Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/187

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

in Fa>ellc county, on Cane Run, near LeaC- ington. In 1787, with his brother Fielding, ho established the Kentucke Gazette, the first newspaper published west of the Alle- phanies, which was issued under that title until 1786 when its name was changed to the Kentucky Gazette. The press and equip- ment for this enterprise were brought from Philadelphia. In 1786 he became public printer; in 1792 was one of the electors of the senate, and chairman of the town trus- tees. He was elected to the legislature in 1797, and also to that of 1801. John Brad- ford was made cashier of the bank, which was the result of the famous act of 1801, incorporating the first life insurance com- pany, in an obscure clause of which were concealed full banking privileges, and as- signed his interest in the Gazette to his son. He was at one time chairman of the board of trustees of Transylvania University, and when nearly eighty years of age he was elected to the shrievalty of Fayette county, and held the office until his death, in 1830.

Posey, Thomas, born in Fairfax county, Virginia, July 9, 1750. In 1769 he removed to the western frontier of Virginia, and served in Lord Dunmore's Shawnee expedi- tion, and fought in the battle at Point Pleas- ant. In 1775 was a member of Virginia committee of correspondence; commanded a company in Seventh Virginia Regiment; joined Washington's army in New Jersey in 1777, where his company was transferred to Morgan's riflemen; fought in battles ol Bemis Heights and Stillwater; major of Second Virginia Regiment at Monmouth; in 1778 he was transferred to the Seventh Virginia Regiment, and led an expedition against the Indians after the massacre of Wyoming. At Stony Point he received the

arms of the British officers. He was at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, Oc- tober 19, 1781 ; in 1782 was made lieuten- ant-colonel, and organized a new regiment which he commanded in Georgia under Wayne, and left the army at the close of the war. In 1793-94 he was a brigadier- general commanding a brigade under Wayne in the Northwest. In the latter year he located in Kentucky, was state senator several terms, and speaker, 1805-06. When war was threatened in 1809 he was com- missioned major-general and organized the Kentucky volunteers. Later he removed to Louisiana and became United States Sena- tor to fill a vacancy; was governor of In- diana Territory, 1813-16; defeated for gov- ernor when Indiana became a state; from 1816-18 was Indian agent at Shawneetown, Illinois, where he died, March 19, 1818. He married (first) Martha, daughter of Gen. Sampson Matthews, of Augusta county, X'irginia; and (second) Mary, daughter of John and Lucy (Thornton) Alexander, and widow of Maj. George Thornton.

Porterfield, Charles, was born in Freder- ick county, Virginia, in 1750, son of Wil- liam Porterfield, who emigrated from Eng- land and settled in Pennsylvania early in the eighteenth century. He enlisted in the first military company organized in 1775 in Frederick county to defend the patriot cause, Daniel Morgan being captain ; joined Washington's army at Cambridge, Massa- chusetts, and was with Colonel Arnold in the expedition at Quebec. In the disas- trous assault on that city he was taken prisoner inside the fort December 31, 1775, but was exchanged and again joined the army February 3, 1777, serving as captain in Morgan's Rifles, 1777-78. He was made

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