The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1877-12-19
FRAGMENTS or the EARLY HISTORY
OF OHIO COUNTY.
BY II. d. TAYLOR.
CHAPTER XXXIV.

Nj Calhoon was finally successful in
being elected one or more sessions ia
Congress, which seemed to satisfy his po>
litical aspirations, and after the death OF
Judge Mclean, he was appointed TO sue
coed him. HIS sound, common sense,
clear discriminating intellect and won
derlul recollection OF the decisions OF
superior courts upon similar questions,
soon distinguished him As an able Judge
After several years he wearied OF this
Office and removed to Calhoon, where he
engaged in milling, and where he died
about middle age.
Like most men who take prominent
part in active lie, Mr.. CaIhoon had his
friends aud enemies II would have
been almost impossible during the ex>
element OF the times to have evsded be
ing iraducei. lie WAS accused Of being
tickle in his friendships, and it was said
ale ;hrer Of his friends like hantsman his
pack,
For be knew when he wished he could whistle
them back"
Ardent and impetuous in his manner and
feelings, he frequently on the stump and
At the bar gave ofFense TO persons pro-
iessinc 10 be his friends, but no man
surpassed him in the pleasing, winning
way in which he could conciiatc and
win them back again. Taking him al
together, he was an impulsiye, talented,
generous, manly KenIUckian.
Dillis Dyer came from some OF the
northern States quite Young man /;
small, neat, and symmetrical in his per-
son, precise in his dress, mild and pleas
ing in his manners. lie commenced the
study of law, and teaching school As
a school teacher he gave general satis>
faction, and having a practical knowl>
edge Of surveying, rendered him good
assistant counsel in land suits, a great
many OF which were then being prose>
cuied lie and Jehu Hale, a most wor-
thy, energetic young man, were partners
in building and running, for several
years, the first wool carding machine
and cotton gin in this part Of the country,
and he WAS also partner in a merchan-
dising firm, in ali of which he succeeded
well. Nature, however, had not formed
him for a great or successful lawyer. for
although a pretty fair lawyer before a
jury, he failed frequently in his special
pleadIngs, and was frequently the victim
Of one of the best special pIeaders per-
haps in the State. Strictly honest in all
of his transactions, cool. deliberate. and
seli-poised, and pleasing in his address,
he was selected for his availability, first
by the old Court Party, aud next by the
Wing Party, as their standard bearer.
His first race WAS with. Henry Pirtle,
during the New and Old Court questions,
and he was elected by one vote majority
only.
He afterwards ran repeatedly as the
Wing candidate for the Legislature. al,
ternately beating and being beat by VIM.
NJ Davis and Elijah Crow. the two
principal leaders on the other side. He
was also elected several times TO the
State Senate while living in Hartford
and after his removal to Rumsey.
Having been appointed one OF the com
missioners to superintend the construc-
ton OF the locks and dams on Greer
river, he became partner in the purchase
Of tract OF land on which the town o
Rumsey was laid out, and moved to tina
place where he continued to reside unit
he died, at a period in which he ough
TO have been in the vigor OF manhood
The writer Of these sketches never wit
nessed such forcible illustration Of TIL
adamantine chains which alcohol steal
thily, silently and imperceptibly weave
around its victims and leads captive tn
stoutest, strongest, and purest Of tn
land. Mr.. Dyer was his patron, friend
AMI adviser; he admired him as a mf
he loved him as a friend and companion
he had seen him in deep family affection
he had witnessed his contests at the bar
in the tornado of an election;he was Away
calm, cool and self-poised no man Twin
seemed to have more self.control. Surely
thought his best friends, when he ono
sees that he is injuring himself by liquo
he will reform, but no, on, on, be keT
his course until intellect, Ia alth and lift