Transcript:History of Union County, Kentucky - THE CASEY FAMILY

Overview

This transcript provides sections of Source:History of Union County, Kentucky : A Complete Account of the Settlement, Organization and Government of the County, which may be of genealogical value to Casey family researchers and others. It is not complete. The text is presented as accurately as possible, but some editing and section headings have been provided for wiki clarity and to allow for selected transclusion to other wiki pages.

Marriage Record of Fanny Casey and John Finnie (p 24)

In December, 1825, the following were reported by Rev. Claiborne Duval: ... John G. Finnie to Fanny L. Casey, December, 1824 ; ...

Ancestry of Peter Casey (p 43)

THE CASEY FAMILY. Among the names that are idissolubly connected with Union County, is that of Casey. A hundred years ago a man of that name (the subject of this sketch), came to Union County and surveyed lands within its limits. His connection with the after history of the county makes him a conspicuous figure.

Peter Casey's ancestry were Irish. Three brothers, Benjamin, Nicholas and another, whose name is not known, came to America before the Revolutionary War. The oldest brother Benjamin, was a soldier and killed in the War for Independence. The next oldest moved West, and the family lost sight of him. The third was Nicholas, the ancestor of the Union County family. He settled in Virginia, and was the father of Peter Casey.

Family of Peter Casey and Nancy Waggener (p 43-46)

Peter Casey was born in Virginia early enough to participate in the Revolution. About the close of the war he married Nancy Waggener, a daughter of Andrew Waggener, who lived near Fredricksburg in Spottsylvania county, Va. Mrs. Casey was born in 1762.

An old scrap from the New York Herald gives the origin of the name Casey, and compliments the three elder Caseys very highly, and pursues their genealogy back several generations.

In 1785 Peter Casey superintended a survey of lands in Union County, a grant to which he had been allowed by the Government for his services in the Revolution. He located lands at the mouth of Highland Creek, below where Union town now stands; on Casey's Creek, a branch of Highland Creek; and at the mouth of Tradewater, on both sides, some 15,000 acres in all. These lands, at his death, were divided, each of the children receiving 200 or 250 acres, and the balance was sold on joint account. He located the Tradewater lands because he thought there was coal in that vicinity. He told Samuel Casey, in 1827, that from the resemblance to Virginia coal fields, he suspected the presence of coal in that neighborhood.

After his survey he returned to Virginia, and soon moved to Harrod's Station, Ky., where he was engaged in fighting the Indians sometimes. He held the office of Captain at that time, and farmed some land and operated a mill. He finally moved to Union County, and first settled at Carthage, or "the rocks," below Uniontown, but afterward went to Morganfield and kept hotel. The exact date of his death is not known. His widow survived him many years, and lived to the advanced age of eighty-two. She had forty grand children, most of whom were present at one reunion. Twenty-five were young men and women grown ; and yet she never saw a great-grandchild of her own. The following tribute to her memory is from the pen of John C. Rives, the founder of the Congressional Globe :

DIED. - Near Caseyville, Union County, Kentucky, on Monday, the 12th day of July, 1847, Mrs. Nancy Casey, widow of Judge Peter Casey, in the eighty-fourth year of her age. She was born on the 8th of October, 1763, near Fredericksburg, Spottsylvania County, Virginia, and about two years afterwards her parents moved to Mill Creek, Berkley County, in the same State.

Her life affords another example in proof of the influence on character of great and interesting events in a country. Although this excellent lady was distinguished for her kind and feminine nature, yet her zeal for the public cause in every crisis of difficulty rose above the weaker feelings of the sex, and made patriotism the most remarkable trait in her character. She was reared in the midst of the struggles of the Revolutionary War, and passed from them into the most sanguinary scenes of the Indian warfare of Kentucky ; and in those fearful times she acquired the spirit which taught her, though the fondest of mothers, to give up one of her sons in the War of 1812 ; and prompted her, in her feeble old age, to go forth to urge the young men of her neighborhood to engage in the present war against Mexico. She even attended their drills, to stimulate their zeal. When this was remarked on by some as exhibiting a want of Christian feeling, she replied : "these young men who are preparing themselves to fight for their country, will do it more good than some who preach against the sin of the war." She did not inquire by whose fault the war was brought on, nor whether it existed "by the act of Mexico," when war was declared by Congress. She looked only to the duties and sacrifices which the occasion demanded, to conclude it well for the country.

Mrs. Casey was the daughter of Major Andrew Waggener, who was an officer (first a captain, and then a major) in the Continental Army of the Revolution. During the greater part of his service he was under the immediate command of Washington, and fought well in the many well fought fields, especially at the important battle of Brandywine, which was the key to Philadelphia. All the accounts of that battle agree that the troops "led" by Captains Waggener and Porterfield behaved more gallantly than any others. Indeed, none but those troops are named as having fought bravely ; and it is believed if all - or even a moiety - of the army had shown the desperate valor which distinguished the little corps of Waggener and Porterfield, the battle of Brandywine would have been won by Washington, and Philadelphia saved.

Miss Waggener married Peter Casey about the close of the Revolutionary War, and soon after emigrated to Harrod's Station, now Harrodsburg, Kentucky. This was then the most exposed point of Indian attack in Kentucky. The place was besieged again and again ; and when these formidable attempts were intermitted [sic], lurking parties of savages were continually breaking in upon the settlements ; insomuch that the inhabitants took their rifles to the fields as regularly as they did their implements of husbandry, and had often to fight their way back to the fort.

Mr. Casey lived in the neighborhood of Harrodsburg, until about the year 1810, when he moved with his family to Union County, Kentucky, then very thinly and rudely settled. Here the influence of Mrs. Casey's example was soon felt in teaching the comforts of good housekeeping and kindly intercourse. In a few years it became obvious to every one that there was amelioration of manners and improvements in every respect in the neighborhood, and it was generally ascribed to the active benevolence and intelligence of Mrs. Casey. She was loved, and admired, and imitated. She did her utmost to give relief in every case of distress, although it often stinted her own means of comfort, and she gave her personal exertions when her health and strength would hardly justify it. She took orphans into her own family, reared them, and treated them as kindly as she did her own children ; and there never was a more affectionate or devoted mother.

Her husband died nearly twenty years before her ; and although widowhood generally circumscribes the efforts of the mother of a family to its immediate circle, it had no such effect on her. She still went about doing good. She was looked up to by all around her as one who lived more for others than for herself ; and hence throughout her life she had the love of everybody as the recompense for the absence of self-love. I knew her for thirty-seven years, and knew most of the persons who lived in her vicinity during that time, and I never heard her spoken of but in the most exalted terms. I cannot say this of any other person.

Mrs. Casey belonged to no religious sect, but always attended the worship of any denomination of Christians, when in her power to do so ; and she advised and encouraged others to go to church. Her religion was, like her charity, universal and practical, and made her end happy. A friend writes to me that her life passed gently away from the gradual exhaustion of vitality, as a fire goes out for want of fuel.

This tribute to her memory is written by one of the orphans raised by her, who, though no blood relation, feels as if he had lost a natural parent. He as little expects to "look upon her like," as upon her face, again, on this earth ; and hopes and prays that she may be happy eternally.

Descendants of Peter Casey and Nancy Waggener (p 46)

The children of this couple were

1. Samuel Casey, who was born in 1787, and died December 22, 1859 ;
2. Nicholas Casey, who died February 24, 1863, and
3. John Casey, who died December 25, 1867, aged sixty-seven years.

Nicholas Casey, son of Peter (p 46-47)

Nicholas, the second son of this couple, who was destined to play an important part in the development of Union County, was born in Harrod's Fort, Ky., in the year 1790. He attended such schools as Harrodburg afforded at that early day, and afterward attended the select school of Judge Marshall, in Mercer County, in company with such men as Letcher, Burrough, Bowen, etc. When his father was living in the vicinity of Uniontown, in 1814, he went to the Saline River, in Illinois, and filled the office of Government Clerk on the "Mineral Reservation."

Family of Nicholas Casey and Susan Finnie (p 47-48)

While there he married Miss Susan G. Finnie, of Morganfield, in 1815. He returned to Union County in 1824 and prepared to go to Caseyville in 1825. He moved his family there in 1826 or 1827, and began to break the wilderness. His object in going there was to establish a woodyard, boat store and ferry. He dug the first ice house between Louisville and New Orleans, in 1828. In those days, a steamboat, in ascending the river, had to frequently stop at "Casey's Landing," as it was then called, and lay in a stock of provisions. They would often lay over an entire day, awaiting the slaughter of meat and arrival of other provisions from the country back of the landing. He was elected to the Legislature and secured the incorporation of Caseyville. He was a Magistrate for over twenty years. His rulings were not always satisfactory to the lawyers, but they were undoubtedly characterized by sound sense and native justice. Once a man was sued in his court for the possession of a cow. The defendant had bought the cow on credit, and when the plaintiff asked for his money he did not pay, and plead the benefit of a law, which allowed a man two cows, when he should be sued for debt. Judge Casey became satisfied in this man's case, that the intention had been to plead the benefit of this law from the first, and he accordingly awarded a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, saying : "It may not be strictly legal, but it is right that the defendant should return this cow for which he has never paid a cent."

Susan Gibson Finnie, the wife of Nicholas Casey, was the daughter of John and Rachel Finnie, was born September 18, 1797. Her father was a Colonel in the Virginia line during the Revolution. Her mother, Rachel Taylor, before marriage, was a resident of Clark County, Ky., when she met Col. Finnie. Her parents moved to Woodford County, and afterward to Union County in 1810 or 1812. She died in Conway County, Ark., August 6, 1871.

The children of Nicholas and Susan G. Casey were

1. John Gibson [who died in infancy] and
2. Andrew Benjamin, who died in infancy ;
3. Ann Trapnall, who was born in 1819 and died in 1834 ;
4. Samuel Lewis, born February 18, 1821, whose biography will be found in the Chapter on Coal ;
5. Peter, born February 13, 1823, died at Vicksburg, Miss., February 8, 1875 ;
6. Nicholas Waggener, born August 3, 1826, now living in New Orleans ;
7. James Finnie, born March 22, 1830 ;
8. Susan Gibson, born December 29, 1831, died August 6, 1871 ;
9. Rachel Ann Casey, born November 5, 1835, and died in Harrodsburg, Ky., June 17, 1850.

The married children of this family are as follows :

Peter married Sarah Attoway Finnie, daughter of James W. and Eliza Finnie, December 17, 1851 ;

Nicholas W. married Eliza McCall Taylor, daughter of John Gibson and Elizabeth Lee Taylor, December 13, 1853 ;

Susan Gibson married Charles Arthur Carroll, March 11, 1858 ;

James Finnie married Emma Dent, of St. Louis, February 14, 1861 ;

Rachel Ann married Dr. John H. Carroll, in Little Rock, Ark., May 5, 1867.

Samuel Casey, son of Peter (p 48)

Samuel Casey, the oldest son of Peter and Nancy Casey, was a man of considerable ability, and held the office of United States Treasurer at the time of his death. John C. Rives, editor of the Congressional Globe says of him:

He was born in Mercer County, Kentucky, in the year 1788, I believe. He studied law under John Rowan, a very celebrated lawyer of Nelson County, Kentucky. Soon after he obtained a license to practice law, he moved to Union County, Kentucky, if I recollect aright, in the year of 1811, and there commenced the practice of his profession. In that year he was elected Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts of that county. He found me there as an orphan boy - a foundling, I may say, though I had not been laid at any person's door - without father, mother, sister, or brother, and without a farthing to live on. He took compassion on me, and took me into the Clerk's office in the fall of the year 1812. I then wrote a tolerbly [sic] plain hand, and assisted him in recording deeds. That was all the service I was able to render him. Two years afterwards, in the year 1814, a United States land office was established in Shawneetown, Illinois. A clerk was needed in the land office, and Mr. Casey recommended me as a competent person to fill the place, and I obtained it. I may here say that I never had the means to support myself until Mr. Casey took me to live with him, and I have never been without means to support myself since. I have continued to prosper, regularly, ever since the day I entered his office. I feel that I am indebted to him for all I am worth, and therefore, shall regret more to hear of his death than I have ever done to hear of the death of any many that ever lived. When I cease to remember him gratefully, daily, I should die. I have known him for forty-seven years, an dnever heard any person speak disparagingly of him. He was, I think, among the best men, if not the very best man, that has lived in my days.

Mr. Samuel Casey died in Caseyville on December 22, 1859.

Samuel Lewis Casey, son of Nicholas (p 49)

Of the sons of Nicholas Casey, Samuel Casey attained distinction as a mining engineer ; served a term in Congress, and is now living in Evansville. His biography is in the Chapter on Coal.

Peter Casey, son of Nicholas (p 49)

Peter Casey is thus described in the Vicksburg Herald of February 9, 1875 :

DEATH OF POSTMASTER CASEY. - The sudden and very unexpected death of Peter Casey, Esq., which occurred at the Prentiss House, about one o'clock yesterday morning, created a profound sensation throughout the city, and called forth a universal expression of sincere and unfeigned sorrow.

Mr. Casey had been a resident of this city for nearly twelve years, and had made the whole community his friends. Coming here in 1863, Mr. Casey engaged actively and extensively in commercial pursuits, and his honorable bearing, coupled with a manly nature, a kind heart, and a gentle and genial disposition, soon won him the respect and friendship of all who had the good fortune to make his acquaintance.

A warm personal friend of General Grant, Mr. Casey was appointed postmaster of this city soon after his old friend became President, and held that position to the hour of his death. How he performed the duties of postmaster, the whole community knows. No man has ever filled that responsible position in this city who brought to the discharge of his duties a higher sense of honor or a more sincere and ardent desire to deal fairly and justly with all men. Actuated by such motives, it is not wonderful that he gave universal satisfaction to the public, while he commanded the entire confidence of the Government. In the six years during which he held the office of postmaster we do not believe there was one well grounded case for complaint against him.

The death of Peter Casey will create a void in society here that will not be soon or easily filled. A fond husband, an affectionate father, a warm hearted, generous, faithful and steadfast friend, a conscientious and upright officer, a liberal and public-spirited citizen, he combined in himself as many noble and desirable qualities as usually fall to the lot of man. Sincerely mourned by all who were honored with his friendship, his memory will be fondly cherished by those who knew and appreciated his many manly and honorable traits of character.

Nicholas Waggener Casey, son of Nicholas (p 50)

Nicholas was appointed Auditor of Customs at New Orleans in February, 1878. He was made Receiver of the New Orleans Banking Association, June 30, 1874, and now holds that office.

James Finnie Casey, son of Nicholas (p 50)

James F. Casey married the sister of Mrs. Grant, and was appointed Collector of the Port of New Orleans by General Grant.

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FIRST COURT (p 71-72) - Samuel Casey, son of Peter

... May 27, 1811: ... On this first day, Samuel Casey also produced a commission as Clerk of Union County. He was duly ratified by the Court, which said he should hold his office during good behavior. ...

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Peter Casey's Coal Theory (p 126)

At a very early date, Captain Peter Casey surveyed large tracts of land upon both sides of the mouth of Tradewater, and said that he was specially interested in the land on account of its resemblance to coal fields in Virginia. Subsequent surveys by geologists, show that his guess was a very shrewd one. ...

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UNION MEN - Samuel Casey's Thoughts on War (p 154)

The Federal cause had many staunch adherents in Union County. Samuel Casey declared, when hostilities first were thought of, that a compromise was altogether out of the question ; that one side or the other would have to surrender unconditionally ; that slavery would have to extend to the Lakes, or free labor to the Gulf ; and that he believed a war would result in the destruction of slavery, and that it would not only be the cause of the destruction of slavery, but that it would put the ballot and the bayonet in the hands of the black man. Mr. Casey's Union pinciples [sic] ripened into Republicanism, and resulted in his election to Congress, by the vote of the negroes and Republicans, at a time when the ex-Confederates were disfranchised. Other Union men turned Democrat after slavery was abolished, but a few went into the Republican ranks.

LAND LITIGATION - Peter Casey, surveyor (p 176)

The first surveyors that ever made any mark in the present bounds of Union County were men working for Peter Casey and Richard C. Anderson. These men came down the Ohio Rier for the purpose of locating lands for officers and soldiers of the Continental line of Virginia. That was in 1783, just at the close of the Revolution, and the officers and soldiers of the Old Dominion were paid by extensive land grants within the present bounds of Kentucky. Casey and Anderson came down the river in a keel-boat, and, entering Highland Creek, ascended it to the vicinity of Hitesville, and landing a half a mile above that place, made a corner and line. They came thus far south in order to get outside of the land grant which had been made several years before to "Henderson & Co." They actually missed the south line of Henderson's grant by only a mile and a half.

The first duty of the surveyors was to fix a starting point. This was made at a slippery elm tree in a little glade about fifty yards south of the creek, and a half mile above the present bridge over Highland. Why they should have selected such a starting point, is hard to explain. It was a little tree, and the species is not generally supposed to be long lived ; but they made four corners upon it, which were afterward verified again and again in land suits. Judge Huston saw the tree with its four marks forty years ago, and it was then green.

Their base line extended from this tree towards Tradewater, "South 31 [degrees] West." There were several offsets, but the general course held to Tradewater, a distance of fifteen or sixteen miles from the starting point. This base line being established, the surveyors separated, and Casey taking the west, and Anderson taking the east side of it, they proceeded to lay out lands for their clients on their respective sides.

The fact that these men were intrusted by Virginia people with their land warrants to such a great extent, shows that they were men of probity and high standing at their home. Generals, colonels, captains, and lieutenants entrusted their interests to these men, and, so far as known, they discharged their trust with fidelity. Two large tracts of 5,000 acres each were located for General Hugh Mercer. General Daniel Morgan owned the 1,500 acres upon which Morganfield is now situated, and General Muhlenberg owned 1,000 acres near by. In many cases the lands for one person were located in two parts and in different localities. For this work Casey and Anderson received one third of all the lands they surveyed, and when their work was completed they returned to Virginia. Casey afterwards came to this country, as recorded in the account of the Casey Family in chapter two.

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Descendants of Peter Casey and Nancy Waggener (cont.)

John Casey, son of Peter (p 460-463)

JOHN CASEY (DECEASED) is the son of Peter and Nancy (Waggener) Casey. A full account of his ancestry will be found in the Chapter on Pioneer Biography. He was born in Harrodsburg, Mercer County, in 1800. He received his education principally at Bardstown, and in 1820 removed to Union County.

Family of John Casey and Mary Lewis

In 1829 he married Mary Willis Lewis, in Union County. Miss Lewis was the daughter of Samuel and Attaway (Miller) Lewis. The great grandfather of Mrs. John Casey was the historic Col. Fielding Lewis, the personal friend and brother-in-law of George Washington. Mrs. Casey's great-grandmother was Betty Washington, the only sister of George Washington. Mrs. Casey's father, Major Samuel Lewis, the son of George Washington Lewis, was in the Second War with Great Britain. His residence in Virginia was burnt by the British in their advance on Washington during the War of 1812 and he came to Union County in 1820, but returned to Virginia, where he died in his native county of Westmoreland. His wife afterward came to Union County and died here. Mrs. Casey was born in Port Royal, Va., in 1812.

Six children were born to this couple, as follows:

1. John Finnie married a Miss Le Sueure, a New Orleans lady, who was the daughter of a French nobleman, who was a refugee from France during the Reign of Terror, but who returned to his native land to serve under Napoleon the Great. Mr. John F. Casey's wife died in 1882, leaving six children.
2. Fannie Eliza married Rev. Charles Campbell, of Lexington, the brother of Judge Campbell, of Paducah, and a descendant of the old Scottish clan of Campbell, and the near relative of the Duke of Argyle. Mrs. Campbell died in Union County, in 1875, leaving one child.
3. Attaway still remains at home, in the delightful spot at the northeast corner of Morganfield, where she, with her brother
4. Rives, who is a grocer of Morganfield, and sister
5. Mary, dispense a stately and elegant hospitality.
6. Ellen presides over the household of her brother, John F. Casey, in St. Louis.

Our subject, when he came to Union County, from Harrodsburg, settled down to farming on a large scale, and always lived here ; however, he traveled considerably. He was a Democrat in politics, and an ardent admirer and personal friend of Gen. Jackson. He was an earnest Mason, and was frequently elected Master of his Lodge. He died in Morganfield in 1867, and his faithful wife survived him nearly twenty years, dying in Morganfield, in April, 1886.

The Misses Casey have many interesting mementoes [sic] of the various people with whom they, in one way or another, have been connected. Prominent among their relics are the photographic copies of the old portraits of Col. Felding and Betty (Washington) Lewis. The originals of these photographs are in the old family mansion in Virginia. Another interesting relic is a piece of the coffin box that was used at the first interment of Washington. This box was of mahogony, but the case was of lead, hermetically sealed. Major Samuel Lewis was present when Washington's body was removed from its first grave to its present resting place, and he brought away a piece of the box, which was decayed badly. Miss Attaway Casey also has a part of the scabbard of one of Washington's dress swords. The sword itself, which is one of the number that he distributed to his relatives, is in the possession of Capt. H.H. Lewis, of Baltimore. Miss Attaway also has a part of a window frame from Longwood, the home of Napoleon Bonaparte, at St. Helena. Other mementoes [sic], that are more common, but still very rare, are evergreens, grasses and mosses, which Miss Attaway procurred from Mt. Vernon, the home of Washington.

Miss Ellen Casey has several souvenirs of her kinswoman, Madame Murat, who married the son of Caroline (Bonaparte) Murat, the eldest sister of Napoleon, and Queen of Naples. The Princess Dowager, from whom Miss Ellen received these relics, lived in Paris awhile, but spent most of her life in Florida,w here she had large possessions. She never claimed her title of Princess, although many people preferred to address her by it. She was queenly in appearance, judging by the portraits in the possession of Miss Ellen. She had considerable property in Union County, and hence her will is on record in the Clerk's office at Morganfield. Her name, before marriage, was Kate Willis, and she was the daughter of Colonel Byrd and Mary (Lewis) Willis. Her mother was the sister of Major Samuel Lewis, who was the father of Mrs. John Casey, so that Mrs. Casey and Madame Murat were own cousins. Miss Ellen visited Madame Murat at her home in Florida, and was shown the wonderful jewels that lady had received from her royal mother-in-law, and received the relics just mentioned.

One of these relics is a napkin, with the initial "M," a crown and the number 8 upon it. Part of a lace handkerchief, that was formerly the property of the Empress Josephine, and a very beautiful fan with the enitial [sic] "M" upon it, are also in this collection. The napkin mentioned is of the finest linen, and large enough for a stand table cover of the present day.

The Casey Brothers and Capt. Phillips (p 548)

WILLIAM SMITH PHILLIPS. Captain William S. Phillips, of Uniontown, ...until 1848, when he formed a co-partnership with Nicholas W. Casey amd moved to Caseyville, in this county, where they opened a general store. In March, 1850, in company with Mr. Peter Casey, Captain Phillips went to California, via New Orleans, leaving his business affairs in charge of his partner. It took them four months and ten days to go from New Orleans to San Francisco by way of the Panama route. They remained in California for over a year, during which time they were engaged in mining on the Yuba River, forty five miles from Manpville [sic]. In 1853, Capt. Phillips having returned to Caseyville, purchased the interest of his partner in the store, and continued the business until the fall of 1854, when he sold out and moved to Morganfield and farmed for about a year. ...

Nicholas Casey, Esq., Founder of Caseyville (p 567)

CASEYVILLE PRECINCT. The present bounds of this precinct were formerly included in the old Ohio Precinct. It first appears as a voting precinct in the poll books of 1839. It is well known that Nicholas Casey Esq , who founded Caseyville, and secured its charter and the establishment of the Caseyville Precinct, was in the Legislature in 1838. However, the poll-book by which he was elected is now lost, and we can not say what his majority was. ...

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(p 791) ...The original charter [of Caseyville] was approved December 21, 1837. It established the town ; appointed Nicholas Casey, John Casey, Burney Hancock, E. Wooldridge and ___ Jimerum trustees ; gave male inhabitants privilege to elect trustees ; defined their powers ; defined officer's duties, limited taxation ; and gave trustees power to pas by-laws.

1861 Fire in Peter Casey's House (p 798)

In the year 1861 the dwelling of Peter Casey, which stood in the upper end of town, valued at $4,000, was lost by fire. As Mr. Casey was a loyal man, he suspected the guerillas of firing his house, and his suspicions invalidated the insurance titles in some way, and Mr. Casey never recovered anything from the insurance companies.

Descendants of Peter Casey and Nancy Waggener (cont.)

Samuel Lewis Casey, son of Nicholas (cont.) (p 867)

SAMUEL LEWIS CASEY, geological surveyor and mining engineer, is the son of Nicholas and Susan G. (Finney) Casey. A sketch of his parents will be found in the Pioneer chapter. Our subject was born in Union County, February 18, 1821. His training amounted to only eighteen months' schooling, but he was of a studious nature, and rapidly assimilated all the collateral knowledge that was to be acquired in those days. When he was yet quite young he was employed to go upon surveying expeditions in Illinois. In those days he acquired a taste for geology, and when coal became a factor in Union County prosperity he was found actively engaged in developing these resources.

On June 1, 1852, Mr. Casey was married in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to Mary Quincy Sheafe, the daughter of Jacob and Mary (Haven) Sheafe ; born in Portsmouth, N.H. December 18, 1821. All her ancestors are supposed to have been born and raised in Portsmouth. Three children, Harriett L., George F., and Jacob Sheafe were born to them and Mrs. Casey died September 15, 1884.

Our subject has been connected with much of the labor of developing the coal interests of this country. He was early in the employ of the companies who worked the four and three foot veins, and his progressive mind, and inventive genius were the occasion of many improvements in Union County mining, and, indeed, in mining operations generally. He was the close friend of the Owens and was on several surveying expeditions with them. In politics, Mr. Casey was a Whig before the Civil War, but he saw the inevitable and he said that the very things would happen that did happen, as will be seen by the article on Union men in the Civil War chapter. After the war actually commenced, he warmly espoused the cause of the Union, and was selected to represent the First Kentucky District in the Thirty-Seventh Congress. In this memorable body he served through all that turbulent period, and was an influential member. He was sent by President Lincoln, in 1864, to Shreveport, La., for the purpose of negotiating the surrender of all the forces west of the Mississippi, and had actually come to an agreement with the Confederate authorities, but on his return to Washington he was taken sick, and before he recovered, and could lay his plans before the President, the Red River expedition of Gen. Banks was planned and started. This defeated the object of Mr. Casey's mission. Previous to this, in 1868, our subject was, unknown to himself, appointed United States Attorney for Kentucky, and was confirmed by the Senate, but he wrote a letter of thanks, declining the office. He was also appointed Military Governor of Mississippi, and Inspector General with the rank of Brigadier General.

In making our estimate of Mr. Casey's character and standing, it is fortunate, perhaps, that circumstances have prevented us from printing his biography earlier in the book, because we could not then have known fully how well and favorably he is known. He has all the characteristics of inborn leadership. If he had been a Democrat it is impossible to say what he might not have aspired to in Kentucky politics. His actions are magnetic, and he sways his auditor at his will. In language he is very clear, and his enunciation is faultless, so far as the natural powers of vocal organs are concerned. In gesture and posture of body he is not only natural but effective and elegant. These qualities were all calculated to make him a leader in politics, but he had convictions that could not suit the mind and conscience of the people among whom he was thrown, and the consequence has been that he has not attained the eminence in politics which he undoubtedly deserved. Even his political enemies, however, have vied with each other in extolling his social virtues and his general character.

Since the war, Mr. Casey has been engaged in many surveys of mining lands, and in an expedition in the Southwestern territories was so debilitated by the use of alkali water, that his life was, for a time, despaired of. He has latterly recovered his health, however, and now enjoys the best of health.