My Genealogy Hound

A. R. MULLINS was born in Kenton County, Ky., near Covington, May 20, 1846, and is the younger of two children born to G. M. and Susan (Rich) Mullins. G. M. Mullins was born in Pendleton County, Ky., March 15, 1810, and for many years was a dealer in general merchandise in his native county, but was also a teacher and farmer. He died April 21, 1881. He was the son of Stephen and Nancy (Thrasher) Mullins, of Virginia. Stephen Mullins, who was a farmer and stock trader, represented Kenton County in the Legislature several terms. Stephen was the son of Gabriel Mullins, of Virginia, and was of Irish origin. The mother of our subject was born in Kenton County, and is the daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Rittenhouse) Rich. A. R. Mullins grew up on a farm, where he remained until sixteen years of age. He began life without a dollar, and while a young man taught three schools, but later in life he embarked into speculation in cattle and hogs, which he continued two years. In March, 1865, he located in Covington with $200 borrowed money, and purchased a livery stable, which business he engaged in several months. He next embarked in the retail grocery business, which he continued in one year with little success. He had paid his indebtedness and accumulated a handsome sum of money, with which he embarked into the live-stock business again on a large scale. From 1866 to 1871 he followed the livestock business very industriously, working day and night, often getting up at 2 A.M. and retiring at a late hour of the night. In addition to his livestock business he found time, and had accumulated means enough, to go into the wholesale liquor business, which he was engaged in two years of this time. Apart of this time he was in partnership with McDannold, but bought him out in 1871, and continued the business until 1874 on his own account, and with great success. He then formed a partnership with L. N. Crigler, and embarked in an enterprise which had hitherto been beyond his means — the wholesale liquor business — in which he bought the entire whisky crops from many distilleries. In this business his profits were very large, and his financial success until the present time has been very great. In 1883 he engaged in general insurance, real estate and note brokerage, under the firm name of W. R. Dulaney & Co., and in October, 1887, he purchased Mr. Dulaney’s interest, and then ran the business under the firm name of A. R. Mullins & Co. He owns considerable stock in the Covington stock yards, and helped to organize the Farmers’ and Traders’ National Bank, of Covington (in fact, was the first person to mention and work it up), which was erected in 1882. In addition to all of these enterprises he owns and cultivates 200 acres of land. From starting a poor boy without a dollar, he has become one of the wealthiest and most prominent citizens of the city of Covington. Mr. Mullins was married, October 16, 1866, to Miss Fannie Cummins, of Boone County, Ky., daughter of Preston Cummins. Mr. and Mrs. Mullins are members of the Christian Church, and Mr. Mullins is a Knight Templar, of Covington Commandery, No. 7. Mr. Mullins, whose life has eminently been a financial success, has not taken any prominent part in politics, but always votes with the Republicans. There have been no children born to him, but Mr. and Mrs. Mullins have adopted a little girl, Lulu Hardesty, still living, the daughter of Mrs. Mullins’ deceased sister. This little child was born February 8, 1880, and Mr. and Mrs. Mullins took her to their home on February 9, 1884, she being four years old at that time. They are perfectly devoted to Lulu, and she is a bright little darling.