USA > Kentucky > Christian County > County of Christian, Kentucky : historical and biographical > Part 22
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ALEX. A. HENDRIX, M. D., came to Christian County in the spring of 1865, and has since been engaged in the practice of his profes- sion. His medical services have been held in flattering demand by the people generally, since the time of his location in their midst, and many obstinate cases of disease have succumbed to his practiced skill ; his field of operations is large, extending throughout a large section of the country. He was born in Williamson County, Tenn., August 5, 1830 ; his parents, Isaac and Margaret (Willard) Hendrix, were natives of North Carolina and Pennsylvania respectively, and were of Irish descent. The father was a son of Thomas Hendrix, came with him to Tennessee at an early date, and engaged during his life in agricultural pursuits. To him and his wife were born six children, five of whom lived to maturity, and of these William W., Mary, A. A. and John G. were living at last accounts. Our subject obtained his early schooling in his native county, and first read medicine under Dr. J. T. Cox in the State of Tennessee, and practiced there four or five years. In the year 1859 he came to Kentucky, and remained one year. At the outbreak of the war he returned to the State of Tennessee, and remained there during the war; at the close he came back to Christian, where he has almost ever since been in active service. In the year 1874-75 he attended the St. Louis Medical College, and in 1876-77 the Medical Department of the Univer- sity of the State of Tennessee, graduating at that time. He was engaged in active practice previous to the war, but did but little during the war, preferring to remain at home with his parents. The Doctor has at pres- ent a farm of 147 acres, and his spare moments are given to his farming interests. He was formerly a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in · political affairs his vote indicates his faith in Greenback doctrines. He was united in marriage to Miss L. C. Lewis, a daughter of John A. Lewis, now a merchant in Crofton, this county. This union has given nine children : John W., Ridley H., Sallie, Margaret, Ollie, Rettie, David I., Carrie and James D. The Doctor possesses a practical
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turn of mind, and to this and the cool and thoughtful manner in which he deliberated upon or examined into any question or obstinate case of disease, is largely due his material success in the practice of his pro- fession.
THOMAS J. POWERS was born in Washington County, Va., Feb- ruary 26, 1839, to Ewel and Catharine (Miles) Powers, natives of Vir- ginia. The father is a harness-maker by trade, but during late years has giving his attention to farming pursuits. He is still living in Fruit Hill Precinct. There were nine children in the parents' family, of whom there are four living : Celia A., Thomas J., Brantley M. and Naomi M. Our subject removed with his parents from Virginia, in 1849, and located in Christian County, and has since been variously engaged. IIe has served as Constable, Deputy Sheriff, clerked for some time in stores, has been purchasing agent for parties engaged in the tobacco trade. Ile is now devoting his attention to farming pursuits, and is the Postmaster at Fruit Hill Postoffice ; his sister attends to the business. His farm consists of 144 acres. He was married first to America J. Woodburn, a daughter of Alexander Woodburn. This union gave six children, two of whom are living : James J. and Eddie. His present wife was formerly Miss P. V. Ferguson. Mr. Powers is a member of the Masonic fraternity, L. M. Cox Lodge, No. 327. He is a Greenbacker politically, and is a member of the Universalist Church.
JAMES W. UNDERWOOD is a son of William and Elizabeth (Bob- bitt) Underwood, who were natives respectively of North Carolina and Ken- tucky. He was born November 7, 1832, in Christian County, and with the exception of a year's residence in Illinois, has always remained in it. His parents were blessed with ten children ; those living are : Henrietta, Samuel II., Mary J., James W., Lucinda, Hester and Tibitha. The grandfather of our subject was Samuel Underwood, originally from North Carolina. James W. Underwood, the subject of this sketch, has always given his time and energies to farming pursuits. IIc is a natural mechanic, and although not making a practice of working with tools, generally does . his own work, and has lately erected himself a new house, which is situated upon a hill, which commands a considerable view of the surrounding coun- try, and into which he will shortly move. His farm property consists of 245 acres, which are devoted to general productions. Ile first wedded
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Catharine Meacham, a daughter of James Meacham. This union gave · four children, three of whom survive : Henrietta, John T. and Willie B. Ilis present wife was formerly Miss Harriett Owings, a daughter of Joshua Owings, an old resident of Christian County. By this marriage there were three . children : Carrie, Eva and Maud. Mr. Underwood is a Republican, and is a man of generous impulses, and is ever ready with his encouragement to all enterprises calculated for the public good. In December, 1861, he enlisted in the Third Kentucky Cavalry, Col. James S. Jackson. The latter was succeeded by Eli H. Murray. Mr. Underwood served three years, the regiment doing efficient service through - out the Western and Southern campaigns, being finally mustered out at Savannah, Ga., after accompanying Sherman to that point in his famous march to the sea. Mr. Underwood sustained but few wounds, occa- sioned by accidents during his long service.
BENJAMIN HI. WEST was born March 2, 1848, in Christian County, to Philip E. and Eliza A. (Johnson) West, natives of North Carolina and this county respectively. The father is still living, and engaged in farming pursuits, a resident of Fruit Hill Precinct. Five of the seven children born to our subject's parents are living : Henry M., Cornelia C., B. H., Sidney E. and Margaret E. Mr. West, the sub- jeet of this sketch, has always resided in Christian County, engaged in agricultural pursuits. For several years he has run a general store upon his premises. He is a member of the Baptist Church. He married Almarinda C. Bourland, a daughter of Felix and Ann M. (Rateliff) Bourland. Mr. and Mrs. West have one adopted child-Nannie S. Mr. West is one of the enterprising men of the county, and is ever ready with his support to all enterprises of public interest and value.
CHIARLES C. WEST is a native of this county and was born Dec- ember 26, 1832. He is a son of William E. and Narcissa (Stroud) West, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Christian County. The father was a farmer, and he came to Christian County when he was very young, with his father, Charles II. West, who was a son of Thomas West. The parents of our subject had thirteen children, of whom there are nine now living: James II., C. C., Thomas M., William W., Mary A., Orrin A., Benjamin F., Eliza A. and Narcissa E. Mr. West, the sub- jeet of these lines, has always made his residence in Christian County,
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and has engaged wholly in farming. He has about 300 acres of land upon the home place, and also interest in other tracts. Mr. West was first married to Martha H. Allen, a daughter of Moses II. Allen. This union has given two children : William M. and Charlie C. His present wife was Miss Lenora Dulin, a daughter of E. G. Dulin, an old resident of Christian County. This union has been blessed by three children : William E., Maud and Thomas. Our subject is a member of the A. F. & A. M., L. M. Cox Lodge, No. 327. Politically he is a Democrat.
WILLIAM W. WEST, a son of William E. West, was born and reared in Christian County, and has always resided here, engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1861 he enlisted in the Third Kentucky Cav- alry, Col. Jackson. The regiment served under many of the most renowned cavalry leaders, and took active part in some of the principal engagements throughout Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi, and accompanied Sherman in his memorable march to the sea, the regiment being mustered out at Savannah, Ga. Mr. West was united in marriage to Miss P. A. Croft, a daughter of Roland Croft. This union has given seven children, six of whom are living: Ella A., Salina, Curtis, Lelier, Roy and the baby. Mr. West is a Greenbacker politically, and is a member of the A. F. & A. M., L. M. Cox Lodge, No. 327.
SCATES' MILL PRECINCT.
C. A. BRASHER, of the firm of Brasher & West, general mer- chants, was born July 13, 1842, in Christian County. He is a son of Jacob C. and Agnes (Campbell) Brasher, also natives of Christian Connty. His father died in 1874, aged sixty-three years. The subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm. At the breaking out of the war he enlisted in Company G, Seventeenth Kentucky Infantry (Federal). IIe served three years and was mustered out Second Lieutenant. He returned to Christian County, and continued farming. In 1872 he removed to Crofton and secured a position as elerk with J. E. Croft, where he remained till 1879, when the present partnership was formed, which has since continued. He was married in 1875 to Sarah II. Long. She was born in Christian County. They have two children, a son and daughter. J. R. BROWN was born February 14, 1822, in Scates' Mill Precinct, Christian Co., Ky., and is a son of Timothy and Jane (Armstrong) Brown. They were natives of North Carolina, and Timothy Brown was one of the early settlers of this county. The subject of this sketch now owns and resides on the original tract of land entered by his father, con- sisting in part of 400 acres. Upon this farm he has passed his life, and is now one of the most extensive farmers of the district. He was mar- ried in 1847 to Miss Martha Misemore, a native of Christian County, who died in 1859, leaving three children-two sons and one daughter. In 1860 Mr. B. married Eliza Ann Campbell, who was born in Christian County. This union has been blessed with five children-two sons and three daughters. Mr. Brown has for forty years been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and for twenty years a member of the order of A. F. & A. M.
J. D. COLLINS was born September 26, 1856, in Christian Coun- ty, Ky., and is a son of Dr. Morgan Collins, also a native of this county. The latter, about the age of thirty-five, began the practice of medicine, and continued the same until his death, which took place in 1873, at the
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age of fifty-two years. The subject of this sketch, after receiving a com- mon school education, supplemented it by a two years' course at the Evansville Commercial College, after which he returned home and taught school in the district where he now resides. In 1883 he married Eliza Orton, a native of Tennessee. They have one son.
W. V. CROFT, undertaker, was born May 26, 1826, in Christian County, Ky. He is the seventh child of a family of nine children born to David and Margaret Croft ; they were both natives of South Carolina and were among the earliest settlers of Christian County. The subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm. On the death of his father he came into possession of this farm, where he has since continued to reside ; it consists of about 350 acres, largely improved. Mr. Croft was married in 1852 to Nancy M. Cansler ; she was born in Christian Coun- ty. They have one daughter. Mr. Croft is engaged in the undertaking business, which he established in 1882.
A. B. CROFT was born February 8, 1832, in Christian County ; he is the second child of a family of six, born to William G. and Elizabeth (Mckinney) Croft ; the former was a native of South Carolina, the latter was born in Illinois and reared in Kentucky. The subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm, and there continued to reside till his father's death, which occurred in April, 1872, at the age of sixty-five. Two years later our subject removed to Crofton and settled on his farm of 150 acres, adjoining the village of Crofton. Mr. Croft owns in Christian County in all about 1,000 acres, which is largely improved ; he is also proprietor of a meat-market in Crofton. He was married in 1874 to Mar- cella Campbell ; she was born in Christian County. One daughter glad- dens their home.
J. E. CROFT, general merchant, was born in Scates' Mill Precinct, Christian County, January 19, 1839. He is a son of William G. and Mary E. (Mckinney) Croft, the former a native of South Carolina, born in 1807 ; the latter a native of Illinois, born in 1814. His grandfather immigrated to Christian County, where he carried on the hatter's trade (this business he learned in England) and also engaged in farming. The subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm, where he remained till the age of seventeen ; he then attended the Castleberry School three years, and afterward taught school for two years, since which time he has
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been engaged in merchandising in Crofton. Mr. Croft laid out the town, and has erected the largest number of dwellings here. He also owns the flour and saw-mill and two warehouses. The past twenty-five years he and his brother have been engaged in the tobacco business ; he has always taken a deep interest in educational matters, and at his own expense built a public school bere ; he is one of the largest stockholders of Crofton Academy, a very fine structure, completed in 1883. He has been Deputy County Clerk, and for the past ten years a member of the School Board. Mr. Croft was married October 2, 1862, to Miss Elmira E. Bourland, a native of Scates' Mill Precinct. This union has been blessed with four children-one son and three daughters. A portrait of Mr. Croft will be found on another page.
JOHN M. DULIN, farmer, was born October 15, 1842, in Fruit Hill Precinct, Christian County. He is the sixth child of a family of nine born to Rice and Catherine (Myers) Dulin. He was reared on bis father's farm, and there remained until his marriage, which took place November 4, 1863, to Mary E., daughter of John E. Rice, of Hopkins County, Ky. This union has been blessed with five children-three sons and two daughters.
J. R. FULLER, dealer in general merchandise, and Justice of the Peace of Scates' Mill Precinct, was born September 25, 1847, in this county, and within four miles of where he now resides. He is the third in a family of seven children born to William C. and Margaret J. (Boyd) Fuller, who are natives of this county. The subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm, and received a liberal education. At the age of twenty-one he engaged in farming on his own account, rented a farm, and soon after bought one of 200 acres, and has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits, as well as merchandising. In 1871 he began the mercantile business, at which he still continues, doing a prosperous busi- ness, and has recently erected a new storeroom; he has served in the office of Magistrate for the past seven years. He was married, January 21, 1869, to Miss Rhoda Collins, who was born in this county, and is the mother of four children-one son and three daughters.
D. H. GLOVER was born September 16, 1839, in Robinson County, Tenn. He is a son of Henry and Martha (Chambles) Glover ; the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of North Carolina. The sub-
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ject of this sketeh spent his early life at home, receiving the benefits of the common schools and assisting to till the home farm. At twenty-one years of age he left his home, came to this county, where he has since resided, engaged in farming, and is the owner of 320 acres of land, of which 75 acres.are under a high state of cultivation. In 1864 he enlisted in the late Civil war, and served seven months in the Seventeenth Ken- tucky Cavalry. He has been Treasurer of the School Board for four years, and has served as Deputy Sheriff for one year, and is a member of the order A. F. & A. M. On the 4th of December, 1866, he married Miss Elizabeth C. Lantrip, a native of Christian County, who has borne him six children-two sons and four daughters.
PROF. R. H. INGRAM, Principal of Crofton Academy, was born in Nottoway, Va., and is a son of S. A. and Mary J. (Hyde) Ingram, also natives of Virginia. The subject of this sketch was born and reared on his father's plantation. At the age of seventeen, he enlisted in the Third Virginia Cavalry, served three years and was honorably discharged at the expiration of his enlistment. He then returned to his father's home, and soon after took up teaching as a profession, which he has since followed. September, 1883, he was appointed to his present position.
H. CLAY McCORD, general merchant and dealer in agricultural implements, was born September 13, 1846, in Christian County. Ile is the fifth child in a family of six, born to David and Levina McCord. The former was born in Christian County, the latter in North Carolina. The subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm, upon which he remained till the age of eighteen. He then engaged in teaching school, which he continued about five years. In 1871 he embarked in the mer- cantile business at Crofton, being the first merchant of the town, where he has since continued, and is doing a large and prosperous business. II. Clay McCord was in April, 1873, in the act entitled " An Aet to incorpo- rate the town of Crofton," appointed one of the 'Trustees for said town ; was subsequently elected to said position three times ; afterward serving as Treasurer for said town four years. In 1875 he was elected Justice of the Peace, which position he filled for four years, and in 1876 was appointed Examiner for Christian County, which position he has held for eight years. On December 3, 1877. he was married to Serena C. Bowl- ing, a native of Christian County. Two daughters now bless this union. Mr. MeCord is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity.
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JOHN N. MURPHY, of the firm of White & Murphy, general mer- chants, of Scates' Mill Precinct, was born July 28, 1844, in McMinn Coun- ty, Tenn ; he is the son of Jefferson D. and Susan (Orton) Murphy. The former was a native of MeMinn, and the latter of Carter County, Tenn. The subject of this sketch being left an orphan at the age of six months, he was reared by his step-father, with whom he remained until he was twenty-nine years of age. In 1875 he removed to near his present resi- dence and opened a general merchandising business, and has increased his trade from $500 to $5,000 per year. In the spring of 1863 he enlisted in Walker's Battalion, where he served four months. He was married on the 11th of July, 1869, to Miss C. A. White. They have two children. Mrs. Murphy is a native of MeMinn County, Tenn. In addition to his mercantile business he is engaged in farming, and is the owner of 270 acres of land.
J. J. NIXON, grocer and liquor dealer, etc., was born August 16, 1855, in Kentucky ; he is the fourth child of a family of six born to N. T. and N. S. (Hopson) Nixon. N. T. Nixon was born in Tennessee. The subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm. At the age of seventeen he went to Illinois, worked on a farm there about thirteen months ; he then removed to Kentucky and engaged in farming till 1880; he then engaged in merchandising at Fruit Hill. After continuing about eighteen months he was burned out, and came at once to Crofton and commenced his present business. In 1876 he married Miss Charlie West. She was born in Christian County. Two daughters bless this union.
MARTIN ROBERTS, farmer, was born February 24, 1828, in Monroe County, Tenn., and is the fourth child of a family of seven born to Basil and Sallie (Ervin) Roberts ; the former was a native of Tennessee. The subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm, where he remained until the age of twenty-three; he then lived on a rented farm four years, after which he bought a farm of sixty-five acres in Roane County, where he remained about eight years, when he returned to Mon- roe County ; he there bought a farm of 265 acres, on which he resided until the spring of 1864 (except serving three months in the army) ; he then returned to Bullitt Connty, Ky .; engaged there in farming. December, 1864, he removed to Indiana ; there remained till the fall of 1865, when he returned to his home in Tennessee. In the fall of 1875 he came to
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Christian County, where he has since resided; he owns a farm of 235 aeres, about seventy of which are improved ; he was married on January 1, 1852, to Mrs. Susan A. Murphy, a native of Tennessee (Carter Coun- ty). Five children blessed their union-two sons and three daughters.
JOSEPH D. TERRY, farmer, son of Jehn and Margaret F. (Davis) Terry, natives of North Carolina and South Carolina respectively, was born September 7, 1829, in Crittenden County, Ky .; he was reared on his father's farm, where he remained until the age of twenty-three ; he then traveled and taught vocal music till his marriage, which took place in 1861, to Rebecca C. Brown. She was born in Christian County. Their union has been blessed with seven children-four. sons and three daughters. Mr. T. enlisted in 1861 in Company A, Twenty-fifth Kentucky Infantry, afterward consolidated with the Seventeenth, Company G; he served about nine months, and was discharged on account of physical dis- ability ; he is a member of the Christian Church, having preached for this denomination more or less for several years.
W. M. WEST, of the firm of Brasher & West, general merchants, was born January 22, 1854, in Fruit Hill Precinct, Christian County, and is a son of C. C. and Martha (Allen) West, also natives of Christian County. The subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm, and there remained till about the age of nineteen ; he then came te Crofton, and was employed as clerk for J. E. Croft five years. In 1879 he, with C. A. Brasher, formed their present partnership. This firm is doing a business of about $20,000 a year. Mr. West was married in 1875 te Leu R. Dulin. She was born in Christian County. Two children bless this union-one son and one daughter.
GARRETTSBURG PRECINCT.
MRS. M. E. BACON was born in this precinct and county on April 6, 1840, and is a daughter of Dr. J. C. and Louisa (Poindexter) Metcalf, who are noticed elsewhere in this work ; her education was finished at LaSalle Seminary, Auburndale, Mass. She returned to this county, and on February 7, 1859, she was married to Mr. H. E. Bacon. This gen- tleman was born in Charlotte County, Va., on May 25, 1819; he came to this county when about eighteen ; he first clerked for Albert Jones in Garretsburg, and then began business for himself, and for upward of thirty-five years he continued to be a merchant there-until his death, which occurred on January 25, 1879. Mrs. Bacon has since leased the house and store to Mr. M. G. Miller, of Pembroke. Mrs. Bacon is now making her home near Garrettsburg. She is a member of the Baptist Church.
MATTHEW A. BARNS is a native of Montgomery County, Teun., born October 26, 1833. His father, Joseph Barns, was born in North Carolina in 1809, and died March 25, 1839. From his obituary, written by Rev. John C. Mickle, we quote the following: "Mr. Barns was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church from his youth, and was well known to many of the ministers of that body. Too much cannot be said in regard to the moral and pious excellence of Brother Barns. Con- stant, unassuming, uniform, modest, and meck in his disposition and character, he obtained universal confidence, esteem and respect. He was long the subject of affliction, but bore it with patience and fortitude becom- ing the Christian." Emily (Adams) Barns, subject's mother, was born in Montgomery County, Tenn., and died February 28, 1830, aged about twenty-eight years. She was the mother of six children, of whom Jack- son H. and our subject are now living. He was reared on a farm, and after the death of his parents made his home with his Aunt, Lavina Barns, and remained with her until he was sixteen years of age, when he engaged in farming on his own account, in his native county. In 1864 he came to Christian County, and in 1868 to his present farm, where he has since
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resided ; he is now the owner of 265 acres, and makes the raising of wheat and tobacco a specialty. On the 6th of April, 1859, he married Miss Clarinda F. Lee, a native of Stewart County, Tenn., born October 14, 1837. Mr. Barns is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and his wife of the Methodist Church.
CAPT. DARWIN BELL. Among the many hospitable and genial men of Christian County, there are none to be found more companionable than the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch. He was born, January 1, 1828, in the first house reared in Christian County, Ky., where James Davis made his pioneer settlement. His father, Dr. John F. Bell, was born in Orange County, Va., in 1796; removed to Christian County, Ky., in 1810, where he died in 1878; he was a prom- inent physician of extensive information, and in his life amassed a fine property. Dr. John F. Bell was the son of Capt. John Bell, a Revolu- tionary soldier of Orange County, Va., who died in 1805, at the age of sixty-eight years. Capt. John was the son of William Bell, of Orange County, where he died. William was the son of John Bell, who emi -. grated from Ireland in an early day. Subject's mother, Catherine B. Bocock, daughter of Douglas and Mildred Bocock, of Albemarle County, Va., was born in 1805, and died in Christian County, Ky., in 1838. To her and her husband, Dr. John F. Bell, were born : Eliza- beth M., John H., subject, Evelina M. (Quarles), Fannie S. (Henry), Cincinnatus D., Catherine B. and Mary A. (Henry). Subject was mar- ried, December 28, 1857, to Miss Mary W., daughter of Dr. Charles H. Meriwether, of Albemarle County, Va., and to them have been born : Catherine D. (Manson), Gilmer M., Margaret (Williams) and John F. Capt. Bell's educational advantages were of the best that the county afforded, and he has continued his habits as a student, having a fine and extensive library, until he is regarded by others as one of the best posted men in southern Kentucky. At the age of eighteen years, in 1847, Mr. Bell enlisted in Company A, Texas Rangers, Chevallier's Battalion, at San Antonio, and entered Gen. Taylor's army, and remained in service until July, 1848, when he was mustered out at Camargo, Mexico. In 1861 he entered, as Lieutenant, Company A, Ist Kentucky Cavalry, and was soon promoted to the rank of Captain, which position he held until the end of the late war.
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