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- The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume VII
Paca, William
page 161
OWSLEY, William, governor of Kentucky, was born in Virginia in 1782; son of William and Catharine (Bolin) Owsley; grandson of Thomas and Mary (Middleton) Owsley, and a descendant of the Rev. John and Dorothea (Poyntz) Owsley. He removed to Lincoln in 1783 with his parents; taught school and served as deputy sheriff, his father being sheriff of Lincoln county; studied law under John Boyle, and established a successful practice in Lancaster, Garrard county. He served in both branches of the state legislature several terms, and was a judge of the state supreme court, 1812-28. He maintained the principle of anti-repudiation advocated by Henry Clay in 1824, and remained firm when the majority in the state legislature tried to abolish the supreme bench, which act was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. supreme court. In 1828 he resumed the practice of law, again represented Garrard county in the state legislature and served on the bench of the court of appeals. Retiring from the practise of law in 1843, he lived on a farm near Danville, Ky., and in 1844 was elected by the Whig party governor of Kentucky, defeating Col. William O. Butler, Democrat, and re-elected in 1846, serving, 1844-48. Owsley county, Ky. was named in his honor. Centre college conferred upon him the honorary degree of LL.D. in 1843. He died in Danville, Ky., Dec. 9, 1862. [p.161]
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