Memorial Record of Western Kentucky, Lewis Publishing Company, 1904,
pp 515-520 [Lyon]

     HON. NEWTON W. UTLEY.  Kentucky has ever been distinguished for the
marked ability of the representatives of her bench and bar.  In the early
days of the republic her sons left their impress upon the judicial
history of the nation, and since that time they have figured
conspicuously in public affairs as well as representatives of the great
profession which stands as the stern conservator of justice and right. 
Winning fame at this bar where so many distinguished men have practiced,
Hon. Newton Willard Utley has already exerted an influence upon the life
of the state that will be felt for all time, and has engraved his name
indelibly on the pages of its annals in connection with service that has
been prompted by the most unfaltering loyalty and devotion to the best
interests of the common wealth.
     Born upon a farm in Marshall county, Kentucky, May 12, 1860, he has
spent almost his entire life in this state and now makes his home in
Eddyville.  His parents were William Washington and Sallie Ann (Holland)
Utley.  His paternal grandparents were Merrill and Elizabeth (Woodward)
Utley, both natives of North Carolina, and the progenitor of the family
in America was an Englishman who came to the colony of Virginia with the
Jamestown settlers.  It was about 1820 when Merrill Utley removed to
Kentucky, locating in what is now Marshall county, where he entered from
the government a tract of land that still remains in possession of the
family, being now owned by our subject and occupied by his mother, who
has occupied the same house for over sixty years.
     William W. Utley was born in North Carolina in 1818, and was
therefore quite young when brought by his parents to this state, where
his remaining days were passed.  After reaching mature years he wedded
Miss Sallie Ann Holland, who was born in Lyon county, Kentucky, in 1820,
a daughter of John and Catherine (Parrent) Holland, representatives of
old Kentucky families.  Her father was one of the pioneer settlers on the
Jackson Purchase, and one of the first members of the Methodist church of
that locality.  He assisted in organizing a church of that denomination
at his own home, and his residence was the meeting place of the
congregation for several years.  He lived to pass the age of four score
years, and he had five sons, all of whom are yet living with one
exception.  The daughter became Mrs. W. W. Utley and the mother of our
subject.  At the time of his marriage the father took his bride to the
old family homestead in Marshall county, and there he carried on farming
throughout the remainder of his days.  To him and his wife were born nine
children.  Mr. Utley belonged to the Baptist church, and his wife has
been a life-long member of the Methodist church.  He died on the old
homestead in 1878, and there she still resides, a venerable lady who has
the highest respect of all who know her.
     Newton W. Utley was reared upon a farm in his native county, and was
educated in the district schools until such a time as he provided for
himself better educational privileges.  His own labor supplied him with
the means which enabled him to enter Vanderbilt University, at Nashville,
Tennessee, and he found it necessary to work upon the grounds of the
institution at night in order to secure the necessary text books.  The
elemental strength of his character was thus manifested.  Necessity is
the great spur to labor, and when supplemented by a laudable ambition
forms the sure foundation upon which to build success.  He not only
continued his course to graduation, but won the three honors of his
class, thus making a record which has hardly been equaled in the history
of the first institution of learning in the south.
     In 1880, immediately following his graduation, Mr. Utley entered the
ministry, and was sent by the Methodist Episcopal church, South, to
Japan, to enter the mission field.  He entered upon what was known as a
self-sustaining mission; that is, there was no support provided for him
by the church.  He labored there untiringly in the interest of the
church, and his efforts were far-reaching, bringing to the people of that
field the benefits of the gospel and of faith in Christianity.  In 1890
he had married Miss Mary S. Childers, of Eddyville, Kentucky, and while
they were residing in Japan two of their children were born; Newton
Willard and Francis Stacker, while since their return Merrill Holland,
born in Eddyville, has been added to the family.
     Because of the continued ill health of his wife, Mr. Utley left the
mission field and returned to his native land, taking up his residence in
Eddyville in 1896.  He now turned his attention to the law, which he had
studied previous to pursuing his university course, and in 1897 he was
admitted to the bar, since which time he has risen to a position of
distinction among the ablest lawyers of the state.  His preparation of
cases is most thorough and exhaustive; he seems almost intuitively to
grasp the strong points of law and fact, while in his briefs and
arguments the authorities are cited so extensively and the facts and
reasoning thereon are presented so cogently and unanswerably as to leave
no doubt as to the correctness of his position or his conclusions.  No
detail seems to escape him; every point is given its due prominence, and
the cause is argued with such skill, ability and power that he rarely
fails to gain the verdict desired.
     Mr. Utley is a man of strong intellect, clear insight and of marked
oratorical power, and these qualities naturally render him a leader of
men and a director of public opinion.  In 1899 he was elected a member of
the Kentucky senate on the Democratic ticket, and he entered upon a
brilliant legislative career, becoming a leader in the senate chamber and
accomplishing many parliamentary and strategic results.  A contemporary
publication has given the following account of his political career:
     "During the first session of Senator Utley's term the memorable
contest of Goebel versus Taylor for the governorship of Kentucky, came
before the assemble.  On account of his high legal attainments and
parliamentary skill, Senator Goebel made Senator Utley one of his
advisers.  Just as the contest committees were about to finish their work
and report to the assembly for final action, Senator Goebel was shot by
an assassin.  Thus cruelly wounded, he designated Senator Utley to act in
his stead as president pro tem of the senate, which also made him
ex-officio chairman of the steering committee.  The chairmanship of this
committee is the most important and the most delicate position in which a
member of the party can serve.  Every phase of legislation and every
tactic of party policy must be determined by the chairman.  The hours
that elapsed between the wounding of Senator Goebel and his inauguration
as governor were the most vital in the history of Kentucky.  The least
error or the slightest indiscretion would have precipitated war in the
capital and lost the governorship to the Democrats.  Though this trying
ordeal Senator Utley laid his trained hand on the helm of the state and
without the slightest variation from the line of duty, inducted the dying
leader into the governorship of Kentucky and thereby reclaimed a victory
for his party and saved the good name of the state."
     Senator Utley has declined political honors, and yet undoubtedly a
brilliant political future awaits him.  He has been spoken of as the
candidate of his party for Congress, and such a man would prove a force
in the national halls of legislation.  His strength of character, his
intellectuality, his thorough understanding of public questions, his
devotion to the general good and his fidelity to the right as he sees it
well [sic] entitle him to the leadership of men and make him worthy their
confidence and trust.  He is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal
church and his private life is an exemplification of the traits of
character which are always found in the true and, therefore, the really
great, citizens.  With his family he occupies a beautiful home at
Eddyville, overlooking the Cumberland river, and is found there to be a
most genial and companionable host.

Utley Holland Woodward Parrent Childers Goebel Taylor
=
Marshall-KY NC VA TN

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/lyon/utley.nw.txt