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 72
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GRISSOM'S LANDING.
This point is situated on the Ohio River, nine miles below Owensboro, and was named after Alfred Grissom, who came here in 1856. He came to the county in 1828 or 1829, first settling in Owensboro. The Eagle Distillery is located here, and is owned by T. J. Monarch. It is the finest distillery in Daviess County. There are at present two stores, a hotel, postoffice, and U. S. Express Com- pany agency.
BIRK CITY.
This enterprising little village is situated on Green River, twen- ty-two miles above its mouth, and twelve miles west of Owensboro.
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It was founded by Joseph A. Birk, who came to this place from Cloverportin 1857. Amid many discouragements Mr. Birk suc- ceeded in laying the foundation for the town, and he is still living to see the fruits of his labors. The place now contains three stores, one blacksmith shop and one tobacco factory, built by Mr. Birk. It was first built for a saw-mill in 1857, and used as such ten years. It was then used as a distillery three years. In 1870 it was converted into a tobacco factory; size 60 x 70 feet. The first store was opened by William Hollace, in a house built by Mr. Jonas Birk for that purpose. The present merchants are C. E. Birk, L. P. Birk, and C. B. Lancaster. The first blacksmith was Peter Rarrick, who came here with Mr. Birk. The Eagle Distill- ing Company have a still here, together with bonded warehouses. A postoffice was established here in 1861, and Jonas Birk was appointed Postmaster. He was succeeded by F. J. Birk, and in 1879 L. P. Birk, the present incumbent, was appointed. The vil- lage has a population of 200. John Gaw's tobacco house was built in 1877; size, 40 x 80 feet. In the fall of 1879 he built an addition, 42 x 90 feet. The house now has a capacity of abont 500,000 pounds. The cost of the whole was about $25,000.
CHURCHES.
Baptist Church was organized in October, 1876, in a house built by F. J. Birk for a store, and occupied by him about thirteen years. It was then sold to the Baptists and converted into a church. Rev. D. E. Yeiser was the first preacher, and has continued their pas- tor up to the present time. Previous to the organization of the church, services were held in private houses and in the school- house. Rev. Williams, a Methodist who was preaching in this circuit, was among the first to preach for this congregation.
St. Peter's Catholic Church .- The projectors of this church were John Gaw and N. M. Lancaster. Through the efforts of these gentle- men a meeting was called and held at Oakford, and finally a second meeting, which resulted in raising the required funds to build the church. There was some difficulty in locating the place where the church was to be built. In the first place the subscriptions de- clared it should be located at Bernard Hill, and a picnic was gotten np to raise funds to build the church at this point. Others were in favor of locating it somewhere else. However, it was decided to build the church at Bernard Hill. Father Eugene Callahan, then of Owensboro, and Thos. J. Monarch, attended the meetings.
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Thos. J. Monarch, John Gaw, W. M. Lancaster, J. C. Grant and T. C. Hill were the building committee. The church was put up in 1873, at a cost of about $4,000. It was dedicated by Bishop McClosky, of Louisville, and Father Brady, then stationed at Owensboro, preached the sermon. The first Pastor was Father T. P. Faunt, who was here from November, 1873, till the spring of 1880, when Father Croghn, the present Pastor, took charge. The congregation now numbers about sixty families. The church is very nicely furnished, the pews and furniture being of fine mate- rial and finish.
ELECTIONS.
For politics of various parties see Lower Town Precinct.
1861, June 20 : Congressman-J. T. Burch, 67; J. S. Jackson, 46.
1861, Ang. 5 : State Treasurer-G. Terry, 78 ; J. H. Garrard, 72. Senator-J. B. Vance, 85; Wm. Anthony, 83. Represent- atives to Legislature --- C. T. Noel, 86 ; G. H. Yeaman, 85. Con- stable-A. Bristow, 74.
1862, Aug. 4 : Appellate Judge-R. A. Williams, 29. Circuit Judge-James Stuart, 8 ; H. B. Wall, 32. Presiding Judge-T. L. Beers, 19 ; A. G. Botts, 16. Commonwealth's Attorney -- John Chapeze, 26 ; J. J. Harrison, 5. County Attorney-H. S. McFar- land, 38. Circuit Clerk-Josephi Thomas, 36. County Clerk- Jolın O'Brien, 35. Assessor-J. W. Onan, 9 ; J. J. Talbott, 5 ; V. L. Moseley, 23. Surveyor-N. W. Scott, 22. Coroner- J. W. Rosa, 23.
1862, Oct. 27 : Congressman-G. H. Yeaman, 9 ; Edward R. Weir, 8.
1862, Dec. 8 : Representative to Legislature-J. S. MeFarland, 23.
1863, Aug. 3 : Governor-T. E. Bramlette, 29. Congressman -- G. H. Yeaman, 29 ; J. H. McHenry, 4. Representative to Leg- islature-J. S. McFarland, 32. Justices-James Hill, 33 ; W. B. Young, 32.
1864, Nov. 8 : President-Geo. B. McClellan, 49 ; A. Lin- coln, 3.
1865, Ang. 7 : Congressman-Geo. H. Yeaman, 10 ; B. C. Rit- ter, 46. State Treasurer-W. S. Neale, 8 ; James H. Garrard, 14. Senator-A. D. Cosby, 17. Representative to Legislature-T. Maddux, 9 ; Josiah Veech, 44.
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1866, Aug. 6 : Appellate Clerk-E. H. Hobson, 20 ; A. Duval, 94. County Judge-E. C. Berry, 20 ; J. S. McFarland, 26 ; G. W. Triplett, 67. County Clerk-John O'Brien, 21 ; J. M. Hughes, 23 ; B. Duncan, 40 ; T. C. Jones, 22. Sheriff-W. H. Perkins, 109 ; E. A. Hathaway, 4. Connty Attorney-A. R. Tay- lor, 73 ; Thomas Crutcher, 21. Coroner -- H. O'Brien, 24. As- sessor-J. W. Onan, 98 ; J. J. Talbott, 2 ; J. T. Moseley, 3. For railroad tax, 25 ; against, 61.
1867, April 15 : For county stock of $250,000 in the Owensboro & Russellville Railroad, 16 ; against. 41.
1867, May 4 : Congressman-John Y. Brown, 48 ; S. E. Smith, 3. Justices-J. Hill, 47 ; Thos. Monarch, 48. Constable- Charles Scolsky, 21.
1867, Aug. 5 : Governor -- J. L. Helm, 79. Circuit Judge -- G. W. Williams, 45 ; J. L. Johnson, 40. Common Pleas Judge-C. G. Wintersmith, 15 ; L. P. Little, 67. Representative to Legislat- ure-J. Veech, 38 ; J. W. Moseley, 46 ; H. C. McPherson, 5. Constable-A. S. Stembridge, elected.
1868, Aug. 3: Governor-J. W. Stevenson, 107. Circuit Judge -- G. W. Williams, 94. Circuit Clerk -- J. P. Thompson, 91 ; M. S. Ogden, 18. Commonwealth's Attorney -- Baker Boyd, 74 ; G. W. Swoope, 30. Sheriff-H. W. Scott, 110. Surveyor -- J. W. Sutherland, 72 ; Wilfred Carico, 10.
1868, Nov. 3 : President-H. Seymour, 104 ; U. S. Grant, 4. Congressman-W. N. Sweeney, 101 ; Samuel Langley, 4.
1869, Aug. 2 : State Treasurer -- J. W. Tate, 58 ; E. R. Wing, 13. Senator-Ed. Hawes, 75. Representative to Legislature -- C. Griffith, 73; J. W. Gabbert, 12. County Attorney-V. T. Crawford, 66. Sheriff -- A. J. McAtee, 7 ; J. G. Harrison, 15. Assessor -- J. W. Onan, 25. Constable-J. C. Sandsberry, 88. For school tax, 27 ; against, 45.
1871, Ang. 1 : Appellate Judge-Wm. Lindsay, 109 ; R. K. Williams, 1. Circuit Judge-M. F. Cofer, 110. County Judge- G. W. Triplett, 114 ; A. G. Botts, 44. County Clerk-T. Jones, 115 ; J. K. P. Moore, 33. County Attorney-W. T. Ellis, 113. Sheriff-W. H. Scott, 116 ; T. Maddux, 30. Surveyor-J. W. Sutherland, 116 ; A. M. Mayo, 31. Assessor-J. W. Onan, 106 ; R. J. Wootten, 31. Coroner-A. J. McAtee, 116 ; W. J. Littell, 31. Justices-Louis Birk, 116 ; N. M. Newman, 118.
1870, Nov. 8 : Congressman-H. D. McHenry, 56 ; M. J. Rork, 1.
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1871, May 6 : Justices-N. M. Newman, 63 ; Alfred Grissom, 45. Constable-Louis P. Birk, 62.
1871, Aug. 7: Governor-P. H. Leslie, 124; John M. Harlan, 45. Representative to Legislature-C. Griffith, 117; S. M. Jesse, 7; G. H. Roberts, 45.
1872, Aug. 5: County Clerk-Jo Thomas. 76; J. G. McFarland, 37. Sheriff-W. H. Perkins, 85. Constable-F. E. Birk, 80.
1872, Nov. 5: President-H. Greeley, 90; U. S. Grant, 64.
1873, May 3: Constable-F. E. Birk, 37.
1873, Aug. 4: State Treasurer-J. W. Tate, 89. Senator-E. Hawes, 75; G. W. Swoope, 62; G. W. Jolly, 1. Representative to Legislature .- Ben Stout, 90; R. W. McFarland, 20; H. Megill, 3; H. T. Aud, 58.
1874, Aug. 3: Appellate Clerk-T. C. Jones, 137; J. B. Coch- ran, 17. Circuit Judge-L. P. Little, 103; J. Montgomery, 18; Jas. Stuart, 41. $ Commonwealth Attorney-E. H. Brown, 61; Jo. Haycraft, 85. Circuit Clerk-F. F. Conway, 201. County Judge -G. W. Triplett, 128; G. W. Jolly, 106. County Attorney-W. T. Ellis, 155. County Clerk-M. S. Mattingly, 208. Sheriff-H. W. Scott, 155. Coroner-George W. Mathis, 122; Crask, 2. Sur- veyor-Robert Frey, 144. Assessor-W. T. Aull, 148.
1874, Nov. 3: Congressman-J. Y. Brown, 26; George Smith, 7. 1875, May 1: Justices-N. M. Newman, 177; J. W. Elder, 116; T. J. Monarch, 67. Constable-Joel Stinnett, 134; F. E. Birk, 99.
1875, Ang. 2: Governor-J. B. McCreary, 91; J. M. Harlan, 42. Representative to Legislature-W. J. Taylor, 93; J. G. Ford, 87; A. J. Philpot, 5. Surveyor-C. W. Gordon, 85.
1876, Ang. 2: Circuit Judge-G. W. Ray, 35; J. A. Murray, 192. Sheriff-J. H. Gates, 134; R. R. Coomes, 100. For road law, 11; against, 204. Justices-L. P. Birk, 161; G. W. Mattingly, 26; W. M. Wilhite, 35. Constable-J. N. Stinnett, 186; J. A. Peak, 40.
1876, Nov. 2: President-S. J. Tilden, 162; R. B. Hayes, 56. Congressman-J. Mckenzie, 161; J. J. Moore, 53.
1877, Aug. 6: State Treasurer-J. W. Tate, 33; I. H. Trabue, 4. Senator-C. Griffith, 137; V. P. Stateler, 3. Representative to Legislature-C. R. Thorp, 136; A. Craycroft, 134. Constable-F. E. Birk, 118; W. L. Cossler, 116.
1878, Aug. 5: Appellate Judge-T. H. Hinds, 197. County Judge H. W. Scott, 179; Geo. W. Jolly, 77. County Attorney, J. L. McFarland, 201. County Clerk-M. S. Mattingly, 214.
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Sheriff-E. C. Davis, 202; E. S. Worthington, 5. Assessor-G. Allgood, 206; C. W. Thomas, 7. Surveyor-C. W. Gordon, 197. Coroner-J. W. Funk, 196. Justices-L. P. Birk, 183; J. W. Williams, 161; J. A. Stembridge, 121. Constable-T. E. Birk, 200; V. P. Miles, 50.
1878, Nov. 5 : Congressman-J. A. Mckenzie, 36; J. W. Feighan, 2; F. M. English, 4.
1879, Ang. 4: Governor-L. P. Blackburn, 127; Walter Evans, 45; C. W. Cook, 16. Representative to Legislature-R. W. Mc- Farland, 132; James Rudy, 132; E. S. Worthington, 13; E. O'Flynn, 12. For Constitutional Convention, 36; against, 22. Justices-Thos. Sheffer, 120; J. A. Stembridge, 85.
1880, Aug. 2: Circuit Judge-J. Stuart, 163; L. P. Little, 50. Common wealth Attorney-Joe. Noe, 99; Jo. Haycraft, 76. Cir- cuit Clerk-F. F. Conway, 170. Sheriff-E. Davis, 171. Sur- veyor-E. Edwards, 141. Justices-J. A. Stembridge, 85; N. M. Newman, 86. Constable, W. E. Purdy, 167.
1880, Nov. 2: President -- W. S. Hancock, 111; J. A. Garfield, 91; J. B. Weaver, 3. Representative to Legislature-J. A. Mc- Kenzie, 110: John Feland, 76, C. W. Cook, 10.
1881, Ang. 1: State Treasurer-J. W. Tate, 39. Senator-J. A. Munday, 42. Representative to Legislature-J. H. Rudy, 42; G. V. Triplett, 42. Coroner-P. W. Clark, 4; G. Mathis, 9; J. B. Whelan, 13. Sheriff-A. B. Miller, 33.
1882, Aug. 7: Judge of Superior Court-J. H. Bowden, 145. Appellate Clerk-Thos. J. Henry, 142; R. T. Jacob, 40. County Judge-H. W. Scott, 147. County Attorney-Martin Yewell, 147. County Clerk-M. S. Mattingly, 162. Sheriff-A. B. Miller, 120; J. J. Christian, 18. Surveyor-E. Edwards, 147. Coroner- Geo. M. Hayden, 148. Assessor, G. A. Allgood, 150. For school tax, 137; against, 68. Justices-Louis P. Birk, 191; Thos. J. Hagan, 84; Thos. W. Price, 195. Constable-Lewis Costler, 140; James Harl, 113.
1882, Nov. 7: Congressman-James F. Clay, 34; W. M. Fa- qua, 13.
Magistrates' Courts : For one justice, the first Monday in March, June, September and December; for the other, the fourth Saturday in these months.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
Abram Balee was born 'in Louisville, Ky., July 15, 1836, and lived there till 1838, when he went to Hancock County and lived a short time, and then came to Daviess County, where he is en- gaged in farming. He owns seventy-five acres three miles south- east of Grissom's Landing, valned at $15 or $20 per acre. He was married June 6, 1861, to Bettie West, who died April 2, 1870, lear- ing one child-Emma, born March 7, 1864. Nov. 12, 1873, he married Mrs. Susan Chatham, a native of Hardin County, Ky., born Nov. 24, 1842. They have two children-Mary J., born Sept. 16, 1879, and William C., Aug. 20, 1882. Mr. Balee is a member of the Baptist and his wife of the M. S. church. He is a member of Owensboro Lodge, A. F. & A. M. His father was in the war of 1812.
Jonas A. Birk (deceased), a German by birth, and one of the representative citizens of the county, was born in the city of Weis- baden, the Dnchy of Nassau, Ang. 4, 1814. His parents were Nich- olas and Elizabeth (Ritzel) Birk. There were five children in the family, the youngest being Jonas A., whose birth occurred four months before his father's death. He was reared in Weisbaden and there received his education, going to school between the ages of six and fourteen years. When fourteen years of age he left school and began work at the shoemaker's trade. After serving an apprenticeship of four years he worked as a journeyman two years more at the same business. At the age of twenty he was obliged to enter the German army. He served one whole year and one month each of two succeeding years; the remainder of his term of service he was absent on furlough and hard to work in his native town, where also his regiment was stationed. When in his twenty-third year his discharge from the army was purchased by his aunt, and shortly afterward, in November, 1836, he was mar- ried to Elizabeth Carilon. She was born in the village of Wehr- heim, in the Duchy of Nassau, about thirty miles from Weisbaden, June 28, 1814. Her mother was of German and her father of French descent. The latter died when Elizabeth, the youngest child, was quite young. After his marriage, with a capital of $400, a sum received of his mother, Mr. Birk embarked in business as a shoemaker, and was so engaged for two years in Weisbaden. Meeting with poor success in business Mr. Birk determined to em- igrate to America, strongly against the wishes of his mother and friends. He left Weisbaden with money in his possession amount- ing to $250. Meeting with difficulty in leaving the Duchy of Nas-
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san and having his wife and one child with him, after paying his passage across the Atlantic he found his means about exhausted and he landed in New York City with $2 in his pocket. Mr. Birk set foot on American soil June 7, 1838. After paying for his sup- per and breakfast his means were gone and he was thrown on his own resources for support. He immediately hunted work which he found in the course of a few hours, and by hard work was soon placed where he could support his family. While in New York he received low wages, but during his residence there of a year and one month he managed to save $100. A sister who had come to America in 1832 was residing at Fallston, Beaver Co., Penn., and Mr. Birk left New York and established himself in business at that place. He continued here in business fourteen years, having a shop and working a number of hands, which resulted successfully to himself. He finally sold out, and in May, 1851, settled in Clo- ver Port, Breckinridge Co., Ky., where he carried on business suc- cessfully for over six years. Intent on going onto a farm, he, after looking about, bought 355 acres of land lying along the Green River, part of which is now occupied by the site of Birk City. In the fall of the same year he brought his family and settled on this land. It was then a perfect wilderness and no settlement had been made within a mile. No clearing was visible, and the first tree cut down was where the old mill now stands, since converted into a distillery and tobacco house. A log cabin had been erected previous to the coming of the family, in which they found shelter. A mill was built and work begun of improving the land. Mr. Birk brought with him to Daviess County $5,000 which was in- vested in the mill, and the purchase money of the land amounted to $3,000 more. Various misfortunes followed: his stock died from sickness, cash could not be obtained for lumber, and heavy expenses were all the while accumulating on his hands, and in a couple of years Mr. Birk found himself involved in serious finan- cial difficulties. In these circumstances he learned who were his friends. Some men stood bravely by him while others were ready to offer no accommodation whatever. Mr. Birk struggled along through his difficulties, striving by every means within his power to reach a position where he could better command his resources. But no man ever breathed the taint of dishonor upon his character, or thought of him otherwise than an honest and honorable man as do- ing the best for his family and the development and growth of the country. Mr. Birk suffered heavily during the war by depreda-
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tions by rebel guerrillas and Union soldiers who occupied the coun - try around him. He struggled hard amid these troubles in the constant strain to find some way out of the difficulties till at length the daylight appeared. In 1866 he received $2,000 for his tobacco crop, and the corn crop of the succeeding year amounted to $2,000 more. This set Mr. Birk on his feet again. He was soon entirely relieved of his difficulties, and his way since has been one of pros- perity. He owned over 450 acres of land and was in good finan- cial circumstances. He was a warm Democrat and is the founder of the town which bears his name. His death occurred in October, 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Birk were the parents of seven children-Ce- cilia, the oldest daughter, married Peter Rarick and died in Owensboro, in September, 1873; the oldest son, Ferdinand J. Birk, married Rena Smith and is now one of the prominent mer- chants of Owensboro; Amelia C., married Josiah Gardner and died Feb. 7, 1866; Chas. E. Birk, married Ruth Lendrum; Lewis P., married Mary Newman (the two latter are prominent mer- chants of Birk City); Frank E. and Geo. W. constitute the remain- der of Mr. Birk's family.
Thomas J. Childress, born Feb. 25, 1817, in Halifax County, Va., is a son of Fleming and Elizabeth (Boyd) Childress. In 1839 Fleming Childress moved from Virginia to Spencer County, Ind., where he remained till his death. Both he and his wife died in 1845. They had a family of nine children, four sons and five daughters. Thomas J. Childress was reared in Virginia, and in 1837 went to Spencer County, Ind. The most of his education was received in North Carolina, near the Virginia line. He was married Dec. 7, 1839, to Hannah Arnold, who was born in War. rick County, Ind., Sept. 5, 1818, a daughter of Joseph Arnold. After his marriage Mr. Childress went to farming in Spencer County, and remained there till 1843, when he moved to Daviess County, Ky. He first settled in Lower Town Precinct, and during the winter of 1850 moved into Oakford Precinct, and bought the farm where he now lives, containing 206 acres, situated on the Ohio River. Mr. C. has resided on this place since that time, and is one of the oldest settlers in the precinct. In 1861 he united with the Methodist Episcopal church, South. He is Trustee of the church, and has also been a Steward in the church for fifteen or twenty years. Mr. and Mrs. Childress have two children-James L. and Kate, wife of James Williams. They have lost six children, one son and five daughers. Politically he has always been a Dem- ocrat.
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Frank F. Conway, the present efficient and popular Circuit Clerk of Daviess County, was born in the county Nov. 22, 1837. His father was a native of Virginia, and came to Daviess County the year previous to Mr. Conway's birth. The Conway family set- tled in Orange County when Virginia was yet a colony of Great Britain. Mr. Conway's father, whose name was also Frank F. Conway, was born in Orange County, Va., about the year 1805. In 1832 he was married to Bettie Brooke, whose family was also con- nected with the early settlement of Virginia. She was born in Fangnier County. After this marriage Mr. and Mrs. Conway lived for three years in Albemarle County, a short distance from Charlottesville, at the seat of the University of Virginia, where Mr. Conway established himself as a practicing physician. In 1836 they caine to Daviess County, and settled at once in the upper part of the county, in what is known as the Beach Woods. where Mr. Conway's father practiced medicine and at the same time carried on farming. Here, in November, 1837, Frank F. Con- way, the second of a family of six children, was born. His early education was received at the country schools near his father's home. When he was eleven years old his father died. At an early age he was sent to school at New Albany, Ind., where he was a student for two or three years at Anderson Collegiate Iusti- tute. He resolved upon adopting his father's profession, and in 1856 went to Louisville with the purpose of pursuing the study of medicine. He attended medical lectures in that city and graduated in the spring of 1859. Mr. Conway returned to Daviess County and began practice at Oakford, where he soon firmly established himself as a physician. In September, 1860, he was married to Emma Hampton, a native of Franklin County, Ky. Her ancestors were from Virginia, early settlers of Franklin County. Mr. Con- way practiced medicine at Oakford for about fourteen years. Hc then relinquished the profession on account of failing health. In August, 1874, he was elected Circuit Clerk of Daviess County, having been nominated for that position by the regular Democratic County Convention. This office he is now filling. In his political faith he has always adhered to the principles of the Democratic party, whose policy he has always been active in advocating and supporting. His first vote for President was cast for John C. Breckinridge, the candidate of the Southern wing of the Demo- cratic party.
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L. A. Crinnian, M. D., was born in Allegheny County, Pa., April 6, 1839. His parents, James and Ann (O' Riley) Crinnian, were natives of Ireland. They were married in 1806, and in 1807 came to America, locating in Pennsylvania. L. A. was the tenth of their eleven children. He was educated in Pennsylvania and graduated from Duff's Commercial College, Pittsburg, in 1857. In 1859 he came to Kentucky, and tanght school in Marion County till 1861. when he enlisted in the Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry; was in the two days' siege at Perryville, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and with General Kilpatrick in all his engagements. He served till the close of the war. After his return home he went to Grenada, Miss., where he raised cotton two years. In the winter of 1869 he went to Missouri, near Kansas City, and rented a farm, remaining there till 1869. He then came to Kentneky and began the study of medicine, graduating from the Louisville Medical Col- lege in the spring of 1873. He went to Kansas City and practiced medicine a year, returning to Kentucky in the spring of 1874, and locating at West Louisville, Daviess County, where he tanght school ten months. He then came to Grissom's Landing, where he has since been practicing his profession. Feb. 3, 1881, he married Lide Mattingly. She died June 20, 1882, leaving two sons (twins).
John Gaw was born in Washington County, Ky., Oct. 31, 1824. His father, Wm. Gaw, was a native of Ireland, born in 1770, and came to the United States in 1798. He lived at Philadelphia, clerking in store for a year, when he went out with a party of sur- veyors into the State of Ohio and helped to survey the State. He was a highly educated man and a fine surveyor. From Ohio he went to Louisville; remained there a short time, and then went to Washington County and taught school a number of years. He was married in Washington County, Ky., to Ellen Yates, a native of Maryland, whose father moved from that State to Washington County, Ky. They reared but one son, John Gaw, who is the only representative of his father's family. They had other children, but they all died in childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Gaw died at the resi- dence of their son in Shelby County, Ill., in 1852, Mrs. Gaw in the spring and he in the fall of that year. John Gaw was reared in Washington County, Ky., and lived with his parents till he was married. He was educated at the common schools in Washington County. He was married in 1847 to Eliza Mattingly, who was born and reared in Nelson County, daughter of Geo. Mattingly. After he was married he rented a farin for nearly three years, and
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in 1849 moved to Shelby County, Ill., and bought some timbered land. In the fall of 1854 he moved to Daviess County, Ky., lo- cated near Grissom's Landing, and in the spring of 1858 bought his present place, containing 150 acres. In 1878 he built his pres- ent grocery store. He began buying tobacco in 1873 and bought steadily, with the exception of two years, up to 1881. He was reared in the Catholic faith, and in the building of the Catholic church at Barnard IIill took an active part; was one of the pro- jectors of it and a large contributor in raising the necessary funds. His wife died in the fall of 1863. She was the mother of six chil- dren, only two of whom are living-Madison and J. N. Mr. Gaw was married again in the spring of 1866 to Hulda Heady, who was born in Nelson County, near Bloomfield, a daughter of John Heady. They have three children-Sadie, John Edward and James William. They have lost four children, who died in childhood. Politically Mr. Gaw has always been a Democrat.
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