Judge James F. Askew
JUDGE JAS. F. ASKEW. The Delegate from Scott County to the Fourth Constitutional Convention, Held in Frankfort, September 28, 1899. As stated elsewhere in this history that Colonel Johnson's last marriage was to Mrs. Anne Darnaby Clayton, to which union one child was born - Miss Annie Johnson - who married Judge James F. Askew, whose likeness appears above, and who was the delegate from Scott county to the last convention at which the present and most important Constitution of the State was made and adopted. Miss Johnson was one of the prettiest and most stylish young ladies of the county. As a married lady she is one of the most attractive, beautiful, stylish and accomplished, not only in Scott County, but in the State. She possesses that rare beauty and youthful appearance that the daughters of no other State but Kentucky possess - always smiling, always sociable, always kind, always charitable, and will always be loved by all who know her. Judge and Mrs. Askew reside in a beautiful home, "Daisyfield," in the county, situated on the Cincinnati Pike, about 2 miles from the city of Georgetown, the Judge goes to and from his home to his office daily. They have four children - two daughters, Louise and Anne and two sons, Johnson and Jamie. Judge Askew is not only one of the ablest members of the Scott County Bar, but he is without a doubt and so recognized as one of the leading lawyers of the State. He is a man possessing a broad mind, liberal views, and is at all times honest, faithful, conservative, and enjoys a spendid practice. He has held several county offices, and each time filled them with honor to himself and credit to his party. While a member of the Constitutional convention he was so extensively admired as a statesman and a scholar that the following notice was taken of him by the leading daily papers in the State. It was in this Constitutional convention that the manner of voting in Kentucky was changed from the old viva voce way of voting to that of the secret ballot, what was then called "The Australian System." He was opposed to the change and made a hard flght urging that it first be tried for a few years before its adoption, as the permanent way of voting. He was indefatigable in his efforts to convince the members of its cost to the tax-payers of the State, and its detriment to the party, all of which has occurred since it was adopted as the manner of voting. Below will be found some mention of him as a delegate of that convention, which is sufficient evidence of his ability.
THE B.O. GAINES HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY, Vol. 1, page 91, B.O. Gaines, B.O. Gaines Press, 1905.
Judge Jas. F. Askew - A pen sketch as given by the Courier-Journal:
Judge James F. Askew, delegate elect to the Constitutional Convention from
Scott County, was born in Mercer County, Ky, January 3, 1844. He was pursuing
his studies at Kentucky University, then located at Harrodsburg, when the
war came on and he enlisted on the Confederate side. At the close of the
war he removed to Georgetown and studied law, and has been practicing his
profession there for the last twenty years. Soon after his coming to
Georgetown he was elected Police Judge of the town, but at the close of his
term declined to stand for re-election. In 1873 he was appointed Master
Commissioner of the Court by Judge B. F. Buckner, then Circuit Judge of
that district, now of Louisville, and has filled the position continuously
since that time. He has never been an officeseeker, in the common
acceptation of the term. He is conscientious, pains-taking gentleman, and
ranks high in his profession. His wife is a daughter of the late Gen.
William Johnson, who represented Scott county in the last Constitutional
Convention.
Duplicated from the Kentucky Biographies Project, 1997.