Lilly Family Papers, 1780-1991 | Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

Collection Overview

Title: Lilly Family Papers, 1780-1991

Extent: 12.12 Cubic Feet

Date Acquired: 09/22/1978. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Boonesboro (Ky.), Honor Societies., Kentucky--History--Civil War, 1861-1865., Kentucky--Politics and government--1865-1950., Kentucky--Politics and government., Kentucky--Social life and customs--19th century., Kentucky--Social life and customs--20th century., Madison County (Ky.), Madison County (Ky.)--History--19th century., Madison County (Ky.)--History., Madison County (Ky.)--Social life and customs--19th century., Madison County (Ky.)--Social life and customs--20th century., Madison County (Ky.)--Surveys., Madison Female Institute, Politics, Practical, Railroad companies--United States., Richmond (Ky.)--History--Pictorial works., World's Columbian Exposition (1893 : Chicago, Ill.), World War, 1914-1918., World War, 1939-1945.

Languages: English, Spanish;Castilian

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Lilly Family Papers contain correspondence, photographs, legal material, publications, scrapbooks, memorabilia, and genealogical information. Much of the material in this collection deals with the many organizations with which the Lillys were involved, such as Democratic clubs, Daughters of the American Revolution, or the Gas Consumers' League. In addition to materials involving organizations, there is also an abundance of legal documents which attest to Grant Lilly's service as a lawyer and judge. There are many publications which highlight the interests and involvements of the family, including Austin Lilly. Since the original collection was submitted by Austin Lilly herself, there are aspects of the papers which highlight Austin's life and career, especially her involvement with the University of Kentucky and the Lexington Opera House.

Collection Historical Note

Grant E. Lilly was born in Estill County on February 27, 1865. He was the son of Colonel Henry Clay Lilly, a circuit judge of the Irvine district and a colonel in the 14th Kentucky Calvary, United States Army, during the Civil War, and Catherine Tracy, a member of a pioneer Pennsylvania family whose descendents moved to Kentucky.

Mr. Lilly received his early education in the private school in Madison County at College Hill and Dr. Elliot's School for Boys at Kirksville. He attended Central University in Richmond and was a honor graduate of the University of Michigan Law School in 1889. Upon completion of his studies at Ann Arbor, he returned to Irvine where he served as county attorney of Estill County. He had also taught school before receiving his law training. Like his father, Lilly became active in the Republican Party, but around 1900 switched his allegiance to the Democratic Party.

Anna Dudley McGinn Lilly was born February 27, 1872, in Maysville, Kentucky, the daughter of the Reverend John Bolivar McGinn and Mary Elizabeth Sheppard McGinn. She spent her early life in Versailles, where her father was minister of the Christian church.

On October 19, 1883, Grant E. Lilly and Anna D. McGinn were married in Versailles. They had one daughter, Austin Page Lilly; a son, John Marion Lilly; and a younger son, Grant Lilly, Jr., who died at the age of 12 in 1916. After marrying, the Lillys lived in Richmond where they were involved in numerous civic projects and organizations. Lilly was one of the leaders, along with Dr. Hugh McClellan, Col. C. E. Woods, and Col. N. B. Deatherage, in a local option fight prior to prohibition. Lilly as a member of the Prandennial Club, a charter member of the first Chamber of Commerce organized in Richmond, as well as one of the sponsors of the Richmond Chautauqua. He also was a member of the American Bar Association, the Kentucky Bar Association, and one of the organizers of the Madison Bar Association.

He was owner and editor of three newspapers, the Madisonian, which he founded, the Richmond Climax, and the Kentucky Register which later were merged into the Richmond Daily Register. The Kentucky Register was purchased by Lilly for his wife who was its editor.

In 1918 the Lillys moved to Lexington. Lilly was elected president of the Gas Consumers League which worked for the taxpayers in an effort to reduce the price of natural gas. Lilly ran for mayor of Lexington in 1927 and lost.

Anna Lilly was very interested in Central Kentucky politics and civic affairs. She became affiliated with the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1912 as a member of the Boonesborough Chapter, later transferring her membership to the Lexington Chapter, of which she subsequently became regent. Mrs. Lilly was regent of the Kentucky DAR from 1923 to 1926. In 1928, she spearheaded a drive to have the state legislature approve a bill designating "My Old Kentucky Home" as the official state song. The first rendition of Stepen Foster's composition was sung on Sunday, April 15, 1928, at the Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The occasion was the dedication of the Kentucky bell in the memorial chapel there. The bell in the carillion at Valley Forge was purcased with $1000 raised by Mrs. Lilly and a committee of the DAR. She was an honorary life regent of both the state and Lexington DAR.

With the advent of women's suffrage in 1920, Mrs. Lilly organized the first Woodrow Wilson Club and in 1932 she founded the Roosevelt Democratic Club of Richmond. Twice she was county associate chairman for the Fayette Club of Kentucky. She actively supportive Alben Barkley's several successful senatorial campaigns.

Mrs. Lilly was four times president of the Richmond Women's Club; a member of the Women's Club of Central Kentucky; a charter member of the Madison County Historical Society, the Lexington McDowell Music Club and the Bradford Club of Lexington; and held membership in the Huguenot Society of South Carolina, the Colonial Dames of Kentucky and the state and state and national officers' club of the DAR. She was organizing president of the Kentucky branch of the Huguenot Society of the Founders of the Manakin Towne and of the Paul Revere chapter of the Children of the American Revolution.

During Lexington's sesqui-centennial celebration, Mrs. Lilly was chairman of the Hall of Fame, which featured an outstanding collection of historical items. She was instrumental in the naming of Henry Clay High School and served on the board of the Henry Clay Memorial Foundation when it began work on making Ashland a state shrine.

She was a member of the board of direcotrs of the Pioneer National Monument Association which acquired the Blue Lick battlefield and other historic spots in Kentucky. She eaded the Madison County Liberty Loan and War Savings stamp drive in World War I and served as co-chaiman of many Madison Red Cross campaigns. She worked with the NRA in the 1930s and was a honorary member of the VFW during World War II.

Grant Lilly died January 5, 1940, and Anna D. Lilly died July 30, 1948. Both are buried at the Richmond cemetery. Austin Lilly died September 18, 1991, in Georgetown, Kentucky.

Subject/Index Terms

Boonesboro (Ky.)
Honor Societies.
Kentucky--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Kentucky--Politics and government--1865-1950.
Kentucky--Politics and government.
Kentucky--Social life and customs--19th century.
Kentucky--Social life and customs--20th century.
Madison County (Ky.)
Madison County (Ky.)--History--19th century.
Madison County (Ky.)--History.
Madison County (Ky.)--Social life and customs--19th century.
Madison County (Ky.)--Social life and customs--20th century.
Madison County (Ky.)--Surveys.
Madison Female Institute
Politics, Practical
Railroad companies--United States.
Richmond (Ky.)--History--Pictorial works.
World's Columbian Exposition (1893 : Chicago, Ill.)
World War, 1914-1918.
World War, 1939-1945.

Administrative Information

Repository: Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

Accruals: 1978 - 049, 1979 - 027, 1979 - 035, 1981 - 018, 1982 - 035, 1982 - 021, 1986 - 024, 1986 - 030, 1987 - 024, 1987 - 017, 1988 - 018, 1988 - 032, 1987 - 004

Acquisition Source: Lilly, Austin P.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Correspondence Series],
[Series 2: Financial Series],
[Series 3: Genealogy Series],
[Series 4: Legal Series],
[Series 5: Memorabilia Series],
[Series 6: Newspaper Clipping Series],
[Series 7: Photograph Series],
[Series 8: Publication Series],
[Series 9: Scrapbook Series],
[Series 10: Speech Series],
[Series 11: Subject Series],
[Series 12: Oversized],
[All]

Series 4: Legal Series

Sub-Series 1: Miscellaneous Legal Documents

Box 6

Folder 12: Miscellaneous, Undated: Contains deeds, copies of court proceedings, court summoning papers, land surveys, and correspondence and documents regarding the sale of land to Grant Lilly

Box 7

Barcode: 31234013924434

Folder 1: Maps and Surveys, Undated: Contains various maps and land surveys for locations in Kentucky for Grant Lilly. Some of the maps are identifiable as being in Estill or Madison County, while other maps in the folder do not have any identifying landmarks or names.

Sub-Series 2: Railroads

Box 7

Folder 2: Kentucky, Rockcastle, and Cumberland Railroad, 1930: Insurance policies.
Folder 3: Kentucky, Rockcastle, and Cumberland Railroad, 1929 - 1930: Includes a copy of court proceeding between the railroad company and Francis S. Smith and the Service Trucking Company
Folder 4: Kentucky, Rockcastle, and Cumberland Railroad, 1929 - 1930: Includes a copy of court proceeding between the railroad company and Francis S. Smith and the Service Trucking Company, regarding a petition in equity and a response from the Lee County Circuit Court.
Folder 5: Kentucky, Rockcastle, and Cumberland Railroad, 1929 - 1930: Settlement Memorandums.
Folder 6: Kentucky Union Railway, 1883: Includes documentation regarding the sale and purchase of land by the railway company
Folder 7: Louisville and Atlantic Railroad, 1891 - 1912: Contains a petition in equity for Lizzie F. Bowman vs. the railway company. Additionally, includes agreements between Catherine Lilly and the Louisville and Atlantic Railroad.
Folder 8: Louisville and Atlantic Railroad, 1905 - 1919: Contains some correspondence and a copy of legal agreement between L&A Railroad Co vs Estill Co
Folder 9: Louisville and Nashville Railroad, 1908: Court of appeals document for Appellant E. Wilson vs. Louisville & Nashville Railroad Co.
Folder 10: Louisville and Nashville Railroad, 1873 - 1930: Receipts and Statements of Account
Folder 11: Louisville and Nashville Railroad, 1905 - 1929: Contains legal correspondence between Grant Lilly as judge and Wallace & Harris in Versailles, KY, as well as some correspondence from the railroad company itself.
Folder 12: Railroad Proposition, 1888: Print from Louisville Southern Syndicate regarding an upcoming vote taking place August 11, 1888, which would determine whether or not the road through Estill up to Three Forks should be opened for railroad improvements.
Folder 13: Richmond, Irvine, and Three Forks Railroad (R, I, & T.F. Railroad), 1880: Contains order from the Estill Co. court, calling for a vote of Richmond, Irvine, and Three Fork to allow the railroad company $110,000 for railroad expansion
Folder 14: Richmond, Nicholasville, Irvine, and Beattyville Railroad, 1896: A letter from Ben Wilcox to Grant Lilly discussing land distribution for the railroad.
Folder 15: Richmond, Nicholasville, Irvine, and Beattyville Railroad, 1893: Contains an indenture agreement between the Lilly family and the railroad.

Sub-Series 3: Bourbon Co. Court

Box 7

Folder 16: The City of Paris, a Municipal Corporation vs. Central Kentucky Natural Gas Co. and Kentucky Utilities Co., 1926: Court petition.

Sub-Series 4: Breathitt Co. Court

Box 7

Folder 17: Central Kentucky Lumber Mining Manufacturing and Transportation Company vs. Strong, 1885
Folder 18: Cundiff vs. Gabbard, Undated
Folder 19: Smith vs. Archer, 1882
Folder 20: Spencer vs. Cockrill et. al., 1882: Spencer Survey.
Folder 21: Transfer of Deed - Cockrill to Marcum, 1874
Folder 22: Transfer of Deed - Hogg to Williams, 1884
Folder 23: Miscellaneous, 1875 - 1878: Miscellaneous legal scrap papers from the Breathitt Co. Court

Sub-Series 5: Campbell Co. Court

Box 7

Folder 24: The Union Light, Heat and Power Co. vs. City of Fort Thomas, Undated

Sub-Series 6: Clark Co. Court

Box 7

Folder 25: Winchester vs. Central Kentucky Gas Company, 1925

Sub-Series 7: Clay Co. Court

Box 7

Folder 26: Adams vs. Gilbert, 1869
Folder 27: Commonwealth of Kentucky vs. A.B. Howard, 1891 - 1893
Folder 28: Crook vs. Adams, 1877
Folder 29: Potters vs. White, 1872

Sub-Series 8: Estill Co. Court

Box 7

Folder 30: Goff, Moore, and Townsend vs. Spencer, 1877
Folder 31: Court Order Book A, 1861 - 1871: Court Order Book, likely Circuit Court of Estill County. Contains daily proceedings and details of each small case.

Box 8

Barcode: 31234013924442

Folder 1: Employment Records, Undated: Employment contracts and records involving Grant E. Lilly as lawyer and as judge. The contracts note Grant's agreement to pursue suits or to defend client. A few of the contracts are not with Grant E. Lilly, but rather with Henry Clay Lilly. Those contracts contain similar conditions.
Folder 2: Estes vs. Tipton, 1875
Folder 3: Broaddus and West vs. Jackson, 1924 - 1928
Folder 4: By-Laws of the Estill General Utilities Company, 1912
Folder 5: Clark vs. Curtis, 1867
Folder 6: Copy of patents of Perry G. Cox, 1857
Folder 7: Cunningham vs. Clay, Undated
Folder 8: Cunningham vs. Estill, Undated
Folder 9: Capitol Hill Hotel, 1879 - 1880
Folder 10: Estill Springs, 1892
Folder 11: Estill County vs. Young, 1897
Folder 12: Gardner vs. Curtis, 1878
Folder 13: Greenway vs. Watson, 1937
Folder 14: Griffin vs. Flynn and Griffin vs. Carpenter, Turner, and Heberling, 1917 - 1919
Folder 15: Hoover vs. Trimble, 1918
Folder 16: Grant Lilly et. al. vs. C. Marcum, Undated: KY Court of Appeals.
Folder 17: John C. Mason Estate, 1872
Folder 18: McGuire vs. Lowther, Walker, and Flynn, 1919
Folder 19: McKinney vs. McKinney, Undated
Folder 20: Minutes of Meeting of Irvine City Council, January 23, 1923 - January 31, 1923
Folder 21: Moore vs. David Chenault & Madison National Bank of Richmond, 1880
Folder 22: Settlement with Harry Moore as guardian for Lunsford, 1878 - 1882
Folder 23: Mortgage: Noland and Kidwell, 1890
Folder 24: Norton vs. Norton, 1846
Folder 25: Puckett vs. Puckett, 1879
Folder 26: Skinner vs. Brunner, 1878
Folder 27: Stewart vs. Zeigler and Howell, 1917
Folder 28: Henry H. Thomas' Will, 1848
Folder 29: Transfer of Deed - Beaty to Peck, 1848
Folder 30: Transfer of Deed - Levi Hleim, 1877
Folder 31: Transfer of Deed - Horn to Rader, 1906 - 1912
Folder 32: Transfer of Deed - King to Ricemer, 1865
Folder 33: Transfer of Deed - Moore to Farthing and King, 1875
Folder 34: Transfer of Deed - W. P. Noland, 1879
Folder 35: Transfer of Deed - John Tipton to Thomas Campbell, 1882
Folder 36: White vs. Rankin, 1879
Folder 37: Reynolds vs. Dickenson, Undated
Folder 38: Miscellaneous, 1860 - 1924: Contains miscellaneous court scraps and documents from the Estill County Courthouse

Sub-Series 9: Fayette Co. Court

Box 8

Folder 39: Allen vs. Sams et. al., Undated
Folder 40: Harris, etc. vs. Central Kentucky Natural Gas, 1926
Folder 41: Kentucky Cities Gas vs. Central Kentucky Gas, 1928
Folder 42: Lexington vs. Central Kentucky Gas, 1927
Folder 43: Lexington Tribune, 1926
Folder 44: Payne et. al. vs. City of Lexington, Undated
Folder 45: Shannon vs. Louisville and Nashville Railroad, Undated

Sub-Series 10: Franklin County Court

Box 8

Folder 46: Shipp et.al. vs. Central Kentucky Natural Gas, et al., 1926

Sub-Series 11: Jackson Co. Court

Box 8

Folder 47: Seale vs. Evans, 1860

Sub-Series 12: Lee Co. Court

Box 8

Folder 48: Beatty vs. Dickenson et. Al., 1871

Box 9

Barcode: 31234013924459

Folder 1: Blackwell vs. Kelly, 1881
Folder 2: Dickerson vs. Bohannon, 1879
Folder 3: Flahaven Land Company, 1909
Folder 4: Goocey vs. Hopkins et. Al., 1917
Folder 5: Lunsford vs Stamper, 1878
Folder 6: Martin vs. Kelly, 1895
Folder 7: Mason vs. Kelly, 1896
Folder 8: McGuire vs. Brandenburgh, Undated
Folder 9: McGuire vs. McGuire, 1878
Folder 10: Morse vs. Barclay, 1877
Folder 11: Moore vs. Townsend, 1875
Folder 12: Preston, et. al. vs. Brandenburgh, et.al., 1883
Folder 13: Snowden vs. McGuire, 1878
Folder 14: Thacker vs. Crawford, et.al., 1879
Folder 15: Transfer of Deed - Crawford to Buckner, 1872
Folder 16: Zeigler and Howell vs. Hopkins, Hopkins, Putnam, and Hamilton, 1919

Sub-Series 13: Letcher Co. Court

Box 9

Folder 18: Francis vs. Lilly et. al., 1905 - 1909
Folder 19: Hogg vs. Mullins, 1868
Folder 20: Lilly vs. Hogg, 1910

Sub-Series 14: Madison Co. Court

Box 9

Folder 21: Elizabeth Irvine Will, 1920
Folder 22: Irvine's Executor vs. D.I. White, et.al, 1921 - 1939
Folder 23: Eli C. Cornelison Will, 1885
Folder 24: John W. Crooke, Bankrupt, 1934
Folder 25: Fain vs. Young, 1911
Folder 26: Gardner vs. Curtis, 1878
Folder 27: W. I. Greenway vs. Irvine's Executor, Undated
Folder 28: Greenway, et.al. vs. Irvine's Executor, 1929 - 1930
Folder 29: Harris vs. Paperton, 1909
Folder 30: Irvine's Executor to Greenway, et.al., 1934
Folder 31: Kentucky Land and Immigration Co. vs. Sloane, 1892
Folder 32: Land Office Treasury Warrant, Undated
Folder 33: Lilly vs. Moore, 1880
Folder 34: Lilly vs. Walker, 1929
Folder 35: Oldham vs. Price, 1872
Folder 36: Opinion on the Irvine Will, 1921
Folder 37: Prison Rules, Undated
Folder 38: Smith to Parks, Land Survey, 1875
Folder 39: Transfer of Deeds. Includes many different copies of deed transfers in Madison County, Undated
Folder 40: W.I. Greenway vs. D.I. White, Undated

Box 10

Barcode: 31234013924467

Folder 1: Estate of W.I. Greenway, 1929
Folder 2: W.I. Greenway Will, 1926
Folder 3: Transfer of Deed - McGowan to Lilly, 1907
Folder 4: Transfer of Deed - Million and Smith to Blanton-Congleton Lumber Co., 1910
Folder 5: Transfer of Deed - Morris to Scott, 1905
Folder 6: Walker vs. Walker, 1904
Folder 7: Walker, et.al vs. Irvine's Executors, Undated
Folder 8: D.I. White vs. W.I. Greenway, 1924
Folder 9: D.I. White vs. Irvine's Executor, 1923
Folder 10: Sara I. White Will, 1907
Folder 11: Susan McDowell White Will, 1923
Folder 12: Marriage bond and certificate for Grant Lilly and Anna McGinn (Lilly), 1893
Folder 13: Court of Appeals of Kentucky: James Greenway vs. C.R. Watson, 1934
Folder 14: Miscellaneous, Undated: Miscellaneous legal documents and scraps, from both Grant Lilly as well as his father
Folder 15: Miscellaneous, Undated: Miscellaneous court cases
Folder 16: Miscellaneous, Undated: Miscellaneous land surveys
Folder 17: Miscellaneous, Undated: Miscellaneous copies of transfers of deeds

Sub-Series 15: Montgomery Co. Court

Box 10

Folder 18: Doe vs. Faulkner, 1885
Folder 19: Transfer of Deed- O'Rear to Pitts, 1883

Sub-Series 16: Morgan Co. Court

Box 10

Folder 20: Johnson vs. Morgan, 1858

Sub-Series 17: Owsley Co. Court

Box 10

Folder 21: Bowman vs. Seale, Undated
Folder 22: McGrise vs. McGrise, 1869
Folder 23: Moore vs. Bennett, 1868
Folder 24: Rose vs. Duff and Crawford, 1870
Folder 25: Seale vs. Brandenburgh, 1876
Folder 26: Thomas vs. Bowman, 1867
Folder 27: Transfer of Deed - Breck to Kincaid, 1882

Sub-Series 18: Perry Co. Court

Box 10

Folder 28: Williams vs. Godsey, 1870
Folder 30: Petition endorsing Grant E. Lilly for political office, 1898: Petition endorsing Grant E. Lilly for political office
Folder 29: Wilson vs. Smith, 1832

Sub-Series 19: Powell Co. Court

Box 10

Folder 31: Benningfield Petition, 1870
Folder 32: Blevins vs. Smith, et. al., 1825
Folder 33: Stewart vs. Adams, Undated
Folder 34: Transfer of Deed - Kincaid to Spencer, 1875
Folder 35: Miscellaneous, Undated: Miscellaneous legal documents, scraps, and materials from the Powell County Court

Sub-Series 20: Wolfe Co. Court

Box 10

Folder 37: Drake vs. Limmons, 1879
Folder 38: Hollon vs. Cockersham, Undated
Folder 39: Simmons vs. Hurst, 1885
Folder 40: Spellman vs. Sueago, 1878: Spellman vs. Sueago
Folder 41: Miscellaneous, Undated: Miscellaneous legal documents, scraps, and materials from the Wolfe County Court.

Box 11

Barcode: 31234013924475

Folder 1: Miscellaneous Legal, Undated: Miscellaneous legal documents, scraps, unfinished documents, and materials from Grant Lilly as well as his father
Folder 2: Miscellaneous Legal, Undated: Miscellaneous legal documents, scraps, unfinished documents, and materials from Grant Lilly as well as his father