The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 72

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 72

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

UDLEY, COL. WILLIAM, was a native of Spottsylvania County, Virginia; and emigrated to Kentucky at an early age, settling in Fayette County, where he was long one of the leading magistrates, and was one of the most valuable and prominent citizens of that county. He served, under Gen. Harrison, in the campaign of 1813, and held the rank of colonel of Kentucky troops; and, on May 5, was sent, at the head of a detachment, to spike a British battery before Fort Meigs; accomplished his mission; and, probably in a moment of rash gal- lantry, in attempting to follow up his success, was sur- rounded by the Indians and terribly defeated, and, while fighting desperately himself, was surrounded and cut to pieces. He was a brave man, and his fate will long be remembered and deplored by Kentuckians. This engagement is known as " Dudley's Defeat."

RADFORD, JOHN, Editor and Publisher, was born in 1749, in Fauquier County, Virginia. He served for a time in the war of the Revolu- tion; visited Kentucky in 1779; took part in the Indian wars, and engaged in the battle of Chillicothe, Ohio; settled permanently with his family in Fayette County, Kentucky, in 1785; in 1787, founded the "Kentucke Gazette," in connection with his brother, Fielding Bradford, the first number of the paper being issued at Lexington, on August 18 in that year. The "Gazette" was the first newspaper published west of the Alleghany Mountains. In 1788, he pub- lished the "Kentucke Almanac," the first pamphlet west of the mountains. The material for this printing- office was carried from Maysville on pack-horses; and the office was established on a lot in Lexington which was granted for that purpose-"as long as the press is

in town." In March, 1789, the paper was changed to "Kentucky Gazette;" and was continued by him until 1802, when it was passed into the hands of his son, Daniel Bradford, who published the paper for several years. Mr. Bradford was Chairman of the town Trustees of Lexington, and, as such, welcomed Gov. Shelby in 1792, that town then being the capital of the new State. He was the first State Printer; printed books as early as 1794; was, at one time, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Transylvania University; filled many places of trust; was a useful and good man; was universally esteemed, and at his death widely mourned. He was married, in 1761, to Miss Eliza James, daughter of Capt. James, of Fauquier County, Virginia.

ELL, THOMAS, Steamboat Cabin Builder and Designer, was born in Robinson Township, Alleghany County, Pennsylvania, four miles from Pittsburg, September 1, 1823. His father, Joseph Bell, a farmer by occupation, was a mem- ber of an old Virginia family of Irish descent, that emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1768. The early ed- ucation of Thomas Bell was limited, he being able, on account of the necessity of services on the farm, to attend school but a portion of each year. Being, how- ever, fond of books, he managed to fit himself for the position of a school-teacher, which profession his active temperament did not allow him to follow long. He next tried store-keeping, but abandoned it for the same reason. His natural taste was for civil and mechanical engineering, but his pecuniary necessities did not allow him to indulge it to any extent. Being obliged to earn his living, he took employment in the saw-mills of the neighborhood, at which he continued for several years. In October, 1848, he moved to Louisville, and obtained a situation as clerk in a ship-yard ; here he derived the benefit of his hard study; for, being called upon to wind up the affairs of a bankrupt concern, he accomplished the task so well as to establish for himself a reputation as a book-keeper and accountant. He was employed, in 1850, by the firm of McLaren & Co., steamboat cabin builders, then located on Fulton Street; and, after a few years, acquired a third interest in the concern. In July, 1872, this firm was dissolved, and succeeded by that of Bell, Cogshall & Hielerich, which is still in ex- istence. Since the association of Mr. Bell with these concerns, they have built one hundred and sixty-five steamboat cabins, besides carrying on an extensive house building and box department. Since 1862, the design- ing of the interior of the cabins and furnishing the working drawings, has been the duty almost exclusively of Mr. Bell; and such has been his beauty and origi- nality of design, that this company has, for many years,

416

BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPÆDIA.

enjoyed, as cabin builders, a wide and deserved repu- tation. They have built the cabins for some of the largest and finest steamers afloat on the Western waters, among which are the "Ruth," "City of Vicksburg," "City of Chester," "City of Helena," " Belle of Mem- phis," and the celebrated "R. E. Lee." Mr. Bell is an active inventor, and his office is strewn with the evi- dences of his genius. But, being busily engaged with his legitimate duties, and not having time to give his inventions the attention they require, others have stepped in and reaped the benefits. In social life, Mr. Bell is of a kind disposition, and has all the beautiful traits which go toward making the valuable citizen; he is loved by his children ; and is charitable to the needy. Started in the world with a five-dollar bill, and told to do the best he could, he has, by hard work and cautious investment, amassed sufficient to live comfortably. A large share of his fortune is the legitimate returns for acts of kindness. In December, 1851, he married Miss Susan Shields, daughter of David Shields, well known in former times as a river pilot. The marriage has been blessed with two children.

HOMAS, CHARLES, FREDERIC, M. D., Physician and Surgeon, was born April 27, 1822, in Woodstock, Vermont, and is the only living son of Charles and Hulda Thomas. His father was a native of New Hampshire, and a farmer by pursuit. Dr. Thomas received a thorough literary education; studied medicine under Drs. Alonzo Clark and Benjamin R. Palmer, both dis- tinguished medical teachers and practitioners; attended lectures at the Vermont Medical College; removed to Ohio; attended lectures and graduated at Starling Medical College, Columbus, and entered upon the practice of his profession at Pomeroy, where he con- tinued with success until 1857, when he located in Cov- ington, Kentucky, and soon established a large and lucrative practice. He is a member of the Newport and Covington Medical Society, and has served as its Presi- dent; is a member of the Cincinnati Academy of Medi- cine; of the Cincinnati Medical Society; of the American Medical Association, and was a delegate from Covington to the convention of that Association in 1877; was a member, for several years, of the Ohio State Medical Society, and of the Meigs County Medical Society, of which he was an officer; was for a time a Professor of Surgery in the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Sur- gery; at the opening of St. Luke's Hospital in Cincin- nati, he was appointed one of the Consulting Surgeons; and on the establishing of St. Elizabeth's Hospital, in Covington, he became one of its corps of surgeons, act- ing in that capacity for several years. During the civil

war, he was a warm supporter of the Union, and was ap- pointed Physician and Surgeon to the Government Mili- tary Hospital, established in his city; has, also, been largely identified with various affairs of interest to his community, outside of his profession, having been a member of the Covington Board of Education, and act- ively participated in other matters looking to the welfare of the city. He is prominently connected with some of the social organizations of the day; has been greatly devoted to his profession ; is peculiarly exemplary in his private character and life; is a man of commanding and attractive person; and is one of the most thoroughly well-read, successful, and popular physicians in North- ern Kentucky. Dr. Thomas was married, December 22, 1844, to Miss H. Augusta Train, daughter of Col. Harry Train, of Washington, New Hampshire. They have two children. Their daughter, Sarah E., is the wife of E. C. Goshorn, a manufacturer of Cincinnati; and their son, Dr. Charles Thomas, a physician of Cov- ington, is a graduate of Yale, and Bellevue Medical Col- lege, and is one of the most promising young men of his profession.

AMPTON, REV. WILLIAM, Farmer and Clergyman, son of William and Melinda (Short- ridge) Hampton, was born June 27, 1808, on the Big Sandy river, four miles from its mouth, in Kanawha County, Virginia. His mother was daughter of George Shortridge, a Virginian who emigrated to Kentucky, and became prominent in the Indian wars, and early affairs of the State. His father was a flourishing farmer, and son of Dr. Henry Hampton, a prominent physician of Virginia, and cousin of old Gen. Wade Hampton, an officer in the Revolu- tion, and also in the war of 1812. The subject of this sketch received his education in the log school-houses of the country, and that mainly in the Winters, or between intervals of labor on the farm. Throughout a long, active career, he took every means possible to increase his stock of learning, until he has become one of the most thoroughly read men in the community. In 1828, he was married to Miss Sallie Buchanan, daughter of William Buchanan, of Pennsylvania, who was cousin to President James Buchanan; and immediately after- wards went into a cabin on the bank of the Big Sandy, in Kentucky, sixteen miles from Catlettsburg, and set- tled down to raising corn and cattle. At that time he owned one hundred dollars' worth of property. He has always lived within a few miles of his native place. and has become one of the most successful farmers, stock-raisers, and traders in his part of Kentucky, and is now one of the most comfortably situated men in the country. He has been identified with most inter- ests of the community, and has been one of the most

417

BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPÆDIA.

active and useful citizens. In politics, he has always been a Whig; and, although he served fifteen years as a justice of the peace in Greenup County, Kentucky, he has never taken an active part in any political con- tests. Since 1836, he has been a licensed preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has for forty years been an active local minister; has been one of the most influential and valuable men in that denomination in all that portion of the State. He never chose to become permanent pastor of any Church, or to take charge of a circuit. In 1874, his wife died, and on the 28th of July in the following year, he was again married, to Mrs. S. C. Mason, daughter of John W. Hite. He has, from his first marriage, six living children-five sons and one daughter. John W. Hampton, his son, who was a soldier in the Confederate army during the rebellion, is now an enterprising young lawyer of Ashland, Ken- tucky. His other sons are business men, located in different parts of the country, and constitute a part of one of the most noted families in the country, a race of able, spirited, and useful men.

URRAY, LOGAN CRITTENDEN, Merchant and Banker, was born August 15, 1845, at Cloverport, Breckinridge County, Kentucky. His father was Col. Murray, a tobacco dealer of that county, and one of its most wealthy and substantial men. He is a brother of General Eli H. Murray, of Louisville. Logan C. Murray was educated at a private school, and in a neighboring country school. He was then sent to Princeton College, in New Jersey, where he graduated, in 1866. He at _ once entered business, at Louisville, as a tobacco dealer, continuing in that line till 1870, when he was appointed Cashier of the Kentucky National Bank, of Louisville, the largest National Bank in the State. This position he still fills. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, with which he united in his youth ; and is now a Trustee of the Chestnut Street Church, at Louisville, of which the Rev. A. B. Simpson is pastor. He is also an active member of several societies, in which he exerts not a little influence. On the 6th of November, 1866, he was married to Hattie, daughter of A. A. Gordon, of Louis- ville, and now has four children. Logan C. Murray is a gentleman of fine business qualifications; energetic and systematic in such relations; cautious and exacting in the management of the interests of others, although generous and liberal in his private interests and relations. In temperament, quiet and even ; his friendship is sure and enduring. As a citizen, he is progressive and public-spirited. His standing in commercial and social circles is very high; and he is one of those few men whose "word is as good as their bond."

RATHER, WILLIAM VAUGHAN, was born April 29, 1839, in Fleming County, Kentucky. His father, Jeremiah Prather, was a thrifty farmer of that county, and died in 1856, leav- ing six children, of which Vaughan, then six- teen years old, was the eldest. Jeremiah Pra- ther married Lucy Hull, daughter of Samuel Hull. Samuel Hull was a native of New Jersey; he set- tled in Mason County, Kentucky ; and there married Sarah Wallingford; his mother was a Vaughan. Jere- miah Prather, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, removed from Berkeley County, Virginia, and settled at May's Lick, in Mason County, in the year 1790; and, after living there several years, finally settled in Fleming County. The subject of this sketch remained on the farm, working in the Summer, and at- tending the district-school in the Winter, until he was nineteen years of age. In 1858-9, he attended the Maysville Seminary, under the tutelage of Prof. W. W. Richeson, under whose instruction Gen. Grant, Hon. W. H. Wadsworth, Hon. E. C. Phister, Hon. O. B. Hord, and many other men of distinction, received that thorough training which laid the foundation for their usefulness. He then began teaching school, and, during his leisure, read law. In 1867, he was admitted to the bar, and immediately entered upon the practice of his profession, at Mt. Olivet, Robertson County. He was County Attorney of that county for three years, and, in 1869, was elected to represent Nicholas and Robertson Counties in the Legislature, and was a member of that body in the session of 1869-70, and the adjourned session of 1871. Mr. Prather was married, April 29, 1869, to Lizzie Ewing, daughter of Col. William Ewing, of Fleming County. In 1873, he located at Cynthiana, where he now resides. Politically, he is a Democrat ; re- ligiously, he is associated with the Baptist Church. He is a man of good personal and professional habits, and stands well at the bar.

ILLIS, BENJAMIN GRANT, Lawyer, was born March 9, 1823, in Boone County, Kcn- tucky. His father, Benjamin Garrett Willis, was a native of Madison County, Virginia; came to Kentucky in 1804; settled in Adair County, but subsequently removed to Boone ; was sheriff of the county for several years; son of Will- iam Willis, a soldier in the Revolution; was a farmer, and died in 1828. His mother, Ann Moseby (Grant) Willis, was a native of Scott County, and daughter of John Grant, after whom Grant County was named, who came to Kentucky with Daniel Boone; remaincd for a time at Boonesborough, and, subsequently, with his brother, built Grant's Station, near the head of Elk-

418

BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPÆDIA.

horn ; was for several years member of the Legislature of Kentucky, and was a conspicuous figure in the early Indian troubles of the State. Benjamin Grant Willis entered Indiana University, at Bloomington, at the age of ten, and with wonderful success pursued a thorough classical and scientific course of study, for three years. He then returned to his- home, in Boone County, and, after spending two or three years in rest, and work on the farm, in 1839, he entered Miami University, at Ox- ford, Ohio. In 1840, he left school, and began the study of the law under James M. Preston, of Burlington. In 1842, he was examined by Judge Henry O. Brown, and John J. Marshall, and admitted to the bar. In the same year he entered upon the practice of his profession, at Burlington ; in 1844, practiced for a few months in Hel- ena, Arkansas; returned to Burlington; and, in 1848, removed to Brookville, tlie seat of Bracken County, where he has since remained, in the active practice of his profession. In 1851, he was elected County Judge of Bracken County, and held the position till the Fall election of 1854. In 1866, he was elected County At- torney, and occupied the office for four years. He has always been a Democrat, and gave his first Presidential vote for Lewis Cass; his last, before the rebellion, to John C. Breckinridge; and his first Gubernatorial vote, for Gen. William O. Butler. Mr. Willis was married, July 29, 1845, to Clara J. Payne, a native of Augusta, and daughter of John Payne, who was, for forty years or more, Clerk of Bracken County.

OOLLEY, JUDGE AARON KITCHELL, Law- yer, was born in January, 1800, at Springfield, New Jersey. He graduated at West Point Mili- tary Academy, with the honors of his class; was retained for some time as assistant professor ; studied law at Pittsburg, with Hon. Richard Biddle, brother of Nicholas Biddle, the famous banker; in 1823, began the practice of his profession at Port Gib- son, Mississippi; in 1827, visited Lexington, Kentucky, and subsequently became a law partner of Robert Wick- liffe, whose daughter, Sallie Howard Wickliffe, he had married ; obtained a large and lucrative practice; in 1832, was elected to represent Fayette County in the Legislature; served in the State Senate, from 1835 to 1839; was circuit judge for seven years; was for a time professor in the Lexington Law School, with Judge Rob- ertson and Thomas A. Marshall; and, in 1849, was a candidate for the last Constitutional Convention of the State, but died of cholera, just before the election, Au- gust 5, 1849. He was one of the most accomplished, attractive, and popular public men of Fayette County, and was one of the most able and influential lawyers of that day in Central Kentucky.

OYLE, GEN. JEREMIAH TILFORD, Lawyer and Soldier, was born in May, 1818, in Mercer (now Boyle) County, Kentucky, and was the son of Chief-Justice John Boyle, one of the most illustrious judges that Kentucky ever had. (See sketch of Judge John Boyle.) His mother was a Miss Tilford, a name well known in Kentucky. He was educated with great care, and was a graduate of Princeton College, New Jersey. He also graduated at the Transylvania Law School, Lexington, Kentucky, and settled, for the practice of his profession, in Harrods- burg. Soon after, the county of Boyle was established, and, Danville becoming the county seat, he removed to that place, where he engaged successfully in the practice of the law until 1861. He was appointed Common- wealth's Attorney, but resigned the position in order to attend to his lucrative law business. He attained con- siderable distinction at the bar, and was conceded to be an eloquent advocate, and an excellent counselor. Some years after moving to Danville, he married a daughter of Hon. Simeon Anderson, of Garrard County, and was subsequently engaged in business with his brother-in- "law, William C. Anderson, who was at one time a member of Congress. (See sketch of Hon. William C. Anderson.) In the great contest preparatory to the election of delegates to frame a new Constitution for the State, in 1849, he advocated with great zeal the eman- cipation of the slaves, and both by his pen and elo- quence before the people proved himself one of the ablest champions of that cause in the State. When the civil war commenced, he gave his support to the cause of the Union, and raised a regiment for the service; for meritorious conduct on the field, in 1862, was promoted brigadier-general; and was soon after placed in com- mand of the department of Kentucky, assuming the direction of military affairs in the State. This position, peculiarly trying to a native Kentuckian, owing to his love of justice, and great magnanimity of character, he discharged with singular faithfulness, and met the ap- proval of the Government, and also of those in the State who knew the motives of his action. He participated in the battle of Shiloh, commanding a brigade in Nel- son's division. After having served with distinction for several years, in the department of Kentucky, he resigned, being actuated by the unpleasant nature of the duties which his command imposed upon him. He was a man of untiring energy ; and every thing calculated to pro- mote the material prosperity of the State found in him an able and willing advocate ; he was the first person to urge the construction of street railways in Louisville, and, perhaps, owing to his earnest labors in that direc- tion, that city now possesses its excellent system of roads. He was president of and organized the original company, and under his direction the first street railway was built in that city, and that at a time when almost

Eng 4 & Pitby HomerLer & Co NY

Der. T. Borgh

421

BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPÆDIA.

insurmountable difficulties surrounded the undertaking. Soon after the civil war, he took hold of the Edgefield, Henderson, and Nashville Railroad, which had been dragging along with great difficulty for several years, and with his usual zeal imparted life to the enterprise. He visited Europe to negotiate with the French stock- holders of the road, and so successful was he, that he was able to prosecute the work with great rapidity to its completion. He subsequently devoted himself with great vigor to the inauguration of the narrow-gauge railroad system in Kentucky; and, by his presentation of the subject, gained the favorable attention of the public. He was a man of great firmness of character, engaged with enthusiasm in whatever he undertook, and seldom failed in his purpose ; had extraordinary ad- ministrative ability ; was quick in his impulses, hasty in forming his judgment, but ever ready to forget and forgive ; was generous and charitable to a fault, assist- ing unsparingly those in need; and, in his private life, was strongly attached to the domestic circle, of which he was the life; and was a most exemplary Christian. Gen. Boyle died at Louisville, of apoplexy, July 28, 1871, and left a wife and seven children, four sons and three daughters, who mourn his untimely death. His oldest son, Col. William O. Boyle, who was born in 1846, left the Naval Academy, in 1862, and joined his father, who was then in command of a brigade of troops in Columbia, Kentucky ; soon fell sick; after recovery, was appointed lieutenant in the Ninth Kentucky Federal Infantry, but was detailed as aid on the staff of his father; in 1863, largely at his own expense, raised the Third Battalion of the Eleventh Kentucky Cavalry, and was made its commander, with the rank of major; served under Generals Burnside, Schofield, and Stoneman; sub- sequently joined Sherman at Chattanooga, distinguishing himself for gallantry at Cassville, Resaca, and numerous other engagements; commanded his regiment in Stone- man's raid into Georgia; and, when the command was surrounded, cut through with his regiment, returning safely to Marietta, with the loss of sixty men; was sent back to Kentucky to recruit, and accompanied Gen. Burbridge on his expedition against the Salt-works of Virginia ; commanded the Eleventh and Twelfth Ken- tucky Cavalry in Stoneman's expedition of 1865, to East Tennessee; and fell, while leading his brigade, at the battle of Marion, on the 18th of December, in that year. He acquired the title of "Boy Major," and was the most youthful officer of his rank in the Federal army. He was ambitious for military fame, and was possessed of those qualities, mental and physical, which would have greatly distinguished him in life. He pos- sessed, to a high degree, the admirable traits of heart and mind which distinguished his grandfather, and the noble soldierly qualities of his father; and was endowed with the elements of success in the walks of peace.

OUSSEAU, GEN. LOVELL H., Lawyer and Soldier, was born in 1818, in Lincoln County, Kentucky. He left home with a limited edu- cation ; and, while employed at daily labor, acquired the French language. At the age of twenty-one, he began the study of the law ; was admitted to the bar in 1841, at Bloomfield, Indiana; in 1844, was elected to the Indiana Legislature. In 1846, he enlisted a company for the Mexican War, and fought bravely, especially distinguishing himself at the battle of Buena Vista; was elected to the Indiana Senate, imme- diately after his return from Mexico; and, although lo- cating in Louisville in 1849, continued to serve his Indi- ana constituents, at their urgent request, for some time, while living out of the State. He soon took a promi- nent place at the Louisville bar; and, on the breaking out of the war, began to recruit for the Federal army, locating his camp in Indiana. He was early made a brigadier-general ; participated in many engagements in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia; for brav- ery at Perryville, was advanced to the rank of major- general; distinguished himself at the battles of Stone river, Shiloh, and Chickamauga, and subsequently com- manded. the districts of Northern Alabama and Tennes- see; in 1865, was elected, as a Union candidate, to the Lower House of Congress, where he took sides with the Democrats; in 1867, was sent to take possession of Alaska, in the name of the United States; and, on his return, was appointed to the command of the Gulf De- partment; and died in New Orleans, January 7, 1869. Gen. Rousseau was a man of uncommon personal pres- ence and commanding figure; and was a soldier of great bravery and administrative ability.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 72

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