1852 - 1928
Banker, Hemp and Tobacco Merchant.
William J. Loughridge was born in Lee County, Mississippi during 1852 came to Lexington in 1870 to enroll in Transylvania University. After graduation, her returned home in 1874. In 1877, he returned to Lexington to engage in farming and during 1883, he entered the hemp business with his father-in-law, William W. Bruce. The Bruce family was one of the oldest hemp dealers in Kentucky.
In 1903, Mr. Loughridge became a Vice President of the Blue Grass Tobacco Company and President of the Burley Looseleaf Tobacco Warehouse. During 1904, he incorporated his hemp business as American Hemp Company and established offices in Richmond, Nicholasville, Versailles, Stanford and Lancaster. During 1883, Mr. Loughridge became a founding director of the Third National Bank and was elected President in 1903, serving until 1909. He died during June 1928.
