Henderson County, Kentucky - Biographical sketches, 1887 (part 6 of 8)

CAPTAIN CHARLES G. PERKINS, the subject of this sketch, was born in the City of Zenia, Green County, Ohio, on the sixteenth day of March, 1837. His education was obtained from the Public and High Schools of Cincinnati, Ohio. During his boyhood days he entered a hardware store as clerk, and continued in this line of business for perhaps two years. This life was not exciting enough for him - his quick, active mind needed more lattitude, something more stimulating, more comprehensive, more outstretching, therefore, the remainder of his life to the beginning of the Rebellion, was devoted to railroading and steamboating. During the year 1861, having gained an exoerience in river navigation that entitled him to a first position among men of marine life, he enlisted in the U. S. Navy, and was soon after appointed Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Commander, with the rank of Captain, in the army, and placed in command of the U. S. Gunboat "Brilliant." The " Brilliant " was actively engaged in the service of the government up to April, 1865, patrolling the Ohio, Cumberland, Tennessee and Mississippi Rivers. She was frequently anchored in front of Henderson, and, no doubt was the means of saving the town from the incursions of prowling bands of thieves and plundering combinations of irresponsible men. Captain Perkins held frequent interviews with the better people of Henderson, and, so conservative was he in the construction of Naval orders and official duties, he soon won the confidence of the people, who were glad to have his protection at all times* and were equally chagrined when he was removed to other fields of service. His effort was to respect and protect, not to suspect and destroy. He was mainly instrumental in capturing and returning many runaway slaves, and by this conservative, honest course, he made a friend of every man in the town. Much of Captain Perkin's war history will be found elsewhere in this volume.

On the seventeenth day of November, 1863, at the family residence, in the Town of Henderson, Captain Perkins was married to Miss Annie Terry, daughter of Nathaniel D. and Sarah Terry, and granddaughter of Captain Robert Terry, a noted pioneer of this county. The fruits of this union have been seven children, J. Rov, Sarah, Lizzie, Ella, Charlie, Mamie and Eddie, all of whom are now living except the eldest son J. Roy, who was lost in the explosion and sinking of the steamer " La Mascott " in the Mississippi River, below St. Louis, October 5th, 1886. This young man, one of the most promising known to the business and social circles of home, had just attained to his majority, and but a few weeks prior to his loss, had accepted the first clerkship of the ill-fated steamer. His death came like a cyclone, crushing hearts with a relentless fury that knows no limit. Father, mother, sisters, relatives and friends stood aghast at the dreadful reality. He was the idol of the household, the first born, and his taking away was like the tearing asunder of every affectionate chord that makes love doubly pure and sweet. He fought manfully for his life, but to no purpose, the cold, cruel waters claimed him as its victim, and thus perished a noble, brave, accomplished young man entering the zenith of his life. In 1866, Captain Perkins purchased the Steamer " News Boy," and ran her in the Henderson and Evansville Packet trade for a year or more, when he sold her and purchased the " Mollie Norton." In 1868 he formed a partnership with Captain A. O. Durland, of Evansville, under the firm name of Durland & Perkins, and a short time afterwards entered into contract with the St. Louis & South Eastern Railway Company, for transferring their cars between Henderson and Evansville. In 1869, they sold the " Mollie Norton " and purchased the towboat " Le Clare " No. 2, and two railway barges. During the winter of 1869, the " Le Clare " was lost in the ice, and they then purchased the " Belmont." In August, 1884, this boat was caught in a hurricane at the head of Henderson* Island and capsized. An account of this terrible disaster will be found elsewhere. They purchased the " Maggie Smith," and she was lost in the ice. They then purchased the " Jennie Campbell " and " Iron Cliff." The "Cliff" was sold, the " Campbell " is still running. The firm built the " La Mascott " for the St. Louis and Cape Girardeau trade, and she was lost October 5th, 1886. They then built the " New South," a large, handsome and fast boat for the St. Louis &Ohio River trade. She is now running between St. Lonis and Paducah, having made her first trip July 4th, 1887. The firm is also the owner of the Steamer "Frank Stein," running between Evansville and Cannelton, Indiana. Captain Perkins, in addition to what has been enumerated, is largely interested in several large and paying enterprises, notably, a wholesale drug house in Grand Rapids, Michigan; Withers, Dade & Co., Ten Barrel Sour Mash Distillery, and the Henderson Buggy Co., of which he is President. In 1883 he built his magnificent residence on Green street. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has served as Eminent Commander of his Commandery. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Captain Perkins is a staunch advocate of morality, a man of fine morals, open-handed benovelence and great breadth of charity. He is in the prime of life and the friend and patron of every worthy social and business movement ; a man of fine physique, commanding respect everywhere, and is one of the fewest number of men brainy enough to deport himself in wealth as he did in indegent circumstances. Captain Perkins enjoys his wealthy honestly gained, in a home surrounded by a happy, loving, bright, intelligent family.

LUCAS VVILLIAJVl TRAFTON was born in Evansville, April 9th, 1837, and here his childhood was spent. He was the only son of Dr. William Trafton, a noted physician of that early time. Dr. Trafton was born near the village of Lewiston, Maine, in the year 179-, and received the title of M. D. from the Dartmouth Medical College, New Hampshire, in 1819, The same year he immigrated to

Evansville, Indiana, and commenced the practice of medicine. Here he continued to practice until his death, in 1847. Dr. Trafton was twice married. His last wife was Miss America Butler, of Henderson County, a sister of Harbison Butler, a most affectionate wife, mother, and neighbor. By this marriage there was but one child, Lucas William, the subject of this sketch. Dr. Trafton died when his son was only ten years of age, leaving him and his mother with limited means.

As a child, young Trafton was impressed with the necessity of fitting himself for the business of life, and, in boyhood, chose law as a profession. At the age of fourteen he was sent to Wabash College, Indiana, where he remained two years. His father, prior to his death, having determined to have his son learn the German language, sent him, when quite young, to a German school, and thus began his knowledge of that language and his friendship for that race. At the age of sixteen, being at home from college and on a visit to relatives in Kentucky, he met with an accident that caused the loss of his left arm. He was hunting, and, in raising his gun from the ground to his horse, it was accidentally exploded, shattering his left arm near the shoulder. The courageous young man seized the bridle reins in his teeth, and, holding his wounded arm with his right hand, galloped for several miles to his aunt's, Mrs. Annie McClain, where his mother was visiting. He was taken from his horse in a fainting condition, and Dr. P. Thompson, then a young physician in Henderson, speedily summoned. Dr. Thompson amputated the arm. At one time his life was despaired of, but he recovered in due course of time. He then left school and came to Henderson, where he entered the Clerk's office, under William D. Allison, with- whom he remained for nearly ten years, at the same time applying himself diligently to the study of law. He was one of the very best of clerks, and, as a draughtsman, knew no superior. Although deprived of the use of one arm, he was nevertheless as expert in handling books and papers as most men possessed of both limbs. At the age of twenty-one he commenced the practice of law, and, at the age of twenty-two, was elected County Judge.

During the summer of 1862, he joined the Confederate Army, and was with General Morgan at his capture, near Buffington Island, Ohio, in 1863. He was sent on a prisoner, and, after fourteen months' prison life, was exchanged from Fort Delaware. After his exchange he received a shot which confined him to his bed for several weeks, but such kindly nursing as he received from Mrs. Mary Spald ing, one of the kindest hearted and most cultured ladies of Georgia, he recovered and again entered the army and remained to the surrender. Returning home, he again commenced the practice of law.

Gn the twenty-third day of 'T>Jovember, 1865, he married Miss Helen Gibbs. a cultured little lady, who proved her love by her devotion to him during his life. Unto them was born one son, whom he named for his friend, Mrs. Spalding, of Georgia. Spalding is now a clerk in the Farmers' Bank.

In 1869 Mr. Trafton made the race for the Legislature, opposed by Hon. R. T. Glass. The canvass was a terribly heated one, owing to the action of both gentlemen in the matter of a public school charter before the Kentucky Legislature. Mr. Glass was elected by a small majority. In 1871 Mr. Trafton was again a candidate and was elected without opposition. While a member of that body, he was appointed Chairman of the Committee on County Courts, and also one of seventeen to revise the Statutes. He died August 6th, 1877, leaving a widow and one son.

Judge Trafton, for a number of years, was associated as partner with Hon. H. F. Turner, and it is not flattery to say it was one of the strongest and largest patronized firms at the bar. Judge Trafton himself was an exceptionable fine lawyer, and man of sound judgment. Ever from his boyhood days he was an impressive speaker, commanding attention, not so much on account of his oratory as for his sound logic. In social life, he was a favorite, a fine talker and full of humor.

ROBERT SCROGGIN EASTIN, Master Commissioner of the Henderson Circuit Court, is a son of Edward Franklin Eastin and Amanda Collins Scroggin. His father was born August 25th, 1806, in Bourbon County, Ky., lived in that county until his marriage in June, 1833, and soon thereafter removed to Missouri, where he remained one year. He then returned to Kentucky, and resided in Bourbon, Woodford and Harrison Counties, where he engaged in the manufacture of bagging and rope till his coming to Henderson County in 1846, where he died in 1869. Mrs. Eastin was born in Bourbon County January 12th, 1808, and is still living in.,Henderson, aged seventy-nine years. Our subject's paternai^' grandfather was Rev. Augustin Eastin, a Baptist preacher in Virginia during the latter part of the colonial period, and during the Revolutionary War. He married the first couple north of the Kentucky River. He was one of the preachers who was confined in jail for preaching to the British soldiers during the Revolution. He removed to Kentucky in 1784, and during the great religious excitement of 1804, became a Universalist, dving in that faith in 1833, in Bourbon County. The paternal o-randfather was General Zachariah Eastin, born in Virginia in 1777, January 11th. He was a Colonel in the War of 1812; was at the battle of Tippecanoe and River Raisin, and was promoted to Brigadier General, which position he held until 1824, when he resigned. The following named, who died in Henderson County, were soldiers with General Eastin : Captains Bowen, Cox, Negley and John Baskett; they all lived near Hebardsville. General Eastin removed to Henderson County in 1844, and died here in 1852. He was the father of Henry J., Robert, Thomas and William A. Eastin, all civil eno-ineers, Henry J. being one of the first engineers in the employ of the State auring the days of Internal Improvements. Henry, Thomas and William A. located at Spottsville, and erected in 1840, a saw and o-rist water mill, using the water power occasioned by the dam, across Green River at that point. Our subject's grandmother was J^Jancy Durbin, a native of Maryland, She married General Eastin in 1799, and died in Henderson in 1852. Our subject's maternal greato-randfather Scroggin, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War; was a native of Delaware, but removed after the war to Maryland. The maternal grandfather, Robert Scroggin, was a native of Maryland, married in Virginia, Marcissa Mills, and came to Kentucky at an early date. He was a Lieutenant in Colonel Richard Johnson's celebrated reo^iment of mounted men, that took such a conspicuous part at the battle of the Thames, in the War of 1812. He with four men pursued the British General Proctor, so closely, that the General abandoned his carriage, unloosed one of the horses and escaped on horseback. Lieutenant Scroggin captured the other horse, the General's field glass, papers and baggage. Lieutenant Scroggin died in Bourbon County in 1836. Robert Scroggin Eastin, subject of this sketch, taught school for a number of years, and has served as County Surveyor for a number of terms. He is now Master in Chancery of the Henderson Circuit Court, and, by the exercise of fine judgment, is making an exceptionally good officer.

PIRANT P. JOHNSON, son of Archibald and Henrietta Waldon Johnson, was born in Botetourt County, Virginia, on the twelfth , day of December, 1842. His paternal and maternal ancestors were Viro-inians. His parents came to Kentucky in 1854, and settled in Henry County. The mother of Mr. Johnson is living in Louisville, and is now eighty-one years of age. Our subject was educated almost entirely at private schools during his residence in Kentucky. In 1862, at the age of twenty years, he came to Henderson and engaged in carpentering, and has continued that profession to the present time. By industry and close application he has accumulated a handsome little estate. On the thirtieth day of April, 1865, Mr. Johnson married Miss Annie Fowler, and unto them have been born five children, four of whom are living, Joseph, James, Stewart and Margaret. Harry died October 19th, 1875. His children are all bright and promising. Mr. Johnson is serving his third term of two years each, as Councilman of the city, and during his entire official life has been o-uided bv an honest effort to do his duty, with credit to himself and profit to the l^ust imposed. He is a member of the Methodist Church and Masonic and Knights of Pythias fraternities.

HON. JACOB PETER was born at Wachenheim, Palatinate, on the River Rhine, May 22d, 1842. In 1854, at the age of twelve years, he immigrated to America with his parents and settled in this city. His education was limited, yet his quick, discerning mind eagerly o-rasped every opportunity to learn, and, as a result, he left school better up in his studies perhaps than very many of those who had superior advantages afforded them. He learned the English language rapidly and soon became as ready in conversation as any of the native born. Mr. Peter was of an imperious temperament, more of a leader than otherwise, and this, coupled with his most excellent judgment and sound information upon all matters of moment, gave to his opinions an attention worthy of the man and subject. On the seventeenth day of November, 1866, he married Miss Louisa Held, eldest daughter of Hon. Jacob Held, and unto them were born five sons, William J., Carl H., George, Harry D. and Edward W. The two eldest sons, William J. and Carl H., are young men of much promise and great assistance to their widowed mother. The other children the writer is not acquainted with, but is informed that they too are quite promising. In early life Mr. Peter learned the jeweler's trade with his brother-inlaw, Jacob Reutlinger, and subsequently became, by purchase, the sole owner He built the handsome brick on Main street, and up to the day of his death conducted the jewelry business on a large scale. For a short time he was enlisted in the Federal service during the war, but was never regularly mustered in. Mr. Peter was a devoted Mason, and rose to the sublime degree of Knight Templar. He served the Blue Lodge and Chapter as presiding officer and in several subordinate capacities. He served as Councilman in 1873, '74, and as Trustee of the Public and High School during the years 1875, '76, '77, '78, '79 and '83. He was elected Mayor in 1881, and served one term of two years, and could have been re-elected, but declined the honor. Mr. Peter was elected Mayor to succeed Hon. F. M. English, whose reign had about paralyzed the city. The race was an exciting one and bitterly fougly from end to end. Upon his inauguration Mayor Peter delivered an address to the Council worthy of the man. It was full of wise, conservative counsel, and, before his term of office expired, a very marked change in affairs was peculiarly noticeable. The city had regained its former activity, and confidence was fully restored. The delinquent list became smaller, and, in fact, every department was brio-ht and cheerful. Mr. Peter left the office, having accomplished much good and received the plaudits of the people. His health having become impaired, he started to the Arkansas Hot Springs, hoping to be benefited, but died enroute, suddenly, on the twenty-ninth day of April, 1884. His remains were brought to Henderson and interred in Fernwood. Mrs. Peter, a lady of excellent judgment and business capacity, still carries on the jewelry business at the old stand on Main street, assisted by her two eldest sons.

PROF. J. MAUPvICE BACH was born near Interlacken, Switzerland, in the vear 1854, and, when quite young, came to America with his parents and settled in Ohio. A writer has said of him : " His musical instinct, especially for the piano forte, betrayed itself from his early childhood. His parents were ever ready with willing hands and open heart to assist him, and immediately secured the best obtainable teachers that could be found. His progress at once was so marvelous that, at twelve years of age, he assisted at charitable concerts for home institutions, etc. After some years of arduous study and a successful provincial concert tour, his young heart yearned for a higher plane upon which he could develop his musical powers. He, in consequence, returned to Europe, where he entered the Stern Conservatory of Music at Berlin, also receiving private tuition from the celebrated teachers, Jean Voght and Ehrlich, thence under the personal tuition of Riedel and Reinecke at Leipzig. In 1873, '74, he made successful concert tours alone, and also in connection with other companies, through the southern parts of Germany and his native country, Switzerland, receiving general plaudits everywhere. He again resumed his studies at Leipzig, but finally came to America, where he gave many piano recitals of extraordinary merit, especially in his own State. He has on many occasions been associated with concert companies. Organized the Tiffin Philharmonic Society (vocal), of which he was musical director for four years. Of late years his chief success has been in the vocation of teaching the art of piano-forte playing. It may be added here that he is an admirable organist and has always commanded a good position in that capacity." During the year 1883 Prof. Bach removed to and settled in Henderson, having accepted the position of organist of the Firsf Presbyterian Church. He soon became identified with the musical interest of the city, and was not long in impressing his eminent qualifications as teacher and artist upon the lovers of music with whom he came in contact. He here met his life's fate in the person of Miss M. Henrietta Stoltz. a lady of the highest culture, and rare teacher of vocal and instrumental music, whom he married in 1884. Mrs. Bach was educated under Dr. F, Ziegfeld, of Chicago and L. A. Phelps; pupil of Garcia, in Paris, and Lamperti? Milan, Italy. She has been signally successful in her teaching and has shown herself a master of her chosen profession. How happily blended those two lives are and what a pleasing co-incident that they should have met in Henderson. Truly it can be said of them "Two souls with but a single thought, two hearts that beat as one." Prof. Bach, since September, 1886, has been Professor and Director of the Musical Department of the Henderson Female Seminary, and, by his strict attention to duty and rapid development of his pupils, has secured a large and remunerative patronage. He is assisted by his wife, and the two together are unsurpassed in the art of teaching.

JOSHUA GUNN STAPLES, son of Joshua Staples andElmira J. Jeffries, both of Virginia, was born March 27th, 1840, in Henderson County. He received his education from the common schools of the county, and, at an early age, entered a printing office to learn the art of type-setting. He followed this life with an assiduity of purpose that soon brought him ample means for his own support. Several years afterwards,he, in connection with A. J. Speidel, purchased the Henderson Reporter and became its publishers and editors for fifteen years. The Reporterw2iS a leading Democratic paper and took a lively and active part in all of the political campaigns anterior to and during the war. So Democratic was it, that, at one time during the war, its publishers were com. pelled to cease publication for a time, but it again blossomed out in the fullness of its former glory, and became a power. Mr. Staples was a hard-working, painstaking man of business, and, by economy and close application to his work, laid up a very snug little bank account. In 1877 or '78, he sold his interest to William A. Miller, purchased himself a farm, and removed to the country. March, 1866, he married Miss Harriet E. Grigsby, by whom he had four children, two of whom are living. Mrs. Staples died in 1873. In March 1876, Mr. Staples married his second wife, Miss Lizzie Lockett, daughter of David P.

and Lucinda Lockett, and unto them have been born five children, two of whom are dead. Mrs. Staples is a lady of high character, and thoroughly domestic. For twenty-five years Mr. Staples has been a member of the Baptist Church, and for perhaps that number of years a member of the Masonic Fraternity. He is the owner of one hundred and twenty-five acres of the finest Henderson County land, and is a remarkably successful farmer. He recently sold his interest in the saddlery and harness business in this city, to his]brother-in-law, Joseph K. Lockett, and is now devoting himself to his farming interest and making money.

JOSEPH CLORE, the subject of this sketch, was born in Pewee Valley, Oldham County, Kentucky, on the tenth day of June, 1806. His parents were both Virginians and came to Kentucky prior to or about 1800. They both died in Kentucky, the father in 1814, the mother in 1859. Mrs. Clore, mother of our subject, was Miss Mattie Fields, daughter of Daniel Fields, and was born near Danville, in 1814, She and Mr. Clore married January 27th, 1830, and have had thirteen children, ten of whom are living. Josephine Rebecca married Joel Yeager ; Bettie married, first, James E. Ricketts, and, secondly, N. S. Glore ; F. Lafayette married Miss Mattie Shirley, Lillie married T. E. Fields, J. O. Clore married Miss Emma Pilkington, Anna married Samuel Posey, Donna married Chas. Nosworthy, Ella and W. Hall are unmarried. Those M'ho have departed this life are Miller» Maggie and Kate. For a number of years Mr. Clore, in addition to farming, operated a saw mill at Pewee Valley. In 1856, in partnership with a Mr. Shrader, he built a large saw mill in Henderson, and in the fall of 1857 removed with his family to this place. A short time subsequent to his removal, he purchased Mr. Shrader's interest and became the sole owner of the mill. A few years after coming to Henderson, he built his present handsome residence, and has continued to reside therein to this day. Mr. Clore, during his entire life in Henderson, has been an untiring worker, and has carried on his large business with less ostentation than most men not half so busily employed. He is a remarkably quiet man, and no one outside of his immediate family would ever know of what he has done and is doing, unless by chance they should see for themselves or engage him at his place of business in conversation. He is seldom seen from his mill^ and while there, in conjunction with his boys, is more or less engaged in pushing his business. For years past he had been a heavy consumer of logs, and, perhaps, one of the largest handlers of lumber in the West. His mill is one of the largest and best, being supplied with the latest and finest machinery. Several years ago he associated with himself in the business his three sons, L. F., J. O. and W. H. Clore, under the firm name of Joseph Clore & Sons. They have at this time seven acres of ground stacked -s'ith valuable lumber. In addition to the mill, is a planing mill of large capacity, and capable of doing all kinds of wood work. Thus, then, after many years of hard toil the old gentleman finds himself the possessor of a handsome fortune, a large and paying business and a family of happy children and grandchildren surrounding him to comfort his old age. For fifty years Mr. Clore has been a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, yet at this time, owing to his age and defective hearing, he seldom attends services. His faithful help-mate through life is yet living, and is one of the noblest of women, devotedly attached to her home, her children and her church.

JOHN DAVID ROBARDS was born in Henderson County, on the second day of November, 1831, on a farm five miles southeast of Robards Station. The difficulties attending an education, which the early settlers found in that particular section of the county still existed, for no schools were to be foun 1 nearer than from five to ten miles from the homestead. In the year 1840, a school was established at Pleasant Valley, a few miles off, which his sisters attended. During this time, his father, George Robards, had become the head of a large family of children, and was necessarily compelled to exert every energy possessed by himself and sons to secure, an annual income sufficient for their support, and to meet the necessary expenses incident to farming and opening up a wild country. Mr. Robards was an indulgent parent, yet he recognized the necessity of hard work, and lamented the situation which surrounded him. He wanted to do for his children, but his pecuniary condition, coupled with- the primitive and comparative advantageless surroundings, rendered it necessary for him to exercise the most rigid self-denials, which he regretted more than anyone else. The subject of this sketch was required to work in the fields during the spring and summer months, and to handle the ax in clearing up new ground in the fall, w'inter and early spring months. So determined was he upon acquiring a foresight into the primary branches, he studied with his sisters during leisure hours and most frequently in the cornfield ; while his horse was resting, he would sit down and ponder over his arithmetic, and disputes often arose between himself and brothers while ploughing alongside, as to the correct solution of some arithmetical sum. and then and there they would halt until the difficulty was correctly and satisfactorily determined

In this way he became quite proficient in primary, and even intermediate mathematics. His thirst for information grew as he learned, and continued to seek knowledge from his sisters, and by his own exertions he qualified himself to enter school. At the age of twentyfour years, his father gave him a horse, which he sold for one hundred dollars, and with this pitiful sum went to Madisonville and entered Professor Boring's school, where he applied himself with an earnestness which soon won the sympathy and favor of his teacher. He had but the sum of one hundred and sixty dollars. Professor Boring was particularly kind to him, extending to him credit for the tuition and other pecuniary credits necessary during the scholastic year. He bent every energy, studying day and night, and during the term ot six months mastered arithmetic, gained a good understanding of algebra, trigonometry, surveying, and English grammar. Returning to his home, he soon organized a small neighborhood school, studying himself all the time with more earnestness than any pupil under him, and continued teaching and studying until 1856, when he was appointed by D. N. Walden, Surveyor of Henderson County, deputy surveyor. He continued in office under Walden to the time he resigned in 1859, and then served under Charles Dixon, until his death in I860, when he was appointed surveyor of the county until an election could be held. An election being ordered, Mr. Robards became a candidate on the Democratic ticket against Robert S. Eastin, who had announced himself a candidate of the opposition party. The election resulted in Eastin's being elec!ed. Mr. Robards then gave up official life and settled on a farm near Robards' Station. During his deputyship, by the exercise of the closest economy, and the keenest foresight in land speculation, he amassed a competency sufficient to serve hmi in entering into active business. No young man was ever more industrious, persevering, studious, or accumulating than was he, and as an evidence of it, we shall see before this brief biography is concluded. On the twenty-first day of June, 1857, Mr. Robards married Mrs. JuHa A. Hart, nee Walker, daughter of Alonzo Walker, a highly respected and intelligent farmer. She died August, 1883, leaving iwo children, Frank Hart and Edwin T. Robards. In 1867, with the same keen foresight, he built the first frame store house (in fact the first house built), at what is known as Robards' Station. In this building he carried on a general merchandising business, selling annually from twenty to forty thousand dollars worth of goods. In 1868 he built the first tobacco stemmery at Robard Station ; this was a rough and hurriedly built affair of small capacity, and built along side of the rail- road track. In 1873 he tore down this building and replaced it by another, a better and more commodious house, one hundred and twenty feet long, by seventy feet wide, three stories high. A co-partnership was formed with R. W. Boding" and Dr. N, A. Kitchell, which continued up to the year 1878, when it was dissolved by mutual consent. This firm did an annual business from fifty to ninety thousand dollars. On the eleventh of June, 1874, a hurricane passed over Robards Station, leveling to the ground his large fine tobacco stemmery, containing at the time from one hundred and sixtv to two hundred hogsheads of tobacco. Fortunatelv the tobacco was in loose order and very little of it was damaged ; on the contrary, it was secured from the debris, rehandled and brought the firm more money, and clear profit, than any crop handled during the partnership. The building was erected again on the same foundation, and occupied during the same year, 1874. In 1872 Mr. Robards moved into the City of Henderson and soon purchased the handsome residence he yet owns on Second Street. In early life he joined the Christian Church, and has ever been a conservative, active and working layman. To him and one or two others, is due, perhaps, the honor of remodeling, and the completion of the beautiful church edifice, which now stands on the corner of Green and Washington, a monument to denominational liberality. In 1882 he was mainly instrumental in the organization of the Henderson, Zion and Hebardsville Gravel Road Company, and at its organization was elected President, which office he held for some time with credit to himself and good to the company. During the early part of this year he, assisted by his means in the organization of the Planter's National Bank, and at the first election by the stockholders, was made a director. During the fall of 1882, a large tobacco stemmery, owned by him, and located on Alvasia Street, near Fernwood Cemetery was burned ; since that time, to-wit : on the twentysecond day of January, 1883, he and Dr. N. A. Kitchell filed articles of incorporation and organized the Robards-Kitchell Manufacturing Company, with a paid up capital of fifteen thousand dollars. On the fifth day of February, 1884, Mr. Robards married, in the City of Louisville. Mrs. Marv Stewart, a ladv of hisfh character and noble christian graces. They take life easy in their cozy home, their cup of happiness being as full as the heart could wish.

RICHARD DIGMAN was born in the City of Louisville, April 1st, 1835. After having received a good education for young men of that time, and, enjoying the advantages of city life, he entered, as apprentice to Milton Calehan, for three years in the stemmery^depart ment of a cigar and chewing tobacco manufactory. At the age of seventeen, his term of apprentice having expired, he fancied he would like the trade of brick mason and placed himself under an artisan both competeijt and willing to assist him. It was not long before he received journeyman wages, and, in the summer of 1854, came to Henderson to assist Mr. Weaver in building Von Kaff's tobacco stemmery in the Town of Cairo. Upon the completion of this factory, he returned to Louisville, where he remained until the spring of 1858 when he again came to Henderson, and, during that year and 1859 and 1860, alternated between Henderson and Louisville. In 1861 he joined the Kentucky State Guards, and, in September of that year, in company with the National Blues, went into camp at Glascow, Kentucky. After camping there three weeks, the company moved to Cave City, where, by unanimous consent, it was attached to Colonel Joe Lewis' Confederate Regiment. A short time after this, sixty-five or seventy men, of which number Mr. Digman was one, representing twenty-one different counties, organized what was known as Buckner's bodyguard. This company was taken by Buckner to Fort Donelson, and, before the surrender, made its escape with General N. B. Forrest. It then became a part of General A. S. Johnson's command, and, at the battle of Shiloh, acted as escort to General Hardee, and, during the engagement, in company with a regiment of Texas Rangers, made one of the most desperate charges known to have been made during the whole war. This company was composed of the best men of the army, and, as an evidence of it, when the company roll was called at Shiloh, only one man out of the seventy failed to respond to his name, and he because he had no horse. At the evacuation of Corinth, this command fell back to Tupello, Mississippi, and was there transferred to John Morgan's command ; came into Kentucky as the vanguard of Kirby Smith ; fought several battles, and, in the fight at Richmond, had the honor of taking in Metcalf's Cavalry, a most magnificently mounted and finely equipped body of men. At Lexington they joined General Morgan and fell back with him to Knoxville, where they reported to Buckner, who had been exchanged, and who gave them an honorable discharge from the service, and this was the last of the " Buckner Guards."

After spending a few days with relatives at Wartrace, Tennessee, Mr. Digman joined Colonel D. Howard Smith's Regiment, of Morgan's (Command, marched through Kentucky, crossed the Ohio on the Morgan raid, and was captured by the Home Guards at Ewington, forty miles beyond Portsmouth, Ohio, He was taken from there to Camp Morton, and from there to Camp Douglass, Chicago, where he remained for eighteen long months. On the tenth day of March, 1865, near the close of the war, he was sent on to Richmond for exchange, was placed in a p^'ole camp at Amherst Court House, and was there at the time of General Lee's surrender. After the sur render he walked from there to Knoxville, Tennessee, where he was fortunate in getting railroad transportation to Chattanooga and Nashville. At Nashville he met a company of Louisville Federal soldiers, in whose ranks were a number of his old-time friends. They laid aside all past differences, received him as of old, dressed him up in an elegant suit, furnished him with all the money he wanted, purchased a fi'^st-class ticket to Louisville for him and sent him on as a gentleman. He went to work at his trade and remained in Louisville up to the fourth day of July, 1«66, when he came to Henderson and settled

On the fourteenth day of July, 1870, Mr. Digman married Miss Mollie B. Jeff ries,a very handsome and intelligent young lady,half sister of Major J. Shannon and Richard Blackwell, with whom he has lived in marital felicity to this day. They have two beautiful daughters to add to the brightness and cheerfulness of their happy home, A prouder or more noble soul than Dick Digman does not live. His friendship is as 'true as his courage, and that characteristic is indisputable. Mr. Digman has taken all of the Masonic degrees, including the Knights

COLONEL ELI AS D. POWELL is the son of Captain Lazarus Powell, who removed from North Carolina to Kentucky in 1800, settling in a part of Logan, now Simpson County, where he remained two years. In 1803 he removed to Henderson County, and at once settled on a part of the beautiful farm known as Meadow Hill, one mile this side of Smith Mills. The old homestead originally composed one-half of Meadow Hill, of five hundred and eleven acres. Captain Powell, in addition to this valuable body of land, purchased large tracts containing many thousands of acres in the lower part of the county, known asValnut Bottom, where he had large negro quarters and great numbers of hogs and cattle. He prided himself upon his fine stock and was known to own the best blooded horses in Kentucky at that time. Captain Powell married four times and raised a large number of children. Governor L. W. Powell being among the oldest; the subject of this sketch being the youngest. Colonel Powell was born Feb- ruary 1st, 1837, at Meadow Hill. His early education was gained in Henderson, and afterwards was a student of St. Joseph's Academy, Bardstown, During the year 1855 he attended Transylvania College, Lexington, where he studied law in a class with Judge Mike Owsley, late a candidate for the office of Governor, and other celebrities. Col. Powell, at the death of his father, April, 1869, inherited the old homestead as a portion of his share of the estate, and since that time has added to it two hundred and fifty acres of land equally as valuable. On the twenty-fourth day of October, 1861, he married Miss Bettie Beverly, a great belle of Henderson society and a lady of many social graces. The fruits of this marriage is two children, Miss Bessie, a bright and handsome daughter, and Beverly, a promising young man. At the close of the war Colonel Powell was worried in mind as to how he should utilize his large landed estate. He was not willing to give up his old home, and still unwilling to wear himself out growing crops with the uncertain labor then at the command of the farmer. He first put down several hundred acres of Meadow Hill in the grasses, and baled hay, grazed, fed and shipped cattle. During this time he contracted rheumatism to such an alarming extent as to compel him to give up that life.

Colonel Powell had always a great taste for horticulture, and had read many very valuable works on that interesting branch, and the more he saw and studied the more he became convinced that this climate, temperature and condition was eminently suited for successfully cultivating the leading fruits of the country. He determined to undertake it at all hazards, and, in 1869, planted an orchard of the ''Red Crab." Every year since he has added to it, as he could arrange his land, and as a result he has to-day one hundred acres of land devoted to apple trees and interspersed wiih the " Wild Goose Plum," certainly one of the finest varieties known to fruit growers. In addition to, this, he has endless numbers of pear, peach, apricot and nectarine which bear handsomely every year. Colonel Powell can now sit in his home, located upon a most beautiful hill of imposing prominence, and at one sight take in hundreds of acres of trees freighted with the most lucious and taste-tempting fruits known to fruit growers. He is culti. vating several hundred pecan trees in what he calls his black flats, several hundred black walnut, and as many black locusts, the latter of which he intends using for posts. The Colonel, even at this early date, has an abundance of pecans and walnuts for his family use, and m the course of a few years will gather a sufficiency to supply the county. The success attending Colonel Powell's venture has been won- derful. In 1882, as a result of his labor, he sold in St. Louis, Chicago, Louisville and Cincinnati four hundred barrels of crab cider, fourteen hundred barrels of apples and not less than one thousand dollars worth of plums. His cider netted him ten dollars per barrel, amounting to $4,000; thus the net profits of his crop sold outside of Henderson County, netted him the round sum of six thousand three hundred dollars. Colonel Powell now prides himself upon being the owner and the proprietor of the largest, handsomest, and finest improved fruit farm in the State of Kentucky. His fruit is known in all the markets, and is much sought after. No one is more pleased to know the happy and solid condition of the Colonel than the writer. He deserves all that he has won. He is a man of noble impulses, true as steel, a friend to mankind, and unflinchingly courageous in all the grand and enobling characteristics of life.

JAMES HENRY POWELL was born in Henderson County on the eighth day of April, 1839, and is the eldest son of Senator Lazarus W. Powell, deceased. Mr. Powell was sent to the best private schools of Henderson, and then to the Sayer Institute, at Frankfort, where he remained for five years. He was then sent to the University of Virginia, where he remained three years, and, in 1869, graduated. Returning to his home, he commenced the study of law in his father's office, and very soon thereafter stood a successful examination and received a license to practice. On the twenty-first day of October, 1862, he married Miss Mary Ann Alves, second daughter of Robert A. and Mary (Gayle) Alves, a thoroughly domestic and highly esteemed lady, and unto them have been born six children - Robert A., Lazarus W., Henry J., John Stevenson, Hattie Jennings and William Gayle. Lazarus W. married two years since Miss Kittie Walbridge, of Henderson, and they have one child. A few years subsequent to his marriage, the subject of this sketch entered the lecture field, at first confining himself to the subject of temperance, and winning golden opinions wherever he lectured. Subsequently he enlarged his field, and added to his repertoire several themes of literary merit, as well as others of decided humor. Mr. Powell lectured in a great part of the United States and Canada, and received most favorable notice from the leading newspapers of both countries. He closed his lecture life as agent of the Lee Monument Association, under the authority of the Governor of Virginia. Mr, Powell, upon his return home, again applied himself to the law. He served two terms as Citv Prosecuting Attorney, and was then elected County Attorney, serving two terms. In 1880 he was elected Commonwealth Attorney, and, at the end of the term, was re-elected without opposition. Mr. Powell is an uncompromising Democrat, and has done his party great service in the past. As a stump speaker, he ranks with the best in the State, and, as a^successful canvasser, is matchless. He has never known defeat, and, notwithstanding the frequent unpopular duties he is necessarily compelled to perform as Commonwealth Attorney, he is to-day more popular with the masses than when first elected. This is all owing to the purity and sincerity of the man. There is no guile about him - he is simply a plain, straight forward, out-spokeni^ honest, intelligent man and friend, and for that reason his constituency will stand by him almost to a man. He is a candidate to succeed the present member of Congress from this, the Second District, and I feel no hesitancy in predicting his election by a large majority. Mr. Powell is both a Mason and Odd Fellow, but has never attached himself to any church.

JOHN HENRY BARRET, a native of Louisa County, Virginia, was born on the fourth day of February, 1818. His father, Peter Straghan Barret, and his mother, Matilda (Winston) Barret, were born in Louisa County. His paternal grandfather, John Barret, and maternal grandfather, Henry Pendleton, were both natives of Virginia, and both died and were buried in that State. John H. Barret was educated from the country schools of his native county. His father was a farmer and required his son to plow furrow by furrow, alongside others more muscular than himself, and this he did year in and year out. Another innocent amusement afforded him on the farm, was that of ox driving, one thing of all others calculated to make a boy forget his Sunday school dialect and indulge in the conventional talk of the more advanced student of oxology. However, in every calling he was at home in energy, thougthfulness and sound judgment. At the age of seventeen years, he left his parental home and set out for Kentucky to join his brother, Alexander, who had preceded him just two years In December, 1835, Mr. Barret landed in Henderson and immediately accepted a position in the employ ot his brother, who was largely engaged in the purchase and stemming of tobacco and general merchandising. Our subject applied himself diligently to the work assigned him, and this, coupled with a keen, quick perception of matters pertaining to the trade, soon made him a* most valuable assistant to his brother. Four years after his arrival in Henderson County, to wit : December, 1839, Mr. Barret was joined in marriage with Miss Susan D. Rankin, whom the writer loves to remember for her even-tempered and affectionate disposition, her strong, good sense, active benevolence and earnest piety. There are three living children, the result of this union, John H., James R. and Susan. John H. married Miss Henrietta Offutt, of Shelby County, and has two children, Mary and Augusta"; Mary married Dr. James Heddins, of St. Joseph, Missouri ; James R. married Miss Lucie Frances Stites, and has two children, Henry P. and Susie R. ; Susan married James E. Rankin, and has two children, Susie and James Ewing. Shortly after marriage, Mr. Barret severed his connection with his brother and formed a copartnership with his brother-in-law, James E. Rankin, under the firm name of Rankin & Barret, and, with him, continued in the dry goods business to 1851, eleven years, when, by mutual consent, the firm was dissolved. During the year 1851, Mrs. Barret died, leaving a grief stricken husband and three small children. In 1852 Mr. Barret accepted a proffered partnership with his elder brother, in the tobacco business, and was actively engaged with him to the day of his death, in 1861. On the fourteenth day of September, 1852, our subject married, at Smithland, Ky., his second wife, Miss Mary Augusta Had dock, a most estimable Christian lady,who, during their thirty-six years of married life, has proven herself a loving wife, devoted to his comfort and happiness. By this marriage, four children were born, three died in infancy ; little Mary, the youngest of them all, died at the age of eight years, and,- in her death, the sunshine of the household was laid away deep in the mists of sorrow that knows no ending.

Alexainder B. Barret, the elder brother, at his death, left an estate aggregating between three and four millions of dollars, the largest estate known to the record books of Kentucky. This immense property consisted of lands in various parts of the United States, stocks, bonds, notes, partnerships, unsettled accounts, and heredita ments of every conceivable character. By the terms of his testamentary will, John H. Barret, our subject, was made executor, and the entire estate unreservedly intrusted to his hands without security, a monument to his fidelity and high integrity of character that the world can never destroy. Seven years were given by the will in which to settle this enormous estate. Ten years have been consumed by eminent financiers in settling much smaller ones, yet, at the end of five years, the estate was settled to the last cent, the hundreds of legacies paid off, accounts sCitled, the books balanced and the estate divided without a jar. To his quick and clear perception, his retentive memory, his sound, unerring judgment, is due this - one among the most brilliant and successful financial and business achievments known to the business world.

The death of Alexander B. Barrett, while it naturally destroyed the partnership between himself and his brother,nevertheless did not put a stop to the great stemming interest carried on prior to that untimely event. The subject of this sketch continued doing business as surviving partner, and, as his sons arrived at majority, each one was <nven an interest and associated with him - first, John H., Jr., then James R., and, upon the marriage of his daughter to James F. Rankin, he, too, was associated in the firm, for several years past known as John H. Barret & Co. , and composed of John H. Barret, John H. Barret, Jr., James R. Barret and James E. Rankin. While our subject of late years has withdrawn from active participancy in the details of the business, he is, nevertheless, the acknowledged head, and his advice and wise counsel is sought and acted upon in all matters affecting the partnership. During the building of the Evansville, Henderson & Nashville Railroad, Mr. Barret was a member of the Board of Directors, and was at all times active in assisting to its early completion. The Citv of Henderson subscribed three hundred thousand dollars of her bonds to aid in the work, and, by a unanimous vote of the City Council, those bonds were directed to be placed in the hands of John H. Barret as custodian without security. Thus, it will be seen, in what high esteem he was held by the legislative branch of his city. The first locomotive - known as the "Pony," and yet in. use in the depot yards at Henderson - was purchased by Mr. Barret of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, and paid for out of his own private means. Soon after being appointed custodian of the city's bonds, he was directed to dispose of the same by sale, or otherwise, and report his acts. He went East, and, although money matters were tight at the time, succeeded in negotiating a sale of a number of them, while a great number were taken by home capitalists. A press of private business required him to relinquish the trust, which he did before all of the bonds had been sold. Mr. Barret served as Director up to the sale of the road to the Louisville & Nashville Company. He manifested, by his works and means, an active interest in the orsanization of a National Bank, and, as a result, the First National was organized November, 1865, and commenced business January 1st, 1866, on a capital of one hundred thousand dollars ; increased September 20th, 1870, to one hundred and seventy thousand, and on July 2d, 1872, to two hundred thousand. He was one of the originators of and largest stockholders in the second telegraph line connecting Henderson and Evansville. it was mainly through his instrumentality that Henderson now claims one of the largest and most complete woollen mills in the West, the largest cotton mill in the State, and one of the largest in the South. But for the liberality and far seeinocapacity of our subject, the writer verily believes that neither of these grand manufacturieswould to-day be standing and operated in Henderson. Mr. Barret holds fifteen thousand dollars stock in the cotton mill and five thousand in the woollen mill. In addition to his very large stock and bonded interests, he is the owner of seven hundred acres of valuable river bottom lands, lying between the City of Henderson and the City of Evansville, on the Ohio River ; one thousand and thirty-three acres of hill lands, all of which, with the exception of his Tom Lockett place, he causes to be cultivated in his own name and behalf. He is a large grower of corn, wheat, grass and stock. In the Counties of Hopkins and Breckenridge, Kentucky, and in the County of Delta, Texas, he is the owner of lands aggregating four thousand and eight hundred and fifty acres. A great part of his Texas lands he causes to be cultivated in cotton and corn, and, in addition, is largely engaged in stock raising.

Recently, in connection with his sons, under the firm name of John H. Barret & Co., he has had erected in the Town of Uniontown, Union County, a large and commodious tobacco stemmery, of seven hundred hogshead capacity annually, and will this winter at that point enter largely into the purchase and handling of tobacco. He is largely interested in stemming at Owensboro, having associated with himself, John W. Matthews, formerly of Henderson. His stemmery at Owensboro is one of the largest in that city, and the firm one among the heaviest buyers. Mr. Barret is a very large holder of tobacco in European warehouses, and his immense capital and credit gives him all the advantages to be gained by holding on a low market when very many others are forced to sell.

In politics Mr. Barret was a Whig during the days of that party, but since the war has afhliated with the Democratic party. In religious pursuasion he was raised a Christian or Reformer, and, while never uniting with the church in membership, he feels a deep and abiding interest in its Welfare, and is among its most liberal monied supporters. To use a common expression, he is by no means " hidebound ;" contrarily, he gives liberally when solicited to all denominations and charities. For very many years he has been a member of the Masonic order, but seldom attends the lodge.

Mr. Barret was never in his life an office seeker, or politician, and so far as the writer is informed, was never a candidate for an office. He was once elected - and then against his will - to the office of

City Councilman from his ward, and, but for the urgent solicitation of his friends, would have declined to serve. He did serve, however, and. as in all business acts of his life, made a most excellent Councilman. Mr. Barret is a man of unflinching rectitude, never swerving from what he deems right, either in public or private life, and, while not a professed Christian, is yet too good, too true, to pass the golden ffates unnoticed. There is no place in his heart for the narrowness of bigotry or intolerance ; his genial, attractive qualities forbid it and make him friends wherever he may go. He is a man of warm attachments, giving graciously and unreservedly to all charities and in places where the world knows nothing of. He never lets his right hand know what his left doeth - all his good works are sacred with himself and the recipients of his bounty. When he dies, grateful hearts will weep-, while the business world, and Henderson, particularly, will sadly miss him.

WILLIAM SOAPER was born in Loudon County, Virginia, April 28th, 1795, and received his education from the ordinary schools of that State and Maryland, where he removed some years subsequent to his birth. During the year 1820, with limited means, Mr. Soaper came West and settled in Henderson. For several years he engaged in the saddlery business, frequently traveling through the country, but subsequently entered into partnership with Judge Thomas Towles, and engaged in the purchase and stemming of tobacco. This partnership continued for a number of years when, by mutual consent, it was dissolved. His business life was one marked by success, and the star of fortune clung to him even to the day of his death. His entire business life was characterized by an honesty of purpose, and strict integrity that won him the confidence of the entire community. While he claimed and demanded all that was due him, he held himself ready at all times to do unto his neighbor as he would be done by. In matters of charity, he was liberal, and his benefactions by no means few, or infrequent, were distributed with a cheerful, frank spirit, that was characteristic of his noble manhood. Freely and unostentatiously he gave of his means, without letting those nearest to him know of it. His charity was not for the applause of the world, but was the natural flow of a warm and sympathising heart. On the second day of November, 1830, ne married Miss Susan Fannie Henderson, Rev. Thomas Evans officiating. Miss Henderson was born on the ninth day of May, 1813, upon what was, and is yet, known as the Bluff, a few miles below the city. Her father, Richard Henderson, was a nephew of Richard Henderson, for whom the County and City of

Henderson were named. He married in North Carolina on the twentyixth day of March, 1807, Miss Annie Alves, and came to Henderson in 1812. Mrs. Soaper was baptized in infancy by Rev. Daniel Comfort, of the Presbyterian Church, and became a member of the Episcopal Church in 1835, at the age of twenty-two years. During her entire church life, she has proven a devoted Christian and fondly attached to her church. Mr. and Mrs. Soaper have had born unto them twelve children, ten of whom are living - Elizabeth, Richard Henderson, Thomas, William, Mariana, Catharine, Harry, Robert, Maria and Susan.

Elizabeth married L. C. Dallam, President of the Henderson National Bank, January 17th, 1855. They have five children, Susan, Clarence, Charlie, Elizabeth and Sallie ; Susan married Hon. Henry C. Burnett, of Paducah, and they have two children, Marie and Elizabeth.

Susan married Hayden M. Young, of Louisville, now of Kansas City, Mo., January 29th, 1884; they have no children. Richard H. and Harry are unmarried.

Mr." William Soaper, subject of this sketch, after having lived a most successful business life, died January 3d, 1881, leaving a very large estate. Mr. Soaper was for many years an active Mason, being a member of the Blue Lodge and Chapter. Although for many years a regular attendant upon church worship, he was never a member.

RICHARD. HENDERSON SOAPER, named for his maternal grandfather, Richard Henderson, who was a nephew of Richard Henderson, President of the Henderson Grant Company, was born in Henderson County on the seventh day of February, 1836, and is the eldest son of William Soaper and Susan Fannie Henderson. He was educated from the very best private schools of Henderson, Shelby College, Shelbyville, Ky., and, during the years 1854 and '55, was a student at Kenyon College, Ohio. No means were spared by his father to "-ive him a first-class collegiate education. Upon his return from colle^^e, Mr. Soaper was given a position in his father's tobjicco stemmery, and, in the course of a few years, mastered the art of handling the weed and was 2:iven a partnership. This partnership continued up to his father's death in 1881. Since that time, in connection with his brother, the stemming business has been carried on as before. In 1868 Mr. Soaper caused to be built in the town of Uniontown» Union County, a handsome, finely arranged tobacco stemmery with a capacity of handling five hundred hogsheads annually. This, with his Henderson house, he has operated year by year, buying, receiving and shipping large quantities of the staple of this section of the country. In addition to his large tobacco interest in this country and Europe, he is the owner of four hundred and eighty-eight acres of the best river bottom land of Henderson County, land noted for its great productiveness of both corn and tobacco. His annual crops are large, and so well systematized are all of his farming plans, that nothing but an overflow or unprecedented drouth can keep him from reaping a handsome income year after year.

William Soaper, the father of the subject of this sketch, died possessed of a large and varied estate, and, upon his death, our subject qualified as executor of the will. The will included lands, houses and lots, monies, bonds, stocks, and other posessions, to be divided amono- nine devisees. The difficulty of the undertaking can be seen at a ^lance, yet Mr. Soaper settled this great estate without a murniur from anyone, and strange to say without a lawsuit. This, then, goes to show that he is notably one of the most successful business men of the times. His career has been characterized by great energy, prudence and liberality, controlled by a superior judgment and marked throughout by undoubted integrity. Mr. Soaper has traveled over the principal part of the United States and Canada, and, during the summer of 1865, spent his time in Europe on business and sight-seeing. He loves his friends, has a big warm heart, enjoys social life to its highest degree, but has never married. There isn't a timekeeper in the city that is more regular in telling the hours, than he is in his habits. Thoroughly domestic, he varies perhaps not exceeding five minutes in an entire week, in passing to and from his office to his boarding house. He is strictly a business man and a remarkably successful one. Mr. Soaper was raised a Whig, and since the downfall of that party, has never recognized the claims of any particular political organization. In religious faith he was raised an Episcopalian, but seldom attends any church. He has no fancy for office, holding, aTid wouldn't accept one if tendered him by the unanimous voice of the pejple. He was never a member of any lodge, he dispenses his charities with his own liberal hand, but unostentatiously, telling no one, but keeping his good works sacredly to himself. No better man than Richard Henderson Soaper lives.

THOMAS SOAFER is the second son of William Soaper and Susan Fannie Henderson, and was born on the twentieth day of January, 1838. As in the case of his elder brother, he was given every advantage of an education that wealth could afford. He was sent to the best private schools, and, in 1854 and a part of 1855, was a student at Kenyon College, Ohio. In 1855 he entered Hanover College, Indiana, and remained there throughout 1856. Shortly after his return home from college, he entered the dry goods store of L. C. Dallam, and, in the year 1859, purchased an interest, became a partner, and engaged in business under the old and well-known firm name of Dallam & Soaper, the senior member being his brother-in-law, Mr. L. C. Dallam. On the twenty-third day of October, 1862, Mr. Soaper married Miss Cora Cook, daughter of Dr. John B. Cook, founder of the Henderson and McDowell Medical Societies. Unto them two children have been born, Bettie Cook and Sudie Henderson, two charming: voun 2: ladies' and universal society favorites Mrs. Soaper is a lady of many fascinating domestic and social qualities, and a devoted help-mate to her husband. At the beginning of 1875, after a pleasant and lucrative partnership of sixteen years, Mr. Soaper purchased the interest of his partner, Mr. L. C. Dallam, and, from that time to this, the business of the old house has been conducted under the name of Thomas Soaper.

Our subject has been one ot Henderson's most successful merchants, from the fact he never jests, never exaggerates, always sincere and honest, and whatever his convictions in any line of life, he carries them out without reference to the world. On no' serious subject has he anv half-formed notions. In his friendship, he is exceedingly warm, yet not demonstrative ; in domestic relations, gentle and tender, a genial companion, a devoted father and husband. He grew up in the Episcopal Church faith, and, in 1860, was confirmed by the Bishop. For thirty years he has been a member of the church vestry, has served as Treasurer for a number of years, has served as Junior and Senior

Warden and is the Senior Warden of the church at this writing. He has represented his church a number of times in the General Convention of the Diocese, and, throughout his entire church life, has been one of the foremost in all matters of interest to the congregation and parish. For many years he filled the position of Superintendent of the Sunday School. In 1879 he was elected President of the Henderson Minino- and Manufacturing Company, and has continued as such to this dav. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Henderson National Bank, one of the strongest monied institutions in the city. He is a member of the Masonic order, and in politics a Democrat. In addition to his large interest in the city, including a handsome residence he is the owner of one hundred and ninety-one acres of the finest Henderson County river bottom lands, which he operates throuo-h employes under the direction of a competent superintendent or overseer. His crops are usually good and bring him a handsome income.

WILLIAM SOAPER, JR. - The subjectof this sketch, who bears the honored name of his father, is the third son of William Soaper and Susan Fannie Henderson, and, as in the case of his elder brothers, was given a collegiate education. He received his early training at the best schools of Henderson, and entered Union College, Schenectady, New York, where he would have graduated in 1864, but for the interference of the War of the Rebellion. William Soaper was born in Henderson County, on the tenth day of April, 1843, and in his form and build is the exact counterpart of his father, when at his age in life. Returning home from college Mr. Soaper engaged himself with his father and brother Richard, in the tobacco stemming business, applying himself with an earnestness, that in a few years placed him in the front rank of stemming men. He was given an interest in the business, and since his father's death has been associated in the same line with his brother Richard. On the seventeenth day of January, 1872, he was married to Miss Sophy Turner, a highly accomplished daughter of Judge Henry F. Turner, of Henderson. As a result of that union, three children were born, Henry Turner, Susan Soaper, Lucile, all bright, promising children. Never a cloud of pain or sorrow hovered over his happy household, until October 21st, 1883, when the angel of death laid his cold hands upon the devoted wife, and carried her away to Heaven, leaving a disconsolate husband and children.

In 1883 Mr. Soaper manifested an active interest in the organization of the gravel road companies of this county, and to show his faith, subscribed liberally to the stock of the Henderson andZion, and

Corydon and Geneva«companies. He has served a term as President of the Henderson, Corydon and Geneva Company, and is now President of the Henderson and Zion Company. For several years he was a member of the Board of Directors of the Henderson Fair Company, and the writer can say that no officer of the association was more active, faithful and deeply interested in the work before him. He is a member of the Masonic order in high standing, having presided as Master, High Priest and Eminent Commander, and had he urged himself as many have done, he would have presided before this over the Grand Lodge of the State. Mr. Soaper is a half-owner of the Henderson Hominy Mill, one of the largest manufactories of hominy, gritz &c., in the West, and is doing a daily business commensurate with its great capacity and yet unable to supply all of its orders. His partner, W. W. Shelby, manages the mill while he gives the bulk of his time to his tobacco interest. In addition to what we have mentioned, our subject is the own r of a magnificent Henderson County river bottom farm of two hundred and forty acres, growing annually thousands of bushels of corn.

Mr. Soaper, in political faith, was raised a Whig, but since the war has affiliated with the Democratic party. He was never an office holder and never a candidate for one. In church doctrine, he is an Episcopalian, and for twenty-five years has served his church as vestryman. For several years he has he^d the office of Treasurer of the church, and so well has he performed the duties of the office, the vestry refuse to give him up by re-electing him annually. To find a man of indomitable will and unquestioned courage, sincere in his convictions, a warm and generous friend of the noblest impulses, of the high est business character, is to 1 ly your eye and hand upon William Soaper.

HARRY SOAPER, the fourth son of William Soaper and Susan Fannie Henderson, was born in Henderson County on the seventh day of August, 1844, and educated from the best schools of the town and county, and the University of Toronto, Canada, where he would have graduated but for the effects of the war. In 1867, after his return from college, he took charge of his brother Richard's tobacco stemmery at Uniontown, and lived there during the stemming se:ison of each year up to 1881, the year of his father's death. Since that time he has had charge of the home farm (where all of the children were born), near the city. He still retains one-fourth interest in the stemming business at Uniontown, In addition to his interest at that place, and the home farm, he operates his l«wer bend place, consisting of one hundred and seventy-five acres of magnificent Henderson County river bottom land. All of this bottom land is alluvial, and, therefore, highly productive. As is the case with his brothers, of whom we have written, he is a most successful business man, and satisfactorily requires every turn to count in his interest. He has given a great deal of attention to the raising of fine stock, and, to that end, and to better provide food for winter feeding, he thoroughly investigated the Silo system, as adopted by cattle raisers in many States of the country, and is, perhaps, the first farmer in Kentucky to introduce one into this State. At a large expense he has caused one to be built at the home farm, and is highly pleased with it. This, then, goes to show that our subject is a wide awake farmer, looking ahead, keeping ahead. He is not the kind to await the coming of events, but he thinks for himself, and his plans are alwavs intelligently founded, and, most generally, result as he would have them.

Mr. Soaper has never married; there is very little poetry about him. He is rather a recluse, inclined more to enjoy a quiet, bachelor life, than hugging to his booom what he regards a fancied vision.

It may be said of him, however, that he is not selfish - on the contrary, there is no one more open hearted. He is fond of society but his natural diffidence is constantly speaking to him, and he continually listening to it. He is a man of benevolence, devoting a portion of his ample means to every good cause presenting itself in the community. He makes no display of his good deeds, is large hearted, exceedingly open and frank in all of his dealings and stands deservedly high as a gentleman and business man. Mr. Soaper was raised in the Episcopal Church faith, but has never connected himself with the church. He never believed in secret societies, therefore has never joined a lodge or secret order of any character whatever. He was raised a Whig. At this time he claims to belong to no party, but the prerogative to vote when and as he pleases.

JOHN D. ANDERSON was born in Virginia and came to Henderson in very early times. His father, Turner Anderso.n, and his wife, Susan Roan Daniel, were both natives of Louisa County, Vi^-- ginia. Turner Anderson had two sisters, one of whom married Wm. H. Crawford, of Georgia, and was burned in a theater. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson immigrated to Kentucky in the year 1805, bringing with thern their six children, Nathan, Nelson, Sus'^n, Nathaniel, John,

Mary and Weston, A paper Mr. Anderson brought with him, and one in which he took great pride, was a certificate from Day Lodge, No. 58, Masonic, certifying to his having been elected and installed Master of that Lodge. Among^the members of Day Lodge were George Washington, Lafayette and Rev. R. S. Barrett, lately of Henderspn ; Nathan Anderson married Miss Milly Bell, and had two children, Richard and Susan ; Richard married Miss Kara Alexander, an aunt of Dr. J. B. Alexander, formerly of this city. They had six children. Dr. Turner Anderson, a distinguished physician, now of Louisville, being one of them.

Susan Anderson was the second wife of Dr. Adam Rankin, of Henderson, and the grandmother of John H., James R. Barret and Samuel, J. Ed., Alex and Wardlow Rankin. Nathaniel Spottswood Anderson was killed in a duel on the twenty-third day of May, 1806, bv Thomas Yateman, at Nashville, Tenn. John D. Anderson, the subject of this sketch, married on the ninth day of May, 1833, Miss Tabitha C. Marshall, and unto them was born only one child, Susan Daniel, who married February 12th, 1854, Walter A. Towles, son of Judge Thomas Towles. They have had seven children, Elizabeth Alves, Sue Starling, Walter Alves, Thomas, Lillia, Marie Lucie and Therrit Rankin. Weston Anderson married Miss Christy, and unto them were born two children, the late Mrs. Peter D. Green, of Union County, and the late Weston Anderson, of Henderson. Mary Anderson first married Miller Flemming. of Glasgow, Scotland, who, together with his brother-in-law, the subject of this sketch, exported cotton to his native place ; they had one child, the late Mrs. Mary F. Alves, wife of Walter Alves. John D. Anderson was a man of fine business character, and accumulated a handsome estate. He was one of the first Directors of the Farmers' Bank, one of the organizers of the Episcopal Church, and instrumental in many other worthy enterprises. He was universally popular, and his opinion upon all matters of business much sought after, He was, for many years prior to his death, a member of the Masonic fraternity.

DR. JOHN N. DORSEY was born in Jefferson County, Kentucky, on the thirty-first day of December, 1811, and, at the age of seven years, came with his father, Noah Dorsey, to Henderson County, and settled on what is known as the Strong Water farm, then owned by General Samuel Hopkins. Three months after he removed three miles beloW the present site of Corydon, and there remained until he arrived at the age of thirteen or fourteen. He then returned to Jefferson County and was there educated. In 1834 he went to

Hardin County and did business for an uncle, at the same time applying his leisure moments to the study of medicine. Not long after this he graduated from the Louisville Medical Institute, and went to West Point to practice his profession. The Doctor tarried but a short time at West Point, and then removed to Daviess County, where he resided for seven years. He then came to Henderson and located at Corydon, where he has continued to reside to the present time. In the month of April, 1841, in Daviess County, Doctor Dorsey married Miss Patsy R. Atcherson, and unto them seven children were born, five of whom are now living, Bettie, Belle, Emma, Anna and John L. Bettie married Dr. J. N. Powell; Belle married Dr. Wesley Powell; Emma married Walter Cannon, proprietor of the Barret House, Henderson, and John L. married Miss Nannie Dixon. John L. Dorsey, the only son, represented his countv one term in the Kentucky Legislature; is now Council Advisor of the city, a prominent Knight of Pythias and Odd Fellow, and a leading attorney at the bar. Dr. Dorsey was the first Postmaster at Corydon, and his wife had the honor of giving the office and village its name. He built, in 1848, the first house, a log cabin; also, in connection with his brother, established the first store at the place. The territory that the Doctor then practiced over has now fourteen or fifteen physicians, and all of them claiming a liberal practice. Dr. Dorsey's first wife having died many years ago, he again married, selecting for his second wife Mrs. Isabella Phillips, of this county. He is in comfortable circumstances, and takes life easy in his old age, greatly beloved by all who know him. .

WILLIAM W. BLACKWELL was born in Henderson on the fifth day of April, 1849, and was educated at the best private schools in the town. In early life he engaged, with his father, in merchandising, and soon displayed remarkable business capacity. There are few men his superior in business intelligence and far seeing judgment, Several years ago he was given a partnership with his father in the hardwa.re business, and the success of the firm testifies to his eminent qualifications as a cool, clear headed, calculating man. ^

Shortly after the institution of Ivy Lodge, No. 21, Knights of Pythias, in 1873, Mr. Blackwell became a member, and, from his initiation, evinced a great interest in the order. By a close study of its laws and mystic aims,he soon became one of the best posted members and his opinion was regarded as reliable upon all matters concerning the order. As an evidence how studiously he applied himself, he first entered the Grand Lodge as a Representative of Ivy Lodge (after having presided in his own lodge) in September, 1877, at its session held in the City of Covington, ^nd was, by that body, elected Grand Master of Exchequer for the term following. At the session of the Grand Lodsre. held in Lexinsfton in 1878. he was advanced to the position of Grand Vice Chancellor on the first ballot over five competitors. At the session held in Henderson, September, 1879, he was unanimously chosen Grand Chancellor of the State for the term following. At the September session, 1880, at Louisville, he received the honorable rank of Past Grand Chancellor for services rendered as Grand Chancellor. At the session of 1881, held at Maysville, he was elected Supreme Representative for four years, from January lst>

1881, to December 31st, 1885, to represent the Grand Lodge of Kentucky in the Supreme Lodge of the world. Since that time this commission has been extended six year's election, to 1889. He represented Kentucky at the Supreme meeting, held at Detroit, Michigan, in August,

1882, and there received the Supreme Lodge Degree, the highest honor in the order. He also represented the Grand Lodge at the Supreme meeting held in New Orleans in April, 1884, and at Toronto, Canada, in July, 1886, and will, nothing preventing, represent Kentucky a*t the Supreme meeting to be held in Cincinnati, in 1888. Mr. Blackwell is the youngest Knight who has ever passed the executive chair of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, being only thirty years of age when elected Grand Chancellor. He is the only Supreme Representative ever elected south of the Ohio River. As another evidence of his worth, he was presented, at the session of 1880, held in Louisville, with a handsomely engrossed resolution of thanks for services rendered as Grand Chancellor. This was done by a unanimous vote, and is the first and only time the honor has ever been paid a Grand Chancellor. Mr. Blackwell is a member of the Supreme Lodge Finance Committee, composed of five members, and ranks second in the list. He has twice visited Washington City for the purpose of auditing the books of the Endowment Rank. By authority of the Supreme Chancellor of the world, Howard Douglass, on the twentyfourth day of December, 1886, Mr. Blackwell was appointed aide-decamp with the rank of Colonel, on the staff of Major General James R Carnahan, Commander in Chief of the Uniform Rank, the grandest body of disciplined soldiers in the world. There are now over five hundred divisions, forty thousand Knights in uniform. It is predicted the grand pageant in Cincinnati, in 1888, will surpass any display of military, ever witnessed on this Continent. Mr. Blackwell has just completed the compilation of the revised Constitutions of the Grand and Subordinate Lodges, a duty assigned him by the Grand

Lodge. His report is a masterly onQ and has been attended by a multitude of perplexing surroundings. In honor of his distinguished services as a Knight, and high character as a man, on Friday evening, September 9th, 1887, at Marion Ky., Black well Lodge, No. 57, was instituted, named in his honor, and composed of the best men of the town and surrounding country. As a speaker, Mr. Blackwell has few superiors, and upon several occasi(5ns, has won the plaudits of his fellow Sir Knights, by his sound reasoning, interspersed by wit and humor. The time is not far distant, when he will be exalted to the distinguished position of Supreme Chancellor of the world, a position he is so eminently qualified and fitted for. On Tuesday, October 5th, 1869, at the residence of his wife's parents, in Evansville Indiana, Mr. Blackwell married Miss Marcia A. Stinson, and unto them has been born one son, Ernest, a bright young man, a chip of the old blocks As Gas Commissioner, Mr. Blackwell has served the city with satisfaction. - He is a leading Odd Fellow. On the twenty-fourth day of September, 1887, Mr. Blackwell was tendered the Supreme Secretaryship of the Endowment Rank, K. of P., at a salary of $3,000, but declined it.

GREEN W. PRITCHETT. tobacconist, strip and leaf dealer, was born near Corydon, in the year 1842. His father, Pressley Pritchett, was one of the early settlers of that part of the county, and was a farmer of influence, and held the office of Constable under the old Constitution. His mother, Annie Powell, was a woman noted for her fine sense and domestic character. Both father and mother died, aged about forty-seven years. Green W. was educated at Princeton Academy, Princeton, Indiana, and returned to Corydon and engaged in merchandising. In 1869 he married Miss Belle Powell, a lady of high character, and greatly respected for her social and domestic qualities. They have three children, two girls and one boy. Mr. Pritchett has served his district as Magistrate several terms, and has also served as Trustee of the town of Corydon and of the Public Schools at that place. In each mstance he has brought to bear a conservative sound judgment, that has ever been characteristic of the man, and has placed him foremost among the men of intelligence in his county. During his life he has evidenced a decided interest in all matters of public moment, and has been mainly instrumental in organizing several enterprises of value to the county, notably, the Corydon Coal and Mining Company, Corydon Public Schools, Henderson and Corydon Gravel Road Company, the Henderson Weekly Journal, in all of which he has served as Trustee andJDirector. In politics he is a Democrat, thoroughly posted and influential. He is a heavy purchaser of tobacco, which he prepares for the European market. He has been a successful man of business, and all of this is owing to an intelligence he brings fo bear, gained from close reading and observation. As a writer, Mr. Pritchett knows few superiors. He wields a graceful, and when he chooses, a caustic pen.

DR. H. H. FARMER, was born in Lunenburg County, Virginia, in 1825, and immigrated with his father to Kentucky, Henderson County, in the autumn of 1829. In 1833 his father was accidentally shot, and two years thereafter young Farmer returned to his relations in Virginia, where he remained until 1846, but always claiming Henderson County as his home. He was educated mostly in Virginia and graduated in medicine, at the Jefferson Medical College in 1846. In June of that year he commenced the practice of his profession in Henderson County, but, three, years after, abandoned it for the more pleasing life of a farmer. Dr. Parmer has served his countv as a Magistrate, Assessor and County School Commissioner, in all of which positions his eminent fitness won him the plaudits of his people. From early manhood he was a Democrat in politics. In 1860 he was a warm Southern sympathiser, but opposed secession which he believed would end in nothing short of disaster to the Southern people. He took no part in the war, but remained with his family at his quiet, happy home in the county. Dr. Farmer cast his lot with the Democratic party until about 1881, when he gave up, in a great measure, politics, and does not now claim to belong to any political organization. In 184'3 he joined the Baptist Church, and has, from that time to this, proven himself an active, consistent, working member.

JUDGE THOMAS TOWLES was born in Spottsylvania County, Virginia, on June 1st, 1784. His father, Stokeley Towles, was born in Lancaster, Virginia, February 21st, 1750, and died May, 23d, 1800. His mother, Mary Smith, w^as born September 8th. 1755, and died May 6th, 1813. Judge Towles immigrated to Henderson County in 1805, and resided here to the date of his death, December 12th, 1850. He first married Miss Hopkins, daughter of General Samuel Hopkins, in 1809. She died, leaving one son, Thomas, Jr., who was known as the brightest mind ever born in the county - a lawyer of wonderful memory and marked ability. Judge Towles then married Elizabeth Alves, daughter of Walter Alves, one of the signers of the Henderson Grant, and Amelia Johnston, whose father was William Johnston, one of the Richard Henderson & Co., to whom the grant was made. Mrs.

Towles survived her husband two years, she dying June 28th, 1852. By his last marriage there were three children. Dr. John J. Towles, Mrs. Bettie T. Barret and Walter A. Towles, all married and have children. Judge Towles was a lawyer of large practice, and held the unrestrained confidence of the people of his town and county. He was the head and front of every enterprise, and no man gave more liberally of his time and means. On the sixteenth day of January, 1816, he was commissioned by President Madison, one of the judges for the territory of Illinois. Much history associated with his life will be found elsewhere in this volume. He was a warm, personal friend of the renowned John J. Audubon.

J. W. PORTER was born in Donegal, Ireland, in the year 1835. In his young manhood, Mr. Porter immigrated to America, and for quite a number of years followed peddling on foot for a living. He traveled mostly throughout the Southern States, and dealt largely in such goods as Irish linens, embroideries and silks. After his first year's experience in thus merchandising, he employed seven or eight men and kept them constantly on the road. At the outbreaking of the War of the Rebellion, he was at Holly Springs, Mississippi, where he lost some fifteen hundred do lars worth of goods. He then started across the plains, and, arriving at Hot Springs Arkansas, sold his entire stock to the men then in his employ. During the year 1855, Mr. Porter visited I'odd County, Kentucky, and while sleeping in the second story of a country house, a terrible tornado swept over that part of the county, demolishing the building in which he was sleeping. Strange, as it may seem, his vest was torn half in two, and he blown one hundred yards, to find himself unhurt. In 1853 he first came to Henderson County, and, in 1858, purchased of James Bottoms, tw^o hundred acres of land lying in the Niagara Precinct, for which he paid fifteen hundred dollars in gold, cash down. He returned to New York, and there opened a grocery house, but owing to his strong Democratic proclivities, was unsuccessful and returned to Henderson and settled upon the land bought of Bottom. In 1867 he purchased of George S. Morris ten acres of land, and built his present residence. In 1870 he built his tobacco stemmery, and engaged in merchandising and the stemming of tobacco, in which business he is yet engaged. His busi ness life has proven successful, and, by industry and prudence, Mr. Porter enjoys a handsome estate. He has been three times married, first, to Miss McLaughlin, of New York; then to Miss Nunn, daughter of Hugh Nunn, of Henderson County, and lastly, to Mrs. Triplett, widow of Robert Triplett. He is the father of eight children, four of whom are living.

R. W. AGNEW was born in Henderson County, in the year 1836. Robert Agnew, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born on Rock Creek, waters of the Alamance, Guilford County, North Carolina, on .the sixth day of Mty, 1776. His father. Doctor Robert Agnew, was born in County Down, Ireland, on January 31st, 1734. He married Euphenia Shaw in the year 1763, and immigrated to America in the year 1771, and settled in Guilford County, where he died October '18th, 1793. Robert Agnew was the fifth child, and his mother died when he was not six months old. He was then given to Ann Shaw, of Christian County, Kentucky, his mother's first cousin, who cared for him until her death, three years afterwards. His father having married his second wife, young Robert was taken back to Norch Carolina, where he lived with his step-mother, a most estimable woman, until arriving at nineteen years of age. He then went to his sister Sally, in Sumner County, Tennessee. This trip was over five hundred miles through the wilderness, inhabited by Indians and wild animals, and seven days of the journey young Agnew was alone. He remained a year or more in Sumner County, and then returned to his native home in North Carolina, where he attended school for a short time. Being of a restless disposition, he determined to go back to Tennessee, so on the twenty-second day of December, 1796, in extreme cold weather, he set out on his second journey, and on the twentieth day of January, 1797, arrived at his sister's in Sumner County. He was still unsatisfied, he wanted to see more of the country ; therefore, in company with two friends, on the twenty-eighth day of January, 1797, he came to Henderson County, and being well pleased, determined to settle here. He returned to Tennessee, and the following is taken from a diary kept by himself : " Returning to Ten nessee, I thought I would quit my rambles and settle myself. So it happened that on the first day of June I married Elizabeth White Hardin, of Robertson County. We then concluded to come and live in this country, my wife having a sister living here that was married to Jacob Landers, a pioneer. On Tuesday November 21st, 1797, we arrived in Henderson County, having brought but a small share of property with us. It consisted of two horses, two cows and one calf, two sheep, one bed, etc., and one flax wheel and other small articles to commence worl^ with, but without one cent of money or provisions. However, we went to work, and have never suffered to this time, 1839, for the necessaries of life. Before two years had roll'd away our horses were all dead of the ' Yellow Water,' which prevailed in the world at that time ; our sheep were all gone, but our cows did well."

Robert Agnevv raised eleven children, seven males and four females. The males were : John married Miss Asbby, of Hopkins County ; Wiley married Miss Armstrong ; Andrew married Elizabeth Walker; Whitfield married Elizabeth H. Nunn, all of Henderson County. The father of our subject was Whitefield Agnew, who died in 1845, at the age of thirty-seven years, leaving his son, R W. Agnew, a youth of nine years, with his mother and five sisters dependent upon their own exertions for a livelihood. His early privations prevented his education, yet he applied himself at leisure times, and by this means gained a knowledge that has proved of incalculable benefit to him. At the age of twenty-five years, Mr. Agnew married Mrs. M. J. Tillotson, widow of Marshall Tillotson, and daughter of John and Nancy Reeder, and unto them have been born five children, Robert L,, Dora, Edna E., and William W. all living. By his industrv and economy, Mr. Agnew has accumulated a snug little estate, and although a hard worker, enjoys his pleasures. In politics he is a strong Democrat and worker, whose influence is felt in times of excited elections. He and his entire family are members of the Baptist Church. Dr. R. L. Agnew, a promising physician of Sebree, is his eldest son and child.