october august 36th governor kentucky orphaned age went live relatives new_england exposed literary masters holmes associates older brother poet afforded opportunity attend harvard_university earned graduation secured position law firm future supreme_court justice lifelong friends association deepened support republican_party republican primarily democratic state suffered defeats public office elected governor kentucky second attempt handling wars individuals involved assassination democratic governor drew democrat controlled general_assembly result proposed reforms considered legislature term ended unsuccessful bid seat following defeat retired louisville died early life born october kentucky second child née year following birth father moved family family moved time indiana mother died years later father died leaving orphan age younger sister went live grandmother new_york moved cambridge massachusetts live brother poet renown exposed men letters holmes took preparatory course study new_york later enrolled year preparatory school cambridge harvard_university ill sophomore year took brief hiatus studies care following death resumed studies received bachelor_of_arts degree graduation studied receiving master arts degree studied law firm bishop lincoln boston returned lived indiana congressman admitted bar wrote letter introduction applied position louisville law firm described young met lifelong friends association deepened support republican_party junior partner firm continuing appointment supreme_court justice political career political career began appointed chief clerk served capacity december august resigning continue law practice louisville july married child died infant republican predominantly democratic state suffered defeats public office loss election seat kentucky senate marked string political defeats failed bids represent kentucky fifth district delegate member executive committee national monetary conference indianapolis indiana advocated sound money position sought republican gubernatorial nomination backing republican governor state history convention favored louisville businessman ruling contested delegation convention withdrew candidacy bradley angered party united candidate convention defeated democrat general election governor kentucky chosen republican candidate governor opponent chosen convention years earlier governor convinced democrats hold primary early secure party nomination election serving governor wanted influence selection successor governor assured selection party gubernatorial nominee primary campaign issue ongoing black patch tobacco wars carried stigma hand picked candidate governor largely ignored violence administration hand twice represented business practices reason farmers discontent violence democrats issue little counter accusations plight farmers tried appeal sides conflict ultimately lost support position appealed urban voters wanted state reputation violence end meant siding tobacco industry state farmers general election garnered votes scattered votes cast minor party candidates strong support urban areas swung election half vote majority came city louisville republicans won mayoral races louisville disagreement associate governor caused support candidate voters favored prohibition strong supporters pro stand deserted issue sworn december immediately drew handling black patch wars contrast immediately deployed state militia declared martial law western predominantly democratic counties troops helpful deployed major factor ending violence hostile democrats general_assembly formed investigative committee found guilty violating state constitution calling militia formal request civil authorities sent spies infiltrate night riders organization violence determine local officials supported publicly announced pardon killed night rider decision hailed newspapers effective criticized encouraging ultimately little end violence courts began handing convictions night riders leaders escaped convictions measure sponsored kentucky representative removed national tax tobacco supreme_court united_states found violation laws events helped raise tobacco prices violent farmers alienated legislature issuing individuals convicted assassination governor included republican governor taylor secretary state convicted assassination turned state evidence pardoned leading democrats portray taylor powers partisan likeness removed state checks documents replaced abraham_lincoln session general_assembly dubbed education legislature significant accomplishment passing legislation establishing high schools county state increased funding newly renamed later strengthened school attendance requirements progressive reforms passed including stronger child labor law law establishing juvenile court system track betting illegal abortion defined crime message legislature called uniform system accounting based legislation recently passed neighboring state indiana advocated measure requiring disclosure campaign expenditures hostility assembly scarcely considered governor agenda needed legislation tax reform reforms advocated later pass democratic administration accomplishments legislature included making legal form capital punishment establishing hour work day public workers outside state enjoyed somewhat higher esteem harvard_university presented honorary doctor laws degree president called meeting state governors washington discuss conservation natural resources elected chair meeting known meeting sparked interest annual gubernatorial meeting organized second conference elected chair advocated propose uniform state laws opening remarks clear intent meeting legal authority stated house governors simply conference governors later life gubernatorial election republicans divided celebrate administration actions quell violence black patch wars taylor powers unpopular voters eventual candidate lukewarm best administration upset lent rear modest support campaign trail governor bradley disagreed rear selection engaged minimal campaigning failure party unite candidate gave democrat easy victory following term governor returned legal practice louisville served candidate senate seat state election passage seventeenth amendment meaning seat filled popular vote vote legislature seat originally belonged governor bradley died office governor appointed fill term agreed seek election run seat republican primary defeated general election gubernatorial administration combined overwhelming popularity democratic president ensured won seat votes campaign died august buried cave hill cemetery louisville
Augustus E. Willson