General Notes

Estienne (or Stephen) Chenault the pioneer, the Chenaults were French Huguenots


CHRISTOPHER DAVID CHENAULT
Lexington is a monument to the combined efforts of many men of determination, enterprise and ability and in this classification belonged Christopher David Chenault, who was long numbered among the city's leading financiers. He was a railroad builder as well, and a recognized leader in political circles of Kentucky. He was a man of resourceful nature, varied talents and pronounced public spirit, and his was a successful career in the highest sense of the term.

Mr. Chenault was born May 22, 1846, in Madison county, Kentucky, and was a member of one of the oldest families of the south. He was a descendant of Stephen Chenault, who was a follower of John Calvin and owing to religious persecution left his home in southern France about 1700 in company with his wife. He was the founder of the family in America and was one of the colony of two hundred Huguenots who received from the colonial government of Virginia a grant of land in Monikin Town, then in Powhattan county, but now included within the boundaries of Goochland county. From that original seat they and others of the same extraction have spread to all parts of the country, winning respect and honor wherever they have gone. Among the children of Stephen Chenault was Hugo, whose son, Hugo, Jr., married a Miss Dabney or D'Aubigne. They were the parents of William Chenault, who chose Elizabeth Mullins as his wife, and their son, William, Jr., married Susanna Phelps. They became the parents of Waller Chenault, who was joined in wedlock to Talitha Harris, and to their union was born a son, Christopher David Chenault. Talitha Harris was a daughter of Overton and Nancy Harris. When Henry Clay made his famous speech on home industries while a member of the United States senate he wore a suit of jeans, fashioned for him by Nancy Harris. They were composed of wool sheared from sheep presented to her by Senator Clay, and she spun the wool, wove the cloth and made the suit.

When but five years old Mr. Chenault received instruction from Governor McCullough, and his studies were continued under John L. Waller at Green Hill Academy, a school located on the home farm and built especially by his father, General C. M. Clay, Samuel Bennett and Joseph Chenault for the education of their children. He was next taught by William and Jason W. Chenault and completed his education at Harrodsburg, Kentucky, at the age of fifteen. The Civil war was then in progress and the battle of Richmond had been won by Kirby Smith. Having resolved to enter the Confederate army as a member of Chenault's Brigade, he went as far as Richmond at the time of the retreat from Kentucky, but was persuaded by his brother, Captain Joe Chenault, to return home and care for his mother and the family of six younger children. After the southern army retreated the federal authorities ordered his arrest and, acting on information given him by his cousin, John Bennett, Mr. Chenault left immediately for Ohio. He completed a course in bookkeeping and banking at the Bartlett Commercial College in Cincinnati and as soon as it was safe returned home. He took charge of the books of Burton & Holloway, owners of a large dry goods establishment in Richmond, but the work proved uncongenial and he returned to the farm. He abandoned agricultural pursuits in 1870 and entered the Madison National Bank at Richmond in the capacity of bookkeeper. His worth was soon recognized and at the end of two years he was promoted to the responsible position of cashier, which he filled for about thirty years. In 1902 he brought his family to Lexington and soon afterward became cashier of the National Exchange Bank, which was subsequently merged with the Central Bank. The new organization started with a capital of six hundred thousand dollars and adopted the name of the Lexington Bank & Trust Company, of which Mr. Chenault was chosen cashier. He gave to the corporation the services of an expert and his connection with the institution brought to it additional prestige. Subsequently the business was consolidated with that of the