1859 - 1931
Contractor and Businessman.
Louis des Cognets was born in Lexington, Kentucky on March 6, 1859. He became associated with the private bank of Grinstead & Bradley, serving as a teller, but left in 1883 to engage in coal retailing and mining (under the name Lexington Coal & Coke). His firm was one of the largest in Kentucky, with offices in Cincinnati and New York City. Later, Mr. des Cognets established Louis des Cognets Company, the largest highway contractor in the South.
Mr. desCognets was a founder of the Phoenix Hotel Company, Fayette Interurban Traction Company, Lexington Railway Company (President), Lexington Ice Manufacturing Company and Lexington Gas Company. He also served as a director of the Second National Bank for a short time.
In 1905 Mr. des Cognets became a director of the Lexington City National Bank, serving after the mergers in 1913 and 1929 of the First & City National Bank and First National Bank, respectively. He was also a director of the Security Trust Company and Kentucky Joint Stock Land Bank. He died on March 9, 1931.
