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The death of Capt. L. D. Hockersmith, in April, 1915, removed an intersting figure, for he was the last survivor of those daring raiders of Morgan's who made their last escape from the prison at Columbus, Ohio. Of the whole seventy who were in that prison at the time, only two survive-Gen. Basil Duke and Ex-Governor McCreary, of Kentucky.

Captain Hockersmith was born in Lawrenceburg, Ky., but went to Louisvile when a few years old; and at the age of twenty-two he located in Madisonville and there plied his trade as a brick mason, becoming one of the best of his calling. When the war came on he went to Tennessee and joined John Morgan's command. He was a third lieutenant, but later was made captain of Company C, 10th Kentucky Cavalry. He was one of the guard of honor at the marriage of General Morgan to Miss Ready, of Murfreesboro. He followed Morgan in that noted raid into Ohio and was captured, with the greater part of the command, and taken to Johnson's Island, but later sent to Columbus, where the officers were confined. It was Captain Hockersmith who discovered that there was some sort of passageway under the prison, and he started the work of cutting through the cement floor with an old case knife. The plan worked all right, the men taking turns in working at night until an opening was made into the old tunnel, and their escape was easy.

Captain Hockersmith was not only a brave soldier, but it is perhaps as a citizen that his life shines out best. He had been a devoted member of the Methodist Church for more sixty years and was a Mason and Shriner. No man who ever lived in Madisonville was more genuinly loved and respected by all.