Scott County, Kentucky - The whole text, 1905 (part 5 of 10)

Craig Bradley Son Of Hon. Victor F. Bradley

J. CRAIG BRADLEY is the eldest son of the Hon. Victor F Bradley and the grandson of Senator Benjamin F. Bradley, and among the younger members practicing at this bar. Mr. Bradley graduated at Georgetown College in J 1901. While taking his college course he was a member of j T.O.K. Society, which he ably represented in many oratorical J contests. He attended the Harvard Law School after gradu- j ating at Georgetown, for his law course, and finished the three-year cour e there in 1904, returning to his home in j Georgetown and making application for admission to the 1 ; bar before Judge Watts Parker, of Fayette Circuit Court, passing through a vi orous examination by a committee of 1 those able lawyers, composed of Judge Parker, Judge Jerry tji Morton and Judge Hunt, and was admitted to practice law in the State of Kentucky, and after which he was admitted | as a member of the Scott County Bar. He afterwards asso- | dated himself with his father and began the practice of his j profession, under the firm name of Victor F. Bradley & Son. |

Victor Bradley, Jr

VICTOR BRADLEY, JR. - Victor, the second son. and j named for his father, Hon. Victor F. Bradley, is also a J graduate of Georgetown College. He is now taking a J thorough course in law at Harvard University. He is a f fluent spe ker, quick to grasp a thought, and has a similar j disposition to that of his uncle, the late Hon. Jack W. j Bradley, who was one of the most popular men in Scott I county. This young man has a host of friends and the | writer predicts for him a great future.

The Late Jas. K. Glenn James K. Glenn

MR. JAMES K. GLENN was born on the i2th day of August, 1861. In his early youth he lived on his father's farm, near Georgetown. His collegiate course was finished at Eminence, Ky., College, in June, 188O, with credit to himself and to the sa'isfaction of his parents. From then until the year 1884 he studied law assiduously, and to much advantage, for he was admitted in October of that year to the practice of his chosen profession at the Covington, Ky., bar. Not being satisfied with this altogether, in order to get a license to practice the prof ssion before so learned a tribunal as that of Covington, it is necessary to be versed in all the knowledge requisite to make a first class practitioner, he entered the law school of Cincinnati from which institution he graduated in May, 1885.

In August, 1886, through his thorough knowledge of the United States law pertaining to the duties of position, he was appointed to the United States Postal service. So proficient had he become in the discharge of his duties in that division of the government, that in June, 1888, he was promoted to the higher position ol Chief Clerk of the railway mail service, stationed at Louisville, Ky. He continued in the railway mail service until August, 1890, when he resigned to assume the dudes of Superintendent of common schools for Scott county, to which position he has been elected by the Democrats of this county. Professor (State Senator) Peterman, at a meeting of the Scott County Teachers' Institute, passed a most deservedly high compliment upon Mr. Glenn when he said that, for '-dignity and courtesy of demeanor, intelligence in the requirements of the duties of his office, and for the faithful discharge of the functions thereof he had no superior." Mr. Glenn died October 4th, 1898.

ASA P. GROVER was born in Orleans county. New York, and died in Georgetown in 1887. He was known for his sterling qualities, his fearless loyally to his honest convictions, his unwavering fidelity to all the duties of public and of private life. He was educated for the Presbyterian ministry, and was a man of broad general information and culture. He attended Center College, at Danville, and afterward engaged in teaching school in Woodford and Franklin counties. He took up the study of law, and in 1843 began practice in Owenton, where for thirty-eight years he was a prominent and active member of the bar. In 1881 he removed to Georgetown, and was connected with the profession in that city until his death. His career at the bar was one of the greatest honor. He was vigilant in his devotion to his clients' interests, yet he never forgot that he owed a higher allegiance to the majesty of the law. Called to public office by the vote of the people, Mr. Grover represented the Louisville district in Congress from I867 to 1869 and handled with masterly skill the important questions which came up lor consideration in the council chambers of the nation. For twelve years he was a member of the Kentncky

Judge T. S. Gaines

In 1845 Mr. Grover was united in marriage to Miss Martha A. Vallandingham, a native of Scott county. Mrs. Grover died in Georgetown in November, 1904.

HON. WILLIAM C. OWENS, was born in Scott county Ky., on October 17, 1849. He was educated in Transylvania University, and at Millersburg, and graduated from the Columbia law school in the spring of I872 and 1 egan to practice in Georgetown, being admitted to the bar here in March, 1 873 . The following year he was elected County Attorney but resigned, and was elected to the Legislature in August I877; and was re-elected in j87g without opposition, and in Novem er, 1881, at the assembling of the House, he was elected Speaker, there being four opponents, viz.; Gov. Merriweather, C. U. McElroy, Jacob Rice, and J. M. Hendricks. He was made the temporary chairman of the National Convention held in Chicago in I892 that nominated Grover Cleveland for re-election as President. He was elected to Congress from the Seventh Congressional District in 1894. His opponents were the late Evan E. Settle and Col. W. C. P. Breckinridge. This was one of the most heat- 5 ed campaigns in the State. He did not offer for re-election f holding a different view from the majority of his party on jj the money question He took an active part to defeat Goe- 1 bel for Governor. In 19OO was a candidate on the Republi-| can ticket for Congress and since 19O2 has been a citizen off Louisville. His father, Charles Owens, born in Scott jj county in 1805, was a farmer and a thorough business man. ij

JUDGE T. S. GAINES was born on the 28th day of August, 1861, in Scott county, Ky. Judge Gaines received; his collegiate education at Georgetown College, graduating i from that institution in June, 1881, with great credit to himself, and amply fulfilling the expectations of his friends, which were placed high.

During the session of 1882-83 he attended the Louisville ; Law School, graduating in the summer of the latter year with distinguished honors, having been awarded the prize - ] twenty-five dollars in gold - for the best prepared and best delivered oration in the oratorical contest of that year.

Upon his return home he opened a law office and practiced his profession until 1 886, when he was elected Police Judge of Georgetown. He held this posi'ion through a term of four years,' and made a record for himself of which he can feel justly proud, both in the town and connty.

Hqn. Henry Partlow Montgomery

HENRY PARTLOW MONTGOMERY, of Georgetown was born in Gallatin county, Kentucky, on the 8lh of Feb- ; ruary, 1839. His ancestral history is one of close identification with Virginia and Kentucky, and shows an honorable connection of many of the members ol the family with the 1 events which secured to America her independence and re- ' suited in the development of Kentucky. The grand'ather, Robert Montgomery, was one of the heroes of the Revolui tion, and was wounded at the battle of Guilford Court House, but eventually recovered from his injuries; in 1785 he removed to Kentucky. The father, John Montgomery,

I was born in Woodford c unty, this Slate, and became a successful farmer. He married Elizabeth Bohannon, also a native of Woodford county and a daughter of John Bohannon, who devoted his ai tendon to agricultural pursuits and was descended from Virginian ancestry who established homes in Kentucky in 1786.

Henry P. Montgomery is therefore a representative of ; two of the old families of the State, and his honorable career has added new luster to the family name. Of America is the self-made man a product, and the record of accomplish- , ments in this individual sense is the record which the true ! aud lojal American holds in deepest regard and highest honor. In tracing the career of the subject of this review : we are enabled to gain a recognition of this sort' of record,

| for he has devoted his lile to a calling where wealth or fam- | ily cannot avail one in striving for success. The lawyer must depend upon the broadest intellectuality, unfaltering I application and ready adaptability, arid with these attributes I he may attain to distinguished honors. Mr. Montgomery was prepared for his professional c freer by a broad education. He attended Center College, at Danville, Kentucky, and graduated in June, i860 with the second honors in a clas of thirty-five, which included in its membership Rev.

' E. O. Guerrant, now a prominent Presbyterian minister of Kentucky; Edward Marvin, a leading Presbyterian divine of New York, and Hon. Edward Warring, member of Con gress from Kentucky.

Mr, Montgomery read law under the preceptorship of H. (. Atbelt, ol Warsaw, Kentucky, and was admitted to the bar in Gallatin county in i860. He began practice in Shelby county, where he remained until January, 1862, when he removed to 0>venton, and was an active and influential member of that bar until September, 1882. At that time he came to Georgetown where he now enjoys a large law practice. In Owen county he was elected County Attorney, serving for seven consecutive years from 1863. He was also school Commissioner for four years. He has held the office of special Judge of the Circuit Court by appointment, b it has never been an office seeker, prererring to devote his en-' tire attention to his professional duties. In politics he is a. strong prohibition.

John And James Ford

Mr. Montgomery engages in general law practice, but confines his attention mostly to civil cases. He has been connected with some of the most important litigation that has been heard in this section of the State; was associate council for the defense in the noted case of the Commonwealth versus Thomas Buford, who was tried for the murder of Judge John M. Elliott, of the Court of Appeals, a case attracting a widespread attention. He is most careful and pain taking in the preparation of his cases, and then, in the court room, rests his cause on a plain statement of facts and the justice of our laws. He loses sight of no point that will advance the interest of his client, and is a forceful and earned speaker. He has also been closely identified with the growth and best interests of the city, and has done much to promote its progress and substantial growth. He has been Presid nt and attorney of the First National Bank of Georgetown since its organization in 1883; was President of the Water Supply Company, supplying water and electric light to the city, and gives an active support to all measures calculated to promote the educational, social, moral or material welfare of the community. .

Mr. Montgomery has beeen twice married. He first wedded Miss Nannie E. Kenney, of Owen county, a daughter of Richard Kenney. Their marriage was celebrated in 1864, and she died in i887, leaving three children - Harry, Bes ie, wife of John H. Cooper, and Staiar. In 1889 he was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Alice P. Mundy, daughter of Hon. A. P. Grover, member of Congress from 1867 to 1869 from the Louisville district. He finds his chief and most abiding source of enjoyment in his home life. In the pleasures that have their root in family affection, he spends the hours spared from professional duties, and in the home circle he finds the needed rest and relaxation from the stress and strain of public life. He was formerly a member of th Odd Fellows society, and is a member of the Missionary Baptist church.

James M. Ford

MR. JAMES M. FORD was born near Stamping Ground, Scott county, Kentucky, on the 31st day of July, 1859, and is a son of the late Elder Hiram Ford, who was the nominee of the Prohibition party for Congress in the Seventh Kentucky Congressional district in 1890. He is a graduate cf the Kentucky Classical and Business College, located at North Middletown, Bourbon county, being a member of the graduating class of 1883. Though his lather was one of the standard bearers of the Prohibitionists, Mr. Ford himself is an active and enthusiastic worker in the Democratic party. In the year 1887 he was appointed as Deputy Sheriff by Mr. T. T. Hedger. He made ti most excellent officer in that capacity. At the regular election in August, 1890, he was elected without oppo ilion.

Judge James B. Finn Ell

to his farm. In 1902 he was appointed a member of the Democratic Committee of the county. Mr. Fori for many years previous to the time of his election as Sheriff had been j reading law, and is now engaged in the practice ol this profession with his brother, John. Mr. Ford married Miss i Margaret Tandy, of Ghent, Carroll county, and to this union > three children were born - Emily E., John and Margaret | James Ford.

John Ford

; MR. JOHN FORD, the senior member of the firm of Ford & Ford, has been leading law for years. He was in the mercantile business for years, but he never neglected his chosen profession, but read law during that time. He mar-'" ried Miss Georgia Church, and to this union' five children were born - Hiram Church, M. Elizabeth, Jonn F., Jr.,

James Benjamin Finnell

JAMES BENJAMIN FINNELL, of Georgetown, was born in Bo ne county, Ky., July 6, 1842, and is a representative of two of the oldest and mo't honorable families of the State. 1 1 is parents were Vardiman and Nancy (Sleet) Finnell, both natives of Boone county. The grandfather, Janies Finnell, accom anied his father, Robert Finnell, from Culpepper county, Virginia, to Boone county, about 1795, and since that time the family has figured prominently in the history of that region. J. B. Finnell in his youth received the sturdy disciplit e and lived the fiee, open life of the farm. His primary education was obtained in the public schools of his native county, and when sixteen years of age he went to Hanover College, near Madison, Ind., where he pursued his studies for two years. He then matriculated in Georgetown College, where he remained for two years, then after completing his education at the University of Louisville, he was licensed to practice by the examining board, consisting of Judges Stiles and Bruce.

Mr. Finnell began the practice of law in Boone county in 1870, and for five years was a member of that bar, after which he came to Georgetown, and for about fifteen years was associated in practice with W. C. Owens. He has been attorney for the defense or prosecution in many important cases, and his career at the bar has been an honorable one.

Hon. R. E. Roberts

In 1864 Mr. Finnell was married to Miss Fanny Roberts, a native of Boone county. They have three children - Robert Marshall, James B. and Eva R. The last named is now Mrs. Neville C. Fisher, of Bourbon county. James, who is the City Attorney, is also associated with his father in the practice of law, the firm being known as Finnell & Finnell.

Since 1864 Mr. Finnell has been a faithful member of the Baptist church. His political support in early manhood was given the Democracy, but of late years he has allied his interests wi h those of the Prohibition party, and. on that ticket made the race for Attorney-General of Kentucky, and in I894 for Congress.

HON. R. E. ROBERTS was born near Verona, in Boone I county. Fie received his scholastic education at Georgetown { College, graduating in 1 876. After finishing his Collegiate course, Mr. Roberts entered actively into mercantile life, ] but after a few years began the hard study of the science of i law and politics. He studied law assiduously during the j years ol I884-5-6, and was admitted to the bar, having stood 1 a thorough examination before the Court of Appeals of Ken- j tucky. In i889 he was nominated by the Democrats of ! Scott county as their candidate for Representative, to which , [ office he was elected by a handsome majority, and made a t brilliant record in the Legislature. Immediately upon his | return from Frankfort, he entered into the active practice of | his chosen profession. He served six years as Master Com- t| missioner of Scott county, to which position he was ap- I pointed by Circuit Judge Jas. E. Cantrill. Mr. Roberts has j also devoted considerable time to the breeding of thoroughbred race hor-es, having at one time at the head of his ' equine establishment the great imported stallion, Silvermine. J

GEORGE E. PREWITT, lawyer; born in Scott county, > April I4, 1827, near to what is now Kinkead Station; was the fourth son of Robert C. and Elizabeth S. Prewitt, who in the year 1835 emigrated to Lincoln county, Mo., where the subject of this sketch resided until he was twenty-two, receiving his education principally in a private school taught by Rev. Wilson Cunningham, a Presbyterian minister. In 1849 George E. Prewitt returned to Kentucky, and in 1851 began the study of law with Richard Apperson, Sr., of Mt. Sterling, but married and returned to Missouri before completing his legal studies, and was admitted to the bar in that

William S. Kelly

WM. S. KELLY is a son of Judge Jas. Y. Kelly; was born in Georgetown Dec. 15th, 1876, attended school at Georgetown College and at State College. Studied law during the years 1896 and 1897 and was also engaged in the insurance business. Admitted to the bar in May 1898 and is now one of the ablest young lawyers in the State. He married Miss Sue Anderson, daughter of Col. Hugh Ander-

State in 1852. He came to Georgetown in 1854, and was the same year admitted to practice in all the courts of this State. He served in the capacity of City Judge of Georgetown for one term, and as Master Commissioner of the Scott Circuit Court from 1856 to 1862.

HOMER S. RHOTON, Georgetown, and Mrs. George, of Clay County, Mo., are the only living children of Benjamin W. Rhoton, who was born in Surrey County, North Carolina, in 1790, and who came to Kentucky in 1811. He studied medicine and graduated from Transylvania University; he was the leading physician of Woodford County, and for many years, the superintending physician in the Eastern Kentucky Lunatic Asylum, being succeeded by Dr. William Chipley. He was a Fellow of the Royal Medical Society. As minister of the gospel, he presided over the Southern Methodist Episcopal Church. He resided in Danville, Lancaster, Versailles, Lexington and Georgetown, coming to the last named place in I85O; here he died in February, 1863. He was twice married, his first wife being Miss Jeffrie , and his second, Mrs. Margaret E. Peters, daughter of Frank P. Gaines, and widow of Aleck Peters, a portrait painter of Woodford County. On June ] 7, 184O, in Lexington, Ky., was born Homer S. Rhoton the subject of this sketch. Ten years later he came to Georgetown, and attended the Georgetown College, continuing until he reached the senior year. In 1860 he began as teacher in the city schools, and was Principal of the male department four years. In 1866 he was elected School Commissioner of Scott County, by a unanimous vote, serving ten years. In 1874 he was elected Police Judge of Gerrgetown, and reelected in 1878. In 1879 he was elected Treasurer of Scott County. In 1866 he began reading law with M. Polk and Lieutenant Gov. James E. Cantr 11, and was admitted to the Bar in March, 1868, at Frankfort.

son in November 1898 and has one child, a son - James Hugh. He is a Democrat and has been a faithful party worker. He was secretary of the Beckham Club of this county, and was elected and held the office of City Attorney and made the city a faithful officer.

Mr. Lee is a son of W. Nat Lee, a noted distiller of Owen county. He was born in that county and attended the country s-chool, after which he went to the Corinth Academy, and from there to State College at Lexington. In 1893 he finished his course in law at the Cincinnati Law School. In the same year he was examined and admitted to the bar at Williamstown. He practiced law at Williamstown, Owenton, Falmouth, Frenchburg, Hallan, and came to Georgetown in 1894 and formed a partnership with H. P. Montgomery; and the law firm of Montgomery & Lee is one of the most prominent one in the county. In I889 he married the daughter of B. S. Clay, of Williamstown, and has two children, a boy and girl. Strange to say that the late Col. Nat Lee, conducting a distillery in Owen county for many years, and had seven boys each of whom made and sold whiskey, but not one of them ever drank a drop.

He is the son of the late Col. Milt Hamilton, who represented the county of Kenton in the General Assembly of Kentucky. Col. Flamilton died a few years ago leaving an estate amounting to $85,000. He married Nancy Piatt, and to this union three children were born - Isham, Mrs. Tom Allen and Daniel. Daniel died in 19O4. Isham attended Kentucky University, and after finished a course in law in the Cincinnati Law School. He began the practice of his profession in 1878 in Kenton county. He was for two years a Deputy Clerk of the United States District Court under J. C. Finnell the present Clerk; served as Deputy Circuit Court Clerk of Owen county. He came to Scott county in 1887; served as Deputy County Clerk, and in 1902 was elected a Magistrate of the Magisterial District, composed of Great Crossings and White Sulphur, which place he resigned after serving two years, to devote his entire attention to his profession and investments of capital.

MR. J. C. B. SEBREE began the practice of law in Georgetown and was admitted as a member of the Scott County Bar in 1883. He was born near Stamping Ground on a farm near McConnell's Run in 185O. He followed farming for a short time, afterward attended the common school and then Georgetown College. In 1881 he began the study of law under Col. Dehoney and in I883 admitted to the bar. He has made quite a sum of money and loans it out. Besides his home, the old Bitner place, situated on the Paris pike one mile from town, which has one of the finest wells on it as can be found in the State, where he resides, he owns a nice farm. In 1897 he was elected County Attorney, serving four years. This office pays near $700. During his term the Gubernatorial race when Goebel was a candidate lor Governor, and in all the troubles of that campaign, which required the soliciting of money for campaign purposes, he contributed, and to our own knowledge the amount of money he contributed would almost exceed the amount he made. He is a Democrat.

James Bradley

The above is a likeness of Mr. Janies Bradley, nne of the finest educated members of the bar, and ranks as one of the best young lawyers in the State. Mr. Bradley, unlike most young students at a college, took great interest in his studies, knowing the value of an education to one who had the desire to become a lawyer. He is a young man of ability, a reliable lawyer, a valuable citizen, honest at all times and in all things, and is popular with all who know him. Besides his practice lie deals extensively in real estate and collections, in which he has made a great success. He has a good level head and, of course, has fine judgment, all of which is required of a boy to become useful to family, home and country. Mr. Bradley's parents were born in Ireland and came to Kentucky in 1853 and located in Scott county in 1862. His mother died in l87g and his father August i8;h, 19O2, leaving three childien living - John. James and Mary, all of whom reside together in a beautiful home in Payne's Addition. Mr. Bradley attended the county school and afterward Georgetown College, of which institution of learning he graduated in the class of 189O. He then began the study of law under Mr. Henry P. Montgomery. On September 2d, 19OO, he was examined by Judge Hobson and Judge O'Rear, of the Court of Appeals, and was highly complimented for the rigid examination he underwent. He was admitted to the bar in October of the same year, and has since been practicing his profession, remaining in the office of H. P. Montgomery. At present he is a member of the City Council and elected as Mayor pro tem. When elected he received the highest Democratic vote of any candidate on the ticket.

Who has been a breeder of fine horses, and an auctioneer until recently, when he became a member of the bar. ' He was born in Harrison county September 8th, 1842. His father was Col. Lewis B. Offutt. On April 17th, i867, he married Mary E. Viley. He has two children living - Milton, Yiley and Joe Offutt. The former is a farmer and the latter a dealer in horses. Captain Offutt was Deputy Sheriff for four years under John Glenn and George Tilford. He was City Treasurer or Georgetown and for a while a Constable of the county. He enlisted as a Confederate in 1861, and was captured while under Morgan and kept a prisoner for 22 months in the Ohio raid. In 1896 he was admitted to the bar, and has since been practicing his profession.

HE above is a likeness of Hon- John Shropshire / 1 Smith, a son of Scoff county and now a distinguished lawyer of Indianapolis, Ind. Mr. Smith is a son of the late Dr. R. G. Smith and was born on a farm on the Georgetown and Paris pike about six miles frym Georgetown. Mr. Smith studied law and practiced his profession in Paris for many years. In 1892 he was elected Commonwealth's Attorney of the Judicial District composed of Franklin. Bourbon, Woodford and Scott counties, which place he tilled with credit to himself and honor to his party. At t lie expiration of his term he removed to Indianapolis, Ind , and is one of the most prominent lawyers practicing at that bar. Another distinguished lawyer, the late Senator Goebel, who was not a member of the Scott county bar, but for a number of reasons the brief taken from a work called "That Campaign of Kentucky" is printed below:

Senator Wm. Goebel

ICTURESQUE as politics in Kentucky has 4l1 always been, in the 1899 campaign for governor was concentrated a kaleidoscopic va- ** riety of features against a background of strenuous political conflict.that threatened on many occasions to ignice into the flame of revolution.

Courageous men were those who led the contending forces. Strong principles were those that were involved. Mightly convulsions were those provoked in the commonwealth that boasts of so large a per cent of Anglo-Saxton blood in the veins of its white inhabitants. A convulsion dating from the innocuous springtime of 1899 had not spent its force nearly a year later, when this recital went to press

Three iron men led in the battle - Wm. Goebel, W. S. Taylor and John Young Brown. Not one of them faltered at any stage of the prosecution of his aim. Doubtless the most remarkable of these was Goebel. "I ask no quarter, and I fear no foe," were his ready words. From an humble beginning he built his own way up to the eminence of partnership with Kentucky's legal giant, John G. Carlisle. Sent once to the state senate, he remained there for twelveyears, until his death. A deep politician, he was not one of sugared wiles so much as one of will and force. Still a young man - little over forty - he had spent nearly his lifetime in politics without attracting great attention as an orator or by displays of great brilliancy. He had laid up a store of steady success, however, and a host of enemies, and at the same time an income of possibly $'25,000 per year. While prominent politicians rose and declined, Wm. Goebel never receded an inch, and the more astute ones who came in contack with him f»lt the quiver of reserve force in the man that awed them and brought them to respect his simplest desire. How long Wm. Goebel had been waiting and planning for the hairbreadth opportunities he seized successfully in the 1899 campaign may never be known, but that he had forecast in his own mind every move months and weeks in advance seemed probable. There was a necromancy about the success of the man that none could explain. Cold, outwardly at least, he was not one- to attract one by cordiality. Ae was exacting and somewhat imperious. He listened while others advised and then told them what to do. Not more than a half a dozen men in Kentucky claimed confidently to be intimate with him, and even they conflicted somewhat in their estimate of the man. Persons who sought to make one believe that Goebel was something unearthly found ready believers. He sprang into most prominence as the sponsor and supposedly the author of an election law ;hat put into his hands the control of every chance involved in the Kentucky electcrial system, and had it adopted. It tookthe state nearly two years to wake up, and when it did, there was Goebel as nominee for governor and ready fto brave the most terrible political storm that ever broke over Kentucky. He fought and ran a race with all the zeal that could have been expected of a candidate by acclamation, and when thrown into his face was the charge of guilt of the election law, he told his fellow believers in national political issues that party regularity bound them to support him, and his claim was indorsed by no less than the highest party authority. This boldness was characteristic of Goebel, and maintained as it was, sustained him more, possibly, ehan anything else with a people that admire courage. Goebel was fighting ferociously from the minute ihat he openly entered the race until the time he was cut down by an unknown marksman's bullet, and a revulsion of public feeling made amends somewhat for the quarter that in life had not been asked by him, nor given.

Mr. Clay's greatness was attained in and after 1850, the year in which Col. Dick Johnson died and the year in which Mr, Clay made his strong, forcible speech in t lie' United States Senate on "The Missouri Compromise;." .Colonel Johnson was not only a statesman, but lie was a soldier and as such his conduct in the ''Battle of the Thames," as. taken from. Collins' History, and other accounts, is as follows:

[To our mind Richard M ,-Johnson is the greatest man Kentucky ever produced - as ,a soldier and statesman. As a son Scott county can always-hoirit to him with pride;. In 1843 the Legislature ot Kentucky ordered a new county to be made out of Floyd, Lawrence;, . Morgan and Vance, to be named Johnson county, in honor of the "Gallant Dick Johnson," of Scott. Johnson county is in the extremely eastern portion of Kentucky, and Paints-ville its county seat. Below we give what Mr. Collins had to say in regard to Colonel Johnson and of tlie killing of Tecuniseh.l

Colonel Richard M. Johnson, the third son of Colonel Robprt Johioon of Scott county, w as born in Kentucky. in the autumn of 1781. The literary institutions of .Kentucky were then in their infancy, and the facilities for thorough education, exceddingiy limited. Richard remained with his father until th<- age of fifteen receiving only su.ch instruction as the nature of circumstances would allow. At this age he le£t -his father's house, intent upon- advantages- superior to thp,se afforded in that vicinity, and entered a country school, where he acquired a knowledge pf, grammar, and the rudiments pf the., Latin language. Afterwards he entered Trai - sylyania - University, where, by unremitted industry, he rapid progress in the acquisition of classic and scientific knowledge.

Upop quitting the university, he entered upon the study of the.law, under the guidance and instruction of that celebrated jurist and statesman, Colonel George Nicholas. On the decease of this gentleman, which took place a few weeks after his. young student had entered his office, the subject of this biography placed himself under the instruction of the Hon. James Brown, late a senator in Congress from Louisiana, and subsequently a minister from the United States to the, court of France, but then a distinguished member of the Kentucky bar. With this eminent citizen he finished his

Successful Lawyer

In his vocation as a lawyer, he was eminently successful, and displayed the same active energy of mind and benevolence of heart, which have since so eminently distinguished hint in higher and more responsible stations. He despised injustice and oppression, and never omitted an occasion to render his services, without prospect of reward, where honest poverty or injured innocence was found struggling against the oppression of wealth. The inability of a client to pay a fee, never deterred him from attending sedulously to his cause, no matter how intricate and laborious were the services. By these means, even at so early an age, he secured to himself the just reward of his virtues, and the approb.tion and esteem of the public.

Scarcely had he been fairly installed in the duties of his profession, before an opportunity was afforded for the development of that high and chivalrous patriotism which has since identified him with some of the noblest feats of American valor, and given his name to immortality. In i8c2, the port of New Orleans, in violation of an existing treaty, was closed against the United States by the Spanish intendant. The occurrence gave rise to immense excitement throughout America, especially in the valley of the Ohio and Missi sippi and a rupture between Spain and the United States, likely to end in war, was the consequence. Richard M. Johnson, then only in his twentieth year, with many other young men of his neighborhood, promptly volunteered his services to pass down the western waters and make a de cent on New Orleans, in the event of war. In a few days chiefly through | his exertions, a large company was enrolled, and he was j chosen to the command. The speedy adjustment of the I dispute with Spain, deprived him of the brave youths under t his command, of the opportunity of signalizing themselves 9 and the State upon the field of battle.

Sent To The Legislature

Before he has attained the age of twenty-one, at which :| period the constitution of Kentucky fixes the eligibility of | the citizen to a seat in the legislature, the citizens of Scott | county elected him, by acclamation, to a seat in that body. | As a member of the legislature, he acquitted himself with | great credit, and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents.

Having served two years in that station, at the age of twenty- 0 four he was elected a representative in the Congress of the | United States; and in October, 1807, being then just twenty- | five, took his seat in that body.

Entered Theatre Of National Politics

| He entered upon the theatre of national politics, at a | period when party excitement ran high, and attached himj self to the republican party, more from a uniform and fixed ; devotion to the principles of democracy, than from any J. purely selfish policy. He was immediately placed upon j some ol the most important committees, and at the second i session of the term for which he was elected, wis appointed chairman of the committee of claims, at that time among the most important of the house committees. His zealous and faithful d votion to business, and the distinction which he had acquired in Congress and throughout the Union, as a genuine friend of the liberty and happiness of his country, increased his popularity at home, and insured his re-election by his constituents, who from that period to the present time, have never failed to manifest their devoted attachment to him, whenever he was a candidate for office, either under ; the State or national government.

1 Richard M. Johnson was among those who were convinced that no other alternative remained to the people of the United States; and accordingly, after supporting, with great energy, all the preparatory measures which the cri>is demanded, in June, i8i2, gave his vote for the declaration of war. This important measure was shortly afterwards followed by an adjournment of Congress, when he hastened home, raised the standard of his country, and called around him many of the best citizens of his neighborhood, some of whom, schooled in the stormy period of the early settlement of the State, were veteran warriors, well suited for the service for which they were intended. With this battalion, composed of three companies, he hastened to the frontier, and when arrived at St. Mary's on the 13th of September, his force, by general order, was augurnented by a battalion of mounted volunteers, and he elected to the command of the regiment thus formed. A portion of the regiment only, during that season, had any opportunity of an engagement; edited with having been one of the ablest lawyers i|f his period, but lacked the energy that brings sucsss, and so gravitated into the easier birth of the lerk.of the Court.

While the above named attorneys were in the rime of their practice, another younger set were eginning to gain a foothold at the Georgetown bar. Linong these may be mentioned John C. Breckinidge, P. L. Cable, Marcellus and Jefferson Polk, tenjamin F. Bradley, George W. Viley and Milton tevenson. Breckinridge soon removed to Lexingon. Cable was a quite, studious lawyer who came ere from the north. He was more at home in the hancery branch of the practice. Benjamine F. Iradley, who died recently, was a partner of Cable's, lajor Bradley led an honored career, both as a lawer and as a public official; he has served bis county s Circuit Clerk and State Senator, was also a member of the Confederate State Congress for Kentucky, efferson Polk is still living and is a member of the Jes Moines (Iowa) bar. Cable also went west, where le acquired both fame and fortune. He is better mown through his son, the Hon. Ben Cable of Chiago. Stevenson is still in practice here. He has riven to the bar two sons, who are leading attorneys >f Iowa, both having begun their practice here, viz., Judge T. F. Stevenson, of the Des Moines circuit, and Tudge Evan C. Stevenson, of Rockwell City.

About the beginning of the war several attorneys vere added to the Scott county bar who afterward ained considerable reputation in legal circles. Of hese William S. Darnaby, George E. Prewitt, Joseph F. Adams, Samuel Long and James Y. Kelley were the most prominent. Judge Prewitt, before coming here, had been a member of the Missouri bar. He is till in active practice. Aside from his career as a ucsessful attorney, he filled the office of Master Commissioner of the Scott Circuit Court in a very atisfactory manner for a number of years. Colonel Darnaby was one of the best advocates at the bar. He was a logical, forceful speaker, and a ready, tactful pleader. Long succeeded Prewitt in the office of Master Commissioner. He and Darnaby were each n the prime of successful practice when removed by death. Major Adams served as Commonwealth Attorney for this judicial district for several years after the war, and then emigrated to Texas, and is now a leading attorney of Fort Worth.

Of those members of this bar who have come into the profession since the war, may be mentioned Heny V. Johnson, now United States District Attorney of Colorado; Mat. S. Bradley, of the Chicago bar; Frank and Evan Stevenson, above referred to; Homer S. Rhoton, whose official duties as Ciky Judge and County Treasurer took him out of active practice; and Senator R. A. Board, whose recent death was greatly deplored by his constituency.

The scope of this article will admit only a brief mention of the present members of the bar. James E. Cantrill, twice a member of the Legislature, and Lieutenant Governor 1879-83, is now (1897) the presiding Judge of this judicial circuit; George V. Payne, County Judge of Scott county for several terms, is still an active practitioner; Hon. W. C. Owens has been County Attorney, member of the Legislature, Speaker of the Kentucky House, and member of Congress from the Ashland district, 1894 to 189(5; James F. Askew, late member of the Constitutional convention, is at present Master Commisioner; other active, estimable practitioners are James B. Finnell, the law partner of Hon. W. C. Owens, and late nominee for Attorney General on the Prohibition ticket; H. P. Montgomery, a careful and successful lawyer; Victor F. Bradley, the present County Attorney; Hon. R. E. Roberts' late member of the Legislature; James K. Glenn, County Superintendent of Schools; T. S. Gaines, formerly Judge of the Municipal Court; J. C. B. Sebree, Frank M. Ford, L. F. Sinclair, Nathaniel S. Off lift, John M. Stevenson, Ben T. Quinn, Judge James Y. Kelly and L. L. Bristow. These constitute the present bar of Scott county.

A Representative

which he endured the most painful suffering, he reached his home in Kentucky early in November. In February 1814, still unable to walk, he reached Washington city, and resumed his seat in Congress. Everywhere upon the route, and at the metropolis, he was met with the most enthusiastic and cordial greetings of a grateful people. Even his political opponents, deeply sensible of his sincerity, his patriotism and his valor, cordially united in doing honor to the man who had at so much sacrifice, rendered such glonous service to the country. Congress by joint resolution made appropriate acknowledgment of his gallant deeds, and directed him to be presented with a suitable testimonial of his services.

He continued to serve his constitutents in Congress until the year 1819, when he voluntarily retired, carrying with him the esteem of the whole nation. But his native state, of which he was justly the idol, would not suffer him to remain in retirement. The people of Scott county immediately returned him to the st^te legislature, and that body elected him to the United States' senate An honor so exalted, from a source so honored, he could not resist: and accordingly in December 1819 he took his seat in United States' senate, and after serving his term was unanimously - re-elected, a circumstance which serves to show how well he preserved the confidence of the - eople of his native state, and how deeply he was enshrined in their affections.

His career as a legislator, was scarcely less brilliant and useful, than that in which he distinguished himself as a warrior. His speeches and reports, are monuments of his wis*" dom and liberality as a statesman The whole nation will bear evidence to his zeal and industry in support of all measures calculated to promote the en 1 of free government - the happin ss ot the people. No man labored more indefatigably, in behalf of private claimants, than did Col. Johnson; and so scrupulously faithful was he in the discharge of his duty towards all who applied for his ,-ervices, ' that he never failed while in Congress to attend to a single applic tion that was made to him. The old soldiers of the Revolution, the invalids of the last war, and thousands of other persons, all over the Union, who had claims to urge' upon the government, had no truer or surer friend in Congress than Col. Johnson as many of them -now enjoying ths bounty of the government through his instrumentality, can bear most grateful testimony.

In 1836 he was made Vice President of the United States, and presided over the Senate with great dignity for the term of four years, at the expiration of which he retired to his farm in Scott countv, Kentucky. The remainder of his life, with the exception of two terms in the State Legislature, was assiduously devoted to improving his private fortunes, somewhat impaired by a too liberal hospitali- . ty and constant attention to public affairs. He was a member of the Legislature at the ti;me of his death, which occurred in Frankfort in 185O,

The most interesting feature of the battle of the river ; Thames, and the one of greatest moment to the people of the frontiers - because of the death of the great Tecumseh, or Tecumthe, the only chief who could always rouse, and concentrate against the whites the deadliest hate and revenge of the red men - was the fight in the Indian quarter. The scene of the battle was a beech forest over two miles long, without clearing, near bank of the river. At from 200 to 300 yards from the river, and parallel to' ft, a swamp extends throughout the whole distance. The ground between the river and the swamp was dry, and in many places clear of underbrush, although the trees were tolerably thick. The British troops, over 84O strong, were drawn up across this strip, their left resting on the river and supported by artillery in the wagon road, their right in the swamp, covered by the whole force of over i 500 Indians. A small swamp and back of it a narrow piece of dry land, extended in front of the Indians, and at right angles to the main strip of land above. General Harrison, after learning from Col. Richard M. Johnson and his brother and Lieutenant Col. James Johnson, that in drilling their corps of Kentuckians they had occasionally on their march, practiced charging on horseback, determine I to take advantage cf a singular position of the British General Proctor, and thus attack him. The first battalion, under Lieutenant Colonel James Johnson, was placed in front of the British lines; and when the order was given, moved steadily forward, supported by several brigades of infantry. They had gone but a short distance, when the British opened fire along their whole line, followed quickly by another fire. The hors s recoiled at first, but under the order of charge the column soon got in motion, an I went dashing forward with irresistible force upon an astounded and bewildered enemy, broke through their ranks and wheeled and poured in up >11 it a destructive fire. The British officers saw no hope for their disordered ranks, and immediately surrendered over 600 troops. Their commander, Gener 1 Proctor - who feared to trust himself in-the hands of soldiers a :ainst who e people he had incited the refined cruellies of Indian warware - with 204 of his troops, effected his escape. Thus, in this quarter the victory was complete - won in a few minutes by. to them, a new kind of battle tactics, a charge of mounted infrntry, who reserved their fire for the moment of closest contact as they returned through the broken ranks.

On the left the scene was different. Col. R. M. Johnson. af.er reconnoitering, was determined upon a prompt hand-to-hand fight with the Indians, and marched his second battalion through the first or small swamp, right in their face - forming in two columns on horseback, with a company on foot in front, himself leading the right column, and .Major Thompson the left. Here is his own account of this part of- the battle, and of the d aih of the chief he afterwards supposed to be Tecumseh - given in a speech in Indiana:

"Ccflonel Johnson said that at his age it was wrong to put on any false modesty; and as he had been called upon to relate that portion of the fight which took place with the Indians, he would ende vor to do so. The Indians were 1,- 4OO strong, commanded by Tecumseh, one of the bravest warriors that ever drew breath. He was a sort of Washington among the Indians - that is, they looked upon him as we look upon Washington. The Indians were in ambush, on the other side of what we were informed was an impassable swam--', but just before the battle came on, a narrow passage across the swamp was discovered.

"Knowing well the Indian character, I determined to pu.h forward with about twenty men, in order to draw forth the Indian fire, so that the remainder of the regiment might rusn upon them, while their rifles were empty. Having promised the wives, mothers, and sisters of my men before I left Kentucky, that I would place their husbands, sons, and brothers in no hazard which I was unwilling to share myself, I put myself at the head of the^e twenty men, and we advanced upon the covert in which I knew the Indians were concealed. The moment we came in view, we received the whole Indian fire. Nineteen of my twenty men dropped in the field. I felt that I was myself severely wounded. The mare I rode staggered and fell to her knees; she had fifteen balls in her, as was afterwards ascertained, but the noble animal recovered Iter feet by a touch of the reins

"I waited but a few moments, when the remainder of the troops came up, and we pushed forward on the Indians, who instantly retreated I noticed an- In lian Chief among them who succeeded in rallying them three different times. This I thought I would endeavor to prevent, because it was at this time known to the Indians that their allies, the British, had surrendered. I advanced singly upon him, keeping my right arm close by my side, and covered by the swamp; he took a tree and from thence deliberately fired upon me. Although I previously had four balls in me, this last wound was more acutely painful than all of them. 1 1 is ball struck me on the knuckle of the left hand, passed through my hand and came out just above the wrist. I ran my left hand through my bridle rein, for my hand instantly swelled and became useless. The Indian supposed he had mortally wounded me. He came out from behind the tree \ and advanced upon me with uplifted tomahawk. When he had come within my mare's length of me, I drew my pistol and instantly fired, having a dead aim upon him. He fell and the Indians shortly after either surrendered or fled. My pistol had one t all and three buckshot in it, and the body of the Indian was found to have a ball through his body, and three buckshot in different parts of his breast and head. [''Thus Tecumseh fell," cried out one of the audience.] Col. Johnson said he did not know that it was Tecumseh at the time." -

Of the forlorn hope, after a few minutes, the only one left on horseback besides Col. Johnson was Dr. Samuel Theobald, of Lexington, Ky. The others were either killed or wounded, or had their horses shot under them. The whole battalion, by order of the Colonel, now dismounted, and fought on foot for nearly half an hour, until the Indians lost their leader, the great Tecumseh - whose voice was silent in death, and no longer urged them to the fight. Until then the contest was terrible. Of the small number concentrated upon a few square rods of ground, ^ mounted men were killed and 19 wounded, of whom 5 died. The Indians left 33 dead upon the battleground, removed several of their dead, and several were killed in the retreat. Much the largest part of the Indian force was not engaged. They extended for half a mile into the swamp, and there waited for the Americans, and wounded - so they afterwards said - why they did not come to fight them.

But Colonel Johnson was not alone in the belief that he had broken the Indian power by personally killing Tecumseh. Indeed, of all who confidemly claimed for him the credit of it, he seemed among the least confident. For political purposes in after years, a strong showing was made of his part in the matter - the only thing incontestibly proved being that Colonel Johnson killed an Indian chief, one of three who fell, and each conspicuous lor his bravery. Mr. Butler, one of the most patient and careful of historians, compiles the proof that an Indian Chief was killed, that an examination of his body showed that he was killed with a ball and three buckshot; that Colonel Johnson's remaining horse-pi- tol was, and the discharged pistol had been thus loadecl; that the shot ranged downward and was evidently by one on horsebach; that Anthony Shane, a halfbreed Shawnee and interpreter, who said he had known Tecumseh from boyhood, recognized his body as the one pierced wdth the ball and buckshot, and proved his identify by describing a scar upon his thigh from a fall in childhood, which scar was found upon the dead chief; that this Indian chief was iound upon or near the spct where Colonel Johnson had shot an Indian commander; that Shane further said that "the Indians who saw Tecumseh very soon after he was killed, described Colonel Johnson as the man who killed him, and the horse on which he rode as white." Shane was said to be reliable and trusty.

Mr. Butler evidently was convinced that Col. Johnson killed Tecumseh, and so published in the first edition of his history of Kentucky In 1884. But the doubts expressed and claims advanced by others induced him to correspond with the very persons from whom the above proof had emanated - with Richard W. Cummins, United States Indian agent at the northern agency of the western territory; with Colonel Garrett Wall who was himself a sold er fighting bravely a few yards distant and with Rev. O. B. Brown, of Washington City, a hearsay witness. Their letters in'full occupy nearly four pages of the appendix to Mr. Butler's history, 2d edition. 1836; they, with other proof, stagger his former faith, and he ''leaves the r ader to draw his own conclusion from the same materials with himself."

In the summer of 1859, died near Bloomfield, Indiana, Isaac Hamblinsen, aged 86 years, a soldier of the battle of the Thames. Hi- account of the closing scene at that battle differs very seriously from other accounts: He says he was standing but a few feet from Colonel Johnson when he fell, and in full view, and saw the whole of that part of the battle. He was well acquainted with Tecumseh, having seen him before the war, and having been a prisoner for 17 days and received many a cursing from him. He thinks that Tecumseh thought Colonel Johnson was General Harrison, as he often heard the chief swear that he would have Harrison's scalp, and seemed to have a special hatred of him Johnson's horse fell under him, he himself being al o deeply wounded. In the fall he lost his sword, his large pistols were empty, and he was entangled with his horse on the ground. Tecumseh had fired his rifle at him, and when he saw him fall he threw down his gun and bounded forward like a tiger sure of his prey. Johnson had only a side pistol ready for use. He aimed at the chief over the head of his horse, and shot near the center of his forehead. When the ball struck it seemed to him that the Indian jumped - with his head full fifteen feet into air; as soon he struck the ground a little Frenchman ran his bayonet into him, and pinned him fast to the ground.

. In addition to this is the testimony of Shabona (or Shawbeneh), a Pottawatomie chief, who was in the battle and near Tecum eh at the time. Shabona says he saw Tecumseh, and saw him fall; that he was hot by a man on a white horse, who carried a "short gun" (probably a pistol); and that simultaneou.-ly with the fall of Tecumseh, the man and the horse came down to the ground, and he thinks were killed. The moment it was discovered that Tecumseh was killed, he heard a man say to him "Puccaohee Shabona," and he ran. Shabona afterwards saw Colonel R. M. Johnson in Congress, at Washington City - who was pointed out as the man who killed Tecumseh; but Shabona says he was not the man who fired the "short gun" - from the discharge of which Tecumseh lost his life. He further states that Tecumseh's body was not multihlted by the American troops. Shabola was vouched f >r as a man of unquestionable veracity, by those who had known him long and well.

The testimony of another Pottawatomie chief, Chamblee, as furnished by the lale General Robert Anderson, of the United States army, is to this effect: "He saw Tecumseh engaged in a personal encounter with a soldier armed with a musket; that the latter made a thrust at the chief, who caught the bayonet under his arm, where he held it, and was in the act of striking his opponent with his tomahawk, when a horseman rode up and shot Tecumseh dead with a pistol. The horseman had a red feather {plume) in his hat, and was mounted on a spotted or red-roan horse. 'He further says that he saw the body of Tecumseh a day or two alter the battle, and that it was not multilated." at the battle of the Thames? Yes. Did you know Tecumseh? Yes. Were you near him in the fight? Yes. Did you see the man that shot him? Yes. What sort of looking man was he? Short, thick man. What color was the horse he rode? Most white. How do you know this man shot Tecumseh? I saw the man ride up; saw his horse get tangled in some bushes, when the horse was most still I saw Tecumseh level his rifle at the man and shoot; the man shook on his horse; soon the horse got out of the bushes, and the man spurred him up; horse came slow; Tecumseh right before him; man's left hand hung down: just as he got near Tecumseh lifted his tomahawk and was going to throw it, when the man shot him with a short gun (pistol); Tecumseh fell dead and we all ran."

Atwater, in his history of Ohio, remarks that two Winnebago Chiefs, Four-Legs and Carymaunee, told him that Tecumseh, at the commencement of the battle of the Thames lay with his warriors in a thicket of underbrush on the left of the American army, and that they were, at no period of the battle, out of their covert; that no officer was seen between them and the American troops; that Tecumseh fell the very first fire of the Kentucky dragoons, pierced by thirty bullets, and was carried four or five miles into the thick woods and there buried by the warriors, who told the story of his fate.

"Shortly after this, the Indian spies came in and gave word of the near approach of the Americans. Tecumseh immediately posted his men in the edge of the swamp, which flanked the British line, placing himself at their head. I was a little to his right with a small party of Sauks. It was not long before the Americans made their appearance; they did not perceive us at first, hid as we were by the undergrowth, but we soon let them know where we were, by pouring in one or two vollies as they were forming into line to oppose the British. They faultered a little but very soon we perceived a large body of horsemen (Col. Johnson's regiment of mounted Kentuckians) preparing to charge upon us in the swamp. They came bravely on; yet we never stirred until they were so close that we could see the flints in their glints, when Tecumseh, springing to his feet, gave the Shawanoe war-cry, and discharged his rifle. This was the signal for us to commence the battle, but it did not last long; the Americans answered the shout, returning our fire, and at the first discharge of their guns I saw Tecumseh stagger forwards over a fallen tree near which he was standing, letting his rifle drop at his feet. As soon as the Indians discovered that he was killed, a sudden fear came over them, and thinking the Great Spirit was angry, they fought no longer, and were quickly put to flight. That night we returned to bury our dead; and search for the body of Tecumseh. He was found lying where he had first fallen: a bullet had struck him above the hip, and his skull had been broken by the butt-end of the gun of some soldier, who had found him, perhaps, when life was not yet gone. With the exception of these wounds, his body was untouched; lying near him was a large fine-looking Pottawatomie, who had been killed, decked off in his plumes and war-paint, whom the Americans no doubt had taken for Tecumseh, for he was scalped and every particle of skin flayed from bis body. Tecumseh himself had no ornaments about his person, save a British medal. During the night, we buried our dead, and brought off the body of Tecumseh, although we were in sight of the fires of the American camp."

''It seems extraordinary that Gen. Harrison should have omitted to mention in his letter, the death of a chief, whose fall contributed so largely to break down the Indian spirit, and to give peace and security to the whole north-western frontier of the United States. Tecumseh, although he had received a musket-ball in the left arm, was still seeking the hottest of the fire, when he encountered Col. Richard M. Johnson, member of congress from Kentucky. Just as the chief, having dischar ed his rifle, was rushing forward with his tomahawk, he received a ball in the head from the colonel's pistol. Thus fell the Indian warrior, Tecumseh, in his forty-fourth year of his age. The body of Tecumseh was recognized, not only by the British officers, who were prisoners, but by Commodore Perry, and several American officers." This writer adds, that Tecumseh was scalped and his body flayed by the Kentuckians.

Mr. Butler publishes the statement (from a letter written at his request) of a wounded officer of the battle, claiming that David King, a soldier of Capt. James Davidson's (afterwards Treasurer of Kentucky) company, killed Tecumseh. "Wounded as I was, at David King's request, I accompanied him to a place where there lay an Indian chief, afterwards ascertained to be Tecumseh, whom King said he had killed. Befcre we came as near as 7O or 80 yards of the place where Tecumseh lay, King pointed out the tree particularly, and the manner in which the savage had b-en shot. When we arrived at the tree, we found everything precisely as King had represented; and then and there the tomahawk was taken by King."

Col. Daniel Garrard late of Clay county, Ky., (son of Gov. James Garrard), and who was in the battle, said that David King claimed to have killed a chief whom he supposed to be Tecumseh; that he had loaded his sun with two balls, and aimed at a certain portion of the chief's body; an examination was instituted, the death-wounds were found to be as indicated, and all present at the time were convinced that th double shot had done the work.

Capt. Wm. Robinson, who was on the spot, says that the veteran Col. Wm. Whiteley, then 66 years old, of Lincoln county, Ky . was shot by an Indian chief; who, in turn waa immediately shot down by Col. Whitely's friend and neighbor, Davi t King, a private soldier in Capt. Davidson's company. It was not known until afterwards that the chief was Tecumseh.

Many soldiers of the 2d Ky., regiment (Col. Danaldson's) claimed in 1852 that David Gooding, a private soldier of Capt. Botts' company, of Fleming county, Ky., was the person who killed Tecumseh. Beyond a doubt, Gooding killed a chief, in that part of the fight where Tecumseh commanded in person; and the regiment generally believed that chief was Tecumseh himself.

A Great Commander

saw his body before it was cold, on the Thames battle-field. Whether C ol Johnson killed him or not, I can not say. I never heard any one speak of Col. Johnson's having killed him until years afterward. Johnson was a brave man, and was badly wounded in a very painful part of his knuckles, and also, I think, in the body; he was carried past me on a litter. In the evening on the day of the battle, I was appointed by Gen. Harrison to guard" the Indian prisoners with my company. The location was near a swamp. As to the report of Kentuckians having skinned Tecumseh's body, I am personally cognizant that such was the fact. I saw Kentucky troops in the very act of cutting the skin from the body of the chief. They cut strips about half a foot in length. That it was Tecumseh's body that was skinned, I have no doubt. I knew him. Besides the Indian prisoners under my charge continually po nted to his body, which lay close by, and uttered the most bewailing cries at his loss. By noon the day after the battle, the body could scarcely be recognized - so thoroughly had it been skinned. My men covered it with brush and logs, and it was probably eaten by wolves. Although many officers did not like this conduct of the Kentuckians, they dare not interfere. The troops from that state were infuriated at the massacre at the river Raisin, and their battle cry was - "Remember the River Raisin!" It was only with difficulty that the Indian prisoners could be guarded - so general was the dispo ition of Kentuckians to massacre them. I remained in service until the summer of 1815, when the 27th regiment was disbanded."

But contradicting the story that Tecumseh's body was desecrated by skinning strips from it, is the statement of old Peter Nayarre or Navarre, the French trader and interpreter, still living at Toledo, Ohio. He said "Tecumseh was standing behind a large tree that had been blown down, encouraging his warriors, and was killed by a ball that pa sed diagonally through his chest. After death, he was shot several times; but otherwise his body was not mutilated in the least, being buried in his regimentals (as the chief desired) by myself and a companion, at the command of Gen. Harrison All statements that he was scalped or skinned are absolutely false."

Dr. Samuel Theobald, of Kentucky, who will be remembered as the only one of the "forlorn hope" who was not unhorsed or wounded by the first concentrated fire of the Indians, says that on the "next morning, he took a halfbreed Shawnee, named Anthony Shane, to see the body reputed to be that of Tecumseh. Strips of skin had been cut from the thighs; but Shane said it was not the body of Tecumseh."

Capt. Ben. Warfield, who commanded a company in the battle, says he was searching the field, the next morning, and found a wounded British soldier named Clark, who lay near where Tecumseh was reported to have been killed. Clark said that Tecumseh's body was carried away by Indians.

The biography of Col Richard M. Johnson, published' in 1884. by Wm. Emmons, and without an author's name, but claiming to be "authentic," says that the Indian chief whom Col. Johnson killed "was arrayed in the habiliments of war, clad in the richest savage attire, and his face painted with alternate circular lines of black and red from the eye downward - which increased the natural ferocity of his savage countenance." When Col. Johnson ''discharged the contents of his pistol into his breast and laid him dead upon the spot, the Indians near him, filled with consternation on seeing their commander fall, raised a horrid yell and instantly fled." This biographer says that Anthony Shane told him that this fallen chief was Tecumseh.

There is one singular weakness in this latter statement - which proves, if it proves anything, that Col. Johnson killed a conspicuous chief; perhaps the gaily dressed Pottawatomie, but not Tecumseh. The latter was noted for the plainness of his dress, for avoiding to a great extent, the gaudy ornaments in which most Indians so greatly delighted. He entered the battle of the Thames dressed in the ordinary deer skin garb of his tribe.

Again: There was no custom in war more faithfully and religiously observed, usually at the hazard of all the lives necessary to accomplish it, than the carrying off from the scene of battle of their dead chiefs, for burial. Black Hawk declares that Tecumseh's body was carried off; the two Winnebago chiefs assert that it was carried into the thick woods, and there buried; Clark, the British soldier declares what he must have seen to enable him to say so, that his body was "carried away during the engagement;" and P - ter Navarre says that, by order of General Harrison, he and | his companion buried it. But adding to the mystery, and most unaccountable of all, is the fact that General Harrison - in his first brief official report to the U. S. Secretary of war, of October 5, 1813, on or near the field of battle, and in his full detailed report, four days later, October 9, 1813, from his headquarters at Detroit - does not mention or even | remotely allude to the death of Tecumseh, the most extra- E ordinary and important result of the battle, and that which f ir more than the remarkable defeat of the British General Proctor, ensured peace and tranquillity to the whole northwestern border, for the present at least. Indeed, there was no certainty, and no general crrnviction that Tecumseh's voice was hushed in death until some days after the battle. If General Harrison ordered Peter Navarre to bury the body, he must even then have been ignorant that it was the body of Tecumseh.

But Colonel Charles S. Todd, one of the aids of General Harrison, and U. S. Inspector General during the war of 1812, thus explains the reticence of the commander: 'T am authorized by several officers of General Harrison's staff, who were in the battle of the Thames, to state most unequivocally their belief, that the General neither knew nor could have known the fact of the death of Tecumseh, at the date of his letter to the war department. It was the uncertainty which prevailed as to the fact of Tecumseh being killed, that prevented any notice of it in his report. On the next day after the buttle General Harrison, in company with Commodore Perry and other officers, examined the body of an Indian supposed to be Tecumseh; but from its swollen and multilated condition, he was un ble to decide whether it was that chief or a Pott watomie who usually visited him in Vincennes in company with Tecumseh; and I repeat most unhesitatingly that neither Commodoie Perry nor any officer in 'he American army, excepting General Harrison, had ever seen Tecumseh previous to the battle; and even though he had recognized the body which he examined to be that of the celebrated chief, it was manifestly impossible that he could have known whether he was killed by Johnson's corps, or by that part of the infantry which participated in the action. No official or other satisfac ory report of his death, was made to him by those engaged on that part of the battleground where he fell. It was not until after the return of the army to Detroit, and after the date of General Harrison's di-patches (early on the 7th Gen. Harrison left the army under the command of Governor Shelby, and returned to Detroit; his report of the battle was dated on the 9th; the army did not reach Sandwitch, opposite Detroit, until the 10th) that it was ascertained from the enemy, that Tecumseh was certainly killed; and even then the opinion of the army was divided as to the person by whose hands he fell. Some claimed the credit of it for Colonel Whitley, some for Colonel Johnson; but others, constituting a majority, including Governor Shelby, entertained the opinion ttiat he fell by a shot from David King, a private in Captain Davidson's company from Lincoln county, Kentucky. In this state of the case, even had the fact of Tecumseh's death been fully ascertained, at the date of General Harrison's letter, it would have been manifestly unjust, not to say impracticable, for the Commanderin-Chief to have expressed an opinion as to the particular individual to whose personal prowess his death was to be attributed."

The proof that Tecumseh fell by the hand of the old Indian fighter, Colonel Wm. Whitley, is contained chiefly in a letter of Abraham Scribner, Greenville, Ohio, dated September 8, 184O, and another dated February 24, 1841, of Col. Ambrose Dudley, of Cincinnati. The latter says: "The morning after the battle of the Thames in company with several other persons, I walked over the ground to see the bodies of those who had been slain in the engagement. After parsing from the river a considerable distance, and the latter part of the way long what was termed a swamp, viewing the slain of the British army, we came to a place where some half a dozen persons were standing, and three dead Indians were lying close together. One of the spectators remarked that he had witnessed that part ol the engagement which led to the death of these three Indians and two of our troops, whose bodies had been removed the evening before for burial. He proceeded to point out the po- -s.i-t.ifni of. the slain gqjjaey. lay upon the ground, with that of_ our men. He said old Colonel Whitley rode up to the body of a tree which lay before him, and behind which lay an Indian; he (the Indian) attempte t to fire, but from some cause did not succeed, and then Whitley instantly shot him. This Indian was recognised by one of the persons present as Tecumseh; the next Indi.nwas pointed out as having killed Whitley; then the po-ition of another of our troops who killed that Indian, and the Indian who killed him, with the position of the man who shot the third Indian, making three Indians and two Americans who had fallen on a very small space of ground. From the manner of the narrator, and the facts r. lated at the time, I did not doubt i the truth of his statement, nor have I ever had any reason to doubt it since. The In dan pointed out as Tecumseh, was wearing a bandage over a wound in the arm, and as it ; was known that Tecumseh had been slightly wounded in j the arm the day before, while defending the passage of a creek, my conviction was strengthened by this circumstance that the body before us was that of Tecumseh."

We havi presented at considerable length, much of it in full, the statements and opinions as to who killed Tecumseh. No inconsiderable portion of it is contradictory, claiming as facts statements or positions which are at variance with each other, and of which no explanation has yet been given. In our view, it is conclusive that Col. Johnson did not kill Tecumseh; that David King might have done it, but that Col. Whitley probably did kill him. The whole narrative and testimony reminds us of the speech of General i Lewis Cass, in the Senate of the United States, in the winter of 1853-54, and the sequel to it. In the gi llery was A large delegation of Indians, among them some fine looking men. Cass was earnestly and eloquently advocating a measure in which the Indians were interested, and used their presence quite happily to enforce his points. General Sam Houston, of Texas, broke the effect of his speech ' somewhat by playfully suggesting: "Now, Genual, tell us who killed Tecumseh." The General resumed, and point- \ edly and with some power told the story - as sobeily as I though he did not suspect that Houston was quizzing him. ) Two hours later, he met in the library an old friend, Wm.

A. Adams, E-q., of Newport, formerly of Columbus, Ohio, j who stoutly upbraided him for want of sincerity in thus as- , cribing to Colonel Johnson glory which was only proximate- j ly his. General Cass pleasantly replied, "It is of no sort of j consequence now who killed Tecumseh. Let Colonel John- j son have the credit of it."

The Razor Straps. - A gentleman. Wm. A. Admas, E-q., who traveled with several hundred mounted Kentuckians from headquarters at Franklinton, (now Columbus) ! Ohio, through Maysville to Lexington, when they were returning home after the battle of the Thames, says they informed him that Tecumseh was not in the battle; they all believed it, and had not heard of his death. They told him of strips of skin for razor straps having been cut by some- j body from the body of an Indian chief, but all denied hav- 1 ing any. It was a mortifying fact, too di-graceful to be acknowledged or justified. If any in the regiments thus trav- ; eling together were guilt) , they were ashamed to have it i known.

Presentiments. - Colonel Wm. Whitley, on the night i before the battle, occupied the same tent with an old ! neighbor and friend, to whom he told his presentiment that he would be killed in the coming engagement, and urged him, but in vain, to have his scalp taken back to his wife, Esther, in Kentucky. He fell in the action and was buried 1 in his blanket on the bank of the Thame-. The biographer of Tecumseh records a similar pre entiment;he, too, entered the battle of the Thames with a strong conviction that he should not survive it: The retreat of Proctor was against his judgment, and he deemed further flight disgraceful - yet he had little hope of victory in the impending action. Col. Whitley wa 64, but Tecumseh on 43 years of age

The forlorn hope sp rken of above was composed of 20 men. The command was given by Colonel Johnson to his old friend, Colonel Wm. Whitley, who thus addressed his Spartan band: "Boys, we have been selected to second our

Colonel in the charge; act well your part; recollect the watch-word, 'Victory or Death.' " Lieutenant Logan, a young printer named Mansfield; Joseph Taylor, Benj. Chambers, a member of the Kentucky Legislature; Dr. Samuel Theobald, Robert Payne, Wm. Webb, Garret Wall, foragemaster; Eli Short, As-istant Deputy Quartermaster, made 10 of the band. The names of the other iO we have not ascertained. The five last named and Colonel Johnson survived the terrible ordeal; most, if not all, of the other 15 were killed in the charge or died of wounds.

John Telemachus Johnson

While Col. Richard Johnson was a great statesman, a fearless soldier, he had a brother, Rev. John T. Johnson, a prominent lawyer, orator, statesman and minister. In the many mentions of this gentleman we c in find no other that we think better to reproduce than the follawing from Rev. George Dorsey, which appeared in the Christian Standard, and is as follows:

1 am to speak to-night of our greatest Kentucky Evangelist in the early days. Like Apollos, he was truly "an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures." He could not be better described than by the words, "fervent in spirit serving the Lord." His ardor, enthusiasm, earnestness and hopefulness were never known to flag. His transparent sincerity and pround conviction of the truth of every word he uttered, made it almost impossible to doubt anything he ever said. Like John Bright, the great English orator, who never made an assertion he did not thoroughly believe, or use an argument he did not consider thoroughly sound, so could it be said of John T. Johnson. He was a man of great personal force and of grtat dignity of character - in short, a Kentucky gentleman ol the old school.

In the full floodtide of his evangelistic labors he averaged ten converts daily. He won thousands and thousands to Christ, and "constituted" (I use the word then in vogue) scores and even hundreds of churches. His evangelistic labors lasted a little more than twenty-five years, from the age of forty-three to the age of sixty-eight. And he died at last with his armor on, while engaged in a protracted meeting at Lexington, Mo.

u His success was the more remarkable because he begun preaching so late in life, and that, too, without special training for the work. It may be said with truth that no man of that early time, through all central Kentucky, is to this day more distinctly remembered, more ardently loved or more greatly admired.

A Congressman

that he passed through a long political career of fifteen years before entering the ministry. From 1815 to 1819 and from 1828 to 183O he represented Scott county in the State Legislature. From i82o to I824 he served two terms in the National Congress. In the furious contest in Kentucky over the old and new Court of Appeals, Johnson stood with the popular or relief party which favored the removal by the Legislature of the old court, and for a period of nine months he held by appointment a place on the new Court.

John T. Johnson was a full brother of Colonel Richard Mentor Johnson, the ninth Vice-President of the United States, who served in that position from 1837 to 1841, during the administration of President Martin Van Buren. You who have visited our Frankfort cemetery, where sleep so many of Kentucky's immortal dead, have not failed to stand at the imposing monument of Richard Mentor Johnson, to see carved in relief on one side a representation of the death at his hands of the great Indian chieftain Tecuniseh, in the battle of the Thames; and on another side of the monument a statement that he was the author of '-The Sunday Mail Report" - a report that in its days made a great sensation throughout the country, and in the preparation of which the biographer of Alexander Campbell more than hints that Campbell had a hand

It is also interesting to know that at one time he had two brothers who were members of the same Congress with him, Col. Richard Mentor Johnson, of whom I have just spoken, and Hon. James Johnson, whose greatgrandson, Hon. Tom. L. Johnson, is now the famous Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio, and a member of our Cedar Avenue church in that city. So that the Johnson family was a family of mark in Kentucky history, and still preserves its power unto the present day.

Thus, at the age of 42 years, John T. Johnson, standing among Kentucky's greatest public men, and with the path of further political preferment open before him, turns his back upon the honors and the prizes of the world, and becomes a preacher of the gospel of Chri-t.

To be strictly truthful, it was not the superior claims of the ministry that led him to abandon a political career, for he had not, at any time, become a believer in the teachings of the great Reformation. But it was the love of wife and children, the love of home, from which he had been so long separated, and a longing for the peace and comfort of domestic life, so many years denied him becanse of his public duties. But he had no sooner made the decision than it was scattered to the four winds by the religious convictions which had taken him by storm, and which started him forth on a more active career than ever, now no longer to serve the State or nation, but to serve the Lord Christ, and to carry far and wide, with irresistible unction and power, and with unparalleled success, the pure gospel of God's grace.

1. But let me recount his life in a more regular way: He was born at the Great Crossings, in Scott county, Ky.. October 5, 1788. His parents were from Old Virginia. He was liberally educated at Transylvania University, in Lexington, now our own Kentucky University. He studied law in the office of his brother, Richard Mentor Johnson, and was licensed by the Court of Appeals before reaching the age of 2i. Shortly after the opening of the war of i8i2, he received a military appointment to serve as volunteer aid to Gen. Wm. Henry Harrison, and was present at and took an active part in the gallant defense of Fort Meigs when fiercely attacked by a large force of Canadians and Indians, and during the hot fighting which ensued, Johnson had his horse shot from under him and was slightly wounded by a musket ball. His military experience had for him two memorable results: it floored him with a violent attack of fever, which nearly ended his life, and it fastened on him a military title, a by no means unknown thing in Kentucky. He was henceforth known as ''Major" Johnson, or in shorter parlance, "The Major." It was a title that well comported with the martial spirit of the man, for he was a brave and true soldier of Jesus Christ.

He now becomes a practicing attorney and quickly acquires a large and lucrative business; and, with the added experience of a public servant, and the prestige of a distinguished Legislator, he is recognized as one of the most prominent and influential citizens of the State - a man of wealth, culture and character.

Among the earliest of his rekgious impressions was that famous Cane Ridge revival, in 18O1, v/hich shook all Kentucky, and had a lifelong effect on this boy of thirteen. At the age of thirty-three, just before he took his seat in Con-

Appellate Judge

Though the Reformation of Alexander Campbell began i to be agitated in Kentucky as early as the year I823, it was not till 1829 or 183O that Johnson found time to examine its claims. To use his own words: "The public mind was much excited in regard to what was vulgarly called "Campbellism,' and I resolved to examine it in the light of the bible. I was won over, and contended for it with all my might in the private circle. My eyes were opened and I was made perfectly free by the truth. And the debt of gratitude I owe that man of God, Alexander Campbell, no language can tell." He was the kind of a man that could not keep still when a new truth possessed him, and so at once he began to speak in public for the new and holy - cause he had espoused, for he saw in it the scriptural basis jj of Christian union, and the hope of the world's conversion, j With characteristic zeal he first sought to win over the i Baptist church where he belonged, failing in which (for the M lines were already clearly drawn) and encountering hot op- I position, he, with a few others, withdrew from it and formed a new church built ''on the foundation of the apostles j and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner , stone." That was in February, 1831. From that time on- ward till his death twenty-five years after, at Lexington, Mo., December 18, 1856, this devoted man knew no rest.

He was, in person, tall and erect, with prominent feai tures, dark hair and eyes, but of slender and delicate frame. Yet his endurance was simply marvelous, in view j . of his multitudinous labors, and the wonder was that he was not worn out far sooner than he was.

Next "Raccoon" John Smith there was no man in Kentucky that did more than he to push the cause of primitive Christianity. Through our whole State he traveled, preaching twice a day, with exausting zeal and power, and everywhere achieving glorious triumphs for his Lord and King. He it was who aided Philip S. Fall in organizing our congregation here in Frankfort December 2, 1832.

But his labors were not confined to his own State. In 1843 he went to Missouri and made an extensive tour of that ' State, preaching at St. Louis, Palmyra, Hannibal and other i cities. In 1846 he visited Virginia, preaching through the |: eastern part of the State, and returning home by way of old Bethany. In 1845, 1848 and 1849, he made trips through ! the south, giving his labors to Arkansas, Louisiana and other States. And wherever he went he infused new life j ;i into the cause and gathered a number of converts. He was ! , indeed a spirit-filled, a Christ-inspired, a God-intoxicated man, and no community was able to ' resist the wi-dom and spirit with which he spoke." Campbell said of him: "The

: whole life for twenty-five years was a series of protracted 1 meetings." Dr. L. L. Pinkerton, describing the style of I his preaching, said: "He is into his sermon from the very

obey the gospel." And W. C. Rogers calls him "the great- ; est, the most uowerful and the most consecrated Evangelist 1 I have ever known "

2. But John T. Johnson was far more than an Evangelist, as we now use that term. There was no interest of God's kingdom on ea^th that did not command his quick sympathy and ready support. It has been more than fortyseven years since he died, and yet though times have greatly changed since then, and though our religious movement .has wonderfully advanced, I say it deliberately, we have not on hands to-day a single enterprise of general interest which does not date back to and connect in some way with something which John T. Johnson did. He was awake and alive to everything which promised the glory of God and the good of men.

He was interested in Christian journalism. He became assistant editor of the Christian Messenger, a periodical started by Barton W. Stone in i826, at Georgetown, Ky. And when Stone moved to Illinois in 1834, we find Johnson still using his pen on the Gospel Advocate, and, later still, on The Christian, on which he was associated with Walter Scott. He knew, in a word, the value of the printing p-ess, and was a writer of cl.'arness and force. His little monthlies were a prophecy of our great weeklies, which now cover so wide a field and exert so great an influence.

He was also interested in Christian education. He was one of the founders, in 1836, of Bacon College, which was afterwards moved from Georgetown to Harrodsburg, and thence to Lexington, where it was merged in Kentucky University. He was not only one of its founders, but one of its lilelong friends, raising large sums of money for it, ; and sending large numbers of students to it. He early . championed the claims of the Midway Orphan School, and ; did much to make it the splendid and prosperous institution it now is. He was one of the originators of the Christian ; Education Society of Kentucky, which has educated, and is i still educating, numbers of young men from for the Christian ' ministry. Bethany College also had its warm sympathy and aid. In short, he realized the value and necessity cf our 1 educational interests, and pushed them with their might and I main. Our brotherhood is only now waking up to a proper appreciation of those interests which John T. Johnson well understood fifty years ago. Our National Education Board, recently appointed, might fi tingly put the picture of John T. Johnson on its literature, and thereby be but rendering | an act of justice to the memory of this earliest advocate of | Christian education among us.

Nor was he less interested in the cause of missions, j Early in his ministry, he nrged each local church, when able, i to send out its own evangelist, and for years he himself was \ sent out by the Georgetown Church. Then , he urged the | churches of a certain small region to unite and maintain I evangelists. And finally he was one of the first to suggest ® and to assist in organiz ng the Kentucky Christian Mission- I] ary Convention, w hich has done and is doing so much for | our cause in the State. I

Our American Christian Missionary Society, which then kj did both home and foreign work, had his aident support, ft "and many life memberships in it were secured and sent in by ffj him. No wonder it was said of him "He lived, moved and w had his being in a mis-ionary atmosphere." Evangelistic i zeal and missionary zeal are one and the same. The heart I fired with a desire to save a soul easily enlarges that desire Vj to save a world. And these were words often on the lips of a John T. Johnson, "The imperious mandate of the King is |i 'Go ye into the world and preach the gospel to every crea- i| ture ' "