PREFACE. Some seven years ago at a little Kentucky country school, a youth read for the first time about Richard Hickman Menefee. The school history of Kentucky that the youth was reading called Menefee "the young Patrick Henry of the West," and this title, with the face of Menefee, the youth carried in his memory, dreaming that he might some day write the biography of the hero of Kentucky history. In the fall of 1904, the youth, now a student at the institution that succeeded Menefee's university, wrote for the college magazine a short sketch of his hero. Since then he has been collecting the materials for a complete biography of Menefee, which is now incorporated into book form. This book has been written for two reasons: first, the admiration that the author has for the man; second, the great need of such a book. Menefee alone, of the three great Kentucky orators, has found no adequate biographer. With the exception of Marshall's eulogy, and many sketches, full and just recognition in the form of a complete "life," with a collection of his speeches, has been denied him. If this book succeeds in making vivid and definite what has been merely tradition, I shall not consider my work done in vain. My thanks are due to so many persons for assistance in the preparation of this biography that it would be impossible to recount all of them here. Some, however, have assisted me so materially that they deserve to be mentioned at this time. First, to Mr. Richard H. Menefee, of Louisville, the namesake and grandson of Menefee, my sincerest thanks are due. Without his assistance no true estimate of Menefee could have been formed. To Col. Reuben T. Durrett, founder and president of the Filson Club, for permission to work at will in the largest private library in Kentucky, I am very grateful. The following persons have also assisted me greatly: Dr. R. G. Thwaites, of Madison, Wisconsin; Senator Jos. C. S. Blackburn, of Washington; Judge Edward Mayes, of Jackson, Mississippi; Professor Thomas S. Noble, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Mr. Clarke Tandy, of Oxford England, and Miss Mary Louise Dalton, St. Louis, Missouri. The following Kentuckians have aided me in various ways: Governor J. C. W. Beckham and Assistant State Librarian Frank K. Kavanaugh, of Frankfort; Mr. LaVega Clements, of Owensboro; Captain John A. Steele, of Midway; Miss Johanna Peter, of Fayette County; Mr. Lucien Beckner and Mr. James French, of Winchester; Judge John A. Ramsey and Mr. William H. Daugherty, of Owingsville; Mrs. Albert Hoffman and Mr. Davis Reid, of Mt. Sterling; Mrs. Robert Harding, of Danville; Dr. Edward O. Guerrant, of Wilmore, and the Misses Kinkead, of Lexington, one of whom is the only woman historian that Kentucky has produced, have given me the kindest encouragement that it was my fortune to receive from any source while this work was in preparation. Also to the librarians of the Lexington Public Library, I am very grateful for the courtesies that they have seen fit to show me. Two Yale men, both Kentuckians, the readers of this book may, with me, thank. One, Dr. Hubert G. Shearin, Ph. D., of Kentucky University, for many valuable suggestions; the other, Mr. Charles Fennell, of Cynthiana, Kentucky, for assistance in obtaining several of Menefee's speeches. Direct bibliographical reference to the authorities consulted, except to such general works as Collins' History of Kentucky and biographical encyclopedias, will be found at the bottom of the pages. JOHN WILSON TOWNSEND, November 8, 1906. RICHARD HICKMAN MENEFEE CHAPTER I FIRST YEARS Richard Hickman Menefee was born in Owingsville, Kentucky, December 4, 1809, and died in Lexington, Kentucky, February 20, 1841. The name of Menefee is of Irish derivation, and the American founder of the family was George Menifie,' who, in 1629, was one of the Burgesses that represented James City, in the Virginia House of Burgesses. Later in life he became a prosperous merchant. That George Menifie was an ancestor of Richard H. Menefee, there is very little doubt. At any rate, the Menefees were Virginians, and came to Kentucky in the latter half of the eighteenth century. The first Kentucky Menefees that did enough in the world to have their deeds recorded, were four private soldiers. In the pioneer companies that were organized in Kentucky in 1778 on up into the nineteenth century, in the company of Capt. Benjamin Logan, who had charge of a Lincoln County company, the names of James, Jarrett, and Joseph Menifee are found. In Capt. John Boyle's company, which was scattered over that part of Kentucky that is now included in the counties of Garrard, Lincoln, and Boyle, the name of Wil 1 1 Hening's Statutes at Large, Vol. 1, pp. 282, 297. |