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Note: Peter McArthur immigrated to America from Argylshire, Scotland in 1784. (He probably came to New York since there is a listing for a Peter McArthur in the 1790 census for New York State in Montgomery co). He later settled near Georgetown, Ky. He worked as a surveyor to locate land grants of revolutionary war soldiers. His cousin Duncan McArthur did this also. Did they work together?
Peter married a widow Mary Michie Tompkins in December of 1800. (her husband, William Tompkins, lived only a short time after their marriage) Mary was born in Louisa co., Virginia which is not far from where Thomas Jefferson lived. Peter and Mary must have been very Patriotic since they named two of their children after presidents, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. These men were president when Peter and Mary's sons were born.
In 1815, the family moved to Newport, Ky where Peter operated a Hotel. During this time he was appointed surveyor for the streets of Newport. He died in July of 1828 and is buried in the McArthur plot in Evergreen Cemetery in Newport.
Peter's son James Madison later became a prominent man in Newport and in Kentucky politics. He began investing and trading in real estate in Campbell county. At one time he actually owned more that one-third of the land in the county. (in the 1850 census, he is listed as a S.B. Capt. [Steam Boat captain?] and as owning 60,000 acres). He established the Newport safety fund bank and it was his generous spirit which led the bank to make too many loans, resulting in the failure of the banking institution. His ardor was not dampened however, and in 1848 he moved to Dayton, Ky where he helped plan the city. He was elected to the Kentucky state legislature twice, once in 1846 and once in 1873.
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