Some Noted Early Marion Business Men of 1894

 In August of 1894, The Crittenden Press published a three-part illustrated edition of the paper.  In the papers were all kinds of information on people and businesses that were important to the city and county at the time.  I have found these articles to be a vital source of our past history of who and what was helping shape our county at the time.   Let's meet a few of these noted men in this week's post.  Will have more in later posts.

A. J. Bennett was born and reared on a farm in Livingston County. Several years ago he moved to Crittenden and is now one of our leading citizens.

He owns a fine farm in then Tolu famous corn belt of the county, and his industry as a farmer, his skill in the management of a farm, place him among the leading agriculturists of Southern Kentucky. He is a citizen full of enterprise and one who delights in the prosperity of the country. He has a splendid home, surrounded by the fruition of his labors.

Mr. Bennett takes great interest in political matters. He is a staunch Democrat, and last year his name was frequently mentioned in connection with the race for the legislature.

No man stands higher in the estimation of the people who know him than Judson Bennett, and such citizens make Crittenden a leading county in the proud galaxy of counties that constitutes the good old Commonwealth of Kentucky.

(A. Judson Bennett was born Feb. 14, 1847 and died Sept. 6, 1928. He is buried in the Mapleview cemetery.)

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Robert Newton Walker. The senior member of the firm of Walker & Olive, the leading furniture dealers in the county, was born in this county in 1833, near the Ohio River and lived on their farm there until 1868.

In 1868 he was elected sheriff, defeating Robert Coffield, the ex-postmaster of Marion. In 1872 he was re-elected and is regarded as one of the best sheriffs the county has had. For awhile he sold goods at Marion, and handled leaf tobacco several years, finally embarking in the furniture business with Mr. Jesse Olive.

Mr. Walker is regarded as one of the best citizens of the county. In all positions, either as a private citizen or an officer, he was and is popular with the people. The firm of which he is the senior partner, carries a large stock of furniture, of all descriptions, and handles building lumber of all kinds. They have a splendidly equipped undertaking department.

(Robert Newton Walker died Jan. 24, 1906 and is buried in the Mapleview cemetery. He was married to Sarah J. Clement, she died May 18, 1918 and is also buried at Mapleview.)

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J. Frank Loyd.  "He is the best Marshal Marion ever had", that is a remark one hears applied to our present city marshal, Mr. J.  Loyd, every day, and nobody disputes the truth of the assertion; if there be any man wedded to duty and its demands it is Frank Loyd.

It never gets too hot, nor turn too cold for him to look after the work he has sworn to perform, and in the discharge of official duty he knows neighbor friend nor foe, and Marion may well congratulate herself upon securing such a man to wear the uniform as her chief peace officer.

Mr. Loyd was born on a farm in this county August 23, 1864, and is a son of Mr. Wm. P. Loyd, one of our best farmers. In 1883 Frank concluded to try his fortune in the west; he attended the State Normal School at Warrensburg, Mo., one year and having secured through the influence of a friend, a school in the Indian Nation, he set out to take charge of his new work, but en-route he was taken ill and had to return to Kentucky.

In 1891 and 1892 he served as deputy sheriff under sheriff Cruce, and distinguished himself as a pains-taking, watchful, faithful officer, making a reputation that easily won for him the marshal-ship of Marion. At present he is marshal, assessor, tax collector, and street commissioner, and under him the streets are improving, the taxes are being collected promptly and evil doers around Marion do not find smooth sailing. Marion is proud of her faithful officer.

 (Mr. Loyd died June 26, 1922. He was married to Nannie E. Bradley. They are buried at Mapleview Cemetery, with a large impressive stone, which is graced with their picture.