USA > Kentucky > Christian County > County of Christian, Kentucky : historical and biographical > Part 6
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member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Episcopal Church, and his wife is an honored member of the church.
MAURICE H. MORRIS was born June 27, 1828, in Bourbon Coun- ty, Ky., where he resided until moving to Christian County in 1870. Ilis father, John Morris, was born February 10, 1793, near Paris, Bourbon County, where he was three times married. The second wife, mother of our subject, was Elizabeth, daughter of David and Winifred Bowles, and widow of John Payne. They had two children, of whom Maurice II. was the elder. John Morris died in Robertson County August 20, 1872, and his wife Elizabeth died in 1831, at their home near the old Cane Ridge Church in Bourbon County. Maurice H. Morris was married November 18, 1852, near Paris, to Mary, daughter of John M. and Susan (Currant) Layson. She was born December 28, 1835, in Bourbon County, and de- scends from the famous " Giant Family," so noted for their extreme height and weight, as well as for their.sterling worth as citizens. Mr. and Mrs. Morris are the parents of ten children : John M., William 1., Edwin A., Jess H., Perry M., Susan E., Bob T., Emma M., Rodinan and Samuel G. H. W. Morris. William I. and Susan E. are deceased, the former leaving a wife, Mary V. Morris (nee Hayes), and one son named Claude F., now living. In 1870 Mr. Morris settled in Mount Vernon Precinet on the dairy farm of P. A. Cushman, but in 1883 removed to his pres- ent residence in Hopkinsville Precinct, near the city of Hopkinsville. Mr. Morris is an honorable, industrious man, and has served the county for some years as a Magistrate. He is chiefly engaged in the dairy busi- ness, with which he combines agriculture.
THOMAS MORROW, one of the early pioneers of Kentucky, came to Christian County from North Carolina in the year 1789, and settled a farm now known as Mount Vernon in the Mount Vernon or Yellow House Precinct; lived there until the date of his death about the year 1834. The place afterward became one of the voting precinets of the county, and has remained as such ever since. Thomas Morrow had a fam- ily of four children, three sons and one daughter, none of whom are now living; but his grandchildren are scattered from New York to Texas, with several representatives in this county. The eldest son of Thomas Mor- row, Dr. T. V. Morrow, studied medicine, and graduated in that profes- sion at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he afterward practiced, and where, in
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connection with Dr. R. S. Newton, he founded the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical College, the first of that school of medicine in the United States, and one that has been in successful operation since. Dr. T. V. Morrow died in Cincinnati about the year 1850, leaving a widow and several ehil- dren, one of whom, Wooster Beach Morrow, is a distinguished member of the Cincinnati bar. Another son of Thomas Morrow was Col. William Morrow, who, after the death of his father, acquired the old Mount Ver- non homestead, where he lived until about 1847, meantime building a new house, which he painted yellow, and thus arose the name of " Yellow Ilouse Precinct," which it still bears. Col. William Morrow served for some time as Colonel of the Kentucky Militia. He was also elected to the lower house of the Kentucky Legislature, and represented Christian County in that body for one or more terms. About 1847 he removed from Mt. Vernon to Fairview, and there established a store, sold off lots to the settlers, and afterward procured the incorporation of the town. In 1854 he removed to Princeton, Ky., and there died in 1864. His widow and four children-three sons and one daughter --- are still living. The youngest son, Dr. P. A. Morrow, went to New York City twenty years ago, being then but sixteen years old, without means or a single acquaint- ance, there began the study of medicine, and has become an eminent prac- titioner in said city. With Thomas Morrow, in 1789, came James Vau. ghan, and settled on a farm adjoining Mt. Vernon, where he lived to a ripe old age. Richard Vaughan, his son, is now engaged in business in Fairview, and is regarded as one of the most worthy citizens of the county.
MEMUCAN II. NELSON was born March 14, 1846, in Columbus, Hickman (then Ballard) Co., Ky., and is a son of IIugh Nelson, of whom mention is elsewhere made. When six years of age he became a member of the family of Dr. James B. Wallace, his maternal grand- father, who was for many years a resident of Christian County. When fourteen years old he was placed in school at Caledonia, Tenn .; leaving which he enlisted in the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry and entered the Con- federate Army, though at the time only fifteen years old. Ile served through the Rebellion. and was paroled with his regiment at its close. IIe was educated in a sectarian college at Georgetown, D. C., after which, in 1867, he came to Hopkinsville, Ky. Ile served Christian County as Dep-
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uty Sheriff for four years, after which he engaged in the coal trade. Since 1877 he has been a commission merchant, handling grain and to- bacco ; first as a member of the firm of W. G. Wheeler & Co .; later un- der the firm name of Nelson & Wheeler, and for the past six years as Nelson & Jesnp. Mr. Nelson was married January 25, 1872, to Miss Isabella, daughter of Maj. Bolling Gordon, a leading politician of Ten- nessee. She was born in Tennessee in 1849, and is a graduate of the Columbia Institute of that State. They are both honored members of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and have three children, named Bolling Gordon, Memucan and Mary Eloise Nelson.
ROBERT W. NORWOOD was born in Jackson, Tenn., January 10, 1847. His parents, Ignatius W. and Elizabeth (Huston) Norwood, were each born in Tennessee, and are still living in Jackson. Robert W. is the youngest of four children born to these parents, all of whom are living, the eldest three living in Jackson, Tenn., viz .: John II., Samuel L. and Sarah E., wife of E. C. Johnson. Robert W. was reared in Jack- son, and before seventeen years old became a soldier in the Confederate Army, serving about one year, or until the close of the war, as a member of a Tennessee regiment, participating in the engagements at Columbia, Franklin and Nashville, Tenn., and Selma, Ala. In 1867 he became agent for the Southern Express Company, and has been in their einploy continuously ever since, and located at Hopkinsville since 1872. On the 5th of November, 1872, he married Miss Dora, daughter of Hiram C. and Mary A. Vaughan. She was born in Montgomery County, Tenn., November 4, 1848. They have had four children : Bessie V., Mary L. (deccased), Robert W. and Norma Hamlin. Mr. Norwood is an accepta- ble member of the Masonic order, Knights of Honor, Knights of Pythias, and the Golden Cross.
JOIIN ORR is a native of Allegheny County, Penn., born Septem- ber 29, 1830, to Hugh and Virginia (McConnell) Orr, the former of Irish descent and the latter of Scotch descent, and the parents of the following children : Mollie, deceased wife of Arthur White; Isabella, wife of Henry Kennedy, Beaver County, Penn .; Eliza, deceased wife of R. II. Cooper ; Martha, wife of John Kerr, of Beaver Falls, Penn .; Alvira ; William, of Beaver Falls ; James, of Beaver County, Penn., and John, the subject of this sketch, who was the seventh child. His early life was
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spent in Pennsylvania, where he learned the carpenter's trade. Coming to Hopkinsville in 1850. he engaged at his trade and continued the same until 1866, when he, in company with Martin Miller, erected and estab- lished the Hopkinsville Planing Mill, which has since been enlarged and is now one of the largest enterprises of the city, employing about fifty men. In 1856 Mr. Orr married Sarah E., daughter of Drewry and Obedience Toryan. Mrs. Orr was born in Christian County, Ky., and is the. mother of the following children : John, William G., Clara V. and Jessie B. Mr. Orr is an active member of the orders K. of HI. and K. of P., and with his wife and eldest son unites with the Christian Church.
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OVERSHINER FAMILY. Gideon and Barbara (Campbell) Over- shiner came from Stanton, Rockingham Co., Va., and settled three miles north of Hopkinsville, Christian Co., Ky., about 1815. Gideon was a soldier in the war of 1812, followed farming in Virginia and for some years after coming to Christian County. He then removed to Hopkins- ville and opened a wagon-making shop, a trade which he had learned early in life. He prosecuted this business for many years, but later in life removed again to the farm and died in 1866, in his seventy-fifth year. His wife was born in Ireland in 1796, and came to Virginia in childhood. The Overshiner family was first represented in the United States by the father of Gideon Overshiner, who came from Germany and fought for the Americans in the Revolutionary war. Gidcon and Barbara were pioneer Methodists in this county, and their house was for many years the frequent stopping-place for the weary itinerant. Their chil- dren were : Albert; Mary J., deceased, wife of D. J. Hooser ; Alexan- der C., John J., Perry, Rebecca and Margaret Overshiner, the last three of whom died in childhood. Alexander C. was born in Christian Coun- ty, February 13, 1819. He was reared and educated in Hopkinsville, and has spent his entire life since in mercantile business. From 1839 to 1856 he was merchandising in Muhlenburg and Logan Counties ; since 1856 has been in business in Hopkinsville, and is now associated in the stove and tin business with D. J. Hooser. He was married in Hopkins- ville to Bettie, daughter of Thomas C. and Martha J. White. Mrs. Overshiner is also a native of Christian County. They have been blessed with seven children, of whom Alexander C., Jr., Mattie, Thomas C. and Lee are still living. Mr. Overshiner is a member of the Masonic order
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and I. O. O. F. John C. Overshiner, who was born November 2, 1822 ; early in life learned the trade of tinner, which he has followed since. He married in Christian County, in 1849, Miss Margaret A., daughter of David K. and Mary Nichols. She was born April 12, 1832, in Elkton, Todd Co., Ky. Their family consists of five children, viz .: Mary B., wife of Richard Qualls; Charles D., of California ; James B., Clifton J. and Lizzie Overshiner.
NEWTON PAYNE is a native of this county, and was born January 14, 1814. Hle is the fourth child of Dennis and Nancy Payne, who came from Bourbon County to this county in 1800. Subject was reared in Chris- tian and Todd Counties ; he then studied law and was admitted to prac- tice in 1834. After practicing for two or three years he turned his attention to teaching, and afterward to farming and trading. He was married in Todd County, Ky., on February 22, 1844, to Miss Mahala Clark, a daughter of Thomas Clark, of Todd County. This lady was born in Todd County in 1822, and died in 1851. To her were born two children : Davie Ella and Leslie Elwood, both deceased. Leslie was edu- cated in the profession of law in the Law Department of the University of Lexington, Ky., from which institution he graduated in 1871. He afterward practiced in Hopkinsville, first with D. O. Graves, now in Louisville, Ky .; later, with the late John P. Ritter. He died February 3, 1877. Miss Davie E. Payne was the wife of James D. Hooker. This lady died in Hopkinsville in August, 1873, leaving one daughter-Miss Bettie D. Hooker. Subject married the second time, on July 25, 1853, to Mrs. Lauvisa A. Faulkner (nee Baker). This lady is the daughter of Peter and Rhoda Baker, and was born in 1827. This union has resulted in the birth of five children : John W., Effie (wife of J. W. Warfield), Minnic (wife of Dr. W. M. Trice), Felie B. and Edna E. John W. Payne was educated in the Cumberland University of Lebanon, Tenn., from which institution he graduated in 1877. He was admitted the same year to practice in the courts of Kentucky, first with Hon. James Breathitt. From October, 1880, to January 1, 1884, he was business manager and local editor of the New Era. In December, 1883, he was elected City Attorney over a prominent Republican, J. W. Downer, and is now serving in that capacity. He is a member of the Baptist Church, as are also his mother and sisters, Mrs. Warfield and Mrs. Trice. The
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Payne family have been residents of Christian County since 1844, living until 1866 on their farm in Union Schoolhouse Precinct, and since that date in Hopkinsville.
HIRAM A. PHIELPS, the oldest practicing lawyer in Hopkinsville, was born in July, 1812, in Caldwell County, Ky. When fifteen years old he went to Lexington, Ky., and there learned the trade of carriage- maker, at which he worked until coming to Hopkinsville, Ky., in 1834. At that time his father, John Phelps, was Clerk of the Circuit Court of Christian County. Hiram A. obtained the position of Deputy, and during his stay in the office was also engaged in reading law. He afterward continued his studies in the office of Ninian E. Gray, with whom he prac- ticed for some time after his admission in 1841. He is one of the Trustees of the Bethel Female College and a member of Hopkinsville Lodge, No. 37, A. F. & A. M., and of the Oriental Chapter, No. 14, R. A. M. He was married in Hopkinsville in November, 1842, to Miss Cornelia F. Campbell, daughter of John P. Campbell and Mary A. Buckner. She was born in Christian County in 1822. They have ten children living, viz .: Augusta (wife of William Cowan), John, Mary (wife of Dr. John Q. Thomas), Luey (wife of John R. Green), James, Fannie, Cornelia, Mat- tie, Lillie, Bell Phelps. John Phelps, junior member of the law firm of H. A. Phelps & Son, was born in the town of Hopkinsville, February 9, 1845. Ile was educated in the Hopkinsville schools, and in 1867 began the study of law with his father. He was admitted to the bar in 1868, since which date he has been in constant practice in Hopkinsville, and in the early part of his legal career served as City Attorney. He was married to Miss Emma, daughter of Robert and Mary McReynolds, on the 13th day of November, 1866. She was born in Hopkinsville, Ky., in 1845, and died August 22, 1871, leaving one son-Hugh Phelps.
EUGENE A. PIKE was born in Owensboro, Daviess County, Ky., in June, 1857. His parents were Samuel and Zarilda A. (Gaugh) Pike, both of whom were reared in Spencer County, Ky., near Taylorville. They were married in Owensboro, Ky., in the year 1852, where Sam- uel Pike engaged at his trade-that of a cabinet-maker-and where both he and his wife died, both being consistent members of the Catholic faith. To them were born two sons, viz. : Eugene A. and George H. Pike, who, at the death of their parents, were still in the tender years of childhood ;
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too young, indeed, to appreciate their loss, which was rendered all the more sad in consequence of being left with no fortune, save the charae- teristics inherited from their parents. They were, however, fostered by relatives of their mother; and with the meager estate left them, defrayed the expenses of their early education, they in the meantime serving as store boys in Owensboro. In 1877, feeling a desire to increase his chances for advancement, Eugene left Owensboro, and accepted a posi- tion on the clerk staff of the Louisville Hotel, in the city of Louisville, which position he filled with acceptance until October, 1879, when he removed to Hopkinsville, where, for a time, he engaged in clerical work. By his industry he soon acquired money, which enabled him to engage in business for himself. He is now the proprietor of the European IIotel on Bridge Street, where his time and money are spent in his efforts to dispense comforts and kind attention to his many guests. In October, 1883, Mr. Pike was united in marriage with Miss Rossie T. Mackenzie, of Nashville, Tenn., whose presence adds much to the grace and attrac- tions of his house. She was born in November, 1861, in Wilmington, N. C., and is a daughter of James Mackenzie and Fannie J. MeGeady ; the former born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1827, and the latter in London- derry, Ireland, in 1832. George II. Pike, the younger brother of Eugene A., has spent several years in the "art preservative of all arts" in the States of Kentucky and Illinois-the Muhlenburg Echo, a sterling Demoerat organ of the town of Greenville, Ky., and which flourished under his management, being his latest effort in this line. On account of failing health he abandoned this field of labor and now efficiently presides over the office of the European Hotel.
COL. GEORGE POINDEXTER, whose long and useful career in Hopkinsville has made him extensively and favorably known, was born September 24, 1807, in Jessamine County, Ky., where his father, Peter Poindexter, settled in 1780, coming from Louisa County, Va. Peter Poindexter removed with his family to Logan County, Ky., in 1825, and died in 1843, at the residence of his son in Todd County. The mother of our subject was Mrs. Mary Marrs, widow of John Marrs, and daughter of a Mr. Lard, who was killed in the battle of King's Mountain, in the Revolutionary war. She married Peter Poindexter in Kentucky, and died in 1832. Both, having been previously married, had a family of
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children-he five and she four ; their union resulted in the birth of six children, making the entire family of children number fifteen. Of this number George is the only survivor. IIc learned the trade of carriage- making in Jessamine County, and came to Hopkinsville in 1829, for the purpose of establishing himself in this business, which he did, continuing for more than half a century, and retiring therefrom in 1881. In 1861 Col. Poindexter was elected to represent Christian County in the State Legislature, and was again elected in 1865, serving two terms with acceptance, during which time he was instrumental in securing to Hop- kinsville the re-establishing of the Western Kentucky Insane Asylum, and also in securing the appointment of Dr. James Rodman as its Super- intendent. For many years Col. Poindexter has been a member of its Board of Managers, and is now Secretary of that body. He was married in this county in 1836, to Miss Bettie, daughter of James McDonald. They have had four children, all of whom are deceased. Mrs. P. was born in Christian County, Ky., in 1818, and both are pioneer members of the Christian Church at Hopkinsville. Col. Poindexter is a member of Hopkinsville Lodge, No. 37, A. F. & A. M., Oriental Chapter, No. 14, R. A. M., and Moore Commandery No. 6, K. T. For services rendered as presiding officer in these orders, he has been made an honorary life member of each of them, without dues.
PYLE FAMILY. The parents of John Pyle, of Hamby Precinct, Christian County, Ky., were Nicholas and Mary Pyle, of Carolina, John being one of a family of nineteen children born to them. His paternal grandparents were Nicholas Pyle and Ann Black, both of whom were Carolinians. John was born June 18, 1813, and on the 22d of January, 1836, married Miss Jane E. Meacham, who was born March 16, 1820. She was a daughter of Wyatt Meacham, who was born in 1798, the son of Joseph Meacham and Mary West, both natives of En- gland. Her mother was Ellen Robinson, a daughter of Abner Robinson, of English ancestry, and Nancy Duty, of Irish origin. Ellen was born in 1798, and was married to Wyatt Meacham in 1817. He died in 1876, and she in 1878. They were the parents of Abner W., Jane E. and Joseph A. Meacham. To John and Jane E. (Meacham) Pyle were born ten children, as follows: Arabella M., born December 29, 1836; Abner W., born November 22, 1844; James F., born December 10, 1846;
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Sarah N., born December 27, 1848; Byron A., born July 10, 1850; Falconer O., born October 30, 1851; IIarvey R., born September 27, 1854; Almeda E., born November 18, 1856; Albina C., born January 21, 1859; Jo Emma Pyle, March 25, 1860; all deceased except Abner W., James F. and Jo Emma. Abner W. Pyle was born in Christian County, Ky., November 22, 1844. When seventeen years old he began the trade of cabinet-maker, to which several years of his life have been devoted. He began as a furniture dealer in Hopkinsville in 1870, and is still engaged in that line on West Main Street. He was married in Hop- kinsville September 29, 1870, to Miss Olivia J., daughter of Henderson and Maggie Wade. Mrs. Pyle was born July 10, 1854, in Todd County, Ky. They have three daughters, viz .: Lena B., aged eleven years ; Maggie M., aged nine years, and Mary H., aged four months. Mr. Pyle is a member of the Masonie fraternity, Knights of Honor, and both he and wife are members of the Christian Church.
JOHN T. RABBETH was born in the city of Louisville, Ky., on the 4th day of October, 1845. He is descended from English parents; his father, Joseph Rabbeth, was born in London, September 3, 1806, and his mother, Anne Golder, was born in the city of Folkestone, County of Kent. The father grew to manhood and married in the old country ; came to Louisville, Ky., in 1831, and there died in 1868; Anne (Golder) Rabbeth was born February 21, 1812, and is still living, an honored resident of Louisville. John T. is the sixth of their family of nine chil- dren, of whom three sisters are deceased. Margaret Rabbeth married Prof. Harry Hill, at one time leader of the Italian Opera at London, England, and was a pupil of the Royal Academy of Music, and who came to the United States as the leading violinist of the famous Jullien's Band. Charlotte Rabbeth is now the wife of James C. Oliver, a car- riage manufacturer in Jeffersonville, Ind. John T., of Hopkinsville, Matthias, Sydney and Joseph of Louisville, constitute the living members of the family. John T., whose name heads this sketch, was reared in Louisville, Ky., and in youth adopted the profession of telegraphing, at which he early acquired proficiency. During the late Civil war he be- came Military Operator under the command of Col. Samuel Bruch, Military Superintendent, and was by him ordered to Hopkinsville. As a matter of necessity during the war, he was ordered from place to place
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as circumstances required, his last point of military service being Spring- field, Tenn., where he afterward became Train Dispatcher and Express Agent. He returned to Hopkinsville, Ky., in 1871, and for three years had charge of the station for the St. L. & S. E. Railroad Company. In 1874, on the ground now occupied by the "Crescent Mill," he and William Cowan erected the grain establishment known as the Hopkins- ville Elevator. In 1877 the Crescent Mill was built by Mr. F. J. Brownell and himself. He is a member of the Masonic order, I. O. O. F. and of the Episcopal Church. His wife, Ella R. (McReynolds) Rah- beth, to whom he was married, January 15, 1880, is an honored member of the Christian Church.
CHARLES W. RADFORD, one of the pioneers of Christian Coun- ty, and whose portrait appears in this work, was born May 29, 1813, in Green County, Ky. Reuben Radford, his father, was a native of Buck- ingham County, Va., as was also his mother, whose maiden name was Phoebe Gibson. These parents were reared and married in their native county, from where they removed to Kentucky, settling in Green County about 1810. Of their eight sons and two daughters, most of whom were born in Virginia, but three are now living, viz .: Charles W., Miles G. and John M. Radford, each being residents of Christian County. About the close of the year 1815, and before Charles W. was three years old, the father died ; the mother following him to the unknown in 1821. The younger children were taken under the guardianship of the eldest brother, who took care that each should become industrious and self-sustaining. In 1831 Charles W. came to this county, and, being a practical farmer, he obtained work on the farm of Pleasant Garrett, as his business man- ager, and remained with him one year. On the 14th of November, 1833, he was joined in marriage to Miss Amelia G. Tandy, a most estimable lady. She was a daughter of Mills Tandy and Amelia Tandy (nee Graves), and was born in Christian County. Her death occurred April 6, 1878, after a long and useful life, most of which time she was a faith- ful member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Radford's life business has been that of a farmer, in which he has enjoyed a success far greater than is the lot of the average farmer. In January, 1879, he removed to the city of Hopkinsville, where he will doubtless spend the remainder of his days. Ile is director and stockholder in the City Bank, and also a stockholder
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in the Bank of Hopkinsville. Mr. Radford is a true gentleman, a valua- ble citizen and a Christian man, having been for more than half a century a member of the Baptist Church.
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