The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 89

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

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County, and many marks of his handiwork remain to display his great energy and liberality. Among his many projects was the lighting of South Frankfort by gas, and the system of cisterns for use in fires; he was active with means and influence in building up the educational institutions of the city, prominent among which is the present high-school. He was an influential member of the Presbyterian Church, and was largely concerned in every good work connected with his Church, or in any way benefiting the community, and was not only one of the most reliable and successful business men, but also one of the most influential, en- terprising, and public-spirited men of his day. He was a man of fine social qualities, gathering around him many friends; and his death was universally felt as a great loss to the community. Mr. Gaines was married, in 1854, to Miss Margaret Wood, daughter of William and Helen J. Wood, of Frankfort, who survives him, and resides in their beautiful home at Frankfort, which she has ornamented by her fine taste and artistic hand, being a painter of great ability. Their living children are Mrs. Leslie Crutcher and William A. Gaines.

OUNG, JAMES MILTON, M. D., son of St. Clair Young and his wife, a Miss Ham- mond, was born December 16, 1836, in Nelson County, Kentucky. His grandfather was of Scotch origin, was a Virginian by birth, and emigrated from that State to Kentucky, in 1796, settling in Nelson County. His parents were both natives of Nelson County, and his father was for many years a farmer there, but died in Harrison County, Indiana, in 1851. His mother, being a woman of superior mind and talents, superintended his educa- tion till his thirteenth year, when he was placed in the high-school of Corydon, Indiana. He remained there three years, then entered St. Mary's College, near Leba- non, Kentucky, where he finished his education. He now, in 1856, began the study of medicine, under Dr. Joshua Gore, of Bloomfield, Kentucky, a physician of marked ability and wide reputation ; remained with him three years, attending lectures during the Winters at the University of Louisville. In February, 1859, he graduated in the medical department of that institu- tion, and immediately commenced the practice of medi- cine in Louisville, and met with reasonable success. In 1861, he joined the Confederate army, and was stationed for two years at Ringgold, Georgia, as Assistant Hos- pital Surgeon; in 1863, was promoted to the post of sur- geon, at Charleston, South Carolina; and, having ac- quired considerable surgical experience during this time, was assigned to the Twentieth Alabama regiment ; re- mained with it till the close of the war, when he was

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Jak Dillingham

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paroled at Salisbury, South Carolina ; and at once re- turned home, and resumed his profession, at Stevens- burg, Hardin County, Kentucky, where he practiced two years; and removed to Hodgensville, La Rue County, where he has established a large and valuable practice. His extensive surgical experience during the war, joined to his thorough knowledge of medicine, has made him one of the leading surgeons of that region ; he has also contributed a number of valuable treatises to the pro- fessional journals. In 1856, he was married to Miss Florida Miles, daughter of Dr. T. H. Miles, of Bloom- field, Kentucky. In politics, he is a Democrat, and a strong partisan; he never sought public office, but at

one time his friends made liim town trustee. His

parents were Presbyterians, but for two years he has been a member of the Catholic Church; is a man of strong convictions; consistent and earnest in his daily life, endeavoring to follow the right in all things; is never aggressive, though firm in the maintenance of his personal rights; in character, is independent, self-reli- ant, and reserved ; and his quiet, unostentatious man- ners render him a pleasant and agreeable man in society.

ILLINGHAM, WILLIAM H., was born at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, the only son and youngest of three children of Charles Dilling- ham, who was the son of Nathan Dillingham, a major in the war of 1812, and a distinguished farmer and merchant of Lee, Massachusetts. His father, Charles Dillingham, early developed re- markable literary taste, and commenced teaching school at the early age of fifteen. After obtaining means by his own exertion, he entered Williams College, from which he graduated at the age of twenty, with honors. While in college, his attention was turned to .the education of deaf mutes; and, believing his views could be carried into successful execution, he at once began measures leading to that result, and which event- ually distinguished him throughout the country. He opened a correspondence with Thomas H. Gallaudet, of France, and other friends of the deaf and dumb, which finally resulted in the establishment of the first asylum for their education in this country, the American Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb, at Hartford, Connecti- cut, in 1817; his own sister being one of the first class of seven pupils. He subsequently visited Boston, Phil- adelphia, and other citics, and, undergoing incredible hardships and privations in the cause he had under- taken, succeeded in establishing a serics of institutions for the care and education of that unfortunate class, in the various parts of the country. He largely devoted his life to the interests of these people, and, while on a tour through Pennsylvania, he became acquainted with

the deaf mute daughter of Col. Henry Heaton, and, after her graduation, in Philadelphia, he made her his wife. In 1823, he was appointed Superintendent of the Asylum at Philadelphia, but, in 1826, on the death of his sister, who had been one of his most successful teachers, he resigned his connection with that institu- tion, and opened a boarding-school for boys, at Pitts- field, Massachusetts, in which he established a reputa- tion of being one of the first teachers of the country. While in the midst of his usefulness, he fell sick of pneumonia, and died, December 15, 1834, at the age of thirty-five. His death was accompanied in the Legislature and throughout the State by every demon- stration of respect and ,sorrow, his early death be- ing regarded as a great public loss. William H. Dil- lingham, his son, the subject of this sketch, was left a child, with his deaf mute mother, and with little to begin life upon; his father, although having laid the foundation for a considerable fortune, died largely in- volved. But his mother, Martha Heaton Dillingham, although both deaf and dumb, was a remarkable woman, of the finest culture, and exceedingly attractive; and, in a few years after the death of his father, she was mar-

ried to Rev. R. M. Chapman, D. D., of the Episcopal

Church, and removed with him to Louisville, Kentucky. Mr. Dillingham obtained his education at the grammar- school of his native town, where he continued to live, under the care of his uncle. At the suggestion of his mother and step-father, in March, 1847, he came to Louisville, and, after attending school under his step- father for a few months, entered the old drug house of Rupert Lindenberger & Company, where he remained until 1857, when he embarked in business on his own account. He was connected with the drug business, wholesale and retail, for twenty-one years, in Louis- ville and Chicago; and, for ten years of the time, he traveled through the South and West, and estab- lished for himself the reputation of a thorough, honora- able, and successful business man. In 1868, he started a depot for supplies of every kind, for manufacturers. By his untiring energy he has done more, probably, than any other man, towards building up manufacturing in- terests in the West and South, his house taking the lead throughout the West, in this respect; and while rival houses in other Western cities have failed, his has stead- ily increased its trade, extending it throughout the entire country. His name is familiarly known in the factories, machine shops, and manufacturing establishments of ev- ery kind throughout the land; and, although barely ap- proaching the prime of life, he has accumulated a hand- some fortune. He has relied entirely upon his own re- sources and ability ; and, although entirely independent of any assistance from others, he has devoted his own mcans liberally for the public good, in charities of every kind, and in building up the manufacturing interests of

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the West. His house at Louisville is probably the largest establishment dealing in manufacturers' supplies in the entire country. He has been noted especially for his liberality. This is manifested in his dealings with man- ufacturers, having, on several occasions, advanced large stocks of machinery, without interest or advantage to himself, to aid houses in increasing their manufacturing capacities; and he is ever ready to lend his means and energy towards building up the industries of the coun- try. He is extensively interested in factories for the production of woolen and cotton goods; is also engaged in iron and in leather manufacture; in water-works; and in business enterprises in Chicago. Wherever engaged, his efforts are accompanied with the most flattering re- sults, and his counsel highly valued. Although an ear- nest, active business man, he yet devotes much time to the best interests of the Church and society. He has been, for many years, a working member of St. Paul's Episco- pal Church. Being a fine singer, he takes an active part in the music of his Church, and has been, for eight or ten years, the superintendent of its Sunday-schools. He possesses uncommonly fine business qualities; is a man of great push and executive ability in any direc- tion; has a sanguine and active temperament; is a most valuable worker in his Church; is broad, liberal, and open-handed, alike in dispensing his labors and means. His disposition is rather retiring and quiet. Although not universal in his friendships, he is of genial, attractive manners towards all who know him; and is one of the most successful, valuable, and enterprising business men of Louisville-peculiarly a self-made man. Mr. Dillingham was married, in October, 1857, to Miss Charlotte Elmer, daughter of T. M. Elmer, postmaster of Jeffersonville, Indiana. In her he has found a help- mate, indeed, active and earnest in every good word and work; a Christian woman of rare wealth of mind and heart. Their only child, a daughter, was buried at the age of six years.

LEXANDER, PROF. WAYLAND, was born June 26, 1839, near Louisville, Kentucky. He is a descendant of an old English family, which came to this country about the time of the Revolution; and which took up arms with the Americans, in the war for the independence of the Colonies. His father, Joseph W. Alexander, was a native of Virginia; but, following the tide of emigra- tion, he came into the Western wilds, settling in Ken- tucky in 1833. He spent the greater part of his life in the pursuit of agriculture, in Jefferson County ; and, in 1856, removed to Daviess County, where he remained until his death, which took place in 1876. His mother's maiden name was Caroline Wells; she being a member of a family which achieved considerable distinction in

the early Indian wars of Kentucky. Young Alexander was of a very studious turn of mind. He attended the common-schools of his district until the age of fourteen years, when he had made sufficient progress to be ad- mitted to the University at Greencastle, Indiana, where he remained for two years. In 1855, he left Green- castle, and came to Shelbyville, Kentucky, and entered the college there, having for his preceptor Dr. William I. Waller, a man of remarkable talent as a teacher, and renowned for his virtues as a Christian. He continued his studies, under this gentleman, for a period of two years. While in Shelby County, he also studied law, in the office of Judge Joseph P. Force ; and went from this office to Louisville, to attend law lectures at the Uni- versity of that place. About this time he was obliged to discontinue his studies temporarily, on account of a lack of the necessary funds; but, having early formed the resolution of becoming a teacher, and desiring to prosecute his studies, in order to better qualify himself to attain distinction in the profession he had chosen, he still persevered. He at once set about to replenish his diminished resources; and, with this object in view, opened a school, in 1858, at Sacramento, Kentucky. In this undertaking, his untiring energy and indomitable perseverance were at last crowned with a well-merited success; for he soon commanded a liberal and extensive patronage, which has steadily increased with his grow- ing popularity as an educator. He has taught for fifteen years in the most thickly settled part of the Green river country ; and is very widely known, and universally re- spected for his talents and virtues. Notwithstanding his duties as a teacher necessarily occupy a large portion of his time, yet, in pursuance of his early determination to rank among the leading men of his profession, he allows no opportunity to pass of adding to his already large store of knowledge. Having, by his own industry, ac- cumulated the necessary means, he established a college, called the South Carrollton Male and Female Institute, in which enterprise he met with the hearty co-operation . of the public. The institution is conducted under his direct supervision, assisted by an able corps of teachers; and embraces in its curriculum all the studies of an ad- vanced education, including the classics, modern lan- guages, and the higher mathematics. The college is in a flourishing condition, and stands among the first of its kind in the State. He was married, September 4, 1866, to Miss Jennie Davis, daughter of Charles W. Davis, a prominent physician of Muhlenburg County, Kentucky. Of their six children, only one is now living, a bright girl of ten years-Nannie S. Alexander. Professor Al- exander is emphatically a self-made man, his success thus far in life having been achieved mainly by his strong will- power and indefatigable energy; rather than by any brill- iant inherited talents. He is, without doubt, one of the most popular instructors in his section of the State.

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EARNY, HON. JOHN WATTS, was born July 25, 1845, in Paducah, Kentucky. His ances- tors were of Irish descent, the first representa- tive of the family in this country having settled in Monmouth County, New Jersey, in the early part of the last century. His father, Philip Kearny, served with distinction during the Mexican War; was a major-general during the war of the rebell- ion, and was killed, September 1, 1862, at Chantilly. He was married to Diana Bullitt, of Louisville, a mem- ber of a distinguished family of Kentucky. They had four children, John Watts Kearny being the only son. He entered the college of Bishop Dupanloup, at Or- leans, France, in 1860, and pursued a thorough course of study in the classics and fine arts; returned to this country in 1864; studied law at Columbia College, New York, from which he graduated, in 1866; but has never practiced that profession. He subsequently made a trip to Europe, and, on his return, settled on a farm in Fayette County, Kentucky, and two years afterwards re- moved to Louisville, where he has since resided. In 1873, he was elected, from the Fourth District of Louisville, to the Legislature, and was re-elected, devoting him- self, during his legislative services, largely to revenue reforms. He has written several pamphlets on the in- fluence of the tariff on Western interests, and on the system of taxation prevalent in Kentucky; and is a writer of great ability. He is a man of fine fortune ; is scholarly in his attainments; is exceedingly compan- ionable and attractive in manners; and is undoubt- edly a man of brilliant qualities. Mr. Kearny was married, in 1866, to Miss Lucy McNary, daughter of Dr. T. L. McNary, of Princeton, Caldwell County, Ken- tucky. They have four children,

ENDRICK, REV. JOHN THILMAN, Pres- byterian Clergyman, was born March 15, 1811, in Barren County, Kentucky. His parents were both Virginians by birth. His father, Joseph W. Hendrick, came to Kentucky at an early day, and, after remaining a few years in Barren County, finally settled in Jessamine County, twelve miles from Lexington. . His mother was Mary Doswell Thilman; and his grandfathers, Thilman and Doswell, were Huguenots, and settled in Virginia on account of the Protestant persecutions in France. John T. Hendrick was educated at Centre College, Danville, Kentucky; united with the Presbyterian Church, in 1827; was licensed to preach by the West Lexington Presbytery, in 1833; was ordained, and installed pastor of Stoner Mouth and Millersburg Churches, in 1836; from 1840 to 1845, was pastor of the Church at Flem- ingsburg ; from 1845 to 1858, had charge of the Church

at Clarksville, Tennessee; and, since 1859, has been pas- tor of the Presbyterian Church at Paducah, Kentucky. During his residence at Clarksville, he received the de- gree of D. D., from Centre College, and served as Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy in Stewart College, now South-western University, at Clarksville. He is a man of great width and benevolence of charac- ter; is brave and fearless in the defense of what he deems right ; engages with all his energy in any cause he espouses ; is a ripe scholar, a man of rare gifts as a preacher; has written numerous articles, addresses, and tracts; is a writer of ability, and one of the most highly esteemed, influential, and valuable ministers of his Church in Southern Kentucky. . Dr. Hendrick was married, in 1834, to Jane E. Bigelow, of Richmond, Virginia, and, after her death, was, in 1852, married to Mary E. Cooke, of Athens, Pennsylvania; and has two living children by his first, and five by his second, marriage.

EDINGER, MAJOR GEORGE MICHAEL, was born in 1755, near Shepherdstown, Vir- ginia. He settled near Boonesborough, Ken- tucky, in 1779; was engaged that year in Col. Bowman's expedition against the Indians, at Chillicothe ; was a major in the celebrated battle of the Blue Licks, in 1782; in 1792, became a member of the first State Legislature, representing Bourbon and Nicholas Counties ; and was a member of Congress from 1803 to 1807. Major Bedinger died September 7, 1843, on his farm, near the Lower Blue Licks.

EELY, CHARLES, M. D., was born in 1801, in Orange County, New York, and died in Feb- ruary, 1874, at his residence in Franklin, Simp- son County, Kentucky. His father, Edward Neely, moved to Kentucky during his child- hood, and throughout his life engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. Dr. Neely obtained a fair education, and, by his studious habits in after life, became quite a scholar. He finished his medical studies at Transylva- nia University, under the distinguished Dr. Benjamin W. Dudley; and, after practicing his profession for several years in Galloway County, he located at Frank- lin, Kentucky, and there continued his profession, with great success, and succeeded in the accumulation of a very considerable fortune. About 1830, he located on his farm, four miles from Franklin, but continued for many years actively engaged in his profession, in which he stood high, and enjoycd a wide-spread reputation, and was especially distinguished for his practice of ob- stetrics, and diseases of women and children. Toward

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the latter part of his life, after his son, Dr. James Neely, had graduated in the University of New York, and become thoroughly identified in his place, he aban- doned his profession. From boyhood he was an active and valuable member of the Baptist Church; as a physi- cian, was conscientious, painstaking, and exceptionally successful, never sparing himself when the duties of his profession required exertion ; was exceedingly warm in his personal friendships; enjoyed, in an eminent degree, the confidence of the people, and probably no man in his county had a wider and more salutary influence. Dr. Neely was married, in 1825, to Miss Fannie Wil- kins, daughter of Richard Wilkins, of Logan County, Kentucky, and seven children were the result of their union. Two of their sons, James and John Neely, are physicians.

UFORD, GEN. ABRAHAM, Soldier, Farmer, and Stock-raiser, was born January 18, 1820, in Woodford County, Kentucky. The Buford family is of French origin, and the name was spelled Beaufort in France, where they held large estates; and, at a later date, were titled land-holders in England and Scotland. John Buford set- tled in Virginia about 1710; reared a large family ; be- came one of the first breeders of fine stock in the coun- try; and from him descended the present Bufords of Virginia and Kentucky. William Buford, a native of Culpepper County, married Harriet Walker Kirtly, a member of the distinguished families of Walker and Crutcher, in Virginia; and removed to this State in 1800, settling in Woodford County. He soon began to take the lead, in Central Kentucky, as a raiser of blooded horses and fine stock; and, in 1835, was chiefly concerned in the purchase of the celebrated horse "Me- doc," for ten thousand dollars. He reared a family of twelve children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the sixth. Gen. Buford received his early education un- der Verpyle Payne, a teacher of some note in Kentucky; was afterwards, for some time, at Centre College; and graduated at West Point Military Academy, in 1841, with Generals D. C. Buell, Z. B. Tower, H. G. Wright, and A. P. Howe, now of the regular army, and Gen. Rodman, inventor of the Rodman gun. He was as- signed to the cavalry, as second lieutenant of dragoons, in May, 1842, and served on the frontier, under Capt. Nathan Boone, son of Daniel Boone; in 1846, was pro- moted first lieutenant; participated in the war with Mexico; received the rank of brevet captain, for gallant conduct at Buena Vista; was made captain, July 15, 1853; and retired from the army in the following year. He soon after purchased his present farm, known as "Bosque Bonita," in Woodford County, and turned his attention to raising and breeding thorough-bred horses

and Short-horn cattle. After the war had been fully in- itiated, in 1862, he received a commission as brigadier- general in the Confederate army, and left the State at the head of a considerable body of Kentuckians, cover- ing the retreat of Gen. Bragg to Knoxville, Tennessee. He was subsequently assigned a brigade in Loring's di- vision, serving until the Spring of 1864, when he took command of a brigade consisting of the Third, Seventh, and Eighth Kentucky Cavalry Regiments, in Forrest's command, and participated in its numerous raids and engagements; and, in a desperate conflict, December 24, 1864, at Lindville, was severely wounded, and disabled from active service for several months. In the Spring of 1865, he returned to his command, and surrendered at Gainesville, Alabama, May 9, 1865. After the war, he returned to his farm, in Woodford County, where he has become one of the most noted turf-men of the State, and now owns some of the most celebrated horses of the country, such as "Crossland," "Nellie Gray," "Selena," "Inquirer," "Hollywood," "Marion," and " Versailles." He has taken a deep interest in politics, and, although belonging to the extreme side of the States Rights party before the war, he was unfavorable to secession; and, when the cause which he finally es- poused was lost, he accepted the position, and has since favored every movement that would lead to a united country. He is a man of great strength of character, vigor and force of mind, and a physique of remarkable build, being over six feet in height, and weighing over two hundred pounds. Gen. Buford was married, in 1845, to Miss Amanda Harris, of New York, a lady of sterling worth, whom he met while she was on a visit to her brother, Major Arnold Harris, of the regular army, then stationed at Fort Gibson.

EL VECCHIO, JAMES R., Soldier and Editor, was born September 5, 1822, at Bloomfield, New Jersey. His father was an Italian; his mother, a lady of New York. He attended the Grammar-school in New York, graduating, with high honor, in 1836. When eighteen, he en- tered his father's store as clerk; was subsequently in the cmploy of A. T. Stewart; and, after his father's retire- ment from business, he was his father's successor in the same trade, remaining in the business till 1860. While residing in Brooklyn, he held the offices of alderman and supervisor, by Democratic suffrages. He was, for ten years, editor of the "Standard," a weekly newspaper of considerable reputation. When the late civil war be- gan, he entered the volunteer service as Brigade Quar- termaster to Gen. Spinola's Brigade. In 1862, he was made major in the same brigade; in 1863, he was made lieutenant-colonel, serving under Gen. Banks. He was

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The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 89

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