Kenton Library Archives

05/28/2026

05/28/2026

Stories from the Covington High School Class of 1876

John E Stevenson
by Cierra Earl

One hundred years after the singing of the Declaration of Independence, John E. Stevenson graduated from Covington High School.

John E. Stevenson, doesn’t show up in any other newspapers, census records, or directories. A mystery! We do know he would have been born around 1856-1858. We searched for possibilities and looked at several different John Stevenson’s in Covington that matched that age range. The strongest possibility is the son of Dr. John E. Stevenson. His son John Stevenson was the right age - but went by John S. Stevenson throughout his life.

John S. Stevenson, was born September 12, 1857 to Mary (nee Schuler) Stevenson. His father Dr. Stevenson was a prominent physician in Covington who practiced eclectic medicine. In 1877, a year after John S. graduated, John S. Stevenson was admitted to practice law in the Criminal Court in Kenton County.

John S. never married. He lived with his siblings and parents in Covington on Wright Street, and John Street. He died August 13, 1929, at the age of 71 and is buried in the Schuler/Stevenson family lot at Linden Grove Cemetery.

05/25/2026

Happy Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month!

Our programmer, Jacob Hogue, is uncovering the often-overlooked history of Chinese immigration to Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. In his forthcoming articles for Northern Kentucky Heritage Magazine, he explores the lives, struggles, and contributions of Chinese immigrants who made their homes in the region far earlier than many realize—challenging long-held assumptions about who shaped our local history.

One such story is that of 14-year-old Pong Dock, an American-born student of Chinese descent who attempted to enroll in Covington Public Schools in 1913. His presence sparked controversy among white residents, some of whom argued that he should be forced to attend the city’s segregated Black school simply because he was not of European ancestry. Local newspapers like the Kentucky Post and the Kentucky Times-Star sensationalized the debate, exposing the rigid and often arbitrary racial boundaries of the era.

05/22/2026

In the spring of 1926, Northern Kentucky newspapers were profiling one of Campbell County’s most visible civic figures, Mrs. Marie Haller.

Though often identified in public life under her husband’s name, the paper notes that “the law holds she must use her own given name,” and from that point forward she is referred to as Mrs. Marie Haller.

At the time, she was described as “possibly the best advertised woman in Northern Kentucky,” with a long record of civic leadership stretching back before the First World War. Her public service included involvement in the Speers Hospital drive, Red Cross work during the war, selling large quantities of war savings stamps and Liberty Bonds, and participating in food conservation efforts. After the war, she organized relief drives and community service initiatives across Campbell County. She also helped found the Campbell County Women’s Club and served as its first president.

The article also highlights her political views, noting her support for revisiting Prohibition laws. She stated that while she believed in obedience to the U.S. Constitution, Prohibition had become “unenforceable,” contributing to disrespect for the law and broader social disorder—therefore it should be “modified or repealed.”

05/20/2026

Stories from the Covington High School Class of 1876

Greer Simrall
by Jessica Johnson

Alexander Greer Simrall, or “A.G.” as he would later be called, was born June 4, 1859 in Covington to William Ferguson Simrall and Laurena Greer. He was the first-born, and would be followed by seven siblings: Louis, Susan, Charles, Frances, John, Mary, and Leonard.

Greer graduated with the class of 1876 from Covington High School. The Cincinnati Enquirer described him as “unquestionably the handsome boy of the class. He has a superb head and his voice is sonorous and well-modulated”. He would then go on to attend the Law School of Cincinnati College.

On October 26, 1880, Greer married Sadie Forman Elliott, daughter of Thomas Elliott, a civil war veteran who perished of exposure in the Dakota frontier, and Mary Ford. The family became attendees of Trinity Episcopal Church. Three children would be born: Louise, William, and Marie.

In 1882, his father William and the Simrall family moved to Dakota, along with Greer and his wife. There, they experienced the tragedy of the death of Louis to cholera in 1885. After returning to Kentucky in 1887, the Simrall & Simrall insurance company was established.

Greer would later form A.G. Simrall & Co., then the Simrall Real Estate and Insurance Company. While on a trip with family to Ashville, North Carolina, he fell and developed complications. He died on August 23, 1930. Returned home, Greer was buried in Highland Cemetery. Sadie would join him in 1952.

Greer left behind a great legacy. He was one of the founding residents of Ft. Mitchell, having drawn up the papers of incorporation. Other achievements include being a founding member of the Ft. Mitchell Country Club, the president of the Local Fire Agent’s Association, and the first president of Big I Kentucky, an independent insurance agents association. He also helped develop the Barrington Woods and Wallace Avenue subdivisions. A.G. Simrall was known as a leader in the business, civic, and social communities in Northern Kentucky.

05/18/2026

Local author and Kenton County Public Library employee Jacob Hogue will present a book signing and author talk celebrating the release of Cincinnati Before Stonewall: The Untold Q***r History of the Queen City.

Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 6 PM
Covington Branch

05/18/2026

Happy Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month!

Our programmer, Jacob Hogue, is uncovering the overlooked history of Chinese immigration to Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. His forthcoming articles in Northern Kentucky Heritage Magazine explore the lives, struggles, and contributions of Chinese immigrants who settled in the region far earlier than many realize.

Among them is Loy Sing, a prominent Cincinnati laundryman in the late 19th century whose life was unusually well documented. Described as intelligent and adaptable, he became one of the first local Chinese residents photographed for Geary Act registration records, served as an intermediary between Chinese communities and authorities, and later faced federal accusations related to immigration enforcement. His story reflects both the visibility and vulnerability of Chinese immigrants navigating discrimination, surveillance, and community life in Cincinnati.