History of Tompkinsville, (Monroe County) Kentucky United States of America

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Samuel Bell Maxey, senator, was born in Tompkinsville, Ky., March 30, 1825; son of Rice Maxey, clerk of the circuit and county courts Of Clinton county, Ky., and a descendant of Huguenot settlers in Virginia. He was graduated at the U.S. Military academy and brevetted 2d lieutenant in the 7th infantry, July 1, 1846. He served in the war with Mexico, was promoted 2d lieutenant in the 8th infantry, Feb. 23, 1847; was transferred to the 7th infantry, July 8, 1847, and was brevetted 1st lieutenant, Aug. 20, 1847, for gallantry at Contreras and Churubusco. He resigned from the U.S. army, Sept. 18, 1849. He was admitted to the bar in 1850, and practised at Albany, Clinton county, Ky., where he served as clerk of the circuit and county courts and as master in chancery, 1852-56. He removed to Paris, Texas, in 1857, was district attorney of Lamar county, Texas, 1858-59, and a delegate to the Secession convention, 1861, where he favored the measure. He was elected to the Texas senate in 1861, but did not take his seat, joining the Confederate army instead. He raised the 9th Texas infantry, was commissioned its colonel and joined Gen. Albert S. Johnston in March, 1862. He was promoted brigadier-general in 1862 and sent to Chattanooga, where he served under General Bragg and took part in the assault of Mitchel's retreating army, driving it from Bridgeport, Battle Creek and Stevenson, and captured all the stores. He took part in the first siege of Port Hudson, the Big Black campaign and the siege of Corinth. He was appointed to the command of the Indian Territory military district by President Davis in 1863, where he placed 2000 more Texans and Indians under arms. On April 30, 1864, his cavalry division attacked Gen. Frederick Steele at Jenkins's Ferry, and captured his entire baggage train. He was promoted major-general for these services in 1864, and was commandant of the military district and superintendent of Indian affairs in Indian Territory until May 28, 1865. He resumed the practice of law at Paris, Texas, and declined the appointment of judge of the 8th Texas district, April 18, 1873. He was a Democratic U.S. senator from Texas, 1875-87, serving as chairman of the committee on post-offices and post-roads, and of the select committee to inquire into claims of U.S. citizens against Nicaragua. He was the first senator to assert that railroads had a right of way through the Indian Territory. In 1887 he took up the practice of law at Eureka Springs, Ark., where he died, Aug. 16, 1895.

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

History of Tompkinsville, (Monroe County) Kentucky

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