USA > Kentucky > Memorial record of western Kentucky, Volume I > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25
£
1
£
115
WESTERN KENTUCKY.
dent of Missouri; George, a resident of Parsons, Kansas; Charles, en- gaged in the hardware business at Princeton, Kentucky; William and James, who reside with their father and look after the farming opera- tions ; and Laura, wife of Thomas J. Landrum, of Princeton.
THOMAS J. WATKINS.
For almost forty years Thomas Jefferson Watkins has practiced law in Eddyville, being one of the distinguished representatives of the profession in Lyon county. He was born October 4, 1838, upon a farmi in what is now Lyon county, his parents being Thomas G. and Nancy (Dyer) Watkins. His father's birth occurred in Franklin county, Ken- tucky, near the city of Frankfort, September 4, 1798, and he was a son of Samuel and Mary Watkins, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of North Carolina. . Coming to this state they located in Franklin county, whence they afterward removed to Maury county, Tennessee, in the year 1806. About 1814 they again came to Kentucky and located within the present border of Lyon county, where they spent their remaining days, he devoting his energies to the occupation of farming, which he made his life work. To him and his wife were born three sons, John, Thomas G. and Washington, all now deceased. There were also three daughters in the family, and they have likewise passed away.
Thomas G. Watkins accompanied his parents on their various re- movals, and was about sixteen years of age when the family came to what is now Lyon county. Here he attained his majority and afterward turned his attention to farming, which he always followed in order to provide for his family. He wedded Miss Nancy Dyer, who was
١
116
MEMORIAL RECORD OF
born in Trigg county, Kentucky, in 1806, and was a daughter of John Dyer, one of the early settlers of that county. Both Mr. and Mrs. Watkins were devoted members of the Methodist church, and they reared their family in that faith. The father gave his political support to the Democracy. He died at the home of our subject in Eddyville, in December, 1873, and his wife passed away in Lyon county, in 1860. They were the parents of the following children : John, now deceased, Mrs. Addie White, a widow; Mrs. Alvina McDonald, who has also lost her husband; Linn Boyd, who was a lawyer of Louisiana and rose to prominence on the supreme bench of that state, serving in that position at the time of his demise; Thomas J. ; and Elvira, deceased.
Thomas J. Watkins acquired his preliminary education in the public schools, and supplemented it by study in Princeton, Kentucky, and McLemoresville, Tennessee. He then took up the study of law with the intention of making its practice his life work, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1865, since which time he has practiced in Eddyville, soon winning distinction as a capable member of the bar, a position which he has never forfeited in the least. In 1870 he was elected on the Demo- cratic ticket to the position of county judge, and served continuously in that office for twenty years.
In Alabama, in 1861, Mr. Watkins was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Arnold. They lost their eldest daughter, Willie Wilson, when she was thirty-eight years of age. Helen, the second daughter, is the wife of R. S. Lander, of Eddyville. Maud is the wife of Edward Robb, of Perryville, Missouri, member of Congress from his district. The family have an attractive home in Eddyville, and Mr. Watkins also owns the farm upon which he was born and which has been in possession of the family for ninety years. He is widely known in his native county
7
117
WESTERN KENTUCKY.
as a leading and influential citizen, honored because of an upright life. The practice of law has been his real life work, and at the bar and on the bench he has won marked distinction. A man of unimpeachable character, of strong intellectual endowments and with a thorough under- standing of the law, he took to the bench high qualification for this re- sponsible position in the state government, and his record as a judge was in harmony with his record as a man and lawyer, characterized by unswerving integrity and a masterful grasp of every problem presented for solution.
HON. HENRY GEORGE.
Hon. Henry George, one of the distinguished men of western Ken- tucky, is a native and resident of Graves county. Mr. George was born March 2, 1847, the son of a farmer, and on the farm he grew to man- hood, his duties being such as fall to the lot of a farmer's son. His parents were Brinkley and Elizabeth (Golden) George. His father died in 1860, aged seventy-seven, and his mother died in 1853, when fifty-two years of age.
Thus Mr. George was only six years of age when his mother died, and thirteen when his father died. When the Civil war came on he had just passed his fourteenth year of his life. November 5, 1861, when not yet fifteen, he enlisted in the Confederate army, Company A, Seventh Kentucky Regiment, and served until the close of the war. He partici- pated in the battles of Shiloh, siege of Vicksburg, Port Hudson, Baker's Creek, Jackson, Corinth, and after the regiment became a mounted in- fantry under General Forrest, he participated in the battles of Paducah, Brice's Cross Roads, Harrisburg and Oxford, and then at Athens, Sul- phur Trestle and Pulaski. The regiment was with Hood at Spring Hill,
118
MEMORIAL RECORD OF
Franklin, Nashville, Monter Valley, and Selma. Besides these battles Mr. George took part in many dangerous skirmishes. He was wounded three times, but not seriously, and was taken prisoner at Selnia; con- fined eight days and then made his escape and immediately rejoined the command of General Forrest.
The war closed, Mr. George returned to the house of his brother in Graves county, and for two years thereafter worked at farming and attended school. He then secured a teacher's license and taught school two terms. He engaged in merchandising at Dukedom. In 1872 he re- moved to Wingo, where he continued merchandising and established an extensive business, later becoming interested in farming also.
In politics Mr. George is an ardent Democrat, and he has been for years a leader in his party. He has held several positions of honor, including representative in the lower branch of the state legislature and also in the state senate, being now state senator from his district. He represented Graves county in the legislature of 1877 and 1878, and first became state senator in 1879. During his services as a legislator he has left the impress of his wisdom as a statesman on much legislation in Kentucky.
Mr. George was married in 1871 to Miss Martha Galloway, daugh- tel of David M. and Martha Galloway.
JACOB CORBETT.
Through many years the name of Corbett has figured conspicu- ously and honorably in connection with the official history of Kentucky. Our subject, his father and grandfather have been honored with various positions of public trust and responsibility, and have taken an active
١
1
WESTERN KENTUCKY.
121
and beneficial part in molding the policy of county and commonwealth. Over the record of their public career; there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil, their capability and fidelity to duty being such as to win for them admiration and high regard.
Jacob Corbett, the grandfather, a native of Virginia, removed to Hickman county, Kentucky, at an early date in its development, and not only aided in its material improvement but also discharged various public services in a most commendable manner. For some time he was deputy county clerk there. In 1842 he removed to what is now Ballard county and was the first county clerk. So loyal was he to the trust reposed in him that he filled the position for nearly forty years, being re-elected for many consecutive terms. He married Elizabeth Sumner, a native of South Carolina, and to them were born two sons and five daughters. Jacob Corbett was a man of great force of character, of keen foresight and marked energy, qualities' which were exerted in behalf of the general good as well as for his personal advancement and success. He died in Blandville about 1886, at the advanced age of eighty-three years.
Thomas H. Corbett, the father of our subject, was born in Hick- man county, Kentucky, January 8, 1830, and was educated in the old Kentucky Military Institute, near Frankfort. When a young man he began the practice of law in Blandville, where he continued in active connection with the profession until 1876, when he removed to Paducah, Kentucky, where he engaged in the tobacco commission business for a few years. For ten terms he served in the general assembly, being elected first in 1855. He became one of the active working members of the house, and his opinions carried weight in its councils. He made a close study of the questions affecting the weal or woe of the state, and
8
122
MEMORIAL RECORD OF
left the impress of his individuality and patriotic spirit upon the legis- lation enacted during his service as representative. In 1887 he was nominated and elected register of the land office for the state of Ken- tucky, serving in that position for four years, after four years' service as deputy there. In 1893 he was appointed by President Cleveland as receiver of the land office at Guthrie, Oklahoma, and, after acting in . that capacity for four years, returned to Kentucky and was appointed register of the land office by the state auditor, serving in that office at the time of his death. At about the time of the outbreak of the Civil war he was elected commonwealths' attorney, but did not serve during the full term, as he was strongly in favor of the Confederacy. As has been indicated, his political support was always given the Democracy, and throughout the whole of his public service he labored with con- scientious fidelity for what he believed to be the best interest of the state and its people. His sincerity was never called in question, and he commanded the respect of even his political enemies.
In early manhood Thomas H. Corbett wedded Rebecca H. Coil, a daughter of Adam and Dorcas A. ( Morrow ) Coil, who were of Vir- ginian birth. Both Mr. and Mrs. Corbett were devoted member of the Christian Church, and he also belonged to the Masonic fraternity. His death occurred in Frankfort, May 9, 1902, and thus passed away one who had figured prominently in public affairs for many years, and who left behind him an untarnished reputation. His wife is now living in Frankfort. They were the parents of nine children, of whom Jacob Corbett is the second. The eldest died in infancy, as did the third, fourth and eight members of the family. The fifth is Hal S. Corbett, a lawyer of prominence in Spokane, Washington; and James L. is residing with his mother, who is now sixty-seven years of age.
123
WESTERN KENTUCKY.
Jacob Corbett was reared and educated in Blandville, and from 1860 until 1873 he served as a page in the Kentucky house of repre- sentatives. He studied law under the direction of the Hon. James D. White, of Blandville, and in July, 1878, was admitted to the bar. ITe has served as city attorney of Blandville, and has been prominent in political circles. He acted as private secretary to Governor Blackburn during that gentleman's entire service as chief executive of the state, and was also private secretary of J. Proctor Knott during six months of his term in the gubernatorial chair. He also served as secretary of the first Kentucky state board of equalization, and was enrolling clerk during one session of the house of representatives, and also sergeant at arms during one session. During one year he was deputy in the office of the state land register, and thus again and again has he been called to public service by those who recognize his capability and appreciate his thorough devotion to the general good and to the trust reposed in him. ITe has also labored earnestly and effectively for the welfare of his party, and was secretary of the Democratic state central committee in 1888. From 1893 until 1896 he was cashier in the government land office in Guthrie, Oklahoma, and then resigned in order to engage in the practice of law in Spokane, Washington, where he remained until 1898, when he returned to Kentucky, locating in Wickliffe for the prac- tice of law. In 1901 he was elected county prosecuting attorney, in which position he is now serving, being a faithful custodian of the legal interests of the county.
In 1893 Mr. Corbett was married to Mrs. Emma V. Smith, nec McDonald, a native of Milan, Tennessee. They reside upon a farm about a mile and a half from Wickliffe, and Mr. Corbett is engaged in practical farming, in connection with the practice of law. He belongs
1
1
124
MEMORIAL RECORD OF
to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and to the Knight of Pythias fraternity, and also holds membership in the Christian Church. For- tunate is the man who comes of an honorable and distinguished ances- try. Mr. Corbett has been so blessed, and in character and in talents he is a worthy scion of his race. His own career has reflected credit upon the family name which had previously become associated with the records of honorable service in Kentucky.
TION. J. E. ROBBINS.
Hon. J. E. Robbins, ex-circuit court judge and one of the most prominent of Kentucky lawyers and jurists, is a resident of the city of Mayfield and a native of Graves county. Judge Robbins was born August 4, 1854. He is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Shelton) Rob- bins. The father was born in Humphreys county, Tennessee, and died in Graves county, Kentucky, February 14, 1873, aged sixty-two years. The mother was born in Butler county, Kentucky, and came to Graves county with her parents in childhood. Her father later removed to Weakley county, Tennessee, and became a Primitive Baptist preacher.
Hon. J. E. Robbins was reared on the farm, and after obtaining a fair literary education took up the study of law. He began his pro- fessional career in 1878, at 'Mayfield. He soon gained a good clientage and the reputation of being an able lawyer. He was elected county judge, and in 1897 was elected judge of the circuit court for the first judicial district. He served acceptably as circuit judge till January, 1903, when he resigned to resume the practice of law in Mayfield.
In politics he is a leader among Democrats. He and wife are mem-
125
WESTERN KENTUCKY.
bers of the Christian church. He was married in 1879 to Miss Eva Chowning.
GUS G. COULTER.
Gus G. Coulter, ex-state auditor and a leading politician of Ken- tucky, and ex-county clerk of Graves county, was born in Marshall county, Kentucky, August 15, 1861. He is a son of C. C. and Belle (Archer) Coulter. His father was a farmer, a lawyer and once served as circuit clerk of Marshall county.
Gus G. Coulter was reared on the farm in the main, gained a fair education, and in 1880 became deputy county clerk, by appointment, of Graves county ; was subsequently elected county commissioner and then county clerk. In 1885 he became chief clerk of the state board of equali- zation. As state auditor his official record has placed him high among the most capable state officials who have ever served the great common- wealth of Kentucky. He is a Democrat and has long been high in the councils of his party.
DR. S. J. MATHEWS.
Dr. S. J. Mathews, physician and surgeon of Mayfield, was born in Robertson county, Tennessee, March 23, 1835. His parents were Thomas B. and Fannie ( Powell) Mathews. The father was born in the same county and state and died in 1864, aged sixty-seven years. . The mother was born in North Carolina, and died in 1860, aged sixty years.
Dr. Mathews was reared on his father's farm, and at the age of eighteen accepted a clerical position in a store at Springfield, which he held for three years. In the fall of 1856 he opened a store at Turners-
٢٠
126
MEMORIAL RECORD OF
ville, which he conducted till 1859, when he returned to Springfield, where, in partnership with a brother, he merchandised till the breaking out of the Civil war. He then commenced the study of medicine, and after reading two years he attended medical lectures at the Nashville Medical College. He began the practice of medicine in Graves county, Kentucky, but did not locate in Mayfield till 1877, since when he has resided here, now being one of the oldest practitioners of the county.
Dr. Mathews was married December 21, 1858, to Miss Lou T. Morrow, of Montgomery county, Tennesee. She died December 5, 1859, leaving one daughter, Lou, who married E. T. Taylor. The Doc- tor's second marriage took place November 21, 1861, when he wedded Miss Nannie P. Bush, of Graves county. She died May 30, 1878, leav- ing six children, two sons and four daughters. December 12, 1878, Dr. Mathews married Miss Alice R. Boaz, also a native of Graves county.
Dr. Mathews is esteemed for his merits both as a physician and citizen, and his career has been a useful one.
RICHARD G. TERRELL.
Richard G. Terrell, wholesale grocer of Paducah, Kentucky, was born in Ballard county, Kentucky, April 14, 1844. His parents were Thomas F. and Mary (Fletcher) Terrell. His paternal grandfather was Chiles Terrell, a practical surveyor, who came from Virginia to McCracken county, Kentucky, as early as 1826, with his son J. H. Ter- rell, then eleven years of age, and surveyed a large portion of the land in said county. Chiles Terrell was no ordinary man. He was highly educated. After doing the above mentioned surveying he returned to Virginia, and in the year 1827 he removed to Louisville, Kentucky, and
127
IVESTERN KENTUCKY.
in 1828 was professor of mathematics in the Jefferson Seminary. He came to MeCracken county in 1839, and died here in 1851, aged seventy- one years. He married Mary C. Upshaw, who died in 1836.
Their son, Thomas F. Terrell, was born in Richmond, Virginia, but was reared on a farm in Jefferson and MeCracken counties, Kentucky, in both of which counties his father farmed in his latter days. Thomas F. Terrell was born January 13, 1820. When twenty-three years of age he married and settled in Ballard county, of which county he served as sheriff, and which he afterward represented in the legislature. In 1856 he removed to Paducah and there became a prominent business man and esteemed citizen.
Richard G. Terrell was educated in Paducah and at the Wash- ington and Lee University, of Virginia. In 1868, in connection with W. H. Bradley, he embarked in the produce and seed business in Paducah, and four years later succeeded to the ownership of the entire business. His business gradually increased, agricultural implements were added, and then groceries, and to-day he ranks among the leading wholesale gro- cers of Kentucky.
In 1873 Mr. Terrell married Miss Mildred, daughter of Colonel Thomas J. Pickett. In his home and domestic relations Mr. Terrell is a beloved husband and father, among business men he is esteemed for his sapient business qualities, and by his fellow citizens he is held in high regard in consequence of his genial deportment and real worth as a progressive and public-spirited citizen.
128
MEMORIAL RECORD OF
BENJAMIN F. WYATT.
Benjamin F. Wyatt was born in Trigg county, Kentucky, Decem- ber 14, 1856. IIe is the sixth of a family of eight children born to Henry and Martha (Dyer) Wyatt, who are now among the oldest and most highly respected citizens of Graves county, Kentucky, to which county they removed from Trigg county more than forty years ago. These parents were born in the state of Virginia and are of English an- cestry. He was a son of Harry Wyatt, and she was a daughter of Joel Dyer. After living a good many years in Trigg county our subject's parents removed to Graves county and settled not far distant from May- field, and here they have continued to reside, he now being eighty-five years old and she seventy-six. The father's life pursuit has been farm- ing. He and his good wife have lived long and useful lives, and for years both have been members of the Missionary Baptist church.
To this worthy couple were born the following children: Joseph F., a farmer and resident of Graves county ; Mary Ann, widow of Jack- son Horgrove; Mary Frances, widow of John Smith; Rol. W., farmer and resident of Graves county; Susan Elizabeth, wife of Jack Smith, of the same county; Benjamin F. ; Comelia, wife of Andrew Clark; and Nannie, wife of Lige Fuller.
When his parents came to Graves county, Benjamin F. Wyatt was then about three years of age. He was reared on the farm, and to his lot fell the tasks and duties common to the farm youth. He went to the country schools short terms in winters, and gained a fair education, and in the summer seasons he worked in the field, thus contributing to his ·own support and that of the family. Ile remained under the parental roof until he was past twenty-one years of age. He was married in
١
129
IVESTERN KENTUCKY.
1878, and it was then that he settled down and began life in earnest. He married a most estimable lady in the person of Miss Santafee Brown. She was born and reared in Calloway county, Kentucky. To the mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt have been born ten children, namely : Oina, now Mrs. John Clark; Guy; Ruby, now Mrs. William C. Martin; Marie E .; Ehna; Virgil; Iva; Eva; Viera; and Leora, all of whom are living. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt are members of the Missionary Bap- tist church, and are respected for their excellent Christian lives and for the beautiful example of pious living their lives present.
Mr. Wyatt has always followed farming as an occupation, and he has met with fair business success in life. He began life with limited means, but now possesses a good and well improved farm, and is to-day among the leading farmers and progressive citizens of his county.
WILLIAM L. MOSBY, M. D.
So great has been the advance made in the science of medicine that the results accomplished by representatives of the profession seem al- most phenomenal, but the broader knowledge has been acquired only after the most painstaking, thorough and comprehensive investigation and research, and to-day the man who is a successful practitioner must be a most earnest and appreciative student, continually adding to his professional knowledge through wide reading, and assimilating this knowledge for the benefit of his fellow men. One of the most capable and successful physicians and surgeons of Carlisle county is Dr. William 1 .. Mosby, who for almost twenty years has practiced in Bardwell.
Hle was born upon a farm near Bardwell, in Carlisle county, Novem- ber 30, 1861. His paternal grandfather was Daniel Mosby, a native
130
MEMORIAL RECORD OF
of Virginia, and who when a lad accompanied his parents on their re- moval to Boone county, Kentucky, where he was reared to manhood. He became an early settler of what is now McCracken county, this state, and afterward removed to Carlisle county, where he spent his remain- ing days, dying at the advanced age of eighty-five years. He was a farmer by occupation, and was active and influential in pioneer times, taking a helpful part in promoting the best interests of the county and in shaping its early policy in accord with principles of progress, im- provement and permanent benefit. The first court ever held in Ballard county following the organization of the county convened in his tobacco barn, and Mr. Mosby served as county sheriff. His children were as follows: William W., the father of our subject; Robert, of Missouri ; Jack, who was killed in the Confederate army ; Mrs. Betty Ashworth, of Bardwell; James, deceased; Daniel, who is living in Arlington, Ken- tucky ; and Mrs. Sallie Elsey, of Carlisle county.
William W. Mosby was born in Mccracken county, Kentucky, near Paducah, on the 19th of April, 1825, and has now passed the seventy- eighth milestone on life's journey. After arriving at years of maturity he was married in Carlisle county to Miss Matilda F. Berry, who was born in this county in 1835 and is also yet living. Her parents were early settlers of Carlisle county, casting in their lot with the residents here when they were surrounded by pioneer conditions and environ- ments. To Mr. and Mrs. Mosby have been born the following named : James, who died about sixteen years ago; Jackie, who died at the age of seventeen years; Robert, who is a resident farmer of Carlisle county ; William L .; Lee, who is a farmer of Carlisle county; Bedford, who also carries on agricultural pursuits here; Mrs. Sallie Elsey, of Bard- well; and Mrs. Minnie Stanley, of Arlington. Throughout his business
131
WESTERN KENTUCKY.
career William W. Mosby followed farming and stock-raising, and in his work has been very successful, so that now in the evening of life he has a comfortable competence which supplies him with all the neces- sities and many of the comforts that go to make life worth the living. He and his wife are excellent people of the highest respectability, and their lives are in harmony with their faith as members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. They reside in Bardwell.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.