The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 59

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 59

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EWIS, JOHN W., Lawyer, was born, October 14, 1841, in Greene County, Kentucky. His father, William Lewis, was a native of Pittsyl- vania County,. Virginia; followed mercantile pursuits; came to Greene County, Kentucky, about 1825. His mother was Ann W. (Carlile) Lewis, native of Greene County, and daughter of Will- iam B. Carlile, a farmer, and long time Sheriff of that county, and son of James Carlile, a Revolutionary soldier, who came from North Carolina at an early day, and settled in Greene County. John W. Lewis was educated at Centre College, from which institution he graduated in 1862; in the same year, began the study of the law, at Greensburg, Kentucky; was admitted to the bar in 1863 ; practiced his profession, at Greensburg, until 1869; in that year, removed to Springfield, Washington County, where he has since resided, practicing law in partnership with Hon. R. J. Browne. In 1867, he was the candi- date of the Third Party, in Greene and Taylor Counties, for Representative in the General Assembly of the State, and was defeated by only eighteen votes, in a strong Democratic district. The Third Party was composed of the Union men in Kentucky, who refused to go into the

Democratic ranks. In 1874, he was the Republican candidate for Commonwealth's Attorney; and, in 1876, was the Republican candidate for Congress, in the Fourth District, and again defeated. His first Presi- dential vote was cast for Gen. McClellan, in 1864. He was married, June 20, 1877, to Miss Elizabeth Phillips, daughter of James G. Phillips. Mr. Lewis is a lawyer of ability, a man of fine personal, social, and business habits, and of superior energy and integrity of character.

RR, HON. ALEXANDER D., was one of the early settlers of Mason County, from Virginia, and was one of the most influential and polished among the first emigrants to Kentucky. In 1792, he was elected to the State Senate, and was soon after elected to Congress, taking his seat in the session of 1792-3, and continuing a member of that body until 1797. He lived a long and valuable life, and died, in Paris, Ky., in 1841.

ICE, HON. JAMES M., Lawyer and Judge, son of Ezekiel Rice, of Virginia, was born July 24, 1802, in Virginia, on the Ohio River, near the mouth of the Big Sandy. His father soon afterwards located in Greenup County, Ken- tucky, twelve miles from. Catlettsburg; and there the subject of this sketch was raised and educated. At the age of sixteen he left home, and began life for himself. He worked, as a common hand, in the salt- works on the Sandy until his twentieth year. He then began the study of the law, in the office of John M. McConnell, at Greenupsburg; and, a year or two afterwards, commenced practice in Greenup and Law- rence Counties. About 1826, he removed to Preston- burg, where he remained, in successful practice, until 1832, when he located in Louisa, Lawrence County, and remained there for twenty-nine years. In 1861, he re- moved to Catlettsburg, where he resided until his death, October 24, 1870. In 1829, he was elected to the Leg- islature, and held the position one term. In 1838, he was elected to the State Senate; and was re-elected in 1848, holding the position eight years. In 1832, he was appointed Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts of Lawrence County, and held the place a year or two, still continuing his legal practice. In 1849 or 1850, he received the appointment of Circuit Judge of the Six- teenth District, and held the position until the new Constitution came into effect, in the following year. In 1867, he was again appointed, by the Governor, to the same office, and held it until the ensuing election. In 1853, he made the race for Congress, but was defeated

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by Leander M. Cox. In 1868, he was candidate before the people for the Circuit Judgeship, but did not receive the nomination. Judge Rice practiced law forty years; and, although he began with a very limited education, he became one of the most thoroughly read and well- posted men in the country. During his long profes- sional career, he never took a fee where life was at stake, or placed on a jury a man narrow between the eyes; holding that a man of great width between the eyes would never hang, and that a juror with his eyes thrown close together would either hang the man or the jury. He was a life-long Democrat; was an active mem- ber of the Methodist Church; was prominently con- nected with all matters of importance in his part of the State; and was a great-hearted man, one of the most use- ful and valuable of his day. Judge Rice was twice married ; September 18, 1823, to Miss Jane H. Burns. From this marriage, three children are now living. On March 19, 1840, he was married to Mary M. Brown, sister of Hon. George N. Brown, of Catlettsburg. His sons, Jacob Rice and Hon. John M. Rice, are both lawyers of Louisa, Kentucky.

URRETT, REUBEN T., Lawyer, was born Jan- uary 24, 1824, in Henry County, Kentucky, and is the son of William Durrett and his wife, Elizabeth Rawlings, both natives of Virginia. His grand-parents were among the early settlers of Kentucky, and became residents of Henry County when it was yet a part of Jefferson. The Dur- rett family is of French origin, the name being spelled in France Duret and Durret. Many of the family were writers and authors of considerable celebrity in that country. He was sent from the schools of his native county to Georgetown College, where he remained from 1844 to 1846. He then went to Brown University, where his education was completed, and where he grad- uated, with the degree of A. B., in 1849. In 1853, his Alma Mater conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts, in compliment of his continued progress in schol- arly attainments. In the Fall of 1849, he entered the law department of the University of Louisville, deliv- ered the valedictory address, and took the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1850, and immediately entered on the practice of his profession, at the bar of Louisville, where he has been since, actively and successfully en- gaged. In 1852, he was appointed Assistant Elector, advocating the claims of Gen. Scott for the Presidency, and canvassed his district ; in 1853, was elected member of the City Council, holding the position for one term, but has had but little aspiration in the direction of polit- ical preferment, confining his time and energy mainly to his profession, in which he has been eminently success-

ful, acquiring a considerable fortune, upon which he might at any time retire from active life. He has been noted for his scholarly attainments; is a poet of consid- erable ability; has delivered many fine addresses, which have been considered literary models; has been selected, on many occasions, to deliver orations, many of which were published in the daily journals. In 1857, he pur- chased a one-half interest in the Louisville "Courier;" for two years conducted the editorial department, dis- tinguishing himself as a writer of great ability, identi- fying himself with the Southern side of national politics. At the outbreak of the civil war, he was confined, on account of his faith, for a time, at Fort Lafayette. Probably more than any. other man, he contributed to the establishment of the Public Library of Kentucky, drawing up the charter for that institution in 1870, and securing its passage by the Legislature in the following Spring; and to his executive ability and skill the scheme for the establishment of the Library, and the museum con- nected with it, is mainly owing, he conceiving the origi- nal plan, and pushing it to its final execution. He is an able lawyer, is a scholar of varied and extensive learning, is one of the most finished and accomplished speakers of the Louisville bar, and is an elegant writer. Mr. Dur- rett was married, December 16, 1852, to Miss Elizabeth H. Bates, only daughter of Caleb Bates, of Cincinnati, and has two living children.

HORNLEY, JAMES, M. D., Physician and Surgeon, was born October 20, 1818, in King George County, Virginia. IIis parents were of English ancestry, and emigrated to the United States just previous to the breaking out of the war of the Revolution. His father, William Thornley, was Sheriff of King George County, and a major in the war of 1812, His parents dying when he was quite young, he was left wholly dependent upon his own exertions; and, though fortune frowned upon him, through his great determination and desire for knowl- edge he struggled against adverse circumstances, and has met with success. He received his early education in the schools of Caroline County, Virginia, and afterwards graduated in letters at the University of Virginia, in 1842. Having already studied medicine, he began the practice in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and subsequently attended lectures in the medical department of the University of Virginia, in 1854 and 1855, where he re- ceived the degree of M. D. He established a large and valuable practice, which he continued until the breaking out of the civil war, when he entered the Confederatc army as surgeon, remaining in that capacity until the termination of the war. Immediately after the surren- der, in 1865, he came to Kentucky, and located in Mt.

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Sterling, where he has established a fine practice, and rebuilt his shattered fortunes. He may be truly called a self-made man, who, by his energy, perseverance, and skill, not only accumulated a considerable fortune, which he lost mainly during the war, but has established the reputation of being one of the most thoroughly edu- cated, successful, and skillful physicians and surgeons in the country. Since the close of the war, he has taken a prominent and leading position in the medical pro- fession of the country. For many years, he has been a member of the Baptist Church; is prominent in some social organizations, and is one of the most useful and valuable men of his community. Dr. Thornley was married, April 16, 1850, in Charlottesville, Virginia, to Catherine C. White, daughter of Jesse White, of that State.

ARBOUR, JAMES, Lawyer and Banker, son of James and Letitia Barbour, was born May 27, 1820, in Danville, Kentucky. His father was a native of Orange County, Virginia, and be- longed to an old English family, long distin- guished in the affairs of the Old Dominion; he came to Kentucky, and located at Danville in 1795 ; fol- lowed mercantile pursuits; entered the army as captain, in the war of 1812, and was promoted major, of what was known as Barbee's Regiment; was President of the branch Bank of Kentucky, at Danville; was a Trustee and Treasurer of Centre College for many years ; also, a Trustee and Treasurer of the Kentucky Deaf and Dumb Asylum, and otherwise one of the most active and valuable men of his day. He was the son of Am- brose Barbour, a soldier in the Revolution. He died at Danville, in 1843. His mother was a native of Lin- coln County, and daughter of Willis Green, who was married to her mother, Sarah Reed, in the fort at Crow's Station, near Danville, in 1783; and was the first Clerk of the United States District Courts for Kentucky ; was for many years Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts of Lincoln County; represented Kentucky in the Vir- ginia Legislature; and was the father of Dr. Duff Green, Judge John Green, and Rev. Dr. Lewis W. Green, all distinguished Kentuckians. James Barbour graduated in 1837, at the age of seventeen, at Centre College; at once entered upon the study of the law; graduated in law, at Transylvania University, in 1840; in the same year, began the practice of his profession at Danville; in 1852, removed to Maysville, and became Cashier of the Maysville branch of the Bank of Kentucky; con- tinued in this position, occasionally practicing his pro- fession, until the Maysville branch was withdrawn, in 1871; in that year, in connection with Andrew M. January, who had been President of the branch Bank of Kentucky at Maysville since its organization, and

others, he started the Bank of Maysville, and was its Cashier until June, 1877, when, upon the decease of Mr. January, he was elected President; for six or eight years has also been actively engaged in the prac- tice of law. He was appointed, by the trustees of Centre College, to settle the affairs of the land grant made by Congress to the Kentucky Deaf and Dumb Asylum, and spent the Winter of 1842 in Florida for that purpose ; in 1849, was prominently identified with the Lexington and Danville Railroad movement; was first President of that company; in 1850, was appointed Auditor of Public Accounts, of Kentucky, by Gov. John L. Helm; in the same year, was elected Professor of Languages and Belles Lettres in Centre College, but declined the position ; has been a trustee of Centre Col- lege since 1845, and of Danville Theological Seminary since 1853. He was actively concerned in the organiza- tion of the northern division of the Maysville and Lex- ington Railroad; and, since his residence in Maysville, has been largely identified with the various interests of that city. He became a member of the Presbyterian Church at the age of thirteen; since 1853, has been an elder in the Church; has represented his Presbytery in several General Assemblies, and been an active worker in the Church Sabbath-schools, as teacher and super- intendent. In political matters, he is independent of party ; during the civil. war, was decidedly a Union man ; was always a Whig, but has taken no active part in politics since the defeat of Mr. Clay, in 1844. He has never been a candidate for office. Mr. Barbour was married, March 26, 1844, to Elizabeth Graham Foster, of Natchez, Mississippi, daughter of Col. James Foster, who participated in Jackson's Indian campaigns; was in the battle of New Orleans; was the intimate friend of Gen. Jackson, and was by him appointed postmaster of Natchez, in 1832.

OHNSON, JOHN WILL, was born October 31, 1838, in Woodford County, Kentucky. His father, A. G. Johnson, now seventy-six years of age, is one of the worthy valuable farmers of the State. His mother, whose maiden name was Mary Mitchell, is also still living, at the good old age of seventy-seven. He was raised on the farm ; received a common English education ; was taught the highest principles of honor, and inured to hard work; remained as overseer on the farm until 1861. In the Fall of the following year, he entered the Confed- erate army, serving until the Spring of 1863 on the body guard of General Buford. At this time he- joined the command of General John H. Morgan, and shared the dangers and hardships incident to that service until the capture of the greater part of his forces at Buffing-

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ton's Island. After remaining a prisoner, at Camp Morton, near Indianapolis, and Camp Douglas, near Chicago, for eighteen or nineteen months, he was ex- changed, and remained in active service in the army until the surrender, in 1865. In 1861, he spent some time in learning the manufacture of whisky, and, after re- turning from the war, he engaged actively in distilling, in which he has been eminently successful, the products of his manufacture commanding the highest price in the Louisville market. He is a man of nervous, active dis- position, with fine countenance and attractive personal appearance ; is frank and generous in his dealings with men ; is noted for his love of justice and high sense of personal honor ; and is one of the most enterprising and valuable men of his community. Mr. Johnson was married, January 13, 1868, to Miss Susan Atley, daugh- ter of Allen and Harriet Atley. They have four children.

AVIE, HON. MONTGOMERY DECATUR, was born in Christian County, Kentucky, on the 16th of August, 1827. His father, Am- brose Davie (see sketch of Major A. Davie), emi- grated to Kentucky from North Carolina about the year 1820, where he intermarried with Mrs. Elizabeth Ann West (née Woodson), the widow of the late Claiborne West, by whom he had two sons, W. J. and M. D., the subject of this sketch. His early education was obtained at the common country schools of his neighborhood, until he was sixteen years of age, when he entered Princeton College, New Jersey, where · he graduated, in the class of 1848. After leaving col- lege, he studied law, and obtained license to practice in Kentucky and Tennessee; but, having purchased an in- terest in a large flouring mill, near Clarksville, Mont- gomery County, Tennessee, he removed thereto, and became actively engaged in its management. This busi- ness and farming he carried on extensively up to the breaking out of the civil war, having, in the mean time, also become engaged in the business of banking, at Clarksville. Being quite successful in his pursuits, he · became possessed of large landed estates, and a consid- erable number of slaves, many of which he inherited from his father and his father-in-law's estate. This property was all located in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas, in each of which States he conducted large plantations-in the production of cotton in Arkansas, and tobacco, grain, and stock, in Tennessee. The war found his business expanded, and hence he suffered great losses from the contending armies, and in the de- struction of slavery. He was thus reduced from great affluence to the necessity of hard labor, to support his growing family, as it took all his lands to pay his in- dorsements, and other liabilities which remained on him

after the war. Since the close of the civil strife, he has been engaged in farming. In the year 1855, he was elected a member of the Tennessee Legislature from Montgomery County, and, by re-election, retained the office until the year 1858-9. He took a high stand as a legislator, and was prominently spoken of before the war as a candidate for the Governorship of the State. After the closing of the war, he removed to Christian County, Kentucky, where he has resided ever since, conducting a farm at the old family homestead, near Beverly. When the Grange movement began to be agitated in Kentucky, in the year 1872-3, he became a member of one of the earliest Granges, located at Long- view, in his native county, from which, as Master, he was elected Master of the Kentucky State Grange, at its first meeting, in 1873, and has been continuously the ac- tive State Master up to this time, having been re-elected when his first term expired. Being a ready and fluent debater, a fine speaker, and an excellent parliamenta- rian, and possessing great executive ability, he has been justly ranked as one of the most successful and influen- tial State Masters in the Union, and few members of the National Grange have possessed more influence in guid- ing its destiny. Being a good scholar and deep thinker, he is enlarged and comprehensive in his views on all subjects. He has never been attached to any sect in religion, but is possessed of a high-toned moral charac- ter. He has frequently been spoken of, by his friends, as a candidate for offices of high political preferment, but has not pressed himself forward, on account of his inability to meet the needed expenses. In 1850, he married Cornelia F., the daughter of the late Lewis Leavell, of Todd County; a lady of fine accomplish- ments and attractive manners. By her, he now has eight living children, five sons and three daughters, all of whom are living with him, unmarried. He is a Ma- son of high standing, and is a man of great intelligence, moral rectitude, chivalrous honor, and natural inbred hospitality.

OBLE, THOMAS S., Artist, was born, in 1835, at Lexington, Kentucky, and is the son of Thomas H. Noble. He studied drawing first under Rev. John W. Venable; at the age of seventeen, spent some time in the studio of S. W. Price, of Louisville; remained under the artists of New York for several months; subsequently, spent three years in Europe, much of the time under the special instruction of Thomas Couture; in 1865, after having labored several years under adverse circumstances, he completed his first notable work, "American Slave- market"-a work of real merit, which has been favor- ably criticised throughout the country. He has also produced several other valuable works. In 1866, he was

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elected member of the New York Academy of Design, and went to that city; in 1869, he was elected member of the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts, and, in the same year, was chosen Principal or Director of the McMicken Academy of Design, in Cincinnati, and at once took charge of that institution, having since, with great ac- ceptability, remained at its head. He resides, with his family, at Dayton, Campbell County, Kentucky.

ORWINE, AARON H., Portrait Painter, was born August 31, 1802, in Mason County, Ken- tucky, and was the son of Amos Corwine, who came to that county from New Jersey, and re- mained there during his life. Aaron H. Cor- wine early evinced uncommon taste for art studies, which his father took every possible means of advancing. After learning what he could at Maysville, under Mr. Turner, an artist of some merit, he went to Cincinnati, where he spent some time under the best artists of that day, and acquired considerable reputation, and established a patronage among the wealthy support- ers of art skill. He subsequently went to London, with a view of completing his professional studies and becom- ing acquainted with the great masters and works of art. The loss of his money soon compelled him to resort to his pencil for his immediate support, and soon attracted the attention, and received the patronage, of a number of gentlemen who admired his skill, and were the means of introducing him not only to comfortable circumstances, but also to an honorable position in the art circles of that city. Under close application, he soon fell a victim to disease; and, while on his way to Kentucky, where he hoped to spend his last hours, he died, after a few days' illness, July 4, 1830, at Philadelphia-apparently cut off in the beginning of a successful career.

ALL, JOHN RANDOLPH, M. D., was born February 2, 1820, in Springfield, Kentucky. His grandfather Hall came from Virginia, after the Revolution, and settled in Garrard County, Kentucky ; and was a minister of the Gospel. His father, Rev. Nathan Hall, was a Presby- terian Clergyman ; was, for twenty-five years, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Lexington; and was well known, throughout the West, as one of the first preachers of his Church. His mother was Anna Craw- ford, of Mercer County, a woman of great moral worth; and dying, when he was two years old, his father again married. Many of the Halls have been distinguished ministers of the Gospel; some of them have figured in politics; and, especially through all the branches of their

ancestry, were distinguished as patriots. Dr. Hall fin- ished his literary education at Transylvania University, and, in 1838, began the study of medicine, graduating, in the Spring of 1842, in the medical department of that institution. He soon after entered upon the prac- tice of his profession at Vandalia, Illinois; but, in 1844, he returned to Georgetown, Kentucky, where he re- mained, actively engaged, associated with Dr. John Randolph Desha, until 1855. In that year he went to Missouri, with a view to engaging in agricultural pur- suits, but was induced to continue his profession, which he did, with great success, until 1864, when he again returned to Georgetown, Kentucky, where he has since resided. Although taking an active interest in politics, and being repeatedly urged to accept public position, he has preferred to devote his attention entirely to his pro- fession ; and, although a personal friend and admirer of Henry Clay, he has always voted the Democratic ticket. He is a generous, open-spirited, charitable man; is broad and liberal in his views; despises small things and illiberality ; has been exceedingly active and successful in his profession, in which he stands deservedly high ; takes an active interest in every thing relating to the good of his community ; and is one of its most useful and valuable members. Religiously, he is connected with the Presbyterian Church. Dr. Hall has been twice married : first, in 1843, to Miss Sarah A. Vanmetre, daughter of Isaac Vanmetre, of Clarke County; and, after her death, he was again married, in 1847, to Julia M. Snell, daughter of Col. Robert P. Snell, of Scott County, Kentucky.

YON, COL. MATTHEW, Manufacturer, Farmer, and Politician, was born in Ireland, in 1746. At the age of nineteen he came to America. He lived for a short time in Connecticut, and, at the opening of the war of the Revolution, was a citizen of Vermont, and entered the Colonial army as a lieutenant; served as a pay-master, in 1776; the following year was secretary to the Gov- ernor of Vermont; was Clerk of the Court of Confisca- tion; finally rose to the rank of colonel; founded the town of Fairhaven, in 1783, where he built several manufactories, and made paper from bass-wood; repre- sented his town, for ten years, in the Vermont Legisla- ture, and was Assistant Judge of Rutland County ; was elected to Congress in 1797, on the anti-Federal ticket ; was re-elected in 1799; and, on February 17, 1801, cast his vote for Thomas Jefferson, making him President, instead of Aaron. Burr; in that year, he moved with his family to Kentucky; settled in Caldwell County, and founded Eddyville; served in the Kentucky Legis- lature, and, from 1803 to 1811, in Congress; was em-

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The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 59

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