The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 38

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 38

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difficulties. He built the Star Glass-works, and, after getting it well under way, withdrew; organized the Louisville Plate-glass Company, with a paid-up capital of over a half-million dollars, and buildings covering four acres of ground. While in the foundry business, Capt. Ford built several steamboats for the Western waters, among them the "Chancellor," "B. J. Adams," "City of Louisville," "Magenta," "St. Charles," "St. Nicholas," "St. James," "W. F. Barry," "L. C. Ferry," " Atlantic," and barges, and six or seven ferry-boats, for use on the waters of the Ohio and Mississippi. He has been a member of the Louisville School Board ; a direc- tor and superintendent of the Louisville Plate-glass Company ; and was, for years, President of the Star Glass-works, of New Albany, Indiana. He is a member of the Masonic Order. In politics, Capt. Ford was a Henry Clay Whig, but is now identified with the Democratic party. In religion, he has, for several years, been united with the Methodist Church. In March, 1831, he was married to Mary, daughter of Benjamin Bower; his two surviving sons, Edward S. and Emory L., are connected with the Louisville Plate-glass Com- pany. Capt. Ford is a man of unusual health and energy, quick, impulsive, yet firm in his opinions and object. Dignified, and without pretension, he impresses all with respect and admiration.

ILSON, PATRICK H., Builder, was born De- cember 28, 1822, in Kanawha County, Virginia. His father, John Wilson, was a native of Au- gusta County, in that State, and was a civil engineer by profession ; was captain of a rifle company in the war of 1812; and was, at one time, a member of the Virginia Legislature. His mother was also a Virginian, and daughter of Andrew Donnelly, one of the pioneers of Kanawha County, who built Fort Donnelly, on the Kanawha; and was an active partici- pant in the Revolution, and in the early Indian wars of Western Virginia. P. H. Wilson received a common English education, in such schools as were found in Western Virginia during his boyhood, and was reared to hard labor on the farm. At the age of eighteen, he commenced learning the trade of carpenter and joiner at Charleston, where he remained for several years. In 1847, he came to Kentucky, and located in Newport, where he has since resided. He constructed many of the finest and best residences and public edifices of Camp- bell County, and is one of the most extensive and re- sponsible builders of Newport. Although he has always been averse to political excitements, and has never al- lowed himself to be drawn into contest for office of any kind, he has been largely identified with most move- ments of real worth to the town, and has been one of

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the most liberal supporters of the Church and other de- mands of society. He is a man of fine judgment and natural ability ; of established integrity ; and has not only been one of the few very successful business men of New- port, but also one of its most influential and valuable citizens. Mr. Wilson is a Democrat in politics, but his first Presidential vote was cast for Henry Clay. In 1860, he voted for John Bell. Religiously, he is connected with the Methodist Church, and is a very considerable part of the sum and substance of the Southern branch of that Church in Newport.

ALLER, REV. JONATHAN COX, Clergyman and Author, descended from a family of distinc- tion, in England, reaching back to Sir Richard Waller, who was knighted for his bravery on the field of Agincourt. The immediate ances- tor of those who first came to America was Edmund Waller, the statesman and poet. Those of them who settled in Virginia, in the seventeenth century, filled many offices of public trust, and took prominent and active part in all movements tending to the attain- ment of civil and religious liberty, which especially characterized the Baptists of Virginia. The grandfather, William Edmund Waller, and George Waller, the father of the subject of this sketch, were both pioneer Baptist ministers in Kentucky, and emigrated from Virginia to this State in 1781. William E. Waller continued in this State, an active pioneer Baptist minister, to the close of the last century, when he returned to Virginia, his native State, where he died, in 1830. George Waller settled on Buck Creek, in Shelby County, in 1798; and, in 1802, was ordained as the pastor of Buck Creek Baptist Church, of which his father, William Edmund, was pastor before him. He continued as pastor of this Church for over fifty years; during this time he had charge of various other Churches, and preached, as an evangelist, extensively over the State, sometimes followed by crowds for many miles, from one appointment to another. And it is thought he baptized more persons, during his minis- try, than any one person in the State. He was con- sidered one of the most laborious and successful Baptist ministers of his day. He held the position of Moderator of the Long Run Baptist Association, continuously, for over a quarter of a century. He died in his eighty- fourth year, in July, 1860. And it is believed, by those who knew him best, as a mere man, and as an exem- plar in all the walks of life, that he was a man of great perfection. Jonathan C. Waller, the subject of this sketch, was born at the old family residence, on Buck Creek, in Shelby .County, Kentucky, March 24, 1812. When seventeen years of age, in 1829, he, accompanied by his brother, John W. Waller, left his home in Shelby

County, and settled on the Ohio river, about ten miles below Louisville, in Jefferson County. In 1832, he went to Louisville and engaged in business on Wall Street, as the fourth street from Main to the river was at that time called. He continued there until the Spring of 1834, when he returned to his place on the river. In this year, he was married to Susannah T. Bell, the daughter of Samuel Bell, of Jefferson County; and, in the same year, joined the Buck Creek Baptist Church, in Shelby County, to which his parents, and most of their family, together with his grand-parents, belonged; and of which his father, George Waller, then had the pastoral charge. From this time, being now permanently settled, he became a hard and laborious [ student of theology, letting nothing of general literature, or logic, rhetoric, and the rules of interpretation, es- cape his attention, that would aid him in the investiga- tion of revealed truth. Adopting, after investigation, the doctrines of grace as held and taught by the Regu- lar Baptists of Virginia, and set forth by the ministers and representatives of upwards of one hundred Churches in England and Wales, in 1689, as their Confession of Faith, and which was adopted by the Baptist Associa- tion, met in Philadelphia, in 1742; and which doctrines, sometimes called Calvinistic, were held and advocated by his father and grandfather, and other pioneer min- isters of Kentucky-he entered the lists of theologi- cal disputants, engaging in many controversies, both written and oral, involving nearly every mooted ques- tion known to theologians. More especially did he com- bat all shades of Arminianism, Pelagianism, and what- ever was a departure from the doctrines of grace, which have been so ably advocated in England by such writers as John Gill, Abraham Booth, and Augustus Toplady, and, by an able ministry, held and preached in this country, and especially in the early settlements in Vir- ginia and Kentucky. In advocating these views, he was led into oral discussion and written controversy, from which, when he thought the truth involved, he never shrank from using his speech or pen. In 1846, he was assistant editor of the "Baptist Banner," then owned and controlled by Rev. William C. Buck. In 1858, he sold his farm on the river, and moved to Louis- ville. And, in 1863, during the war and its terrors, he wrote and published a work on the "Second Coming of Christ, and His Millennial Reign on the Earth." This work passed through four editions in a few months. In 1864, he engaged in the book business with Rev. George W. Robertson, who had the Baptist book-store, on Fourth Street, near Main. In connection with the book- store, the "Western Recorder" was purchased, and he became its editor. In the Fall of 1866, he sold his in- terest in the book business and the " Western Recorder," and moved to the south-western part of the State, and there purchased mineral lands, and engaged in mining,

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where he remained over seven years, and where he con- tinues to be the owner, in connection with a number of gentlemen of Louisville, of a large body of valuable mineral lands. He now resides in Louisville, and has lately written, and prepared for publication, a work on doctrinal theology. He has three living children.

ELM, THOMAS J., Lawyer, was born in 1800, near Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and was the son of Hon. Charles Helm, who was many years member of both branches of the Ken- tucky Legislature. He completed his educa- tion and studied law at Glasgow, while living with his uncle, Henry Crutcher. He was appointed Clerk of the Barren County Court, and held the posi- tion until the adoption of the present Constitution, in 1850. He was Clerk of the Kentucky House of Repre- sentatives for twenty-two years, having succeeded Rob- ert S. Todd to that position, and was continuously re- elected ; was Secretary of the Constitutional Convention of 1849; was a man of fine ability; had a remarkable memory; and was exceedingly popular over the State. He died in Glasgow.

€ aRUBBS, CHARLES STROTHER, Lawyer, and Judge of Logan County, was born April II, 1846, in Maysville, Mason County, Kentucky. His grandfather, Capt. John Grubbs, was a prominent farmer of Logan County, and mem- ber of a distinguished family throughout the

State. His father, Rev. William N. Grubbs, is an able minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, long and favorably connected with the Kentucky Conference, now with the Conference of South-eastern Indiana. His mother was a daughter of the Rev. Jonathan Stamper, one of the most able and eloquent preachers of his day in Kentucky. The subject of this sketch had every advantage of an early education. He made un- common advancement, and, at the age of fourteen, entered Bethel College, at Russellville, where he com- pleted his literary education. He soon afterwards en- tered the law department of the University of Louisville, and graduated in 1869. He immediately began the practice of his profession in Russellville, where he has since resided. His professional success has been excep- tionally great, few men attaining such distinction in so short a time. His professional, business, and social habits are admirable, and have contributed greatly to his early success. He is, politically, a Democrat, and, in 1874, became the nominee of that party for the office of Judge of Logan County Courts, and was

elected. He still holds that office. He is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South; is favorably connected with the leading interests of the community, and is one of the most energetic, liberal, and valuable members of society. Judge Grubbs was married, September 5, 1876, to Miss Nannie Rodman, daughter of Hon. John Rodman, of Frankfort, Ken- tucky, late Attorney-General for the State.

AVIE, MAJOR AMBROSE, Planter, second son of William and Margaret (Jones) Davie, was born in Person County, North Carolina, January I, 1787. His father, William Davie, was the son of Gabriel Davie ; and he was son of William and Mary (Ashburn) Davie, who came from Gloucestershire, England, to America, about the year 1720, settling on the Potomac, where Washington City now stands. Ambrose Davie, on reaching majority, was chosen constable of his native county, holding the position till the beginning of the war of 1812. He was then appointed aid to the Governor of North Carolina, with the rank of major; assisted in raising a regiment, with which he went to the defense of Norfolk, Virginia ; after the close of the war, accompanied the Governor of his State in his negotiations with the Chickasaw Indians, returning to his home, in North Carolina, through Kentucky. He married Mrs. Elizabeth (Harleson) Da- vie, the widow of Ashburn Davie, and, in 1820, removed to Christian County, Kentucky. After the death of his wife, and her two young daughters, he was again mar- ried, in 1823, to Mrs. Elizabeth A. West, née Woodson, the widow of Clayborn West, who had several years previously removed to Kentucky, from Buckingham County, Virginia. By this marriage he had two sons, Winston J. and Montgomery D. Davie, both now prom- nent citizens of Kentucky. In 1830, he became Sheriff of Christian County, retaining the office four years, giv- ing satisfaction and becoming very popular. In 1839, he lost his wife; and was again married, in 1840, to Mrs. Anna Phillips, née Nicks, widow of Gen. Charles Phillips, with whom he lived until his death, which oc- curred at his residence, in Christian County, February 22, 1863. In politics, he was an old-school Jeffersonian Democrat, and, although a personal and political friend of Andrew Jackson, was thoroughly imbued with the doctrine of States Rights, and consequently, when the civil war broke out, his sympathies were with the South. Religiously, he was extremely liberal in his views; asking great freedom for his own faith, he enter- tained a wide charity for that of others. He was a man of large mind, of untiring energy, and exceptional busi- ncss ability. Before he had reached middle life, he had amassed a large estate, and was the most extensive

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planter in his county, and one of the largest tobacco- growers in Kentucky. He owned a large number of negroes, and made it a rule never to sell one of them, nor to tolerate misuse of any kind ; was exceedingly kind in disposition ; was public-spirited and liberal, being connected with almost every movement of importance in his county, and was one of the most upright and valua- ble men of Southern Kentucky.

OHNSON, JAMES, was born in Orange County, Virginia. He served as a lieutenant-colonel un- der Richard M. Johnson, at the battle of the Thames, and was a representative in Congress, from Kentucky, during the years 1825 and 1826, his death being announced in the House in December of the latter year.

EAN, ROBERT THOMPSON, Wholesale Gro- cer, was born June 15, 1842, near Mt. Sterling, Montgomery County. He is the oldest son of James and Mary Bean. His father was a highly respected farmer of Montgomery County, and gave him every advantage of education, which was interrupted, however, by ill health and the break- ing out of the civil war. In 1862, he enlisted in Com- pany I, Eighth Confederate Regiment of Kentucky Cavalry, under the command of Gen. John H. Morgan, and was in the famous Morgan raid through Indiana and Ohio; was captured at Salineville, Ohio, July 26, 1863, and, with others of the command, taken to Camp Douglas, near Chicago. While in prison, he wrote to his friends for money, and made several attempts to es- cape, by bribing the guard, and excavations under the prison wall; but all his attempts were unavailing, and, after a weary confinement of over a year, he was ex- changed, and arrived in Virginia a few weeks before the final surrender of the Confederate forces. Being without money and clothes, and unable to reach home, he was solicited by Col. James Ward, of Smyth County, Virginia, to teach a school in his neighborhood, his patron loaning him a suit of clothes in which to make his first appearance as a pedagogue. He taught several months, at thirteen dollars per month; in the mean time, bought homespun linen, and made himself a suit of clothes, in which he returned home. After a few years, he began business as a retail grocer, in Mt. Sterling, with a small capital, and, by bending his whole energy to his business, to-day stands among the first business men of his county, and controls one of the largest trades in that portion of the State. In 1874, he became a member of the Baptist Church, and lives a life of irre-

proachable Christian character. Mr. Bean was married, November 21, 1872, to Miss Pauline, daughter of Dr. Thomas Summers, of Bath County, Kentucky.

, LEEBERG, LEVI, Rabbi, was born in Hofgeis- mar, Prussia, July 14, 1832. His father, Lucas Kleeberg, was a watch-maker of that city, and a man of no particular prominence ; but, hav- ing proper views of life and its responsibili- ties, gave his children an excellent education. Rabbi Kleekerg remained in the best schools of his native city until his fifteenth year, when he entered the Rabbinical College, under the distinguished Doctor Hildesheimer, now Rabbi of Berlin, finishing his He- brew and Talmudical studies. In 1856, he entered the University of Gottingen, in the kingdom of Hanover, and graduated as Doctor of Philosophy, in 1859. In that year, he was appointed Rabbi of Elberfeld, Ger- many, where he ministered till 1866, when he received a formal call from the city of Louisville, Kentucky, which has since been his field of labor. His name has been prominently identified with the charitable move- ments in that city ; he is generally called to the Rabbin- ical Conferences, and is one of the leading Rabbis of the country. He was married, in 1860, to Minna, second daughter of the late Marcus Cohen, M. D., of Elmshoon, Germany. She is a lady of rare accomplish- ments, and a poetess of considerable reputation, many of her productions having been favorably noticed by Taylor, Longfellow, and others. A collection of her poems will soon appear in book form.

COTT, JOHN LAFAYETTE, Lawyer, was born April 7, 1829, near Manchester, Adams County, Ohio. His father, John Scott, was a farmer in that county for many years, and was the brother of Judge Thomas Scott, of Chillicothe, who was secretary of the Convention which framed the Constitution of Ohio, and afterwards held the highest judicial office, and was one of the most able lawyers of that State. His mother was Miss J. Levi, of Maysville, Kentucky, sister to the wife of Roswell Grant, uncle to President Grant. His parents were both Virginians by birth. He obtained a thorough English education, and began life as a school-teacher, and subsequently learned the printing business, in the office of the "West Union Intelligencer." He founded and edited the " Washing- ton New Era," at the same time pursuing the study of law, under John Robinson. He afterwards completed his literary education at Maysville, under Prof. Richeson. He soon after commenced the practice of law in Mays-

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ville, which he continued successfully till 1859, in which year he removed to Frankfort, where he has since re- sided, part of the time associated with Chief-Justice Simpson. In 1862, he was elected, by the Union party, as Commonwealth's Attorney for the district including Franklin and several surrounding counties, which posi- tion he held six years, and has since been actively en- gaged in the practice of his profession, in which he has been uniformly successful. He is identified with the Republican party, casting his vote for Abraham Lincoln, U. S. Grant, and Rutherford B. Hayes. He is a man of liberal sentiments, wide views, and favors the most liberal policy toward the Southern people, earnestly desiring the establishment of permanent fraternity between the sections. He is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Scott has been twice married: first, in 1857, to Miss Theresa Frank, daughter of Joseph Frank, a merchant of Maysville; she died a few months afterwards; and, in 1859, he married Miss Sallie S. Childs, daughter of W. C. Childs, of Frankfort, Kentucky.

OWE, ROBERT, Merchant, was born June 15, 1813, in County Tyrone, Ireland, and, while a child, was brought to Canada by his parents. In 1843, he came to Covington, Kentucky, where he has since resided, and has been one of the most successful and influential mer- chants of that city. In 1852, he made a trip to Califor- nia, but, in 1854, again resumed business in Covington. He was one of the first Directors of the First National Bank of Covington; in 1858, was first elected member of the City Council, and served in that body for twelve years; and, in 1867, the new fire engine was named the Howe, in honor of his faithful services to the city. He was one of the first Stockholders and Directors of the Kenton Insurance Company, and is still a member of its Directory, and is one of the most enterprising, public- spirited, and valuable eitizens of Covington. Mr. Howe was married, in 1854, to Miss Kate Merring, daughter of J. M. Merring, one of the old residents of Covington. They have had three children: two daughters, now liv- ing; and one son, Robert Howe, who died in 1876.

ERKES, REV. STEPHEN, Professor of Biblical Literature and Exegetical Theology in the Dan- ville Theological Seminary, was born June 27, 1817, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. His an- cestors came from Saxony, Germany, and settled in Germantown, before the advent of William Penn. He began his education at Abington, Pennsyl- vania; entered Yale College, in 1833, and graduated in

the class of 1837, with Chief-Justice Waite, William M. Evarts, and Edward Pierrepont. He studied theology at Baltimore, under the direction of the late Dr. R. J. Breckinridge, and afterwards conducted an academy, and preached for two Churches in Baltimore County, Maryland. In 1852, he came to Kentucky, and became Professor of the Greek and Latin Languages at Tran- sylvania University, acting, also, for six years, as pastor of Bethel Church, six miles from Lexington. In 1857, by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, in session at Lexington, he was elected Professor of Biblical and Oriental Literature in the Danville Theo- logical Seminary, which is under the auspices of that Church. He has since occupied that position, his chair having subsequently been changed to its present name. He has been several times a member of the General As- sembly of his Church ; was for several years associate editor of the "Danville Quarterly Review," and, in 1864, with Rev. Dr. E. P. Humphrey, founded and con- ducted the "Western Presbyterian." He has been for many years a member of the Board of Trustecs of Centre College ; has been for twenty-five years actively con- nected with two of the best educational institutions in the country ; is a scholar of great ability, and justly ranks as one of the first educators of the State. Pro- fessor Yerkes has been twice married; first, in 1840, to Amanda Tyson, of Baltimore, Maryland. In 1875, he was again married to Mrs. Amelia Rodes Anderson, and has had five hildren, all by his first marriage.

REED, GILBERT C., was born November 17, 1829, in Stonington, Connecticut. Though of comparatively humble parentage, he received a thorough English and partial classical educa- tion, and acquired a good knowledge of engi- neering ; and, at the age of seventeen, com- menced teaching school. Three years later, he entered the engineering service of the Roehester and Niagara Falls Railroad, staying till its completion; afterwards engaged in the survey of the Corning and Olean Rail- road, which was never completed. In 1854, he helped to locate the Lake Erie, Wabash, and St. Louis (now known as the Toledo, Wabash, and Western) Railroad, locating about sixty miles of the same; staying upon this road till its completion, in 1856, when he came to Ken- tucky, and was engaged on the Memphis, Clarksville, and Louisville Railroad, as assistant and chief engineer, until the breaking out of the war. During that period, he was occasionally employed in the engineering service of the Nashville and Chattanooga and Nasliville and De- catur Railroads; but, towards the close of the war, he again resumed his position as chief engineer and super- intendent of the Memphis, Clarksville, and Louisville

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Railroad. He subsequently resigned his position, and was appointed Assessor of the Sixth Tennessee District, by President Johnson; but, after holding the office for some months, the Senate, from political reasons, refused to confirm his nomination. He soon after resumed his connection with the Memphis, Clarksville, and Louisville Railroad, acting as auditor and general ticket and freight agent until 1872. In that year, he went to Louisville, and became purchasing agent of the Louisville, Nash- ville, and Great Southern Railroad; and, besides contin- uing to hold this position, since 1875 he has acted as secretary to the president of the road. He has held most positions connected with the railroad business; is a skill- ful engineer; is thoroughly posted in all matters pertain- ing to railroads ; and is considered one of the most thor- ough-going, enterprising, and able railroad men in the country. He is a man of liberal views; of fine judg- ment; of fine executive ability ; of genial and attractive manners; and justly occupies a high position as an en- terprising and valuable citizen. Mr. Breed was married, in 1858, to the daughter of Dr. C. R. Cooper, of Clarks- ville, Tennessee.

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The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 38

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