My Genealogy Hound

HON. W. W. CLEARY was born in Lexington, Ky., September 17, 1831, and is a son of John R. and Mary (Connell) Cleary. John R. Cleary was born in County Limerick, Ireland, in 1806; he immigrated to the United States about1821, settled in Jessamine County, Ky., and subsequently moved to Lexington, Fayette Co., Ky. He was a prominent merchant in Lexington for a number of years, and died in 1880. His wife was a native of New York City. W. W. Cleary was reared in Lexington, attended the Transylvania University, and graduated in 1849; then attended the law school, was admitted to the bar in 1851, and in 1852 went to Cynthiana, Ky., opened a law office, and pursued his profession diligently and successfully. In 1856 he was elected county attorney of Harrison County, and acted one term, and from 1859 to 1861 he represented Harrison County in the Legislature. He embraced the cause of the South at the commencement of the war, and after some service in the army went to Richmond, Va., and was employed in the war office until 1864, when he was appointed secretary of a commission sent to Canada, which consisted of Hons. Jacob Thompson, of Mississippi, and C. C. Clay, of Alabama. Mr. Cleary remained in Canada until 1869, then returned to Cynthiana, Ky., and engaged in his profession, and in 1871 was elected county judge of Harrison County. In 1873 he removed to Covington, and opened a law office; in 1874 was elected commonwealth’s attorney, was re-elected in 1880 and again in 1886. He was married to Miss Anna Wherritt, of Harrison County, Ky., daughter of Percy Wherritt, who has held the office of county clerk in Harrison County for a number of years. Mr. Cleary is the father of four living children: Walter, Edwin, Jacob Thompson and Sallie. Walter is now located in Garden City, Kas.; he is a special land agent and attorney at law. Edwin is in London, England, an actor of considerable fame. Jacob Thompson is in Garden City, Kas., with his brother Walter. Judge Cleary, wife, and all the children are strict members of the Catholic Church. As a judge Mr. Cleary was quite popular, always endeavoring to cultivate a spirit of friendship and compromise between litigants. He is a gentleman of pleasing manners, and a great favorite with all who know him.