| Hon.John C. Bagby |
JOHN C. BAGBY, attorney at law, was bornin Glasgow, Barren county, Kentucky, January 24, 1819. His father was Rev.Sylvanus M. Bagby, a native of Louisa county, Virginia, born September29, 1787. His grandfather was Richard Bagby, a native of the same county,and his great grandfather was John Bagby, a native of Scotland, who wentfrom there to Wales, where he married and lived a number of years, andthen came to America in colonial times, accompanied by his family, andsettled in Virginia. He settled in Louisa county, where he became a prominentplanter and slave owner. Richard Bagby, the son of John Bagby, and grandfatherof our subject, was also a planter and passed his entire life in Louisacounty. His wife was Miss Sarah Kimbrough, a native of the Old Dominionand of Welsh descent. The father of our subject, Sylvanus M. Bagby, wasleft an orphan at all early age and was cared for by an uncle, John Bagby,of Rockbridge county, Virginia. He learned the carpenter trade, and in1808 removed to Kentucky, and was one of the early settlers of Glasgow.While there, in June, 1813, he married Miss Frances S. Courts, a nativeof Caroline county, Virginia, born May 17, 1793, her father, John Courts,being a native of England, and an early emigrant to Virginia. His wifewas Frances Winn, a native of Culpeper, Virginia.Sylvanus M. Bagby was converted in earlyyouth and joined the Baptist Church. He became a preacher of that denomination,but did not give up his trade as a carpenter, which he followed duringthe week, preaching on Sundays. He remained a member of the Baptist Churchuntil 1828, when he accepted the religious doctrines of Alexander Campbell,whom he assisted in organizing a Christian Church in Barren county, andwas from that time forward a minister of that denomination. He residedin Glasgow until 1842, when, with his wife and eight daughters, he journeyedoverland to Illinois, stopping at Rushville, where he engaged in the mercantilebusiness. Later he purchased a farm, a portion of which is now includedin the city, upon which is located the railroad depot. He died in 1848,having lived a useful, pious and honorable life. His wife passed away in1858. She reared ten children as follows: Albert K., who still residesin Glasgow; Martha A. Hall; Frances H. Montgomery; Clara Ramsey; SarahC.; Elizabeth Lusk; Mary M. Doyle; Emily C., Zorelda VanHosen, and oursubject, John C.
In the school of Barren county our subject,John C. Bagby, was educated, supplementing the same by an attendance atBacon College, which at that time was located in Georgetown, but laterwas removed to Harrodsburg. He continued at this college until his graduationas a civil engineer, in 1840, when he returned to Glasgow, and taught schoolfive years, devoting this spare moments to the study of law with JudgeChristopher Tompkins of that town. He was admitted to the bar in 1846 andin April of that year came to Rushville and began the practice. In 1847he formed a partnership with William A. Minshall, which partnership continueduntil 1848, when Mr. Minshall was elected Circuit Judge. Mr. Bagby, withthe exception of the time spent in Congress, continued the practice oflaw until he was elected Circuit Judge in 1885. He cast his first presidentialvote for William Henry Harrison, and was a prominent Whig and Free Soileruntil 1856, when he was one of seven to organize the Republican party inthis county. He continued a Republican until 1872, when he branched offand voted for Horace Greeley, since which event he has affiliated withthe Democratic party. He has filled various offices of trust, and in 1874was elected a member of Congress. He served as Circuit Judge six years,entering upon his duties in 1885. He has been a member of Rushville Lodge,No. 9, A. F. & A. M., for forty-six years, and was Master of the lodgeeleven terms. He was one of the organizers of Stapleton Chapter, No. 9,R. A. M., and has been a member of the order of the Sons of Temperance.On October 1, 1850, he married Miss Mary A. Scripps, a native of Cape Girardeaucounty, Missouri, and daughter of George H. and Mary (Hyler) Scripps. Theyhave been blessed with nine children: Mary Frances; John S.; Virginia Ellen,who died at the age of eleven years; Albert; Morris; George Henry, whodied aged twenty-seven years; William Ray, who died in infancy; CatherineB.; Arthur F. and Edwin H.
Biographical Review of Cass, Schuylerand Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical Review Publishing Co., Chicago,1892, pages 150-151.
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