USA > Ohio > Memoirs of the lower Ohio valley, personal and genealogical : with portraits, Volume I > Part 17
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until 1865, when he went to Owen county, and in 1870 came to Carroll county, where he followed farming until his death in September, 1900. He was an active Democrat in his day and reared a family of eight children, viz .: Daniel S., who married Minnie Todd and now lives in Columbus, Ky .; Joseph, the subject of this sketch ; Norvin, who married Ida Stratton and has two children; Mollie, who married William Er- win; James, Rennie, Annie, and Jennie. Joseph received a common school education and at the age of twenty-one began life for himself as a farmer, but after the first year gave it up and went to Cincinnati, where he was for three years in the employ of Charles Bodman & Co., in the tobacco business. In 1882 he went to Missouri and remained there two years, one of which was spent on the farm. He served as town marshal of Rockville, the home of Jesse James, the outlaw. After two years in Missouri he went to Oregon, where he engaged in farm- ing and merchandizing until 1894, when he returned to Kentucky. He located at English, where for three years he conducted a general store, then farmed for two years, was then in the mercantile line at English until March, 1904, when he came to Easterday and opened a store at that point. Mr. Green is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in politics is a Demo- crat. He was married on Nov. 20, 1900, to Miss Sally, daughter of Lyman Guinn, of English, and they have a family of two children, Flor- ence and Mary Alice. Mrs. Green is a member of the Christian church.
ROBERT L. BOND, a farmer and stock raiser, living near Ghent, Ky., was born in Carroll county of that state, Aug. 18, 1836. His grandfather, John Bond, came to Kentucky from the State of Vir- ginia in 1803 and located in Owen coun- ty, where he became a successful farmer. His son William, the father of Robert, was born Sept. 9, 1793, before they came to Kentucky. He married Harriett Scott, who was born May 1, 1798, the daughter of Rev. John Scott, a Baptist minister, born in Ireland, and who married Jane Sneid. After his marriage, William Bond located in Carroll county, took up a homestead of wild land near Ghent and died there Jan. 12, 1863. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, in Col. Dick Johnson's regi- ment. His wife died only six days later. They were both members of
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the Baptist church and had a family of seven children: Samuel, John C., Mary J., James A., Julia F., Benjamin F. and Robert L., the last named being the only surviving member of the family. William Bond was a Whig in his early life but later became a Democrat. Robert L. Bond has been a tiller of the soil all his life, except what time he was in the Confederate army during the war. In September, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Fourth Kentucky cavalry, under Capt. John G. Scott, and served until the final surrender as sergeant of his company. He was one of forty who would not surrender on Kentucky soil but sur- rendered at Woodstock, Ga., the latter part of May, 1865. They were permitted to retain their horses and side arms and Mr. Bond rode home on the same horse that he furnished at the time of his enlistment, and which was with him through the entire time of his service. After the war he bought a farm in Carroll county and settled down to farming. Mr. Bond does a general farming business, his specialties being Short- horn cattle, fine roadsters and saddle horses and fox dogs. He was one of the organizers of the American National Saddle Horse association. He is fond of fox chasing, and in 1867 won a dog collar made of Mexi- can silver dollars, for the best fox dog of Kentucky. He married Martha J., daughter of Richard and Priscilla (Magruder) Ramey, of Henry county, Ky., and they have a family of five children: Maynie, Margaret, Julia, James D. and Frank. Mr. and Mrs. Bond are mem- bers of the Baptist church and he is one of the best Southern Democrats in Carroll county. He is also interested in good schools and is a friend of education.
WESLEY HAINES, deceased, a well known farmer near Eagle Station, Carroll county, Ky., in his day, was born in that county in 1813, and died there on March 17, 1887. His parents, Abraham and Eleanor (Dean) Haines, came from Pennsylvania to Carroll county in an early day and started life in the woods. They lived the typical pioneer life of the log cabin but conquered all the hardships of frontier life and became successful. Wesley grew to manhood in Carroll county and upon the death of his father took charge of the old farm, where he had been born and reared. Later he bought out the other heirs and lived upon the old homestead until his death. He was one of the leading local Democrats for many years and was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. On Oct. 22, 1859, Mr. Haines was united in marriage to Jane E. Williams, a daughter of Elisha and Zerelda (Scott) Williams, of Trimble county. William Williams, the grand- father of Mrs. Haines, came from Virginia and was one of the early
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settlers of Trimble county, where he passed the rest of his life as a prosperous farmer. Wesley and Jane Haines had three children. Lulu married James M. Driscoll, and Bertie married Russell Craig, both of whom are Carroll county farmers. Bertie has a family of seven chil- dren. Jessie, the third daughter, graduated from the kindergarten training school and taught in the kindergarten schools of Carrollton for three years, and for four years in the state of Tennessee. All three of the children were given a good education, and all are more or less proficient in music. Mrs. Haines still lives on the farm, which she rents out. She has 150 acres of good land, all in a high state of cultivation. During his life Mr. Haines was a man of domestic habits and spent most of his time with his family. He was a Methodist. His wife be- longs to the Baptist church, and the family enjoyed the esteem and friendship of their neighbors.
WILLIAM F. PEAK, president of the Bedford Loan and Deposit bank, Bedford, Ky., was born in that portion of Henry county, Ky., now constituting the county of Trimble, Dec. I, 1829. He is a son of Thomas and Harriet (Walker) Peak, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of South Carolina. The grandfather, W. A. Peak, came to Kentucky in 1809 and located in Scott county, but a year later settled in Henry, where he lived the rest of his life. An old spring house that he built on his farm is still standing. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, as one of the famous "Kentucky Rifles." Thomas Peak was a carpenter by trade, and also followed farming. He was a Democrat prior to 1896, but that year, and again in 1900, he voted for Mckinley. He died in March, 1902, his wife having died in 1889. Of their children George W. is a merchant at Bedford; William F. is the subject of this sketch; Lucretia married Bart Nixon and lives at Jeffersonville, Ind .; Elizabeth is now Mrs. W. B. Averitt, of Trimble county ; Lafayette died in Indiana; Mary, Martha, and Thomas are deceased. W. F. Peak received his education in the private or subscription schools and at the age of twenty years began his business career as a clerk in a store at Bedford; served four years in this capacity ; kept hotel for two years; was elected county coroner and served four years ; then elected sheriff and served two years in that office; elected both county and circuit court clerk; held the two offices for seven years; was then circuit clerk for seventeen years; was master commissioner ten years of that time; served as member of the legislature in 1883-84 and again in 1891-92-93. Since 1891 he has been interested in banking business. In November of that year he was one of the organizers of the Loan and Deposit bank,
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and in 1893 he was elected to the presidency, holding the office ever since by re-election. Mr. Peak is a part of the warp and woof of Trim- ble county. He is public spirited, in favor of good government and public improvements, and his judgment is of such a character that he is frequently consulted by his acquaintances and his advice sought in mat- ters of importance. Besides his banking interests he owns four fine farms in the county and has an interest in several others. He lives in one of the most handsome residences in the town and is universally respected. Politically he is a Democrat and is one of the best informed men in the county on the political questions of the day. The only fra- ternal organization to claim him as a member was the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, to which he belonged until the outbreak of the Civil war, when his lodge was broken up. In 1854 Mr. Peak was united in marriage to Miss Margaret A. Willett, daughter of David and Mar- garet (Beebe) Willett, of Covington, Ky., where her father followed the trade of cooper. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Peak, George W. is an undertaker at Bedford, is also an attorney and master commis- sioner of the Trimble circuit court, and is married and has seven children ; Lottie J., married Jack Garriott and lives at Danville, Ill., the mother of three children ; Robert F. is judge of the circuit court of the twelfth judicial district and resides at Shelbyville, Ky., a graduate of the Louisville Medical college, practiced two years, then studied law, was commonwealth attorney two years, is married and has five children ; Hallie married Fall Mahoney, lives at Lexington, and has seven chil- dren ; Elizabeth married L. F. Zerfoss of Ashland, Ky., and has three boys ; D. H. is at home and is the cashier of the bank. Mrs. Peak and all the children are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
NANNIE S. TANDY, one of three sisters who manage a large farm near Eagle Station, Carroll county, Ky., is a daughter of Scott and Nancy C. Tandy, and is a descendant of some of the first families of Kentucky. The grandfather, Roger M. Tandy, was born on Christmas day, 1786, and came to Kentucky in his early manhood, where he reared a family of thirteen children, viz .: Scott, the father of the subject of this sketch, born Dec. 22, 1813; Richard, born Feb. 21, 1815; Catherine, Aug. 5, 1816; Nancy, Nov. 7, 1818; Russell H., March 18, 1821 ; Sam- uel S., Oct. 15, 1822 ; Martha, Aug. 24, 1824; Whalen, July 9, 1827; Daniel B., May 9, 1831 ; Mary E., March 9, 1833 ; Lucy J., Nov. 1, 1834; Seany, March 16, 1836; and Robert S., May 8, 1838. Richard, Seany, and Lucy died in infancy. (For family ancestry see sketch of Willis Tandy.) Scott and Nancy Tandy had the following children: Willis, I-12
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now living at Sanders; Sally, one of the girls on the farm; Julius, who died in 1888; Nannie S., the subject of this sketch, and Kate A., who lives with her sisters and assists in the management of the farm. The Tandy farm consists of 214 acres of highly improved land. The sisters pay considerable attention to raising Shorthorn cattle, as well as to the production of general crops. All three attended the college at Ghent, are well educated, have studied music and art, and are ladies of culture and refinement. Their home is one of the most hospitable in that part of the county and they have a large circle of friends, who esteem them for their many womanly graces.
JOSEPH P. POWELL, a farmer and tobacco buyer, living near Bedford, Trimble county, Ky., was born in that county, Nov. 25, 1849. His grandfather, Lindsay Powell, was one of the early settlers of that section of Kentucky, and his parents, Wyatt and Adeline (Law) Powell, were both native Kentuckians. The father was born in Oldham county, Dec. 14, 1829, and the mother in Trimble county, Nov. 30, 1830. Both died in Trimble, the former on Sep. 26, 1878, and the latter on Oct. 31, 1888. They had the following children: Joseph P., the subject of this sketch ; John, George, and Homer, farmers of Trimble county ; Lucy, wife of M. C. Rowlett, a Trimble county farmer; Eva, who married M. O. Rowlett, and is now deceased ; James, deceased, and one child that died in infancy. After leaving school Joseph started in to farm for himself. Starting with no money, he rented land until the spring of 1874, when he bought sixty-five acres of his own. To this he has added by subsequent purchases until he now owns 240 acres of good land. He carries on a general farming business and does quite a business in buying and shipping tobacco. In political matters Mr. Powell has fol- lowed in the footsteps of his father and is a Democrat of the uncom- promising type. He is always ready to do his part toward achieving a Democratic victory and in 1901 he was elected sheriff of the county. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is always ready to assist in the benevolent work of the order. Mr. Powell was married in 1869 to Miss Nannie Adcock, whose grandfather, Joseph Adcock, was a veteran of the war of 1812, and a pioneer settler of Ken- tucky. To this marriage there have been born the following children: George, a farmer and deputy sheriff of Trimble county; Robert, a farmer ; Amanda, Mrs. Warner Ford, of Oldham county ; Rosa, wife of William Baxter and resides in Scott county, Ind., and William, who is at home with his parents. Mr. Powell and all his family are members of the Baptist church, as his parents were before him.
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LOUIS G. CONTRI, M.D., a well- known physician and surgeon of Winona, Ky., was born at Rome, Italy, Dec. 24, 1840, his parents being Evandro and El- vira (Crump) Contri, the mother being the daughter of a distinguished surgeon. The Contri family is one of considerable prominence in Italy, the father of Dr. Contri having been a member of the dip- lomatic corps, and the grandfather, Michael Angelo Contri, marquis of San Gemignano, was a general of artillery in the Italian army. Dr. Contri was edu- cated at the Collegio Tolomei, and graduated in medicine from the Uni- versity of Pisa, the second oldest medical school in the world. In May, 1860, he was one of the thousand, who, under General Garibaldi, landed at Marsala, under the eyes of the navy of the king of Naples, and fought at Marsala, Catalafini, Palermo, St. Angelo and Caserta. In the last named engagement he was wounded and received the honors of knight- hood for capturing a flag of the enemy's. In 1861 he came to America, being attracted hither by our constitutional form of government. Em- barking on a salling vessel he was shipwrecked off Gibraltar, but finally reached Sidney, Nova Scotia, made his way by stage to Halifax, and from there came to Boston. Endorsing the doctrine of secession, he joined the Confederate army, and being an expert swordsman was ap- pointed drill master of the Sixth Virginia cavalry, commanded by Col. Julian Harrison. Later he was stationed at Jackson's hospital as assistant surgeon and was still later attached to Witcher's battalion. He was in charge of the provisory Confederate hospital at Hagerstown, Md., during the battle of Gettysburg. On Sunday, July 12, 1863, he was captured by General Kilpatrick's cavalry, but escaped the same night while march- ing from Hagerstown to Frederick city. He was recaptured the next night while crossing the Potomac, being dressed in citizen's clothes, was treated as a spy, imprisoned in Fort McHenry, near Baltimore, and sentenced by a court martial to be shot on the second day of November. On Sunday, September 27, he again made his escape, through the influ- ence of Free Masonry, and reached Richmond on the very day his sen- tence was to have been executed. He then served until the close of the war and was mustered out as captain. When the Fenian troubles broke out in Canada he organized a regiment of twelve companies in Massa- chusetts, raised the money to equip and transport his men and went to
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Canada to fight against the English. Dr. Contri was made colonel of the regiment, which was attached to General Spear's command. They entered Canada about the first of June, 1866, and fought the British soldiery at Pigeon Hill and Slab' City, when the United States govern- ment interfered and ordered the men to return to their homes. Dr. Contri's father having died in the meantime, he went to Europe to settle some of his affairs, and upon returning to this country in 1868, after about a year abroad, he located in Wyoming and for some time prac- ticed in the West. Later he went to Jay county, Ind., and from there to Kentucky, where he has since remained. Dr. Contri is a member of the American and Kentucky State Medical associations ; is secretary and treasurer of the Trimble County Medical society ; secretary of the board of health of the same county, and belongs to the society of the medical officers of the Confederate army and navy. He joined the Masonic fra- ternity is his native land and is a thirty-second degree member of the order. Although reared a Catholic he is now a member of the Baptist church. As a physician he has a high standing, is a successful practi- tioner, and has the good will and confidence of his patients.
CLARENCE R. DRAKE, clerk of the circuit court in Switzerland county, Ind., was born in that county, June 3, 1852. The Drake family is of English origin. Robert Drake, the paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, came from England at an early date, settling first in Louisiana and later near Boonesborough, Ky., where he became acquainted with and shared many hardships of the cele- brated Daniel Boone. From Boonesbor- ough he came to Switzerland county, sac- rificing all his property en route to save his life from the Indians. He died, June 19, 1845, and is buried in the old Drake graveyard in Switzerland county. Clarence R. Drake is a son of Dillard R. and Hevila (Hawkins) Drake, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Switzerland county. Dillard Drake was twice married, Clarence being the eldest child by the second marriage. The children of the first wife were Benjamin F., Mary J., and Flavius J. Those of the second wife, besides the subject of this sketch, were Robert B., born Feb. II, 1854; Sarah E., born Dec. 20, 1856; Claretta F., born Jan. 1, 1860; Lulu E., born Nov. 24, 1863 ; Elmer D., born in December,
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1866; and Oscar M. and Hattie, both of whom died in infancy. Mr. Drake's mother was born, Oct. 9, 1822, and is still living at the advanced age of eighty-two years. Her father, Jonathan Hawkins, was a native of New York, and her mother, Sarah Hawkins, of Connecticut. Cretia Drake, an aunt of the subject of the sketch, was the first white child born in Switzerland county. Clarence R. Drake received his education in the common schools and has successfully fought his way upward until today he occupies one of the most important offices in his county. He was elected clerk by a majority of ninety-five votes. This in a county where the majorities rarely run over ten was certainly a victory of which any man might be proud. It tells the story better than words of his popularity, and of the confidence reposed in him by his friends and neighbors who know him best. Since coming into the office he has con- ducted it in the interests of the people who elected him and all who come in contact with him in his official capacity find courteous treatment. Mr. Drake married Miss Amanda Chittenden, and they have three children : Chester, born Aug. 9, 1878, is in charge of the Vevay electric light plant ; Josie, born April II, 1880, is at home with her parents ; Clyde, born Feb. 23, 1882, occupies an important position at Newport, Ky.
CAPT. J. L. GRAHAM, familiarly known as "Captain Jack," captain and manager of the steam ferry between Vevay, Ind., and Ghent, Ky., was born at Vevay, Oct. 28, 1869, his parents being Robert T. and Mattie (Lester) Graham. Robert Graham was born in Ghent, in 1834, and died at Vevay in 1903. He was a son of Timothy and Martha Gra- ham, both natives of Virginia, and his wife was born at Jacksonville, Ind., in 1840. She is still living. Capt. Robert Graham founded the ferry between Vevay and Ghent and operated it for more than forty years. At first he had a skiff for persons and a hand flatboat for horses and vehicles. This was succeeded by the horse power transfer boat, which in turn gave way to the modern steam ferry boat. The present steamer is named the Eva Everett, after the twin brother and sister of Capt. J. L. Graham. Ever- ett is now assistant engineer on the boat. The Graham family have been brought up to the business, and it is worthy of note that Miss Juna Graham, a sister of the subject of this sketch, is a successful pilot,
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probably the only female pilot in the United States. The Eva Everett runs from early in the morning until late at night every day in the year except when the ferry is obstructed by ice. The distance from landing to landing is about one mile, yet the little boat covers it in six minutes. Both boat and proprietor are popular with the patrons. Captain Graham and his father have both made an enviable record as life savers. Dur- ing the old flatboating days the father saved a number from a watery grave, and the son has fourteen lives to his credit. Such a record speaks well for his bravery and shows that in times of danger or emer- gency his presence of mind can be relied on to master the situation. Captain Graham has never married, preferring to live with his mother, to whom he has always been a dutiful son. He takes a great interest in Free Masonry, being the only Knight Templar in Switzerland county, and is a member of the Christian church.
CAPT. A. J. SCHENCK, of Vevay, Ind., is of Swiss descent, his an- cestors being among the first settlers of Switzerland county. His great-grand- parents were Philip Jacob and Marianne (Gras) Schenck, the former a native of Worms and the latter of Canton Berne, Switzerland. Philip J. Schenck died in Switzerland county, Dec. 15, 1819, his wife having died on the voyage over and was buried at sea. One of their sons, John James Philip Schenck, was born in Locte, Switzerland, Feb. 16, 1788, and died in Switzerland county in 1873. He married Mary Julia Jacot, a native of Champdismitien, where she was born April 3, 1788, and this couple were the grandparents of Captain Schenck. His grandmother died on a farm near Vevay, Feb. 6, 1864. Coming down to the next generation, Captain Schenck's father was Ulysses P. Schenck, born in Canton Neuchatel, Switzerland, May 16, 1811. He came with his fam- ily to America in the early part of the nineteenth century and in later years was one of the busiest and most prominent men of the Lower Ohio Valley. For many years he was engaged in the river trade, being the owner of several steamers. The large amount of hay he shipped to Southern markets gave to h'm the title of "The Hay King." He organized the First National bank of Vevay, and was its president for more than twenty years, and contributed more than one-half the cost
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of the First Baptist church building. He married Justine Thiebaud, born in Canton Neuchatel, May 29, 1809, and to them were born eleven children : Harriet, born at Louisville, Ky., Oct. 16, 1831, and died at Ghent, Ky., Aug. 4, 1884; George W., born at Louisville Feb. 19, 1833, and died at New Orleans, Aug. 9, 1855; Benjamin F., born at Louis- ville, Nov. 3, 1834, died at Jacksonville, Fla., April 24, 1877; Thomas J., born at Louisville, May 30, 1836, died at Vevay, July 3 1837 ; Josephine L., born at Vevay, May 7, 1838, died there July 30, 1862; Emily L., born at Vevay, April 24, 1840, died there Sept. 23, 1862. Andrew J., the subject of this sketch and the only survivor, born at Vevay, Dec. 28, 1842; Justine A., born May 4, 1845, at Vevay, and died there Oct. 7, of the same year. Julia A., born Aug. 19, 1846, died Feb. 16, 1861 ; Alice, born Feb. 15, 1849, died March 28, 1850; Ulysses P., born Oct. 12, 1851, died April 30, 1892. Captain Andrew J. Schenck received his education in the common schools and Franklin college, after which he was associated with his father, from whom he received a thorough business training. In July, 1864, he became his father's partner, but subsequently became prominently identified with river shipping. His first experience was as a steward on the steamer Argosa. In 1866 he was licensed captain and pilot of the same vessel, plying between Louis- ville and Cincinnati. Later he commanded the steamers Sam J. Hale, H. Clay Wilson and U. P. Schenck, and was for several years a director in the Southern Transportation Company. In 1875 Captain Schenck retired from active service on the river to look after his father's large and growing business. He was taken into full partnership under the firm name of U. P. Schenck & Son, which continued until his father's death, Nov. 16, 1884. Some years later he retired from mercantile pur- suits, though he is still actively interested in a number of Vevay's lead- ing business institutions. He is director of the First National bank ; the Vevay Furniture Company ; and the Vevay Woolen Mills ; is presi- dent of the Moorefield Turnpike Company, and a stockholder in the Vevay Ice Company, besides holding large farming interests. He is a leading member of the First Baptist church and is an enthusiastic Mason. On Nov. 5, 1889, he was married to Miss Letitia Craig, of Kansas City, Mo. Her parents, Lewis E. and Letitia (Tandy) Craig, were natives of Carroll county, Ky., where the former was born, in July, 1819, and the latter in November, 1821. Lewis E. Craig died in Chicot county, Ark., and his wife at Tipton, Mo.
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