From: KyArchives [Archives@genrecords.org]
Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2005 2:47 PM
To: Ky-Footsteps
Subject: Benton.Mortimer.Murray.1807.Kenton.BIOS


Mortimer Murray Benton 1807 - unknown
Kenton County KyArchives Biography

Author: The Biographical Encyclopaedia of Kentucky, J. M. Armstrong & Company

Hon. Mortimer Murray Benton, Lawyer, was born in 1807 in he town of Benton, then in Ontario County, New York, which place was named in honor of his grandfather, Levi Benton. His family is of English extraction, but both his grandfather and father were natives of Litchfield, Connecticut. His father, Joseph Benton, was a surveyor and also engaged largely in agricultural pursuits; he died at his son's residence in Covington, in 1872, at the ripe age of eighty-nine years. M. M. Benton received an excellent education in the best private schools in the country, and, in 1817, came with his father's family to Indiana, settling in Franklin County, and, in 1827, removed to Cincinnati, where he became clerk in a store, and, while occupying that position, he engaged assiduously in the study of the law; subsequently continued his legal studies in the office of Caswell & Starr, in Cincinnati; about 1828, removed to Covington, Kentucky, where he began merchandizing and trading, also engaged in teaching, in the meantime pursuing his legal studies; was admitted to the bar in 1831, and entered upon the practice of his profession with his preceptor, Major Jefferson Phelps, who was then the leading lawyer of Covington, and ranked among the first of the State. He soon after started alone in business; rose rapidly into distinction; became widely known as an energetic, able, and upright lawyer, soon obtaining a large and valuable practice in all the courts of the State. In 1834, upon the organization of the city government, he became the first Mayor of Covington; was re-elected once, but resigned that position in the following year. In 1849, he succeeded in obtaining from the Legislature, a charter for the Kentucky Central Railroad; was largely instrumental in leading to its success, having been from the first organization of the Company in Attorney, and a member of its Directory; was afterward elected President of the road, and served in that capacity four years, mainly giving his time and attention to its interests. He also took an active part in the movement to build the Cincinnati and Charleston Railroad and obtained its charter. He represented Kenton County in the Lower House of the Legislature from 1863 to 1865; was then elected to the Senate at the expiration of his term; his seat being contested, the Senate ordered a new election in 1866. He took a very decided stand for the Union in the War of the Rebellion. After the surrender of Lee and the Confederate forces, a tide set in against the Union party in Kentucky, producing his defeat. He has been largely and actively identified with every valuable public enterprise of interest to Covington; has given much of his time and attention to the introduction of the present system of common-school education in the State; is a writer and speaker of ability; is broad and liberal in his views; firmly adheres to his convictions of right; is unaggressive in his deportment; has been characterized, throughout his professional and business life, by faithfulness to the cause of his clients, and by indefatigable industry and great integrity; is a man of dignified and admirable bearing, always giving weight to his cause by his fine presence and manners, for forty-five years has conducted a large, influential, and lucrative business, and has not only for a long time occupied the position of leading member of his profession in Covington, bit is also one of the most accomplished, able, widely known, influential, and upright lawyers of the country. He possesses the confidence of his brethren of the bar to such an extent that they have frequently called him to the bench to try important cases; and it is worthy to note that not one of his judgments has been reversed. In his private character and daily walk, his life has been distinguished by the same purity and manly devotion to upright and honorable principles. In person he is tall and erect, over six feet in height, and yet displays much of the vigor of early manhood, giving his attention, with the delight of former years, to his noble profession; has long been a zealous member of the Episcopal Church, and, in his personal and social habits, exhibits many exemplary and admirable traits. Mr. Benton was married March 10, 1832 to Miss Angeline Clemons, a native of New York, who came West in early childhood, and he has raised and educated, in the finest manner, three sons, who are now honorable members of society. His oldest son, M. M. Benton, Jr., is a clergyman, now located at Maysville, Kentucky; and his other sons, John C. and William K. Benton, are lawyers, of Covington, practicing with him under the firm name of Benton & Benton.


Submitted by: Sandi Gorin http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00002.html#0000404



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