Pendleton County Biographies compiled by Mildred Bowen Belew.
Transcribed by Bonnie Snow with permission from Mrs. Belew, from her excellent book.
THE FIRST TWO HUNDRED YEARS OF PENDLETON COUNTY
Thanks so much Millie!

George Washington Berger

George W. Berger was one of Falmouth's most prominent citizens, born 22 Feb. 1878 at Short Creek, Pendleton County, the son of Michael and Rose Knorr Berger.  He died 20 May 1961 at his home on South Street in Falmouth.  He married 28 Sept. 1904, Emma Duerner and to this union one daughter was born, Mrs. Rose Griggs.

Mr. Berger was a leading business man of Falmouth and Pendleton County after he retired as President of Manhattan Restaurant on Fifth Street in Cincinnati, Ohio.

He was a communicant of St. Xavier Catholic Church in Falmouth.  At the time of his death he had two brothers in Falmouth, Herbert and Charles and two sisters, Mrs. William Powell and Lula Berger of Latonia.

Mr. Berger was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Falmouth, which was one of his first community endeavors upon returning to Falmouth in 1922 and was made it's first president.  During the 1920's he was very active in various affairs of the city and county.  In 1925 he helped to organize the Pendleton County Farm Bureau.  He was very interested in agriculture and at one time owned fiver different farms in the county.  He was made president of the Chamber of Commerce and later president of the Falmouth Rotary Club.  During those days of his very active life he was made one of the first "Kentucky Colonels" and he always highly regarded this honor.  He served his city well in various capacities.

Mr. Berger was meticulous in the care of his home and acreage.  He was a great admirer of beautiful flowers and always raised a fine garden.  Throughout the years he owned choice real estate in Falmouth, including the familiar LLL corner, so well known to all county citizens.  He owned a suburban farm, which through his willingness and desire to see the city grow and prosper, he sold about it about 1950, so that it could be developed.  Today it is known as the Berger Subdivision.

His many good deeds of kindness and generosity will continue to live on for years to come.

Corrine Britton

Corrine Rippetoe Britton was born 28 August 1901 in Adair County, Kentucky, the daughter of Arlow and Maude Helm Rippetoe.  She died 27 July 1989, at Terrace View Nursing Home in Lawrenceburg, Indiana.  She retired from teaching in 1971 after spending 35 years of teaching in the Pendleton County school system.

She gave approximately 20 years of devoted service to the Pendleton County Library Board, serving in various capacities and was also active in the Friends of the Library organization.  Upon her retirement in 1982, from the board, she was presented with the Certificate of Achievement in Public Library Service from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Department of Libraries and Archives.  In 1983, she was presented with the Kentucky Human Services Award from the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  Mrs. Britton was also a "Kentucky Colonel."  She was a member of the Eastside Park Church of Christ.

Mrs. Britton was preceded in death by her husband, Archie Britton, who died 12 Sept. 1955, at Grassy Creek, Pendleton County.  She had one daughter, Katherine McMillian Brill, of Newport, KY, and three grandchildren.  She is buried in the Carnes Cemetery, at Peach Grove, Pendleton County.

DR. H. C. CLARK

Dr, H. C. Clark was born 1 April 1848 in Falmouth and died 31 October 1937 in Falmouth.  He was one of Pendleton County's highly esteemed citizens and physicians.  He was a son of Captain James T. Clark, a native of Pennsylvania and Caroline Patton Clark, a native of North Carolina.  In early life he united with the Falmouth Methodist Church and remained loyal to its teachings his entire life.  He was united in marriage, 1 Sept. 1877 to Mary Thomas of Bath County, Kentucky and they had two children; Henry, who died at the age of 14 years and a daughter who married David Powell and lived in Seattle, Washington.  He had two sisters, Sarah Clark of Falmouth and Mrs. M. V. Hobday of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Dr. Clark received his early education in the Pendleton Academy of Falmouth.  He graduated from the Ohio Medical College in Cincinnati in 1871 and located in Bath County, where he practiced his profession for several years.  He came back to Falmouth where he practiced medicine for more than 60 years, retiring due to declining health.  He was the last of the "saddle pocket" doctors in this section of Kentucky.  When he first began practicing medicine there was not a single mile of macadam road in the county and he was compelled to walk or ride a horse with his saddle pockets thrown across the horse's back.  Later on when the pikes were built, Dr. Clark used a horse and buggy and later still the automobile.  He was always a civic leader and served on the City Council and as Mayor of Falmouth.  He also served many years a s Health Officer of Pendleton County.  His long experiences with all classes of people, good and bad, kind and cruel, enriched and endowed his mind with knowledge that only a few attain in a lifetime.  He was especially fond of children and they loved him.  He truly dwelt in a "house by the side of the road" and was a friend to all.

Dr. Clark's father. four brothers and a brother-in-law all served in the Union Army during the Civil War and were members of the famous 18th KY Infantry.  He was only a boy of 13 years during the War, but he remembered many thrilling episodes that took place in Falmouth and Pendleton County during that period.

He was a well read man and remembered what he read and could quote by the hour from memory.  He was a fluent speaker which made him popular at home and abroad.  He held honorary membership in the Kentucky Medical Society, Harrison County Medical Society, Kenton-Campbell Medical Society and the Bracken-Pendleton Medical Society.

REV. CHARLES LAMONT CONRAD

Rev. Charles Lamont Conrad was born 24 April 188, Short Creek, Pendleton County, KY, one of 15 children borne to Frank W. and Emma Monroe Conrad and died 4 January 1984 at the Baptist Home East, Louisville, Kentucky.  He first married 2 December 1921 in Bassein, Burma, Ruth Zacherery.  They had two children, Charles Lamont, Jr. and Florence.  All three preceded him in death.  He second married June 1963, Emmaline Arnold Galloway.

He was licensed to preach in 1906 at Short Creek Baptist Church and ordained the 20th of July 1911.  He preached at many churches in Kentucky and Tennessee while in Carson-Newton College, Jefferson City, Tennessee.  In 1917 and 1918 he served with the French Army and was presented a Bronze Metal by the French Government, for good services rendered.  In 1919 he was appointed by the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society to serve in Jamshedpur, India and transferred to Bassein, Burma in 1921.  There were 95 churches under his supervision with a membership of 9, 525, when they were forced to leave Burma in the Civil War in 1949.  In addition to caring for these churches, he also was superintendent of a high school of 500 pupils for many years.

While of furlough in 1938, he bought medical books and taught himself enough to minister medical aid to his constituents in Burma, along with his wife and local Korean nurses.

In 1937 the Police Department of Burma presented him with a Swiss silver watch for arresting two murderers who had murdered a man in front of his home in Bassein.

During World War II, Rev. Conrad served as chaplain for the Protestant soldiers until forced to evacuate from Burma in 1942, or be captured by the Japanese Army.  He walked out of Burma to India over mountains of 8,000 feet high, for a distance of 171 miles.  He contacted malaria fever in the process of this march.  After being found sick and delirious, he was taken to a Baptist Hospital at Gauhati, India, where he recovered enough to join his wife in Calcutta, India.

They served for the U. S. Army in welfare work for both black and white troops in the Karachi, India area, until he was asked to open the U. S. Office of War Information.  He served in this capacity until 1945, when they returned to the United States on furlough.  They resigned from the U. S. Government and returned to Burma until they were forced to leave all their belongings and flee again in 1949.  They then returned to the United States, where he engaged in service for the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society and traveled from Maine to California until he retired in 1953.

After his retirement he moved back to Falmouth, Kentucky, where he was elected as State Representative.  In this capacity he was a leader in securing a lake and state park for Pendleton County, Kincaid Lake State Park.  He also was a leader in the Rotary Club, Masonic Order, a member of Pendleton County Farm Bureau and active in the Falmouth Baptist Church.

He spent the last four years of his life at the Baptist Home East, in Louisville, KY where he died at the age of 95 years.

LESLIE E. CONRAD

Leslie E. Conrad was born 14 January 1887, Short Creek, Pendleton County, Kentucky and died, 2 April, 1978, Covington, Kenton County, Kentucky.  He was one of a family of 15 children born to Frank W. and Emma Monroe Conrad.  His brothers and sisters surviving when he died were:  Louis, Charles L., Ernest and Frank Conrad; Rachel Conrad, Emma Spann, Hattie Luttrell and Eleanor Belew.  He married 30 June 1915, Jenny Arnold and to this union three children were born, all of whom preceded him in death.

Mr. Conrad was born of the soil and was raised a Pendleton County farmer and was a good one.  He was a large land owner at Short Creek and was an expert at raising tobacco.  He associated himself with the farm movement and stood for every worthwhile civic endeavor in Pendleton County.  He was identified early in his life with the Farm Bureau movement and was one of the founders of that organization in the early 1930's.  He gained such prominence in agriculture and knew farming so well, that he was chosen to be Farm Manager of the tobacco section of Walnut Hall, Lexington, Kentucky, which raised probably over 100 acres of tobacco each year.

It was while residing at Walnut Hall that his daughter, Juanita, suffered her tragic accident in a fall from a horse, he gave up his farm management duties and returned to Falmouth and his beloved Pendleton County.  Here his daughter was engaged in the insurance business and built a large clientele among the citizens of this area and he assisted her.  He too, was engaged in the insurance business and became the Pendleton County Farm Bureau Insurance Agent for Pendleton County.

Mr. Conrad was a faithful member of the Falmouth Baptist Church.  He was a member of the Pendleton County Board of Education, a member of Orion Masonic Lodge for 43 years and attended as long as his health allowed.  While he was a member of the school board, all of the one-room schools in the county were consolidated into six schools, Goforth, McKennysburg, Butler, Portland, Mt. Auburn and Morgan.

Mr. Conrad, despite the sadness in his life, continued to have a terrific outlook on life.  He had a marvelous personality and loved to talk to everyone.  He was a great story teller and often related tales of his early life in Pendleton County.  He was just a man among men, a great person.  He was laid to rest in the Riverside Cemetery at Falmouth.

DR. VICTOR W. CORBIN

Dr. Victor W. Corbin was born 1 November 1892, Butler, Pendleton County, Kentucky and died 18 April 1985, at the Baptist Convalescent Home, Newport, Campbell County, Kentucky.  He was a son of William Norris and Laura Barton Corbin.  He married 29 December 1917, Izenra Thomason and she preceded him in death 2 May 1968.

He was a dentist, practicing at Butler for 56 years.  He was a member of the Butler Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School and served as deacon for many years.

Dr. Corbin served as a Lieutenant in the Army during World War II.  He was a member of the Bostwick Masonic Lodge # 508 of Butler where he served as past Master.  He was also past President of the Northern Kentucky Dental Association.

Dr. Corbin was one of Butler's oldest citizens, though he remained young in every respect.  He was active and able to get around until late in life and he enjoyed life to the fullest.  He was faithful to his church and a true Christian.  He was an outstanding dentist and high-class gentleman from the old school.  He was "Mr. Butler" himself and always knew all the old timers when they returned to Butler Homecoming.  He and his wife raised one son and three daughters, William E. of Butler, Mrs. Mary Bradford of Alameda, California, Mrs. Elizabeth Argabrite of Lexington, Kentucky and Mrs. Dorothy Barnes of Villa Hills, Kentucky.

SOLOMON GOLDBURG

Mr. Solomon Godburg was born 10 May 1878 in Chidnelf, Russia and died 20 December 1930 at his home on South Chapel Street, Falmouth, Kentucky.  He came to America about 1903 and resided with his two brothers at Cynthiana, Harrison County, Kentucky for about one year.  Then he moved to Falmouth and opened a mercantile business sometime later.  He was joined here by his wife and two sons, who made the trip from Russia.  Five more children were born here, namely:  Mrs. S. J. Shure, Morris, Harry, Anna, Selma and Maxwell.  One brother, Mr. Nick Goldburg, lived with Mr. Goldburg and family here in Falmouth.

When Mr. Goldburg first came to Falmouth, he could hardly speak the English language.  But being the shrewd merchant, it was not long before he was one of the leading business men of this city.  At the time of his death he owned several pieces of the most valuable business property in town.  He was a most popular citizen and was well known though out Pendleton County.

NANNIE FABRA HELD

Mrs. Nannie Fabra Held was born November 5, 1883, in Falmouth, Pendleton County, Kentucky and died January 7, 1960.  She was the widow of George B. Held, Falmouth jeweler and businessman.  Mr. and Mrs. Held were identified with this community for many years and were among its most prominent citizens.  Mr. Held died in 1954.  Mrs. Held was the daughter of Dr. Henry A. and Cora Woodworth Fabra, prominent druggist for many years in Falmouth.  Throughout the years she took an active interest in every civic enterprise of merit.  For many years she taught Sunday School class at the Methodist Church where she and her husband were faithful attendants and which they liberally supported.
Mrs. Held was one of the leading members of the Falmouth Women's Club and always took an active interest in the work of that organization.  She served as its President from 1945 to 1947.  And, for many years was an active member of the Women's Christian Temperance Union in this city.  They are buried in the Riverside Cemetery, Falmouth.

REV. W. M. LENOX

Rev. W. M. Lenox was a well known Christian Minister in Pendleton County.  For years he taught school during the week and preached on Sunday.  He probably held a record of longevity with three rural churches.  He was pastor of Mt. Moriah Christian Church for fifty years, Oakland Christian Church for forty years and Antioch Mills Christian Church in Harrison County for forty-three years.  All in the era when churches had services once or twice a month.  During this time he also served other churches on a part-time basis.  In his well kept records, he had more than 2,300 funeral services he conducted.  He had officiated in hundreds of weddings and recalled quite a few couples that he had married celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.  After his retirement, he and Mrs. Lenox continued to live in Falmouth at 409 South Main Street.

L. H. LUTES

Lloyd Hardin Lutes was born 6 September 1891 in Lee County, Kentucky to Simpson and Ann F. Bradenburg Lutes and died 19 February 1960 in Falmouth, Pendleton County, Kentucky.  At the time of his death he was Superintendent of the Falmouth School System.  In 1924, he married Gladys Ruth Hancock of Sulphur, Kentucky.  To this union was born one daughter, Fern Lutes.

Mr. Lutes was a teacher and administrator in Kentucky Public Schools for 49 years.  He was Superintendent of the Columbia and Adair Counties High School before coming to Falmouth City School in 1930.  He graduated from Eastern Teachers College, Richmond, Kentucky in 1916.  During World War I, he served his county in the U. S. Army.  After the war he returned home and continued his education, graduating with an A. B. Degree in education from the University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky in 1926.  He completed his Masters Degree in the summer of 1931 at Columbia University, New York City, New York.. He also did some graduate work at the University of Kentucky.

Mr. Lutes' honorary educational fraternities were Phi Delta Kappa and Kappa Delta Pi.

He entered immediately into the community life of Falmouth upon taking residence here and maintained this interest until the end.  He was a 30 year member of the Falmouth Rotary Club and was past president.  He was a member of the Falmouth Baptist Church and was a teacher of the Men's Bible Class for 25 years.  Mr. Lutes was identified with many civic enterprises through the years. was a Kentucky Colonel and an officer of the Falmouth P. T. A. at various times.

Mr. Lutes was fair and gracious.  He did a magnificent job with our school.  It was always his purpose to live life before he endeavored to teach it.  He was a man loyal to his people - fair to the people he loved an knew, none can ever say he failed a child, any teacher, or our city, by not being loyal to his convictions.

SARAH ANN WEST McCLANAHAN

Sarah (Sally) West was born in 1820 and died 12 September 1908.  She married 7 November 1836, William E. McClanahan.  To this union was born seven children:  Benjamin Franklin, Nicholas, Cole, Isiah, Jackson, Nancy Jane Cysples and Elizabeth Ann Bishop.  She is buried in the New Zion Baptist Church Cemetery on the New Zion (Barton) Road in Pendleton County.

Sally Ann got her farm in trade with M. D. Coleman, part of the original M. D. Coleman Colonial Deed of 40,000 acres.  Her home was built down near the Kincaid Creek.  After the creek had gotten up to the house and ruined some of her books, she moved the house up the hill about 250 feet.  It was a two room log house with an upstairs in which she lived for many years.  In one of her books there were 564 marks, one for each of the children this great soul of the past helped to bring into this world.

E. A. THOMAS

E. A. Thomas was born 21August 1885, Mt. Auburn, Pendleton County, Kentucky and died 25 April 1963, Falmouth.  He was a well known Falmouth and Pendleton County Funeral Director and prominent citizen who owned and operated Thomas and Shotwell Funeral Home at 209 W. Shelby Street in Falmouth.

Mr. Thomas was the son of James C. and Katherine Schafer Thomas.  He united in marriage in August 1910 to Nellie Cummins Morris.  She preceded him in death 30 June 1962.  To this union two children were born:  Clark Thomas and Mrs. Goldie Barrett.

Mr. Thomas was prominent in political circles in Pendleton County.  A member of the Democratic Party, he was always looked to for leadership in his segment in the political party.  In 1937, he was elected High Sheriff of the county.  He held this office with satisfactory trust and rendered justice and equality in law enforcement in a period that preceded World War II.

Mr. Thomas worked closely with the late County Judge, William J. Newkirk during his term of office and the two together formed a team which brought to them credit from a majority of the citizens of this county.

Mr. Thomas was associated with the Undertaking Business for over 30 years and after leaving the office of sheriff, he continued with the direction of the Thomas Undertaking Firm

Mr. Thomas always believed in doing what he thought was best for his county, his state and his nation, regardless of the consequences of friendship or business.  Through the years his friends and admirers were loyal to him and his undertaking business was most successful.

Though his education was limited, Mr. Thomas was remarkable in his business and political intuition and it can be said that he completed his course in life in a successful manner.

Mr. Thomas' church affiliation was the Christian Church and he held his membership in the Falmouth Christian Church.  He was also a member of Falmouth Council No. 152, J. O. U. A. M.

It is not to say that Mr. Thomas was always right, only that he was a firm believer in what he thought and was loyal and honest to that cause to the very end.

DR. JAMES E. WILSON

Falmouth's "Old Faithful" has passed to the great beyond.  Dr. J. E. Wilson, Mayor and Councilman for 30 years and Pendleton County's oldest practicing physician died 26 December 1948 at his home on Main Street.
Dr. Wilson was nearly 82 years old when he died.  He was the son of the late Captain J. M. and Ella Kerr Wilson and was born in Williamstown on 11 February 1867.  He came from one of Falmouth's pioneer families, dating back to his great, great grandfather.  He was married to Fannie E. Lee of Falmouth in the home where he succumbed on 12 January 1898.  They had no children.  Dr. and Mrs. Wilson had the privilege of celebrating their golden wedding anniversary.
Dr. Wilson's education was secured from the now historic Pendleton Academy.  At the age of 21, he graduated from the Ohio Medical College, now the University of Cincinnati Medical College.  He immediately took up his medical career here in Falmouth and practiced continuously for 61 years.
He took an active interest in all Civic affairs of Falmouth and Pendleton County.  He served as chairman of the American Red Cross in Pendleton County for a number of years.  For many years he was chairman of the Republican Executive Committee in Pendleton County and his influence carried far and wide.
He was instrumental in establishing the Falmouth Water Works plant and later the electric and power plant.  He was a member of the Falmouth Presbyterian Church and served as Elder for many years.
Dr. Wilson was a Pendleton County Health Officer and was president of the Riverside Cemetery Board.  He was also an ex-president of the Licking Valley Medical Association.
At the time of his death he had two brothers and two sisters:  J. T. Wilson, an editor and publisher of the Cynthiana Log Cabin, Ralph R. Wilson of Frankfort, Ella and Mary Wilson at Falmouth living in the family homestead at Fourth and Main Streets.

REV. CARL SEARS

Carl Sears was born 5 January 1915, in Ludlow, Kenton County, Kentucky, the fourth child and only son of Charles and Margaret Sears.  At the death of his mother in January 1917, the family moved to Somerset, Kentucky.  He graduated from Somerset High School in 1933 and immediately went to work in a grocery store in Deer Park, Ohio, where he remained until February 1937.  At that time he entered Georgetown College, where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree.  While a student at Georgetown, his first pastorate was the Pinckard Baptist Church in Woodford County.  He had a short pastorate at Flag Springs Church in Campbell County.  In the spring of 1940 he became pastor of the Mentor Baptist Church and Second Twelve Mile Baptist Church in Campbell County Association.  He served these two churches on alternating Sundays.  These pastorates were destined to last eight years, 1940 - 1948.  During this time he taught elementary school at Grant's Lick for two years, 1943 - 1945 and drove a school bus.  He entered Southern Baptist Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky, in September 1945.  The first Sunday of March 1948, immediately preceding graduation from the Seminary, he accepted the pastorate of the Falmouth Baptist Church.  This tenure of service was active until the last Sunday of February, 1980, thirty-two years.  During his years of pastoral leadership, he was active in Kentucky Baptist work, serving on the Executive Board of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, the Kentucky Temperance League, trustee of Cumberland College, Union Association moderator, clerk and treasurer for twenty-two years and State Executive Board member.
He married Garnet Fardo in August 1946, they had one son.

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