I91056: George BUCHANAN Dr. (ABT 1770

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Joel HARRIS b: WFT Est. 1847-1876 d: WFT Est. 1853-1955

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"THE LEFTWICH-TURNER FAMILIES OF VIRGINIA AND THEIR CONNECTIONS by Walter Hopkins C.J. Carrier and Co. copyright 1992 3rd printing Written by Rev. James Turner son of Nancy Ann Johns Turner in his bible A few of her last years were very uncomfortable to herself, owing to an evident derangement of her mental powers." Before this unhappy event, she had lived almost continually in the constant expectation and desire of her dissolution , that she might be with Christ. Had she lived to see the 30th day of the following month, April, she would have been ninety years oild."

2 Ann "Nancy" JOHNS b: 30 Apr 1732 d: 30 Jan 1822 + Richard TURNER b: 1729 d: 1769

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will dated 7 Jan. 1796, recorded 12 Mar. 1796.

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THOMAS PHELPS b. About 1775 in BEDFORD CO., VA d. 1851 m. NANCY CARTER (Wife) b. About 1775

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WILLIAM S. PRYOR, ex-chief justice of the court of appeals. When the history of Kentucky and her public men shall have been written its pages will bear no more illustrious name and record no more distinguished career than that of Judge Pryor. If "biography is the home aspect of history," as Wilmott has expressed it, it is entirely within the province of true history to commemorate and perpetuate the lives and characters, the achievements and honor, of the illustrious sons of the nation. The name of Judge Pryor is inseparably associated with the history of jurisprudence in Kentucky, and no man has been more respected in the state and none more highly deserves the honors that have been bestowed upon him.

W. S. Pryor was born in Henry county, near New Castle, Kentucky, about a mile from his present home, on the 1st of April, 1825. In the early days of the settlement of that county, his grandfather, John Pryor, removed from Virginia and took up his abode near the present site of New Castle. The family name has been interwoven with the annals of the Kentucky bar from the pioneer epoch. On the old Pryor homestead, located by the grandfather, was held the first court ever convened in Henry county, and tradition says that the bench on which "His Honor" sat was a stump, while the jurors were ranged on a log near by!

Judge Pryor's father, Samuel Pryor, twice served as county sheriff at the time when that office went by law to the oldest magistrate in compensation for his services. If the magistrate did not care for the incumbency he could sell the office, and, exercising the privilege of purchase, Samuel Pryor twice became sheriff. The length of the term was fixed by law. He also held other honorable and profitable positions and was a worthy representative of an influential and numerous family of Virginia and Kentucky.

Among the early settlers who came to this state from the Old Dominion were the Samuel family, to which belonged the mother of the Judge, Nancy (Samuel) Pryor, daughter of William Samuel, a prominent farmer and politician of Henry county.

His maternal grandmother was a daughter of William Marshall, a member of the old Marshall family of this state and a relative of Chief Justice Marshall.

The summer sun shone down upon many a field which Judge Pryor plowed during his boyhood, for his life was that of the farmer lad. Through the storm of winter he made his way to the little schoolhouse near New Castle, where his preliminary education was acquired. Before the close of his last session in that school, it became apparent that he knew more Latin than the teacher, and through the following year he continued its study at home of nights, as he could get no further instruction in the school. In 1843 he began the study of law in the office of his uncle, Judge James Pryor, of Covington, and in the following year was admitted to the bar. As he had not attained his majority it was necessary to have a special enactment of the legislature, granting him the privilege of practicing in Kentucky courts. Riding twenty-eight miles to Frankfort on horseback, he dismounted at the old state house and was examined by
Judge John J. Marshall, after which he was given his license to practice.

At New Castle he opened his office and soon won prominence at a bar which numbered such eminent members as Humphrey Marshall, Justice J. M. Harlan, now of the supreme court, Judge McHenry, Judge Wilson, William J. Graves and others. His practice soon embraced some of the most important cases before the courts, involving large interest with great profit to himself. While in the early dawn of manhood he was sought by litigants from all the surrounding country and he early developed the qualities of a popular leader, as well as the characteristics of a lawyer of more than ordinary ability. He stood high at the bar, and in his opinion, even in the early days of his professional career, was esteemed equal to that of the old savants in the law; and his fine bearing, great earnestness and force of manner gave him an almost irresistible influence over a jury. At this time, hardly approaching the meridian of his popularity and practice, he came to the circuit bench and disappeared from the splendid contests of the courts. In 1866 he was elected to the judgeship of the circuit court of the eleventh district, and September 6, 1871, was appointed by Governor Leslie to fill a vacancy on the appellate bench, caused by the death of Chief Justice Robertson.

In 1872 Judge Pryor was again elected to the appellate court. His opponents for the nomination were Chancellor Menzies, of Covington, and Judge George R. McKee, a leading lawyer and noted politician. Each county held a separate primary, or more properly a mass convention. Judges Pryor and McKee met at Harrodsburg and agreed to decide their claims by the old muster fashion, each candidate appointing a captain who would march out of
the crowd, and all those who favored a certain captain's candidate would march after him. When all was ready some one called out, "All in favor of Pryor follow Goddard, and all in favor of McKee follow Thompson." The two captains at once walked out of the courthouse and the followers of the respective candidates fell in line behind them. Mr. Pryor having the
longest line, Mr. McKee withdrew from the race and by election Judge Pryor was returned to the appellate bench without opposition.

In 1880 and 1888 he was again elected without opposition, and in 1896 was once more the candidate of the Democracy, but the Republicans carried the state and he was defeated by Judge A. Rollins Burnam. No greater regret was ever manifest at the defeat of a candidate, for people of all parties respected him and placed the utmost confidence in his judicial ability and absolute fairness; but the issue of the campaign was the money question and many voted a straight ticket, who on other occasion would have given their support to Judge Pryor. He went upon the bench as chief justice in accordance with the state law that judge having the
shortest term to serve shall occupy that position, and has filled the same incumbency three additional times. On the bench he has been associated with Martin Cofer, Mordecai Hardin, Caswell Bennett, John R. Grace, Thomas F. Hargis, WIlliam Lindsay, B. J. Peters and John M. Elliott; but no record furnishes a parallel to that of Judge Pryor, who for twenty-five consecutive years was on the bench of the Kentucky court of appeals. Crowned with the highest respect accorded honorable public service, he retired from office and is now engaged in practice in the court of appeals.

Judge Pryor owns some of the finest land in Henry county, highly improved with all modern accessories, has been an extensive dealer in stock and was president of the Eminence Agricultural Association. He is a man of affairs as well as a lawyer, and his reputation for successful farming vies with that which he has won on the bench.

On the 8th of February, 1848, the Judge wedded Miss Mary C. Brinker, by whom he had two children. On the 31st of January, 1856, he married Miss Apphia Beazley, and they have seven living children.

The Judge is a man of broad sympathy and great benevolence. Charity in its widest and best sense is practiced by him, and his benevolence has made smooth the rough way of many a weary traveler on life's journey. In his private life he is distinguished by all that marks the true gentleman. His is a noble character,--one that subordinates personal ambition to public good and seeks rather the benefit of others than the aggrandizement of self. Endowed by nature with high intellectual qualities, to which were added the discipline and embellishments of culture, his is a most attractive personality. Well versed in the learning of his profession, and with a deep knowledge of human conduct, with great sagacity and extraordinary tact, he stands today almost without a peer at the Kentucky bar, honoring the state which has so honored him.

Notes

His will has not been found and he is not listed in any VA census. The will of Thomas E. Trabue mentions "slaves I am entitled to receive by the death of Anthony Trabue".

My Southern Family

Dr. George BUCHANAN

ABT 1770 - ____

ID Number: I91056

Sources

Edward EDWARDS

11 Oct 1769 - ____

ID Number: I99681

Sources

Joel HARRIS Jr.

ABT 1788 - ____

ID Number: I83819

Notes

Sources

Nancy Ann JOHNS

30 Apr 1732 - 30 Jan 1822

ID Number: I49332

Notes

Sources

David LOCKETT

ABT 1730 - ABT 1796

ID Number: I97311

Notes

Sources

Walter B. MIDDLETON

2 Feb 1802 - 11 Jul 1885

ID Number: I43077

Sources

Thomas PHELPS

1771 - 1851

ID Number: I101043

Notes

Sources

Hon. William S. PRYOR Judge

1 Apr 1825 - ____

ID Number: I74536

Notes

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Louisiana Margiana REID

16 Sep 1860 - 3 Jun 1946

ID Number: I58615

Sources

Anthony TRABUE

AFT 1782 - BEF 1807

ID Number: I30473

Notes

Sources