At the time
the post on Preston Grace was written for this blog, I wasn't aware of a son
who lived in Arkansas. Preston Grace became known as the builder of the old
Livingston County, Kentucky courthouse in 1845. Preston's supposed son, however, achieved fame as a lawyer
and later as a Senator, although in a different state. Recently I came across
this son's obituary[1]
and from it we learn about his life after he left Kentucky. See the previous post on Preston Grace Here
The son's name was William P. Grace, born in Caldwell County, Kentucky on 22
November 1822, "being one of six children." Although never named in
the obituary, all signs point to Preston Grace as William's father. Both men were
brick masons and worked together until William was age 22. William decided he
wanted a different vocation, began to read law with local attorney,
Livingston Lindsay, and was admitted to the bar in 1847.
A short stay
in Florida convinced William he did not want to remain there so he turned around, went north and
settled in Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas. There he married Harriet Boyd on 27 May 1851.[2]
Harriet drowned near Paducah, Kentucky in December 1863.[3]
He then married Mrs. Emily Hudson in
April 1868. She died about 1888 and there are no surviving children.
After
arriving in Pine Bluff, William formed a partnership with Robert E. Waters and in 1852 he was elected prosecuting attorney and served one term, during which
time he entered into a partnership with Judge John C. Murray of the circuit court for
three years. William was elected by Democrats
to the secession convention and, in 1861, he was appointed as commissary of the military staff of Arkansas. He was
also at the battle of Oak Hill. Ill health, however, forced him to retire from the
army.
Upon being
discharged from the army, he went to Philadelphia for medical treatment. When
he returned to Pine Bluff, he resumed his practice, which he continued until
his death. William was well known throughout the halls of justice in Arkansas and had a good reputation as a criminal attorney. He also represented the 11th Senatorial
District and, if he had survived, he would have served until 1901.
William P.
Grace died 24 June 1898 and was buried in Bellwood Cemetery, Pine Bluff, Arkansas.[4]
[1]
"Senator Grace Dead," Arkansas Democrat,
Little Rock, Arkansas, 25 June 1898, p. 3.
[2]
Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1951, Ancestry.com, W.P. Grace and Harriet
Boyd married 27 May 1851 Jefferson County.
[3]
Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1951, Ancestry.com, William P. Grace and
E.V. Hudson married 3 Apr 1868 Jefferson County.
[4]
Find A Grave Memorial #42558285, William P. Grace, buried Bellwood Cemetery,
Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
Published 9 Apr 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/
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