George & Jennie T Washington Jr.
Kentucky: A
History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 7th ed.,
1887, Campbell Co.
George Washington Jr. was born on Christmas Day of 1843 in Newport, the son of George Washington, a native of Jefferson County, Va. who was born in 1817. George Sr. was the son of Samuel Washington, the son of Thornton. Thornton was the son of Samuel Washington, who was a brother of General George Washington.
The mother of our subject was Martha Doxon, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Nolan) Doxon. John Doxon was of Irish ancestry, and his wife of an old and distinguished Virginian family. Martha, mother of the subject of this sketch, was born in 1823, and died in 1876; they were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. George Washington Sr., the father of our subject, was a steamboat captain for many years, as was his father. Both steamboats captains were based in Newport. He died in 1859.
At age 12, George was orphaned when his father died. At 16, when the Civil War began, he was on the Confederate side. Union troops had driven Southern recruiters out of northern Kentucky before he could enlist, so he made his way to Tennessee and joined Porter's 9th Tennessee Cavalry Battalion. He fought through the entire war and earned promotion to sergeant before age 20.
When he returned to Campbell County after the war, he found his family penniless. He encountered so much hostility as a Confederate veteran that he moved to Memphis. He rented a room with another ex-rebel from the bluegrass, Thomas Hines of Morgan's Cavalry, who would later return home to become chief justice of Kentucky. With help from Hines, Washington mastered the law in long sessions beside the midnight oil.
George Washington Jr., the subject of this sketch, was educated at Newport and at Cincinnati, Ohio. He read law with Gen. Albert Pike, and after being admitted to the bar began practice at Memphis, Tenn. in 1866. He moved from there to Knoxville, Tenn., where he lived eleven years, taking a high place at the bar.
In 1867 he married Miss Jennie T. Ramsey, daughter of Dr. Frank A. Ramsey, who was a brother of the celebrated Southern historian, Dr. J. G. M. Ramsey. Her mother was Ann M. (Breck) Ramsey, a relative of the Todd family, of which family Mrs. Abraham Lincoln was also a member. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Washington, viz: Ramsey W., Anna Lee, Alfred, William, Bettie, Bushrod and John. Mr. Washington was a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the Masonic fraternity. In religion he is an Episcopalian.
Washington emerged as one of the South's leading orators in the 1870s. He spoke with careful, logical thinking and with absolute moral conviction while on the lecture circuit. He gave a speech in 1870 at Knoxville's military cemetery to commemorate the Confederate dead. When the Democratic Party of Tennessee assembled in 1880, they nominated him as chair of the convention's organizing sessions.
In 1881 he returned to Newport, Ky., and formed a partnership with Col. Robert W Nelson, which lasted five years, and since which time he has practiced by himself. He served in the Confederate army twelve months, being discharged for injuries received in the service. He was city attorney of Knoxville while there, and was also chairman of the Tennessee Gubernatorial Convention in 1880.
He avoided politics aside from a candidacy for appellate judge in 1894, which he lost by one vote. He represented Campbell County at the state constitutional convention in 1890 and was designate chair of the convention. He was the leading advocate and primary author of the guarantee for each citizen to vote by secret ballot. He secured passage of the provision allowing three-fourths of a jury to decide issues in cases of civil law.
In 1898 Governor Bradley chose him as one of 50
especially commissioned Kentucky colonels to represent bluegrass as the
unveiling of Kentucky's Civil War Memorial on the Chickamauga battlefield.
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Kentucky Genealogy and Biography
Biographical Sketches
Volume 6-8
GEORGE WASHINGTON, one of the leading lawyers of Newport, was born December 25, 1843 in Newport, the son of George Washington, a native of Jefferson Co Va. who was born in 1817 and whose father was Samuel Washington, the son of Thornton. Thornton was the son of Samuel Washington, who was a brother of Gen George Washington.
The mother of our subject was Martha Doxon, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Nolan) Doxon. John Doxon was on Irish ancestry and his wife of an old and distinguished Virginian family. Martha Doxon was born in 1823 and died in 1876; they were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. George Washington, the father of our subject, was a steamboat captain for many years. He died in 1859. George Washington, the subject of this sketch, was educated at Newport and at Cincinnati. He read law with Gen Albert Pike and after being admitted to the bar began practice at Memphis Tenn in 1866.
He moved from there to Knoxville Tenn. where he lived eleven years, taking a high place at the bar. In 1881 he returned to Newport and formed a partnership with Col R W Nelson, which lasted for five years and since which time he has practiced by himself. he served in the Confederate army twelve months, being discharged for injuries received in the service. he was city attorney of Knoxville while there and was also chairman of he Tennessee Gubernatorial Convention in 1880. In 1867 he married Miss Jennie T Ramsey, daughter of Dr. Frank A Ramsey, who was a brother of the celebrated Southern historian, Dr. J G M Ramsey.
Her mother was Ann M (Breck) Ramsey, a relative
of the Todd family of which family was Mrs. Abraham Lincoln was also a member.
Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Washington viz; Ramsey W, Anna
Lee, Alfred, William, Bettie, Bushrod and John. Mr. Washington is a member
of the I O O F and of the Masonic fraternity. In religion he is an
Episcopalian.
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George Washington died 23 August 1905 in
Owenton Ky. and his funeral was at
St. Paul's Episcopal Church. He was buried in the Evergreen Cemetery.
(From St. Paul's Church Records)