The Times of Long Ago, Barren County, Kentucky. By Franklin Gorin. John P.
Morton & Company Incorporated, 1929.  Published originally in the Glasgow
Weekly Times, 1870's.  pp. 105-110.

    LIFE OF HON. CHRISTOPHER TOMPKINS AND FAMILY.  Christopher Tompkins 
was born in Virginia in the year 1780, though we do not know in what 
part of Virgina.
    He was the son of John Tompkins, who emigrated to Fayette County, Ky., in
1794, but who died before he was permanently settled.  
    Gwynn T., the oldest son, then purchased the beautiful farm three miles
north of Lexington and settled the family there.
    Christopher went to live with the Hon. John Breckinridge, Senator, a man
of considerable repute, at "Cabell's Dale," in Fayette County, near
Lexington.  He lived with him a number of years, and while there studied
law.  He had the advantage of legal teachings of Mr. Breckinridge; also of
his library, an excellent one, both law and miscellany.  He was a student,
and improved his time and advantages.  We do not know what school he
attended, but we know he was a good scholar, both in Latin and English, not
a smatterer.  He was grammarian, logician and arithmetician.  He often said
arithmetic mathematics was the foundation of a good education.
    His pronunciation was good - very good - he drank deeply of the British
classics; he read them with a relish and pleasure up to a late period.  He
was also a good and accurate historian, familiar with both Ancient and
Modern History.
    He was sober and temperate in all things.  He would amuse himself in
leisure moments with his friends by a game of chess or whist, although he
was not an expert at either.
    His language was chaste, his only oath, "By Jupiter."
    His knowledge of books was no doubt acquired, to a considerable extent,
after he commenced the practice of law.
    He began his practice as a lawyer in the Green River country.  Whether he
first settled at Henderson or Greenville in Mulhenburgh [sic] County, we do
not know.  He, however, lived in Greenville, where he was induced to go, no
doubt, on account of the good society there of the Worthingtons, Wings,
Rumseys, McLeans, Weirs, Shorts, Eaves, McNarys, Russells, &c.  While there
he was a constant and welcome visitor at the home of General Samuel
Hopkins, near the Red Banks, who had a number of charming daughters -
educated and refined women.  
    Christopher Tompkins represented the county of Muhlenburgh in the House 
of Representatives in 1805.  While in the Legislature he met Theodosia Logan,
whom he married.  She was a daughter of Gen. Benj. Logan, an early pioneer
of Lincoln County, who moved to Kentucky in May, 1777, and built Logan's
Fort, near Stanford, in which he lived.  He was a celebrated Indian
fighter, and the progenitor of a race of noble men.
    Tompkins, soon after his marriage, removed to Russellville, where he was
residing when he received the appointment of Circuit Judge of this circuit,
about 1809-10.  He removed to this county and settled on a farm on Boyd's
Creek, two and a half miles from Glasgow, where the late Carey Snoddy lived
and died.
    Afterwards, about 1816, he built the brick house on the Bardstown turnpike
where Lucian Carden now lives, and removed to Glasgow, where he resided
until the death of his estimable wife, and until his children who were
living had married.
    He presided as Judge at the March term, 1818, on the trial of John C.
Hamilton for the murder of Dr. Sanderson.  On that trial and the rulings of
doubtful character were decided in favor of the prisoner.
    It is a remarkable fact, during his long life as Judge, he never had a
serious difficulty with his bar.  He presided with dignity, firmness, and
courtesy; his bar loved him; he had no favorites, or if he had, he never
let it be known while on the bench.
    Not a whisper or insinuation was ever heard against his honor, integrity
or the firmness of his decisions.  However, we do not intend to convey the
idea that he never misconceived or misapplied the law, for 
"to err is human."
    He was esteemed, and truly a learned, honest and upright Judge.  He
enjoyed and possessed the confidence and respect of his bar, officers of
the court, litigants and the public, throughout his circuit in a degree
seldom obtained by present Judges.
    He was honest in all his dealings, pure in his morals, modest, diffident
and unobtrusive in his intercourse with his fellow man; he was humble,
quiet and unostentatious; he was a stranger to that pride which proceeds
from little minds, from riches, birth, place or connections.  He was always
approachable by the poor or distressed, and ready to assist all with his
advice, counsel or purse.  He was above and hated a mean act.
    As a husband, father, master and friend, he was all that human nature
admits.  He disliked the wanton destriction of birds, animals, &c.  He was
in favor of the general emancipation of slavery, provided the condition of
the slaves was not rendered worse, and satisfaction made to the master.  He 
was opposed to avarice in all its hases.  He was economical from principle,
prudence, and perhaps, from necessity.  He was not rich - he owned a few
slaves, his house in town, and some personal property.  He had a growing
family of ten children to be educated and maintained.  His salary was
always low, from $1,000 to $1,500, when highest.  His dress was plain and
neat.  He always had circuit, at one time it included Wayne, Cumberland,
Adair, Green, Barren, Hart, and Monroe counties, and perhaps Casey County.
    In politics he was firm and unflinching. He ooposed the new election of a
Governor upon the death of Gov. Madison, in 1816, which created much
excitement and strife that was finally settled by the people, that the
constitution provided the Lieu. Govenor to administer the government until
a regular election.  He was opposed to the Stay-laws of 1820, Replevin
laws, New Court and Banks of the Commonwealth, because of their bad policy
and their violations of the Constitution.
    In 1824, he resigned the office of Circuit Judge and became a candidate
for Governor in opposition to the New Court party.  He was defeated by Gen.
Desha.
    He immediately formed a partnership with his nephew, John Tompkins, a
young lawyer of Glasgow of much promise, and resumed the practice of law.
    After the Whig and Democratic parties were formed, he being a great
admirer of Henry Clay and his measures, to-wit:  The Missouri Compromise,
the U. S. Internal Improvements and the protection of Home Manufacturers,
he espoused the cause of the Whigs.
    He was always opposed to political life, though he held and loved
political principles, and it was only by the urgent importunity of friends
that he would consent to become a candidate for political office.  Acting
upon these principles he had been a candidate for Governor, and yielding
again to his friends' wishes he became, in 1831, a candidate for Congress
in this district against Joel Yancey, who had beat his old friend Frank
Johnson in 1827-29.  Tompkins beat Yancey a handsome majority in the
district, and 20-1 or 2 votes in the county.  This was quite a victory,
Yancey never having been beaten before in this county.  In 1833 Tompkins
was a candidate for re-election.  Elijah Hise was his opponent.  He was
again elected.
    At the expiration of his term he declined to become a candidate again, and
was succeeded, as he wished, by J. R. Underwood, his ever intimate friend.
    He continued the practice of law with his son, C. Tompkins, Jr., after
his return from Congtress, until his son's death, April 5, 1837.
    C. Tompkins, Jr., was one of the most promising young men of the county -
young as he was, twenty-nine years of age, he had been twice elected to the
House of Representatives of the Kentucky Legislature, in 1835 and 6.  He
died at Frankfort, not having returned home after the close of the session.
He had given general satisfaction, and his death, was universally
regretted.
    Ben Monroe having resigned in 1837, Christopher Tompkins, Sr., was again
appointed Judge of the Circuit Court; and, as before, gave entire
satisfaction.
    At the March term, 1843, he again resigned as Judge, and was succeeded by
Richard A. Buckner.
    In 1843, and for two or three months in each of the succeeding years, he
delivered a course of law lectures to about twenty young students, from
this and other counties.
    In 1850 he was a candidate for a seat in the convention that framed our
present Constitution.  A cry was made "he is an abolitionist."  He was
defeated, although he declared he would be against any proposition to
abolish slavery without satisfaction given to the owners, and the condition
of the slaves made better.  At his death he emancipated his slaves.
    He determined to retire to private life, having lost his wife, three
unmarried daughters - Letitia, Elizabeth and Caroline, and three promising
sons (his only sons), John, Christopher and Benjamin, in their young
manhood, when all his hopes and wishes promised to be realized and his good
name and fame perpetuated.  These trials weighed him down, together with
the one caused by the death of his trusty servant, Frederick, who was
killed by his carriage horses while carrying his daughter, Ann, and one
other young lady to a wedding. The horses ran off one mile from Glasgow. 
They were perfectly gentle - one of them Tompkins's old favorite brown
horse Allan-bane. They were frightened by some imprudent, reckless young
men galloping behind and up to the carriage, darted from the road into the
woods killing faithful Frederick instantly.  They dashed the carriage
against a tree and greatly endangered his daughter's life.
    Tompkins, like all men, was not exempt from the trials and griefs of this
world.
    He was a firm believer in the Christian religion, but from some unknown
cause never united with any church.  We must not omit, he was remarkable
for his accuracy in describing places and things which he had seen, and
relating what he had read or heard.
    Judge Christopher Tompkins died in this place, August 9, 1858, at the
residence of his son-in-law, Dr. James Hall, who then resided here, aged
eighty; greatly esteemed and regretted.
    Four daughters and several grandchildren survive him, none of whom live
in this county.
    His eldest daughter, Ann, married Dr. Reuben B. Garnett, son of Richard
Garnett, Esq., the 22nd of October, 1843.  He died at Benton, Mississippi,
where he had moved to pursue his profession, soon after his removal, in
1836, leaving one child, a daughter, Theodosia.  He was much respected,
and his death was greatly regretted.
    His widow lived many years single, devoting herself to her child and its
education.  The daughter married an estimable man, Mr. Frank Emory, and
they are living in Philadelphia.
    Mrs. Garnett, a few years since, married the Rev. Wm. L. Breckenridge, D.
D., formerly of Kentucky, and a brother of the late Rev. Robert
Breckenridge, D. D.  They are now living in Chicago, Ill.
    Eugenia Tompkins married Wm. Garnett, a son of Richard Garnett.  Their
eldest son, C. Tompkins Garnett, fell in the late war in the attack upon
Vicksburg, fighting nobly and bravely for the defense of his country;
another son, Gwynn, is a learned and rising lawyer of Chicago.
    Theodosia married Dr. James Hall, a son of Judge Michael W. Hall.  She is
now a widow, mother of several quite promising children, one C. Tompkins
Hall, a Lieutenant in the U. S. Army.  She is living in Illinois.
    Davidella married Thomas Crutcher, son of Henry Crutcher.  He is dead;
four children, also promising, survive him.  She is living in Hart County.
    S. T. Logan, a nephew of Mrs. Tompkins, was a law student of Judge
Tompkins.  He practiced law on this circuit about thirteen years; was
learned in the law when he obtained license to practice.  He moved to
Springfield, Ill., in 1833.  There he soon reached the head of his
profession, and was a Judge of one of their Superior Courts.  Mr. Lincoln
offered him high offices, which he declined because of his abhorrence of
politics and the tricks of politicians.
    He married, in this place, America T. Bush, daughter of Wm. T. Bush.  He
acquired a very large fortune by judicious purchases of real estate in and
around Springfield, and the practice of his profession.  His wife died
several years ago.  He is still living and several of his children.

Tompkins Breckinridge Worthington Wing Rumsey McLean Weir Short Eaves
McNary Russell Hopkins Logan Snoddy Carden Hamilton Sanderson Desha Clay
Yancey Johnson Hise Underwood Monroe Buckner Hall Garnett Emory
Breckenridge Crutcher Lincoln
=
VA Lexington-Fayette-KY Muhlenburg-KY Lincoln-KY Russellville-Logan-KY
Wayne-KY Cumberland-KY Adair-KY Green-KY Hart-KY Monroe-KY Casey-KY
Frankfort-Franklin-KY MS PA Chicago-Cook-IL Springfield-Sangamon-IL

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/barren/tompkins.c.txt