Asher G. Caruth

Asher G. Caruth
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 5th district
In office March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1895
Preceded by	Albert S. Willis
Succeeded by	Albert S. Berry
Personal details
Born	(1844-02-07)February 7, 1844 Scottsville, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	November 25, 1907(1907-11-25) (aged 63) Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Resting place	Cave Hill Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Ella Terry ​ (m. 1871)​
Alma mater	University of Louisville School of Law
Profession	Lawyer

Asher Graham Caruth (February 7, 1844 – November 25, 1907) was a U.S. Representative from Kentucky.

Early life and family

Asher G. Caruth was born in Scottsville, Kentucky, on February 7, 1844.^[1] He was the third child born to Henry Clay and Mary (Mansfield) Caruth.^[2]

Caruth attended the public schools of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, before graduating from the high school of Louisville in June 1864.^[3] Later that year, he became the law librarian of the city of Louisville.^[4] He matriculated to the law department of the University of Louisville (now the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law), graduating in March 1866.^[1] He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.^[1] While there, he established the Kentucky Weekly New Era newspaper.^[1]

On February 23, 1871, Caruth married Ella Terry.^[3]

Political career

Caruth moved to Louisville in 1871 and continued the practice of law.^[1] From 1873 to 1880, he was annually elected attorney of the Board of Trustees of the Louisville Public Schools.^[3] In 1876, he served as a Democratic presidential elector for the ticket of Samuel J. Tilden and Thomas Andrews Hendricks.^[3] In 1880, he was elected Commonwealth's Attorney for the ninth judicial district of Kentucky for a six-year term.^[1] He was re-elected without opposition in 1886.^[3]

Caruth resigned as Commonwealth's Attorney in March 1887 after being elected to represent the Fifth District in the U.S. House of Representatives.^[3] He served in the Fiftieth and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1895).^[1] He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1894.^[1]

Later life and death

After his tenure in Congress, Caruth resumed the practice of law in Louisville.^[1] He served as judge of the criminal division of the Jefferson County Circuit Court in 1902.^[1] He served as commissioner of the St. Louis Exposition in 1904.^[1] He died in Louisville on November 25, 1907, and was interred in Cave Hill Cemetery.^[1]

References

1. "Caruth, Asher Graham". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
2. McAfee, p. 49
3. Biographical Cyclopedia, p. 125
4. McAfee, p. 50

Bibliography

• Biographical Cyclopedia of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Chicago, Illinois: J.M. Gresham Company. 1896.

• United States Congress. "Asher G. Caruth (id: C000208)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• McAfee, John J. (1886). Kentucky politicians : sketches of representative Corncrackers and other miscellany. Louisville, Kentucky: Press of the Courier-Journal job printing company.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Albert S. Willis	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 5th congressional district March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1895	Succeeded by Walter Evans

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress