Kentucky: A History of the State, Perrin, Battle, Kniffin, 4th ed., 1887,
Mercer County.

L. D. CARDWELL, druggist, is a native of the city of Louisville, and was
born February 1, 1854.  His father, Capt. J. W. Cardwell, a native of
Shelbyville, was born February 1, 1809, served an apprenticeship of one
and a half years in a printing office, then moved to Harrodsburg and began
clerking in a dry goods house, being one of the first dry goods clerks of
the town.  After a number of years he formed a co-partnership with his
employer, Capt. Bull, and they did business on what is known among the old
citizens of Harrodsburg as "Capt. Bull's Corner."  At. Capt. Bull's death
Mr. Cardwell purchased his interest and continued the business on his own
account, remaining in the trade in all twenty years in Harrodsburg.  He
was then elected cashier of the Harrodsburg Savings Institution, which
position he held until the close of the late war.  During that terrible
time many financially good men of Harrodsburg failed, after having
overdrawn their bank accounts.  The directors of the institution were
disposed to place the responsibility of the overdrafts on the cashier, and
he very cheerfully surrendered his entire estate, of about $75,000, to
pay the liabilities, his wife at the same time, against the advice of her
friends, signing away her dowry in all his property.  They lived in
comparative poverty the balance of their days.  Capt. Cardwell was a Union
man during the war and held the position of provost-marshal, rendering
himself very popular by his treatment of the people of Harrodsburg and
vicinity.  He had two sons in the Confederate Army, T. M. and James M.,
killed at the battle of Bulls Gap, Tennessee.  Capt. Cardwell was also
captain of a militia company.  He was married to Miss Sophia Bledsoe
Taylor, a daughter of John and Nancy (Lewis) Taylor, natives of Virginia.
To this marriage were born thirteen children, seven of whom are living:
James M.; Lula, wife of Levi Walter, of Harrodsburg, and after his death
wife of Dr. T. H. Reid, a physician of Harrodsburg and a member of the
Legislature, now deceased; Sue, wife of B. L. Hardin, of Harrodsburg;
Thomas, ex-postmaster of Harrodsburg; Samuel Creed, chief deputy in the
internal revenue office of Lexington; Westley K., clerk for his brother,
L. D.; Nannie, wife of John H. Lucas, attorney of Osceola, Mo., and
Llewellyn D.  Mrs. Cardwell lived fifteen years after her husband's
failure, and was during life a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Her death occurred July 27, 1876, in the sixty-fifth year of her age.
Capt. Cardwell, who, during life was a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and who subscribed liberally toward the church building in
Harrodsburg, survived his wife's death until February 9, 1882.  After his
wife's death he lived with his son, L. D. Cardwell.  L. D. Cardwell
attended school until fourteen years of age, when his father's failure
occurred, and then became a carpenter's apprentice, serving two and
one-half years.  His first mercantile venture was selling newspapers and
periodicals, beginning in 1871 with a capital of $41.  In January, 1873,
he began learning the drug business with his brother-in-law, Dr. Reed,
and in October, same year, attended the St. Louis School of Pharmacy
until the March following.  At the solicitation of the Rev. W. P. Harvey
Mr. Cardwell returned to Harrodsburg and purchased a third interest in
the drug store of William Payne & Co., in which at that time Mr. Harvey
was a partner, and which, on account of a poisoning, was in disrepute.
The new firm was Reed, Harvey & Co., and their business soon improved
rapidly, but in 1878 Reed & Cardwell purchased the interest of Mr. Harvey.
The firm of Reed & Cardwell continued in existence until Dr. Reed's death
in 1890, when Mr. Cardwell purchased his interest from his widow.  Mr.
Cardwell has since carried on the business by himself.  On May 21, 1884,
he was married to Miss Stevia, a daughter of R. E. and Maggie (Hughes)
Coleman, natives of Mercer County.  They have had one child, Margaret
Beldsoe, who died September 25, 1885, in the sixth month of its age.  Mr.
and Mrs. Cardwell are members of the Assembly Presbyterian Church.  Mr.
Cardwell is carrying a stock of drugs, books, paints and oils, wall
paper and picture frames, with a capital of $10,000.  Besides this he is
in partnership with his brother, W. K., in the furniture business with a
capital of $5,000.  Mr. Cardwell's drug sales last year were $27,000 and
the sales in the furniture business were $15,000.  Mr. Cardwell for
three years managed the Mercer County Enterprise, a weekly newspaper,
the first newspaper ever published in Harrodsburg which was a financial
success.  He also owns ten residences known as "Cardwell's Square" and
valued at $10,000, besides owning and managing the Cardwell Opera House.

Cardwell Taylor Lewis Reid Hardin Lucas Harvey Reed Hughes
Walter Coleman Bull
=
Louisville-Jefferson-KY Fayette-KY Shelbyville-Shelby-KY VA MO

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/mercer/cardwell.ld.txt