The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 51

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 51

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souri; Rev. Dr. Varden, of Paris; and W. H. Felix, of Covington, Kentucky. At the close of the war, in 1865, the building at Georgetown, which, for twenty years had been occupied by Prof. Farnham as a Female Seminary, having burned down, a void in that depart- ment of education was thereby created, which, for a time, was keenly felt by the people, who put forth many efforts to remedy the evil, but all unavailingly, until Prof. Rucker came to their relief, taking charge of the school, and appropriating to its use his own pri- vate property, until better and more commodious prem- ises could be obtaincd. Perceiving, however, after a time, through the indications of failing health, that he had undertaken too much by assuming the additional duties of Principal of the Seminary, he sold out prop- erty and school to Rev. J. B. Thorp, who continued its management for two years, when the school was trans- ferred to other quarters and reorganized. During the Summer of 1868, the citizens of Georgetown projecting a new building for seminary purposes, Prof. Rucker be- came the agent of its Board of Trustees to solicit funds and to superintend its construction, devoting much time thereto; and when, in the Fall of 1869, it was com- pleted, again became its principal, which he yet re- mains. This institution now occupies a front rank among all similar ones throughout the State. In 1874, he conceived the idea of aiding Georgetown College, financially, by having a chair endowed with a fund raised from its former students. The work of canvass- ing among them was carried on by himself during vaca- tions. With some assistance from Rev. R. M. Dudley, he succeeded in raising fifteen thousand dollars. This sum being insufficient for the purpose, he applied to the Legislature for an act of incorporation for an association, granting them power to take charge of the fund and in- crease it. The charter was obtained during the session of 1875-6, the title of the corporation being, "The Students' Association of Georgetown College." Thus provided for, the sum has since become an assured fact. It is now slowly but steadily increasing, with every prospect of ultimately attaining an amount suf- ficient to meet fully the design of its institution. It is managed and controlled by a board chosen from the members of the association, of which, at the present time, he is the chairman. About the close of the war, desirous of advancing the moral and religious good of the people, he called a meeting of Sunday- school workers, for the purpose of uniting their efforts in such a way as to render their labors in the cause of Christianity and Bible truth more efficient. The meeting turned out a success, and resulted in the formation and establishment of the " Baptist Sunday-school Convention of Elk Horn Association," an organization which was the first of its kind in Kentucky, of which there are now many in the Statc. For a number of years, Prof.

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Rucker was the Chairman of the "Sunday-school Board of the Baptist General Association of Kentucky," retir- ing therefrom only when duties otherwise pressing and ill health constrained him so to do. He has been a con- sistent member of the Baptist Church since his early youth, having imbibed his religious principles from his father, who was a constant living exemplification of Christian character. To his father, he attributes much of his success in life, having drawn from him all those habits of correct training and thought which are so con- spicuous in his own daily walk, conversation, and man- ners, and which have been the true foundation of his many years of usefulness. Besides all the various occu- pations heretofore recited, which have engaged his time and attention, he has been an active member of the Board of Trustees of Georgetown nearly the whole period of his residence there, taking a genuine interest in all its municipal affairs, and conserving the public good in every legitimate way possible, to the best of his ability. This he has done without the hope of fee or reward, the service being of that class of work which brings no compensation, save that of an approving con- science. To such men the community really never know how much they are indebted, until they have passed from the business stage of life. Prof. Rucker is a man of great public spirit, enlarged views, sound practical knowledge, indefatigable purpose, untiring energy, and, withal, of a very conscientious, kind, and impressible nature; in manners, is courteous, unassuming, modest, and prepossessing. His school, which numbers over one hundred young ladies, is a model of order, refinement, good government, and regularity. On the 10th of Sep- tember, 1855, he was married to Miss Mary M. Allison, of Bourbon County, Kentucky. After marriage, they made Georgetown their home, where they have ever since resided. They have four children-a daughter and three sons. In his marriage, Prof. Rucker has been ex- tremely fortunate, he having obtained for a life com- panion a lady of most exemplary character, pleasing address, fine sensibilities, and rare good judgment, and one, withal, of whom it may be truly said, she knows her every duty, and how best to fulfill it.

TARK, PROF. ANTHONY BUTLER, Presi- dent of Logan Female College, at Russellville, Kentucky, was born in Robertson County, Tennessee, July 13, 1832. His father, Terry W. Stark, was a farmer, and also, a native of Robertson County, Tennessee; but, when An- thony was three months old, moved, with his family, to Logan County, Kentucky, where he lived the remainder of his life. His ancestors were of Saxon origin, and among the pioneers of North Carolina. His mother,

whose maiden name was Mary Smith, was of German descent, and a daughter of Henry Smith, one of the first settlers of Logan County, Kentucky. He attended the common-schools of his neighborhood until twenty years of age, when he went to Cumberland College, at Prince- ton, Kentucky, entered the preparatory department, and completed the entire course in two and a half years, which is the shortest time on record, in the annals of that college. After he graduated, he went to Elkton, Kentucky, and took charge of the Male High-school, which he taught five months, and then bought the "Green River Whig," changed the name to "Elkton Banner," and carried it on for two years, taking an active part in the canvass in which Charles S. Morehead was elected Governor of the State, by the "Know- Nothing" party, of which it was considered a valuable organ. After giving up this paper, he went to Tennes- see, and taught one term at Washington Institute, near Nashville; returned to Elkton, and taught there again, for five months. In 1857, he accepted the position of Professor of Languages in McGee College, Missouri, where he remained four years; while there, applied himself very closely to study, and thoroughly mastered Latin and Greek. During the last year of his resi- dence therc, he wrote extensively for various Method- ist periodicals, and contributed five successive articles to the "Southern Methodist Quarterly Review :" one on "Wordsworth ;" another on "English Philology ;" two on "Thomas Carlyle; " and the last on "The Moral and Religious Teachings of Shakespeare." These productions were very favorably received by the read- ers of the "Review," especially the last, which was extensively copied, and highly commended. On the breaking out of the war, sympathizing with the South, he left Missouri, accepted the Presidency of the Col- legiate Institute at Port Gibson, Mississippi; and re- mained until after the fall of Vicksburg, in 1863, when he removed to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where he became a professor in the Female College there for two years following. In 1866, he came to Nashville, and, in con- nection with the Rev. Felix Hill, started the "Home Monthly," a magazine which was successfully con- ducted for about four years; after the first year of this enterprise, he bought out Mr. Hill's interest, and con- tinued it alone. In 1870, he went to Lebanon, Ten- nessee, and took charge of Carona Institute until 1874, when he resigned that position, to accept the one he now holds. From boyhood, he has been a member of the Southern Methodist Church, and takes a very active part in all Church matters, being especially in- terested in the Sabbath-school. In his present posi- tion, he is acquiring an enviable reputation as a teacher of "English literature," and is bringing distinction to his college by his ingenious and successful mode of im- parting instruction; and enjoys the reputation of being

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one of the most thorough scholars and foremost educa- tors of his day. He is a member of the new "Shake- spearean Society " of London, England. He married Miss Ada Nelson, in Elkton, in 1854, and they have two children.

RIMBLE, HON. DAVID, was born in 1782, in Frederick County, Virginia. He was educated at William and Mary College; studied law, and, at the age of twenty-one, came to Kentucky; was engaged in the war of 1812, serving in two campaigns under Gen. Harrison; from 1817 to 1827, served uninterruptedly in Congress, from Ken- tucky; subsequently became engaged in agriculture and iron manufacture, being greatly instrumental in develop- ing the resources of the State, and was distinguished for the integrity of his principles, devotion to his public duties, and exemplary private life. He died, October 26, 1842, at Trimble's Furnace, Kentucky.

HANKS, CAPT. THOMAS HANLEY, Farmer, was born February 18, 1841, in Lincoln County, Kentucky, and was the youngest child of Will- iam and Rebecca Shanks, both natives of the same county. His family is one of the old, re- spectable families of the State. llis father was the youngest son of William Shanks and Sarah A. Han- ley, both of Virginia ancestry. He was a farmer by pursuit ; was, for a number of years, a magistrate ; was, for one term, Sheriff of Lincoln County; was a man of considerable force of character; possessed fine natural talents ; maintained a fine reputation ; was a man of con- siderable wealth. He died in 1872. His mother was the daughter of Henry Baughman and Patience Owsley, sister of Gov. Owsley. His maternal great-grandfather, Henry Baughman, was killed by the Indians, at Crab Orchard, in Lincoln County. Thomas H. Shanks was liberally educated; in 1856, entered West Point Military Academy, but, after one year, resigned his cadetship; afterwards, spent one year in Centre College, at Dan- ville ; subsequently, began the study of the law, at Stan- ford, under Joseph H. Owsley. In May, 1861, he went to Virginia, and enlisted in the Confederate army ; was in the first battle of Bull Run; participated in several other engagements during the campaign of that year ; afterward's, returned to Kentucky, and enlisted under Gen. Morgan; served with great credit ; was wounded severely, at Cynthiana, during Morgan's raid of 1862; was authorized to raise a company of cavalry; was suc- cessful, and, with his company, was assigned to the Sixth Kentucky Cavalry, under Col. J. W. Grigsby ; participated in the battle of Perryville; served in the

brigade of Gen. Buford, in the division of Gen. Wheeler ; was in the battle of Murfreesboro; was wounded in the head in a skirmish on Barren river; was captured in Morgan's famous raid through Ohio ; after a short con- finement in the Ohio Penitentiary and at Fort Delaware, effected his escape, in March, 1865; and his command was disbanded soon after, at Woodstock, Georgia. After the close of the war, he returned to Lincoln County, where he mainly engaged in agricultural pursuits. He took an active part in politics, and was a Democrat. In 1875, he was elected by that party to represent Lin- coln County in the Legislature, and was a member of that body at the time of his death, April 21, 1877. Capt. Shanks was a man of many noble traits ; was brave and magnanimous; was liberal to a fault; had a high sense of honor; was firm in his friendship; had fine judgment and rare executive ability, and stood high in his county as a uscful and valuable citizen.

YAN, WILLIAM, was born October 28, 1828, at Geneva, Ontario County, New York. His father, Michael Ryan, came to New York when fifteen years of age, and kept the first grocery at Geneva, in which business location he con- tinued for a number of years. William Ryan received a good education in the public and private schools at Geneva. He began life as a clerk in his father's grocery ; and was afterwards connected for six years with a hotel at Geneva. In 1857, he went to Iowa; remained there nine years, in the dry-goods and grocery business, the last two years acting as agent for the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company, of Hartford, Connecticut. In June, 1864, he located in Louisville, Kentucky, as general agent for the same Company ; has ever since done a flourishing business for his Company, and paid, to widows and orphans of de- ceased citizens of this State, over six hundred thousand dollars. While in the State of New York, he was, for several years, first lieutenant in an independent com- pany of infantry, subject to the order of the Governor of the State. In 1868, Mr. Ryan was confirmed in Calvary Episcopal Church, Rev. W. H. Platt, D. D., officiating. Mr. Ryan has been a member of the Vestry ever since the first election after his confirmation, and is now one of the Trustees of the Episcopal Orphans' Home, of Louisville. He married Adelaide Isabelle, daughter of Owen Edmonston, at one time Sheriff of Ontario County, New York, in May 1852; and, by this marriage, has two children, both living. He is one of the leading Masons in the State; was made a Master Mason in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; received the Chapter degree in Louisville R. A. Chapter, No. 5; officiated three years as Iligh Priest ; was Grand High Priest of

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the Grand R. A. Chapter of Kentucky ; is now Grand Captain-General of the Grand Commandery of the Knights Templar of Kentucky; member of the Grand Consistory of Kentucky, A. and A. S. R. 32º; Grand Puissant of the Grand Council of the R. and S. M. of Kentucky, and Past Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Kentucky. He is a Director of the Masonic Widows' and Orphans' Home; and now Master of Abraham Lodge, No. 8, of Louisville.

MITH, JOHN BRUCE, M. D., Physician and Surgeon, was born January 16, 1835, in Rox- bury, Delaware County, New York. His par- ents were John M. and Meomi (Roberts) Smith, both natives of the same county. His father was a farmer and trader by profession. He was the second of four children, and was bred to work on the farm. He obtained an elementary education in the neighborhood schools, chiefly in the Winter seasons ; and, in 1851, entered the Delaware Literary Institute, at Franklin, New York; and for several years pursued a thorough select course of literary study. In 1854, he began reading medicine, at Delhi, New York ; and spent the greater part of four years in preparing for his pro- fession, in the mean time attending medical lectures at Albany, New York City, and Louisville, Kentucky, graduating in the University of Louisville, in 1857. In that year he located at Fairview, Fleming County, Ken- tucky, and commenced the practice of his profession. In 1859, he removed to Millersburg, in Bourbon County, where he has since resided, and established a large, val- uable, and reputable medical practice ; and taken a posi- tion among the first physicians in his section of the State. He is a Democrat in politics, and, during the late civil war, was in sympathy and principle a South- ern man; and was one of the non-combatants who re- ceived the occasional attentions of the Federal troops. Religiously, he is connected with the Christian or Re- form Church. Dr. Smith was married, November 4, 1857, to Miss Maria A. Ball, a native of Mason County, and daughter of F. Ball, a fariner of that county.

EFF, COL. GEORGE W., was born January 5, 1833, in Cincinnati, Ohio. His father, George W. Neff, was a native of Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania; studied law under Hon. Horace Binney; practiced his profession, for a few years, in his native city ; in 1824, removed to Cincinnati, where he followed mercantile pursuits until his death, in 1850; was one of the leading busi- ness men of that city; was, for several years, its Mayor ;

and was the first President of the Little Miami Railroad. His mother was also a native of Philadelphia, and daughter of Ambrose White, a prominent merchant of that city. Col. Neff graduated at Woodward College, Cincinnati, in 1850, and at once entered into business as a member of the boot and shoe house of Ambrose W. Neff & Co., in that city. In 1861, he entered the Fed- eral army, as Lieutenant-Colonel of the Second Ken- tucky Infantry; occupied this position until the Summer of 1863, when he was promoted Colonel of the Eighty- eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; accompanied this regi- ment until the close of the war; was taken prisoner in the action of Scary Creek, on the Kanawha, in West Virginia, July 17, 1861, and confined at Richmond and Charleston as a hostage for rebel privateers; was ex- changed, August 17, 1862, and put in command of Camp Dennison, Ohio, where he remained until the fol- lowing year. In 1865, toward the close of the war, he was brevetted brigadier-general, for meritorious conduct on the field in Western Virginia. After the close of the war, he was appointed Collector of Customs at Cin- cinnati, by President Johnson, and performed the duties of that office for several years. He has since been Cin- cinnati Manager of the Western Assurance Company ; and, for several years, a resident of Newport, Kentucky. In politics, he is a Democrat. Religiously, he has been, for many years, connected with the Episcopal Church. Col. Neff was married, January 3, 1856, to Miss Clara Stanberry, niece of Hon. Henry Stanberry, Secretary of State under Andrew Johnson, now one of the oldest members of the Cincinnati bar, and for sev- eral years a resident of Kentucky.

MITH, J. LAWRENCE, M. D., Physician and Scientist, was born December 16, 1818, near Charleston, South Carolina. His father, Ben- jamin Smith, was a Virginian by birth. He received his education in Charleston College, and the University of Virginia. He selected civil engineering as a profession, and, after devoting two years to the study of its branches, in connection with geology and mining engineering, was employed as one of the assistant engineers in the railroad projected from Charleston to Cincinnati. This pursuit proving incon- genial, he began the study of medicine; graduated in the Medical College of South Carolina; went to Europe, and devoted several years to improving his knowledge of his profession, studying physiology under Flourens and Lougst; chemistry, under Orfila, Dumas, and Lie- big ; physics, under Pouillet, Desprez, and Buquerel ; and mineralogy and geology, under other distinguished teachers. He returned to America in 1844, having al- ready earned some reputation in his scientific researches.

Rkengo Ruoon

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He commenced the practice of medicine at Charleston ; delivered a course of lectures on toxicology; was ap- pointed Assayer of Bullion for South Carolina; devoted considerable attention to agricultural chemistry, geology, and mineralogy ; was one of the first to discover the scientific character of the agricultural wealth of that State; made a thorough investigation of the meteor- ological conditions, character of soils, and culture, affect- ing the growth of cotton; was appointed, in 1846, by President Buchanan, by request of the Sultan of Turkey, to teach the Turkish agriculturists the successful man- agement of cotton-growing in Asia; proceeded to Turkey for that purpose, but, being dissatisfied with the circum- stances, and unwilling to associate his name with what he saw would be a failure, was appointed by the Turk- ish Government to the independent position of mining engineer ; filled the position for four years, with distin- guished success, receiving the decorations of the Empire, and some costly presents. His reports on his scientific researches in Europe gave him a wide-spread reputa- tion among the scholars of that country and this. In 1857, he invented the inverted microscope, an instru- ment of great scientific value. After returning from Turkey, the University of Virginia, his Alma Mater, elected him Professor of Chemistry; and, while dis- charging his duties in that institution, in connection with George J. Brusby, now Professor in the Sheffield School of Design, revised the "Chemistry of American Minerals." He married the daughter of Hon. James Guthrie, of Louisville, Kentucky, and settled in that city ; soon after, was appointed to the Chair of Chemis- try, in the medical department of the University of Louisville; after several years, resigned that position, and took scientific charge of the gas-works of Louisville, in which he is now engaged, devoting much of his time to original research. He was one of the Commissioners to the Paris Exposition, in 1867, and made a report on the progress and condition of many departments of in- dustrial chemistry ; was again appointed Commissioner, to Vienna, in 1873. He has made a vast number of original researches, and many valuable reports, which have become part of the scientific records of the coun- try. In 1872, he was elected President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and is a member of the American National Academy of Sciences; of the Chemical Society of Berlin; of the Chemical So- ciety of Paris; of the Chemical Society of London; of the Société d' Encouragement pour l' Industrie Na- tionale; of the Imperial Mineralogical Society of St. Petersburg ; corresponding member of the Boston So- ciety of Natural History ; of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; of the American Philosophical Society; American Bureau of Mines; the Société des Sciences et des Arts de Hainault; Chevalier de la Le- gion d' Honneur ; member of the Order of Mcdjidiah of

Turkey; member of the Order of Nichau Iftahar of Turkey; and Chevalier of the Imperial Order of St. Stanislas of Russia.

OHNSON, COL. RICHARD MENTOR, Law- yer, Soldier, Statesman, and Ninth Vice-Presi- dent of the United States, was born in 1781, in Kentucky, and was the third son of Col. Robert Johnson, who emigrated from Virginia, his na- tive State, and settled in Kentucky while it was a part of Virginia; he took a prominent part in the war- fare waged between the early settlers and the Indians, and was one of the most influential and valuable men of his day in Kentucky. (See sketches of Rev. John T. and Col. James Johnson, his sons,) Richard M. John- son remained on his father's farm, in Scott County, and received some education in the country schools until his fifteenth year. He then entered a school, where he made considerable progress in the way of obtaining an education; afterwards attended Transylvania Univer- sity, and became a fair scholar for the times; studied law, at first under the distinguished George Nicholas ; and, after the death of that gentleman, finished his law preparation under Hon. James Brown; was eminently successful as a lawyer, his professional career being marked by the display of many of the most admirable traits as a man, as well as uncommon skill and ability in his prac- tice. In 1802, when the port of New Orleans was closed by Spanish authority, he was one of the first to volun- teer; and, chiefly through his exertions, a company of soldiers was raised, of which he was chosen commander, with a view of marching to the aid of the Government in opening the Mississippi. But the settlement of the difficulty made his services at that time unnecessary to the country. Before reaching his twenty-first year, he was elected to represent Scott County in the Legislature; served two years; in 1807, was elected to the Lower House of Congress; was a member of the Republican or Democratic party of that day; served on some of the important committees in Congress; during the sec- ond session was made Chairman of the Committee of Claims; devoted himself with great earnestness to the duties of his position; was greatly esteemed by his associates and by his constituents; was re-elected, and kept in his seat, uninterruptedly, until 1819; warmly supported the administration of President Madison, and, at the outbreak of the second war with England, at the close of the session of Congress, hastened home and raised a fine battalion of three companies of mounted men; at its head, hastened to the frontier; was made colonel of his regiment, which had been given the full complement of men ; served with great activity for sev- eral months; again took his seat in Congress; raised another regiment of mounted riflemen, and, in Septem-

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The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 51

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