Willis Benson Machen1,2,3

ID# 2497, (1810 - 1893)
Willis Benson Machen|b. 5 Apr 1810\nd. 29 Sep 1893|p2497.htm|Henry Machen|b. abt 1776\nd. 1860|p2561.htm|Nancy Tarrant|b. abt 1773\nd. 1852|p2562.htm|||||||||||||

Father Henry Machen4 (abt 1776-1860)

Mother Nancy Tarrant4 (abt 1773-1852)

Family Background
The Linah Mims - Rebeccah Davis Family
     Willis Benson Machen was born on 5 Apr 1810 in Caldwell Co., Kentucky.5,6,7,8 He married first Margaret Aurelia Lyon, daughter of Chittenden Lyon and Nancy Vaughn.9,10 He married second Eliza N. Dobbins, daughter of Thomas Dobbins and Mary Annapola Jorden Cresap.11,12 He married third Victoria Theresa Mims, daughter of John Harrison Mims and Caroline Hanson Cresap, on 10 Sep 1859.13,14,15 He died on 29 Sep 1893 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, at age 83.16,17,18 He was buried in Riverview Cemetery, Eddyville, Kentucky.1,19
     His early training was one common to farm boys, attending the county schools in the winter and working on the farm in summer, but at the age of twenty he entered Cumberland College at Princeton, Kentucky.11,20

Partnership with Caleb Cobb


     Leaving school, Willis formed a partnership with Caleb Clark Cobb by late 1833 which appears to have been engaged primarily in the iron business. The partners, who in later deeds used the firm name Cobb & Machen, purchased seven parcels of land in Caldwell Co. between 1833 and 1838. Except for one lot in Eddyville, they were all tracts of land, totaling almost 3,300 acres, apparently purchased for iron ore and coal for iron making. They also owned two tracts in Livingston Co. totaling nearly 1200 acres, one of them the site of the Livingston Forge. There may have been others, but the property records for that county have not been examined. Willis apparently left the iron business to take up mercantile interests about the end of this period.21,22

Mercantile and Law


     In 1838 he entered the mercantile business, supposedly with no capital but a good name. Meeting with reverses, he failed after three years, but was said to have paid all his debts. He then went to contracting and building turnpikes at which he was successful. But after being severely injured he withdrew from hard labor, and in 1843, began the study of law. He was admitted to the bar, and almost immediately built up a large clientage, practicing until 1850 in both Lyon and Caldwell Counties.11,23,24
     Willis appeared on the 1840 Federal Census of Caldwell Co., Kentucky, with a household consisting of one white male under age 5 (an unknown son?), and one between 30 and 40 (himself); one female under 5 (daughter Mary), and one between 20 and 30 (Margaret Aurelia Lyon); and one male and two female slaves.3
     He was named an executor in the will of John Harrison Mims dated 3 Mar 1850.25
     Willis and Margaret Aurelia Lyon appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of 2nd District, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, enumerated 24 Jul 1850, reporting real estate of $900 and three slaves. Their children Mary I., Henry L. and Edward C. were listed as living with them.26,27

Retiring to Farming


     On 20 Sep 1850 Willis bought a 400 acre part of "White House Farm" from Robert Livingston Cobb and Gideon Dyer Cobb Jr., for $3,300.28 He then retired to assume the management of his farm. His fine brick residence was situated on a small hill, at the foot of which ran the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, and the Cumberland River, and on either side not over a mile distant were the towns of Eddyville and Kuttawa.11,29,30,31

Political Service


     He served as a member of the convention that framed the constitution of Kentucky, and in 1853 defeated his popular opponent, George W. Barbour, for the State Senate. He was elected to the lower house in 1855, 1860, and 1861. After the outbreak of the war he was elected by the convention while at Russellville, a member of the Provisional State Government, and served as chairman of that body for some months. He was then elected a member of the Confederate Congress by soldiers in the field and residents of his district, and served two terms. He was reelected by the soldiers in the field alone the second time, and was a member of that body at the close of the war, when he made his escape to Canada. He was soon after joined by his family, but was pardoned in three months by President Andrew Johnson, and returned home. In 1872, upon the death of Garret Davis, he was first appointed and then elected to fill Davis' un-expired term in the United States Senate. In 1870, he was very strongly urged to accept the nomination for governor, but declined as there was a question as to his eligibility. He later refused to allow his name to be raised before conventions for that office, although endorsed by many of the State's newspapers. In 1882, he was appointed by Gov. Blackburn one of the State railroad commissioners, which position he held two years.11,32,33
     He and Victoria Theresa Mims appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Eddyville, Lyon Co., Kentucky, enumerated 14 Aug 1860, reporting real estate of $23,500 and personal estate of $70,040. His children by his prior marriages, Henry, Edward, John, Mary and Elizabeth were listed as living with them, as was Elizabeth Gracey, orphaned daughter of Mathew Lyon Gracey and Maria Tilford, but not a relative of Willis and Victoria. He reported 26 slaves in 6 slave houses, of which one, a 13 year-old male, was reported as a fugitive.34,35
     Willis and Victoria appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of District No. 1, Eddyville, Lyon Co., Kentucky, enumerated 5 Jun 1870, reporting real estate of $17,000 and personal estate of $1100. Their children Minnie, Frank P. and Willis Benson were listed as living with them, and his son by a previous marriage, John L.36 He and Victoria appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Eddyville, Lyon Co., Kentucky, enumerated 1 Jun 1880. Their children Minnie, Frank, Willis and Charles were listed as living with them.37

Children of Willis Benson Machen and Margaret Aurelia Lyon

  • Mary I. Machen38 b. abt 1839
  • Henry L. Machen39,38 b. abt 1842
  • Edward C. Machen39,38 b. abt 1846
  • Willis B. Machen38 b. abt 1849, d. bef 1860
  • John L. Machen39,40 b. abt 1853
  • Mary E. Machen39 b. abt 1855

Child of Willis Benson Machen and Eliza N. Dobbins

  • Elizabeth Machen39 b. abt 1858

Children of Willis Benson Machen and Victoria Theresa Mims

  • Minnie Machen4,41,37 b. 1860
  • Maggie Machen42 b. 6 Apr 1862, d. 20 Sep 1864
  • Frank P. Machen4,40,37 b. abt 1866, d. bef 1937
  • Willis Benson Machen Jr.4,41,37 b. 1 May 1869
  • Charles Victor Machen4,41,37 b. abt 1873
  • Albert S. Machen43 b. abt Feb 1876, d. Oct 1876
  • Marjorie Machen4 b. say 1881

Citations

  1. [S686] Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, online, record for Machen, Willis Benson, (1810 - 1893).
  2. [S736] Joseph Ord Cresap and Bernarr Cresap, History of the Cresaps, pg 360, shows name as Willis Benson Machen.
  3. [S1793] Willis B. Machen household, 1840 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky.
  4. [S49] Deborah Anne Cobb Freeman, Family File 31 Jul 1998, and reports Battle, Perrin & Kniffin, Kentucky: A History of the State 2nd ed., (Caldwell Co.: 1885) shows same.
  5. [S49] Deborah Anne Cobb Freeman, Family File 31 Jul 1998, shows date, as 5th, county, and state, and reports Battle, Perrin & Kniffin, Kentucky: A History of the State 2nd ed., (Caldwell Co.: 1885) shows same, and notes birthplace in Caldwell Co. was later in Lyon Co.
  6. [S686] Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, online, record for Machen, Willis Benson, (1810 - 1893), shows date, as 10th, county, and state.
  7. [S481] Findagrave.com, online, record for Willis Benson Machen, shows date, as 10th.
  8. [S1817] Willis B. Machen household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows age 40 and state.
  9. [S49] Deborah Anne Cobb Freeman, Family File 31 Jul 1998, reports Battle, Perrin & Kniffin, Kentucky: A History of the State 2nd ed., (Caldwell Co.: 1885) shows this was his first marriage.
  10. [S1817] Willis B. Machen household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows them in the same household, apparently as husband and wife.
  11. [S49] Deborah Anne Cobb Freeman, Family File 31 Jul 1998, reports Battle, Perrin & Kniffin, Kentucky: A History of the State 2nd ed., (Caldwell Co.: 1885) shows this information.
  12. [S822] Findagrave.com, online, record for Eliza N Dobbins Machen, shows as her as wife of W. B. Machen.
  13. [S2003] John Mims Family Bible, shows date.
  14. [S736] Joseph Ord Cresap and Bernarr Cresap, History of the Cresaps, pg 360, shows year.
  15. [S1808] Willis B. Machen household, 1860 U.S. Census, Lyon Co., Kentucky, shows them in same household, apparently as husband and wife.
  16. [S736] Joseph Ord Cresap and Bernarr Cresap, History of the Cresaps, pg 360, shows year, as 1894.
  17. [S686] Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, online, record for Machen, Willis Benson, (1810 - 1893), shows date, with year as 1893, town, and state.
  18. [S481] Findagrave.com, online, record for Willis Benson Machen, shows date, with year as 1893.
  19. [S481] Findagrave.com, online, record for Willis Benson Machen.
  20. [S686] Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, online, record for Machen, Willis Benson, (1810 - 1893), shows attended the common schools and then Cumberland College, Princeton, Kentucky.
  21. [S1975] Caldwell Co. Deeds , G:233-4, Spallswood D. Crewshaw to Caleb C. Cobb & Willis B Machen dated 27 Sep 1833, $250 for 1000 ac. on Livingston Ck.; H:188-9, John Scott to same dated 20 May 1836, $200 for 200 ac. on Livingston Ck.; H:265-6, Cadwallader Wallace & wife Ruth to same dated 12 Sep 1836, $1000 for 1000 ac. on Big Eddy Ck. and 1000 ac. on Livingston Ck.; H:301-2, James Clark & wife Mary to C. C. Cobb & W. B. Machen dated 26 Nov 1836, $300 for lot #9 in Eddyville; H:317-8, A. Harpending to Caleb C. Cobb & Willis B. Machen "under the firm of Cobb & Machen" dated 16 Jan 1837, $500 for     517 ac. on Livingston Ck.; M:301-2, John F. Henry & wife Lucy S. to same dated 2 Mar 1838, $520 for 3 tracts totalling 512½ ac.; I:42-3, Samuel Glenn to Cobb & Machen of Livingston Co. dated 20 Dec 1838, $50 for 50 ac. on Spring Ck.; and K:249-51, C. C. Cobb to     Robt L. Cobb, David R. Bell & Gideon D. Cobb dated 2 Aug 1841, item #16, 666 2/3 ac. in Livingston Co. on Livingston Ck. where Livingston Forge was located, and item #17, 291 ac., part of 517 ac. tract in Livingston Co. on Livingston Ck. patented to A. Harpending and conveyed by him to Cobb & Machen.
  22. [S49] Deborah Anne Cobb Freeman, Family File 31 Jul 1998, reports Battle, Perrin & Kniffin, Kentucky: A History of the State 2nd ed., (Caldwell Co.: 1885) shows Machen was engaged in the manufacture of iron with Caleb in Livingston Co. for seven years before entering the mercantile business in 1838.
  23. [S1793] Willis B. Machen household, 1840 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows the only person employed, apparently Willis, as employed in commerce.
  24. [S1817] Willis B. Machen household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows occupation as lawyer.
  25. [S876] John H. Mims Will (19 Aug 1850), Caldwell Co. Will Book B, pg 118.
  26. [S1817] Willis B. Machen household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky.
  27. [S1743] Willis B. Machen, owner, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, slave schedule.
  28. [S1975] Caldwell Co. Deeds , P:85-6, Robert L. Cobb & wife Cornelia, & Gideon D. Cobb to Willis B. Machen dated 20 Sep 1850; Q:310-1, R. L. & G. D. Cobb, surviving partners of Cobb, Bell & Co. to Noah Fulks dated 27 Sep 1852, $600 for 200 ac. on Tennessee River; and Robert L. Cobb & Gideon D. Cobb, late partners under firm of R. L. & G. D. Cobb, and Cornelia B. Cobb to Thomas J. Floumoy, surviving partner of Floumoy & Son dated 1 May 1856, $1560 for one moiety of lot#2 in donation part of Princeton.
  29. [S1808] Willis B. Machen household, 1860 U.S. Census, Lyon Co., Kentucky, shows occupation as farmer.
  30. [S1805] W. B. Machen household, 1870 U.S. Census, Lyon Co., Kentucky, shows occupation as farmer.
  31. [S736] Joseph Ord Cresap and Bernarr Cresap, History of the Cresaps, pg 360, shows he was a wealthy land owner.
  32. [S736] Joseph Ord Cresap and Bernarr Cresap, History of the Cresaps, pg 360, shows he was prominent in state and national politics and a member of the Confederate Congress.
  33. [S686] Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, online, record for Machen, Willis Benson, (1810 - 1893), shows he was delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1849; member, State senate 1854; member, State house of representatives 1856, 1860; elected to the First and Second Confederate Congresses; appointed as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Garrett Davis and served from September 27, 1872, to March 3, 1873.
  34. [S1808] Willis B. Machen household, 1860 U.S. Census, Lyon Co., Kentucky.
  35. [S842] Caroline Mims, owner, 1860 U.S. Census, Lyon Co., Kentucky, slave schedule, Frances B. Lyon.
  36. [S1805] W. B. Machen household, 1870 U.S. Census, Lyon Co., Kentucky.
  37. [S1670] Willis B. Machen household, 1880 U.S. Census, Lyon Co., Kentucky.
  38. [S1817] Willis B. Machen household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, they appear in household, apparently as parent and child.
  39. [S1808] Willis B. Machen household, 1860 U.S. Census, Lyon Co., Kentucky, shows them in same household, apparently as parent and child.
  40. [S1805] W. B. Machen household, 1870 U.S. Census, Lyon Co., Kentucky, shows then in household, apparently as parent and child.
  41. [S736] Joseph Ord Cresap and Bernarr Cresap, History of the Cresaps, pg 360.
  42. [S2081] Maggie Machen grave marker, Eddyville.
  43. [S1938] Albert S. Machen, death register.

 

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