USA > Kentucky > Christian County > County of Christian, Kentucky : historical and biographical > Part 18
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28
E. T. STEPHENS was born in Montgomery County, Tenn., on February 20, 1841, and is a son of James and Nancy (Forest) Stephens. The father was born in North Carolina, came to Tennessee when quite young, with his parents, and died in Houston County, Tenn., in July, 1880. The mother was born in Stewart County, Tenn., and died in Montgomery County, on June 6, 1856. Our subject was next to the youngest of eleven children, of whom seven are now living, viz .: Mrs. Theresa A. Jobe, in Dixon County, Tenn .; Sophronia J. Grimes, in Graves County, Ky .; John W., in Montgomery County, Tenn .; Francis M., in Trigg County, Ky .; James H. Stephens, in this county ; Mrs. Amanda A. Brown, in Montgomery County, Tenn., and Eldridge T., our
521
LAFAYETTE PRECINCT.
subject. The schools of his native county furnished the latter liis means of education. When about fourteen he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until 1867. In that year he turned his attention to farming and settled on his present place, where he now owns about 300 aeres, of which about 250 acres are in cultivation. Mr. Stephens was married in this county on March 28, 1867, to Miss Mary Jane Coleman (nee Reves). This lady is the daughter of Thomas and Mary B. (Col- lins) Reves, who were natives of Virginia, and early settlers in the coun- ty, and was born on February 9, 1821. Our subject was a soldier in the late war, having enlisted in May, 1861, in Company K, Fourteenth Ten- nessee Infantry, C. S. A. He was, however, wounded at the second battle of Manassas, and was subsequently detailed on light duty during the remainder of the war. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Stephens is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and also of Church Hill Grange, No. 109. He is also identified with the Democratic party.
DR. HENRY D. TUCK (deceased) was born in this precinct on December 3, 1835, and was a son of Dr. D. G. and Elizabeth M. (Tout) Tuck, natives of Mecklenburg County, Va., and emigrants to this county at an early date. Our subject was the fourth of nine children. His schooling was obtained in this county and in Montgomery County, Tenn. He then read medieine with his father two years, and then went to the Louisville Medical College. IIis health failed him, however ; he attend- ed only one session, and then returned to this county. Here he devoted his attention mainly to farming. October 6, 1858, he was married in this county to Miss Bettie J. Smith, a daughter of Dr. John and Bettie (Walton) Smith. IIer parents were natives of Granville County, N. C., and came to Fayette County, Tenn., in 1833. Mrs. Tuck was born in that county on October 11, 1835, and to her were born seven children, four of whom are still living : Davis G., Sallie A., Corrinne and Emma. Dr. Tuck, when he began life in this county, first settled in the eastern edge of the precinct, and in 1866 he came to the place now owned by Mrs. Tuck. Here he resided until his death, which occurred on Septem- ber 5, 1881. Ile was a member of the Masonic fraternity, also the Grange, and was a stanch member of the Lafayette Methodist Episcopal Church. IIe left a farm of about 1,000 acres, of which about 700 acres
.
522
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
are in cultivation. Mrs. Tuck is a member of the Old School Presbyterian Church, her family of the Methodist.
T. S. YOUNG was born in Garrettsburg Precinct, this county, on April 8, 1840, and is a son of IIenry and Elizabeth M. (Crenshaw) Young. The father was born in Granville County, N. C., on September 24, 1801. On January 11, 1829, he married Miss Elizabeth Crenshaw, who was born in Wade County on April 10, 1811. In 1830 the twain came to this county, and first settled in Garrettsburg Precinct. There the father resided until 1858, when he came to the farm new owned by subject. Here he died on January 1, 1862 ; the mother on February 15, 1871. Subject was the fifth of ten children, five of whom are now living, viz .: Addie C., T. S., H. A., Sallie B. and Alice W. The schools of this county furnished subject his means of education. He has always given his attention to farming, and now owns about 250 acres. In this county, on January 29, 1868, Mr. Young married Miss Sarah E. Wat- kins, a daughter of William G. and Emily (Moss) Watkins, natives of North Carolina. Mrs. Young was born on July 2, 1845, and is the mother of seven children, all of whom are living, viz .: Ada B., Mary L., Rosa L., William T., Augusta, Harry and Frank. Mr. Young enlisted in October, 1861, in Woodward's Company, or Oak Grove Rangers, as they were called, and remained in service until the close of the war. He served in many hard-fought battles, and was acting as body-guard for Jeff Davis when the latter was captured while trying to escape. Mr. Young, with most of his company, eluded capture. In politics he is a Democrat, and is a member of the Knights of Honor fraternity and a Granger.
UNION SCHOOLHOUSE PRECINCT.
JAMES M. ADAMS was born January 12, 1839, in Christian County, four miles from Hopkinsville, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Cayce) Adams. He was brought up on the farm, and upon arriving at manhood's estate commenced the business for himself. When the war broke out he concluded to attend school, and did so for a time, but the next fall visited Nashville, Ill., where he remained several months, and then returned home and bought his present place at Church Hill. A few years later he and a relative (by marriage) opened a store in partner- ship. They commenced on a small scale, and for two years conducted a successful business, when they dissolved partnership, and Mr. Adams as- sociated his brother with him, but in 1875 sold out. In 1880 he again embarked in merchandising, forming a partnership with J. E. Evans, which still continues. They carry a large stock of goods, and have an extensive trade. Mr. Adams was married, January 25, 1874, to Mary, a daughter of E. H. Siveley. They have four children : John E., Emily E., Rosalie and Charles D. Mr. and Mrs. Adams are both strict members of the church ; he is a charter member of Church Hill Grange.
WILLIAM E. ADCOCK was born in Buckingham County, Va., in 1846. He is the fourth of eleven children of Anthony and Martha E. (Saunders) Adcock. They died within four months of each other, Will- iam being then but sixteen years old. He remained at home until the age of twenty, securing a common school education. He then went to Nashville, T'enn., remaining there till the following spring. He engaged and worked in a brick-yard for four months for Mr. Alley, who paid him well, and desired him to remain, Having a friend named McCormick in Kentucky he came here, arriving without any money. For eight years he farmed on rented land, and applied himself strictly to his work. He then bought his present homestead of 2132 acres, at $15 per acre ; he afterward bought 130 acres more, of which he sold 104 acres the same day, reserving twenty-six acres. At another time he bought nineteen and
524
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
one-half acres, making in all 259} acres, and on it he erected a handsome two-story house in the fall of 1882. Mr. Adcock was married, in Novem- ber, 1871, to Miss Emma J., the eldest child of William Barklay and Jane (Campbell) Smithson. They have had six children : Williamn An- thony, Barbara Alice, Lee Campbell, Della Jane, George Hansford and Lois Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Adcock are members of the Methodist Church. He is a member of the Church Hill Grange.
COL. CHARLES B. ALEXANDER is a native of Breckinridge County, Ky., and a son of Charles B. and Elizabeth (Wilson) Alexander, the former a native of Loudoun County, Va., and the latter from the vicin- ity of Wheeling, Va. His father's family were : John, who died at Union- town, Ky .; Elizabeth (Mrs. William Hoffman), of Lake County, Cal .; Mary (Mrs. John D. Stevens), Yolo County, Cal .; Armstead M., who died in Breckinridge County ; Ann, who was drowned in the Sacramento River, California ; Charles B., the subject ; Julia, who died in Breckin- ridge County. The family moved to Kentucky and settled in Breekin- ridge County in 1818, and to Booneville, Cooper Co., Mo., in 1848. Col. Alexander was educated at a Catholic School in Breckinridge County ; he left school at the age of fourteen years, and escorted his three sisters to Cooper County, Mo., where his father had already moved. When the gold fever broke out in 1849, Col. Alexander, in company with others, crossed the plains with an ox-team, being four and a half months on the road. Their route was very nearly that after- ward of the Union Pacific Railroad. IIc remained in California a little more than three years, and in 1853 returned home from San Francisco, via the Isthmus of Panama, thence to New York. En route home he passed through Cincinnati, and there for the first time in his life heard " Woman's Rights " discussed by Lucy Stone and Mrs. Jenkins. In 1854 Col. Alexander made another trip to California, and took with him a drove of 350 head of cattle, proceeding by the same route of his first trip. Arriving in the Sacramento Valley he sold his cattle to the miners to good advantage. This was among the earliest ventures in the cattle trade of the West, now grown to gigantic proportions. He continued iu the cattle trade for three years, selling mostly to the miners, and doing a largo business. After his return from California the second time, he bought a farm in Cooper County, Mo., and under the firm of Majors,
.
525
UNION SCHOOLHOUSE PRECINCT.
Russell & Waddill, took a freight contraet during the Mormon difficulties, when Albert Sidney Johnston was Governor of Utah, and the Govern- ment was sending large amounts of military stores overland to Salt Lake City. When the war broke out in 1861 Col. Alexander joined the Con- federate army, under Gen. Sterling Price. He served as Captain at the battles of Booneville and Springfield, Mo., and at Lexington was pro- moted to Colonel of a regiment of troops from Cooper, Pettis and Saline Counties. He was captured with 600 raw recruits, mostly unarmed, at Blackwater, Mo., and kept a prisoner of war at various places ; finally at Fort Warren in Boston Harbor, until after the seven days' fighting before Richmond, when he was exchanged. He was then sent to the Trans- Mississippi Department, where he remained until the close of the war. The war left him, like thousands of others, with few earthly possessions, but his untiring energy is rapidly bringing him out of the poverty in which the war left him. Col. Alexander was married, June 14, 1866, to Mrs. Mary F. Jackson, daughter of Mrs. S. B. Lewis, who was a dangh- ter of Charles Brent, a merchant of Paris, Bourbon Co., Ky. Mrs. Alex- ander's family were among the pioneers of Kentucky ; her grandparents, the Lewises, came from Delaware, and settled in the central part of the State when it was only a district, Col. Isaac Baker, a cousin of her father, was in the Regular Army, and senior Colonel at the battle of New Orleans; Judge Joshua Baker, also a cousin, and still living in Louisiana, is the oldest living graduate of West Point.
E. H. ANDERSON was born in Todd County on January 2, 1848, the second of eight children of M. W. and Nancy F. Anderson, of Han- over County, Va. His father read medicine in Virginia, and graduated from the Transylvania University at Lexington, Ky. Marrying in 1845, in Virginia, he removed to Gallatin, Tenn., one year after moving to Todd County. Here he remained two years, and then came on to Christian County in the beginning of 1850. He died in St. Louis in 1863; his mother died here in 1871. Our subject resides on the old homestead, being part owner of the farm, heirs owning the rest. He was married, April 28, 1875, to Miss Emma B. Coffee, the sixth of seven children of Asa and Sidney Coffee, of Kentucky. There are three children living : Henry, Ernest and an infant daughter.
WILLIAM H. BOYD is the son of Littleton A. and Martha Ann
.
526
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
-
Boyd, and was born November 8, 1844, near Newstead in this county. * He was brought up on the farm ; his father died in Christian County, October 20, 1846 ; his mother is still living in Trigg County. Mr. Boyd (the subject), received the benefits of the schools of his neighborhood, and at the beginning of the civil war enlisted in the Confederate Army, where he served until the spring of 1865. Since then he has been actively en- gaged in farming. By hard work and economy he has acquired a com- fortable home, comprising 270 acres of land located one mile northeast of Newstead. He has been a member of the Church Hill Grange since June, 1881. Ile was married, November 1, 1871, to a daughter of James and Julia A. Carter, who was born in Christian County March 3, 1853. They have had five children, four of whom are living: Charley, Walter, Julia and Maggie. Bettie E. was born July 27, 1874, and died September 8, 1876. Mr. Boyd is a member of the Baptist Church, his wife of the Reformed Church.
JOHN A. BROWNING was born in Todd County, Ky., December 13, 1840, and is a son of Almond and Mary (Kirkman) Browning, the former a native of Logan, and the latter of Todd County. His father's family were among the early settlers of the country. Almond Brown- ing was a benevolent man, and a kind hearted and charitable one. John A., the subject, located on liis present place in November, 1871; the mother died at their old home in Todd County in 1882, and he then brought his aged father to live with him, where he died Jan- uary 14, 1884. Mr. Browning is a charter member of Church Hill Grange; was its Secretary some time, and two years its Master. In December, 1883, he was elected Secretary of the State Grange, which position he still holds. He was married, December 22, 1870, in Todd County, to Miss Sallie E., only child of Thomas and Lucinda Radford. They have had three children : Mary L., who died in infancy, Mattie S. and James A. Mr. and Mrs. Browning are members of the Methodist Church at Hebron.
FRANK B. CAMPBELL was born in the town of Hopkinsville June 17, 1834, and was there reared and educated. He is the fifth of nine children born to John P. and Mary A. Campbell (nee Buckner), both of whom were natives of Virginia. Ilis father, John P. Campbell, was an extensive tobacco dealer, and a man of sterling business qualities. For
-
527
UNION SCHOLHOUSE PRECINCT.
many years he was an active member of the Baptist Church, and was frequently chosen to represent them in the Bethel Annual Association, embracing the counties of Christian, Montgomery, Todd, Logan, Simpson and others. lle died in 1867. To those not favored with a personal acquaintance with John P. Campbell, no definite pen-picture can be pre- sented. He was tall, weighing about 190 pounds, fair complexion, with blue eyes, from which beamed forth the love which was so lavishly be- stowed upon his family and friends. The Hopkinsville Republican of November 10, 1881, pays him the following tribute: "One of the most remarkable men buried in the Hopkinsville Cemetery was Capt. John P. Campbell, for many years President of the Bank of Kentucky of this place; the owner and active manager of several large farms, and a large number of slaves; a heavy operator in tobacco, and a successful man of affairs ; his tall, crect, well-dressed person was for a long time a conspicu- ous figure upon the streets. The inflexibility and immovable character of the man is well typified by the shaft of Scotch granite which marks his resting place. Ile was devoted to the Union during the rebellion, and no disaster nor misfortune could shake his fidelity to what he believed to be his duty." IIis wife was a remarkable adaptation to a remarkable hus- band, and was also devoted to the Baptist Church and to her family. She died in the year 1882. Frank B., the subject of these lines, was a soldier in the Confederate Army, from which he was honorably discharged on July 5, 1862, having been for fifteen months in the service. He was discharged bearing the commission of First Lieutenant of Company A, First Kentucky Cavalry. Since the war he has devoted his time to his agricultural interests. He was married, January 26, 1864, to Lizzie, youngest daughter of Thaddeus S. and Harriet Wright, natives of Virginia, who removed to Christian County, Ky., about 1840, the former being now a resident of the county. The mother is deceased. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Campbell has been blessed with six children, all of whom were born on the beautiful farm homestead known as Belle Isle.
CAPT. NED CAMPBELL was born in Hopkinsville, Ky., August 9, 1840, and is the only son of Benjamin S. and Maria McD. Campbell (nee Starling), who were married near Russellville, Ky. Benjamin Camp- bell was born in Mercer County, Ky., in 1811 ; his father was also named Benjamin ; his mother was Elizabeth Bradshaw. He was for some time
528
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
a merchant in Hopkinsville, but since 1852 has pursued farming on his present place, four and a half miles from the city. Capt. Ned Camp- bell, the subject, was educated in the schools of Christian County, and was brought up mostly on the farm. In 1801 he enlisted in the Federal Army, rose to the rank of Captain, and was honorably discharged in Louisville in January, 1865, two days before the burning of the old Galt House, from which he barely escaped with his life. On the 11th of Sep- tember, 1882, he was appointed Collector in the Second Kentucky Dis- trict of Revenue, a position he resigned October 31, 1883, and since then has devoted his time to farming. IIe has been for four years Chairman of the Christian County Republican Executive Committee, and has taken an active part in politics. He has always been a Republican ; his first vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. He was married, November 8, 1866, in Hopkinsville, to Miss Fannie Long, a daughter of Gabriel B. and Martha Long. They have one son-Gabriel L. Capt. Campbell, his wife and son, are members of the Christian Church.
JOHN D. CLARDY, M. D., the fourth of ten children of John C. and Elizabeth (Cayce) Clardy, was born August 30, 1828, in Smith County, Tenn. His father was born January 13, 1798, in North Caro- lina. In early life the Doctor's paternal grandfather removed to Smith County, middle Tenn., and from there John C. Clardy removed his fami- ly in 1832, to Christian County, Ky. He was for many years a member of the Baptist Church. He died of apoplexy December 3, 1853, in Long View Precinct, Christian County. Dr. Clardy's mother was born September, 1804, in Cumberland County, Va. Removing to middle Tenn- essee with her mother's family she was there married to Mr. John C. Clardy. She was converted to Christianity in early womanhood, and has ever since been a faithful member of the Baptist Church. She is still living. Dr. Clardy first attended the schools of the neighborhood, after- ward, in 1845, being sent to Georgetown College, Scott County, Ky., graduating in 1848 with the degree of Bachelor of Sciences. He studied medicine with Dr. N. L. Thomas of Montgomery County, Tenn., attend- ing his first course of lectures at the Medical University of Louisville, and his last course at the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, from which he graduated in the spring of 1851, beginning to practice medicine in Long View Precinct, this county, the same year. After
529
UNION SCHOOLHOUSE PRECINCT.
three years' practice he removed to Ballard County, Ky., practiced there seven years, returning to Christian County in 1862. In July, 1863, having purchased " Oakland," his present elegant home, hie removed there with his family. He engaged in the commission business, most- ly in tobacco, in the city of New York, during the years 1864-65. Since then he has devoted his time to farming and stock-raising. Ile was married November 21, 1854, in Christian County to Ann, daughter of Fielding Bacon, Esq. She was born November 11, 1834, in Trigg County, and was educated in Clarksville, Tenn. Her father died in 1836, in Trigg County. Ifer mother is still living, and resides in Long View Precinct, Christian County. Dr. and Mrs. Clardy have had four children : Willie B., who died September 26, 1858; John F., born June 10, 1859 ; Fleming C., born December 10, 1860, and Fannie M., born December 8, 1866. Mrs. Clardy is the grand-daughter of Capt. Edmund Bacon, of Trigg County. Ile was for twenty years the business manager of Thomas Jefferson, at Monticello, Va. Thomas Jefferson "struck the first peg " and Edmund Bacon "struck the second peg " when laying off the University of Virginia. Dr. Clardy and wife have been active mem- bers of the Baptist Church since early in life.
W. E. COOMBS was born in Muhlenburg County, Ky., February 29, 1852, and is a son of George B. and Elizabeth Coombs. Ile was raised on the farm until sixteen years old, when his parents removed to Christian County ; he obtained a good common school education. IIe married, April 26, 1879, Miss Sally Dawes, a daughter of John and Melinda (Stephenson) Dawes of Lincoln County, Ky. Her parents re- moved to Trigg County, where she was brought up and where she was married. They have three children : George D., William H. and Hugh P.
R. C. CRENSHAW was born in Trigg County, Ky., January 16, 1852, and is the seventh of nine children born to Thomas and Eliza Crenshaw (nee Greenwade). His grandfather, Cornelius Crenshaw, was a native of Virginia, a soldier of the war of 1812, and removed to Trigg County in 1816 ; his maternal grandfather was from North Carolina, and was John Greenwade. He came to Kentucky about the close of the war of 1812, and in an early day shipped produce to New Orleans by flat- boats, and in return brought back sugar, coffee and molasses. He was
33
530
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
also a large stock-dealer, and took large droves of hogs to Alabama and Georgia, and thus amassed quite a fortune ; he died in 1867. Mr. Crenshaw, the subject, was brought up on his father's farm until twenty- one years of age ; he then engaged in merchandising for six years, after- ward he handled tobacco extensively at Roaring Springs and at Cerulean Springs in Trigg County. IIe was married, October 19, 1875, to Miss Eunice Nance, a daughter of Mr. B. B. Nance of this precinct. They have one child-Gertrude. Mr. Crenshaw is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and of the Christian Church, and is also an active temperance worker ; his wife is a member of the Baptist Church.
JAMES H. DILLMAN was born in Muhlenburg County, Ky., Jan- uary 24, 1863, and is a son of Henry C. and Elizabeth (Coombs) Dill- man. His father held several important positions, among others, Collector of Internal Revenue. His father, David Dillman (grandfather of subject), represented Muhlenburg County in the Legislature one term, and was also Collector of Internal Revenue. James H., the subject, still remains at home with his father, and manages the farm, while his father is United States Mail Agent. James was married December 2, 1883, to Miss Ophelia Hanbery, the oldest daughter of John W. and Eliza Ilan- . bery.
CHARLES N. EDWARDS was born in Simpson County, Ky., March 4, 1837, and is a son of Henry N. Edwards, a native of North Carolina. He received a limited education in the common schools of the county, and removed with his parents to Graves County, where he re inained until twenty-three years of age. About the close of the war he came to this county, where he has since resided. He was married, in 1864, to Miss Belle Torian. They have four children : Lila B., Charles M., Walter II. and Arthur T., all of whom are at home. Mrs. Edwards died in 1880, and May 1, 1882, he married Miss Minnie E. Foard. They are members of the Methodist Church-he is a member of Church Hill Grange.
ALLEN W. ELLIS was born in Christian County, Ky., July 22, 1836, being the youngest of the family of nine children of Nicholas and Mary (Gunn) Ellis. Ilis parents were natives of North Carolina, emi- grating to Christian County in 1829. Nicholas Ellis, his father, died in 1847, but his mother is living with her youngest daughter, Mrs. George
-
531
UNION SCHOOLHOUSE PRECINCT.
V. Thompson, Hopkinsville, Ky. Allen was educated in Hopkinsville and Cadiz. On being married he went to Missouri ; one child has been born to them-Lue. On the death of his wife he entered the Confeder- ate.service for a short time, being honorably discharged, when with his infant daughter he returned to Kentucky, where he has sinee continued to reside, engaging in farming. On November 21, 1865, he re-married, the lady being Miss Owen, daughter of Thomas Torian and Mary A. Owen. Her father is a native of Halifax County, Va., and her mother of North Carolina. Mrs. Ellis was educated at the Bethel Female Sem- inary, Hopkinsville. They have seven children : Ira A., Inez, Thomas T., Paul, Guy Roy, Arthur Wilbur and Mary Ellis. Rev. Ira Ellis, grandfather of A. W. Ellis, was a noted Methodist preacher of Virginia, whose life has been published in the early history of Methodlism ; he was a member of the First Methodist Conference held in the United States. Allen W. and family emigrated in 1874 to Colorado, but as the grass- hoppers held a picnic at the expense of their crops, they returned to Mis- souri in 1875, but here again their crops were destroyed by grasshoppers, when they returned to Kentucky the same year. Mr. Ellis is a Meth- odist.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.