USA > Kentucky > Christian County > County of Christian, Kentucky : historical and biographical > Part 25
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GEORGE A. P'POOL is a native of Halifax County, Va., born July 28, 1838, to Peter and Elizabeth (Shotwell) P'Pool. The latter were both natives of Virginia also; moved to North Carolina early, and from that State to Christian County, and both died here, at the place they first located upon. The father, in his early life, was bound for fif- teen years to the blacksmith trade, and he afterward labored in that work, but not liking it devoted the remainder of his life to the prosecution of .
his farming interests. He was a substantial farmer, and a whole-souled, home-made man, always wearing clothing of his own make. He had served in the war of 1812. To him and his wife was born a large fam- ily, eleven of whom grew up, and five are now living : Sallie, Rebecca, Zacharias P., John D., and George A. P'. The latter came to Christian County with his parents when about seven years old, and has made it his place of residence nearly ever since. He has been engaged in farming pursuits ; in the grocery and general store business for many years, and was interested in the saw and grist-mill business for about eight years. He has also done considerable stock trading, and is also interested in the tobacco interests. He is a Democrat in politics, and is a man of substan-
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tial worth. He married Miss Mary L., a daughter of Joseph Turner, now deceased. This union has given four children : Joseph P., Elizabeth E., Jennie L., and a little one, not named.
CHARLES E. RAWLS was born in Robinson County, Tenu., April 1, 1831. His parents, Benjamin and Nancy (Parker) Rawls, were natives of the same county, their respective parents coming from North Carolina. The father of Mr. Rawls was a blacksmith by trade, and for many years was a minister in the Presbyterian Church. He served in the war of 1812. To him and wife were born ten children, only two of whom are now living : James T., a farmer in Robinson County, Tenn., and Charles E., the subject of these lines. The father was married a second time to Miss Rosa Dowlin, which union gave five children : Usilla B., Martha C., Hugh B., Henry S. and Huldah L. Our subject came to Christian County in 1870. He taught school in early years, but has given his attention mostly to farming pursuits. His present farm con- sists of 300 acres, and is devoted to the raising of the usual staple crops. Mr. Rawls is a Republican politically, and had been favored with posi- tions of trust in his native county. He was first united in marriage with Miss Sarah Hinkle, a daughter of Peter Hinkle, now living in Robinson County, Tenn. This union gave two children : Foster A. and Wylie B. He next married Miss Mary J. Keys. Mr. Rawls is an enterprising farmer, and is held in high esteem by his fellow-citizens.
FINIS H. RENSHAW is one of the most substantial farmers of this section of the county. His present farm of 232 acres is beautifully situated in a valley between a row of hills, and high land on either side. Mr. Renshaw was born in Christian County, May 8, 1829, and is the eldest child born to Reed and Lucetta (Clark) Renshaw. The father was engaged in the butcher trade in early life, but in later years has devoted his attention more to farming pursuits. He was a Magistrate for many years, and is yet living in Christian County. The parents of our subject were blessed with eleven children, of whom eight are now living : F. H., Luretha A., wife of James W. Woosley ; James C. and Eliza M., twins- the latter married W. H. Woosley, now deceased ; Sophronia E., married John W. Jones ; Amanda, wife of James Yancy ; Adelia, wife of W. T. Williamson, and Joseph R. Our subject received his early schooling in this county, afterward attending the Bethlehem Academy, in Caldwell
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County, and also institutions of learning in Trigg County. At seventeen years of age he commenced teaching school, and was thus engaged for several years. IIe has been active in the temperance cause, having been a member of various organizations of that kind. He is a Republican politieally, and has filled various smaller offices. He married Lavina J. Woosley, a daughter of Samuel S. Woosley, an old resident of Christian County. This union has given six children, of whom five are now liv- ing : Franklin P., Gustavus A., Ella E., married William Dinguid; Her- schel G., Samantha L., wife of Washington Diuguid ; and Mahlon M., deceased.
W. J. RENSHAW is a much respected citizen of the precinct; he was born in this county, July 1, 1837, and is the eldest child born to Wylie and Elizabeth (Cansler) Renshaw, who were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom survive: W. J., Cynthia A., Naney E., Emily C., Virginia, Ransom C. and Wylie R. Mr. Renshaw has always resided in Christian County, and his life has been given to the prosecution of his farm interests. His present place consists of 100 acres, and is devoted to the raising of the principal staple erops. Mr. Renshaw married Miss Martha L. Doss, a daughter of Samuel Doss. Their union has been blessed with six children : Finis M. (deceased), Wylie W., Frances M., Albert J., Fredonia E. and Margaret H. Mr. Renshaw is a Republican politically, and with his wife is a member of the Universalist Church.
JAMES J. SMITH is one of the most enterprising and substantial farmers of Christian County. He was born here on March 17, 1827, to Charles and Elizabeth (Shryer) Smith, natives respectively of Kentucky and Virginia. The father was a blacksmith by trade, but in after years he gave his attention more to farming pursuits. To him and his wife, the latter a daughter of John Shryer, were born five children, three of whom grew to maturity, but James J., the subject of these lines, is the only one now living. The latter, at twelve years of age, was removed to the adjoining county of Trigg, where he learned the tanner's trade, in which he was engaged during his eight years' residence in that county ; he removed to Hopkinsville, Ky., and in partnership with his brother, George W. Smith, ran a saddlery and tanning establishment for about three years, when our subjeet moved to a point several miles west of town, and con- tinued the tanning business, his brother remaining in Hopkinsville,
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engaged in the saddlery trade. Since 1858 our subject has devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits, having resided upon his present farm of 220 acres since 1865. His farm is devoted to the raising of general productions, tobacco being the staple crop. Mr. Smith and wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Church South, and in political affairs he gives his support to the Republican party. He was united in marriage to Miss Sarah J. Quisenberry, a daughter of E. S. Quisenberry. This union has given seven children, six of whom are living: Catharine E., Mary E., Nancy F., Charles E., James L. and William H. Mr. Smith is held in high esteem by his fellow-citizens, being a man of strict integrity and of sub- stantial worth to the community.
JOHN W. STITH is a man of substantial worth, and a much respected citizen of Christian County. Ilis native county was that of Hardin, this State, and he was born August 4, 1849. His parents, Archer and Susan (Tarpley) Stith, were natives also of the same county, and both died when John was young. The father followed farming as his occupation, and was a son of Jackson Stith. He had been twice mar- ried. By his first wife, above mentioned, he had four children, of whom there are three now living : Sallie E., John W. and George W. T .- Jesse C., the eldest child, being deceased. The father's second mar- riage was with Matilda Pawley, a daughter of James Pawley. This union gave one child-Henry W. John W., the subject of these lines, remained in his native county, engaged principally in farming and stock- trading, until the spring of 1871, at which date he removed to Christian County. He has been identified with the merchandise business both in this and in the adjoining county of Trigg, having sold goods for many years, tho firm name being Duncan & Stith, and afterward Pool & Stith. He has of late given his time to the prosecution of his farming interests, hav- ing a farm of 358 acres, which is devoted to the raising of the usual staple crops. He is a Democrat politically. He married Mattie C. (P'Pool) Reese, a daughter of Squire J. M. P'Pool, and the widow of William Reese, by whom she had one child-Poolie. Mr. and Mrs. Stith have had four children : Robert (deceased), Hattie, Ora and Lottie.
ROBERT W. VAUGHIAN was born in Mecklenburg County, Va., March 1, 1840. His parents, Peter G. and Jennie (Vaughan) Vaughan, were also natives of the same State. The father was a farmer, and he
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served in the 1812 war. His wife is yet living in Virginia at an advanced age. To the parents were born fourteen children, of whom seven are now living: Spencer, Nancy, Mary, Martha, Betscy, R. W. and Andrew. Our subject has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. He removed from Virginia to Christian County in 1866. His present farm consists of 2862 acres, which is given to the raising of the usual farm products. In June, 1801, Mr. Vaughan enlisted in the Thirty-eighth Virginia Infantry, which was afterward transferred and included in the Fourteenth Virginia Regiment. He served throughout the war, having been in the principal battles in the Virginia campaign, without being wounded, or being sick a day. He married Miss Elizabeth Griffin, a daughter of Elias Griffin, a native of Virginia. This union has given six children : Annie, Maggie, Robert L., Thomas, Peter and George. Mr. Vaughan is one of the substantial farmers of the county, and is interested in enterprises which promise benefits to the people generally.
JOHN W. WOOD, more commonly known to the citizens as John X. Wood, is a man of a jovial and friendly nature, and is one of the respected and substantial residents of this precinct. He was born in Christian County, April 9, 1854, to William R. and Eliza J. (Kenady) Wood, the latter of whom is still living. The father was a general mechanic and farmer, and was a member for a long period of the old mili- tia companies. The parents had three children, John W., the subject of these lines, being the only one living. The latter has always resided in Christian County, and has given his attention to farming pursuits ; he has seventy-three acres of land, and also works the place known as the Kenady farm. Mr. Wood votes the Republican ticket. He married Miss Dolly Mayes, a daughter of John and Jane (Elliott) Mayes, who were originally from Tennessee. This union has given four children : Lillie F., John R., Mary E. and Minnie. Mr. Wood's grandfather was William Wood, who was a saddler by trade. He was a native of North Carolina.
CASKY PRECINCT.
JAMES M. CLARK was born near Hopkinsville, August 31, 1822, and is a son of James and Susan J. (Stubblefield) Clark. James Clark, Sr., was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1795. IIe came to Kentucky in 1802, with his parents, who settled near Frankfort. At nine years of age he was engaged in the Clerk's office of Court of Appeals. He was an officer in the war of 1812, served two years under Gen. Harrison, and con- veyed the order from Harrison to Gen. Dudley, ordering him to spike his guns and retreat, which order Dudley failed to obey and was thus defeat- ed. After the war he served as Deputy Marshal for some time, and later was Clerk in the old Christian Bank of Hopkinsville. He died in Hop- kinsville at the residence of his son (the subject), in September, 1878. He was a son of Mathew B. Clark, a native of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch descent. The mother of subject was born in Virginia in 1798, and died at her son's residence in July, 1855. She was a daughter of Beverly Stubblefield, a native of Virginia, a farmer by occupation, a sol- dier of the Revolutionary war and an early settler of Kentucky, who died near Trenton, Ky., about 1827. James M. Clark is the fourth child in a family of fourteen children, of whom thirteen lived to reach their majority. He was reared in the county and received a good English edu- cation. He came to the farm where he now resides in 1831, and has since made it his home, excepting ten years' residence in Hopkinsville, though at that time carried on his farm. He is the owner of 504 acres of land, called " Springwood," which is located on the Hopkinsville and Clarksville pike. In 1856 he married Miss Elizabeth Boulwar, a native of Missouri, who died in February, 1870,, leaving one son-Ben- jamin C. On the 19th of March, 1872, Mr. Clark married Mrs. Harriet F. White, daughter of Rev. Samuel Kelley. Mr. Clark is an active member of the Casky Grange, and has served as State Treas- urer of the order since its organization. He has held the office of Magis- trate for sixteen years, is a Democrat in politics, but was a strong Aboli- tionist during the war.
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JAMES T. GARNETT, deceased, a son of James Garnett, a native of Virginia, of English descent, was born in Albemarle County, Va., on the 7th of December, 1816. When he was eight years of age he came to Kentucky with his parents, who settled in Christian County. Here he spent his boyhood days, assisting to till the soil of the home farm, and receiving the benefit of the subscription schools; he afterward graduated at the Princeton College of Kentucky, and began the study of law, but never became a practitioner of the profession. Ile engaged in teaching school in this and Montgomery County, Tenn., continuing the same until 1853, when he engaged in farming on the farm in Casky Precinct, where his son, James T. Garnett, Jr., now resides. On the 16th of January, 1844, he married Mary, daughter of Joseph and Eliza (Bowman) Faunt LeRoy, a native of Shenandoah County, Va., born May 26, 1823, who died in this county January 6, 1882, leaving seven children as the result of their union. Mr. Garnett died after a three years' illness, May 11, 1883. He was a successful man in business, and became the owner of the beau- tiful farm " Rich Grove," which comprised a body of 555 acres. Mr. Garnett was a Democrat in politics, and was one of the best known and most popular men that ever lived in the county. Of an impulsive, warm and generous heart, his whole nature was as genial as sunshine; of blood pure and gentle, his companionship was an unmixed pleasure to all his large acquaintance, which extended throughout this portion of the State. ITis warm heart went out in sympathy to the afflicted, and his purse-string was never tied when the appeal of charity came; his integrity stood every test of life, and was never questioned; brave, ehivalric and impulsive, he would resent instantaneously any real or fancied reflection upon his own or his friend's integrity, but his pure soul never harbored malice, hate or revenge a moment, and he was as ready to forgive and forget as he had been to feel and resent the wrong. Ilis ideal of moral integrity was placed in the highest niche, and yet his whole life was marked by no deviation from the high standard he had placed before him when a boy. He was a member of the Baptist Church for over half a century. His life was pure and cleanly, both morally and socially. He was a loving and affectionate husband and father, and when the cruel and irreparable loss came to his loved household, with its great and incurable affliction, the sympathy and condolence-sincere and heartfelt-of all his wide circle of friends wentout
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to them in their hour of severe trial. At the head of his grave the sons and daughters of posterity may stand and truly say, the world is brighter and better that he lived. His memory will be cherished, and his good deeds not forgotten.
WILLIAM W. GARROTT was born in Christian County, Ky., near Longview, on the 10th of October, 1835, to Pleasant B. and Martha J. (Radford) Garrett. He (subject's father) was born in Buckingham County, Va., June 5, 1802, where he was reared till he was fifteen years of age, and then came to Tennessee with his parents, who located in Montgomery County. In 1823 he came to Christian County with his brother, who settled near Longview. In 1824 he bought land adjoining his brother's farm and engaged in farming on his own account. In 1875, after the death of his wife, he removed to Providence, Tenn., and there died on the 12th of December, 1875. He was married in . 1827, and was blessed with eight children, of whom seven were reared. Mr. Gar- rott began life a poor man, and by his honesty, industry and economy, he succeeded in accumulating a good property. His land in Christian County amounted to over 2,000 acres, all of which, excepting 800 aeres at the old homestead, he divided among his children prior to his death. He was a man of limited education, but possessed sound judgment and an excellent memory, and was strictly temperate. Ile joined the Baptist Church at forty five years of age, and not only did he become an exem- plary member, but was well versed in the Scriptures. His wife, the mother of subject, was born in Louisa County, Va., in April, 1803, and was brought to Shelby County, Ky., by her parents in 1815, afterward to Todd County, and subsequently to Christian County in 1820, where she married, and died August 12, 1875. She was the mother of the fol- lowing children : Julia A., Marcellus A., William W., Alice M., Inez O., Justine P., Aurela L. William W. Garrott, the subject, was reared on the farm near Longview, and received a common school education. In December, 1856, he came to his present farm, and has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits. IIis homestead farm is called "Riverside." In January, 1861, he married Miss Mary S., daughter of Dr. S. J. Leavell, of Todd County, Ky. They have been blessed with the follow- ing children : Pleasant B., John C., Martha P., James R. and Eudora. Mr. and Mrs. Garrett, with three of their children, are members of the
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Baptist Church; he is a Deacon of the same, and was Superintendent of the Sunday-school for a period of eight years, having a distance of six miles to go over a rough country road.
THOMAS L. GRAHAM is a son of John Graham, who was a native of Todd County, Ky. He was early left an orphan, and became a self- made man. Early in life he taught school for a short time, and led a roving life until about 1840. In 1854 he came to Christian County and settled eight miles east from Hopkinsville, on the Russellville road, and from that date he followed the occupation of a farmer. He was a man of great energy, of a quiet nature, of strong temperance habits, and very industrious. He owned 600 acres of land in the county. He died Jan- uary 15, 1883, aged seventy-one years. He was an exemplary member of the Bethel Baptist Church. Ile was three times married: first, to Miss Mary Garnett, who died leaving one child-Frances M. His second marriage was to Mrs. Jennie W. Kimbrol, a daughter of Lemuel Moseley, native of Virginia, who died in this county in 1856, leaving three chil- dren, of whom two are living, viz. : Thomas L. (our subject) and Walter. His third marriage occurred in Virginia, to Miss Susan HI. Haskins, who after her husband's death returned to that State, where she now resides. Thomas L. Graham, the subject of this sketch, was born in Todd County, Ky., March 23, 1850. He attended school from his eighth till his nine- teenth year, receiving as thorough an education as the schools of the county afforded. He purchased his present farm, "Lanark," in 1884, and moved to it on November 21 of same year. It contains 270 acres of good land, which he devotes especially to the raising of stock, and is get- ting up a herd of fancy short-horn cattle, of which he now has five reg- istered and eleven grades. On the 12th of November, 1873, he married Miss Mattie Carneal, a native of the county, and a daughter of Josiah and Kittie (Galbraith) Carneal. They have been blessed with two chil- dren, viz. : Jennie Katherine and Douglas. Mr. Graham is a member of the Bethel Baptist Church, and his wife is a member of the Methodist Church at Salubria. He is an active member of the Casky Grange, which was organized in 1873, and has been in operation ever since, ex- cepting two years of suspension ; it co-operates in buying and selling, and has an annual stock and wool sale, at which between seven and eight thousand dollars change hands.
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THOMAS GREEN'S great-grandfather was Robert Green, the first of the family who came to America. He was a son of William Green, an Englishman, an officer in the body-guard of William, Prince of Orange, and arrived here about the year 1712, and settled with his unele, Will- iam Duff, in King George County, Va. He was born in the year 1695. When a young man he married Eleanor Dunn, of Scotland, and settled in Culpeper, St. Mark's Parish, near what is now Brandy, a sta- tion on the Washington City & Virginia Midland Railroad. He had seven sons : William, Robert, Duff, John, Nicholas, James and Moses. The grandfather of our subject was Col. John Green, of the Revolution, a native of Culpeper County, Va. He married Susanna Blackwell, who bore him eight children, viz .: William, John, Robert, Duff, George, Moses, Thomas and Elizabeth. Thomas Green, Sr., was born in Cul- peper County, Va., June 30, 1775. In 1815 he came to Kentucky, set- tled in Louisville, and engaged in merchandising for one year. In 1816 he removed to Christian County, and engaged in farming, continuing the same to the time of his death, which occurred on the 21st of October, 1821. He was one of the wealthiest men of the county, at the time of his death owning about 2,000 acres of land. He served as Captain in the war of 1812. IIe married Lucy Peyton, a native of Stafford Coun- ty, Va .- the homestead Stoney Hill. They were the parents of six chil- dren, viz .: Edward, Ann, Lucy, Mary, John, and Thomas (our subject, the only surviving child). He was born in Christian County, Ky., on the 20th of September, 1819. His early life was spent in assisting to till the home farm and receiving such an education as the common schools of the county afforded. Arriving at manhood he commenced his career in life as a merchant in the firm of Green, Edmunds & Green of Hop- kinsville. In this business he continued for about two years; then moved to his present home, where he has since been engaged in farming, making a specialty of tobacco and wheat. His farm, called "Liberty Hall," is one of the best of the county, and contains 1,150 acres. Mr. Green took an active part in getting the railroad, a project that has done more to develop Hopkinsville and Christian County than any other one thing. He was married February 24, 1842, to Caroline Venable, daugh- ter of Dr. George Venable. She died on the 17th of September, 1857, ' leaving four children, viz .: Mrs. Elizabeth (Bankhead) Dade, Mrs. Luey
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(Randolph) Dade, George V. and John R. In April, 1859, he married Mary T. Moore, who has borne him two children : Thomas and Jamos M. Mr. and Mrs. Green are members of the Southern Presbyterian Church. He is an active member of the Grange; is a Democrat in poli- tics, and has held several high official positions in the county. Mr. Green is an active and zealous advocate for all enterprises looking to the progress and development of the county, particularly the permanent improvement of the public roads. A portrait of Thomas Green will be found else- where.
JOHN ALLEN GUNN, M. D., is a son of Dr. Daniel Burnett Gunn, who was born in Caswell County, N. C., in March, 1818. He attended the Jefferson Medical College and the University of Pennsyl- vania at Philadelphia, and graduated from the former in the winter of 1848-49. His preceptor was Dr. Allen M. Gunn, of Yanceyville, N. C., a physician of great prominence. Soon after receiving his di- ploma he removed to Alabama, where he began the practice of his profession, and in 1855 removed to Brandon, Miss., where he still resides, and has a large practice. In 1839 he was married to Miss Eliza Henry Brandon, a native of Caswell County, N. C., born in 1822, who has borne him five children, of whom three are now living. John Allen Gunn, the subject, is the eldest child, and was born in Person County, N. C., July 31, 1840. When he was quite a young man (in 1859) he began the study of medicine, under the preceptorship of his father ; at the same time he was engaged as clerk in a drug store, and was thus engaged when the late Civil war broke out. March 20, 1861, he enlisted in Company A of the Tenth Mississippi Infantry of the Con- federate Army, and remained with the regiment until its disbandment at Corinth, Miss., one year after. He was captured at Port Hudson, July 8, 1863, and held a prisoner of war until June 8, 1865, after the armies had all surrendered, and was then discharged. After the war he returned home and resumed his study of medicine with D. W. Booth, M. D., of Vicksburg, Miss., and at the same time he was employed as the prescrip- tion druggist of the City Hospital of Vicksburg. In the winter of 1866-67 he attended the Medical Department of the University of Louisiana at New Orleans, and the following winter attended the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, and graduated from that institution March 2, 1868. He
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