- Joined
- May 12, 2010
- Location
- Now Florida but always a Kentuckian
John B. Castleman was born on June 30, 1841 at Castleman Farm in Lexington, Ky. This farm bred Thoroughbreds and then went on to breeding Saddle Horses. He left Transylvania College and joined John Hunt Morgan's Men in 1862 It was during his escapades with Morgan that he recognized the Saddlebred horse was capable of outlasting other horses and he saw they could maintain its noble statue under tremendous stress.
Castleman lead mission to free POW's from Camp Douglas and the burning of U.S. supply boats in St. Louis. He was captured and charged with being a spy and sentenced to death. His execution was suspended by President Lincoln and he was finally pardoned in 1866 by President Johnson.
Many of the solders in John Hunt Morgan's units preferred Saddlebred horses. They were influenced by Castleman.He was one of the experts on fine horses.
After the war Castleman settled in Louisville, Ky. He studied law, established an insurance company and revised the Louisville Militia Unit. The unit volunteered for service during the Spanish American War. They invaded Puerto Rico and John B. Castleman was appointed Governor.
He later served two stints as Kentucky Adjutant General and was founder of Louisville's Park Department.
All during this time he was interested and bred Saddle horses. He started the National Saddle Horse Breeder's Association and was elected its president in April, 1899. He was also responsible for beginning a large horse show in Louisville, Ky. in 1900. The tradition of the show continues today with the Kentucky State Fair's World Championships.
In Louisville, a statue of General John B. Castleman and his horse, Carolina stands in the Cherokee Triangle. General Castleman was an imposing figure on his horse. He stood six foot and three inches tall and weighted 200 lbs. His horse Carolina was a real beauty. This statute shows both of them at their best. The statute was built in 1913 and is only one of two equestrian statutes in the State of Kentucky. The other is to honor General John Hunt Morgan on his horse, Black Bess in Lexington, Kentucky..
Castleman lead mission to free POW's from Camp Douglas and the burning of U.S. supply boats in St. Louis. He was captured and charged with being a spy and sentenced to death. His execution was suspended by President Lincoln and he was finally pardoned in 1866 by President Johnson.
Many of the solders in John Hunt Morgan's units preferred Saddlebred horses. They were influenced by Castleman.He was one of the experts on fine horses.
After the war Castleman settled in Louisville, Ky. He studied law, established an insurance company and revised the Louisville Militia Unit. The unit volunteered for service during the Spanish American War. They invaded Puerto Rico and John B. Castleman was appointed Governor.
He later served two stints as Kentucky Adjutant General and was founder of Louisville's Park Department.
All during this time he was interested and bred Saddle horses. He started the National Saddle Horse Breeder's Association and was elected its president in April, 1899. He was also responsible for beginning a large horse show in Louisville, Ky. in 1900. The tradition of the show continues today with the Kentucky State Fair's World Championships.
In Louisville, a statue of General John B. Castleman and his horse, Carolina stands in the Cherokee Triangle. General Castleman was an imposing figure on his horse. He stood six foot and three inches tall and weighted 200 lbs. His horse Carolina was a real beauty. This statute shows both of them at their best. The statute was built in 1913 and is only one of two equestrian statutes in the State of Kentucky. The other is to honor General John Hunt Morgan on his horse, Black Bess in Lexington, Kentucky..