The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 86

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

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this marriage had six daughters. His present wife, was Miss Fannie Owen, of Breckinridge County, Kentucky, to whom he was married in 1851, and they have one son and one daughter. All of his children, excepting one, are married and dispersed over the country.

EVI, CAPT. BURDETT C., son of Willis Levi, was born September 21, 1819, in Ma- son County, Kentucky. His father was a Vir- ginian ; emigrated at an early day to Ken- tucky ; and, after farming for many years in Mason County, removed to Louisville, where he passed the remainder of his business life as a mer- chant. Burdett C. Levi received his education mainly in the public-schools of Louisville, and commenced his business career as a laborer in one of the manufacturing establishments of that city. In the course of time he became clerk on a steamboat, and gradually worked himself into favor and position. He commanded the steamers, "Schuylkill," the "Knoxville," "Saladin," "John Gault," and the " Tishamingo;" for many years has been an owner and agent of quite a number of the Ohio and Mississippi river steamers; and has been one of the most active and successful among the Louisville river men. While he was acting as clerk, the boat on which he was engaged was sunk by the ice in the Mis- sissippi river; and, throughout life, he has had many narrow escapes and strange and unusual experiences. He was, for some time, a member of the Louisville Board of Education, and, in 1873 or 1874, was presi- dent of that body. Since his nineteenth year, he has been a member of the Methodist Church, and has been prominent and active in the affairs of his Church. He has long been Superintendent of the Church Sabbath- school, and has been thirty-seven years member of the same " class." He is Trustee of Franklin Street Bethel and of Kavanaugh Chapel; member of the Board of Managers of the Widows' and Orphans' Home of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South; Trustee of Dr. Prettyman's School, in Louisville; and a member of the Church Board of Education of the Louisville Con- ference. He has often served his Church as one of its delegates to the Annual Conferences; and was, for five years, President of the Sabbath-school Union and Church Extension, of Louisville. He has not only been thus identified with all the interests of his Church, but has made his home the resort of the minister of the Gospel, and from it dispensed, in his fortunate days, to the needy; and has made his benevolence and zeal felt in every good cause. He has been a man of excep- tionally good personal habits; although spending many years of his life on the river, he never took a drink of liquor or uttered an oath. His business record is with-

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out a blemish; a man of great uprightness of charac- ter; and one of Louisville's most honorable and worthy citizens. And, although considerably over the me- ridian in years, he is as active and energetie as most men who have passed through less hardships, and are much younger. Capt. Levi was married, April 6, 1841, to Miss Hester A. Curry, who died eight months after- wards. April 4, 1844, he was married to Miss Mary E. Gibbins, sister of Rev. Thos. Gibbins, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a lady of great wealth of heart and mind, who has been a pillar of strength by his side. They have had no children, but have raised quite a number of little girls into womanhood, and been the means of making them happy and useful in the world.

AKER, JERMAN, M. D., of Shelbyville, Ken- tucky, was born in Cumberland County, Vir- ginia, April 11, 1809. His father, Hon. Jer- man Baker, was a prominent lawyer of Virginia ; a member of the State Legislature; and, under the old Constitution, was a member of the State Executive Council. His grandfather, Jerman Baker, was also one of the leading lawyers of Virginia, to which State he emigrated from England, about 1780. His mother was Bolling Epps ( Baker), second daughter of Col. Fran- cis Epps, of Virginia ; sister of Hon. John W. Epps (son- in-law of Thomas Jefferson), and niece of Mr. Jefferson's wife. Dr. Baker received a classical education at Rich- mond; and, at the age of eighteen, began the study of medicine, in the University of Virginia, under the tutor- age of Dr. Robley Dungleson. In 1829, he graduated at that institution ; and spent the succeeding Winter at Jefferson Medical College, in Philadelphia. In June, 1830, he commenced practice, in Davidson County, Ten- nessee, where he was very successful for ten years. He then spent a few years in traveling; after which, in 1842, he moved to Kentucky, and located in Shelby County, where he has since remained, in aetive and suc- cessful practice ; and, for the last nineteen years, has re- sided in Shelbyville; and is now the oldest medical prac- titioner in the county, and one of the most accomplished gentlemen in his profession in the State. He is a mem- ber of the County Medical Society, the District Medical Society, the State Medical Society, and of the American Medical Association; was President of the State Society, in 1875, and served as first president of the county or- ganization. He has been an occasional contributor to the medical literature of the day; has been a devoted student of his profession, and one of its most honorable and successful exponents. Although he has never been a bitter partisan, he has always been a Democrat in poli- tics; and was for many years Chairman of the County Executive Committee of that party. He is connected

with the Episcopal Church, and is Senior Warden of St. James's Parish. He is a man of fine bearing, character- ized for his industry; professional earnestness, and fine personal habits. In 1834, Dr. Baker was married to Miss Mary J. Read, daughter of Thomas J. and Fannie L. ( Washington) Read, of Nashville, Tennessee. They have two living children : Maude, the wife of Bainbridge Richardson, of Shelby County ; and Lilybelle, with her parents at home.

ICKLIFFE, ROBERT NELSON, Lawyer and Editor, was born in 1805, in Kentucky. He was educated at Transylvania University ; studied law, and was admitted to practice. He was a successful lawyer, and, as an orator, had few equals in the State. He was a fine scholar, but lacked ambition, and was totally indifferent to public honors. As an editor, he was probably unexcelled by any Kentuckian, and was considered equal to George D. Prentice. He represented Fayette County in the Con- stitutional Convention of 1849, and, in 1851, was Demo- cratic candidate for Lieutenant-Governor. He died Feb- ruary 26, 1855.

ALFUS, HENRY FREDERICK, M. D., was born April 14, 1832, at Sheplierdsville, Bullitt County, Kentucky, and is of German extrac- tion. His mother was a sister of the distin- guished Dr. Burr Harrison, of Bardstown, Ken- tucky. He received a good education, which he finished at Hanover College, Indiana, in 1852. He stud- ied medicine in his native town, and, after practieing five years, graduated, in 1860, at the Kentucky School of Medicine, in Louisville. He also received a diploma from the medical department in the University of Louis- ville. He was Democratic candidate for State Treasurer, in 1864, on the Wickliffe ticket, but was defeated. At the commencement of the civil war, he recruited a com- pany for the Fifteenth Kentucky (Union ) Infantry, and, for gallant conduct in the battle of Perryville, was pro- moted major, and was subsequently promoted lieutenant- colonel and colonel. After the battle of Stone river, be- ing dissatisfied with the war policy of the Government, he resigned his commission, and, after spending somne months in Canada, at the close of the war, returned to Louisville, and engaged actively in the duties of his profession. He is an earnest, energetic, able, and successful practitioner, and occupies a fine position in his profession. Religiously, he is associated with the Meth- odist Church, and is prominently identificd with some of its charitable institutions. Dr. Kalfus was married in 1854, and has three children-two daughters and one son.

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RMSTRONG, VENE P., was born in Novem- ber, 1823, in Washington, D. C., and came to Kentucky, settling in Louisville, in 1834. He subsequently removed to West Point, in Hardin County, where he cstablished, and for several years carried on successfully, a store of general supplies for the country. He became very pop- ular among the citizens of that county, and was twice elected to represent them in the State Legislature; in 1850, he returned to Louisville, and, during the first years of the war, engaged successfully in business on his own account; in 1864, he associated with him Joseph Mitchell in dealing in pork, and, in 1866, the firm of McFerran, Armstrong & Co. was formed, he retaining his connection until 1876, when he retired entirely from business. He was wholly a self-made man, and, starting without assistance, and early engaging in any pursuit by which he could make an honest living, accumulated a considerable fortune, which he used with no stinted hand, toward bettering the condition of others, and in sustaining many of the charitable institutions of Louis- ville. He was long time an officer in the board of trustees for the night-schools of that city, and, on several occasions, at his own expense, relieved the school from present embarrassment. He was also one of the founders of the Louisville House of Refuge, and was an active member of the old Board of Trade, which he zealously worked to perpetuate. He died in 1877, at the Galt House in Louisville. Mr. Armstrong was twice married, his first wife being Miss Martha Perkins, who left one son, William Armstrong, who is now re- siding in Missouri. He was again married, June 23, 1876, to Mrs. Sallie Ward Hunt, one of the most ac- complished and beautiful ladies of Louisville.

VERY, BENJAMIN F., Plow Manufacturer, was born December 3, 1801, in Aurora, Cayuga County, New York, and is the son of Daniel Avery, a large land owner and farmer, who was among the first settlers of that county from Connecticut, and as a Whig was elected, in 1812, and again, in 1815, to represent his district in Congress. Benjamin F. Avery received a fine educa- tion, in Hamilton and Union Colleges, graduating in the latter, in 1822. He studied law for three years, and was admitted to the bar in New York, but that profes- sion being incongenial, in 1825, with a small outfit, he located at Clarksburg, Mecklenburg County, Virginia, where, in connection with Caleb H. Richmond, he started a small foundry and plow manufactory. Al- though proceeding cautiously and on a small scale, they were highly successful, and, after a few years, in order to increase their facilities, removed to Milton, North

Carolina, and afterwards to Meadville, Virginia. On the death of his father, in 1842, he was appointed administrator of the estate, and, in the following year, sold his interests in Virginia, and returned to his native place. In 1846, he aided his nephew, Daniel H. Avery, in starting a similar business in Louisville, Kentucky, and, in the Winter of 1847, he came himself to that city, since which time it has been his place of residence. He soon succeeded in establishing a large business, and, as early as 1851, was compelled to begin the erection of his present vast factory, which has now become one of the largest establishments of its kind in the United States, making many different kinds of plows of steel and iron, engaging a large number of most skillful workmen, and completing his work with great care, especially for the Southern and Western trade. Without great ambition to accumulate, he has gathered a considerable fortune, and has yet found time to take an active interest in all matters looking to the substantial welfare of his adopted city, and has freely used his means for the furthering of every good cause, and to-day he ranks among the most influential and valuable citizens of Louisville. Mr. Avery has reared a large family, some of his sons now being engaged with him in business.

UNCAN, GEORGE WASHINGTON, M. D., Physician and Surgeon, was born in Simpson County, Kentucky, January 12, 1826. His pa- ternal grandfather was one of three brothers, who came to this country from Scotland among the early colonists. His father, Sanford Dun- can, was one of the commissioners who surveyed Simp- son County, and also one of the State commissioners to run and mark the boundary line between the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, from Heel Foot lake to the Mississippi river. He was a farmer, and followed his calling for many years. Dr. George W. Duncan re- ceived a thorough common-school education, and, in the year 1840, entered Cumberland College, then located at Princeton, Kentucky; while attending college at Prince- ton, it was removed to Lebanon, Tennessee, where it is still, in a flourishing condition. Dr. Duncan did not migrate with the college, but took up his residence at Franklin, Kentucky, where he finished his education. In 1844, he commenced the study of medicine at Bowl- ing Green, Kentucky, with Drs. J. M. Briggs and T. B. Wright, both physicians of considerable celebrity. He graduated from the University of Louisville, Kentucky, in 1848. He entered upon the practice of his profession at Mitchellville, Tennessee, the same year, meeting with great success. In 1859, he removed to Franklin, Ken- tucky, where he has since resided, acquiring an exten- sive practice from the start, which has since continued to

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increase. During the late war, he was appointed post surgeon, which position he held until the close of the war. He is, at present, examining physician for several life insurance companies. His reputation as a surgeon is very fine, having performed many surgical operations of importance, that have been published in the medical journals of the country. Dr. Duncan is also considered an adept in obstetrics, and possesses the deserved confi- dence of a very large circle of families. Being a splen- did judge of human nature, and thoroughly understand- ing his profession, he understands how to suit himself to the surrounding circumstances; and, in this particular, is 'especially fortunate and successful as a country physi- cian, being obliged to depend on his own ingenuity in cases of emergency. Dr. Duncan also possesses consid- erable celebrity as a literary man, as the many articles he has contributed to the literature of his profession and to the press will attest. In narrative, he excels, his productions in that line having been very extensively copied by the press of the country; the Historical Society of Pennsylvania having made special applica- tion for his writings at the time of their publication. He is an agreeable conversationalist; has a great com- mand of language and a fluency of expression which never desert him. He has been, for many years, an active member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of Franklin, Kentucky, freely contributing his means and talents in behalf of the cause of Christianity; he is also a Mason in good standing. In 1859, he married Miss Dorinda Puryear, of Smith County, Tennessee, by whom he has had seven children, only four of which are now living.

HERLEY, THOMAS HUFFMAN, Whisky Manufacturer, was born at Louisville, Ken- tucky, December 31, 1843. His father, B. M. Sherley, one of the best citizens of that city, is a Virginian by birth; his mother, a native of Louisiana. Thomas H. Sherley received his early education at private schools, in Frankfort, and in the schools of Louisville, graduating at the Male High- school, in 1862, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He began life as a steamboat clerk on the Ohio river for three years ; was United States Storekeeper at Louisville for two years. He then started as a broker, but aban- doned this to open a bonded warehouse; was very suc- cessful in his business, and, establishing a commission department in his trade, became intimately acquainted with whisky men all over the country. In 1869, he dis- continued the bonded warehouse, engaging entirely in the commission business. He soon began operating dis- tilleries in Nelson, Madison, and Anderson Counties, and carried on the largest business of the kind in the State of Kentucky. In politics, he is a sturdy uncom-

promising Democrat. He united with the Christian Church several years ago, and is a member of the Fourth and Walnut Street Congregation, in Louisville. He is a Mason of prominence, being Generalissimo in Louis- ville Commandery, No. 1. In May, 1864, he married the daughter of Capt. John Swagar, and has four chil- dren. As a citizen, he is respected and influential; in business relations, he is enterprising, sagacious, atten- tive, and successful; in the house and social relations, he most reveals his easy, generous good nature; no trait being so highly developed in his character as his devo- tion and fidelity to his friends and kindred.

ENNY, ELIJAH, is said to have been born about 1737, and died about 1855. He served during the entire war of the Revolution, and was wounded at the siege of Charleston. He was engaged in the siege of Savannah, and also participated in the battles of Eutaw Springs, Camden, King's Mountain, and Monk's Corner. He was a soldier under Peter Horrey and Francis Marion. He witnessed the death of Col. Isaac Hayne, one of the early sufferers in the war of the Revolution. He came to Kentucky at an early day, and lived and died in Pulaski County. He had four sons and five daughters, all living at the time of his death, the youngest son be- ing fifty-one years old. For a great part of his life, he was a faithful member of the Baptist Church. He was a man of most remarkable and exemplary private habits, having been energetic and industrious, even to the last days working regularly on his farm; and, throughout his life, utterly abstaining from food and drink which would derange in any way the even condition of mind and body; only once ever drinking a cup of coffee, and that in 1848.

ALMONS, ROBERT DEPREST, Banker, was born May 6, 1815, in Simpson County, Ken- tucky. His father, Nathan Salmons, a farmer, was one of the pioneer settlers of that section of the State. He was of English descent ; his wife, of French ancestry. Robert D. Salmons had as good educational opportunities as the times then afforded ; he was, also, in his nineteenth year, placed in a select school at Bowling Green. A year later, he be- gan the world on his own account, as a clerk in the store of J. and L. Finn, the leading merchants of Franklin at that day. After remaining with this firm ncarly five year's, and acquiring a thorough knowledge of business, he began merchandising, in Franklin, with W. H. McGoodwin, a prominent and esteemed citizen of that place. After five years' continuation of this firm and re-

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lations, he also entered the leaf-tobacco trade, with H. T. Arnold as his partner ; this firm purchased and packed leaf-tobacco, being the first house of that kind in that vicinity, and had hut little success until their fourth year of operations, when they packed the unpre- cedented number of four hundred and sixty hogsheads of that commodity. The business relations of this firm continued about six years, but had no connection what- ever with the other firm in which he was a partner. In 1846, the business relations of the firm of Salmon & McGoodwin having terminated, he began trading in country produce. During all this time, he had displayed unusual public spirit, and a zeal for the improving of his city in every possible way. He had, by his sound opinions, energy and stability of character, and pub- lic spirit, gained much influence with the people of Franklin. He aided largely in procuring subscriptions, and assisting otherwise, in the building and completion of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad; and, at the request of the Directors of that corporation, he accepted the agency of the road, at Franklin, and acted as such for more than ten years. He then resigned, to accept the Presidency of the First National Bank of Franklin, Kentucky, which position he still fills. Mr. Salmons is a member of the Roman Catholic Church. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Buntin, of Robertson County, Tennessee, and has five children, upon whose liberal education he has spared no expense. Few men stand higher in the respect and esteem of their fellow- citizens than Robert D. Salmons. His entire long busi- ness life has been passed amid the people of Franklin, who entertain the highest respect for his integrity and consistent Christian character.

AY, JOHN, Tobacco Merchant, was horn May 7, 1824, in Monroe County, Kentucky. His parents, Samuel and Mary Ray, of Scotch- English origin, were both natives of that county, and of their five children he was the second. He received a good English educa- tion in the private schools of the county, and remained on the farm until his twenty-second year, when he embarked in the dry-goods business, at Tompkinsville, in his native county, continuing with success for eight or nine years, after which he engaged in the milling business, carrying on a steam grist and saw mill, which was burned out by guerrillas in 1863; he then returned to the dry-goods business, and, after three years, went to Louisville, where he was engaged for some time in con- nection with the Louisville Tobacco Warehouse; after three years, bought a large interest, and the house became that of Ray & Co .; subsequently, Dr. D. P. White became a partner, and, since 1874, the firm has

been Ray, White & Co. He is a quiet, unassuming man; has been highly successful in business ; occupies a favorable position in mercantile circles; is open- hearted and pleasing in his social habits; draws around him many genuine friends; is greatly devoted to his family, and is an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. Ray married Narcissa A. Duncan, daughter of Thomas Duncan, of Barren County, Kentucky. They have six living children. Mary C. Ray is the wife of Samuel Hunter, a lawyer of Texas; and his oldest son, Samuel T. Ray, is occupied in the house of Ray, White & Co.

ELLS, LEWIS WILLIAM, D. D. S., was born December 17, 1834, at 293 Strand, near Temple Bar, London, England. His ancestors were all officers in the British army; his grand- father was a captain in the British navy, and his father, William Wells, was also in the Queen's service; and the family trace their ancestry for many generations in the English line. Dr. Wells re- ceived a good English education, and, at the age of eighteen, entered the Queen's army, and served for three years, during the Crimean War, as Superintendent of the Turkish Contingents. Upon his return to England, he began the study of medicine and surgery, and finally turned his attention to the study and pursuit of dentistry, and established a good practice in operative dentistry and dental surgery, in London, where he continued act- ively engaged until 1864, when he came to this country, having made a trip to the United States, in 1861, and de- termined to make his home in America. After remain- ing a short time in Canada, finally located at Paducah, Kentucky, in 1867, where he has since resided. After some temporary hinderances, he soon became identified with the interests of his adopted town, and succeeded to a fine professional business. His office became, in time, a supply-depot for a large part of the country, and his professional skill soon gave him, not only a favorable position in the estimation of the community in which he resided, and where he has, for some time, been the leading dentist, but also established his reputation as one of the first dentists of Kentucky. He has amassed a considerable fortune, and is one of the few men who have made the pursuit of dentistry a financial success. He is a member of the State Dental Association; has served on some of its most important committees; and is one of its most active and intelligent members. In later years, he has turned his attention, to some extent, to raising and training thorough-bred horses, and now owns several noted trotters. Having fine taste in this direction, is regarded as one of the best judges and most successful handlers of fine stock in his section of the State. He now

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owns "Prince Belmont," relative of "Goldsmith Maid;" owns " Alice," from "Kentucky Star," a fine mare, a full sister of " Bella Lee; " and also owns a fine racker and trotter, sired by " Fancy Golddust." He is a man of great industry and enterprise ; is independent in his thoughts and habits; exhibits an ever ready resource, which would make him successful in almost any pursuit. He attends the Presbyterian Church; takes a lively in- terest in affairs of importance in his community ; and is one of the most wide-awake and valuable men of Padu- cah. Dr. Wells was married to Miss Minnie Dunkley, of England. They have one child.

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The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 86

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