Henderson County, Kentucky - Biographical sketches, 1887 (part 4 of 8)

In October, 1862, he was wounded in a skirmish at West Franklin, Indiana; was captured, and confined in a hospital at Henderson until April, 1863. He was then sent to Johnson's Island, Lake Erie, where he was detained only a few weeks and was sent on exchange. He was exchanged at City Point, Virginia, and from there went by the way of Richmond and Lynchburg, on to Chattanooga, Tennessee, from thence via Tullahoma and McMinnville to Salt Lick Bend, on the Cumberland River, where he rejoined his regiment. His regiment was a part of the Second Brigade, attached to Morgan's forces, and was commanded by Colonel Adam R, Johnson. There was no " rest for the weary," for no sooner had he rejoined his regiment than the bugle called each man to his saddle. Kentucky was invaded, via Glasgow and Columbia, and at the latter place a considerabje skirmish was had with the old veteran, Colonel Frank

Woolford, in which Woolford was worsted. Morgan pushed ahead in the direction of Green River, to a point known as Green River bridge, and arrived there on the fourth day of July, 1863. This place was guarded by one thousand veteran Union soldiers, a strong stockade and two line of breastworks, under command of Colonel Moore ; a flag of truce from Morgan was sent to Moore demanding a surrender, but this Moore declined, giving ^is his reason, that it was a day too dear to the hearts of his countrymen - it was the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence - and to entertain such a demand at that time, would be to turn his back completely upon his country. "Call some other day, gentlemen, and I will be pleased to talk with you," was his reply. This, then, was the signal for a bloody assault, and a bloody one it was too. The Second Brigade of which our subject was a soldier, was ordered to charge; the charge was made, and the Unionist were driven from their line of intrenchments back into the stockade. Here they made a determined stand, and owing to the rough and rugged surroundings, obstacles and all else operating against the attack- .ing party, there was a quick slaughter of not less than seventy-five men. The Confederates then withdrew, and crossed Green Riuer about one and a half miles below the bridge. The command then passed on to Lebanon, where it encountered General Manson and about three hundred Federals, who gave battle from sunrise in the morning until three o'clock in the afternoon, fighting from houses and whatever else could be found in the way of protection, but finally Manson surrendered. From Lebanon Morgan passed through the State, striking the Ohio River at Brandenburg, Mead County. Here two steamers were captured and the troops transported across the Ohio River onto Indiana soil. This crossing was effected July, 8th, 1863, Company G. being the last company put over, and this after midnight. This was Morgan's celebrated raid through Indiana and Ohio. After crossing the Ohio and all things in readiness, the line of march was taken up at daylight, the Second or Johnson's Brigade bringing up the rear of the command, and Company G. bringing up the rear of the brigade. Between three and four o'clock that afternoon the command came in sight of Corydon Indiana, a small place defended by some four thousand militia and soldiers, protected by rifle pits, and hurriedly made breast works. Company G. of the Tenth Kentucky, Lieutenant Eakins, was ordered from the rear to make the attack, which they did in fine style, beating the enemy in about fifteen minutes. From there Morgan passed unmolested through the State and entered the State of Ohio at a point called Harrison. Cincinnati was given the go by, only a short distance to the right. That night the command rode one hundred miles on to Vernon, where there was had a skirmish with General Manson. Morgan drew off, and proceeded^on until the evening of July 26th, until the Ohio River was reached at Cheshire, where he hoped to cross into Virginia. Here an attack was made by General Shackelford, in command of a large force of Federals, whom the Confederates fought until about dark. Being entirely out of ammunition, and not hearing from the Commanding General, who had left some time before on ar-other expedition, the little band to which Lieutenant Eakins was then attached, sent in a flag of truce, proposing to surrender. Seven hundred and twenty men surrendered, and were taken by boat to Cincinnati, where they were kept in prison for three or four days. One hundred and eighteen officers, including Lieutenant Eakins, were then forwarded to Johnson's Island, a place familiar to the Lieutenant, who had been there before. Lieutenant Eakins remained upon the Island until August, when he was sent with others to the Western Penitentiary, Alleghany City, Pa., where he remained until March 1864, when he with others was sent to Point Lookout Maryland, where he remained until July, when he was sent to Fort Delaware, an Island in Delaware River, between the States of Delaware and New Jersey. August 1st, 1864, Lieutenant Eakins with six hundred others was taken from Fort Delaware and sent to Morris Island, in front of Charleston, South Carolina, and placed in a stockade, between Fort Waggoner and Battery Gregg, under the cover of the Federal guns. The stockade in which he was confined contained just one acre of ground. He and his co-prisoners remained there under the fire of the Confederate guns for forty days ; fortunately none of the shells struck inside of the inclosure. While none of the prisoners were wounded by friendly guns, some of them were struck from the guns of the guard, which was composed of a Massachusetts Negro regiment. Lieutenant Eakins and his friends were given a dainty diet ; for instance, one " hardtack - a cracker about two inches square, half inch thick, one ounce of meat, not of the best, and a half pint of bean soup twice a day. He remained at this place forty days and was then sent down to Fort Pulaski, on one of the Tyber Islands, in the Savanah River, with no change of rations until January 1st, 1865, at which time he was given ten ounces of unsifted meal once a day. On that he lived from the first of January to February 1st, at which time there came an order for his immediate exchange with others, and for them to be put on full army rations. On the fifth of March, he was taken on board of a vessel and sent to Norfolk, Virginia. From that place, and for some unaccountable reason, he was sent again to Fort Delaware. Lieutenant Eakins and his comrades were nothing more than skeletons, and as sad a story as it may seem, fully three hundred died of starvation during their incarceration in Federal prisons, although the story goes, that Uncle Sam fed well his enemies as he did his friends. Lieutenant Eakins was at Fort Delaware at the time of the surrender and was held a prisoner until June, 1865, when he andfour hundred and twenty-five others were released after having taken an iron-clad oath. He arrived home on the se^enteenth day of June, 1865, since which time he has rested in the bosom of a happy family, following farming and surveying for a livelihood.

Joseph William Eakins, son of John and Sally King Eakins, was born in the year 1840, in the County of Henderson, and was educated in the schools of Henderson and at Franklin College, near Nash, ville, Tennessee. His life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits, and to-day he is the possessor of one of the best regulated farms in the county, lying a mile or more below Geneva, on the Smith's Mills Road. He grows tobacco, corn, wheat and grass, and deals largely in stock. He is strictly a business man, bringing to bear at all times a well defined and well matured system of thought and action, that enable him not only to meet the demands made upon him, but to lay bv a handsome interest for the so-called rainv dav. He is a reader, fond of books, and as a writer, is well known by local writers as one well up in all he undertakes. On the twenty-fifth day of June, 1867, Mr. Eakins married Miss Sallie Powell, of this county, a most estimable and loving wife, who gave to him as the fruits of that union six chilflren, Willie King, Sallie, Bettie, Joe Barnett, and Mary, daughters, and Robert Donald, a son. Mary, the youngest daughter, died when she was only four months old. His is a happy household, a bright blooming family of children, shedding a halo of sunshine around the parental head. Mr. Eakins joined the Confederate army when quite young at Camp Coleman, Uniontown. He was captured at Morganfield, Union County,' October 21s|:, 1862, brought a prisoner to Henderson, and there released. He is a man of positive character, but liberal in his views, and humane in disposition. His attachments are strong, yet, he is firm in the right as he holds it, and nothing can swerve him. He is personally popular in his neighborhood, so much so that he has been called upon oftentimes to serve his precinct in the capacity of magistrate. This he has done simply as a duty he felt he owed as a citizen, and not as an office seeker. As an official he has always been looked upon and regarded as one of the safest and most painstaking. His term of service dates from 1879, and continues to this day. He was never a member of the church, yet he holds to the faith handed down bv the Saints. He is a member of the Independent Order of- Odd Fellows, and also of the Knights of Pythias.

JOHN FRANCIS LOCKETT. - The young gentleman and official, whose name heads this article, was born in Henderson County on the fifth day of December, 1856. He is the eldest son of Rev. P. H. Lockett, who was born in this county June 21st, 1832. His mother is Ella Eakins, daughter of John Eakins, an early comer to Henderson County. She was born May 5th, 1834.

The father of our subject studied law when quite young, and, upon bemg licensed to practice, was regarded by those who knew him best among the most brilliant young attorneys of his day. He was a Whig in politics and followed the changes of that great old party up to the war, when he cast anchor with the Democratic party and has remained faithful ever since. In the exciting political days, a few years prior to the war, he took an active interest, and, upon more than one occasion, met, upon the rostrum, the great speakers of the opposing party. Met them, yea, more, successfully, and to the great delight of his hundreds of friends who flocked around him to give him cheer. In the year 1866 he was elected Judge of his county, and this office he held for three successive terms, up to and including a part of the year 1882. During the latter years of official life, he devoted a great part of his leisure time to the study of theology and frequently preached. He was always a pleasing speaker, an intelligent thinker and reasoner, and, in all, a most lovable man. Upon his defeat for a re-election in 1882, he went to the pulpit, and it was not long before he was called to the pastorate of the Baptist Church at Trenton, Ky., where he yet resides with a loving family and is beloved by all Christian people,

The paternal grandfather of our subject was Captain Francis Lockett, one of the noted men of this part of Kentucky Captain Lockett was a native of Mecklenburg County, Virginia, and, at one time, wrote a popular treatise on the Culture of Tobacco. He immigrated to Henderson County when this was scarcely more than a howling wilderness. Once here, he soon became a leader of men, and his counsel and good advice most frequently sought by his neighbors and those who knew him only by reputation. He was a Captain of militia in Virginia ; a Captain of men in social and business life in Kentucky. He represented, during the years 1815, T6 and '17, the Counties of Henderson, Hopkins and McLean, in the Lower

House of the Legislature. He was then. elected State Senator and served till 1819, and was succeeded by the late Go\ernor Archibald Dixon. The maternal grandfather was John Eakins, whose biography will be found elsewhere in this history.

John Francis Lockett, the subject of this sketch, was a pupil of the Henderson Public and High Schools during the superintendency of that finished teacher and disciplinarian, Prof. Maurice Kirby. To know that the young man was a persevering student, guided by a master mind, is to know that he gained an education worthy of himself. This is all true ; few young men have started upon life's journey better equipped fundamentally At an early age he determined to make law a study and then to make his living practicing it. To this end, therefore, he assiduously applied himself, and, in the due course of time, was licensed to practice. Like his father, he proved a graceful, pleasing speaker. He, too, has fought and won political battles on and off of the rostrum. His \oice has been often heard not alone in the prosecution of or the defense of his client's rights^ but oftentimes in behalf of the Chiistian religion and its blessed ally, temperance. In every field he has proven his metal, tempered with that of his opponent. For three years up to and including August, 1886, he served his city as Prosecuting Attorney. In August, he was elected County Judge and has entered upon the discharge of his official duties. That he will prove himself a most excellent official the writer has no doubt.

On the fourteenth day of April, 1881, in the City of Henderson, Judge Lockett married Miss Minnie Jones, a highly accomplished lady, one, in every way, deserving her husband's love. Three children have resulted from this union - John, Alvin and Hickman. The eldest, John, a bright, promising child, was stricken with diptheria and died at the age of three years. The maternal great-grandfather of Mrs. Lockett was Augustine Eastin, a Baptist preacher, who came from Virginia to Kentucky at the time Boonesborough and Bryant's Station were established by the very early pioneers At one time he was arrested and confined in the Richmond, Virginia, Jail for preaching to the British Soldiers, and, for persisting in speaking the word of God to those men, was threatened to be shot. Her maternal grandfather was General Zachariah Eastin, who was born in Virginia January 11th, 1777.' General Eastin enlisted as a Colonel in the War of 1812, and fought at Tippecanoe and River Rasin, in fact, was throughout the campaign with Generals Shelby, Medcalf and Desha and Colonel Richard M. Johnson, of Tecumseh fame. While engaged in this campaign, he was commissioned Brigadier General, which position he held up to 1824, when he resigned on account of some misunderstanding between himself and General Dasha. General Eastin came to Henderson in f843, settled and died here some years afterwards.

John Francis Lockett, the subject of this sketch, in politics has always been recognized as a warm, unflinching Democrat. In religion a firm, consistent Baptist from his thirteenth year, at which time he was baptised and received into the church. He is a member of Ivy Lodge, Knights of Pythias, made one in 1885.

JOHN THOMAS RUBY was born in Henderson County October 19th, 1846, and was educated from the Common Schools of the State. The place of his birth is now in Webster, that county having been formed in 1860 from a portion of Henderson, Hopkins and Union. Mr. Ruby's paternal grandfather, John B. Ruby, was one of the earliest settlers in the Green River country. His maternal grand ' father was Joseph Fuquay, also one of the earliest settlers, and in very early times, well known in the town of Henderson, he being, for a long time, the proprietor of the leading hotel here. His father was B. S. Ruby, born in what is now Webster County, in the year 18(>9. His mother, Lockey Fuquay, born in the same county in the year 1814. They were married in the year 1837 and four children were born unto them - Mary, Judith, Delia and John T., our subject. All four of the children are living and married. The father of our subject followed farming all of his life. The subject of this sketch was raised to a farmer's life, but, upon attaining to his majority, engaged in merchandising at Vandersburg, Webster County, and pursued that calling for ten years. On the twenty-second day of July, 1869, he married Miss Alice Orr, of Webster, and four children live to bless the parental household, Maude, a young lady of great beauty and personal charms, Ed. Bayne, Clint, and Ashby. In October, 1877, Mr. Ruby removed with his family to Henderson and embarked largely in the purchase and sale of stoves, tinware and general house hold goods. His trade has increased, and additions have been made to his stock until to-day his great three-story Main Street emporium resolves itself into a miniature exposition, being literally packed with necessary household goods and fancy articles charming to the eye. In addition to a varied assortment of stoves of all designs and make, he manufactures largely tin, sheet iron and copper ware.

is a member of the Christian or Reformed Church, having attached himself to that denomination in 1874. He is a Prohibitionist of the strictest type, and is an indefatigable worker in the temperance cause, not that he fears for himself, but that he may benefit his race. In this Mr. Ruby is sincere ; he is no croaker, no radical ; he feels for the frailties of man, and, in place of dealing in abuse, he deals o-ently, encouraging the unfortunate to better ways and a happier life. He is guided by sympathy alone. In politics he holds it a right to vote as he chooses, at all times selecting, as his judgment dictates, the best man. He is an open, frank, Christian gentleman. He is popular with every one, and wields an influence second to none when he chooses to exercise that power. There are few better posted men and few that can defeat him in any enterprise, political or otherwise, when he takes a part to win. He was never an office seeker himself, although he has done magnificent work in behalf of seveial of his friends. He has served, with credit to himself, as Trustee of the Public School, but only for a short term.

GEORGE EDWARD BELT..-- There are few ^en living, perhaps, whose lives have been so varied and yet around whose name and character clusters more evidences of the " well done, good and faithful," than are to be found associated with that of the subject of this sketch. Few men have gone out into the world, scantily equipped as he was, to meet its frowns and face its arrogant demands, who can sit down, at his age, in a comfortable home, surrounded by a happy family, and know that he is the possessor of a sufficiency, not only to keep the wolf from his door, but know that he is assured against that same world in his old, old age. George Edward Bell was born in Baltimore County, Maryland, on the second day of August, 1822. His father was William Bell, a cooper by trade and a farmer. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 and '14, under General Strieker, and earned an honorable distinction in offering himself a living sacrifice in defense of his country. William Bell married, in Baltimore County, Achsah Smith, unto whom were born eleven children, namely : Hannah, Mary, George E., William, Abraham and Isaac, (twins), James (who died in infancy), Joseph, Emry, Kenneth and Caleb. Of this number, only two are living at this writing, the subject of this sketch being one of that number. The paternal grandfather was Edward Bell, a Scotch-Irishman by birth. His maternal grandfather was Adam Smith, of German origin. Both of these gentlemen were farmers in Maryland and both of them died and were buried in that State.

George E. Bell, the subject of this sketch, received what might be termed a fair country school education - a man of his natural turn might have attained to a fair education without the aid of the country pettifogger, who pretends to form minds. His mind, at this day - what it may have been in his N'outh, we do not know - is broad, comprehensive, capable of grasping any subject. He is a great reader of the literature of the day, and digests it, as few men can. However, we are a getting away from the object in view. His life alternated - sometimes he lived in the City of Baltimore, sometimes out in the county, but, all the time, improving his limited opportunities. By nature and choice, he favored the life of a carpenter, and, to accomplish this purpose, gave himself studiously to the work before him. By the aid of a clear, quick, mathematical head, a keen eye and an earnest desire to learn, he soon mastered and has stood in the front rank of woodworkers since. On the twenty-sixth day of June, 1848, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Shipley, of Baltimore Ccunty, and by that marriage, seven children have been born unto them, to-wit : Mary, Frank, x\nnie, Rosa, Joseph, William and Walter, all now living except Frank.

A few years after his marriage Mr. Bell was engaged at work in a car shop, and, while operating a circular saw, was struck by a flying piece of timber and killed for the time being. He recovered consciousness some time after, but was unable, for several days, to resume his work again. In the winter of 1853 or '54, he went to York County, Pennsylvania, and engaged in farming for the period of one year. At the end of that time he gave up his farm and returned to Marylan I, where he worked on a farm for five years. During that time he made two trips West to Richmond, Indiana, working at his trade there one entire winter. In the fall of 1862, while in Maryland, he was drafted into the army. Not h...i g a military turn, and certainly no disposition to kill or be killed, he left the State and immigrated to Indiana, locating at Princeton. He worked at that place during the winter, and from thence went to Evansville, where he was appointed foreman in building United States hospitals. In August, 1863, he came to Henderson and remained until August, 1864, when he again returned to Indiana, locating at Fort Branch, where he remained until 1865. He then returned to Henderson and has lived here since, enjoying his share of contracting and building.

At the age of nineteen, Mr. Bell connected himself with the Methodist Church, and has ever been consistent and devoted to its tenets. At this time he is Superintendent of the Sunday School. He joined Friendship Lodge, I. O. O. F., Baltimore, 1847, and has had his membership transferred to the Lodge at this place. He has three married children : Annie, married Robert Brashear, now living in St. Louis, has four children, George, Lizzie, Luther and Harry ; Rosa married George McMuUin and has two living children, Walter and Benjamin ; William recently married Miss Ida Quinn.

Mr. Bell, in addition to his city interests, owns two hundred acres of valuable farming lands in that section of the county known as Frog Island.

EDWARD MANION was born in the City of New Albany, on the second day of September, 1850. His father, James Manion, was born in County Longford, Ireland, in the year 1810. His mother, Katharine Nowland, was born in the same country and county in the year 1822. The father and mother were married in Ireland in 1834, and a short time after the father sailed alone for America, landing at the Port of New Orleans. A short time after his arrival in this country he shipped as mate on one of the Mississippi and Ohio River steamers, plying between New Orleans and Louisville. He then sent a message to his wife to come to America, which she did soon after, landing at the port of New York. Mr. Manion met her and returned to New Orleans, where he made his home for two years or more, when he transferred his residence to Louisville. Soon after his arrival at Louisville he engaged as superintending boss of a large pork house, and continued in this capacity up to the year 1848, when he removed to New Albany, Indiana, and engaged in railroad contracting. He built the road bed of the New Albany and Salem Railroad, besides doing other heavy contract work. In April, 1851, Mrs. Manion died, leaving him with quite a family of young children to care for, our subject being one of the number. Life became a burden to him; the love he bore his little ones and their well being, preyed upon his mind, until he determined to marry, provided he could find one in his opinion suited for wife and mother. He was not long in finding a lady whom he looked upon as one in every way fitted to fill the specifications. He woed and won, and in September, 1851 was united in marriage to Miss Mary Shearn. at her home in New Albany. Six months after, Mr. Manion, with his family, removed to Cannelton, Indiana, and there opened a grocery store. He remained there but a short time, when he removed to Cloverport and engaged in the grocery business and hotel keeping. Fortune smiled upon him and he continued to do business there till the fall of 1858, when he removed with his family to Henderson. About the time of his arrival here there was a large amount of street improvement, grading, graveling, guttering and curbing advertised to be let at contract. Mr. Manion, aided by past experience, becagie a formidable and successful bidder, and was awarded a iarge amount of street work, which he completed, and for which he was well and sufficiently paid. He built and successfully condug:ed the two-story hotel on the southwest corner of Elm and First Street, the building in which his son, the subject of this sketch, is now a half owner and carrying on a grocery business. Mr. Manion was a successful farmer, and, altogether, a thrifty money making man.

Edward Manion, the subject of this sketch, was educated from private schools taught in Henderson. Arriving at his majority he engaged soon thereafter in the grocery business, and has followed that occupation to this day. On the sixteenth of June, 1880, he married Miss Eliza Carroll, and three children have been born to them - James and Katie born twins, and Mary and Dora. Katie died in infancy. In politics Mr Manion has always been known as a Democrat, in religion Catholic born and raised. He is a member of the Catholic Knights of America, and a devoted lover of Old Ireland and her people. He is now serving his third term of two years as a member of the City Council, having each time been elected over a strong opposition. His interest, manifested by the display of energy and sound judgment upon all matters appertaining to the city's weal, has made him popular in his ward, and, therefore, likely to retain him in the city's service so long as he chooses to divide his time with his own personal affairs and that of the public.

KONRAD GEIBEL. - Konrad Geibel, the parental head of the family of whom^his sketcb relates, was born in Wachenheim, Bavaria, on the eighth day of September, 1815. His father, Peter Geibel, with whom he lived until he arrived at the age of twenty-one years, was a shoemaker by education and profession, and under his guidance, our subject, at the age of fourteen years, became one of the most expert workmen in his native town. Under the rules of that country social, if not governmental, every child was required to attend Sabbath School up to his or her eighteenth year, and at the age of fourteen to be examined in church studies,and, if upon examination, the child was found proficient, he or she was then taken to the church for confirmation and given the first Sacrament. It was made the duty for every one to attend church service in the forenoon, and of all children to attend Sunday School in the afternoon. The services and mode of teaching was the same as that adopted by the Presbyterian Church of this country. Mr. Geibel went through all of the required forms and graduated in the church with credit to himself. In the year 1838, he married Miss Annie M. Keller, of his native place, and with her and his eldest son, Konrad, who was born in Bavaria, he set sail for America in the year 1840. The family embarked in a two-masted vessel at Havre, and was thirty-two days to the day upon the ocean, when the vessel landed at the port of New York. His object was to join some friends then living in the neighborhood of Evansville, Ind., and, after having recruited fully from his sea voyage, he started on his Westward journey, going by canal boat from New York to Buffalo, thence by lake to Cleveland, thence by canal to Portsmouth, Ohio, on the Ohio River, and thence by steamboat to Evansville, landing there in precisely thirty-two days after leaving New York, and the identical number spent in crossing the ocean.

Mr. Geibel remained in Evansville only fourteen days, owing to the low price of wages, and it is not necessary to say that he was homesick and disappointed. About that time he hired to come to Henderson, and he did so, entering the shoeshop of John Boiler, then established in a miserable old log shanty on the southeast corner of Main and Second Streets. This house was known as the old Henderson Bank, and in the garret was a box or two filled with old and worthless bank notes. The building was twenty-five or thirty feet long, with a clabboard roof. At that time Evansville was a larger place than Henderson, but better inducements were offered mechanics here. Upon the arrival of our subject at Henderson great difficulty was experienced in getting a house in which to shelter his family. Governor Dixon at the time occupied two rooms in the brick on Main Street, recently torn down by Mann Brothers; the front room he used for his office, the rear room for consultation. He had taken quite a fancy to the newcomer, and, in the goodness of his heart, offered him the use of the rear room until better provision could be made. This kind offer was accepted, and into this room the little family lived for some time afterward.

In the year 1841, our subject formed a co-partnership with John Delker, under the firm name of Delker & Geibel, and purchased the stock of John Burke, then carrying on the shoemaking trade in a little frame building that stood near where the Planters' Bank is now situated. This firm was one year in business, and paid five dollars for the rent of the house. At the end of this time Mr. Geibel embarked in the shoemaking business on his own account, and, by energy, industry and honest effort, soon built up a large and paying trade. He was very popular with all classes, particularly, those persons best able to pay him well for his work. So well did he keeo his promises, so honest was he in all his dealings, that this large patronage stood by him up to the time his health failed, and he was forced to quit work. Economy and prudent management brought him a handsome competency to comfort him and his faithful life partner in their old age. They have living five boys, Konrad, George, Peter, John VV. and Frederick, all remarkable for their native intellect and fine business character. Mr. Geibel has ever lived one of Henderson's best and most enterprising citizens, and the writer is proud to say that no man to-day enjoys the confidence and esteem of the community to a greater deg^ree than does he

John W. Geibel was born in the Towm of Henderson on the sixteenth day of June, 1853. He was educated from the private schools of the town, and at the age of fifteen, August, 1868, entered the drug store of W. S. Johnson & Bro. as a clerk. Here he remained, applying himself with an assiduity and intelligence that soon won for him the unqualified confidence of his employers, until the winter of 1874 and '75, when he went to Philadelphia and entered Philadelphia Col lege of Pharmacy. He remained in this college during the term of 1875, and then returned to Henderson. A short time after his return home, he accepted a position in the drug house of Hon. T. C. Bridwell, at Evansville, Ind. A few months thereafter he went to St. Louis, and formed a co-partnership with Dr. King, of Madisonville, Ky., and opened a drug store. For reasons best known to himself, one month after the organization of the firm, he sold out his interest to his partner, and accepted a clerkship in the drug house of Ed. N. Harris, St. Louis, where he remained seven months. At the end of that time he returned to Henderson, and a few weeks afterwards accepted a position wi<"h Dr. Kinkead, at Paducah, Kentucky. He remained with Dr. Kinkead just one month and a half, and then returned again to his home in Henderson. A short time after this return, he re-entered the employ of W. S. Johnson & Bro., where he remained up to June, 1884, when a co-partnership was formed between himself and Charles F. Kleiderer, an experienced druggist, under the firm name of Kleiderer & Geibel. This firm immediately opened the elegant " Post Office " Drug Store, on Second Street, in Odd Fellow's building. These young men were complimented by a large patronage from the first day their doors were opened to the public, but so steadily, and surely did it increase, that in August, 1886, in order to amplify the influence and patronage of the firm, a lot was purchased on the corner of Green and Center Streets, opposite the public school, and a very handsome two-story brick store house erected thereon. This new house is, perhaps, the handsomest in its interior finish to be found in Henderson. The subject of this sketch has charge of Lhe new store while his partner holds the reins over the parent stem, or Second Street store. Mr. Geibel is the owner of several nice tenement houses in addition to his drug store property, and is continually adding to his already well earned little fortune. His life is a living example of what can be accomplished by regular habits, prudent living, assiduous work and thoughtful judgment. He is on the high road to prosperity undisputed, and none deserves it more than he. It is not luck with him, but the outcome of good, sound, native and acquired sense.

NINO MITCHUSON. - The subject of this sketch is one of those peculiarly good, big-hearted men whom all men respect, and who, in return, lets his light so shine, that he is universally beliked by all with whom he is acquainted. If the writer may be permitted to advance a remark, without being accused of soothing, by praise, he will say that there cannot, perhaps, be found in this land a man embodying more of the characteristics of a philosopher. He is, to a great degree, a student of moral and intellectual science, and certainly no man takes the trials incident to life more calmly than does he. Well, to make, what could be made with truth, a long story come within the scope of a biographical work of this magnitude, we will say that Mr. Mitchuson, whose name appears at the head of this article, is a son of Col. James F. Mitchuson and Elizabeth Young, native Kentuckians. His grandfather Mitchuson fought with other gallant Kentuckians at the battle of New Orleans, and was one among the distinguished.. Our subject was born at Princeton, Kentucky, on the twenty-ninth day of Aucrust, 1832, and was educated at Cumberland College. In 1861 he married Miss Maria A, Rudy, at her home in Lyon County, Kentucky, Mrs. Mitchuson is a daughter of Wm. Rudy, an early citizen of Henderson, and a granddaughter of James Alves, one of the earliest comers here, and great-granddaughter of Walter Alves, one of the partners in the Henderson grant. Her birthright dates back to 1797 and no better stock is to be found in Kentucky. These two good people have had born unto them four children, Charles, Mary Alves, Bessie and Maggie Rudy, all living. There is a no more happy home Sunshine around the hearth at all seasons. Mr. Mitchuson followed farming in Caldwell County, after arriving at his majority, up to the year 1862, when be came to Henderson, Since his life here, he has followed farming, occasionally indulging in a harmless speculation that could in no wise cripple, even though it resulted contrary to his wish. He has never held an office and was never a candidate for one, though, upon. a number of occasions, he has been an active participant in the interest of his friends. He is a loyal Democrat. Many years ago he was baptised in the Baptist faith and connected himself with the " Blue Spring " Church, of Caldwell County. Since his residence in this county, latterly, at least, he has shown himself more of a latitudinarian than one wedded to any one religious sect. He is liberal in his church views and gives, as he has often said, "every man a chance for his white alley."

Charles Mitchuson, the eldest child of Ning Mitchuson and Maria A. Rudy, was born at Princeton, Kentucky, on the twenty-seventh day of May, 1863. He received a liberal education, and has ever been highly esteemed for his social qualities. On the twenty-fourth day of November, 1886, he married Miss Laura Barnett, of Henderson, a niece of the late Esquire John E. McCallister, and a young lady combining all of the graces of gentle womanhood necessary to make her husband's home and life all that this poor world can give. They are happily mated, and the writer hopes that their lives may be uninterrupted by a single jar. Mr. Mitchuson, a year or more ago, embarked in the merchant tailoring business, and is to-day at the head of one of the largest establishments, carrying a well assorted and various stock of goods in his line. Life shines brightly before him and mav he realize it.

FREDERICK KLEIDERER was born in Alsace, a German District, which was reunited to that country in 1871, after two centuries' possession by France. His birth occurred on the eleventh day of September, 1835, at Woerth, on the Sauer, the place where General McMahon fought his great battle of the Franco-Prussian War, August 6th, 1870, and, at an early age, was sent to the public schools, where he was instructed in both the German and French languages. His father? Frederick Kleiderer, is living and enjoying fine health. His mother's maiden name was Salome Dobbleman. She departed this life February, 1885, just five months after our subject had crossed the deep blue sea from a visit to her. Mr. Kleiderer's paternal ancestors were Swiss; his maternal ancestors were natives of Wurtemberg. The father of our subject served seven years in the French army as a member of the Thirty-eighth Infantry, during the reign of Charles X. and Louis Phillipe. In October, 1853, Mr. K. came to America, and in August, the following year, moved out West and settled in the town of Caseyville, Union County, and there opened a merchant tailoring establishment.

Mr. Kleiderer was in the tailoring business but a short time when he accepted a position as Superintendent of a wharf boat at Weston, Kentucky, in the employ of Captain Richard Foard. He remained at Weston until 1855, when he returned to Caseyville and again embarked in the tailoring trade. On the eleventh day of July, 1856, he married, in Henderson, Miss Louisa Geibel, sister of Konrad Geibel, a highly esteemed citizen, and reiurned to Caseyville. They have had six children, five of whom are living, Charles F., Louis Phillipe, Konrad, William S., and Phillipe. The eldest child, Louisa, died, when two and a half years of age, at Caseyville.

During the year 1864, Mr. Kleiderer, with his family, removed to Henderson and has since resided here. In September, 1862, during the War of the Rebellion, he enlisted in the Eighth Kentucky Cavalry, Captain Hillman's Company, Colonel J. M. Schackelford's Regiment, but, owing to an overplus of volunteers, the company was disbanded. In January, 1864, our subject was elected and commissioned Captain of Company A, Second Battalion, One Hundred and Third Regiment. Kentucky Militia, by Governor Thomas E. Bramlett.

Since the war, and up to a year ago, he has successfully carried on the merchant tailoring trade and has enjoyed a lucrative patronage. He has served the city in a number of official capacities, in no single instance falling short of the confidence imposed in him by his people. Two terms, of nearly five years, he served as Councilman, and, during that time, was a recognized leader. This was owing to his high sense of honor, his excellent judgment and his far seeing intellioence upon all matters of public moment. Five years ago, he was elected Secretary and Treasurer of the Board of Water Commissioners, and is serving in that capacity at this writing.

Mr. Kleiderer was raised and educated in the Evangelical Lutheran Church faith and possesses an intelligent understanding of the doctrine as is taught by his church. He is a member of Stranger's Rest Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 13, and has been seated and presided in all of the chairs.

He is also a member of the Grand Lodge and was made District Deputy for Henderson County by the Grand Master in 1870. Mr. Kleiderer is an enthusiastic member of the order and has done a great deal of work in its interest. He has ever been a warm friend of the Fire Department of the city, and one time was one of its most active members. All in all, the subject of this sketch has proven himself a valuable citizen - certainly, in all truth and sincerity, it can be said of him and his good wife, that they are the parents of five of the most

MILTON YOUNG. - Thgre is no name associated with the history of Henderson County, so remarkable in all of its fortunate surroundings, as that of Milton Young, The eventful life of this young man has been marked by a success unparalleled in the history of most counties of the country, and has been frequently attributed to what is commonly denominated luck ; this opinion, however, arises from a want of knowledge of the man. His " luck," as it is called, was the outcropping of a splendid mind, evenly balanced in the art of money making, and remarkably strong in cogent powers, necessary to direct and govern a most successful business life. Governed by the highest principles of social and business order, modest and unassuming, even in the zenith of his successes, non-communicative in matters important to himself, strictly temperate and sober in all of the phases of life, liberal and accommodating in friendship, and a brother in fact and deed, he has thus won for himself in the race for life a name, national in itself, a name as honorable as it is national. Milton Young was born in Union County, Ky., on the first day of January, 1851, and is the fifth soii of Judge Milton Young and Maria Thompson. Jud'^e Young moved to Henderson when the subject of this sketch was eight years of age. His school days were spent here, and by close application to his studies, under the guidance of two or more competent teachers, he qualified himself for life's journey.

In 1867, when only sixteen years of age, he borrowed the necessary amount to enable him to open a very small tobacco and cigar store, in an eight by six foot store room, adjoining the old drug house of George Lvne, on MaiYi Street. To this business the young man applied himself, and soon gained a lucrative trade. In October, 1869 two years after, he sold his stock and went to Hopkinsville, where h* engaged in the same business, in an old building on Main Street, adjoining what was then known as the Ford House. During this time, he was appointed on the Hopkinsville police force, and served in that capacity to the time of a difficulty between himself and the Marshal, some six months after. An unpleasantness had existed for some time between him and A. M. Laub, City Marshal, which finally resulted in a shooting scrape, wherein Mr. Young was shot twice Laub and his friend, Ed. Gerhart, met Young in front of the Court House door about nine o'clock on the morning of August, 1869, and thereupon renewed the old fued. In the melee pistols were fired by both par ties, and the wonder is that the gallant policeman lived to tell the

Story of the rencounter. The determination of Laub and Gerhart was evidently to take his life, but a kind providence and a bold and fearless spirit manifested on the part of Mr. Young, protected him from a literally mangling of flesh and bones. He received, however, two shots, one in the abdomen and one under the shoulder blade, passing under the skin, and coming out at the neck. Both parties fired on him. From the effect of these wounds he was confined to his room about six weeks. About a year afterwards he returned to Henderson, and again embarked in the tobacco and cigar trade, in an old frame building on Main Street, where now stands a handsome row of bricks » built for retail stores. By economy, he had saved enough to enable him to purchase the three little old frames then standing, one of which he occupied himself. He continued in business one and one-half years and then sold out. For some months after this, he amused himself in a leisure way, spending, perhaps, the most of his time on the Richland farm with his sister, Mrs. Buckman. In January, 1876, he organized the firm of Norris & Young, and opened a large hardware and agricultural house on Main Street, between Second and Third. While Mr. Young exercised a supervisory care over the business of the firm, Mr. Norris was yet the active partner, and was intrusted with the management and conduct of the business. During this partner ship Mr. Young purchased at Nashville two race horses, Old Joe Rhodes and Duncan F. Kenner ; this was in the fall of 1878. In the spring of '79 he commenced his turf life at Louisville, and at this meeting won two races with Joe Rhodes. Kenner started once, was defeated and afterwards sold. Joe Rhodes was taken to the St. Louis meeting following, and was there sold. In this spring he purchased of General Harding, of " Belle Meade " NashviJle, Boot Jack, one year old ; Manitou, one vear old, and Boswell, two vears old. In the month of May, he purchased of J. J. Merrill, Louisville^ Bancroft, a two year old. In the fall, he purchased of Douglas & Co. Beatitude, a three year old. The aggregate cost of the five racers amounted to $2,455. These horses were brought to Henderson and wintered, and in the spring of 1880 shipped to Louisville. This spring his stable, consisting of the above named horses, made its debut at Nashville, running Bancroft, Beatitude and Boot Jack, and all winning. From Nashville, the stable was taken to Louisville, where Beatitude alone won. From Louisville the stable was taken to St. Louis, and here all three won. Beatitude won three races, Bancroft won the Missouri Derby, and Boot Jack won his race. From St. Louis to Chicago, here, Bancroft won three stakes and Beatitude three purse races, one of which was the three best in five, mile heats, to which was added $2,500, the largest purse ever run for in a three in five race. She also won one stake race m the very remarkal^Je time of 2.Sj4 and 1^ miles. At Detroit Bancroft won the Michigan Derby, and a mile heat stake for three year olds. He was the only starter from Mr. Young's stable at "that meeting. From Detroit the stable was taken to Saratoga, New York, and at that meeting Beatitude and Boot Jack both won a purse race each. From Saratoga, the stable wjs returned to the fall meeting, held at Louisville, where Beatitude failed in her fore legs and was withdrawn from the turf. Boot Jack won the two year old stake. At Nashville, the next week Boot Jack started and was second to Lelex ; Bancroft won the Cumberland stakes, two miles for three year olds. This ended the racing season of 1880, and Mr. Young's winnings, when calculated, showed the large sum of $19,600. During this year, Manitou and Boswell were sold, and such horses added to his stable as Lost Cause, Boatman, Getawav, and Beatrice.

At the beginning of the spring 1881 races, Mr. Young's stable was much stronger than it was the previoxis year. He started at Nashville, with his stable, and at the meeting Boot Jack won the " Belle Meade " stake 1^ miles ; Bancroft won the 1^ mile, *'Railroad Stakes ;" at Louisville, just afterwards, Bancroft won the " Inaugural" rush 1^ miles, defeating the famous Checkmate. He also won the Louisville Cup, 2^ miles, beating Checkmate and Mendelsohn. For this race Mr. Young had Bancroft heavily backed in the books, and as a veritable consequence won what is called in turf parlance, 'S^ barrel of 1710 ?iey.^'' At Cincinnati, the following week, Critic, and Monogram were purchased of Captain Wm. Cottrell. This stable, comprising Boot Jack, Bancroft, Getaway, Beatrice, Monogram and Critic, was entered in six races, and ran without defeat, winning the entire six, in which the horses were entered. At St. Louis, the following week, Boatman and Critic each won a race, Getaway ran and won the best 1^ mile heat race on record; Bancroft won two races, one of which was the Brewers' Cup, 2)^ miles. In this race, as at Louisville, Mr. Young had Bancroft heavily backed. At Chicago the following week Getaway won the best 2 mile heat race ever run by a three year old. Lost Cause won his debutant effort. At Saratoga, Getaway and Boot Jack won six races each. It was here Getaway was matched against Eole for $2,500 and suffered defeat. At this meeting Mr. Young purchased Perplex and Patti. Perplex won four races, Patti won one. From Saratoga the stable was brought to the fall meeting at Lexington. Here Getaway won the Viley Stakes, Lost Cause, the two colt Stakes, and Boot Jack, two purse races. In the Station stake Getawav broke down in his fore legs, and was afterwards sold ; Patti won the Inaugural Rush. At Louisville, Lost Cause won both the two year old events ; Boot Jack won four races, one being the '' Great American Stallion " stake, the other the Turf stake ; Perplex won two races out of three starts. At Nashville, the last meeting of the year 1881, and after having run at the same place in the spring, subsequently at Louisville, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Chicago, Saratoga, Lexington and again at Louisville - the renowned Boot Jack won here two races on the same day, and the following day won the Cumberland stakes, mile heats for three year olds ; Lost Cause won the two year old stake. This closed the year 1881, and upon an accurate calcuiation Mr. Young's purse and stake winnings aggregated the round sum of $37,700, nearly double that of 1880. During 1881, Mr. Young added to his stable Bondholder and Ascender, and the spring of 1882 found his string of flyers < omposed as follows, Bondholder, Boot Jack, Bancroft, Perplex, Lost Cause, Monogram, Patti, Ascender, Boatman, Glen Arm and several others not worthy of mention. This spring found the Young stable in elegant form for the year's work. The spring of '82 racing, so far as this stable was concerned, commenced at Louisville, and here as a successful starter. Monogram won the one mile dash, and the mile heat race for three year olds; Bancroft won the mile dash in 1.42^ It was here that Bondholder defeated the celebrated " Punster," and several others for the Runnymeade stakes for two year olds. At St. Louis, Monogram won the Missouri Derby, and a mile dash ; Bancroft won two races, one l}i and 1^ miles ; Boot Jack won three races, 1^ miles, Ij^ miles and mile heats ; Ascender won the ^ mile and 1 mile, for two year olds ; Perplex won the ^ of a mile ; Lost Cause won the 1^ mile dash, and Glen Arm J^ mile dash. At this meeting Mr. Young won the first day's programme, consisting of four races, with four horses as follows : Monogram, " Missouri Derby," Boot Jack, mile heats, Ascender, ^ mile dash, Bancroft, 1}^ miles. Such unprecedented fortune was never known to fall to the lot of a turfman before in the historv of racing. At Chicago, Boatman made his first appearance for the year, winning a mile race for three year olds ; Ascender won two valuable two year old stakes, ^ and 1 mile ; Boot Jack won two races, one at a mile anfl one at two miles, the longest race ever run by that horse. At Saratoga Bancroft let down, and was started in a selling race, which he won ; he was sold for one thousand dollars. Boot Jack won several races, the best of which was a cash handicap l}i miles, in the fast time of 1.54^^ ; his stable companion, Boatman ran second. Boatman won four races, two of them the '- Kenna," and the "Sequel " stakes, perhaps the most prominent and important races ran during the meeting. Ascender ran four times, and was defeated only once. Patti won one race ; Monogram won two. At this meeting Mr. Young sold Boot Jack, Lost Cause and Perplex to the Dwyer Bros., of New York. Here he purchased Vera, a most promising young race mare.

From Saratoga the Young stable was brought again to the fall (1882) meeting at Lexington ; here Ascender w on the two year old stake ; here Square Dance was jjurchased.

At Louisville, the following week, Ascender won the mile stake for two-year olds ; Vera the mile stake for two-year old fillies ; Boatman won the great American stallion stake. This stake has been in existence since the organization of the Louisville Race Course, and Mr. Young is the only turfman who has won ihe stake two consecutive years. Square Dance won, at this meeting, two races. At this meeting, Mr. Young's racing career was 'brought to a close, he having determined to abandon it for the more pleasant and agreeable life of breeding for the turf. To this end, at the Louisville meeting, he sold <"o R. C. Pate, of St. Louis, Boatman, Monogram, Bondholder, Ascender, Tangent, Longway, Emperor, Rex, Embargo, Empire, Envoy and Endymion, absolutely. He also sold the running qualities for the racing season for which they were entered, the following fillies: Vera, Nannie D., Maria D., Tattoo, Trophy and Trinket. He reserved Patti and Square Dance, This sale was made for the handsome sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, cash in hand paid. In summing up the year's business, it was found that the winnings from stake and purse races, amounted to $30,300. Thus, it will be seen, that the star of fortune had never before stuck so closely to a young man, in so risky a business, as it did to Mr. Young. His turf life began in the spring of 1879 with two broken down racers and a limited purse, and ended in the fall of 1882 with a stable of magnificent runners and a barrel of money to carry out any plan he might choose to undertake.

For some time he had set his soul upon being the owner of McGrathiana, perhaps the finest blue grass farm in ail the State of Kentucky. On September 14th, 1882, McGrathiana, the magnificent home of Price McGrath, the renowned owner of Tom Bowling, was offered for sale at commissioner's sale, and Milton Young, being the highest bidder, became the purchaser for the sum of $47,000. The farm comprises four hundred and seventeen acres of land, a beautiful brick and stone residence, elegant outbuildings and superior stables and breeding improvements. It is located three miles from Lexington, on the Newtown pike.

It is Mr. Young's intention to make McGrathiana still more noted in turf annals, and, to this end, he has selected the purest blooded racing stock to be found in America. He now has in his McGrathiana stud, the celebrated stallion, Onendaga (full brother to Sensation), by Leamington, dam Susan Bean. Duke of Montrose, six years old, by Waverly, dam Kelpie by imported Bonnie Scotland. These two stallions have no superior in this country. He has in his harem forty-seven mares, which cost him on an average of one thousand dollars each. Among the number we note, Beatitude, Bliss and Beatrice, full sisters ; Fonwitch, full sister to Fonso; Kelpie, dam of Jeannette ;"Gladiola, sister to Glidelia; Black Maria, sister to Bancroft ; Perhaps, dam of Perplex ; Skylight, sister to Vandlelight ; Olivia, dam Olitipa. Of the forty-seven mares in the harem, eight of them are by Imported Bonnie Scotland ; four by Imported Australian ; four by Imported Leamington. Twenty-seven of these mares foaled last spring, by such stallions as King Alphonso, Longfellow, King Ban and Imported Mortimer. Mr. Young sold, last spring, four colts: one out of Beatitude, by King Alphonso; one out of Nelly Booker, by Harper's Tenbroeck ; one out of Perhaps, by St. Martin, and one by Fellowcraft, dam an Enquirer mare. A majority of his mares were bred last spring to Onandago, and a few to the Duke of Montrose. Annual sales of vearlinsrs will be one of the main features of McGrathiana from this time on.

In conclusion : During Mr. Young's turf career he has won one hundred and twenty-one races, been second fifty-nine times, and winning the sum total, in public money, of $80,100. Mr. Young always backed his horses, and his winnings, outside of stakes and purses, it is confidently said, have amounted to $200,000. Mr. Young has been a close observer, always keeping a watchful eye over his horses and never shooting at high game unless he had good guns and first-class ammunition.

The following compliment, taken from the Courier-Journal, I heartily endorse : " The present proprietor of McGrathiana is not unlike that of the celebrated Captain Machell, of England. Neither of them has ever owned a sensational horse, nor won the greatest prize contended for in their respective countries ; but each of them has had many good ones, has managed them with rare tact and judgment, and has gained a deserving reputation for shrewdness and ability ; the fact is Mr. Young is the " Machell " of the American turf.

ornament : the result of a taste in keeping with his splendid business judgment. To complete the victory and renown he so hurriedly builded all by himself, he has displayed a degree of sense surpassmg even the brightest of his turf life. On December the 14, 1882, he was married to Miss Lucie Spalding, the handsome, and highly cultured daughter of Hon. and Mrs. I. A. Spalding, of Morganfield Ky. A truly brilliant and happy event in the life of him whose young life had been filled with successful prolific blessings. She meets the stranger with an ease and grace which have a peculiar charm, showing that she has been accustomed to the highest circles of society, and in her presence he at once feels at home. Mr. Young, while on the turf, won 121 races, but his last victory, when he captured Mrs. Young, was by long odds the greatest prize and a fitting crown to his retirement.

In conclusion, allow me to say, on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Young, that they are well settled down, and nothing will afford them more pleasure than to receive calls from friends and strangers, having both the ability and inclination to entertain them in true old Kentucky style ; in other words, the latch-string at McGrathiana always hangs on the outside.

HON. OLLIE B. STEELE. (Sketch by the Hon. John A. Smith, Secretary Louisiana State Senate.) - The subject of this sketch was born at Henderson, Kentucky, on December 2d, 1844, and was educated at the City Academy, taught by Prof. Warner Craig. At the age of twelve he became a member of the " Ionian Debating Society," a literary institution of that time, numbering many of the best and brightest young men of the town.

In 1857 the Sabbath Schools of Henderson held a joint Fourth of July celebration, choosing orators for the occasion from among the members of the debating society. Young Steele appeared for the Christian School. The lamented Governor, L. W. Powell, was present, and honored the boy orators, by introducing each to the vast concourse of people assembled in " Alves Grove," the place of cele" bration. In 1858 Steele was awarded the first prize for horsemanship at the Henderson Fair. Of the then students of Henderson Academy, those who survive will remember him as being usually honored in its weekly debates, with first place, he being an active participant. From being a frequent observer of the drills and parades of the Kentucky State Guards, he conceived a love for military profession, and induced the professor of the Academy to establish a mili- 'tary company composed of the older students. At an election of offi- cers, he was chosen Captain of the company, which post he held until he enlisted in the Confederate Army, being several times re elected. The boy soldiers were known as "The Academy Blues, "their uniform consisting of blue jacket and grey pantaloons. Their drill became so excellent, that the boy company soon eclipsed both Home and State Guards. In 18G0 they gave a drill on the fair grounds, winning applause from the thousands of people present. In the spring of 1861, the famous " Eleventh Indiana Zouaves, " commanded by General, then Colonel Lew ',Vallace, were encamped at Evansville, and the "Academy Blues" paid them a visit. The company were welcomed by Colonel Wallace in a neat speech, which was responded to by Captain Steele, who then put the '- Blues " through their drill in the presence of the Zouaves, winning the admiration of the regiment. In August, 1861, when not yet seventeen years old, he entered the Confederate army, enlisting in Captain James Ingram's company of the Fourth Kentucky Infantry, but did not go into active service until the following October, when Henderson was occupied by a Federal regiment under Colonel Cruft. While Cruft's regiment was on dress parade, Steele, Major Ed Rankin and others, stole out of the city on their way to join General Buckner at Bowling Green. On the following morning, the party breakfasted at Madisonville, forty miles distant. Arriving at 'Bowling Green, Steele attached himself to the " Issaqueena Artillery," afterwards known as the famous " Graves' Battery," of which Major Rice Graves was the first Captain. Because of his small stature and tender age, Ollie was made bugler of the company. Owing to his knowledge of infantry tactics, he was also employed as drill master, at the same time acting as clerk to Major T. R. Hotchkiss, who had charge of the ordinance stores and of the mounting of the heavy guns in the several forts around Bowling Green. Now the terrible realities of civil strife became vividly impressed upon his mind. His battery participated in the four days' fight at Fort Donelson, where many Henderson boys were engaged on either side.

Friend fought friend, and brother fought brother, the blue and the grey of Henderson immediately confronted each other in the last day's battle. Stretched upon the field, with a mortal wound in his breast, Steele saw his brother Cyrus, who had joined the Union army. Here, Dudley, seeing a Federal officer lying, wrapped in a blanket, at the foot of a large tree, seemingly fatally wounded, and, thinking his end near, remarked : " He ought to be killed." The officer replied : " I am Colonel Logan, of the Illinois regiment, and have but a short time to live." The Colonel recovered, was afterwards promoted to Major General, and, subsequent to the war, served as United States Senator from Illinois up to his death.

After the capture of Donelson, many of the Henderson boys, who had espoused the cause of the blue,, visited Graves' Battery and talked of by-gone days. This company, among others, were sent prisoners to Camp Morton, Indianapolis, Indiana, where they remained until the following September, when they were sent to Cairo, and from thence, by way of the river, to Vicksburg, where they were exchanged. From Vicksburg, the company were marched to Jackson, and, after halting there a few days, were hurried forward to Knoxville to join General J. C. Breckenridge, who was organizing a command to enter Kentucky and reinforce Bragg. During Breckenridge's advance to Cumberland Gap, and subsequent return to Chattanooga and Murfreesboro, Steele, by his activity and close attention to details, was promoted to Corporal and Sergeant in rapid succession. He was by far the best drilled officer in Graves' Battery, and, for this reason, was most frequently detailed to drill duty. He fought with this battery at Harisville, where two thousand Federals were captured.

At Murfreesboro, owing to the wounding of many officers of the battery, Steele was given command of one section. During the Winter of 1863, he was tendered the office of First Lieutenant of the Fourth Kentucky, Ingram's Company, and accepted. With this regiment he served in the Joe Johnston campaign for the reliet of Vicksburg, and fought at the battle of Jackson. Major Rice Graves recommended him to General Breckenridge for promotion in the ordinance service, but this was declined on account of his age. At Chickamauga, during the second day's fight, the Fourth Kentucky captured a section of Federal artillery, which, but for the skill and indomitable watchfulness of Steele, would have been recaptured. This valued prize he turned over to General Forrest in person.

While on the field of battle, General Breckenridge rode up to Steele and ordered him to report to Cobb's Battery, Major Graves having been mortally wounded. While the army lay in front of Chattanooga, Steele became Acting Adjutant of Artillery of Breckenridge's Division, and subsequently Acting Adjutant for the corps, which position he filled with signal ability until the battle of Missionary Ridge.

Breckenridge's Division went into winter quarters at Kingston, Georgia, and, during that time, Steele obtained a leave of absence for thirty days, during which time he visited Henderson, his native home.

He made the journey from Princeton to Henderson, a distance of seventy miles, in one day, upon the back of a mule. His leave of absence having expired, he rejoined his command and remained with the Fourth Kentucky until near the close of the Atlanta campaign, when he resigned. He went to Tupelo, and there asked authority of General Forrest to enter Kentucky and recruit a company for artillery service. His application was granted and General Abe Buford issued to him all necessary papers. In August, 1864, he struck the Tennessee River and proceeded down that stream in a canoe. He then crossed to the Cumberland and made his way to Henderson. Having recruited near eighty men, he started on his return South, via Eddyville, on the Cumberland, arriving there on the night of September 9th. Observing a lot of men standing at a street corner, Steele, supposing them to be citizens, halted his command on the bank and then rode into the town to inquire concerning some boats he had learned were there. Much to his surprise, instead of citizens, he found himself in the hands of a squad of Federal soldiers, to whom he was compelled to surrender. Two of his men were captured^ but the others made good their escape. Steele was relieved of his pocket change and papers, but, by strategy, managed to save his Watch. A short time after his arms were pinioned behind him and he started on horseback, under guard, for Princeton. Arriving there about midnight, he and his two men were confined in the Court House, where they found a dozen or fifteen of Colonel Adam Johnston's men prisoners. A few days after, Steele and thirteen men were returned to Eddyville for transportation to Louisville. On the thirteenth day of September, they were marched aboard the steamer Mattie Cabler, in charge of a sergeant and seven guards. Arriving that same evening at Smithland, on the Ohio River, the prisoners were transferred from the Cabler to the steamer CoUossus, where a Lieutenant was placed in charge of the guard. Captain Steele was very kindly treated by the Captain of the boat, who claimed to be a Southern man. The Lieutenant was also very polite, but all of his kindly overtures were declined, because Steele had fully made up his mind to capture the boat and liberate himself and men. Steele and the other prisoners were placed on the hurricane roof of the boat, and, after the Lieutenant had retired, two of the prisoners and two of the guards amused themselves by playing cards by moonlight.

for escape, which he had not, until then, imparted to them. At early dawn, the sleepless prisoners being chilled cold from the night dews, gathered about the smokestacks;-, nervous with excitement as to the result of the forthcoming struggle Steele had notified them that his signal for action would be the buttoning up of his coat. Placing himself at a point between the Federal watch and the smokestacks, he, seeing a suitable opportunity, commenced to button up, when several of his men moved to the opposite side of the boat and concealed themselves under the eaves of the skylights. Thinking the opportunity lost, he began to upbraid them for their cowardice, when Elliott and Johnson walked up to him, tapped him on the shoulder, and said : " Captain, we will die by you." At the same moment, seeing McClure, Dr. Arnett and the Crider brothers also ready for action, Steele again commenced hastily to button his coat, and, as the last button slipped through its hole, he, in the twinkling of an eye, disarmed the guard nearest to him, and Elliot and Johnson, at the same time, disarmed the guards nearest to them. Steele and Johnson then turned upon the Sergeant of the Guard, who lay asleep upon the deck, and, not wishing to kill him, pricked him up with a bayonet, demanding his surrender. He arose, drawing a pistol as he did so, and fired, saying : " Surrender, hell ! *' The shot passed over their heads. He was then thrust through the body with a bayonet, shot and instantly killed. As he fell he threw his pistol into the river. Steele next turned upon the guard at the bell, who, throwing up his hmds, surrendered his gun and pistol. In a moment he was pursuing another, when the man he had first disarmed, having recovered from his surprise, struck him behind the ear with his fist, almost knocking him down, at the same time seizing his gun by the muzzle. Recovering himself, Steele tried to wrench the muzzle round to the other's breast to shoot him, but the man held it firmly under his left arm, and, in that position, struck Steele blow after blow with his right fist. At this instant a pistol ball from Elliott felled him, but he rose and came again, when Steele knocked him down with his gun. Still unconquered, he returned to the attack a third time, when he was shot through the heart and killed on the spot. By this time two of the guards had been killed, two others wounded and taken prisoners, and the others disarmed, while Steele and his men had not suffered a scratch, except the pounding the Captain himself received.

A ridiculous incident now occurred that created merriment, despite the gravity of the situation. A green Irishman, a raw recruit, evidently a recent importation, being summoned to surrender, and| not knowing how to do so, started on a run around the pilot house, making the circuit of it twice and receiving several prods from bayonets, before he could be made to understand what was required of him. Pat being captured, the remainder of the guards, who had fled to the pilot house, descended and gave themselves up. All were ordered aft, and, in their turn, placed under guard.

The roof was now in Steele's possession, but not a moment too soon, for, at this juncture, the Lieutenant was discovered attempting to climb upon it from the cabin railing. Captain Steele charged him, when he hastily fell back. Turning to the hatchway to descend in pursuit of the Lieutenant, Steele met the entire boat crew, fifteen or twenty in number, at the head of the stairway, coming up. He charged them with his bayonet, when the foremost man fell backward upon his companions, who, in their hurry to retreat, rolled pellmell over each other to the bottom and fled to the hold of the boat for refuge. Captain Steele now instructed the pilot to head the boat for Weston, Kentucky, the nearest good landing place, and then, arming himself with a pistol and taking with him one of his men, went below to secure the Lieutenant and the boat's crew, none of whom had arms. Reaching the cabin, he directed the boat's officers to produce the Lieutenant, who, however, could not be found. Captain Steele himself then started in search, and discovered the gallant Lieutenant in the chambermaid's quarters, hidden away under her bed.

Steele ordering him out, the Lieutenant presented himself with hands uplifted, begging for quarter. Being assured no harm would be done him, he was marched to the front. The crew were next ordered to form in line across the forecastle, which they did, hats off and trembling with fear, in which position they remained until released. The pilot, engineer and fireman, all remained at their posts until the boat was landed. Owing to the kindness of the boat's Captain, Steele abandoned the idea of burning her, and scuttling her barges which he had at first contemplated. Nor did he confiscate the funds in her safe, but left the good Captain in full posession of his property. Arriving at the landing, all, by invitation of the boat's Captain, took a drink together, and shook hands on parting. The Lieutenant accompanied Captain Steele to the foot of the stairs,- assured him he had no complaints to make, that the capture of the boat was a brave and daring act, well conceived and brilliantly executed, and the subsequent treatment of himself and men had been kind and considerate. As Steele stepped ashore, the Captain of the boat said *' Good bye, God bless you, I wish you all success in the world." In a few days the little band were all mounted, and Captain Steele began again to collect the recruits who had scattered after his capture. On September 25th, he with twenty-five men intercepted a body of sixty colored Federal ttoops near the Lisle place on the Madisonville Road, six miles out from Henderson, intending to capture them, but the negroes took to the woods and effected their escape. In October, he captured the steamboat R B. Speed on Green River, and placed a guard on her with the intention of running through the locks at Spottsville, and capturing the small gunboat, which was guarding them, while the rest of the command proceeded by land. This plan he abandoned, because he learned that the Federals had become aware of his presence in the neighborhood. Hearing that in Hardin County there were some one hundred recruits desiring to make their way south, and wishing to join them with his men, for greater safety, Steele, taking two of his command, set out to find them, intending to arrange with them a place of rendezvous and then return for his own men. In passing through Hardensburg with Captain Carroll and twenty men, they were fired upon by Home Guards and Carroll killed, and several men wounded. This determined Captain Steele to return to Green River for safer quarters. A short time after this, Steele, with what men he had with him, joined Colonel Chenoworth with his company enroute South. They arrived ^on the Tennessee River in time to take part with General Forest in his attack on Johnsonville, where four gunboats, ten steamboats and twenty-seven barges were captured and destroyed. Steele retired to Paris, Tenn., and wao here given a battery as a reward for gallantry. He was then sent to McLemoresville, and placed in command of the post and department ordinance stores. Early in December, he was placed in charge of surplus stores, cannon, etc., for transportation to Jackson, Tenn. He then joined General H. B. Lyon, and again crossed the Tennessee River. The command then marched to Cumberland City, where the steamers Thomas Tutt, Echo and Ben South, laden with army supplies for the Federals, were captured. They used these boats in crossing the Cumberland, and then burned them.

December 12th, Hopkinsville was occupied and Steele appointed Provost Marshal. On the sixteenth day of December, Chenoworth's command was engaged near Hopkinsville, by General McCook, of the Federal army, and lost his entire artillery. Steele then rejoined Lyon at Charleston, Kentucky. The disastrous defeat of Hood at Nashville, placed Lyon in a critical shape, compelling him to retreat on Alabama. Passing through Madisonville December 18th, Lyon burned the Court House and passed on to Green River, hotly pursued by the Federals. December 10th, 1864, a special order was issued by General Lyon to Captain Steele, directing him to recruit and organize a company for light artillery service, and to this end he was directed to enforce the conscript law, collect all stragglers, and to impress horses for artillery purposes. Steele came into Henderson County, and, when posting orders in the Town of Corydon, was fired upon by a company of colored troops. On the following morning, when the negroes were crossing into Union County, Steele, accompanied by three men dashed on their flank, fired into them with pistols, wounding, several and then disappeared in the timber before the negroes could recover from their panic. On February 8th, learning that Captain Sam Allen, with a force of Federals, was on the Madisonville Road, he marched hurriedly to meet him, but was disappointed. He then crossed from the Madisonville to the Corydon Road, striking at the Alves ford below the fair grounds. Here they built a fence across the road, in a hollow opposite the ford, making a strong pen, leaving the side towards Henderson open. Dismounting his men, Steele pi ced them in fence corners with orders not to fire until the word of command was given, or the Federals had passed into the trap prepared for them. Lieutenant Spalding, with ten mounted men, was posted in ambush some distance to the front and immediately opposite a gap in the fence which had been left down for him to pass through and take the expected enemy in the rear. Two men were then ordered to ride into the city, fire on any Federal who came in sight, and then retreat, with a view of inducing the Federals to pursue them into the trap. In this they were successful, being hotly pursued by Captain Sam. Allen and twelve men, who would all have been captured but for George Gibson, one of the Cenfederates, who, in the excitement of the moment, forgot the order not to fire until the word was given, and blazed away as soon as the Federals came opposite to him. This shot brought Allen to a halt as he had lost sight of the two men he was pursuing, they having passed through the gap and joined Spalding. A few more of the company now opened fire contrary to orders, on which Allen wheeled, and, under whip and spur, beat a rapid retreat, closely pursued by Spalding and his guard. Allen and part of his men passed the gap before Spalding could reach it, but was pur. sued into the precincts of the town. Six prisoners and a lot of arms were the fruit of this little victory. The prisoners were taken to Union County, and released on parole. On February 10th, Captain Wright occupied Morganfield with about one hundred colored Federal troops, and on the following day, leaving Lieutenant Wirt, with forty men to hold the town, started with sixty on a raid into the county. Steele, Spalding and about thirty men started in pursuit of Wright, who was followed for several hours. Steele then changed his plan, and taking Spalding and fourteen men marched on Morganfield with the intention of cutting Wright off and capturing the town. The remainder were ordered to continue in pursuit. Arriving at the suburbs of the town, Steele posted his men so as to watch both roads leading south. In this position he waited until near night, when, hearing nothing of Wright, he determined to try and capture the town, and Wirt's force by a ruse. He ordered his men to march about continually so as to attract the attention of the Federals and lead them to believe they were threatened by a large force Then Spalding was sent under a flag of truce, with a communication from Captain Steele to Wirt, announcing that Wright's detachment had been made prisoners and demanding his surrender. To this Wirt agreed, and Steele was about to send Spalding back into town, with ten men, to receive his capitulation, when at this moment, a courier rode up and announced that Wright was approaching. Dispatching ten men to hold Wright in check, Steele and Spalding accompanied by two men, rode into town to receive the prisoners who were marched into the street, where they stacked arms. At this juncture the rattle of musketry was heard over behind the hill, and Wirt realizing that he nad been duped, ordered his men to resume their arms. As they rushed for them, Steele and his companions beat a hurried retreat, followed by a shower of bullets. In five minutes more, Wirt's command would have been prisoners, and on his return, Wright would have found the town in the hands of Steele and his men, waiting to give him a warm reception.

The following night Wright evaded Spalding, who was watching the road, and retreated to Uniontown. Steele's command wa> engaged in several skirmishes after this. At one time he entered Henderson at one o'clock at night, intending to assault and capture the colored troops who occupied some breastworks on the river front above the wharf landing. Becoming aware of his movement, they fled aboard a gunboat or to some other point of safety. The Confederates had now evacuated Richmond, and Sherman had cut the Confederacy in two by his march to the sea, while Confederate troops were surrendering at all points. Nothing, therefore, was left Steele, but to disband his command and seek concealment, or to surrender. He chose the latter course, laying down his arms at his old home, where he had four years before first taken them up, after having passed through many dangers and participated in many battles, without having during these years ot service received a scratch, except the pounding administered to him by the fist of the Federal soldier, whom he had disarmed in capturing the steamboat Colossus In January, 1866, Captain Steele removed to Morehouse Parish, in the northern part of the State of Louisiana, entering into mercantile life with Major T. R. Hotchkiss. He went, in 1869, to New Orleans, taking a situation in the wholesale dry goods establishment of John Sauche, where he had charge of the office. Returning to North Louisiana in December of the same year, he took up his residence in Ouachita City, Union Parish, his present home. Captain Steele married in May, 1871, Miss Juliet M. Parks, dausrhter of Mr. William Parks, the fruit of which union has been two sons and two daughters. Since that period he has engaged in extensive farming and mercantile enterprise in the parishes of Union^ Morehouse and Ouachita, where he at present owns several large and valuable cotton plantations. In 1876, he first entered politics, being chosen as a delegate from Union Parish to the Democratic State nominating convention, held at Baton Rouge. Steele took an active part in the memorable election campaign of that year, contributing not a little to the overthrow and destruction of Republican rule in Louisiana. At this election he was chosen to represent his parish in the General Assembly of the State, and, subsequently, 1878, was reelected. The latter, immediately upon assembling, passed an act or. dering an election for delegates to a convention to frame a new State constitution.

In 1879, at an election for the ratification of this constitution, Steele was chosen to represent the Twenty-Second Senatorial District in the State Senate. Governor Wiltz dying in 1 881, Lieutenant Governor Mc- Enery succeeded him, leaving the president/;'^ tem. of the Senate to preside over that body, and placing him next in succession to the Governorship. The party now divided into two wings, one faction under the leadership of Senator Walton made war on Senator Robertson, the then President//'^ iem,^ and ousted him from the place. Walton was chosen by his friends to succeed Robertson, when a bitter fight ensued, which came near disrupting the party. At this juncture moderate men of both wings seeing the danger, proposed to avert it by requesting both Robertson and Walton to withdraw their claims, and unite in electing a President pro tem. acceptable to all. Had this arrangement been consummated, the choice would have fallen on Senator Steele, but, through some hitch, the plan was abandoned. From his first entry into political life Captain Steele has ranked among the ablest members of the Genera^

Assembly. Quite courteous and unobtrusive in manner, he posesses a clear intellect, and his opinions are listened to by his colleagues with marked attention and respect. A consistent Democrat, his views on public affairs are. broad and^ liberal. Already thoughtful conservative men through the State are beginning to turn their eyes upon him as a suitable man to place at the head of Louisiana affairs. Young, vigorous, a thorough man of business, he is fully acquainted with the people's need, and it is highly probable he may soon be elevated to the highest place in their gift.

Note. - Since the foregoing was written, Captain Steele has been elected Auditor of Louisiana, and yet holds that most important and responsible office. - Ed.

GENERAL ADAM RANKIN JOHNSON. - The distinguished man whose name heads this article was born in the Towm of Henderson, on February 8th, 1834. He is the son of Dr. Thomas Jefferson Johnson and Juliet Spencer Rankin, daughter of Dr. Adam Rankin, who settled in Henderson County during the early part of the year 1800. Dr. Johnson came from Frankfort, and settled in Henderson in 1823, and four years thereafter, to-wit : on the fifteenth day of February, 1827, was married to Miss Rankin, Rev. Thomas Evans officiating. Dr. Johnson was a man of strong mind and positive character, and, during his early life, enjoyed a prominence few young physicians ot his day ever attained. Mrs. Johnson was one of the noblest women, and was universally beloved by every one who knew her. Dr. and Mrs. Johnson lived to a ripe old age, and raised a large and prosperous family. While the schools of the town at that time were not the best the country afforded, they were yet sufficient to impart a good education in the primary and intermediate branches. General Johnson was kept at one of these schools until he arrived at the age of twehe years, when he was placed with Ira Delano, an experienced druggist, to leain the art of compounding and otherwise to qualify himself for a life of usefulness. There he remained until sixteen years of age, at which time he entered the tobacco stemmery of Burbank & Barret. In this business he remained until he was twenty years of age, when he bade adieu to Kentucky, and went to the Lone Star State, settling in Burnett County, known at that time as Hamilton Vallev. This at that time was an extreme frontier settlement. Very soon after his arrival he associated himself with a surveying party, and was so well pleased he then and there adopted surveying as a profession peculiar to himself. In those days and in that country, Indians were to be found in large numbers, and in numerous rencoun- ters with them in the years 1855 to 1861, he was compelled to exercise unceasing care, precaution and strategy to preserve not only the safety of his companions, but his own life. The keenest vigilance, which he found absolutely necessary, soon became a second nature with him, and it was in this school that he learned the lesson which in the days of the great war between the States, proved so valuable to him while acting in the capacity of a scout or partisan. His entire frontier life up to and including a part of the war, was filled with wild adventure that no one but a man of unquestioned nerve and intelligence could have so successfully contended with. The war coming on, General Johnson was not long in deciding with whom he should fight. He visited Kentucky, and, for a time, his old home in Henderson, where he was gladly welcomed, although the entire family were strong for the Union of the States. During his brief stay in Henderson, the town was occupied by Federal soldiers, and yet it was not known that he was a Confederate scout. Becoming a little uneasy of his position, Johnson determined to return South, and, to this end, started on foot, hoping to cross Canoe Creek below the fair grounds and make his way to Mrs. Jordan's, on the Madisonville road, where he had a horse. Reaching the creek, it was found to be at flood height from back water from the Ohio River and impassible. Thinking he had passed the Federal pickets, he pushed on down the stream in search of a drift pile or fallen tree, and, as he reached the summit of a hill, to his amazement, only a few yards away from him, there stood the advanced outposts, who saw him about as soon as he saw them. He was heavily armed, and this was evidence against him. He determined, as quick as thought, to retrace his steps, and did so, but was pursued by one of the soldiers on foot. He hurried on to the roots of a great tree that had fallen down, thinking there he could secrete himself, or perhaps the pursuit would be given up. Hardly had he gotten behind this ambush, when he observed the soldier, with hastened tread, following on. There was but one question then, life or death, and, as the soldier approached the tree, Johnson fired, and the soldier fell dead in his tracks and rolled over the bank into the creek. Johnson then returned to the town and remained but a day or two, when he made another and successful effort to reach the Confederate lines. Two days afterwards he reached Hopkinsville.

Subsequent to the battles of Fort Donelson and Corinth, Johnson returned to Kentucky, and his first military venture in Henderson County was the capture of U. S. Surgeon Kimbly, of Owensboro, near Hebardsville. His next adventure was in company with Colonel Robert

A. Martin and Amphius Owen in an attack at night upon a company of Federal provost guards stationed in tlie two-story brick opposite John H. Barret & Co.'s tobacco stemniery, on Main Street, then known as the National Hotel. The attack was made about ten o'clock on Sunday night in the latter part of June, 1862. Johnson, Martin and Owen went, unnoticed, to the lot adjoining Barret's factory and secreted themselves among the stave piles. They were also protected by a high plank fence between them and the street.

Captain Daly and a number of his soldiers were sitting on the pavement in front of headquarters, laughing and talking, when, at a signal, Johnson, Martin and Owen fired the first volley from their shot guns, and then, in quick succession, the second. The scene quickly changed from one of laughing to one of groans of dying and wounded men, and the flight of those who had escaped unhurt. The doors of the house were immediately barred, and, as soon as could be, the three Confederates appeared in the cemetery, immediately in the rear of headquarters, and fired another volley. This done, they retreated to their horses and departed from the town. Lieutenant Taylor was killed, and ten or more men, including Captain Daley, were more or less seriously wounded.

Excitement in the town became intense. A citizens' meeting was held in Barret's factory, at which resolutions, strongly condemn ttory of the course of Johnson, &c., were passed. A short time after this, and when Colonel Johnson had formed a nucleus of a regiment, he took possession of Henderson, and, by his words and orders, very greatly relieved the anxiety of the people, especially those politically opposed to him. It was at this time he planned his Newburg campaign