march february 26th governor kentucky territorial governor montana ascended office governor different means succeeded kentucky governor resignation accept seat united states senate later year elected term governor defeating general election finally appointed territorial governor president confederate civil war began adopt progressive position gubernatorial campaign opposed ratification fourteenth influence governor effect passage laws admitting testimony blacks court providing educational system recently freed slaves helped quell violence areas state territorial governor montana quickly drew press pro position territory political machinery turned removed office president succeeded harrison second term office appointed district attorney montana continued practice law considered district court montana fell ill pneumonia died february age early life born kentucky march second son educated public schools studied law judge worked father family farm supported odd jobs including driving running ferry store clerk admitted bar october served deputy clerk courts relocated kentucky worked farmer county attorney november married seven children died august married widowed november children died september political career began political career elected whig defeated seat state senate single vote continued serving house won election senate representing monroe barren counties served senate 1850s gradually faded kentucky democrat declined nominations seats united_states congress preferring instead work farm moved glasgow kentucky built prosperous estate added plot land texas holdings kentucky december year eldest son traveled property slaves large family possessions establishing household returned kentucky left texas estate care son feelings mixed issues central civil war known strong union man prior war sympathies switched southern cause war began believed south solve differences north diplomatic means favor idea kept low political profile refused military service returned state senate serving president body governor kentucky february governor resigned post accept seat ascended governorship death lieutenant governor president senate lieutenant governor line succeed gubernatorial election scheduled later nominees forward democrats opposition fourteenth candidacy opposed founder powerful despite emerged field democratic candidates included future governors confederate governor chosen running mate declared commentator odds man ticket opposition bill serving state senate proved liability voters party southern sympathies opposed progressive new departure wing party enjoyed support democrats state state tobacco interests louisville nashville railroad campaign opponent republican political having changed stance issues joint debate quoted speech called republican platform revolutionary carried result destruction free government admitted inconsistent stands declaring right consistent began moving closer new departure wing party course campaign ultimately supporters deemed sober conservative safe perception enabled defeat considerable margin election blacks allowed vote laid aggressive legislative agenda inaugural address general_assembly september legislators concerned passing bill create connection railroads cincinnati ohio line pass central kentucky opening trade region funded primarily capital ohio provide competition louisville nashville railroad monopoly state wasn particularly supportive bill refused veto potential economic benefits state faced issue post war violence legislature refused pass law mob violence address legislature december endorsed legislation illegal write post threatening notices band wear proposal enjoyed favorable public opinion passed legislature session railroad violence issues resolved governor urged legislature improve status blacks state including creation educational system blacks approval testimony blacks state courts commissioned new geological survey appointing native head work advocate movement secured additional regulations sale liquor tenure system improved devout governor serve alcohol governor mansion given silver service set term good kentucky charity following term office elected serve glasgow circuit court position held years beginning failed election bid votes governor montana president appointed territorial governor montana cleveland appointment recommendation opponent kentucky gubernatorial election serving associate justice soon ran local press labeled governor stands favor press opinion pardoned prostitute convicted grand equipped accommodate women urged territorial legislature enact fiscal reforms improve facilities insane incarcerated match political machinery montana territory pocket veto appointment bill supported legislature final straw pressure republicans president replaced territorial governor kentucky state treasurer honest dick nearly state money investigation followed discovered state officials personal loans state treasury later life death following removal office opened legal practice montana president cleveland second term appointed district attorney montana served final years practicing law gained widespread acclaim served president return visit kentucky addressed legislature noting helped state adjust new order following civil war montana governor circulating petition named district court judge fell ill pneumonia died february buried cemetery memorials kentucky formed named honor
Preston Leslie