History of Frankfort, (Franklin County) Kentucky United States of America

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Biographies:

John J. Hardin, representative, was born in Frankfort, Ky., Jan. 6, 1810; son of Martin D. Hardin, U.S. senator. He was educated at Transylvania university and practised law in Jacksonville, Ill. He was prosecuting attorney for his circuit; representative in the state legislature, 1836-42; representative in the 28th congress, 1843-45; and colonel of the 1st Illinois volunteers in the war with Mexico, where he joined the army of occupation under Gen. Zachary Taylor and took part in his campaign. He was killed at the battle of Buena Vista while leading his men in the final charge, Feb. 23, 1847.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John Mason Brown, lawyer, was born in Frankfort, Ky., April 26, 1837. He was graduated from Yale in 1856, and for two years studied law under the Hon. Thomas N. Lindsay of Frankfort. At the age of twenty one he was liscensed to practice, and settled in St. Louis, Mo. but his health being impaired by over-study be decided to go among the Indians, in whom he had always been much interested. This he did, living with them in their wigwams, hunting with them, studying their habits and learning to converse with them in their own language. During this thee he kept a journal and made numerous notes and observations, which were used in the Encyclop?dia Britannica. In 1862 he entered the Union army as major of the 10th Kentucky cavalry, and the following year was promoted to colonel. He fought gallantly throughout the war, returning at its close to Frankfort, where he resumed the practice of his profession. In 1869 he removed to Lexington, and in 1873 to Louisville, where he remained until the time of his death. He died in Louisville, Ky., Jan. 29, 1890.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Humphrey Marshall, soldier, was born in Frankfort, Ky., Jan. 13, 1812; son of John Jay and Anna Reed (Birney) Marshall. He was graduated from the U.S. Military academy in 1832, and was promoted brevet 3d lieutenant of mounted rangers, July 1, 1832, and brevet 2d lieutenant of 1st dragoons, March 4, 1833. He was married, Jan. 23, 1833, to Frances E., dasher of Dr. Charles McAllister of Franklin, Tenn. He served on the Black Hawk expedition in 1832, and resigned his commission, April 30, 1833. He was admitted to the bar in 1833 and practised at Frankfort, 1833-34, and at Louisville, 1834-46. He was a captain in the state militia, 1836-38, major, 1838-41, and lieutenant-colonel, 1841-46, and upon the outbreak of the war with Mexico he raised the first regiment of Kentucky cavalry and was commissioned its colonel, June 9, 1846, and was engaged in the battle of Buena Vista, Feb. 22-23, 1847. He returned to Louisville, removed to Henry county, and engaged in farming. He was a Whig representative in the 31st and 32d congresses, 1849-53; declined the appointment of U.S. minister to Central America in 1852; was U.S. minister plenipotentiary to China, 1852-54; a representative in 34th and 35th congresses, 1855-59, and in 1861 brigadier-general in the Confederate army and was placed in command of the Army of Eastern Kentucky. He participated in the battle of Middle Creek, Ky., Jan. 9, 1862; and in May, 1862, he surprised Gen. Jacob D. Cox at Princeton, Va., which resulted in the relief of Lynchburg and Knoxville. He resigned his commission in 1862 and was a representative from Kentucky in the Confederate congress, 1863-65, and served on the committee on military affairs. After the surrender of General Lee he removed to New Orleans, La. He was pardoned by President Johnson, Dec. 18, 1867, and returned to Louisville and resumed his law practice. He died in Louisville, Ky., March 28, 1872.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Ninian Wirt Edwards, lawyer, was born near Frankfort, Ky.,April 15, 1809; son of Ninian Edwards, at the time chief justice of the court of appeals of Kentucky. He removed with his father to Kaskasia, Ill., when yet an infant. He was educated at Transylvania university, pursued a course of law there and was graduated LL.B. in 1833. While a student he was married, Feb. 16, 1832, to Elizabeth P., daughter of Robert S. Todd and sister of Mary Todd, who became the wife of Abraham Lincoln. He was admitted to the bar in 1833 and in 1834 was appointed by Governor Reynolds attorney-general of Illinois. He resigned in 1835 and removed to Springfield, Ill. He was a representative in the Illinois legislature, 1836-52, a member of the convention that framed the state constitution of 1848, and with Abraham Lincoln and others he advocated the removal of the state capital from Vandalia to Springfield in 1837. He was appointed by Governor Matteson in 1854 attorney for the state before the board of commissioners appointed to investigate the claims of canal contractors amounting to over $1,500,000, and the same year was made state superintendent of public instruction, the first to hold that office in the state. The state legislature retained him in this office three years and he drafted the free school law, first adopted by the state. He was U.S. commissary of subsistence with the rank of major from August, 1861, to June 22, 1865. He then retired from public life and from the practice of his profession. Abraham Lincoln was married to Mary Todd at his house in Springfield, Ill., Nov. 4, 1842, and Mrs. Lincoln died there, July 16, 1882. Mrs. Edwards died there, Feb. 22, 1888. Major Edwards, at the request of the Illinois historical society, prepared Life and Times of Ninian Edwards and History of Illinois (1870). He died in Springfield, Ill., Sept. 2, 1889.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor