USA > Kentucky > Daviess County > History of Daviess County, Kentucky, together with sketches of its cities, villages, and townships, educational religious, civil military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, biographies of representative citizens, and an outline history of Kentucky > Part 51
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William R. Knox, M. D., was born Jan. 18, 1826, in Shelby County, Ky. His father, Samuel Knox, M. D., was born in Ire-
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land, Dec. 5, 1799, and came to America in 1820. He was married March 10, 1820, just before starting for America, to Elizabeth Rogers, who was born July 28, 1794. He graduated from the medical college of London, England, in 1820, and was appointed to the position of surgeon in the British navy, resigning to come to the United States. He settled in Shelby County, Ky., where he practiced medicine till his death, March 6, 1855. His wife died July 20, 1859. William R. is the fourth of a family of ten children. He has a twin brother living in Lewisport. When twelve years of age he went to Shelbyville to a'tend school, and when nineteen commenced the study of medicine with his father. In 1847 he entered the Louisville Medical College, graduating in 1849. He commenced the practice of his profession in Chaplin, Ky., remaining there about a year and a half. In 1850 he went to Kansas City, Mo., and in the spring of 1851 came to Daviess County and settled in Whitesville where he now has a good prac- tice. His brother, James B., came here with him and remained three years, when he went to Philadelphia to attend medical lect- ures. At that time Dr. Haynes, of Masonville, was the only phy- sician in this part of the county. Dr. Knox was married Jan. 4, 1855, to Sallie A. Milton, daughter of James Milton, who was born opposite Dr. Knox's residence, April 15, 1839. They have six children, fonr sons and two daughters. His eldest son, James S., is a physician, having graduated from the Louisville Medical College in the spring of 1882. A brother, Marcus L., was a sur- geon on the steamship Pemgrem, U. S. navy, during the late war and lost his hearing in the service. He died at the residence of Dr. Knox, May 20, 1873.
Geo. W. Litsey was born June 29, 1839, in Grayson County, Ky. His father was Davis Litsey, a native of the same county. His grandfather, John Litsey, was from Washington County, Ky., and . settled in Grayson County at an early date, and in 1851 moved to Washington County, Iowa, where he lived till his death. Davis Litsey was a farmer in Grayson County. He married Rebecca Day, a native of Grayson County, daughter of Joseph Day. They had six children-James, George W., John T., Susan, Squire (deceased) and Mollie. Mrs. Litsey is still living in Hart County, Ky., with her daughter Mollie, wife of Henry Wheeler. Mr. Lit- sey died in the winter of 1863. Geo. W. Litsey was reared in Grayson County, and lived with his father till 1856. He learned the blacksmith's trade, and in 1856 went to Bewleyville, Breckin-
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ridge Co., Ky., where he worked at his trade nearly two years. In October, 1858, he came to Daviess County and settled in Whites- ville, and in 1863 bought the property where he now lives. In 1859 he began work at his trade with Birkhead & Ramsey. A short time after he bought Mr. Ramsey's interest and shortly after bought Mr. Birkhead's interest in the shop and carried on the business himself till 1877. In January of this year Mr. Litsey was stricken with a paralytic stroke which unfitted him for busi- ness, and the greater part of the time since he has been nearly helpless. Up to the time of his misfortune he has been a hard- working man. In 1877 he became a member of the Baptist church, and since then has been a strict adherent to his religions principles. He was married in July, 1863, to. Lnticia Gist, daughter of John A. Gist. Mrs Litsey was born in Daviess County, Dec. 20, 1843. Seven children have been born to them- Richard L., born April 25, 1864, died Dec. 23, 1864; Junius, born Dec. 9, 1865; Alice, born Feb. 20, 1867, died May 20, 1867; Ros- allie, born April 20, 1868; Ollie, born April 9, 1871, died Jan. 24, 1872; Ettie Delia, born Oct. 9, 1872; Fred Irwin, born Sept. 15, 1874.
Thomas H. Lloyd was born Sept. 1, 1827, in Rockingham County, N. C. His father, William Lloyd, was also born in the same county, in August, 1792. He was married in North Carolina, Sept. 4, 1818, to Mary King, who was born in Rockingham County, May 24, 1798. In 1832 he came to Kentucky, and settled in Breckin- ridge County, on a farm, where he resided about two years, when he moved across the line into Grayson County, where he died, near the falls of Rough Creek, May 10, 1853. His widow is still living in Breckinridge with one of her married daughters. They reared a family of eight children, five sons and three daughters to be grown, of whom all are living with the exception of the oldest and the fifth child. Thomas H. Lloyd was about five years old when his father moved to Kentucky. He received a common education of what could be had at that time, and lived with his father till he was twenty-two years of age. He was married in Ohio Connty, Dec. 23, 1851, to Missouri C. Roach, a second cousin of his, who was born in North Carolina, a daughter of James Roach, who settled from Rockingham County, N. C., in Ohio County, Ky. After his marriage he lived in Grayson County, where he purchased his father's old farm, and lived on it till 1864. His wife died June 8, 1862, leaving five children-James W., Thomas H., John H., Mary
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E. and Theophilus (deceased). Mr. Lloyd was married again in Litchfield, Grayson County, Aug. 4, 1864, to Fannie V. Rogers, who was born in Nelson County, March 24, 1843, a daughter of Mathew Rogers. After this marriage Mr. Lloyd sold his farm in Grayson County, and moved to Ohio County, near the Daviess County line, and bought a farm there, where heresided about fifteen years, after which he sold and bought near Fordsville, Ohio County, and lived there about four years. In November, 1882, he sold again, and purchased in Daviess County, where he now lives, moving onto the place in December, 1882. He has 167 acres of land, situated on the Litchfield road, two miles east of Whitesville, in one of the best portions of Daviess County. Mr. Lloyd united with the Pleas- ant Grove Baptist church, Jan. 30, 1860, and when he moved near the edge of Daviess County, transferred his membership to the Zion Baptist Church in Ohio County. He has been connected with this church over eighteen years, and had been a Deacon of the church during this time, having been regularly ordained as such a short time after he became a member. He has also been Treasurer of the church for the same length of time. Seven of his children are members of the same church, also his wife, who has been con- nected with it since February, 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd have four children-Tarlton L., Cecil E., Sarah C. and Charles Robert, all of whom were born in Ohio County. Mr. Lloyd has been con- nected with the Masonic fraternity since he was twenty-two years of age.
James H. May, born July 13, 1822, in Jefferson County, Ky., is a son of Wales and Sarah (Humphress) May, his father a native of Connecticut and his mother of Loudoun County, Va. His grandfather, John Humphress, was one of the first settlers of Jeffer- son County, going there as early as 1781 or 1782. His father died near Louisville, March 29, 1834, and his mother about 1853. There was a family of eight children, five living to maturity, and three now living. James H. is the eldest now living. He was reared in Jefferson County, living there till 1848. He worked at the blacksmith's trade fourteen months with Lawrence Hickman, and then went to Louisville and worked three years and a half with Hays & Cooper. He afterward worked for different parties, till June 20, 1853, when he came to Daviess County. In December, 1853, he went to Clarksville, Tenn., and worked for Thomas & Bailey, till Jan. 20, 1855. He then went to Nashville, Tenn., in- tending to go into business, but the night of the second day he was
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there was taken with a congestive chill and was unable to work for several weeks. On regaining his health, he went again to Louisville; from there to Shelby County, and thence, after a year, to Bullitt County. In 1863 he came to Daviess County, opening a shop at Whitesville. He was married Nov. 30, 1848, to Ellen Jane Goldsmith, daughter of Owen Goldsmith, of Bullitt County. They have had eight children, five now living-James T., Charles H., Ida B., Lucy W., Lnlie A. Lloyd R. died at the age of twenty-three years, and two died in infancy.
James W. McCarty, M. D., was born July 31, 1848, in Ohio County, Ky. His father was Justin McCarty, a native of Marion County, and his mother was Rachel W. (Haynes) McCarty, a native of Ohio Connty, Ky. They rcared ten of eleven children, nine of them now living. James W. McCarty is the oldest of his father's family. He was reared in Ohio County, near the Daviess County line, where his father lived at that time. He was educated mostly at Whitesville, Daviess County, and at Horse Cave, Hart Co., Ky. He began his medical studies with his uncle, Milburn Mc- Carty, of Woodford County, Ill., with whom he remained four or five months. He attended his first course of lectures at the Louis- ville Medical College during the sessions of 1874-'5, and again in 1875-'6, and graduated from this institution in the spring of 1876. During this time, and previous, he paid his own way by working on a farm.summers and teaching school during the winter months. In 1875 he practiced medicine in Edwards County, Ill., near West Salem, during the spring and summer months. In that man- ner he accumulated means to carry him through the medical col- lege. On the 28th day of March, 1876, he settled in Whitesville, Daviess County, and began the practice of medicine, where he has been located ever since. From the time the Doctor started, he has met with good success, better in fact than he anticipated when he began, and his practice has steadily increased from year to year. Being reared in this community, and known by the people, he has met with a just reward as the result of his labors. In 1862 he be- came a member of the Baptist church, and has lived in accordance with his religious principles. He was married on the 13th of April, 1876, to S. Mary McElroy, daughter of C. S. and F. M. Mc- Elroy. Mrs. McCarty was born in Washington County, Ky., on the 6th of Jannary, 1855. When she was nine years old her parents moved to this county. She is also a member of the Bap- tist church. They have one son-Arnold B., born May 28, 1877.
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Justin McCarty, born in Washington County, Ky., March 2, 1822, is a son of Milburn and Catharine (Kinnett) McCarty, na- tives of the same county, his father born in April, 1798, and his mother March 13, 1798. In March, 1845, his father sold his farm in Washington County, and bought 700 acres in Ohio County, five miles from Whitesville. He added to this till at the time of his death, May, 1854, he had 900 acres. His wife is still living, mak- ing her home with her children and grandchildren. They reared a family of nine children-Charles, Justin, Samuel (deceased), Will- iam W., Milburn, Susan (Mrs. Jesse Hayden, now deceased), Mary A. (Mrs. J. L. Brown), John, Drusilla C. (Mrs. G. W. Kelly). When Justin was eight years of age his father's health failed, and the care of the farm (then unpaid for) and the liquidation of the debt fell upon the children. He remained at home till twenty-three years of age, when, Aug. 5, 1845, he married Rachel W. Haynes, a native of Ohio County, born June 2, 1828, and a danghter of Jo- siah Haynes. After his marriage Mr. Haynes bonght 100 acres adjoining his father's, where he lived five years. In 1850 he sold his farm and bought one of 166 acres in Ohio County, on the Da- viess County line. In 1862 he added to this, and now has 170 acres in the homestead, and 210 acres in another tract lying in Ohio and Daviess counties. During the war he met with quite a loss in ne- groes. Mr. and Mrs. McCarty have nine children-James W., Samnel C., C. Hammond, John T. (residing in Texas), Susie E. (wife of Dr. S. H. Weatherford, of Texas), N. Bell, Bettie S., Justin L., and C. Webb. They have lost two children-Fannie C., who died Dec. 5, 1869, aged sixteen years, and Josiah M., died Dec. 14, 1867, aged five days. Politically Mr. McCarty was a Whig, but since the outbreaking of the war he has been a Democrat. The family are members of the Baptist church. Mr. McCarty's grandfathers, Justin McCarty and Charles Kinnett, were both in the Revolutionary war. His family is of Scotch and Irish descent.
William L. Miller, born in Daviess County, Ky., Sept. 15, 1845, is a son of William E. and Harriet (Hansford) Miller. His father was born in Henry County, Ky., in 1823, and came to Da- viess County with his parents in 1826. There was a family of eleven children, three now living-William L., Lucinda and S. R. Mrs. Miller died in 1877 and Mr. Miller in 1878. William L. lived on a farm till about fourteen years of age, when his parents moved to Whitesville. He was educated in the village schools, and in 1864 commenced to learn the carpenter and wagon maker's trade. After
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the death of his father he succeeded him in business and is now recognized as the leading undertaker in this part of the county. May 3, 1875, he married Anna, danghter of J. T. Bartlett. They have two children-Pearl, born May 18, 1876, and Earl, born July 26, 1879. Mr. Miller is a member of the Baptist church.
James Milton was born Aug. 9, 1809, in Nelson County, Ky. ITis father, Richard Milton, was a native of Virginia, born in Jan- uary, 1773, and came to Kentucky when fifteen years of age, set- tling in Nelson County, where he married Sallie Williams, a native of Maryland. The greater part of his life was spent in Nel- son County, but a few days before his death he moved to Spencer County, where he died July 3, 1850, his wife having died about three years before. They reared a family of twelve children, five sons and seven daughters. James, the sixth child, was reared in Nelson County and lived with his father till twenty-five years of age. He received but a limited education, devoting most of liis early life to the duties of the farm. March 8, 1835, he married Sallie E., daughter of William Stone, of Nelson County, and the following April moved to Daviess County and settled in Whites- ville Precinct, on a farm of 397 acres, -his son-in-law, Dr. W. R. Knox, now residing on part of it,-at that time being mostly in the woods and having few improvements. In 1850 he moved to his- present residence. His wife died March 6, 1853. They had four children, only two now living-Richard, and Sallie, now Mrs. W. R. Knox. Nov. 22, 1860, Mr. Milton married Mary J., widow of J. L. Bartlett, and daughter of A. J. Harlan. They have had seven children, six living-James William, John T., Robert Lee, Bushrod J., Ada A. and Ida L. (twins). Mary Alice died at the age of nine years and six months. Politically Mr. Milton was a Whig, but in later years has affiliated with the Democratic party. In the spring of 1867 lie was elected Magistrate of this precinct and served two terms. He is a member of the Christian church, being the only surviving member who signed the Constitution in 1835.
John Wesley Moseley (deceased), son of Elijah and Polly (Barnes) Moseley, was born in Ohio County, Ky., May 9, 1813. He was the third of a family of five children-Robert, Sallie, Jolin Wes- ley, Elizabeth and Elijah. His father died when he was eight years old. His educational advantages were necessarily limited, being confined to the country schools. He was married April 6, 1834, to Nancy, daughter of Cornelius Westerfield. She was born
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in Mercer County, Ky., July 4, 1816, and came to Daviess County with her parents when eight years of age. After his marriage Mr. Moseley went to farming on his farm of sixty acres, and shortly after bonght the homestead of fifty acres of the heirs. He was an in- dustrious and energetic man, devoting most of his time to trading in land. He was elected by the Democratic party to the State Legislature, serving two years. He was reared in the Methodist church, but afterward joined the Christian church. He died March 3, 1879, leaving a wife and eight children- Cornelius, married Salena Roach, and resides in Masonville ; Susan, wife of William Barrett, of Louisiana; John Wesley, married Malinda Ann Roach, and resides in Ohio County ; Narcissa, wife of Joseph Birkhead, of Whitesville; Arrillus, wife of Dr. Joseph Jett, of Ohio County; Curtis, married Sallie Wells, and resides in Whitesville ; Nanna, wife of James A. Carter, resides near Owensboro ; Cicero, married Susan A. Church, and resides on the old homestead.
George W. Neel, born Jan. 15, 1826, in Shelby County, Ky., is a son of Zachariah and Elizabeth (Miles) Neel. His mother died in 1832, leaving three children-Zerilda, George W. and Dora. His father then married Eliza Turnham. They had five children- Josiah, Richard E., Zachariah T., William A. and Rufns P. When he was sixteen years old his father came to Daviess County, and settled on a farm in Knottsville Precinct, where he died in March, 1873, aged eighty-five years. George W. Neel was educated in the common schools of his day. He lived with his father, working on the farm, till his marriage in October, 1852, to Mary E., daugh- ter of Aaron L. Hayes, when he went to farming on his own ac- count. In 1856 he went to Edwards County, Ill., but remained only four months, returning to Daviess County. After residing here three years he went to Vermillion County, Ind., and lived nine years. In 1865 he again came to Daviess County, and the next year bought a farm. In 1876 he bought an addition to it, now own- ing 170 acres, well improved. Mr. and Mrs. Neel have eight chil- dren-William S., Sarah E., John R., Emily J., George A., Thomas F., Richard O. and Harry O. William S. married Sulla, daughter of John Evans, and John R. married Ann, daughter of S. W. Bartlett.
Mason C. Pate, M. D., a physician of Whitesville, was born March 11, 1814, in Breckinridge County, Ky. He began to prac- tice medicine in June, 1850, in Ohio County, and came to Daviess County nine months afterward ; settled in Whitesville, where he
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has been engaged in the practice of his profession since, with the exception of two years, 1868-'9.
Franklin, P. Purcell was born in Grayson County, Ky., Nov. 17, 1853. His father, James Purcell, is a native of Breckinridge, and moved to Grayson County with his parents when an infant. When a young man he took an active part in political matters. In 1852 he was elected Assessor of the county, holding the posi- tion eight or twelve years; was Magistrate of the county twenty years, and in 1882 was elected County Judge on the Republican ticket. He married Sarah J. Litsey, a native of Grayson County. They have had ten children, seven now living. Franklin P., the sixth child, was reared in Grayson County, and received his edu- cation there and at Cromwell, Ohio County. At the age of six- teen he commenced teaching school, and has since that time paid his own expenses. In 1875 he was married to Susan F. Mullen, daughter of George A. Mullen, and sister of George W. Mullen, of Whitesville. After his marriage he settled on a farm in Breck- inridge County, working on the farm in summer and teaching school during the winter. Sept. 10, 1878, he joined the Pisgah Baptist church, near Cloverport, and was licensed to preach the same day. Oct. 11, 1880, he took charge of the school at Whites- ville. At present he is pastor of Pleasant Grove Baptist church, and Mt. Pleasant Baptist church in Ohio County, Roseville Bap- tist church, Hancock County, and Whitesville Baptist church, Daviess County. He has always been a hard worker, and since re- ceiving his license has preached every Sunday when well, with four exceptions. In August, 1879, he joined the Masons at Cloverport, and is now a inember of Whitesville Lodge. Mr. and Mrs. Purcell have three children-Cora F., Franklin E. and Ethel Roderick.
Robert Ragsdale is an carly settler in the county, and is the oldest man living in this precinct. He was born in Jessamine County, Jan. 10, 1794. His father, Godfrey Ragsdale, was born in Virginia, in Culpeper County, and was an old Revolutionary soldier, having a captain's commission. He drew a pension from the Government for services rendered in the war, till the time of his death, in 1844 or '5. He was married in Virginia to Elizabeth Mitchell. He came to Kentucky a ahort time after, and in 1784 settled in Jessamine County. There were ten children who lived to be married, nine sons and one daughter. Of these children four sons and the daugliter are now living. Godfrey Ragsdale was a highly educated man, and during a large portion of his life
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he taught school, mostly in Shelby and Henry counties. He was well read in law and did some practice, but being a man of an ex- citable temper, did not carry on his legal profession to any great extent. Robert Ragsdale is the fourth son of his father's family. He was reared in Shelby County, his father moving there when he was quite sınall. When he was eighteen years of age he enlisted in the service of the United States in the war of 1812, in the Eighth Kentucky Regiment, raised in Shelby County, commanded by Colo- nel Geo. Wilcox. He went out with the first troops in 1812, en- listing for six months, but not serving quite this time. He went to the relief of the regular troops under command of General Taylor at Fort Harrison when it was attacked by Indians. After his time was out he returned home. In 1815 he went to Kanawha Salt Works,on the Kanawha River, in Virginia, and remained there eight months. He then returned to Shelby County and worked at the saddler's trade a number of years. In 1817 he was married in Henry County, Ky., to Nancy Haywood, who was born in Virginia, a daughter of Wm. Haywood, who was an early settler in Ken- tucky. After his marriage he followed his trade in Henry County a short time, and in 1817 moved to Nelson County, where he re- mained till 1832. His wife died in 1822, at her father's house, Henry County, while there on a visit. She was the mother of one son-W. G. Ragsdale, who is residing near Whitesville. Mr. Rags- dale was married again to Nancy Money, in 1829. She was born in Virginia, a daughter of Samuel Money, who moved from that
State to Nelson County, Ky. . In 1832 Mr. Ragsdale came to Da- viess County and located at Knottsville and commenced farming, which vocation he followed up to 1860, when he became too feeble to do manual labor. His wife died Dec. 1, 1869, at the age of sixty-six years. She was the mother of one daughter-Mary Ann, wife of D. T. Hays, with whom Mr. Ragsdale makes his home. Politically Mr. Ragsdale was a member of the old Whig party. During the late war he was a strong Union man, and since then has been a member of the Democratic party. He has always been a highly respected citizen of the county, and even in his old age retains his intellectual faculties to a remarkable degree.
Benjamin F. Rumsey, born in Jefferson County, Ky., March 8, 1821, is a son of Abraham and Sarah K. (White) Ramsey. His grandfather, Thomas Ramsey, was an early settler of Kentucky, from Virginia. He acquired a good common-school education. In 1842 he came to Daviess County, and in January, 1843, he ell-
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gaged to teach a six-months' school at Burtonsville. In 1844 he went to Owensboro, and the following fall came to Whitesville, and was one of the founders of the village. He formed a partner- ship with his cousin, Dr. White, and erected a store-house. A d velling-house was erected opposite the store, and thus the founda- tion of Whitesville was laid. Mr. Ramsey retained his interest in the store about two years, and was then alone for several years. He was in partnership with George W. Rhodes about a year and a half; then bought Mr. Rhodes' interest, and from 1855 to 1858 was in partnership with Taylor & McMahon. From 1858 till the latter part of 1859 he was in business alone; then was out of busi- ness several years, and in 1868 bonght the store of Head & McKay. In the fall of 1874 he sold out to R. A. Bartlett, and the next year formed a partnership with him, remaining with him a year and a half. He then had charge of A. D. Mattingly's store till the spring of 1881. In 1847 Mr. Ramsey bought the farm of 100 acres, where he still resides. He was politically, originally, a Whig, and cast his first Presidential vote for Henry Clay. Since the dis- solution of that party he has been a Democrat. In 1851 he was elected Magistrate of the precinct, retaining the office eight years. He is now Deputy Clerk, and has held the office at intervals for over twenty years. Jan. 12, 1847, he married Sophronia Hays, a native of Henry County, Ky., whose father, John B. Hays, came to Daviess County in November, 1835, settling near Whitesville. They have eight children-Sallie E. (Mrs. Josiah Haynes), Sue R. (Mrs. Z. T. Neel), Thomas A., Harriet Josephine (Mrs. D. B. Bristow), John F., Annie E., Benjamin and William M.
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