Lawyers and Lawmakers of Kentucky, by H. Levin, editor, 1897. Published
by Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago.  Reprinted by Southern Historical
Press.  p. 181.  Franklin County.

JAMES ANDREW VIOLETT, of Frankfort, was born in Owen county, Kentucky, on
the 22d of July, 1852, and is descended from French ancestors who located
in Virginia in the early days of American settlement.  The grandfather,
John Violett, was born in the Old Dominion and in pioneer days came to
Kentucky, locating in Henry county, where Leland Violett, father of our
subject, was born.  The latter became an agriculturist and married Miss
Polly Walker, of Owen county, Kentucky, daughter of William Walker, a
native of England, an extensive land and slave owner and agriculturist.
     James A. Violett was reared on his father's farm, and in his early
youth received the ordinary educational privileges afforded by the common
schools.  Later he completed his literary course in Harrisburg college,
of Harrisburg, Owen county, Kentucky, and then began reading law in a
class of students who were instructed by Judge Cofer, of the court of
appeals.  He secured his license to practice in 1879, in Frankfort,
where he established an office and at once began the active prosecution
of his profession.  In 1882 he was elected county attorney, serving one
term, and in 1895 he was elected to represent his district in the state
legislature, wherein he was made a member of the committees on
constitutional amendments, on public buildings, libraries, and on county
and city courts.  He had made the canvass for the office as a Democratic
advocate of sound money as opposed to the free coinage of silver, and
when in the house he was one of the five members of his party who refused
to support Senator Blackburn for the United States senate.  He is a man
of firm convictions, unalterable in his defense of what he believes to be
right, and he maintained his position in support of a gold standard when
in the house in the face of the strongest opposition, against the influence
of the party leaders and though promised positions of power.  Nothing
could swerve him from the path of duty or prevent his courageous defense
of the right as he saw it.
     Mr. Violett engages in practice of a general character and is
thoroughly well informed on all branches of the law, conducting with equal
success both civil and criminal cases.  He is a forceful speaker, a
logical reasoner and seeks to convince by facts more than by persuasive
eloquence, that often hides the truth under rhetorical adornment.  His
clientage is large and is a gratifying tribute to this ability.
     Mr. Violett was married to Miss Alice Bell Deakins, daughter of John
T. Deakins, of Shelby county, Kentucky.  They have three children: Luther
Francis, a student of Georgetown College; Mary Will, who is attending the
Frankfort College in this city; and Walter Boyd, who is attending the city
schools.  Mr. Violett is a member of the Baptist church, and socially is
connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Violett Walker Deakins
=
Owen-KY Henry-KY Shelby-KY Scott-KY VA

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/franklin/violett.ja.txt