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 82
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George W. Roberts was born in Yelvington Precinct, July 3, 1827. His father was a native of Henry County, Ky., and an
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early settler of Daviess Connty. Mr. Roberts still lives on the old homestead, in what is known as the Iron Hill settlement, thirty acres of his farm being on the hill. He owns a farm of 180 acres. He was married in 1850 to Mary N. Potts. Of their six children but four are living-Minerva E. (Mrs. Price), Martha O. (Mrs. Wells), William S. and John M. One son, Thomas, died at the age of fourteen. Mrs. Roberts died, and Mr. Roberts afterward married Lutitia V. Hollingsworth. Seven children have been born to them, but six now living-Seymour, Gilmore, Josephine, Jen- nie, Myrtie and Mand W.
J. D. Russell, M. D., born in Muhlenburg County, Ky., Jan. 22, . 846, is a son of F. J. Russell, a native of the same county, who removed with his family to Fayette County, Ky., when J. D. was small. He was reared in that county and educated at the Georgetown (Ky. ) College. He graduated from the old Kentucky school of medicine at Louisville in the spring of 1870, and settled in Yelvington immediately afterward, where he has built up a large practice. In the spring of 1871 he married Clara, daughter of Edwin Hawes. Two children have been born to them, only one living-James D. A daughter, Mary, died at the age of five years.
Nelson B. Schenk, born in Kanawha County, W. Va., Mirch 21, 1831, is a son of Richard F. Schenk, a native of Albemarle County, Va., who moved with his family to Kentucky, and lo- cated in Jefferson County. Nelson B. Schenk came to Daviess County in 1861. That same year he married Fannie Beanchell. They have two children-Mary A. and James E. Mr. Schenk's nncle, John Schenk, was a soldier in the Mexican war, under Colo- nel Thompson.
Benjamin Shadwick was born in Nelson County, Ky., May 13, 1824. . His father, Thomas Shadwick, was a native of Virginia and an early settler of Nelson County. His early education was imited to the log-cabin subscription schools, he having to work on the farm. His parents came to Daviess County in 1824, and he has always lived here with the exception of six years spent in Han- cock County, just across from Blackford. He now owns a farm of 156 acres three miles northeast of Yelvington. He was married in August, 1850, to Marthia Oliver. Four children were born to them, only three now living-Milly, Thomas and Barbara. Mrs. Shadwick died in August, 1860. In 1861 Mr. Shadwick married Elizabeth Edwards. They have eight children-Lydia, Benjamin, Nancy, Josephine, Mary, Palestine, Elizabeth and Horace D. S. 55
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
Harold Smeathers, born in Yelvington Precinct, Oct. 27, 1828, is a son of Asa Smeathers, also of this precinct. He received his education in the subscription schools of this locality, and was reared to work on a farm, which vocation he still pursues. He owns a farm of 145 acres three and a half miles east of Yelvington, where he is engaged both in farming and stock-raising. He was married in February, 1858, to Sarah M., danghter of Stephen Thorn- berry. Eight children have been born to them, only five now liv- ing-Catharine, Ella, George C., Alonzo and Jerome II. Mr. Smeathers is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
William N. Spilman was born in Henry County, Ky., Dec. 8, 1836. His father, Henry Spilman, came from Virginia to Ken- tucky in 1832. William N. was reared and educated in Henry County. His father was a tailor, and he clerked in his store at different times. He came to Daviess County in December, 1863. He served as School Trustee about ten years, and superintended the building of Chestnut Grove school-house. He is a member. of the I. O. G. T., and was Master of the Grange at Chestnut Grove, when it existed. In 1859 Mr. Spilman married Martha L., daughter of Jonathan Dean, of Henry County. They have two children-Jonathan D. and William H.
Alfred Thruston, born in Marshall, Texas, Aug. 20, 1848, was a son of Hon. Algernon S. Thruston, a native of Louisville, Ky., born in 1801. He raised a company in Louisville, and went to Texas and assisted her to gain her independence. He was a Colonel under General Scott, and was afterward a member of Gov. ernor Huston's cabinet in the " Lone Star " State. IIe left Texas in 1850, and lived a while in Florida, then in Illinois, and in 1854: came to Daviess County, where he died in March, 1863. After leaving Texas he engaged in agricultural pursuits. He married Harriet C. Jacques, a native of St. Louis, Mo., and a daughter of Benjamin Jacques, an early settler of Texas. Nine children were born to them, only four now living-Alfred and Mrs. S. T. Speed (twins), Mrs. C. P. Tood, and Mrs. C. M. Tood. Alfred Thrus- ton owns 160 acres of good land, and is an enterprising farmer of this precinct. Ile is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
Josephus Turnham (deceased), son of John Turnham, was born in Shelby County, Ky., in 1808. Ile was married Jan. 8, 1840, to Emily J., danghter of James Veech. Three children were born to them, all deceased. Two died in infancy, and one daughter, Marietta, grew to maturity and married Frank Roberts. She left a son. Josephus, who, since his mother's death, has resided with
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his grandmother. He is now twenty-four years of age. He mar- ried Ella Hollis. Mr. Turnham at one time owned 480 acres of land, but portions of it have been sold, till now Mrs. Turnham owns but 280 aeres. Mr. Turnham died in 1869.
William T. Walker, of Yelvington, was born in this county May 7, 1838. His father, Richard Walker, was an early settler in Da- viess County, coming from Virginia. Mr. Walker's boyhood days were spent on the farm, and he received a common-school educa- tion. For six years he was engaged in running logs to Evansville. HIe then bought a half interest in a portable saw-mill, which he ran for three years. He has been constantly engaged in the lum- bering and saw-mill business since 1872. His mill is now located on the land of Bowlds and Higdon, in Knottsville Precinet. The mill is of the Blandy make. Mr. Walker was married March 18- 1860, to Margaret, daughter of Harry Roberts. They have had nine children, eight of whom are living-Josephine, Martha H., Samuel T., Strawther D., William H., Lena, Ernest and Richard. One daughter, Lizzie, died at the age of five years. Mr. Walker is a Mason, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Simeon D. Webber, born in Wilson County, Tenn., Oct. 9, 1837, is a son of James J. Webber (deceased), a native of Virginia. He was reared to the life of a farmer, and now owns 2042 acres of valuable land, all made by his own industry and good manage- ment, three miles northeast of Yelvington. During the war of the Rebellion he enlisted in Company B, Seventh Tennessee Regi- ment, and served four years. Ile was in the battles of Seven Pines, Gaines's Mills, first Bull Run and others. In the fall of 1865 Mr. Webber went to Hancock County, Ky., and in 1870 came to Daviess County. Nov. 16, 1867, he married Bettie Sulli, van. They have eight children-James M., William H., Robert II., John T., Mary E., Sarah J., Irene H. and George B.
Emmett Wells was born in Daviess County, Ky., June 8, 1852. His father, James C. Wells, now of Knottsville Preeinet, was born in Shelby County, Ky., and came to Daviess County in 1842, and married Sallie A. Bell. Of their four children but two are living -Emmett and William D. Eminett was reared a farmer, and is now engaged in that occupation, owning a farm of sixty aeres, two and a half miles southeast of Yelvington. He received a common- school education. Oct. 28, 1874, he married Laura Bell, daughter of Worden Riddle. Three children have been born to them, but two now living -- Charles and James Worden. Mr. and Mrs. Wells are members of the Baptist church.
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APPENDIX.
The following biographies were sent to the publishers too late to be inserted in their proper places :
Cornelius T. Cain, the leading photographer of Owensboro, west side of Frederica, between Third and Fourth streets, is a na- tive of Indiana, born in Danville, Hendricks County. When a child he removed with his parents to Miami County, Ind., and attended the graded and high schools of Peru, until seventeen, when he began to learn the art of photography. In 1868 he went to Lou- isville. Ky., and in December, 1873, located in Owensboro. He is not only the best artist in Owensboro but is one of the leading photographers of the State. He has a first-class studio, and is prepared to do any kind of photography known to modern artists. Ilis father was Cornelius Cain, a native of Virginia, where he married Miss Anna Keplinger, also a native of Virginia. His mother was a member of the Baptist church, and his father of the Methodist Episcopal church. They had a family of five sons and three danghters, of whom C. T. was the youngest. His grand- father, Cornelius Cain, was in the war of the Revolution, and at one time owned the land where Owensboro, Daviess Co., Ky., now stands.
Hon. Clinton Griffith, of Owensboro, born one and a half miles southwest of Owensboro, Daviess County, Oct. 18, 1832, is a son of Wm. R. and Arric ( Moseley) Griffith. His father was a native of Ma- ryland and came to Hartford, Ky., about 1800, with: his father, Joshua Griffith, when a child. He came to Daviess County and set- tled near Lewis Station, before Daviess County was cut off from Ohio. His mother was born in Virginia, a daughter of Captain Tom Moseley, a very old settler of Daviess County. He was one of the first settlers of Owensboro, and his old residence is still stand- ing on Main street, in the upper part of town, a part of the Dun- lap plow property. The house is a two-story frame, and is in a good state of preservation. This is about the oldest house in town, and when first built was in the woods. Mrs. Moseley was a Miss Watkins, cousin of General Watkins, of Missouri. Mr. Ridgely Griffith, father of the subject of our sketch, was elected several
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times as a Representative from Daviess County to the Senate and Lower House. He died in December, 1848. Mrs. Griffith died in 1832. They had four sons, two living-Daniel M., real estate agent, and Clinton. Clinton attended the Hartford schools until sixteen, when he entered college at Lexington, and graduated at the Transylvania College in 1849. He was elected as Director of the old Southern Bank before twenty-one years of age. In August, 1869, he was elected a Representative to the Lower House of the Kentucky Legislature; re-elected August, 1871, and elected Senator in August, 1877. He is an extensive land owner and resides on the old homestead ofhis father, one and a half miles southwest of town. He married in November, 1853, Mary Crawford, a daughter of James Crawford. She died in 1865. They had three children, two now living-Elizabeth S., wife of John G. Weir, and Wm. R. attorney of Owensboro. Mr. Griffith married Miss Anna Belle Weir, in November, 1868. She was the daughter of James and Susan (Green) Weir. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith have five children- Susan, James W., Allen, Arria and Clinton J. Mrs. Griffith is a member of the Old School Presbyterian church. The family is of Welsh and English descent. The first Griffith settled in Baltimore, prior to the Revolutionary war. He had three sons; one settled in North Carolina, one in Baltimore and one in Philadelphia. The first Griffith settled in Baltimore when quite young, leaving, as he supposed, a barren waste, which afterward became very valuable in coal and minerals, and is now supposed to be in the possession of Welsh claimants, the American Griffiths having made no attempt to recover it, through the advice of John J. Crittenden, who was U. S. Senator from Kentucky.
J. F. Hager, bookkeeper for F. T. Gunther & Co., Owensboro, was born in Owensboro, March 23, 1853. He was the fifth child of a family of four sons and two daughters of Henry and Sophia Hager. He was educated in the public and private schools of Owensboro and business college of Evansville, where he graduated. He is a member of K. of P., Star Lodge, No. 19, Owensboro. In politics he is a Democrat.
W. J. Lucas, jailer, was born in St. Mary's County, Md., a son of William and Alice (Sparks) Lucas. Soon after his birth they removed to Virginia. His parents both died when he was very young, and at an early age he was apprenticed to the carriage- maker's trade. He afterward learned the painter's trade. At the outbreaking of the late war be was one of the first to enlist in the
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Confederate service, remaining in the service until the elose of the war. He enlisted as a private and was promoted to Lieutenant. During his service as a soldier he acted as a seont and spy, and was entrusted with many offices and duties that required courage and shrewdness. In all instances he performed his duties with perfect satisfaction. At one time he captured his own brother, Luther W. Lneas, who was in the Federal service. Mr. W. J. Lucas was wounded, a bullet passing through his left cheek and lodging in his windpipe, and for a time his life was despaired of. In 1872 he came to Owensboro and worked at the painter's trade until 1882, when he was elected to his present position. He was married to Mildred Summers, Oet. 4, 1865. She was born in Fairfax County, Va., and is a daughter of Wm. F. and Mariana (Johnson) Summers. Mr. and Mrs. Lucas have six children- Thomas M., A. Blanch, G. Summers, Forrest F., Regina B. and Anna B.
M. V. Monarch, President of the Sonr-Mash Distilling Company, Owensboro, was born in Daviess County, Ky., March 10, 1842. His parents, Thomas and Susan (Daveiss) Monarch, had a family of ten children, only six now living-William H., Thomas J., Rich- ard, Miranda J. (wife of Thomas J. O'Bryan), M. V., and Syl- vester. M. V. attended private schools in Owensboro till twenty- two years of age, and then entered Cecilian College. After leaving school he engaged in the tobacco business till 1868. Sinee then he has been manufacturing his celebrated hand-made eour- mash whiskies. Commencing life with limited means he went bravely to work, and by industry and business integrity has placed himself among the leading distillers of the country, his brands of whisky being sold in most of the States and Territories. Ile has offices in New York and Louisville, and agents in Chicago, Ill., and Galveston, Texas, and employs three or four traveling sales- men. Mr. Monarch was married Sept. 20, 1869, to Elizabeth A. O'Bryan, a native of Meade County, Ky., and a daughter of William and Mary A. (Vowels) ('Bryan. Six children have been born to them, five now living-Henry L., born May 11, 1872; Daniel, Aug. 14, 1874; A. Ermenie, June 11, 1876; M. V., Jr., Sept. 14, 1878; Bineta, May 23, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Monarch are members of the Catholic church. He is President of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. In polities he is a Democrat.
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Tas le Miller
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Photoby Cillain.
John R Osborne
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J. B. Solomons
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2. Stale.
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William Rogers Horox
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W. Country
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Paul Pernes
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Jeff Berry
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AS Bevier
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Thomas Monarch
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Reis Samuel Galhoon)
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Mary Severa
Hayden
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Elizabeth Newton
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Thomas Monarch
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Geol Inplaats
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THONS HOVER
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