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 71
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Charles A. Owen, son of Daniel and Mary (Allen) Owen, was born Oct. 20, 1815, in Breckinridge County, Ky. His father
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was a native of North Carolina, born Jan. 7, 1790, and came to Kentucky with his parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Owen, when a boy, and settled in Breckinridge County, where he was reared. His mother was a native of Mercer County, Ky., and a daughter of Charles Allen. After their marriage his parents settled in Breck- inridge County, but in 1826 came to Daviess County and bought the farm of 196 acres, where his father still resides, aged ninety- three years. His mother died a number of years ago. There was a family of fourteen children, ten now living. Charles A. lived with his father till he had paid for his place, and in 1844 bought himself a farm of 161 acres. He kept bachelor's hall three years, and in 1847 married Mrs. Elizabeth Brashear, a native of Nelson County, Ky., and a daughter of Wm. N. Robinson. They have five children, three sons and two daughters, and one son of Mrs. Owens, by her former husband. Mr. Owen was reared in the faith of the Baptist church, and early in life connected himself with that denomination.
Philander Read, born in Logan County, Ky., Jan. 3, 1836, was a son of Degrafton and Eliza (May) Read, natives of Virginia and Kentucky respectively. His father died in Logan County, in 1838, aged thirty-eight years, and his mother in Owensboro, in 1840. There was a family of eight children-Adaline (deceased), Hiram E., Margaret (deceased), Emeline, Elizabeth, Agnes, Philander and Osborne D. Philander came to Owensboro with his mother when four years old, where he was reared and educated. In 1848 he began to learn the saddler's trade and served an apprenticeship of five years. He then attented school a year in Evansville, Ind., after which he worked at his trade till 1875, when he purchased a farm of 300 acres in Murray Precinct, where he still resides. IIe was married in 1856 to Margaret, daughter of John Wallace, of Owensboro. She died in 1870, leaving three children-William E., Lee W. and Hiram A. In 1871 Mr. Read married Mary, danghter of J. W. and Elizabeth (Perry) Funk, of Owensboro. She is a native of New Orleans, as is also ber mother, her father being a native of Jefferson County. Mr. and Mrs. Read have four children-Maggie E., Joseph E., Charles H. L. and Mary E. Mr. Read was one of the Trustees of the lower ward of Owensboro and was instrumental in establishing a public school in that ward, which resulted in the present public-school system of the place. He has been a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church fifteen years, and has been Superintendent of the Sunday-school several years.
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James William Russell, son of Nathaniel and Ann Jemima (Cooper) Russell, was born Jan. 20, 1841, in Shelby County, Ky., and came to Daviess County with his parents when ten years of age. His educational advantages were limited to the early log- cabin school during the winter months. Oct. 12, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Twenty-sixth Kentucky Infantry, U. S. A., com- manded by Colonel S. G. Burbridge. The regiment left Owens- boro for Calhoon, in November, and the following February went to Nashville; from there to Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, Inka, Hunts- ville, Ala., Battle Creek, Tenn., and across the Cumberland Mount-
ains to Kentucky after General Bragg. They followed him back to Tennessee and the regiment then went to Nashville, Tenn .; from there they went to Bowling Green, Russellville, back to Bowling Green, and to Camp Nelson. Here Mr. Russell veteranized in the same regiment and came home for a thirty-days' furlough. During the summer of 1864 they were mounted, but at Bowling Green they were dismounted, and sent to Nasliville. Dec. 15, 1864, the reg- iment, under General Thomas, went into battle at Nashville against the Confederate forces commanded by General Hood. In this bat- tle Mr. Russell was wounded in the left foot and sent to the hos- pital at Jeffersonville, Ind., and a short time after to Evansville, Ind., where he remained till June, 1865, when he re-joined his regiment at Salisbury, N. C. The regiment was mustered out at that place, and came to Louisville for discharge. In October, 1865, Mr. Russell married Susan, daughter of William May, and bought the farm where he now resides. He has 103 acres under a good state of cultivation. Politically he was reared a Whig, but at present does not confine himself to any party. He has been a member of Green Brier church since October, 1856.
John B. Russell, son of Nathaniel M. and Angemima (Cooper) Russell, was born in Shelby County, Ky., Dec. 30, 1836. His father was also a native of Shelby County, and moved to Daviess County with his family in 1850, and settled in Murray Precinct. After a residence here of about thirty-two years, he moved to Nash- ville. His wife died July 1, 1878, aged sixty-one years. They had a family of eleven children-Benjamin C. (deceased), John B., George W., James W., Sidney M., Zachariah T., Melissa, David, Elizabeth E., Joanna (deceased), and one that died in infancy. John B. was nearly fourteen years old when his parents came to Daviess County. He was educated in the common log school house, but the time allowed him to devote to this purpose was lim-
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ited, as his labor was required on the farm. In February, 1858, he hired out as a farm hand to Elijah Hatfield and worked for him till the following October. During the latter month he bought a portion of his present farm, consisting of 100 acres, and has since made an addition of about fifteen acres.' Dec. 30, 1858, he married Tabitha Jane Boyd, a native of Daviess County, and a daughter of William Boyd, and moved on his farm. His wife died Jan. 19, 1880, leaving three children-William Robert, Frances Ann and Nathaniel M. July 11, 1882, Mr. Russell married Nancy R. King, daughter of Newton King. In November, 1856, he became a member of the Green Brier church. In politics Mr. Russell was reared a Whig, and cast his first Presidential vote for Breckin- ridge, but since the close of the war has affiliated with the Demo- cratic party.
Philip P. Ryon, son of Philip and Marcia (Cheak) Ryon, was born in Clark County, Ky., July 4, 1814. His father was a native of Maryland but removed to Virginia when abont twelve years of age. He served through the Revolutionary war under General Washington. He came to Kentucky at an early day and settled on a farm in Clark County, where he died in 1850. His wife was a native of Virginia and died about 1852. There was a family of seven sons and one daughter. Mr. Ryon also had three daughters and one son by a former marriage. Philip P. was the youngest of the family. When sixteen years old he was Deputy under his brother, John B., who was Sheriff of Clark County, and remained in that capacity four years. In 1834 he went to South Alabama and clerked in a dry-goods store until 1837, when he returned to Kentucky and lived with his father until 1843, when he married Martha Cornelison, daughter of John Cornelison, and went on a farm in Madison County, Ky. He remained there seven years and then moved to Taylor County, where he lived six years. In 1859 he moved to Fanning County, Texas, but only remained a year on account of sickness in his family. In the fall of 1860 he re- turned to Kentucky, arriving at Owensboro, Nov. 10. He then purchased a farm of 256 acres in Murray Precinct where he still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Ryon have nine children-John C., Will- iam B., Elizabeth, Pattie, Mildred, Mary, Garland, Price and Lou. Price is assisting his parents in carrying on the farm.
Gilbert Skillman was born Oct. 25, 1819, near Princeton, N. J., a son of Samuel and Margaret Skillman. His father died when he was small, and a few years after his mother married James Rob-
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inson, both of whom are residents of Daviess County. When Gil- bert was seventeen years old he began an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade. He went with his "boss" to Meticello (since changed to Godfrey), Ill., to build a female seminary. In the fall of 1837 he left there and went down to Natchez, Miss., and worked during the winter. In the spring he went to New York and while there visited his old home in New Jersey. He remained in New York till the spring of 1840, following his trade. He then went as carpenter of a vessel from New York to New Orleans, and from there in the same vessel to Liverpool, England, returning on the same vessel to New York. He then paid another visit to his home in New Jersey. In the fall of 1840 he took passage in a vessel from New York to New Orleans, where he worked at his trade during that winter. In the spring of 1841 he left New Orleans, and came to Owensboro, Louisville and Cincinnati looking for a suitable place to work at his trade, and finally returned to Owens- boro, making the entire trip by water. He worked there during the summer. In the fall he went to Rumsey, McLean Co., and worked till the next summer. He then went back to New York via Cincinnati, Erie Canal, to Buffalo and Niagara Falls, and worked there during the winter. In the spring of 1843 he went from New York by ship around to New Orleans and from there came up to Owensboro; worked there a short time and then came into the country and worked at his trade through the country for about eighteen months; then made another trip back to New Jer- sey after his father and mother, who came in 1845. Mr. Skillman was married Dec. 23, 1846, to Sallie May, a native of Daviess County, daughter of Wm. May. After his marriage Mr. Skillman bought a farm on the Harmans Ferry road, near Newville, where he lived till the fall of 1864. He then sold his place and purchased his present farm, where he has since resided. In 1876 Mr. S. made a trip to the Centennial and visited his old home in New Jersey. He lost his wife May 24, 1879. She was the mother of six children, four of whom are now living, two sons and two daughters. Mr. Skillman has been a member of the Baptist church for abont twenty years.
Geo. W. Talbott, son of James S. and Elizabeth (Stone) Talbott, natives of Tennessee, was born in Granger County, Tenn., Nov. 2, 1832. His parents came to Daviess County in 1849 and located in Murray Precinct, his father buying a tract of 700 or 800 acres where Lewis Station now stands, and followed farming till his
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death, in 1866, at the age of sixty-seven. His mother died six months later, aged fifty-four years. There was a family of eleven children, four now deceased. George W. had very limited educa- tional advantages, the common schools of the early days being of a very inferior character. He was married in 1857 to Sallie E., danghter of Henry Howard. She was the third of a family of fourteen children, one deceased. After his marriage Mr. Talbott settled on a farm his father gave him, where he lived seven years. He sold this farm to Reuben Gill and bought the one adjoining. Four years later he sold his farm and opened a general store at Riley's Station, McLean County, which after two years he sold to his brother-in-law, Louis Howard, and moved to Sangertown, where he rented a farm and lived two years. He then moved to Grissom's Landing, but his family being afflicted with ague, he was obliged to leave there and moved to the Pate farm, near Green Brier church, where he lived six years, when he bought his mother's dowery in the old homestead of thirty-one and a fourth acres, near Lewis Station. Mr. Talbott served as Deputy Sheriff, at the same time collecting taxes two years, and has been Constable two years. For several years he has been buying tobacco for different parties in Owensboro. Mr. and Mrs. Talbott have ten children- Enos M., Henry M. C., Geneva, Eva R., Eliza, Anna, May, Will- iam H., Robert M. and and Forrest. Mr. and Mrs. Talbott and two children are members of the Baptist church.
Benjamin Tanner, born April 6, 1827, in Daviess County, Ky., within a mile of where he now lives, was a son of Thomas and Auna (Davis) Tanner, natives of Virginia. His father was born in 1790 and came to Daviess County when quite young, where he died Nov. 8, 1860. His mother died in 1878. They were the parents of twelve children, six now living-William, Benjamin, Margaret, Esther, Nancy and Victoria. Mr. Tanner owns 260 acres of fine land, partly in Daviess and partly in McLean County. In 1865 he went to Henderson County and lived seventeen years, returning to his present home in 1882. He has always been a farmer and is one of the sturdy and thrifty citizens of this county. He'deals extensively in stock, raising it for the market. He was married Aug. 5, 1855, to Sallie Howard, a native of Daviess County, born in September, 1831. They have seven children- Edward P., Thomas E., Samuel H., Hugh T., James W., Benjamin and Sallie. Mr. Tanner is a member of the Baptist church.
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Charles W. Thomas, born in New Orleans, La., May 13, 1830, was a son of Joseph and Eliza (de Weissenfels) Thomas, his father a native of Maryland and his mother of New York City. His mother's father was an officer in the Revolutionary army and an intimate friend of General Washington, and was a son of Baron Frederick de Weissenfels, of Prussia. His father was a Colonel in the war of 1812 and was in the battle of New Orleans, Jan. 8, 1815. He was a tobacco inspector in New Orleans, and died there in 1832. There was a family of five children, two now living- Joseph and Charles W. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Thomas married H. A. Hobbs, of Nelson County, Ky., and moved to Daviess County. Chiarles W. was reared in this county and educated at St. Joseph's College, Bardstown. He received a com- mercial education at Cincinnati. In 1848 Mr. Thomas, in com- pany with James H. Blair, started in the dry-goods business in Owensboro. After two years he went into partnership with his brother in a flour mill and dry-goods store, under the same roof. Oct. 1. 1852, their mill and store were destroyed by fire, by which Mr. Thomas met with a heavy loss. A short time after, he went to Bardstown and lived twelve years, working on a farm and keep- ing books for different merchants in town. In April, 1864, he re- turned to Daviess County and lived on a farmi, near Owensboro, three years. In 1867 he purchased a farm in Murray Precinct, where he still resides. He has served as Deputy County Clerk for Daviess County fourteen years. He has tanght five sessions in the public schools of this neighborhood. He was married May 14, 1850, to Mary A. Wilson, a native of Washington, D. C., born Sept. 22, 1830. She was a daughter of Tyler and Emily (Craw- ford) Wilson, natives of Maryland, who moved to Nelson County, Ky., in 1831. Her father engaged extensively in farming till his death, May 6, 1853. Her mother died July 13, 1859. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have had ten children, seven living-Charles T., Emily, Benjamin M., Ophelia, John H., Maggie and William H. Mary Eliza died at the age of sixteen.
Josiah Trunnell, born in 1826, in Bullitt County, Ky., was a son of John and Elizabeth (Wells) Trunnell, both natives of Ma- ryland. They died in Bullitt County, the father in 1847 and the mother several years previous. There was a family of thirteen children, three now living, two sons and one daughter. Josiah was reared in Bullitt County, and when sixteen years old learned the trade of a carpenter, which he worked at till twenty-one. He
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then enlisted in the Mexican war, and served twelve months. He returned to Bullitt County, and was married in 1848 to Julia S., daughter of Moses Rouse. He went to farming, and in 1851 came to Daviess County and located in Murray Precinct, on what is now the Small farm. He remained there three years and then bought his present farm, where he has 110 acres of well-improved land. He also has 1333 acres of the bottoms, known as the Hatfield farm. Mr. and Mrs. Trunnell have had nine children, seven living- Zuilia, James S., Mary J., John, Emma B., Ellen N. and Josiah. Henry died at the age of thirty-three, and Charles aged four. Mr. and Mrs. Trunnell are members of the Christian church.
John H. Wilhite, born in Olden County, Ky., Aug. 1, 1846, is a son of Hardimon G. and Mary Ann (Litel) Wilhite, natives of Olden and Woodford counties, Ky. His parents moved to Me- Lean County in 1858, where his father died when he was fifteen years old. John H. worked on a farm until 1872, when he com- menced to run a grist-mill. In 1874 he formed a partnership with Aaron Leet, and they continued together till 1877, when their mill was destroyed by fire. He then worked in a saw-mill for other parties till 1881, when he began again in a grist-mill. In 1882 he came to Daviess County, and in connection with Mr. Leet put up the mill they now own. March 11, 1872, he married Nettie B., danghter of J. B. Green, of Evansville, Ind. Three children have been born to them, only two living-Jessie V. and an infant son. Claud P. died Feb. 26, 1882, aged a year and a half. Mr. Wilhite is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
Jeptha Williams, born Dec. 25, 1819, in Screven County, Ga., was a son of John and Sarah (Akins) Williams, natives of Bulloch County, Ga. His parents moved to Columbia County, Fla., about 1828 or 1830, and resided there till their death. They had a family of six children, four sons and two daughters. The mother died when Jeptha was about fifteen years old. When twenty-two years of age he left Florida, and came via the Gulf of Mexico, New Or- leans and the Mississippi River to Evansville, Ind. From there he went to Gibson County, Ind., and remained two months; then went to St. Joe, Mo., and remained three months, and returned to Gibson County, where he followed farming eighteen years. When the war broke out he came to Kentucky, arriving in Owensboro in May, 1861. He went to Panther Creek and remained during the war. In the spring of 1866 he went back to Owensboro and lived till 1873, working at wagon-making, when he moved to Utica and
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bought a lot, building a house and living here till 1882. He then went back to Owensboro, but remained only three months, return- ing to Utica. He was married in 1843 to Mary Ann, daughter of Samuel M. and Susan Zimmerman, of Gibson County, Ind. They have two danghters. Mr. Williams has been a member of the Christian church twenty-three years.
Jourdan G. Wells, born in Shelby County, Ky., in October, 1837, was a son of Grayson and Julia (Holman) Wells, natives of Vir- ginia and Indiana respectively. His parents came to Daviess County in 1839 and settled in Masonville, where they bought 160 acres of land and lived five or six years and then moved to the Green Brier neighborhood. In 1852 they moved to Panther Creek, where they died a few months after, within twenty-four hours of each other. They had seven children, three now living-Jourdan, Mary Jane and Zachariah Taylor. Mildred, James W., Ellen and. Bertha are deceased. Jourdan was reared in Daviess County and lived with his father till his death. He was married in December, 1865, to Sibby Elizabeth, daughter of O. O. Brown. They have had nine children-Joseph E., Oscar, Mary J., Harriet, Nancy, Lina, William, George O. (deceased) and Lucretia. In 1859 Mr. Wells bought a farm of fifty-nine acres, with very few improve- ments, and now has 140 acres well improved. He enlisted Aug. 6, 1862, in the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, U. S. A., and served till the close of the war.
Daniel E. Yeiser, born May 17, 1825, in Todd County, Ky., was a son of Adam R. and Susan F. (Walker) Yeiser. His father was a native of Pennsylvania and came with his parents when a child, to Danville, Ky., where he was reared. He married Susan F. Walker, a native of Virginia and a daughter of Hugh Walker, in Adair County. He settled in Todd County, where he lived a number of years and then moved back to Adair County. He after- ward lived in Boyle and Daviess counties and died in Adair County in 1874. His wife died in 1850. Daniel T. learned the tanner's trade with his father but never worked at it after leaving home. In 1847 he went to farming with an unce, Richard Walker, his worldly possessions being his clothes, fifty cents and a horse. The next year he worked with another uncle, John Roberts, and the following spring, March 11, 1849, he married Helen K. New- ton, daughter of Kirtley Newton. Her father died when she was an infant and she was reared by her grandparents. The first year atter his marriage he rented land, and the following year bought a
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farm in Murray Precinct. He lived there three years, but being unable to pay for it, returned it to its former owner and bought 100 acres adjoining. where he lived six years, adding the second 100 acres to it while living there. At the expiration of that time he sold his place and bought 147 acres where he now lives, and where he has 350 acres after giving his daughter eighty when she was mar- ried. It was all wild land when he moved on it, but now he has it under good cultivation. March 23, 1860, he was ordained to preach in the Baptist church. His father was an Episcopalian and his mother a Methodist. He joined the Baptist church in 1858. The day he was ordained minister he baptized five converts and has since been very successful in his ministerial work. He has five children, four sons and one daughter. Two are married and living near their parents.
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CHAPTER XXIV.
OAKFORD PRECINCT.
This precinct is bounded as follows: Beginning on Green River, where the Daviess County line corners, thence with the Henderson County line to the Ohio River, thence up the Ohio River, including island and to include John Gaw's, thence to the Nelson place, excluding same, thence to the old Roost road, ex- cluding J. W. Shipp's and including D. Wade's, thence to the east line of Q. Park's land, thence with said line to the Big Pond, thence with the Big Pond and Pond drain to Rhodes Creek, and down Rhodes Creek and Green River to the beginning.
The northwestern part of Daviess County, lying between Green River and the Ohio, and adjoining Henderson County, is embraced in Oakford Precinct. The Henderson County line formerly ran about four miles east from where it now runs; but on account of greater convenience in reaching Oakford as a county seat, a part was taken from Henderson and added to Daviess County. This precinct consists mostly of low lands, in which are ponds and swamps. In an early day this was a great place for hunting. The citizens are improving the lands here by drainage. Several fine farms lie along the Green and Ohio rivers. There is no coal in any part of the precinct.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Among the early settlers in this precinct were John S. McFar- land, Charles Hebbard, James Hill, James Allen, William and Gustavus Talbott, Mrs. Stembridge and William Perkins. From the Henderson road to the Ohio River was known as Buzzard's Roost, so called from the peculiar birds that infested this region. George Riley settled along the Ohio River; also the Drew family, who were half Indians, the Bunch family, the Pecans and War- nald families. Wesley Galloway came here in a very early day. He was a good citizen and farmer. Most of the people along the Ohio River were rough and indolent. Most of their time was spent in hunting, and chopping cord-wood to supply steamboats traversing the Ohio. A great share of their money was spent for
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whisky. The better class of men were good and prosperous farm- ers. Abont thirty-five years ago milk-sickness was very prevalent among the people, cattle and hogs in the Roost, and was a great drawback in the settling of this part of the county.
The place now occupied by Zack Taylor was first settled by Buck Robinson, who was quite an original character. He opened up a little farin there.
Among the first physicians who practiced in this part of the county was Dr. Christopher Wilson, who resided on the Henderson road. He was originally from Hawesville, and graduated at Louis- ville, Ky. He formed a partnership with Dr. J. F. Kimbley, and died a few months afterward. Dr. Kimbley continned the practice for twelve years.
One of the first preachers was Isham Allen, who resided in Sorghotown, but preached all along the Ohio River. He held services at the house of Wesley Galloway. The first church erected was a union church, built in 1856, but was occupied principally by the Methodists and Presbyterians. The land upon which the church was built was given by Mrs. Stembridge and her daughter, Miss Minerva Stembridge, who took the most active part in raising the necessary funds to build the church. It was in- tended for a Cumberland Presbyterian church, but the design was never strictly carried out. The early Cumberland preachers were Obed Smith, Samuel Calhoon, Craven Boowell and Charles Gates. The Methodists held services in the church as soon as it was com- pleted. A new structure was erected in the spring of 1882, and is also occupied by both denominations. The Catholics were among the first religious denominations in Oakford.
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