The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 68

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

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INES, CAPT. THOMAS HENRY, Lawyer, was born in Butler County, Kentucky, October 9, 1838, and is the son of Warren W. and Sarah J. (Carson) Hines. The family is of English origin, but were long settled in Vir- ginia. His grandfather came from that State to Kentucky during its early settlement. He received his carly education in the county schools; this neces- sarily being limited, he pursued his studies with great energy, unaided, and attained such proficiency, that, in 1859, he was offered a position in the Masonic University of La Grange, Oldham County, which he accepted, and held until the commencement of the civil war, when he resigned, September 18, 1861, and entered the Confed- erate army; and here began a career which has a place in the history of the county. When he entered the service, he organized a cavalry company in Bowling Green, of which he refused the captaincy, and was made lieutenant. This company was disbanded after the battle of Shiloh, and he joined, as private, the First Kentucky Cavalry, under Gen. Morgan. But in 1862, he organized another company, of which he was chosen captain; was assigned to the Ninth Kentucky Cavalry, commanded by Col. W. C. P. Breckinridge, and placed in the brigade of Gen. John H. Morgan. During the Winter of 1862-3, he sometimes commanded the brigade, and, through the rest of the war, was in command of many expeditions which occasioned great excitement at the time. Among the most notorious was one of fifteen men, through Southern and Western Kentucky, during which he destroyed Federal supplies to the value of half a million of dollars; he also commanded the ad- vance regiment during Morgan's raid of 1863; at Buf- ington Island, was captured with his regiment, and, with the officers of his command, was confined at Johnson's Island; was one of the seventy officers who were held as hostages for Gen. Strait, who was confined at Richmond, Virginia; was removed to the Penitentiary at Columbus, Ohio; there planned and executed the escape of John H. Morgan, himself, and five others, by boring through the floor with knives, and making their bedclothes into ropes, with which they scaled a wall thirty-five feet high. Capt. Hines bought tickets for himself and Morgan, and they reached Cincinnati, were conveyed across the Ohio river in a skiff to Dayton, Kentucky, where they were furnished horses, and rode twenty-cight miles without stopping; then, by easier stages, reached Overton County, Tennessce. Their way lay through a mountainous re- gion, and, in a narrow defile, Morgan hid in the bushes by the way, while Capt. Hines endeavored to obtain a guide; scarcely had " é succceded, when he saw a com- pany of Federal troops approaching. Anxious to save his chief, he rode towards them, exclaiming, "Come on, we'll soon catch those rebs!" and turned with them, as if for that purpose. After riding on some distance, the

captain of the Federal company became suspicious, and lie was about to hang him; but, relenting, took him to a house in the neighborhood, where they supped together; here he had an excellent opportunity to escape, but fore- bore to take advantage of the captain's friendliness; went on to camp, and was started North. He again attempted to escape, but was discovered by the gleam of a dagger he carried on his person; was taken to head- quarters, where he was joined by three other prisoners; and, in the morning, while talking with the guard, he suddenly dashed through them, and made his escape to the woods; rejoined the Confederate forces, and con- tinucd in the service till the close of the war. For brave and meritorious conduct, he was promoted brigadier- general; but peace was declared soon after receiving his commission. He then went to Toronto, Canada, and commenced the study of law, under John C. Breckin- ridge; remained till March, 1866, then went to Mem- phis, Tennessee, and completed his law studies, under Gen. Alfred Pike, at the same time taking the editorship of the "Memphis Daily Appeal." In October, 1867, he removed to Bowling Green, where he has since resided, and at once began the practice of his profession. In 1870, he was elected Judge of Warren County; resigned in 1872, and has since devoted himself to the active and successful practice of the law. He was married, in 1864, to Miss Nannie Sproule, daughter of John V. Sproule, of Butler County, Kentucky.

ICKINSON, THOMAS C., Retired Banker, was born February 4, 1808, in Barren County, Ken- tucky. His father, Benjamin T. Dickinson, was a brick-mason, and emigrated from Virginia to this State about 1806. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. The subject of this sketch, like most youth of his time, received but a limited education, and, at the age of thirteen, was bound to the trade of blacksmithing. Two years after the expiration of his service, having had a little experience in other busi- nesses, he returned to Glasgow, and bought the shop where he had learned his trade, in which he carried on the business very successfully for many years. During the late civil war, he shared with his neighbors the troubles of the times; his shop, materials, and service being demanded, without his consent, alternately by the armies of both sides, and usually without compensation. Although he was, politically, an Abolitionist always, yet during the rebellion his sympathies were with the South. This position, while appearing untenable, was one into which many honest and determined men of his section were forced by long, endearing associations, and the ne- cessities of home and business. In 1835, he was first elected trustee of the town of Glasgow, and was re-

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elected to the same position for many years. After hav- ing retired from the trust for several years, in 1851 he was again elected to the same place; but the task had be- come irksome, and he soon after resigned. In 1858, he was appointed a Director in the Glasgow branch of the Northern Bank of Kentucky, and held the position during its continuance in that town. In 1869, on the organiza- tion of the Deposit Bank of Glasgow, he was elected one of its Directors. In 1871, he was elected to the presi- dency of that bank, on the resignation of Gov. Leslie from the position. He held this place until the Summer of 1876, when he resigned, and retired from active life. He has been largely identified with the various interests of his community for over half a century, and has maintained a reputation above reproach. He has ever been a man of the most unflinching integrity, and one of the most industrious, honorable, and valuable members of society. For thirty-five years, he has been a member of the Dis- ciples' Church ; and has attempted, through his long and honorable career, to be of some service to the cause of religion. Mr. Dickinson was married, October 28, 1830, to Miss Fanny Hall. After her death, he was again mar- ried, in 1844, to Miss Martha V. Day. He has seven living children. His oldest son, Michael, has long been cashier of the bank of which his father was president.

cBRAYER, JOHN ALLEN, M. D., was born October 3, 1817, in Anderson County, Ken- tucky, and descended from Scotch-Irish ances- tors, some of whom have long been residents of Anderson County, occupying prominent po- sitions in society. IIe received his education chiefly in the private schools of the country, and entered upon the study of his profession under Dr. Redman, of Lawrenceburg, with whom he completed a full course of reading, and, being limited in means, entered upon the practice of his profession at Mount Eden, Kentucky, continuing with great success for two years, in the mean time prosecuting his studies with vigor, and attend- ing lectures, of Winters, in Louisville. In the Spring of 1842, he received the degree of M. D. from the Medical Institute of Louisville, and at once located at Harrodsburg, where there seemed to be no opening for a new physician ; but, by his great skill, and the readi- ness and the energy with which he applied himself, his success was soon complete. That industry, activity, and 'energy which distinguished his boyhood, he carried into his profession, and did an incredible amount of practice. While he had a strong hold on the confidence of the rich and influential, he was the earnest friend of the poor and needy. Few men, in so short a period, ever made so striking and attractive impression on socicty. As a practitioner, he was bold, but regulated and guided

by a clear insight and discrimination. He gave promise of great skill in surgery, and, although he did not reach that age at which first surgical skill is developed, he performed many minor operations, at the time delicate and novel in that section of the country. From great labor and exposure of his practice, in 1845, he began to decline in health ; in the following Winter went to the West India Islands; and returned, unimproved, and re- sumed his professional duties during the Summer of 1847; went to Mexico to spend the Winter ; was there appointed Assistant Surgeon in the United States army, serving with great fidelity and energy until the Spring of 1848, when he returned home, and, continuing to de- cline, died March 23, 1850. He had the habit, from principle, of never being idle, and, when not employed professionally, was constantly engaged in writing and study. He left two large manuscript volumes of de- scriptions of travels, and was a writer of great strength and beauty. He was a Democrat in politics, but was neither an active partisan nor a noisy politician. Ten years before his death, he connected himself with the Presbyterian Church, and was warmly attached to its interests. He was unselfish and generous in his nature, was at peace with all mankind, and was, in the highest sense, a philanthropist, and was one of the most noble and valuable men in the country.

ITHERSPOON, JOHN, Merchant and Banker, was born January 26, 1807, in Franklin County, Kentucky. His family is of Scotch origin, and removed from Virginia to Kentucky during its early history. His father, Robert Withcr- spoon, married a Miss Sallie Johnson. John Witherspoon began his education in the schools of his district, receiving his first instruction under Mr. Bulware, and pursuing a higher course of study with Charles P. Samuels. He went to Lawrenceburg, Ander- son County, January 1, 1827, and taught school six months; then began a preparatory course of medical reading ; but, previous to entering upon a full course, he spent a short time in Missouri. In the Winter of 1828-9, he attended the Medical College of Cincinnati, and was there when Gen. Jackson passed through the city on his way to Washington to be inaugurated. He soon after began the practice of medicine, in the south- ern part of Franklin County, and continued there till 1833. In Junc of that year, he went to Lawrenceburg, the cholera at the time raging through the country. In 1854, he, with Mr. Saffell, of Frankfort, purchascd the stage-line then in operation between Danville and Louis- ville ; in 1856, he made a short business visit to Minne- sota, with Sanford McBrayer, of Harrodsburg; in 1858, The extended his stage business by purchasing the lines

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from Nicholasville to each of the points: Harrods- burg, Danville, Stanford, Lancaster, and Albany; also from Stanford to London, Kentucky; and continued his interest in this business for a period of twenty years. In 1856, he added to his other business inter- ests that of merchandising, with Mr. Saffell as partner, which he conducted several years. His enterprising spirit, however, led him to engage extensively in farm- ing, in which he devoted a great deal of attention to the raising of cattle and hogs. In 1866, he, with his nephew, John A. Witherspoon, opened a bank in Lawrenceburg, under the firm name of J. & J. A. Witherspoon ; in 1874, it was changed to the National Bank of Anderson County, and, in 1877, it was again changed to Anderson County Deposit Bank, and of which his nephew is President. At the beginning of the war he owned a large farm near Lawrenceburg, was a great sufferer from the incursions of both armies, although his sympathies were with the Southern cause. He is an influential member of the Baptist Church, and takes an active and prominent interest in the religious welfare of the town. He was married, in 1836, to Miss Susan Lilliard, and has five children living, of a family of nine. His oldest son, L. J. Witherspoon, is a farmer, and also engaged in the grocery business; his second son, O. H. Wither- spoon, is a physician; and his third son, A. C., is bank director, and carries on the saddlery business. His daughter, Eliza J., is married to W. H. Shipman ; and the second daughter, Maggie L., is the wife of M. W. Curry, of Harrodsburg. Mr. Witherspoon is a robust, honest, and outspoken gentleman ; is still actively inter- ested in all questions of the day ; is a great lover of children, and is a man much respected in his community.

ICKINSON, JOSEPH SANDRIDGE, M. D., was born in Louisa County, Virginia, January 1, 1827. His father, Roscoe Cole Dickinson, was also a native of that State, and descended from an English family, who emigrated to the Old Dominion at a very early period. His grandfather was a man of superior attainments, and high social position in his community; and was the friend and associate of John Randolph. His mother, Miss Emily Harris, was also a native of Virginia, and was descended from a family of worth and distinction. Although born and reared on a farm, he availed himself of the best schools of the State and obtained a very liberal educa- tion ; commenced his medical studies at the age of twenty, in the office of Dr. F. Runyon, of Trenton, Todd County, Kentucky, his parents having removed to that county in 1831; continued these studies for two years, attending at the same time the Winter sessions of Louisville University ; graduated in the Spring of 1849,

and immediately commenced the practice of medicine in Trenton. Two years after, desiring to attain to greater proficiency in his profession, he attended Jefferson Col- lege, Philadelphia, where the celebrated Doctors Miegs, Pancoast, Madder, Mitchell, Dunglison, and Bates, were professors. His efforts to thoroughly fit himself for his responsible duties were highly appreciated by his patrons, and he soon rose to eminence in his profession, and has met with uniform success in the most complicated cases

submitted to his treatment. He votes the Democratic

ticket, but his professional duties prevent him taking an active part in politics. He was married, October 24, 1854, to Miss Martha Gertrude Ware, daughter of Ed- mund Ware, of Todd County; united with the Baptist Church in 1856; is a consistent Christian, and earnest advocate of all the moral and social reforms of the day; and in all the duties of life manifests an energy and perseverance which make a successful and useful citizen.

ACOBS, PROF. JOHN ADAMSON, Principal of Kentucky Institute for Deaf Mutes, was born in Cass County, Michigan, November 6, 1839. His paternal ancestors were natives of England,

and came from there to Virginia. His father, .

Edward T. Jacobs, was a farmer, and, during part of his life, a teacher. He removed from Michigan to Howard County, Missouri, while John was an infant, and continued to reside there, with his family, for nine- teen years. John attended school there, and mastered the ordinary branches of an education. When he was nineteen years old, his father moved to Kentucky, and he commenced a private collegiate course of study, including the classics; his uncle, John A. Jacobs, whose sketch appears in another part of this work, being his principal teacher. In 1859, he became an assistant teacher in the institution of which he is now the prin- cipal, which position he held two years; in 1862, he entered the Federal army, and served until the close of the war, taking part in many of its most important en- gagements; in 1865, returned to the Institute, and was appointed a permanent teacher there, where he remained until 1869, when, at the death of his uncle, J. A. Jacobs, who had been principal for forty-four years, he was unanimously chosen, by the Board of Trustees, to suc- ceed him, they reporting him to the Legislature of the State, as follows: "that he had given himself with great diligence to the acquisition of the sign language, in all its complex forms and variations, and had become thoroughly conversant with the philosophy and art of teaching, adopted, with such marked success, by the late principal; and they regarded themselves fortunate in finding among the teachers one so well qualified to as- sume this responsible position. He has done so well,

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that the Trustees feel every confidence in his entire' ability to fill the position to the entire satisfaction of the Legislature." This report was received, accepted, and the recommendation confirmed. He is a Presbyterian in belief, and takes a leading part in the religious exercises of the Institute. He is unmarried. His character is that of a just and honorable man, faithful and perse- vering in duty, and worthy of the position he holds.

'AMILTON, MAJOR GURDON DWIGHT, Manufacturer and Soldier, is the son of Gurdon Hamilton, a native of Connecticut, and a re- spectable farmer, now residing at Rochester, New York, at which place he was born April 18, 1842. Commencing his education very early, at the common-schools, he, at the age of eighteen years, entered the Normal School of Edinboro, Penn- sylvania, and remained there until the breaking out of the war of the rebellion. Enlisting under the first call for volunteers, he joined the Eighth New York Cavalry, and at once proceeded to the front, with the army of Virginia. Enlisting as a private, he speedily rose from the ranks, and was promoted, through the reg- ular grades, until he attained the captaincy of his com- pany, and finally was commissioned as major, each pro- motion being for meritorious conduct. At the battle of Five Forks, his regiment, in less than five minutes, lost one-third of its men in a charge. During his long serv- ice, he seemed to wear a charmed life; for he escaped the perils of war to the last, the nearest thing to disaster being his imprisonment, for a few days, at Harper's Ferry. On one occasion, at Stony Creek, during the famous Wilson raid, he and his command were sur- rounded three different times, and, in each instance, succeeded, by sheer bravery, in cutting their way through. the Confederate lines. It is worthy of note that, at the time of this occurrence, they were literally worn out, having been deprived of their regular rest and sleep for over ten days. At the surrender of Lee, his regiment received the first flag of truce. His whole service is a record of narrow escapes and brilliant action, and in- cludes participation in sixty-four encounters with the enemy, and the loss of three horses shot from under him. At the close of the war, he returned to his home, and purchased a farm in the Genesee Valley, and for four years tilled the soil. He then moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where he engaged, with Mr. Judge, in the manufacture of cement, scwer and well pipe, the partner- ship continuing for four years ; at the expiration of which he purchased his partner's interest, and has since carried on the business successfully in his own name. His pat- ent well-pipe has proved a great success, preventing, as it does, the entrance into the well of any filth or foreign

matter, and is used exclusively by the city authorities. Mr. Hamilton is a quiet, unassuming gentleman, a Ma- son of many years' standing, and much respected in the community. He was married to Miss Frances M. Warner, daughter of Sylvester Warner, Esq., of New York. They have two children.

CHMITT, JACOB, Hardware Dealer, was born February 1, 1823, in the Rhine Province, Ger- inany. His father, Christian Schmitt, was a blacksmith, who emigrated to America in 1842, located in Cincinnati, there followed his trade, and died in 1854. Jacob Schmitt was sent to school from his sixth to his fourteenth year, when he began learning the blacksmith's trade, in his father's shop, continuing this apprenticeship for three years. In 1840, he left home, embarked on the ship "Athens," and, after a sixty days' passage, landed at New York City ; finding his way out to Massillon, Ohio, he there followed his trade about eight months. After being in Cincinnati several months, he located at Louisville, working at his trade until 1846, from which time to 1854 he carried on business for himself. From 1854 to 1856, in partnership with George Barthel, he engaged in business on Market Street, near First, dealing in hardware, cutlery, iron, etc., etc .; purchased the in- terest of Barthel in 1856, and, for twenty years suc- ceeding, carried on business at different localities on Market Street, moving, in the Spring of 1876, to his present store, No. 99 Market Street. Mr. Schmitt is one of the Directors of the German Insurance Bank ; and has been for eighteen years a Director of the Ger- man Insurance Company. He is a member of the Masonic, Odd-fellows, and Druid orders. Mr. Schmitt was married, January 1, 1846, to Louisa Fuellhart, and had by this marriage seven children, four of whom sur- vive; his second union was with Mary E. Everback, of Louisville, and by the latter union he had five children. In 1865, he returned to his native land on a three months' visit. Mr. Schmitt is generous and sociable ; is an active and successful business man, and one of the leading German citizens of Louisville.

PPLETON, JOHN WILLIAM, Merchant, was born on the Ioth of November, 1823, in Fayette County, between Georgetown and Lexington, Kentucky. His father, Joseph Appleton, was a carpenter, and came from the East, settling in Fayette County at an early date. Being left motherless at an early age, he was boarded and brought up in another family, and did not enjoy any superior educational advantages, but managed to secure a good,

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plain English education. At the age of twenty years, he was apprenticed by his father to D. L. Zimmerman, a tailor of Lexington, to learn that trade, and with whom he remained for two years as journeyman. He then entered into a partnership with Mr. Zimmerman, which lasted for seven years, during which time the business of the firm was changed several times, though being chiefly confined to dry-goods. Mr. Appleton continued in the dry-goods business until 1864, when he retired for a time; after which he formed a part- nership with Dudley M. Craig, under the name of Craig & Appleton, with whom he continued for some months, carrying on one of the largest wholesale dry- goods houses of Lexington. Disposing of his interest to the firm of Craig & Son, he again retired, but, after a short rest from business, became senior partner in the present firm of Appleton & Lancaster. During this time, he has been a safe business man, passing through the several critical financial periods with security. As one of the leading citizens of Lexington, he takes an active part in promoting its interests, contributing lib- erally to its institutions, and using his influence on the side of justice. In politics, he was a Whig, until the demise of that party, when he connected himself with the Republican party, of which he has since been an unflinching member, though compelled, like many others, to conceal himself at times, to save his life, during the troublesome times of the war. For a number of years, he has been a member of the fraternity of Odd-fellows, and has passed through all the chairs of his lodge, of which he was treasurer for some seven years. His re- ligious faith is with that of the Baptist denomination, of which he is one of the most generous supporters, and in which he takes an active interest, having served in such offices as a layman may be eligible to. On May 22, 1856, he was married to Miss Kate H. Webb, of Fayette County, by which marriage they had three children : Henry W., who married Susan Berry, of Lex- ington; Emma T., and J. W., Jr. Industrious, perse- vering, of strict integrity, he is a bright example of a good business man and citizen. In appearance, he is small of stature and spare in build, and does not possess a very robust constitution.

IBB, HON. GEORGE M., Lawyer and Judge, was born October 30, 1776, in Prince Edward County, Virginia, and was the son of Rev. Richard Bibb, a distinguished clergyman of the Episcopal Church. Judge Bibb graduated in letters at Hampden Sidney and William and Mary Colleges. He studied law, practiced for a time in Virginia, and, in 1798, settled at Lexington, Kentucky ; rose rapidly by his solid legal attainments, and was con-

sidered one of the most able lawyers of the State. He was appointed one of the Judges of the Court of Appeals, January 31, 1808; in the following year was appointed Chief-Justice by Gov. Scott; resigned in 1810, was re- appointed under Gov. Desha, in 1827, and again resigned in the following year. He was elected to the United States Senate, in ISII, and resigned his position in 1814; was again elected, and served in that body from 1829 to 1835; during the war of 1812, was one of the strong supporters of Mr. Madison's administration; from 1835 to 1844, was Chancellor of the Louisville Chancery Court ; resigned that position to become Sec- retary of the Treasury, in the Cabinet of President Tyler ; at the close of that administration entered upon the practice of the law in the District of Columbia, also acted as assistant in the office of the Attorney-General, and died in Georgetown, D. C., April 14, 1859. He was eminent in his profession ; had an ardent temperament, subject to bursts of excitement ; had an iron frame, capa- ble of great endurance ; and was one of the most able and noted men of his day. Judge Bibb married a daughter of General Charles Scott, and, in 1832, was again married, in Washington City. He raised a large family of children, some of whom survived him. His brother, John B. Bibb, still resides at Frankfort, Ken- tucky.

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The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 68

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