The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 40

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

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SHBROOK, WILLIAM E., was born October 13, 1820, in Clarke County, Kentucky, and is the second child of Levi and Mary (Dooley) Ashbrook, who were both natives of Kentucky. His father was a dealer in stock, and also an extensive pork-packer, in St. Louis. William E. Ashbrook received an ordinary education; and, at an early age, began to take an active interest in his father's business, making trips to Philadelphia, and other cities, with cattle; and, before reaching his majority, began himself to trade largely in stock. In 1853, he went to New Orleans, and engaged in buying and selling in the stock market of that city; and, while engaged in that business, was nominated by the Democratic party, of Kentou County, for the Sheriffalty, and was elected; after serving two years was re-elected, and continued through his second term, after which he resumed busi- ness in New Orleans, remaining until the commence- ment of the civil war, when he took charge of the stock-yards of Covington, which are still in his posses- sion. He located in that place before the organization of the city government, and has been actively concerned in building up its interests. He has served, for ten years, in the City Council; was four years a commis- sioner of the water-works, and was a member of its con- struction committee; has been a Director of the City National Bank, since its formation; is an active, ener- getic, and successful business man, and one of the most

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enterprising and influential citizens of Covington. Mr. Ashbrook was married, November 20, 1860, to Mrs. Mary A. Owen, née Gage. They have five living children.

ALLING, GEORGE H., M. D., son of Henry Walling, who was descended from an old En- glish family, was born February 29, 1820, in Canton, Stark County, Ohio. Eight years after- wards his parents moved to Lexington, Ken- tucky. He received a good literary education in the best private schools of Lexington and Louisville, having located in the latter city, in 1836. He studied medicine, and graduated, in 1847, in the Medical Depart- ment of the University of Louisville, under Gross, Cobb, Short, and other distinguished physicians, who then held professorships in that institution. In the same year he entered upon the practice of medicine in Louisville, where he has since mainly resided, actively engaged in the duties of a large, influential, and valuable practice. He has taken an active interest in public affairs, and especially in matters relating to the welfare of the city. From 1868 to 1871, he served as a member of the City Council, and, after serving six years on the Board of Commissioners of Public Charities, the pressing demands of his profession induced him to decline re-election. He is prominently connected with some of the social organ- izations of the day, and is a member of the Presbyte- rian Church. He is decidedly prepossessing and dignified in his personal appearance, courteous and attractive in manners, and stands in the first rank of the profession, in which he is a most active and valuable member.

REYFOGLE, WILLIAM L., M. D., Oculist and Aurist, was born April 4, 1845, at Colum- bus, Ohio, and is the son of Charles Breyfogle, who was a tailor by trade, and, having acquired a fortune, has now retired. He received a good education, and, at the breaking out of the civil war, entered the Ninth Ohio Cavalry ; served on Kilpat- rick's staff; accompanied Sherman in his campaigns; and participated in forty or fifty engagements of the war, leaving the army in 1864. He immediately commenced the study of medicine, under Dr. George H. Blair, at Columbus, Ohio, and graduated in 1866 ; located, at New Albany, Indiana, in the same year; soon established a large and valuable practice; and, at that time wrote and published " Breyfogle's Homeopathic Epitome," a work which has already gone through five editions, and been translated into several languages. His success at New Albany induced him, as his practice reached across the river to some extent, to move to Louisville in 1868,

carrying on a large and successful general practice, till 1871, when he gave his attention especially to the treat- ment of the eye and ear, homeopathically; and, with a view of perfecting his knowledge, visited Europe, devot- ing a year to the study, at Vienna; during which time he occupied the position of assistant to the distinguished aural surgeon, Dr. Adam Politzer, assuming entire charge of his private practice, during his protracted ab- sence; also for some time had charge of Aural Clinics at Vienna Hospital. He took occasion to visit Paris and London, where he prosecuted his studies ; and, on his return to Louisville, was soon engaged in an active practice, which has since become lucrative and influen- tial. He was the originator of the first Homeopathic Kentucky State Medical Society; was elected its first President ; is also President of the Indiana Homeopathic Medical Institute; is a member of the American Insti- tute of Homeopathy ; is a life member of the Hahne- mannean Institute; is Censor of the St. Louis Homeo- pathic College, and also of the Cincinnati Pulte Medical College, holding the position of special lecturer in each. He is said to be the first physician who used musk as an antidote to chloral poison. He has written several pamphlets, and is distinguished, in his school, as a writer and lecturer of great ability. He is devoted to Homeopathy, believing in its superiority ; takes great pleasure in expounding its principles, and is one of the most able, worthy, and successful of its representatives, his learning, manner, and bearing every-where gaining respect to himself, and giving reputation to his school. He is a man of exceptional personal and social habits, every-where gathering friends, and by his universal courtesy winning the esteem even of those who oppose his theories of medicine. Dr. Breyfogle was married, while residing in New Albany, to Bella, daughter of Hon. John B. Winstandley, of that city.

EARNS, CHARLES, M. D., Physician and Surgeon, was born May II, 1836, in Woodford County, Kentucky, and is the only child of Montraville and Sarah (Wiggs) Kearns. His father emigrated from Virginia, about 1808. Dr. Kearns received an ordinary English educa- tion, being early thrown upon his own resources, by the death of his parents; and, at the age of thirteen, com- menced to learn the drug business at Frankfort, serving four years as an apprentice; at the age of nineteen he started business for himself; several years afterwards, located in Kansas City, Missouri, continuing actively engaged there until the outbreak of the civil war; re- turned to Frankfort, and began the regular study of medicine, under Drs. Sneed and Rodman, and graduated in the Spring of 1863, at the Ohio Medical College,

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Cincinnati; was immediately afterward appointed Dem- onstrator of Anatomy in that institution, and Resident Physician to the Cincinnati Hospital; in the same year located in Covington, where he has since resided. He was six years Professor of Anatomy in the Ohio Dental College ; is now Surgeon to Saint Elizabeth Hospital, of Covington ; has become distinguished as a surgeon; con- ducts a large and lucrative general practice; and is one of the best read, most active and successful members of his profession in the State. He also takes an active interest in public affairs, and has been for eight or ten years one of the most efficient and valuable members of the Covington Board of Education. Dr. Kearns was married, in 1859, to Miss Laura Cox, daughter of Austin P. Cox, of Frankfort, Kentucky.

TANTON, MAJ. HENRY THOMPSON, Law- yer, Editor, and Poet, was born June 30, 1834, at Alexandria, Virginia, and is the son of Hon. Richard H. Stanton, a law-writer and able law- yer of Maysville, Kentucky. (See sketch of Hon. Richard H. Stanton.) His mother was Miss A. Throop, daughter of Rev. P. Throop, a Meth- odist minister of Virginia. He received his education at Maysville Seminary, La Grange and Shelby Colleges, Kentucky, and was at West Point Military Academy, from 1849 to 1851. In the latter year, he entered the Treasury Department, under Hon. James Guthrie; and was clerk in the Census Bureau, under DeBow, many years editor of "DeBow's Review," at New Orleans; was also a clerk in the Pension Office, serving in these positions in the administrations of Pierce and Fillmore. In 1855, he took editorial charge of the "Maysville Ex- press;" studied law, and was admitted to the bar, in 1856, practicing, in connection with his father, until 1860, when he removed to Memphis, Tennessee, contin- uing actively engaged in his profession until the break- ing out of the civil war. He raised a company, and with it joined Gen. John S. Williams, at Prestonsburg; and served on his staff until 1864, when he became Ad- jutant-General, under Gens. Eccles, John C. Breckin- ridge, and John H. Morgan. His military career was an active and eventful one, participating in over fifty engagements, comprising many of the great battles of the war; and, although he was, a great part of the time, a staff officer, he commanded a battery at Fayette Court House, serving the guns himself after his men were killed, and distinguished himself by great gallantry; was promoted major for gallant conduct; and was Acting Adjutant-General under Gen. Eccles, and was with him surrendered, under Gen. Johnson, at Greensboro, North Carolina. After the close of the war, he again resumed the practice of the law ; was, for a time, editor of the

"Maysville Bulletin;" was, for three years, Deputy Insurance Commissioner for the State of Kentucky; and is at present on the editorial staff of the "Yeoman," and resides in Frankfort. For a number of years, he has been a contributor to some of the leading periodicals of the country. He is a poet of very fine ability, many of his poetical productions circulating largely through the South and West, and some of them having a world- wide reputation. His leading poems are the "Money- less Man," "Fallen," "Type and Fame," "Jacob Brown," "Self-Sacrifice," "Drawing it Fine," " Heart Lessons," and, "Out of the Old Year into the New." His poems have been published, in two volumes, en- titled, "Moneyless Man," and "Jacob Brown, and Other Poems." Politically, he is a Democrat ; is strong in his convictions, and has always taken an active part in State and local politics. He has long been identified with the Episcopal Church. Major Stanton was married, in 1856, to Miss Martha R. Lindsey, daughter of Alex- ander Lindsey, of Montgomery County, Kentucky, a lady distinguished for her beauty and many fine qualities.

USSELL, WILLIAM EDWIN, Lawyer, was born October 6, 1830, at Columbia, Adair County, Kentucky. His parents were Andrew and Elizabeth Hubbard (Eckles) Russell; the former a native of Lincoln County, Kentucky ; and the latter, of Bedford County, Virginia. His father was a farmer and merchant tailor by occupa- tion; removed to Dallas, Texas, in 1851, and died there in the following year. William E. Russell was raised on the farm, and educated in the best select schools of the country. During the last year of the war with Mexico, he was Lieutenant in Company B, Fourth Ken- tucky Infantry, and served under General Scott; in 1848, began reading law at Columbia, Kentucky; was admitted to the bar in 1850; immediately entered upon the practice of his profession in Columbia; in 1851, was engaged in trading speculations in Texas; in 1852, re- turned to Kentucky, and resumed the law practice, with great success, at Columbia; in 1867, removed to Lebanon, Kentucky, where he has since resided, de- voted to his profession with his usual skill and success. In 1857, he was elected to represent Adair County in the Legislature, and served one term. He has probably always been a Democrat in politics, having cast his first Presidential vote for Franklin Pierce, and his last, be- fore the great civil war, for John C. Breckinridge. He is a lawyer of ability, and a man of sterling worth. Religiously, he is associated with the Baptist Church. Mr. Russell was married, November 14, 1854, to Susan A. Elder, a native of Marion County, and daughter of Sylvester Elder, a merchant of Lebanon.

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ORGAN, HON. JOHN SANDERSON, was born January 6, 1799, in Nicholas County, Ken- tucky, and was the son of Jared Morgan, of Goochland County, Virginia, and his wife, Sarah Sanderson, of South Carolina. His parents set- tled in Nicholas County, about 1798, where, at the age of fifteen, by the death of his father, he was left in charge of his mother and her large family. In 1824, he was elected to represent his county in the Leg- islature, taking sides with the "Old Court" party ; was again elected in 1833; was elected to the State Senate in 1838; was re-elected in 1842; resigned in 1844, and, in the following year, located in Covington ; became the first President of the Covington and Lexington Rail- road, and served in that capacity until his death. He was a man of fine native talent, sound judgment, and great energy; was generous and manly, and was noted for his great uprightness of character. He died of cholera, June 17, 1852, in Covington, Kentucky. Mr. Morgan was married, in 1829, to Eleanor Bruce, daughter of Henry Bruce, Sr., of Fleming County, Kentucky, who, with a large family, survives him.

ARTY, JOHN, Merchant, was born March 6, 1806, at Lexington, Kentucky. His paternal ancestors emigrated to New Jersey from Eng- land, during the infancy of that colony. His father entered the Continental army at the age of seventeen, and shared in the campaign that ended in the surrender of Cornwallis; was one of the pio- neer settlers of Lexington, and, in 1794, served with Gen. Wayne against the Indians, participating in the decisive victory of Miami of the Lakes. His mother was a member of the Ayers family of Maryland, a woman of fine sense and superior qualities. After spending several sessions at Transylvania University, John Carty was thrown on his own resources, and commenced life, at the age of fifteen, as deputy of Capt. John Fowler, then, and for many years, postmaster of Lexington; he remained three years in that position; then entered one of the leading business houses in Lexington; in the course of time became a partner; and steadily progressed until he became widely known, not only as one of the most successful merchants Lexington had ever produced, but also as a man of most admirable character. For many years, and up to the time of his death, which occurred, April 8, 1877, he was the proprietor, and sole manager, of one of the most extensive business concerns in the State. He would have been successful in almost any calling. He was a man of rare financial sagacity, and the clearest judgment, and was noted for his great integrity. Though a liberal patron of learning, and every deserving public enterprise, and a constant bene-

factor of struggling merit, yet all this was hidden under his great personal modesty. He was universally esteemed, and few men have died in Lexington more generally and sincerely mourned.

USBANDS, LORENZO DOW, Lawyer, was born December 18, 1823, in Christian County, Kentucky, where the family settled in 1805, being of English descent. His father was a farmer, and the son received a very fair educa- tion, such as was afforded by the Crittenden County schools, to which county the family removed two years after his birth. In 1847, he commenced the study of law, with his brother, J. P. Husbands, of Paducah, and, in 1849, was admitted to the bar, and began the practice of his profession in conjunction with Judge Morrow. Elected, in 1856, to the office of Com- monwealth's Attorney, he held the position for one year; in 1859, he was elected to the Lower House of the Legis- lature, and served one term. Politically, his career has been limited, but his sympathies and his labors have always been freely given to the Democratic party. In the pursuit of his profession, he has been more than ordinarily successful, having been engaged in many im- portant suits; to use the words of one of his brother practitioners, "Col. L. D. Husbands is a lawyer of ability, ranking number one in the State; and is, withal, a gentleman of integrity; true to his clients, and urbane to all; he is considered one of the best citizens of Ken- tucky." He is a gentleman of splendid appearance; tall and straight, and looking young for his age ; impress- ing the beholder, at first sight, as a man to whom has been allotted more than an ordinary share of talent, and confirming the impression upon closer acquaintance. Among his associates on the circuit, he is acknowledged to be the foremost and soundest of all that have entered the legal arena of that section of the State. As a Chan- cery lawyer, he has, probably, no superior in the Com- monwealth. Commencing as a poor boy, he has by his industry acquired a very fine estate. He possesses a logical mind, and treats his adversaries with great respect ; seeking, in debate, to convince by argument and sound demonstration, rather than by rhetoric and sharp prac- tice. Having the faculty of concealing all emotion, his countenance never betrays his thoughts; leaving his opponents at a loss to determine whether he is elated, or cast down, during the progress of a suit. Naturally liberal, dispensing charity without ostentation, in keep- ing with the abundance with which he is possessed, he is respected and loved in the community in which he moves. Married, in 1851, to Miss Hannah Singleton ; and, in 1859, to Mrs. Bullock, daughter of J. W. Cook, of Caldwell County, he has four children living.

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ERRY, HON. ALBERT SEATON, Lawyer, son of James T. and Elizabeth V. Berry, was born May 13, 1837, in Campbell County, Kentucky. His father was a successful farmer, and served as the first County Judge of Campbell County. His grandfather, Washington Berry, came from Virginia, and settled in that county, in 1792. His mother was a native of Alexandria, Virginia, daugh- ter of Nathaniel Wise, a prominent lawyer of Virginia, and relative of the distinguished Henry A. Wise, of that State. He was liberally educated, graduating at Miami University, at Oxford, Ohio, in 1856. He graduated from the Cincinnati Law School, in 1857; in that year, began the practice of the law at Newport ; in the fol- lowing year, was elected City Attorney ; in 1861, entered the Confederate army, as a private, in the Fifth Ken- tucky Infantry; was in the army until the close of the war ; saw service in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and South Carolina; and participated in the battles of Princeton and Jonesboro, and in numerous less im- portant engagements. From 1865 to 1875, he was largely engaged as a broker, and dealer in real estate ; in the latter year, he resumed the practice of the law. He has served as President of the School Board of Newport; has been once appointed and three times elected Mayor, and President of the Council, of Newport; and now is Mayor of that city. He cast his first Presidential vote for John C. Breckinridge, in 1860, and is a Democrat. In 1877, he made an exciting race for the State Senate, and was elected by a flattering majoriry. He is a lawyer of ability, and a remarkably energetic and suc- cessful business man ; a man of vigorous, restless brain, quick in his conclusions and actions, and ready, at all times, for any emergency; is decidedly scholarly in his tastes and attainments; is considerably over six feet in height, absolutely straight, and of great physical force. He is a progressive, public-spirited, and valuable citizen, and is one of the first men of his section of the State. Mr. Berry was married, in 1867, to Miss Anna H. Shaler, daughter of Dr. M. B. Shaler, of Newport, Kentucky.

RANE, JAMES H., Farmer and Stock-raiser, was born in Shelby County, Kentucky, March 31, 1805. His parents were among the early set- tlers of that part of the State from Maryland, and of Scotch descent. As early as 1800, his father, Stephen T. Drane, came to Ken- tucky, and settled in Shelby County. He was many years a magistrate; an officer in the old State military organization ; was prominent in the affairs of the county; and was one of its most honored as well as most wealthy citizens. He died, December 4, 1844, at the age of seventy-six. The subject of this sketch received

a fair education in the schools of the county, but chose the life of the farm, and now ranks as one of the most systematic, painstaking, and successful farmers of the State. He has been an extensive stock dealer, and has variously engaged his time and means in connection with his farming interests, every-where producing favorable results. Absorbed in the favorite work of his life, he has taken little interest in politics, only voting accord- ing to his judgment of right, and having no occasion to seek political place. He is a member of the Christian Church, of which he has been a pillar in his community. He was one of the chief advocates and supporters of the Louisville and Lexington Railroad; was one of the main movers and supporters of the system of turnpikes, which has so enhanced the value of land, and made life tol- erable at all seasons, in his own and the adjoining county of Henry; he was one of the founders, and has always been one of the most substantial supporters, of Eminence College; he was a long time President of its Board of Trustees, and is now a member of that Board; and, although he has had no children of his own to educate, he has doubtlessly raised and educated more young men and women than any man in the country. This, indeed, has been one of the noble works of his unostentatious life. He was one of the originators of Eminence Deposit Bank, and was, for many years, its president ; he has intimately been identified with nearly all of the business organizations and interests of the com- munity ; has carried on his farm on the most scrupulous principles of right, quietly rejecting some of the objec- tionable usages among farmers; and has been excep- tional in all his social and personal habits, presenting, as a consequence, an admirable specimen of a mentally and physically well preserved man. This is a man in whose life there are no events, usually called great, which are taken to mark eras, or distinguish men from their neigh- bors; and yet his whole life presents a rare example of the good a man may do in any position or calling, and, without display, leave the world better for his having lived in it. In 1825, Mr. Drane was married to Miss Nancy Wells. Their only child died in early boyhood.

NDERSON, GENERAL ROBERT, Soldier, was born June 14, 1805, in Louisville, Ken- tucky ; graduated at West Point Military Acad- emy, and entered the army as a lieutenant of artillery ; in 1832, was appointed Assistant Inspector-General of Illinois Volunteers, with the rank of colonel, in the Black Hawk War; was distin- guished for his bravery at the battle of Bad Ax; in 1835, became Instructor of Artillery at West Point ; served in the Florida War; captured a company of In- dians near Fort Lauderdale, for which he was brevetted

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captain ; from 1838 to 1840, was aid to General Scott ; in 1841, was made colonel of artillery ; in 1847, Septem- ber 8, was wounded in the battle of Molino del Rey, and brevetted major ; in 1853, was in command of the Mili- tary Asylum at Harrodsburg, Kentucky; in 1857, was promoted Major of the First Artillery ; in 1860, com- · manded the United States forces in Charleston harbor, being stationed at Fort Moultrie; December 26, 1860, transferred his small command to Fort Sumter, where, April 12, 1861, the first gun was fired, and the great civil war inaugurated; in 1865, he was selected to hoist the flag over the ruins of Fort Sumter; in May, 1861, he was appointed brigadier-general in the regular army, by President Lincoln; for a time, commanded the de- partment of Kentucky ; subsequently, had charge of the department of the Cumberland, but failing health caused him to relinquish his command in the same year, and, in the Fall of 1863, he retired from the army. In 1870, he went to Europe for the purpose of bettering his health, and died at Nice, October 26, 1871. His body is interred at West Point, New York.

ITCH, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, Merchant, was born at Olmsted Falls, Ohio, in 1842. His father was a farmer, and one of the first settlers in Ohio, having owned what is now the western part of the city of Cleveland. B. F. Fitch received his rudimentary education in the common-schools; and, when fifteen years of age, entered Oberlin College, remaining there two years. He then went to Detroit, Michigan, where he obtained a situa- tion as clerk, in one of the largest retail dry-goods houses in that city, and here laid the foundation for a most successful career. In the Spring of 1866, he re- moved to Louisville, and accepted the position of clerk. His desire to commence business for himself induced him to practice economy, which soon enabled him to rent one-half of a store adjoining that of his late em- ployer ; and, with a capital of three hundred and fifty dollars, he opened a ladies' furnishing house. His busi- ness grew at once; and, having acquired a thorough knowledge of the wants of his customers, he succeeded, by his courteous manner and upright dealings, in attract- ing a lucrative trade. His half store was succeeded by a whole one; and then, one store becoming too small for his operations, another one, adjoining, was opened. His business continuing to grow, he was soon obliged to rent a third store-all three of which being connected, makes his the largest concern of the kind in Kentucky. Situated, as it is, on the most fashionable avenue in the city, with a growing trade, the indications are that its present capacity will soon have to be doubled. Much of. Mr. Fitch's success must be attributed to his affable

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The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 40

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