The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 82

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

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PEED, JAMES BRECKINRIDGE, Merchant, was born January 4, 1844, in Cooper County, Missouri, and is the son of William P. Speed, a native of Kentucky, but who in early life moved to Missouri, following mercantile and agricultural pursuits, until his death, at Boones- ville, in 1863. He is grandson of Judge John Speed, of Kentucky, and nephew of Hon. James Speed, who was Attorney-General in the Cabinet of President Lin- coln. His mother was Mary Ellen Shallcross, daughter of Capt. Shallcross, for many years prominently identi- fied with the river interests, commanding a number of steamers in the New Orleans trade. He was her only child, she dying while he was an infant. At the age of eleven years, he came to Louisville, where he resided

with his aunt, Mrs. Lucy Breckinridge, and attended the city schools, completing a substantial education in the Louisville High-school, under Prof. McDonald. At the age of sixteen, he entered the banking-house of A. D. Hunt & Co., as clerk. Upon the breaking out of the civil war, he enlisted as a private in the First Ohio Battery; was shortly afterwards made Adjutant of the Twenty-seventh Kentucky Regiment, under Col. Penny- packer; participating in many battles under Generals Thomas and Sherman, including the engagements around Atlanta, and the siege of Knoxville. In the Spring of 1865, he was mustered out of the service; returned to Chicago, where he had located a few months previous to the breaking out of the war; but, after a short stay in that city, became Superintendent of the Louisville Cement Company, and has since given his attention mainly to the interests of that business. Soon after his connection with this company began, he advocated and carried out the building of two extensive works in Clarke County, Indiana, and, at a very large outlay, has in- creased the capacity of their works, and extended their business connection throughout the South and West, in- creasing the manufacture of the Louisville cement from sixty thousand to two hundred thousand barrels per year. This company now have the largest works of the kind in the country with inexhaustible quarries. In 1872, with J. P. Byrne, he added to his already extensive in- terests the coal business. They soon after built the Louisville Coal Elevator, which has been in successful operation for five years, handling with their large re- sources two millions of bushels of coal yearly. They have, also, recently added to the elevator, a warehouse for storing and shipping salt. Mr. Speed has met with uncommon success in his business adventures, and has been characterized throughout as one of the most ener- getic, discerning, and enterprising business men of Louis- ville, standing deservedly high in business ability and integrity, and maintaining a fine reputation in commer- cial circles. In 1868, he was married to Miss Cora A. Coffin, daughter of George W. Coffin, of Cincinnati.

cKAY, ENOCH E., Lawyer, is the son of Enoch H. and Amanda M. McKay, and was born April 7, 1835, at Bloomfield, Nelson County, Kentucky, of which place his father was an enterprising and successful merchant. His early education was acquired at the coun- try schools; and, in 1855, he entered Centre College, at Danville, Kentucky, graduating, with honor, in 1857. Having always had a fondness for the legal profession, he determined upon its pursuit; and, in 1859, com- menced the study of law, under Chief-Justice Robertson, at Lexington, Kentucky. In 1860, he was admitted to

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the bar, and commenced practice at Bardstown, meeting with success. In May, 1875, desiring a broader field for his operations, he removed his office to Louisville, and entered upon a career which, though short, has been successful and brilliant. His industry and natural fit- ness for his profession have secured him a prominence, and earned for him a reputation, that are both enviable and enduring. He was married, on the 22d of October, 1863, to Miss Ophelia Wilson, of Bardstown, Kentucky, a lady of rare accomplishments and sterling qualities, which marriage has been blessed with four children. Mr. Mckay is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, being Master of Duvall Lodge, at Bardstown, where his family is pleasantly located. In politics, he is firm and unyielding, and, in his county, has always been a successful candidate. In 1874, he was a candi- date for Congress from his district; and, after a severe contest, was defeated by J. Proctor Knott, who was elected by a small majority. Personally, Mr. Mckay is a high-toned gentleman, of warm and noble impulses, prepossessing in appearance, and polite and courteous in his manners. He is considered one of the rising men of the State.

AFINESQUE, CONSTANTINE S., Natural- ist, was born in 1784, at Constantinople. His father was a merchant of that city, his house being a branch from Marseilles. He was finely educated; came to America in 1802; collected a large number of botanical specimens; re- turned to Europe, and spent ten years in Sicily ; spent much of his time in collecting plants, minerals, and fossils, fishes, and sca plants, and in writing. In 1815, published, in French, his "Analysis of Nature;" in that year returned to this country ; for a time taught in a private family in New York ; subsequently traveled, on foot to a very great extent, botanizing over the country ; stopped, a short time, at Henderson, Ken- tucky, with Audubon, the ornithologist; visited Lex- ington, and was induced, by his friend Clifford, to sct- tle in that city ; was Professor of Natural Sciences, and taught the French, Italian, and Spanish languages, in Transylvania University, from 1819 to 1825; in 1822, made an effort to establish a botanical garden, by the assistance of the Legislature; in 1823, gave a course of lectures on Medical Botany, to medical students in Tran- sylvania University; while there, began his work "Tellus, or the History of the Earth and Mankind;" in the course of ten years increased his manuscript to five thousand pages; in 1824, wrote his "Ancient History or Annals of Kentucky," published as an introduction to Mar -- shall's "History of Kentucky," and in a separate volume; left Kentucky in 1825; in 1836, published his " Life of Travels and Researches in North America and

South Europe, from 1802 to 1805;" and finally settled in Philadelphia, where he died, September 18, 1840. He was a man of many curious and remarkable traits, and was, undoubtedly, the most learned naturalist who ever lived in Kentucky.

ILLIAMS; CAPT. WILLIAM CADWALLA- DER, Farmer, one of the noted farmers of Jefferson County, Kentucky, was born in Lou- isville, April 4, 1802, when that place was but a village, under the name of Fort Louisville. His father was a Welshman, having emigrated to this country in 1788; landing at Philadelphia, he soon removed to Louisville, where he arrived in a flat- boat, in 1789. To him belongs the distinction of erect- ing the first brick house built in Louisville; this was in the year of his arrival. Afterwards, he established the first brewery in the city. Captain Williams was edu- cated at a private school, until he attained the age of eighteen; when, having inherited a natural taste for husbandry from his maternal grandfather (Col. Jenkins Phillips, a Virginian, and one of the earliest settlers, who assisted at gathering the first crop of corn raised in this portion of Kentucky), he selected the occupation of farmer, following it to the present time, with the ex- ception of a few years devoted to brick-making, in Lou- isville. At different times, he has been connected with various mercantile firms ; but represented by his capital, and not in person. One of the wealthiest citizens of Jefferson County, he is the owner of twenty-six houses in the city of Louisville, including some fine business buildings. His elegant brick mansion, on a large and highly cultivated farm, is beautifully adorned, and sur- rounded with every thing to delight the eye and make it a happy home during his declining years. Originally a Whig, he is now a Democrat in politics, in which, however, he hardly takes an active interest. Elected, in 1823 and 1824, to the captaincy of a militia company, he performed his duties in such a manner as to elicit the encomiums of all. He has, for fifty years, been a member, in good standing, of the Masonic fraternity. Religiously, he has for more than thirty years been a member of the Christian Church. On the 27th of June, 1827, he married Miss Hannah Hamilton, of Mis- sissippi, and they have been the parents of sixteen chil- dren, of whom but four survive. The Captain has been an extensive traveler, both in the United States and Canada, and has never met with an accident. He has been very successful in the accumulation of property ; commencing business with a capital of from three to four thousand dollars, he has amassed a fortune, princi- pally invested in real estate, bank and railroad stocks, and cash deposits. In disposition, Captain Williams is

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social and urbane, but exacting and prompt in business transactions ; a law-abiding citizen, whose pride it is to improve and beautify his native city, and turn a helping hand to every worthy cause.

REATHITT, GOV. JOHN, Lawyer, and one of the Governors of Kentucky, was born Sep- tember 9, 1786, near New London, Virginia. His father settled in Logan County, Kentucky, in 1800, where he followed agricultural pur- suits, and reared a family of five sons and four daughters. John Breathitt received a fair education, and made himself a good surveyor, serving as a deputy in surveying public lands in Illinois Territory. He taught school; accumulated some property; studied law under Judge Wallace; and was admitted to the bar in 1810. He rose rapidly into public favor, and soon es- tablished a large and lucrative practice. In 1811, he was elected to represent Logan County in the Legisla- ture; was several times re-elected ; in 1828, was elected Lieutenant-Governor under Gov. Metcalfe, filling the po- sition with distinguished ability for four years; and, in 1832, was elected Governor, but died before the expira- tion of his term, at the Governor's House, in Frankfort, February 21, 1834; and over his remains a monument was erected, by order of the State Legislature. Gov. Breathitt was twice married: first, to the daughter of William Whitaker, of Logan County, Kentucky; and, subsequently, to Susan M. Harris, daughter of Richard Harris, of Chesterfield County, Virginia. He left three children-a son and daughter by his first marriage, and a daughter by his last. In politics, he was a Democrat, and stood in great favor with his party. He accumu- lated a considerable estate, and was one of the most pop- ular and able men of his day.

ALLER, WILLIAM SMITH, Banker, was born April 6, 1785, in Garrard County, Ken- tucky ; and was the youngest of five sons of Rev. E. Waller, an eminent Baptist preacher, who came from Virginia in 1781, but, in 1797, again returned to that State. Will- iam S. Waller, at the age of seventeen, having spent some time in the office of the Clerk of the Quarterly Sessions, at Frankfort, received a certificate of qualifi- cations as a clerk ; in 1803, was appointed clerk in the Auditor's office ; devoted his leisure hours to study, and was noted for his business ability, correct habits, and amiable nature ; in 1807, was chosen First Clerk of the first Bank of Kentucky ; in 1809, was elected cashier, a position he filled with great credit throughout the ex-

istence of that institution ; in 1835, became Cashier of the Lexington branch of the Bank of Kentucky; and was chosen agent, 1840, to investigate the frauds com- mitted against that institution by the Schuylkill Bank, which had long been its Eastern agent; performed that trust with the utmost skill and satisfaction. Cancer in the face compelled him to withdraw from business in 1852; and, June 15, 1855, he died. He had been, for many years, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and was one of the most upright and highly respected busi- ness inen of his day.

ODGES, ALBERT GALLATIN, Editor and Publisher, was born October 8, 1802, in Mad- ison County, Virginia, and is the son of Fran- cis and Mary (Brock) Hodges. He was brought to Fayette County, Kentucky, at the age of eight years; after the death of his father, in 1815, went to learn the printing trade, in the office of the "Kentucky Reporter;" was its carrier for several years ; in 1821, started and published for a few months, the " Kentuckian," at Lancaster; became fore- man of the "Reporter ;" in 1824, with D. C. Pinkham, bought the "Semi-weekly Morning Post;" in the fol- lowing year, William Tanner became his partner, and the paper strongly advocated the principles of both polit- ical parties, the "New Court," and the "Old Court ;" sold his interest in the "Post," and soon after started the "Kentucky Whig," at Lexington, which was of short duration, on account of the death of its able editor, Nelson Nicholas, in 1826; subsequently became one of the proprietors of the "Commentator," at Frankfort, and conducted the State printing; removed to Louis- ville in 1832, where he published, for several years, the "Lights and Shadows," an anti-Masonic weekly; be- came reporter for the Court of Appeals; in 1833, was elected State Printer, and started the "Commonwealth," which became an able supporter of the principles of the Whig, Know-Nothing, American, Union, and Republi- can parties, until its suspension, in 1872, when he ceased to be actively engaged as an editor and publisher, and, in 1872, removed to Louisville, where he became Secre- tary and Treasurer of the Masonic Temple Company ; and has been yearly elected Treasurer of the Masonic Grand Lodge. For twenty-five years he was State Printer, being elected annually until 1851, and every second year afterward; and was, for nearly half a cent- ury, associated intimately with the public men of Ken- tucky. Few men of the State have been more promi- nently identified with its public affairs than Albert G. Hodges, and few of its newspaper men have become more noted. In 1872, his son became manager of his old steam printing works, at Frankfort.

Eng ª & Pt2 by Homer Lee & Co N.Y.

S.S. Merzner

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IZNER, SAMUEL SMITH, M. D., Physician and Surgeon, was born December 18, 1815, at Lawrenceburg, Anderson County, Kentucky. His parents were John and Rebecca Mizner; the former a native of Boyle, and the latter of Garrard County, Kentucky. His father was a farmer by pursuit, and died in 1825. His mother was the daughter of Lewis Myers, a Marylander, who set- tled in Garrard County before Kentucky was organized into a State. She is still living, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. Dr. Mizner obtained a good English education in the schools of his native county; this he greatly enlarged by constant study and extensive and systematic reading throughout his active professional life, becoming a fine scholar, and one of the best in- formed men in his section. When first starting out for himself, at an early age, he learned the tanner's trade, but soon abandoned that, and, for several years, engaged successfully in stock trading. In 1835, he determined to enter the medical profession, and at once began his preparation, under Dr. Benjamin Mullins, of Garrard County; he continued reading for several years, at in- tervals attending medical lectures at Transylvania Uni- versity, and the New York College of Physicians and Surgeons; graduated in 1844, receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine at the latter institution; in the same year, entered on the practice of his profession in Jessa- mine County, at once succeeding to a fine practice ; from 1848 to 1851, resided in Garrard County; then returned to Jessamine, where he remained until his death, which occurred, at his residence in Nicholasville, October 4, 1876. Dr. Mizner was peculiarly adapted to the medical profession, was exceptionally successful from the first ; established a valuable and wide-spread practice, was especially distinguished in the treatment of some obstinate forms of disease; stood in the front rank of his profession, where he was greatly respected. He was a man of great energy, a close observer, a first- class business man, of fine mind, and would have been successful in almost any department of life. He was prominently connected with some of the social organiza- tions of the day, and was from boyhood a member of the Christian or Disciples' Church; was a man of fine personal and social habits; zealous, active temperament ; was never idle; and, by an active useful life, profession- ally and otherwise, greatly endeared himself to the com- munity in which he lived. During the war with Mexico, he volunteered, but, on account of sickness, was not en- gaged in active service. He was doubtlessly a Whig in politics, until the dissolution of that party, after which he was largely identified with the Democrats, and, dur- ing the late civil war, stood on the side of the South in his sympathies. Dr. Mizner was married, July 16, 1845, to Miss Rose Shotwell Smith, a native of Scott County, a lady of great personal, social, and moral worth, and

daughter of Rev. James Smith, a clergyman of the Methodist Church. Of their four children, two sons are now living, and, with their mother, residc at Nicho- lasville.

TITT, ALFRED GAINES, M. D., Physician and Banker, was born December 10, 1818, in Nicholas County, Kentucky. He was the old- est of a family of nine children. His parents were James and Elizabeth (Johnson) Stitt; the former a native of Bourbon, and the latter of Nicholas County, Kentucky. His father was a farmer by pursuit. He represented Nicholas County for two terms in the Legislature of the State; actively partici- pated in the war of 1812, and at the battle of the Thames ; was a member of Capt. Church's company of spies ; he died August 18, 1853. Elizabeth Johnson, his mother, was a daughter of William Johnson, one of the pioneer farmers of Nicholas County ; a Marylander by birth. Alfred G. Stitt received a country school ed- ucation ; and, in 1840, commenced business as a clerk in the store of Lewis Vimont, in Harrison County. He afterwards spent some time as a clerk in the store of John M. January, at Ruddell's Mills, Bourbon County, Kentucky. In 1845, he started and named the town of "Headquarters," in Nicholas County; established a store and postoffice there; and, after losing his store by fire, in 1849, turned his attention to the study of medi- cine, under the most discouraging pecuniary circum- stances. He prepared for his profession chiefly under the supervision of Dr. John F. McMillan, of Carlisle, one of the first physicians of his day; and, in 1852, graduated in medicine at the University of Louisville, when the medical faculty was composed of such dis- tinguished men as Gross, Silliman, Yandell, and Drake. In the same year he located at " Headquarters," and entered upon the practice of his profession. Two years subsequently, he removed to Millersburg, Bourbon County, where he has since resided. For twenty-five years he has been the leading physician and surgeon of the wealthy community in which he lives. He has es- tablished a large and successful practice; performed many general surgical and obstetrical operations, in which he has never lost a case; and has taken a posi- tion among the most skillful and accomplished mem- bers of his profession in his part of the State. With feeble health and slender stature, weighing scarcely one hundred and twenty-five pounds, yet his labors have re- quired an average of fully nineteen of the twenty-four hours of every day for twenty-five years; and, with all his objective labor, hc has been a diligent student, keep- ing himself abreast of his profession in the practice of medicine; and is well informed upon all the social, edu- cational, political, and religious questions of the times.

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Religiously, he is connected with the Southern branch of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; and is, perhaps, the most representative man associated with the fortunes of Kentucky Wesleyan College, located at Millersburg; has stood by the institution through its long years of doubtful struggle, and has been its greatest friend in time of need. He has long been a member of the Board of Education for the " Kentucky Annual Confer- ence," and treasurer of its cducational fund; Secretary and Treasurer of the Kentucky Wesleyan College, and member of the Board of Council for Millersburg Female College. In 1877, he was elected a lay delegate, from the annual conference of his Church, held at Win- chester, Kentucky, to the General Conference, to be held at Atlanta, Georgia, in 1878. In 1870, he organ- izcd the Millersburg Deposit Bank, and has since been its cashier. The following communication is a deserved tribute to his standing as a business man :

MILLERSBURG DEPOSIT BANK, { Millersburg, Ky., July 26, 1877. 1 DR. A. G. STITT, Cashier :

" Believing that the gratifying results of the operations of this bank, for a period of nearly seven years, are chiefly, if not wholly, due to your industry, vigilance, and judgment, we desire to make some official recogni- tion of your services as its financial manager.

" Declaration of an average annual dividend of ten per cent, independent of a handsome reservation, to- gether with the facts that no loss has been sustained and no bad debt created during the whole period of the bank's existence, are results, we think, that have few if any parallels in the history of financial institutions.

" Therefore, dear sir, to give emphasis to our expres- sions of approval, and as an enduring recognition of your labors in the interest of the stockholders, we have the pleasure to tender you, in their name, this hand- some gold-cased chronometer; and we beg that you ac- cept it, as a testimonial of their appreciation of your suc- cessful efforts to render them efficient service.

" With assurances of continued personal esteem, we are, Truly yours,

"R. TARR, Pres., W. Mc. MILLER, SR., THOMAS MCCLINTOCK, Directors. J. M. HUGHES, JOSH. BARTON."

He is also prominently identified with most of the leading social and business interests of his community. "In politics, he is a Democrat ; and, during the late civil war, was very decidedly a Southern man, and, in con- sequence, was several times a political prisoner by the Union soldiers. He is a man of earnest convictions ; of uniform, temperate habits, never using tobacco, spirit- uous liquors, nor playing a game of any kind; of un- swerving rectitude and excellent business ability; a lib-

eral supporter of his Church, and a most useful and valuable citizen. Dr. Stitt was married, January 29, 1843, to Miss Mary E. Foster, daughter of Jeremiah Foster, of Ripley, Ohio, a lady of great worth of char- acter, who has been a pillar of strength by his side. They have had eleven children, nine of whom are now living.

NOTE .-- The substance and, in some cases, the language of a part of this sketch have been taken from a letter in the "Nash- ville Christian Advocate," from Rev. H. A. M. Henderson, D. D., Superintendent of Public Instruction for the State, who esteems Dr. Stitt so highly as to have named one of his sons in compli- ment to him.

HASE, GEORGE A., A. M., LL. D., Principal of the Louisville Female High-school, son of John A. and Jeannie McClure Chase, was born in Exeter, New Hampshire. His parents re- moved, however, when he was three months old, to Massachusetts. He received his educa- tion in the public-schools of that State, at Amherst Academy, and Amherst College. Over thirty years ago, he came to the West, and, at first, became Principal of Franklin County Seminary, in Indiana. Afterwards, for several years, he conducted various private schools in the eastern part of that State. During the last eight years of his residence in Indiana, he had charge, at different times, of the three following female colleges: Brookville College, at Brookville; Asbury Female Institute, at Green- castle; and, Indiana Asbury Female College (now De- Pauw College), at New Albany, Indiana-all under the patronage of the Methodist Episcopal Church. While in charge of the latter, it was taken as a United States hospital. He was then appointed Principal of the Louisville Female High-school, which position he has ever since held, and seems likely to retain for many years to come. He first took charge of the school in the old building on the corner of Center and Walnut Streets, where now stands the imposing Eighth Ward School-house. In the course of two years, the School Board purchased, and elegantly fitted up, the "Curd Property," on First Street, where the school went on prosperously, until it became so large as to make another building necessary. Consequently, the old building was demolished, and the present elegant structure placed upon its site. This is probably one of the finest build- ings of its class in the country, and the school is now more prosperous than at any period of its history. The number of pupils enrolled in 1876-77 was four hundred and twenty-six, with a corps of thirteen teachers, and a graduating' class of seventy-seven. This is doubtlessly one of the most successfully conducted and prosperous schools of its class, under the control of the public- school system, anywhere throughout the Union. In

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The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 82

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