd, daughter of General Robert Todd, of Fayette County, Kentucky. She died, in 1863, without children. The following is selected, among the vast number of General Butler's poetic pro- ductions, as probably the most widely known, and was first published about 1835:

"THE BOATMAN'S HORN.

" O boatman ! wind that horn again, For never did the list'ning air Upon its lambent bosom bear So wild, so soft, so sweet a strain ! What, though thy notes are sad and few, By every simple boatman blown, Yet is each pulse to nature true And melody in every tone.

How oft, in boyhood's joyous days, Unmindful of the lapsing hours,

I've loitered on my homeward way By wild Ohio's bank of flowers,

While some lone boatman from the deck Poured his soft numbers to that tide,

As if to charm from storm and wreck The boat where all his fortunes ride !

Delighted Nature drank the sound, Enchanted Echo bore it round,

In whispers soft and softer still, From hill to plain and plain to hill, Till e'en the thoughtless frolic boy, Elate with hope and wild with joy, Who gamboled by the river's side, And sported with the fretting tide, Feels something new pervade his breast, Change his light steps, repress his jest ; Bends o'er the flood his eager ear To catch the sounds far off, yet dear;

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Drinks the sweet draught, but knows not why The tear of rapture fills his eye. And can he now, to manhood grown, Tell why those notes, simple and lone, As on the ravished ear. they fell, Bind every sense in magic spell ? There is a tide of feeling given To all on earth, its fountain heaven, Beginning with the dewy flower, Just ope'd in Flora's vernal bower- Rising creation's orders through, With louder murmur, brighter hue- That tide is sympathy ! its ebb and flow Give life its hues, its joy and woe ; Music, the master-spirit that can move Its waves to war, or lull them into love- Can cheer the sinking sailor 'mid the wave, And bid the warrior on ! nor fear the grave ; Inspire the fainting pilgrim on his road, And elevate his soul to claim his God. Then, boatman, wind that horn again ! Though much of sorrow marks its strain, Yet are its notes to sorrow dear ; What, though they wake fond memory's tear! Tears are sad memory's sacred feast, And rapture oft her chosen guest."

UTLER, MAJOR THOMAS LANGFORD, old- est son of Gen. Percival Butler and his wife, Mildred Hawkins, was born April 10, 1789, at Lexington, Kentucky, then a part of the Terri- tory of Virginia. His early education was ob- tained in Rankin's School, at Lexington, under the supervision of Revs. Bishop and Sharp. From 1804 to 1809, he acted as deputy clerk in the office of Gen. Thomas Bodley, in Lexington, and at that time attended Transylvania University for several months. In 1809, he received a second lieutenant's commission, and en- tered the light artillery service of the regular army, and was stationed at Fort Massac until 1811, resigning his commission in August of that year. In October, 1812, Gen. Harrison appointed him Quartermaster for the Territories of Indiana and Illinois, with his headquarters at Vincennes. In the following year, he received a cap- tain's commission, and served in the Twenty-eighth Regiment of the regular army, in the North-western campaign, under Gen. Harrison; was retained, at the close of the campaign, as Captain in the Fifth Regulars; in June, 1814, was appointed aid-de-camp to Gen. Jackson; was present at the treaty with the Creek In- dians, September, 1814; was at the capture of Pensa- cola ; commanded the city of New Orleans during the famous battle of January 8, 1815; was brevetted major, for good conduct during the siege of New Orleans, but soon after resigned his commission in the army, and was appointed, by President Madison, Surveyor and Inspector of the Port of New Orleans. He finally returned to his home, near Carrollton, now Carroll County, where

he has ever since resided. He was sheriff of the county from 1819 to 1825. In 1826, he was first clected to represent his county in the Legislature, and was again a member of that body in 1847. He has always been an active and successful farmer, and a thorough business man; and is yet, at his great age, a vigorous and active man. He is characteristically quick-tempered, brave to rashness, even; decided in his opinions, fearless in their support, and is invincibly honest. Major Butler was married, January 1I, 1811, to Sarah Hawkins, and has had two children: Percival Butler, who died at Centre College, Danville, in 1835, at the age of nineteen; and Mary Ellen Butler, who became the wife of P. Osborn Turpin, an influential farmer of Carroll County, who was a member of the Kentucky Legislature in 1833, a Virginian by birth. Dr. Thomas Jefferson Turpin and Dr. Percival Butler Turpin, physicians, of Carrollton, Kentucky, are grandsons of Major Butler.

UTLER, RICHARD PARKER, son of Gen- eral Percival Butler, was born in Jessamine County, Kentucky, September 27, 1792. He is of Irish extraction, and his father, General Percival Butler, was one of the five patriot brothers who became distinguished soldiers in the Revolutionary War. (See sketch of Gen. Percival Butler.) He passed some time in the select schools of the country, and completed his education at Transylva- nia University. After leaving the University, he began the study of the law. The second war with England coming on soon after, he accompanied his father, as Assistant Adjutant-General of Kentucky, in his campaign against the Indians, with the army of the North-west. On returning home, in 1813, he finished his legal prepa- rations, under Hon. Joseph Cabell Breckinridge, but never entered upon the practice of his profession. After the death of his father, in 1821, he became Clerk of Gallatin County; and, after the organizing of Carroll County, he, also, became clerk of the circuit court, and held the position until 1852, when he retired to his farm ; but, since the close of the civil war, has resided in Car- rollton. Although always a Democrat, he has never figured in political affairs. Religiously, he is connected with the Presbyterian Church. He is a man of uncom- mon conversational powers, plain and agreeable in man- ners, is yet active and vigorous, is well rcad in the affairs of the day, and has been one of the most intelligent and valuable citizens of Carroll County. Mr. Butler was first married, September 29, 1818, to Miss Pauline G. Bullock, daughter of Judge Garland Bullock, of Gallatin County ; and, after her death, in 1840, September 14, to Eliza Blythe, daughter of Dr. James Blythe, of Hanover, In- diana. He has no living children.

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ANDFORD, HON. THOMAS, was born in 1762, in Westmoreland County, Virginia, and came to Kentucky in 1792, settling back of Coving- ton. He was the only member from Campbell County to the second constitutional convention of the State, in 1799; was several times elected to the Legislature ; and was a member of Congress from 1803 to 1807. He was a man of great natural talent ; was possesscd of popular and attractive manners; was over six feet in height, and commanding in person. His son, Cassius B. Sandford, was for several years Mayor of Covington; and his sons, Alcxander and Alfred, became prominent men in Kenton County. Mr. Sandford was accidentally drowned, in the Ohio river, December 10, 1808.

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The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 22

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