USA > Ohio > History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. I > Part 100
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
Kentucky in the earliest pioneer days. He settled near "In- dian Hill," Mr. R. S. Veech's splendid farm, and upon land wbich has now passed through three generations without alienation.
Until 1869 Mr. Veech was exclusively engaged in farming. By close application to the details of agriculture, he had managed to add largely to his inheritance. Desiring a some- what more active life, in 1869 he accepted the position of cashier of the Farmers' and Drovers' bank. This bank had at that time a small capital, and was without deposits. Under Mr. Veech's management it rapidly rose in public esteem, trebled its capital, and in ten years had a deposit only second or third among the banks of Louisville. No similar institution ranked higher, or commanded a larger degree of commercial confidence. Mr. Veech subsequently became secretary of the Farmers' and Drovers' Insurance company, and here again gave evidence of his superior exec- utive ability. In 1879 his attention was turned to the Louis- ville, New Albany & Chicago Railway, which, under a series of misfortunes and mismanagements, had become almost worthless. With two hundred and eighty-eight miles of completed line from New Albany to Michigan City, with no bonded debt, and only $10,000 of capital stock to the mile, tbe stock had depreciated to twenty-five cents on the dollar, and its net earnings were less than $90,000 per annum.
Mr. Veech and Colonel Bennett H. Young, of Louisville, conceived the idea of reorganizing this road. They inaugu- rated measures looking to that end, and with Dr. E. D. Standiford secured the assistance of capitalists in New York, who bought a majority of the stock; and in January, 1880, Mr. Veech was made president of the company. Bringing his executive talent into play, he soon developed the capacities of the property. New equipment was obtained, new life in- fused into the enterprise; the stock, under the magic of able and competent management, sprang to 125, and, after the issual of bonds for improvement, in the sale of which the stockholders received a dividend of eighty per cent. the stock rose to 112.
Mr. Veech still remains with the road. He has acquired for it a Chicago and Indianapolis line, adding one hundred and fifty-seven miles to the system, and securing an independent entrance into Chicago. The road is now very prosperous, is earning nearly double in 1882 what it did in 1881, and is considered one of the best railway properties in the West.
Mr. Veech delights in his country home, and is never so happy as when offering its hospitality to his friends. His "Indian Hill" place contains about six hundred acres of the finest grazing land in Jefferson county, and he has recently added one thousand acres of splendid land to his farm, mak- ing him the second largest farm land-owner in Jefferson county.
Mr. Veech is one of the most distinguished trotting horse breeders in the United States. He is simply a breeder- neither trains nor races, and will not, under any circum- stances, go upon a racing course. Upon his place are found the best trotting strains in the world. His knowledge in these matters is wonderful, and his judgment infallible. His stock has produced more trotters than any other in Kentucky, with one exception. The best ever bred by him is Trinket, with a record of 2:14, which makes her at this time the fourth fastest trotter the world has produced.
Mr. Veech is a staunch Presbyterian, and with a generous, liberal hand, sustains the causes of his church. He is a graduate of Centre college, in this State, and was married when not yet twenty-one years of age, to Miss Michals, of Danville. His home life has been peculiarly happy.
In appearance Mr. Veech is exceedingly striking. He is six feet two inches in height, well proportioned, and enjoys to an unlimited degree the confidence and esteem of the com- munity in which he has always lived.
HAIDEN TRIGG CURD.
Daniel Curd, the father of H. T. Curd, was born October 14. 1774, in Albemarle county, Virginia. His father, John Curd, emigrated to Kentucky before it was a State, and set- tled on the Kentucky river at the mouth of Dick's river. In 1786 the Legislature of Virginia, by an act of the General Assembly, granted to him a right or privilege of a ferry across the Kentucky river at the mouth of Dick's river, (it was one of the eight ferries established in Kentucky by Vir- ginia before Kentucky was a State,) allowing the grantee to charge three shillings for crossing a man from one side to the other, and the same for a horse. These were the emolu- ments allowed to the keeper, his heirs and assigns, so long as he or they should keep the same (ferry) according to the directions of the act.
John Curd, the father of Daniel, married Lucy Brent, in Virginia, before he removed to Kentucky. Young Daniel was a small boy when he, with his father's family, reached . their new home on the banks of the Kentucky river. All was new to him. All the luxuries of life had been given up by his parents. They had a few slaves and horses and not much else, save strong wills, honest hearts and minds capable of meeting every trial and emergency, and enduring the vicissi- tudes of a wilderness life.
He received but a limited education, though as good as the country afforded, and he saw much of practical survey- ing. He was quick and anxious to learn, and was taught to depend upon his own exertions. His mother, as well as his father, was sensible, and their example was followed, and their advice received and acted upon without besitation, con- sequently he grew up a self-reliant man.
When still a young man he went to Bowling Green, and entered into the office of William Chapline, clerk of the Warren circuit and county courts. He remained with Mr. Chapline until this county was established. He was present at its organization, was a candidate for surveyor and was elected. He held the office, giving general satisfaction, until his death, which happened April 18, 1843.
Soon after his election he married Fanny S. Trigg, daugh- ter of Haiden Trigg, Esq., one of the first justices of peace of Barren county. She was born in Bedford county, Vir- ginia.
He was a remarkable man in every respect. He possessed untiring industry, and was as brave as he was forgiving. He was liberal to a fault; he never deserted a friend, and the poor and hungry never left his door without their wants hav- ing been relieved. Being surveyor of the county he soon knew nearly all the vacant land, and had it in his power to appropriate the finest and best for himself. Instead of doing so he would go to a friend and urge him to take it up for his own use.
A few years before his death he united himself to the Methodist church, lived a quiet and good member, and died in the faith.
Notwithstanding he was born and lived on a farm nearly all his life he was not a farmer. After his marriage he always lived and carried on a farm. He had a trusty col- ored servant, Powel, who was his main manager. Some yet
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
living, besides Mr. Curd's children, can bear witness to Powel's faithful character in all relations.
Mrs. Curd survived her husband many years, instilling in her children industrious and honest habits. They had nine children.
The second son, Haiden Trigg Cund, was born April 26, 1804, on his father's farm in Barren county, Kentucky, near Glasgow, the county seat, and died in Louisville from the effects of an accident by which he lost his left hand, February 24, 1858. He had the limited advantages of an education pro- curable in those days, and, as his career shows, he made the most of them. When quite a young man he removed to Scottville, Allen county, Kentucky, and started in business as a general merchant. This was the commencement of his mercantile life. After a few years he removed to Glasgow and started the same business with his brother, A. T. Curd, and James Murrell. This firm bought or traded largely in tobacco, which they "rafted" to New Orleans from a point on Green river, near Glasgow.
In 1830 he was married to Miss Martha A. Edmunds, the daughter of Captain William Edmunds, who came from Henry county, Virginia, during the latter part of the eigh- teenth century and located in Barren county, near Glasgow.
In 1834, finding Glasgow too small a field for operations he dissolved partnership with Mr. Murrell and his brother, and removed to Louisville, where he immediately formed a partnership for the purpose of conducting a wholesale dry goods business with James Trabue and the late William Jar- vis, and located at the corner of Third and Main streets. This proved a successful ventura, and at the expiration of the partnership he engaged in the wholesale grocery business, and did perhaps the largest business of the kind ever con- ducted in Louisville. This business he conducted until his death.
The twenty-five years of Mr. Curd's life in Louisville was usefully and charitably spent. He devoted himself at all times, not only to business enterprises which would redound to the credit of the city, but also to all worthy charitable ob- jects, and notwithstanding the large amount of labor he had to perform, he always had plenty of leisure to listen to and answer a worthy appeal for assistance.
Mr. Curd was a member of the first board of directors of the American printing house for the blind, and contributed largely to its success and present standing. He was also treasurer for many years of the American Bible society, and in addition was connected with several other charitable insti- tutions. As a business man he was very successful and car- ried on several enterprises besides the grocery business. He was one of the oldest directors of the Louisville & Nashville railroad, and also of the Bank of Kentucky, owned and operated the only cotton mill that had ever been built in Ken- tucky; at the time he was also largely interested in the manu- facture and export of tobacco, and at time of his death was operating probably the largest manufactory in Kentucky. He died in 1858, as he had always lived, a worthy and con- sistent Christian, loved, honored, and respected by all who knew him.
WILLIAM H. LONG, M. D.
William H. Long was born in the town of Mount Eden, situated in Spencer and Shelby counties (the boundary line running through it), on the 5th day of October, 1842. His father was an eminent physician and did an extensive prac-
tice. His name was Josiah Long and was the fourth of nine children, seven boys and two girls, and was born March 21, 1815. His father, Thomas Long, emigrated to Kentucky from Virginia, coming with his family when a small boy, and they settled in Woodford county. He was born March I, 1788. He lived in Woodford county until January, 1810, when he married Nancy Jackson, and soon after moved to Spencer county, which was just being settled. Nancy Jack- son was born September 27, 1789, in the old fort at Lexing- ton, Kentucky, and the only child ever born inside the fort. The settlers had all been compelled to seek refuge in the fort, and while the excitement and Indian fighting was going on she was born. Her father was a cousin to General Andrew Jackson, of Tennessee, who is so well known to the history of his country. When the War of 1812 broke out Thomas Long enlisted and was through the Canadian campaign, tak- ing part in all the important actions, and was honorably mus- tered out at the conclusion of war. He lived a happy and prosperous life and died in 1868, aged seventy-eight years. His wife, Nancy Jackson Long, died in 1876, aged eighty- seven years. Seven of their children lived to maturity, six sons and one daughter. Three of the sons were physicians. Josiah, the father of William H., completed his medical edu- cation in 1840, and located in the town of Mount Eden, and on the 11th day of November, 1841, was married to Mary J. Burnett, a daughter of James Burnett and Rhoda Brown Burnett. She was born September 3, 1825, and is a direct descendant of Bishop Burnett, the English historian. Bishop Burnett's second wife was a Scotch lady of noble birth, and one son by this marriage emigrated to Virginia, and from this son the mother of William H. Long is descended. Another son of Bishop Burnett, by his first wife, settled in New England, and nearly all of that name in the United States are from one or the other of these sons. The Burnetts moved to Kentucky at an early day and settled in Shelby, Spencer, and Nelson counties.
Dr. Josiah Long died November 20, 1852, being thirty-seven years of age. His widow, with five children, three girls and two boys, of whom William H. was the oldest, survived him. William was ten years of age when his father died, and being the oldest of the children, it devolved upon him to assist in the support of the family, the estate lelt by his father consist- ing of but little more than a homestead in the town. He at- tended school during the winter of 1852, and the next summer " worked out " on a farm at $6 per month. He was a great student and lover of books, and read everything in the shape of a book or paper that he could get hold of, besides contin- uing the studies left off at school. In this way, attending school in winter and laboring on a farm in summer, his wages going to the support of the family, his life was spent until 1858, when the town property was sold and the proceeds in- vested in a farm near Vandyke's mill, in Spencer county. Here he worked the farm, and took up several studies at home, which he prosecuted without the aid of a teacher, Rhetoric, philosophy, chemistry, and the French language were studied during the years of 1858-59-60. Mathematics, particularly algebra, had always been a favorite study. He taught school during the winter of 1859-60, which was of great advantage to him in many of his studies. He learned phonography without a teacher. As he had made up his mind to make medicine a profession, during the following summer he read some in anatomy and physiology, having pre- viously acquired considerable knowledge in the latter branch. Dr. A. B. Coon, a prominent physician, who succeeded his father's successor in Mt. Eden, was his preceptor. The war of the rebellion had broken out during this year (1861), and
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
the excitement throughout Kentucky was intense. Neigh- bors, brothers, families, were divided in sentiment, and it be- came necessary for every young man to take sides.
His preceptor, Dr. Coon, had entered the Union army as assistant surgeon, and having made up his mind to join the Union army, and as great advantages in the prosecution of his studies of medicine and surgery was offered by his preceptor. William H. Long joined the same regiment, the Sixth Kentucky infantry volunteers, in December, 1861, many of his acquaintances and associates going Sonth to join the rebel army. He was at once detached from his company and detailed as nurse and ward-master. Unfortunately Dr. Coon died in March, 1862, and Dr. Long lost his best friend, but the surgeon of the regiment, Dr. James S. Drane, prof- fered his services as preceptor, and ever afterwards rendered all the assistance in his power. His first experience in caring for the wounded was at the battle of Shiloh, where he assisted the surgeon in establishing a field hospital and in dressing wounds. Soon after the battle of Shiloh the regimental hos- pital steward was detailed for duty in general hospitals and Dr. Long was detailed as acting hospital steward, which position he held until he was mastered out of service, Janu- ary 2, 1865, at Nashville, Tennessee, having served three years and one month. His regiment had been hard service, being in General Hazen's brigade. The second battle of
consequence was Stone River or Murfreesboro. The regi- ment lost heavily, and a monument now marks the spot where Hazen's brigade withstood the assaults of the enemy, all of the army to the right of him having been driven back. During a lull in the fighting on the first day Dr. Long took two ambulances and went to an old house between the lines and removed the wounded. He was not one hundred yards from the rebel lines and could see them plainly but was not disturbed. He remained on duty at the general field hospital lor one month after this battle. He was at the battles of Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and afterwards in all the bat- tles fought on the Atlanta campain until just before the final flank movementwhich gave Sherman Atlanta. The regiment was in front of Atlanta, when, its time having expired, they retired to guard the railroad between Murfreesboro and Stevenson, while the muster out rolls were being made. After the battle of Mission Ridge the army corps to which his regiment belonged went on a forced march to Knoxville to the relief of General Burnside. From Knoxville Dr. Long was detached to return to Chattanooga to look after medical stores of many thousand dollars in valne; and the trip was an unusually hard and laborious one, a large part of the jour- ney being made on a flat-boat on the Tennessee river.
After being mustered out of the army he went to his home in Spencer county on a visit, but was soon notified by a friend that the guerillas, who infested the country at that time, would pay him a visit that night. He speedily made his way to Louisville, and clerked in a drug-store during the summer of 1865, continuing his medical studies by employ- ing a private teacher. He entered the Kentucky School of Medicine in September, and graduated with honor March I, 1866. Dr. Long located immediately after his graduation at Southville, in Shelby county, Kentucky, and entered upon a lucrative practice. He attended a partial course of lectures during the winter of 1868 at the University of Louisville, and the ad eundem degree was conferred on him. In October, 1879, he went to New York and spent the winter at Bellevue Hospital College of Medicine and received a diploma from that college in March, 1870. He spent much of the time in the hospitals, paying attention principally to clinical medicine. In March he returned to Southville, and con-
tinued to practice his profession until March, 1874, when he removed to Louisville. He was married December 11, 1873, to Miss Cass C. Clark, youngest daughter of R. R. Clark, Esq., of Jefferson county, Kentucky. Mr. R. R. Clark was born in Nelson county, Kentucky, and is a grand nephew of General George Rogers Clark, whose name is so closely woven in the early history of Kentucky.
In August, 1875, a vacancy occurred in the United States Marine hospital service at Louisville, and Dr. Long applied for the position. He received the appointment and appeared before an examining board at Chicago, Illinois, in September. He passed a good examination, and assumed charge of the office of assistant surgeon, October 15, 1875. January I, 1878, he was promoted to be full surgeon United States Ma- rine Hospital service, and placed in charge of the service at Louisville. His predecessor was Thomas J. Griffith, who was retired as consulting surgeon by reason of bad health. Surgeon Long since his promotion has been entrusted with several important duties ; one, the inspection of the ports of Nashville and Chattanooga. At the latter port he recom- mended a change of officers, and instituted reforms by means of which $600 was recovered to the service which had been fraudulently taken from the treasury. He also has served on examining boards at Washington, in 1876, 1878, 1879, 1880, and 1881. During the latter year three boards were con- vened, of each of which he was a member, and was presi- dent of the last one, in October.
Three children have been born to Dr. Long and wife, two of whom are living-Cleo C. Long, born July 19, 1877, and William Hamilton Long, born August 26, 1880. Surgeon Long is now in charge of the marine hospital service at Louisville, and has always performed his duties to the entire satisfaction of the department.
CAPTAIN ZACHARY MADISON SHERLEY.
This distinguished citizen of Kentucky was born in Vir- ginia, in Louisa county, May 7, 1811. He was removed to Kentucky at a very early period of his childhood, and had, for a number of years, to battle with the exactions of poverty. He was one of a pair of twins; his twin brother, Thomas Sherley, early embarked in the stock business, and while en- gaged in transporting cattle to a southern market, was drowned in the Mississippi river. The resemblance of the twins was so perfect that when Z. M. Sherley approached the house to inform the widow of the catastrophe, she was confident that it was her husband. During a trip up the river in 1832, the steamboat was hailed by a flat-boat, on its way to New Orleans with produce, with a request to take the sick captain aboard and return him to his family at Portland. To the horror of the captain and crew of the steamboat, they discovered that the man was ill with cholera; at that time this was supposed to be contagious, and the sick man was fastened up in a room to battle with death by himself. All stood aloof from him. In hunting some needed article, Captain Sherley, a passenger on the steamboat, remembered that it was in the room of the sick man, and he went into it with great fear and trembling, in search of the missing imple- ment, intending to beat a very hurried retreat. The dying man spoke to him, informing him that he had a wife and little boy at Portland, whom he hoped to see before death terminated his sufferings. Captain Sherley could not leave the dying man, but remained by him until he died, minister- ing to his comfort and wants. He besought Captain Sherley
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
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to watch over the youthful life of his young son. When the boat reached Portland the captain went to the house of the dead man to convey the mournful tidings of the death. He found the widow was the daughter of John Tarascon, a gen- tleman who had acquired a great celebrity in his struggles in behalf of the prosperity of Louisville. He was a man of great enterprise.
In due course of time Captain Sherley married the widow of Captain Taylor, and commenced his career as a business man. His wife bore him two sons, and perished with con- sumption. She was one of the liveliest of her sex. She left the captain with four children to provide for, a son and daughter by Mr. Taylor, and two sons by Captain Sherley. No one was ever able to see any discrimination in his care of these children. They were well educated, and the boys were trained to business pursuits, in which they prospered.
Captain Sherley engaged for a short time in the pork house business, but retired from it, retaining his interest in the property. He successfully run for some time a boat store, thus paving the way for that which was to be the master business of his life-the management of lines of transporta- tion. No man was ever more gifted for any enterprise than he was for this great department. He became a prominent owner in the mail line between Louisville and Cincinnati, and his singular capacity for this great public interest was mani- fested conspicuously in every feature of its management. He was known throughout the country by his great success in everything of this kind with which he was connected. He owned an interest also in the line of packets running from Louisville to Evansville and Henderson. He became an owner in the ferry-boat interest between Jeffersonville and Louisville. Nowhere on the Ohio river were to be found boats that surpassed the equipments of the boats between Jeffersonville and Louisville, and he thus wielded an immense trade that widely extended his fame. He was well known from Maine to the far off borders of Texas, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. As the demands for business increased he seemed to expand in his capacity for every emergency.
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During the civil war he was incessantly at his post, and no inan was more relied upon than he was by the military authorities. He never was found wanting in anything that was needed. His judgment was ripe, his advice at all times judicious, and when he was called upon for action he was always ready and fully equipped for duty. When, for exam- ple, it was necessary to move General Buell's army from Louisville south, Captain Sherley at once furnished means for transportation for the entire force by water. The boats made their appearance at the proper time, as if by magic. This was accomplished by Captain Sherley. His knowledge, the wide acquaintance he enjoyed among steamboat men, their perfect reliance upon him, enabled him to supply the Government with all it needed in this great emergency. This fulness, this promptitude, enabled Buell to reach Pittsburg Landing in the very nick of time. In expediting comforts and supplies to the soldiers in the field, supplied often by the ton by soldiers' aid societies throughout the northwest and and Middle States, he was the master mind to whom all looked, and he never failed in a single instance in promptly furnishing the needed means. to forward the supplies. In some of these emergencies he seemed at times to be endowed with a species of ubiquity. In all these matters he fulfilled to the letter, and in the fulness of its spirit, the apostolic injunction : to be "instant in season, out of season." It was often remarkable how speedily he met every emergency ; how successfully every one of these demands upon his capac-
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