Biographies, Adair County KY: Adair County Civic Officers for 1898

Submitted By: Laura Frost Wright <lsllwright@fuse.net>
Submission Date: 15-July-2000
Source: The Adair County News 05-Jan-1898

Adair's Custodians. It affords us much pleasure to publish short histories
of the men who will fill the offices of Adair County for the next four years,
the Circuit Court Clerk being an exception, his term being for 6 years. They
are all men of honor and well equipped to fill each office in a way that will
reflect much credit to themselves and the people of the County. We doubt if
any County can show a better official outfit. They took the oath of office
yesterday, which we give below, and today they are our officers.

Oath: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I will
support the Constitution of this Commonwealth, and be faithful and true to
the Commonwealth of Kentucky so long as I continue a citizen thereof, and
that I will faithfully execute to the best of my ability, the office of . . .
according to law, and I do further solemnly swear (or affirm) that since the
adoption of the present constitution I, being a citizen of this State, have
not fought a duel within this State, nor out of it, nor have I sent nor
accepted a challenge to fight a duel with deadly weapons, nor have I acted as
a second in carrying a challenge, nor aided or assisted any person in thus
offending, so help me God."

T.A. MURRELL:. . is well and favorably known in Adair County. He is only 25
years old but for the last few years has been mixing and mingling with the
public in a manner that has given him a broad acquaintance. He was reared on
a farm and while there had the reputation of being a great disturber of the
earth. He taught several schools in this County and made a reputation as
teacher that always secured him the largest and best schools. In 1893 he left
Kentucky for the enchanting fields of Illinois in search of wealth but the
ties that carry us back to childhood, the love for home and friends, were
irresistable and his sojourn in the land of strangers was of short duration.
He returned to Kentucky and secured the best school in Adair County and
taught 5 months. After his school, he became Deputy Clerk under T.R. STULTS,
giving his entire time and attention to the duties of the office and we
feel safe in saying that Adair County has never had a better Clerk and that
the courteous treatment of the past is an introduction to the future. "Tom"
is a Republican and believing in Republican principles he is an active
earnest fighter. In 1896 he was married to Miss Mamie MILLER, an accomplished
lady of Gatesville TX. Their home is brightened by the smiles of little
Miller MURRELL, their baby son.

John B. COFFEY: . . 21-June-1869 the subject of this paragraph first saw the
light of day. He is the third son of Mr. Jo COFFEY, Cashier of the Bank of
Columbia, and enjoying the distinction of being one of the most popular young
men in Adair County. Last year he concluded that he would like to be Circuit
Court Clerk and reaching out for this position it was given him by a safe
majority. He has excellent business qualifications and is extremely courteous.
He feels grateful to his friends who supported him for Circuit Court Clerk,
promising them to make a faithful and obliging officer. To those who did not
honor him with their vote, he will be glad to meet and will give them a hearty
welcome whenever they call at his office. Mr. COFFEY is not yet married.

Garnett MONTGOMERY: . . who is Mr. COFFEY's deputy, is a son of
Hon. J. F. MONTGOMERY and was reared principally in Columbia. He has fine
business qualifications having finished his education at Center College,
Danville. For the past year, he has been a salesman for the store of
W.L. WALKER. Previous to that he taught school. He is a young man of steady
habits, attentive to business, and what he undertakes to do is well done.

Thomas R. STULTS: . .is a native of Adair County and was born 23-Aug-1856 and
has been identified with the Republican party since he reached his majority.
He is now filling the office of County Court Clerk for the second term. Since
his first election, he has conducted the affairs of his office satisfactorily
to all concerned, and his personal popularity has given him a lease for four
more years beginning the first of this month. Before Mr. STULTS was elected
Clerk, he conducted a general mercantile store at Knifley, this county, and
when he went out of business he had an extensive trade in that section.
Mr. STULTS is married, his wife's maiden name being Miss Mary PICKETT.
He has an interesting family and a comfortable home.

R.T. McCAFFREE: . . was re-elected Surveyor. He has filled the position for
the last six or eight years making a splendid officer. He is accurate in
figures and has given entire satisfaction since he went into office. He is a
gentleman of a pleasing disposition and is always ready to take to the fields
when his services are demanded. He has voted the Democratic ticket since his
twenty-first birthday and unless the moon turns into green cheese he will not
deviate from the line marked out in his early manhood. He resides on his farm
a few miles from Columbia.

Lenard FLETCHER: . . who resides in the southern portion of this County is
Adair's Coroner. He is a popular gentleman and will fill the position with
credit to himself and to the satisfaction of those who placed him in office.
He is a lifelong Democrat and is very thankful to his friends for their
support, promising to carry out the duties of his office faithfully. This is
the first time he ever asked for an office and he cannot help from being
justly proud of his election as the county is Republican and he had for an
opponent a popular gentleman.

S. H. MITCHELL: . .  was born in Adair County in 1853 but his parents moved
to Metcalf County where he was raised and at the age of 21 he returned to
this county and has been engaged in farming until 1894 when he was elected
Jailer by the Democratic party. Mr. MITCHELL's official record is well known
and approved by the people. No man has ever gone on duty and watched with
more zealous care than Mr. MITCHELL and, by his untireing energy and close
attention to his business, he has gained the reputation of being one of the
best jailers in the state. In the last three years 19 men have been sentenced
to terms in the penitentiary from this county, Mr. MITCHELL arresting the
bulk of them. In all the arrests made by him, he never shot a man, never hurt
a prisoner or suffered one to be imposed upon. Not one has escaped from jail.
The people can feel assured that when Mr. MITCHELL turns the key on a
prisoner that he is in safe keeping and the prisoner can have the same
assurance. His wife was Miss Maggie FLOWERS.

W.D. JONES: . . . is a native of Adair County having been born and reared on
Green River. He is a Republican and was elected School Superintendent upon
that ticket. He is a young man of excellent habits, well educated, holding a
State certificate, and that he will administer the duties of his office
justly no one doubts. Mr. JONES was educated at Glasgow and Columbia and has
been a very sucessful school teacher for the past five years. He is a member
of the Baptist church and belongs to Columbia Lodge, No. 96 F. & A. M.

G.A. BRADSHAW: . . was born and reared in Adair County and is about
44 years old. He has been an active farmer and stock dealer giving but
little attention to politics until three years ago when he made the race
for County Assessor and was defeated. Since that time he has been moving on
in his usual way until last fall when his friends urged him to again enter
the race for Assessor. Yielding to the wishes of his friends he entered the
fight in earnest. Mr. BRADSHAW is an energetic wide-awake business man and a
Democrat that is always ready for an active, vigorous canvass. There need not
be a doubt as to his ability and willingness in the discharge of his official
business.

John W. BUTLER: . . . was born in Adair County KY 19-Dec-1834 and has been an
active energetic citizen all his life. He has served the people of Adair
County two terms as County Court Clerk and has filled a number of other
important places of trust. After his terms of County Court Clerk expired, he
engaged in the mercantile business which occupied his attention for a number
of years and at the same time he was largely interested in farming. He is a
fine business man and, having acumulated a nice estate for himself, there is
no doubt that he will manage the affairs of Adair County economically and
correctly and will make a splendid County Judge. Mr. BUTLER was married many
years ago to Miss Bettie WALKER and has a handsome residence near the square.

J.W. HURT: . . . who was elected Sheriff is one of Adair County's best men.
He was born 06-Jan-1849 and has been in public life since he was eighteen
years of age. He acted as Deputy Sheriff under his father, the late
Y.E. HURT, for several years, and during the years of 1893-1894 he filled
the office of Sheriff by election. He made a splendid officer and his last
race was made at the solicitation of friends from various parts of the
County. He is a man of strict business habits, hence during his former term
his quietus was one of the first received from Frankfort. He will have a
sufficient number of deputies, and the people of Adair County can rest
assured that the duties of the office will be carried out to the letter
of the law.

James GARNETT, Jr.: . . there are few better known young men than
"Jim" GARNETT. He has been a practicing attorney for the past five years,
and now ranks as one of the best lawyers at the Columbia bar. It is very
important that the office of County Attorney be filled by a clear headed
man, one who will watch carefully the interests of the County. Last November
Mr. GARNETT was elected to fill that position by a very large majority, and
the people can rest contented that no mistake was made in selecting him to
fill this important office. Two years ago Mr. GARNETT was married to Miss
Lena VARDEMAN who resided at Bardstown. Mr. GARNETT has a beautiful home and
besides his wife, an interesting little daughter brightens it.

THE FISCAL COURT: . . is composed of seven magistrates. Again, the old
veteran John EUBANK was re-elected for the two Columbia precincts. Esquire
EUBANK has served his constitutes as a conservator of the peace for many
years. He has a record that he may well be proud of and the voters will
continue to show their appreciation for his services by re-electing him
when this term shall have expired. W.C. LOY, who was re-elected by the voters
of the Glenville and Harmony precincts, also has an enviable record upon the
bench. He has served his people for years. He is always upon the side of
justice and has been a faithful guardian to Adair County. He is yet young and
active and will doubtless serve his county in years to come. T.F. GOWEN is
one of the new men. He comes from the Elroy and Gradyville precincts. While
he has not had experience on the bench, he has been an honest, active and
sucessful man, which is a guarantee that he will make a valuable guardian of
the county's treasury. Keltner and Milltown precincts have selected Esquire
KEMP who is the youngest member of the court, but with his vigor of youth,
a strong mind and an honest heart, you will find him on the side of justice
and right. The Northern and Eastern ends of the County send two old soldiers
to represent them. Esquire Wm. WOLFORD comes from Casey's Creek and Pellyton.
He has passed the prime of his life, but with his long and varied experience
in business and a strong and vigorous mind he will administer justice.
Esquire James WILLIAMS who will represent White Oak and Little Cake has
served his people in this capacity before. He made a good officer and he can
be depended upon to guard the interest of Adair County. Esquire Wm. BIGGS who
was appointed to fill out the unexpired term of Esquire CAVE, who resigned,
was elected by the popular vote of the Cane Valley precinct to serve them for
four years. In his short experience, he has shown that he is a valuable
addition to the court. He is young, active and honest. He looks well to the
interest of Adair County before he votes on any question.

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