The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 97

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

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entered upon the practice of his profession at Taylors- ville, where he soon established a fine business. In 1870, he removed to Louisville, where he met with continued success. In 1874, he was elected to the position of health officer of the city, which he still holds with great acceptability. In politics he takes an active interest, and is identified with the Democratic party. He has established a fine professional reputa- tion ; has gathered around him a large circle of friends, and is one of the rising physicians of Louisville; and, with his fine personal bearing, he combines many at- tractive social qualities. Dr. Allen was married, in 1867, to Miss Sue Miles, daughter of T. H. Miles, of Bloomfield, Kentucky. She soon after died, and, in 1869, he was again married, to Eliza Stone, daughter of Elijah Stone, of Nelson County, Kentucky.

6 IBBONS, ZECHARIAH, Lawyer, was born February 14, 1829, at Lexington, Kentucky. His parents were Thomas and Matilda Gib- bons; the former, a Marylander by birth, came to Lexington in 1816, and died in St. Louis, after a short residence there, in 1855; the lat- ter was the daughter of John Cook, a farmer of Scott County, Kentucky. He was educated at Transylvania University ; after leaving that institution, spent several years in working at the carpenter's trade ; was engaged, from 1853 to 1860, in the book and book-binding busi- ness; in the latter years, studied law during his leisure hours; in 1860, was admitted to the bar, and at once entered on the practice of the law, at Lexington, where he has since mainly resided; has established a fine legal practice, and is one of the most systematic, cautious, and successful lawyers at the Lexington bar. In 1859, he was elected Justice of the Peace of Fayette County ; was several times re-elected, and held the office nine years; was elected City Attorney in 1862; was twice re-elected; and, in 1870, was elected Judge of the City Court of Lexington. He is a Democrat in politics; voted for John Bell, in 1860; and, during the great civil war, was a Union man. Religiously, he is Episcopa- lian. Judge Gibbons was married, in 1853, to Rhoda A. Elder, a native of Knoxville, Tennessee.

LLEN, MEVERELL KNOX, M. D., was born April 15, 1846, in Spencer County, Kentucky. His father, James Marcus Allen, of Scotch ancestry, was for many years a resident con- tractor of Louisville, but, during the latter part of his life, was a farmer of Nelson and Spencer Counties, Kentucky. His mother's maiden name was Carolina Muer, also of Scotch origin, and daughter of Dr. Muer, a physician of considerable prominence, well known in his day, and resided in Nelson County, Ken- UCKER, JOHN S., Lawyer, was born Septem- ber 15, 1844, in Campbell County, Kentucky. William C. Ducker, his father, is a Campbell County farmer, born in Pendleton County, and grandson of John Ducker, a Revolutionary soldier, who came from Maryland to this State, tucky. Dr. Allen received a fine literary education, in the best schools of his native county; and, in 1864, be- gan the study of medicine under the supervision of Dr. Thomas Allen, at Taylorsville, and graduated in the Spring of 1867, in the medical department of the Uni- versity of Louisville. Immediately after graduation, he and was one of the pioneer settlers of Kenton County.

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His mother, Sarah ( White) Ducker, was a native of Campbell County, and daughter of Conyers White, one of the early Virginia settlers of that county. John S. Ducker was educated at Alexandria Academy, in his native county. After spending several years in teaching school, he began reading law, under the direction of Judge John H. Nelson, at Alexandria, in 1864; com- pleted his legal preparation under Hon. John G. Car- lisle, of Covington, Kentucky ; was admitted to the bar, in 1866; in the following year, entered upon the prac- tice of his profession at Alexandria, where he resided, actively engaged at his profession, until May, 1872, when he moved to Newport, in the same county, where he has since resided. In 1874, he was elected County At- torney of Campbell County. He was Assistant Presi- dential Elector on the Democratic ticket, in 1872 and 1876. He is an energetic, hard-working lawyer; stands well at the bar; and maintains an exceptional personal and social reputation. Religiously, he is connected with the Baptist Church. Mr. Ducker was married, in 1869, to Miss Elah E. Reiley, daughter of G. W. Reiley, a merchant of Alexandria, Kentucky. She died in 1872.

SKINS, ERASMUS D., M. D., was born October 31, 1821, in Garrard County, Ken- tucky. His parents were John and Ann As- kins; the former a native of Fauquier County, Virginia; the latter, of Garrard County, Ken- tucky, and daughter of John Burks, a farmer, and one of the early settlers of that county. His father came to Kentucky, as a child, with his father, William Askins, in 1800; he followed agricultural pursuits; and died in 1875. Erasmus D. Askins was raised on the farm, but received a liberal education, at country schools, and Centre College, Danville, Kentucky. In June, 1839, he began to read medicine, in Garrard County, in the office of Dr. Samuel Graham; attended lectures and graduated in the medical department of Transylvania University, in 1842; in the same year, entered upon the practice of his profession in Marion County, Kentucky; and, in. 1843, located in Willisburg, Washington County, where he resided until 1869. He then located in Springfield, Kentucky, where he has since resided, and where he has established a large and valuable medical practice, and taken rank among the most successful physicians of the country. He has never been a politician ; was probably a Whig until 1856; voted for John C. Breckinridge in 1860, and is now identified with the Democratic party. He is Pres- byterian in his Church connection; is a man of fine per- sonal and social habits; is greatly esteemed in his pro- fession, and has been one of the most valuable and useful citizens. Dr. Askins has been twice married : first,

January 11, 1844, to Miss J. C. Faris, of Washington County, who died in January, 1864; and, secondly, Sep- tember 12, 1865, to Miss Susan E. Moore, also a native of Washington County, Kentucky.

ALL, MAJOR WILLIAM K., was born May 19, 1786, in Washington County, Pennsyl- vania, and was the son of John and Hannah (Ketchum) Wall, who temporarily settled in Mason County, in 1791, and afterwards perma- nently located in Harrison County. There his father was one of the assistant judges of the first Court of Quarter Sessions. William K. Wall received a good education ; studied law in the office of Colonel Richard M. Johnson, was licensed to practice in 1809, and located at Cynthiana ; was a private in Captain John- son's company, in the war of 1812; served in the Lower House of the Kentucky Legislature, first, in 1814, and was subsequently re-elected; was State Senator from 1846 to 1850 ; was Commonwealth's Attorney from 1820 to 1843, under six Governors; resigned, and, in that year, was candidate for Congress, and was defeated by Colonel John W. Tibbatts, of Newport. He was a lawyer of great ability, a speaker of force, and a useful and honorable citizen. Major Wall died, March 22, 1853, of pneumonia.

OHNSTON, PHILIP PRESTON, Lawyer, was born April 4, 1840, in King George County, Virginia. His parents were Philip P. and Nancy J. (Grear) Johnston, both Virginians. His father followed mercantile and agricultural pursuits, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was raised on the farm; and, through his own efforts, obtained a fair education in the select schools of his native county. In 1861, he entered the Confeder- ate army as a private, in Capt. Ed. Dorsey's company, of the First Maryland Confederate Infantry; served with his regiment one year; then enlisted in the Horse Artillery of Gen. Stewart's Cavalry; served until the close of the war ; participated in all the leading battles of Virginia and Maryland, and in the battle of Get- tysburg ; was wounded at Buckland Races; was also wounded in the hip and right shoulder, at Spottsyl- vania; and was promoted, in the artillery service, for gallant and meritorious conduct, successively, to cor- poral, sergeant, orderly-sergeant, first lieutenant, cap- tain, major, and chief of artillery, of Lomax's Division of Gen. Wade Hampton's Corps. Soon after the close of the war, he located in Kentucky, and entered upon the study of the law, under the direction of W. C. P.

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Breckinridge; graduated from the law department of Kentucky University, in 1868; and at once began the practice of the law at Lexington, where he has since resided, actively engaged in his profession. In 1869, he was elected City Attorney of Lexington ; in 1873, was the nominee of the Democratic party for the Legis- lature; and was candidate for County Judge in 1874. Mr. Johnson was married, in 1870, to Miss Sallie Childs, daughter of Henry Childs, a farmer of Fayette County, Kentucky.

ATTERSON, WILLIAM KENNEDY, Scholar and Educator, was born August 12, 1837, in Al- exandria, Dumbartonshire, Scotland, and came to the United States with his parents in 1842. He was educated at Hanover College, Hanover, Indiana, which he left in 1857, and immedi- ately became associated with his brother, James K. Pat- terson, in the management of the Greenville Presbyte- rian Academy, of which he became Principal, on the removal of his brother to Stewart College, Tennessee. In 1861, he again became associated with his brother in the management of Transylvania High-school, at Lex- ington, where he taught Greek and higher mathematics until his death, which took place, after a short illness, December 12, 1862. His younger brother, Andrew M. Patterson, a young man of decided talent, was also asso- ciated with them in the management of the school, and survived him only a few months. William K. Patter- son, during his short life, laid the foundation of a broad and comprehensive scholarship. Besides his attainments in Latin and mathematics, his intimate knowledge of Greek made him, perhaps, the most critical Greek scholar of his time in Kentucky. He was an enthusistic stu- dent, and possessed the ability to imbue his pupils with the same spirit. He had an elegant command of lan- guage, and was a speaker of rare beauty and ability. He possessed great love of country; was ardent in his friendships; was distinguished for his great purity of character; lived a stainless life, and died loved and re- spected by all who knew him.

ARCLAY, HUGH, JR., Banker, was born March 15, 1846, in Russellville, Kentucky. The Barclays emigrated, at an early day, from Scotland, and settled in Lexington, Virginia. His father, Hugh Barclay, was a native of that State, and came to Kentucky, locating at Rus- sellville, in 1818, and was one of the most successful business men in that region. His mother was a daugh- ter of Capt. James Hall, of Barren County, who distin- guished himself in the Indian wars, and especially at the

battle of Tippecanoe. Hugh Barclay received a good English education, and, after clerking in the County Court for several years, was compelled, on account of ill health, to make a trip to Europe; and, on his re- turn to New York, accepted a position in the bank- ing and commission house of Morton, Slaughter & Co., which he filled with great satisfaction and credit. After returning to Russellville, he was appointed, by the County Court, collector of taxes, a position which he filled with great personal risk, and was among the first to settle with the Auditor of the State, gaining consid- erable reputation for his fearlessness, energy, and integ- rity. He subsequently became book-keeper in the bank- ing-house of N. Long & Co., at Russellville, and served in that capacity for several years. In 1870, he opened a bank, on his own account, at Russellville, and, in the following year, was intrusted with the negotiation of the county loan of one-half million dollars to the Owens- boro and Russellville Railroad, executing the trust with great satisfaction to the people. In 1874, he associated himself with some of the leading business men of the county, with a view to enlarging his operations, estab- lishing what has since been known as the Logan County National Bank, of which he is cashier. This is one of the most solid establishments of its kind in the country, making semi-annual dividends since its organization. Since 1871, he has had charge of the sinking fund, and management of the district debt, and is one of the trus- tees of the estate of the late R. W. Courts, of Russell- ville. He has been a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, South, for many years; takes an active part in its affairs; and is one of the most enterprising, suc- cessful, and useful business men of his community. Mr. Barclay was married, in 1869, to Miss Kate Rizer, daughter of E. R. Rizer, of Russellville, Kentucky.

ANSON, GEN. ROGER WEIGHTMAN, Law- yer and Soldier, was born August 27, 1827, at Winchester, Clarke County, Kentucky, and was the son of Judge Samuel Hanson. (See sketch of Judge Hanson.) At the age of twenty, he enlisted and became first lieutenant of a com- pany, and served under John S. Williams, in the war with Mexico; after returning home, fought a duel, in which he was crippled for life; while confined from his wound, studied law; was admitted to the bar; about that time, became one of the gold-seekers, in California ; returned to Kentucky, in 1850, and began the practice of his profession at Winchester; in the following year, was a candidate for the Legislature, but was defeated by his old commander, " Cerro Gordo Williams," by only six votes; was elected, in 1853, and soon gained consid- erable distinction in the Legislature; removed to Lex-

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ington ; in 1855, was sent to the Legislature from Fay- ette County ; in the following year, was Elector for the State at large, on the Fillmore ticket, and became very popular as a stump speaker ; in 1857, was the candidate of the Know-Nothing party, for Congress, from the Ashland district, but was defeated by Hon. James B. Clay ; was active and influential in the race for Gover- nor, in 1859, favoring Joshua F. Bell; and, in 1860, supported Bell and Everett. At the beginning of the civil war, he was a Union man ; even favored coercion ; afterwards became an advocate of "neutrality " for the State; but, failing in this, he finally entered the Confed- erate army ; was made Colonel of the Second Kentucky Infantry ; after the battle of Fort Donelson, was pro- moted brigadier-general for great bravery ; was actively engaged, showing fine military ability, and rendering great service to the cause he had with ardor espoused, until he fell, mortally wounded, at Murfreesboro, Jan- uary 2, 1863, and died on the 4th of the same month. His remains lay at Nashville until 1866, when they were brought to Lexington and re-interred, under many demonstrations of respect. He was a brave, fearless, efficient, and wise officer, and most gallantly fought for the cause he finally believed to be right. As a lawyer, he stood very high, and especially gained a high repu- tation in criminal cases ; possessed great wit, which not only made him attractive as a companion, and was serv- iceable to him on the field, but also made him popular as a speaker ; had fine natural talents, and could display them to advantage under any circumstances; and was, altogether, one of the most noted men of the State, and one of the most worthy of her sons who gave their lives in support of the rebellion.

ASKY, REV. WILLIAM LEWIS, Clergyman, was born July 3, 1817, in Christian County, Kentucky. His father, Joseph Casky, was a native of Ireland; settled in Virginia; was a sol- dier in the Revolutionary War; and, about 1810, came to Kentucky. His mother was a Virgin- ian by birth. William L. Casky received a thorough education, mainly in the private schools of his county. He united with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, at the age of twenty; was licensed to preach a year afterwards, and, two years subsequently, was regularly ordained a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. His first regular ministerial services were per- formed in the Anderson Circuit, consisting of Hopkins, Henderson, and Union Counties. He has since been pastor of the Churches at Clarksville, Elkton, Madison- ville, Greenville, and other important charges in his Church, and has also, throughout his long ministerial work. engaged actively as a teacher, and has taken a

prominent place among the educators of note in South- ern Kentucky. At the close of the civil war, he became President of the Greenville Female Collegiate Institute, and filled the position six years, during that period greatly extending the reputation of the institution, and leaving it in a flourishing condition. The institution is under the control of the Green River Synod of his Church, and, during the financial embarrassments fol- lowing the war, he relieved the Church of the care of the school, and became himself responsible for its sup- port ; and so great was his success, that, in 1875, at the request of the Board and the citizens, he again took charge of the institution, and is now at its head. He has been a hard and faithful worker in his Church, and, although wide and charitable in his views, has been compelled on many occasions to defend his Church in public debate ; has, also, been prominent in the move- ments for social reform ; and is one of the most valuable and useful men of his Church and community. Mr. Casky was married, in 1843, to Miss Ellen Downer, of Todd County, sister of J. S. Downer, the celebrated pomologist. Of their three children, but one, Alice Slaughter Casky, survives.

IMMS, HON. WILLIAM E., Lawyer, Soldier, Congressman, and Kentucky Senator to the Confederate Government during the war of the rebellion, was born January 2, 1822, in Harri- son County, Kentucky. His father, William M. Simms, was a native of Henry County, Virginia ; came to Kentucky about the year 1809; first, settled in Harrison County ; removed to Bourbon, in 1828. He was a soldier in the war of 1812; served in Capt. Duvall's company, under Gen. Harrison, at Fort Meigs; was engaged in agricultural pursuits during his life; and died at his home, in 1844." He was the son of Ignatius M. Simms, a Virginian farmer, who was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and who lived and died in the "Old Dominion." The mother of the subject of this notice, Julia (Shropshire) Simms, was a native of Harrison County, Kentucky, and a daugh- ter of James Shropshire, a pioneer farmer of that county from Virginia. She was a woman of great force of character and fine sense; was devoted to her home and family, and her whole life was adorned by those pure virtues, which always ennoble the character of the faithful, loving Christian mother. She died when only in the twenty-first year of her age, leaving two sons, Edward and William, who continued to reside with their father, at his home in the country; the house being small and very plainly built of logs, without any pretensions to elegance or finish. The children cher- ished for each other the strongest affection, and grew up

MESSimmo

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to manhood untouched by those seductive vices which mar and often destroy the character of the most gifted and promising young men of the country. Each, dis- played, when quite young, great fondness for study, and, possessing strong faculties of mind and character, made rapid progress in the acquisition of knowledge. They received a good education in the schools of the country, and, at the age of eighteen, were each well prepared to enter upon the higher professional studies. In 1840, Edward, the elder brother, died, and William, the sub- ject of this sketch, took his brother's place in the man- agement of their father's business, who was then in very feeble health. After his father's death, in 1844, he commenced reading law, with Judge Aaron K. Wooley, of Lexington, Kentucky; entered Transylvania Univer- sity in 1845, in the law department, and graduated with distinguished honor, in his class of 1846. He then commenced the practice of law, in Paris, Kentucky, where he now resides. In 1847, he raised a company for the Third Kentucky Regiment of Infantry, to serve for and during the war with Mexico; was elected cap- tain, and served, with his command, under Gen. Win- field Scott, in Mexico, until the war closed. Returning home, he brought with him, at his own individual ex- pense, the remains of those of his company who had died while in the service of their country. In 1849, he was elected to represent Bourbon County in the State Legislature, and served one term. In 1850, he resumed the practice of his profession with success, and for some years devoted to his professional duties his best energies and ability. In 1857, he was editor of the "Kentucky State Flag," a Democratic newspaper, and advocated with ability the election of Hon. James B. Clay to Congress, in the contest between him and Gen. Roger W. Hanson. Many of the leading edito- rials written by him, and published in the " Kentucky State Flag," during this memorable period in our po- litical history, attracted public attention, and were extensively copied in other public journals of the day. In 1859, he was nominated by the Democratic Congres- sional Convention for the Ashland district, which was held at Nicholasville, as a candidate for Congress, to succeed Hon. James B. Clay. This contest, at the time, acquired a national importance, growing out of the bit- terness of party spirit, and the eminent ability displayed by the opposing candidates. In this race, he was elected over his opponent, Hon. John . M. Harlan. It was during this contest that the personal difficulty occurred between him and the Hon. Garrett Davis, which threat- ened serious consequences at the time. The difficulty was, however, honorably adjusted, by Hon. Richard M. Johnson, Hon. R. Hawes, and Gov. Charles G. More- head, after the parties had left the State for a hostile meeting. Both gentlemen afterwards regretted the diffi- culty, and, when the fierceness of party passion and hate

had passed away with the bloody and terrible war which followed, resumed their friendly relations. In 1861, at the expiration of his term in Congress, he was renomi- nated by his party, but in this race was defeated by Hon. John J. Crittenden, upon the Union issue. The civil war being now inaugurated, and believing the South to be in the right, he entered the Confederate army as a colonel, and served 'under Gen. Humphrey Marshall until February, 1862. In the latter part of the year 1861, he was chosen Senator to the Confederate Congress, by the Provisional Legislature of Kentucky, in session at Bowling Green, with Hon. H. C. Burnett, his colleague. These two gentlemen represented this authority in the Senate of the Confederate States, at Richmond, during the war. In 1865, after the cause was lost and the armies disbanded, he, with other eminent Kentuckians, resided, for some months, near Charlottes- ville, Virginia. Subsequently he removed to Canada ; but, in January, 1866, returned to his home in Paris, and has since mainly given his attention to agricul- tural pursuits. Col. Simms has filled many positions of the highest public trust and honor in the gift of the people of his State. He served with distinction in both the Federal and Confederate Congress ; was a gallant sol- dier, an able lawyer, a public speaker of rare ability and power; and possesses, in an eminent degree, those traits of character that would make him, at all times, promi- nent in any great social or political emergency. In manner and address, he is plain and unpretending, with warm and earnest friendships. He now resides at his retired home, near Paris, in the midst of his family and friends, engaged in those duties and cultivating those virtues which add grace and dignity to a life eventful and historic. He was married, September 27, 1866, to Miss Lucy Blythe, daughter of James Blythe, of Madi- son County, Kentucky. The issue of this marriage are three lovely children-a daughter and two sons. Col. Simms is a member of the Christian Church, at Paris.

EB, HENRY G. C., Architect, was born July 28, 1841, in Hamburg, Germany. His father, Anton Neb, was a well-known brick-mason of that city for many years. He attended school until his fourteenth year, when he was appren- ticed with his father; served faithfully his term, and afterwards was engaged on some of the largest and handsomest buildings in Hamburg. While employed in his trade, he occupied many of his leisure hours in studying its details, and became thoroughly familiar with the theory as well as practice; and, having an am- bitious character, began the study of architecture; en- tered the Art School of Hobsminda, Braunschneag, Germany, and graduated in 1861. He then traveled

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The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century, Part 97

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