On May 21, 1867, in Shelbyville, Amanda Owsley Stanley, wife of William Stanley, gave birth to a son, Augustus, who would become governor of Kentucky.  Amanda was the niece of William Owsley, Kentucky's sixteenth governor and his father a Minister of the Disciples of Christ. Augustus graduated from Centre College in 1889.  He served as principal of Mackville Academy, read law and was admitted to the bar in 1894.  He established his law practice in Flemingsburg. Stanley, a Democrat, ran for the office of Fleming County attorney in 1897 and was defeated.  He moved to Henderson and on April 29, 1903, married Sue Soaper and had three sons.  In 1902, Stanley, was elected to the U. S. House of Representatives, where he served five successive terms. In 1915, he announced his candidacy for the nomination for governor.  He was elected over Republican Edwin P. Morrow, who was a close friend of Stanley's.  When Senator Ollie M. James died, Stanley became a candidate to succeed him and won.  He resigned as governor and headed for Washington where he served in the Senate until March 3, 1925.  He lost his bid for reelection and opened a law practice in Washington. Augustus Owsley Stanley died in Washington, D.C. on August 13, 1958 and buried with his wife and sons in the Frankfort Cemetery.

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